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8 Questions with DJ David Swirsky

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-05-10T14:10:27-04:00

Who: David Swirsky
Craft: DJ/Founder of Expressway Music
Lives: NYC
Where to Find Him: expresswaymusic.com
Why We Think He’s Cool: He’s a DJ without a God complex!
Interview by: José

Foundry: So I guess the first obvious question would be, "How did you become a DJ?"
DJ David: My folks had MANY parties while I was growing up and at the age of 8 I was the designated DJ for them. I took to it naturally because since the age of 3 I was asking my mother to take me to the record store to buy music. Growing up I learned as much as I could about who wrote what song and what instruments were used on each recording. In high school and college I read every copy of Billboard from cover to cover. My family was/is very involved in music..my mother was a musician, my brother is a welll known songwriter and I have many of my original songs in television movies. Here is a link to some of my original songs: reverbnation.com/davidswirsky
I am just as passionate sharing my musical knowledge as I am creating a new song…being a dj has allowed me to combine two of my strongest skills: putting music together for diverse groups/crowds and analysing a live event… making people happy is the biggest reward to me.

F: Tell me about Expressway Music.
D: I started Expressway Music in the Summer of 1992 focusing in on Disc Jockeys, Live Music and Karaoke. While we are hired for all types of events the majority of the events we do are Weddings, Corporate events and Bar/Bat Mitzvahs. Our staff of DJ's and Musicians are so passionate and dedicated to what they do. I am very fortunate to work with people I deeply admire and respect.

F: So, DJ's in the industry have a reputation for having a God complex. Working with you, you're the furthest from it. What gives? Have the DJ Gods shunned you to be mortal?
D: I am focused on Customer/Client Service and Music. I don't understand inflated egos and never did. Actually if you are Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney or Martin Luther King then I'm fine if you have a huge ego but not for what we do.

F: Amen! So,you've been in the game for a long time. How would you say the music scene has changed for DJ's?
D: I think right now is the best time for dj's. MP3 Technology finally allows us the tools to completely be able to concentrate on what we need to concentrate on and that is picking the best possible song to play next instead of going thru record crates and cd books searching for an album or cd to find a song you may not even use. Now you can test 5,6,7 songs before you choose what to play next. Musically, the last few years has produced the best dance music since the 70's in my opinion…songs from David Guetta, Pitbull, and many more artists have kept guests dancing longer and with more energy. Producers are also getting much more prolific and becoming experts at what they do which is knowing subtle ingrediants to songs that make people dance without them necessarily knowing why.Again, David Guetta, Will I am are great at this as are many others.

F: Once, I asked if you knew how to infuse other cultures, like Latin music into a wedding. You said, "If you don't know how to mix Latin music, then you've never DJ'd in New York." What if I told you Frodo & Samwise were having a wedding - Hobbit style! Can you still bring the house down?
Haha. Yes. I believe there is a KEY to every crowd. Pre Party preparation helps a lot by asking the client general information(age, ethnicity, where they're from) about their guests and of course asking the client their own preferences. However, no amount of preparation matters if you can't read the party as it's happening and if you can't put together the music quickly that reflects the crowd you're in front of. I am VERY skilled at this.

F: You've DJ'd some of the best venues in NYC. How is The Foundry different from some of the others you've done.
D: Well I'm pretty certain it's the only Steel Foundry that's been converted to a 1st rate event venue …possibly in the Country?? All kidding aside, the Foundry has Heart and Soul and character…..
I personally love the fact that the Foundry keeps upgrading it's space like the new greenhouse and the new flooring. I also really appreciate it when I am there you(Jose) and Allison(owner)always make me and my staff feel so welcome. Feeling like I'm part of the family there certainly makes the client have an even better party!!!

F: You’re sweet. Thank you. Tell me, how do you unwind after each gig?
D: It depends what time the gig ends(day or night)…most end late at night in which my lovely wife Katherine always has my favorite foods available which I eat while watching repeats of Criminal minds, The Voice or while playing facebook Scrabble!!

F: Last question - can you try and list me ten of your favorite albums?
D: Wow. That’s tough. I’ll tell you what, you can really get to know what music I personally listen to by listening to my weekly podcast "Music First with DJ Dave Swirsky" found at: Musicfirst.podbean.com Beware of the many diverse styles of music(everything from Jay z to Hector Lavoie to the Beatles)

F: Looking forward to it!

Photographer's Pic

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-05-08T16:11:21-04:00

Photographer: Stephanie Reinish
Where to find her: stephaniereinish.com
Event: Allison Cunningham & Demetrios Marras
Article by: Jose

Stephanie was not only here on Saturday, but came again on Sunday for Allison and Demetrios wedding, and did a fantastic job! Here she was able to capture this gorgeous couple using our Terrace as a backdrop…

Feature - Style Me Pretty

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-05-01T13:14:54-04:00

Who: NYC Elopement Inspired Photo Shoot
Article by: NA. Blair of Style Me Pretty
Photo Shoot by: Firefly Events
Photographs by: Jana Williams
Video by: Tree of Life Films
Where to Full Article: stylemepretty.com

Settle in lovelies because your morning is about to go to the next level of pretty thanks to this make-your-heart-happy shoot dreamt up by Firefly Events. The Foundry sets the stage for this whimsical New York City elopement – and believe me when I say, we would be just as giddy as can be if this shoot inspires one of you to do something similar. The cakes alone by Elegantly Iced make us want to do a high kick or two, and that is just the beginning of all the pretty captured by Jana Williams Photography. The gallery is full of even more high kick inducing pretty, but make sure you scroll down for a fab behind the scenes film by Tree of Life Films and cocktail recipes from By Brooklyn too! Cheers!

For full article and more photos go here.

In Full Bloom

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-04-19T15:58:01-04:00

Event: Spring is here!
Article & pics by: Jose

As we're gearing up for another busy season at The Foundry, we’ve noticed the ivy at The Foundry has kicked in earlier this year! We’re not complaining…

Poppies and Posies Does it Again!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-29T12:44:51-04:00

Event: Poppies & Posies Dinner Party
Where: The Foundry
When: March 22, 2012
Photos by: Jen Huang
Post by: Jose
Written by: Sierra & Juliet @
Poppies and Posies

OK, Last year, Poppies and Posies hosted quite the dinner party, and last Thursday they came back and did it again! Not only did we have the same kick-ass players--Michael Stuart NY, Jen Huang Photography, and Bryn Chernoff from Paperfinger, but we had returning guests and newbies as well. Allison, Jules, and I couldn’t have imagined them topping last year, but they took this whole shindig to a whole other level, including a 10 course meal that was an ‘ode to salt’! WHUT?! Who does that? Apparently Michael Stuart does!

Special guests included:
Shira Nevada - editor from Martha Stewart
David Bowen - owner of Bowen & Company
Lauren Sozmen - of Loli Events
Heather Lee - editor of Brides Magazine
Lea Brumage - Marcy Blum
Eyal Tessler - In Any Event
Tzo Ai Ang - Ang Weddings & Events

Here’s what Sierra & Juliet from Poppies and Posies had to say about the event…

When putting together this dinner party we were inspired by Provence. Not only the unfussy approach we associate with a traditional provencal kitchenscape but also the emphasis on the ingredients in the making of a dinner party. That theme carried over not just to the food, appropriately an 'ode to salt' by Michael Stuart-NY, but also to the design. Instead of amassing huge amounts of decor to overwhelm the already beautiful setting of the Foundry's greenhouse, our aim was to keep things fresh, simple, and well executed. We sourced a vintage, grain sack table runner from a seller in Austria to drape the long dinner table. The floral arrangements we're placed on handmade wooden cake stands that appeared as to be were dark wooden, footed vases once adorned with flowers. We we're so excited when we came across a collection of vintage oil lamps to use on the table for candlelight. They we're the perfect finishing touch to our cozy dinner table.

The flowers we're designed in loose, garden styled arrangements using local spirea, hellebores, garden roses, parrot tulips, and sweetpea. Deep burgundy clematis vine peppered the arrangements and added just the slightest pop of color to an otherwise delicate palette.

All of the paper goods were, of course, designed by the fabulous Paperfinger. We sourced zinc place cards for her to inscribe each guest's name on, which also served as a fun favor at the end of the evening.

Lastly, one of our favorite elements were the gift boxes that we sent guests home with at the end of the evening. Inside each box was a collection of elements pulled together by the various vendors who participated. Paperfinger created custom stamps for each person and we sourced small swing top jars and filled them with Bolivian pink salt for guests use in their own culinary creations. Butter + Love gave each attendee a package of their sea salt, rosemary, and lavender shortbread (which is to die for btw) and shell co gave petit fours adorned with beautiful edible violas. The package was tied with bakers twine and a custom calligraphy tag.

MICHAEL STUART’S MENU:

Special Cocktail
Bombay Drop
Vodka, fresh lemon juice, cumin seeds, fresh
cilantro, sugar, kale namak salt, mint leaves

First Course
Cabin Cove Oyster
Mandarin Cucumber Mignonette

Salt - Shinkai Deep Sea Salt

Second Course
Wild Potagonean Red Shrimp Taco
mango salsa, avocado

Salt- Kilauea Onyx Sea Salt

Third Course
Marine Sea Scallop Ceviche
Lime, red Onion, Jalapeño Curl

Salt - Bolivian Rose, Andes Mountain Salt

Fourth Course
Blanched Spring Peas
Safron Créme Fraiche

Salt - Cyprus Hardwood

Fifth Course
Watermelon & Buratta
Mache, Cracked Pepper

Salt - Halen Món

Sixth Course
Smashed Fingerling Potato
Velvet Piopini Mushroom, Fried Qual Egg

Salt - Prussian Blue Sea Salt

Seventh Course
Braised & Grilled Pork Belly
White Bean Ragout, Fried Brussels Sprout

Salt - Maine Cherry Wood Smoked Sea Salt

Eighth Course
Flatiron Steak
Peppercorn Bordelaise, Fried Buttermilk Onion

Salt - The Meadows Pinot Noir Salt

Ninth Course
Blood Orange Panna Cotta
Blood Orange Reduction

Salt - Taha’a Vanilla Salt

Tenth Course
Roasted Nectarines
Sweet Mascarpone

Salt - Salish Alder Smoked Sea Salt

All photos by Jen Huang! More to come - stay tuned!

