Read all about how “A little party never killed nobody” at this epic Bat Mitzvah!
Cha Cha's Bat Mitzvah
Friends, let us tell you about this bat mitzvah. Our venue is known for hosting great parties, and this celebration was no exception. From the pops of hot pink to the Chanel logos, Cha Cha and her team of vendors worked tirelessly to transform our event space into a chic and glamorous night club fit for a diva.
Scroll down for more photos captured by the fabulous Jennifer Weisbord.
The evening kicked off with an intimate ceremony in our theater. Hot pink uplighting and twinkle lights gave guests a taste of the glamour to come in the reception.
Certé kept hungry guests happy and fed all night long.
EK Productions kept the energy alive all night with dancing, singing, and plenty of fist pumping.
Thank you for letting us be a part of your special day, Cha Cha!
Event Planning by Deena Parnass Kleinman
Photography by Jennifer Weisbord
Catering by Certé
Entertainment by EK Productions
Planning an Event? Contact Us to learn more about events at HELEN MILLS, or check out more recent events here.
HELEN MILLS Picks: Fall Cocktails
With the weather in NYC slowly cooling off, we're daydreaming about all things fall; changing leaves, plaid shirts, college football, the excitement of Halloween and Thanksgiving, and so much more.
PSLs (Pumpkin Spice Lattes) aren't the only fall drinks to look forward to either! This week, the HELEN MILLS team brings you recommendations for cocktails to not only create at home, but to feature at your events. Rename them to fit the theme of your party or reception, and offer guests an unexpected treat.
Emily's Pick
Photo courtesy of Liquor.com
From Emily: I don't know if you can label White Russians as a strictly "fall" cocktail, since I tend to drink them year-round, but there is something about the mixture of Kahlua and heavy cream that makes me want to cozy up by a fire.
White Russians are made by mixing vodka, Kahlua, and heavy cream. Serve in a lowball glass over ice and enjoy!
Helen's Pick
Photo courtesy of PunchDrink.com
From Helen: Harking back to my Kentucky roots, I suggest a Mint Julep. It is really good with homegrown mint that you can grow on your window sill.
Make your julep in a signature julep cup (pictured above) by combining muddled mint, simple syrup, crushed ice, and your favorite Kentucky Bourbon. Stir well and enjoy in the city or country, any time of year.
Melissa's Pick
Photo courtesy of Town and Country
From Melissa: Apple cider is one of my favorite beverages during the fall season... so crisp and refreshing! Apple cider and champagne makes the best combination for a seasonal twist on the mimosa!
To make an Apple Cider Mimosa, fill your glass 1/4 full with fresh apple cider, then top off with a crisp champagne for a drink that tastes like that perfect autumn morning. Rim the glass with brown sugar and garnish with an apple slice.
Diana's Pick
Photo courtesy of Epicurious
From Diana: I like a hot toddy for the fall and winter months. It's warm, strong, and wakes you up. A touch of cinnamon makes it fall-friendly.
To make a Honey Bourbon Hot Toddy, you first need Apple Bourbon! Make this by combining Bourbon, 4 cored, sliced apples, and 4 cinnamon sticks in a pitcher. Cover and chill for 3 days, and then strain. Stir honey and water together until the honey dissolves. Add your Apple Bourbon and divide between Toddy glasses. Add lemon, stir with a cinnamon stick, and serve.
Mark's Pick
Photo courtesy of The Spruce
From Mark: If I drank, I'd try the Pumpkin Fever Cocktail. Sounds yummy and seasonal.
To make a Pumpkin Fever cocktail, combine 2 parts Bols Pumpkin Smash, 1 part spiced rum, and 1/4 part cream in a martini shaker filled with ice. Strain into a sugar-rimmed, chilled martini glass. Sprinkle with freshly-ground cinnamon and enjoy!
Brittany's Pick
Photo courtesy of Kitchen Treaty
From Brittany: I like to ease into fall with this ginger pear white sangria, which puts an autumnal twist on a summer favorite. It's a blend of both seasons; light, bright, and spiced. The perfect cure for those end-of-summer blues!
To make Ginger Pear White Sangria, add pears and ginger to a large pitcher. Pour in wine, rum, and brandy, seal tightly and refrigerate. Rim your glasses with a mixture of sugar and ginger. Strain the sangria and add pear and lemon slices. Add a few slices of pears to each glass, then fill halfway with your sangria mixture. Fill the rest of the way with ginger beer and serve.
Finding Love at HELEN MILLS
We love events here at HELEN MILLS, but we love it even more when two people FIND love at one of our events! Such is the case with Ari and his now-fiancée, Shelby.
Four and a half years ago, Ari and Shelby attended a New Year's Eve party right here at HELEN MILLS. They spent the night laughing and talking, not knowing that this would be the first of many New Years celebrations together. As Ari started planning to "pop the question", he reached out to us with a unique request: to ask the woman he loves to marry him in the place where it all started.
We were so happy to oblige Ari's request. The plan was set - Shelby believed she was meeting her father at our event space after he wrapped up a meeting. When she arrived, we lead her into the event space by herself, where Ari stood alone in the center of a rose petal arrangement. After a short speech, he got down on one knee and proposed. Shelby, of course, happily accepted! After the initial shock wore off, Shelby realized they were standing in the same area they spent that fateful New Year's Eve. Talk about romantic!
