Archive for Non-Profit

Congratulations Faith and Devon!

Trex Wedding Party
What do you get when you cross a stunning black wedding gown, a tabletop sauropod topiary and a wedding cake with a dragon crawling up the side with one super-artsy couple? Must be another wedding at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles!
Wedding Singer

The ceremony took place in our Grand Foyer under the ever-watchful eyes of our iconic dueling dinos. The couple was serenaded by a personal friend who delivered a stirring a Capella performance.

P3

Cocktails were help in the same area and guests rocked out to the sounds of P3 as they celebrated the newlyweds! Afterwards, the party moved into the Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Oschin Family Hall of African Mammals for dinner…

Sauropod Center

Dancing…

Bride dance

And dessert!

Cake

A huge thank you to Jessica Schilling for the use of her gorgeous photos. If you would like to see more of her work, please visit Jessica Schilling Photography at http://jessicaschillingphotography.com or call 323.529.3686.

Hold hands Rot

Give us a call at 213-763-3221 or send us an email at

specialevents@nhm.org

and see how we can help make your next event a memorable one!

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Brazil Day in LA!

Once again, Hancock Park and the La Brea Tar Pits were the backdrop for Brazil Day in LA!

Each year this event brings out the crowds! Vendors selling everything from churrasco and coxinha  to jewelry and clothes surrounded Hancock Park’s grand circle.

Entertainment included bands, drummers, Capoeira demonstrations and a very colorful Carnival Parade! For a list of the performers please visit http://braziliandayla.org/main/performers/.

 

 

And it just wouldn’t be a Brazilian Festival without dancing, dancing and more DANCING!!

To learn more about Brazil Day in LA please visit their website at http://braziliandayla.org/main/ And a big thank you to our friends at the Brazilian Consulate for a wonderful day!

The photos are all from the works of Liza Lemsatef Cunningham. To see more of her work, please visit http://photography.ellelens.com/ or contact her at Liza@ellelens.com.

For more information on holding your festival or outdoor event in Hancock Park, please call 213-763-3221 or email us at specialevents@nhm.org.

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Congratulations Jill and Erez!

The Rotunda served as a dramatic backdrop for the wedding of Jill and Erez here at NHM back in January! This couple was determined to show their guests a good time and they did not disappoint!  

After the ceremony, cocktails were served in the Grand Foyer where the guests drank martinis from the trunk of an ice-sculpted mammoth as they waited for dinner in the African Mammal Hall to be served. Our dueling dinos have been the centerpiece of many a cocktail hour here at the museum and seldom fail to impress!

As guests took their seats for an amazing dinner provided by John Kinderman and his team at About Thyme Catering (http://aboutthymela.com/), they were greeted by wooden jungle animals that the couple purchased from our own museum gift shop. They even had special gift tags ordered with the couple’s name and wedding date!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was such a beautiful wedding- no detail was overlooked.  Everything from the flowers to the food was simply stunning, it was almost hard to believe that this was our African mammal hall!

 

These amazing photos were taken by Joel Eckman Maus at EMP Studio Photographer (http://www.studioemp.com/), rentals were provided by Town and Country Rentals(www.townandcountryeventrentals.com), Ixora Floral Studio (www.ixoraflorist.com) designed the gorgeous floral arrangements and the chuppa that was used in the ceremony was provided by Dina at I Love Chuppas (www.ilovechuppas.com). To check out the favors or other gift from our museum gift shop, please visit www.enssc.com/default.aspx?store=301 or stop by the museum!

Congratulations Jill and Erez!  Thank you for choosing to spend your special day with us here amongst the dinos and mammals! We hope to see you both around the museum!

For more information on holding your wedding here at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, please call the Special Events Information Line at 213-763-3221, email us at specialevents@nhm.org or visit http://www.nhm.org/site/about-our-museums/event-rentals-filming/event-types/weddings.

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Online Booking Now Available!

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County now offers online booking for children’s birthday parties!

