Developers Harry Weitzer and Jim Rosewater of Weitzer Communities wanted to celebrate the opening of Tao Condominiums' sales center with an event reflective of the luxury residences' East-meets-West design. They turned to Nicole Belkind Leon and Stacy Schrager of Belkind Schrager & Associates to create an upscale Asian environment inside the Chairman's Club at the BankAtlantic Center.
Approximately 350 guests (mainly condo residents, prospective buyers, City of Sunrise officials, and brokers) stepped into a virtual Asia upon entering the building. Andrea Sherman, Belkind Schrager's special events planner, stationed a model dressed as a geisha to greet guests and lead them to the elevators for the ride to the second floor. Just past the doors, Taiko drummers from Fushu Daiko performed along the red-carpet entrance that led into the club. Decorative grass, lanterns, ornate vases, and bamboo lined the entranceway.
The central feature of the room was a buffet table overflowing with large boats filled with sashimi and sushi. Green silk-linen overlays contrasted with the table's black silk, Asian-patterned skirt. The centerpiece wasn't the usual ice sculpture or floral arrangement but a model, dressed in a traditional geisha costume, which matched the table linens. She graciously interacted with guests who approached for sushi, supplied by the Boston Culinary Group, the center's in-house caterer. The company also prepared passed hors d'oeuvres such as shrimp cocktail, mini veggie egg rolls, steak and chicken skewers, and coconut chicken nuggets. With the array of food to nibble on, plus an open bar serving martinis, guests mingled and enjoyed the Zen-inspired ambience. The chill beats of DJ Buddah Black of MB Entertainment further enhanced the atmosphere.
A pair of four-foot-tall red vases decorated with dragons and filled with curly willow and wood stalks supporting red lanterns flanked the stage. The entertainment included contortionist En Darma who hopped on a small table to twist her body onstage, drawing oohs and ahhs from the audience. Fushu Daiko followed with a martial-arts-meets-Brazilian-capoeira performance, complete with live drumming.
After the show, guests enjoyed a dessert buffet that was conspicuously devoid of fortune cookies or ice cream tempura. Instead, the Boston Culinary Group offered cream-filled pastry puffs; mini éclairs; petit fours of chocolate cake; and white- and milk-chocolate fountains with fresh fruit, marshmallows, and pound cake for dipping. The final sweet treat came in the form of Florida Panthers tickets, which guests received as they left the Asian paradise and stepped back into Sunrise.
—Vanessa Goyanes
Approximately 350 guests (mainly condo residents, prospective buyers, City of Sunrise officials, and brokers) stepped into a virtual Asia upon entering the building. Andrea Sherman, Belkind Schrager's special events planner, stationed a model dressed as a geisha to greet guests and lead them to the elevators for the ride to the second floor. Just past the doors, Taiko drummers from Fushu Daiko performed along the red-carpet entrance that led into the club. Decorative grass, lanterns, ornate vases, and bamboo lined the entranceway.
The central feature of the room was a buffet table overflowing with large boats filled with sashimi and sushi. Green silk-linen overlays contrasted with the table's black silk, Asian-patterned skirt. The centerpiece wasn't the usual ice sculpture or floral arrangement but a model, dressed in a traditional geisha costume, which matched the table linens. She graciously interacted with guests who approached for sushi, supplied by the Boston Culinary Group, the center's in-house caterer. The company also prepared passed hors d'oeuvres such as shrimp cocktail, mini veggie egg rolls, steak and chicken skewers, and coconut chicken nuggets. With the array of food to nibble on, plus an open bar serving martinis, guests mingled and enjoyed the Zen-inspired ambience. The chill beats of DJ Buddah Black of MB Entertainment further enhanced the atmosphere.
A pair of four-foot-tall red vases decorated with dragons and filled with curly willow and wood stalks supporting red lanterns flanked the stage. The entertainment included contortionist En Darma who hopped on a small table to twist her body onstage, drawing oohs and ahhs from the audience. Fushu Daiko followed with a martial-arts-meets-Brazilian-capoeira performance, complete with live drumming.
After the show, guests enjoyed a dessert buffet that was conspicuously devoid of fortune cookies or ice cream tempura. Instead, the Boston Culinary Group offered cream-filled pastry puffs; mini éclairs; petit fours of chocolate cake; and white- and milk-chocolate fountains with fresh fruit, marshmallows, and pound cake for dipping. The final sweet treat came in the form of Florida Panthers tickets, which guests received as they left the Asian paradise and stepped back into Sunrise.
—Vanessa Goyanes
A piece of Asia was transported to the BankAtlantic Center for the sales center opening party of Tao Condominiums.
A model dressed in a traditional geisha costume was part of the sushi buffet station.
Fushu Daiko performed a martial-arts-dance combo that entertained guests at the Asian-themed event.
En Darma contorted her body into awe-inspiring positions at the Tao opening party.
!['The Cathedral of St. John the Divine [in New York] is such a striking hidden gem and one of my favorite event venues in the city,' says Tinsel Experiential Design's Erica Taylor Haskins.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2024/09/_M627287_pano.66db3413ac491.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=2&fit=crop&h=167&q=70&w=250)