The 230-foot-long wall of ice created for a Y-3 show during Fashion Week in New York. Etienne Russo, one of BizBash’s most innovative people in events and meetings this year, collaborated on the event.
Photo: Keith Sirchio for BizBash
High visibility of NYC landmark ideal for brand presence
The 2014 CBGB Music & Film Festival, which takes place October 8 to 12, will showcase a lineup of artists, including Jane’s Addiction, Devo, Macy Gray, and We Are Scientists, along with music-focused films, such as the East coast premiere of Like Sunday, Like Rain, starring Leighton Meester, Debra Messing, and Billie Joe Armstrong. The five-day festival will be held at venues across Manhattan and Brooklyn, including Times Square, Center548, Bowery Electric, City Winery, Pianos, and Knitting Factory. Each event is individually priced, starting at $10.
Photo: Gina LeVay
Voilà Chocolat founder Peter Moustakerski has recruited Christophe Toury as master chocolatier (formerly of Jacques Torres Chocolates) and Dennis Teets as head of chocolate technology (formerly a chocolate scientist for Hershey’s) to create an artisanal, interactive chocolate-making experience. Opening in early November on Manhattan's Upper West Side, the shop will allow guests to make high-end chocolates, like gourmet truffles, chocolate bars, and more, in 30- to 60-minute sessions. Pricing for classes ranges from $39 to $79, with special advanced classes and projects ranging from $100 to $150.
Photo: Courtesy of Voilà Chocolat
Since denim is a big trend for fall events, Taylor Creative has expanded its Lounge Modular and Mercer collections to include washed dark denim options. The rental company has also added new tufted items—the Griffin cube, $95, and bench, $175—in a micro-striped denim. Prices for the Lounge Modular Denim and Mercer Denim pieces range in price from $115 to $225; all items are available in New York for events throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.
Photo: Courtesy of Taylor Creative Inc.
In honor of Oktoberfest, Belgian Beer Café NoMad will offer a Bavarian-inspired dish: Boudin Blanc and Boudin Noir sausages steamed in Brunehaut Bio Amber from October 1 to 31. The new menu item comes accompanied by roasted apple stoemp—a tradition in Belgium where leftovers are mixed into mashed potatoes—and hard cider mustard.
Photo: Courtesy of Belgian Beer Café NoMad
Chef Michael Psilakis will open two different restaurants, both housed in the same space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in November. The first is a yet-to-be named drinking hall, offering local beers, do-it-yourself cocktails, and Greek street food. The space will also be home to the fourth location of Psilakis’s popular MP Taverna—his modern interpretation of a traditional Greek tavern, which offers meze plates, lamb burgers, and more.
Photo: Andre Baranowski
Maman, a bakery and café opening in SoHo on October 6, will serve family-inspired recipes from the South of France and North America. Designer Elisa Marshall, one of the bakery's partners, plans to bring a homey, vintage aesthetic to the space.
Photo: Courtesy of Maman Bakery & Café
Guests of Bar 21 at the 21 Club can raise their beer steins to celebrate Oktoberfest now through October 31. The festivities feature German and American Oktoberfest drafts, such as Warsteiner Oktoberfest from Warstein and Hofbräu Oktoberfest from Munich, as well as local Blue Point Oktoberfest from Long Island. Plus, executive chef Sylvain Delpique serves a new German-inspired lunch menu and bar bites, including homemade pretzels and pork schnitzel with lemon-thyme fingerling potatoes and haricot verts.
Photo: Courtesy of 21 Club
Jason Bauer of Crumbs Bake Shop and entrepreneur Elisabeth de Kergorlay recently opened Babeth’s Feast on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The premium frozen food store offers 360 products, including breakfast items, hors d’oeuvres, appetizers, soups, side dishes, and main courses, allowing party planners to stock up on menu items ahead of time. The selection ranges from traditional French dishes, such as mini Provencal quiches, aubergines gratin, and coq au vin, to American favorites, including franks in a blanket, lobster mac 'n' cheese, and three-berry crumble. Dishes feed two to six people, with appetizers priced at $3.50 per serving and main courses, $7 per serving. Citywide and national home delivery is also available.
