Danielle's birthday


Yesterday we got together to celebrate Danielle's birthday. It was a beautiful day to celebrate such a wonderful woman. We went to Boulevard for lunch as we have several events there this year so it was fun for us to see it in a relaxed environment. The food and service were great. 


Danielle loves her name on the menu!


Danielle's favorite color this year


Melanie painted the vases – beautiful



Lovely view


Table all set


Carpaccio


Wild Boar with egg


Dessert 


It was a nice day! 

Happy Birthday Danielle. 

Samantha

C. Wonder



 Inspiration is everywhere. 

When it comes to inspiration for event design & décor, table top accessories, and gifts, I'm absolutely drooling over a few bright and beautiful things at C. Wonder.
 


decorative plates


jewel-toned votives


shiny gold monogram letters






gifts for every passion...

the cook



the cocktail enthusiast


the coffee drinker



the nostalgic Sunday cycler
 There are so many more items in bold and unexpected designs to delight you on their website. Check it out to get your daily dose of
 C. Wonder.

Happy shopping! 

~ Melanie

Into the woods...

Muir Woods day trip. 

Melanie and I recently had the joy of taking a day trip to Muir Woods. Here is a snapshot of us leaving the SSP office, on our way to the Ferry Building where we met up with our tour guides and set off on our journey. 


After taking a brief tour via bus through the city and crossing the Golden Gate Bridge, we stopped at Marin Headlands lookout and were treated to this view. 


Next we hopped back on the bus and headed toward the woods! 

Articulated by Sam, our very knowledgeable tour guide, we were given a detailed history of Marin County's development as we passed through Sausalito and weaved our way into the hills. 


This was my first trip to Muir Woods and what greeted me there was an amazing treat. Living in San Francisco and being surrounded by concrete in every direction, sometimes I forget how peaceful it is to be in a natural setting. Also, it's so shocking that this sanctuary is so close to the city. 


Snapshot of the beyond-tall redwood trees.


Before heading back to the city, we took a quick pit stop at Muir Beach lookout to checkout the coast line. Above is what we saw at the edge of the earth.


Our tour even had a surprise ending! Instead of busing back to the city, we took the Ferry. This is the spectacular view of San Francisco from the Sausalito ferry plaza. 


This gave us both a close encounter with Alcatraz and an amazing view of the Golden Gate Bridge accented by the winter sunset.


Until next time,

Jessie 

Never, Ever, Ever

I have been driving past this door for years and it has always made me smile. 


 Late last year I drove by and the door was open and there was a coffee store there called Front. 


so cute


great pastries

cool details 


love these


fun way to show beans


nice people running it

I wish Front a lot of success. I love all their branding.


Samantha





Black & Gold Love


Back in November I got engaged to David! 
Here are a few pics of our engagement party last weekend.
It was a black & gold (my favorite colors right now) 
crab fest (what's in season in SF).


We ordered the invites from Wedding Paper Divas.
 They are a Tallu-lah design! 
(my company)


The finished table!

 




 We put up a fun photo area for guests to take and post their picture.

    





Thanks to Mo for hosting and Lisa for being the balloon diva!

-Danielle


 




Venue Scouting Trip

One of the best perks of working at SSP is going on venue scouting assignments. In the waning weeks of 2012, I had the opportunity to scout several venues in San Francisco's South of Market District, Union Square, and the Financial District. 

 Accompanied by Samantha and Danielle and guided by the expertise of our Food and Beverage Director, we had the chance to check out some of the hottest nightlife spots in this part of the city. 

Here is some of what we experienced: 

Cantina, Union Square

Known for their handcrafted culinary cocktails and decor from local artists, this poppin' saloon has a steady Caribbean and Latin Influence. I recommend the Laughing Buddha or the Bee's Knees #3. Both pack a punch and are sure to set you up for a good happy hour. 



The second place we checked out was:

Burritt Room, Union Square 

Located on the second floor of the Mystic Hotel, this cocktail lounge is staffed with some of San Francisco's best known mixologists.

This unique sectioned-off space provides a great ambiance in this saloon-style establishment. I recommended trying the Basil-Peach Punch or Poquito Picante.



The Mystic Hotel also features a private room dubbed the Berlinetta Lounge. This very hip event space has a classic cigar club feel to it and is on our short list of small event spaces for 2013. 



Rickhouse, Financial District 

A very popular after-work spot among the Financial District crowd.

 Committed to providing their guests with a superior beverage experience, the Rickhouse has got the artisan-style cocktail down. I suggest the La Bonne Vie or the Rye Maple Fizz. 



The House of Shields, SOMA 

Established in 1908, the House of Shields is a San Francisco institution. It was renovated in 2010 and is located across from the iconic Palace Hotel.

 Here you will not find a clock or a television, but you will find some the city's stiffest drinks. Try the Old Fashion or a traditional Dry Martini. 



Until next time - 

Jessie 

Mission Friday

Last Friday Jessie and I had the pleasure of going out to explore our own city. It was research for
a meeting we have in September. We went on a foodie adventure with FoodieAventures.  It was a cold day, but we met a lot of warm people along the way.





