Classic Party Rentals to Close New Jersey Outlet, Signaling Move out of New York Market
Since the event rental industry's powerhouse—Los Angeles-based Classic Party Rentals—announced its bankruptcy filing in February, rental watchers have been waiting to see how the situation will play out. And the first shoe has dropped, with Classic announcing plans to exit the greater New York market by closing its outlet in Secaucus, N.J.:
The nation's largest event-rental provider, which recently emerged from bankruptcy and was sold, is closing its facility in Secaucus and laying off nearly 100 employees at the site, according to a filing with state officials. Classic Party Rentals Inc., based in Inglewood, Calif., is shutting its warehouse and showroom at 550 Meadowlands Parkway, Secaucus. The company notified the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development that it "has elected to cease operations in the tri-state area due to competitive market conditions." --New Jersey.com
Pittsburgh Looking to Push More Trash, Security Costs to Event Planners
City fathers love the excitement and revenue that special events bring to town—but not the trash. Pittsburgh is looking at ways to force event backers, including those behind the Luke Bryan concert at Heinz Field on WHEN, to pick up more of the costs of hosting the festivals:
Country music concerts at Heinz Field the past several summers have brought unruliness to the North Shore and left heaps of garbage in their wake. This year, the newly installed administration is promising to put a stop to it but is providing few details and scant explanation about why a plan was not put into place before Saturday’s blowout concert. A Monday morning news conference, billed as a discussion of “initiatives to address city expenses incurred at special events,” confirmed only that Mayor Bill Peduto is looking into ways of forcing event promoters to pick up a larger share of the cost of city services required for these events.—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Food That Is Presented Artistically Really Does Taste Better
Hey, that extra garnish really is worth the food cost. Not only do diners think that food that is presented beautifully tastes better, but they are also prepared to pay more for it.
The old adage that we eat with our eyes appears to be correct, according to research that suggests diners rate an artistically arranged meal as more tasty – and are prepared to pay more for it. The team at Oxford University tested the idea by gauging the reactions of diners to food presented in different ways. Inspired by Wassily Kandinsky's "Painting Number 201" Franco-Columbian chef and one of the authors of the study, Charles Michel, designed a salad resembling the abstract artwork to explore how the presentation of food affects the dining experience. –The Guardian
Here, tips from Special Events on how to photograph your food to show just how gorgeous it is.
