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Portland Showcase at the Armory

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

Feel free to share but I appreciate you leave my logo, name or a link to the photo! LCA 2014 PDX #lcapdx2014 ©Evrim Icoz Photography

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.

Treasury Ballroom Relaunch Sparks High Interest Rates

Filed Under: Vibrant Vendors

13055073_10154004513456327_7696422452499366377_o 13086780_10154004511861327_7396676415549177284_o “People who have been there before were blown away and new people who had never walked down those stairs were shocked!” – Kurt Beadell, VT Group Creative Director & Principal

On Thursday, April 21, The Treasury Ballroom located in downtown Portland, hosted a relaunch party celebrating the freshly updated space. The two month remodel included a modern color palette of navy blue, tabby grey, and white, new carpet and drapery, along with installing walls of mirrors and removing a portion of wall to highlight the iconic and still active bank vault.

The vision for the event was a collaborative effort from VT Group’s Vibrant Table Catering and Events, Vibrant Flowers, and Food in Bloom Catering, incorporating equipment and product from a handful of pivotal industry partners; Annie’s Pies, PDX Ice, The Party Place, Really Big Video, West Coast Drape and West Coast Event Production. Each vendor brought their dialed in experience and efforts to enhance the Treasury’s chic and modern vibe. A thank you to all who helped create a flawlessly executed event, and also to our guests attended.

The Treasury Ballroom accommodates daytime meetings, conferences, breakout sessions, afternoon receptions and happy hours, evening galas, casual and formal dinners, etcetera and is conveniently located in downtown Portland, boasting a prime central location for you and your guests. For additional information, including current and upcoming promotions, or to schedule a personalized site tour, visit our updated website.

Currently, if you book a Friday or Sunday event, you’ll receive 50% off of the room rental rate. And, soon to arrive is an impressive collaboration with Lan Su Chinese Garden. Sign up for our newsletter HERE to receive the most current updates about our space and services.

Vibrant Valentine @ F&B Cafe

Filed Under: Biz Buzz, Brilliant Blooms, Festive Fare, Inspiring Ideas, Vibrant Vendors

Just in time! We’ve teamed up with our sister company Food In Bloom to offer some super special Valentine’s Day goodies. Stop by the F&B Cafe at Rejuvenation to visit our gift stand! We have unique oddities, wreaths, terrariums and plants shaped like HEARTS! What more could you want? Vibrant Flowers will also have a display of fresh flower arrangements and bouquets on the 13th and 14th. Don’t just expect a dozen roses, expect something bespoke created by one of our designers!
vibrantvalentinemain copy

Take your sweetheart out for lunch or a tasty bite to eat provided by F&B Cafe off their NEW menu!  Walk around Rejuvenation and get inspired by all of their unique home fixtures. Enjoy a day of treats!

F&B Cafe is located at 1100 Southeast Grand Ave. Portland, Oregon 97214

Want something extra special? Call us to place an order for your Valentine to pick it up at our offices.  503-297-9635

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Jutta Bach of La Joconde Wedding Cakes

Filed Under: Bridal Boutique, Vibrant Vendors

Meet Jutta Bach, one of our favorite wedding and specialty cake designers. With Jutta’s background in architecture, La Joconde’s cake designs reflect an understanding of space and structure – not only in the cake itself, but also in its relationship to the event space. Her creations are a focal centerpiece, becoming an integral element of the event decor as well as cuisine.
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VT: How long have you been a specialty baker? How has cake designs, techniques, etc. changed over that time?

I started to bake professionally in 2006. Techniques haven’t changed much since then – most are classic and have been used for decades , but designs change every year, depending on what’s in fashion. This summer it is “ombre” style! Flavors seem to have changed more towards using natural ingredients, preferably local and seasonal.

VT: Why did you choose baking and cakes? What was your first taste like?

I have always been obsessed with food, and I love to design. Baking and decorating cakes is the perfect combination of the two. I don’t remember my first taste, but I do remember the fruit pies my grandmother fed me when I was a child. Divine!

VT: You are originally from Germany, correct? Do you feel that your German heritage has influenced your work? In what way?

I was born and raised in Germany. My perfectionism and work ethic seem to be typically German traits. I simply can’t stand it to deliver a cake that is not perfect!

