As we transition from online events back to live events, a new form is taking shape--the hybrid event. Recently we had the pleasure of constructing two hybrid events for Columbia University Teachers College. The college wanted to do something to thank both the faculity and students for such a hard year due to the COVID epidemic. The solution was a farmers market to shop for dinner in their outdoor courtyard and an online class with a chef to teach them how to cook it. We worked closely with Great Peformances Catering's top chef, Georgette Farka, to come up with two simple recipes the students and faculty could choose from. In keeping with COVID guidelines, we had the attendees sign up for 20 minute segments to walk and "shop" the market, allowing only 12 people at a time to enter the event. With each recipe, there were basic choices each attendee could choose on the spot, such as which type of pasta and what sort of veggies they could use in their dish. We even had a one man band, Sami Eldebs, entertain as people shopped in the open air market. Great Neck Games provided the tents, tables, and veggie cart. That evening, we produced an online Zoom cooking class in Great Peformance's kitchen with Georgette to demonstrate how easy it was to prepare the two recipes! We even made it interactive with a moderator fielding live questions from the Zoom audience. All attendees were invited to log on and join the fun.
Gallery & News
Gallery & News
-
A HYBRID EXPERIENCE
-
A Food & Drink Boulevard
Let's highlight a very vibrant neighborhood! The Fredrick Douglas Boulevard Alliance entrusted us to plan and execute there annual Food and Drink Boulevard. Fredrick Douglas Boulevard runs from 125th Street to 110th in Harlem and is widely considered Harlems' Restaurant Row. During the Food and Drink Boulevard Restaurants along this famed streatch of road showcase thier cousine and drink to guests who signed up in advance to attend the festival. In order to help movement we hired Rickshawes to help ferry guests, strolling entertainment to add to the atmosphere, and even a sidewalk chalk artist. We designed T-Shirts for all the volunteers and entertianment We also facilitated promoting the event, registration and check in. To help capture the event we hired Magnanimius Pictures to create a 'roving" photo with props. Pictures above.
-
A Private Broadway Performance
Imagine if you will Broadway without the crowds. Imagine if you will a performance that is tailered specifically to your audience and put on by the biggest names on Broadway? How special and important will your guests feel after taking part in such a highly focused event? This is precisely the kind of insider experience that Swargo can craft for you. A big Thank You to Orfeh and Andy for taking time out of thier busy schedules to serenade our clients and to the Historic Players Club for letting us host this interative lunch in thier beautiful venue! What insider " money can't buy" experience have you been dreaming about that we could make a reality for you? Don't know? We are more than happy to come up with the ideas for you!
-
Vintage Love: A Celebration of 50 Years of Marriage
Not everyone is able to build a life together of 50 years but when you do it is cause to celebrate. Swargo Events had the pleasure of planning a very special 5o Years of Marriage celebration. From the begining the "bride" wanted it to be different. So we sought out an out of the box venue the Nicholas Concervatory Garden. Cocktail hour was held outside along the bank of the Rock River and a blessing on the marriage was held inside the greenhouse. The lobby was reveled as a tranformed dinner party complete with seated dinner, a dj from Luxe Productions, uplighting, and dance floor. Since the couple of 50 years are "bootlegers" we decorated the evening in all things wine. The tables were all vintages of thier wine, the center pieces all resused bottles from thier production, and escort cards were displayed with cork and screw. Anna from Beautiful Day Linens put the icing on the cake with beautiful wine colored linens. Speaking of cake-Greenfire Catering did an excellent job at a 5 course sit down dinner. Photos courtesy of Magnanimous Pictures. It was in fact a second wedding, memorable by all who attended. Happy 50th Anniversary Mom & Dad.
