This week's roundup includes beanbag gaming chairs at a conference in San Francisco, a Bacchus-theme bar at a gala in Los Angeles, a New York gala filled with local foliage, and a wagon made out of bread at a meeting in Toronto.
The May 16 gala coincided with the opening of the California Science Center’s latest special exhibit, “Pompeii: The Exhibition.” The reception included the four-sided “Bacchus Bar,” which featured models perched on each corner feeding grapes to guests as they approached.
More than 27,000 people filled San Francisco's Moscone Center for the conference from May 18 to 22. Attendees reclined in beanbag gaming chairs in the halls of the Moscone Center to watch keynotes, do work, and take breaks. Organizers said they chose this style chair as an "edgier but still functional" alternative to traditional beanbags.
Cisco Live's social media staff tracked Twitter traffic and awarded the yellow #CLUS cape each day to the person who posted the most tweets the previous day.
The PTTOW Summit, held in May at Southern California’s Terranea Resort, encouraged conference attendees to sit with one another and answer some of life's big questions. A spinning wheel positioned adjacent to a seating group offered a series of topics—examples included "hate," "doubt," and "purpose"—to break the ice and make the exercise more interesting.
On May 6, Weston Family Foods hosted is annual group meeting at the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto. 5th Element Events creative director Marta Urbanowicz worked with company reps and planners from Hijinx Strategies to design an atmosphere to reflect the history of the family business—including decor such as a wagon made out of bread. It took 5th Element Events two days to build the structure, and the process involved shellacking real bread from Weston Foods and hot-gluing pieces to the wagon.
The Whitney Museum's gala for the American Art Award took place at Highline Stages on May 7 and was followed the next night by the art institution's annual Art Party. Rather than flowers for the American Art Award gala's tabletop centerpieces, designer Ron Wendt recreated one of Roy Lichtenstein's paintings. The sculptural pieces included fruit and bowls covered in tin foil.
Wendt intentionally left one of the venue's walls bare, allowing for projections. The first night guests watched a documentary on artists Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol.
The colorful plans of High Line planting designer Piet Oudolf provided the design inspiration for the Friends of the High Line's spring benefit this year, held May 20 at Skylight at Moynihan Station. Foliage used in the entry gate to the event included passion flower vine, plumosa fern, ming fern, steel grass, and sheet moss.
On May 14, fans gathered at YouTube's space in Playa Vista, California, for a so-called “soundtrack concert” to promote the upcoming film The Fault in Our Stars. The evening's concert featured singers and bands who appear on the film's soundtrack. The lineup included Charlie XCX, Grouplove, and Ed Sheeran.
The massive food festival Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit wrapped its eighth run earlier in the month. Asian-inspired dishes and drinks were the focus at the Venetian for "The Night Market: East Meets West" event, which had dramatic decor that stayed true to the theme.
