After recreating an African safari tent camp on a West Side pier one year and shipping in palm trees from Florida another, Travel & Leisure went for a decidedly only-in-New York feel for its World’s Best awards this year. Taking over part of Top of the Rock—the event space on the highest six floors of the tallest building at Rockefeller Center—the party allowed the assembled media and hospitality types to loll about outside on a hot summer night and to take a peek at the skyline.With such an attention-grabbing view, T&L creative projects director Laura Aviva decided on a fairly clean look for the festivities. But that didn’t mean the design process was simple. After seeing a Lucite coffee table filled with blue tempera pigment designed by French conceptual artist Yves Klein in an acquaintance’s apartment, Aviva enlisted set production firm Chavez Design and metal production firm Booth Fabricating to build knockoffs—er, call it an homage—for the party. Then she brought in modern-looking chairs and an assortment of glass vases to complement the tables.
The evening started with cocktails and a sit-down dinner for 100, during which publisher Ellen Asmodeo and editor Nancy Novogrod, along with cohost Michael Kors, presented the awards. Then 200 more guests arrived for drinks and dessert at 9:30, with DJ Aaron James playing an assortment of mash-ups that mixed the likes of Madonna, Kelis, and Gnarls Barkley.
Aviva had intended for the evening’s pared-down look to have one more bit of flair—she ordered custom-made carpets with a Deco-inspired floral print from Italy, but they spent three days in customs and didn’t arrive until the morning after the event. “I’m still traumatized,” she said a few days later. But she did cut a piece to serve as a fancy new rug in her office.
—Chad Kaydo
Posted 07.31.06
Photos: Courtesy of Travel & Leisure
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The evening started with cocktails and a sit-down dinner for 100, during which publisher Ellen Asmodeo and editor Nancy Novogrod, along with cohost Michael Kors, presented the awards. Then 200 more guests arrived for drinks and dessert at 9:30, with DJ Aaron James playing an assortment of mash-ups that mixed the likes of Madonna, Kelis, and Gnarls Barkley.
Aviva had intended for the evening’s pared-down look to have one more bit of flair—she ordered custom-made carpets with a Deco-inspired floral print from Italy, but they spent three days in customs and didn’t arrive until the morning after the event. “I’m still traumatized,” she said a few days later. But she did cut a piece to serve as a fancy new rug in her office.
—Chad Kaydo
Posted 07.31.06
Photos: Courtesy of Travel & Leisure
Related Stories
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T&L Holds Party Over Lincoln Center Pool
Travel & Leisure's Tent Camp on the Hudson
Related Story From Los Angeles
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The dinner ceremony’s 100 guests—mostly award winners—sat at two long rows of tables modeled after a piece designed by French conceptual artist Yves Klein.
Clear glasses and vases matched the Lucite tables filled with blue tempera pigment.
The mag incorporated sponsor Leica by putting logos on the outdoor spaces’ glass walls.
Leica binoculars hung for guests to use in checking out the view.
Smaller versions of the custom tables displayed magazines—and, later, guests’ drinks—outside.
