Activities

To mark the launch of a collaboration between Mindy Weiss and Wedding Paper Divas on a new collection, the well-known social event planner and the social stationer hosted an intimate, feminine luncheon at Los Angeles's new Lombardi House on February 25. Guests created their own terrariums using succulents, moss, and twigs for a D.I.Y. take on the trend of incorporating living elements into wedding decor.

In another activity area, guests painted cookies with watercolor paints. Cookies came from Joanie and Leigh's Cakes.

Guests could also create their own bags of custom potpourri.

Shutterfly—which creates personalized gifts, cards, and decor—hosted a D.I.Y.- theme holiday event in November at Sopra in New York. The event offered crafty projects including a design-your-own pillow station.

At the 2014 event in Toronto, guests were invited to participate in a doughnut-decorating challenge that let them customize their own treats with toppings such as chocolate and sprinkles.

UrbanDaddy and Grey Goose partnered to present a French-theme Summer Soiree, which showcased the vodka brand's Simply Served cocktail program. They ended a seven-city tour on the Roof at the Viceroy in New York on August 5. Video and GIF booths were located throughout the space for guests to share and print photos, as well as to post videos to Instagram and Twitter using the event hashtag for a chance to win a trip to France.

As part of the event's French theme, catering included a bite-size take on steak frites.

Ballet Hispanico's 2015 Spring Gala honored Cuban civic leaders. The event, which had a theme of “Noche Cubana,” took place in March at the Plaza Hotel's Grand Ballroom in New York and featured performances by the Ballet Hispanico Company as well as other entertainers. 

The Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS held its fourth annual end-of-summer fund-raiser, Picnic by Design, at Ramscale Studio in New York on August 5. Seventeen designers created elaborate picnic baskets that attendees could bid on during silent auctions at the event. Inspired by the High Line, CetraRuddy’s geometric picnic basket won the highest bid. The spread featured lush greens and blues to mimic the look and feel of the elevated park in New York. 

Inspired by George Seurat's painting "A Sunday in the Park With George," the picnic spread designed by Rixner & Wright and created by Hohl Furnishings featured bold turquoise and a dining set from Lenox. 

The last major debut of the summer, Straight Outta Compton’s world premiere took over the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live on Monday. Universal senior vice president of special projects Hollace Davids served as executive producer of the event, with design and production from ELS, led by Joel Goldman. The arrivals area included a giant turntable decor piece alongside elevated logos.

For the June 9 premiere of Jurassic World in Los Angeles, Joel Goldman and ELS worked with Universal's Davids to produce and design a rare premiere in the round, dressing all three tiers of Hollywood & Highland, including a massive covering atop the complex's grand archway. 

The Salvation Army celebrated its 150th anniversary with a convention in London from July 1 to 5. Digital signage representing the event's "Boundless" theme and 20 unique wall murals greeted guests as they emerged from the tube station and made their way to the entrance of the O2 Arena. 

Printed with vegetable-based inks, Tattly's collection includes 313 temporary tattoo options, such as vintage cameras, friendship bracelets, and black-and-white typography. The Brooklyn-based company has worked with brands such as DreamWorks, NPR, and Twitter on custom projects, which are available as individual tattoos or as sets of six. The individual tattoo packages start around $500 each, while the sets start from $5,000. 

DCanter Capitol Hill, a Washington wine boutique, launched a new e-commerce site that offers same-day delivery in the city for corporate office parties, impromptu happy hours, and other events. It also can host private classes in its tasting room or off site.

Starbucks Canada partnered with YouTube star Lauren Riihimaki (also known as LaurDIY) to promote its new Teavan Sparkling Tea Juices by turning a local Toronto café into a "Sparkle Shop" on August 8. People who stopped by the pop-up shop were able to sample the beverages, meet Riihimaki, and get "sparkled" by brand ambassadors who were on site to glitter hair, beards, nails, sunglasses, and more.

Community-driven hospitality company Airbnb partnered with SF Pride for a second year and launched a #HostWithPride pop-up. The activation traveled to various neighborhoods over a two-week period, encouraging residents to participate in D.I.Y. activities and a community art installation.