Reader's Digest Future, a supplement to Reader's Digest's 1,000th issue, explored homes, products, and lifestyles of the future, so the event held to celebrate this milestone edition had a futuristic theme. Alison Schajer, the magazine's associate director of event marketing, worked with Empire Entertainment to blend Jetsons-like elements into the event.
A robot greeted guests like unlikely Digest readers Maggie Gyllenhaal and Christian Slater—evidently, celebrities will continue to be important at events in the future—at the entrance of Skylight's large main room. The space was divided into different areas, each featuring topics covered in the new issue. Abigail Kirsch translated the issue's “Meals that Heal” article into dishes with antioxidant-packed ingredients like green grape gazpacho, blueberry skewers with white chocolate, and three-tomato bruschetta.
Empire and Tomik Productions designed and Showorkz constructed a futuristic kitchen area with a long, stainless steel bar lined with barstools and dotted with glass vases filled with candles and flowers. In a living room scenario, guests could have their faces imposed into Team Events' virtual reality video game. "The August issue is about how the homes of the future will give people the opportunity to customize their own environment, and that was what we wanted to convey,” Schajer said.
Guests could read a digital version of the issue at four computer terminals. Futuristic cars were on display on an outdoor patio, and a lounge of low white couches dotted with silver pillows occupied another corner. The Reader's Digest logo and projections of clouds covered the walls.
In contrast to the theme, DJ Mighty Mi spun music from the past—80's and 90's pop, like vintage Michael Jackson, played throughout the evening for the surprisingly young crowd. After all, it's hard to spin music from the future.
—Erin Parker
Photos: Doug Goodman for Reader's Digest
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A robot greeted guests like unlikely Digest readers Maggie Gyllenhaal and Christian Slater—evidently, celebrities will continue to be important at events in the future—at the entrance of Skylight's large main room. The space was divided into different areas, each featuring topics covered in the new issue. Abigail Kirsch translated the issue's “Meals that Heal” article into dishes with antioxidant-packed ingredients like green grape gazpacho, blueberry skewers with white chocolate, and three-tomato bruschetta.
Empire and Tomik Productions designed and Showorkz constructed a futuristic kitchen area with a long, stainless steel bar lined with barstools and dotted with glass vases filled with candles and flowers. In a living room scenario, guests could have their faces imposed into Team Events' virtual reality video game. "The August issue is about how the homes of the future will give people the opportunity to customize their own environment, and that was what we wanted to convey,” Schajer said.
Guests could read a digital version of the issue at four computer terminals. Futuristic cars were on display on an outdoor patio, and a lounge of low white couches dotted with silver pillows occupied another corner. The Reader's Digest logo and projections of clouds covered the walls.
In contrast to the theme, DJ Mighty Mi spun music from the past—80's and 90's pop, like vintage Michael Jackson, played throughout the evening for the surprisingly young crowd. After all, it's hard to spin music from the future.
—Erin Parker
Photos: Doug Goodman for Reader's Digest
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