Wedding resource company The Knot celebrated its 20th anniversary with its annual Knot Gala on Monday at the New York Public Library. The event, which was produced by Strawberry Milk Events, had a Fêtes des Rêves dream party theme inspired by the Tuileries Gardens in Paris. The event showcased Macy's VIP Lounge, which featured products from the brand's Fine Jewelry collection in ice sculpture displays.
Tito's Handmade Vodka offered guests specialty cocktails from an ice bar that displayed the event theme and colorful flowers.
A dazzling violinist from Shien Artists welcomed guests on the steps of the venue with a live electric violin performance.
The inaugural Meadows Music & Arts Festival took place October 1 and 2 at Citi Field's parking lot in New York. Founders Entertainment, the producer of the festival, created a lounge area called the Bud Light Beer Garden. Guests ages 21 and older could enjoy beer and play games such as ping-pong.
The Viceland Tour Bus was onsite at a festival for the entire weekend. The Vice-sponsored bus, created by the marketing agency A-OK Collective, showcased Vice programming, hosted artist interviews and meet-and-greets, and featured hammocks, snacks, and photo ops.
Revlon hosted its annual philanthropic luncheon, which supports the beauty brand's Women's Health Mission, on September 27 at Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood. BMF designed centerpieces of clean white block lettering that spelled out "Spread the Power of Love" with red roses set in black vessels.
The premiere party for HBO's new futuristic western series Westworld took place September 26 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The party, which was fabricated by Special Event Contractors and designed by Billy Butchkavitz Design, featured a rotating "Vitruvian Man" sculpture surrounded by display cases of wire sculptures in human forms.
The party space was built as a three-dimensional western town and showcased a wall with projections of western scenery.
The 15th edition of Austin City Limits Music Festival took place September 30 to October 2 and October 7 to 9 at Zilker Park in Austin. New to this year’s festival grounds were the ACL Bodegas—convenience stores of sorts that sold fruits, snacks, and other essentials from $2 to $5.
Lowe's showcased an open-air lounge called the Lowe's Studio, which featured a paint drum station. As visitors struck each drum, different colored paints splashed up within giant tubes. The harder they hit, the higher the paint would jump. Guests could also pose with instruments for 180-degree gifs.
Food-obsessed crowds turned out in droves for the sixth annual New York City Wine & Food Festival, held October 17 to 20. The DJ booth at one of the festival's events, Olmeca Altos Tequila Presents Tacos & Tequila, was set in front of a giant screen that projected guests' Instagram photos and sponsor logos arranged inside a Mondrian-inspired configuration of squares and rectangles.
Another event associated with the New York City Wine & Food festival was Todd English's late-night walk-around tasting at the Plaza Food Hall. Food Network Star winner Justin Warner was on hand to promote General Mills's "Hello, Cereal Lovers" campaign, and he served cereal-inspired cocktails.
At the Whitney Museum of American Art Gala at Skylight at Moynihan Station, sponsor Louis Vuitton offered guests glitter tattoos from Glitter Tattoo New York.
On October 14, the Knot Gala took over the New York Public Library. Abigail Kirsch provided the catering, and the menu included a new spin on a classic carnival snack. Holding wooden boards, servers circulated with artisan corn dogs that were sliced into pieces. Accompanying the skewered snack, little jars held condiments such as house-cured pickles, kraut-caraway mustard, and cheddar ale fondue.
The Life Is Beautiful Festival took over downtown Las Vegas this past weekend, bringing a slate of music, food, art, and educational programming to the city's redeveloping downtown area. At one spot, guests shot paint balls to decorate an interactive art piece.
Although the festival took over a paved urban area in downtown Las Vegas, a small grassy area known as the "Secret Garden" invited guests to sit (and snap photos) amid a backdrop of eye-catching art.
The Boston Lyric Opera hosted its annual gala on October 4.The evening included a performance of The Magic Flute at the Shubert Theatre, as well as a preshow gala and an after-party across the street at the Wang Theater. Dancers from the Touch Performance Art Group escorted guests between the two venues, boogieing en route.
