I know I’ve been promising to update the blog with our 2010 events — and I will!   But when I see things like these totally irresistible paper cupcake cups, I swoon, melt — then have to share.

I found them on my latest favorite blog — Darlyblog.

I really need a cupcake in one of these adorable paper cups.

This winter, we were thrilled to have the pleasure of working with one of our favorite families of all time to help them plan their son, Harry’s, Bar Mitzvah.   We’ll tell that amazing story soon, since it occurred during one of our historic blizzards.   But I digress.

Since then, Harry’s dad, Ivan, celebrated his 50th birthday.   His gorgeous wife Ann wanted to throw him a party he would never forget.   She asked Donna of Beautiful Blooms and Eclatante to help her get the details together and, of course, we were very happy to oblige!

Here’s a little back story:  Ann & Ivan are both British (with the most wonderful accents!).  Ann had no problem coming up with the perfect theme, since Ivan was born in 1960 — London in the 60’s!   How fun is that??

Eclatante’s own Maggie Ruder took these photos.

Eclatante was able to find a classic English black cab to to take the couple and other guests from their home to Duportail House for the party.  If you’ve ever been to London, you know these little cars are everywhere!

Even Donna and I dressed up for this one!   And we had to jump in the cab for a quick photo!   By the way, Claudia Seyler did our hair and makeup for the party.   I still miss the eyelashes!!!

We loved the gobo we had created to emulate the Tube in London.

And of COURSE, we had to have the famous British red telephone booth!   People were in and out of it all night!

LOVE these photos of Ann & Ivan.   Her absolutely PERFECT dress was specially made for the night by Janice Martin of Janice Martin Couture.  And I could not get over how Ivan nailed the look of his suit.  He had his tailor create the perfect trousers.   It was like going back in time!!  (Not that I remember the 60’s.)

Donna and I couldn’t resist jumping into the phone booth ourselves. I mean, who could?

We saw some great outfits that night!   Among them was certainly this Union Jack dress!

And just look at this fantastic jacket right off the Sargeant Pepper album!    The DJ immediately struck up The Lonely Heart’s Club Band the very moment this guest walked in the door — right on cue!

We loved the trolly cake from Cake Art Studio

Ann & Ivan had a fantastic time -- which, of course, is why we do what we do!

Ahhhhh!   PLEASE forgive me!!! I’m so late posting this entry about the scrumptious cakes from Doughmain Baked Goods in Rosemont. You get to vote for the one that will be presented at Faye & Matt’s wedding at the Independent Seaport Museum on May 23rd!  You only have a day to cast your vote for one of these three yummy  cakes!  They are each so different from one another you will likely find your clear favorite.

CAKE OPTION #1 is the “whimsical” choice with five white offset square cakes with alternating textures on each layer, bedecked with fabric bows and ribbon. It’s a very fun cake that pleased Faye & Matt no end!

CAKE OPTION #2 is a modern design with four round cakes bordered with black ribbon and decorated with black butter cream stencil work.  Faye and Matt loved this one from the moment they saw it.   The intricacies of the lace and other flourishes are gorgeous in person.    The not-too-formal vibe is a perfect fit with Faye & Matt’s wedding!

CAKE OPTION #3 is a traditional and romantic cake of three offset square cakes adorned with bright, fresh raspberries. Faye optimistically refers to this option as the healthy cake!    Faye & Matt  loved how the bold color of the berries popped against the white of the cake and the simplicity of the design.

All three cakes will have the same wonderful combo of flavors:  the bottom, layer will be chocolate cake with chocolate mousse and raspberry puree; the middle layer will be a traditional yellow cake with a raspberry filling, and the top layer will be a banana cake with cream cheese filling.

So, hurry up and VOTE for one of these three.   Voting ends tomorrow.  And it’s really close!   So your vote really could make a difference!

Okay, I don’t really mean that.   Especially since we’re lucky enough to be a block away from Brown Betty — creators of the the best cupcakes in the entire world!   One could never burn out on their cupcakes!

BUT, if you want to see what alternatives there are to cupcakes — take a look at these amazing dessert delights (churros, croissants (chocolate and otherwise), brioche and eclairs) – if this doesn’t inspire you to think outside the cake pan, nothing will!

These stunning eclairs are from Fauchon - a chic French Patisserie from where you can order these gorgeous morsels.

If you’re having an event with a Latin flair – look at the amazing delights — they’re dessert churros from Xooro (pronounced Sure-oh) — so yum!

Then again, there’s Patisserie Claude in the West Village in New York (187 W. 4th St., near Barrow St.).  The desserts there are so good it’s hard to believe it’s really possible!  Croissants,  brioche – simple things done extraordinarily well.   It would be well worth a trip to NYC to grab enough for the most amazing brunch or rehearsal dinner, dinner parties  or any other smaller gathering.   Your guests will never forget you!

NY Daily News

Sylvia Weinstock is really one of a kind.  I just don’t think there’s another person on the planet quite like her.   Thirty years ago, she totally broke the mold of cake design resulting in cakes that reach the outer limits of the imagination of most of us.   She started this amazing cake trend —  all with buttercream — not a drop of fondant.  

Thanks to Rosemary, Donna O’Brien’s long-time friend from Manhattan who has worked with Sylvia in the past, Donna (of Beautiful Blooms fame) and I were invited up to Sylvia’s incredible cake studio where her masterpieces are created. Donna blogged about our incredible meeting and talked all about how just gorgeous everything was, and incredibly delicious. (Donna’s favorite filling was the apricot, but I’m still thinking about the caramel.  UnBelieveable. Her cakes are not only the most beautiful cakes you will ever see, they are to-die-for divine!)

I want to add that Sylvia spent a lot of time talking about the special events industry in general.   She’s been doing this incredible cake thing for over 30 years — long before cable television!   She has seen it all.   And with an infectious enthusiasm, she loves our industry every bit as much as she did thirty years ago when she started “this crazy thing.”  She even shared with us some of her preliminary sketches that she does for her clients; her sketches alone are incredible and it will never cease to amaze me that her works of art are created out of sugar. Just sugar.  Sigh.  

Now for pics.  I think, first I’d like to share Sylvia’s famous flowers.   She ducks credit and gives it all to her talented and dedicated team of artists who take pride in every single detail — look for yourself!

Here I am with Rosemary, getting every morsel of that incredible caramel filling from my fork

Finally, our last shot with Sylvia:

More news about Sylvia coming soon!!  Oh, and you should absolutely check out Sylvia’s book about her masterpiece cakes:  Sylvia Weinstock’s Sensational Cakes