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Let’s Talk Catering with Amy Marks of Radish

“Radish was born out of our love for wonderful food, and our love of celebrating each and every season as something we look forward to.”

Amy Marks, co-owner of Brooklyn’s Radish, is originally from the West Coast, but she’s put in a lot of time out here on the East. In fact, her 10-year anniversary with New York City is right around the corner. 

Her parents were avid entertainers who had friends over for BBQs often in their outdoor space, and Amy says that entertaining was really pervasive in her upbringing. Even though food was never a pathway in her formal education, she loved entertaining and having dinner parties — doing something social around food and drink.

I’ve worked with Amy and her business partner Laura on a few events, and not only are they two beautiful, kickass women, but Radish’s food is fabulous. Most recently, we collaborated on Ben’s bar mitzvah at the Museum of Mathematics.

  Indelible Times: So how did Radish get its start? Amy: When I moved to New York City, I began to feel like people who live here, no matter what they do for a living, they always have a dream about opening a restaurant or a bar. Dining out is such a big part of the culture here. It was something I started thinking about when working in the corporate world, and after a couple years of doing dinner parties with one of my best friends, Laura, we decided to become business partners. We were drinking margaritas and said let’s quit our jobs and open a restaurant.

Indelible Times: What’s the motivation behind your menus? Amy: We focus all of our menus on items that are the most bountiful and available by season. For example, we get excited when spring comes around, because it’s the first time you can take advantage of spring greens. Seasonal inspiration is absolutely the driving force behind all of our menus.

Indelible Times: Tell us more about the inspiration behind Ben’s bar mitzvah menu. Amy: When we created the menu for Ben’s bar mitzvah, there wasn’t a theme, but all the food was seasonally inspired. Most of all, we wanted it to be fun – to have a balance of adult and kid-friendly foods. The client wanted guests to move around freely throughout the entire event. With no formal sit-down dinner, we made stations to give people something that would fill them up but wouldn’t make them feel tethered to one place. In the Museum of Mathematics, there are points of interest all over, and we wanted people to move around.

Market station; photo by Sara Seber

  Upstairs the client asked for an Asian station and some healthier choices. We created a market station – we call all our salads and produce-driven selections “market” to emphasize their freshness. Of course, all of those items were seasonal.

Whenever a client comes to us and has a vision, we reinvent suggested menu items with our own twist, something a little different and unexpected and not so banal. For the bar mitzvah, we created a citrus “ceviche” in cups at the Asian station. It had candied ginger, edible flowers...it was really beautiful, too.

Citrus "Ceviche," photo by Todd France Photography

  Downstairs, taco and slider stations were really kid-friendly. We knew that would be a kids’ hangout zone with the DJ and dance floor.

At the taco station; photo by Sara Seber

  Passed desserts are a really festive way to serve desserts and keep the party going. A lot of times, when dessert and coffee are set out, people think the party is dying down. When desserts are passed, they become another fun element to the event and show that no one’s being kicked out anytime soon.

  Milk & Cookies; photo by Todd France Photography

Ultimately, it was important for the bar mitzvah that food would be easy to eat standing up, that the menu would include fun items that reminded people of when they were young, and that we’d offer something unique and interesting driven by seasonal inspiration. 

Fresh seasonal ingredients being prepared for the event; photo by Sara Seber

  Of course, our signature radish salad - our namesake - is available year round. There’s always a radish in season.

Radish certainly delivered at the bar mitzvah. The food was both gorgeous and delicious. See more photos from Ben’s big event here and read through the full Radish menu here.

And be sure to check out Radish’s elegant event space in Williamsburg!

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Client Spotlight: GrowNYC

I started working with the nonprofit GrowNYC last year during their New Green City, their one day environmental fair and symposium. I am currently working with them on their Gala this June and coordinating another city wide event this fall, The Big Apple Crunch.

Birdseye view of our New Green City event

A self-proclaimed “hands-on” nonprofit, GrowNYC truly lives up to its word – creating and maintaining amazing environmental programs that empower New Yorkers to pitch in to make a cleaner and healthier environment for all. Their programs span from organizing now over 50 NYC Greenmarkets (including the world-famous Greenmarket at Union Square) to running recycling initiatives to building community gardens to setting up rooftop gardens and recycling programs in New York City schools.

One of our vendors at New Green City, Brooklyn Greenroof, educating attendees on how to build a green roof.

I’m deeply inspired by GrowNYC’s long history in New York City (40 years and counting), and I appreciate working with an organization with values that align with my own. I’m an avid Greenmarket shopper, I believe in eating locally and seasonally, I believe in recycling...the list goes on.

