THE ART OF FOOD AND DESIGN

By Randy Ballesteros and Sarah Prawl

Pushing the envelope extends beyond great food and an amazing venue; planners, clients and guests appreciate events which offer unique and memorable experiences. At Great Performances, we strive to incorporate innovative concepts across all aspects of the planning and execution process. Here’s a behind-the-scenes look at how our Design Manager, Randy Ballesteros, creates breathtaking event decor.

“I Love Designing Events And Enhancing Delicious Foods With Visually Appealing Environments & Tablescapes.”

Randy Ballesteros

FOR A RECENT WEDDING AT THE PLAZA HOTEL, THE CLIENT WANTED A CLASSIC, RUSTIC ITALIAN CHARCUTERIE AT THE COCKTAIL RECEPTION.

We Included An Assortment Of Cheeses, Meats, And Cheeses Presented On Slate, Marble, And Wooden Boards With Touches Of Gold And Copper Accents, All Inspired By The Grandeur Of The Iconic Plaza Palm Court.

FOR THIS PRIVATE DINNER, THE CLIENT WANTED TO PORTRAY A MODERN INTERPRETATION OF THE CLASSIC CORNUCOPIA, FUSING THE BOUNTY OF A FALL HARVEST NESTLED IN AUTUMNAL FOLIAGES.

Rich aubergine plums and figs playfully intertwine with sunset hues of blood oranges, dahlias, and roses. Modern accents of black wooden chairs and prismatic glass bowls lends a modern touch to the color palette. All creating a playful garland which greets the guests with colorful visuals and refreshing bright citrus scents, all the while completely edible. A unique appetizer that creates a memorable and “all-sensory” experience.

FOR THIS COCKTAIL PARTY, THE CLIENT WANTED A JAY GATSBY-INSPIRED DESSERT AND RAW BAR STATION, ENCOMPASSING THE GLITZ AND GLAMOUR OF A FABULOUS 1920'S SOIREE.

We Included Decor And Details Such As A Custom Ostrich Feather Centerpiece And Roaring 20s Signage Throughout.

Independence Day with A View at New York's Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park and Ellis Island.

By Sarah Prawl

HISTORICAL PARKS WITH THE BEST VIEWS OF MANHATTAN.

There’s no better way to celebrate Independence Day in NYC than at a historical park with beautiful views of Manhattan! 

Great Performances is proud to partner with The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park and Ellis Island, which are both rich in history and patriotism and a must-add to your list of outdoor places to visit this Summer!

 

FDR Four Freedoms Park

Four Freedoms Park is a sprawling four-acre memorial with impeccable design on the tip of Roosevelt Island that celebrates the Four Freedoms addressed in FDR’s 1941 State of the Union Address.

Approaching the island is an experience itself, with aerial views of Manhattan’s East Side and East River upon arrival on the Roosevelt Island Tram.

Located on the East River, nestled between Manhattan and Queens, and parallel to FDR drive, it is described as an “urban oasis” with some of the best views of NYC.

Four Freedoms is the perfect location for any outdoor event and a fantastic location to watch the July 4th fireworks on the East River! Learn more here.

Ellis Island

Anchored in the Upper New York Bay, with breath-taking views of the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan Skyline, Ellis Island is truly a monumental masterpiece.

From 1892 until 1954, millions of immigrants passed through the island’s immigration offices as they entered the United States. The Ellis Island Museum tells the tales of the immigrant experience through interactive tours, audio segments, photographs and displays.

Ellis Island houses some of the most stunning views of downtown Manhattan and serves as a once-in-a-lifetime experience for your next private event.

Learn more about Ellis Island’s history and book your trip here.

Photo Credits: ©Rana Fanure, ©Ellis Island

Intro by Liz Neumark
Stories by The Students of CS 61 Elementary

A Note From Liz

I woke up on May 8th with trepidation and headed to East Crotona Park, Bronx, wondering if I would pass muster with the kids.  Would my mathematical abilities (non-existent) be vetted?  Would I need to demonstrate principal-like skills? 