Grey Goose created a pop-up pastry and coffee shop this month as part of its Fly Beyond brand campaign. The cheery storefront appeared to be a new French bread and pastry outlet but was a four-day activation that offered free treats to passersby. A nightclub, speakeasy, and tasting room were located elsewhere in the venue.
For the October 3 event, organizers wanted to create a moving, memorable experience for the 300 guests. While the crowd gathered in front of a small stage, a narrator read a fictional story about women she had known throughout her life, highlighting those that had dealt with health issues. As the eight-minute story progressed, the 15 windows on the building’s third floor began to illuminate, one by one, revealing actresses portraying each of the women.
Coca-Cola partnered with streetwear designer Darren Romanelli—better known as Dr. Romanelli or DRx—to create a limited-edition fashion collaboration, which was unveiled at a New York pop-up gallery last week. Display cases at the gallery showed marketing materials from Coca-Cola's archive in Atlanta, including ads, posters, and promotional merchandise.
Returning sponsor Swarovski partnered with production designer Derek McLane to illuminate the stage; this year's design—the brand's 10th collaboration with the show—featured more than 300,000 crystals, the largest number ever used for the ceremony. Eleven Oscar-shaped figures featuring nearly 150,000 crystals served as a focal point.
Academy governor Jeffrey Kurland worked with longtime event producer Cheryl Cecchetto and Sequoia Productions to produce and design this year's Governors Ball, which took place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom of the Dolby Theatre immediately following the ceremony. The night drew 1,500 Oscar winners and nominees, show presenters, and other A-list talent, and was decorated with a “magical transformation” theme, with red, gold, and white colors. Starburst light fixtures and irregular-shaped decor pieces, illuminated with white lights, comprised a cloud-like ceiling installation that served as the evening’s focal point.
Red centerpieces popped inside of the white-draped ballroom. The ballroom’s foyer continued the color palette, with red fabric drapes and red flowers with splashes of white decorating tables. According to organizers, 1,800 yards of white satin, white sequins, red velvet and silk, white and gold metallic print, and white-dotted sateen linens decorated the space.
Around of the edge of the ballroom, touches of gold broke up the red-and-white theme. “As they enter the ball, guests will transition from a dazzling sea of red to a tricolor motif of eye-popping gold and red on an infinite blanket of white,” Kurland said in a statement before the event. “The unique design of the space has been meticulously created to celebrate Oscar gold.”
Mark’s Garden’s floral designs included roses, amaryllis, carnations, and orchids from South America and Holland. Varying angular vessels held flowers and greenery.
For the 23rd consecutive year, chef Wolfgang Puck catered the Governors Ball. Eric Klein, the company's new executive chef, worked alongside Puck to create 50 dishes, from one-bite hors d’oeuvres to small-plate passed entrees. Later, the pastry team of Kamel Guechida, Monica Ng, and Jason Lemmonier offered an array of desserts served at multiple stations, plus a dessert buffet featuring Puck’s 24-karat-gold chocolate Oscars (pictured). In all, 950 service and support staffers worked the ballroom.
Oversize Oscar statues underscored the occasion as Tony-winning singer-songwriter Cynthia Erivo (pictured) performed. The evening's entertainment also included JoJo, music director Rickey Minor, and husband-wife DJs Kiss and M.O.S.
One of the most coveted tickets in town, Vanity Fair hosted its annual Oscars after-party in Beverly Hills on February 26. The event took place in a custom-built space between the Wallis Annenberg Center for Performing Arts and City Hall, and was designed by Basil Walter, the longtime architect of the annual party.
The bash began early in the evening, as guests who weren’t attending the ceremony took over a wood-paneled dining room and watched the show on flat-screen TVs while eating a dinner courtesy of French Laundry and Per Se’s Thomas Keller. After the ceremony ended, the dining room was transformed into the Apple Music Lounge, with a wooden dance floor and a rose-gold mirror that created a kaleidoscope effect.