Happy 106th Birthday!!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-26T16:19:49-04:00

The Foundry - a 19th Century building where originally fine varnishes were manufactured before it housed The Albra Metal Foundry. Their logo is still visible on the corner of the building at 9th Street and 43rd Avenue. By 1906, it was one of several steel foundries in the Long Island City area that catered to the needs of New York City's riverfront manufacturers.

By the 1970's The Foundry was essentially an abandoned space, housing defunct vehicles and a mountain of debris. In 1980 the Du Val family purchased the property. The family restored and renovated the space to reflect its original industrial character, and began hosting events in 2001. It is the only foundry in the area still standing today.

8 Questions with Sharon Becker

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-28T12:35:48-04:00

Who: Sharon Becker
Craft: Makeup Artist
Lives: NYC
Where to Find Her: sb-beauty.net
Why We Think She’s Cool: Even if you’re going on a game reserve in South Africa - Sharon’s got you covered!
Interview by: José

Sharon Becker and I have been friends for years! Something we share in common is we are both tenacious folks--we know what we want and go for it! As our careers have shifted, it’s no surprise that our professional lives have continued to cross paths at The Foundry this past year. Sharon has quickly become the go-to makeup artist for brides everywhere. She’s not only crazy talented, brilliant, and sexy, she’s passionately skilled and it shows!

Foundry: So I guess the first obvious question would be, "How did you become a make-up artist?"
Sharon Becker: I earned a BFA in Drama from NYU, and needed a job when I graduated. I didn’t want to wait tables, so I answered an ad in the NY Times for a makeup counter position for the holiday season. Prescriptives hired me! I rarely even wore makeup at that time, but it was an instant connect – I loved using the products, meeting and helping clients from all over the world. Even in a small way, I love to solve a little blemish problem and make my clients feel beautiful. I worked for that company for eight years, including four at Bergdorf Goodman - I’ve seen it all!

F: Tell me more about SB Beauty?
S: SB Beauty started when I finally heeded my true passion! My friends always encouraged me to do makeup as a profession, and I didn’t think it was possible. Of course, I was wrong. Once I went out on my own, I found that people responded to my love of the craft and my enthusiasm, so that’s what marks SB Beauty – it’s personal.

My focus includes bridal, of course, as well as makeup for commercial photo and video, fashion, and portraits. I do makeup and hair, and partner with a fabulous hairstylist for larger bookings.

F: How would you describe your style of make-up?
S: “Look like yourself on your best day”. Individual and exact – I listen to my client and help translate her vision into reality. That said, for bridal and private clients, there is an overarching attention to beautiful skin, and enhancing each person’s best features. I want clients to look gorgeous up close, in a mirror, in the varied lighting of a venue like The Foundry and on camera.

In short, my style is fresh and polished which is always in fashion.

F: What's the most common mistake a bride makes with applying make-up?
S: Not hiring a professional! Seriously, are you cooking the wedding dinner in your kitchen? No! Most brides have other jobs, which they do very well. They should hire a professional beauty team with experience, training, an extensive kit of quality materials, as well as an objective eye.

Relax and enjoy your day, and the company of your family and friends, while someone else makes you look and feel amazing.

I had a lovely bride last year who eloped to Africa! We did a makeup and hair trial, where I showed her how to replicate the best look for her on the game reserve. We took pictures, I suggested products and gave her a bun form for her hair. She then hired me to do her makeup and hair for her NYC reception, and she is one of my most beloved clients. She followed my instructions and did a good job! More importantly, she felt great on her big day. If you cannot hire an artist for the day, pay for an extensive consultation and lesson.

F: Do you ever put make-up on the grooms?
S: I certainly would, and often do “grooming” on male clients (including some Broadway celebrities), but most often my work is confined to the bridal suite. Many couples prep at different locations, which makes it logistically difficult for me to visit the groom. I have sent assistants to a groom’s suite to apply anti-shine primer, lip balm, corrector and concealer on spots, a touch of powder, and hair product. Always a great idea!

F: You've had to prepare clients for show's like Dr. Oz & The Today Show. With HD television these days, do you find your job more challenging?
S: What’s funny is that bridal makeup is actually the most challenging of all! The professional photographers in NYC have such high-quality cameras that they catch EVERYTHING. In addition, the bride wants to be sexy for her husband (who often “hates makeup”), look great in daylight and candlelight, have her features pop from a distance – oh, and her makeup has to last all day. With my HD experience, I’m trained to correct/conceal, contour/highlight, and powder juuuust enough so that clients look human, but really damn good.

F: You're known to be quite the networker. What would you recommend to other make-up artists who are trying to make it out there?
S: Well, thank you! First, they have to know their stuff. There is no point in networking and marketing if you can’t custom-blend a foundation for any face in the world, or handle any client/situation. Assuming the artist is talented and experienced, she then has to have all of her materials in order (website, Facebook page, Twitter, business cards) and start within her own social and geographic circle. Meet fellow makeup artists, assist, shoot for free to meet photographers and get portfolio material, and network in the bridal arena. With persistence and a friendly, warm attitude, the results will come.

F: K, last question. Have you ever had a Bridezilla on your hands?
S: No, not really. Preparation is key. I pre-qualify brides with an extensive phone call to determine needs and see if we are a good match. Also, I insist on doing a trial to see if we are a fit (unless the bride is coming in from outside the country and simply cannot) and to let her see how her dream look works with her features. We share inspiration pictures before the trial, so that on the trial day we are assessing the reality of her skin and face, and she is determining if she likes having me work on her. I prepare my brides very thoroughly with what to expect from the bridal suite experience and my services. This way she is confident going into the big day and there is no meltdown in the makeup or hair department. Things outside of my control happen (oh, just ask!), but I always have nail and first aid kits, snacks, tunes, and jokes. The party starts in the bridal suite!

Featured Couple

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-19T09:53:17-04:00

Couple: Caroline & Andy
Married: October 15, 2011
Photos by: Jenny Jimenez
Article by: Jose

How did you meet?
Andy and I met through a mutual friend many years ago in Seattle. We started dating when we both moved to the East Coast and realized that this amazingly compatible person had been right there for years and neither one of us had noticed.

How did Andy propose?
Andy proposed at a party on our friends rooftop in the East Village in summer just as the sun was setting. It was the same spot where we had our first kiss. He timed it perfectly. We had friends from Seattle in town and they were there along with all of our friends from NYC. Everyone was in on the secret but me. While he was popping the question, they were popping the champagne! We celebrated all night.

What was going through your mind when you were walking down the aisle?
Oh my god oh my god oh my god oh my god wow this is beautiful oh my god oh my god oh my god.

What was it about The Foundry that appealed to you?
The Foundry is an amazing space and we loved that we really got to do what we want with it. From the second we walked in the doors we knew it was the perfect place. The fact that the staff is amazing and incredible accommodating was the icing on the cake. They did so much to make our day run smoothly.

What's it been like since?
Great! I am secretly so relieved to not be planning a wedding anymore. It was so much fun to do and I wouldn't change a thing but there is a bit of mania that sets in, especially towards the end. It's been so nice to go back to our normal lives and having the biggest event-related decisions be things like which restaurant to go to for a dinner date or which movie to see.

What's next?
Sky's the limit.

Photograph

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-12T15:44:09-04:00

Event: None in Particular
Where: The Foundry’s Greenhouse
Article by: Jose

As we're gearing up for another busy season at The Foundry, we're prepping our spaces and redoing the floors! Here's a shot of The Foundry's Greenhouse after Val, our building manager, went to town with it! Not bad, huh?

Marcey Brownstein & Friends

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-13T14:09:13-04:00

Event: A Friends & Family Dinner
Where: The Foundry
When: March 8th, 2012
Photos by: Evan Felts
Article by: Jose

What can we say? When Leslie from Marcey Brownstein Catering & Events tells us she wants to throw something special at The Foundry, we're not one to turn her down. Her mission was to create an intimate dinner with a few folks in the industry, who will not only be fun and add good energy to the soiree, but folks who can bring someone special--whether it's their husband, wife, significant other, or BFF. The night turned out to be a big hit!

Guests included, Katie and Gail from Broadway Famous Party Rental who provided us with their brand new barn tables and chairs! The table's metal base topped with a thick barn wood (that’s interchangeable) with Bentwood cross back weathered oak chairs was the perfect compliment to The Foundry's industrial look.

photo by Evan Felts

Jessie from Rountree Flowers did not short on awe & decor for the evening! She provided the table with a collection of white lanterns and texturized ceramic containers, each holding flowers in shades of pink ranging from magenta to peachy pink to pale pink. The tall vases held single magnolia branches. In the low arrangements were sweet pea, garden roses, parrot tulips, frittilaria, peonies and touches of hellebores (one of Jessie’s favorite flowers). The runner was a natural linen with gold thread running through it.

photo by Evan Felts

photo by Evan Felts

For the menu, we had a six course meal along with wine pairings!