I am not going to tell you too much about the tour, you should go on it yourself. I will say the best part, besides being paid to eat great food, was getting to know the city I have called home for 24 years a little bit better.


Thanks Chris for an excellent tour.

Samantha

OH WHAT FUN

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Oh What Fun...
 it is to show off the new Samantha Smith Productions website!




It’s all shiny and bright, and we’re happy to share it with you.

Check it out.
Get inspired.
Pin your faves.
Read our client raves.
Like us.
Friend us.
Tweet us.
Call us.
We hope to hear from you.
Cheers and enjoy the view.

Thanks for helping us celebrate our oh-so-happy launch day, too!

December 11, 2012
2:01pm 

★★★

Melanie

Li'l Elves holiday treat boxes

We love packaging!

For fun children's holiday celebrations, 
we found these adorable Li'l Elves mini treat boxes from Party Partners. 
They're only four inches tall – a perfect size for snacks and treats. 
Party Partners sells seasonal designs of paper banners, party picks, paper straws, and treats boxes and bags.
For a recent kids’ birthday party, we filled these mini holiday boxes with 
fresh fruit. Yes, it is possible to serve healthy, fresh fruit and still make it fun and festive for hungry little birthday elves! The kids smiled with glee and eagerly ate their full serving of fruit for the day.

 
Hint to parents…it’s all in the packaging and presentation!
~ Melanie

Holiday in Africa

I love looking for design inspiration when planning a holiday party – one of my favorite types of events.

The California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate park is this year's venue for the event. The party will be held in African Hall inside the museum. African Hall is a one-of-a-kind space that displays several walls of dioramas of African animals.

Holiday in Africa? 
This party theme has put me to the test!
Here are some of my inspirations. 
You can see more on my Pinterest page here.

 

 

 



I'll post in late December with the results of the party!
-Danielle

Beautiful San Francisco

One of the best assignments I have had so far during my time at SSP is helping our team build up stock footage of San Francisco. Being a tourist in my own city has been fascinating.

Not only has it expanded my knowledge of this great city, it has also given me a chance to take a thorough look at some of the City's best neighborhoods. Here is a sample of what I have found.


               View of Alcatraz Island from the intersection of Francisco and Larkin Streets in Russian Hill



                                                           Stunning view of Coit Tower 


           Beautiful St. Peter and St. Paul Church across from Washington Square Park in North Beach



           A spectacular shot of the iconic TransAmerica Pyramid from Montgomery and Union Streets



                                          The famous Painted Ladies across from Alamo Square Park



  

No photo tour of San Francisco would be complete without a shot of the Golden Gate Bridge




It's been exciting to see San Francisco through a tourist's eyes. Through this experience, I have gained valuable insight and expanded my knowledge of this beautiful city while helping SSP prepare for a successful 2013.



Until next time,
Jessie

Sipping at the Sip Shoppe

This weekend I visited Swanson Vineyards. 
I remember the last time I visited, I got a kick out of their 
"Sip Shoppe" design...so I just had to share!
 Alexis Swanson is the creative director behind this fun experience. 
You can read about her on her blog here.

 Inside the Sip Shoppe. Red, white, and blue all over.
The Swansons created this look by having a tent constructed inside the building!
There were bottles of wine with fun labels that kept us laughing. 
At $25 a bottle, don't believe the label on the "Expensive Wine," that's just for fun.

 

The "Instant Napa" really made me giggle since I live in Napa. I am bringing home a bottle to my family in NY for the holidays. I especially love the drawing by artist 
Jean-Phillippe Delhomme. Check out his other work here! 

 Their dessert wine – Angelica – is bottled in a perfume-like bottle. 
So fancy!
The vineyards outside...another beautiful day in Napa.
-Danielle




























































America's Cup Sailing!


Samantha and I had the amazing opportunity to sail an 85-foot America's Cup racing yacht last week with our favorite people from Montage resorts.  

An email telling us to dress causally and wear rubber-soled shoes in no way set us up for the adventure that we were in for!

The first order of business was getting outfitted in proper sailing gear – that meant red suspender pants (to keep us from getting soaked), a hat, and a jacket. It seemed a little much at the onset, but we were soon to find out that the gear was essential!




Sails up! Peaking at 115 feet, the main sail of the USA 76 is a sight to see...especially when sitting directly below it. We cruised the waters around AT&T Park as the crew – professional and amateur - prepared for the trip across the Bay to the edge of the Pacific.
The San Francisco skyline and the Bay Bridge are always a stunning sight to see, even more so from this perspective.
We raced across the Bay, tilted at a 25 - 30 degree angle and being pummeled by the wind and waves, to bring us directly under the Golden Gate Bridge just as the fog began to lift. What an adventure it was getting there, and so worth the view!

 A HUGE thank you to the Montage team for a truly incredible experience! Something that we will remember for a lifetime!

~ Merideth

Having Fun on the Green

This past month has been a whirlwind for all at SSP. We have managed five large events in the past four weeks.

