10 Best Ideas of the Week: Obama's Inauguration, Governors Ball Preview, Sundance Film Festival Promotions

On-demand car service Uber hit Park City, Utah, this week, to promote its offerings to the crowds in town for the Sundance Film Festival. In addition to offering folks rides, the brand had a yeti popping up at events, including Variety’s studio.

Wolfgang Puck showed off the menu for the Governors Ball—the Academy’s official event that will follow the February 24 telecast of the Oscars—at a preview on Tuesday in Los Angeles. To match the aubergine color scheme envisioned by ball chair Jeffrey Kurland and producer Cheryl Cecchetto, there will be purple-hued dishes, including concord grape macarons.

In Los Angeles on Tuesday, the press got a glimpse of the design and menu for this year’s Governors Ball, the official after-party of the Oscars. Mark Held will create unexpected floral arrangements for the lounge-style event’s cocktail tables, positioning blooms to make it look as though flowers are growing out of the pedestals.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama danced to Jennifer Hudson singing "Let's Stay Together" at the inaugural ball at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Monday evening. Hargrove worked on the event for the Presidential Inaugural Committee, constructing the stage, drapes, and other design elements.

Branded signage from Caravents helped direct more than 10,000 Washington-area volunteers—including Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden—who came to the D.C. Armory January 19 to assemble care kits for the military as part of the National Day of Service. Target sponsored the event.

Chicago’s Pure Kitchen Catering has a new division called Baked. The operation focuses on boozy desserts paired with inventive cocktails. Menu items include deceptively innocent-looking orange chiffon cupcakes topped with Kettle-One-vodka-laden orange buttercream frosting.

The Boston Convention and Exhibition Center became a temporary home for more than 1,000 vehicles at the New England International Auto Show January 17 to 21. Volkswagen's electronic paint station allowed users to virtually decorate vehicles with a digital spray gun equipped with nine colors.

Fox Ventures created custom furniture from recycled materials including pallet ottomans and paper flowers for the Green Inaugural Ball at the Newseum in Washington Sunday. Elegance & Simplicity designed the event for host National Wildlife Federation.

Calla lilies in vases topped with lamp shades made for striking centerpieces at the National YoungArts Foundation's An Affair of the Arts Performance and Gala in Miami January 12. The gala, which turned the Historic Alfred I. DuPont Hotel into a classic supper club, raised more than $1 million to support the foundation's programs. Wow Factor produced the event.

Garb, a maker of children's golf apparel, brought its new "Garb Rig" to P.G.A. Merchandise Show, taking place through Saturday at the Orange County Convention Center. A flat-screen TV mounted in the back of the Jeep Rubicon showed the company's marketing videos, while two drawers underneath held clothing samples. The company is driving the vehicle around the country to junior golf camps and tournaments.