Chicago design firm INDO uses sustainably sourced materials for installations, window displays, and interiors. Recently, founders Linsey Burritt and Crystal Hodges decked a tent ceiling with 200 sheets of red screen-printed polypropylene from a local recycling company. The duo is currently working on designing an event-friendly collection of rentable backdrops and self-supported structures.
Move over, sliders: miniature pizzas are trending. In Beverly Hills, California, Cory Martin Events is now serving an array of bite-size pies made with seasonal ingredients. Think fresh burrata caprese, organic enoki mushroom and truffle, and roasted fingerling potatoes with caviar.
Interactive marketing display company ZoomKube has launched the ZK100, a stand-alone touch-screen kiosk that allows consumers to interact with a brand while it captures real-time feedback, such as information accessed and time spent. The portable display is designed for use at events, product launches, and conventions, and includes customizable software, a built-in camera, social media sharing, badge-scan capability, and a heat or air-conditioning unit for outdoor use. The product is available to rent for around $10,000 per event.
The Boca Raton Resort & Club in Florida has launched the Surf School by Billabong at the Beach Club. Offerings include private group lessons, clinics, and “Surf Off” competitions.
New Boston floral design company Wild Folk Studio, run by New England native and self-taught floral designer Caroline O’Donnell, can provide soft, rustic arrangements with an eclectic garden aesthetic for events.
Now available in the New York area through Classic Party Rentals is the ZAK Collection, a line of four design suites: Library (traditional oak), Chester (tufted leather), Mirror (beveled mirror panels), and Parsons (sleek dark wood).
Wise Guys Events in Los Angeles has launched a Minute to Win It-style teambuilding event. Teams of eight face off against one another at stations each featuring a different timed task like stacking five apples. The company stages events in California and Las Vegas.
Philadelphia restaurateur Stephen Starr continues his New York takeover: His catering and events division is now the in-house food and beverage provider at the New York Botanical Garden, handling all special events. This fall, Starr’s team will also become the exclusive caterer at Carnegie Hall.
Orlando’s Totally Mod Event Furnishings has a new faux leather dining collection that offers a sleek look without the need for linens. The tables can be wrapped in white, red, brown, or black fabric with matching chair pads. The base of the table can be designed to match the top or can glow in any color. Rental prices start from $100.
Groups can catch a wave on dry land with the new Surf Break option at Southern California’s Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel. During the 15- to 30-minute meeting break, instructors teach guests how to ride specially designed skateboards that simulate riding a wave.
If you’re looking to disguise a staid-looking hallway in a hotel ballroom, check out Las Vegas–based FWR Rental Haus’s modular tunnel, which can display fully customized graphics. Mirrored surface tunnels are also an option. The rentable items are available nationwide.
A new way to serve cocktails, sorbet, and more: Molten Ice glasses are available in Toronto through the Idea Hunter. The special ice fits into a rentable glass or disposable container and won’t dilute drinks.
At the summertime event in Washington, a "Destination Asia" cart included shrimp and snow pea leaf dumplings, chicken dim sum, and miso-glazed pork belly with steamed buns.
In Chicago, Boutique Bites Catering serves mini braised beef short rib "Shepherd's Pie" appetizers with tiny mugs of Guinness. "These are very popular at events, especially among men," said owner Elaina Vazquez.
The black-and-white color scheme carried over into decor elements such as festive cocktail straws. The evening's signature drink was called "the Diviner," named after a novel by Margaret Laurence.
The Big Give charity event took place at Toronto's new Ripley's Aquarium on January 23. Debra Novack, president of LOL Candy, brought in desserts that would match with the “Under the Sea” theme. The dessert station included “sweet sushi” (or, candy in the shape of sushi) that rested on miniature ships.
Something to smile about: New York’s newly renovated Affinia Manhattan hotel has partnered with Operation Smile to deliver a meeting break that lets attendees build their own classic banana splits; 15 percent of proceeds are donated to the nonprofit.
The Hotel Monaco Alexandria near Washington is now offering county-fair-theme catering options for events, including mini funnel cakes, cotton candy, and root beer floats. Staffers can also set up carnival-style activities.
“The signature cocktail is the ‘Winter Warmth’—a blend of Belvedere vodka, sweet vermouth, milled cherry juice, and eggnog froth with a dusting of nutmeg and a star anise garnish.” Cocktail from Shiraz Events in Miami, New York, Los Angeles and London
"The most interesting cocktail trend I noticed at Tales this year were cocktail fountains," says Claire Smith, Belvedere Vodka's head of spirit creation and mixology. "I think these will gain popularity at corporate events because they are both fantastic for serving signature cocktails to larger groups and also serve as a gorgeous decorative element for an event." Another vodka brand, Absolut, used cocktail fountains at its party during Tales of the Cocktail (pictured).
“We are absolutely trending towards an era of less reverential and more irreverent cocktail drinking," says Jamie Gordon, manager of mixology for Pernod Ricard USA. "There is still a great appreciation towards the craft as a whole, but bartenders are finally working out that a tongue-in-cheek delivery of a good drink still delivers a good drink.” At the Absolut party during Tales of the Cocktail, servers used syringes to serve shots to guests in a room with the feel of a mad scientist's lab (pictured).
