| Projects and Events
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| Photo: Barbara Kinney |
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| The press has labeled it. . . .
The Wedding of the Decade
or
The Wedding of the Century
or even
The Wedding of the Millennium
Chas Miller and Birch Coffey served as the Owners Representatives at the property assisting, working over the course of the months ahead - then the two weeks of set-up - and during the events, for this beautifully executed and lovely gathering of family and friends.
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| The facade of Astor Courts on the evening of the wedding rehearsal |
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| Photo from AP - Aerial shot |
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| The view from the front lawn of the Hudson River and the Catskills on the evening of the rehearsal. |
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SIR JOHN SOANE'S MUSEUM FOUNDATION
In my capacity as Executive Director (part-time) for the Soane Foundation since 2005, each year I put on dozens of events and activities mostly in New York city but also now around the United States including Boston, New Haven, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Additionally, there are foreign study trips going to Sweden, England, Italy, Russia and Argentina. For more details on the Soane Foundation and the Museum in London, please go to SoaneFoundation.com
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| 2010 |
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The Soane Foundation's Annual Gala Dinner Dance. Here are the amazing three-dimensional invitation covers designed by Robert Van Nutt. Click on an image to go to the Gala page for details and pictures of each event.
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| 2009 |
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COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK
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ENGAGE. DEBATE. CELEBRATE.
The Columbia Alumni Association gathers alumni, faculty, world leaders and great thinkers for a three-day weekend of discussion and celebration for the European launch of the Columbia Alumni Association.
WHO ARE WE? A CAA Forum on Globalization, Arts and Media featured Saturday day-time sessions with:
Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah, The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan (regrettably, she had to cancel just days before)
Kofi Annan
Carol Becker
Lee C. Bollinger
Susan Fuhrman
Nicholas Lemann
Michael Oreskes
Jeffrey Sachs
Richard Sambrook
Joseph Stiglitz
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Attendees came from 30 countries to join together in Paris for this first global gathering.
This Paris event was held one-year from the date of the launch of THE COLUMBIA CAMPAIGN.
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The organizing team for this amazing gathering was numerous... however two need to be singled out: Karen A. Sendler, my leader and comrade on all aspects of this event - and a colleague I first met four-years ago related to my very first assignment for Columbia (the dinner with HRH Duke of York, Prince Andrew, celebrating the end of Columbia's 250th Anniversary Celebration). We worked under the direction of Eric J. Furda, Vice President, University Development and Alumni Relations. It was an pleasure to work with them and all the members of the Columbia Alumni Association team, plus the Office of Presidential and University Events, and our Paris team members with Publicis Consultants and Publicis Events. Also working tirelessly in Paris on our behalf was Christophe Knox, President of the Columbia Club of France and Julien Regnault, Vice President of the Club.
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| SATURDAY - La Bourse, also known as Palais Brongniart, was completed in 1825 and served for many years as the stock exchange. While it still functions as the headquarters for Euronext... the main portions of the building now serve as a conference center. This was the perfect venue for our Saturday daytime events and luncheon. |
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| 600 seats waiting for guests... |
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| .. not my best shot... but action on the stage. |
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Many thanks also go the team of Columbia's Center for Biomedical / AV Services - Jeffrey A. Szmulewicz, Gay Jean Triplett and Nancy Heim - for all their assistance with the on-screen visuals for the CAA Forum.
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| The beautiful space called the Nef as seen on a site inspection. |
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| Here filled with lunch tables awaiting 600 guests for a seated four course luncheon. |
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| FRIDAY - the day before the CAA Forum was an afternoon of events at Columbia's Reid Hall and that night the festivities got off to a grand start with six cocktail receptions around town for alumni of various schools plus a Paris Host Committee Cocktail that was hosted in the Penthouse and Garden Terrace of Publicis, the French consulting firm we'd worked with. Their headquarters building on the Avenue des Champs Elysees has the best view of the spectacular moment, the Arc de Triomphe.
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| The welcome carpet is out for us at the Grande Galerie. |
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| SATURDAY NIGHT - Over 700 alumni and friends gathered at Le Grande Galerie de l'Evolution which is adjacent to the famed Jardin des Plantes and is all part of Le Muséum National d'Histoire. The building was originally constructed for the Exposition Universelle of 1889 - the same year the Effel Tower was completed to be the centerpiece of the expo.
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| An interior shot during a walk-thru. |
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| Catering services were provided by LE NOTRE for the Host Committee Cocktail, all day Saturday and the Saturday night cocktail dinnatoire. Everything not looked fabulous but tasted fabulous as well! |
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| By special arrangement with Champagne Charles Heidsieck, our guests at the Friday night Host Committee Party and Saturday Grande Galerie party, were able to enjoy extraordinary champagnes. |
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| One nice thing about being on top of the Arc was we enjoyed an amazing sunset view toward La Defense. Note this photo was taken at 9:29pm on 18 June, almost the longest day of the year! |
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| In June, on one of our preparatory trips for the CAA PARIS 2007, it was decided to do a short video promo to post on YouTube! Thus we climbed 284 steps to the top of the Arc de Triomphe. Chas Miller served as videographer while Christophe Knox, Karen Sendler, Eric Furda nad Julien Regnault attempt to hum La Marseillaise. |
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The Columbia Hummers ! |
BREAKFAST in NEW YORK
LUNCH in LONDON
DINNER in HONG KONG
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Friday, 29 September 2006
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The Global Launch of
THE COLUMBIA CAMPAIGN
with simulaneous events in three cities
and connected by inneractive satelite.
