Archive for the ‘Design’ Category

As the sun set over the Capitol dome in the distance, through tall glass doors and windows on the mezzanine floor of the Library of Congress’s Jefferson Building, the customarily hushed voices and subdued behavior was shattered by the squeals and giggles of can-can dancers ready to whoop it up.  Racing down the sweeping staircases on each side of the Great Hall, they literally kicked-off The Hemingway in Paris Ball.  One of DC’s premier events, The Washington Ballet’s Annual Spring Gala themed itself to reflect and celebrate the world premiere of Septime Webre’s Hemingway: The Sun Also Rises.

Guest reveled in the literary giant’s world, from sipping the classic drink, a Jack Rose, featured in Ernest Heminway’s novel, The Sun Also Rises, to walking the streets of Paris as they settled into their seats for dinner. And once again, we were honored to be a part of the fabulous celebration with deep ties to the community and helping raise critical funds for the Ballet’s training and outreach programs.  This year Susan Gage Caterers triumphantly and deliciously started the meal by serving a delicious bouillabaisse  followed by a salad of watercress and endive with vinaigrette, and then a plate of French cheeses served with lavender sel gris and fruit.

The table design was all SGC while the other beautiful décor was created by Syzygy Events International and the floral masterpieces were arranged by Suzanne Codi.  The evening was dotted with other performance by The Washington Ballet’s professional dancers as well as the students of TWB@THEARC.  After dinner, crepes were filled with chocolate and lemon curd, sprinkled with sugar and enjoyed with other sweet Parisian treats.  DJ Pitch One got the guests dancing themselves and before you knew it the night had drifted into a haze that even Hemingway would have shared.

Read more & see more here in Carol Joynt’s posting on The Wasingtonian.com.

Photos:  imijphoto.com

This January, Susan Gage Caterers had the thrill of collaborating with the renowned VIDALIA restaurant and their celebrated Chef Jeffrey Buben.  The menu was all Vidalia.  The first rate service was all SGC.  Together we created a milestone celebration for one our mutual clients at the National Museum for Women in the Arts.

The evening started with winter mojitos and passed hors d’ouevres that included petite Maryland style jumbo lump crab cakes, chicken fried quail medallions, artichoke beignets, foie gras parfaits and miniature Vidalia onion quiches.  Buben’s reputation for original American cuisine with its subtle Southern influence was as delicious cooked on-site as it is in-house at the restaurant.  Our chef’s and his made magic happen and the cross study of how each of us works was invaluable to all.

Each presentation was a complexity of textures and tastes.  The buffet was set with Vidalia’s shrimp & grits, lobster boudin, butternut squash kebabs and crisp Berkshire pork belly.  Lemon chess tartlets, cream puffs & eclairs, Georgia pecan diamonds, sable butter cookies and French macaroons were just a handful of delectable sweets that covered the dessert table in anticipation of being devoured.

Thanks all our vendors that helped make the evening a huge hit.
Floral – Urban Petals
Lighting & A/V – John Farr Lighting
Lounge Furniture – Syzygy
String Quartet – Bialek’s Music 
Photographer – Pamela Leopold
Valet – MJ Valet

The 2012 Holiday Season had Susan Gage Caterers on their toes and in the spirit as our calendar was full of festivities from small family gatherings to large company dinners.  We had a great time designing this event!

The Rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History was already charged with the twinkling grandeur of the 2012 holiday season.  Our idea was to paint this package with all the colors of a desert sunset.  The museum’s majestic African bull elephant greeted guests mid-stride, bathed in violet light.  Linens of rich yellow and fuchsia-red were woven with gold thread.  Clear and amber hued glasses glinted as the color drenched roses and hydrangea towered high.  Warm up-lighting of purple and gold washed tumbling white waterfalls of sheer draping and the stone walls.  It was a holiday safari.

The Rotunda of the National Museum of Natural History was already charged with the twinkling grandeur of the 2012 holiday season.  Our idea was to paint this package with all the colors of a desert sunset.  The museum’s majestic African bull elephant greeted guests mid-stride, bathed in violet light.  Linens of rich yellow and fuchsia-red were woven with gold thread.  Clear and amber hued glasses glinted as the color drenched roses and hydrangea towered high.  Warm up-lighting of purple and gold washed tumbling white waterfalls of sheer draping and the stone walls.  It was a holiday safari.

In the end, Nutcracker sweets were enjoyed, miniature thin-mint floats were sipped and slowly, the festivities came to an end.  It is with thanks to our client, all the vendors who helped us make magic, and of course the unsurpassed beauty of the museum and their terrific staff that we look next to all that is to come in the new year.

Design: Susan Gage Caterers
Photography: Pamela Leopold Photography
Floral: Jack Lucky Floral Design
Lighting: John Farr Lighting
Draping: Syzygy Events International

The four-course seated dinner from Susan Gage Caterers was served French-style, with the salad last. Dessert and dancing followed on a lower floor. Guests were offered warm libations—a bourbon cider and an applejack cocktail—as well as lattes and cappuccinos.

How does HITT Contracting say thank you to their employees for all their hard work and dedication? HITT throws them a fantastic Fall Festival inviting them to roll out the barrel and good cheer for an all-out bash.  Summoning up the traditional elements of an Oktoberfest, an empty HITT garage was transformed with sun-ripened pumpkins, lofted hay bales, corn stalks and mums bursting in warm vivid colors to give it a rustic outdoor feel.

Guests were greeted with a variety of fun food choices:  a grilled selection of wursts, German cheeses and charcuterie, soft pretzels with spicy mustard, spaetzel and warmed potato salad. Choices to wash down the feast started with either hot apple cider, one of a multitude of brews from the German Beer Bar boasting Weihenstephaner Hefe Weizen and a Spaten Franziskaner Brau or a crisp, chilled Riesling.  All were filled with the anticipation of a juicy slice from the whole roasted pig.

What made this party even more special was that it came on the heels of HITT’s 75^th Anniversary Celebration at the National Portrait Museum the month prior. This powerhouse construction company had a perfect Saturday night to give back to those who keep them going day in and day out. All of us at Susan Gage Caterers had a blast in helping them harvest the smiles and celebrate the accomplishments.

***Special thanks to Margot Schulman Photography