Signature Hotel-Marriott Courtyard Chevy Chase

Christmas in July! That's what the invitation read. I was delighted because I had visited the Courtyard Chevy Chase before and I like the hotel. I am not usually a fan of chain hotels but this hotel has a boutique feel to it. The lobby is nicely decorated with a modern and edgy feel to it. Located right next to the lobby is a restaurant called The Bistro which serves up delicious meals. I like this hotel because it looks great and the food there is always delicious.

The Christmas themed event was held upstairs in the ballroom. The ballroom was beautifully decorated in silver, white & blue. The bar had eye-catching ice sculptures frozen with fruit pieces and the signature drink was a Blue Martini. The food buffet was nicely laid out with different food stations. There were two dessert stations that were stunningly gorgeous and the desserts were absolutely delectable.

Off from the ballroom is an outdoor patio that overlooks Wisconsin Avenue with all the high end stores. The outdoor  pool is another level up from the patio on a rooftop and it also overlooks high end store. The furniture on the outdoor patio is very relaxing and there is a bar out there. The space provides a special ambience and is an additional space to use in conjunction with the ballroom if you are hosting an event there.

If you are thinking of your holiday events, go and see this space. I know that you will fall in love with it like I did. You can see Amy Harris, Director of Marketing or Lynn Heister, Group  and Sales Manager. Tell them, Yvonne the Sig Chic Girl sent you.

Signature Wine Tasting & Art Event

My company Y Lowe Signature Events LLC, started creating our own signature events in the Washington DC Metro Area. Our first event is a wine tasting and art event to be held at Huckleberry Fine Art on August 13, 2011 at 5pm-8pm.

Huckleberry Fine Art is a premier art gallery in the Washington DC Metro Area and specializes in finding emerging artists locally and internationally. Since it's existence, the gallery has been exhibiting a vast display of vibrant oil and acrylic paintings, limited edition prints, sculpture, photography, art books, and custom framing. Huckleberry Fine Art has established a successful publishing division with the introduction of Artist Rob Gonsalves`s limited edition prints. In-home consultation, art installation, and personalized service are among the many special features that Huckleberry Fine Art offers. We will be treated to a LIVE art painting show by J Scott Nicol.

J. Scott Nicol has always told a story with his work. What better way to “tell a story” than with books. Photo realistic in style, each oil painting captures the three dimensionality of the book with normal wear, tears and the occasional scotch tape. With careful use of color and composition the art pops off the canvas. Each of his paintings in the series is thematic. Much like a bookstore or library organizes its books into categories. He creates commission pieces based on collectors input and there is currently a waiting list for his originals.

Update: Our wine tasting will now be done by Boordy Vineyards and the food will be catered by Tanisha Dennis Catering!

Rita Blackwell of Wine Express will be conducting the wine tasting. Rita’s approach to wine tasting is fun, informative and interactive. Wine Express will be sampling various wines to compliment delicious food from the award winning catering company Chef's Expressions. We will also have various food vendors who will showcase artistic display of delicious food & desserts.

To set the mood for the evening, we will treated to the artistic sounds of Michael Arrington of the The Potomac Trio. He will add a unique musical flair to the evening with jazz standards, show tunes and pop classics.

This event will benefit Fresh Start Science a 501(c)3 non-profit in the state of Maryland. Fresh Start Science is the first program to use the new science of Wellness Genetics to help young single mothers find a better life for themselves and their children.

So what are you waiting for? Get out of the heat and come join us for an exciting evening of wine & art. Make it an evening out with your spouse, significant other or girlfriends. CLICK HERE to register now!

Signature Beach/Boardwalk Theme Party

              

Beach Invitation

Message on a Bottle

Beach Board Walk

Beach Board Walk

I absolutely love my job! When I get to transform a venue into anything that my client envision, it gives me the greatest joy. At this event, my client wanted a beach/boardwalk themed event for their Staff Appreciation celebration. We were able to transform the terrace and ballroom area of Chartwell Golf & Country Club into a beach/boardwalk scene.

It all starts with the invitaton. Your invitation is the window to the soul of your event and it give your guests a glimpse of what to come. The invitaton at this event did just that with the colored sand and shells in the bottle. The printed invitation was then tied to the bottle for a message on a bottle.

Beach Themed Cocktail Table

Beach Theme Cocktail able

Beach Theme Cocktail Table

As you can see in the pictures above, we added interactive games under tents, fishing nets with sealife attached, a beach backdrop, beach themed cocktail tabletops, beach pails, beach balls, sand and leis to create a beautiful boardwalk. The employees were able to limbo to a DJ that played Jimmy Buffet, Beach Boy and Reggae music all afternoon long.

Boardwalk Directional Sign

Beachmat Logoed Favor/Beach Themed program

Beach Themed Vignette

Beach Themed Tabletop

All Photos by: William H Joseph (joe-co)



Inside the ballroom there was seagulls flying above and pails filled with sand as the centerpiece. There were shells on top of the sand and on the table with sunglasses and beachballs spilling out. The tables were draped with white toppers atop sand colored tablecloths with sand colored napkins.  There was a boardwalk directional sign that pointed to where all the fun and activites were for the day. We created a beach themed vignette in a corner of the ballroom. The vignette had two andirondack chairs with a logoed beachmat (our client's logo) between them. We then draped the chairs with beach towels and smimsuit wraps and beach bags. Beachballs, beach magazine, beach hats, sunglasses and flip flops completed the look. To complete the theme, each employee was given a logoed beachmat as a parting gift. It was a fun, interactive and beautiful beach day all for all who came.

