On Sunday, Chicago's Joffrey Ballet hosted its Nutcracker Family Dinner at the Standard Club. At the dinner tables, a sign read: "In the Land of Sweets, it is proper etiquette to eat dessert first." For guests who wanted to abide by the Nutcracker-inspired protocol, tables held edible-gold-dusted cupcakes from Magnolia.
By Andrew Stevens and Kim Swift, We Came in Peace
“The concept is a dark twist on the classic holiday fête, using elements of mystery, drama, and Old Hollywood glamour. A speakeasy meets an underground masquerade in a cinematic pleasure palace, and the mood is set with a minimal palette of black and white. Finding a perfect venue is key; architectural details and grand spaces with an oversize fireplace are ideal. Then pools of smoky light are interspersed with gobos casting slatted-blind texture on the walls and floors. A lush tableau of exotic hors d’oeuvres spans the space, illuminated by tiers of candelabras. Reinterpretations of classic seasonal themes are woven into the space, such as a forest of suspended Christmas tree chandeliers, composed of blackened branches and adorned with ornaments. Entertainment is a smorgasbord of vices, including gambling, hand-rolled cigars, on-site tattooing, and private shows by shadow dancers. The soundtrack for the evening is provided by a live jazz band that performs holiday classics.”
“The centerpiece is a Frank Gehry-inspired table made of ice, created by Okamoto Studio, and topped with a frosted recycled Plexiglas tabletop. Locally grown white amaryllis are frozen inside the crystal clear ice.”
“The focal point of the cocktail space is a four-sided ice bar with a 20-foot gleaming ice- and crystal-flocked tree at the center. A vodka expert provides guests with educational information and samples served in carved ice shot glasses.” Ice bar and shot glasses from USAICE
