On October 23, the Museum of Contemporary Art hosted its first Benefit Art Auction since 2010. After the event, guests headed back to the Chicago 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. Limelight handled catering.
On November 2, the New York Public Library hosted its annual gala in the Stephen A. Schwarzman building. David Monn handled decor and gave the dinner a rustic look with lots of greenery.
On November 6, the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Mad Hatter Fashion Show and Luncheon showcased Fall 2015 designer collections from Bloomingdale’s at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale. The event also featured a whimsical cake shaped like the Mad Hatter's signature accessory.
For its Centre Stage fund-raiser, held on November 3, the Canadian Opera Company treated patrons to an on-stage dinner. The stage was set with decorative elements inspired by the company's production of La Traviata; fixtures included a large chandelier dangling above. The set designer for the production was Riccardo Hernandez.
In November, the Deering Estate Foundation hosted its 14th annual gala at Deering Estate in South Florida's Palmetto Bay. To highlight the wine-centric theme, tables were dressed up with miniature grape arbors.
The Capital Food Fight, which is the signature fund-raising event for DC Central Kitchen, took place in November in Washington. The evening included a "High Stakes Cakes" competition, in which pastry chefs battled to create the best cake. The winner was Erin Schwartz of Stacked, who designed a confection that represented the power of volunteerism.
To raise money for Cure SMA, which supports those affected by spinal muscular atrophy, the Gala of Hope took place on November 12 at Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale. The event was inspired by an Italian circus and featured entertainment from speed painter Michael Israel.
The Chicago-based organization hosted its annual gala at the Four Seasons hotel this fall. Kehoe Designs gave the event an opulent look inspired by turn-of-the-century decor. Tables were accented with leafy palms and tall golden vases holding strands of crystals.
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles hosted a gala on December 6 to celebrate the museum’s grand reopening after a 15-month closure for gut renovation and construction. Produced by RG Live Events (and overseen by museum director Terry Karges), the event had a sleek white dining space.
The Art Institute of Chicago celebrated the Hindu festival Diwali with a richly colored fund-raiser November 7. The event had decor— with plenty of lanterns—from Virgina Wolff Inc.
The Celebration of Hope Gala, which benefits Lungevity, took place at New York's Pierre hotel on October 14. Events by André Wells designed the event and decked tables with bright bunches of flowers. The tables also held cards that provided information on lung cancer.
Comfort is a priority, especially during lengthy meetings, Wilde says. Offering multiple seating options can keep attendees engaged and also suit different personalities.
A threesided set up gives attendees a sense of proximity to the speakers.
Quartz also experimented with seating. In the front of the room there were couches reserved for V.I.P. guests, and in the back of the room there was a row of high-top tables where laptop users could work.
Bags that attendees received at registration had various charts taken from Quartz stories that could serve as conversation starters.
Q&A sessions with speakers continued in a designated space outside of the ballroom. The move allowed more intimate access to speakers.
Quartz encourages its sponsors to bring unusual and engaging activations to its events. One example was a fully functional mini planetarium from Qualcomm.
Not every event wants to meet at a hotel. Variety and WWD chose Smashbox Studios for a different feel.
An unexpected addition to the stage was a DJ booth.
Before lunch and the presentation, guests gathered in a sponsor activation area. Its design had a look consistent with the main room, with the same color palette and furniture rentals.
Bored of traditional theater- or classroom-style room setups? Designing a arrangement with an assortment of furniture "is an ideal way to provide flexibility and choices for attendees’ different personalities," says Michele Wilde, the resort's director of conference services and event sales.
Guests can ice skate while taking in views of the Atlantic Ocean at the rink at Gurney’s Montauk Resort & Seawater Spa in the Hamptons. New this season, the open-air rink is located atop the Seawater Spa roof and accommodates 200 people for events. The area has a bar—serving winter favorites like hot toddies and hot chocolate—as well as a covered lounge area and DJ booth.
Now in its third season, the Peninsula Sky Rink at the Peninsula Chicago is available for private events or in conjunction with meetings at the luxury hotel. Measuring 2,100 square feet, the outdoor rink offers views of the Magnificent Mile and John Hancock building. For buyouts, planners must also book the hotel’s ballroom, which holds 550 for receptions. During public skates, the hotel suggests a donation of $15 per adult or $10 per child with proceeds benefitting two local children’s charities. It is open through the first week of March.
For larger groups, Bank of America Winter Village at Bryant Park in New York offers a glass-enclosed 170- by 100-foot rink for as many as 500 skaters. Overlooking the ice is Celsius, a temporary bar, restaurant, and event space. The two-story heated venue spans 7,000 square feet can be used for conferences, corporate hospitality, or trade show-style events. Each floor includes indoor and outdoor space and holds about 250 people for receptions. Private rink rentals are available through the season, which runs to March 6. When Celsius and the rink are used together for events, the venue can hold about 2,000 people. Both the rink and Celsius are produced by Upsilon Ventures, which offers full-service catering.
In the lower level of the Miami Beach Edition hotel is an indoor ice-skating rink available for private events. The 2,000-square-foot rink is part of the luxury property’s entertainment complex called Basement and has its own sound system, lighting, and projection effects. For private rentals, planners would need to book the rink as well as the adjoining bowling alley. The rink holds 25 skaters at a time, but the venue can hold as many 150 people for events.
With views of the Hudson River, the Rink at Brookfield Place is presented in conjunction with Olympic ice dancers Melissa Gregory and Denis Petukhov. The outdoor rink offers corporate skating events for groups of as many as 50 guests and can include an appearance by the Olympians. Catering is available through Hudson Eats or another Brookfield Place vendor. The New York rink will remain open until March. While at Brookfield Place shopping center, guests can also catch David Rockwell’s new light installation “Luminaries” in the Winter Garden. The installation consists of 650 hanging lanterns that will be on display through January and brought back next holiday season.
