Toronto Popcorn Company creates gift bags and tins and provides catering for meetings and events. The company, which is located in Toronto’s Kensington Market neighborhood, makes the snack in unusual flavors such as piña colada and cookies and cream and can prepare custom blends and gift labels. Staffers can produce as many as 10,000 gift bags, which start at $2 each, with two weeks’ notice.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, the Ford’s Theatre Society will present the exhibition “Silent Witnesses: Artifacts of the Lincoln Assassination” from March 23 to May 25, 2015. On display at the Center for Education and Leadership in Washington will be a collection of items that were in the theater or carried by Lincoln the night of his death, including his top hat, cuff button, and coat with the contents of his pockets, as well as John Wilkes Booth’s Derringer pistol and the bunting flag from the theater’s presidential box.
The spa at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando reopened this winter following a $1.5 million renovation and rebranding as the Marilyn Monroe Spa. Inspired by the star’s California home, guests can choose from more than 100 treatment options offered in seven private rooms and a couples’ suite. In addition to massages, manicures, pedicures, and facials, the spa offers makeup application, blow-dry services, and eyebrow waxing. For groups, the spa can customize its offerings, including express services that can be coordinated with conference schedules.
Voilà Chocolat founder Peter Moustakerski recruited Christophe Toury (formerly of Jacques Torres Chocolate) and Dennis Teets (formerly a chocolate scientist for Hershey’s) to create an artisanal, interactive chocolate-making experience. Scheduled to open tomorrow in New York, the shop allows guests to make high-end chocolates, like gourmet truffles and chocolate bars, 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.
Classic Party Rentals recently debuted a furniture line designed and handmade in Los Angeles and customized for easy loading, transportation, and event usage. The rental company’s collections include a seven-piece modern leather set, traditional French country pieces, and casual outdoor wicker furniture. All items are available in California, Arizona, and New Mexico; pricing is from $75 to $495.
The recently renovated Marriott Stanton South Beach in Miami Beach has debuted “Selfie Spots,” five areas within the beachfront hotel designated as the perfect place to snap selfies. The areas are marked by a circular sticker and have the hashtag #StantonSelfie and the hotel’s social handles.
Host a private party at Cirque du Soleil’s Amaluna, which is introducing a new “VIPRouge” experience at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, that’s suitable for both intimate and large groups. In addition to the best seats, guests will have access to a lounge area with food and wines from December 11 to January 4. The VIPRouge Salon option is a customizable experience designed for as many as 40 guests, while the VIPRouge Suite with a private reception is an ideal venue for groups of as many as 120 people.
Perfume house Krigler opened its first West Coast location at the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills in November. The shop includes a fragrance lab where guests can create their own custom scents and perfumed candles. During private sessions with current owner and fifth-generation perfumer Ben Krigler, guests can create unique fragrances meant to match their personalities and complement specific body chemistry.
Chicago rental company Shadow Box Dreams specializes in vintage furnishings. Owner Elaine Juriduco stocks pieces from all eras, focusing on French and provincial furniture such as sofas, settees, tables, and chairs. She also offers accent pieces such as old suitcases and vintage gumball machines. Juriduco previously focused on weddings, but she now provides services for meetings and events.
Billed as Boston’s first macaron truck, Cameo Macaron is a pale pink vehicle decked with Paris-inspired images. Serving the delicate treats in flavors such as Rose Petal and Island Coconut, owner Kinesha Elizabeth Goldson rents out the truck for private functions. She also works with local event firm Behind the Design to create custom dessert tables for weddings and events.
"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).
