The Fox upfront took over New York's Beacon Theatre Monday afternoon. The media group also gave people plenty to buzz about before the show with a stunt for Scream Queens, a new comedy-horror series from Glee creator Ryan Murphy. Crowding the sidewalk outside the theater, a troop of college-age women in pink sweatshirts handed out packs of bubblegum, while a branded ice cream truck offered treats to passersby.
The Bata Shoe Museum celebrated its 20th anniversary with a gala celebration on May 7 for 300 guests. To direct guests to different areas, a maze motif wove through the event, and appeared in its decor and on the floor of the museum.
On May 5, Freightliner pulled off a dramatic product launch for its Inspiration Truck. Using the historic Hoover Dam as a massive projection screen, the truck producer displayed a presentation of video and imagery that told the story of the brand and its milestones. Hoover Dam became a screen the size of nine football fields for the stunt.
For the first time in 51 years, the City of Chicago played host to the N.F.L. Draft during a weekend of activities that ran from April 30 to May 2. A new, free fan festival known as “Draft Town” was held in Grant Park. At "Combine Corner," guests could participate in some of the same activities that prospects take part in at the N.F.L. Scouting Combine, including running the 40-yard dash.
To create a feeling of intimacy in the expansive Engelhard Court during the May 4 gala, benefit producer Raul Avila and his team lowered the ceiling to 14 feet by hanging nearly 200,000 stems of wisteria overhead.
The Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario hosted its 14th annual fund-raising gala on April 25 at the Liberty Grand Entertainment Complex. Instead of traditional floral centerpieces, designer Bill Fulghum decked tables at the circus-theme event with giant pieces of cotton candy.
The world premiere of the George Clooney picture Tomorrowland took place at Disneyland on May 9. A stilt walker outfitted in a balloon spaceship greeted fans.
The gala was held at Rosen Shingle Creek on May 16. Pastry chefs at the venue created a fitting dessert for a fashion show—milk chocolate shoes filled with fresh fruit and macarons.
Ladyfingers Letterpress created a book-like baby shower invitation with quotes and sentiments from the mommy-to-be’s favorite children’s stories. The cover was hand-sewn with gray-and-white baker’s twine, and a library card served as the R.S.V.P. card. Guests were encouraged to bring their favorite children’s book to help build the little one’s reading library.
Caplan Miller Events recently designed a Formula One-theme bar mitzvah for an Austin, Texas, teenager. The event took place at a local racetrack, where each garage was decorated as a different F1 location—Monaco, India, Shanghai, and Italy—with custom cabanas and international menu items, like vegetable samosas with tomato chutney, steak frites, and steamed dumplings, from Kurant Events.
At C2MTL, a Montreal conference that took place in May, Montreal-based caterer Agnus Dei created a popular interactive sorbet station. Rings of raspberry, mango, and coconut sorbet spun around a wheel, while guests simply had to hold up a scoop to the device to build their own cone.
The Yards hosted its second annual Side Yards at Yards Park on November 7 in Washington. The sideshow spectacle featured three stages of entertainment by Circus of Wonders, and a variety of hanging umbrellas were part of the event's decor.
Prudential Financial's first "4.01K Race for Retirement" took place November 7 at the R.F.K. Stadium Festival Grounds in Washington. More than 5,000 people participated, and post-race, runners played interactive games on iPads that helped them learn about retirement savings strategies.
To promote its new Twin Wash washing machine, LG hosted a daylong series of Broadway-inspired performances involving giant puppets in New York's Times Square on November 3. Choreographed by Joshua Bergasse, the show integrated the way the washing works by staging a "battle" between a pink robe (representing "delicates") against a striped shirt and pants (representing "regulars"), which were maneuvered by six puppeteers alongside dancers specializing in acrobatics, martial arts, and Brazilian martial art capoeira.
The 26th annual Fight Night, Fight for Children's largest annual fund-raiser, took place November 5 at the Washington Hilton in D.C. The evening paid tribute to Mohammed Ali and his iconic "Thrilla in Manilla" fight of 1975. A backdrop wall incorporated three screens that showed footage of iconic Ali fights as well as a trailer for the new boxing movie Creed.
Hargrove suspended boxing gloves from the ceiling behind the check-in desk.
Guests could test their strength with a speed bag machine at the V.I.P. reception.
Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS hosted Dining by Design at Chicago's Merchandise Mart November 4 and 5. Installations included a setup from Herman Miller Geiger Furniture by Gensler that was loosely inspired by a hospital waiting room. Syringes and small red toys were found on trays next to the wooden seats, and a ceiling of white balloons hung overhead.
