"What Is That?"

"What Is That?"

I am absolutely amazed that there is still catering appearing on buffets with no description as to what it is.

In today's world of food allergies and the increased number of vegetarians, vegans, and "fruititarians" and other fad dietary trysts, it surprises  me that any facility, or caterer, would place food on a buffet without letting guests know what they may be putting on their plates and into their bodies.

I recently attended a function and the wife of a couple in front of me asked the question as her husband placed a fried ball of something on his plate;

 "What is that"
He picked up the small morsel, took a bite and replied.
"I'm not sure but it is pretty good."

Great to know that Mystery Food can be "pretty good" but that was luck, some grub can leave a really bad YECH on your palette if you choose to go into unexplored,or explained, gastronomical territory.

Come on Caterers and facilities, let's get with the program and get some labels on those buffets.

Might be nice to get away from the chafing dish too but, I won't go into that right now....

Cheers and good luck in the uncharted seas of buffet exploration!

 J Patrick McCann

Wedding Day Traditions

OLD SOUTHERN TRADITION WORKS!!  My bridal couple for today (11/10/12) was determined to have their wedding lakeside. 

A month ago they buried a bottle of bourbon (Makers Mark) at the wedding site, at Lake Lanier's Legacy Pointe, to bring good weather for the Wedding day and sure enough; after cold rainy weather this past few weeks....Today the forecast is sunny with a high of 71 degrees!

J Patrick McCann for J Patrick Designs

LOW COUNTRY BARBECUE

IS IN HIGH COTTON

At last night’s NACE Chili Cook Off, Low Country Barbecue pulled out all the stops with their incredible Tailgate Food Trailer.  This Sleek Black food truck has all of the bells and whistles required for the ultimate tailgate party food experience.  

The enclosed kitchen sports four sinks with running water, two large side by side refrigerators a four burner stove and more.

The back of the trailer is covered but, open on three sides allowing room for a huge smoker large enough to do a full pig and then some, another standing smoker handles wings, chicken and whatever else you want smoked; this is all capped off with a grill at least 6’ in length that will provide enough burgers and hot dogs for a small army.

As if having your belly filled with tailgate treats was not enough…five large, flat screen televisions with HD satellite feed allow for viewing of multiple events at the same time.  NASCAR racing on one side of the trailer with say, the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech game on the other (awnings on both sides of the trailer allow for great viewing on the screens. 

 Now, you may think that would fulfill your sports viewing fantasies but wait, There’s more.  You can also order with this rig a 20’ inflatable screen for the evening.

Just when I thought I had seen, heard it all, I was informed that this bad boy has a big bother!

For more information on this/these incredible sporting toys contact Pitts Wilson at Low Country Barbecue

Pitts.wilson@lowcountrybbq.com

404-835-5349

Jpatrick McCann is an event designer and planner for J Patrick Designs based out of Atlanta, Georgia.

the centerpiece controversy

an example of a 12' centerpiece with no sight obstruction

THE CENTERPIECE OF CONTROVERSY

I enjoy the part of my planning meetings when we come to the discussion of the centerpieces and I hear; "I do not want tall centerpieces because you cannot see across the table!"  I totally agree to disagree.

Anybody who designs a centerpiece that hits between 16" and 24" above table height should turn in their design card.  This is exactly where our eye level goes when sitting at a table.  gatherings of floral or other centerpiece accoutrement should hover below the 16" mark. 

Having said that; I often do very tall centerpieces reaching height in excess of 6' above table height.  the secret is leaving, at least,  that 8" clearance in space.  another important thing is in the placement.   

You can see, in the centerpiece above, there is a 1/2" obstruction but, it is placed between  two chairs so that guests are not having to look through it.

I like using different styles and heights of centerpieces, in the photo above, taken at one of my events at The Georgia Aquarium, I have used three heights; short, medium and tall.  this look is great for social events where guests are moving from table to table and back and forth to the dance floor and bar. 

For corporate events and presentations where it may be necessary to see a screen or a keynote speaker I suggest that all of the centerpieces remain low in size.  the style of the centerpieces may still vary in order  to add interest to the meeting space.

So, when it comes to your next centerpiece excursion remember, the skies the limit.

