On December 6, more than 700 of Broward County's finest stepped out 20 miles north of the Art Basel Miami Beach mayhem for the 37th annual Lanson Champagne Winterfest Black Tie Ball at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. For the second year, Sixth Star Entertainment & Marketing donated their efforts to the rock 'n' roll-themed affair.
"The partnership is also part of a friendship that we have cultivated over the past couple of years," said Sixth Star president Doug Jones, who is also on the executive board for the parade. "Winterfest has always included an extravagant slate of events, but our team has definitely upped the ante, and our brand of decor and entertainment has definitely been well received."
Coming off an Oscar theme from last year, the 2008 dinner gala channeled the journey of rock 'n' roll through the ages. First originating with the idea that each boat entry would host an onboard concert during the parade (scheduled to take place the following Saturday), the style of the gala also served as inspiration for many of the parade participants in attendance.
"Because the event attracts such as mixed crowd, we wanted to highlight rock 'n' roll that transcends different demographics," said event producer Meredith Lasher. "Rock 'n' roll isn't necessarily about grunge and dirt so we upgraded our materials to convey the glamorous side of the genre."
With logistics and a floor plan identical to last year's, the evening was split into two areas: the silent auction and cocktail tent on the property's rear parking lot, and the hotel's ballroom, which hosted the dinner and live auction. Each space, connected by a pipe-and-drape walkway adorned with oversize records, featured a vast array of colorful lighting, fabrics, and decor, as well as the production team's circulating entertainment. Lasher said costumed impersonators (what the company calls "living decor") are a less expensive approach than creating a scenic piece from the ground up, despite the company's 40,000-square-foot scenic warehouse.
"In an effort to increase visibility for the event sponsors, we paired a living decor piece with its setup to increase traffic and create more of an environmental experience for the guests," Lasher said.
For example, inside the cocktail tent, guests were enticed to visit the PatrĂłn ice bar by a Pee-Wee Herman character. Other characters in circulation included Elton John, Cher, Madonna, and the Beatles.
As the evening progressed, so did the entertainment. During the cocktail hour, guests were treated to a performance by three-piece band DC-3 as they perused the silent-auction lots. Once inside, the Edge took the stage with choreographed performances by aerialists, acrobats, and break-dancers.
Additional decor highlights included fiber-optic light installations and laser-cut acrylic guitars that made up the table centerpieces, as well as15-foot columns topped with guitar heads flanking the prefunction space. The menu consisted of a roasted artichoke-heart bottom stuffed with microgreens and lobster, apple-pie salad, and a lump crabmeat and filet mignon entrée, created by the hotel's catering department.
The 37th annual boat parade-with actor Jim Belushi as grand marshal-will take place December 13. Expected to attract more than one million spectators, the fleet of decorated vessels will begin on Broward County's new river and travel the Intracoastal Waterway north to Lake Santa Barbara in Pompano Beach.
Additionally, in conjunction with Comcast, Sixth Star hosted decorating seminars aiding those looking for inspiration for their boats, which were recorded and will be aired on the cable provider's on-demand channel, along with a time-lapsed video of the gala setup.
