Favorite Articles and Ideas

With the use of QR codes, Chipp'd lets customers embed multimedia pages, private video messages, photos, and more in a variety of products, from handmade jewelry to letterpress-printed greeting cards. Recipients scan the code using the company's free app, triggering an authentication mechanism, which verifies that the person has permission to access the content.

Colorful new ottomans were on display as part of PBG Event Productions & Rentals' sports lounge collection. Pricing is available upon request.

Brooklyn-based Bitter & Esters hosts private events—on or off site—where guests take part in the craft-beer-brewing process through demonstrations, tastings, lectures, classes, and more. The company's events and recipes are completely customizable, so attendees can create their own corporate or personal brand of beer. Pricing starts at around $85 per person.

Giffy, event photo company Foto Novelty's new offering, takes a short video of guests and sends it via SMS text message to their phones. Guests can then share their animated GIFs, which can be customized to include an event logo, on their social media accounts.

Lighting production company Nice Uplights showed off its new holographic entrance at the expo. Guests can walk through a "holographic" video projected against a fine cascading water mist. It produces virtually no moisture or residue, and will not set off a venue's smoke alarms or fire suppression systems. The FogScreen can be suspended in any configuration or built into custom scenery or set pieces.

Inspired by classic and contemporary cocktails, Tipsy Scoop's liquor-infused ice cream comes in an assortment of flavors, such as dark chocolate whiskey and salted caramel, cake batter vodka martini, and Irish car bomb; each contains five percent alcohol. The company takes requests for flavors and can set up an ice cream bar at events.

Sustainable dinnerware company VerTerra demonstrated its latest product, a collapsible to-go box with attached lid for corporate event catering.

Preo promises to make ordering more convenient for guests at events, bars, stadiums, and venues. Without leaving their seats, guests can order food and beverages from their mobile devices through the app, and either pick up the items or have them delivered to their location.

Batter & Cream, a New York bakery specializing in handmade whoopie pies, displayed its new edible, customizable logos. The mini confections are available for events of all sizes—from large-scale corporate events to weddings, and can be packaged in boxes or served on platters.

Surface Grooves debuted a new custom-fabricated, laser-cut centerpiece for the 21st Living Landmarks Celebration, which takes place November 6 at the Plaza. The lighted decor item features a reusable base and removable panels that can be switched out for each event.

High Style Rentals' Diva square sofa (also available in a round shape) features white leather with diamond-tufted crystal buttons and mirrored stainless steel legs. The Brooklyn-based rental company also highlighted its new Cosmopolitan love seat in a purple velvet fabric with a chrome frame. Pricing is available upon request.

Boston design, decor, and planning firm Art of the Event just added rustic furniture rentals to its inventory. Items include the Chateau Bar, $1,500, which is made of grey-washed brown wood; matching Chateau round tables, $150 each; and a whitewashed picnic table with benches, $180.

The Minibar app offers hosts an easy way to stock the bar. Users can order beer, wine, spirits, mixers, and bar supplies (even cups and ice) for delivery within the New York area, including Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Hamptons. Order minimums are $25 in New York City, with a 30- to 60-minute delivery time, and $100 in the Hamptons, where the delivery time is two hours or less.

Candy boutique Sugarfina opened a second location at the Americana at Brand in Los Angeles this summer. The confections make for colorful gifts in cocktail-inspired varieties such as champagne gummy bears, spiced rum and Coke gummies, and peach Bellini gummies—all top sellers. The boutique‘s gifts come in its signature turquoise bento boxes, which can be customized with 140 candy varieties from around the world.

Cirque du Soleil’s whimsical show Kurios—Cabinet of Curiosities is playing at Toronto’s Port Lands through October 26. The production offers group tickets for parties of 12 or more, and parties of as many as 80 can book a preshow cocktail reception in the “Kurios” lounge. Hosts can also rent the entire big-top-style theater for a private show and custom-designed event.

In Chicago, the Eastman Egg Company provides catering for meetings and events. The company focuses on gourmet breakfast sandwiches such as “the Scoundrel,” which is served on a pretzel roll with egg, smoked turkey, white cheddar, wilted spinach, and spiced honey mustard. Packages include breakfast sandwiches with hot and iced coffee, orange juice, and sides; a food truck is also available for private events.

Provide self-service, secure phone charging for guests with Orlando-based Totally Mod’s charging locker unit. Twenty-four individual lockers are each equipped with three cords—one for iPhone 5, one for iPhone 4, and one micro-USB. Guests create their own four-digit code to secure the locker. The unit has two monitors on top that can run event content, and the four-sided base can be used for sponsor messages. Pricing starts at $3,750 for one week.

Event decor company Fox Ventures has launched a retail division called Juxtapose to provide reclaimed or repurposed items of furniture or custom-built pieces. Located in the company’s showroom in suburban Washington, Fox Ventures can recreate items spotted on sites like Pinterest with personal touches or create original designs for items such as event furniture and signage.

Warner Brothers Special Events now offers the Batman Exhibit, as part of its V.I.P. studio tour, available through the end of the year. At the Warner Brothers Museum in Los Angeles, guests can view a collection of costumes, props, gadgets, and memorabilia from all seven Batman movies and the classic TV show, including the original suits worn by Michael Keaton, Val Kilmer, George Clooney, and Christian Bale. Groups can then board Batman-theme tour carts to the studio’s Picture Car Vault, where they can dine as well as check out the character’s most famous vehicles, like the Batpod, Tumbler, and Batmobile.

Turn binge-watching into a group activity at Kimpton’s Hotel Rouge in Washington. A new package for groups of 10 people includes a cozy event space outfitted with a 50-inch television and streaming equipment, oversize beanbag chairs, and catering packages that include bites such as sweet potato tots, chicken wings, club sandwiches, and beverages.

The Boca Raton Resort & Club, a Waldorf Astoria Resort in Florida introduced a new snack break for meetings. The “Boca Buzzzz Break” includes warm honey collected from live beehives and drizzled over fresh pastries, granola, and Greek yogurt parfaits. The sweet treat can be paired with teapots and other beverages.

McCormick has saved money by investing in an adaptable stage set that it uses for a variety of special events and panel presentations, including its 125th anniversary event in Baltimore last December. Hargrove gives the set a fresh look for each event by changing the graphics, lighting, colors, and layout.

Signage from event sponsor Browns Shoes decorated the dance floor at Fashion Magazine's 35th anniversary event.

Helium-filled Zygote balls, which were printed with sponsors’ names, changed color when touched at a retail conference.