The campaign goal is to raise $4 billion dollars!
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As part of an amazing team working for months to pull together this global multifaceted event... by late August with just weeks to go before 29 September, it was decided that I should do site visits to finalize many of the details for the dinner in HONG KONG and the lunch in LONDON.
Thus in the middle of dealing with details details details, I headed off flying to San Francisco to connect to HONG KONG. Then from there after 2 nights, I touched down in Bangkok, changed planes in Bahrain, and arrived in LONDON for 3 nights, before heading home to JFK.
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| HONG KONG - By day it is one tower amongst many, the Conrad Hotel at night is a beacon of light. |
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| HONG KONG - the old Star Ferry Terminal in Kowloon, since demolished... looks toward Hong Kong Island. |
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| HONG KONG - While staying there, besides ultra hummid weather and rains, we also had an earthquake... thankfully no damage. |
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| HONG KONG - A special Hong Kong welcome and good luck dance was performed for the gathered guests durning dinner. |
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| HONG KONG - following the dinner, guests participated from an adjacent room at the Conrad. |
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| LONDON - The Dorchester Hotel and the site for the luncheon. |
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| LONDON - day of photo snapped by Karen Sendler. |
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| NEW YORK - Command Central - a $6 million plus trailer for the satelite, video and audio was located in Wein Courtyard adjacent to Jerome Greene Hall. At the command of the AV and Prodcution was Jeffrey A. Szmulewicz, Director of Columbia's Center for Biomedical / AV Services. |
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| NEW YORK - Set up underway... |
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| Ready and waiting... |
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| NEW YORK - Inside the auditorium, each guest was welcomed to their seat with juice, water and a special muffin. Catering by Sonnier & Castle. |
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| NEW YORK - Outside the auditorium, festive banners greeted guests upon entry. |
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| NEW YORK - Central buffet stations provided a gracious access to all guests in the long corridor space outside the auditorium. |
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| NEW YORK - In addition to the beautifully created buffets, Sonnier & Castle passed breakfast hors d'oeuvres as well... mini bagels with toppings, bite-size tartlet with scrambled eggs, little wedges of quiche and more... |
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| NEW YORK - Later the buffets were changed over to hold gift books. |
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| NEW YORK live with Trustee Chair William V. Campbell... and with LONDON soon to join on screen left and HONG KONG llive on screen right. |
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| A long central bar divides the Low Rotunda in half, with cocktails on this side, and then dinner tables and stage for panel dicussion on the other side. |
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NEW YORK - Columbia hosted a 3-day conference on "Goverance, Dispute Settlement and Developing Countries" with the opening night Gala Dinner & Discussion at Low Memorial Library as part of the 10th Year Anniversary Celebration of the World Trade Organization.
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| WOW - what an amazing look for the exterior of Low Memorial Library - 30 November 2006. Photo credit: photographer unknown to me... |
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| Columbia University in the City of New York
What an amazing event was held as a collaborative evening with The Metropolitan Opera to salute the new production,
THE FIRST EMPEROR
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| Daytime roll out of the red carpet. |
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| 10am it sure doesn't look like a party. Amazing how in 8 hours, transformations take place! |
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| Lanterns ready for hanging. |
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| In the space designer Marc Wilson mounted three tall stands with a wagon-wheel like structure at the top for the hanging of the lanterns. |
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| Daylight doesn't do them justice. |
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| Another professional WOW shot. Lighting by FROST LIGHTING. Photographer unknown to me... |
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| Now the drama is set and awaiting guests to arrive. |
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| Overall decor by KATRINA PARRIS in conjunction with MARC WILSON. |
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| The interior of Low Memorial Library designed by the firm of McKim Mead & White. |
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| Here are some shots at Columbia University in the City of New York - where I have served as Senior Events Consultant since 2004.
Here, first up in academic year 2005-2006 was the World Leaders Forum, now in its third year at Columbia. Heads of state and foreign ministers are invited to speak to students, faculty and friends while they are in NYC attnending the United Nations General Assemby. This year we had 9 leaders over the course of a week. I coordinated a reception for the President Tarja Halonen of the Republic of Finland, a reception for the President Aleksander Kwaśniewski of the Republic of Poland, a seated lunch for the President Pervez Musharraf and First Lady of Pakistan, a reception for the President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela (who had cancled 30 minutes prior to the start of his talk due to a ongoing meeting at the UN...), a reception for the President Jalal Talabani of Iraq, and a reception for the President Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah of the Sierra Leone.
More news to come . . .
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| A classically elegant table set for the luncheon honoring President Pervez Musharraf and the First Lady of Pakistan. |
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| Catering provided by Sonnier & Castle. |
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Here are some shots at Columbia University in the City of New York - where I worked on over 48 events during the Academic Year 2004-2005 . . .
