To celebrate the 4th, the team got together for a quick photo shoot to bring the beach to the city. Complete with beach balls, hoola hoops, American flags, a cooler and a puppy. Happy 4th!
Guest Post: ThetaHealingNYC Workshop at HELEN MILLS
Guest Author: Tara Greenway, Master ThetaHealer and Co-Founder at ThetaHealingNYC
ThetaHealingNYC, a healing center and ThetaHealing school located around the corner from HELEN MILLS at Broadway and 26th Street, hosted the founder of ThetaHealing, Vianna Stibal, for an intensive six-day workshop. Ninety participants came from across the country and around the world, and the strength, drama and humor of Vianna's teaching could be felt in the rapt attention of every student -- the only sound while Vianna spoke (besides lots of laughter at her many stories) was the murmur of the interpreters as they translated her words.
ThetaHealingNYC hosted Vianna Stibal’s Basic and Advanced DNA Instructors classes at the HELEN MILLS Event Space. Photo Credit: Life in Bleau
Vianna Stibal, who founded this mind/body healing technique about twenty years ago, is the author of five Hay House books about healing. ThetaHealing is a popular and rapidly-growing technique that now has certified schools in over a dozen countries and practitioners in over a hundred countries. ThetaHealingNYC, founded two years ago, is the first ThetaHealing school on the East coast of the U.S.
ThetaHealingNYC hosted Vianna Stibal’s Basic and Advanced DNA Instructors classes at the HELEN MILLS Event Space. Photo Credit: Life in Bleau
The workshop was an in-depth training about ThetaHealing, a technique that utilizes the theta brainwave to create permanent change on the cellular level, which transforms people's lives emotionally, spiritually, and physically. Besides the lectures, there were many hands-on break-out sessions, in which students worked on each other to put into practice what they had just been taught. At breaks, organic tea and coffee was served, and many crystals, supplements, and oils as well as organic cotton and hemp "I Theta NY" t-shirts were offered for sale.
The event featured a Tea Station by MissTea for guests as well as merchandise for purchase. Photo Credit: Life in Bleau
Participants expressed how much they loved the workshop, the space, and the city of New York, and Vianna hopes to return to teach more workshops as soon as she can fit NYC back in to her busy speaking schedule.
About ThetaHealingNYC: Individual healing sessions and ThetaHealing classes are available at ThetaHealingNYC; to learn more go to thetahealingnyc.com or email info@thetahealingnyc.com.
About the Photographer: Elyza Bleau takes her whimsical and riotous nature and blends it with her talents of putting people at ease to blend art and real life for Life in Bleau. She loves capturing moments in time and bringing out the true essence of a person. See more at lifeinbleau.com, Facebook, or Instagram.
Looking to Host a Workshop? Contact Us to learn more about HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater or check out our Photo Galleries.
Repurposing Jars for Fun Party Lighting
Looking for a fun DIY 4th of July project? Repurpose mason jars as lanterns! This a great way to incorporate pretty, patriotic decor into your party.
To get this look:
1) On clean, dry glass place sticks in the shapes of stars and dots. Then paint with American Decor Chalky Finish Paint in White all over jars.
2) On jars you would like stripes, section off evenly with painters tape and paint with American Decor Chalky Finish Paint in Romance. On jars you would like stars, place 1.5 inch star stickers over dry white paint finish and then paint blue over all stickers.
3) After all paint dries, peel off stickers and painters tape.
4) Place votive in jar and light :)
Stop & Smell...the Peonies: A Guide to Event Floral Design
On my walk to meet with Merriel Weston, a veteran florist with nearly 25 years of experience, I passed through what seemed like a pop-up jungle. To my right were small bushes and imposing conifer trees, on my left, gorgeous bright flowers, climbing vines and tall grasses. Despite the appearance, I was not in a jungle, I was walking along 28th street's famous flower district on my way to get Merriel's words of wisdom on event floral design.
For someone unfamiliar with planning for and purchasing flower arrangements, the choices can be daunting. What is in season? What fits with your brand or event theme? Do you want large arrangements, something more discreet or both? How does your event venue factor in to your choice of floral arrangements?
I tackled these questions with the help of an experienced and talented florist. Below are some quick, high impact tips to get you on your way to incorporating floral design into your next event.
A selection of arrangements in the studio. These were all created for the same event and kept with the white color scheme while varying in texture and type of flower to create variety and different points of interest.
Q: What are the top factors to consider when creating floral design for an event?
The venue's architectural details. For example, if the venue has high ceilings, consider creating taller plants or flowers or having a large centerpiece. If the venue has large window sills, can you place arrangements at each one?
Guest interaction & Event flow. If you are creating centerpiece or table accent arrangements, make sure your guests can see one another across the table. For your centerpiece, make sure it's near the point where guests will congregate most - at a bar or food station may be a good option depending on the size of the space.
Seasonality. In the spring Cherry Blossoms, Pear Blossoms, and Magnolias are a great way to reflect the season and create a feeling of Spring indoors. In June, peonies and lilacs are abundant choices. In the Fall, berries and dahlias are local, readily available to usher in the brisker weather. For more guidelines of what flowers are available by season, see here.
Succulents are readily available in the summer and a unique and hardy choice.
Q: What are some considerations when choosing flowers or plants for your arrangements?
Your brand / cause and the event's mood. Consider what mood you want to create for your event and how you want your guests to feel. For example, bright or intensely colored flowers may foster a sense of excitement while subdued, earthy succulents may have more of a calming, comforting effect.
