At a challenging time for magazines, OK intended to celebrate its five-year anniversary with significant pomp. To that end, the weekly hosted five parties in five cities in honor of the milestone. And rounding out that program—which began in Los Angeles on September 1 and also made stops in New York, Chicago, and Miami—was a Las Vegas party on October 7 at Planet Hollywood's Koi, with the most intimate profile of the lot. The magazine's New York-based director of events and partnerships, Lisa Campione, oversaw the entire program.
"I love Vegas," Campione said. "And we have a really nice relationship with Planet Hollywood—our magazines are in the rooms when you check in. Vegas was a natural place for us to go." The cozy event brought out about 75 guests (versus more than 600 in L.A.), including celebrities, employees at Las Vegas-based clients like MGM, and PR folks.
Campione relied mostly on the drama of the venue for the look of the party. "The Fountain Room at Koi overlooks the Bellagio fountains, and it's so pretty," she said. Not wanting to obscure the view, she avoided even things like logoed window clings, opting instead for items like logo throws and votives, which came from the L.A. production by Precision Event Group. Ice buckets bore the name of sponsor Ciroc, and Vertuz and charity-driven OneHope supplied additional beverages. Heavy passed hors d'oeuvres came from Koi.
Among the celebrities with a history of reciprocal support for OK was Holly Madison, currently performing in the "striptease spectacular" Peepshow at Planet Hollywood. Her presence at the event created a minor spectacle. "When the entire cast of Peepshow came in and walked through [the front of] the restaurant [to reach the back room], all the diners were like, 'What is going on in that room? I want to get in,'" Campione said. Madison also extended an invitation to Peepshow, and OK entertained select guests at the show after the event.