This might be the most important event HighLife has ever planned. The marriage of our owner and creative director Tyler Hollinger to Lauren Maffettone. This late summer, sun drenched, beachy-country club themed wedding (but not on the beach) featured many exciting reveals, delicacies, and intimate moments all weekend long. Although the wedding was on Saturday September 14th the experience began the day before and lasted well into the following week. The entire wedding spanned the entire weekend from Grooms Golf Tournament on Friday, welcome reception Friday night, Grooms 5K beach run the morning of the wedding, the wedding Saturday night, and the good-bye pancake brunch the following day. The rest of the week was capped of with a mini-moon on the beach for the newlyweds. The color scheme of the wedding featured lush late summer greens, polished gold and silver, with pops of blush and red. The bride and groom chose a classic filet and lobster main dish with ample raw bar and a wealth of bites and treats all night long. This perhaps was the most fun any of us have ever had planning a wedding and, of course, being guests! Cheers to the newlyweds
Venue: Stone Harbor Golf Club Florals: Brenton Wolf Design Photos: Forever Photo NY Calligraphy: Victoria Gotwols Invitations: Niamh Langton Co-Ordination: Shore Thing Event Services Band: Batchelor Boys Cake+Desserts: Maryanne’s Bake Shop Transportation: Vintage Trolleys Gown: Francesca Miranda Tux: Hugo Boss
Too often we don’t talk about the failures or the losses. Too often what we post on social platforms are only the highlights and the wins. Too often we shy away from the risks that don’t succeed or the missteps or the failures. The HL team spent months planning and putting this event together only to have the whole deal fall apart. Above is a sample of the comprehensive pitch video, graphic elements, renderings, and deck samples we used to create a show-stopping grand opening of a one-of-a kind real estate property poised to be the silicon valley of NYC. This event was supposed to not only be a show case of the incredible building itself but a festival celebrating the tenants of the neighborhood and the abundance of the talent, diversity, and magic in the community at large of Brooklyn
Bringing together the wide array of talents that represent Brooklyn was high on our list. We wanted to celebrate not only the Brooklyn Navy Yard and all of the awesome tenants that reside there but also everything that makes the borough of Brooklyn just so special. From musical acts like Talib Kweli, Regina Spektor, Too Many Zooz, and of course Brooklyn United a non-porfit organization dedicated to teaching music and shaping lives. The event showcased all the amazing food and beverage of the Navy Yard itself as well as supplemental Brooklyn Food Trucks. In addition to the “Main Stage” acts the event would feature cutting-edge VR that would allow you to see not only the history of the Navy Yard, The Current expanse of the Yard, but also the future and everything in between in a deluxe time warp. Immersive performances and interactive elements would put the finishing touches on the day so that the people in attendance and also the the wider community at large felt like they were part of the spectacle itself.
THE MISSION
A NY GALA
x
A Brooklyn Block Party
A combination of unique local Brooklyn immersive performance elements, innovative lighting, fresh floral accents, hand selected food trucks and various interactive art pop-ups. Ultimately solidifying the importance of experience, neighborhood, and collaboration.
UPON ENTRANCE, GUESTS QUICKLY REALIZE THEY AREN’T ATTENDING YOUR NORMAL “STUFFY’ BROKER INVITATIONAL. THIS IS BROOKLYN. HOME TO SOME OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE PERFORMERS AND ARTISTS. THE BROOKLYN UNITED IS NO EXCEPTION. AS THE BAND PLAYS THEY MARCH THEIR WAY THRU THE ENTRANCE AND INTO THE LOBBY BECKONING THE GUESTS TO FOLLOW. DON’T WORRY. THEY APPEAR LATER.
The Brooklyn United Music and Arts Program (BU) is a community-based organization that serves New York City youth. Brooklyn United is focused on the development of youth through Academic Support, Character Development, Skills Building and Performance Opportunities. It is through these pillars that we strive to build strong, well rounded, healthy, confident and capable young people.
THE SECOND FLOOR & HEALTH CENTER HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO OUR BROOKLYN STREET DANCE PERFORMANCE CENTER AND WHO KNOWS MAYBE EVEN AN APPEARANCE FROM LADY LIBERTY HERSELF.
THE 16TH FLOOR. AWAY FROM THE NOISE. A RETREAT TO SOMETHING MORE INTIMATE. BK’S FINEST STREET POETS LAY DOWN RHYMES AND PERFORM IN OUR SLAM STUDIO. JOIN THEM AND WRITE A VERSE OF YOUR OWN.
The exterior courtyard will feature the marquee stage, 5 of NYC’s best food trucks, beer garden, lounge vignettes on the lawn, a 12’x50’ Dock 72 Graffiti Art Wall, Games, NYC Basketball, Double Dutch Jump Rope Troupe, Haiku Artists, and more…
The Last Impression…
As the sun sets on the navy yard waterfront, the final song begins to play, the last call is made at the bars and the guests shuffle for the exits longing for those endless summer days that are no more. Autumn is upon us and the days become shorter once again. Brooklyn returns to the streets, neighborhoods, and haunts it lives in and we go back to our day-to-day. This respite. This break. This event reminds us of the power of experience at the intersection of art, culture, music, food, and most importantly community.
