Go Ninja For Your Event!

Earlier this month, we learned about this amazing restaurant in NYC from our friends at The Party Goddess.  We loved it so much that we wanted to share the idea with our readers!  We hope you will like it as much as we did!!!

Looking for an experience for a small group in the Big Apple? Then you might want to consider NINJA New York. With the latest rage being dining experiences ranging from blind dining to extravagant environments, NINJA takes it over the top.

Mystique abounds as guests enter into a re-creation of a 15th century Japanese castle. There are no servers in this restaurant, but only ninjas who guide diners through a series of twists and turns, across a drawbridge, and, finally, to a cave-like table. The dining room is like a Japanese garden or grotto and tables are nicely separated from each other.

The waiters are all “trained ninjas” and perform magic tricks and interact with you throughout the evening. It’s a one of a kind dining experience combined with high-end Japanese cuisine. “Servers” deliver specialty Ninja Art Dishes which all involve some kind of theater as they are served including, smoke, fire and very sharp knives. You’ll want to pay close attention as the theater experience is almost as good as the food.

Though an ala cart menu is available, most diners opt for Chef Michinobu Okamoto’s tasting menu. We think the NINJA New York is great for a small exclusive group that wants to have an adventurous and entertaining evening as well as great food.

Check out this video we found on YouTube. We think you’ll be most pleasantly surprised.    NINJA New York

When you’re ready to experience dining, NINJA style, give the Vibe Agency a call. We think you’ll love  this venue but we also have many others to help you create extraordinary and exciting experiences for your group.

Contact valerie@thevibeagency.com for more information on The Vibe Agency and find out how we can create a custom program for you and your guests.

THE VIBE AGENCY’S INDECENT PROPOSAL HELPS RAISE $6,000 FOR SEARCH FOUNDATION

At the SEARCH Foundation Cabaret at the Special Event show in New Orleans on January 14, 2010, the goal this year as every year is to raise money to help event professionals in need. This year we took it to a new level.

I, Valerie Bihet, Vibe director of the Vibe agency, who was in attendance had an idea to raise more than ever before. It happened like this:

The day before the Cabaret I was in one of the conference sessions called “New Event Trends Inspired by Hollywood and Pop Culture.” The class was taught by ” Hillary Harris, Director, special events at Warner Bros Studios.  Talk about inspirational! Her class brought up so many emotions of the good times and success stories I had experienced during my 3 years at Disneyland Paris and Club Med. Lately, there has been so much cut back and loss in our industry. But we were meant to change that.

Fast forward to the following evening. We are all at the SEARCH Foundation Cabaret and I was looking to donate money through the silent auction items, which were wonderful, it dawned on me. I  saw Hillary across the room. I ran over to her and before I knew it, I was in action. She didn’t even know my name. It happened so fast.

I made an “indecent proposal” to her: I told her that if I donated $2,000 to SEARCH Foundation, would she let me spend three days working with her and her team on their next project in Los Angeles at Warner Bros.

Guess what? She loved it! And she didn’t even know who I was before.

It didn’t stop there -before we knew it, more indecent proposals came. I grabbed Sasha Souza, Sasha Souza Events. I asked her she wanted to be the next Demi Moore tonight. She said, “Yes,” so I promised her that I would find a  Robert Redford for her.

I took the mic and hit the stage and what happen next was magical. I asked if anyone would like to be Sasha ‘s Robert Redford. Within seconds we had 2 Robert Redfords and $ 4,000 more – for a total of $6,000 in no time!

SEARCH raised a total of $112,000 that evening, beating last year’s total of $75,000.

This is a great way to get to know people in the event industry that you look up to, want to meet, and want to learn from – hands on.

The indecent proposal doesn’t have to stop here – If you would like to participate and keep the energy going please let me know – You can respond to my blog or contact me through Facebook at the VIBE agency. Together we will make the event industry stronger than ever.

20 Costume Theme Ideas for Groups this Halloween

Thinking of a theme for a group of friends this Halloween?  Well, we did some research and found some really cool ideas to share with our readers.  If you are ordering your costumes, make sure to read your delivery options!  Feel free to comment and leave more ideas.

