Best Businesses

#13 Entertainment & Media Event
Elle Women in Hollywood Awards at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills draws a celeb-packed house, and is a don’t-miss for Hollywood A-listers. Elle took over hosting duties for the event in 2007 after Premiere magazine folded. Next: October 2012

Elle's Women in Hollywood awards gave the Four Seasons's ballroom a clean look inspired by its sponsors.

Burgundy callas in silver vessels decked the stage.

L'Oreal glosses made up an Eiffel Tower decor and branding piece.

Silver decor pieces decorated a bar.

Two 16-by 9-foot screens flanked the main stage.

Smoked plexi covered alternating tabletops.

Burgundy callas added pops of color on the tabletops.

The event brought out an A-list crowd of presenters and honorees.

At TEDActive in Palm Springs, buttons with blank fields labeled "Talk to Me About ... " invited guests to write a short list of topics they love or are knowledgeable about, to encourage meaningful mingling.

On the first day of the conference, passed breakfast selections included smoked salmon on miniature bagels.

Guests also noshed on yogurt with fruit and granola. The miniature parfaits were passed on trays decked in cute, checkered napkins.

Other vendor-passed breakfast selections included compressed watermelon salad in cones, deviled eggs with bacon and smoked paprika, mini "St. Francis" quiches, assorted danishes, plus "super food" bubble smoothies in flavors such as pomegranate and honeydew.

Colorful tubes held breakfast-smoothie shooters.

One server, dubbed the "Rocket Man," had a backpack filled with coffee.

Lunch on day one was served family-style and presented on a lazy Susan. Food options included assorted artisan rolls and pita triangles with hummus, olive tapenade, lemon thyme, and olive oil.

On the second day, guests sat down to a "Napa-style picnic lunch." Snack options included baskets of rolls, pitchers of pink lemonade, and Mason jars filled with cookies.

Day two had a packed schedule, so guests who couldn't sit down for lunch had a grab-and-go option.

Guests filled small bags with Bavarian pretzel sandwiches with roasted turkey, honey mustard, and spinach.

Grab-and-go options also included Mason jars filled with Italian pasta salad.