BED: Joan’s On Third

I recently read about Joan’s on Third in LA.  While this store-market-restaurant-catering company has been around for over 1o years, it’s a new find on my part and I love what I see.  I know a store may be an unusual choice for a BED post but the catering pictures showcasing the numerous events put on by Joan’s will make it clear why I selected them.  Each event shot looks so peaceful with its understated elegance. 

When I read through the company website and scanned through the fantastic event and store pictures online, I got a really warm feeling and good vibe from this place.  Not only does Joan’s on Third appear super classy, gourmet and down to earth but the quality of the products displayed look incredibly professional and well thought out- a concept that is clearly missing in Toronto.

Cupcakes (photo via yelp)(photo via yelp)

(via yelp)

A yummy looking sandwich (via Yelp)

Baked Goods (via Yelp)

A Colourful Tea Salon

I have so much to catch up on about events.  The past two weeks have been crazy on my end and I look forward to having some time this week to bang out a couple posts on ideas/experiences about which I have made mental notes to write about.

I will be in New York next month to visit a friend and to take another yoga teacher training course and I am already making a list (long) of all the places I want to visit.

I have a couple tea shops I regularly visit when I am in New York, Alice’s Tea Cup, being my number one favourite- especially their brunch, granola and scones.  However, a new stop on my list this trip will be the Tracy Stern Tea Salon .  I purchased her cookbook  titled “Tea Party” last year and have enjoyed some of the recipes but I would like the entire brand experience, so I will be popping in for some tea at the store. 

I found a couple photos of her tea store in New York and the colour, design, tea and candy displays already have giddy with excitement (ahh the simple pleasures in life).

(photo via Yelp.com- Cynthia T.)

DYI: Easy Place cards

Good morning event enthusiasts.  It’s a beautiful day in Toronto.  The sun is shining and there is not a cloud in the sky.

Today I wanted to share a really easy and professional way to make place cards using Avery labels and your computer. 

I just made twelve of these placecards for a wine event tomorrow evening that I am working on and I could not be more impressed with the results.

I used the Avery Laser Tent Card #5305 to make the cards.

Step by step:

Create your guest list on an Excel file separating first name and last name in two different columns.  Save the file somewhere because you will need it later.

Next, open Word go to Tools, then to Letters and Mailing, then to Mail Merge- once the Mail Merge is open, now you’re in business and ready to create your place cards. 

On the right side of the screen select Labels and then on the bottom right of the screen click on Starting Document.  From here right hand side of the screen in the middle it will say “label options” click on that and find your Avery Label model number.  In our case, we are using 5305.  Just scroll down the list and find 5305 and click OK. 

From here you want to select the recipients (bottom Right of the screen) which means it’s time to go back to the Excel file with your guest list you saved.   Middle right of the screen click select the recipient list and find the file you want to import into Word.  A pop up box will show up asking you which sheet you saved your guest list on- click okay for the first sheet. Click ok again on the next pop up screen, then click arrange your labels (bottom right).

Now here is when you get to inject your creativity and personalize the labels. 

Middle right side of the screen click “More Items” and insert First Name and Last Name.  Click Ok.

Change the font/colour/spacing and you can insert picture files into this template.  When you are statisfied with the look, go back to the right side of the screen and click “Update Labels”.  This will update all the labels in your word document to look the same.  You can go back and play around if you are not satisfied but remember to keep clicking update label if you make a change or else you will only have changed the first label.

Next step is to preview your labels (step 4, bottom right) and complete the merge (step 5, bottom right). 

You will have to load the Avery Laser Tent Cards into your printer (I use the stack bypass on the large office printers) and hit print. 

I hope this all makes sense because if you want to save some money and DIY, this is a really easy way to pull off professional looking place cards.  I felt proud of my accomplishments today (it was my first time making these things)

Vere Chocolate

I am a sucker for great packaging.  Especially when it is colourful and well thought out because it is easier to incorporate products such as these in event design.

Vere Chocolate, from NYC fits the bill.  Both its truffles and the chocolate bars are nicely presented and packaged.

What’s cool is that the company had a full chocolate factory in the city on West 27th street where owner, Kathy Moskal used to hold factory days and wine events for consumers to come and try the product but it looks like the last one was held in March according to the company website.  Hopefully they will resurface again- sounds like a fun event to attend.

In the mean time, it looks like these sweet treats have a solid distribution around NYC so the chocolates can still be purchased if you know where to find them.

via style will save us

via kaboodle

via new york serious eats

Sparkling Tea: A Non Alcoholic Alternative

I just read about this sparkling tea from Golden Star Tea Company in Metropolitan Home this month and it looks like bubbly champagne but it’s jasmine tea.  I think this is a  great idea if you are looking for a non alcoholic alternative  to offer your guests at an event. After doing a bit of digging, I read that Golden Star Tea is available at Whole Foods in California and in couple other states.  The other great thing is that the website offers pairings for all you event enthusiasts out there.

I am heading down to NYC next month and hope to find a bottle to taste, otherwise the shipping costs are super expensive and I don’t think I want to foot the bill to ship a four pack to Toronto.  Has anyone tried this? 

Someone messaged me to say that Golden Star Tea is available at Pusateri’s in Toronto but I wasn’t able to find it at its Yorkville location.

via elixir design