Tip: Customize your next event by having the venue’s Wi-Fi network name and password changed to match your brand/theme.
For more ideas on how to brand your next event, check out our PAST EVENT posts.
Tip Tuesday: Mitzvahs
Tip: Don’t forget to rent cubbies for your son or daughter’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah.
Most kids love to take their shoes off when they’re on the dance floor, so to prevent a large pile of shoes, bags and jackets on the floor, rent or purchase some cubbies to put along a wall in the event space. Most entertainment companies can provide these rentals for you, but you can also purchase your own and make use of them for your home after the event.
Here are two of our recommended entertainment companies that could help you with renting cubbies:
The Entertainment Company
Brian Rosenbaum
brian@theentertainmentcompany.net
201 650 5729
Nelson Cruz Entertainment
Nelson Cruz
nelson@cruzevents.com
212 289 0843
You can also purchase your own shoe cubbies from The Container Store.
To learn more about hosting your son or daughter’s Bar/Bat Mitzvah at HELEN MILLS, email us at info@helenmills.com or contact us HERE.
10 Hotels Near HELEN MILLS to Suit Your Guests' Needs
With so many hotel options in Chelsea, Manhattan, here are some to choose from, all of which are walking distance from the HELEN MILLS Event Space & Theater.
Hotels Less Than 150 Feet Away
1. Hilton New York Fashion District (152 W 26th St): 4-stars with 280 rooms
2. Holiday Inn Manhattan 6th Ave – Chelsea (125 W 26th St): 3-stars with 226 rooms
Large Hotels with Plenty of Rooms to Book
3. Affinia – Manhattan NYC (371 7th Ave): 4-stars with 618 rooms
4. Eventi (851 Ave of the Americas): 4-stars with 292 rooms
Boutique & Upscale Hotels
5. The NoMad Hotel (1170 Broadway): 5-stars with 168 rooms
6. Ace Hotel (20 W 29th St): 4-stars with 280 rooms
7. Flatiron Hotel (9 W 26th St): 4-stars with 64 rooms
8. Hotel Giraffe (365 Park Ave S): 4-stars with 72 rooms
10. Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea (160 W 25th St): 3-stars with 158 rooms
For more tips on planning your next event at HELEN MILLS, contact us HERE.
The Boston Conservatory 2015 Graduate Showcase
The HELEN MILLS Theater is proud to have hosted The Boston Conservatory 2015 Graduate Showcase this past Monday, March 16th. Here’s a quote from our client about the showcase:
“The Boston Conservatory's MFA Graduate Musical Theater Showcase is an opportunity for our graduating class of students to perform in New York City for a panel of esteemed theater industry agents and casting directors. The students rehearse long and hard for the Showcase so that they are fully prepared to perform at their very best levels, vocally, physically, and acting-wise. There is a lot at stake here for our students, and some students gain immediate interest from the industry-based guests. The performance serves as their formal greeting to the profession. Regardless of whether or not the students end up signing with an agent immediately after the Showcase, the event has bottom-line value, in that we consistently leave the panel of audience members with a memorable and lasting impression of our students' impressive talents and capabilities. They always impress!”
-Peyton Pugmire, Associate Director of TBC's Theater Division
Here’s a shot from their rehearsal:
To learn more about hosting your next performance musical or play, please CONTACT US.
Unmasked With The Henrik Lundqvist Foundation
The Henrik Lundqvist Foundation (HLF) hosted a charity event at the HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater on Friday, March 6th, to kick-off the start of their online auction with goalie masks designed by Henrik and a celebrity friend. The HLF is a non-profit organization that creates positive change in the lives of children and adults throughout the world through education, music, sports and health services.
The event included a VIP screening of behind-the-scene clips from MSG Network’s ongoing series, “The Mask with Henrik Lundqvist”. Afterwards, VIP guests were able to meet and take photos with Henrik, enjoy hors d’oeuvres by Tiny’s & the Bar Upstairs (which Henrik co-owns), and enjoy refreshments by their sponsors – Moet & Chandon, Grgich Hills Estate, Absolut and Coors/Molson – before the general admission guests arrived. Attendees had an exclusive view of all six masks that Henrik co-designed with Mario Batali, John McEnroe, DJ Tiesto, Jeff Gordon, Michael J. Fox and the FDNY. In addition to those six creative, humorous and thoughtfully designed masks, was the head-turning, Swarovski-encrusted mask made by artist, Don Blanton. It stood on its own, rotating in its enclosed case.
