something to talk about

A Legendary Event Nominated for Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau 2011 Member of the Year!

2011-09-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event is very proud and honored to be nominated for the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau's 2011 Member of the Year!

The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau markets Atlanta as a top convention destination, bringing $11.4 billion to the city’s hospitality industry annually, and employs more than 1,200 event planning organizations as a part of their network. Each year, they nominate 10 of their members for this prestigious award and announce the winner at their Hall of Fame function.

The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau is “the liaison between meeting planners, tour operators and its 1,200-plus member organizations.” ACVB's efforts support Atlanta's $11 billion hospitality industry, sustaining 230,000 jobs for metro Atlantans and generating 37 million visitors each year.” Check out
http://www.alegendaryevent.com/

A Legendary Events Wins Prestigious Award!

2011-08-05T10:26:00.000-07:00

Exciting news at A Legendary Event! The legend continues as NACE - THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CATERING EXECUTIVES has awarded A Legendary Event with the "Best Guest Table Award"!

The awards were presented at the NACE Experience! 2011 conference in Reno Tahoe, NV, July 26. NACE annually awards those individuals who have risen to the top their craft, in a variety of categories. We are proud to work with such a talented team and strive to deliver breathtaking decor at every event!

The NACE awards are judged by industry peers and A Legendary Event is proud to receive this prestigious award for our cutting-edge creativity and entry titled "Bedazzled At Dinner"! Check us out at http://www.alegendaryevent.com/

Behind The Scenes At A ‘Legendary’ Event!

2011-07-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

The star-studded and glamorous premiere of Diann Valentine’s “I Do Over” was a legendary event for all those who attended. Check out this extraordinary glimpse into the preparations that made this flawless event just that – flawless! From the flowers, the crystals, to the room décor, this video by Anna and Spencer Photography captures it all. We were so proud to be a part of this fabulous event!

I Do Over Atlanta Launch Party from Anna and Spencer on Vimeo.

Lights, Camera, Action! A Legendary Event on 11Alive's Atlanta & Company!

2011-07-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event’s Executive Chef Liz Cipro appeared this morning on 11Alive’s Atlanta & Company with the fabulous Christine Pullara. Chef Cipro showed Atlanta how to cook up the perfect summer treat, A Legendary Event's Seared Scallops on Summer Corn Salad. The legendary recipe utilizes the freshest ingredients to make a unique salad everyone will love!

A Legendary Event’s Seared Scallops on Summer Corn Salad

Serves 4 as an Appetizer or 2 for Dinner

12 – Large Sea Scallops (10-20 size)

Zest of one lime, S&P to taste

Grapeseed Oil or Canola Oil

3 ears of fresh corn

½ small red onion, diced

4 roma tomatoes, seeded and diced

2 scallions, whites and tender green parts

1 jalapeno, seeded and minced

5-6 radishes, thinly sliced

1 avocado, diced

Juice of two limes

Extra Virgin Oil

Salt and pepper to taste

½ bunch cilantro, chopped

Clean scallops and season with lime zest, salt & pepper. Cut kernels from corn, and combine will all other salad ingredients. Heat non-stick or cast iron skillet until you can hold your hand over it for only 4-5 seconds. Add a thin layer of grapeseed oil to cover the bottom of pan. Place scallops in pan and sear until dark golden brown (3-4 minutes); they should release easily from the bottom of the pan. Turn scallops over and continue to cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Plate corn salad on platter or individual plates, top with seared scallops and serve. You can choose to garnish with additional herbs or popcorn shoots.

http://www.alegendaryevent.com/

And The Winner Is...

2011-07-20T10:23:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event is excited to announce that one of our ‘legendary’ designs has been nominated for a 2011 NACE Award! The National Association of Catering Executives (NACE) is the largest catering association in the world. Each year they host the NACE Experience Awards Gala to honor the past years catering and event achievements. Professionals from around the country wait in anticipation to see who receives the awards chosen by the most accomplished hospitality professionals. We were proud to partner with Ashley Baber Weddings, Event Drapery, The Magnum Companies Ltd., Atlanta St. Regis Hotel and Event Rentals Unlimited.

Move Over Cupid! Here Comes The Legendary Diann Valentine!

2011-07-18T12:42:00.000-07:00

Who says you can’t relive your wedding night? Over 200 guests celebrated a sneak preview of Diann Valentine’s new show I Do Over at the Biltmore Ballrooms in Atlanta. Valentine, an internationally acclaimed wedding and event designer, arrived glittered to perfection. This hot pink, celebrity studded event sparkled with our catering and design from A Legendary Event! “I Do Over” will premiere on We TV Sunday, July 24. The show gives couples a chance to re-do their wedding ceremonies after a disastrous first walk down the aisle.

How Sweet It Is at A Legendary Event!

2011-07-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

How sweet it is! Searching for some delectable desserts? Think "Legendary" style and present the perfect desserts at your next event by having each dessert be a bite-sized work of art.

That's what our pastry chef at A Legendary Event does daily! A little bit of heaven also deserves the proper presentation, so consider it a unique creation and take note from our pastry chef.

Here's wishing you sweet success at your next event! Get a sneak preview and tasting of our sweet indulgences at http://www.alegendaryevent.com/!

Have A Legendary Independence Day! Happy July 4th!

2011-07-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Want to celebrate America in a fabulous 'legendary' way? Have a picnic or barbeque for your family and friends. Serve foods that have a touch of red, white, and blue to show off your patriotic spirit.

Assorted red and blue berries, drinks that have an American touch and desserts that your guests can decorate themselves can make your July 4th soiree one for the history books! To view photos of more delicious delicacies, visit www.alegendaryevent.com!

A Love Affair With Lavender

2011-06-23T12:29:00.000-07:00

Lavish your next event with a little color! Lavender colored floral arrangements are one of the many popular trends that are popping up this season. At A Legendary Event, we love to pair lavender flowers with additional hues such as cream and eggplant. A lovely touch to compliment the table decor is lavender scented candles placed around the floral arrangement. Not only will the candle light create a legendary ambiance, but your guests will also feel relaxed and rejuvenated. alegendaryevent.com

Make It A Legendary Summer! Keep It Seasonal!

2011-06-20T12:13:00.000-07:00

Want To Be A Legendary Entertainer?

Here are a few tips from our legendary team of talent! Keep it seasonal and add a colorful and creative touch to your next party. Start with seasonal foods and flowers from orchids to magnolias. Put mother nature on the guest list and select colorful options in season.

We love designing with seasonal foods. Add a festive touch to your next party by filling baskets and tabletops with fruits and vegetables to make your buffets, dinner tables and centerpieces legendary. Here are some eye candy photographs to help you entertain with style and pizzazz!

Add colorful bowls for those spreads, breads, chips and dips. Mix and match your china patterns and incorporate your creative flair. When it comes to being a hostess with the mostess, we suggest incorporating fun and unexpected dishes and decor when it comes to setting your table.

Your guests will appreciate your efforts and don't forget the party favors! Bottle up your favorite salad dressing or a treasured rescipe that you served at dinner! Inspire your guests to want to come back for more!

Our secret? Keep it legendary! alegendaryevent.com

Have A Legendary Breakfast!

2011-06-14T12:48:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event’s Vice President Robyn Spizman will be speaking at the Buckhead Business Association’s breakfast addressing Tony Conway's award-winning special events enterprise and how to make your business legendary! Spizman is a well known media personality seen nationally on Today, heard weekly on Star 94 weekly and a New York Bestselling author named Georgia’s Author of the Year, 2011. Visit www.buckheadbusiness.org for more details. We hope to see you Thursday, June 16th!

For The Love Of Coconut!

2011-06-09T13:00:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Recipe! Crazy For Coconuts!

Try this mouthwatering treat featured in an article written by Tony Conway for Affluent Magazine and enjoy it for your next occasion. A favorite of A Legendary Event, translated literally, “coconut laddoo” means “balls of coconut.” Combined with condensed milk and powdered sugar, these delicious delicacies are truly legendary! http://www.alegendaryevent.com/

Coconut Laddoo

Ingredients:
•3 cups fresh dry coconut (shredded)*
•¾ can condensed milk
•1 cup powdered sugar

How to Make Coconut Laddoo:
•Boil condensed milk in a pan.
•When it starts boiling, add 2 cups shredded coconut and mix well.
•When the milk gets absorbed in coconut, add the powdered sugar.
•Stir continuously on medium flame until mixture starts leaving the sides of the pan.
•Remove and make small balls (about the size of a table tennis ball).
•Roll the balls in the remaining coconut.
•Refrigerate Coconut Laddoos for 30 minutes before serving.
•Depending on taste, add 1 level tsp of cardamom powder to shredded coconut.
Enjoy!

A Legendary Event Helps Drive Success For Senior Citizen Services!

2011-06-08T11:21:00.000-07:00

A legendary thank you for voting for Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good and making this contest a piece of cake! We are pleased to announce that with everyone’s help, Senior Citizen Services of Atlanta won a Toyota Highlander. This beautiful new car will help SCS continue to deliver nearly 300 healthy meals each day to homebound seniors in Atlanta. Kudos to everyone who helped this dream become a reality!

Liz Cipro - A Legendary Lady!

2011-06-02T09:35:00.000-07:00

Look Who's In The Kitchen! We are so pleased to announce Liz Cipro as the first female Executive Chef of our legendary, award-winning company. With an extensive background in the food industry, Cipro has overseen many of the top events run by A Legendary Event’s highly successful culinary staff. A member of the distinguished Les Dames D’Escoffier International, this organization is the only one of its kind: a world-wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality.

As Executive Chef, Cipro will oversee all aspects of A Legendary Event’s culinary department including menu design, daily kitchen operations, food preparation, and purchasing. Congrats to Liz who also was featured in Lisa R. Schoolcraft’s column, “Restaurants and Hospitality,” in the May 27-June 2 issue of the Atlanta Business Chronicle. Way to go Liz! We are so proud of you!

Legendary Takes The Cake!

2011-06-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Make your next party legendary with a selection of mini-cakes created by our pastry chefs! These delicious, smaller versions of larger masterpieces can create a lasting impression on your guests. By serving a customized cake at each place setting, you can add a dash of creativity and flair to your event. With a variety of flavors, chic styles, and an abundance of colors available, these little iced works of art can make any occasion out of this world event! http://www.alegendaryevent.com/ for more incredible edibles that can't miss! (photo by Bill Hansen)

Tuesday’s Trends: Honeysuckle Takes All!

2011-05-31T11:46:00.000-07:00

Now that it is officially summer, it is time to break out the dynamic color schemes for any occasion happening this season.

A trend we are seeing is an increased use of bright, bold, non-traditional colors, emerging in bridesmaids’ dresses, flowers, and the even the décor at your event. Like the photograph shown, brides are combining exciting shades of pinks, reds, and greens and creating their own individual signature syles. One particular color that is popping up everywhere is Honeysuckle and was even named Pantone Color Institute’s 2011 Color of the Year.

A dynamic reddish pink, Honeysuckle is encouraging and uplifting. “In times of stress, we need something to lift our spirits. Honeysuckle is a captivating, stimulating color that gets the adrenaline going – perfect to ward off the blues,” explains Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Honeysuckle derives its positive qualities from a powerful bond to its mother color red, the most physical, viscerally alive shade in the spectrum.”

Visit http://www.alegendaryevent.com/ and check out our photo galleries filled with colorful events of all shapes and sizes!

Make This Holiday Weekend Legendary!

2011-05-27T08:56:00.000-07:00

Looking to make this Memorial Weekend memorable? Have a picnic in the park or jump into your bathing suit and head to the pool! Whether you’re hanging with the family or entertaining out-of-towners, here are some party ideas to make your celebration legendary. If you're planning to have a picnic, be creative with your spread. Show your American spirit by incorporating red, white, and blue with traditional summer treats and seasonal fruits. To refresh your adult guests, try this exciting vodka cocktail which we call "Legendary Lemonade". Party on and keep safety at the forefront!

Legendary Lemonade
1 1/2 oz. Kettle One Vodka,
1/2 oz. Chambord
3 oz. Lemonade
Shake ingredients with ice and strain into a tall glass. Garnish with fresh berries or a lemon.

Check out alegendaryevent.com for more legendary ideas!

The Royal Wedding Lives On! Kudos to Kate!

2011-05-26T10:59:00.000-07:00

Looking to have a "legendary" wedding? According to A Legendary Event's Director of Floral Jeanna Graham, Kate Middleton’s bouquet has ignited a trend amongst our brides. Her much talked-about bouquet included locally grown flowers such as Lily-of-the-Valley, Hyacinth, Sweet William, and Myrtle. Since the wedding, Lily of the Valley has increased its popularity and we enjoy integrating it in many bouquets, flower arrangements, and centerpieces. Brides are inspired by the style of Kate’s bouquet including these understated flowers which add an elegant touch to their weddings.

While many brides choose their flowers primarily based on color, Kate Middleton has revived the Elizabethan era tradition of selecting flowers based on symbolism and legendary meanings. Symbolically speaking, Lily of the Valley signifies sweetness, humility, and returning happiness.

The language of flowers is one we take to heart and each of our weddings should be memorable. When we roll out the red carpet, we think Lily of the Valley as a wonderful choice for the perfect fairytale ending. These flowers are a combination of grace and nobility and can make any wedding legendary.

Check http://www.alegendaryevent.com/ to view our floral photo gallery!