After, family and friends surprised Shelby and joined in the celebration. They toasted to the engagement with champagne, exchanged excited congratulations, and captured the moment with some photographs. Their photographer, Matthew Raney, was there to capture every moment, and they kindly shared the below photos with us.
The surprised bride-to-be!
She said yes!
We feel so lucky to have played a part in Ari & Shelby's special day! Hopefully, we can play cupid once more in the future. :)
Have you had a similar serendipitous encounter at HELEN MILLS? Drop us a line at info@helenmills.com to share your story!
Alumni Events at HELEN MILLS
Alumni events are wonderful occasions where former classmates get together to relive the glory of college, network, and form new relationships.
Whether you are looking to plan a formal presentation, or throw a casual mixer, The HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater is a versatile, all-inclusive, and convenient location for your next alumni get together.
Our 4,000 sq. ft. event space offers state-of-the-art sound and digital-video projection systems, as well as high-speed, wireless Internet.
Our street-level entrance offers fun and unexpected branding options, so your guests immediately feel school spirit before ever entering the event!
Connected to the Event Space is our intimate 140-seat Theater, including a large stage and green room. The theater is equipped with surround sound, HD projection, theatrical lighting, and more to create the perfect space for your next presentation, panel, and more.
At HELEN MILLS, we can take care of your catering, beverage, furniture, audio visual needs, and more!
Contact Us to learn more about hosting your alumni events at HELEN MILLS, or check out more recent events here.
Revenge of the Nerds
What is the best way to celebrate both your spouse's and your birthdays? What if you also want to fold in the celebratration of your wedding anniversary? Quiet dinner at a posh restaurant? Backyard barbecue with your closest friends and family? How about revisiting the glory of college and throwing an all-night fraternity kegger?!
That is exactly what this couple did with the help of Florie Huppert Design and a team of incredibly talented vendors.
We're stoked to share these photos from a totally 80's "Revenge of the Nerds" party.
Planning an Event? Contact Us to learn more about events at HELEN MILLS, or check out more recent events here.
Event Design and Coordination, Florie Huppert Design
Photography, Courtney Collins
Catering, Matchbox Catering
Window Graphics, Chief Graphix
4 Creative Ideas for Your Company Summer Party
As the weather warms up, it's time to begin planning your company Summer parties. There are certain elements we all expect at these events; namely good food, good drinks, and a great venue. When it comes to surprising your coworkers, however, it's easy to feel stumped.
Knowing how much pressure there is to stand out from other events, the HELEN MILLS team collected some fun ideas to help you as your plan not only your Summer parties, but any throughout the year.
Let's get started!
Company Movie Night
Does your team sometimes get burnt out on high-energy, loud parties? Why not switch things up and book a private movie screening for your crew? With 140 seats, the HELEN MILLS Theater offers an intimate, comfortable, and alternative way to spend your company outing.
With HD projection and 5.1 Cinema Surround Sound, you can offer your team a night at the movies without the exorbitant ticket prices, teens on their cellphones, and chatterbox neighbors commenting on every scene.
Set up snacks and drinks for guests to enjoy during the movie. Photo from this post.
Gif and Video Booths
Who hasn't attended a party with a photo booth? Whether it be a wedding, Mitzvah, or holiday party, we all have our signature "four poses" down to a science. Yes, photo strips are cute and retro, but in the age of ever evolving technology it's important to take advantage of all the latest and greatest gadgets.
Companies like OM now offer several different types of photo and video booths, offering guests a creative outlet to show off your killer party.
Edible Floral Arrangements
There's no denying that flowers are a beautiful way to instantly liven up the look of your event, but at the end of the evening you experience a crisis over what to do with your left-over arrangements. It isn't always reasonable to have your guests take the centerpieces home with them, and letting hundreds of dollars of flowers get thrown away can feel like a knife to the heart. If this sounds at all familiar, you should check out companies like Baked Bouquet, a "Bakery Florist" that offers sweet treats in the form of floral arrangements.
Baked Bouquet creates stunning creations that will have you guests asking, "These are cupcakes?!"
LED Furniture
You've spent time and effort on creating the perfect setup for your party, so why let your tables fade into the background? Our friends at Cerf carry a large selection of LED tables and more to help you create a vibrant affair.
Planning an Event? Contact Us to learn more about events at HELEN MILLS, or check out more recent events here.
It's All About Amelia!
On Saturday, March 25, friends and family traveled from all over to celebrate an extremely talented and lovely young woman, Amelia, here at the HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater.
After saying their hellos and grabbing some delicious appetizers, guests moved to the theater where Amelia and her friends treated them to a number of gymnastics and dance performances.
Amelia, a decorated gymnast, wows the crowd with her beautiful routine.
Guests spent the rest of the evening eating, drink, dancing, and most importantly, celebrating Amelia!
Beautiful chandeliers hang over each table. Adults enjoyed a family-style dinner, while the younger guests grazed at the ample buffet.
After eating and dancing their feet off, the younger guests headed back down to the theater to enjoy a movie on the big screen! They all changed into PJs, grabbed some popcorn, and got cozy. What a fun and unique way to end a party!
Mozel tov, Amelia!
Planning an Event? Contact Us to learn more about events at HELEN MILLS, or check out more recent events here.
Catering by Orange Grill Catering
Decor and Planning by Nikoletta Events
DJ, Emcee, and Entertainment by
Photography by Inessa Sperkach
Videography by Lucent Vision Studio