Our easy online booking system at www.nhm.org/birthdays will guide you through the process step-by-step, checking available dates and times, providing options for add-on adventures and more.  Want to reserve seating at the Dinosaur Encounters! show? How about gift bags from the Museum Store? No problem!

Our parties are on Saturdays and Sundays and run for 90 minutes. We have three time slots available: 10am, 12:30pm or 3pm. You are welcome to arrive up to a half hour before the party time to prepare and you can stay up to a half hour afterwards to clean.

When your child’s friends arrive they will sign the jumbo birthday card provided by the museum and our party host will get them started on a craft or activity right away! 

Each birthday party includes:

  • Choice of theme based on your child’s favorite museum exhibits;
  • Your own private party area;
  • A themed activity and craft;
  • A personalized jumbo card for the birthday child;
  • Themed decor;
  • Table coverings;
  • Tables and chairs;
  • Admission for your guests for the entire day! 
  • Your party reservations can go as high as 30 children and 30 adults. Just follow the link from our website at www.nhm.org/birthdays to get started! Once you complete your booking, you will receive an email confirming your event.

    Of course, if you need to call us you can reach us at (213) 763-3221 or by email at birthdays@nhm.org!

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    April and Earth Update!

    April and Earth celebrated their wedding day here back in September and I don’t know if anyone noticed, but we didn’t post any photos of the cake. The reason is because it was being filmed for TLC’s “Fabulous Cakes” show!

    We have finally gotten the airdate “Fabulous Cakes”, TLC,  Monday December 13 at 10:00 pm. TV-PG (L)

     Set your DVRs!

    The above photo was taken by the amazing Jen O’ Sullivan. Check out more of her work at http://jenosullivan.com.

    For more information on holding an event here at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County please call the Special Events Information Line at 213-763-3221 or email us at specialevents@nhm.org.

     

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    Another Feather!

    Whether heading to our new Age of Mammals Exhibit or to take a look at the installation “What on Earth?” , the Haaga Family Rotunda has caught the attention of museum-afficianados everywhere! Having been open for over five weeks now, the Haaga Family Rotunda has seen thousands of visitors pass through its doors.

    And to add a feather in our cap, BizBash magazine has once again brought us to the attention of their readers! The Haaga Family Rotunda has been featured in the “The Walkthrough” section of the Biz Bash newsletter promoting the room as an event space.

    To see the article please visit: 

    http://www.bizbash.com/losangeles/content/editorial/18879_natural_history_museum_of_l_a_county_restored_rotunda_offers_dramatic_event_space_for_250.php

    With s seating capacity for 120 and a standing capacity of 250 the Haaga Family Rotunda will bring a dramatic flair to any type of event. If you need more space, consider adding on our Fin Whale Passage or our Grand Foyer for your guests to enjoy!

    We still have a few spaces left for the first ten people who book the Rotunda to receive a 25% discount off of the list price!

    A big thank you to Glenn Calvin who gave us his permission to use the amazing photo above! To see some more of Glenn’s work, please visit www.gcalvin.com.

    If you are considering the Rotunda for your event, please give us a call at

    213-763-3221 for more information

    or visit http://www.nhm.org/site/about-our-museums/event-rentals-filming/event-types.

    We can also be reached via email at specialevents@nhm.org .

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    Congratulations Josh and Alyssa!

    We gave you the save-the-dates, then came the invites and now… The Korwins!

    On Saturday, July 3 Josh and Alyssa became husband and wife right here at the Natural History Museum! The happy couple opted to use the Grand Foyer for their ceremony. The Dueling Dinos were surrounded by handmade tissue flowers with colored LED lights in the center. Josh’s brothers Zach and Devin provided the musical accompaniment on their acoustic guitars. Instead of traditional bridal vows, the couple read limericks! They really are too good not to share… (taken from Josh’s website)

    Alyssa’s vows

    Honesty and friendship are key
    To have a good marriage with thee
    But when things get funny,
    I swear I won’t runny
    And make my new home in a tree.

    Josh’s vows

    I vow to be honest and true,
    loyal, and kindhearted too.
    We’ll author each page,
    and grow old in age.
    And one day, I’ll clean up your poo.