A Legendary Event Recognized by the 21st Annual Allie Awards and the AJC

2011-04-13T10:44:00.000-07:00

Exciting things are happening at A Legendary Event! We are pleased to announce we received the Allie Award for Best Team Effort on April 10th. The Allie Awards is our industry’s annual ceremony presented by the Atlanta Chapters of the International Special Events Society and the National Association of Catering Executives. The Award recognized our collaboration with Ashley Baber Weddings, Event Drapery, The Magnum Companies Ltd., and Event Rentals Unlimited on a recent wedding. We would like to thank the Atlanta Chapters of ISES and NACE for this prestigious recognition.

At this legendary, award winning wedding, our team worked together to orchestrate the planning process of the ceremony. This included the selection of the venue and vendors, such as the stationer, calligrapher, design team, and beyond. A massive truss structure covered the 24’x24’ dance floor and wowed guests with its rotating lights anchored on top. We always strive to go above and beyond for our clients, and we are honored to be awarded for this team effort.

A congratulations is also in order for Leah Stephens, our extraordinary Catering Sales Manager, who was given the prestigious Certified Special Events Professional Rising Star Award, presented by Tim Lundy. This accolade’s purpose is to honor, recognize, encourage and inspire an event professional towards her greatest potential in the special events industry. Leah’s hard work and dedication proves she is on her way to becoming a leader in the special events field.

Our legendary news keeps going! On April 12th, registered dietician and Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Carolyn O’Neil commended A Legendary Event for our healthy catering options in her article, “Catering to Your Health.” O’Neil interviewed A Legendary Event’s Sous Chef Lance Hagan and Pastry Chef Brittany Wright about delicious health and dietary alternatives in catered food. Hagan recommended healthier world cuisines such as Asian and Mediterranean and using regional Southern produce, while Wright created a lower-calorie panna cotta with fresh berries and dark chocolate. To view the article, visit: http://www.ajc.com/health/atlanta-loses-weight/catering-to-your-health-906059.html

Also, check out our new website http://www.alegendaryevent.com/ We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Four Seasons Hotel, “A Bride for All Seasons,” Bridal Show 2011

2011-02-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

A Legendary Event was fortunate to participate in the Four Seasons Hotel, “A Bride for All Seasons,” Bridal Show 2011. Join us as take a sneek peek into our presentation!

This elite bridal show attracted brides with the most discriminating taste and it was an exciting way for our company to give our future brides a small insight into our legendary talents. We were selected to portray and represent the effervescent season of Spring. A Legendary Event's vision was perfectly presented with pastel colors, cool winds and the warmth of the sun.

Our vignette represented a seasonal bouquet of flowers bursting onto the scene with an unexpected surprise of tones and colors. Tony Conway’s A Legendary Event’s design team Amy Saltzman, Kate Bradley and Jeanna Graham helped bring to life these stunning selections for the bride who wants to make a statement and is both daring and confident.

The array of pastel colors are a trend popping surprise you’ll see in many fashion and bridal magazines and at the forefront of our interpretation of a stunning springtime wedding.

Gracing the backdrop of the chandelier of flowers, the striped, beautifully colored ribbon wall had an airiness that welcomed brides as they walked by our vignette which was overflowing with imaginary cool southern winds.

The spring time daffodils, Juliet roses and narcissus grew from out of the middle of the table through delicate glass vases and moss.

A Legendary Event, Floral Director, Jeanna Graham created each bouquet tying in the classic trend that many brides value and incorpoarte in their wedding table décor.

The flower-lit chandelier we created was remarkable, breathing life into the vignette and atracting many brides. The chandelier even smelled like spring with sweet smells of narcissus. The photography was shot by Nancy Jo McDaniel who has photographed many of our events. Please view the online slide show of our spring time vignette that she so masterly put together. Online Slide Show

Happy New Year from A Legendary Event!

2011-01-05T09:34:00.000-08:00

As we look back over the year 2010, we are grateful to all of you, our clients and supporters for your dedication to our company, A Legendary Event. This year has been filled with amazing opportunities working on over 2,500 legendary events in not only Atlanta, but in New York, Los Angeles, New Orleans, and many southern cities. We have received exciting exposure from many local and national media outlets such as Fox Five Road Warrior, Good Morning America, Bravo’s (Real) Atlanta Housewives, Delta’s Sky Magazine and across newspapers, magazines and airwaves around the country. Our team has volunteered extensively to help Senior Citizens Services of Atlanta and made a difference in their Meals on Wheels Program serving seniors who otherwise might not have a warm meal. Plus, we proudly contributed to a record-breaking number of your non-profit causes and are very proud of our clients and customers who continue to give back and make a difference, which is one of our core values at A Legendary Event. We all look forward to a new year with many exciting surprises in store.

This year has been an amazing success and we are very proud to have been nominated for two prestigious industry Spotlight Awards. In 2011 we will continue to work hard to earn praise from our industry and recognition that we feel especially honored to receive.

The Event Solutions Spotlight Awards are an annual awards presentation dedicated to recognizing the best and the brightest event professionals in the industry. The Awards are presented in a variety of categories and honor both individuals and companies for their body of work in the previous year. There’s still time to cast your vote for A Legendary Event and we are grateful to have your continued assistance and deeply value your business. Happy New Year and wishing you and yours unlimited happiness and a legendary year ahead!Please count on us in any way to help you celebrate and orchestrate your next Legendary Event!

Sincerely,

Tony Conway and the A Legendary Event Team

Learn More About Event Solutions

What are the Spotlight Awards

A Legendary Event Award Nominations:
• Event Company of the Year – A Legendary Event

• Rising Star- Female –Kate Bradley

Fox Five Road Warrior at Legendary Event! Five Segments! Five Departments!

2010-11-24T12:01:00.000-08:00

What a thrill to have Fox Five’s outstanding Road Warrior Stacey Elgin come and visit A Legendary Event! Our team showed how to have a Legendary holiday with our very own Legendary experts demonstrating what A Legendary Event has to offer for the holiday table. Executive Chef Christophe in the kitchen showcased a fabulous Holiday Cranberry Orange Relish. Executive Pastry Chef Charles Barrett in the Pastry Shop demonstrated how to make our famed Pumpkin Cheesecake Lollipops. Floral Director Jeanna Graham showed how simple food die and seasonal fruit such as crabapples or cranberries can add a simplistic flair to a holiday table. Creative Director Steve Welsh showed his talents by creatively transforming a wood panel from the hardware store into a stunning and spectacular tiger eye patterned wood dining table that made an exquisite fall statement. CEO and founder, award-winning Tony Conway showed us his festive flair by appointing the perfect place setting with colorful table napkins making a scalloped fold that dressed up the table and resembled a memorable Thanksgiving turkey styled design. The Legendary team showed how limitless the possibilities are at A Legendary Event and when you add a personal touch, everyone enjoys the holiday in style. Try one of our recipes and tell us how it turned out!

Happy Holidays and may your blessings be many!

Tony Conway Honored By Senior Citizens Services of Atlanta

2010-11-05T12:23:00.000-07:00

We have been very busy this week preparing for “A Meal to Remember” Gala which raises money for Meals On Wheels Atlanta, a program of Senior Citizen Services, that has been delivering daily meals to homebound seniors in the metro area since 1970. The event organizers hope to raise more than $400,000 which will provide more than 61,500 nutritious meals for homebound seniors. Hundreds of flowers have been overflowing from our floral studio to prepare for this meaningful and memorable evening. The 23^rd Annual Gala will honor our Owner and CEO, Tony Conway, for his dedication and commitment to Senior Citizen Services and Meals On Wheels Atlanta. Please help us in congratulating him for this prestigious honor!! Check back next week for photos from the gorgeous “Siente el sabor Latino” themed décor.

Hotlanta Now- Delta Sky Magazine Launch

2010-10-29T11:25:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event kicked off a fabulous magazine launch and spread in the recent November Delta Sky magazine, which had a spectacular insert all about Atlanta! The kick-off event was held at the High Museum of Art and Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed unveiled the profile issue with a focus on Atlanta. The city has never looked so good or so inviting with our very own Tony Conway, CEO and Owner of A Legendary Event as your expert guide to a dozen philanthropic events that make a difference in our great city. Delta also featured Tony’s upcoming award honor for his dedication to A Meal To Remember befitting Senior Citizen Services of Atlanta. This issue is filled with many positive articles written on how great the city of Atlanta is and where we are headed in the future. Without question, Atlanta will be Delta’s travelers next destination after reading this exciting article and we’re very proud of Tony and A Legendary Event for the unending dedication to giving back. Take a look at this page-turning spread to learn more about the wonderful city A Legendary Event calls our own, Atlanta!

Dave Lishness Named President of A Legendary Event

2010-10-21T13:33:00.000-07:00

Photo Courtesy of Nancy Jo McDaniel

Dave Lishness has been named President of A Legendary Event’s award‐winning company. Lishness previously led a successful career serving as an over twenty year veteran of business and food management industries, including twelve years in food product development, project management, quality assurance and marketing. A graduate at the top of his Executive MBA program at Georgia State University in 1998, he holds a Bachelor of Food Science Degree from The University of Maryland.

With an extensive background in operations overseeing a large construction management division with projects in 24 U.S. States, Lishness also directed the design and architectural sales at Florida’s largest stone importer and distributor closing over $20 million dollars of sales. He directed research and development and quality assurance programs for the food manufacturing division of a Fortune 50 company where sales grew from $6 million to $35 million per year during his tenure. Lishness also directed product development for Arby’s largest franchisee and led product introduction efforts with vendor partners. He has overseen a vast amount of hiring in his executive business roles with a wealth of experience directing employment decisions and focusing on talent development.

An active member of the Atlanta community, Lishness is involved with Leadership Atlanta’s Class of 2011 and volunteers for an array of community causes. Tony Conway, CEO and Owner of A Legendary Event said, “We are extremely honored to name Dave Lishness as President of A Legendary Event. As Chief Operating Office, Dave oversaw our management, operations and continues to be an outstanding addition to our company as we strive to provide our clients with a legendary experience.”

Atlanta Opera Ball

2010-10-15T14:33:00.000-07:00

We were very honored to create the stunning décor for the fabulous Opera Ball last month. The Atlanta Opera Ball began its 31^st Season On October 2^nd and opened its season with the staple of romantic opera repertoire, La bohème. In snowy Paris, six young penniless artists are full of idealism and beauty, but they soon encounter the harsh realities of life. Therefore, our fabulous event designer, Amy Saltzman, interpreted this years Ball into a Bohemian Parisian setting at the St. Regis. Overall, the ballroom and stage looked magnificent (or should I say Magnifico in Italian!). A Legendary Event was thrilled to support such a significant cultural event in our great city of Atlanta!!

**Photos Courtesy of Laura Stone at http://www.artstarphotography.com/

Pomegranate Glazed Chicken

2010-10-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

Check out this segment that was aired on 11Alive last weekend. Mr. Tony Conway and A Legendary Event's Executive Chef Christophe Holmes cooked a tasty Pomegranate Glazed Chicken. Enjoy!!

New Legendary Catering & Design Sales Manager

2010-10-05T08:26:00.000-07:00

Atlanta - (October 5, 2010)―Sam Polk is the newest member of A Legendary Event’s award-winning, full-service special events company, which specializes in catering, design and floral. Polk has served the hospitality industry with over 20 years experience creating and managing high visibility events for groups as large as 25,000 throughout the United States.

Well known to the Atlanta hospitality industry, Polk began his prestigious career as the Special Events Manager at Zoo Atlanta, where he was responsible for marketing, hospitality and fundraising events including Zoo Atlanta's Beastly Feast affair, raising more than $500,000 annually. Polk then served as Foundation Director for Northside Hospital, where he managed a fundraising budget of $1.2 million annually and directed numerous galas, golf/tennis tournaments, overseeing the highly-publicized community tree lighting events. He was also instrumental in the development of an employee/physician community service program with over 1,500 active volunteers assisting organizations in six counties.

Other highlights of Polk’s career includes owning and creating a unique coffee house dessert café called Miss Lucille’s Gossip Parlor, which he sold and is still to this day a very successful coffee house in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. This popular institution has been featured in the media including the pages of Southern Living and Atlanta Magazine. He also ran an interior design service called Frugality By Design and a retail gift shop.

As a dedicated community volunteer, Polk has been actively involved in the non-profit world including volunteering for The American Heart Association, The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, March of Dimes, Hands on Atlanta, Board of Directions of the Fulton County Education Foundation, Partnership Coordinator for the United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta and served as Chairman of the North Fulton County March of Dimes Walk America.

Tony Conway, President and Owner of A Legendary Event said, “We are extremely excited to have Sam Polk on board. His wealth of talents in the field will be a fantastic addition to our team as we strive to provide our clients with a legendary experience. We have confidence in Sam and are confident he will be a valuable member of our team of talented catering, design and sales professionals.”

Holiday Party Advice from Tony Conway

2010-09-30T08:47:00.000-07:00

Dear Professor Bruce:

I own a small printing company, and for 10 years we have given a fabulous holiday party. Sales are down this year, but we still want to entertain, thank our clients and network for new business. How can we give a reasonable party and still get our brand out there? Our yearly party is something everyone has looked forward to in the past. We're concerned that if we don't do it this year, people will think we are not doing well or we don't appreciate their business.

Answer:

Since you have entertained yearly and created such a special tradition at your company with this holiday party, I don't recommend canceling the party this year. There are many ways to adjust the budget and give holiday parties and corporate events that keep your brand alive and well.

