MPI Gala 2013 - Steam Punk at Q Nightclub

MPIWSC member gathered at a Seattle night club transformed for a night of industrial steam punk glam. Vintage Victorian-inspired elements mixed with gritty gears and romantic candlelight submerged members in the world of steam punk.

Once guests entered the main venue, they browsed silent auction tables lining both sides of the dance floor. Dressed in floor length black linens and topped with crimson red crush overlays, the auction tables made use of their position against the wall with elevated items on the back half of the table set on risers made from silver buckets. Rustic bare wood barrel bars provided space for additional auction items.



During the silent auction period, guests could enjoy drinks and catch up with fellow association members at one of six industrial steam punk cocktail tables, each paired with two matching stools. The dance floor featured small pods of grey tufted velvet furniture accented with garnet red pillows where guests could take a break from the action. Persian rugs anchored the furniture arrangements while industrial steam punk propping such as brass tripod lights added additional flair.



Existing nooks and shelves brought the industrial steam-punk decor to life!



An industrial display shelf made a perfect dessert showcase.



The back corner of the venue featured an oversized swing dressed in steam punk Victorian purple and gold brocade.



Each dining table featured centerpieces of industrial steam punk gears and other miscellany while mercury glass votives added a candlelight element of Victorian romance.

Industrial decor elements like warehouse carts and vintage-inspired lamps added to lush velvet seating areas tucked into corners of the venue.

Out of this World!

With a two hour set-up window, we charged the Seattle Science Center and added decor to form five planet areas for an "Out of this World" event theme! Areas of the Museum were coordinated with particular planets that suited each other best, prehistoric dinosaurs for Earth, western technology for Mars, watery play areas for Neptune, etc. Five planets are showcased below.


Earth
Welcome to Earth. Inspired by early Earth and the caveman days, the tables were dressed with natural burlap linens, surrounded by bamboo folding chairs, and topped with mossy terrarium glass centerpieces in rounded slant cut bowls complete with a small plastic dinosaur figurine - rawr!

The existing benches in the area were dressed with faux animal pelt rugs and matching animal print pillows.

A "primitive" beverage station was embellished with grass thatching, rock outcroppings, and mossy greenery.



Mars
The dry red planet came to life with help from this western-themed section of the Science Center. Bare-wood barrel bars and industrial metal cocktail tables with barrel-style stools added to the existing museum decor.

Additional tables were dressed in crimson crinkle linens with Mars inspired centerpieces: a tippy vase filled with white frosted rocks and a martian looking protea bloom (air-brushed with extra metallic paint) for smaller tables. Larger variations of this centerpiece were set on the banquet bars. Red glass votive cups were also sprinkled around the space.



Neptune
Guests could swim over to the watery planet of Neptune for a drink served at an amoeba shaped glow bar lit in blue.

An intimate lounge beckoned people into the space, as it was enclosed on the front half with a glittering holographic raindrop drape that cascaded down to the floor. Inside the draping, a collection of twenty different metallic over-sized beanbags provided a comfortable and casual place to hang out. Blue & green metal side tables provided a spot to set a drink.

All of the tables were topped with Neptune inspired teal crush linens & centerpieces: a trio of clear glass aquatic vessels filled with fiddle-head ferns and blooming acacia submerged in water with alien wire curls.

A second lounge area was set under the round Planet exhibit Orb. Curvy Oasis pods of black rattan and natural white cushions, accented with teal pillows gave guests another space to kick back and relax Neptune style.



Saturn
Kickback pods in Saturn inspired formations were used in this space for a soft place to rest weary dance feet.

Saturn's tables were dressed in copper crush overlays for color with centerpieces inspired by Saturn's rings. A rounded bowl was wraped with bear grass that circleed the inside like the planet rings with orange-red and yellow martian mums set in water at the bottom.

Drawing attention to the dueling pianos, a stage proscenium was erected around the pianos. Shimmering copper iridescent drape uplit in warm orange enclosed the pianos. The draping was pulled back to show the pianos on three sides. A large disco ball was suspended from the inside created a magical lighting effect as the sun disappeared, casting little specs of light (stars!) on the draping and in the dance floor area.

A Hoe Down for the Holidays!

For this annual holiday event, we took over an entire conference center on campus. Seven areas were transformed into a family friendly western Hoe Down theme! Guests entered to a Camp-Out, and found their way through the County Fair, grabbed some BBQ in the Barn Dance, played cards in The Saloon, little ones colored in the children's Cowpoke Roundup, snapped a shot with a Covered Wagon photo-op, and lastly got their game on in the Abandoned Gold Mine Arcade!

Camp-Out Entry
A 10’ tall by 15’ deep real canvas tent welcomed guests first thing as they entered the Hoe Down event. The tent was open on both ends for guests to walk through. Sections of split-rail fencing, barrels, wagon wheels, a life-size sheep and other western décor embellished the camp-out!


The Country Road
The hallways were transformed into a good ol' country road that took guests from one destination to another. Smaller vignettes with life-size cutouts of cows and horses behind hay-bales & more split-rail fencing lined the halls. Lots of antique pieces such as Stetson hats and handkerchiefs gave the entire event an authentic look. A covered wagon was on display as the ultimate western photo-op! It featured a roaring fire pit, and everything a pioneer would need out on the trail!


Country Fair
A festive Country Fair hoopla was carrying on during the event in one of the larger rooms. Patriotic bunting greeted guests in a grand archway, while the massive room was completely draped in stripes of red, white, and blue! A folk band preformed in front of an old red barn backdrop, and buffets and activities could be found in front of a a backdrop of fair rides! Pennant flags covered the ceiling, and an antique arcade riding horse was on display for smaller kids to enjoy.


Honky Tonk Barn Dance
A hard-set wooden barn facade with a hitch-up horse invited guests to enter the Honky Tonk Barn Dance! The room was fully draped in brown satin with backdrops of barn interiors on each far end. The room was kept dark, setting the mood for classic BBQ and dancing! Festoon lighting lit up the dance floor where guests could learn all sorts of moves from instructors.


Cowpoke Roundup
Little ones entered past a white picket fence and mail box to a bustling farm backdrop giving the feeling of a sunny day down on the ranch. A small red barn facade and happy little chickens set a playful environment for children to color and play on the green lawn.


Wagon Wheel Saloon
Catering to an older crowd, the Wagon Wheel Saloon was open for business! Out front guests entered the Saloon through a set of wild west swinging saloon doors held in place by a pair of cedar plank panels. Antique rocking chairs on "the porch" invited folks to kick back and relax. Inside, a hand painted up-lit backdrop of a saloon interior and felt poker table toppers set the mood.


Abandoned Gold Mine Arcade
For the teens, an Abandoned Gold Mine was the cool place to be... complete with a full arcade! Passing by old mining carts & wagon wheels, teens entered the abandoned old western gold mine town! The entry was decorated with boulders, tumbleweeds, old dynamite boxes, and of course… a few large lumps of GOLD! As you first entered the room, you were in the abandoned town with a 40’ wide backdrop. The side walls of the town arcade were draped in shinny black satin and up-lit with gold LED lighting. The far end of the room was the gold mine with another 40’ wide backdrop. Bags of Gold Mine bubble gum even embellished the tables!


And on the way out...
Exiting the event the same way they came in through the camp-out tent tunnel, guests were in for another laugh with a subtle cow derrière, happy holidays!