-
HIGH END INCENTIVE FROM SOUTH AFRICA
Swargo recently hosted a very high end incentive program for the leading Real Estate agency in South Africa. After arriving at JFK, we decided to skip the traffic and transport them to their hotel by helicopter! We perfected this grand introduction to New York City with a circling of the Empire State Building. Later that night, we started off their trip with a private yacht cruise from Spirit Cruises where we were able to show off Lady Liberty against the most perfect sunset. The next day was day full of remembrance as we had Richard Picciotto, FDNY Chief and highest ranking firefighter to survive the World Trade Center Collapse, tell his unbelievable moving story over lunch at View of the World Lounge-with a birds eye view of the WTC site. His speech was followed by a private tour through the 9/11 museum. Later that night, we brought the group to Times Square with a surprise for them-having their company picture on a big screen! Just following that, they headed over to Madison Square Garden for an unbelivable Billy Joel concert. The next morning was another big surprise that entailed us opening up Bloomingdales early for them to shop and have the store to themselves. After shopping, they took horse carriages through Central Park and had an excellent lunch at Tavern on the Green. Later that night, we decided to show them America’s favorite pastime and loaded them on an upscale party bus and shipped them off to a Mets game at Citi Field. For their last full day we showed them a little culture and brought them on a Private Historic Harlem Coach Tour which included a church service with gospel and brunch at the famous Red Rooster. For their final gala we had a private room at The Press Lounge at the Ink 48 Hotel and had a stunning view for sunset at this rooftop venue.
-
An Inagural Gala
Building an experience from a blank page is every artists delight. We built a first time gala for Hip Hop Public Health-an organization looking both to fundraise and build their brand. From inception to production Swargo produced this "Celebration of Youth Empowerment Through Music". Tasks included: Venue Selection & Management, Catering, Save the Date/Invitation Creation, Décor, Budget Creation, Production, Silent Action, Ticket & Table Tracking, Security, Staffing, Check-in and more. The beautiful Edison Ballroom was our back drop for this HIP HOP celebrity studded event. Guests were guided by our emcee legendary Doug E. Fresh, entertained by Jordan Sparks, DMC, DJ Flow, and informed by guest speakers Dionne Warwick, and Vice Admiral Vivik H. Murthyt-US Surgeon General. Our honorees included Ashanti, Dr. Oz, Easy AD and Russell Simmons. For even more stunning pictures please visit our Facebook Page.
-
An Upscale New York Incentive
Swargo recently hosted an incentive program for a car company in New York City. Guests stayed at the Intercontinental Times Square. Once we had transported them to the hotel, we enlivened the trip in sunshine and rain by engaging Marta Cooper, a renowned and trusted NYC guide. With a full day’s tour, she escorted our guests to the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, toured Harlem and Central Park, and ended with a stirring visit to the Ground Zero Memorial. For lunch there was a stopover at Harlem’s famous Red Rooster where Swargo hired a local Gospel Choir to give an intense performance. Swargo finished the week by securing the Library room in Buddakan in the funky meatpacking district. Guests were whisked up into buses that served champagne for the ride. The evening ended at the stunning rooftop venue, 230 Fifth, where everyone celebrated before the multi-colored lights of the Empire State Building. For more pictures click here.
-
Holiday Magic
Last Holiday Season we at Swargo assisted a technology company with a Holiday Sales Event that occurred over three days. We provided meet & greet transportation for over two hundred attendees shuttling them from airports to the Waldorf Astoria and back. Swargo booked entertainment for their welcome dinner by securing the musical help of The Boys & Girls Harlem Choir at the height of their singing season. Guests were thrilled by the voices of this New York institution. Swargo worked with their client on a Gala at the Sea Grill in Rockefeller Center. We took care of transportation for the nearly two hundred attending by escorting them through the holiday crowds during rush hour. As we wrapped up the exciting three days, Swargo provided a DJ and a digital artist along side a skating session on Rockefeller ice. See more about this excited week by clicking here!
-
Recent Event Photography
Event Photography is part of every event, meeting, gala, fundraiser or insider experience we help create. Whether it is Steven himself or one of our many talented photographers we strive to capture each unique moment. Sometimes we may even surprise you with a picture or two when you least expect it as a thank you for trusting your experience with us. Whether it's an amazing adventure or a backdrop to a gathering-capturing the moment is something we cherish time and again. Events are a public specticale but a picture is an intimate moment.