Tony Conway, Founder of A Legendary Event, has some good advice:
-- Give a party that makes a difference. You can do an event on a smaller scale at your company. Change your party focus to giving to a worthwhile cause and keep it simple. Perhaps a customer or community member has been touched by illness or some other hardship. Ask everyone to bring a book for a children's hospital, cans for a hunger drive or something else purposeful. Serve "just desserts" this year to sweeten the lives of others.
-- Think quality vs. quantity. Review and scale down your guest list and focus on quality. There are probably many people on the list who have not referred to your business or people who should no longer be on the list. Reducing the numbers can help you better budget any event.
-- Make it memorable. Add a theme to your party. Since you're a printer, incorporate your overruns. Decorate the tables with all the printing samples you've done and celebrate your 10 years of printing. Proudly display your work and focus on what you've done for clients in a creative way. From table cards to table toppers, centerpieces and more, your printing pieces should be integrated into your decor. It will save money and promote what you do.
-- Be creative. Instead of throwing a cocktail party this year, think about an afternoon picnic or something more casual. Picnics are popular and can even be indoors and are value-driven. We're seeing parties that used to be sit-down dinners instead be light fare and appetizers. You don't have to serve a feast. Your guests will feast their eyes on whatever you do, but keep your legend alive and party on!

Author/Byline: BRUCE FREEMAN , Scripps Howard News Service
(Bruce Freeman, The Small Business Professor, is president of ProLine Communications, a marketing and public relations firm in Livingston, N.J., and author of "Birthing the Elephant" (Ten Speed Press). E-mail questions to Bruce(at)SmallBusinessProf.com.)

Copyright (c) 2010 Scripps Howard News Service
"Professor Bruce"
Bruce Freeman, The Small Business Professor®
http://www.smallbusinessprofessor.com/
bruce@smallbusinessprofessor.com
973-716-9457

Affluent Magazine, September/October 2010 Issue

2010-09-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

Get Inspired in the Kitchen with these new cookbooks!!

Flavors Magazine, Fall 2010

2010-09-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

We were thrilled to receive the new issue of Flavors magazine!!! The cover shot, taken by the talented photographer, John Haigwood, is absolutely gorgeous and compliments to our Executive Chef, Christophe Holmes, for a stunning selection. You can find the recipe from Chef Chris on page 18. The Tiny Vegetable Crudites, Dulce De Leche Pot de Crème, Poached Baby Octopus in Black Pepper Vinaigrette and Entremes Variados are the perfect recipes to jump start your fall cuisine. Enjoy!!

Psychedelic Floral Trend – Tie-Dyed To Perfection

2010-09-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Our event designers and floral team are always creating fabulous designs and once again, we added pizzazz to a recent party. Always up on the newest, latest and greatest trends, one of our favorite designs that mesmerized guests at a Mitzvah we did were centerpieces filled with stunning, jaw-dropping tie-dyed roses. That’s right…it was a spectrum of colors which burst from these roses and they were the talk of the party!! The one question everyone asked was, “How do you make these tie-dyed roses?” The answer: Roses this special and exquisite were imported from our top sources who are masters at this process and inject pigments into the rose stems using hypodermic needles. The result was a breathtaking surprise for everyone. A throw-back to the seventies, they were quite elegant with a fresh new spin. It was another legendary party that guests are still raving about and the psychedelic flowers were a big hit at the party!

**Photos courtesy of Eric Wittmayer

Legendary Partners of Atlanta Announces Gary Mennie as Executive Chef at The Woodruff Arts Center

2010-08-24T13:40:00.000-07:00

We are proud to announce that Gary Mennie has joined The Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta as Executive Chef.

Chef Mennie is a passionate innovator whose celebrated culinary career is award winning. He received his formal education at the renowned Culinary Institute of America and continued his classical training by studying under French master chef, Maxime Ribera, at Maxime's in New York. Heading west, he trained with another French master at West Hollywood's five-star legend, L'Orangerie. As the trend in California known as farm-to-table was budding, a young Mennie signed on for an intense stint at the iconic Spago, where using a wood-burning oven he began to follow a whole new set of culinary rules focusing on local products and simple preparation.

Returning to the east coast, Chef Mennie joined the kitchen of Gunter Seeger at the Mobil Five-Star Ritz Carlton Buckhead, where he continued to refine his style. In 1995, Atlanta visionary, Chef Gerry Klaskala, handpicked Gary to lead the culinary team at Canoe. During his ten-years at the restaurant, Canoe gained Mobil Four-Star status, which catapulted Chef Mennie—as one of the youngest chefs in America to receive this award—into regional stardom. In 2005, he opened Taurus and most recently served as the Executive Chef at The Livingston Restaurant at the Georgian Terrace Hotel.

Today, Chef Mennie’s newest addition to his long list of credits includes being named Executive Chef at The Woodruff Arts Center, an Atlanta icon and signature destination - an ideal match for this talented Chef. Recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious arts centers, and the only center in the nation combining visual and performing arts, The Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences. Since 1968, The Woodruff Arts Center has served more than 30 million patrons and annually offers more than 3,300 performances and exhibitions. Its board selected Legendary Partners of Atlanta as its food and beverage solution provider after a lengthy and competitive review process.

Joe Bankoff, President and CEO of The Woodruff Arts Center, said “We are very excited to welcome Chef Gary Mennie to our campus as he has a proven track record of delivering extraordinary experiences for his guests’ enjoyment. We are confident he will bring the same level of excellence to all culinary endeavors at the Woodruff.”
Legendary Partners of Atlanta’s Tony Conway said, “We are thrilled to welcome Chef Gary, who has demonstrated a passion for bringing the finest cuisine to our wonderful city. He will bring a fresh new dining experience to this landmark facility and we are looking forward to welcoming him along with all of Atlanta to The Woodruff Arts Center.”

Serving twenty-one marquee performing arts centers through-out North America, Centerplate is known for its compelling food and beverage programs. “Chef Gary brings a superlative level of food and beverage expertise and passion to The Woodruff Arts Center. We are extremely excited to add Chef Mennie to this world-class facility.” said Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate.

Legendary Partners of Atlanta is scheduled to begin services at The Woodruff Art Center in the fall of 2010. Among its plans are a refreshed restaurant concept, enhancements to public food offerings, and offering an array of special event catering choices.

Read more about this exciting new....

Soirees Southern Events

2010-08-17T05:49:00.000-07:00

Photos Courtesy of Nancy Jo McDaniel & Laura Stone

Photos Courtest of Lasting Impressions Photography

Photos Courtesy of Nancy Jo McDaniel

We are delighted to be featured in the Fall/Winter 2010 issue of Soirees Southern Events. The articles include our new event venue, Sutton Mill, in Clarkesville, Georgia and the gorgeous wedding of Brandon & Adrienne Worley at the Mill. We blogged about the Farm inspired Nuptials of Ashley & Garland Smith in the spring and the wedding made a perfect feature for the magazine. Visit http://www.soireessouthernevents.com/ to view the entire Fall/Winter issue of this magazine!

The Woodruff Arts Center Awards Hospitality Contract to Legendary Partners of Atlanta

2010-08-13T12:08:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event and Centerplate Join Forces to Deliver

Rave Reviews at Atlanta’s Premier Arts Venue

STAMFORD, CT (August 4, 2010)—Legendary Partners of Atlanta, a new collaboration between A Legendary Event, Atlanta’s foremost special events firm, and Centerplate, the leading hospitality provider to North America’s premier entertainment venues, sports stadiums and convention centers, announced today it has been awarded the long-term contract as hospitality partner to The Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.

Recognized as one of the nation’s most prestigious arts centers, and the only center in the nation combining visual and performing arts, The Woodruff Arts Center is home to the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences. Since 1968, The Woodruff Arts Center has served more than 30 million patrons and annually offers more than 3,300 performances and exhibitions. Its board selected Legendary Partners of Atlanta as its food and beverage solution provider after a lengthy and competitive review process.

“We are very excited about our new relationship with Legendary Partners of Atlanta,” says Joe Bankoff, President and CEO of The Woodruff Arts Center. “They understand our business, appreciate our mission and presented a plan to provide an unparalleled guest experience for each of our audiences.”

Viewed by Atlanta’s charitable, corporate and civic organizations as the region’s premier special events company, A Legendary Event’s Tony Conway, President and Owner states, “We are thrilled to join Centerplate in providing outstanding guest service to The Woodruff Arts Center’s audiences, and excited to deliver the level of excellence that has come to represent the Center’s programming. We are looking forward to bringing Atlanta back to The Woodruff Arts Center for its events and dining.”

Centerplate serves over 250 leading entertainment, sports and convention venues throughout North America, including twenty-one marquee performing arts centers. The company is known for its compelling food and beverage programs; in 2010 alone Centerplate served as the hospitality partner to the Super Bowl, the Winter Olympics, the NCAA Men’s Basketball Final Four, the South Beach Wine & Food Show, and the recent Nuclear Summit in Washington, D.C. “We are honored to have this opportunity to serve The Woodruff Arts Center and the city of Atlanta, and we are extremely excited to provide world-class hospitality to this world-class facility.” says Des Hague, President and CEO of Centerplate.

Legendary Partners of Atlanta is scheduled to begin service at The Woodruff Art Center in the fall of 2010. Among its plans are a refreshed restaurant concept, enhancements to public food offerings, and offering an array of special event catering choices.

This announcement follows recent Centerplate new business partnerships, including being selected as hospitality partner to the jewel of Ontario the Niagara Convention & Civic Centre in Niagara Falls, Canada and its start of operations at Tanglewood, summer home of the Boston Pops. A Legendary Event was named the 2010 Event Spotlight Recipient for Catering Company of the Year and the 2010 Catersource ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) Award for the Best Catering Company in the South Region.

About the Woodruff Arts Center
The Woodruff Arts Center is one of the premier cultural centers in the nation, a unique institutional model where arts institutions unite to form a collaborative and inspirational environment for the arts and education. The Woodruff Arts Center houses four renowned arts organizations: Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, High Museum of Art, and Young Audiences. In addition to its role as a cultural beacon and hub of the Southeast, the Center serves as a critical economic, educational, and social catalyst for Atlanta and the region. For more information, visit http://www.woodruffcenter.org/.

About Centerplate

Centerplate crafts and delivers “Craveable Experiences. Raveable Results.” in 250 prominent entertainment, sports and convention venues across North America—including 21 performing arts centers. Centerplate has provided services to Art Basel Miami Beach, 15 official U.S. Presidential Inaugural Balls, 12 Super Bowls, 19 World Series, key events for the Democratic and Republican National Conventions, and the largest plated dinner in history at the Alpha Kappa Alpha Centennial Celebration. Visit the company online at http://www.centerplate.com/.

A Legendary Event’s Tony Conway Seen on Good Morning America

2010-08-10T15:03:00.000-07:00

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/JobClub/video/job-interview-avoid-mistakes-11312401

Tory Johnson, Good Morning America’s workplace contributor hosted an informative segment on GMA and interviewed Tony Conway, CEO of A Legendary Event, about “How to avoid mistakes in a job interview.” Tony was honored and delighted to offer insights to Tory to help job candidates learn positive ways to succeed while searching for employment. His best practice standards were featured on the show and viewed across America.

ALE Wins 2010 NACE Awards

2010-07-30T11:20:00.000-07:00

At a prestigious awards ceremony on July 27th in Austin, Texas, A Legendary Event was presented with the following awards from the National Association of Catering Executives (NACE):

2010 Best Catered Off Premise Event of the Year for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the country’s largest supporters of direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventive education for those at risk. As the event’s caterer, A Legendary Event was challenged to create and serve a menu for 400 seated guests that would be highly memorable and innovative.

2010 Best Guest Table Presentation of the Year for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. Each year, a group of the nation’s top designers are invited to create a unique table design to help raise funds for DIFFA. ALE created a table titled “Feast in the Forest”, where guests dined amidst a magical forest, surrounded by lush greenery and a magnificent display of nature at its finest.

Tony Conway, President and Owner of A Legendary Event said, “A Legendary Event is so honored to receive these important awards and be recognized by our industry partners for our successful year in 2009. I am thrilled that we are the winners of this exciting recognition and, as always, am so proud of our talented team.”

Legendary Community Service

2010-07-23T09:21:00.000-07:00

Last week, our team spent a few of our mornings volunteering for the Senior Citizen Services. What a rewarding non-profit organization (click here to visit the website)!! We spent the first morning delivering Meal on Wheels to disabled senior citizens in the city. Our floral team made a special arrangement for each one of the seniors that we delivered along with the meals. The seniors enjoyed the flowers to their fullest and we enjoyed putting a smile on their faces. The second morning was spent packing the meals for the Meals On Wheels Program. We packed hundreds of meals and wish to express our gratitude to the dedicated staff at the center. Check out our pictures below to see our team in action.

Find out how to volunteer for Senior Citizen Services by clicking here!

***Photos Courtesy of the fabulous Nancy Jo McDaniel!!

200 Peachtree Photo Shoot-Behind the Scenes

2010-07-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Here’s another sneak peek of A Legendary Event at work and a few additional photographs from the shoot featured in the Summer/Fall 2010 issue of Atlanta Occasions Magazine. As one of the preferred caterers for this new gorgeous venue, 200 Peachtree, we’re excited about this beautifully restored historical landmark that can be used as a perfect spot for a wedding reception or a party for hundreds. Check out the article and these stunning behind the scenes photos that were taken by Nancy Jo McDaniel, great eye candy!!

2010 Wedding Promotion

2010-07-08T12:51:00.000-07:00

Book your wedding with

A Legendary Event and receive

A Three-Tier Wedding Cake

45 minutes of Passed Hors D'oeuvres.

