Winter Round-Up

Welcome to 2018! After a hectic holiday season, we’ve stepped into the New Year energized for a full schedule of festivities. Below, we recap three fun events hosted in our event space and theater.

BrownGirlsLove POWER Day

In early January, Christina S. Brown, founder of LoveBrownSugar, cultivated a day filled with inspiring speakers, workshops, panels, makeovers, and more. Their event, produced alongside Toyota, focused on providing resources for millennial women's success in today's world. You can read more about the day over on their blog, as well as peruse photos from the event. Below are a few of our favorites!

All photos used with permission from LoveBrownSugar. Find them on Facebook or their website.

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United Airlines Olympic Campaign Kick-Off

In anticipation for the 2018 Winter Olympics, United transformed our event space into a wintry ski lodge that left us awestruck. From the larger-than-life depictions of Team USA athletes and United employees, to the amazing 3D photo backdrop created by Wasabi3D, the evening was a non-stop celebration. United unveiled their commercial campaign, themed "Superheros", to an excited crowd of influencers, press, and internal team members.

The amazing team of vendors responsible for this incredible evening include Momentum Worldwide, C2 Imaging, DCI, Wasabi3D, and Pinch Food Design.

All photos used with permission from United Airlines

Vote Run Lead

Vote Run Lead, the brilliant organization that empowers and trains women to run for public office, hosted their post-Women's March event with us on January 20th. Following the march, a group of over 200 women and men met in our event space for an afternoon filled with panels, networking, and dancing!

All photos used with permission from VoteRunLead. Check out their website to learn more.

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.

VenueConnect 2017

What is VenueConnect?

VenueConnect is an annual conference put on by the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM). It hosts professionals from a variety of public assembly venues including arenas, convention centers, stadiums, universities, and more. Its goal is to inspire industry leaders, provide targeted education, and bring attendees together to create lifelong relationships.

Tell us about the scholarship you received.

I was honored to be chosen as a recipient of the Joseph A. Floreano Scholarship for Industry Women in Convention Centers. The scholarship allowed me to attend the conference, where I joined other amazing young professionals also selected for scholarships. IAVM's commitment to helping grow industry leaders is very inspiring.

What was your favorite part of the event?

Being surrounded by 2,000+ like-minded attendees, all of whom were excited to dive into different aspects of event venues. It was truly inspiring to meet folks not only from around the country, but from other countries, as well. We shared best practices, tips, and horror stories from our time in events.

Oh, I can't forget to mention how stunning Music City Center is. It was truly one of the most beautiful, inspiring facilities I've ever visited.

What's the best lesson you learned?

You can never rest on your laurels. There are hundreds of event facilities around the world searching for the next big thing, whether that be in catering, audio/visual tech, or customer service. You should always strive to better not only your business, but yourself.

Who was the most inspiring speaker?

I attended a panel titled, "Women in Leadership", which included three amazing women in the industry: Jeanie Buss, CEO & Governor of the LA Lakers; Donna Julia, Sr. VP of Arena & Events Operations, and General Manager of the North Carolina Hornets; Kim Stone, Executive VP of the Miami Heat, and GM of American Airlines Arena. They discussed the status of women in positions of leadership, their advice to others pursuing positions in these large venues, and anecdotes from their professional lives.

What did you like most about Nashville?

Nashville is nicknamed the Music City for a reason! Everywhere we went in both the convention center and downtown had live bands performing their favorite country tunes; some bars even had a different band on each floor! I'm the first to admit that country isn't my favorite genre of music; however, it was impossible to not get swept up when a classic Garth Brooks jam would start.

Who were you most excited to see?

Eight of my former coworkers from Georgia attended the conference, so it served as a mini-reunion. Outside of sessions, I spent all of my time with them. It really ingrained how small this industry is, and how every relationship you form matters. Through them, I met new connections and gained confidence to introduce myself to strangers.

What was a fun surprise you encountered?

The keynote speaker was Charles Esten, an actor a lot of people know right now for his role as Deacon on the CMT show "Nashville." I know Charles as Chip from his days performing on Whose Line is it Anyways?" I ran into him on the trade show floor and got to tell him that I grew up laughing from his improv skills on TV. He was incredibly gracious and never stopped smiling, despite having spent the past hour greeting other fans. He grabbed my phone and snapped a quick selfie (he's a professional selfie taker at this point in his career) which is the photo at the start of this post. It was a fun encounter.

Solar Eclipse 2017

Happy Monday, everyone!

As you may have heard, today we experienced the first solar eclipse in the USA in over 8 years. The HELEN MILLS team celebrated with a trip to the roof, where we made friends with other building tenants, gazed over the New York City skyline, and watched in awe as the moon cast a shadow across our sun.

We made pinhole projectors out of recycled boxes, as suggested by NASA.  All we needed was a cardboard box, aluminum foil, tape, and a needle to prick a hole.

If you were wondering, Kashi makes the best eclipse viewer boxes.

We made friends with so many other tenants in our building! They shared their eclipse glasses with us, and in turn we showed them how to use our homemade viewer boxes. 

Can you spot the eclipse shadow?

We've already marked our calendars for the next eclipse in 2024!

Regency Lighting Trade Show at HELEN MILLS

When the team at Regency Lighting brought their trade show to the HELEN MILLS Event Space, we knew they would put together a fun event focused around lighting. While the back of the space remained neutral to show off the vendors' different lighting equipment, the front of the space was awash with a warm amber and contrasting blue uplights.

The energy of both the Regency team and their exhibitors shone (pun intended) throughout the evening as they hosted a variety of guests.

Warm amber lighting greeted guests as they entered the Event Space.

The bar fully stocked and ready for service.

Exhibitors put the final touches on their displays as they await guests' arrival.

The HELEN MILLS space, complete with modern cocktail furniture and hors d'ouevres provided by Between the Bread catering.

Thank you, Regency Lighting! It was a pleasure hosting you in our Event Space!

Planning an Event? Contact Us to learn more about 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.

OM's orbit360

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