Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Animal House to Inauguration


In our most recent blog we told you about an exciting event we were working on in Harrisburg, PA.  As promised, the photos are in and we cannot wait to share our adventure with you.  After a 4 hour journey across the state, Mosaic joined “Team Tolo” in the transformation of The Farm Show Complex & Expo Center, just wrapping up an 8-day Pennsylvanian Farm Show (consisting of 400,000 people and 6,500 farm animals), into an elegant inaugural ball setting for Governor-Elect Tom Corbett.  In the end, 5000 guests celebrated in style, sipping cocktails in chic lounge areas and kicking up their heels on the dance floor.  That’s not to say we did not encounter some not-so-sweet hurdles along the way!

The fine details of this photo will be left to the imagination. . .
At the same time we were setting up for our event, we viewed an annual Amish horse auction in action. Smell what we're stepping in?
Just days prior to the event, a prized chicken fight had taken place.  We hope the best cock won!
The Mosaic Van arrives holding (no, wait . . . busting at the seams with) hundreds of linens.  For the hundreds of cloths that could not fit in our tiny van, we called in the big rigs, courtesy of our friends Three Rivers Entertainment.
With an assortment of aromas including gasoline from the tractor pulls, sweet oil from the fried donuts, and the droppings of prized livestock still lingering in the air from the Farm Show (not to mention the piles of steaming manure out back), event planner extraordinaire Shelly Tolo had her work cut out for her. First came the VIP reception for 500 situated in a ballroom that seemed like miles away from the main reception where a guest-list of 5000 partygoers would toast to Governor Corbett later in the night. With Z-racks full of linens (we’re talking over 500 cloths!) and dozens of volunteers to help, Mosaic covered close to 500 tables over a two day period.  Elevated sky lounges complete with benches, curved high-back sofas, ottomans, and breathtaking crystal LED color-changing chandeliers added depth and dimension to an area of 174,000 square feet - aka the size of three football fields (yes, we walked every last bit of it, over and over again.) Towering in the perimeter of the venue, four 27-foot-wide projection screens were erected throughout the room where, during the previous week, slightly smaller screens showed cow-milking demonstrations.

At least we got our workout for the week . . .
Guests were treated to cocktails at thirty bars (holding 8,000 wine glasses, 6,000 martini glasses) and five food stations (each utilizing 20 tables), creatively designed by Harrisburg’s own JDK Group, incorporating signature dishes from all four corners of our state (from Philly cheese steaks to Asiago Perogies, and who could forget the sandwiches loaded with French fries –  a true Pittsburgh experience).



In light of the tragedy in Arizona of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, already high security was elevated to new levels. With bomb sniffing dogs, Federal agents complete with body scanners and wands (though her credentials were checked months before, event planner Tolo was wanded 19 times on the day of the event), guests decked in floor length gowns and Manolos could rest assured that they were well cared for during this night to remember.


When Governor Corbett, alongside wife Susan, stepped on to the dance floor for the first dance, Shelly Tolo sighed with relief and toasted the night with her team. The event was flawless.  Thousands of guests and close to 100 members of the media could feel the pride radiating from the dance floor. 







Linens featured at this event: White Black Vintage Damask; Gold Sheer Circles; Valentine Circle Taffeta; Maize Mini Pintuck; White Black Lusso; Black w/Silver Infinity; Silver Iridescent Crush; Red Satin Stripe

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