We look forward to serving you!!

*This offer is valid today through 12/31/10

for 100 guests or more.

Delta Sky Magazine: Mad Men Cocktail Party

2010-07-08T11:52:00.000-07:00

Atlanta Occasions

2010-07-02T06:48:00.000-07:00

In May, we spent two FULL days helping Atlanta Occasions with a photo shoot at 200 Peachtree. If you have not seen 200 Peachtree, this is an amazing sneak peak into how gorgeous this new venue truly is. The original marble floors were brought back to life as well as the most obvious, breath-taking feature....the chandeliers. The 14 foot tall chandeliers originally hung in the Macy's Herald Square flagship store and were brought to the Atlanta's Macy's in 1927. Can you imagine shopping in such a gorgeous space???

The issue is filled with pages from the photo shoot. This is my favorite shot, that shows the table from the balcony area. We couldn't have done this photo shoot without the help from our fantastic vendors. The gorgeous embroidered linens were provided by BBJ, the rentals were graciously donated by Event Rentals Unlimited, the lighting by Magnum Lighting & Design and the menu and place cards were printed and donated by Paces Paper. The photographs were taken by the fantastic Ben Vigil and the behind the scenes footage was provided by the talented Nancy Jo McDaniel. Thank you to Heather Vreeland with Atlanta Occasions for giving us this great opportunity!!

The Summer/Fall Issue 2010 is available on new stands today. There is so much more inside the pages of the magazine. Happy Reading & Happy 4th of July!!

Introducing Atlanta's Picnic Company!!!

2010-06-25T07:52:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event introduces our new sister company into the Atlanta market. Atlanta’s Picnic Company can provide you with everything needed to produce a remarkable, unforgettable event. Whether it is a company lunch that you want to provide a picnic-to-go or a large family reunion, we’ve got you covered.

Atlanta’s Picnic Company has a large selection of pre-set picnic menus to choose from or we can customize a menu to meet your every need. Not only do we provide the picnic food, but we can also supply the décor and floral items such as picnic tables, table linens, chairs, candles and centerpieces. A chef or grill attendant is required and included with all grilling menus. APC can provide you with a large list of Picnic Places. From parks to gardens, there is an endless amount of places in the city to host your perfect event. We can assist you in applying for the proper permits required for park pavilion rental, large gatherings in public parks, or facilities rentals.

What is a picnic without entertainment? We have the ultimate games for your event, whether you are entertaining kids and want face painters or you are compelling adults and want a caricature artist. We have an outstanding assortment of activities available for your events including dunking machines, tattoo artists, 9-hole putt-putt setup, climbing wall and much more.

To plan the perfect picnic, please call 404.350.1498 and talk to Kelly Vincent. Picnic season is here and Atlanta’s Picnic Company has everything you need!! Visit us on the web at http://www.atlpicniccompany.com/.

***Become a fan of Atlanta's Picnic Company on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Atlanta-GA/Atlantas-Picnic-Company/134256523261005?ref=ts&__a=25&v=wall

Flavors Magazine

2010-06-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

We were delighted to be featured in the Summer 2010 issue of Flavors Magazine for our recent awards!! If you don't have this issue yet, you should definitely pick one up. There are so many great summer recipes to start the summer off with a bang. I can't wait to try the Seafood Gazpacho from Nancy Mitchell, Chef and Co-owner of Six Feet Under!!

ROBYN SPIZMAN NAMED VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

2010-06-11T14:34:00.000-07:00

Robyn Spizman is the newest member of A Legendary Event’s award-winning company. Spizman, a nationally known New York Times Bestselling award-winning writer and well known media personality, brings more than three decades of communications, public relations and social/corporate event planning experience.

Spizman’s extensive background in special events includes launching some of the most innovative first-time ever Galas, fundraisers and interactive events in Atlanta. A native Atlantan, community volunteer and nationally known consumer advocate, she has appeared extensively in the media including repeatedly on The Today Show and Star 94 with Cindy & Ray.

An accomplished writer and branding expert, Spizman is the author of dozens of books including Where's Your Wow? 16 Ways to Make Your Competitors Wish They Were You! She was awarded the USA Today Family Channel Award and serves on the National Advisory Council of the Make A Wish Foundation, the National Advisory Council of The eWomen Network, The Auxiliary of The William Breman Jewish Home and as Camp Twin Lakes Partners Card Ambassador. A well known speaker and creator of TheGiftionary.com, she has spoken at some of the largest conferences in the United States and Atlanta on business trends, sales strategies and success.

Tony Conway, President and Owner of A Legendary Event said, “We are extremely excited to have Robyn Spizman on board. Her wealth of talents in the field will be a fantastic addition to our team as we strive to provide our clients with a legendary experience.”

Flavors Magazine Article

2010-06-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

We were thrilled that the Legendary Tony Conway was featured in the recent Spring issue of Flavors Magazine. If you have ever wondered the story behind A Legendary Event, this article is perfect for you to dive into!! Have a wonderful weekend!!

JDRF Stories of Hope

2010-06-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, May 8th at the Intercontinental Buckhead Hotel, The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) held their annual gala. The gala is infamous for raising record breaking amounts of money for JDRF and this year was no exception as they raised over $1 million dollars! Our Creative Director, Steve Welsh, took center stage as the event designer. This year, he wanted to go for more of a contemporary feeling but maintain a tradition, timeless design.

A plethora of silver, acrylic, wire and glass spheres were at the center of the design. The large tent that was placed in the courtyard at the Intercontinental was centered with a dramatic element of dripping spheres hanging over a sixteen foot table. Orchids were then carefully placed around the dramatic centerpiece.

The guest tables were draped in gorgeous “Fairmont Taffeta” from Party Tables. The centerpiece was a classic cluster of white Hydrangea with white Phalaenopsis Orchids placed sporadically in the arrangement.

The bar consisted of 16 of our lit bar tops with a long, skinny table in the center of the bar that held another magnificent arrangement of Phalaenopsis Orchids and silver, acrylic, wire and glass spheres. Of course, we added the proper ambient lighting with floating and votive candles.

The event was a fun and exciting evening. We were honored to have been chosen to do the event décor and serve as a sponsor for JDRF. This years gala brings JDRF one step closer to finding a cure for Juvenile Diabetes. Many thanks to the supporters and other sponsors!!

***Photos courtesy of Nancy Jo McDaniel

Summer Note from Tony Conway

2010-05-24T14:07:00.000-07:00

This past week our team had the pleasure of working on a photo shoot with the Atlanta Occasion Publisher Heather Vreeland on her upcoming July Issue! It is going to be amazing and you will have to check out the newest venue in Atlanta, 200 Peachtree! The image above doesn't even come close to doing this event space justice. Our Creative Director, Steve Welsh, and Floral Director, Jeanna Graham, took my vision and really made it come together with the amazing table settings and incredible floral decor…and then Senior Event Manager, Sandi Horgan, led a team of Legendary Staff and Supplier Partners to handle all of the logistics! Drapery was provided by the fantastic Event Drapery and, of course, photographer Ben Vigil made everything come to life! Heather and I have been planning and designing this shoot for sometime, and I look forward to your feedback on the issue…pick it up July! I cannot wait to see what the rest of the issue has in store for us because Heather is amazing at what she does!

I will also be featured in the July issue of Delta Sky Magazine… from what I hear, the overall theme really is going to be fun and innovative …I hope you like the article!

Have a great summer!

Tony

MICHELE LEND NAMED VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES AND BUSINESS DEVELOPEMENT

2010-05-20T11:22:00.000-07:00

Michele Lend is the newest member of A Legendary Event’s award-winning sales team. Lend brings with her over 23 years of sales and social/corporate event planning experience.
After graduating from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, Lend began her career in 1982 as the assistant director of food services for Epicure Management Services at the university. Within two years she was promoted to director of food services on the Mercer University campus in Atlanta. Lend then spent four years as the director of sales for the Atlanta Catering Company and an entire decade as one of the top sales producers for Proof of the Pudding caterers based in Atlanta.

Lend joined Atlanta Arrangements in 1999 as the director of sales and marketing and became a partner in 2003. She was promoted to chief operating officer in 2006 and to president of the company in 2007. She has had the privilege of working with many Fortune 100 and 500 companies throughout her catering career. Some highlights from her journey have been working with the delegations for the 1988 Democratic Convention, The Nationwide Seniors PGA Tour, The Federation Cup, The AT&T tennis challenge, The Bell South Classic, and the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
She has served as co-chair of ADME Achievement Awards and was the 1999 recipient of the ACVB Volunteer of the Year Award. She currently holds a position on the Board of Directors for the Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau. Tony Conway, President and Owner of A Legendary Event said, “We are very excited to have Michele on board. Her expertise in the field will be a fantastic addition to our team.”

Green Entertaining

2010-05-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

We all love to look at the magazines that are tucked in front of us on the airplane. What else CAN you do when you are not allowed to listen to your IPod or send an e-mail on your Blackberry?? For those of you who have not been on a plane lately or haven't picked up the latest issue of Delta Sky, here is Mr. Conway's latest and greatest article. Enjoy!!

A Tony Evening

2010-05-05T10:27:00.000-07:00

The New Loews Hotel set the perfect stage for this last weekend’s gala, A Tony Evening. All of the raised proceeds benefited the Alliance Theatre. Our talented event designer, Sophia Lin made it a stylish and upscale atmosphere that blended the setting of the hotel with an artistic rendition of A Tony Evening logo. The logo, which captured the essence of classic style and elegance with filigree patterns, portrayed a contemporary edge with its paint-like splatter design and unconventional color scheme. Sophia also utilized a mixture of soft and bold purple tones combined with dark blue, turquoise and gold, and jewel tones that dramatically came to life with the neutral hotel palette.

The step and repeat was anything but traditional! Sophia found her inspiration for the step and repeat on on the red carpet at the this year Grammy’s.
The centerpieces for the tables were a perfect marriage of traditional beauty mixed with modern style. Each centerpiece was constructed with a composition of stacked clear and turquoise colored glass for a glistening effect with the room lighting. These centerpieces contained a mixture of golden and orange toned florals mixed with deep purple blooms. Conventional florals such as hydrangea, roses and tulips were mixed with orchids, mums and other bold florals for a full yet simple look. A sleek crystal base table lamp was added to the composition and topped with an ivory tapered shade. Square votives were also used in the centerpiece, which again created a sense of modern style.
The theatrical filled evening, which starred Broadway Star Elaine Stritch, was a huge hit!! Our team did a fantastic job at this memorable event!!

****Photos courtesy of our fabulous Nancy Jo McDaniel!!!

Family Farm Nuptials

2010-04-28T14:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday April 10th, we had the pleasure of doing a farm-inspired wedding ceremony. The farm is located about an hour in a half outside of Atlanta in Woodbury, Ga. All of the décor elements were inspired from the gorgeous surroundings, which included horses, pastures and natural elements. As guest arrived at the farm, the gates were adorned with magnolia and lemon leaf wreaths.

Guests entered the ceremony and were greeted by A Legendary Event service staff offering fresh lemonade in mason jars. The small ceremony of 75 people sat upon bales of hay that were topped with burlap pads and adorned with ribbon and magnolia leaf details. The front of the chapel was entirely framed with a graceful, lush strand of garland composed of magnolia and lemon leaf.

The bride held a bouquet of gorgeous white hydrangea, roses, mini callas, spray roses and lily of the valley. The bridesmaids each carried a bouquet of white and chartreuse hydrangea along with other complimentary blooms and were placed on silver goblets (which was a great twist on the traditional bridesmaid bouquet!). The silver goblets belonged to the grooms grandmother, and were used as a loving tribute to her everlasting memory. The groom and groomsmen all wore boutonnieres of white rose, lemon leaf and curly willow.

The reception was held in a gorgeous white tent at the horse barn on the property. The afternoon reception was very casual with seating areas made from bales of hay and adorned with pillows in the bride’s signature colors of brown and green. The mother of the bride said “Everyone is still talking about the clever use of our hay bales ---for chapel seating to couches and coffee tables for the reception, cleverly covered with burlap and throw pillows in the bride’s color scheme----and oh so comfortable!” The wedding cake sat upon a tree stump which gave the elegant cake a rustic feeling. The buffet and bar area featured accents of “birch vases” filled with fresh cut white wild flowers.

The clients were ecstatic and have been enthused with the LEGENDARY work that our team provided. In a letter sent to our team, the mother of the bride made us all smile stating, “The icing on the cake for all of us, however, was the genuine loving, caring, personal attention to our every need – from start to finish – that all of you offered us at every turn. I know of no other professionals who give of themselves as much as you do. And you do it with such ease and grace. This is a special treasure to me, and I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.”

****Photos courtesy of the fabulous Nancy Jo McDaniel!!

Executive Chef Christophe Holmes returns to ALE

2010-04-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event is pleased to announce the return of Executive Chef Christophe Holmes. Chef Holmes comes to Legendary with an extensive background in the culinary industry. Holmes was previously the Executive Chef for ALE for 5 years and hired many of our current successful culinary staff.

A 1990 graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Holmes’ restaurant expertise was honed in his positions as executive chef of The Georgia Grille and Willi, two fine-dining establishments located in Alpharetta, Georgia. He has also served as executive chef at two top establishments in South Florida, C’est Si Bon, a gourmet shop and catering company in Palm Beach, and John Bull Pub, an upscale 200-seat pub in West Palm Beach.