We had a fun cocktail hour with one of our clients at the Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica.

We created a mini golf course with Plan-it Interactive and added a fun prop to each mini golf hole from Bob Gail.

Here is how it turned out....



  Score cards just like real mini golf courses have



  Hole 1 - par 2
 Hole 3 - par 3


 Several of the tees ready to go!
 
Each player received a mini golf trophy at dinner (we had male and female trophies) 
with a reason why their team was a winner – and we got very creative!
We had one person who didn't play so we gave her a trophy for being on the injured list.

A fun time for all!

-Danielle

9Catering

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Sometimes we have to pinch ourselves (and our expanding waistlines) 
because of the many delicious research projects 
that help make us great event planners.

“Inspect what you expect” is a famous Samantha-ism! 
Last week, we did just that.

We invited 9Catering to our office for a tasting. 
Here’s a snapshot of what the inspired and passionate husband-and-wife team 
dished up and served us for lunch!


Organic cherry tomatoes stuffed with tarragon egg salad, salt-roasted beet stacks with peppered chévre and roasted walnuts, toasted flatbreads with Vermont cheddar and homemade quince paste




Watermelon, feta, and mint – so refreshing!

Romaine bundles with parmesan crouton, almond milk and lemon ranch dressing (salad you can eat with your hands!)




Herbed pearl couscous with vegetable confetti served in petite bell peppers

Pan-roasted halibut with olive-pistachio tapenade


Seared skirt steak with chipotle aioli and caramelized onion
Fig, plum, and almond pudding cakes and two-bite cheesecakes with huckleberry balsamic compote

The food was fresh, seasonal, colorful, organic, and made with fine ingredients. 
The presentation was whimsical and inventive – easy-to-eat small bites that were 
both delicious and fun to eat. Perfect for cocktail parties.

Many thanks to 9Catering for exceeding our expectations and 
serving us an impressive tasting of 10 dishes. 

Cheers to happy bellies and healthy fuel for our hard-working event team!

Farmgirl Flowers – a Blooming Business


I love to give and receive flowers. They make everyone smile – unless you are allergic!

It has always bugged me how expensive it is to send someone flowers...that's why I love this new concept for sending flowers – Farmgirl Flowers. Her bouquets start at $25 and delivery is a mere $13 in San Francisco.

Farmgirl (Christina) has gotten it right! It's a great upstart, using local vendors to produce a reasonably priced bouquet! She purchases her flowers from Repettos in Half Moon Bay, partners with Ritual Coffee Roasters for donated burlap wrap, and sends her bouquets on bikes with Cupid Couriers instead of using delivery vans. She gets vases from Goodwill, her customers, friends, family, strangers, and even from everyone's friend, Craigslist.org.

To top it all off, Christina donates to Playworks. This fantastic organization helps to create inclusive play on low-income school grounds, and positive after-school programs as well. When you choose the burlap shipping option or donate a vase to Farmgirl, she'll make a $1 donation.


 To read more about Christina go here.

 I can't wait to send my first bouquet!

-Danielle

Summer in the Mountains

I stayed overnight in the mountains this week at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, located mid-mountain above Northstar California.  Having only been open for 2 1/2 years, the property is fresh and inviting, showcasing its spectacular surroundings with architectural details designed to mirror the natural landscape of the Sierra Nevadas.

The purpose of this trip was to walk the property and make some decisions about the space for two upcoming evening events.  Finished picnic tables overlooking an open lawn and towering pines will be the perfect place to host a Welcome Reception, complete with a croquet court to add some fun competition!
The sunset from this terrace was spectacular!


A quick gondola ride to the Northstar Resort will bring guests to the Alpine Club for their awards dinner.  A private club overlooking the Village at Northstar, this venue will provide the "mountain lodge" feel we were looking for.  My Pinterest page is already in the works!


This will be our first mountain event in five years...let the planning commence!!

Happy Friday

Hello from Paris. 

I have spent the last month traveling with my family and recharging my batteries. 
I am excited to return to work next week. The SSP team has rocked the house while I was away and it makes me so proud and HAPPY to work with such talented and fun people.

These "happy" bags for flowers made me smile each time I passed this store. I will share more of my inspirational photos on this blog over the next few months.

 -Samantha





Jessie's view

As the newest member of the SSP team, I have been baptized by fire into the event-planning world.
From day one with the Mix Mashup, I have been asked to hit the ground running and help solve the logistical puzzle that each event presents.

Our office in the Dogpatch District of San Francisco is the laboratory that we create out of.

Here is a peek inside:


- Sweet view of the Bay!














-Tools of the trade















-Where the head honcho sits












I have been lucky enough to have a great group of women to mentor me in this process.
I have learned a ton so far, including: Don't plan a meal for 600 people on an empty stomach and that the printer always breaks the day before an event. :-)
















Besides all the great food I get to eat, the amazing venues I get to visit, and the inspiring people I work with, the best thing about being on the SSP team is that every day is distinctly different from the rest and presents new challenges and opportunities.

I owe a special thanks to all my teammates for helping me fit in.

Until next time.

-Jessie