When Metropolitan Home magazine and the New York Design Center hosted Design Cares: Carnival to benefit the Partnership for the Homeless, the event certainly had a circuslike atmosphere.
The guests—more than 1,000 of them—were given red foam clown noses as they checked in to set the mood early. (While most people stuck them in their pockets, a few brave souls wore them throughout the event.)
Inside the design center, stiltwalkers, clowns, and carnival barkers invited guests to step right up and play traditional carnival games that incorporated the event's sponsors. Two examples: The Villeroy & Boch bath and tile dunking booth was staffed by two shirtless men in jeans, and guests could act out their favorite scenes from movies at the "Movieoke" booth. Red, black, and white striped draping added to the event's carnival feel (as did the growing crowd: the space was packed by 7 PM). Event stylist Eduard Riddle of Serena Bass Catering built all the carnival sets for the event.
The booths "were inspired by our sponsors," says Samantha Nestor, New York Design Center's director of marketing and communications, who was one of the event's planners. "The ideas for the booths and activities really came from elements of the sponsors' identities." For example, high-end picture frame maker Larson Juhl sponsored a photo booth where guests could stand inside a picture frame and have a photo taken; and Henredon chairs were used for the an "Armchair Quarterback" game, where guests had to hit a target while sitting in the chair.
Caterer Serena Bass provided a kid-friendly menu that included circus staples like hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as chocolate cupcakes, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and plenty of candy. A few adult-oriented items were also on the menu—like margarita Jell-O shots and sushi.
Nestor and New York Design Center marketing manager Lisa Garber coplanned the event, which raised $130,000 through game ticket sales, the $25-per-person admission price, and the silent auction. "We wanted to create an event that was accessible to people, that they could go and spend as much or as little as they wanted to, but still support homeless children," Nestor said of the lower-than-average event admission price.
—Erika Rasmusson Janes
The guests—more than 1,000 of them—were given red foam clown noses as they checked in to set the mood early. (While most people stuck them in their pockets, a few brave souls wore them throughout the event.)
Inside the design center, stiltwalkers, clowns, and carnival barkers invited guests to step right up and play traditional carnival games that incorporated the event's sponsors. Two examples: The Villeroy & Boch bath and tile dunking booth was staffed by two shirtless men in jeans, and guests could act out their favorite scenes from movies at the "Movieoke" booth. Red, black, and white striped draping added to the event's carnival feel (as did the growing crowd: the space was packed by 7 PM). Event stylist Eduard Riddle of Serena Bass Catering built all the carnival sets for the event.
The booths "were inspired by our sponsors," says Samantha Nestor, New York Design Center's director of marketing and communications, who was one of the event's planners. "The ideas for the booths and activities really came from elements of the sponsors' identities." For example, high-end picture frame maker Larson Juhl sponsored a photo booth where guests could stand inside a picture frame and have a photo taken; and Henredon chairs were used for the an "Armchair Quarterback" game, where guests had to hit a target while sitting in the chair.
Caterer Serena Bass provided a kid-friendly menu that included circus staples like hot dogs and hamburgers, as well as chocolate cupcakes, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, and plenty of candy. A few adult-oriented items were also on the menu—like margarita Jell-O shots and sushi.
Nestor and New York Design Center marketing manager Lisa Garber coplanned the event, which raised $130,000 through game ticket sales, the $25-per-person admission price, and the silent auction. "We wanted to create an event that was accessible to people, that they could go and spend as much or as little as they wanted to, but still support homeless children," Nestor said of the lower-than-average event admission price.
—Erika Rasmusson Janes
Games like the Dornbracht-sponsored "Duck Derby" kept guests entertained at Metropolitan Home's Design Cares: Carnival fund-raiser benefiting the Partnership for the Homeless at the New York Design Center.
The Villeroy & Boch-sponsored dunking booth was staffed by two shirtless men in jeans.
Acrobats from Empire Entertainment performed for guests.
The kid-friendly catering included Krispy Kreme doughnuts.