In addition to his remarkable talent for food preparation and presentation, Holmes’ management skills are a notable strength, enabling him to succeed in fast-paced, high volume environments while maintaining the utmost quality and attention to detail. As Executive Chef, Holmes will once again oversee all aspects of A Legendary Event’s culinary department including menu design, daily kitchen operations, food preparation, and purchasing. He looks forward to working closely with the Executive Sous Chef, Executive Pastry Chef and the entire culinary team at A Legendary Event. Owner and President of A Legendary Event Tony Conway said, “Chef Holmes will be a great asset to our team, as he is well respected in the industry. We’re delighted to have him back on board.”

2010 Allie Awards

2010-04-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

The 20th Annual Allie Awards were held this past Sunday night at the new Loews Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. The Allie Awards is Atlanta's premier awards ceremony recognizing and honoring outstanding examples of quality and creativity in Atlanta’s event industry. The awards demonstrate how working together for a common good can promote excellence in event design, planning and production. This year was a special birthday celebration dedicated to the 20th year of the Allie Awards Gala.

A Legendary Event took home the following awards:

Best Plated Menu for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. DIFFA: Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS is one of the country’s largest supporters of direct care for people living with HIV/AIDS and preventive education for those at risk. As the event’s caterer, we were challenged to create and serve a menu for 400 seated guests that would be memorable and innovative.

Best Tabletop Design for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. Each year, a group of the nation’s top designers are invited to create a unique table design to help raise funds for DIFFA. ALE created a table titled “Feast in the Forest” where guests dined amidst a magical forest surrounded by lush greenery, moss and mushrooms.

Best Themed Event Décor for a wedding. ALE featured a bride’s love of nature with a Nature-Inspired Nuptials theme at Atlanta’s Temple and the Buckhead Grand Hyatt Hotel. The décor featured a chuppah completely garlanded with foliage; a lush canopy of magnolia leaves suspended above the dance floor; and a myriad of other “green” features.
Best Use of Rentals for the BMW Event “International Media Launch.” Our venue partner Tents Unlimited was also honored with an Allie for this event; highlighting the custom tent they created to house the lounge and ballroom.

President and Owner Tony Conway remarked, “We are so grateful and honored to receive all of these fabulous awards.” Congratulations to our fellow Allie Award Winners!!

Winter 2010 Green Initiative

2010-04-01T09:51:00.000-07:00

Green Initiative Note: With our ongoing recycling program with Greenco, we're proud to report that in the months of January & February, we've recycled approximately 9,230 lbs. of waste!

We are constantly thinking of ways to be more GREEN around the office. We have cut the amount of paper we buy in HALF by using both sides of one sheet of paper. Let us know if you have any simple ideas on how we can decrease our carbon footprint here on Earth!!

The Signature of Spring

2010-03-23T06:39:00.000-07:00

With spring around the corner, it’s time to start planning for Easter, Mother’s Day, and outdoor gatherings. When I think of spring, I am typically reminded of soft pastels, bouquets of daffodils, and grilled snapper on the open barbecue. Of course, in Texas, we weren’t as winter-weary as other parts of the country ―but we still welcomed the gentler hand of spring.

Years have passed since my spring times in Texas but we still come together with family and friends to celebrate nature, life, and a mother’s love. This year, look for nature to be one of the prevailing signatures of spring. My company recently provided the décor for a bride who loved nature. We translated that passion into wedding décor that featured a chuppah garlanded with foliage (the cover of the chuppah was made from cotton grown, picked, and ginned on the bride’s Mississippi family farm) and an actual tree stump that served as the wedding cake base. However, the most dramatic feature was the lush canopy ceiling treatment of Magnolia leaves suspended from a grid above the dance floor. A multitude of very large blooming branches created the appearance of a large arbor under which the guests dances. A host of iron lanterns ―each twinkling with candlelight ―was suspended from the grid of leaves and branches at various heights. The bride was thrilled at how we captured the essence of her personality with this nature-inspired wedding décor.

Spring menus will be bold, fresh, and organic. Utilizing locally grown fruits and vegetables straight from the farmer’s truck continues to be the most popular choice. Wild leeks, Vidalia onions, heirloom tomatoes, snap beans, yellow crookneck squash, peaches and blueberries are perfect springtime choices ― especially in response to clients’ requests more salads and healthier eating. Our Executive Chef was recently featured in Special Events Magazine for his “organic spoon-sized salads” composed of micro-basil, edible orchids, raspberry, caramelized Seckel pear, and pineapple relish with African blue basil.
In addition to fresh, organic, and creative ―“Mini” is also in. From gourmet mini burgers (photo courtesy of Lauren Ruebinstein) to cold shots of Vichyssoise ―it seems, bite-sized is the right size. “Petits fours literally fly off the trays at our events,” says Executive Pastry Chef Charles Barrett. Maybe smaller-sized desserts and pastries (photo courtesy of Ric Mershon) reduce the guilt. For some reason, serving smaller portions also seems to stimulate conversation. If you really want your guests to mingle, I suggest serving single, bite-sized hors d’œuvres.

For Mother’s Day I wouldn’t veer too far away from classic brunch dishes. Stacey Eames, owner of Atlanta’s trendy Highland Bakery says, “Our Crab Cake Benedict with sautéed spinach is by far our most popular Mother’s Day item. We’ve been at this location for over five years and Mom’s seem to order the same items year after year. I guess they like what’s familiar ― I find that to be very endearing.”

Easter fare can be a little more inventive. If you’re inviting guests, I suggest having the standard Honey glazed baked ham available so that those expecting it will not be disappointed. Do try an unexpected side dish like Orzo pasta salad or Cheddar Cheese Buns (extra delicious when served with ham slices and Dijon-styled or coarse German mustard). For dessert pick up something unique from your local bakery ―a Rhubarb almond crumble or Brazilian Carrot Cake ―quite different from the American version.

Regardless, of where you live or how frequently you entertain ― you’ll surely note this year’s bold, organic, locally-grown, miniature, alfresco, nature-driven, classic, colorful and creative signature of spring.

**To read more of the March/April Issue of Affluent Magazine, check out the new digital version!

Delta Air Lines Event

2010-03-17T11:24:00.000-07:00

On Tuesday March 16th, most of the team here at A Legendary Event helped with a very important event at the Delta Heritage Museum. The Delta Business Elite flight attendants were in town for a meeting and we were asked to do a seated luncheon event for 225 guests in the Delta Air Lines historical hangar. The seated luncheon for 225 guests (which ended up really being for 256 guests) was focused around customer service; therefore, we had 1 service staff per 2.5 guests. This helped us provide outstanding service from the second our guests were seated to the very end of the dessert!!

The guest dined under the “Spirit of Delta” which is a Boeing 767 that retired to the historical hangar on May 7, 2006. The Delta Air Lines staff is very familiar with this aircraft as it signifies the first Boeing 767 bought by Delta employees for $30 Million. The aircraft represents the gratitude employees had for Delta, after none of the employees were laid off when the company was experiencing financial troubles in 1982. Employees raised the money through payroll deductions, and on Dec. 15, 1982, gathered in Delta’s Technical Operations Center in Atlanta to present the aircraft to the airline. What an honor it was for all of these employees to dine under such a significant and important symbol of their company!!
There were two looooong banquet tables which collectively seated 225 guests. Three small tables had to be frantically added when 26 more guests arrived then planned. The three course luncheon lasted about 1.5 hours and consisted of a cylindrical stacked salad, a trio of burgers, and a raspberry chocolate dome for dessert. Mmmmmmmmm!!! (Photo credit goes to the "Legendary" Wilward Hughes)

A Legendary Event Wins International Catering Association Awards!!!!

2010-03-11T07:46:00.000-08:00

Happy Spring!!! I wanted to let you in on some exciting news about our company!!

At an award ceremony on March 8th in Las Vegas, our team was presented with the following prestigious awards from the International Catering Association (ICA):

2010 Spotlight Award for Catering Company of the Year. Our company was chosen amongst many top US and International catering companies nominated for this award. The judging criteria included customer service, menu design and creativity, all aspects that we take great pride.

2010 Catersource ACE (Achievement in Catering Excellence) Award for the Best Catering Company in the South Region. This award recognizes companies that have shown noteworthy achievement in the catering industry through culinary, business, community and professional development. There is a winner for this award in four regions in the United States and Internationally.

2010 CATIE Award for Best Plated Menu for DIFFA’s Dining by Design. Each year, a group of the nation’s top designers are invited to create a unique table design to help raise funds for DIFFA (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS). As the event’s caterer, we were to create and serve a menu for 400 seated guests that would be memorable and innovative.

2010 CATIE Award for Best Themed Menu and Presentation for the Julie & Julia Screening Party. On July 8th, we transformed the empty Niketown into a Moulin-Rouge-style affair for our annual “Ladies Night Out.” Four hundred of company owner Tony Conway’s closest female friends and clients were treated to cocktails and French cuisine prior to the exclusive screening of “Julie & Julia”―Sony picture’s film about Julia Child’s life in France.

Tony Conway, President and Owner of A Legendary Event said, “We’re so honored to be winners of these very extraordinary awards. I am so proud of my team’s hard work and determination this past year.”

Thank you to all of our FANTASTIC Clients!!! Thank you for your continued loyalty and support!!!

NEW Atlanta Social Datebook

2010-03-03T09:32:00.000-08:00

We have partnered with Atlanta Magazine and their fabulous blog, ATL Intel, to start a new Atlanta Social Calendar. In the past, we have all tried to keep up with upcoming social events using Seasons Magazine and Facebook. Now, if you need something to do this weekend, just go to ATL Intel and click on the social datebook.

For all you party planners out there, it's very simple to add your event to the datebook. Click on the bottom of the datebook where it says "browse the full social datebook" and click the "submit your event" tab. For your event to be eligible, the event must have a philanthropic component (such as benefiting a non-profit) and must be open to the public (for example, tickets or sponsorships should be available for purchase). You also have to be an Atlanta Magazine Insider to be eligible.

Hope to see the calendar full of fun and wonderful parties!!

2010: The Year of the Tiger

2010-02-25T10:40:00.001-08:00

The Chinese New Year is a celebration based upon the first day of the New moon. Just another excuse to throw an extravagant celebration!! We helped celebrate by doing the décor for the St. Regis Chinese New Year event on the 7th floor terrace. Of course, the temperatures weren’t exactly favorable, but a clear tent helped keep the guest comfortable. The tent (ironically) had a clear top so guest could actually view the "new moon" if they choose to!!

As guest entered the tent, the first element that caught their eye was the large black laquered pagoda in the rear of the tent and the lanterns that hung from the ceiling. These two dramatic elements definitely set the tone for the evening. Large reservoirs that held water with floating candles and beautiful quince blooms sat in the middle of two seating areas. The curved bar fronts were faced with two gorgeous orchid graphics and lit from behind. Four Buffets were set around the perimeter of the tent to provide authentic Chinese cuisine for the celebration.
The evening was a huge success and, once again, our talented event designer, Amy Saltzman, wowed us with her innovative and breathtaking design!! Click here to see more photos that were taken at the St. Regis by the fantastic Nancy Jo McDaniel.

Dr. Seuss Goes to War....and More!!!

2010-02-16T13:07:00.000-08:00

We did the cutest event this weekend for the William Breman Jewish Heritage & Holocaust Museum in Midtown Atlanta. They have a new exhibit called “Dr. Seuss Goes to War….and more!” featuring some of Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) original works that he did while he was the chief editorial cartoonist for the New York newspaper PM from 1941-1943.

The beginning of the exhibit (the first photo above) has more adult friendly historical facts and original material from two private collectors, together with material on loan from the Holocaust Museum in Houston. The end of the exhibit (the second photo above) has a ton of kid friendly, interactive activities that feature more of his current work. If you have kids, please take them to this interactive exhibit. I promise they will love it!!

The opening Gala featured a dramatic entrance with a large Seussian inspired arch and tuffula inspired trees in the existing planters.

Three truffla trees were at the center of the room as you entered the foyer. Our colorful painted bullseye panels were flanked by large Dr. Seuss graphics. All these elements made a dramatic tranformation to the room. Overall, the opening gala was a huge success with a little over 350 attendees.

A Labor of Love....

2010-02-11T13:05:00.000-08:00

As Valentine’s Day is around the corner, LOVE is on our minds!! Weird, it may be, but I was thinking back on something that took a TON of love from our staff last year.

December 5, 2009, the SEC Championship was in Atlanta and we had the privilege of doing the event décor for the welcoming reception at the Georgia Aquarium. Our event designer, Sophia Lin, always comes up with new ideas and different ways to use ordinary materials. When she showed the ALE staff the picture of this gorgeous environmentally friendly chandelier, we all thought she was so innovative.

Little did Sophia know that the six 20’ chandeliers that she proposed to our client would ever touch so many people’s hands!! First, we had to gather over 8,000 2-Liter and 20 oz. plastic bottles. Then, our wood shop workers cut each of the bottles to form the flower shape!Next, two holes had to be punched in all the bottle bottoms. After A LOT of broken hole punchers, we thought of the idea of using a soldering iron to melt the holes in the bottles. Then the process of stringing began….. We strung, and we strung, and we strung until we couldn’t string anymore!!! Next, we tied the many strands of bottles onto the steel wheel and finally it was near completion!
The end result was stunning and our client was beyond ecstatic about the outcome. All of the Florida and Alabama fans had no clue that something that they enjoyed all night was built by a team of 40+ people. Till this day, we have not had anything that took as much time, effort and LOVE as those chandeliers!! Happy Valentine’s Day and we hope that you find something to put lots of LOVE into!!