The party was filled with thousands of eskimo white roses, white hydrangea, and areca palm leaves; leftover flowers were donated to several local charities. An 80-foot-long custom chandelier and 1,400 lighting fixtures illuminated the 50-foot-long bar and party space.
For the third year in a row, renowned photographer Mark Seliger created an Instagram studio with a 1920s, art-deco-theme set, shooting elegant portraits of A-list celebrities such as Scarlett Johansson, Jon Hamm, and Katy Perry as they entered the party.
This year also marked the after-party’s first live stream, which took place in a studio by the nearby In-N-Out Burger. It was hosted by two Vanity Fair staffers along with comedians Phoebe Robinson and Michelle Collins, and featured celebrity guests such as Emily Ratajkowski and Judd Apatow.
The 25th annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party, hosted by the singer and David Furnish, took over West Hollywood Park on February 26 with sponsorship from Bulgari, Neuro Drinks, and Diana Jenkins. The evening raised a record-breaking $7 million and was designed by longtime collaborator Virginia Fout of V Productions.
Alexander Gilkes of Paddle8 conducted a live auction, which featured items such as Bulgari's Diva’s Dream Necklace in white gold with pavé diamonds, a five-day vacation at Steven Tyler’s Hawaiian retreat, and two tickets to the Vanity Fair Oscar Party. Over the past 25 years, the annual event has raised more than $56 million to help people at risk for or living with H.I.V./AIDS; the Elton John AIDS Foundation has raised a total of $350 million since 1992.
Longtime vendor Crumble Catering worked with chef Gordon Ramsey to prepare some 1,000 five-course meals for the event. Menu-planning started a full year in advance, and 150 servers and bartenders and 70 kitchen staffers worked the evening. Moët Hennessy provided champagne, Domaine Bertaud Belieu provided wines, and Chopin Vodka and Clase Azul Tequila provided spirits.
The magazine hosted its 10th annual Black Women in Hollywood awards on February 23 at the Beverly Wilshire. Intended to honor and celebrate Hollywood's most impactful African-American women, this year's honorees included Janelle Monáe, Issa Rae, Aja Naomi King, and Yara Shahidi. The full gala will be televised on March 5 on OWN.
Essence's Candace Montgomery and Agenc’s Cara Kleinhaut—who have been working together since the event's inception—transformed the awards from a daytime luncheon to an evening gala for the first time this year. “Moving to the evening and making it black-tie … allowed an instant elevation to the event,” said Montgomery. “Time will tell whether or not this will remain an evening event.”
Show development and production—including the overall design and fabrication as well as the eye-catching stage backdrop and set design—was also handled by AgenC in partnership with the Essence event team.
In the main ballroom, the focal point was artwork from visual artist and filmmaker Mickalene Thomas, which flanked each side of the stage. “Integrating Mickalene Thomas was a career high for me because her work celebrates, highlights, and empowers women,” said Montgomery. “She agreed to work with us between museum installations and her busy schedule. It's a testament to how far the event has come and the excitement it attracts.”
In addition, large floral centerpieces were created by R. Jack Balthazar, and dinner was catered by the Beverly Wilshire.
Another new aspect to the Essence awards was a Facebook Live stream of the red carpet, as well as a new Snapchat Discover partnership where fans could follow along live. Agenc and the Essence event team created a teal-colored step-and-repeat adorned with stars, which added a glamorous effect to the arrivals area.
“[We wanted to] put women first throughout every element,” said Montgomery. “Yes, the event and the brand are built on celebrating women, but my goal was to also focus on the production elements being female-first as well—kind of like Beyoncé's all-girl band."
In a lounge outside the main ballroom, attendees could recharge and re-glam at interactive sponsor stations. At the L'Oreal Beauty Bar, guests sampled the new Infallible Paints collection and left messages on the adjacent mirror about "why they are magic." Meanwhile, AT&T offered a spot to recharge cell phones throughout the evening, and sponsor Lincoln displayed one of its vehicles.
