Ideas

Pyrotechnic drummers—with the help of computer-generated fire—elicited a lively reaction from the audience during the opening number of Telemundo's May 14 upfront presentation at Lincoln Center in New York.

On May 10, Volkswagen launched its new joint dealership with Audi in Manhattan with a rooftop bash. Behind a counter designed to look like a miniature food truck—a VW truck, of course— chefs from Tacombi filled crispy shells with corn, peppers, and seasoned beef. A counter wrapped the side of the mock truck where guests could chow down on their snacks.

At the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum's Butterfly Ball in Chicago on May 3, the gala had a farm-like atmosphere. Playing off the event's "Savour Nature" theme, Event Creative brought in vegetable-centric decor. Tables were decked with miniature gardens potted with tomatoes, colorful peppers, asparagus, and kale; around the centerpieces, fairy lights in miniature Mason jars added to the elegant yard-party vibe.

On May 9, nearly 300 artists and art patrons celebrated the Santa Monica Museum of Art’s 25th anniversary. The dinner was prepared by Suzanne Goin of Lucques and envisioned by iconic chef Alice Waters of Chez Panisse. Dates and tangerines made a colorful presentation in the menu.

Nearly 750 people attended the 54th annual Clio Awards last week for a glamorous evening honoring the advertising industry at the American Museum of Natural History in New York. An interactive Winners Gallery, which allowed attendees to view 400 works from 10 different mediums, included a touch-screen format that allowed guests to browse and watch the winning commercials.

Grohe's New York showroom was covered in graffiti during the launch party for its Grandera bathroom collection. Held May 13, the event featured a digital art piece from French artist Antonin Fourneau. Called "Water Light Graffiti," the work comprised a wall of LED panels that lit up when they came into contact with water.

For a March 25 kickoff party for a corporate conference, GEP Destination Management recreated Washington's museums and monuments at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center. A replica of Julia Child's kitchen from the National Museum of American History area had star gobos and red and blue linens.

USA Network's upfront presentation was held on May 16 inside Basketball City, a massive sport facility in New York's Lower East Side. Just after sunset, a barge bearing the USA logo docked in the East River across from the deck to stage a spectacular fireworks show that had guests oohing and ahhing—and grabbing for their smartphones to snap photos.

The 13th annual Friends of the High Line benefit returned to New York's Pier 57 on May 14. To counteract the damp, chilly space, baskets of pashminas were left on benches constructed from reclaimed wood and cinder blocks.

From Serena Bass for Special Attention Caterers in New York, the updated take on sliders contains grilled sirloin meatball skewered with romaine hearts, tomato, cheddar cheese, bacon crisp, brioche crouton, and chipotle mayo.