Catering

Antique copper service collection, price varies per item, available in the mid-Atlantic and New England region from Party Rental Ltd.

A shared space for meeting groups, the Hub Conference Center at the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel opened in July and offers an all-day refreshment break service.

The Recording Academy's official after-party took place at the Los Angeles Convention Center on Sunday night, drawing 5,000 Grammy winners, nominees, industry executives, and other celebrities. Designed and produced by the Recording Academy and Angel City Designs, the event took on a European, modern masquerade ball theme that evolved throughout the night. Eggs&Bacon handled additional production and logistics, while ShowPro handled lighting and video and Town & Country provided rentals.

The color scheme also changed throughout the night, starting with light pastel colors that evoked Marie Antoinette and evolving into deeper purples and greens. "The intention was to really transport guests to another time and place without being too specific about the moment or the location," explained the Recording Academy's event head, Branden Chapman.

In keeping with the theme, designers placed a garden maze in the middle of the event. CJ Matsumoto & Sons handled florals for the evening.

On-theme performers from E Plus Productions entertained the crowd, and ATK handled audio production. TLC and En Vogue also performed at the event, along with DJ Michelle Pesce and jazz singer Kurt Elling.

Catering came from Joe Flamm, the executive chef of Spiaggia in Chicago. In partnership with Levy Restaurants, Flamm's menu was designed to complement the theme with four Renaissance-inspired food stations. The beginning of the night saw tray-passed appetizers such as beef shank and frutti di mare. Later in the evening, food stations called “Venice,” “Glamorous,” and “Renaissance” served a variety of dishes, many that were vegan, gluten-free, or nut- and shellfish-free. Dessert (pictured) took on a carnival theme, with gelato pops, French macarons, and mini eclairs and tarts.

This year marked Absolut's third sponsorship of the Grammy Awards, and the brand worked with MKG to create a series of experiences throughout the weekend that were designed for social sharing. At the Grammy Celebration, the brand's photo op used vertical frames, pink neon lighting, and greenery to create the shape of a bottle that guests could pose inside.

On Sunday, Steven Tyler hosted his second annual viewing party for 500 people at Raleigh Studios. Sponsored by Live Nation and Hilton and hosted by Jane Lynch, the event raised $2.8 million for Janie's Fund, a nonprofit for girls dealing with abuse and neglect. Virginia Fout from V Productions produced the event, which included a live auction from AAB Productions, a seated dinner, and a performance by Aerosmith. 15/40 Productions handled additional production design and lighting.

Damon Dunbar handled floral arrangements, which sat atop linens from La Tavola Fine Linen Rental. Crumble Catering provided the three-course meal, while Senovva handled audiovisual production and Gallagher Staging handled staging.

For a smaller cocktail reception, V Productions created a rock 'n' roll-inspired living room using Medieval-style chandeliers, plush furniture, and bookshelves filled with personal photos. Never-before-released images of Tyler decorated whitewashed wooden planks.

One of the weekend's buzziest events was Roc Nation's annual brunch, held on Saturday at a private estate. Presented in conjunction with Puma, American Express, and Barclays Center, the event drew a who's-who of the music industry, including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Diddy, DJ Khaled, Usher, and many more. The entryway featured green hedges and cascading yellow flowers punctuated by framed images of previous brunch attendees. The gathering was designed and produced by SO Events, while Celio's Design handled florals.

Inside the white tent, vibrant decor details included floral chandeliers and blue and white furniture with pops of yellow that created an Italian Garden theme. Bright Event Rentals and Revelry Event Designers also worked on the event.

Food stations from the Kitchen for Exploring Foods also tied into the Italian Garden theme, offering items such as steak and eggs, pasta, made-to-order waffles, and a grand Italian charcuterie station.

Another high-profile event was MusiCares' Person of the Year tribute, held on Friday night at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Honoring Dolly Parton, the 2,800-attendee event was hosted by the band Little Big Town with performances from Pink, Katy Perry, Kacey Musgraves, Willie Nelson, Garth Brooks, Miley Cyrus, and many more. It raised $6.7 million for MusiCares. Decor-wise, the evening was planned by the Recording Academy with decor and florals from Elite Productions International (EPI). The team designed two different looks for the table settings, one with free-flowing florals and mini lantern votives, and another with a large gold lantern surrounded by florals.

EPI continued the floral concept throughout the registration and auction reception, using pops of yellow as a tribute to Dolly Parton's favorite color.

On Thursday night, Delta Air Lines took over the Mondrian in West Hollywood for a pre-Grammy party designed and produced by MKG. Grammy winner Ella Mae performed in front of a multi-colored arch surrounded by gold metal palm trees.

Guests entered the celebration through an installation of hanging gold records.

MKG also designed a GIF booth where guests posed around an oversize Grammys gramophone; a wall of gold records provided the background.