A Legendary Summer...

2010-02-03T07:35:00.001-08:00

On January 24, 2010, we were part of a bridal show at the Four Seasons Hotel in Midtown Atlanta. The Bridal show was titled “A Bride for all Seasons” and we choose to represent the summertime (so appropriate for us Atlanta natives)!!

We have all heard that the “HOT” color this season is a bright, canary yellow. One of our talented Event Designers, Amy Saltzman, created a beautiful canary toned summer wedding that she called “A Legendary Summer.” Amy took this to a new level using fresh lemons, a plethora of yellow Forsythia branches, beautiful Sunflowers and soft yellow Oncidium Orchids.

The mixture of all these yellow elements along with green moss, White Dendrobium Orchids, Hydrangea and gorgeous burch trees was the perfect combination to make you feel like you were in a summer bliss!!! For more photos taken by the lovely Nancy Jo McDaniel, enjoy this gorgeous slide show http://www.njmphotography.com.temp.livebooks.com/data/web/ALegendarySummer/index.html.

We would also like to thank Heather from Atlanta Occassions for mentioning A Legendary Event in her blog post "Inspired by this: yellow, yellow, yellow!" She commented that we acheived our summer creation with "flying YELLOW colors". Thanks for the compliments Heather!!

2010 Spotlight Award Voting in Final Stretch

2010-01-28T11:37:00.000-08:00

If you haven't already voted for A Legendary Event to become 2010 Spotlight Award Catering Company of the Year, you only have three days left!!! To vote, click on the black box above and enter your e-mail address. It only takes a few minutes and we would be honored to have your support. The voting deadline is on January 31st at midnight. Happy Voting!

For the Love of Coconut

2010-01-22T06:57:00.000-08:00

The coconut tree has been called the 'tree of life' because of its multifarious uses- the leaves for matting, weaving, and hatching; the fibrous husks for making rope; the oil for soap, shampoo, and cosmetics; and, of course, the edible part of the coconut for ingredients in countless sweet and savory recipes.

Health benefits of coconut have garnered much attention in recent press. Last year India, one of the top coconut producing countries, experienced a 130% increase in consumption of “tender coconut.” The coconut water found in tender coconut is gaining popularity because its fat free, naturally sweet and electrolyte-rich. In other words, it’s the perfect energy drink. In addition to the elixir-like coconut water-the fleshy, edible part of the coconut, also known as “coconut meat” is much healthier than other fruits. Coconut meat contains less sugar and more protein than popular fruits such as bananas, apples, and oranges. As well, the health benefits of coconut oil include stress relief, weight loss, increased immunity, relief from kidney problems, diabetes, and maintaining cholesterol levels to name a few (I can already hear lines forming at Whole Foods). The coconut, it seems, is quickly achieving, rock star status.

I appreciate all of coconut’s non-food uses and its healthy benefits but I love coconut for one reason, I love to cook with it. From Thai-styled Massaman curry with coconut sauce to a sprinkle on my cupcakes, coconut provides a subtle nutty sweetness that I adore. Below is a recipe that I especially like, popular in the Northern region of India called “Coconut Ladoo.” It’s a simple recipe that’s doesn’t require a lot of time. Translated literally, “Coconut Ladoo” means “balls of coconut.” Combined with condensed milk, and powdered sugar these melt-in-your-mouth treats are truly unique.

Photo courtesy of Philip Shone Photography

Coconut Laddoo Ingredients:
3 cups fresh dry coconut (shredded)*
¾ can condensed milk
1 cup powdered sugarHow to make Coconut Laddoo:
Boil ¾ can of condensed milk in a pan.
When it starts boiling, add 2 cups shredded coconut and mix well.
When the milk gets absorbed in coconut, add the powdered sugar.
Stir continuously on medium flame until mixture starts leaving the sides of the pan.
Remove and make small balls (about the size of a table tennis ball).
Roll the balls in the remaining coconut.
Refrigerate Coconut Laddoos for 30 minutes before serving.

*Depending on taste, add 1 level tsp of cardamom powder to shredded coconut.

Shredded coconut is also a wonderful garnish to any type of leafy green salad composed with fruit and nuts. Recently, we created a Toasted Coconut and Blood Orange Salad as the salad component to a four course Tapas platter for a poolside party. We dressed the salad with a Coconut Rum Vinaigrette. The salad was a perfect sweet and tangy blend and paired beautifully with the other courses.

Coconut black tea and coconut flour are two more wonderful coconut products. Blended with tropical coconut, coconut black tea is a hearty and tasty twist on classic black tea and is making its presence known among tea drinkers for its subtle sweetness. For extra nuttiness, coconut black tea can also be served with almond milk.

Another relatively new coconut-based product is coconut flour. Although not readily available in every supermarket, coconut flour is receiving growing acclaim. Prior to the availability of coconut flour, those with certain dietary restrictions were forced to forego many desserts and baked goods. Alas! Imagine the tragedy of a life lived devoid of chocolate chip cookies, blueberry muffins and German chocolate cake. Since coconut flour is 100% gluten free, those with wheat allergies are finding coconut flour to be the perfect substitute. As well, since coconut flour already has a mildly sweet taste from the naturally occurring sugar from the coconut meat, baked goods need less sugar added. Now that coconut flour has arrived on the market, it has become much more than a substitute for traditional flour; it’s become an essential dietary element for a growing number of health-conscious consumers.

Enchanted Elegance

2010-01-13T06:37:00.000-08:00

We were thirlled to receive the Spring 2010 issue of "Get Married" yesterday and see that A Legendary Event was featured on the cover!! Not only can you pick up an issue for yourself, but we will be feautured on "Get Married" this Saturday morning, January 16th at 9 AM on WE TV. Tune in and get tips from Mr. Conway on how to entertain!!

Atlantan Bridal Show

2010-01-08T07:59:00.000-08:00

On this snowy, icy day here in Atlanta, we're definitely looking forward to Spring 2010!! Not only does the spring bring beautiful blooming Dogwoods, but it also brings weddings. Check out the photos from the Atlantan Bridal Show that was hosted in the gorgeous St. Regis Astor Ballroom. Click here to see more photos from from the fantastic Laura Stone: http://www.artstarphotography.com/Slideshows/legendary.StRegisBridal/

Spotlight Awards Finalist: Catering Company of the Year

2009-12-23T13:10:00.001-08:00

We are so excited to be 2010 spotlight award finalist for catering company of the year!! We would love your help in making A Legendary Event Spotlight Award Winners. Please click: http://www.event-solutions.com/spotlight/vote/ to vote!! Thank you so much for your support!!

A Legendary Event 2009 Checklist:

2009-12-22T08:54:00.000-08:00

· We did 2,888 events.
· Our Catering Staff served over 200,000 people.
· We served 225 gift certificates.
· We had a record breaking year of events at the World of Coca Cola.
· We traveled around the United States and held events in Utah, Augusta, Ocala, Ohio, New Orleans (twice), Phoenix, Orlando & Los Angeles.
· We were featured on three magazine covers.
· Delta helped put our name in front of 1 BILLION customers.
· We revamped our floral department with a new floral director, Jeanna Graham and floral assistant & designer, Fleming Paterson.
· We made new changes in the kitchen with our new executive chef, Chad Harrison, and new pastry chef, Charles Barrett.

Thanks to everyone that made 2009 a fantastic and EVENTful year!! We wish you and your family a Happy Holiday and a prosperous New Year!!

TIS' THE SEASON

2009-12-16T12:30:00.000-08:00

We have been busy elves here at Legendary Events during the 2009 holiday season and have been fortunate enough to have many events on our December calendar.

One of the exciting design and floral events that we produced on the 1st of December was a Client Appreciation Party for the St. Regis. The St. Regis Astor Ballroom is gorgeous with its ivory painted mill work, custom chandeliers, silk embroidered fabric walls and the silver leaf ceiling. This architecture makes our job easier (and harder); while we have great bones to work with, we have a high standard to live up to.

photo courtesy of ricmershon.com

The ballroom was draped off into 6 sections with gorgeous sheer white fabric. The focus of the space was placed in the center of the room under the magnificent hand made crystal chandelier. A tree full of holiday red berries was created by our floral director, Jeanna Graham and our infamous creative director, Steve Welsh. Surrounding the tree were over 50 glass containers filled with berries, amaryllis, ruby water and, of course, candles.

photo courtesy of ricmershon.com

The entrance to the ballroom was draped with sheer white fabric then tied back with magnolia leaf and large sweet pine cone garland and finished with a luscious red ribbon. A large silver urn filled with over 300 red roses sat on this gorgeous mahogany table. The entrance alone was enough to take your breath away!!

Overall, this turned out to be a wonderful and gorgeous evening!!

New Executive Chef

2009-12-07T11:57:00.000-08:00

photo courtesy of artstarphotography.com

Chef Chad Harrison has been appointed to the role of Executive Chef at A Legendary Event. As the newest member of A Legendary Event’s award-winning culinary team, Harrison brings over two decades of experience in International and American menu design, food preparation, and traditional and modern culinary techniques.

His vita includes culinary work at the renowned Alexander’s Restaurant in Hilton Head, South Carolina; The Grand Ole House in the Grand Cayman Islands; the Marriott’s Pine Isle Resort; and monthly television appearances and food demonstrations with local media. Harrison’s extensive experience in both restaurant and off-premise banquet cuisine makes him an ideal fit at A Legendary Event. His modern approach to classic cuisine is based in his formal training in European culinary techniques mastered under German Master Chef Tell Erhardt.

Harrison’s culinary work has garnered several distinctions including the Tampa Tribune’s “Best of the Bay Chef’s Award,” and Tampa Bay Magazine’s “Best Bay Caterers Award.” As Executive Chef, Harrison will oversee all aspects of A Legendary Event’s culinary department including menu design, overseeing daily kitchen operations, food preparation, purchasing, and working closely with the Executive Sous Chef, Executive Pastry Chef, and the entire culinary team at A Legendary Event. Owner and President of A Legendary Event Tony Conway said, “Chef Harrison will be a great asset to our team—we’re delighted to have him on board.”

NOVEMBER GREEN INITIATIVE NOTE

2009-12-01T09:28:00.000-08:00

Green Initiative Note: With our ongoing recycling program with Greenco, we're proud to report that in the month of November, we've recyled approximately 5,590 lbs. of waste! Stay tuned for more updates.

The Scoop on Turkey

2009-11-25T12:46:00.000-08:00

The Scoop on Turkey

And Other Stories from the Original Harvest Table

By Tony Conway, CMP

Sometimes, our research takes us to unexpected places. Recently, a client asked us to prepare an authentic Thanksgiving dinner for a gathering of twelve. In order to get the details right, we schooled ourselves in everything Pilgrim. Through reading widely and surveying unspoiled miles of video footage, we learned that the first harvest dinner didn't, in fact, include many of the dishes that we typically consider traditional Thanksgiving fare. We also discovered that we probably wouldn’t even be celebrating Thanksgiving Day if it weren’t for a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale.

Until the mid-1800’s “Thanksgiving Day” was considered a religious holiday celebrated solemnly through fasting and quiet reflection. In 1854, Sarah Josepha Hale, a savvy, trendsetting, editor of a widely-read women’s magazine, stumbled upon a letter written by a pilgrim named Edward Winslow. Winslow’s letter included details of the original harvest feast of 1621. Hale was immediately smitten by the story of how a group early colonial settlers and a tribe of Wampanoag Indians gathered peacefully in Plymouth, Massachusetts to feast on juicy wild fowl, venison, cornbread, and a bounty of fruits and vegetables.

Around the same time, a history book written by the mayor of Plymouth Plantation, William Bradford, resurfaced. Bradford’s book also contained details describing the original harvest feast of the early settlers. The book was stolen by looters during the Revolutionary War and remained lost until around the same time that Sarah Hale’s interest in Colonial life piqued. Reading these two written accounts launched Hale into action.

Sarah Hale became determined to keep this part of history alive. Since she was a respected editor at a popular women’s magazine—she was just the person to make that happen. In her magazine, Hale wrote appealing articles about roasted turkeys, buttery mashed potatoes, and fiery red cranberry sauce. In 1858, Hale even petitioned the president of the United States, Abe Lincoln, to declare Thanksgiving a national Holiday. Though Hale’s campaign cemented Thanksgiving Day as a national holiday, the Thanksgiving recipes she zealously wrote about were not entirely representative of the feast of 1621.

Though turkey is the main menu item that comes to mind when many of us think of Thanksgiving dinner—it may not have actually been served at the original harvest feast of 1621. We do know that some type of “wild fowl” was served; however, “wild turkey” was not named in either of the first hand written accounts. It is more probable that the “wild fowl” brought back by the four pilgrims sent out to hunt for the harvest day celebration were seasonal waterfowl such as duck, geese, and cranes. We know for sure that venison was named as a meat (in fact, King Massasoit of the Wampanoag Indians presented five deer to the Pilgrims as a harvest gift). Having said that, wild turkey may have indeed been a dish at the harvest feast of 1621, we just have no written record of it.

We know for certain that potatoes were not served because they had not yet been introduced to the colonists. We also know that corn on the cob would have been absent from the table because the Indian corn that was available to the Pilgrims was only good for making cornmeal, not for eating on the cob. Pumpkin pie would have also been missing from the menu since no butter or flour was available for making pie crust. Instead, they may have eaten stewed or boiled pumpkin sans crust. Even if the colonists did possess the necessary ingredients for pie making—they had no oven for baking. There would have been no cranberry sauce either. Only a small amount of sugar—critical for making cranberry sauce—had been transported via the Mayflower. When it came time for preparing the first harvest meal, their limited sugar supply would have been long gone. Finally, the early pilgrims did not have pigs so anything involving ham or bacon would have been omitted from the harvest table.

