A sand castle topped by a whole hog—complete with an apple in its mouth—met guests as they entered Thrillist's Barbecue & the Blues at Eden Roc. "This year we really wanted to bring the humor and irreverence of Thrillist's editorial to life," Thrillist events producer Adrienne Wright said. "By having a model spraying guests with a barbecue-scented cologne—a product we wrote about on Thrillist—as well as creating a Thirst-Aid Station slinging [craft beer] the Heimlich Maneuver, guests could leave with a better sense of what Thrillist is all about. And also smelling like ribs."
“Clear Louis Ghost chairs are dressed with white faux fur pillows.” Table design and decor by David Beahm Design; rentals from Party Rental Ltd.
The Big Give charity event took place at Toronto's new Ripley's Aquarium on January 23. Debra Novack, president of LOL Candy, brought in desserts that would match with the “Under the Sea” theme. The dessert station included “sweet sushi” (or, candy in the shape of sushi) that rested on miniature ships.
Names scrawled on leaves marked seats.
Event sponsor McDonald's showcased a photo booth with a bed, which promoted the restaurant's new breakfast-all-day offerings.
On February 24, the H&M flagship store at Toronto Eaton Centre unveiled its new look with an event for 1,400 guests. Invitations were decked with silvery outlines of the Toronto skyline, and the same graphic appeared on staffers' custom T-shirts. Candice & Alison produced the event.
The skyline graphic also appeared on the wall behind the DJ both at the H&M event, where Orange is the New Black star Taryn Manning played a set. Jay Strut and Olen Only also spun at the event.
At the Walrus Foundation gala, the shape of the city skyline also appeared in lights along one wall of the venue.
In 2008, the 23rd annual Odyssey Ball took place in Los Angeles, but had a Broadway theme. Trees, a park bench, and a 13-foot tall clock decorated the stage at the Beverly Hilton, and a painting of New York buildings and scenery formed a backdrop.
The 24th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party took place at West Hollywood Park on February 28. Desserts at the after-party included espresso milkshakes topped with mini doughnuts on straws.
The Walrus Foundation held its annual gala at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto on January 20. Tabletops were decked with miniature renderings of the Toronto skyline, created in paper by artist Kalpna Patel.
Heal the Bay hosts a fund-raising gala each year, but it had identified a past problem with losing guests’—and donors’—attention in a disconnected environment. So this year, for its 30th anniversary, the environmental nonprofit worked with Events by Fabulous to tweak the layout so it would feel more intimate and inclusive. That meant a new stage design and program meant to draw an emotional response from guests by showing high-res video stories of the honorees and the mission of the charity, rather than by way of a speaker with a microphone. Beyond that, the team also created a multistage arena, with a catwalk that led into the center of the crowd and two additional satellite stages for performances that could better distribute the action within the event space.
For its 2011 gala in New York, the National Center for Learning Disabilities used the vertical pillars in the space to its advantage, rather than viewing them as obstacles. Designer Bronson van Wyck created custom column wraps printed with colorful logos and key messaging about the group's mission. In addition to brightening up the room, the columns also served as places to affix screens that improved guests’ view of the evening’s presentations.
Perez Art Museum Miami's March 4 gala drew some 800 guests. With an overall concept from Lee Brian Schrager, the evening included a "Chef's Table" seated dinner, a "Supper Club" lounge, and a "Remix" after-party. In the Supper Club lounge, interactive artist stations included a floor-to-ceiling coloring book, which invited guests to doodle on the wall.
In January, the Walrus Foundation hosted its annual gala at the Fermenting Cellar in Toronto. The event paid homage to the Canadian city, and the skyline appeared in imagery throughout the event. Tabletops were decked with miniature renderings of the Toronto skyline, created in paper by artist Kalpna Patel.
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.
French mustard brand Maille used Toronto Bastille Day on July 12 to promote its condiment with a Paris-inspired pop-up bistro. Planned by the PR Department, the pop-up served sandwiches, macarons, and cocktails made with different flavors of Maille mustard. The "1747" cocktails, served in jars with the brand's logo, included Cognac Remy Martin and Maille Provençal.
Brand partner Perrier activated a GIF photo booth that included can and bottle props.
The 10th edition of BizBash Live: The Expo Los Angeles took place July 13 at the California Market Center. Glo Cone showcased its LED cone stick with illuminated cotton candy. The company's product is available nationally for a variety of events; candy is not included.
Social content publisher TheAudience hosted an event where sponsor Wildfox offered swag from a claw machine.
Disney hosted the world premiere for The Jungle Book on April 4 at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood. 15/40 Productions turned the arrivals area into a lush jungle landscape, which featured jungle-like vines connected to stanchions in place of traditional velvet ropes.
Los Angeles-based catering company Patina hosted a "living garden"-theme showcase on March 29. In a sustainable—and eye-catching—detail, the event's escort cards were edible: Each consisted of a chocolate mint circle, an edible flower, and the guest’s name and table.
Planners aimed to incorporate plenty of "surprise and delight" into the Engage Conference, which was held in Orlando in December. One such surprise was announcing to the conference's 350 attendees that they were "going to Disney World" after the second day of programming. Confetti fell, glittery mouse ears were distributed, and Disney characters appeared to amp up the excitement before guests headed to the Magic Kingdom. The 14-piece Main Street Philharmonic Marching Band (pictured) also appeared in the Four Seasons's ballroom as part of the surprise announcement.
Decor at the event included hanging floral installations created with white flowers, moss, and driftwood.