The half day that I spent at CS 61 was enlightening, entertaining, inspiring and completely exceeded any expectations! The young girls and boys had done their homework. Our conversations were peppered with questions about the farm, healthy food, chefs and catering. They were curious about everything and impressed me with their big goals and aspirations. 

The school’s principal, Marjorie Cutler Sanchez, took the helm in September 2017.  She is a smart woman; an excellent administrator, team builder and strategic planner.  Her connection to the community and the students, in just a few short months, is deep and productive. 

It seemed obvious to turn over some newsletter space to Roger, Victoria, Paul, Dylan, Marcus, Roselyn, Aimar, Madelyn, Sidiki and Ethelyn. Enjoy their words and emotions. They restored my faith in the future!

To learn more about PENCIL’s Principal For A Day® click here.

by Paul Martinez

Hi! My name is Paul Martinez. I am a student in 5th Grade who attended C.S.61. Today I’ll be telling you about a meeting I had with a important person. Her name is Ms. Liz. She is 60 years old and she is one of the Top 50 most powerful women in New York. She owns her own company, it’s called Great Performances NYC Catering Company. If you need someone to cook for you like a wedding or holiday you call them and they’ll do it. 

My favorite subject to learn is science because it’s based off of animals, plants, and many living things, the human body and a lot more. I’ll name my favorite animals: wildcats, bears, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, also water creatures and crustaceans. They are based off of real thing and it’s fun to learn about.

Why Being A Scientist Is So Cool

by Sidiki Diarra 

The reason why being a scientist is so cool is because you can make all kinds of machines. You can also make the future brighter. You can even make gadgets that are useful to other people. Even help people that are in need. A final one is that when you finish your creation you need some test subject so you know if it’s okay and if it’s not try again.

You can make the future brighter by making something that can make any kind of food that you want by asking. Even make an auto-pilot button that can make a car go by itself. You can even put it on a bike, but you have to steer it. If you don’t steer it, it will be out of control. Also make a watch that has video, like Netflix, YouTube etc.

So things that are useful to other people is that when you want to go to some kind of place like the kitchen or the bathroom or bedroom you can put on skate plus shoes which would help you go someplace that you want to go like stores, busses, trains, markets and other kinds of stuff that you can go to. Something that is useful to other people is that book that can read to you and when it’d done you have to read it.

You can even make a wallet that when you don’t have any money you can ask ‘can I get more money please?’ Then it will give you enough money.

One way that you can help people in need is that you can help fix their fountain if it’s not working. You can even help with their TV. If they need some help you can build something like a robot that has everything you needs for cleaning, cooking and fun. But if you want, you can help them by yourself.

A final one is that you have test subjects. Your test subjects can be paper, money, apple, fruits are all test subjects. Just make sure it is not animals because they are part of life. So life is easy but you put it to your best, so if you fail you tried your best and you can do it again.

What I Want To Be When I Grow Up

by Marcus Ancrum

What I want to be when I grow up is an all genre dancer. The reason I would like to be an all genre dancer is because I love to dance. Also, it helps with taking stressful things off your mind.

Somethings things don’t go as planned. I originally wanted to be a photographer and an actor but I decided that dancing and acting wads my thing. I apparently focused more on dancing because I had more opportunities like getting accepted at Alvin Ailey CAS dance camp. I was really thankful because I did not have any opportunities for acting or photography.

Being a dancer is not an easy task because you have to stay fit and be active. They also might have to perform for people and practice a lot. That’s why it’s no easy job. They also can get major deals like being in celebrity’s music videos or maybe even a concert. There are pros and cons to being a dancer.

There are not that many males in the dancing industry, I want to be one of those men dancing and making my dreams come true. The legacy of male dancers must continue. In the next couple of years there will be a decent amount of male dancers in this industry. Also I want to make an example for others that want to be dancers.

