Monthly Archives: May 2012

F&B Fun

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Rather than championing hors d’oeuvres and filled drinks on a buffet ready for pick up, we thought we’d highlight some fabulous food and beverage presentations that make a much larger impression on guests.

Dressed to Impress

These mobile human tables can be fantastic ways to (literally) carry your theme throughout your event, while adding entertainment pizzazz.

Obviously these are great food trays for themed parties and fundraisers, but these could also be great vehicles for silent auction or party favor displays as well.

Just remember to provide ample space for these tables to move around the room and between guests while maintaining good flow. Found here and here.

 

Hors Wall

As highlighted by fellow blogger, Satin & Snowflakes, a catering company called Tulips & Maple has begun to perfect the art of entertaining through catering. They’ve coined it ‘catertaining’. Check out the wall o’ hors d’oeuvres they had on display at one of their recent events. Such a unique, nearly Willy Wonka type of playful presentation.

This could be a great presentation option for kids, with the removable wooden (or could be colored plastic) spoons and the ability to have these line the walls in whatever shape or pattern you’d like.

Beverage Beauties

And how about these exquisite additions to a client event, Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain recently held?

Champagne poured into and served right from her skirt. Genius (and still wildly elegant).

These could be wonderful additions to formal cocktail hours or galas. These could also easily become more futuristic (with a change of ensemble or addition of uplit glasses).

For that matter, these could also be used for more casual affairs (by pouring coke floats, filling ice cream cones, or making flavored sodas with pre-poured syrups- that would also be very colorful).

So many options!

Hats off to tradition (and to our moms).

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Dear moms everywhere,

Thank you for the warmth, the support, and the kissed boo boos. Thanks for the patience while teaching us right from wrong and manners. Today you may not even get much of a break from your usual ‘mommy duties’, but it is a chance for those of us everywhere to be reminded of how grateful we are to have the positive memories we have with just you.

Growing up, Mother’s Day was one of our favorites holidays. Annually, we’d get together with the same family friends to create a waffle feast for our moms.

We would set out to create masterpieces of waffles topped with strawberries, chocolate drizzle & whipped cream or the ever-delicious but wildly simple butter and syrup.

But as there were only four kids in the kitchen (no adults allowed)…

I’m fairly certain there may have a been a few times our poor mothers had to eat the less-than-delicious, mangled messes covered in other refrigerated condiments as well. (Our poor moms.) Yet regardless of their taste and the disastrous mess we left in the kitchen, our moms loved us all the same.

The best part is how lasting those memories have become, sharing a kitchen and laughs with family friends. And who knows, maybe those annual waffle-making adventures played a role in the love one of us grew for cooking, later growing to become a Boston chef. (Likely? Eh.)

Well, in honor of Sandie & Amy (two of the best moms in the world), we wish you a kid-treated, hopefully relaxing, waffle-filled Mother’s Day.

If you have any Mother’s Day traditions, tell us! We’d love to hear about them in the comments section!

(Also- best waffles ever: from a NY waffle cart called Wafels & Dinges. Their belgian waffle arrives warm with a soft center and crispy edges and their Speculoos spread is highly suggested, as it’s amazing. Think gingersnaps creamed into a spread. Mmm.)

Hear ye, hear ye

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There’s a new gazette in town: one that’s all about you or your event.

I think the founders of McPapers, Matt & Paige McPheely, may have answered a number of soon-to-be-bride’s wishes for an elegant compliment to their shabby chic dreams.

What better way to tell your family and friends about your latest news than via personalized newspaper?

We’re getting hitched! We’re pregnant! We’ve bought a house! We’re having a baby!

All of those are great reasons to give these personalized papes a whirl, but there are definitely a number of other events for which these would be appropriate and adorable as well.

Do you have a retro themed (or Mad Men themed) fundraiser coming up? Did you just graduate? Are you hosting a murder mystery party? Are you finally empty nesters, now that all five kids are out of the house? Are you planning to celebrate grandpa’s 90th birthday?

Any of these would be great reasons to let people know via the classic (and nearly extinct) newspaper. Not to mention that was the only way people knew what was going on in the world for quite a long time (aside from hearsay and later radio, of course). So there’s still something ultra-special about flipping the tangible pages. And it only takes a few short weeks, before your beloved family and friends / guests / dedicated donors could be awaiting a perfectly printed 4 to 16 page spread of deets about your special event.

And for those of you in NYC, there are even a couple of key stores I think would wildly benefit from sending their next corporate newsletter or exclusive deals for long-time customers via McPapers as well. Let me know if you agree or if you have local suggestions (for wherever you are):

Brooks Brothers Flatiron storefront.  Their 7200 square foot, three level, man cave is such a nod to retro that it would pair perfectly. Photo from WWD.

Stumptown Coffee, with their Newsies-esque pageboy baristas. Photo from newyork.seriouseats.com.