Awards sponsor Cadillac hosted its annual Oscar celebration on February 23 at Chateau Marmont, drawing a crowd of celebrities including Naomi Watts, Zoe Saldana, Chrissy Metz, and more. Event Eleven handled production and design, keeping it understated to allow the iconic venue to take center stage. Lighting firm Felix Lighting and audiovisual rental company On Stage also lent their services to the elegant party, and DJ Michelle Pesce spun for the crowd.
V.I.P attendees were escorted to the venue in Cadillac’s CT6 prestige sedans, which also were used to chauffeur guests to the Oscars ceremony and other weekend events. The luxury car brand, an Oscars sponsor for the fourth consecutive year, debuted four new ad spots during the telecast.
Typically held the day before the Oscars, the Independent Film Spirt Awards honor indie filmmakers. This year's ceremony, held February 25 in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica, was hosted by Nick Kroll and John Mulaney. Top honors went to Moonlight, The Witch, Casey Affleck (pictured), and Isabelle Huppert. John Calkins handled production design for the awards, which aired live on on IFC.
Environmental nonprofit Global Green held its 14th annual pre-Oscar awards and concert at Tao Hollywood on February 22, honoring Standing Rock Sioux Tribal Council chairman David Archambault II as well as other environmental leaders. The awards were the first event inside the new Tao location, which is scheduled to open this spring.
JJLA handled design, production, and management for the event, which took on an Asia-inspired theme to celebrate the venue, with red and gold accents and plenty of greenery and succulents. The event was, of course, eco-friendly, with LED light fixtures, no plastic, and zero food waste; scraps were composted and leftover food was donated.
Atmosphere Productions handled audiovisual production, while Town & Country provided rentals and Seed Floral Couture handled flowers. The evening featured performances by DJ Asha, Cody Simpson, Estelle, and Taylor Dayne.
Women in Film, a professional organization focused on recognizing and promoting the visions of female creators, held its 10th annual pre-Oscar cocktail party on February 24. Hosted by actress Brie Larson and the organization's president, producer Cathy Schulman, the night honored the 46 women who were nominated for an Oscar this year. Attendees included Meryl Streep, Viola Davis, Emma Stone, and Ava DuVernay.
Designed and produced by Event Eleven, the party took over Nightingale Plaza in West Hollywood. Sbe Catering provided passed hors d'oeuvres—which included seared rare filet mignon with horseradish cream, arugula, and baguette (pictured)—as well as plated dinners and a variety of desserts.
The third annual Toast to the Arts, an intimate dinner hosted by rapper and actor Common, was held on February 24 at Ysabel restaurant in West Hollywood. The evening honored filmmakers Ava DuVernay, Barry Jenkins, Raoul Peck, and Ezra Edelman.
As guests arrived at the restaurant, they were greeted by a custom floral wall designed by Massah David, a partner at MVD Inc. The wall was built by Step and Repeat L.A.
Inside the venue, understated florals by Tic-Tock Couture Florals created an elegant vibe.
The National Hispanic Media Coalition (N.H.M.C.) hosted its 20th annual Impact Awards Gala at the Beverly Wilshire on February 24. The black-tie event, which celebrates positive portrayals of Latinos in media, honored Karla Souza, Jaime Camil, Netflix series One Day at a Time, and other Latino actors, filmmakers, and shows.
“Though the Oscars this year once again fail to recognize the tremendous Latino talent in entertainment today, N.H.M.C.’s Impact Awards Gala seeks to give these creatives the accolades they deserve and excite a new generation of young people,” said Alex Nogales, president and C.E.O. of the National Hispanic Media Coalition, in a press release.
Legendary sitcom creator Norman Lear presented at the event, which featured entertainment by the Louie Cruz Beltran Latin Jazz Quartet, flowers by Julian Designs, and a photo booth by Celebrity Red Carpets. Many of the event’s vendors were Latino- or minority-owned companies.
