A Green Xchange

On Tuesday, July 29th, the city’s top event planners, green entrepreneurs and social butterflies descended upon West Chelsea for the second installment of A Night of Eco-Chic Entertaining. Held at The Xchange, a 6,500 sq ft loft space and roof deck with a stunning view of the Hudson River, the event showcased the eco-friendly products and services of sixteen talented event vendors that were chosen by Notesonaparty.com

Joining us as co-hosts for the evening were Olivier Giugni (L’Olivier Soirees and Galas), Karrie Goldberg (The Kagency), Eugene Lee (Rolling Press), Collette Leonard (Reyka), Ira Levy (Levy Lighting), Valerie Morel (XA - The Experiential Agency), Leslie Nilsson (Sage Events), Gerald Prolman (Organic Style) and Danielle Venokur (dvGreen). Together we gave our guests an interactive, green experience that showed them how sustainability could be super chic!

Event planners and industry executives from Calvin Klein, David Yurman, Etro, Prada, HBO, GQ, Warner Music Group, Radar Entertainment, Ripe Events and CBS College Sports gathered in the spacious loft to chill out to the sounds of DJ Aaron James (represented by The Kagency) and admire the beautifully dressed showcase tables.

Sustainable designer Danielle Venokur of dvGreen featured a table inspired by Moroccan fantasy including some whimsical toy mobiles (from Acorn Toy Shop) of classic fairy tales like Rapunzel and Snow White which were handmade with natural wool and wood. Place settings used recyclable coasters and place mats from Paper Table as well as seating cards and thank you bags from Pear and Peony. For the centerpiece, recycled tissue paper flowers added color to the natural birch bark and fallen branches.

Renowned floral designer, Olivier Giugni of L’Olivier Soirees and Galas, presented a “Taste of Provence,” a rustic wooden table with vintage Medici urns filled with local and organic flowers from the Union Square green market and organic fruit including melons, artfully sliced in varying degrees, which were used as table decor. Organic cotton napkins from ABC Home, non-toxic glazed china from Sur La Table and recycled glass from Anthropology were used for the table settings. Soy candles were placed in mason jars filled with organic pumpkin seeds.

Smock, a sustainable letterpress company that prints on luxe bamboo paper and Oslo Press, an innovative invitation designer who laser engraves on wood veneer, showed a wide range of eco-friendly wedding invitations.

Three dedicated bars offered guests a wide range of eco-conscious libations including the Reyka Eco-Chic Cocktail, Parducci’s award winning 2006 Chardonnay and a choice of four signature brews from Peak Organic beer. Sage Events, a green caterer dedicated to using small, local family-run farms and purveyors, served guests made-to-order San Francisco-style “paella” from their Cioppino Station as well as hors d’oeuvres including Tomato Basil & Goat Cheese Shots with a Parmesan Cup and Carolina Pulled Pork Sandwiches on a Mini Brioche. Their legendary mini Sage American chocolate cupcakes were passed for dessert.

Newcomer Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream served delicious scoops of Red Current, Chocolate and Ginger into organic cones or cups made from sugar cane. The super premium ice cream brand has an old fashioned truck that can be found serving from various spots in New York and Connecticut for those looking for another sweet fix (check their web site for exact locations).

Levy Lighting created ambiance through low powered LEDs, that washed the loft in orange and pink, and reusable projected decor, including a tree and a rug. The roof deck was lit with low consumption, green fluorescent tubes and over-sized, wireless LED globes, which looked dramatic against the stunning sunset.

Sustainably-grown roses and sunflowers by Organic Bouquet were styled by L’Olivier into elegant arrangements placed around the room. An Eco-Chic signature, the gifting table was filled with hundreds of single stem Organic Bouquet roses and mini Reyka bottles with matching recipe cards for guests to take as they left. The raffle gave away 2 gift certificates for a dozen roses and sets of Pacifica soy candles to lucky winners.

For a complete list of resources used to produce our fabulous Eco-Chic Entertaining event, please email us with your name, company, title and mailing address to receive an exclusive event brochure printed on FSC certified 100% recycled paper with low VOC vegetable inks by Brooklyn printer, Rolling Press.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ron Holtz of Ron Holtz Photography

The second event in a series, A Night of Eco-Chic Entertaining presented by Notesonaparty.com celebrates the best products and services in the green marketplace and special events industry.

For more coverage, see The Deal’s Tech Confidential and party blog, Socially Superlative.

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