It's a Festival Out There!

On the heels of Charleston's own Spoleto Festival USA, today's post involves things that a lot of people have come to enjoy: Music + Parties = Music Festivals! Summer is a prime time for the crowds, food, alcohol, herb of choice and the main ingredient, a wide array of music to be heard.

A fun-filled fest close to my heart is the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fesitival which takes place the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May each year at the New Orleans fairgrounds. This year's jazz fest drew over 350,000 music and food lovers from all over the world. Who wouldn't come when crawfish sausage po-boys, shrimp bread, seafood gumbo and muffelattas are just a few items on the menu?! (Click here for a crash course in New Orleans cuisine, complete with mouth-watering photos!!!) Not to mention the lineup of artists that played like Van Morrison, Norah Jones, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band and countless Zydeco and Cajun music makers.

When I went a couple years ago, I couldn't help but tap my feet and do a little jig past the Fais-Do-Do Stage. New Orleans has an energy that can't be described... it's unlike any other place I've ever been. I'm glad I got to live there, if even for a little while, and let it be a part of me.

Bonnaroo is coming up this weekend, and though I can't make it this year, I'm going to try to do the Roo before it's no longer just a few hours drive from where I live. The festivities take over Manchester, Tennessee June 14-17, and artists this year include The Police, The Roots and up an coming Brit Lily Allen.

One of the activities at the festival that proves to be a must-see is Bonna Rouge, "rock & roll cabaret at its finest"! I'm sad I missed Cabaret Kiki's last show, I heard it was cab-tastic.

Here's a link to a blog that seems to cover any and all music festivals, great reads.

Event I'd like to attend- O'- the- week

photos Line 8 Photography

Taking a title cue from the City Paper's Blotter, since I love their little "O'-the-week"-isms, here we go:

We've been hearing and seeing Ocean's 13 all over the place, and last week their premier party in L.A. looked so fun, to plan and to attend. The party was for 1,200 lucky invitees and it looked like it was out of a "Girls Next Door" go to Vegas episode.

It took place in a parking lot, though you'd never know it, behind El Capitan Theater in L.A., and apparently setting fireworks off in the middle of Hollywood is a fantastic feat, even for a city where it seems anything can be done.

In any case this event looked like it rocked, but from my perspective no wonder it took the whole team of people from Warner Bros. to plan and execute it.

Sometimes I wonder how life would be if I moved to L.A. or New York to pursue these ginormous event jobs, it all seems a little overwhelming. One day I might have the stamina to zip around like a bat outta hell, but for right now I'm enjoying this Southern comfort.

Gibbes Rodin Spoleto Party

photos by Charleston Picture Company

Thursday, May 24 was the opening reception for the Gibbes Museum of Art's newest, and most exciting exhibition Rodin: In His Own Words. Wanting to stray from the usual French themed party, with cafe tablecloths and Eiffel Tower ice sculptures, I decided to go for more of an urban-chic-lounge decor and sounds of European chill music transporting the guest even further. The menu was fun and funky; French but not stuffy. Granville's rocked the menu like they owned it... I mean they did, but whatever.

Passed Hors d’oeuvres
Mini Onion Tarts
Individual Croque Monsieur
Individual Salad Nicoise with Micro Greens

Food Display
Imported Cheeses and Fresh Fruit Board
Tartar Trio: Beef, Salmon and Tuna with Gaufrettes
Olive Oil Brushed Crostini
Truffle Grilled Asparagus
Individual Chocolate Mousse Cups

Station One
Double French Fries in Silver Cups
Steak Au Poivre

Station Two
Assorted Crepes (Sweet & Savory)
(Pear & Brie, Creamy Leeks and Crab, Nutella, etc)

Gelato from Paolo's- Pistachio, Strachiatella, Raspberry

Specialty Drink
Honeydew Prosecco Cocktail

Guest DJ's spun the night away, I was a House DJ "French Kiss", and though I started the evening out with Hotel Costes and Thievery Corporation tunes, by the end of the night the guest djs were playing Barry White and The Monkees, WTF??? It's okay, I don't think anyone noticed but me, but it was still FUN!

There was a huge 12'x12' bar in the middle of the tent and a very large iridescent fabric chandelier bathed in green light while the other parts of the tent were lit in deep blues and greens to give a lounge effect. I, personally, wanted to drape tons of fabric on the tent ceiling to bring the eye downward, but the bare tent worked fine because we projected our dj names and party sponsors onto it.

