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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Event Design & Decor

White House Correspondents' Dinner 2014: Inside the Weekend's Biggest Events

This year, Google, Netflix, and Facebook joined in the festivities for Washington's big gathering of politicos, press, and Hollywood celebrities.

Beth Kormanik
May 6, 2014

Google, Netflix, BuzzFeed, and Facebook joined MSNBC, The New Yorker, People, and Time magazines for events surrounding the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner this weekend. The gathering, dubbed "nerd prom," ostensibly celebrates the work of reporters covering the executive branch but has turned into a weekend of brand marketing through high-end event production.

The weekend's bigger profile has created more opportunity for event planners. A new event, 2.0: The New Media Party, from Event Farm and HyperVocal with sponsors including Microsoft and AOL, introduced innovative technology elements using N.F.C.-enabled credentials that guests received at the entrance. Guests could use them to receive digital swag as well as download music from US Royalty as the band played a set live.

Building on a successful debut last year, BuzzFeed hosted the "Bow Ties & Burgers" party with Facebook and Geico, produced by Los Angeles-based Pen & Public. Cheeky touches included a Zoltar fortune-telling machine that dispensed political fortunes written by BuzzFeed staffers and a saxophone player wearing a Bill Clinton mask that entertained people waiting at the entrance.

Some brands made strategic changes to their events: Capitol File switched from being a Saturday after-party to a Friday-night affair and downsized to about 250 guests. MSNBC, meanwhile, nearly doubled its guest list to 1,200 and moved to a grander venue, the National Building Museum. "Even though it's doubled in size, it still feels personal and intimate," said MSNBC executive producer Dana Haller, who worked with Dufour & Company to divide the space with a stage, chic seating areas, a central bar, and food stations helmed by four Top Chef winners. Earlier that day, Tammy Haddad's annual Garden Brunch, co-hosted by BizBash C.E.O. David Adler, had a new beneficiary, Dog Tag Bakery, a venture that will employ veterans. The event had patriotic touches such as red, white, and blue stemware and florals, including a giant ball of red carnations behind a bar.

For the weekend's namesake dinner at the Washington Hilton, President Obama brought his own decor: Before launching into the speech, staffers placed two ferns around the lectern, a nod to the president's appearance on the comedy show Between Two Ferns. He was followed by a monologue from actor Joel McHale.

MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

Dufour & Company produced the event, which included dramatic overhead draping that brought the ceiling height down. The sheer white drapes changed with lighting from Atmosphere Lighting. Design Foundry fabricated the decor.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
White House Correspondents' Association Dinner
White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

The White House Correspondents' Association Dinner was held at the Washington Hilton. Critics have said the weekend has become too corporate and an unethical mix of journalists and the institutions they cover. One longtime observer of the scene even hoped that this year would be more "B list." No such luck, as Hollywood stars Lupita Nyong'o, Robert De Niro, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus mixed with media heavyweights including Ariana Huffington and NBC's Today show cast, plus sports stars including Super Bowl champions Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman.

Photo: Olivier Douliery-Pool/Getty Images
Google and Netflix Party
Google and Netflix Party

Held at the United States Institute of Peace, the event's theme was "Great Storytelling." As a canopy over the main hall, an installation of paper sculptures with die-cut letters spelled out "Story to Screen."

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
Google and Netflix Party
Google and Netflix Party

Two illustration artists sketched imagery from popular YouTube channels and Netflix original content, which was then projected onto the building's wall of windows.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
Google and Netflix Party
Google and Netflix Party

The menu from Occasions Caterers included two buffets that had playful interpretations of food from two of Netflix's programs, House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black. The House of Cards "Freddy's Rib Shack" station was based on the barbecue joint that the fictional Frank Underwood often visits and included beef short ribs on polenta cakes, fried chicken drumettes, collard-green-stuffed mushrooms, and endive spears with an Asian jicama slaw.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
Google and Netflix Party
Google and Netflix Party

Dessert, served on the outdoor plaza, included a liquid nitrogen ice cream station with flavors such as Oreo cookie, butter pecan, vanilla, and pineapple-lime sorbet.
 

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
2.0: The New Media Party
2.0: The New Media Party

For the new event held at the Carnegie Library, Event Farm created disco balls embedded with tablets that lowered into the crowd during the live band's performance, allowing guests to use their badges to download a track from the group.

"The White House Correspondents weekend traditionally dominated by legacy media parties. Celebrities show up, go to parties, and go home. Everything we do is geared at being a little bit of a disrupter," said Event Farm C.E.O. Ryan Costello. "We're not just putting brands on the wall, we are experimenting with the technology."

Photo: Kristen Finn
2.0: The New Media Party
2.0: The New Media Party

Tablets arranged on a wall invited guests to "give yourself a gift" by hovering their N.F.C.-enabled badges over a sensor. Sponsors offered digital swag that was delivered via email. Meanwhile, a group of staffers dubbed the "Selfie Squad" took photos with event guests and immediately posted them to social sites.

Photo: Kristen Finn
2.0: The New Media Party
2.0: The New Media Party

Tiny robots called Blabdroids contained N.F.C. readers that allowed them to recognize guests and have a personal interaction based on questions the guests answered during registration about their gender, marital status, occupation, and political affiliation. "Guests wonder, 'How the hell does the robot know that?'" said Event Farm C.E.O. Ryan Costello.

Photo: Kristen Finn
Bow Ties & Burgers
Bow Ties & Burgers

The red and blue logos for BuzzFeed and Facebook, respectively, worked well in a political context at their Bow Ties & Burgers. Both logos were splashed along a banner that wrapped around the Jack Rose Dining Saloon. The signage also included the event's hashtag.

