SF2015 - Gala Dinner

July 10, 2015

Edward Gorey's morbid illustrations were the inspiration behind the design for the 2006 Central Park Conservancy Halloween ball. Inside the dining room, Grayson Bakula (a company that has since changed its name to Bakula Design) decorated the walls of the tent with projections of barren branches and hung menacing hooded figures from the ceiling.

Edward Gorey's morbid illustrations were the inspiration behind the design for the 2006 Central Park Conservancy Halloween ball. Inside the dining room, Grayson Bakula (a company that has since changed its name to Bakula Design) decorated the walls of the tent with projections of barren branches and hung menacing hooded figures from the ceiling.

Photo: Liza Young

NYC Photobooth’s “Haunted Photocrypts” photo booth station includes an interactive talking skull to instruct visitors and a number of spooky backgrounds to choose from.

NYC Photobooth’s “Haunted Photocrypts” photo booth station includes an interactive talking skull to instruct visitors and a number of spooky backgrounds to choose from.

Photo: Courtesy of NYC Photobooth

Talk about an over-the-top birthday party: In 2019, philanthropists Christine and Gabriel Chiu hosted a carnival-inspired bash at a children's museum in Santa Monica, Calif., for their son's first birthday. The Chius worked with Aliana Events to produce the event, inspired by the Santa Monica Pier, with carnival games, an arcade, puppets, and this oversized Ferris wheel filled with flowers. See more: This Toddler's Birthday Party Had a Gucci Claw Machine

Step Right Up: 10 Carnival Decor Ideas That Balance Whimsy and Elegance

Southern California's Hotel del Coronado has completed a $550 million restoration, highlighted by the revitalization of its iconic Victorian building and a range of upgraded event and group offerings. Key event spaces—including the historic Crown Room, Coronet Room, and Ocean Ballroom—have been meticulously restored. The resort's broader transformation includes the Southpointe Event Center, featuring a 15,000-square-foot ballroom and adjacent lawn, plus updated guest rooms and amenities across the property.

What's New in Event Venues: Texas Flooding, New Hospitality Tech, and More

This SNL50 mailer included a Marshall speaker—an homage to the decades-spanning musical guests on the show—a bottle of Chandon to toast the milestone, and a limited-edition crewneck.

How Over-the-Top Event Invites Can Make a Big Impact

11 New Venues in Dallas/Fort Worth for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events

Event Design & Decor

Step Right Up: 10 Carnival Decor Ideas That Balance Whimsy and Elegance

Tackle this tried-and-true theme with decor ideas that walk the tightrope between fun and fashionable.

Talk about an over-the-top birthday party: In 2019, philanthropists Christine and Gabriel Chiu hosted a carnival-inspired bash at a children's museum in Santa Monica, Calif., for their son's first birthday. The Chius worked with Aliana Events to produce the event, inspired by the Santa Monica Pier, with carnival games, an arcade, puppets, and this oversized Ferris wheel filled with flowers. See more: This Toddler's Birthday Party Had a Gucci Claw Machine

What's New in Event Venues: Texas Flooding, New Hospitality Tech, and More

BizBash rounds up the latest news from hotels, convention centers, meeting spaces, restaurants, and other event venues around the world.

Southern California's Hotel del Coronado has completed a $550 million restoration, highlighted by the revitalization of its iconic Victorian building and a range of upgraded event and group offerings. Key event spaces—including the historic Crown Room, Coronet Room, and Ocean Ballroom—have been meticulously restored. The resort's broader transformation includes the Southpointe Event Center, featuring a 15,000-square-foot ballroom and adjacent lawn, plus updated guest rooms and amenities across the property.

How Over-the-Top Event Invites Can Make a Big Impact

In a world where inboxes are full and attention spans are short, an invitation can make or break your event’s perception.

This SNL50 mailer included a Marshall speaker—an homage to the decades-spanning musical guests on the show—a bottle of Chandon to toast the milestone, and a limited-edition crewneck.

11 New Venues in Dallas/Fort Worth for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events

Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Dallas/Fort Worth.

Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships

Disney+ Leaned Into Y2K Vibes for a 'Throwback' Pop-Up Experience in LA

Millennials, this one's for you. The streamer welcomed thousands of guests during a four-day experience celebrating its beloved '90s and '00s IP.

Disney+ hosted a Throwback Experience for fans June 12-15 in Los Angeles.

How Toronto Goes 100% All In on Business Events

Discover ways Toronto defies meeting planner expectations.

Toronto's all in, 100% of the time

Industry Innovators 2025: Sephora

Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity

Disney+ Leaned Into Y2K Vibes for a 'Throwback' Pop-Up Experience in LA

50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More

Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level

See Inside Sport Beach—The Game-Raising Activation That Had Everyone Talking at Cannes Lions

How ESPN Rose to the Occasion with Intricate Floral Installations to Celebrate the NBA Finals

Mr. Flower Fantastic replicated the iconic logos of the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers out of flowers in the lead-up to the NBA Finals.

7 New Venues in Nashville for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events

Take a peek at these trending restaurants, resorts, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Nashville, Tenn.

Play Playground Nashville

See Inside Sport Beach—The Game-Raising Activation That Had Everyone Talking at Cannes Lions

Stagwell's buzzy experience returned for a third year, its biggest build yet.

Sport Beach ran for four days during the Cannes Lions Festival of Creativity in June in Cannes, France.

12 New Venues in New York for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events

Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in New York.

Event Space at SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

Event Production & Fabrication

WorldPride DC: How Event Organizers Created a Safe Space for the LGBTQ+ Community in the Nation's Capital

The massive celebration was a challenge for many reasons, but the global Pride event was still authentically D.C. Hear from organizers at Destination DC and Capital Pride Alliance.

WorldPride D.C. took place May 17-June 8.

Event Tech & Tools

Event Tech Check: Cool New Tools for Attendee Engagement, Destination Sourcing, and More

BizBash takes a deep dive into the newest tech solutions for events of all types, plus the latest must-know industry news.

Spanning several rooms of the Mercer Labs Museum of Art and Technology in New York City, a recent Don Julio experience allowed visitors to step inside tech-driven installations that were powered by cinematic projections, 4D spatial audio, and evocative scents like the warm aromas of roasted agave and rich oak. See more: See Inside This High-Tech, Multisensory Experience from Don Julio

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