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.

Host Your Holiday Party With Us!

HELEN MILLS Event Space and Theater wants to make your holiday party a memorable one!

HELEN MILLS 2017 Holiday Party Package includes:

8 Hour Venue Rental: 3-hour set up, 4-hour event, 1-hour breakdown/load out
Catering + Beverage Packages
Complimentary Furniture
In-House A/V
Venue Event Staff
Venue Cleaning
Event Security

Curious how your party will look? Our photo gallery is full of inspiration!

Please contact us at info@helenmills.com or 212.243.6200 to book your holiday party!

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.

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.