May 3, 2010 | Event Spaces, First Look

First Look | Ampersand Studios

To launch his newly christened Ampersand Studios, Bentley Meeker took us back to the very beginning. On April 21st, 2010, the lighting designer extraordinaire entertained the who’s who of the special events industry by hosting a cocktail reception to showcase his new event space and to celebrate his 20th anniversary in the business.

Some of Meeker’s top clients and industry friends including celebrity cake-maker Sylvia Weinstock, caterer Ronnie Davis and Harriette Rose Katz of Gourmet Advisory Services attended the the lavish event. Food stations including a vertical gyro spit and lobster roll stand as well as gourmet hors d’oeuvres were provided by Restaurant Associates. Rentals were supplied by Party Rental.

The highlight of the party was a speech from Meeker himself who graciously thanked his early supporters and explained the presence of the (smoking) 1989 Chevy Caprice NYC Taxi that was parked in the room. With his signature sense of humor, Meeker recounted his humble beginnings as a one-man show traveling by cab and carrying milk crates filled with lighting gear to each client job.

Housed in the same building as his lighting design firm, Ampersand Studios is Meeker’s new 5,200 sq feet ground floor event space with drive-in access, polished concrete floors, white walls and 15 ft ceilings. Capacity ranges from 510 guests for a fashion show with runway to 400 guests for a cocktail reception to 250 guests seated for dinner with a dance floor.

Another first look for Meeker’s guests, the designer introduced an innovative new lighting offering – the FlexiFlex™ system (patent pending), developed by RGBLights, which delivers robust LED technology in a flexible, modular mesh system. The lightweight panels of lights can be joined together to create a large indoor/outdoor flat video display or contoured to form unique shapes such as the pillars at Ampersand Studios.

Ampersand Studios, 500 West 36th Street (at 10th Avenue), New York. For booking information, contact Kage Konsulting at 646-873-4999.

Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging Inc, over the last 20 years, has become established as the leading event lighting company in New York City. Bentley Meeker and his extremely talented design staff craft dramatic lighting environments for every kind of occasion and budget. For inquiries and booking, call 212-722-3349 or contact via email.

PHOTO CREDIT: Terry Gruber Photography