Color and texture. When selecting items for your arrangements, consider the texture of each selection you make. The arrangement pictured below has not only varying colors but also vary textures to create interesting contrast in a subtle way, while maintaining the overall white color theme.
Budget. Floral and plant arrangements can become costly. If you are working within a strict budget, consider having one large or high-impact piece and then complimentary small arrangements throughout the space in areas that guests will see such as check-in, on the bar, or on cocktail furniture and in lounge areas.
About Merriel Weston Merriel Weston has been a florist for nearly 25 years, first in Malibu for 7 years and then in New York City for the past 17 years. Her clients include, Estee Lauder, FedEx, Financial Times, and numerous private clients. For more about Merriel as well as photos of her work, see her website.
Merriel Weston, founder of Merriel Weston Floral Design, poses in the walk-in plant refrigerator.
AICP Week's 2015 Base Camp Explores & Honors Creativity
The Event
Last week, HELEN MILLS was home to the Association of Independent Commercial Producers's (AICP) Week 2015 Base Camp, complete with hands-on virtual reality demos, panels featuring industry-leaders and visionaries, and of course ample networking. Panelists included executives and directors from GE, BBDO, Johannes Leonardo, 72andSunny, Facebook, BBH and more. Topics ranged from content development, creative partnerships, consumer marketing and logistical considerations for production.
In the same week, AICP held their Next Awards and AICP Show in NYC, honoring industry leaders in categories ranging from Direction to Animation to Humor to Student Work. For more information and a full list of the winners, see here.
Presentation during AICP Week 2015 Base Camp in the HELEN MILLS Theater
Virtual Reality Immersion
In addition to the impressive speakers as well as talent showcased, the event featured five companies on the vanguard of Virtual Reality (VR) production and technology. Guests were able to explore first-hand the work of industry leaders Framestore, M ss ng P eces, Mirada, Tool of North America, and VRSE.works.
'Walking New York' by VRSE.Works
As part of the VR experience, Virtual reality production company VRSE.works showcased their recent collaboration with the New York Times, a film called 'Walking New York.' Guests were able experience intimate brainstorming sessions with the producers as well as stunning aerial views of the city from the edge of a helicopter seat. If you'd like to experience the project and film on your phone, check it out on Google Play or in iTunes App Store.
Learn More
For more photos of the week's event at HELEN MILLS, check out AICP's Flickr page and select the 'Base Camp' albums.
More about AICP: Founded in 1972, by a small group of television commercial production companies concerned with a single issue, today's AICP has grown to represent exclusively, the interests of companies that specialize in producing commercials on various media - film, video, digital - for advertisers and agencies. AICP members account for 85 percent of all domestic commercials aired nationally, whether produced for traditional broadcast channels or non-traditional use. See AICP's website for more information.
Having a Tech Event and Looking for the Right Space? Contact Us to learn more about HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater or check out our Photo Galleries.
TV One Upfront Showcases Talent Over 5 Days
TV One showcased their new programming during their 2015 Experience Upfront at HELEN MILLS, which spanned five days of events including a fashion show, whiskey tasting, performances, and celebrity-filled music events.
The invite-only crowd got a first look at both new shows and upcoming seasons for returning shows including: Hollywood Divas, Fatal Attraction, Born Again Virgin, and The Weekly Show. See here for Ad Week's coverage of the event.
Photos from the event below highlight how the team expertly transformed the venue to reflect the TV One brand and to suit the various types of events that were held - from fashion show to dining experience to cocktail reception.
Photos from the Event
The Entryway, the space exuded luxury and comfort. Images of icons flanked each of the walls. The TV One team made great use of the venue's gallery molding to hang lighting and set up gobo projections.
The Bar, TV One's branding was prominent throughout the venue. The bar was flanked by high stools to add extra comfort without limiting access for guests.
Seating for VIP Lunches Guests were treated to intimate meals for some of the presentations. The tables were set with gorgeous flower centerpieces, delicate chargers, and crisp white linens.
The Lounge Area was a great place for guests to mingle and talk about the presentations. The scene was set with comfortable couches, decorative sculptures, inspiring books and photographs along the walls.
Want to know more?
About TV One: TV One is a fast growing cable network that now serves 57 mllion households. Combining hit sitcoms, big studio movies, irrverent reality television and newsworthy specials, TV One delivers real life and entertainment programming from the African American point of view. See more on their website.
Looking for a Venue for your Next Press Event? Please Contact Us for more information or Press Event Gallery Page for more information.
Gorkana connects with Re/code at Helen Mills
We were very excited to host Gorkana at Helen Mills this month for an exclusive panel discussion with tech news site Re/code. The event was one in a series of exclusive media briefing events available to Gorkana customers and associated parties.
The panel was comprised of some of Re/code's editorial team, including editor-in-chief Kenneth Li, managing editor Edmund Lee, and senior editors Jason Del Rey and Arik Hesseldahl. The panelists shared Re/code's launch story plus five ways to build a successful relationship with the news outlet. Some photos from the event are below:
PRE-EVENT SET-UP
A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
THE PANELISTS
Interested in finding out more about Gorkana's media briefings? Check out event re-caps along with a schedule of upcoming events on their website here.
Looking to host a Tech or Other Event? Contact Us for more information about the HELEN MILLS Event Space & Theater.
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.