Amuse Bouche
Herbed Butter with Spring Radish
Chilled Cucumber and Tarragon Consomme, Tabasco Gel
Duck Liver Mousse, Blood Orange Gel

Wine pairing - Chevalier Fabre Brut Champagne

photo by Evan Felts

First Course
Hamachi Crudo, Spiced Mango Salad, Wasabi Tobiko, Shisho Puruee,
Passionfruit and Cara Cara Gel

Wine pairing - Chateau Masburel Montravel 2001

Second Course
Duo of Duck: Braised Thigh Stuffed with Rillette and Roasted Magret
Served with Warm Cucumber Salad, Roasted Onion and Salsify Puree,
Tamarind Coulis and Warm Duck Cracklings

Wine pairing - “Les Bons Batons” Domaine Ghislaine Barthod Bourgogne 2007

Third Course
Ramp-Butter Roasted Beef Marrow
and Star Anise-Infused Oxtail Marmalade Ravioli,
Buttered Toast and Rosewater Gelee

Wine pairing - Carignamissime de Centeilles Minervois 2007

Fourth Course
Crisp Roasted Red Trout with Handmade Somen,
Lemongrass and Shiitake Broth

Wine pairing - Menetou-Salon Cuvee “Le Charmay” 2009

Sweet
Pistachio Semifreddo, Chocolate Terrine, Raspberry Delice
Petit Fours from The Chef

Wine pairing - Quinta do Noval 20-Year Tawny Porto
__________________________________________

The whole night was spent with good company, great food, heartfelt speeches, and even a little bit of dancing at the end. It was night to remember and we look forward to having everyone back soon!

Other guests included Jason from Marcey Brownstein, Ellen Kostman of Sidekick Events, Carrie Sartor from Lyndsey Hamilton Events, Maria McBride of Brides Magazine, and of course myself, Val, Allison, Julie, Tim and Dagny Du Val from The Foundry!

photo by Evan Felts

Video Corner - Super 8 Style!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-01T14:15:33-05:00

Video by: Hello Super 8
Where to find him: hellosuper8.com
Event: Liz & David’s Wedding
Article by: Jose

Here’s a twist for your wedding day! Ever think of having a video that feels nostalgic, aesthetically beautiful and archival? Meagan Hill and crew over at Hello Super 8 have a style that’s charming and unexpected. Click below to see Liz & David’s wedding…

Liz & David's super 8 wedding film: The Foundry, NYC from Hello Super 8 on Vimeo.

Photographer's Pic

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-02-15T09:34:39-05:00

Photographer: Daniel Krieger
Where to find him: danielkrieger.com
Event: Jasmine and George’s Wedding
Article by: Daniel Krieger

Daniel is hands down one of our favorite photographer’s that come through the Foundry! He’s hip, in demand, and best of all, knows how to tell a good story through his lens. Time Out New York voted him Top wedding photographers in New York City! We can’t wait to see what he does next! Here’s a Victorian steampunk wedding he recently blogged about…

“What a special, unique wedding this was. When Jasmine and George came to me they told me about their Victorian, steampunk themed idea for a wedding, I tried to visualize it as we met but it wasn't until the day their wedding came I really got to see all the creativity and effort that they both put into this amazing wedding. From her seriously awesome hot pink hair and shoes to that stunning dress and the handmade timepiece lapels this wedding was just so kick-ass!

The Foundry in Long Island City provided a wonderful backdrop for their vision and from the DJ to the ceremony it was just one big awesome success.”

For more of Daniel’s brilliant pics of this wedding, check out the rest of the article here.

8 Questions with Christine Viola

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-01-06T09:37:22-05:00

Who: Christine Viola
Craft: Event Planner/Designer
Lives: NYC
Where to Find Her: exquisiteaffairsproductions.com
Why We Think She’s Cool: Because she knows exactly what to do if your dress catches on fire!
Interview by: José

Christine Viola is one of our personal favorites at The Foundry. She brings an energy and passion that’s unique to her own style, and all the events that her and her amazing team have produced at The Foundry has been nothing short of amazing. Not to mention, she was extremely supportive and helpful with helping me organize my first D.O.C. (Day-of Coordinator) gig at The Foundry back in August. She’s honest, brilliant, knows her craft, and we love her for it!

Foundry: So I guess the first obvious question would be, "How did you become an event planner/designer?"
Christine Viola: It's all a blur, really...there may have been alcohol involved. But in all seriousness, it all started right around the time I was planning my own wedding in 2005/2006. I was climbing the corporate ladder in finance and really loved my 9-5 but constantly craved more. I wanted the freedom and reward that all business owners desire and have; I wanted to make my own hours; I wanted to pick and choose my clients; and most importantly, I wanted to complete a job with the sense that I'd just changed something or someone in this world we live in.

On the recommendation of a few friends who said, "You're always planning everything for us. Why not event planning?," I toyed with the idea for many months (while planning my own wedding), since it meant that I would have to say farewell to almost ten years of building my resume up in the world of finance. After my wedding in April 2006, a friend of mine, Sylvia, asked me to coordinate her wedding. Since I didn't have that much experience beyond my own wedding, I researched everything and anything wedding related. Sylvia's wedding came and went without any hitches, and I enjoyed every single minute of planning it. I loved negotiating with vendors, setting up timelines, confirming where everyone should be and and when, and then seeing it all come together flawlessly. Sylvia's wedding led to three other friends' weddings that year, and EAP was born.

I started the business officially in June 2006, and by December I had already booked 12 events for the 2007 season. Those weddings grew to double within the year, and that meant adding staff. In came Tara and Laurie, and without them (also fellow 2006 brides) EAP would not be the success that it is today.

F: Tell me more about Exquisite Affairs.
C: EAP Inc. offers Wedding Planning, Day of Coordination, and a variety of creative services including custom designed invitations and stationery. Imagine being able to just wake up to the wedding of your dreams and not worry about the ins and outs of what makes your wedding so beautiful. Our staff is dedicated to making your wedding day all yours and not about those stressful details that we will handle with the utmost care and devotion.

What EAP really strives for is to become a necessity rather than a luxury to brides. There's always been an aura around wedding planners, and that you had to have a hefty budget to afford one. Well, we want EAP to be as important to a bride as having a photographer to document her day. We want to keep our rates as affordable and competitive as possible, so that whatever the budget, a bride can come to us saying, "I have to have you" rather than "I wish I could afford to have you."

F: You have a lot of kick-ass packages. What's your most popular?
C: We offer four levels of service: Full & Partial Planning, Day of Coordination and Decor. While we certainly book our fair share of each one, our most popular has to be our Day of Coordination, Something Blue package. It includes just about everything a bride needs leading up to and on the day of the wedding. It's also the package that's included in both our full and partial planning packages because it ties the day together perfectly.

F: What's the craziest request you've gotten?
C: To plan a New Year's Eve wedding in Times Square with an anticipated guestlist of 450 people (98% from outside of USA). I declined.

F: You're known for your honesty. Can you tell me a time when you've had to steer a bride straight?
C: Honesty is the best policy! I'm hired to help clients plan the wedding of their dreams, and that includes the good/bad/ugly and everything else that comes with it. I've never had to steer a bride straight per se, but if there's something that I just don't think will work (logistically, creatively, etc.), I will be honest and say the reasons why I don't think it'll work. It's all about compromising and coming to a decision together that's going to work best for the overall event.

An example of this was when a bride really, really wanted to use alternating tablecloth colors. I felt it didn't look as mature and refined as it could, and explained to her why. The compromise was that we agreed on one color for the tablecloths, but brought in the other color she wanted through the chair cushions and napkins. The bride and I were both really happy with the overall look in the end, and that's what matters. She even thanked me after the wedding for steering her in the right direction.

F: How do you unwind after each gig?
C: With my hubby...or sometimes with Tara if Tara and I are working together that evening. We don't discuss how the wedding went until the following day, enjoy a glass of wine, and my phone/email gets turned off! It's leaving work at work and not bringing home the events of the day with you.

F: I love me some Tara by the way. I’m gonna have to grab a glass of wine with her soon. K, let me try to throw you off. Pretend I was a bride on the day of..."Christine, my dress just caught on fire in the dressing room after I foolishly lit up a cigarette in the bride's room! The wedding is in three hours!! What do I do?

C: You know better than to mention wedding and fire with me, right (referencing my December 17 wedding at NYAC, where there actually WAS A FIRE)????
To answer your question...I'd get you out of that dress, hand you a glass of champagne, and immediately leave the room to see what I could salvage of the dress (because we all know I don't carry around a perfectly fitted dress in my emergency kit). If I were able to salvage some of the dress, albeit a shorter one, or less fluffy, then we would work it! If it were completely destroyed, I would call up my friends at a local salon and see what I could get within two hours..and hopefully it would work out.

I'm nervous even answering this question right now...just watch that happen! Oh, and that "guest" that lit up the cigarette - well, let's just say they're in a cab on their way far, far away from the wedding.

F: K, last question. What's your favorite part on the day of the wedding? (Pre-wedding, ceremony, reception, etc.)
C: That single minute that the bride has all by herself right before she walks down the aisle. Even if the couple has already had a "reveal" for pictures prior to the ceremony, that moment is really something special. I usually encourage that time (right before the ceremony) for the bride to be alone and give her that minute to collect her thoughts, anticipate what's about to happen, and sometimes take a quick glance at herself and take it all in. Emotions are always running at high-speed at that point, from nervousness to excitement to pure joy. To be there and watch someone go through it as I did years ago...well, it's just my absolute favorite part of the wedding day.

F: BONUS QUESTION: What do you hope for in the new year? Did you make any sort of New Year's resolution?
C: What I'm striving for in 2012 is to just continue what we have been doing, but better! Continue the one on one relations we have with clients and vendors. To continue learning more, educating ourselves to what's bigger and better out there and most importantly, to rock out amazing weddings!

Check out one of Christine’s Portfolio! Stay tuned for more down the road...

Happy Holidays!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-12-23T11:53:36-05:00

We at The Foundry wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!!

Photographer's Pic

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-12-12T12:18:58-05:00

Photographer: Brooke Fitts
Where to find her: brookelynphotography.com
Event: Hannah and Ian’s Wedding

BONUS PIC

Press - Lauren Sozmen

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-11-29T13:17:07-05:00

Who: Lauren Sozmen
Owner of: Loli Events
Article by: Weschestermagazine.com

Here at The Foundry, we LOVE us some Lauren Sozmen! Her and her team have been at The Foundry on more occasions than we can count, and she never disappoints! Read this great article by Marisa Lascala at Westchester Magazine…

How does a couple know if there's a need to hire a wedding planner?
The first thing couples should have is a feel for the type of location they want to get married in. If the location is more all-inclusive, like a hotel or a country club, they might not have as much of a need for full-service planning; they might just want someone for the day of. Otherwise, couples have to look at their lifestyle: how much time they have and how much stress they're under. Finding all the vendors, figuring out if they're legit, looking through the contracts, trying to find the best deal—planning a wedding can be like another full-time job. Hiring a planner can take away all that stress. And often couples make back the planner's fee because planners have leverage with vendors.