Glow

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After watching Tron: Legacy with the hubby the other day, it got me thinking about the tons of ways we can now use glow lighting. Chris Brown’s performance at the 2012 Grammy Awards was a testament to the fascinating fantasmic of LEDs.

But there are lots of small ways to add cool lighting to an event, merely with old school glow sticks. Here are a few ways to check out:

Cotton candy on a rainbow colored glow stick. These immediately made me think of school carnivals. Sometimes all it takes is something a little more unique to keep the attention of parents and kids alike. Not selling these until dusk could convince a few more patrons to participate in the raffles later in the day just by incorporating a less traditional ‘stick’ for the cotton candy. Small difference, big win.

And how about these glow lanterns for sleepover birthday parties? Or ‘camping’ in the backyard? Or for actually lighting your jack-o-lanterns at Halloween? Check out the link for instructions here (and definitely check out the comments section there too for additional tips and tricks).

And if we were to color coordinate, these uplit patriotic slushies could be big July 4th hits as well. Or hits for any summer party, for that matter. These tasty snow cone-like treats keep your guests cool by the pool or refreshed at the hot tub (with cucumber or mint influenced syrup). But all in all, great for outdoor, summery, night time fun.

Lastly, though it’s nearly a year away now, I can imagine that glowing Easter egg hunts could also gain better attention from older school-aged children or visiting family members. Though I don’t imagine churches switching their traditional Easter egg hunts to night events, this could easily be implemented at home. It’s as easy as winding up glow bracelets and packing them into the plastic eggs.

Enjoy!

Wow factor worthy.

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Looking to add some live ‘pop’ to your party entertainment? Check these out:

Bubble Entrance

Hello, Smash Party Entertainment. How cool would this be for a surprise guest entrance, sweet sixteen, or any performance opening? Amy Gottesman and her talent at Smash are just genius. In fact, if you choose to go with them, be sure to speak with Amy, directly. She’s absolutely outstanding, has a great way of listening to what you’re really looking to achieve and finding the creative entertainment to help you create the wow factor for your event. Love, love, love. (If you remember the stilt dancers or contortionist from the Minds Matter Soiree 2012 event – seen here, those were connected to Smash as well.) Check out a few additional acts they have done in past here or on their website: www.smashpartyentertainment.com.

Champagne Chandeliers (or aerial bartenders)

Gaining more and more global popularity, these lovely ladies are sure to make your crowd bubble with intrigue. These aerial bartenders hang from inside the chandelier, and while performing pour glasses of bubbly for your guests. How’s that for making an impression? Looking to wow some senior executives? Launching a new product? Hoping to make your cocktail party or fundraiser unforgettable?

Check out these beauties here, here, or here (for Amsterdam!).

Ice Sculpting Performers

Rather than hiring an entertainment act as well as additionally dazzling products to make your hour happier (such as an ice sculpture to enhance your bar), go ahead and contract this team to come and sculpt ice as your entertainment AND your showpiece. These crazy carving guys have been around for quite a while (mostly competing in ice carving competitions), but it’s because their work is consistently spectacular and could definitely add punch to your party. Great for launches, corporate entertainment, employee appreciation events, or those dazzling, over-the-top, mitzvahs & sweet sixteens. And you’ve gotta love the name: Fear No Ice. Can be found here.

Speed Painters

I’m sorry. I’m pretty sure that if I even tried to create paintings the way these gentlemen do, we’d end up with something resembling a three-year-old’s first painting. Watching these made in action is astounding. As you can see from the video, essentially what you have is a man who can see his creation from every angle before it’s made. They spin the canvas, often paint with their hands or two brushes at once, and still have the full painting finished in record time (try, like, 4 minutes flat!). OUTstanding option for any fundraiser. Period. Here are a few sites for these pricey but amazing speed painting options: this one, this one, or this one.

Taking flight.

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On the heels of Earth Day, we felt it may be appropriate to give you a couple of the cooler and greener event-enhancing options we’ve seen: flogos & sky lanterns.

Flogos - It might look like a bird, a plane, or superman, but it’s really just bubbles forming a F(lying)LOGO. Launching a new product? Sponsoring a local shindig? Hosting a bar-b-que or open house? These are an uber cool way to get the word out about your event. The mixture is 100% environmentally safe and merely fills foam-like bubbles with helium rather than air, so the entire form floats. From what I’ve seen, these images can be up to four feet wide as well! Available here.

Sky Lanterns - Mimicking the known and annual “Yi Peng” Thai festival, these sky lanterns can be great ways to wish couples well at a wedding reception, send hopes into the sky for the futures of recent graduates, or as a memorial for loved ones. These beautiful and biodegradable glows can be seen for miles and create an absolutely beautifully lit sky to end any celebration. Can be purchased here or here!