help, theme dinner party plan, urgent!!!

[harmonywhw]

Dear All,

We are a travel agency headquatered in CA. we'll arrange a trip in Los Angels for a group of 21 people from China who are premium distributors in China for a famous USA-headquatered cosmetics company. Now we need a creative dinner planner to cooperate with us.

As requested, we'll arrange a theme dinner party for the group. Almost all group memebers are ladies and they have passion in fashionable things, have outstanding work performance and career status in China. They contribute greatly on selling the cosmetic comany's products. So the trip is an incentive tour. We need a dinner planner to create an attactive and impressive theme dinner party for the company to serve the group.The company requires a creative dinner plan. Once, they invited their distributors to have a theme dinner party in a famous old castle in USA and the site is decorated mainly in pink which is close to the color of their cosmetic products. It's a case for reference.

Dear, do you have some creative ideas about theme dinner party in los angels?? Or do you know where is suitable for theme dinner party or recommend experienced planner to me?Urgent!!!

Thank you so much!

contact Harmony :[e-mail]

[jeanbert]

What about an art and culture theme and set something up with the Getty? I don't know if they do events in the evening.

[neobite]

Depending on your budget, I'd call the event planners at the bigger Hollywood/Bev Hills or Santa Monica beach hotels, or the studios (Paramount does events) and go for a Hollywood theme-y thing. Or try LACMA, Skirball, the Music Center, all of which have spaces for private events. There are places like the Wattles Mansion, etc., that do weddings and events year round and can recommend good caterers. Or try Cicada downtown.

[justagthing]

I agree w/the hollywood based theme and if you can get maybe some impersonators or if you go somewhere where they may actually see some stars, I think that these ladies may enjoy that. Star gazing is ever so popular w/tourists from anywhere.

[Polas]

Also on the Hollywood theme--Hollywood and Highland has a banquet hall--the Highlands-- catering by Wolfgang Puck--

[rachaeln]

I would check out Social in Hollywood, its a great space, or if you want something interactive, LA Foodworks in West Hollywood it beautiful. I also love the garden at Zip Fusion downtown...

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L A Food Works
9045 Nemo St West, Hollywood, CA

[harmonywhw]

hi, dear all, thank you for so many suggestion for my reference. Yeah, I got some ideas. I love Chowhound!!! ^_^

[Diana]

no fair, you have to tell us where you go!

[tastycakes]

how about setting up something like (or renting out) the beauty bar? have someone give manicures etc. since they are all in the beauty biz, massage chairs, maybe retro food inspired by a 50's boudoir theme...

only other thing i can think of is magic castle or a medieval knights type place.

[Diana]

Just a thought, but I imagine cosmetics executives would pick a cosmetics place as the LAST thing they'd want to do when they're at a theme party. They're surrounded by cosmetics all the dang time. Give em a fun break.

Going to Beauty Bar would be like taking a visiting brit who wants to experience LA to a Ye Olde King's Head or Tudor House

Magic Castle and medieval times have lousy food. Good shows, though. Maybe a pre dinner drink event at the Castle would be fun for them! Just get them somewhere else to eat. Or just hire magicians and hold the party somewhere else..

[Waverly SGV]

I agree with you wholeheartedly, Diana. As a professional woman, I'd appreciate a fun diversion from my day job, or at least an activity that's tongue-in-cheek. I previously posted an over-the-top suggestion to arrange for a private, fantasy dinner at the steps of Sleeping Beauty's castle at Disneyland and a photo opp with the Disney princesses...but for some reason, my post was removed! I wasn't aware that chow ideas were subject to censorship! Who's the Disney-hater?

I also like your idea of pairing seafood and the LB Aquarium. Creative and memorable, but a little low-key and perhaps guilt-invoking. There's always the gospel brunch at the House of Blues, if a daytime event is acceptable.

Is there anything going on at the Hollywood Bowl? A catered gourmet picnic and box seats would be fun and very L.A.

[Diana]

The bowl this time of year would be torture!

[CynD]

When the LB aquarium opened, their in-house restaurant catered the dinner. I recall it was excellent. That might be a good choice, combined with a tour of the aquarium. They might be able to arrange for a private tour. Pine Avenue or the nearby Shoreline Village and the Pike would make an interesting after dinner walk.

[greengelato]

hmmmm... i would use the money you would otherwise spend on decorations and a planner and rent a room at a really nice restaurant in a trendy walk-friendly area. like rodeo drive? yeah, try looking for private rooms in rodeo drive area.

[CChow]

You could do a "Hollywood Glamour" theme party. Rent out a room at a very "Hollywood" restaurant and have it set up with photographers, a red carpet, pictures of celebrities, celebrity magazines, a "swag" room, etc. Find a trendy restaurant with a good size private room, such as Campanile, Luques (rent out patio?), Orso (rent out patio?), Spago, Mastros or at a hotel such as the Mondrian or Chateau Marmont where you can rent a suite and have it catered.

[Diana]

This is really a board for LA dining out.

Still, a nice theme dinner might be to buy out the Saddle Peak Lodge. Inside, it looks like a hunting lodge, with paintings, animal heads on the walls, antler chandeliers and such. Outside carries the theme. It is in the hills over Malibu-very rustic looking.

http://www.saddlepeaklodge.com/

The food is top notch, and includes game, as well as beef, lamb, pork, fish and poultry. We're talking venison, elk, buffalo, squab and more!

You could do a "hunting lodge theme" and your guest would feel really submerged in a classic American experience.

If you find a caterer, you can do a theme dinner in the Peterson Automotive Museaum. The museam features all sorts of amazing cars, from famous TV cars to hot rods to fancy cars and more. Then have famous chef Wolfgang Puck cater it. Check the sites out.

Peterson: http://www.petersen.org/default.cfm?docid=801

Wolfgang Puck Catering: http://www.wolfgangpuckcatering.com/o...

[fdb]

OP mentioned the group consists of mostly ladies. Both of these places sound like more suitable for men.

[Diana]

ladies don't like meat or cars? I'm a lady, and I almost had my reception at the Peterson. I also LOVE tha Saddle Peak lodge.

[cookie monster]

I'm with you, Diana. I'm a woman (not so sure about the lady part), and Saddle Peak Lodge is one of my absolute favorite special occasion places in LA. And my 70 year old mother, who is definitely a lady, also loved it.