How far in advance should you hire a planner?
For full-service planning, a year is the maximum. More often, I'd say six to nine months is better. For day-of coordination, it's more like three months.

What duties can you reasonably expect a full-service planner to perform?
At first, a planner helps with booking all of the big vendors: the venue, ceremony location, florist, band, photographer. They go through the process of choosing the vendors and looking at the contracts. Once those are signed, then it's the fun step, the little details like place cards, invites, photo booths, and everything that makes the wedding personal to the couple. The last main responsibility is setting a day-of timeline, so all the vendors are on the same page and the event goes smoothly.

What's outside of the planner's purview?
A big one is the seating arrangement. I don't know if Aunt Susie can't handle sitting next to Uncle Bill. Also, once the event is over, the job is usually over. I've had brides call three months after the wedding and say, 'Can you get me a refund because I wasn't happy with this vendor?' and that's not something we do.

Once a couple decides they want to hire a planner, what's the best way to start searching?
A party planner's website really gives you insight into what he or she does and the overall feel of their types of events. But the best way is referrals and word-of-mouth.

You're ready to sign a contract. What should you look out for?
What happens if the planner gets sick or something happens the day of the wedding? Also, what's the cancellation policy if the wedding gets called off? No one wants to think about it, but you never know. It's also smart to ask if the planner makes any commission from the vendors. Certain planners end up making money twice, because they charge the couple and then they get a percentage back for bringing business to the vendor. I think that's unethical.

How can A couple make sure that a planner fits into the budget?
Look for someone who charges a flat rate. That's huge. You'll pay more if you have to pay a percentage of your overall wedding budget, and even more if you go by an hourly rate, because planners are always going to put in more hours.

What's the biggest mistake people make when planning a wedding?
The best way to really have the wedding you envision is by cutting your guest list. Do you think that person really cares about seeing you get married, or if you're inviting her because you have to or because someone will get mad if you don't? At the end of the day, each guest might cost an extra two hundred dollars. If you have five of those, that's a thousand dollars right there.

What is day-of coordination and how do you know if that's the best option?
Day-of coordination is for couples who have planned the whole wedding and feel confident about it, and just want to enjoy themselves on the day of the wedding. The planner acts as the point person on that day. In my opinion, it's a great investment just to have peace of mind.

The Greenhouse Grows!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-09-25T19:06:02-04:00

Photograph by: José
Where: The Greenhouse

We at The Foundry are thrilled that the ivy continues to grow beautifully in The Greenhouse! When Julie, Allison, or myself give tours to perspective couples, it’s one of the highlights they seem to love the second they step inside…

Video Montage: Kalle & Jesse

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-09-12T13:02:40-04:00

Couple: Kalle & Jesse
Married: August 27, 2011
Video by: Joseph Minasi

Kalle & Jesse Highlight Montage from Joseph Minasi on Vimeo.

Couple of the Month

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-09-12T13:24:07-04:00

Couple: Christina & Steve
Married: August 27, 2011
Photos by: Michael Gross

Like we mentioned last week, come rain or shine or in this case--Hurricane Irene couldn’t stop Christina and Steve from having their special day on August 27th. Naturally, we had to choose them as September’s Couple of The Month!

How did you meet?
We met 8 years ago when we were introduced by Christina's sister, Stephanie, and her boyfriend (now husband), Rich. Steph warned Steve that Chrissy was "off limits", and that's the way it stayed...until a 4th of July party a year later. We spent the whole night talking and watching fireworks on the Hudson River!

What was going through your head when you realized Hurricane Irene was going to rain on your parade?
When we found out that Hurricane Irene was going to pay us a visit, we were worried about having to postpone the wedding because we were so close to the evacuation zone and there was the threat of bridge and tunnel closures. The classical guitarist we had booked could not make it, and many of our out-of-town guests wrote us with their regrets. However, we decided that a little wind and water couldn't spoil our special day, so what started as a wedding with dinner under a tent became a purely indoor wedding scheduled to start 2 hours earlier. Months of planning had to be re-worked the night before, but we had amazing support from our families, friends, and vendors, whose positive attitudes and hard work helped us pull it off!

How did everything turn out the day of?

The day of the wedding, we were still concerned about bridge and tunnel closures trapping us in Manhattan, so we skipped our photo session there and rushed over to Long Island City. Once we arrived, we knew we were in great hands when we saw our vendors hard at work setting up tables and chairs, arranging flowers, hanging chandeliers, and wiring the place for sound. A brief downpour gave us a glimpse of what would later arrive, but we took the opportunity to break out our umbrellas for photos of the wedding party. When we got back, The Foundry had finished its transformation into a vision beyond what we had imagined for our day. The ceremony was officiated by Chrissy's uncle, and our dog Tater Tot walked down the aisle. Everything turned out wonderfully, even our first dance!

What's next for you guys?
Our honeymoon to Costa Rica had to be canceled because of airport closures, so we decided to spend some time in Manhattan, mostly eating. We went to some of our favorite restaurants, we tried some new ones, and we relived our first date at Corner Bistro. We even saw a Broadway show. Costa Rica will have to wait for another day.

What advice would you give to the next couple who's confronted by the wrath of Mother Nature?
We would tell them to stay positive and focus on what is important, because together they can make it through anything. A little foul weather could force some changes to their plans, but it can't stop a determined couple from having the wedding of their dreams. After all, they say rain on your wedding day brings luck, so it can't get much better than a hurricane!

We're Featured in a Bing Promo with Swizz Beatz!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-09-02T18:06:02-04:00

How cool is it to get featured in a Bing commercial?? A bride who got married a few years ago called up Allison and asked if The Foundry can be used… uh, yeah!! We just passed it around the office and are totally psyched about it!

Check it out…

What Hurricane?

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-08-31T16:38:55-04:00

Event: Wedding
Bride & Groom: : Christina Soohoo & Stephen Lin
When: August 27th, 2011
Photograph by: Gustavo Campos
Article by: DJ Dave from expresswaymusic.com

Come rain or shine or in this case--Hurricane Irene couldn’t stop Christina and Steve from having their special day on Saturday night. Stay tuned, as The Foundry has chosen them as September’s Couple of The Month! In the meantime, here is a great piece by DJ Dave…

The news of Hurricane Irene didn’t keep Christina and Steve from getting married and celebrating on Saturday night at the Beautiful Wedding and Event space The Foundry In Long Island City. In addition to the Marriage ceremony there was a beautiful Chinese Tea Ceremony where newlyweds are “officially” introduced to each other’s family and tea is served as a way for newlyweds to show respect and appreciation to their parents and elders. DJ Dave explained the meaning and significance of the Tea Ceremony to guests.

There was a montage played throughout the wedding on the large Screen. Here is a photo of the best man giving his toast during dinner in the main space.

After dinner(and photos by Mike Gross) guests returned to the Greenhouse space for Introductions, first dance, parent dances , the anniversary dance and cake cutting. Here is a photo of the bride and groom’s first dance which they practiced with a dance instructor prior to the wedding. The first dance song was “The way I am“ by Ingrid Michaelson.

The wedding was catered and conducted by Real Food Catering NYC. Yen, Gary and their smiling staff simply made this wedding happen with 1st rate food and planning!

Usually DJ Dave would set up in the Foundry’s main space but because of the pending hurricane some logistical changes needed to be made and he set up in the New Greenhouse space..it worked out perfectly. Here is DJ Dave at some point during the party.

The Foundry is a favorite venue of Expressway Music (as well of Many NYC Planners and Brides and Grooms). Aesthetically it is a one of kind space. Their staff, run by owner Allison Du Val is first rate…helpful and accommodating.

Many, many thanks to bride and groom Christina and Steven, Yen and Gary from Real Food Catering and Allison and her staff from the Foundry. We wish Christina and Steven a great honeymoon in Costa Rica!!!

Dinner For Two Please!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-08-05T11:50:43-04:00

Event: Anniversary Dinner for Two
Where: The Foundry
When: August 1st, 2011
Article by: Jose

We at The Foundry love it when something happens that hasn’t been done before. A couple of weeks ago, we got a call from Matthew Aronowitz, a husband who got married to his wife at The Foundry August 1st, 2008. He asked if The Foundry was being occupied on Monday, August 1st of this year, and if not, he was hoping to surprise his wife with an anniversary dinner. He let us know that he’s already got a chef, and that all he needed was the place. Allison and Julie can attest that they’ve seen some pretty amazing things over the years, but this was a first for The Foundry in the 10 years of doing events!

Not only did we have this date open, but the three of us were more than happy to pitch in! In addition to setting up the table, we laid out a trail of candles leading up to the back where they would have their romantic dinner for two. We used floral arrangements from the night before and lit up the alcoves, creating a backdrop that we hoped would bring back a bit of nostalgia from the last time they were here.

At last, everything was in place--candles were lit, chefs were sautéing something tasty, and Julie hit play on their song, Billy Joel’s “Just The Way You Are”. 6:00 PM exactly--in walks Michelle…

As you can imagine, Michelle was overcome by emotion when she realized what her husband had surprised her with. After a long moment, they then walked to the back, danced and held each other before taking their seat. After a perfect dinner, they topped off their evening by visiting The Foundry Terrace.

And us? Glad you asked! Well, of course we couldn’t help ourselves from creeping around the corner a couple of times to see how it was going. Without fail, the three of us had our own emotionally pathetic moment - it was a complete love fest! We kept asking, “Who DOES that?”. Well, apparently he goes by the name of Matthew Aronowitz.