All seven masks are currently up for auction for the next seven weeks on Steiner Sports’ website. Signed and unsigned behind-the-scenes photos are also available for purchase on their website. To learn more about the MSG series, “The Mask with Henrik Lundqvist”, click here.
Need some ideas for your next charity event? Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget or Contact Us to speak to a HELEN MILLS representative.
Barnes & Noble 2014 Discover Awards
Barnes & Noble hosted their 24th annual Discover Awards today at HELEN MILLS and awarded six great new writers from 2014. Here are the winners for non-fiction and fiction:
Non-Fiction
1st Place – Bryce Andrews for “Badluck Way”
2nd Place – Caitlin Doughty for “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes”
3rd Place – Will Harlan for “Untamed”
Fiction
1st Place – Evie Wyld for “All the Birds, Singing”
2nd Place – Molly Antopol for “The UnAmericans”
3rd Place – Arna Bontemps Hemenway for “Elegy on Kinderklavier”
Congratulations to all the winners and nominees!
Click HERE to read more on past events at HELEN MILLS.
“Build-Your-Own” at Your Next Catered Event
Catering is one of the most important elements of any catered event. Why not try something that’s a step above a traditional menu for your next event?
Most cocktail parties consist of passed hors d’oeuvres and/or stationary displays in large baskets or platters. One way to make your event standout and more memorable is to provide a unique catering experience. “Build-your own” stations are becoming more and more popular at events. They give your guests an interactive activity by assembling their own meals, and it’s a fun experience for them to pick and choose different flavors and toppings. Next time you are planning a meeting or reception, consider these ideas before opting for a traditional buffet station:
1. Taco Bar
A “build-your-own” taco bar can be a fun way to provide a light dinner for your guests. Guests could start with beef, chicken or a grilled vegetable option, and go down the line adding their favorite toppings like lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole and salsa. This would be great for corporate companies and even children’s birthday parties.
2. Mashed Potato Bar
This is a spinoff of the traditional baked potato bar, and even that isn’t common at most events. Providing a mashed potato base makes the dish easier to eat, even for standing cocktail receptions with minimal seating. Toppings could include butter, shredded cheese, sour cream, bacon, chives, broccoli and even gravy.
3. Biscuit Bar
There’s something cozy and inviting about having a biscuit bar at an event. It’s a classic southern tradition, and it never gets old. Southern comfort food is becoming more popular around NYC, so why not provide it at your next cocktail reception? Throw in some fried chicken in the menu, too! You could provide different flavored butters, from strawberry to cinnamon and maybe even one with brown sugar. Another sweet topping could be honey. If you want to provide some savory toppings, you could provide the classic white peppered gravy and one with sausage in it. Mushroom gravy is also excellent, especially for the vegetarians.
4. Donut Bar
So many of us grew up eating fun-flavored donuts as kids, so having a “build-your-own” donut bar is sure to bring some smiles out at the end of an event. Start with a plain, glazed donut and let your guests choose additional flavored frostings, like strawberry frosting, a chocolate frosting or even a caramel sauce. Some other ideas are a Nutella spread and peanut butter. Toppings could include sprinkles, sea salt, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, cinnamon, chopped fruit, crushed graham crackers, M&Ms and one unique one is crushed potato chips. Yum!
5. Ice Cream Sundae Bar
This one is an oldie but a goodie. You basically start with vanilla (or chocolate) ice cream and provide similar toppings as the donut bar (some new ideas are: fudge, whipped cream, maraschino cherries, candy, etc.). Perfect for all summer events!
Photo: Bree Hester of BakedBree.com
Need some more ideas for your next event? Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget or Contact Us for an event consultation.
4th Annual WEEN Awards Reception
This past Wednesday night, WEEN (Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network) hosted their 4thannual WEEN Awards reception at HELEN MILLS. There were about 200 women (and men) in attendance to celebrate some of the inspirational women within the organization.
WEEN is a coalition of women and men of all ages and races committed to supporting, promoting and defending the balanced, positive portrayal of women in entertainment and society. The honorees included Vashtie Kola, Jeanette Jenkins, MC Lyte, Lisa Price, Lynn Richardson, Sevyn Streeter and Angela Yee.
WEEN Award Winners
Here are some additional photos from their beautiful event:
VIP Seating
WEEN Awards
Flower Arrangement and WEEN Postcards
WEEN Step & Repeat with a Pink Carpet
To learn more about hosting your awards reception, please contact us.