With so many of the traditional Thanksgiving items off the table you may be wondering what the colonists and Wampanoag Indians did eat at the harvest feast of 1621. In addition to the aforementioned venison and wild fowl—rabbit would have also been served along with grapes, plums, walnuts, chestnuts, onions, pumpkins, beans, lettuce, radishes, leeks, parsnips, carrots, cornbread and olive oil. Although fish was usually considered too “ordinary” to be served at a fine feast—some lobster, clams, or cod may have also been eaten.

It may surprise you to learn that the food they prepared wasn’t bland—in fact it was quite the opposite. Pilgrims cooked with many spices including garlic, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, pepper, and dried fruit—they also slow-roasted their meat on a spit. Pilgrims were assigned to patiently turn the spit for hours at a time until the meat was evenly done. Though the pilgrims had fewer resources at their fingertips (no ovens and no refrigeration) they made tasty dishes by using a lot of good ole fashioned improvisation.

Though Sarah Josepha Hale may have taken some creative liberties with her interpretation of Thanksgiving dinner—we must salute her for bringing this special holiday to the fore. Besides, if it weren’t for her, maybe we’d forget to be grateful. Maybe we’d tear through the Halloween candy corn at Mach speed straight through the Christmas wrapping paper and into the New Year without taking a breath—without pausing to remember the importance of coming together for a home-cooked supper composed of the very same ingredients that were found at the original harvest table of 1621—heaping bowls of gratitude and platefuls of fellowship.

LEGENDARY'S ORGANIC WASTE REPORT

2009-11-13T10:48:00.000-08:00

We're proud to announce that we've composted over 4 tons of organic waste in one month via our program with Greenco Environmental. Check back here on a regular basis for more information on Legendary's Green Initatives. http://www.greencoenvironmental.com/

A LEGENDARY EVENT PROVIDES DECOR FOR WORTHY ATLANTA CAUSES

2009-11-10T05:49:00.000-08:00

photo courtesy artstarphotography.com

From The St. Regis Hotel and A Meal to Remember to The Ritz Carlton and Around the World in Eighty Days, A Legendary Event provided unique décor for two marquee Atlanta Gala events this weekend. On Friday night, 500 guests gathered for “A Meal to Remember” benefitting The Senior Citizens of Metropolitan Atlanta. Incorporating the chairs’ vision, the tables were draped in rich Chocolate Dupioni linen and topped with alternating fuchsia and orange roses, peonies, and Gerber Daises. A Legendary Event Floral Designer Jeanna Graham described the look as “chic, contemporary and classic.”

The following night at the Ritz Carlton in Buckhead, The Shepherd Center Foundation celebrated their annual “Legendary Party” under the direction of Gala Chair Cyndae Arrendale. This year, the theme was “Around the World in Eighty Days.” After the 450 guests received their “passports,” they crossed a large wooden boardwalk and were greeted by Phileas Fogg and other characters straight from the pages of the Jules Verne classic.

The décor in the main ballroom featured a handmade patchwork hot air balloon and a 12’ x 32’ map from the late 1800’s. Each table was pin-spotted and centered with a one-of-a-kind vignette composed of old clocks, hat boxes filled with pavéd roses, and nautical enhancements. President and owner Tony Conway said, “We are so honored to have been selected to provide the design and floral for these two worthy causes.”

Tony's "Tips from the Pros" featured in current issue of Delta Sky Magazine

2009-11-05T12:58:00.000-08:00

(Photo by Dawn Brewer)

If you're flying this Thanksgiving season, be sure to check out some of Tony's Recession-Busting Tips featured in the current issue of Delta Sky Magazine. Instead of a sit-down dinner, Tony suggests inviting friends over for a low key "game night" where one couple brings the wine, one brings the game, and one brings the dessert. This gives the host a chance to pick up a wonderful wood-roasted gourmet pizza or to try his or her own hand at pizza-dough making. He also recommends incorporating a multitude of candles to help set the mood and suggests offering a signature drink in lieu of going to the expense of a fully stocked bar. http://deltaskymag.delta.com/

A LEGENDARY EVENT PARTICIPATES IN WEEKEND CHARITY EVENTS

2009-10-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

Atlanta’s own Ryan Seacrest hosted the “Hearts and Hands” Charity Gala Saturday night to benefit The Ronald McDonald House. Six hundred and fifty guests attended this black tie affair held at The World of Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola Company was also the presenting sponsor for this exciting new event. “American Idol” season six finalist Melinda Doolittle performed two sets of music to the sold out crowd and A Legendary Event provided the catering and floral décor for this much anticipated event.

President and Owner of A Legendary Event, Tony Conway remarked, “It was so great working with the Ronald McDonald House team. This particular organization does so much for families and it was wonderful to have an opportunity to support their efforts.” The Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities provide a home away from home for families with seriously ill and injured children who must travel to receive treatment at Atlanta area children’s hospitals. To learn more about The Atlanta Ronald McDonald House go to: http://www.armh.com/

A Legendary Event was also a sponsor for Ron Clark Academy’s Gala Awards Celebration. The Ron Clark Academy teamed up with Great American Financial Resources, Inc. to present and host the inaugural Great American Teacher Awards that celebrates excellence in education. A sold out crowd of 400 were in attendance at The W Midtown Atlanta on Friday night. Conway said, “We’re so fortunate to have been selected by The Ron Clark Academy for provide the design work for this Gala. We are so impressed with Ron Clark and what he’s done for the education industry.” The Ron Clark Academy is committed to celebrating exemplary teaching that is challenging, innovative, and creative. For more information on The Ron Clark Academy go to: http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/

The Joys of Molecular Gastronomy

2009-10-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event's Michael Schotsch and Executive Pastry Chef Charles Barrett fashion Mozzarella Balloons for the multi-itemed first course at DIFFA's Dining by Design Gala. Our culinary team has been experimenting with a number of cutting edge Moleculary Gastronomy techinques. Click here to view DIFFA slideshow by Laura Stone's artstarphotography:

http://www.artstarphotography.com/Slideshows/legendary_DIFFA/

DIFFA'S FEAST IN THE FOREST

2009-10-16T09:58:00.000-07:00

We're still recovering from Monday's Feast in the Forest celebration at DIFFA's Dining by Design. Thought we'd share a wonderful photo hot off the camera lense taken by local photographer Laura Stone http://www.artstarphotography.com/. Click here to view

the slideshow: http://www.artstarphotography.com/Slideshows/legendary_DIFFA/

RECYCLING UPDATE

2009-10-14T06:45:00.000-07:00

With our new recycling program, we've already composted 1,500 lbs of organic matter this week alone! The EPA reports that 4.9% of our nation's landfill comes from corrugated boxes with another 3.0% coming from glass bottles. So, starting Monday, we'll be initiating the next phase of our recycling program. All cardboard, glass, plastic, and metal cans will be recycled in a more efficient way with our new single stream recycling program. We'll be posting our recycling statistics on this blog so, if you're interested in how much our company is recycling, check back here for updated recycling statistics.

A Legendary Event Featured in Today's Peach Buzz

2009-10-13T12:24:00.000-07:00

(Above photo courtesy of Rich L. Eldrege and AJC Staff; Below is an excerpt from today's Atlanta Journal and Constitution)

As always, the annual Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS Dining By Design benefit was a stylish outing for attendees Monday night at Atlanta Decorative Arts Center in Buckhead. This year, Buzz was invited to sit at Atlanta caterer Tony Conway’s A Legendary Event table. Conway’s executive chef Lincoln Stevens and executive pastry chef Charles Barrett created the lavish menu for the evening.

A Legendary Event’s creative director Steve Welsh told us he was going for “romantic and comfortable” with his candle-lit woodsy theme complete with trees and real moss that covered the table. We happened to be seated next to Legendary Events floral director Kim Vasil who helped to create the beautiful setting (”We completely washed all the moss used on the table so utensils could be placed on it at dinner,” she whispered to us about the crazy amount of prep work that went into the table).

“We liked the idea of creating a quiet little getaway for our guests this year,” Welsh explained. DIFFA attendees always peruse Welsh’s creation each year as he attempts to top himself after creating a table made out of chocolate a few years ago at the fund-raiser. Joked Welsh: “People still talk about that table. It was a lot of fun but I don’t think I would do it again. The dry cleaning bills were too high!”

Click here for more picture of last night's DIFFA event:

http://blogs.ajc.com/peachbuzz/2009/10/13/a-buzz-eye-view-from-diffas-dining-by-design-benefit/

A Legendary Event Goes Green with Greenco

2009-10-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event became a little greener today by enlisting the help of Greenco Environmental. Greenco Environmental ("Greenco") is the leading organic recycling company servicing the Southeast. By combining large quantities of food waste, yard waste and wood waste, Greenco creates high quality organic compost with zero landfill contribution. Greenco is the first commercial food waste composting operation to garner a permit and endorsement from the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) or Georgia. Beginning today, A Legendary Event will separate ALL of its food and floral waste from other recyclables. The waste will then be hauled to Greenco's 32-acre Barnesville-based facility where it will be tilled and turned into organic compost. Dave Lishness, A Legendary Event's Chief Operating Officer said, "We're always looking for ways to make our company greener; this seemed like the next evolutionary step toward becoming part of the 'green' solution."

Greenco Environmental is featured in this week's Atlanta Business Chronicle. Check out: http://www.atlantabusinesschronicle.com/

For more information about Greenco Environmental:

http://greencoenvironmental.com/

Tony Conway honored by CHRIS Kids

2009-09-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

On Saturday night, over 400 guests gathered at the Buckhead Grand Hyatt for the 9th annual CHRIStal Ball to benefit CHRIS Kids. Tony Conway, owner and president of A Legendary Event, was recognized for his philanthropic contributions to CHRIS Kids with a CHRIStal Vision Award. “I just want to say that I'm so honored to be this year's recipient along with Price Waterhouse Coopers. This has been such a wonderful, heart-warming event―I can't think of a better organization than CHRIS Kids to be affiliated with,” Conway said. In addition to Mr. Conway, Global Accounting Firm Price Waterhouse Coopers was awarded the CHRIStal Vision Award for outstanding leadership and service to children, youth, and families in the state of Georgia with special emotional, residential, and mental health needs.

CHRIS Kids Annual Ball this Saturday

2009-09-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

Please join us this Saturday. Celebrating 29 years of saving and transforming the lives of thousands of Georgia’s children and families, CHRIS Kids will hold the 9th annual CHRIStal Ball™ at the Grand Hyatt in Buckhead on September 26, 2009. This festive formal affair includes dinner, dancing, a silent auction, entertainment and celebrates thousands of changed lives. To purchase tickets please click on link below.

http://www.chriskids.org/

WHITE HOT COOL slideshow from Open Hand's Party in the Kitchen

2009-09-17T06:16:00.000-07:00

Please enjoy the "WHITE, HOT, COOL" slideshow from last week's "Party in the Kitchen" featuring 17 of Atlanta's Top Chefs, co-chaired by Sally Dorsey, Tony Conway, and Todd Tautfest. Photography and slideshow by Laura Stone of ArtStar Photography.

http://www.artstarphotography.com/Slideshows/Party_Kitchen/

A LEGENDARY EVENT GEARS UP FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON

2009-09-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Atlanta, September 17th―I wanted to take a moment to say that I hope you had a great summer and to share some of the exciting developments that have been taking place here at A Legendary Event.

We’ve recently added some great new team members. First of all, Charles Barrett is our new Executive Pastry Chef. Prior to coming to Legendary, Barrett was Executive Pastry Chef at The Cobb Galleria. We can’t wait for you to see (and taste) some of his deliciously innovative dessert creations.

We’re also excited to have Leah Stephens as the newest member of our Catering Sales Team. Leah accepted the position of Catering Sales Manager last month and has already hit the ground running. Of course, most of you already know, Sophia Lin. Sophia has been promoted to the role of Senior Sales Manager. Sophia has worked at A Legendary Event for approximately three years and brings a wonderful winning spirit and charisma to the team.

Also new on board is Ashley Miller, Kate Bradley, and Jeffrey Powell. Ashley Miller has accepted the role of Junior Design Event Manager. Kate Bradley has joined our team as Sales Assistant. Jeffrey Powell is our new Senior Design Sales Manager. Jeffrey has years of event design business, most recently running his own company, Jeffrey Blooms. He also appears on Style Network’s “Who’s Wedding Is It Anyway?”

Just a reminder that the holiday season is just around the corner (90 days to be precise). We’d love to help you celebrate by providing you with catering and/or design for your holiday party or gathering. Believe me, it will be here before we know it! So, give us a call so we can put you on the calendar.

Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Tony Conway, CMP

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TYLER PERRY

2009-09-15T06:07:00.000-07:00

We wish Tyler Perry a spectacular 40th birthday...we thank him for allowing us to serve his beautiful and amazing guests. By the way, we loved the movie!

SOUTHERN-INSPIRED DESSERT BY CHEF STEVENS AND CHEF BARRETT

2009-09-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

People are still talking about this Southern-inspired dessert of Bacon Molasses Ice Cream with Peanut Butter Foie Gras Mousse created by A Legendary Event's Executive Chef Lincoln Stevens and Executive Pastry Chef Charles Barrett. This unique Georgia-born dessert was debuted last week at Project Open Hand's Party in the Kitchen.

