The Makr Shakr is a bartender, social sharing system, and alcohol consumption monitor in one robotic design. Designed by the M.I.T. Senseable City Lab in collaboration with the Coca-Cola Company and Bacardi Rums and produced by Italian firm Carlo Ratti Associati, the robot debuted at the Google I/O conference in May. Guests transmit their cocktail orders via the Makr Shakr app, then watch as three large, orange robotic arms mix up the prescribed combination of liquor, syrups, fruit mixers, and ice. The movements are precise enough to muddle a mojito and thinly slice a lemon. A large screen behind the bar displays a variety of stats, such as number of drinks in the queue, approximate wait time, drinks ready for pickup, and most popular spirits by gender. The app also allows users to see what type of drinks others are ordering, rate the drinks, and share photos on social networks. It also aims to promote responsible consumption by monitoring what a person orders and how often. The developers say for now Makr Shakr is a prototype, intended to be a “social experiment that looks at how people might embrace the new possibilities offered by digital manufacturing.”
Pernod Ricard UK tested iBeacons at its annual Summer Party in London on June 12. The company worked with Zappit to create a custom mobile app and engagement strategy for the party. With the app running on their smartphones, guests received a notification at a designated time to visit the main bar to sample a drink made with Malibu rum and served in coconut shells.
In advance of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the bash was held on July 13 at Epic Entertainment in Minneapolis. The event included performances by Nelly and B.o.B. To highlight the theme, planners splashed baseball gobos on the dance floor. Ark Endeavors L.L.C. and M.L.B.com produced the event; Blake Childs of Ruehling Associates Inc. produced the gobos.
For a cool cocktail on a hot day, Enolo Wine Bar in Chicago offers sorbet-and-champagne floats. The upscale treat is served in a coupe glass.
Another frosty dessert idea: Chicago-based catering firm Truffleberry Market serves frozen cinnamon-rum-bananas-Foster mousse.
For the recent launch of the Yoshi’s New Island game at West Hollywood’s Quixote Studios, Nintendo created a life-size version of the game’s Mega Eggdozers, which players use to smash through walls in the game. Guests helped create the Eggdozers' distinctive green spots by lobbing paint-filled balloons at the giant egg.
In celebration of the gay-rights celebration WorldPride Festival in Toronto, law firm McCarthy Tétrault hosted its own “Big Gay Party” on June 26. At the event, which had a summer barbecue vibe, the firm had buckets of customized flip-flops, which guests were free to take.
At the rainbow-hued event, flower vases were filled with miniature disco balls.
Planet Storage in Toronto's Junction Triangle was a surprising venue choice for Raw Material, an annual celebration of architecture and design hosted by architecture studio Raw on June 25. The cocktail bar was built using scrap metal and 3,000 bricks. Kim Graham and Associates produced the function.
The opening-night party for Nike's World Cup experience took place June 20 at Skylight Clarkson Square in New York and featured a Brazilian-inspired menu from Riviera Caterers. A two-person serving tray, decorated with artificial turf and mini soccer balls, held cones filled with Brazilian chicken salad.
For industrial-chic decor, a lighted metal arch tunnel is available nationwide from FWR Rental Haus.
Color-blocked beverages offered an appealing visual at the Farm to Table Brunch. The beverages, from American Harvest Organic Spirit, were the red-hued Peppered Mary with purees of tomatoes and red bell peppers; the yellow-hued Saved by the Bell with yellow bell pepper and green chili; and the green-colored Local Harvest, with basil leaves, lime, cucumber, and agave.
A display of spirits and yellow and red cherry tomatoes provided on-theme decor at the Exploring the Bloody Mary tasting seminar February 22 at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach.