     

    The reception was held in the African Mammal Hall. As we mentioned in a previous post, the couple was going with a  “1960s-concert-in-the-park-meets-prehistoric-hipster-safari” theme. Their centerpieces included items from our own member’s loan collection, some books, cars, birds… well, maybe I should let the groom explain the centerpieces in his own words:

    “So when faced with dressing the tables in the African Mammal Hall we decided on a sort of Eclectic Safari Picnic theme. To start it off we definitely wanted to have the classic red and white checkered Italian tablecloth. To have that picnic look, I wanted to incorporate some green grassy elements and found some 16″ moss sheets that worked perfectly.

    The rest of the decor was pretty much a scattered bit of eclectic craziness on my part.

    First came the Glowing Sun-Jars: made with glass Mason jars from Ikea, sprayed with glass-frosting spray and outfitted with a color changing glowing orb inside.

    Second were the Birch bark log vases: cut from Birch firewood logs and drilled out by my dad. We then outfitted them each with a fabric daisy, a few grass strands and a flower bud puff. For some reason we never realized the vases were the same height as the Sun-Jars (which threw the balance of the decor off) so my mom scrounged together some vintage books to stack them on! 

    Next came the little BMW Isetta wind up toys from Kinsmart. There wasn’t really much of a reason for choosing these beside the fact that Isettas are one of my favorite production cars ever (because they are just so out there and awesome). I decided to incorporate them into the decor purely for guests to play around with. Some people also got vintage porcelain sparrow figurines on their tables as well. 

    And last but not least… the Chocolate covered Almonds. My dad over-ordered these cute little boxes for a client. All we had to do was make a few more “Future Korwins” stickers and we were all set to go!”

    Thanks Josh!

     I also could not wait to share their attire! Josh was decked out in a navy blue velvet jacket, floral shirt and red desert boots!

    Alyssa began the day in a beautiful floor length gown that she made herself.

    After the ceremony she changed into a BCBG Max Azria mini with gladiator sandals and what may be the coolest piece of dinosaur jewelry we have seen here!

    Mark Rivera from TGIS catering (http://www.tgiscatering.com/) was on hand throughout the evening to make sure that all the guests were well fed. The couple opted for food stations that served Korean street tacos, gyros, japanese salad, glazed salmon and designer mini cupcakes.

    All of these amazing photos you see here were taken by Sakura Photography. Check out her blog post from Josh and Alyssa’s wedding at http://www.sakurakoontzblog.com/?p=1924 

    Also, Carel Struycken, a friend of Josh and Alyssa’s created a picturebubble! If you would like to get the feeling of standing in Grand Foyer during a wedding ceremony, please check this out: http://www.picturebubbles.com/gallery/alyssajoshwedding01.html

    So a big congratulations to Josh and Alyssa!

    It was great getting to meet both of you as well as your families. Thank you for choosing to spend you special day with us. Everyone here at the museum wishes you a lifetime of happiness and non-dirty limericks! 

    For more information on holding your wedding here at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, please call the Special Events Information Line at 213-763-3221, email us at specialevents@nhm.org or visit http://www.nhm.org/site/about-our-museums/event-rentals-filming/event-types/weddings.

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    And the King and Queen are…

    Another prom season has come and gone here at NHM!

    Thanks to our Corporate Partner The Event Group (www.californiaproms.com) this year we saw students from El Segundo, Arroyo and Rio Mesa High Schools pass through our halls decked out in their finest! The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is a fun and uniques venue to hold a formal event. Our tall ceilings, marble floors and towering columns add a touch of class to any gathering.

    In addition, The Event Group provided the schools with caricature artists, fortune tellers and even some casino tables to keep everyone entertained and having fun!

    Joann Lovato of Lovato Events (www.lovatoevents.com) delivered a delicious spread of pasta, chicken, fresh fruit and veggies and, of course, an amazing dessert spread!