To conclude, if you have a dream chose it, believe it, try hard to succeed in it. Never give up because I bet one day your dream will come true. Trust and believe.

When I Grow Up I Want To Be President Of Dominican Republic

by Roger Trinidad

When I grow up I want to be President of Dominican Republic because I want to end poverty and corruption. I want to make my country a good place for citizens. I want the people to feel happy and proud of being Dominican and not feel embarrassed of being Dominican.

What I Want To Be When I Grow Up?

by Victoria Darko

What I want to be when I grow up? Hmm. Very hard question considering I only have experience with eating McDonald’s.

First, I kind of only have like three in mind. The first is a fashion designer (with my own company). Second is a cartoon animator. Lastly is a photographer.

I kinda like drawing, and I think I am pretty good at it. Like on my free time I like doodling. That’s why I want to be a cartoon animator.

The reason I want to be a fashion designer is cause I am crafty and have a very good fashion sense. Also when I make something it is unique and special. As I said before I am good at drawing so that will help designing it.

Lastly, the reason I want to be a photographer is because I like looking at the world in different ways. It kinda weird that I want to be a photographer since I don’t like taking pictures.

Anyways… this is what I want to be when I grow up. ☺

Photo Credits: Marjorie Cutler Sanchez, Sarah Prawl

By Liron David, Founder of Eventique

Stevie Wonder, The Supremes, D’Angelo & Erykah Badu, just to name a few of the Motown greats. Who wouldn’t jump at the opportunity to be a part of the former CEO of Motown’s records 50th birthday?

For this special event, we decided to start with a blank canvas – an empty, white New York City gallery space. The party began with an intimate dinner party on the second floor for an A-list crowd of guests including Stevie Wonder, Al Sharpton, and Joe. We built a custom table to provide seating for the 20 guests using contemporary ghost furniture and covered the table with a lush variety of flowers bringing pops of color into the room. As for food, Great Performances set the tone of the evening with a palette of delectable foods fit for music royalty.

A sampling of the menu-

Hors D’Oeuvres:

• Grilled Chicken Taco with Radish Escabeche and Chili Crema
• BBQ Short Ribs with Roasted Poblano on Stone Ground Grit Cake
• Caviar Beggar’s Purse with Sake-Cured Lemon Wheels
• Cherry Tomato Wrapped in Mozzarella with Pine Nuts, Capers and Katchkie Farm Pesto
• Peruvian Potato Cup with Truffled Comte Fondue
• Portobello Cannoli with Parmigiano Reggiano and Chives

First Course:

• Beet Ravioli with Westfield Farm Goat Cheese, Pickled Greens, and Mezze Arugula

Entrée:

• Sirloin and Short Rib Duo with Polenta, Crispy Kale, Bordelaise Sauce

Dessert:

• 5 Texture Chocolate Cake with Milk Chocolate Mousse and Chocolate Macaron

After dinner, 100 guests joined the festivities for a cocktail party on the main gallery level. To welcome these guests we transformed the downstairs space into a posh lounge. We brought in large, illuminated flower-pot tables; hung framed photos of the guest of honor and his friends on the wall; and set up a stunning illuminated bar where the guests congregated. For entertainment, there was DJ D-Nice spinning classic R&B hits behind a floor to the ceiling glass wall. Behind DJ D-Nice, was a 20-foot waterfall splashing into a small pond we filled with dry ice to create a layer of smoke. Red & purple colors filled the room through lighting and the guest of the honors name was projected on the center of the main wall.

Stevie Wonder ended the night by giving a wonderful speech and breaking out into his hit song “Happy Birthday” that summed up the night so perfectly it was as if he wrote it just for this occasion:

“To show just how much we love you, and I’m sure you would agree, it couldn’t fit more perfectly than to have a world party on the day you came to be.”

