To mark the opening of the renovated SilverCity Fairview Mall Cinemas, Cineplex Entertainment hosted a cocktail party for 600 guests Thursday, followed by a sneak preview of the new Keanu Reeves film The Day the Earth Stood Still, which hits theatres on December 28. “It’s a private event so it’s a mixture of our key corporate partners—film studios, suppliers. It’s a really exclusive event for us,” said Sarah Lewthwaite, executive director of marketing at Cineplex Entertainment. "Because we’re a movie theatre, it’s all about Hollywood, so the theme is Tinseltown. From the moment you walk in there are stars, the food is upscale, there are special martinis, and the catering staff are in tuxedo shirts. It’s as close to Hollywood as you can get in Toronto."
Mary Pallattella of Capital C Live Events worked with Cineplex to create a wintry take on a Hollywood party. Guests walked through a mirrored damask archway at the entranceway where they picked up a passport that enabled attendees to sample offerings at the concession stands. Upstairs, servers passed a selection of hors d’oeuvres from Ginger Island Cuisine. “Our inspiration is stars, crystals, and winter,” said Renee Foote, who placed tiered platters of white chocolate sushi on mirrored stands topped with silver holiday decorations. An ice sculpture, which looked like a crystal cavern, held clear cones with sweet-chili-and-lime-glazed shrimp.
The Martini Club created custom cocktails called Tinseltown Martinis—house-made vanilla- and cinnamon-infused vodka shaken with crushed wild berries and white cranberry juice, rimmed in red sugar and garnished with frozen cranberries dusted in silver leaf. DJ Eric Ling played tunes from a stage bearing a large silver star that sat at the top of the escalators.