Me with Amanda Gentile, Development and Communications

  My working relationship with GrowNYC involves collaborating with different people within the organization, and the dedication all of the staff members have to improving New York City keeps me inspired and passionate about our event planning. For GrowNYC’s upcoming annual gala, we’re working with a special venue: Gotham Bar & Grill. Having worked in the restaurant industry for years, I am honored to plan an event with such an acclaimed roster of chefs at such a renowned restaurant. Stay tuned for photos from the gala!

In the meantime, read more about GrowNYC and visit a Greenmarket near you!

The Union Square Greenmarket

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Celebrating Ben’s Bar Mitzvah at the Museum of Mathematics

The Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) is filled with over 30 fun, interactive exhibits, and it was the perfect venue for Ben’s bar mitzvah. We used two floors so we could mix up the vibe from the bar mitzvah ceremony to the cocktail hour and dancing.

An expert lighting crew, Kayne Live, was hired to help create the right ambiance, and they were an awesome addition to the event team! They really transformed one of the MoMath’s classroom areas into a cozy, intimate location for the bar mitzvah ceremony.

Nontraditional, led by Shira & Etan of Storahtelling, the ceremony was just what the family wanted: creative and intimate. Shira led the ceremony with her gorgeous voice, and Etan, who had worked privately with Ben for a year to prepare him, led the storahtelling. It was one of the most touching bar mitzvah ceremonies I have seen!

Planning and coordinating details for the reception was a blast. The dance floor was too cool: on top of a math square, it was lit up with different colors and patterns all night.

And the food was just as exciting as the dance floor. Casual stations with different themes were catered by Radish and scattered throughout the museum – an Asian station with edamame cones, citrus ceviche with candied ginger, a taco and slider station, and market salad station were all great hits with the guests. To top things off Radish staff passed around mini-desserts like milk & cookies and coconut quinoa puddings.

For an extra special treat, we had NYC’s popular Wafels & Dinges crew there to serve their famous waffles. It was a big hit with the kids and the adults! All in all, the catering was perfection!!

I was on hand at the event to keep everyone on task with deliveries and set up, and throughout the night, the hosts and other vendors looked to me for cues and assistance.  Being there to diffuse last minute situations and keep the night flowing is always a thrill - I love knowing my behind-the-scenes planning makes sure all the guests have a great time and that the family has it to remember as one of their most special days.

Congratulations, Ben!

From a beautiful family photo session across the street at Madison Square Park. It was a gorgeous sunny day and perfect for photos.

Very special thanks to Todd France Photography for sharing all of these gorgeous photos with Indelible Times.

Contact me for more information on event planning and celebrating with the Museum of Mathematics.

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Planning A Bar Mitzvah at the Museum of Mathematics

One of my favorite parts of being an event planner is helping my clients celebrate traditional milestones in nontraditional venues. And event planning in New York City opens the doors to so many interesting possibilities.

Planning a bar mitzvah at the Museum of Mathematics (MoMath) was definitely unique.

Ben’s bar mitzvah was MoMath’s first ever event (the museum just opened in December 2012), and working with a team new to events was exhilarating – all of the staff members were amazing and supportive.

Setting up the lighting for the ceremony

  As the day-of coordinator, I was hired to take the stress of planning off of the party’s host and the museum staff, checking in regularly in the months leading up to the event to talk timing and other details.

Catering by Radish

  On the day of the event, everyone worked together beautifully, and good thing, since we were on a very tight schedule! We only had one hour to set up for the bar mitzvah, because the museum closes at 5pm and the guests began to arrive at 6pm. Luckily, we were all planning for that.

MoMath was totally game for hosting a terrific event to christen the space for many more. Photos and more details from the day of the event to come!

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Making NYC a little more GREEN

I had the honor to plan GrowNYC's annual event in Union Square, New Green City. GrowNYC is a hands-on non-profit which improves New York City’s quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations.

Now in it's 7th year, New Green City brought together over 40 local businesses, non-profits and city agencies to provide resources for New Yorker's to lead a low-impact lifestyle. People streamed through Union Square all day long to experience the hands-on workshops, lectures, kids activities, a solar-powered Iron Chef competition, a walk-through recycling demo and so much more!

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Old School R&B with Aaron Neville

Last month we worked at Electric Lady Studios on a press event for Aaron Neville's new album, produced by Don Was & Keith Richards. They told stories of how the album came to be and their journeys for the last 40+ years. So much soul in that room...

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The Simple Things

Nothing is sweeter than bringing people together around a table. 

