With winter officially upon us, here's a look back at ideas in decor, catering, and more from fall benefits across North America.
Correction: A previous version of this story incorrectly credited the designer of the Canadian Opera Company's Centre Stage Gala.
The Chicago-based organization hosted its annual gala at the Four Seasons hotel this fall. Kehoe Designs gave the event an opulent look inspired by turn-of-the-century decor. Tables were accented with leafy palms and tall golden vases holding strands of crystals.
On October 23, the Museum of Contemporary Art hosted its first Benefit Art Auction since 2010. After the event, guests headed back to the Chicago museum to check out the auction artwork, which was displayed in the galleries. Glowing red tables held desserts, including mini caramel apples, dark chocolate tartlets with peanut butter mousse, mini Pop-Tarts, and "boozy heart" truffles. Limelight handled catering.
On November 2, the New York Public Library hosted its annual gala in the Stephen A. Schwarzman building. David Monn handled decor and gave the dinner a rustic look with lots of greenery.
On November 6, the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation Mad Hatter Fashion Show and Luncheon showcased Fall 2015 designer collections from Bloomingdale’s at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale. The event also featured a whimsical cake shaped like the Mad Hatter's signature accessory.
For its Centre Stage fund-raiser, held on November 3, the Canadian Opera Company treated patrons to an on-stage dinner. The stage was set with decorative elements inspired by the company's production of La Traviata; fixtures included a large chandelier dangling above. The set designer for the production was Riccardo Hernandez.
In November, the Deering Estate Foundation hosted its 14th annual gala at Deering Estate in South Florida's Palmetto Bay. To highlight the wine-centric theme, tables were dressed up with miniature grape arbors.
The Capital Food Fight, which is the signature fund-raising event for DC Central Kitchen, took place in November in Washington. The evening included a "High Stakes Cakes" competition, in which pastry chefs battled to create the best cake. The winner was Erin Schwartz of Stacked, who designed a confection that represented the power of volunteerism.
To raise money for Cure SMA, which supports those affected by spinal muscular atrophy, the Gala of Hope took place on November 12 at Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale. The event was inspired by an Italian circus and featured entertainment from speed painter Michael Israel.
The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles hosted a gala on December 6 to celebrate the museum’s grand reopening after a 15-month closure for gut renovation and construction. Produced by RG Live Events (and overseen by museum director Terry Karges), the event had a sleek white dining space.
The Art Institute of Chicago celebrated the Hindu festival Diwali with a richly colored fund-raiser November 7. The event had decor— with plenty of lanterns—from Virgina Wolff Inc.Â
The Celebration of Hope Gala, which benefits Lungevity, took place at New York's Pierre hotel on October 14. Events by André Wells designed the event and decked tables with bright bunches of flowers. The tables also held cards that provided information on lung cancer.