Wolf Gordon by the Getty's Group curtained off its booth, and guests stood in line to enter the mysterious installation. With a "Secret Society of Benevolence" theme, the space had a back wall made of black envelopes sealed with golden hearts. Guests could take the envelopes off the wall, and instructions inside bid them to perform kind tasks, such as offering compliments to fellow partygoers. A large-scale graphic design was slowly revealed as guests took more envelopes.
A vignette from Leopardo by VOA evoked a Moroccan train car. Simple wooden tables, topped with white flowers and Moroccan tea glasses, were placed beside windows that appeared to look out onto scenery in motion.
Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art hosted its first Benefit Art Auction since 2010 on October 23. After the event, guests headed back to the museum to check out the auction artwork, which was displayed in the galleries. Glowing red tables held desserts, including mini caramel apples, dark chocolate tartlets with peanut butter mousse, mini Pop-Tarts, and "boozy heart" truffles.
VH1's #BestLollaEver activation had a giant screen that showcased social media buzz about the festival. A GIF booth allowed guests to hop in and capture images, which were also displayed on the screen.
Toyota's "Hybrid House-Party" offered hairstyling, free cooling bandanas, and cell phone charging. But the most popular aspect of the activation was the silk-screen tote bags, which attracted long lines that waited 45 minutes or more.
At the "Samsung Galaxy Experience," Samsung offered henna tattoos on festival grounds. Guests could pick a design from photos displayed on the Galaxy S 4 and Galaxy Note 8.0. At another station, flower wreaths were available.
To promote its upcoming Chicago shop, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams brought a colorful truck to the Artist Lounge. At a walk-up window, guests could get cold treats in flavors like salted caramel.
On Saturday, Fiji Water and Gilt City hosted the Better-Than-Backstage Rooftop Pool Party. Treats included snow cones made with Fiji Water.
DJ Matt Roan spun at a station splashed with the Gilt City logo.
The event's main feature is an intimate performance from a Lollapalooza act, and this year's event offered live music from MS MR.
UrbanDaddy and Mini Cooper partnered to launch "Mini Night Out," which debuted at Lollapalooza. Through the campaign, guests could reserve a ride in the new Mini Paceman on Friday and Saturday for a "nightlife adventure," which included stops at Lollapalooza parties around town. Media, local influencers, and festival bands such as Imagine Dragons (pictured) sampled the service, which left from the Hard Rock Hotel.
BMF Media Group returned to the Hard Rock Hotel to host the "It's so Miami Lounge" throughout the weekend. Covered in AstroTurf, the sunny fourth-floor space had lounge areas, live DJs, and plenty of sponsor activations. Barefoot Wine & Bubbly (pictured) sent in a sand sculptor.
In the Herbal Essences fragrant "Swirl Style Suite," hairdressers styled guests' hair and offered the ultimate festival accessory: flower crowns.
Within the lounge, Clearasil displayed its new products in an ice-cream-cart setup. Brand reps doled out the Refreshing Superfruit Wash, along with fruity popsicles.
Starbucks hosted its first Lollapalooza activation this year at the It's so Miami Lounge. The suite offered oversize chess and Connect Four games, plus small café tables stocked with buckets of bottled iced coffee.
On the Hard Rock Hotel's second floor, the CK One music lounge offered ping-pong, cocktails, and live performances—as well as a showcase of its beauty goods. Along the back wall, a sleek white counter held CK One Color Cosmetics testers that helped festivalgoers freshen up. A display case held CK scents (including CK One), and technicians offered manicures at a nail bar.
Also produced by BMF Media Group, the late-night Asos Rocks After-Party series was new this year and took place at the Hard Rock Hotel Friday to Sunday. The events offered a showcase of new collections from Asos, prizes, and performances from the likes of Salt-n-Pepa (pictured.)
UG Strategies and Entertainment 3Sixty took over the Public Hotel to host the weekend-long Bed Head Hotel, similar to the activation they produced in Miami during the Winter Music Conference. The event included haircuts and styling (using Bed Head products, of course), along with Belvedere vodka cocktails, DJ sets from festival acts, and gifting for V.I.P.s.
On Thursday night, Billboard hosted a new Lollapalooza preparty at the Double Door. Presented by Cotton Incorporated, the free event featured performances from artists such as Kate Nash. Guests could also pick up cotton totes and tank tops to wear to the festival.
Also on Thursday night, Intermix celebrated its 20th anniversary—and the upcoming Lollapalooza weekend—with an in-store bash at its Gold Coast boutique. Belvedere hosted a bar, and festival act Icona Pop performed a DJ set.
Now in its second year, LollaShop was open on South Michigan Avenue July 26 to August 5. The pop-up shop offered items including official festival T-shirts, bikes, and Fender guitars.
