Events

"Star of the Bar" semifinalist Stephen Tuttle of San Diego's Kettner Exchange created a drink called "Casa de Tiki" for the show's mixology competition. The drink contained ingredients such as tequila infused with serrano peppers, pineapple, lime juice, and black walnut.

Another semifinalist in the competition, Elmer Mejicanos of Tony's Pizza Napoletana in San Francisco created a cocktail called "Pandero." Some of the drink's ingredients were toasted bread, strawberry, mint foam, and citrus tea.

For the second year, the event was held in the Lakeside ballroom of Chicago's McCormick Place.

Educational components included small sessions on topics such as "Driving Check Size Through Menu Engineering."

Speakers, including Pandora's senior director of events, Nicole Carbone-Rogers, took the stage as part of the Event Innovation Forum in Los Angeles.

Natalie Alcala organized a Fashion Mamas L.A. event in January, at which the Mama Circle provided childcare while guests participated in a meditation session at Unplug Meditation in Los Angeles.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom lined the walls of the museum's main entrance with crooked black-and-white doors, recreating Alice's fall through the rabbit hole.

Chicka set up a four-sided main bar atop the museum's fountain. This year, planners moved DJ Chris Laich's perch above the bar and used grass-covered bar tops that incorporated mirrors and playing cards.

The 3,600-square-foot Big Maze, which took over a third of the event's footprint, remained open throughout the party and provided an additional interactive element.

New sponsor Celebrity Cruises served the red "Drink Me" cocktail—made from Patron tequila, ginger beer, and lime and boysenberry juices—in potion bottles with cork stoppers.

The publisher's reception remained on the second floor within two gallery spaces. Chicka used a vibrant color palette to create the Mad Hatter's Tea Party atmosphere with blue and white draped walls and table linens, and signage printed on a top hat.

Within the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, Chicka set up the Mad Hat Shoppe for guests to choose their favorite hat—each with a Washingtonian button on it—to wear at the event and take home.

Occasions Caterers served hot tea with pink, yellow, green, and blue iced cookies for dessert in the publisher's reception.

AT&T focused on guest interaction with a branded photobooth from Booth-o-rama, as well as charging stations and an interactive card game on iPads. Winners of the matching game received a wine-carrying bag.

In addition to its car displays, BMW had Chicka create an on-theme lounge with white sofas and sitting chairs with red accent pillows surrounded by black-and-white draping and faux-grass hedges to create privacy.

Alexandria-based Haute Dogs created a kimchi dog with spicy pickled radish and cucumber specifically for the event. The eatery also served its signature Duck, Duck Dog with hoisin sauce, cucumber, and scallions.

BLT Steak served deviled eggs topped with Maryland crab meat and shaved summer truffle.

Del Campo chef Victor Albisu served spoons of salmon ceviche atop an avocado puree.