SWAY Events

Alliance Bakery created an eye-catching confection for the artist's birthday bash April 12, an affair that was presented by Hennessy Black and held at Lacuna Artist Lofts in Chicago. Weighing about 30 pounds, the red velvet cake with cream-cheese frosting was inspired by Andy Warhol's famous soup-can paintings.

Guests walked up a golden carpet and through giant "O" and "Z" letters to enter the event.

The Wicked Witch of the West's Winkie guards flanked the entrance.

Traditional interpretations of Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion were relegated to the entrance; high-fashion versions of the characters were upstairs.

High-fashion versions of the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch met on a stage in the haunted forest.

Each year the ball has an elaborate ice sculpture. This year it depicted trees in the haunted forest and presided over a raw bar.

Dorothy's crashed farmhouse served as a surround for the bar, and other design elements included a rotating windmill. Black-and-white decor included floral-printed linens that evoked the film's famous poppies.

Guests entered the main ballroom for dinner through an arched tunnel with 180-degree projection mapping and sound to evoke a tornado.

Instead of an Emerald City, designers opted for a "Crystal City." The linens had embroidered sequins that caught the light.

Headliner Diana Ross performed a 40-minute set.

The centerpiece of the after-party was a 30-look runway show from Neiman Marcus Bal Harbour. The after-party theme was "disco butterfly," and the clothing shown had a 1970s "glamazon" look, according to co-producer Clif Loftin.

Cocktail Courier offers cocktail kits stocked with all the ingredients necessary to prepare mixologist-designed drink recipes. Optional add-ons include mint julep silver cups or champagne flutes. Each box—which can be delivered to hotels or offices—makes several cocktails, and prices typically range from $5.99 to $7.99 per drink. The packages are available in New York and Chicago and in other states through interstate delivery.

Suited for events held at tropical destinations, towels from Australian brand Ziporah present a design-forward take on typical beach accessories. The items, $99 each, come in four colors, have metallic accents, and are designed with patterns inspired by mosaics. The company ships domestically and internationally.

Mouth, a company that provides gift bags stocked with snacks from independent brands, has thematic gift sets with titles such as “Candy Land” and “Snack Mouth.” The latter, from $38 to $80.75, contains sweet and savory items such as spiced pecans from the Treat Bake Shop and potato chips from the Billy Goat Chip Company. Products can be shipped throughout the United States.

Mira is a new Chicago-based line of wearable fitness trackers, $79, designed for women. Available in brushed gold or midnight purple, the sleek accessories are activated through an iOS app and track factors such as steps, distance, and elevation. It also provides personalized fitness-boosting tips. The product is available in the United States.

Help a road warrior pass time with travel checkers, $160, from New York’s Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. Designed by art and design company Fredericks & Mae, the set measures 13 by 13 inches and has a silk-screened playing surface and a storage compartment for game pieces.

SugarWish lets guests fill their own gift boxes with their favorite candies. Here’s how it works: The sender picks a SugarWish gift and e-card (the e-cards can be customized with corporate logos), and the recipient picks four candies—from options that include sugar-free gummy peaches and regular M&M’s. The boxes, from $25 to $70, are then immediately shipped out and can be sent throughout the United States and Canada.

Chicago-based brand Heritage Bicycles specializes in high-end, handcrafted bikes, as well as gift-worthy biking tools and accessories. The EH Works tool roll, $48, fits under a bike seat and contains 10 pockets and is handy for bike-to-work commuters. Products ship throughout the United States and Canada.

Home decor and accessories company Coral & Tusk makes passport holders, $60, embroidered with whimsical designs that represent travel destinations or animals. The products can be shipped throughout the United States and Canada.

Cocktail mixer brand Bittermilk offers a gift set called the Overnighter, $125. The handcrafted denim cocktail tote is stocked with a Mason jar shaker, a muddler, a jigger, and a hand-made cocktail mixer in a flavor of choice. Options include “Smoked Honey Whiskey Sour” and “Charred Grapefruit Tonic with Bulls Bay Sea Salt.” Products ship throughout the United States and Canada.

The portable Lumio Book Lamp, $190, provides quick and easy access to a reading light while on the go. Available through New York’s Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the light unfolds from a book of laser-cut wood and measures 6.5 by 8.5 inches. All of the museum’s gifts can be shipped throughout the United States and Canada.