J Patrick McCann is an event designer and planner for J Patrick Designs based out of Atlanta, Georgia

The Art of the Wedding

The Art of a Wedding and Reception in a Gallery Atlanta is filled with fantastic wedding venues, limited only by the imagination. From train depots to roof top gardens to, one of my favorites, art galleries. These spaces tend to be very contemporary without a lot of frills, what better way for a bride to stand out on that special day? Another advantage of the spaces listed, you may bring in your own caterer (with approval) and beverages.
I would like to spotlight four Atlanta galleries for this particular post. I am listing them in alphabetical order:

ALAN AVERY ART COMPANY315 East Pace Ferry Road N.E.. This gallery has been a mainstay for the Buckhead/Atlanta art community for years and offers a warm intimate feel. Although contemporary in design there is a feeling of permanence to this space I really like.
If you are looking for a space for your wedding and reception, this one might be a bit tricky, especially if your guest list exceeds 100. I say this because, you need to have someplace for guests to go while the space is transformed from wedding to reception. If you are using the space for reception only I would say 200 would work very well with residential/lounge seating, dance floor and a few tables. The Gallery does have a second floor which is great for bridal party preparations or could be used for an intimate wedding of 75 with reception held in the gallery below. It also works if guests want to get away from the full party for a moment.
You may bring in your own caterer and beverages however, the gallery does have a list of preferred caterers with a favorite being endive www.endiveatlanta.com
The free standing building has a nice parking lot in front, ideal for valet parking. There is plenty of offsite parking available as well.
For more information and to view the rental agreement visit www.alanaveryartcompany.com

KAI LIN ART you cannot beat a Peachtree Street address and this one has it. 800 Peachtree Street, Suite A Atlanta, Georgia 30308. The gallery is located just south of Midtown on the West side of Peachtree between 5th and 6th streets. This is also a smaller space, 3,700 square feet. The space could be divided easily for a small wedding and open up into the reception area to the back. There is a track in the ceiling for draping and it would behoove the venue to go ahead and provide this drape effect for clients. The layout of the gallery is square and open, great space for dancing.
I strongly suggest valet parking for this venue. There is a parking lot in the back of the building and additional parking around the side streets, This could be a problem if any events are going on in town.
For rental information contact the gallery at www.kailinart.com


MASON MURER GALLERIES
325 East Paces Ferry Road, ATL, Ga 3035
199 Armour Drive, ATL, GA 30324 I said at the beginning that I would be covering four galleries and two of them are Mason Murer. Since I have been talking small galleries let’s get the Buckhead space out of the way first. Located on East Paces Ferry, it is a neighbor of Alan Avery Art Company. This space opens full out onto East Paces with plate glass windows running the length of the space. While very bright it could have a bit of a fish tank effect for an intimate wedding. The space drops down by three levels which is kind of neat because you do have the ability to overlook the party from the upper level.
This is a fine space for a wedding of 100 to 150 guests
Parking is available at the site and around the neighborhood. I still prefer Valet for this venue.
Now to the Big Daddy
Mason Murer at Armour Drive is the space for a great big wedding and fantastic BIG reception! With an abundance of square footage it offers many different ways to set up a wedding and a reception for with seamless flow from one to the other. The staff is experienced with large events and is very accommodating. High ceilings provide for excellent lighting and rigging points for décor and there is ample space for catering setup with easy access to loading docks.
If you are planning a big contemporary wedding and reception, this is the place.
For more information on both Mason Murer locations: www.masonmurer.com

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for more information on J Patrick Designs visit www.jpatickdesigns.com

Behind the Floral Curtain

The design and execution of Wedding Floral is an art

    Yes, anyone can take a bunch of flowers and tie them together as a bouquet, with varying results!

To gather flowers of different types and temperaments requires knowledge and training.  Some flowers, like Alstroemeria and Lilies, need light and warmth several days before they go into bouquets and centerpieces; while others, like Hydrangea, are kept cool and away from sunlight until the very last minute. 

Certain roses are known for their tight, bud-like characteristics while others have the capability of opening into big “fat” blooms.

Flowers from the wholesaler come in groups sometimes by the dozens, by the tens and by fives and even by the single bloom. 

For instance; if you only want to use three roses in your bouquet, the designer has to buy a bunch consisting of two dozen.  If they cannot use your color for something else on which they are currently working you will have to pay the price for the whole bunch.  Of course a good designer is going to encourage you to use those roses elsewhere in the full design of your event.

Other flowers need special treatment and preparation…Lisianthus, for instance, has a very delicate stem and so, they must be wired to go into a bouquet and stephanotis require special stems that come only from the wholesaler.

As a designer I, of course, want to know your wedding colors but, please don’t expect your floral to be exactly the color of the Bridesmaids dresses.  Mother Nature does not consult with the latest fabric colors when creating her color palette.

You may be looking for a special container in glass or other material for you wedding and you do have the choice of buying all of these yourself but then you have the added responsibility of getting them to the designer and picking them up after your ceremony not to mention, what are you going to do with fifteen 22” tall vases after the ceremony.

                One last thing to consider when hiring a floral designer;  they have office and warehouse space, salaries and insurance to pay and all of this must be factored in to the pricing that guarantees you a beautiful wedding and memories to cherish for a lifetime. 

Home depot

This company is in serious need of an overhaul in the way they run the tool rental department!  45 minutes to rent a pressure washer and 20 minutes to return it.  Seems they could give you anumber and page you.  Would be great for the store wth customers having an hour and ten minutes to shop.

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