Category Archives: Corporate and Non Profit Event

Regal Contemporary Vintage

March 30, 2012 – 4:20 pm

Designing a corporate dinner can be challenging. Add the fact that the dinner takes place every twelve months, coming up with a brand new concept each and every year makes it even more challenging.

This year, I decided on a “Regal Contemporary Vintage” look. The Minneapolis Club (and, no, you don’t necessarily have to be a member to do an event there) setting was perfect for the integration of ghost chairs (a contemporary twist of the vintage regal Louis look) with red table and red (contemporary flower balls) and gold decor (vintage mercury glass).

The gasp of the guests entering the room confirmed that I achieved the look I was going for. Pair that with the exquisite cuisine at the hands of Chef Hakan Lundberg and we ended up with their favorite dinner yet. Oh, the pressure to top it next year.

Thank you to Erica Loeks Photography for capturing the feel of the event!

Tags Chef Hakan Lundberg, Erica Loeks Photography, Gold, Minneapolis Club, Red | Comment (0)

Conservatively Chic

August 15, 2011 – 8:05 am

I was given the task of creating a look that was conservative in a contemporary space with amber windows at The Guthrie.

Rather than try to neutralize the yellow, I decided to use the yellow as an asset and created a simple, minimalist design that still conveyed a conservative feel.

Thank you to Lauren B Photography for the great photos (and how she neutralized the yellow in the photos…I have no idea!)

I fell in love with the silver and yellowish-gold damask linen at Linen Effects. Fresh and modern with the use of a conservative design such as damask.

Adding a bit of whimsy by using billy balls makes me smile. Cheerfully understated (kind of like the florist, Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry).

When you have a view like this, it is important to use it as part of the design. Gorgeous.

Tags Lauren B Photography, Linen Effects, Sea Change, Silver, Summer Harsh Botanical Artistry, Yellow, [ The Style Laboratory ] | Comment (0)

The High Heel Dash

August 12, 2011 – 9:11 am

When my friend Matthew told me he was racing in the High Heel Dash for the Aegis Foundation, I know I had a perplexed look on my face. The curiosity got the best of me and so I had to check it out.

Matthew is the marketing manager for the W Minneapolis – The Foshay and one of his best traits is being an active “citizen of his community”. His participation with the High Heel Dash is just one example.

He added duct tape to his heels, as he couldn’t risk an injury since his softball team heads to Chicago for the World Series very soon.

My friend Rachel also raced. It was apparent that the women racing took it very seriously!

And they’re off!

He placed a very respectable third place! Way to go Matthew!

Tags W Minneapolis - The Foshay | Comment (0)

A Big Bowl of Fun!

July 22, 2011 – 2:58 pm

Last night’s event, Eat Ramen Help Japan, was such a fun event. So many friends, so much food and lots of funds raised to help Second Harvest Japan. (Even though the event is over, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t contribute to the cause…)

Kenji, the organizer, along with Stephanie March and Stephanie Meyer, came up with this brilliant idea of selling bowls of ramen to raise money for the people of Japan affected by the natural disaster. Now while his initial ideas of cooking all of this ramen himself and selling each bowl just shows how passionate he is, bringing in Stephanie and Stephanie resulted in this brilliant Ramen Off. Get some chefs to serve their versions of ramen (the Asian equivalent to chicken noodle soup) and have them judged. (Thank you for the great photos Kate N.G. Sommers!)

So what started out as an idea to raise a little bit of money turned into a great big social with people having a dynamite time eating, drinking Fulton Beer, singing karaoke and just having a good old time.

The judges took their jobs very seriously. Andrew Zimmern, who has been so busy, was fortunately in town and available to critique ramen from Masu Sushi & Robata, Create Catering (who also hosted the event at The Dining Studio), Dakota Jazz Club, Moto-i, Meritage and amatuer chef Noah Miwa. At the end of the night Moto-i was announced as the overall winner of the event.