News

VT Group Safety and Preventative Action

March 4, 2020 Filed Under: Biz Buzz, News

March 12, 2020

At VT Group, the health and safety of our clients and employees is our priority. We are taking the threat of COVID-19/Coronavirus very seriously so we may continue to operate and serve our clients.

As of March 11, 2020, Governor Brown announced a statewide ban on gatherings of more than 250 people for a 4 week period. We will be directly contacting all currently booked clients who have events with 250+ guests within this 4 week time-frame to discuss alternative options.

Mayor Wheeler has recently announced a city-wide state of emergency in Portland and we will await to hear how this may impact future events. We will comply with local government restrictions and will continue to closely follow local health authorities, the Center for Disease Control and World Health Organization for updates.

We are committed to supporting our business partners by creating a safe experience for everyone attending by implementing smart and proactive strategies. We are all in this together and are working hard to support each other and our Portland community.

To ensure the health and safety of everyone, we are taking very specific measures around off-site catering and our on-site facilities including:

VTG VENUES:

Increase our existing schedule of deep cleaning
Continual disinfectant monitoring – staff assigned to areas within the event spaces, wiping down doorknobs, tables, light switches, handrails, etc. throughout the day
Hand sanitizing stations at each entrance for both staff and guests; hand sanitizer in all event packs
Re-enforce hand washing is the KEY; adding additional hand washing stations within the building and at events
Keeping ALL soap dispensers filled, paper towels stocked, as well as increased restroom checks

VTG EVENTS:

Hand sanitizing stations for guests and front of house staff
Additional hand washing stations for food service areas at venues where necessary
Supporting guests and attendees who may wear masks and/or latex gloves

VTG RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLIENTS & ATTENDEES:

Please minimize hugs and kisses, and even handshakes
If you don’t feel well, please stay home
Wash your hands! Tired of singing “Happy Birthday?” We suggest this!
Leave distance between yourselves and the other attendees
Clean your cell phones on a regular basis.
If you want to wear latex gloves or a mask, feel free – you won’t be conspicuous

VTG STAFF PROTOCOL:

Stay home when sick. Management is sending employees home if they exhibit symptoms. Employees must be fever-free for 24 hours and have management approval prior to returning to work
Wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and hot water
Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
Cover coughs and sneezes and always your wash hands afterward
If you feel sick while on-shift, immediately tell a manager and go home
Clean and disinfect commonly used surfaces frequently, including doors, chairs, tables, water dispensers, and EVERYTHING
Enhanced food and beverage safety procedures to avoid contamination
Do not handle phones or personal devices near food, beverage or service areas and be sure to wash your hands after you touch your phone (and face)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Our House Serves Up “Dinner at My House” Series

June 27, 2017 Filed Under: Biz Buzz, Catering, Events, News

VT Group Joins in on 25 Years of Celebration

Portland non-profit, Our House, has announced their 25^thanniversary line up for their highly revered dinner series, “Dinner at My House for Our House”. Spanning from July 2017 to March 2018, 66 different dinner events around the city are slated to bring together iconic food and beverage Portland All Stars and philanthropic community members to support the important work of Our House. All proceeds from the dinner events go directly to Our House, who provide healthcare, housing and other vital services to low-income people living with HIV.

VT Group owners, Art Fortuna and Kurt Beadell, are both sharing their unique private residences for two separate dining events. On July 9^th, Kurt invites you to a bountiful brunch, at “Get Down in the Garden”. July 15^th, Art shares his newly designed patio space in the West Hills, at “Fortuna’s Delicious Fortune”. Additionally, Kurt and Art collaborate with Maryellen and Mike McCulloch for a sensory experience at their Lavender Farm on September 8^th.

VT Group’s main office, The Loft at 8^th Ave. is also playing venue host to several other “Dinner at My House” events throughout the 2017/2018 cycle, such as “Fun and French” with Little Bird Bistro’s Chef Marcelle Crooks and Elk Cove Vineyards, and “Korean Comfort Food” showcasing James Beard award nominee, Chef Rachel Yang of Portland’s Revelry, and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, poured by our favorite Allison Blythe. Check out the robust “Dinner at My House for Our House” line up HERE.

Portland Showcase at the Armory

June 9, 2017 Filed Under: Catering, Events, News, Spectacular Spaces, Uncategorized, Venues, Vibrant Vendors

Vibrant Table showcased Portland’s bounty to the nation’s elite organization for American theaters, the Theater Communications Group, on Thursday, June 8, 2017.

Portland Center Stage hosted the annual TCG conference in early June, and invited their preferred Portland catering vendors to participate, offering prime exposure to impress upon the masses, Portland’s amazing culinary talent. The Armory’s space was transformed into a Portland Wonderland with entertainment lined up by the Ukeladies, break dancers, Oregon’s iconic Unipiper, and more.