Event sponsors included the Walt Disney Company, Univision Communications, and Comcast NBCUniversal.
The Oscar Wilde Awards, which celebrate Irish talent in Hollywood, were held on February 23 at J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot studio in Santa Monica. Ruth Negga—who grew up in Ireland—was honored alongside Zachary Quinto, Martin Short (pictured), and others, while Abrams served as the evening’s emcee. The awards were produced by the O'Neill Group, and Senovva handled the audiovisual production.
Portobello Junction created wine-bottle centerpieces (pictured) for the dinner tables, while Kensington Caterers served Irish classics such as beer-battered fish 'n’ chips, mini mugs of lamb stew, mini Irish whiskey coffee shots, and, of course, Guinness.
Vanity Fair's Campaign Hollywood, now in its 18th year, benefits a different charity each night in a week’s worth of events leading up to the Oscars, while also highlighting films and stars from this year's awards season. First up, the magazine worked with L’Oréal Paris for the Young Hollywood party (pictured), toasting the industry's up-and-coming stars at Delilah restaurant on February 21. Hosted by actress Dakota Johnson and Vanity Fair’s executive west coast editor Krista Smith, the evening benefited the Roar Foundation Shambala Preserve and featured poker tables, a balloon-filled photo booth, and cocktails. Vanity Fair held three more parties throughout the week, teaming up with Barneys, Lancôme, Dom Pérignon, and car company Genesis to raise money for the A.C.L.U., St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and more.
Mercedes-Benz held its fifth annual viewing party with Icon Mann—an online destination for black men—on February 26 at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills. The evening, which was designed and produced by Sterling Social, offered comfortable seating and big screen TVs, passed hors d’oeuvres, a photo booth, and a makeup station. It drew celebrities such as Tracee Ellis Ross, NeNe Leakes, and Lorraine Toussaint.
The event design of the Wolf Trap Ball, hosted by the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, featured screens with scrolling images of the national parks that rotated throughout the reception and dinner. Plants and greenery walls around the dining areas, as well as floral centerpieces, also reinforced the night’s theme celebrating the National Park Service's 100th anniversary. The event was held in September in Vienna, Virginia, and raised $1.5 million.
For the 2016 Headdress Ball, which was held in September at the Orlando World Center Marriott, the Hope and Help Center selected “Love” as the theme. It included a pre-party dubbed the “Love Lounge,” which was filled with red lighting and decor and logo gobos on the walls, while chocolate-heart centerpieces decorated the tables in the ballroom. The event is the largest annual fund-raiser for the nonprofit, which provides support and services for people infected with and affected by H.I.V./AIDS around Central Florida.
MoMA PS1, which is housed in a former public school building in the Long Island City neighborhood of Queens, New York, hosted its first fall benefit in September. The event, which was conceived by performance artist Ryan McNamara, featured an artistic, subversive twist on the high-school theme, with guests dressed as they were back in the day and throwback activities such as paper airplane-throwing.
At the Canadian Opera Company’s fund-raising gala, Centre Stage, held in November at Toronto’s Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, lights and projections transformed the venue’s ceiling into a cloudy blue sky with 14 suspended orbs draped in white silk orchids that hung above the dining guests. The tabletop floral arrangements consisted of white hydrangeas and white orchids in gold vases.
For the City of Hope’s Spirit of Life gala, which was held in November, Natalie McAdams of Namevents designed a night under the stars—inside a tent in the parking lot below the Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles. To recreate the outdoor evening look, the production team built a stage that resembled the moon's surface and used fiber-optic panels to resemble stars.
Baptist Health Foundation’s The Grand Gala fund-raiser, which took place in November at the soon-to-open campus of the Miami Cancer Institute, featured a reception, dinner, and dancing, plus a silent auction. The cuisine and decor was created by Le Basque. The event raised $4.5 million for the Miami Cancer Institute, which is slated to open later this month.
