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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Food Trends

10 Best Ideas of the Week: Seating Chart Avatars, Eater's Canned Tomato Awards, Absolut's Synchronized Swimmers

Melissa Schorsch
November 16, 2012

Here’s a look at 10 steal-worthy ideas spotted this week, including an interactive seating chart at Washington's NACE Capital Style gala, cans of tomatoes turned into awards at New York's Eater Awards, a swimming performance at the Absolut Tune launch party in Miami, and Twilight-themed activities to keep camped-out fans entertained at the Los Angeles premiere.

Absolut Tune Launch Party
Absolut Tune Launch Party
Absolut Vodka launched its latest vodka on November 13 at an ExtraExtra-produced event at the Standard Miami Beach. Self-sealing mylar balloons spelling out the brand's line were clustered as a backdrop for a synchronized swimming performance by the Dolphinettes to music by DJ Mia Moretti.
Photo: Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
NACE Capital Style Gala
NACE Capital Style Gala
The National Association for Catering and Events hosted its annual gala on November 11 at the Liaison in Capitol Hill, where event planners used a seating chart from Social Tables. The new software allowed guests to register online beforehand, and once they checked in, their avatars lit up on the screen to display their tablemates.
Photo: Evelyn Alas
NACE Capital Style Gala
NACE Capital Style Gala
The event was designed after the theme Once Upon a Time, featuring details from storybook tales. As a nod to the poisoned apple in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, escort cards by Meant to be Calligraphy were attached to red apples from Edge Floral.
Photo: Evelyn Alas
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere Events
'The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part 2' Premiere Events
Ahead of the Los Angeles screening of Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn—Part Two on Monday, 2,000 fans camped for days on a completely closed Chick Hearn Court, as well as a second overflow fan camp at the Event Deck at L.A. Live—but they weren't bored. For the duration of the five days leading up to the premiere, fans had access to activities, like screenings of past Twilight films, plus a number of planned surprises on the Nokia Plaza.
Photo: Line 8 Photography. All rights reserved.
I.A.A.P.A. Attractions Expo
I.A.A.P.A. Attractions Expo
The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions created a 40,000-square-foot event space in a corner of the trade show that in past years was used to store shipping crates. Organizers used the space, dubbed the I.A.A.P.A. Theatre, in a theater configuration for the kickoff event; with high-top tables for an evening cocktail reception; and with round tables for a breakfast session and then an awards program.
Photo: Claire Pacelli for BizBash
Auditorium Theatre’s “An Evening in Monmarte” Gala
Auditorium Theatre’s “An Evening in Monmarte” Gala
Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre hosted its annual gala last week, and in honor of its then-current production, the ballet Moulin Rouge, the gala at the Palmer House Hilton took on a Paris-inspired look. Caricature artists and costumed can-can dancers roved the cocktail reception, and dinner was a French meal that ended with an array of prettily plated miniature desserts.
Photo: Robert Carl
2012 Eater Awards
2012 Eater Awards
Food blog Eater hosted the third annual Eater Awards on Monday night at New York's Bowery Hotel to celebrate its picks for the best food and drink from around the country. By the DJ booth, cans of peeled tomatoes covered in custom wrappers emblazoned with the names of the award winners were stacked in tiers.
Photo: Sam Horine
2012 Eater Awards
2012 Eater Awards
Eater selected 10 Eater Award-winning chefs to serve up some of their signature dishes to the crowd from buffet tables placed around the Bowery Hotel’s second-floor space. Jeff McInnis of Yardbird Southern Table & Bar in Miami created a display of housemade charcuterie that included venison and beef jerky, Slim Jim sticks, pork head cheese, and pickles.
Photo: Sam Horine
The Kenneth B. Schwartz Compassionate Healthcare Dinner
The Kenneth B. Schwartz Compassionate Healthcare Dinner
One of our Top 100 Boston events, the Kenneth B. Schwartz Compassionate Healthcare Dinner took place November 8 at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center. This year’s event employed more technology than in years past: Flat-screen monitors teased prizes for the evening’s drawing, and video footage showcased each item.
Photo: Courtesy of Schwartz Center
Absolut Tune Launch Party
Absolut Tune Launch Party
To decorate the dance floor at the Absolut party, silver garlands by Confetti System were draped above the dance floor, and a gold mylar Absolut Tune sign (also by Confetti Systems) decorated the stage area.
Photo: Seth Browarnik/WorldRedEye.com
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