Signature Tabletop Designs

Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year

Halloween Wedding

Halloween Wedding

Earth Day

Earth Day

Cherry Blossom

Cherry Blossom

St. Patrick's Day

 St. Patrick's Day

All Photos by: William H Joseph (joe-co)
I am a member of the D.C. chapter of the International Special Events Society and we staged a tabletop design competition called a "Lifetime of Celebrations" on  June 15, 2011 at the Hyatt Regency on Capital Hill. The Attendees' Choice Award went to the Halloween Wedding table by Avista Events and Amaryllis; Best Use of Innovative Products: Earth Day by Rentals to Remember, Intrigue Design and Decor, Two Hands Studio; Highest Level of Difficulty: Cherry Blossom Festival, Springtime Celebration in D.C. by Ultimate Events; Best Interpretation of Theme: Chinese New Year by Sublime Creations; Most Original Design Ideas: St. Patrick's Day by Multiflor. I hope that these tabletop designs inspire you to create designs equally as beautiful at your next event!

Signature Personal Videos for Events

A personal video documentary is an incredibly effective way to not only add great entertainment for your event, but a special way to connect with your guests and pay tribute to your honoree in a unique way.

Whether you hire someone to create a video for you or plan to do it yourself, here are a few quick tips on how to make the most of your video:

• Move People With More

It’s quite common these days to see a photo movie at an event – moving pictures set to music. While it’s always wonderful to see photos at an event, stand out from the crowd by making this just one small part of your video. What really moves people is words – voices that have feeling and emotion. A bride and groom telling the story of how they met or why they fell in love, juxtaposed with old photos, is much more powerful than just seeing photos of them when they were young.

• Ask Great Questions

Interviews can be powerful. Make the best use of them by asking great questions. Video is at its best when people express themselves thoughtfully. Save details such as dates and timelines for the written word. Ask questions that challenge, such as how they felt about a particularly difficult decision. Major turning points in people’s lives are great launching pads for discussion and offer a window into their personality and life.

• Speaking of Words, Make Sure You Can Hear Them

Nothing is worse than watching a movie and not being able to hear what the people are saying. There are so many great cameras on the market today that have incredible high definition video, and yet most of these same cameras have only a built-in omni-directional microphone (picks up sound from everywhere, instead of directly in front of it) and from only a few feet away. If you plan to capture a sit-down interview, make sure the person wears a directional lavaliere microphone that plugs into your camera separately.

• Keep It Short & Sweet

Guests at a special event about to watch a personal video always begin their viewing with excitement and anticipation. Make sure you keep the enthusiasm going by not boring your audience! (They love you but most will not want to sit through an hour of your unedited interviews or home movies). Make use of editing software such as imovie or Adobe Premiere to edit down your interviews and add music and photos to your film. If your movie is just one part of a special event, it ideally should be no longer than about 10 minutes – 15 minutes max. Anything more and your audience will start to get restless, no matter how great you think it is!

For more information and the free report, “Capture Your Family History in 6 Easy Steps,” go to http://www.dmbpictures.com and sign up for our newsletter.

Signature Meatloaf Cupcakes

As an event planner, I am always keeping up with the lastest trends in food and decor. One of the hottest trends in food design is, Meatloaf Cupcakes.  This mini bite meatloaf is great to serve at your next event. You can personalize them to your event color scheme like Mark Addison did on the Today Show with his Red, White & Blue party theme. I personally like Rachel Ray's healthier version of Meat and Potato Cupcakes because she used turkey groundmeat and sweet potatoes for the topping. Here is the recipe from her website;

Ingredients

4 medium sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

Salt

2 tablespoons EVOO – Extra Virgin Olive Oil, plus some for brushing

1 Gala apple, finely chopped

2 ribs celery, finely chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey

1/3 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs

1 egg

1 tablespoon poultry seasoning, about a palmful

Pepper

1/2 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons honey

Salt and pepper

Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

2 tablespoons fresh thyme, finely chopped

Poppy seeds, for garnish

Preparation

Preheat oven to 425˚F

Place the potatoes in a pot, cover with water and bring to a boil. Salt water and cook potatoes to tender.

Brush the inside of a 12-cup muffin tin with EVOO.

Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat with two turns of the pan of EVOO. Add apples, celery and onion, and cook until softened, about 5-6 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine turkey with breadcrumbs, egg, poultry seasoning, softened apples, celery and onion mixture, salt and pepper. Separate mixture into 12 equal portions and shape into muffin cups. Bake for 12-15 minutes.

Drain cooked sweet potatoes and put into a food processor. Add buttermilk, honey, salt, pepper, and nutmeg, and purée.

When cool enough to handle, remove muffins from cups and “frost” mini meatloaves with sweet potato purée. Roll the sides in herbs and top with poppy seeds.

Meatloaf Cupcakes will be loved by both children and adults alike, when served at your next event. You just need to decide how and when you will serve it and go for it. Bon Appetit!

Signature Treats Too Good to Eat

Mmmm....a custom dessert bar! This dessert bar was beautifully decorated with tasty treats and flower buds. The items were beautifully displayed in a custom plexi glass table at a dessert reception held at the American Institute for Architect (AIA). My hospitality networking group the International Special Events Society (ISES) held our monthly networking meeting at AIA which has several spaces for event rental. The beautiful dessert table was designed by Ridgewells and Janet Flowers and they did a spectacular job. This dessert bar served as two functions, as decor and a grand dessert display.

The drink bar was also spectacularly displayed with flowers on the inside of  plexi glass tables. This made the bar interesting and all the more inviting for guests to order their drinks and network. These two bars are wonderful examples of how to customize your event and how to create conversational displays.  These two spectacular bars will definately add that wow effect to your next event!