The pop-up shop also had the festival's daily lineups posted on its wall as a handy reference for guests.
The inaugural Dessert Goals Festival took place in Brooklyn, New York, on October 23. Wowfulls’ Hong Kong-style egg waffle cones were a popular Instagrammed item. The event's hashtag was #omgdessertgoals.
The festival was held at the Dobbins St event space and featured props for photos including a doughnut pool float.
Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS hosted its 13th "Dining by Design" at Merchandise Mart in Chicago from November 2 to 3. Partners By Design designed Interior Investments' booth. The space was meant to evoke a café in Havana, Cuba, and featured wallpaper printed with palm leaves. Some guests ducked into the space during the opening-night "Cocktails by Design" event and had snacks and drinks at the low-top tables.
Art for Life Chicago designed a table for Knoll. With a graffiti-inspired design and a yellow, black, red, and white color palette, the piece was inspired by the Richmond Mural Project in Virginia.
The Ruder Group's table, designed by Nelson, reminded guests of the event's cause. On either side of the table letters spelled out "Strength" and "Courage." A design in the shape of the red ribbon that symbolizes AIDS awareness ran down the center of the table.
Coach celebrate the launch of its new collaborative Coach x Colette collection with a party at the American Museum of Natural History in New York on October 25, followed by a pop-up at the brand's SoHo story through November 1. Decor provided a photo opp for guests to imitate roaring like a prehistoric beast.
Lighting amplified the dinosaur and neon themes, even in details like temporary tattoos.
A colorful graphic scene decorated the DJ booth, suggesting a cartoonish representation of a prehistoric landscape.
French cognac Rémy Martin kicked off its new traveling pop-up experience at New York's Industria from October 21 to 23. The brand commissioned French kinetic artist Vincent Leory to create "Red Ripples," an installation inspired by the different colors of cognac as it ripples in a glass. The installation showcases movement caused by mirrored concentric circles connected by lightweight mechanisms.
Each tour ended with an "Opulence Reveal" in the Library room. The tasting experience featured an assortment of food reflective of the Rémy Martin XO cognac. Afterward, guests could enjoy cognac cocktails.
In January, the Miami City Ballet celebrated its 31st annual gala, raising more than $1 million to support the organization’s work both onstage and in the community. The theme of this year’s ball—an ice-kissed fairytale with frozen ballet shoes as centerpieces—was inspired by the world premiere of Alexei Ratmansky’s "The Fairy’s Kiss." It was the first charity gala to be hosted at Miami Beach’s Faena Forum.
The second annual Dessert Goals event took place March 25 at Dobbin St in Brooklyn. The event featured balloon entrance signage designed in-house by Dessert Goals founders Miraya Berke and Liang Shi.
Viva La Juicy Sucré and Bustle sponsored an Instagram-friendly Sucré Garden, which was designed by event designer Michelle Bablo. The pink display featured dessert-inspired decor including flower ice cream cones.
The event also featured a branded floral wall as a photo backdrop.
Tyger Productions produced an industry reception for medical implant device company 4Web Medical in October at Bond Restaurant in Boston. The company designed a branded staircase railing at the entrance of the event.
Boston Ballet’s Ball of Enchantment took place in February at the Castle at Park Plaza. The event’s theme celebrated Marius Petipa’s "The Sleeping Beauty," complete with a magical castle backdrop. The ball raised $1.8 million for Boston Ballet and its community programs.
The annual Pink Tie Party kicked off the National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington on March 16 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center. Projection Presentation Technology projected images of the festival's cherry-blossom logo onto the ceiling of the venue's atrium.
Design Foundry created a 3-D photo-booth set of a swan on the Potomac River with a backdrop of the Thomas Jefferson Memorial surrounded by cherry blossom trees.
Washington-based event planning and design company Taylor and Hov Events and Design hosted a colorful brunch and dessert hour for area event planners on March 5 at Artist's Proof in Georgetown. Focused on the "llamacorn"—a llama-unicorn hybrid—the event offered cake decorating with individual cakes provided by Sweets by E and Classic Bakery. Toppings provided by Sugar Studio included sprinkles, cotton candy, chocolate bark, and mini meringues that were dubbed llamacorn "poop."
The brunch featured a 25-foot ceiling installation designed by Taylor and Hov's creative director and executed by Garette Turner of Brightly Ever After. The colorful focal point featured marble balloons and oversize cotton clouds.
At the Asian Art Museum’s annual gala, Got Light created a 96-foot-long LED tube chandelier with more than 200 tubes. The event, which celebrated art and technology, took place March 2 in San Francisco. Plus, interactive iPad centerpieces from Keep Interacting displayed table numbers, live auction items, and other program material for dinner guests.