Congratulations Michelle and Matthew! Clearly, your marriage continues to be filled with all the right ingredients!

Same-Sex Marriage in New York sets off Waves on Engagements

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-06-27T10:25:57-04:00

Event: Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage
Where: New York
When: June 24, 2011
Article by: Jose Rolon

According to Yahoo News, waves of gay couples rushed on Saturday to make wedding plans that had been dreams for decades, as euphoria over New York's legalization of same-sex marriage promised to turn a traditional pride parade into an enormous roving engagement party.

In the minutes and hours after the law was passed and signed by Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo late on Friday, sparkling rings were offered and accepted and champagne corks flew to kick off wedding plans likely to add an estimated $284 million to the state's economy, according to a report by the Independent Democratic Conference.

The report estimated more than 21,000 gay and lesbian couples from New York would marry within the first three years and nearly 42,000 gay and lesbian couples from out of state would travel to New York for a "destination wedding."

We at The Foundry couldn’t be more excited! The Foundry has continued to support same-sex ceremonies for the past 10 years, including my very own. Five months before Allison and Julie hired me as the media/event coordinator, my husband and I legally got married in Massachusetts, but had our ceremony at The Foundry on May 15, 2010. Allison and Julie could not have been more accommodating with any concerns we might’ve had. After all, this was new territory for us, and we had to figure which things we enjoyed traditionally, and which things we didn’t. That turned out to be the beauty of The Foundry. It lends itself to create the ceremony you want.

Now couples won’t have to travel out of state to feel like their marriage is legitimate. Same-sex couples can have full legal rights in their own backyard. Regardless of your sexuality, The Foundry, in my opinion, is the best place for anyone to get married if you’re looking for something special and unique.

Friends keep asking if we’re going to have another wedding. Tim and I feel like we’ve already went through the process of choosing a kick-ass caterer (The Raging Skillet), picked our flowers (Verde Flowers), and created our invites (Pancakes and Franks). We’ve tasted our cupcakes (Tonnie’s Minis), posed for our photographer (Michael Rubottom), and danced the night away with DJ Gaza. Most importantly, we’ve already exchanged our vows and expressed our life long commitment to one another in front of our family and friends. Really, all that is left, is to head down to city hall on July 24th, make it legal according to the state of New York, and get myself back to work to help all couples make their dreams come true.

A Quote From One of Our Own

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-06-21T17:39:41-04:00

Below is an article done by WNYC on Monday, June 21st where Jose was quoted regarding the gay marriage bill and the impact it will have on event spaces.

“For Wedding Planners, Same-Sex Marriage Could Be a Boom for Business”

As politicians in Albany wrangle over same-sex marriage, those in the business of nuptials are bracing a boom.

Wedding planners and events coordinators are keeping close watch on the closed-door Senate proceedings since legalizing same-sex marriage could add $210 million to New York state's economy, according to a 2007 report from New York City Comptroller William Thompson.

"We're really kind of on edge just hoping that this thing will pass through," said Jose Rolon, media events coordinator at The Foundry, a popular wedding venue in Long Island City. He said business would double if same-sex marriage were legal.

"I think once this becomes legal, I think the community will just jump on (the venue) because it's such a unique, interesting space," said Rolan, who had his own ceremony at the Foundry last year after his legal marriage to his husband in Boston.
Bernadette Coveney Smith, founder of gay wedding planning company Fourteen Stories, opened shop in 2004, when Massachusetts legalized gay marriage, and now, contingent on the bill passing in New York, she said she would open a New York office.

"The wedding industry is so straight and has been for years,” she said. "And so really, this is an emerging market. ... The first emerging market that's opening in the wedding industry for decades."
"I mean I think it’s just really going to blow up," Smith said. "Couples are really looking for someone who will be their advocate and hold their hand."

Lady Gaga at The Foundry

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-06-20T13:20:07-04:00

How cool was it to have Lady Gaga come shoot a commercial for Google Chrome at The Foundry? There was a tight lid on the project so we weren’t able to share it with the public, but the commercial (below) has officially been released! We’ve also posted some screen shots of Gaga inside our new space - The Greenhouse! Last pic of her shoes, Allison took when no one was looking:-) What’s not to love about those bad boys?!

The 2nd Annual Valerie Benefit Fund

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-05-09T14:06:20-04:00

Event: 2nd Annual Valerie Fund Benefit
Where: THE FOUNDRY 42-38 Ninth St., Long Island City, NY 11101
When: Friday May 13th, 8pm-2am
Music: D-Nice, Dao-Yi Chow, Kovas, Mick Boogie
Drinks: Belevedere, Heineken, Hennessey
Food: Anfora, Dell’Anima, L’Artusi
RSVP: valeriefundrsvp@gmail.com

The Valerie Fund's mission is to provide support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders. Come join us for a good cause! To RSVP: valeriefundrsvp@gmail.com.

ABOUT THE VALERIE FUND:
Our Mission: The Valerie Fund's mission is to provide support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders.

Our Beginning: The Valerie Fund is a not-for-profit organization established in 1976 in memory of nine-year-old Valerie Goldstein by her parents, Ed and Sue.

Our Impact: Families turn to The Valerie Fund because of the unique combination of medical care, counseling, and other services it provides. The Valerie Fund Children's Centers comprise the largest network of healthcare facilities for children with cancer and blood disorders in New Jersey, and one of the largest in the nation. We host over 25,000 patient visits each year.

Close to Home: Today there are seven Valerie Fund Children's Centers for Cancer and Blood Disorders located in major hospitals in New Jersey, New York, and the Philadelphia area providing caring, comprehensive, state-of-the-art outpatient health care to more than 4,000 children and their families each year. This network means that sick children are able to receive care close to their homes. Before The Valerie Fund, many children—such as Valerie Goldstein—had to travel long distances because the treatment they needed was available only at major medical facilities located in large cities.

The Whole Patient: At The Valerie Fund Centers, patients receive far more than treatment for their physical illnesses. Our philosophy is that to truly heal the children with whose care we are entrusted, we must treat them emotionally, socially, and developmentally, as well as medically.

The Entire Family: Childhood disease strikes not only the child, but the entire family. When a child is a patient at a Valerie Fund Center, a staff of social workers, counselors, psychologists, and child-life specialists enfold the child and the family in a blanket of ongoing, individualized care. We firmly believe this approach is the most effective way to fight childhood disease.

8 Questions with Eric Visa

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2012-03-06T19:21:53-05:00

Who: Eric Visa
Craft: DJ
Lives: NYC
Where to Find Him: ericvisa.com
Why We Think He’s Cool: He knows how to turn it out better than most!
Interview by: José

Eric Visa is one of a kind. Not only does he DJ at The Foundry more than most, but he’s got clients all over the US, UK, South East Asia and Africa! Watching him turn it out from one wedding to the next with his suave style, it was time to give him a little Q&A...

Foundry: So I guess the first obvious question would be, "How did you become a DJ?"
Eric Visa: I’ve been a DJ ever since I can remember. When I was growing up in Africa and couldn’t afford DJ equipment, I practiced mixing two songs by removing the player covers off my parents tape recorder and nudging the rolling tape with my fingers to match the beats. And as soon as I was old enough to hit the clubs, I pimped out my three sisters to the local DJs in exchange for valuable spinning time. OK, I’m just kidding. I DID NOT pimp out my sisters!

F: Nice! Tell me more about your company?
E: I actually started the company after I got laid off following 9/11. I had just moved to New York from London with my corporate job prior to the attacks, following which the company filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy! So I dashed back to the UK, shipped a handful of record (actual vinyl) and began spinning at local bars in Murray Hill to make ends meet. Shortly thereafter, I began getting requests to play corporate events and weddings. So I bought me some gear and expanded from there, offering everything from system rentals and music styling to corporate A/V and commercial system design & installations.

F: In the years you've doing this, how would you say the music scene has changed?
E: The big shift for me came in 2000, though I think every generation has something to say about “the good old days”. But I feel that starting in 2000, music in general began shifting from a previously creative and intelligent art form to an overly manufactured targeted product for the masses. You could almost see that pop artists were no longer interested in putting out great albums but more focused on that one hit that would make it to everyone’s ringtone! I remember when I first started DJing in public, you’d pop a record on and if folks didn’t recognize it, they’d come up to you and ask what it was and who was on it, and then they’d proceed to get up and get down to it! Nowadays, if they don’t recognize the tune they’re more likely to ask you to play something they can sing-along to (so they can secretly hold up Shazam and get the info!).

F: There's some incredible spaces out there. How is The Foundry different from other spaces?
E: You mean besides the people? Ha! One of the reasons I love coming back to The Foundry is its sheer uniqueness. I’m yet to find a venue in New York that has that much history behind it. It’s amazing to me how the Du Vals have managed to bring out its traditional industrial character and transform it into this amazing event space without compromising that whole vibe. That, and the fact that I don’t have to bring a ton of speakers every time I play there. I can just use the superb built-in sound system!

F: How do you unwind after every gig?
E: I turn off my blackberry for 12 hours and then vacation on my couch!

F: Sounds perfect! Rumor has it you've also got a 9 to 5. How has it been juggling that?

E: It’s been great, actually. I’m in IT management so it’s a completely different world, which makes all the difference. I couldn’t imagine, for example, being a DJ by night and then working in the music industry by day. Whenever I’m at my office job, I pretend that I’m on vacation from DJing, and whenever I’m DJing I just pretend I’m on vacation from my office job. Works like a charm!

F: Not a bad way to look at it. Have you ever had a Bridezilla on your hands?
E: Absolutely! I think every DJ that also does weddings has at some point in their careers. I had one who wanted to micro-manage the playlist so bad that she missed her cue for the first dance (she was too busing scrolling through my music library trying to dictate what I should play 3 hours from then!!!).

As a DJ, I think the worst thing you could do is ruin an entire party because of one individual. So I like to stress the importance of catering to the rest of the guests and not just that one individual. Then I sit back doing my thing in the hopes that they’ll come to that realization on their own, which is usually way after the fact when they get those rave reviews from their guests!