Photo: Courtesy of Babeth’s Feast
Proceeds from September's Adler Planetarium Celestial Ball gala in Chicago went to benefit educational programs. Proud teen participants of those programs circulated to tables as so-called "science sommeliers." Guests could pick from a list of experiments and activities printed on the backs of their menus, and the budding scientists would perform their choice tableside. For example, "Touch Another World" allowed guests to hold pieces of meteorite in their hands, and “The Starry Messenger” allowed guests to look through refracted lenses.
Photo: Eric Rademacher
At the the Animal Rescue League of Boston's "Moonlight Ball" fund-raiser in 2010, organizers brought guests close enough to cuddle the cause they were there to support. Staff from the Animal Rescue League mingled amid the crowd with pets.
Photo: Matt West
The Los Angeles Children's Chorus' "Gala Bel Canto" fund-raiser in Los Angeles brought the young singers right to guests' tables to deliver personal messages in the form of videos available for viewing on iPads. (In the past, chorus members hand wrote thank-you notes for the guests.)
Photo: Lee Salem Photography
Washington's U.S.O. Gala offered viewfinders throughout the reception space. Inside, slides held information about the U.S.O. and its mission. To help guests feel connected to the troops, images included snapshots of soldiers with their families and serving on the front lines, alongside captions that read: “The U.S.O. is always by their side.”
Photo: Doug Van Sant Photography
In 2012, New York's massive Robin Hood Foundation Gala got a subway theme, where nontraditional centerpieces atop tables were printed with information on the areas the charity serves. The table toppers also served as placeholders for the IML interactive devices through which guests could donate on the spot.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
The National September 11 Memorial & Museum Gala put the event's purpose right on the tabletops, too: The 2013 gala included centerpieces that fit together as notched cards, bearing images of memorial visitors, construction workers, and first responders to Ground Zero.
Photo: Jamie Watts Photography
In February, the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay hosted its “Big Night” benefit, which included the big and little siblings alike. Big and little brothers were on hand to pass out photo booth props like glasses and mustaches to guests.
Photo: David Fox
In November last year, the 10th anniversary of Keep a Child Alive's Black Ball included locked jewelry boxes on tables. At a designated point, waiters placed a key with each donor's name on it onto the table. The keys unlocked the silver boxes, which contained personal thank-you notes from Alicia Keys and unique gifts like origami paper elephants.
Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris
The New World Symphony Gala in Miami provided guests with a memorable takeaway that underscored the event's purpose. Valet staffers placed individual thank-you notes written by the symphony's musician fellows in guests' cars.
Photo: World Red Eye
One gala opted to spell out its mission clearly for guests present to support it: The Trust for the National Mall's benefit luncheon used decor in the form of cut-out letters that specified the names of the mall's monuments and major events there.
Photo: Tony Powell
Planners predicted that nontraditional and tech-connected photo booths would continue to dominate events in 2014—and they did.
Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
“The Royal Chic tufted Chesterfield couches from Hire Elegance make a statement. They are impressive because they are so long, and when filling an event space, it is nice to be able to utilize large pieces of furniture like these couches.” —Brian Worley of YourBash in Santa Monica, California Royal Chic 13- and 20-foot tufted Chesterfield couches, $695 and $1,050, respectively, plus delivery, available in California, Phoenix, and Las Vegas from Hire Elegance
Photo: Sean Twomey/2me Studios
“Glassware can be mixed and matched to complement any color palette." —Jaime Geffen of YourBash in Santa Monica, California Colored glassware, prices upon request, available nationwide from Casa de Perrin
Photo: Courtesy of Casa de Perrin
“I like to rent a vintage car as the perfect accent for a period party." —DeJuan Stroud of DeJuan Stroud Inc. in New York Vintage car, from $1,500 to $5,000, available in New York from Model A Restorations
Photo: Courtesy of Model A Restorations
![“We have used linens by Party Tables in three recent events, including a party in Chattanooga [Tennessee], where I used a custom-made black-and-white pattern to fit the estate tables ranging in length from 16 to 60 feet. For a destination on Amelia Island [in Florida], Party Tables made custom jackets to fit over the venue’s existing wood barstools along with cloths for the highboys and pillows to accent the soft seating areas. It was one linen, three ways!” —Steve Bales of Bold American Events in Atlanta Linens, price upon request, available nationwide from Party Tables](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2015/01/chattanooga_blackandwhitelinens.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
“We have used linens by Party Tables in three recent events, including a party in Chattanooga [Tennessee], where I used a custom-made black-and-white pattern to fit the estate tables ranging in length from 16 to 60 feet. For a destination on Amelia Island [in Florida], Party Tables made custom jackets to fit over the venue’s existing wood barstools along with cloths for the highboys and pillows to accent the soft seating areas. It was one linen, three ways!” —Steve Bales of Bold American Events in Atlanta Linens, price upon request, available nationwide from Party Tables
Photo: Courtesy of Bold American Events
![“We love the oval table [from Lavish Event Rentals] as it is a new shape for a dining experience for guests to enjoy at an intimate and modern gathering.” —Karla Dascal of Karla Conceptual Event Experiences in Miami Oval dining table, $550, available throughout South Florida from Lavish Event Rentals](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2015/01/oval_dining_lider.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
“We love the oval table [from Lavish Event Rentals] as it is a new shape for a dining experience for guests to enjoy at an intimate and modern gathering.” —Karla Dascal of Karla Conceptual Event Experiences in Miami Oval dining table, $550, available throughout South Florida from Lavish Event Rentals
Photo: Courtesy of Lavish Event Rentals
“The Montana collection from Blueprint Studios is made from reclaimed wood, has a strong, solid feel, and can be used to create a number of different looks—from rustic cabin to contemporary loft—depending on the furniture you mix with it.” —Brian Worley of YourBash in Santa Monica The Montana collection, pricing varies, available nationwide from Blueprint Studios
Photo: Irja Elisa Photography
“I love the new Rachel collection from Suite 206. The smoky mirror look is so strong and sexy. It adds a lot of drama to any event setting and works great with all the metallic colors that are so popular right now.” —Todd Fiscus of Todd Events in Dallas Rachel collection, from $250 to $750, available nationwide from Suite 206
Photo: Jerry Hayes Photography
“I adore the Maxwell runner table and display pedestal or the high cocktail table from Taylor Creative. They disappear into any room, which keeps the environment looking less cluttered yet provides an elegant surface area for guests to rest their items on.” —Jes Gordon of Jes Gordon L.L.C. in New York Maxwell runner, $395, and highboy, $250, available in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions from Taylor Creative Inc.
Photo: Courtesy of Taylor Creative Inc.
“The Conveyer Belt by Signature Rentals is our personal favorite rental because it is a unique alternative to welcome cocktail, desserts, and food stations.” —Jeffry Roick of McNabb Roick Events in Toronto Conveyer Belt, $1,500, available in Canada from Signature Event Rental Shoppe
Photo: Henry Lin
"The Ruby Red collection from Bridge Furniture & Props is my favorite furniture to use for a speakeasy party.” —DeJuan Stroud of DeJuan Stroud Inc. in New York The Ruby Red furniture collection, from $295 to $895, available in New York from Bridge Furniture & Props
Photo: Courtesy of Bridge Furniture & Props
3-D Projection Mapping
The show featured elaborate projection mapping on the floor of the stage. The Warner Brothers International Television Distribution gala in 2012 filled a Burbank, California, lot with digital mapping by Bart Kresa Design, costumed entertainers, and an array of pyrotechnic stunts and decor. Aerialists from Lucent Dossier entertained from above the party space. Companies like Obscura Digital, Ninjaneer Studios, and Media Stage have also created such visual displays on existing buildings.
Photo: Nadine Froger Photography
LED Stage Floor
The set of Perry's performance also featured an elevated stage that had flooring lit up with vibrant lights. For a similar look, Energy Floors offers human-powered, interactive dance floors for event rental worldwide. The eight-inch-deep tiles each house small generators; the tiles compress when stepped on, activating the generators to convert the kinetic energy produced by the dancers into electricity. The power can be used to activate the colorful LED light tubes inside the tiles that respond to the movement of dancers or nearby electrical systems.
