There were reasons big and small for House & Garden magazine to host its Big Blast of Color party at the American Museum of Natural History's Rose Center for Earth and Space last week. Big being the 20th anniversary of Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (Diffa); small being the celebration of the magazine's annual Color Issue (although size is relative when it come to reasons for throwing parties).
The event began with "Cosmic Cocktails"—featuring the now-ubiquitous pomegranate martini dipped in red sugar crystals—and hors d'oeuvres from Restaurant Associates such as pistachio crepes with shiitake mushrooms and brie with toasted almonds on crostini.
An hour later, guests ventured into the planetarium for a viewing of the SonicVision light show. "We selected the planetarium in part due to its uniqueness and the overall dramatic effect it has on anyone that enters its doors," said Molly Hover, House & Garden's special events director. "However, the key reason for choosing the planetarium was to tie in with House & Garden's signature color issue with the astounding Sonic Vision light show." The 30-minute, IMAX-like laser light show—which likely had some guests wishing they'd consumed fewer of those cosmic cosmos—was followed by another cocktail hour.
In the Rose Center, Anderson Hannant kept the focus on color with simple décor—vibrant, tangerine colored tablecloths and orange votive candles—while Frost Lighting lit the space with fuchsia lights and a swirling gobo on the ceiling of orange, blue, black and fuchsia circles.
Proceeds from the $150-a-ticket event went to Diffa.
—Erika Rasmusson Janes
Read about last year's House & Garden Color Issue event...
Read more about the Sonic Vision light show...
Read about Diffa's Dining by Design 2004 event...
The event began with "Cosmic Cocktails"—featuring the now-ubiquitous pomegranate martini dipped in red sugar crystals—and hors d'oeuvres from Restaurant Associates such as pistachio crepes with shiitake mushrooms and brie with toasted almonds on crostini.
An hour later, guests ventured into the planetarium for a viewing of the SonicVision light show. "We selected the planetarium in part due to its uniqueness and the overall dramatic effect it has on anyone that enters its doors," said Molly Hover, House & Garden's special events director. "However, the key reason for choosing the planetarium was to tie in with House & Garden's signature color issue with the astounding Sonic Vision light show." The 30-minute, IMAX-like laser light show—which likely had some guests wishing they'd consumed fewer of those cosmic cosmos—was followed by another cocktail hour.
In the Rose Center, Anderson Hannant kept the focus on color with simple décor—vibrant, tangerine colored tablecloths and orange votive candles—while Frost Lighting lit the space with fuchsia lights and a swirling gobo on the ceiling of orange, blue, black and fuchsia circles.
Proceeds from the $150-a-ticket event went to Diffa.
—Erika Rasmusson Janes
Read about last year's House & Garden Color Issue event...
Read more about the Sonic Vision light show...
Read about Diffa's Dining by Design 2004 event...
House & Garden hosted its Big Blast of Color party at the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
Frost Lighting projected House & Garden logos on the walls of the Rose Center.
The event began with "Cosmic Cocktails," including the now-ubiquitous pomegranate martini dipped in red sugar crystals.
