Perfect Summer Cocktail: Cucumber Mojito

This past weekend, Mr. ROAR and I had the pleasure of staying at the Lodge at Sonoma and attend a RUM tasting.  I know, sounds a bit strange - we were in the Napa Valley and tasting RUM.

The Lodge at Sonoma takes pride in introducing guests to products that are produced locally; unique brands that have a great story behind them.  This night was no different.  It was a Caribbean theme evening featuring Sugar Daddy Rum, which was a new brand to me.  Personally, I'm a sucker for awesome packaging and fell in love with the bottle - I just knew I'd love the rum too.

Three specialty cocktails were served, Somoma's Perfect Storm, Sugar Daddy Mai Tai and the Sugar Daddy Cucumber Mojito.  I had the mojito and oh boy - it was divine!  

And I enjoyed it...with my grey strippy straw!  Actually, I enjoyed T.W.O!  The perfect summer cocktail.  Light, delicious and refreshing.  I have a feeling it's going to be around all summer.

Sugar Daddy Cucumber Mojito Recipe

Ingredients: 

2oz. Sugar Daddy Light Rum

1/2 oz. fresh lime juice

1oz. simple syrup

5 mint leaves

4 cucumber slivers plus extra for garnish

club soda

Instructions:

Coat the rim of your glass with lime and dip the glass into raw cane sugar.  Then muddle mint, add ice, lemon juice, Sugar Daddy Light Rum, simple syrup and cucumber.  Top with club soda and stir carefully.

Enjoy!

All photos taken by Moi - even the selfie.

Featured in BizBash: Simple Ways to Jazz Up Food

The Coupa Inspire Conference that we produced last month offered so many unique twists on serving food.  I'm excited to say that it was even featured on BizBash (10 Surprising and Simple Ideas for Jazzing Up Meetings).

We created fun ways for people to network, make connections and be memorable.

I absolutely love the first concept we created.  The sponsors in Inspire Hall (our showcase area) needed exposure to the attendees.  We served breakfast, breaks and dessert on day 1 in the Hall.  As you can see from this post, there wasn't room to bring in buffets and since this conference was all about inspiring, we didn't think buffets would work.

Instead we brought breakfast to everyone.

During Lunch, it was all about networking.  Have you ever been to a conference and lunch time is awkward?  Everyone that knows each other typically stick with those they know.  Well on Day 1, we had table topics to spark conversation, but took it a step further and served everything family style.  The conversations were instant.

We needed the attendees to head back to Inspire Hall after lunch and what better way to do that, but with a drawing and dessert and coffee.

On the second day, guest only had an hour for lunch.  We needed something quick and easy, but also something that sparked conversation and was unique.  Instead of the typical deli, we opted for a summer picnic.  Everything was grab and go from the Turkey sandwiches on pretzel rolls (they were incredible) to a trio of cold salads in mason jars.  Dessert was served on the table - an assortment of cookies filled mason jars and fresh pink lemonade.

all photos except for the rocket man coffee were shot by Orange Photography.

Inspired By: A Table

I stumbled on this photo today and it made my jaw drop.  It's just stunning, organic and elegant.  I love how the trees in the wood crates are the centerpieces and each place setting offers a delicate arrangement for the guest.  So simple, yet so impactful. 

This is perfect for a rehearsal dinner, wedding or executive dinner.  I would say this table has that "x-factor," wouldn't you?

image photographed by Aaron Delesie

Live Event: One Stop Shop

Today's post is all about the one-stop shop.  We had a lot of sponsors for the Coupa INSPIRE Conference.  26 to be exact.  With that many, we wanted to create a uniform sponsor showcase area.  Every sponsoring company had a different look and feel - no one was like the next and we didn't want the room to be a mish mash of color and logos.  All the sponsors had to do was show up with their laptops, everything else was provided for them.

We were tasked with designing 3 similar turn-key tradeshow booths for the Silver, Gold and Platinum sponsors.  We also had to design a booth for Coupa that was different than all the others, but still keeping similar design elements of the other properties.  We brought Group Delphi in to help us create the experience.

The space that we used for INSPIRE Hall was very ornate.  It was the Colonial Room of the Historic Westin St. Francis.  This room all by itself is stunning.  You would never be able to design something to match it.  Instead, we took the opposite approach.  We created booths that were very minimalistic and modern, that complimented the space vs making it disappear.

The ceiling in the room was extremely high with balconies on three sides.  To pull everything together, we used blue fabric to line the balconies.  To extend the branding, we printed the logo on two of the fabric panels.  It was the perfect and final touch that the room needed.

Take a look?  I would say success.  What do you think?

photography by Orange Photography, Turn-key booths by Group Delphi

Live Event: The Little Details

One of my favorite parts of producing events are all the little decor details.  But here at ROAR events, everything needs to have a purpose.  We don't just do to do.  We don't spend money to spend money.  

As an example, we created 2 distinct seating vignettes.  There was very little seating in the common space and we wanted to create a area that went with the brand and allowed for networking.  We kept things simple, modern and colorful.  We also kept the florals very simple throughout the space from the networking areas to the party.  We didn't want anything over powering and Fig & Twine did a wonderful job.

For the INSPIRE party, the space used at the Westin St. Francis was incredible.  We wanted to compliment the venue with furniture vs completely transforming it into something different. Victors and Alexandras were two separate rooms on the 32nd floor and we utilized them differently as well.  As you can see, the rooms are very ornate and didn't want to compete with that.  Instead, we incorporated modern and transitional furniture pieces into the space.

Victors was the place for quiet Jazz music, conversation and incredible food.  

Alexandras was the spot to let your hair down and dance with the DJ, Strings ensemble and drummer.  Yes, you heard correctly - we didn't want to have only a DJ.  The conference was branded INSPIRE - we needed to do things differently, and INSPIRE.

And I couldn't resist showing you the view from the party.  This shot was taken around 7ish when the party was getting started.  Stunning, don't you think?

All photography by Orange Photography, Florals created by Fig & Twine, Furniture from Blueprint Studios