Beverages were provided by Artslandia and Deschutes, and on the Mezzanine level, Vibrant Table was accompanied by fellow Portland based catering companies including Artemis, Art of Catering, Devil’s Food and Hunt & Gather.

Our Oregon-centric hors d’oeuvres were the crowd favorite Beet Napoleon with chevre, orange-honey and toasted hazelnuts, and our Spicy Port-Poached Figs wrapped in prosciutto.

Take a bow for a job well done, Portland Center Stage. Thank you for inviting us to participate.

©Evrim Icoz Photography

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As one of Oregon’s premier hospitality purveyors, VT Group provides casual to high-end, full-service catering, event production and facility management. VT Group’s flagship brands include Vibrant Table Catering & Events, Food in Bloom Catering, f&b cafe and catering, and Vibrant Flowers. VT Group also manages several of the city’s most beautiful and diverse spaces including five event venues and three cafe locations in the Portland Metro area.

Our mission is to foster exemplary relationships within our community, developing and maintaining quality connections with partners who share our same ambition, drive and values.

Dinner at My House for Our House

October 5, 2016 Filed Under: Events, News

Our House, a non profit organization that provides healthcare, housing and vital services to low-income Portlander’s living with HIV, is in the midst of their 2016-2017 dinner series, “Dinner at My House for Our House”. Earlier this summer, our Creative Director and Principal, Kurt Beadell, hosted his annual garden party, “Get Down in the Garden”, switching gears this year to focus on Portland’s darling meal period, brunch. Alongside his eclectic art collection and boozy brunch cocktails, guests were treated to Kurt and co-host Lucy Hardiman’s lush gardens in the heart of the Buckman heighborhood. Miniature chicken n’waffles, mini eggs benedict and smoked roulade were passed about the garden leading up to waffles made on site and a hearty display of Oregon’s bounty in buffet form.

Our House’s dinner series spans nearly 80 intimate events taking place throughout Portland that encompass some of our region’s iconic chefs, venues and vendors. Portland Opera, Oregon Historical Society, Elk Cove Vineyards, revered restaurants, back yard gardens, and even VT Group’s brand new facility in inner southeast are hosting incredible wining and dining events. The nonprofit’s premiere dinners, the brainchild from Kurt dubbed “Chef’s Table Series”, invites top chefs and wineries to create multiple course meals and pairings to satiate guests and Our House’s Circle of Friends. Aaron Adams from Farm Spirit, Chris Paquette of Bamboo Sushi, Chris Lascik and Cathy Whims from Portland’s iconic Nostrana, and Chef Christopher Israel, most recently of Gruner highlight the elevated dinner series taking place throughout late summer to early January.

To learn more about the incredible work Our House does, how you can get involved, and to see the full schedule of events and bevvy of participants, head over to Ourhouseofportland.org

The Treasury Dynasty

March 10, 2016 Filed Under: News, Venues

Downtown Dynasty!

Treasury Ballroom’s Modern Facelift Accrues Interest.

While 1980’s elegance and flair may hold up in Dynasty, we are NOT in Denver, we are not in the oil industry, and sadly, we are not a Carrington. While embracing those amazing fads like shoulder pads and mile-high Aquanetted bangs, let’s not forget the breathtaking décor and color palettes. I’m talking about fake flowers, gigantic fountains and Liberace-esque faux gold coated anything. And mauve. MAUVE! I mean, taupe had its moment, but MAUVE, you guys. Talk about drama. And like sands through an hourglass, such drama was captured airtight in our vault in Portland’s well revered and iconic venue, The Treasury Ballroom. Until now.

Our Treasury Ballroom got a little nip/tuck, and a Teen Witch makeover, and now, we’re thrilled to present you with her updated beauty. Gone are the heavy, sagging drapes of velvet. No more is the dark mahogany accenting and Liberace-esque faux gold coated anything. Seriously, there was a LOT of gold. Also, saying farewell is the butter-cream yellow paint job and unfortunate fluorescent lighting. Sometimes saying goodbye is painful, but in this case, it was as rejuvenating and exhilarating as when Alexis and Krystle got in their first cat fight back in 1982.

We’ve modernized The Treasury, adding fresh, clean and simple notes. Minimal elements are juxtaposed against the historic venue to create an ambiance of bright chic elegance. The Italian marbling still lays exposed and pristine, paired with our vision of a dark navy blue, tabby grey and brilliant white palette. We knocked out a wall or two, updated the built in bar, tore out the old carpet, brightened up the ceiling, reconfigured an ergonomic floor plan, and polished up the hardware and vault. The neutral palette translates perfectly for any event theme and the customized space is ideal for weddings, receptions, meetings, conferences, holiday parties, networking events, or choreographed dance numbers. This star of yesteryear is ready for her comeback, and don’t worry, we kept the dramatic staircase intact should a cat-fight ensue.