1. The Flintstones

2. The Spice Girls

3. The Adams Family

4. The Sopranos

5. Kate and John Gosslein

6. Harry Potter and cast

7. Star Trek cast

8. The Brady Bunch

9. Playboy Bunnies and Hugh Hefner

10. 300 – Greek Goddesses and Lords

The VIBE in Paris; My Hometown

The VIBE agency visits Paris three times a year to reconnect with previous clients and develop new contacts.  Of course, during my stay I have the pleasure of visiting my family and friends.  Nothing has changed; it’s always an amazing city.    My agenda consists of a very detailed “road show” where I visit agency after agency consecutively to network and promote the VIBE agency.  My stay in Paris is limited and time is always of the essence.  In order to be more efficient, I planned my schedule and opt to take a taxi-moto as transportation.  What an amazing experience to avoid traffic!  It allowed me to plan twice as many meetings during my stay. 

I had the pleasure to meet FranckyLirus, my taxi-moto driver, and I would like to thank him for his professionalism. 

Francky’s company started in 2002 as one of the first in the market.  He is committed to you and your schedule. His bike is the limousine of the moto and is very safe, comfortable, and convenient.  He is a very experienced driver and provides all equipment necessary; helmet, gloves, coat, etc.  Lirus may be contacted at contact@lirus.fr or you can visit his website at www.lirus.fr. 

As an event planner, I thought this was an awesome idea as an option for transportation.  So think about this: a new way to commute in Paris or in other cities.   This is a great idea for special events or for a quick tour of Paris while you choose your itinerary.  It can be an option for a small group up to 10 pax.  

It was a speedy and productive ride!

You can watch my videos at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSkst_hCPeA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0pcAdG0GT1E

 

I would also like to send a special thank you to the following people who took time to meet with us.  We appreciate your time.

Justine, Christine, Patricia, Carole, Herve, Alexandra, Xavier, Catherine, Pauline, Aziz, Audrey, Jennifer, Delphine, Christian, Anouska, Mattheu, Chantal, Nathalie, Sebastien, Clara, Thierry, Brigitte, Isabelle, Nelly, Melanie, Charlotte, Yvan, Pauline, Michel, Bruce, Camille, Solene, Muriel, Sabine, Noelle, Valerie, Judith, Sophie, Blandine, Auriane, Jean Francois, Laetitia, Anne, Laurent, Lie-Wan, Catherine,  Adrienne, Edwige, Veronique, Kathia, Nicole, Patricia, Jennifer, Laure, Corinne, Marie-Pierre, Dominique, Sylvie, Pascale,  and Augustina.

National Boss’s Day

Here is a holiday that workers love to celebrate; National Boss’s Day!  This day is reserved on Oct. 16 of every year to show appreciation to a boss, manager or supervisor.  Most people do not realize the challenges a boss faces on a day-to-day bases.  Sure boss’s can be pushy, dominating, controlling, anal and so on, but a boss can also be inspirational and encouraging.  

The VIBE agency would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to our amazing boss, Valerie Bihet.  Bihet can only be described as a blast of energy with the brightest ideas and amazing talent.  Always on the go and an agenda full of commitments, she always manages to smile and get the job done graciously.  We admire her pledge to her clients, family and co-workers.

This is a great day to treat your boss to a special lunch, a gift basket, flowers, or just give them a note of thanks.  If you really want to show your boss how much you appreciate them, be sure to pay attention to what they enjoy and incorporate it into your gift.  The staff can also take the boss out to lunch or have an office luncheon.  This day allows for team building and enhancement of the boss and staff.

To all great boss’s out there, we hope you enjoy your day!

How to Throw a Chocolate Themed Party

For your next gathering why not plan a theme around chocolate?  To get started you will need to decide what type of invitation you will use.  Depending on your budget, you can opt for personalized chocolate wrapper invites or you can pick an invitation with a color scheme including brown.  Spray your invitations lightly with a chocolate scented perfume such as Demeter’s Brownie. If you enjoy arts and crafts, why not create your own invitation using chocolate themed stickers,stamps, or pictures?  Or you can bake some goodies to be delivered and attach a note including all details of the gathering and some fun facts about chocolate. 

Some interesting facts about chocolate include:

• Chocolate melts just below your body temperature, so it melts in your mouth.
• When eaten in moderation, chocolate promotes healthy cardio functions, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
• Chocolate provides skin benefits and is a natural sexual stimulant!

Decorate with chocolate scented candles to create an arousing atmosphere.  Use napkins, plates, and cups with color schemes such as chocolate with pink, aqua, green or pale blue; or any color of the rainbow. 

There are so many recipes available for this chocolate occasion.  I recommend looking online for different ideas.  Some favorites include brownies, chocolate mousse, chocolate pudding, chocolate cake or cupcakes, chocolate cheesecake, chocolate fondue with fresh fruit, chocolate covered strawberries, and chocolate sorbet with fresh berries.

