This Interactive Dinner Party Takes Networking to the Next Level
Dinner parties, as we know them, are ever-changing. What once was a stodgy sit-down dinner has evolved in a micro-culture of experiential-everything. The Langham, Chicago, brought this trend to a whole new level when they hosted an event for the elite event planner community in Chicago.
The Langham, Chicago — which lives in a Mies Van der Rohe landmark building on the iconic riverfront — has built a strong reputation by pairing impeccable service with infinite luxury, five-star cuisine and innovative options for meetings & events. These strengths were well showcased during their “Night Away” celebration. Guests were invited, by way of a marble-inspired invitation from HH Design, for an evening away at the Langham which included spending the night at the hotel.
Upon arrival, guests were welcomed to their rooms with colorful orchids from HMR Designs and in-room amenities from The Langham, Chicago, before heading up to the penthouse level to begin the evening. A cocktail hour kicked off in the Club Lounge, overlooking the Chicago river and twinkling city lights. Champagne cocktails — in colorful Billie coupes from The Festive Frog — and hors dourves, like tuna tartar pushups and mini grilled cheese & soup shooters, were served as guests networked in the exclusive space.
The Langham butlers invited guests to the 3rd floor dining room where an oversized mirror featured calligraphed names leading guest to their tables. The team at HMR Designs transformed the signature ballroom into a majestic sea of twinkling candlelight, petal-soft blush hues, and pink-as-sunset chandeliers. In lieu of traditional flowers, pale tissue paper created texture and married the color palette in the room. BBJ Linen designed gray-blue custom tablecloths accented in gold which, with the swirling pinks, created a luxe underwater feel.
Table décor from The Festive Frog included pink charger plates from the Grace collection, vintage pink wine glasses from the Ginger collection, early-American-period stemmed glasses from the Catherine collection, black and gold contemporary flatware, and personal salt cellars.
Dinner service was as interactive as the event itself. The Langham’s executive chef fashioned an engaging menu of inventive courses. “The Ocean Floor” course included divine Maine Lobster Panna Cotta and French Kiss Oysters with grapefruit mignonette and caviar was finished with dry ice. From “Dry Land,” dry-aged New York strip steak and crispy veal sweetbreads paired perfectly with Lail Vineyards’ BluePrint Cabernet Sauvignon. Every bite and sip were phenomenal.
Following dinner, guests were led to the custom-created cocktail lounge, designed by HMR Designs. BBJ Linen’s colorfully marbled custom linens and cushion covers perfectly complimented the cozy chic lounge furniture. Hall’s Rentals provided dessert plates and forks that fit the vibe. After-dinner cordials and cocktails — again served in spectacular glassware from The Festive Frog, with custom linen napkins from HH Design — were passed through the crowd, as “Big Red,” a lounge singer from BeatMix Music charmed the crowd with her crooning.
The ultimate roving dinner party didn’t stop there….High energy beats, a seagreen-lit white carpet runway, umbrella drinks and pool boys welcomed guests to the final stop on their evening journey. With a BeatMix Music DJ stationed on top of the hot tub, the pool at The Langham, Chicago transformed a chilly April day in to a chic vacation destination. Late night bites, signature Paloma and Daiquiri cocktails and 90’s hip-hop tunes brought the experience to the next level.
Party-goers retired to their guest rooms to find signature, monogrammed robes from The Langham, Chicago and turndown treats from BeatMix Music and HH Designs. Elevating the traditional dinner party to a full evening of experiences including new settings, new design and decor concepts, varying music, creative cuisine, and an opportunity to roam and connect with more people made this celebration incredibly unique and clever. All of the elements together made it unforgettable.
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