The centerpieces were mixtures of pieces I got at Pier 1 in an insane 75% off sale, and some recycled glass I borrowed from James Burns from JBC Catering. Also, Gayla from Tiger Lily, did some great floral arrangments with very little direction from me, but they flowed so nicely with the party!

This post is dedicated to Joseph Hubbard (AKA DJ Jay-D). He left the Gibbes the day after this party to pursue a fun Pro-Bono law career, and is back in Tennessee going to UT, shoutout, Holla! LOL

Websites and Friends

Okay, so there are a few topics to cover today, look at my temporary, but still very cool website HERE, make it a fave and I'll let you know when my real one is up.

I've included most, if not all what I want to put on my permanent site, which by the way will be www.socialeventdesign.com. This site has all the pertinent info, services, gallery, and link to this blog. I'm very excited and forward it to anyone you know~

In other news, I helped coordinate my good friend Jesse's wedding which took place on Friday, April 27. The ceremony was at the Unitarian Church on Archdale Street, the place is gorgeous, see below! I don't really like how I look in the below photo, but what are you gonna do??

"I was able to relax and enjoy my wedding day thanks to you. Having you there to attend to all the last minute details made what could have been astressful event into a blissful celebration. Thank you for your calm and organized assistance!" - Jesse Hendrix-Inman

Also, Jesse is featured on the Unveiled Bridal Designs site. They did a nice feature on Jesse and Jamez's wedding! Click HERE to see it, and P.S. I did her make up, she's so GLAMOROUS!

Peace out, next post will probably be about my latest party at the Gibbes on Thursday..."Le Bar" in the Museum Courtyard to celebrate the opening of the Rodin exhibition.

Beard Foundation Awards

My friend, Alicia Prescott, former Pastry Chef of Circa 1886 here in Charleston, sparked my interest in the James Beard Foundation. The non-profit foundation is the pre-eminent organization for preserving and nurturing America's culinary heritage and diversity. Like the Foodie Grammy's or Oscars... To recieve an award, or even a nomination, is very prestigious. The 20th Anniversary James Beard Foundation Awards took place on May 7, 2007 in New York and here is a look at their event. Chef Mike Lata of FIG was nominated for Best Chef Southeast, congratulations. Also, a couple of chefs from my former residence, New Orleans, were honored!

The theme was "Art of American Food" and the ceremony took place at Lincoln Center. There were over 1,600 attendees, can you imagine planning for that???

By the way, below is Alicia's write up on the James Beard Foundation website for an event she participated in, called History is Hot, in 2004. Alicia is now perfecting her high-altitude baking skills at the Broadmoor, a grand and historic hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"The Wentworth Mansion, built as a family home in 1886 by cotton magnate Francis Silas Rodgers, is an ornate showplace replete with Tiffany windows, Italian marble fireplaces, and a rooftop cupola that affords guests fabulous views of Charleston. We think the mansion’s sweetest feature is pastry chef Alicia Prescott. At 12, Prescott enrolled herself in a cake decorating class; years later, working with chef Rolf Weber at the Heritage Club in Gainesville, she recognized her aspirations lay in pastry. She attended Johnson & Wales, and worked at the Harbour Club of Charleston before joining Wentworth Mansion. Her desserts at the Wentworth’s award-winning Circa 1886 are Southern charmers that highlight locally prized ingredients—think butterscotch crêpe soufflé with applejack brandy sauce and crème fraîche–walnut ice cream, or a bittersweet chocolate–mint julep terrine with Maker’s Mark sponge cake, blood orange sherbet, and cocoa nib bonbons. "

Photos: WireImage, James Beard Foundation, BizBash

Life Decision

The last few months have been those of discovery and bravery for me. I just got married to a wonderful man, in a very beautiful wedding celebration, and now we are living the American dream in Charleston as home owners and housekeepers. I've never written in a journal or diary, but I have so many thoughts running through me lately that I need to express them. In the last couple months I have been growing increasingly anxious about my ambitions. I finally feel brave enough to venture out on my own and seize what's mine of the event planning market. In the next few months I will be developing my own business, Social Event Design, and hope to document the latest successes and mishaps of a day in the life of me. Some posts will be boring and pointless, but I hope others will capture what it's like for a woman in this day and age to begin selling herself and services for the betterment of mankind, and no, not prostitution, but Sarah Bradley, Event Planner - at your service. I hope to inspire, or at least spark curiosity.

I will be blogging about industry trends and events, as well as the process of building this entity from the ground up. Stay tuned.