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| Low Memorial Library of Columbia University is the site of many prestigous events. |
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| HRH Prince Andew addresses the dinner audience at the close of the C250 Celebration - commemorating Columbia's 250th Anniversary of the founding of King's College which became Columbia after the American revolution. |
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| Presentation cakes by Glorious Food. |
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| The Rotunda of Low Memorial Library is prepared for a taping of ABC's The People Speak. |
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| Moderator: Geroge Stephanopoulos with panelists Dan Senor, former spokesman for the U.S. in Iraq, Chilean Ambassador to the United Nations Heraldo Munoz, Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, along with Columbia President Lee C. Bollinger and UN Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth. |
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| Swifty's Catering Director Jay Jolly outside Low on his cell following up on details. |
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| Like much of the campus, the President's House was designed by famed architectural firm McKim Mead and White. |
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| At the President's Holiday Party - Qimmah Saafir, Buff Kavelman, Natasha Lambropoulos and . . . |
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| The Rotunda at Low set for a big reception. The catering was orchestraed by David Castle of Sonnier & Castle. |
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| Another day, another event - plates awaiting dressing before a lunch. |
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FORWARD MILLER & COMPANY LTD. - Now FORWARDMILLER LLC
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The Olana Partnership
celebrates the
40th Anniversary
of saving the historic home, studio and property of 19th century landscape painter Frederic Church...
and the creation as one of the premier historic sites open to the public.
The evening was held at the famed Rainbow Room with table decor orchestrated by JODY HARRIS in colaboration with Chas Miller.
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| The view south from the 65th Floor of the GE Building of Rochefeller Center towards the Empire State Building. |
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| The rooms glows awaiting guests. |
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| Friends gather at the reception... Birch, Janet Schnitzer, Chas, Chippy Irvine and Tom Eaton. |
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| Low silver votive holders reflect the candle light beautifully off the elegant tall square'ish silver containers holding seasonal red apples and roses. Thank you Jody - she was challenged when the wrong silver containers had been delivered, these being 3 inches bigger than planned. When you x3 inches by all the tables, that takes a lot more flowers and apples... but good planning won out - and they were spectucular for this event! |
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ASTOR COURTS - Rhinebeck NY
Featured on the Front Page of the HOME Section of The New York Times, Thursday 6 November 2008
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Up in the Hudson Valley...
In March 2005, Chas Miller started consulting with longtime friends on planning for events while they undertake a complex historic preservation project of a famed Hudson River building designed by Stanford White and constructed 1902-1904 for John Jacob Astor. This amazing building includes America's first indoor swimming pool and a enclosed red-clay tennis just off the Main Hall. It formerly also inlcuded squash courts, a bowling alley and a shooting range. Check out the web site > http://www.astorcourts.com/
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| A luncheon held for 35 guests. |
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A Summer Wedding in Connecticut
July 2005
A 10-month process of consulting and discussions during the planning stages to final preparations . . .
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| A beautiful bride... |
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| Preparations begin two days before... |
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| always amazing as it comes together! |
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| Colors used were taupes, blues, creams and whites. Here, hand calligraphed table seating cards on an outdoor recieivng table with gauze ribbons to hold in place in case of a breeze. |
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| Simple beautiful country arrangements adorn the dinner tables. |
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THE CHRONICLE OF AN EVENT: Saturday, 19 March 2005 One of the most dramatic and amazing events of my career was held at Gotham Hall.
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TAILS IN NEED
was founded in 2000 for the express purpose of promoting mixed-breed dogs and their adoption as pets. The yearly focus was to raise awareness of mixed-breeds through the GREAT AMERICAN MUTT SHOW. Over the course of three-years, major shows weere put on in New York City with satelite shows in New Jersey, Maryland and Chicago.
Sadly the economic climate was not great for corporate sponsorships and given the fact that Tails In Need did not provide direct funding for shelters or related programs, the organization started to fade. In the last year, we developed a promising format of an online GREAT AMERICAN MUTT CONTEST with over 195,000 visitors caming to the contest site during the course of the six month event. The winner was announced that year on 16 December 2004 -- Toby, a wonderful blind dog stole the contest.
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| Toby - Winner GREAT AMERICAN MUTT of 2004! |
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| Lucky from California was runner-up with 34% of the vote. |
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| 2003 - MSNBC Picture of the Week - Sept 26 to October 3rd. |
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| | ForwardMiller is a company of experienced professionals. We are available to assist in the planning and implementation of parties, benefits, promotional efforts, and personal celebrations such as weddings, anniversary parties, cocktail receptions, lawn parties, and any other special events. Our forward thinking clients include not-for-profit organizations, corporations, and private individuals.
Jump to the full web site . . . www.ForwardMiller.com
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Reflections (above) of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at The New York Botnical Garden with Gala guests enjoying cocktails and a stroll.
The Frick Collection's Tartan Ball - named in the NEW YORK TIMES Style Section on Sunday January 6th 2002 as one of the top eight events for 2001!
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| | The table in the Great Hall at The Metropolitan Club with 350 plus votives provide a dramatic focal point.
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