Although the products showcased were high tech, everything else at the Information Appliance Press 2000 (IAP2K) event needed a little fine-tuning. First, white limousines were supposed to shuttle attendees to IAP2K from an earlier, unaffiliated tech event, but something went awry. We waited for 10 minutes and never even saw a limo. We finally hailed a cab to the SouthGate Tower Suite Hotel, and later we overheard another guest say he practically had to throw himself in front of one of the extended Hummers to grab a ride.
The situation didn't get much better. Even though we arrived at 8:30--a full hour after the event started--the people registering guests hadn't finished putting together the nametags. Air conditioning in the main ballroom, where the event was set up, was either broken or shut off, a sticky situation in light of the hot and humid weather.
We also had to watch out for the bodybuilders and hotel doormen who were still carrying in coolers holding the desserts and cases of Jones Soda. Gigi Grill of Gigi's Creations, who provided cakes and cookies from the Alpine Pastry Shoppe, unloaded them smack dab in the middle of milling guests and a dozen or so booths showcasing the latest in personal technology. The cakes were so gorgeous--and delicious--however, that she could hardly get them on the table before people dug in. Hors d'oeuvres, fruit and cheeses, and coffee and tea, provided by the hotel's banquet staff, were already on the buffet tables.
Parched from the heat, guests flocked to the full bar provided by the hotel. Beverages included wines from Blossom Hill and liquors like Johnnie Walker Red, Dewar's, Smirnoff and Jos? Cuervo.
While flawed, IAP2K ended up saving itself. After a couple of glasses of chardonnay and a slice of to-die-for chocolate mousse cake, all transgressions were forgotten.
--Ellen Sturm
The situation didn't get much better. Even though we arrived at 8:30--a full hour after the event started--the people registering guests hadn't finished putting together the nametags. Air conditioning in the main ballroom, where the event was set up, was either broken or shut off, a sticky situation in light of the hot and humid weather.
We also had to watch out for the bodybuilders and hotel doormen who were still carrying in coolers holding the desserts and cases of Jones Soda. Gigi Grill of Gigi's Creations, who provided cakes and cookies from the Alpine Pastry Shoppe, unloaded them smack dab in the middle of milling guests and a dozen or so booths showcasing the latest in personal technology. The cakes were so gorgeous--and delicious--however, that she could hardly get them on the table before people dug in. Hors d'oeuvres, fruit and cheeses, and coffee and tea, provided by the hotel's banquet staff, were already on the buffet tables.
Parched from the heat, guests flocked to the full bar provided by the hotel. Beverages included wines from Blossom Hill and liquors like Johnnie Walker Red, Dewar's, Smirnoff and Jos? Cuervo.
While flawed, IAP2K ended up saving itself. After a couple of glasses of chardonnay and a slice of to-die-for chocolate mousse cake, all transgressions were forgotten.
--Ellen Sturm
Bartender Dimitre Roussev served drinks from the full bar provided by the SouthGate Tower Suite Hotel.
Halfway through the event, Gigi Grill from Gigi's Creations was still unloading cakes and cookies from the Alpine Pastry Shoppe in the middle of the party.
Gigi Grill of Gigi's Creations brought delicious deserts from the Alpine Pastry Shoppe (our favorite: the chocolate mousse cake).
The table centerpieces by the SouthGate Tower Suite Hotel used mirrors to show off the vases of flowers.