 

As always, I recommend a signature drink for the occasion.  There are tons of great chocolate martinis but my favorite is the Lady Godiva Chocolate Martini, you can find the recipe at martiniart.com.

Rent a chocolate fountain for an elegant touch, (not recommended if children will be present.) 

Important note:  If you spill chocolate on clothing, simply use rubbing alcohol to remove the spot.

Activities can include a chocolate fondue tasting with fruits, bread, candy, and marshmallows.  Be sure to try milk chocolate, dark chocolate and white choclate during you’re your fondue session.  Also, you can fill a jar with chocolate candies (i.e. m & m’s, Hersey’s kisses) and allow the guests to guess how many there are.   If there is time, you can include one of these top chocolate cinemas:

• Lezioni Di Cioccolato (Chocolate Lessons, 2007, Luca Argentero. Hassani Shapi)
• Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (1971 original with Gene Wilder)
• Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate, 1992, Marco Leonardi, Lumi Cavazos)
• Chocolat (2000 version, Juliette Binoche, Alfred Molina, Judy Dench, Johnny Depp)
• Milton Hershey: The Chocolate King (2004 A&E documentary)
• Merci Pour le Chocolat (Thanks for the Chocolate, 2000, Isabelle Huppert)
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005 remake with Johnny Depp)
• Or my personal favorite : “Chocolate Factory” episode of “I Love Lucy”. It’s available on the season 2 DVD with the official title of “Job Switching”.

Do not forget party favors!  My favorites are:

• Sweet Beauty Organic Chocolate Spa Treatment by Lisa Françoise

• Chocolate Cookbook
• Hot Cocoa Gift Bag .

ATTENTION CHOCOLATE LOVERS!

As a European woman, I understand the tantalizing effects that take over your mind, body and soul at the mention of the word “Chocolate.”  Each bite and each taste is equal to a sensual seduction.  The temptation is so deep, that refusing is absolutely impossible!  Chocolate, a divine creation, is considered the food of the Gods.  It’s no wonder it is such a perfected and heavenly experience.

In honor of this exquisite aphrodisiac, a 3-day event is dedicated to entice our taste buds and palate.  Paris presents Salon Du Chocolat, an event so successful it now also takes place in New York, Japan, China, and Russia with two new cities added to the list; Cairo (Egypt) and Madrid (Spain).  Salon Du Chocolate unites fashion and chocolate while also contributing to “The Voice of the Children”.  This year the show celebrates its 15^th Paris Consumer Chocolate show and the event will take place from October 14 – 18.  The trade show has attracted over 2 million loyal chocolate lovers and allows chocolate professionals a communication platform.

 What to expect from the Salon Du Chocolat trade show:

–         A fashion show with designs made from, yes you guessed it, chocolate!

–         Music including opera, operetta and musical comedy

–         Demonstrations by top chefs

–         Tasting sessions for new products and novelties

–         Exhibitors from all over the world including Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Russia, Syria, Switzerland, Sweden, Bolivia, Gabon, Mexico, São Tomé & Principe and Venezuela.

Check out a video from last year’s fashion show: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n7bnOyWOFM

——————————————————————————————————————

For our local readers, we invite you to the Chocolate Festival at the Aventura Mall, Sunday, October 18, from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.  The event was inspired by Chef Rick in effort to raise funds for the Children’s Craniofacial Association. For more information contact: 305-935-1110 

What to expect from the Chocolate Festival:

–         Chocolate inspired fashion show produced by Miami Art Institute

–         Chocolate Super Bowl trophy silent auction

–         17 vendors to sell chocolate, cupcakes, cookies, etc

–         Raffles

–         Kids Corner

–         Carving of a 35 lb. chocolate

Stay in tune with us for tomorrow’s blog on how to create your own Chocolate Theme party!

Columbus Day Weekend: East Meets West

Follow the VIBE Agency on an expedition this Columbus Day weekend.  We hope you experience an unforgettable voyage and offer some tips on how to celebrate this weekend.  Here at the VIBE, we loved the idea of the drink titled “East Meets West.”  We have included the recipe for your journey.

