An dramatic art installation was made from multicolor neon ribbons at PopSugar and ShopStyle's Cabana Club hotel takeover. The piece was a collaboration with the Las Vegas festival Life Is Beautiful.
The hosts' names decorated the hotel's existing privacy hedging, which was visible from the street entrance.
Established 25 years ago, the Allie Awards recognize Atlanta event companies. Awards are doled out in categories such as design, production, and planning, and this year's ceremony was held March 6 at the Georgia Aquarium. The event's theme, “Xperience the Elements,” played out in three themed environments that channeled earth, water, and fire. For the water-inspired space, Your Event Solutions created a 16-foot-long table with a built-in water feature.
Wolfgang Puck's after-party desserts, inspired by fire, included a variation on Twinkies made with red velvet cake.
Although the massive BNP Paribas Open draws nearly half a million tennis spectators to the Southern California desert—selling out hotels all over the Palm Springs area—the sporting event recently drew just 50 guests to one very intimate dinner. And it took place center court of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden stadium. Nobu created dishes that paired with Moët champagnes for the March 20 event.
The Pink Tie Party, which serves as the unofficial kickoff of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, celebrated its 10th year at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center on March 18. This year, DJ Sharkey's booth moved to above the center of the main bar.
The festival partnered with landscaping firm Land Design to bring the outdoors in with an illuminated cherry blossom tree at the center of the bar in the lower oculus, creating a modern interpretation of hanami, the Japanese tradition of reveling in the blooming of the cherry blossom trees.
Elegance remains a popular aesthetic for weddings, baby showers, and other personal celebrations. For example, an elderflower champagne cocktail with an edible flower garnish in crystal coupe glasses, accompanied by a large crystal punch bowl on a vintage gold bar cart, was presented at the Toast the Trends event hosted by the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and bridal company Elaya Vaughn by Kate Pankoke in September.
Vans, the sneaker and sportswear brand, celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. To mark the milestone, the brand launched its “House of Vans” concept in 10 international markets this month. At the New York event, 500 guests went home with customized Vans sneakers.
Guests are guaranteed a good time at playful events featuring unexpected elements. For example, for an art-theme event, Brooklyn, New York-based floral, decor, and production company Birch Events created the bar’s backdrop out of all-white paintbrushes.
Many event vendors and hosts are forgoing overly polished and posh parties for the elegantly undone nature of the bohemian aesthetic. For example, The Los Angeles-based Seed Floral Interactive offers a flower cart, which can be branded or painted any color.
Beets may have gotten their start as a staple in rustic grub, but lately the humble root vegetable has been making appearances on lots of catering menus. For example, the beet salad by executive chef Tanya Baker at the Boarding House in Chicago features herbed goat cheese, cashew streusel, and a carrot reduction.
Create a virtual celebrity photo opportunity with Air Graffiti Dallas’s new augmented reality technology. The new system, which launches this summer, is intended for brands that are looking for ways to leverage their celebrity endorsement contracts. Air Graffiti Dallas shoots a brief video of the celebrity in advance, for example, walking into the shot, waving, or bouncing a ball. At the live event, fans stand in a designated photo area, and the video of the celebrity is virtually added to the image. Guests receive copies of the images, which can include sponsor branding, to share via email, text, or social media.
Photoboxx is a social media printing station for parties and events. When guests post their photos to Twitter or Instagram using a designated hashtag, the Photoboxx printer automatically prints a hard copy. Hosts can customize the background color of the prints and also add graphics or logos. They can also choose whether to display or hide information such as username, profile image, and comments. After the event, Photoboxx provides a report on hashtag usage, impressions, and reach.
The SloMo Lounge from Air Graffiti Dallas turns four seconds of video into a 30-second slow-motion playback. The system uses a high-speed, high-definition camera to record guests interacting with one another and with quirky props so the playback can reveal funny facial expressions. Guests receive a copy of the video, and they can select stills from it to print on site; all the content is shareable via email, text message, or social media. The activation can be set up in a 10- by 10-foot area and can be done with a plain white, black, or green screen backdrop.
Add a splash of bright colors to event photos with the Neon Video Booth from Foto Master. Guests stand in front of a dark backdrop and use an LED spray can or pen to create virtual doodles. A camera in front of the guests uses an algorithm to detect and track the LED light. The resulting image of guests and their artwork can be saved as a video or turned into photos, GIFs, or flip books, all with brand logos and messages. Hosts can choose the color and size of the neon pen.
Marc Jacobs capped off a snow- and ice-filled Fashion Week schedule with a palate cleanser of a show evident immediately from the 500 soft sculpture clouds—individually hung at two different points and slightly altering heights—encased in stretch-jersey-covered foam. The set designer was Stefan Beckman, and KCD produced the 2014 show.