Unfortunately. This event never happened.
I am not one to think that there is any wasted work. Nothing is ever wasted and time is no ones but your own. Everything is learning. Everything is process. Everything is craft. Everything you do just makes you better. You can’t grow if you don’t take the risk to step outside your comfort zone.
Risk.
Fail.
Risk again.
Tyler Hollinger, Owner
Renderings by Joel Fitzpatrick
HighLife Productions
A creative experiential agency born from the food and beverage world. Just as our motto states “Experience x Integrity” we value what we put in our bodies. Events for us center around great food and drinks as well as great friends. That magical combination of people and food at the intersection of unforgettable experiences. In the following pages you will find an overall creative outline and comprehensive event production focusing on such elements as experiential interaction, innovative design, supplemental food and beverage, staffing, performances, design, lighting, staging, permitting, licensing and much much more…
Authenticity.
Our roots are in the hospitality industry and together with our team of designers and planners we seamlessly execute thousand person festivals, hundred person galas, corporate functions, branded launches, glamorous weddings, private dinners and every event in between.
HLP
DISCLAIMER: Event experiences measured in the depth of their impact not the width of their impressions. This creative deck has been prepared exclusively for you. The following pages are exclusively HighLife’s intellectual property, provided in good faith as a commitment to our relationship. All designs, ideas, strategies, and breakdowns are confidential and not to be shared with other agencies, vendors, or third parties. We look forward to bringing your event to life.
Farm-to-table tailored cocktails, professional dancers and invigorating music all in the concrete jungle? Once a year Secret Summer provides this unparalleled experience; if you are in the city you need to go!
I’ve had a lot of cocktails what is so special about the cocktails at secret summer? I promise you have never had cocktails like these (if you have not attended Secret Summer the past). The cocktails are carefully crafted from freshly collected ingredients, harvested from New York City’s own Farm One. These unique cocktails are crafted by expert mixologists from RAPT who have spent most of their lives in the kitchen as chefs. They are bringing their talent to craft you your perfect drink. Trust me when I say the more you drink the better the drinks begin to taste.
But I don’t like bespoke cocktails should I still attend?
Not a concern. If you are not into cocktails but are still looking to get your booze on the event hosts a Giant Beer Pong game played with full-size kick balls. This crazy spin off to a classic party game will be sure to test your skills but also entertain for hours.
Where is the event hosted?
The event is hosted at the Foundry in Long Island City. The Foundry has a stunning courtyard where a lot of the events take place, it is rare to see such a vibrant setting in a major City. Photos of the foundry can be found below.
What about food?
Secret Summer has you covered. Delicately crafted snacks crafted by RAPT are constantly in circulation. However, if you are looking for a more filling meal, Secret Summer hosts the best food trucks in New York City. In the past the event has hosted everything from the Morris Food Truck, serving organic grass fed grilled items, to the Van Leeuwen Truck, serving Artisan Ice Cream.
And Entertainment?
Here is where we are going to blow your mind. The event hosts face painters, tattoos artists, photo booths, professional musicians, dazzling dancers, beautiful women and handsome men. At the 2015 event, which had a Midsummer Night’s Dream theme, actors from the Shrunken Shakespeare Company could be found all around the venue, assuring a constant stream of entertainment. Trust me when I say, leave the entertainment to us, you will not be let down.
Be sure to follow HighLife Productions on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates on Secret Summer 2017 and other future parties and events!
Sunday afternoon brought us a taste of what we love about summer. Between the beauty of the outdoors, refreshing cocktails, fresh food, a little theater, and some good company, the only place to be absorbing all of this goodness was at the Foundry in Long Island City. Secret Summer is a brand new festival, designed to highlight the wonder of theatrical art as accompanied by class and style. The dress code was “Summer Chic,” so the outfits were light, fun, free and flowing, which fit right into the Midsummer Night’s Dream theme of the party. HighLife Productions, Rapt Affairs and The Foundry teamed up to create an absolutely unforgettable experience in the mystically decorated venue. Décor by Patina did a great job of adding culture and richness to the already alluring space.
Lush greenery. White livery. A Bat-Signal to all attendees that “it is summer and these champagne coupes ain’t gonna empty themselves.”
Well it’s back, oh intrepid wearers of seersucker, at the first ever Secret Summer, a Gatsbian cocktail bacchanalia at the historic Foundry in Long Island City.
The New York Times’s Bill Cunningham’s covered our Frederick Law Olmsted Awards Luncheon at the Central Park Conservancy. The photographs in his video, below, capture several of our staff!