Spotify hosted its Best New Artist 2019 party on Saturday night at the Hammer Museum. The event featured performances from Best New Artist nominees including the eventual winner, Duo Lipa, along with Jorja Smith (pictured), Margo Price, Chloe x Halle, Bebe Rexha, and H.E.R. For a stage backdrop, vibrant lighting accentuated the museum's existing trees.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, Citi hosted exclusive events for cardmembers at the Hollywood Palladium. Featuring intimate performance from Pink, Muse, and Chris Stapleton, the events also featured a capsule collection designed by artist Trevor "Trouble" Andrew. A photo op at the events was made from speakers and oversize records.

To celebrate Grammy week, Mastercard debuted its sensory lab at Fred Segal in West Hollywood on Thursday night. The interactive space, designed and produced by BMF, featured a fireside chat with Linkin Park's Mike Shinoda, a sneak peek at the brand's new ad with Camila Cabello, and a performance by rapper Kyle. The space debuted Mastercard's new audio branding, a lyric-free melody meant to resonate with customers around the world.

Guests could win prizes from a Mastercard-branded claw machine.

In keeping with the "lab" theme, staffers wearing lab coats served drinks out of beakers.

On Sunday night, Republic Records hosted an after-party at Spring Place Beverly Hills. The night, which featured a DJ set from SG Lewis, had a photo booth from sponsor Crocs that displayed a series of black and white shoes. Guests could also decorate their own Crocs to take home.

AEG tapped Revelry Event Designers to create a chandelier-filled V.I.P. lounge and event on Sunday at the Staples Center. Bright Event Rentals provided rentals for the space.

Universal Music Group C.E.O. Sir Lucian Grainge hosted his annual artist showcase, presented by Citi, on Saturday at the Row. Attendees such as rapper YG signed their names on a mirror; the mirror theme continued throughout the event.

Warner Music Group celebrated its Grammy-nominated artists and songwriters on Thursday night at the NoMad Hotel. Dua Lipa and Nispey Hussle performed at the event, which was sponsored by Citi and Belvedere Vodka in association with V Magazine. Belvedere created signature cocktails inspired by the year's nominees, with names such as "Dua Daydream" and "Django Jasmine"; they were displayed in front of custom neon signage.

Open since September, Severance is a new venue in Los Angeles that its owners describe as an “interactive wine bar.” Owned by former Patina beverage director Evan Charest, the venue, which holds as many as 100 people for receptions, features a wine cart with 80 wines listed by terroir rather than varietal, allowing guests to see, touch, and learn about various soils from different regions. Other highlights include champagne served in large crystal punch bowls.

Miami-based Ronen Rental recently released its Stella Gloss Bar ($395) with a gloss finish and clean, simple lines. It features an open back with a five-and-a-half-foot shelf. Plus, the unadorned surface can easily be branded with a company logo. It also comes in black and is available for rent in Florida.

Matchbook Distilling Co., a bespoke craft distillery and incubator, debuted last summer in Greenport, New York. Founded by Leslie Merinoff, the Long Island distillery specializes in small-batch spirits and single botanical distillates, working with clients such as chefs, restaurateurs, bartenders, retailers, and cocktail enthusiasts to create the custom concoctions. Pricing varies depending on the order and can range from $8,000 to $20,000 per case of 20 bottles.

At the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, guests can gather to watch magician Dennis Watkins perform classic sleight-of-hand, close-up magic and mentalism for an intimate crowd of about 40. Known as the Magic Parlour, the magic show takes place Friday nights at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 4:30, 7:30, and 9:30 p.m. Tickets cost $79 and $89 and include wine, beer, and soft drink selections. The show is recommended for adults and kids 12 and older.

Madame Tussauds San Francisco recently launched a new tech-forward teambuilding experience. Through the use of virtual reality, groups can save Earth from a dystopian future, working together on puzzles and challenges. A partnership with Virtual Room USA, the experience accommodates groups of two to four people at a time; pricing starts at $10.

Newport, Rhode Island-based stationery company E. Frances Paper’s Little Notes allow planners and hosts to add a whimsical, watercolor-like touch to a seasonal party as place cards, gift tags, or simply as a word of thanks. The note cards are currently available in 41 styles, including seasonal themes; a box of 85 cards costs $14.

In December, Lady Gaga debuted a Las Vegas residency at the 5,200-seat Park Theater at the new Park MGM resort. The Citi-sponsored residency consists of two unique shows: one focused on her high-energy pop hits and another featuring stripped-down piano versions. Twenty-seven performances are currently scheduled.

Scott Harrison, a BizBash Event Innovator from 2017, recently released his memoir, Thirst: A Story of Redemption, Compassion and a Mission to Bring Clean Water to the World (Currency), recounting his journey from nightclub promoter to founder and C.E.O. of New York-based Charity: Water, a nonprofit that provides clean, safe drinking water to people in developing countries. All net author proceeds will go to Charity: Water projects.