Photo: William B. Plowman/Invision for BuzzFeed/AP Images
BuzzBow Ties & Burgers
BuzzBow Ties & Burgers

Photo booth props included oversize bow ties in Faceook's signature blue hue, which was as close as some guests came to formal attire. Pen & Public produced the event, which creative director Liam Smith said had a mandate to be an "anti-White House Correspondents' Dinner."

Photo: William B. Plowman/Invision for BuzzFeed/AP Images
Bow Ties & Burgers
Bow Ties & Burgers

Evoking a carnival, the dessert bar used stacked rolls of tickets to hold platters. Pen & Public produced the event.

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
'Capitol File' Party
'Capitol File' Party

Capitol File held its Friday-night party at the residence of the British ambassador, and the decor from Syzygy Events international incorporated British accents such as Union Jack-inspired bar fronts. "We look forward to having fun this weekend," said Syzygy's Hillary Maki. "People in D.C. usually have an agenda—it's a fund-raiser or a gala—but this weekend there's more flexibility to be creative."

Photo: Gearshift.tv
Capitol File Party
Capitol File Party

The catering, provided by the venue, included mini versions of classic British and American dishes: shepherd's pie and burgers.

Photo: Gearshift.tv
Capitol File Party
Capitol File Party

Syzygy created two versions of metal café tables, one covered in British slang and the other with American slang.

Photo: Gearshift.tv
Thomson Reuters Pre-Dinner Reception
Thomson Reuters Pre-Dinner Reception

At a reception held before the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Dufour & Company created a garden party atmosphere in a meeting room at the Washington Hilton. The seating areas included pillows in the media company's orange hue.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

Jimmy Eat World was the headlining entertainment. Maryland Sound provided the sound, and Creative Video provided video services.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

Outside, the Ciroc Cigar Lounge had a different decor, featuring black leather couches, black flooring, and shaggy white throws on barstools. Cigar Row hand-rolled cigars for guests.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

The menu from Occasions Caterers featured dishes arranged around an ingredient, and they were brought out in "flavor waves" throughout the evening. For the bacon theme, dishes included Swedish pancakes filled with bacon-maple jam.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

One of the dishes for the coconut theme was coconut fried shrimp. Each dish was served on a tray that reflected the theme.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

Occasions debuted a new concept at the event, a pour-over coffee station with beans from Intelligentsia. Guests could choose from four flavors, and staff would then make individual cups.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

MSNBC debuted the AT&T Departures Lounge, where guests could arrange for a ride home from Uber as well as charge their smartphones. "Everyone leaves and stands out there with their phone, so why not bring them together?" MSNBC executive producer Dana Haller said.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
MSNBC After-Party
MSNBC After-Party

The gold-toned step-and-repeat featured the evening's sponsors.

Photo: Tony Brown/imijphoto.com
Bloomberg and 'Vanity Fair' After-Party
Bloomberg and 'Vanity Fair' After-Party

The Bloomberg and Vanity Fair after-party on Saturday moved venues this year to Villa Firenze, home of the Italian ambassador. Decals from both publications decorated clear café tables.

Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/VF14/WireImage
Bloomberg and 'Vanity Fair' After-Party
Bloomberg and 'Vanity Fair' After-Party

In a custom studio built for the event, photographer Mark Seliger shot portraits of  high-profile guests such as MSNBC host Ronan Farrow and Scandal actress Bellamy Young. The portraits were then posted to Vanity Fair's Facebook page.

Photo: Mark Seliger
'The Atlantic'/'National Journal' Welcome Dinner
'The Atlantic'/'National Journal' Welcome Dinner

David Bradley hosted his annual welcome dinner Friday at his home; Susan Gage Caterers provided catering and design. The classic black, white, and silver decor was intended to pay homage to the White House Correspondents' Association's centennial anniversary, and the tent included black-and-white photos from throughout the association's history.

Photo: Max Taylor/Atlantic Media
'Politico's Allbritton Garden Brunch
'Politico's Allbritton Garden Brunch

Politico's Sunday brunch, held in the backyard of publisher Robert Allbritton, had a Moroccan theme. Copper lanterns and strings of flowers hung from the tent. Syzygy produced the event.

Photo: Kate Patterson for Politico
'Politico's Allbritton Garden Brunch
'Politico's Allbritton Garden Brunch

Color-blocked floral arrangements came in bright tones.

Photo: Kate Patterson for Politico
Garden Brunch
Garden Brunch

At the annual Garden Brunch, held Saturday at the Beall-Washington House in Georgetown, the menu from Design Cuisine Caterers included a bacon bar in flavors such as maple and jalapeño. Individual slices were served on skewers.

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Garden Brunch
Garden Brunch

The menu also included savory dishes such as an Asian slaw served in an ice cream cone.

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Thomson Reuters Brunch
Thomson Reuters Brunch

Four competitors from past seasons of Top Chef served dishes at Thomson Reuters's brunch Sunday at the Hay-Adams hotel rooftop. Washington-based chef Bart Vandaele served "pig and egg on a bun."

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
'People' and 'Time' Party
'People' and 'Time' Party

Covers of Time and People magazines flanked the bar backdrop, which was covered in boxwood. The Friday-night event was held at the St. Regis and designed by Syzygy.

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Rock the Vote Off the Record Party
Rock the Vote Off the Record Party

LMT Inc. president and C.E.O. Lani Hay hosted the seventh annual Rock the Vote "Off the Record" event Friday, which honored distinguished women in the media. Guests gathered for a performance from singer Michelle Branch in the living room, where they could sit on ghost stools set around highboy tables topped with gray and white chevron-patterned linens.

Photo: Beth Kormanik/BizBash
Creative Coalition Gala
Creative Coalition Gala

The Creative Coalition held its Celebration of Arts in America benefit gala Friday in the Supper Suite at the newly opened STK.

Photo: Invision
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