     

     

     

     

    The floors in our mammal halls are sealed cork so there is no need for you to rent a dance floor. All you need is your dancing shoes to rock the night away!

     

      

    A huge thank you to Patty, Dianna, Taylor, Kyle (Alex ;-) ) and everyone else at The Event Group (www.californiaproms.com/team.php) for all of your hard work. See you next year!

    There are still dates available in the Fall of 2010 for homecoming and winter formals. We also have many dates in the spring for the prom season of 2011, but they do fill up quickly so call now! Our Special Events team can be reached at 213-763-3221 and will be happy to arrange a site visit for you .

    For more information on holding a formal school event please visit http://www.nhm.org/site/about-our-museums/event-rentals-filming/event-types/schools-non-profits or email specialevents@nhm.org.

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    Congratulations Jen and Ryan!

    You may remember Jen and Ryan from an earlier post with their hysterical save-the-date card. Well I am happy to report that they are now married!

    Jen and Ryan are no strangers around here and they incorporated their fun personalities and love of the museum into their special day. As part of the benefits for wedding couples here at the Natural History Museum, we allow the bride and groom to use all of our open galleries for wedding photography.

    As you can see, these two took full advantage of it!

    After a late afternoon ceremony in the Exposition Park Rose Garden, guests strolled through the blooms and headed into our Grand Foyer for a cocktail hour.

    As they sipped drinks and munched on appetizers everyone took time to take Polaroids of themselves to leave with a personal message in the guest book.

    And, as with most parties here, our dramatic Dueling Dinos served as a backdrop for some fun photos!

    The reception was held in our African Mammal Hall where Jen, Ryan, their families and 150 of their closest friends danced the night away in front of chimpanzees, gorillas, rhinos, hippos and lions oh my!

    Pieces from our member’s loan service served as centerpieces and their place cards were dinosaur eggs with baby chocolate dinosaurs inside.

     

    After dinner had been served, the newlyweds slipped off to change into dancing attire and surprised their guests with a graceful routine.

    A big thank you to Hai Blankinship, the coordinator for the day, for your tireless work! And another big thank you to Jen and Ryan’s family and friends who did  a lot of schlepping before, during and after the event.

    The majority of the above photos were courtesy of Marianne Wilson Photography who did an amazing job capturing the quirky personalities of the couple, as well as showcasing the museum. Her work can be viewed at www.mariannewilsonphotography.com

    The hilarious  Dueling Dinos photo is courtesy of Jen’s Bridesmaid Elaine Ordiz.

     The beautiful flowers were provided by Chelsea Moon (www.chelsealeahflowers.com) DJ Tim Martinez (www.goodsounddj.com) provided the fantastic sounds throughout the evening and The Ranch Catering Company( www.theranchcatering.com )was responsible for the fantastic dinner! 

     

    So a big congratulations to Jen and Ryan from The Natural History Museum. It was a pleasure and honor to get to know you both and everyone here wishes you a lifetime of happiness. I know we will see you around the museum!

    Live long and prosper! ;-)

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    For a Whale of a Good Time… Call Us!

    We are now accepting reservations for events in the new Fin Whale Passage here at NHM! This room is washed in gentle blue light that makes you feel as though you are swimming right along with this beautiful creature! Suspended from the ceiling, the fin whale has become an institution at NHM, having been displayed from 1944 until 2006 when it was taken down for construction work at the museum.

    This will be the main thoroughfare into the Rotunda when it opens in this July. The room is accessible from both the Grand Foyer and North American Mammal Hall.

    Capacity for the fin whale passage is 410 standing and 200 seated. If you would like more information about renting the Fin Whale Passage or any of our galleries for you event, please call 213-763-3221 or email us at specialevents@nhm.org. You can also check out our website at http://www.nhm.org/site/about-our-museums/event-rentals-filming.

    All of the above photos were taken by Shannon Cottrell for LA Weekly. If you would like to look at more photos of the room or to see a time-lapsed video of the whale being mounted, please go to http://laist.com/2010/03/02/nhm_huge_fin_whale.php?gallery0Pic=2#gallery.

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