Howard Brown Health held its second annual Halloween soiree, the Big Orange Ball, at restaurant and event space Carnivale in Chicago in October. More than 400 costume-clad guests attended and raised money to provide health and social services to Chicago’s L.G.B.T.Q. and allied community. RuPaul’s Drag Race season eight winner Bob the Drag Queen performed and emceed the event, along with a special meet-and-greet for “R.I.P.” ticket holders. Kehoe Designs provided the themed decor.
The Boston Symphony Orchestra held its opening night gala in September, raising $1.5 million. The gala dinner, created by Café ArtScience's Patrick Campbell, was served in four rooms at Symphony Hall, each decorated in different artistic themes (watercolor, charcoal, dance, and architecture) that were inspired by Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition," which had been performed by the orchestra prior to the dinner.
At the Choral Arts Society of Washington’s annual fund-raising gala at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington in December, event designers created a snowy Swiss Alps theme complete with icicle-like chandeliers and wintry decor.
Nonprofit educational organization Outward Bound hosted its National Benefit Dinner in October at Cipriani 25 Broadway in New York. Artist Michael Arthur, who specializes in live drawings of key moments, sketched on a projection screen as current and former students spoke about their experiences in the organization. The artistic showcase was designed to capture the impact and inspiration created by an Outward Bound experience. The event raised nearly $700,000 for the group’s work and chartered schools.
Design Exchange's annual fund-raiser, held in November at the Canadian design museum in Toronto, featured the theme "Dispatch" and explored the country’s intersections of design, art, and culture. Each floor showcased interactive installations and multi-sensory experiences, while Drake’s producer DJ Boi-1da performed a live set. Proceeds from the event support DX's public and education programs.
For nonprofit organization Knock Out Abuse Against Women’s Knock Out Abuse seated gala dinner at the Ritz-Carlton, Washington D.C. in November, florist Millicent Bluford created a mix of centerpieces, including some with thistle, cabbage, and miniature carnations.
In September, Friends of the High Line hosted its 2016 High Line Art Dinner featuring a seated dinner for 200 guests under the Chelsea Market passageway in New York. Proceeds from the event helped support the High Line’s public art projects as well as the ongoing maintenance and operation of the park. The colorful rainbow-inspired decor was designed by Van Wyck & Van Wyck, with catering by Bite Food and lighting by L&M Lighting and Sound.
In October, Events By Fabulous produced the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles "Once Upon a Time" gala, complete with whimsical storybook tablescapes and decor. More than 1,200 philanthropists, local dignitaries, and supporters gathered at the Event Deck at L.A. Live to raise $4 million in support of the hospital. The main stage featured a beanstalk-wrapped proscenium and larger-than-life props from fairy tales such as Peter Pan and Cinderella, while the cocktail area included theme performers and a Mad Hatter acrobat troupe.
Keep a Child Alive’s Black Ball, which was held in October at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, evoked the spirit of '80s activism, when the fight against AIDS began, and paid respect to those who acted during that time. The decor reflected the theme with elements such as a glow-in-the-dark graffiti wall and street art-inspired linens, programs, and graphics. In addition, for the first time the event was live-streamed on Tidal. The evening raised $2 million for children and families with H.I.V. in Africa and India.
In October, Meridian International Center hosted the 48th annual Meridian Ball. Following dinners at venues around Washington, guests, including high-level officials, ambassadors, business leaders, and media, gathered in the Meridian House’s gardens, as well as inside a tent on the venue’s lawn for dessert and dancing. The event’s inspiration was the Orient Express, featuring elements such as hanging faux gas lamps, luggage accessories, leather furniture, and a travel-theme dinner menu. In addition, the dance tent was transformed into the Moulin Rouge (since Paris was a popular spot on the Express) with marquee letters and fiery red accents.
In September, New Yorkers for Children hosted its annual fall gala, which celebrated its 20th anniversary benefiting youth in foster care in New York City. The event, which took place at Cipriani 42nd Street, included an evening of dinner and dancing, with a standout decor element in an oversize number “20” decorated with a collage of children who have benefited from the organization. David Stark Design and Production designed the event.