VT: You’ve also studied architecture? How do you incorporate your knowledge of architecture into your designs?

I have a degree in architecture and urban design. I look at wedding cakes as if it were a structure or a high rise, with the tiers being the floors. Everything I know about shape, proportion, color and texture will be incorporated in the design. The only difference is that it is edible!

VT: What’s a good description of your dream client?

My dream client has unlimited funds and completely trusts me to come up with the best possible design. Just like in architecture.

VT: For celebrations such as weddings, why is it important to go with a specialty baker rather than your local grocery store that makes wedding cakes on the side?

A wedding is obviously a very special occasion. You want your cake to taste great and to look gorgeous and unforgettable. Most cakes in grocery stores taste awful and look tacky.

VT: What is the most challenging cake you’ve ever made?

I made a pagoda cake for the Lan Su Chinese Garden this summer. It was 5 “stories” tall with hexagon roofs and a poured sugar spire on the top. I had never done a cake like this before and didn’t know if it was going to work out. I planned it like an actual building, drawing plans, sections and elevations to figure out the dimensions. It looked stunning!

VT: What ideas, trends, etc do you find exciting right now?

I love the “Victorian” look with lots of texture, ruffles, lace and sugar flowers. The royal wedding cake last year inspired that, and I think it is exciting. Very feminine…

VT: Is there a particular person that inspires you? Who?

I am very much inspired by the work of Pierre Herme, a famous French pastry chef.

VT: What’s next for you? Anything exciting in the works?

I will continue to expand my business – maybe I will add a retail section and sell cakes to the public?

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In Your Words

Have you worked with Jutta Bach and La Joconde? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

Photo Credits

All photos provided by La Joconde with the exceptions of square cake on paisley rounds (Aralani Photography), la pagoda cake (Jessica Hill Photography), Art’s birthday cake (Evrim Icoz Photography).

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Vendor Profile: Jonathan Marrs @ Atelier Pictures

Filed Under: Vibrant Vendors

Vibrant Table met Jonathan Marrs of Atelier Pictures a few years back through a venue that we both love: Bella Via in Sherwood. A recent Portland newcomer, Jonathan photographed the then-new venue and his images blew us away. Jonathan, a self-proclaimed nerd, has a Masters in Fine Arts and blazes his own path, comfortably straddling the chasm between the artistic world of photo-journalism and event and wedding photography.
Atelier Pictures uses images and video to tell a story. Since our first meeting, Vibrant Table and Atelier Pictures have had several opportunities to work together and they continue to impress, with several of their shots easily making our upcoming capability brochure.
Interesting, funny, and self-effacing, we asked Jonathan a few questions about his journey to event and wedding photography, his inspirations, and what makes Atelier Pictures unique.

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VT: Jonathan, how long have you been practicing photography?

My interest in photography took shape over a long period of time.  My primary focus during college was painting, so it wasn’t until after graduation that I really began to take photography seriously. Initially, taking a photograph simply preceded the attempt to paint a photorealistic version of the image.  As I traveled the world with my camera from 2003 – 2005, I became satisfied with the photograph as my intended creation.  I stopped feeling the need to prove something in terms of my ability to paint and it has now been about 9 years of intentionally using a camera as the outlet of my creative endeavors.

VT:  You have a background in fine art, correct? Tell us a little bit about what you studied, where, and how it influences your work?

I studied art at Azusa Pacific University for my B.A. and then Vermont College of Fine Arts for my M.F.A.  By the time I finished grad school my primary focus was filmmaking and documentary practices. The intensity of these programs really pushed me to excel in both craftsmanship and intellectual rigor.  Through these experiences I became confident in my role as an artist and comfortable with my creative process.

VT:   Why event and wedding photography? What was your first taste like?

My first taste was enough to scare me away… for a short time at least.  You have to remember that during my college years I spent a lot of time creating artwork essentially for myself.  The pressure of having to make great photographs for demanding clients was nerve wracking at first.  I think the biggest change came when I was able to see how my creative energy could empower ideas and portray the experiences of those around me.

One of the projects that will always be significant for me was a documentary I created for Peace Rehabilitation Center in Nepal.  They are a small organization that helps girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking as well as educates communities in Nepal to help prevent future tragedies.  It is impossible to be self-centered in the midst of the amazing people whose stories I was capturing.