EAST MEETS WEST

Ingredients:
– 1 1/2 oz Armagnac
– 1 oz Sake
– 3 Shiso leaves
– 1/2 oz Jasmin syrup
– 1 1/2 oz Ginger beer
Garnish: Mint leaves

Mix Armagnac, Sake, Japanese shiso leaves, jasminm syrup in a cocktail shaker with ice. Strain the mixture into a rocks glass over ice. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with mint leaves. (Cocktail created by Cocktail Times Master Mixologist, Junior Merino)

                                                                                                                                               

For families, this is an opportunity for valuable family time.  Make your own mini versions of the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria!  This project is “green” friendly and requires the use of recycled material.  For more arts and crafts ideas visit http://www.kaboose.com/. 

What you’ll need:

• 3 cardboard egg cups
• Brown acrylic craft paint
• Paintbrush
• ¼ cup modeling clay or play dough
• 6 toothpicks
• 1 sheet white paper
• Scissors
• White craft glue

How to make it:

1. Paint the egg cups inside and out with brown paint. Set aside to dry.
2. Cut sails from white paper. You will need 6 large sails (1.5” x 1”) and 18 small sails (.5” x .75”).
3. Set aside three of the toothpicks for the large sails. Break or cut the other three toothpicks in half, giving you 6 halves.
4. Put a line of glue through the middle of one of the small sails. Place the cut or broken end of one of the toothpick halves onto the glue line.
5. Roll it in the glue to cover both sides, then place another sail on top, sandwiching the two sails together. Flatten the sails together with your fingers and set aside to dry.
6. Repeat step number 5 with each toothpick half and 2 small sails (each).
7. Following the guide in step number 5, make the larger salls. For each large sail you will need a toothpick, 2 small sails and 2 large sails. Glue the small sail to the end of the full toothpick, and then glue the larger sail beneath it, leaving a small gap between the top and bottom sail. Set aside to dry.
8. Roll a small amount of clay in your palm, enough to line the bottom of the egg cup. Place in the egg cup and flatten to cover bottom.
9. Insert open end of large sail into the middle of the clay. Insert two small sails, one on either side of the large sail, into the clay.

Tips:

• This project can also be made with open walnut shells.
• The Nina and the Pinta were both smaller ships, but the Santa Maria was much larger. Make a larger version of the Santa Maria by using margarine tubs, craft sticks and larger pieces of paper.

 

The VIBE Agency wishes all of our clients, bloggers and readers a wonderful and safe Columbus Day weekend!

DAY 6: CANDY ALTERNATIVES FOR THIS HALLOWEEN

Halloween is the biggest candy holiday of the year that sends a sugar rush throughout the country.  Everyone is aware of the health implications linked to candy and for some, such as diabetics or vegans, this holiday may exclude those with food allergies or sensitivities.  This year instead of serving a pile of sugar to trick-or-treaters take into consideration some of the following items and include a sign outside that states, “Ask me for non-sugar treats.”

 – Stickers – Give out Halloween themed stickers.

 – Chalk or crayons

–Sugar-free candy – A healthy alternative for everyone.

– Temporary tattoos – EVERY kid wants a fake tattoo! 

– Fake money – Advise the kids not to spend it all at once!  They can use this money for play time and learning purposes.

– Glow Sticks – Great for safety at night during trick-or-treating.

– Slime – A fun way for goblins to add to their costume.

– False teeth –These are fun and can be used the same night!

– Halloween printed pencils –Pencils are a necessity for all students from kindergarten throughout college. 

– Fake spiders – Kids and adults love the opportunity to scare someone by mysteriously placing a fake spider on a sibling’s pillow, chair or personal area. 

– Tiny plants packages – Visit your local Home Depot for these inexpensive mini plants that include a pot, soil, seeds and directions.

DAY 5: CREATE A SPIDER WEB

 Makesandtakes.com offers a varity of at home arts and crafts ideas for children and adults.  Here is an idea we loved from their website! 

Supplies for Lacing Spider Webs:

• yarn
• scissors
• hole punch
• circle paper – preferably cardstock
• plastic spider ring – you could make your own spider from yarn or pipe wire as well

First, take your circle paper and punch holes around the edge, as far or close as you want. The more holes, the more web you’ll have.

Cut some yarn, fairly long to lace around the whole circle, and tie it tight at the top through the first hole. Now lace your yarn through each hole. We tried to stay going in a circle to end back up at the top, but you’re welcome to go crazy and lace in any order.

Now you’ll need to attach your spider somewhere in the yarn. You’ll loop him through your yarn on the way to another hole. If you want the spider to slide the best up and down it’s web, attach it before the last hole, then it doesn’t get stuck.

Once you go through the last hole, tie the yarn together in a knot and it’s ready for hanging.