Photo: Anneke Hymmen
Illuminated Balls
The performance included a sea of illuminated orbs, held by performers clad in silver spandex. San Francisco company Got Light has similar fixtures, which they used at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's Modern Ball in 2014. Got Light collaborated with Stanlee Gatti on the night's overall design.
Photo: Courtesy of Got Light
HBO Emmys After-Party
A 30-foot-diameter floral chandelier made by Set Masters decked the yellow dining pavilion under a clear-top tent. Wolfgang Puck Catering's custom menu included on-theme treats, like flower-shaped cookies that seemed to bloom from flowerpots. DJs Spider and Daisy O'Dell spun for the crowd. Town & Country handled the rentals.
Photo: Gabor Ekecs
The teepee-style tents can hold as many as 400 people.
Photo: Carl Sadd
Photo: Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden
The Palmer House Hilton Hotel set up a tent to offer tastings from its Lockwood Restaurant and Potter's Lounge. To channel the venue's meld of old-world aesthetics and modern amenities, Event Creative designers filled the tent with plexiglass bars and crystal chandeliers.
Photo: Josh Sears for Event Creative
Tent companies cite an increase in requests for the Arcum tent, which has an arched beam and provides an alternative look to the traditional clearspan structure. Hollywood Tentworks in Pacoima, California, constructed an Arcum tent at L.A. Live for the 2011 N.B.A. All-Star Game.
Photo: Courtesy of Hollywood Tentworks
Available to rent in the U.S. for the first time, Denver-based EPS-Doublet’s (800.227.0337, epsdoublet.com) Stretch Tent line, manufactured by RHI Tents in South Africa, is made with waterproof stretch fabric. Larger tents can have sides up or down, while poles can be repositioned to accommodate more guests; units can also be wrapped around trees, rocks, and walls. The tents can be custom-colored and printed.
Photo: Courtesy of EPS-Doublet
On September 5, Target hosted a private party for V.I.P.s to preview the Shops at Target pop-up inside Highline Stages. Just past the entrance, a three-dimensional frame resembling the outline of a building served as the step-and-repeat.
Photo: Nilaya Sabnis
For the Museum of Modern Art’s film benefit on November 15 in New York, the celebrity arrivals backdrop wasn’t a step-and-repeat of logos but rather a wall of 20,000 fresh crimson-colored roses.
Photo: Jika González/BizBash
A hot chocolate to-go wall featuring custom mugs, gourmet marshmallows, and milk chocolate hot cocoa allowed partygoers to leave the sweet sixteen with a sweet treat.
Photo: Courtesy of Rodney Bailey
The sweet sixteen had an array of desserts, including a made-to-order gelato bar. Everett suspended the centerpiece—a five-foot custom-designed cake by the House of Clarendon.
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Gilbert Photography
A caricature artist added a traditional element to the punk-meets-Great Gatsby theme of the JDK Group-produced event.
Photo: Courtesy of Leslie Gilbert Photography
Seating Cards With a Twist
The Revel Group in Chicago hosted "Revel Provocateur," a dinner for the area's top event planners, on March 30 at Revel Downtown. Decked in black hues and Gothic-style decor, the event eschewed seating cards and instead printed guests' names on the back of chairs.
Photo: Erika Dufour
Photo: George Pimentel
Ardbeg Day
Local artist Juan Rozas entertained guests by painting “Ardie the Robot,” a character he created for the event.
Photo: Manny Hernandez
Night Swimming
The Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina has partnered with San Diego Bay Adventures for a nighttime water activity. Dubbed “Nite Opps,” the experience lets guests take guided tours through the San Diego Bay while standing on LED-lit paddleboards. Afterwards, guests gather around a fire for refreshments and Hawaiian-style storytelling. A typical group for the activity is 10 to 20 guests, but the program is available for larger numbers of attendees.
Photo: Ken Farren
Tenoverten
Photo: Courtesy of Tenoverten