Learning to position myself as a wholehearted observer has impacted how I photograph weddings, corporate events, and editorial shoots.

VT:  In  an industry that uses almost exclusively Apple products, you don’t. Why is that?

Yes, yes.  I know that the photography and film industries love Apple products, but my work on a PC goes back to my childhood.  It is a tool that I am really comfortable with, especially knowing how to build a computer that can maximize the programs I use.  I’m not an Apple hater by any means, but I do get a good laugh from Apple fanatics!  (Also, I think that the beautiful designs of Apple products have the potential to make me look slightly cooler than I am, which is an intimidating prospect for a nerd.)

VT:  What is unique about your particular style? There are a lot of talented photographers; why do you stand out?

Agreed.  I am always inspired (and often humbled) by the excellent work of the photographers around me.  In the end, my work comes from a few core motivations: the desire to remember, the exploration of beauty, and the need to tell a story.  I want to stand out by being myself and enjoying the ride!

VT: Atelier Pictures offers more than wedding photography. What other services do they offer?

I am only half of Atelier Pictures; the other half is my best friend, Josh Ferdaszewski.  We began making movies together in high school, continued making art in college, and then each delved into photography.  Our history together has positioned us to offer both photo and video services.  As a team we have worked on weddings, events, commercial projects, and outdoor adventures.  In some ways that sounds like a lot of variety, but I think the point is that we love to capture action in a way that effectively relates that experience to a viewer.  We want to find a place where creativity, craftsmanship, and adventure collide.  Ultimately, this process is significant to what our clients need.

(VT Comment: In testament to the adventurous spirit of the Atelier team, Josh Ferdaszewski hiked nearly the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail, starting in Campo, California. He totaled 2,350 miles until poor weather forced him to abandon the journey in Washington state. Ask him about the experience if you meet him!)

VT: What are the advantages to hiring a team that offers both videography and photography?

We have a consistent quality of craftsmanship and original perspectives.  Josh and I rely heavily on each other to make our collaborations more powerful than we would be individually.  On top of that, I think it is comforting to entrust your needs to a single company when you know they can deliver.

Jonathan & Josh of Atelier Pictures

Jonathan and Josh of Atelier Pictures show their spirit.

VT:  What/who inspires you? Are there any individuals, ideas, or trends you find exciting right now?

I’m inspired by diverse creative expressions.  I love how the music of Sigur Ros can influence my work as much as the photography of Jeff Wall.

One trend that we have had a lot of fun with is the creation of cinemagraphs, which are essentially new manifestations of the “Animated GIF.”  Cinemagraphs hit the bullseye between the stillness of a photograph and the movement in a video.  It was Jamie Beck and Kevin Burg who started the fire with their high-end fashion experiments, but it has carried over into a variety of styles.  If you haven’t seen these yet, you should investigate at Cinemagraph.

VT: How has photography changed since you’ve been practicing? How have you changed with it?

I initially started photography with the traditional darkroom techniques, but quickly adopted the digital workflow.  The tools themselves have been in constant flux, which is really exciting for someone like me who loves to experiment.

Some of the biggest changes on the horizon have to do with cameras that capture video footage in such high resolution that every single frame could be printed as a high quality photograph.  Not only that, but the videos are in RAW format, so they maintain a ton of quality for tweaking in post-production.  As a company that loves the relationship to the two mediums, these are signs of exciting times ahead!  Check out the work over at Red Digital Cinema if you want to see more.

VT: Just for fun, any professional pet peeves?

Hmmmm… Well, Josh and I pretty much freak out anytime we see someone use the Papyrus font.

VT: Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about you?

I’ve recently determined that the “Sports of My 30’s” are going to be skiing, rock climbing, and golf.  These three activities have always been relegated to the “once every few years” experiences and I’m all geared up to stop looking like a newbie every time I try them!

Also, I love the comedian Mitch Hedberg because he says things like, “I’m sick of following my dreams. I’m just going to ask them where they’re going, and hook up with them later.”

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 More Shots by Atelier Pictures

  

  

Your Words

Have any questions for Jonathan Marrs or Atelier Pictures? Ask them in the comments below! Have you worked with Atelier Pictures? Tell us about your experience!

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