At Great Performances, I meet brides weekly in the context of creating delicious and creative catering experiences. It is very rewarding to become a part of the family as the detailed planning progresses over the swiftly passing months. Hospitality and celebrating over a festive meal and toasts are the glue that binds, hopefully for a lifetime, and leaves me with the feeling that “I married them.” But nothing prepared me for the overwhelming responsibility of being an actual wedding officiant.

How do you get certified to officiate a wedding?

It first came up about a year ago when a close friend and his fiancé asked if I would perform their wedding ceremony. They didn’t want a religious ceremony and an anonymous officiant was not appealing either. I said yes. What are the next steps? To the Internet, where I applied to the Universal Life Church, and within a few weeks my certificate of ordination arrived. That is only step one. Next stop, 141 Worth Street, to register with the clerk at the New York City department of marriage licenses. Paperwork, $15, and presentation of my ordination certificate, and I was enrolled in the giant book of ministers/officiants. In an office filled with excited couples accompanied by their friends and families, no one was more thrilled than I was.

My friends ended up not getting married this fall. A month before the big day, things changed and the wedding was called off. Back to catering weddings and waiting for another opportunity.

I got another chance this spring when my colleague Matt and his fiancée Lea asked if I would officiate along with our mutual friend Marcy Blum. We were both pivotal in encouraging their relationship (me on his side, Marcy on hers). The certificate was gathering dust and I jumped at the chance to exercise my marriage officiant skills. I asked Matt and Lea to meet with me to talk about the ceremony we would create together. I wanted them to take the time to express their personal feelings about what this giant step — marriage — meant to them. I confess it was a serious moment for all of us, as it well should be. I am married since 1986, so I know the joys and the challenges of what it takes to make a relationship work. I wanted to know that they “had the stuff,” as my Grandma Nelly used to say.

Lea and Matt had their homework — to write the story of how they fell in love and then to craft their individual vows. This would comprise the ceremony along with a welcome greeting from me. More thinking — what does one say when officiating a marriage ceremony? I would not evoke a religious theme, or talk about the sanctity of marriage. I woke at 3:00 a.m. a few nights before the wedding feeling inspired — I would speak from experience, sharing with the intimate group of gathered guests the many reasons “we” marry.

The big day arrived. Not surprisingly, I felt very responsible and focused. We gathered in a tight circle. I read my thoughts and Marcy shared hers, peppered with her signature humor in contrast to my seriousness. And as it should be — the spotlight was on the bride and groom. Below are their vows, heartfelt and individual. The grand finale consisted of us, the officiants, saying the time-honored phrase “By the powers vested in us by the City of New York, we pronounce you Wife and Husband!”

Who’s next?

Matt to his bride:

Lea, I could go on forever, I really loved sitting down to write this; to look back on who we were, who we are, how we got here and why we are here tonight…

I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you, filling a library of our books, our children, our successes, our failures, our dreams, our lives.

To my dying day I promise:

To encourage your compassion

Because that is what makes you unique and wonderful

I promise to nurture your dreams

Because through them your soul shines

I promise to help shoulder our challenges

For there is nothing we cannot face if we stand together

I promise to be your partner in all things

I promise to you perfect love and perfect trust

For one lifetime with you could never be enough

This is my sacred vow to you, the love of my life.

Lea to her groom:

Matthew, I want to promise here today, that I will be your true partner in life, in every sense of the word.

A partner by definition:

From the archaic: one that shares: partaker. I promise to always share with you, my hopes, my dreams, my fears. I promise to always be a present partaker in your life, experiencing with you the good, the bad and the yet unknown.

One associated with another especially in an action: associate, colleague. I promise to be your colleague in this very tricky, very complicated business we call life.

Either of two persons who dance together. I promise to always be your disco queen, even when we can’t hear the music.

One of two or more persons who play together in a game against an opposing side. I promise that we will always play, that I will always keep a young heart and we will laugh often.

A person with whom one shares an intimate relationship. I promise to never forget how important the human touch is.

One of the heavy timbers that strengthen a ship’s deck to support a mast. I promise I will use all my strength in your times of need, so that you are able to raise your mast and carry on.