The elephants, dinosaurs and creatures of the sea on display at the American Museum of Natural History stood guard over the seventh annual Technology Tango, a black-tie tech-industry networking gala and benefit for the Starlight Children's Foundation and the Henry Viscardi School. The event was sponsored by AXA Client Solutions, Lehman Brothers and American Airlines. In the rotunda, guests were greeted by the looming skeletons of dinosaurs and roaming cocktail waiters. Bars were staffed by Restaurant Associates.
The cocktail reception flowed freely into the Akeley Hall of African Mammals, with its imposing elephants. Dinner, also provided by Restaurant Associates (the museum's contract caterer) was served in the Hall of Ocean Life, under a replica of an enormous blue whale, which was illuminated in pink by Bestek Lighting & Staging.
The event's planner, Michaela Potter of the Starlight Children's Foundation, worked with Impact Productions and design consultant Dorene Warner (of design firm W Design) to create d?cor inspired by the museum itself. Centerpieces by Kurt Christoffers of Christoffers' Inc. featured butterflies, foliage and nests of eggs. The invitations (also designed by Warner) used butterflies and botanical and skeletal images. Gift tote bags (from Axis Promotions) also used Warner's nature design and included small jigsaw puzzles that showed butterflies and foliage.
Although the event was scheduled to end at 10 PM, energetic guests were invited to keep dancing to music from the Walter Phillips Orchestras for an extra half hour. As guests left, gobo lights (by Bestek) projected large broad green leaves onto the floor of the Hall of Biodiversity.
--Mark Mavrigian