Back-to-School

We are nearly halfway through September, which means that school is back in session for our youngsters. If you're in a crafty mood, check out these Back-to-School Craft ideas from Etsy. Included are some DIY ideas for creative, personalized school supplies, as well as some ideas for your child's lunch bags. If you missed last years' Back-to-School post on my blog (Quirky Kid's Lunch/Party Ideas), be sure to check it out for some neat DIY sandwiches that your kids will go crazy for!

The summer may be over, but the fun has just begun!

Cocktail Buffet Highlights

video clip courtesy of Matheson Communications, Inc.

"What to Do with Leftover Wedding Food?"

I recently read a blog article via Slashfood that highlighted some practical uses for leftover wedding food. The article is from last June, but I couldn't resist sharing! Here's a brief synopsis:

"Most caterers will over-estimate the amount of food you'll need for your happy nuptials... So what do you do with all of those leftovers? You've paid for the food, and it really is a shame to see it go to waste."

I find that this is often the case with functions (whether it be a wedding or any other special event) that offer a buffet selection instead of a sit-down dinner. The article suggests donating the food to a local food bank, or allowing your out-of-town guests to pack a "doggy bag" to take back to their hotel room. Overall, I thought the brief article made a great point and you should try to keep these options in mind if you find yourself faced with the dilemma of too much food!

Be sure to check out the original article here!

Birthday Cakes for Kids

What do kids look forward to the most at a birthday party? The birthday cake! Enjoy these amazing cake designs courtesy of Parenting.com, where they also share the step-by-step recipes for you to make all of these unique cakes on your own! Here are a few of my faves:

For more DIY ideas for kid's birthday parties, check out a previous post of mine called Quirky Kid's Lunch/Party Idea.

Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

MILAN - Baltimore, Maryland

MILAN is Baltimore's first upscale, eclectic Italian Restaurant and Lounge and is located at the threshold of Baltimore’s Little Italy. The restaurant offers Italian/Mediterranean infused cuisine and boasts a one-of-a kind Sushi bar. Complimenting the menu is a selection of top rated Italian wines and cocktails inspired by world-renowned fashion designers. It has three levels and an outdoor patio for al fresco dining throughout the year, and is considered to be a premier venue, “Where food meets fashion!"

We were honored to be on the guest list last week and we really enjoyed the space, food and music. To sum it up: a beautiful, classy, sexy, and great addition to Baltimore, as this is something you would typically see in DC, New York, or California!

Here are some pictures of our time there:

Entrance

Lower Level Lounge Area

Intermezzo Coffee & Wine Bar

Restaurant AreaOutdoor Patio

MILAN would be perfect for a small, intimate event or a rehearsal dinner! Check them out!

Mie N Yu -- Restaurant and Catering

For one of the most unique and exciting dining experiences in Washington, DC -- try Mie N Yu on M street in Georgetown. The restaurant infuses Asian, Middle Eastern, North African, and Mediterranean flavors into contemporary American cuisine. The restaurant has facilities for private events on-site, and will also cater for special events off-site. The decor is inspired by Marco Polo's travels along the Silk Road. I recently had a very exciting networking evening there with colleagues for a breaker session. Here are some pictures from our event:

New Orleans and TSE

I was in New Orleans for this year's The Special Event Show (TSE) this past January, and I'd like to share the amazing experience! I thought I should start with a little history of the amazing city of New Orleans, which is still recovering from the devastating Katrina.

Founded in 1718, New Orleans is located in southeast Louisiana between the Mississippi River and Lake Pontchartrain. In 1722, it became the capital of a French colony and later passed to the United States as part of the Louisiana Purchase of 1803.

This is an amazing and magical city with a rich history and blend of cultures. The city is a real “Gumbo” of French, Spanish, Caribbean, Haitian and African influences -- the street names are French and Spanish; blends of exotic spices are used in the cuisine; there is beautiful, colorful architecture; it is birthplace of jazz and Zydeco; the home of “Mardi Gras” as well as the ever intriguing voodoo.

The city's symbol is the Fleur-de-Lis (as seen in the logo above). It means “flower of the Lilly” and is a symbol of royalty in France that signifies perfection, light, and life. To learn more about New Orleans, please visit the city's official website.

This diverse city certainly has plenty to offer from the historical sights to great food and entertainment -- from the famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarters, to Magazine Street in the Warehouse Arts District; from a walk along the Riverwalk Market Place to see the breathtaking Mississippi River to the Cities of the Dead (cemeteries of ornate vaults and family crypts of pirates, politicians and voodoo queens).

However, the visit would not have been complete without visiting and experiencing Harrah’s Hotel and asino!

This year TSE was hosted at the Ernest N. Memorial Convention Center in New Orleans situated along the beautiful Mississippi Riverfront.

The festivities were jazzed up with the grand entrance of a traditional New Orleans Marching Jazz Band, a Gospel Choir, award and recognition ceremony, and a comedy act.

The Luncheon: The musical entertainment by The Soul Rebels uplifted us with a myriad of intrinsic sounds and songs. Their music is a unique blend of Mardi Gras funk, soft rock, and reggae. They have a hip-hop sensibility combined with one hundred years of New Orleans jazz tradition.

The Lunch Menu:

First Course: Cucumber Wrap Salad: organic lettuces with sliced Creole tomatoes, Mississippi chevre and sweet basil infusion.

Second course: Abita Beer Braised Bison Short ribs accompanied by baby root vegetables with an asiago and white truffle polenta cake.

Third Course: Nontraditional Wedding cake -- vanilla cake with toasted almond cream set with a mixed berry compote.

