A Little Girl Realizing Her Dreams

The “powers that be” at Gala have requested that I submit a blog for the company website. So, much like it was in school, I find myself up late on a Sunday night frantically preparing a paper – of which I know nothing about – that is due in the morning. Will I be graded on this assignment? What happens if I fail? Will there be any extra credit I can apply towards my final score? Being my first attempt at blogging, I would ask that the “powers that be” show mercy on me.

Let me see, where to begin? I grew up a poor coal miner’s daughter. Times were tough for a young girl working in the mines. The only thing that kept me going was the thought of getting away someday. Like other little girls, I would dream of a world with high society parties, debutant balls, and beautiful “Gala” events. But - as many of us know - life sometimes has its own plan. So I find myself many years later a grown man – don’t ask , it’s a long drawn out story involving a sheman, a unicorn, and a game of Kings – helping produce, rather than attend, these high society parties for “Gala Events” - and much to my surprise - I really enjoy it! (not the part about being a man-I knew that all along. I mean I do enjoy being a man- I was surprised about enjoying the event production process.) There is a great satisfaction in taking an idea from a brainstorming session, putting it to paper, and then making it happen. Seeing an idea come to life – that’s what I’m talkin’ ‘bout! There’s a lot of planning and preparation that goes into a party however- not to mention the occasional stress (oh -and the building of furniture- lots of furniture building!)-But once the party is completely set up – it’s truly amazing! I always look forward to seeing what we’ll do next at Gala. I would like to thank the “powers that be” at Gala – you know who you are – for helping a little girl to realize her dreams. Now – has anyone seen my tape measure?

by Russell Einhorn, Master Carpenter

Party, Party, Party!!!

Is it a Wedding? A Bar Mitzvah? A Sweet Sixteen,
a 40th , a 50th or even an Anniversary?
Maybe it’s for work or it is the Holidays…

Parties really matter!! Good moral makes life feel good...

Is it about the music, is it about the food, or is it the atmosphere?

There are so many facets to what makes a great party.
Gala knows how to make that happen…

Parties can be understated or make a statement.
Parties can have set budgets or endless budgets.

We should never feel we can’t have our perfect party!
Gala can make it happen!

Parties can be for religious celebrations or my very favorite parties can be “just because”…

In hard times at what ever level we all need to feel good-

Celebrate everyday –
Let Gala help you make your next party happen!

by Nancy Radin - Senior Event Planner

Everything in its right place

Imagine you are standing at the top of a staircase in a city, surrounded by your customary life. You have your cell phone, and wallet in your pocket. You hear and feel the rush of cars bolting past you and the drone of their horns. As you carefully dodge sidewalk traffic, you are distracted by a fleeting thought I have an appointment at 1:30. You are a figment of society. Take a few steps down that staircase. The drone of the car horns begins to dim. The sunlight is no longer so blinding. You turn and notice the brick walls to your sides and the cement steps beneath your feet. You are curious.
You take another couple steps down. You turn around and sense you are invisible from the street and have been separated from your previous anxiety. You have lost track of your belongings. Instead, you notice the heat of the day, the humidity, the sticky brick walls. Your curiosity draws you to descend further. You feel the sweat on your palms. As you hold the railing you feel the metal getting cooler as you continue to descend away from the sunlight. With each step you notice the outside world is beginning to fade. The horns become increasingly faint and you no longer have to squint from the sunlight. As you put one foot in front of the other, progressing down the steps, you realize your surroundings have muted your ordinary existence. You sit down on the next step and reflect.
After a few moments peering into the darkness, you think, what is down here? That thought quickly turns into, what am I doing here? Now that you have been stripped of your societal attachments, you are left alone with yourself to focus--a strange feeling considering you are constantly preoccupied with quotidian tasks. With each step you have eliminated a component of what you experience daily and it is only through experiencing this elimination that you can see what is missing; your daily existence consists of a network of influences that you haven’t realized until this moment. Care to take a walk further down the stairwell?
That unusual feeling--the one you get when you are finally alone--summons a part of your consciousness you have likely forgotten about. You perceive the most unexpected details and, for a good reason, they strike you differently. The textures, the lighting, the color combinations, the sounds- these are all things that often go unnoticed or simply blend in. Since becoming an event planner the world looks very different to me. I find I must notice all the little things…the details are so important and it is often in the little details that I find my inspiration and creative design ideas. It’s amazing how much more you see if you slow down and examine what you once thought to be regular or ordinary. Playing off of Andy Warhol’s concept of transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, it’s the littlest details that make the difference in the event business. It’s all about how you can then put your own spin on that little detail or how you made the ordinary pop!
I often imagine I’m still sitting on that staircase, still extracted from the view of city that I am accustomed to. My cell phone and wallet are unimportant in relation to my new possession--awareness. Pleased with myself, I stand. The hustle and bustle of the city begins to emerge as I climb back up the stairs. My ears are pleased--back to reality. I check my watch and parade boldly onto the street. It is one thirty. Better get to that appointment!

by Julie Pike, Event Planner

Gala Team Building

“I’ve never been camping or tubing before!” – Tala Farr, before the 1st (annual?) Gala Camping and Tubing Team-Building Excursion