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A Unique Upper East Side Penthouse

I held a party for a non-profit hosted by Al and Patsy Kahn, the creators of Cabbage Patch Kids and Pokemon.  The Kahn's hosted the event at their stunning Upper West Side penthouse which may not seem out of the ordinary except that it is the former home of disgraced financier Bernie Madoff.  Since purchasing the property, Mrs. Kahn has hosted a number of events for organizations and non profits in effort to bring in good karma. One of the little things she does is ask all of her guests to sign a wall on their way out to leave a little piece of positivity.  

Read more about the Kahn's penthouse HERE

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Zagat Wedding

I had the pleasure of working as a Day-of Coordinator for the wedding of Ali Butterfass and John Zagat at the Water Club on Kips Bay overlooking the East River. After many years in the restaurant industry, it was an honor to work with such a respected family.  

The rainy morning resulted in a slight change of plans to an outdoor garden photo shoot but when the sun came out and a rainbow appeared in the panoramic windows during the ceremony, enduring the rain made it worth it.  The cantor briefly stopped during the exchange of vows so that Ali and John and all their guests could take time to appreciate the moment.  Later on the full moon shone down on the water as guests danced the night away, one more sign of a very special occasion.  

A Star Wars cake topper reflected the couple's fun-loving attitude toward life...

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Relief From the Concrete Jungle

As much as I love living in NYC, I crave the peace and quiet that only nature can provide. As a kid, I grew up spending summers in the Adirondacks and it is still where I go on retreat. Looking forward to another New York summer...

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A Housewarming in Chelsea

Last month I planned a housewarming party at a client's new home in Chelsea. I brought a staff of 3 to serve simple crudites and appetizers and to keep the drinks flowing. As always, John brought beautiful Chelsea boys & girls together... 

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Tips for Tipping Wedding Vendors

I have had this come up among a few of my clients so I thought I'd address it here. After all of the vendors have been paid and it seems that you've accounted for every imaginable wedding expense, there is one fee that might elude you: the tip! While some vendors include gratuities in their service fees, many will leave the amount up to you. How do you know who to tip and how much to give them? There are many schools of thought on this and depends largely on where you live and the size of your wedding. I recommend the guideline I found HERE on The Knot. 

Remember that all tips you plan to give should be calculated and prepared in separate envelopes ahead of time. If you're working with a wedding coordinator, they will be responsible for delivering the tips and any other final payments. 

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Walk through at the Water Club tonight and a preview of the 1st dance. #Junewedding (Taken with instagram)

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Handcrafted Place Cards

It's the small details of a wedding that accumulate and become overwhelming. As a planner, I connect my clients with the resources they need to help lighten the load. Most things can be successfully achieved through online services, however, without face-to-face interaction the process can feel impersonal and removed. 

For my last wedding, I hired photographer and graphic designer, Marko Kovacevic, to design and write the place cards and table numbers. It was one thing checked off the list and added a sweet personal touch. 

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One of the best things about living in the city is the appreciation that comes for time away. #SmokyMountains (Taken with instagram)

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Katie & Deirdre's Wedding

I had an amazing experience working with my latest couple, Katie & Deirdre, on their wedding last month. They came to me 2 months after same sex marriage passed in New York. Having been together and living in Miami for over 10 years they were excited to finally be able to celebrate their union officially. Katie, a producer, decided a studio would be the perfect venue for their wedding; they selected Jack Studios on West 26th & 11th.

The studio is a sleek blank canvas of all white walls, floor and ceiling with panoramic views of the city. We kept the decor simple and elegant: all white linens, floral arrangements were a gorgeous variety of white flowers and green leaf wraps done by Rose Red & Lavender and hundreds of candles were scattered throughout. The ceremony began at 6pm in front of the large picture windows just as the sun was starting to set. As it turned to dusk guests enjoyed hor d'oeurves and champagne to the sounds of the Helvetica String Trio. As the sun was going down the candles were lit and the DJ began to spin, creating the perfect mood for dinner. As always, Ciao for Now created delicious food.

Before dinner was served, Katie stood for a toast that moved us all deeply. As a devout human rights activist, Katie took the opportunity to shed light on the the hardships of growing up gay in America. She thanked her family and friends for their support and love on a day they have waited so long for. Their wedding was a celebration about much more than love, it was about never giving up on what you know  is right. The entire staff and crew felt the power of her speech in a way that made us all proud to be a part of it.

Thank you to Marko Kovacevic for beautifully documenting the process. 

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On my way to the train I walked by a stunning bride and groom. #ilovenyc (Taken with instagram)