Classic Americana

Be Inspired PR hosts and produces the Tassels and Tastemakers event twice each year for event and wedding industry professionals, plus media, bloggers, and other influencers. The most recent iteration on March 25 brought a Western theme to Carondelet House in Los Angeles. Beth Helmstetter Events designed the dance floor, where string lights hung above denim sofa seating and rentals from Found Vintage Rentals.

Also at the Tassels and Tastemakers event, place settings on a rustic tabletop included napkin rings made from vintage leather belts atop slices of tree branch. Mindy Weiss designed the table with milk glass from Borrowed Blu.

A swath of ribbon-tied greenery from the Hidden Garden hung over Tassels and Tastemakers' cheeky, flower-accented photo booth backdrop, designed by the Venue Report. Flipbooth provided the photo booth.

Taxidermy and greenery decked a bar designed by Karson Butler, where bartenders wore vintage gear reminiscent of the Old West and served honey whiskey lemonade and sangria from 24 Carrots.

A floral sign on the Tassels and Tastemakers wall, created by Beth Helmstetter, spelled out “Yee Haw” with flowers from Art With Nature.

Weiss designed a luxe teepee setup, which included cushions from Found.

Social media handles and hashtags dotted decor in surprising and whimsical ways, such as the rope sign from Pitbulls and Posies on a dream catcher from Found Vintage Rentals.

In March, Old Navy invited an all-ages crowd to celebrate spring at Fig & Olive in Los Angeles with the brand's style ambassadors Emily Current and Meritt Elliott. The so-called “On the Road” event had an Americana road trip theme with a colorful map motif. Collaged maps comprised a decor wall that also served as a photo backdrop.

Among the kid-friendly activities available at the Old Navy event was a wall-hanging station: Guests chose between framed maps of either Los Angeles, California, or the United States, and then used rubber stamps and markers to customize their artworks.

To help Los Angeles’s Pacific Park expand its retail operations, Timeless Travel Trailers created a pop-up installation by converting a 16-foot trailer into a Route 66-inspired retail space. Inside, Timeless used upcycled gas pump shelving units, suitcase drawers, ceiling lights made from old tail lights, and other details. Outside, the company designed and built all of the fixtures using old car parts: a three-tiered shelf made of hoods, an Airstream-theme cash wrap, and a hanging display using a motorcycle fork.

The St. Patrick's School Dinner and Auction got a "Spirit of America” theme in Washington in March. Oversize patriotic props stood out amid red tabletops at the event, which was designed by Events by Andre Wells.

Also at the St. Patrick's School Dinner and Auction, gold stars hung atop a red gallery wall that was decorated with framed photos of American icons.

Meant to highlight American icons and traditions, the St. Patrick's School Dinner and Auction included cut-outs of historic figures—and an astronaut.

At the Los Angeles premiere for last summer's A Million Ways to Die in the West, projection mapping depicting time-lapse scenes from a desert illuminated the façade of an adjacent building. On the opposing wall was a projection of a moon and night sky.

Held in a transformed parking lot venue, the premiere party's theme evoked a county fair. Props included a 1920s-era stagecoach.

At the Ball on the Mall in 2012, the Trust for the National Mall achieved a patriotic look with stars projected onto the tent ceiling. Hanging lanterns and draping rounded out the red, white, and blue look.

In 2013, Target feted its collaboration with charity organization Feed Projects with a rustic Americana-style event at the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. Wheatgrass flats, wheat stocks, and Mason jars topped wooden farm tables

At the Feed for Target launch, a jazz band performed on a custom stage made of raw wood and decked with carnival string lights, which supplied a down-home look and feel.

Chicago company Katherine Anne Confections creates seasonal truffles. This month, flavors include "American Cheesecake," made with white chocolate, blueberries, strawberries, and cream cheese.

New York catering firm Bite is serving fried-chicken-and-watermelon canapes at some of its summer gatherings. The watermelon tile is soaked in spicy raw ginger juice and honey then topped with a spicy Napa cabbage slaw with green chiles.

In Boston, the Catered Affair provides miniature one-bite B.L.T. sandwiches.

Here's a novel spin on corn on the cob: The Catered Affair serves tempura-fried baby corn.

At Philadelphia-based firm Brûlée Catering, executive pastry chef James Rodebaugh creates a summery spread called "Pastry Patio Picnic." The desserts array offers sweets shaped like classic American snacks, and items include "French fries" made of toasted pound cake and "burgers" made with chocolate-ganache pound cake topped with sliced kiwi (meant to look like lettuce) and mango gelee that resembles cheese.

Operating in Southern California, New York, Dallas, and Austin, Texas, Coolhaus caters events and has a roster of unusual ice cream flavors. This season's lineup includes coconut Campari with blood orange and passion fruit as well as "Salty S'Mores" and "Fast Food" ice cream, which contains salted Tahitian vanilla-bean ice cream mixed with malt balls and french fry strings.

At Encore Catering in Toronto, chef Roshan Wanasingha is offering updated takes on chicken wings. One new dish is a Southern-style chicken drumette on a buttermilk corn muffin with bean-corn salsa.

In Austin, Texas, Tiny Pies makes "Flag" pies for the 4th of July. The desserts are filled with cherries and blueberries and topped with stars-and-stripes-patterned crust.

Rhumbar in Las Vegas has Americana-theme cocktails this month. Drinks include the Patriot, made with vodka, lemon juice, simple syrup, blue Curaçao, and egg whites. The garnish is stars made of Angostura bitters.

Boston's BG Events and Catering offers strawberry shortcake "shooters." The desserts are topped with fresh basil.

Chicago's Entertaining Company puts a sophisticated spin on Chicago-style hot dogs by putting toppings—including chopped tomatoes, pickled peppers, and onions—in sleek silver vessels.

Wolfgang Puck Catering in Los Angeles has new "grilling menus" this season. Servers bring a Wolfgang Puck-branded grill to event spaces, and menu items include rib eye beef steak.