10 Best Ideas of the Week: Hollywood-Theme Ice Sculptures, a Floral Basketball Wall, Mini Breakfast Fare

The 14th annual Bloor-Yorkville Icefest took place February 9 and 10 in the Village of Yorkville Park in Toronto. The free, public event had a “Hollywood North” theme, showcasing more than 70,000 pounds of ice carved into sculptures including a cinema façade, paparazzi, and an Oscar. Iceculture designed the sculptures for the event, which raises money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Tinsel Experiential Design held its annual party in New York on February 19 at the Angel Orensanz Foundation. The theme of this year’s event was “Black Magic,” which was brought to life with on-theme light projections, candles, and vogue-ing ball performers. Tinsel produced and designed the event, while Stage Trip Productions handled the lighting projection design.

For the N.B.A. All-Star Weekend, which took place February 15 to 17 in Charlotte, North Carolina, eBay launched a marketing campaign highlighting a collection of rare sneakers, basketball memorabilia, and streetwear on the e-commerce company’s website. For its offline activation, eBay partnered with streetwear website and production agency Highsnobiety, giving V.I.P. guests and influencers a preview of the collection. Visual artist Carlos Rolón created a tropical, floral-theme wall studded with limited-edition art basketballs that could be purchased on eBay. The Instagram-worthy backdrop also featured a basketball hoop and backboard with a painting of flowers.

Online bedding brand Allswell launched a mobile home tour on February 7 in New York’s Union Square Park. The custom 238-square-foot home featured a master bedroom, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom, along with two Allswell mattresses. 

Peter Callahan Catering provided the tiny bites for the launch event, including mini bagel sandwiches, avocado toast, Bloody Mary cocktails, and cereal. 

For an Oscars-theme cocktail idea, Ever Bar in Los Angeles crafted drinks inspired by nominated films, including Spike Lee’s biographical crime comedy-drama Blackkklansman. This drink is made with Kettle One vodka, Kalani coconut liqueur, kumquat jam, and lemon juice, served with a cocoa crispy “afro” in a Colorado Springs police mug. 

Loews Hollywood and Loews Santa Monica Beach hotels have also created a menu of original cocktails themed after the Oscars best picture nominees. Inspired by Lady Gaga’s rendition of the Edith Piaf song in A Star Is Born, this red drink includes Bacardi Razz, five mint leaves, lime, house-spun cotton candy, and strawberry. 

On February 15, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences hosted a press preview to reveal details for its official after-party, which takes place at the Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland following the 91st Oscars on Sunday. For dessert, the Wolfgang Puck Catering pastry team—made up of Kamel Guechida, Garry Larduinat, and Jason Lemmonier—will create a variety of new dishes, including a strawberry and cream dish that uses sustainable ruby chocolate. 

April Luca, owner of Gold Sky Productions in Los Angeles, planned her own baby shower, which took place January 13. Luca wanted the event to have an enchanted forest-like feel, which included lush flowers and greenery from Sweet Pea's Custom Floral. The design continued to the dessert table, which Luca noted was her favorite aspect of the event. A variety of eye-catching sweets were framed by birch, greenery, and flowers.