F: K, last question. Can you give me a list of your top 10 albums?
E: This is going to shock you because what I listen to isn’t necessarily what I play out. So here goes, in no particular order…

Amplified Heart – Everything But The Girl
Walking On A Dream – Empire Of The Sun
Thriller – Michael Jackson
The Chronic – Dr. Dre
Aja - Steely Dan
It’s You, It’s Me - Kaskade
Club Classics Vol. 1 – Soul II Soul
Friends – Shalamar
When It Falls – Zero 7
Automatic For The People – R.E.M.

Photographer's Pic

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-11-07T19:21:52-05:00

Photographer: Tory Williams
Where to find her: torywilliams.com
Event: Adam and Eleni’s Wedding (10.14.11)

Torry’s thought on this photo: "Weddings at The Foundry are a photographer's dream—everywhere you look there's a beautiful image. Heading outside for portraits I noticed the bride and groom's silhouettes coming through the door. Luckily I brought my wireless flash to recreate what were seeing, and a couple seconds later we had the best image of the night."

Couple of The Month

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-08-08T19:21:52-04:00

Couple: Michelle & Matthew
Married: August 6, 208

After last week’s “Dinner for Two Please!”, a post about a husband who surprised his wife by bringing her back to The Foundry, people wondered who this couple was! So naturally, we made them our Couple of The Month, and had them answer some of your burning questions…

How did you meet? We met the first day of college at Rutgers University . We were paired up in an icebreaker game as "Bert and Ernie." We hit it off right away and got to know each other throughout our first year at college. We started dating a few months later.

What was it like getting married at The Foundry? Getting married at The Foundry was a wonderful experience. We were married in the courtyard and held our reception inside. The space was set up so beautifully with candles and flowers, and we were surrounded by our closest family and friends – it was perfect!   We have wonderful memories of our wedding day.

What's life been like since? Life has been great! We live in Manhattan with our dog and have spent the last three years enjoying all that the city has to offer. We have had a chance to do some traveling, relaxing and enjoying being newlyweds.

Matthew, what made you decide to surprise Michelle the way that you did? My original plan was to shut down Times Square and have the dinner in the middle of the street while the Naked Cowboy serenaded us. For some reason, City Hall refused, and I couldn't get the permit.

Michelle, what was your reaction to Matthew's surprising you at The Foundry? Stunned! I was so touched and immediately started crying. It was fun to be back at The Foundry, and I couldn't believe that Matt had made such a special night for me.   I'm a very lucky girl.

What's next for you guys? We are very excited to be expecting our first child in January. The fun begins!.

Jose's D.O.C. Gig at The Foundry

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-08-10T19:21:51-04:00

Event: Wedding at The Foundry
Bride & Groom: Priyanka Batra and Chris Leary
When: August 6, 2011
Article by: Jose

After being at The Foundry for nine months, I've learned a lot and have been able to accomplish a few things: from rebuilding the website to giving tours to hosting weddings on the weekends; from serving as Julie's right-hand gal in the office to managing this blog. But at the end of the day I did get certified as an event planner, and it was time to step it up a notch. After Allison gave me her blessing, it was time to jump in and offer a couple our very own in-house Day-Of Coordinator service.

I met with Priyanka and Chris a few months back to go over the various ways I would serve as their D.O.C: everything from recommending the right vendors to having access to my cell 24 hours/day two weeks prior to their event. If you're waiting for any juicy "Bridezilla" details, I'll tell you right away that Priyanka could not have been a better bride, and Chris could not have been a better groom.

After a few more meetings, creating a timeline as tight as a mason jar, and a couple of changes to their floor plan - August 6th had arrived! I got my first phone call that went a little something like this:

Priyanka: "Hey Jose. Morning. I've got a problem and hope you can help. Somehow we've misplaced the veil. We were hoping maybe my mom put it in one of the bags we gave you last night.”

Me (sweat already dripping down my forehead in my air-conditioned living room): Giving a relaxed sound to my voice, I said, "Let me call Julie at The Foundry to double-check, but I only remember there being favors, fans, and a guest book. Let me see what I can find out.”

After confirming that the veil was misplaced, I immediately contacted the Lovely Bridal Shop on West 4th to see what my options were. Luckily, they had one ivory birdcage veil left. I loaded up my Zipcar, and within 15 minutes I had it in my hand. WHEW! Next stop - The Plaza Hotel.

I arrive at the Bridal Suite with a veil in one hand and my wedding emergency kit in the other (more on the kit later). Priyanka and Chris were just finishing a delicious breakfast when I arrived. They were extremely grateful, and they both seemed newly relaxed. All I needed now was to make sure everything went according to the timeline we set up. But for the moment, my job was to keep our couple calm.

I enjoyed a nice chat with Chris' mom about a book she was reading, laughed with Priyanka about her late night, and helped Chris with his cufflink. Gave some friendly advice about the rest of the day, answered the hotel door, and ordered a fruit and cheese platter for lunch. Before I knew it...

12:00: Hair - Meg from The Parlour Brooklyn - on time!
1:00: Boutonnière and Bouquet Ashley from Saipua - on time!
1:15: Makeup Jessa from Blades Natural Beauty - on time!
2:00: Photographers and Videographer - Jesse and Whit Chamberlain from
Our Labor of Love and Geoff Boothy - on time!

SWEET! That was great! Now time for me to Zip my way across the 59th Street Bridge...

I have to admit I was nervous about what I would walk into. With Diner NYC catering at The Foundry for the first time, this could've gone one of two ways, but when I walked in, everything seemed under control. Veteran florist Sarah Ryhansen from Saipua and her crew were working their magic, A cool futuristic Smile Booth nicknamed HAL was being set up, Ovenly showed up with the cake, and Sarah Gaskins from Diner was running a tight ship.

Now if only the rain can hold out! My Weather Bug app kept telling me that it was about to begin at 5:00...

Every 15 minutes I was asked, "Jose, what should we do? I think it's going to rain." I've always been a bit of a risk taker, so I chose to hold out. I overheard a staff member who was placing favors on the chairs outside, "This is crazy, it's totally going to rain.” I had an opportunity then to tell Ms. Debbie Downer that she was the only one that was raining on this parade, but instead, I thought it would be more productive to hand her more favors...

4:00: Jackie arrives (My kick-ass Hostess with the Mostess for the night)
4:30: Guests arrive (a bit early, but manageable)
4:45: Bride and groom arrive (a bit late, but expected)
5:15: Wind picks up and catches hold of floral arrangements, which tumble over for a third time...

Before Sarah R. decides to sadly nix the gorgeous altar arrangements for safety reasons, she comes up with the brilliant idea to have a brother from each party take their position along side the urns, placing their foot discreetly, assuring nothing tips during the ceremony.

But the rain. I ran up to The Terrace and did a rain dance that would've made Milli Vanilli jealous...

5:35: Ceremony begins (Clouds picking up)
5:50: Priyanka and Chris are pronounced Husband and Wife!
5:55: Trumpet player comes out New Orleans-style leading guests into The Greenhouse for cocktails.
6:00: Rain begins and no one gets wet!! TAKE THAT, DEBBIE DOWNER!!

After Jessy Carolina and The Hot Mess rocked it out live in The Greenhouse, it was time for dinner! Diner NYC pulled it off brilliantly - from their timing to the guest's last delicious bite! For dessert, I thought it would be symbolic to end where it all began by going back out into The Courtyard, but it was too wet, too muggy, and just not pretty. I made a last-minute decision to have the cake-cutting and dessert buffet back in The Greenhouse, which worked out much better than expected!

Of course, the night did have a few mishaps that involved using my wedding emergency kit! A couple of days before, I spent two hours shopping at Target thinking, "What can really happen?” The only things I thought I needed were the smelling salts in case I passed out!

First: Priyanka somehow cut her arm - first aid with all supplies - done!
Second: Chris saw I had men's deodorant - raise up your arms, mister!
Third: Priyanka's mom forgot to get some tissues - take some extras and cry away!
Fourth: Priyanka's spaghetti strap snapped! Sewing kit with ivory thread? BAM - got that too! Now go out there and bust a move!

Last hour was spent with EVERY guest shakin' what their mama gave them! Not one guest stopped until the last song. Well done, DJ Crumbcake!

1:30 am: Jackie and I lock up The Foundry
2:30 am: Arrived back home, where my day started.

So what do I think of my first DOC gig at The Foundry? It was work, but I loved the adrenaline and loved solving whatever issues came up. All vendors I worked with were fantastic! Priyanka and Chris exited The Foundry to live happily ever after. The only question i had at the end of the night was, Who's next?

Thanks to: Allison for letting me go for it and Julie for having my back the day of!

Special Thanks: Sarah G, Sarah R, Deana, Asheley, Jesse and Whit, Meg, Jessa, Erin and Agatha, Jay Sanford, Geoff, and DJ Colleen Crumbcake for making this day rock!

Extra BIG Thanks to: Yen from Real Food for guiding me through a cohesive floor plan, Christine Viola from Exquisite Affairs for helping me tighten up that timeline!

6 Questions for DJ Colleen Crumbcake

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-07-20T13:21:51-04:00

Who: DJ Colleen Crumbcake
Lives: NYC
Where to Find Her: sugartownindustries.com
Why We Think She’s Cool: Because Notorious BIG’s “Juicy” is in her top 10 Summer jams!
Interview by: José

Foundry: So I guess the first obvious question would be, "How did you become a DJ?"
DJ Colleen Crumbcake: I was always the kid making mix tapes for my friends. When I got to college, I DJ'd at my college's radio station and spun at some bars. Then I headed to Chicago, where I continued DJing at college/community radio stations and bars. Friends would ask me to spin at the occasional wedding and then pass my name onto their friends, but I was never interested in becoming a "wedding DJ."

