This week's roundup includes Delta's Twitter matchmaking service in Vancouver, a festive-looking flavored popcorn bar in Dallas, hay bale seating in Los Angeles, and a virtual Magic 8 Ball in Tampa, Florida.
In Los Angeles, the Museum of Contemporary Art hosted its big celebration on March 29. Held at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, the event had tables that paid homage to presenting sponsor Louis Vuitton. Guests dined at glass tables laser-cut with the French brand's signature flowers. Tables were also dressed up with white orchids, hydrangeas, and lilacs.
The Gasparilla International Film Festival in Tampa, Florida, hosted its closing-night bash on March 23 at the Ritz Ybor. Produced by Monica Varner of Elan Event Studio, the event had a Magic 8 Ball theme with a giant prop to match. Guests could approach the activation and ask questions; the answer would appear in lights after the ball underwent a virtual shake.
Delta Air Lines launched its new in-flight Innovation Class program at the TED Conference in Vancouver in March. Innovation Class is a partnership with LinkedIn to give up-and-coming business people the opportunity to sit next to leaders in their industries on select flights. MKG, Delta’s experiential marketing agency, brought the concept of connectivity to life with a digital experience called Social Soul. The Social Soul exhibit surrounded participants with images and sounds from their Twitter stream and from those of a suggested match.
The Avicii Hotel activation during the Winter Music Conference added the host DJ's persona into the main elevator at SLS South Beach. Aside: the elevator always contains images of people in keeping with hotel designer Philippe Starck's belief that no one should ride an elevator alone.
On March 15, Habitat for Humanity hosted its “Blueprint” benefit at the Hilton St. Petersburg Bayfront Hotel. One dining-room-style vignette, designed by home furnishings store Zazoo'd, was shaped like an artist's palette. Colorful roses were arranged to look like globules of paint. A giant prop paintbrush, also made of flowers, topped the table. The event was produced by Laura Fage Signature Events and Design.
At Amfar's First Look Party, held in Dallas last fall, guests had to win their dessert by shooting a toy dart gun into cupcake cutouts. Fittingly, the prize was a Sprinkles Cupcake. The event was designed by Todd Events.
At a flavored popcorn station, custom-built stands had a false fill at the top so they never appeared empty. Serving staff refilled the popcorn at the base as needed.
On March 24, HBO hosted a premiere party for the third season of Veep at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles. In the new season, Julia Louis-Dreyfus's character, Selina Meyer, has written a book. To highlight the plot, a bookshelf with faux copies of her book stood behind a colorful candy bar. Guests could fill the hollow books with red, white, and blue candies. Dylan's Candy Bar provided the sweets. Billy Butchkavitz designed the event.
Orange County-based investment banking company Roth Capital Partners hosted its 26th annual Orange County conference March 9 to 12 at the Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. The event had a country theme inspired by headline act Florida Georgia Line, and colorful throw pillows topped hay bale seating.
To celebrate the 55th anniversary of Barbie, Mattel partnered with the popular blogger and stylist behind TomKat Studio to build event templates that would inspire families to host their own Barbie bash. TomKat planner Kim Stoegbauer staged two vibrant Barbie-theme parties for her own daughter and friends. One party, inspired by the latest Barbie DVD (which has a mermaid theme), offered clam-shell-shaped cookies complete with edible pearls.
