Summer in the City

Choice Productions has been up to some exciting things lately. Lots of events, baseball games, outdoor bars, and plenty of other summertime activities. There are a million reasons to love New York City in the summer and this article sums up the best ones perfectly. So have a read and love the city we live in. Happy Summer everyone!

33 Reasons We Can't Help Loving Summer in the City

Listen to this!

Join Choice Productions as we celebrate the release of Anna Zoe's new album, Friction in Some Direction! Monday, June 27 at Best Buy (1 Union Square South) at 6:30 pm. This event is free and open to the public so bring your friends for an awesome evening of music and fun! Anna will be there performing songs off her new album, mingling with fans, and of course this is the perfect opportunity to get your copy of Friction in Some Direction! This is going to be an awesome event, see you all there!

Absolut Orient Apple Launch Party

We're so excited about one of our biggest events of the season, the Absolut Orient Apple launch party! There will be tons of awesome people, music, and of course, awesome drinks. Since we're putting the event together, we've got the inside scoop on the brand new, custom mixed drinks, featuring Absolut Orient Apple, of course. 

Check out these signature drinks straight from Absolut's Mixologist below and let us know what you think!

Absolut Ginger Smash

2 Parts Absolut Orient Apple

1/2 Part Simple Syrup

1 Part Soda Water

2-3 Lemon Wedges

4-5 Pieces of Mint

In a rocks glass, muddle simple syrup, lemon wedges and mint. Add Absolut Orient Apple and ice. Top with soda water and stir. 

Absolut Zen

1 1/2 Absolut Orient Apple

1/2 Part Elderflower Liqueur

Dash of Bitters

Lemon Lime Soda

Build first four ingredients in a highball glass,. Top with soda and garnish with an apple slice.

Absolut Blushig Ginger

1 Part Absolut Orient Apple

1 Part Cranberry Juice

1 Part Ginger Ale

Build over ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a lime wedge. 

We hope to see you at the launch, if not, you'll have no problem bringing the party home with these drinks!

Have a Ball!

TGIF, here comes the weekend! If you haven't heard, The Govenors Ball is this weekend! The lineup includes Girl Talk, Pretty Lights, Empire of the Sun, Big Boi, and more! The weather is slated to be sunny and beautiful (no rain! *fingers crossed*) so it's the perfect day for a music festival! See you there :)

Lessons in Event Planning: Menu Selection

Have you ever heard the phrase "to eat well is to live well?" Well, we certainly have because we've adopted it as our philosophy, a guide to living, a lifestyle if you will. So naturally, menu selection for our events is a carefully considered process, one that requires plenty of client involvement to ensure we get it right. Read on to discover some tips from our resident event planner on how to pick a menu for your event!

1.) Occasion

You wouldn't serve Pigs in a Blanket at a sit down dinner and you wouldn't serve French food at a 5 year old's birthday party, but reverse the two and you're golden. Taking your guests needs into consideration is the most important aspect to putting together a menu. If it's unclear what your guests/client/you want, offer plenty of options to choose from. Having one dish of each type of meat and always one vegetarian option is your safest and best bet. The dishes you choose also depend on the style of the event. Passes or stationary hors d'oeuvres? Sit down dinner? How many courses? Look at your menu as a whole instead of piece by piece to create a masterpiece.

2.) Caterer

Where is your food coming from? This is another point to consider. Does your caterer have a speciality? Are you putting their skills to the best use  for your event? Make sure you pick a caterer that fits your menu, don't fit your menu to your caterer. Spend time browsing through their offerings to get a feel for their style of culinary expertise. Don't be afraid to ask them for help! They've done this before so they know which dishes are most popular, which dishes pair nicely, and which dishes clash. 

3.) Seasons/Themes

What's the theme of the event? Is that a theme the caterer is comfortable working with? For example, you don't want to hire a caterer who specializes in comfort foods to do an Asian inspired menu. What's in season? What season is it? Summer means fresh strawberry or tomato salads but Winter means something else entirely. How well do your foods pair up together given all these factors? What about the venue? If it's upscale, does your menu reflect that?

While food may seem like just a part of the whole, it's a very important part as it's probably the most talked about. Spend ample time selecting just the right dishes and your guests won't stop raving about how great your event was! Bon appétit! 

The Glee Project

Choicers! Exciting news. Clear your Sunday night because you have a date with your television. Our very own Marissa von Bleicken will be featured as a contestant on The Glee Project, set to premiere on the Oxygen Network, this Sunday, June 12th at 9/8 C. Be sure to tune in and support our up and coming starlet!

Lessons in Event Planning: Venue Selection

The first order of business when we're contacted for an event is choosing the perfect venue for the occasion. A reception in a lovely hotel ballroom? Yes. A 50th birthday party at a night club? No. Here are some of the most important factors we take into consideration for each client and each event to ensure a good time.

1) Budget It's not the most glamourous factor but trying to score an extravagant space on a meager budget just isn't realistic. You'll eventually realize this but only after spending several hours finding it out. A better approach is to work within your means by getting creative. Check out studio and loft spaces that are more intimate and therefore less expensive than commercial spaces like hotels and restaurants.

2) Atmosphere What kind of vibe are you going for with the event? An evening that's really cool and trendy or a more formal affair? What kind of crowd are you catering to with your event? Do you want an indoor or outdoor venue or one with the option of both via a rooftop terrace? These are all things to consider when you pick a venue to ensure your guests don't feel out of place and that the atmosphere is supportive of the event.

3.) Utility What kind of facilites do you need from of your venue? For example, if you are serving food, will you need a kitchen? If it's off site catering, does that mean you have staff that needs a prep room? What about restrooms? What's the room capacity? How is the lighting if you plan on having a photographer? You need to ensure your venue meets these needs of the event and guests for the event to carry off without a hitch.

We hope you've found these tips helpful! As always, feel free to contact us with further questions or if you have a suggestion for this new series.

Lessons in Event Planning

We're introducing a new series here on Choice Production's blog: Lessons in Event Planning! We'll showcase a myriad of topics like venue selection,  putting together the perfect menu, design, staffing, and whatever else you readers might request. We're excited to bring you this series and hope you're just as excited to read it. Stay tuned for the first installation tomorrow!

Drink, and be merry.

Come one, come all!

Choice’s very own Pi, Miguel Alves, Rosie Mazzola, and Sean Martin are performing in an acting showcase at The Payan Theater at The Roy Arias Studio!  The Zen of Acting features 22 actors, 11 scenes and 1 great show directed by James. The showcase will go on for two nights, June 2nd and 3rd at 7:30pm.  Tickets are $15 online and $20 at the door.

Come support this exciting Choice staff venture and see a great show while you're at it ;)
We hope to see you there!

For more information visit The Zen of Acting Showcase website.