I moved to New York City to work in TV production, which I did during the week. All of a sudden, I found myself spinning at more and more weddings and events. At that point I realized that I actually really enjoyed working at weddings as much as I enjoyed the party stuff--which was good, because someone posted my name on the IndieBride message board right around then, and it all snowballed. I started getting too much business, decided to quit my full-time job and open popshop! djs. The rest is history!

F: Where did you get your DJ name?
CC: I came up with a very long and silly DJ name when I first moved to New York City for working at bars. East Village Radio morphed my name and the DJ name together, and I decided it was easier and less confusing, but then it stuck in the wedding biz too. Now it's become my actual nickname to most of my friends, which is strange and sort of funny to me. It's actually served me well. People really remember it and seem to find it very cute. I've embraced it in my own way by getting a little tattoo of the word on my arm.

F: So I know you've DJ'd some of the best venues in NYC. How is The Foundry different from some of the others you've done?
CC: Well, the sound system is awesome here. I highly recommend that my clients take advantage of it, because it's a perfectly calibrated system for the space, and the sound levels are always perfect. That's rare, and it always sounds amazing. Besides that, The Foundry is one of the most unique spaces I've been in. It's beautiful but a little edgy (since it is a converted foundry and all), and I adore the staff here. You guys are so attentive and easy to work with. I always look forward to my events here.

F: Have you ever had a Bridezilla on your hands?
CC: Not really. I mean, we've had some brides and grooms that are super specific about what they want, but I can't really say that I've had a true Bridezilla/Groomzilla. Honestly, I used to work in client service in the TV production industry, and I've never dealt with anyone as bad as my old ad agency clients!

F: How do you unwind after each gig?
CC: Depending on how tired I am, sometimes I'll go dancing at one of my DJ friends' dance nights in the neighborhood or just go home, plow through some chocolate and pass out. It's all very glamorous!

F: Last question - can you try and list me ten of your favorite albums?
CC: Jose, this is the hardest question ever! How about my top ten
summer jams (in no particular order)?

1 Kim Fowley - Motorboat
2 Dirty Gold - California Sunrise
3 Washed Out - Feel it all Around
4 Destroyer - Kaputt
5 Jane's Addiction - Summertime Rolls
6 Notorious BIG - Juicy
7 Jacques Dutronc - Les Cactus
8 Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood - Summer Wine
9 B-52's - Legal Tender
10 Robyn - Konichiwa Bitches

Quite The Event

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-04-03T19:46:15-04:00

Event: Poppies and Posies Dinner Party
Hosted by: Sierra and Juliet of Poppies & Posies
When: Wednesday, March 29th
Article by: Amy Azzarito of Design Sponge
Photographer: Jen Huang

It was certainly not a normal Wednesday night; Grace and I changed out of our work-at-home attire into fancy clothes and headed up to Long Island City in Queens for a dinner party held by Sierra and Juliet of Poppies & Posies. The event was at
The Foundry — a 19th-century building where fine varnishes were manufactured before it housed The Albra Metal Foundry. Working in the wedding industry, Sierra and Juliet had been inspired by Michael Stuart NY’s food and presentation, particularly their use of local and organic products. They called in lots of favors and all the folks who usually help them create a fantastic wedding collaborated on crafting a dinner party to usher in spring. There were so many amazing details — and the flower arrangements (which included some of Grace’s favorites: dogwood, hellebore and tree peonies) were held in a mix of vintage containers. The place cards were rubber stamps (best favor ever!) created by Paperfinger. And the food that inspired the party? I have just three words for you: truffle grilled cheese. The grilled cheese sandwiches literally shot to the top of my “best sandwich ever list”! See below for The Foundry’s pic for Something To Dish About. Lastly, Thanks to
Jen Huang for all the photography!

Read more at Design*Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com

Read more at Design*Sponge http://www.designspongeonline.com

21 Questions for Tim Du Val

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-04-04T15:45:08-04:00

Who: Owner of The Foundry
Lives: Long Island City, New York
Why We Think He’s Cool: He will always have a bottle of Dom Perignon as a backup for anyone who needs it!
Interview by: José

On March 26th, The Foundry celebrated the 105th birthday since the building was completed and occupied by the Emil Calman & Company in 1906. Normally we like to interview folks who come through The Foundry as opposed to those who work at The Foundry. But given this current milestone, I knew I had to take advantage of this moment to interview the man who started it all. In this interview, Tim Du Val reveals his days of sleeping in a construction trailer with wife and business partner Dagny, how he truly feels about Allison running The Foundry, and more! Plus, find out the question I asked that could’ve gotten me fired...

Foundry: First questions: What were you and Dagny thinking 30 years ago when you found The Foundry?
Tim: Well, this was the jewel in the crown. We knew that. The basic structure was here and we knew it would cost a lot of money to fix it, but we wouldn’t have done it justice if we didn’t finish it properly in respect to the building. We actually waited from ’82 until ‘99 to start renovating.

Photographer's Pic

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-04-03T15:45:07-04:00

Photographer: Laurie Rhodes
Where to find her: laurierhodes.com

Laurie’s thought on this photo: The sun-drenched Foundry courtyard made an ideal playground for this ring bearer and his cousins as they played a game of leapfrog. I wanted to capture his exuberance against the backdrop of the cocktail party and was thrilled when he glanced over at the bride!

Something to Dish About

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-04-03T16:45:06-04:00

Dish: Truffle Grilled Cheese
Caterer: Michael Stewart Catering & Events
Where to find him: www.mscnyc.com
Photographer: Jen Huong

Vermont Bread Company’s all white natural Soft White, a combination of robiola bosina and formaggio al tartufo (truffle cheese), and a compound butter of regular and truffle. For the tomato compote they use plum tomatoes that are seeded and diced, shallots, extra virgin olive oil, and finely chopped scallions.

Michael : Who doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich? While working at another company before starting my own, we used to serve a truffled grilled cheese sandwich. People would fawn over it, and rightly so, but I always felt it was a little too greasy and could be improved upon. So, after much testing, trial and error, and truffle overload, we finally came up with the right combination of ingredients. Since so many of our hors d'oeuvres are twists on classic comfort food, we decided upon the classic grilled cheese and tomato soup as our inspiration. We played with different types of bread, different types of fillings and different shapes. The final product is one we are very happy with and apparently so are our clients.

Couple of The Month

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-04-03T15:45:06-04:00

Couple: Regan & Mark
Lives: Park Slope
Married: February 14, 2010
Photographer: Soobin Sunwoo soobinsunhoo.com

How did you meet? We met online and had an instant and exciting connection. Regan had just moved to NY. Three days of anticipation passed before our first date, then we had three dates in four days. Mark went off to Japan for a week before the courtship resumed.

What was the most challenging part of planning your wedding? We decided to do something a little crazy and went with a steampunk theme. Finding a way to set the right mood and communicating this aesthetic to our guests was a bit of a challenge. Oh, and did we mention Regan was pregnant?

How was it getting married at The Foundry? Awesome. The 19th century industrial setting fit our theme precisely and the size was perfect -- ample yet cozy. Our guests were so pleased with the whole event, which went off without a hitch thanks to the fantastic support of the Foundry staff, as well as our keen and professional caterers at Sage, who embraced the steampunk theme with gusto.

What was your favorite part of your special day? Regan walked down the aisle to MGMT's "Electric Feel." The place was bursting with energy. Our family and friends surrounded us from all sides as we said our vows, and the place exploded when we were pronounced husband and wife.

If you took a honeymoon, where did you go? The magical isle of Guana, in the British Virgin Islands, welcomed us for this special week. New York got snowed in on the way back, so we were "stranded" in old San Juan for a weekend.

And what's it been like since? Life is great. We gave birth to our little son Loïc in May of last year and have many fun plans for the future.

Decor

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-04-03T15:45:05-04:00

Did You Know?

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-03-07T16:14:43-05:00

Queen Victoria's wedding cake was more than nine feet in circumference!

London Times, February 1840. Queen Victoria's wedding cake was more than nine feet in circumference. A second tier rose from this "plateau," supported by two pedestals. On the second tier was a sculpture of the mythical heroine Britannia gazing upon the royal pair frozen at the moment of their exchanging vows. At their feet were two turtle doves (symbolizing purity and innocence) and a dog (representing faithful attachment). Completing the scene were various sculpted Cupids, one of them writing the date of the wedding with a stylus on a tablet.

Something to Dish About

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-03-07T18:05:46-05:00

Dish: Shrimp and Chorizo Tostaditas
Caterers: Tip of the Tongue
Where to find them: www.tipofthetonguenyc.com

Spa Rolls and Roast Peking Duck with Hoisin and Jicama (five spiced rub with coriander leaves and cucumber slivers)

Why we love them: These bad boys have been served, eaten, and devoured! The guys over at Tip of the Tongue have created a perfect hors d’ oeuvre. With the right amount of chorizo and shrimp, how can you go wrong? Scott Fagen and Eric definitely know how to please one’s appetite, and we always look forward to throwing any event they are catering at The Foundry.

Decor

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-03-07T17:05:01-05:00

Florist: Poppies and Posies
Where to find them: poppiesandposiesevents.com
Photography by: angelicaglass.com

Poppies and Posies: For Erica & Alan's wedding we were really inspired by the bride's vision to have every table be different from the next. She was an amazing client because she really let us run with our imaginations and creativity. Each table was designed to be a secret garden of vintage and antique finds. It made it fun for the guests to walk around and look at each display as if it were an art installation. My favorite part were the rich flowers that appeared to be growing out of the tables, antiques, and vessels on each dinner table. It felt like an old, overgrown garden when the space was finished.

Photographer's Pic

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-03-07T19:04:35-05:00

Photographer: Craig Paulson
Where to find her: cpaulson.com

Craig’s thought on this photo: “This shot was taken just before Melody and Demos saw each other for the first time on their wedding day. Melody is a designer and her dress was purchased at a thrift shop and then altered to be the dress you see here. Her bold sense of style was complemented perfectly by The Foundry's exposed brick and urban edge. Just imagine what Demos was thinking when he walked through the front door to see Melody standing there in that dress, perfectly silhouetted by the summer sunlight. Just gorgeous!”

