The BizBash Chicago IdeaFest brought 800 event pros and 80 vendors to the Merchandise Mart on Wednesday. Right in time for corporate holiday parties, vendors caught planners' attention with everything including Eskimo-shaped ice sculptures and ice-cream-based Manhattan cocktails. Here's a look at 15 ideas from the trade show floor.
CocoMori brought in silver and white cake pops inspired by holiday ornaments.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Polonia Catering and Market brought in a mobile nitrogen ice-cream bar. Staffers offered samples of regular, low-fat, soy, or organic treats.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
As an example of its passed event desserts, Zed451 offered in s'mores skewers topped with homemade marshmallows.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Nadeau's Ice Sculptures created an ice fireplace replete with a fire burning on a flat-screen TV. A functioning QR code, also wrapped in ice, was the centerpiece of the sculpture.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Nadeau's also brought in a candy buffet that had sweets spilling out of an ice chimney and an ice sculpture of an Eskimo. Guests could pop their heads into the Eskimo hood for a festive photo opportunity.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Market brought in a cotton candy machine. The pink, fluffy dessert was served in a miniature shopping cart, and the chef invited guests to step up to the machine to twirl their own cones.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Classic Party Rentals showed off new chair covers, including the flowery Camellia style.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Cort Event Furnishings showcased new lounge furniture swathed in black leather and grey-and-white snakeskin.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
BBJ Linen displayed its new, retro-style line of Delirium linens.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
At the Gold Coast All Stars booth, band members played a live acoustic set of songs including Rihanna's "Umbrella."
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
TouchTunes Interactive Network's Virtuo machine serves three functions: it's a digital jukebox, a karaoke machine, and a photo booth that prints out strips of images with a variety of backgrounds. The machine can be rented for meetings and events.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Event Creative's booth, surrounded with punctured wood walls, had new rentals including high-back white chairs and couches tossed with golden pillows.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
The display from Hall's Rental had vintage-inspired plates, a farm-style table, and French Country chairs.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Jewell Events Catering hosted a Recreated Cocktail bar, where servers presented ice-cream-based drinks on chilled blocks of salt. Flavors included the Manhattan, which was made with orange sorbet, candied orange zest, and cherries soaked in bourbon.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
To showcase its ability to design cake pops inspired by an event's guests or host, CocoMori also showed off pops designed to look like specific fashion icons, including (from left to right) Andre Leon Talley, Grace Coddington, Anna Wintour, and Karl Lagerfeld.
Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