Photo by www.artstarphotography.com

OPEN HAND'S "PARTY IN THE KITCHEN" A WHITE, HOT, COOL, HUGE SUCCESS

2009-09-10T10:20:00.000-07:00

Last night, approximately 300 guests attended "Party in the Kitchen," at the Mason Murer Main Gallery to benefit Open Hand. Guests enjoyed delicious cuisine from seventeen of Atlanta’s Top Chef’s including A Legendary Event’s Executive Chef Lincoln Stevens, Dogwood’s Shane Touhy, Gary Mennie of Livingstons, Peter Kaiser from Twist, Rathbun’s Kevin Rathbun, Craft’s Kevin Maxey and Shaun Doty of Shaun’s.

Some of the menu items included Bacon Molasses Ice Cream with Peanut Butter Foie Gras Mousse, Grilled Calamari with Peeled Pea Salad, traditional European Bangers and Mash, and a plethora of delicate and delicious desserts. Framed iconic images, stainless steel chef stations, white carpet runners and modern lounge furniture exemplified the party’s “White, Hot, Cool” theme.

Live auction items included travel and entertainment packages, fine dining experiences, and one-of-a-kind items such as eco-vintage jewelry by Mark Edge and an acoustic guitar autographed by the South African grunge-pop band Seether.

Party in the Kitchen Co-chairs Sally Dorsey, Tony Conway, and Todd Tautfest were overjoyed with the turnout. “I was so honored to be asked to co-chair this event. Working with Sally and Todd is always a wonderful experience and it touches my heart to see so much support for such a worthy cause,” Tony Conway said.

Proceeds from “Party in the Kitchen” directly benefit Open Hand―a nonprofit organization that provides Comprehensive Nutrition Care for a diverse population of men, women and children with unique nutrition needs. For more information please go to http://www.projectopenhand.org/

A Legendary Event is a proud sponsor of CARE's "A Take a Stand Against Poverty Event" October 17th at ACSC

2009-09-03T06:34:00.000-07:00

In commemoration of the UN's International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, CARE will stand with hundreds of millions of people across the globe this October 17th to educate, inspire and entertain the next generation of activists in the fight against global poverty. Please join us as The Theater at the American Cancer Society Center for "An event that will change the way we view global poverty, featuring internationally-renowned speakers, music, food and a microfinance marketplace featuring goods from around the world. For more information click on link below.

http://my.care.org/site/Calendar/?s_src=NDA2009 Action_ShortURL&view=Detail&id=100201&s_subsrc=ShortURL

Creative Director Steve Welsh Quoted in Special Event Magazine's Lead Story

2009-08-28T07:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Steve Welsh was quoted in Special Event's Eventline e-newsletter: Steve Welsh, creative director of Atlanta-based A Legendary Event, explains that his big corporate clients insist on green practices from all their vendors. "There are many tax breaks and other incentive program that these companies receive if they reach their green goal," he notes. And green events get great PR, he adds: "Do a great green event and you'll make the front page."

Welsh is right. In addition to being featured in the Spring issue of Delta Sky Magazine, A Legendary Event's "Sustainable Table" recently won Best Guest Table Presentation of the Year from the National Association of Catering Executives.

For full article: http://specialevents.com/green_events/special-event-professionals-juggle-tactics-to-go-green-in-tough-times-0826/

GSU Students Partner with A Legendary Event for their final "Capstone Project"

2009-08-27T06:58:00.000-07:00

This morning we had the privilege of meeting with Georgia State University Professor Dr. Chip Barksdale and 13 of his Senior Marketing students. After a continental breakfast and brief slide show, we discussed the many aspects of our Marketing Program. Over the next semester, Chip’s soon-to-be-graduating class will be helping us to re-evaluate, re-think, and fine tune our Marketing Program. This “Capstone Class” is a curriculum requirement that provides vital hands-on experience for students entering today’s job market. Dave Lishness, COO of A Legendary Event and fellow GSU graduate said, “We are thrilled to be working with Chip and his expert team of students and can already tell that they’ll be bringing a lot of great ideas to the table.”

Key New Positions at A Legendary Event

2009-08-19T06:15:00.000-07:00

A Legendary Event is pleased to announce the addition of Gregory Lofton as company Controller. Lofton comes to Legendary from Dickey Publishing, where he was head of accounting and finance. Prior to that, he held various accounting and finance positions in the Southeast. Lofton holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from UNC Wilmington, NC. Mr. Lofton is currently working on the completion of his M.B.A.

Charles Barrett has also been announced as our new Executive Pastry Chef. Prior to coming to Legendary, Barrett was Executive Pastry Chef at The Cobb Galleria. As well, he trained extensively under acclaimed Pastry Chef Abby Ryland. Mr. Barrett is excited to continue his pastry design career at A Legendary Event.

Leah Stephens has accepted the position of Catering Sales Manager. Leah comes to us from her most current position as Catering Sales Manager for Divine Events. Prior to that, she was Catering Sales Manager at Cobb Performing Arts Center.

Sophia Lin has been promoted to Design and Catering Sales Manager. Lin has worked at A Legendary Event for approximately three years. She has been an integral member of the design, sales, and production teams. Lin has extensive industry experience along with a B.S. degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University.

Legendary’s Summer Intern Jessica Porter will take on the new role of Junior Event Manager. She did an outstanding job with the company over the summer months and A Legendary Event is looking forward to her continued growth.

Tony Conway, Owner and President of A Legendary Event said, “I’m so excited about the new promotions and additions to our talented crew.”

A LEGENDARY EVENT wins ISES Esprit Award for High Museum Wine Auction

2009-08-11T08:37:00.000-07:00

This weekend, A Legendary Event won a prestigious ISES Esprit Award from the International Special Events Society (ISES) in the category of Best Off-Premise Catered Event. A Legendary Event was awarded top honors for catering The High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction’s 16th Annual Gala Dinner. The menu's distinct southern flair was a big hit with the 800 wine-loving guests. In addition to A Legendary Event's Executive Chef Lincoln Stevens, the event featured several Guest Chefs from the Southern Foodways Alliance including Athens' Chef Hugh Acheson who prepared this savory low country stew (see above photo).

Traveling back from the awards ceremony in San Francisco, Owner and President of A Legendary Event, Tony Conway commented by phone, “It is great that our team’s work was recognized by our peers for such a title.” ISES is dedicated to recognizing excellence in events and honoring those individuals whose vision and creativity make their events "Special." For more information contact http://www.ises.com/.

Open Hand's Party in the Kitchen promises to be "White, Hot, Cool"

2009-08-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA - (August 6, 2009) The seventh annual Party in the Kitchen, on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, benefits Open Hand, a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers over 5,000 meals every day to homebound seniors and individuals living with chronic disease or critical illness in seventeen counties throughout metro Atlanta. Open Hand's Comprehensive Nutrition CareSM program combines these meals with nutrition education, counseling and therapy to help clients prevent or better manage chronic disease.

Party in the Kitchen will be held in the new warehouse space at 181 Armour Drive in Midtown recently secured by Open Hand for the expansion of its kitchen and distribution operations. The location is directly adjacent to Open Hand's current Ottley Drive facility. According to co-chair Sally Dorsey, "Party in the Kitchen will not only be a wonderful chance for guests and supporters to celebrate the incredible work Open Hand does in the community, but a perfect opportunity for them to preview how effectively Open Hand's new space and its existing facility will be integrated into one beautifully functional campus."

Billed as a "White, Hot, Cool" party, the evening will feature a wide variety of fabulous dishes prepared by many of Atlanta's best chefs (see below). Guests, who are asked to dress in white, will also enjoy music provided by DJ Tye West, and an exciting silent auction featuring exceptional travel and entertainment packages, fine dining experiences, and many one-of-a kind items. Complimentary valet parking will be provided.

Party in the Kitchen co-chairs (pictured l-r) are Open Hand Board members Todd Tautfest and Sally Dorsey and A Legendary Event's Tony Conway. Party in the Kitchen's Gold Sponsor is BNY Wealth Management. Silver Sponsors are Ketel One Vodka, Harry Norman Realtors, A Legendary Event and Here to Serve Restaurants. Media sponsors are Atlanta Magazine, Flavors, and Jezebel. Reserved admission is $500 for each Patron ticket and $150 for each single ticket. Tickets may be purchased at ProjectOpenHand.org or by contacting Michelle Duncan at 404-419-3333 or mduncan@projectopenhand.org.

A Legendary Event Recognized for Catering and Design Excellence

2009-08-03T08:05:00.000-07:00

On July 29th, A Legendary Event received the following awards from the National Association of Catering Executives at their national conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

1) Best Catered Event with a budget above $75,000. We constructed a 40' x 100' on-site kitchen at Atlantic Station in order to prepare, plate, and serve an amazing 3200 plates in 90 minutes for the Atlanta High Museum Wine Auction Gala Dinner. Apparently, the National Association of Catering Executives also thought this was a pretty amazing feat.

Our sumptuously southern menu was composed by some of the Southeast’s premier restaurant chefs—Chef Todd Richards of Kentucky’s Oakroom, Chef Hugh Acheson of Athens Georgia's Five and Ten, Chef Mike Lata of Fig, and Atlanta Chefs Gerry Klaskala and Chef Kathryn King, both from restaurant Aria. Each dinner course was paired with fine wines by renowned vintner guests of such acclaim as Burgundy wine-maker Alex Gambal and Central California’s Joseph Davis.

2) Best Guest Table Presentation of the Year. We created a "Sustainable Table" for DIFFA’s (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Dining by Design Gala Dinner. Since we were emerging from a long drought, we wanted to send a strong message of conservation by using plants such as succulents, cacti, and kale that are self-sustaining by living off the moisture of their own leaf systems. Some of the plants we incorporated into our design, such as Tillandsia, are able to grow in rocks, trees, pottery, and even in mid air. Our over all message by creating a sustainable table was the importance of being more conscious when using natural resources along with the importance of recognizing the inherent beauty of nature. This table concept has since drawn lots of attention and was even featured in the May issue of Delta Sky Magazine.

3) Best Event Production of the Year with a budget below $25,000. In addition to winning the award for Best Guest Table Presentation we were also thrilled to be recognized with an award for Best Event Production for the same event. Each year, this particular event raises approximately $300,000 for organizations dedicated to AIDS research, education, and outreach. This event, featuring 40 custom table environments created by top national and regional designers is a remarkable display of cutting-edge creativity and concern. We're honored to be able to play a significant role. Guests are given a sneak peek at the collection of elaborate table designs at the Preview Cocktail Party. The following evening’s Dining by Design Gala dinner features delicious hand passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a three course five star menu. After dinner, guests engage in a silent auction, table-hopping, and after dinner cocktails.

Barrie Mershon Photography

2009-07-22T11:43:00.000-07:00

Barrie Mershon recently photographed this wedding table featuring white and lavender garden roses, spray roses, and hydrangeas. Barrie is also one of A Legendary Event's "Preferred Photographers." We're thrilled to have the opporunity to work with her on some upcoming projects. For more information visit:

Ric Mershon Photographers
http://www.ricmershon.com/

Local DJ Yvonne Monet spins at Legendary Event Photo by Photographer Philip Shone

2009-07-22T11:25:00.001-07:00

Photographer Philip Shone is also on our list of "Preferred Photographers." Philip has been so generous with his time and we really appreciate all of his work. He snapped this photo of local DJ and radio personality Yvonne Monet at the Julie & Julia premier party. As well, he launched a new website this week. For more information on Philip check out his new website at:

http://www.pshone.com/

Also to check out Philip's event photos go to:
http://www.pshone.photoreflect.com/

Preferred Photographer Sarah Dorio

2009-07-22T10:57:00.001-07:00

Local photographer Sarah Dorio provided us with some wonderful images from the exclusive Julie & Julia Screening Party. Sarah is one of our "Preferred Photographers." Click here for more information on Sarah and her impeccable work.

http://www.sarahdorio.com/

A Legendary Event's Liz Cipro is Christened into Les Dames d'Escoffier

2009-07-16T06:35:00.001-07:00

A Legendary Event's Liz Cipro has been accepted as a member of Les Dames d'Escoffier International. This organization is the only one of its kind: a world-wide philanthropic society of professional women leaders in the fields of food, fine beverage and hospitality. The invitation-only membership consists of 27 individual chapters across the United States and Canada; is highly diversified and reflects the multi-faceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality. Liz began her career with A Legendary Event in 2001 as a prep chef. With several experiences in both restaurants and smaller catering kitchens under her belt—Liz was quickly promoted to Sous Chef then moved into the position of Catering Sales. She currently holds the position of Director of Catering Sales at A Legendary Event.

Not only does Liz have an exquisite palate, she is a consummate professional with an unfailing ability to beautifully manage and juggle the ever-changing details of event catering. Over the years, Liz has created events for clients such as Jane Fonda, The Home Depot executives, Sir Elton John, Tiffany & Co., Hermes of Paris, Saks Fifth Avenue, and many more. Clients call on Liz because they trust her to handle every detail that arises with grace and efficiency. Being a wonderful liaison between VIPs and volunteers, officials, dignitaries and worker bees—Liz manages events with her signature smile and warm professionalism. Tony Conway, President and Owner of A Legendary Event commented, “I am so proud of Liz and all of her accomplishments and am thrilled that she has been selected for such a prestigious organization. I truly think Liz will be an asset to Les Dames d'Escoffier.”