At the core of the Olympics is a love of spirited competition. Chicago-based Proactive got into the spirit of celebrating the city with a well-played fundraiser in support of Chicago's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games. On behalf of client Chica...

IT'S a dream when partygoers take home wonderful memories of your event. It's a nightmare when they take home a foodborne illness. An estimated 76 million people contract a foodborne illness each year in the United States alone, according to the...

I UNDERSTAND that an article about insurance is probably the last thing you wanted to read in Special Events Magazine. Believe me, when I walk into a networking meeting, most people say “hello” with great enthusiasm. Then they see my name tag, an...

ORGANIC food has left behind its hippie associations and moved into upscale supermarkets and acclaimed restaurants. And although its progress at catered events has been slow, interest in “green” catering is growing. For example, celebrity chef Wo...

SITE: KEW GARDENS ...

The Cheese Impresario, based in Los Angeles, brings upscale cheese and conversation to events. Former advertising executive Barrie Lynn introduces event attendees to artisanal cheeses, pointing out proper beverage and food pairings. Always lookin...

CATERING to the needs of today's increasingly interactive events, leading foodservice manufacturers are making equipment that transforms a buffet into a magnet for minglers. Cool, creative and decidedly user-friendly, the best of these pieces are...

RICHARD Groves freely admits he's not one for following orders. “I have never been a great employee, always wanting to be involved in all decisions and in control of my own destiny,” says the managing director of London's Create Food and Party De...

One man's trash is certainly Steven Shaver's treasure. The Torrance, Calif.-based designer fashions gifts, decor elements and awards out of car parts and other unusual materials. Chrome steering wheels, pistons, filter lids and tailpipe extension...

TABLETOPS UNDER $1,000 EACH ...