Probably more than any other hotel in Los Angeles, the Beverly Hills Hotel has always been associated with old Hollywood glamour. And when the current owner, the sultan of Brunei, gave the iconic hotel a nifty $100 million face-lift a decade ago, he made a point of maintaining the glam factor while replacing plumbing installed when Teddy Roosevelt was in the White House. So a lot of event designers working in the hotel’s ballrooms figure that all they have to do is place flowers on the tables and call it a day. But for Sony BMG Music Entertainment’s post-Grammys party, senior director of special events and communications Ileane Santana and Jeffrey Best of Best Events rolled up the carpets and kicked up the glam factor several-fold by creating a party palace reminiscent of Hollywood’s legendary Coconut Grove lounge.It was a lush backdrop for Sony BMG’s celebration of its Grammy winners, who included John Mayer, Carrie Underwood, and the Dixie Chicks. The party was initially planned to be held outdoors, but when weather worries dashed that plan, Best brought the outside in instead. Four large artificial palm trees towered over the Crystal Ballroom and foyer, surrounded by clusters of living room furniture with groups of gray and white seating alternating with vintage chairs covered in deep red fabric and salmon couches trimmed with chenille. Other period touches included Art Deco nudes and reproductions of advertising posters for Cinzano and Blue Dolphin drinks. Elegant white arrangements of calla lilies, hydrangeas, and roses from C.J. Matsumoto & Sons were abundant throughout the space.
Anchoring the center of the ballroom were two ice sculptures with Sony BMG lettering atop large scallop shells, which held crab legs and shrimp. Buffet stations dotting the party perimeter offered sushi, roast beef sandwiches, milkshakes, and hot cocoa with mint whipped cream. DJ Chris Armenta spun a mix of music by current bands like the Black Eyed Peas with classics by Prince, Michael Jackson, and Terence Trent D’Arby. In the Crystal Garden just outside, Lierac Paris gave celebrities skin consultations in white cabanas suffused with red uplighting designed by Felix Lighting. In adjacent cabanas, reporters with IGotShotgun.com, owned by co-sponsor GM, interviewed celebrities and shot them trying out PlayStation 2’s new game Guitar Hero II.
—Irene Lacher
Posted 02.12.07
Photos: A. Rodriguez/WireImage
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Anchoring the center of the ballroom were two ice sculptures with Sony BMG lettering atop large scallop shells, which held crab legs and shrimp. Buffet stations dotting the party perimeter offered sushi, roast beef sandwiches, milkshakes, and hot cocoa with mint whipped cream. DJ Chris Armenta spun a mix of music by current bands like the Black Eyed Peas with classics by Prince, Michael Jackson, and Terence Trent D’Arby. In the Crystal Garden just outside, Lierac Paris gave celebrities skin consultations in white cabanas suffused with red uplighting designed by Felix Lighting. In adjacent cabanas, reporters with IGotShotgun.com, owned by co-sponsor GM, interviewed celebrities and shot them trying out PlayStation 2’s new game Guitar Hero II.
—Irene Lacher
Posted 02.12.07
Photos: A. Rodriguez/WireImage
Related Stories
Orchestra Surprises Guests at Timbaland Toast
William Morris Hosts Post-Show House Party
Although the threat of bad weather forced planners to move the party inside, four large artificial palm trees decorated the indoor event.
Arrangements of white flowers such as calla lilies, hydrangeas, and roses populated the party.
Felix Lighting designed the red uplighting used on the outdoor white cabanas to dramatic effect.
The event’s vintage touches included retro posters, deep red fabrics, and salmon couches trimmed with chenille.