And finally, we could not leave without our annual CC’ers face-to-face meet-up which was at The Bourbon House in the French Quarters for cocktails, food, and a stroll down the ever so lively Bourbon Street! Check out the tab… that’s what happens when Diva’s meet for an evening!

To view more pictures from my experience in New Orleans, please see my Facebook album.

ISES iDEA Expo

Despite November 29th being a cold, rainy and dreary day, it did not deter people from attending the ISES (International Special Events Society) iDEA 2009 Expo at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. It was a great success and a lot of fun!

The event kicked off at 4:00pm with a couple of informational presentations: "The Anatomy of an Award-Winning Event" and "West Coast to East Coast trends," followed by the trade show floor opening at 6:00pm. This year’s trade show was slightly different from last years' show -- interspersed among the traditional exhibit booths were four Design Centers, which were complete destinations crafted and outfitted by a team of ISES vendors. The four centers included Cafe Paris, "On the Road" in the USA, Green Road to Cairo, and Havana Nights, and the featured products and displays of creativity made for an excellent exhibit! The Design Centers carried this year’s theme: International iDEAs, Connecting the World One Event at a Time. Here are some shots of the four centers:

It was indeed a night of fun and learning! However, I cannot end this piece without mentioning Fired Up Pizza on the Move! Again, despite Mother Nature, they had freshly baked pizzas going all night! Simply delicious!

September Events

It's always nice to hear from my readers, and for those of you whom I have met and asked when my next post was coming... here it is! I will begin where I left off in the previous post to get you all updated on what I have bee doing. For those who follow me on Twitter, here are some pictures to match up with all those updates you've been reading!

I've linked all the venues' websites in case you would like to check them out to host one of your future events!

1. September 15th: ISES hosted our "back from summer" party at the newly renovated W Hotel -- a beautiful venue! The view of Washington, DC from the rooftop is breathtaking! The party was a lot of fun and it was nice to see everyone again.

2. September 17th: I attended the Encore Event at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC. Here are some pictures I managed to snag:

3. September 22nd: I attended a food tasting at the Caribbean Caterer's in Rockville, Maryland. The food was delicious -- a traditional wedding dinner prepared with authentic Caribbean spices. My favorites were the mini beef patty appetizers followed by their macaroni pie! Consider them for your next wedding or social event! They also partner with The Shadow Chef for events that do not need a wait staff and for orders to-go.

4. September 23rd: I went to a networking event hosted by Wedding Planner/Event Manager Linnyette Richardson-Hall (you may have seen her on Who's Wedding Is It Anyways?), at the Si Salsa -- a beautiful hidden gem in Pikesville, Marlyand. It was a lot of fun and a much needed break. The food was delicious and I won a beautiful chili pepper/carnation floral centerpiece:

5. September 28th: Unveiling of the new Tanzania Embassy Chancery in Washingtong, DC by the President of Tanzania, His Excelleny President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete. Not only did I plan this unveiling ceremony in two weeks, but also furnished and decorated the fifth floor to simulate the ambassador's office, conference, and reception room since the building was not complete. Needless to say, with such short notice and all the protocals to adhere to, it was a challeneging yet fun event to plan and it turned out to be a great success. My client was very happy, and as a planner, that is always the greatest satisfaction. I couldn't have done it with out my truly amazing vendors who always come through for me no matter what!


Next post will be an update of all the October events!

Things That Make You Go Mmm...

Liquid nitrogen ice cream! What's that, you ask? Liquid nitrogen is stirred into a mixture of milk and sugar, your desired flavor is added, and tasty ice cream is created right before your eyes in under five minutes! Having liquid nitrogen ice cream served at a dessert bar would add a unique touch to any special event, and would ensure that your guests leave with a satisfied pallet. Check out these photos of an event from this past August at the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center in Virginia with a liquid nitrogen ice cream bar setup!

Mmm...

Wedding Cake Inspiration Gone Wrong

Planning a wedding (or any event at that) can be extremely stressful. Imagine selecting the perfect wedding cake design, handing it over to your trusted baker, only to have it turn out completely awful! I'm not just talking about a small design inconsistency... I'm talking about a wedding cake disaster!

Check out these wedding cake inspirations gone horribly wrong via the Cake Wrecks blog.

Prime examples of why I only work with trusted, reputable vendors.

Quirky Kid's Lunch/Party Idea

Wow! I cannot believe how quickly the summer went by! The pools are closing, the kids are back in school, and 2010 is right around the corner! If you "brown bag" your kids' school meals and want to turn those boring lunches into fun ones, check out these creative sandwiches from Funky Lunch!
These are also great for children's parties or for any other time you want to make your little one feel special. Visit the Funky Lunch website for more creative ideas!

Planning a "Green" Event, Part II

As promised, here are three additional tips to help you plan your next eco-friendly special event!

1. Food & Drink: Use locally grown produce! Many venues and caterers now boast a more eco-friendly menu with locally grown items on their catering lists. Have guests pre-select their food choice from your menu in order to avoid wasting excess food after the event. Also, try to dispense food/drink items in bulk. For example, a large beverage dispenser with a spigot for drinks, such as this 3-gallon dispenser from Fresh Finds.
   
   
2. Location/Distance: Select a venue within close proximity of where your guests live. If you will be hosting several out-of-town guests, select a venue within close proximity to an airport to minimize travel distance and emissions. For destination events, choose a "Green" destination city, like those listed in National Geographic's Green Guide.
   
   
3. Decor: Think usability and re-usability. For example, reuse previously built props and decor from another event.
   
   

I hope these three tips, in addition to the three in the previous post will get you on track to planning your next eco-friendly special event. For additional great suggestions and tips, please visit Planet Green, a wonderful resource!