This week's roundup includes a mural made of Cheetos in New York, an interactive voodoo doll station in Los Angeles, customized love potions in Chicago, and new ideas for craft beer pairings.
PepsiCo's PepCity pop-up at Bryant Park during Super Bowl weekend offered an unusual take on the New York skyline with a mural made from Cheetos.
On Tuesday night, the W Chicago City Center hosted a Valentine's Day bash in its new EWow Suite. In keeping with the theme, the hotel's in-house mixologist, Lauren Parton, created personalized love potions at the bar. After asking guests a series of questions about cocktail preferences, Parton prepared a specialized drink. She also wrote down the recipe and bottled up a portion of the cocktail mixer as a gift.
Svedka vodka took over DBA in Los Angeles for an early celebration on February 4. At the promotion, which was more cheeky than schmaltzy, starlets such as Vanessa Hudgens and Nikki Reed created their own voodoo dolls at a craft station.
Craft beer is emerging as a fresh choice for beverage pairings at events. In New York, Naturally Delicious catering has a cheese that consists of roasted hazelnut honey, spiced walnuts, and cheeses served with SixPoint Brewery Global Warmer.
In Chicago, Boutique Bites Catering serves mini braised beef short rib "Shepherd's Pie" appetizers with tiny mugs of Guinness. "These are very popular at events, especially among men," said owner Elaina Vazquez.
Beer can pair with dessert, too. The Michigan restaurant Bigalora Wood Fired Cucina pairs house-made gelato with local beers such as Founder's Porter.
On January 29, Dermalogica Canada hosted a breakfast for beauty bloggers and editors at Epitome Pictures. The event launched the new skincare line Clear Start, which is designed for teenage and young-adult skin, and it had a corresponding school-days theme. Guests sat at long tables facing the stage for a presentation. Press materials were contained in bright blue folders that resembled school supplies.
The prom theme was also underscored with brightly colored corsages, which guests pinned on to get into the spirit of the event. Jackie-O provided the flowers.
RetailNext was looking for a way to stand out on the crowded floor at Retail’s Big Show, hosted by the National Retail Federation in mid-January at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York. The company decided to try a new tactic to entice attendees to stop at its booth: a life-size, lifelike virtual presenter from Prsonas.
For Fox's Super Bowl blowout, which took place under a tent in Central Park, producers Angel City Designs created abstract New York apartment buildings to house entertainers. Neon lights in the shape of lightbulbs helped illuminate the two towers, which held dancers as well as an airbrush artist who painted a model wearing a ball gown.