I never thought that directly after getting back from a week of vacation in Florida, I would be in for even more fun in a “work” environment. But that’s exactly what happened. After a week of travelling around the southeastern US with various stops for good times along the way, I met up with a group of Gala team members near sundown at a campground in western MD. There were 10 of us in all and we camped out, Gala-style (which means we had everything we could possibly need for a party and then some - including a hydrangea centerpiece!).
We played games, sang songs, and had s’mores, of course. And we bonded. Oh, did we ever bond! With such a diverse group, it was fun to have us all be able to let loose and enjoy ourselves in such an atypical setting for us all. I mean, most of us had been camping (not Tala, but she really took to it) but this was definitely not our natural environment. So, while we had a couple non-native English speakers and some who were not enthused about life without a hair dryer, we all came together and had a great time in the woods (too great, according to the night caretaker).
The next morning, after a fantastic breakfast at local greasy spoon, Cindy Dee’s, we headed to the tubing outfit. An interesting West Virginia local drove us upriver and dropped us off to head out. Luckily, it was a beautiful day and the water was cool enough to refresh, but warm enough to relax. Plus there were even some rapids that got us wet (and flipped a few of us!).
The best part was that we just got to all relax and enjoy the day together - a Monday no less. Many people, when I told them about how the company I work for was taking us on a retreat for some team building, were astonished that in this economy, we would take time away from the office. I responded to them that in order to keep morale up, build a stronger, more supportive team, and keep everyone fresh and interested, taking a little time off on a Monday was a small price to pay. We shared experiences and memories that will keep us laughing and close-knit for a long time to come. And Tala not only camped and tubed for the first time, but overcame her fear of drowning! I can’t wait for next time!


Front Row, kneeling (left to right): Milton, Christian, Omar
Ladies, crouching: Jaime, Tala, Laura
Back Row, standing: Russell, Howard, Tom
Back Row, sort of standing, sort of crouching, awkwardly posing: Me!

~Noah Steurer, Director of Operations

There is No I in Gala

Together our parts are stronger then any of us individually. That is the true “team concept” and that is exactly what you get when you work with Gala Events, Inc. Simply put, it means that the whole is greater than the sum of the individual parts.

We bring more than twenty-five years of our ownerships experience; our master carpenters skill and craftsmanship are second to none. Trends in floral design, fashion and colors arrive in our design center long before they are anywhere else. When you make Gala Events a part of your next corporate or social occasion you are not working with one event planner or one décor specialist you are working with a dedicated team with one goal in mind, a coordinated effort to produce flawless events.

~ Howard Radis, Event Planner

Custom Logos

Working as the senior designer at Gala Events for several years, I’ve seen numerous special events come together, from petite and intimate to large and lavish. The event designers at Gala are experts at helping to create a cohesive look to any and all events, regardless of budget. One major facet that I’ve found helps draw the event together, whether it be a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, sweet sixteen or even a corporate party, is having a logo that reflects the event and the individual or company that is hosting it. Not only can this logo can be placed on décor, custom signage, dance floors, projected on walls, etc. during the actual event, but it can also be included on invitations and mementos like custom clothing.

I’ve designed countless custom logos for our clients, from sleek and elegant monograms to graffiti-inspired skater style logos. Often times, if the logo is for a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, the child’s name will be a very prominent feature on the logo, followed by the date of the event. The font, style, and surrounding graphics reflect the child’s personality and theme of the event. The color scheme of the party will also be incorporated so that the logo is both easily readable and highly artistic. The final product is, in essence, a brand that is created for the child and the party. Adding an element of personalization setting that event apart from the rest!

by Bryan Fox, Senior Graphic Designer

Green Space in a Chaotic Place

I recently visited New York City’s High Line Park, originally a 1.45 mile-long elevated steel train track built in the 1930s whose structure still stands in New York’s Meat Packing District and has been transformed into an attractive and interesting public space. The park opened one section in June 2009 and the other sections are still under construction.



I was not entirely sure what to expect before visiting the park – it sounded interesting but I wasn’t sure how actual train tracks could be transformed into a scenic landscape. After walking up the stairs to enter High Line, I knew I was in for a treat. I couldn’t get enough – from the beautiful view of the skyline to the integrated concrete pathways and plantings – I had never seen anything like it! I’ve always been fascinated by gardens and parks in large cities and love how they add a feeling of serenity and peace to the chaotic lifestyle of any city. High Line Park does just that…and more. You aren’t just surrounded by grass and trees the way walking through Central Park might be, you are literally situated above the city on a green oasis, looking down at the rest of the city passing by. It is difficult to recreate that feeling in a typical
city park or garden.



I’ve only spent a couple months at Gala, however, in that short amount of time I’ve learned a great deal about the ins and outs of event planning. I find venue choice really interesting because there are different ways of looking at it. For example: 1) your event planner & team can drastically transform any venue OR 2) the venue can drastically transform your event. Obviously these aren’t the only things to consider when choosing a venue, however, I am fascinated by the way almost any outdoor venue (especially one in a city) can really enhance your event.



A city landscape like the High Line Park would be an unforgettable venue for an event. As soon as you enter the park, you feel as though you are experiencing New York at a slower pace than everyone else in the city and I think people need to experience that once in a while. There is nothing that can replicate its modern design and quaint elegance situated in the midst of New York City’s chaos. When the entire project is finished, it will be an incredible addition to the city.



Spending time at Gala has transformed the way I perceive design and décor in a very positive way. Prior to working with event planners and designers, I wouldn’t have thought twice about High Line Park as an exciting event venue. I have acquired the ability to be more critical and observant – and I owe it all to Gala!

submitted by Anna Pike