The annual Hospitality Night for event and meeting planners and members of the hospitality industry at the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) was slightly different from previous years: the event introduced a new partnership between the ROM and Restaurant Associates. And afterward, the museum closed its doors to events until the first of its newly renovated spaces opens in December 2005.
More than 800 guests enjoyed the festivities, which kicked off with a video that unveiled the venue's renovation plans. Restaurant Associates' three new dining facilities will include fine dining in the rooftop Crystal Five bistro bar, family fare in the ROM World Diner, and light snacks in the Rotunda Caf?. Corporate event spaces to come, such as the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal Hall , Hyacinth Gloria Chen Crystal Court, and the adjacent Samuel Hall Currelly Gallery, will accommodate as many as 4,000 guests.
During the video presentation, guests enjoyed a variety of edibles from catering sponsors A la Carte Kitchens, Daniel et Daniel, En Ville Catering, Gibson & Lyle, and Gourmet Cuisine, L'Eat Catering, Marigolds & Onions, Presidential Gourmet, Rhonda Litwack, and Sen5es Catering. Cocktails from the Martini Club included the Absolut Razberi Cosmo, the Remy Sidecar, the Plymouth Star, and the Cruisin Cocktail.
In another room was the ROM Cocktail Challenge. Sponsored by Maxxium Canada, officiated by the Martini Club, and hosted by noted party aficionado Jaymz Bee, the cocktail mixing competition had local bartenders vying to create the ROM's signature cocktail, to be served at all ROM events. A backlit stage with an LED wall of multicolored, abstract patterns decorated the space.
Attendees relaxed in various rooms decorated by Contemporary Furniture, such as the "Fuchsia Room," with its independent lounges set on custom shag rugs accented with white furniture and pewter-coloured sequined pillows. Aromatic arrangements of pink rose petals from Church Street Flowers and lush draping by Micki's Linens completed the look. Another room featured chocolate-colored furnishings and glamorous calla lily arrangements accented with banana-leaf wrapping and candles.
The evening ended with a sampling of DJ talent from Third From the Sun, Mandell Entertainment Group, Fish-Fry, and Vinyl Factory.
—Robyn Small