Couple of The Month

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-03-07T17:59:14-05:00

Couple: Jessica and Charlie
Lives: NYC
Married:
Photographer: Laurie Rhodes laurierhodes.com

How did you meet? We met at work. He is a chef and I am a bartender.

What was the most challenging part of planning your wedding? The choices! We got addicted to the internet and all of the wedding blogs and websites. Even after deciding on an invitation, or a cake, or a favor, there was always something else that might be better, making us question our decisions or wanting to add something.

How was it getting married at The Foundry? The Foundry was amazing. We knew we wanted to get married there as soon as we saw it. We wanted something a little untraditional and we liked that it didn't require much "dressing up." It is beautiful and interesting on its own. Plus, the people at The Foundry were friendly and easy to work with and didn't make us feel like a pain in the ass when we emailed with a million questions.

What was your favorite part of your special day? The ceremony. It was amazing to say our vows to each other surrounded by our friends and family.

If you took a honeymoon, where did you go? We went to Hawaii - - the island of Kauai. We didn't do anything you're "supposed" to do. No helicopter ride or hikes or diving. We just lounged around. For ten days our only concern was finding lounge chairs with the perfect sun-to-shade ratio.

And what's it been like since? It honestly doesn't seem much different from before we were married. Without the wedding planning to worry about, there's a lot less stress and a lot more free time.

10 Questions for Poppies & Posies

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-03-07T20:00:13-05:00

Craft: Floral/Event Designers & Business Owners
Business Partners: Sierra & Juliet
Lives: Williamsburg, Brooklyn
Why we think they’re cool: Donald Trump & Martha Stewart might be missing them right about now.
Where to find them: poppiesandposiesevents.com
Interview by: José

Foundry: How did you and Juliet meet?
Sierra: It was kind of by chance. I was in an apartment in Williamsburg on Bedford, and one of Juliet’s friends had sublet a room upstairs. We had a back yard and would always have barbecues and get-togethers. So Juliet would come over, and we really just hit it off. Once we started talking, we realized we had a lot of similar interests and wanted the same things in terms of starting a company, so it really just blossomed from there.

10 Questions for Chef Rossi

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-02-07T22:10:51-05:00

Craft: Caterer and Entrepreneur
Lives: Lower East Side
Why we think she’s cool: Considered New York’s Anti-Caterer and has made Elvis’ death relevant in her recipes!
Where to find her: theragingskillet.com
Interview by: José

Foundry: First, I want you to tell me what it was like growing up in a Hungarian-

Yiddish household.
Chef Rossi: When I was kid, my mom would make these long Hungarian Yiddish-Jewish meals - goulash that would simmer for a decade (laughs)! Of course, now I love to eat all that. But at the time, I was like, "Mom, can we just have pizza? Does it have to be kishka and goulash? Does everything have to end in 'ash' or 'ishka'?" (laughs). So I started to do all these experiments like melt snickers on a pizza--fun little kid things. I'd invite my friends over to the front porch and have a soiree of these little creations I'd made. It was great!

Photographer's Pic

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-02-07T21:10:48-05:00

Photographer: Karen Wise
Where to find her: karenwise.com

Karen’s thought on this photo: “Jackie and Aaron radiated happiness at The Foundry. Here they are smiling to their guests standing under their gorgeous chuppah during the ceremony. This image was shot with my Canon 5D Mark II dSLR. The achieve the image, I had to set up a light to the right of the altar and the guests. I shot this using a mixture of strobe and ambient light. The lanterns behind them in the adjacent room provided a beautiful warmish glow.”

Something to Dish About

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-02-07T10:10:00-05:00

Dish: Peking Duck Wrap
Caterers: Saffron 59
Where to find them: www.saffron59.com/

Spa Rolls and Roast Peking Duck with Hoisin and Jicama (five spiced rub with coriander leaves and cucumber slivers)

Why we love them: Their exotic menus comprise a distinctly multi-cultural tapestry of delicious pan-Asian cuisines, with diverse influences ranging from Mandalay to Bali to Saigon and beyond. It’s a unique blend that has been cultivated for over a decade by Irene Khin Wong with her expert catering and event planning team. Personally, we think they rock!

Decor

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-02-07T10:10:43-05:00

Florist: Fleurs New Yorkydrangeas
Where to find them: fleursnyc.com/
Photography by: karenwise.com

Why we love Fleurs NY: Always a pleasure to have at The Foundry. Fleurs decided to make three giant focal pieces (two for the ceremony, and one in front of the entry) and hang lots and lots of warm candle-lit lanterns around the perimiter of the balcony to make the most of the space and really wow their guests. Loved their color scheme- vintage silver, eggplant and green!

Couple of The Month

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-02-07T08:11:41-05:00

Couple: Chisato and Alex
Lives: NYC
Married: October 10th, 2010
Photographer: Konrad and Katie photopinkblog.com

F: How did you meet?
C&A: We were set up by our dear friends Mark and Lucrecia, who were also the officiants of our wedding ceremony. They were pregnant with their first child, so we like to say that we had two and a half officiants!

F: Most challenging part of planning your wedding?
C&A: Finding a good venue! When we found The Foundry, we knew immediately that it was the place we were looking for -- beautiful, full of history without being a religious space, and very New York without being cheesy. The Foundry set the tone for our aesthetic choices for the whole wedding!

F: Favorite part of your special day?
C&A: Our ceremony with the beer drinking ritual - our fathers poured together a bottle of Japanese and German beers into a glass we got in Bermuda (where we got engaged). And everyone in the family took a sip to symbolize our unity. Alex's father ended up chugging the remainder as he went last, like the German man he is! Also, our first dance was a surprise for everyone. We took tango lessons for months in preparation.

F: Where did you go for your honeymoon?
C&A: We went immediately following the wedding to Middle Caicos, a remote part of the Turks and Caicos Islands. We didn't see a single other soul on any of the beaches we visited! A few months later, we spent several days on Langkawi, Malaysia in the rainforest jungle.

F: And what's it been like since?
C&A: It's been great being married! We love looking back at our beautiful photos from our special day.

A note from Liesl at photopinkblog.com: “Some of my favorite details from Chisato and her groom Alex’s wedding (reasons why I am so jealous that Konrad and Katie got to be their photographers) are...”

Chisato’s hot red Valentino heels. Love them!
The wedding had a travel theme with an antique suitcase used
for guests to leave their happy notes for the couple.

Their adorable dog Paco was at the wedding and even walked down the aisle with the ringbearer!

A Letter From The Foundry Team

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-03-07T23:00:29-05:00

Hi everyone!

Welcome to The Foundry Blog! We are very excited to add this to our brand new website, as we think you’ll find it to be informative, fun, and eye candy!

When we first thought of doing this blog, our first thought was to make it not about us, but about the many amazing folks who come through The Foundry’s doors all year round. From caterers to florists, DJ’s to photographers, brides to grooms, we genuinely feel honored to have worked with you.

We hope that this blog will become a forum to connect some of the best in the industry. Without further ado, we present to you our very first issue!

All the best,

The Foundry Team

_______________________________________________________________

Decor

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-01-17T11:00:28-05:00

Florist: Verde Flowers
Arrangement: Nerines, Roses, Lisianthus and Hydrangeas
Where to find them: verdeflowers.com

Why we love Verde Flowers: Inspired by their travels to Europe, Asia and
South America, partners Vanessa Polanco and Michael Gonzalez always put together beautiful arrangements with a unique feel. They also have a great eye for making use of The Foundry with their floating votives which we love.

Photograph

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-01-17T10:45:28-05:00

Photographer: Kate Webber
Where to find her: katewebber.com

Kate’s thought on this photo: “This photo was from a very cool wedding I shot where we used some of the arches at The Foundry as the backdrop for a photographer-run "photo booth.” This amazing groomsman turned the fun up even more when he hopped up and suspended himself between the two sides of the arch for a fantastic pose - classic!”

Something to Dish About

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-01-17T11:15:00-05:00

Dish: Salmon with Green Tea Noodles
Caterers: Real Food Catering
Where to find them: realfoodcatering.com

Green tea noodles, lacquer soy Pacific salmon with ginger wasabi broth topped with scallion, and Thai basil salad.

Why we love them: Real Food Catering not only serves up some of the best dishes that have come through The Foundry, but they are extremely versatile. They will work with your budget, create a special menu just for you, and do it with ease, style, and always with positive energy.

10 Questions for DJ Gaza

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-01-17T11:45:55-05:00

AKA: Gary Hoffman
Lives: Brooklyn
Why we think he’s cool: Has rocked it out at
The Foundry more than anyone
Where to find him: djgaza.com, 74events.com
Interview by: José

Given all the incredible people that come through The Foundry, we were racking our brains wondering who would fall victim to our first interview. With as many gigs as DJ Gaza (aka Gary Hoffman) has had with us, it became obvious. Watching him turn it out from one wedding to the next, combined with his professional charm and sweet demeanor, it was time to give him a little Q&A...

Foundry: So I guess the first obvious question would be, "How did you become a DJ?"
Gary Hoffman: Well, basically, after college I went abroad to Japan for a year and a half and studied Japanese. When I returned I started working for a Japanese investment bank, and that was a bummer. Then I decided to work for a record label, which was a great job, but eventually that stopped being fun. One of my roommates was like, "Why don't you be a DJ?," 'cuz we were living in this funny rock-and-roll east side loft at the time. We would throw parties anyways for fun, and we had all this DJ equipment, so I was like, “You know, what the hell, I'm just gonna go for it." And that was the beginning of it all coming from the hobby side to being a full-on profession...

This Week On Top Chef!

joserolon1@gmail.com — 2011-01-17T11:30:00-05:00

Guess who's on Top Chef All-Stars this week? It was quite the production and we loved having them film at The Foundry! Tune in next Wed on Bravo @ 10pm! Check out the preview below...