Creative Director Steve Welsh Quoted in Special Event Magazine's Lead Story

Yesterday, Steve Welsh was quoted in Special Event's Eventline e-newsletter: Steve Welsh, creative director of Atlanta-based A Legendary Event, explains that his big corporate clients insist on green practices from all their vendors. "There are many tax breaks and other incentive program that these companies receive if they reach their green goal," he notes. And green events get great PR, he adds: "Do a great green event and you'll make the front page."

Welsh is right. In addition to being featured in the Spring issue of Delta Sky Magazine, A Legendary Event's "Sustainable Table" recently won Best Guest Table Presentation of the Year from the National Association of Catering Executives.

For full article: http://specialevents.com/green_events/special-event-professionals-juggle-tactics-to-go-green-in-tough-times-0826/

GSU Students Partner with A Legendary Event for their final "Capstone Project"

This morning we had the privilege of meeting with Georgia State University Professor Dr. Chip Barksdale and 13 of his Senior Marketing students. After a continental breakfast and brief slide show, we discussed the many aspects of our Marketing Program. Over the next semester, Chip’s soon-to-be-graduating class will be helping us to re-evaluate, re-think, and fine tune our Marketing Program. This “Capstone Class” is a curriculum requirement that provides vital hands-on experience for students entering today’s job market. Dave Lishness, COO of A Legendary Event and fellow GSU graduate said, “We are thrilled to be working with Chip and his expert team of students and can already tell that they’ll be bringing a lot of great ideas to the table.”

Key New Positions at A Legendary Event

A Legendary Event is pleased to announce the addition of Gregory Lofton as company Controller. Lofton comes to Legendary from Dickey Publishing, where he was head of accounting and finance. Prior to that, he held various accounting and finance positions in the Southeast. Lofton holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from UNC Wilmington, NC. Mr. Lofton is currently working on the completion of his M.B.A.

Charles Barrett has also been announced as our new Executive Pastry Chef. Prior to coming to Legendary, Barrett was Executive Pastry Chef at The Cobb Galleria. As well, he trained extensively under acclaimed Pastry Chef Abby Ryland. Mr. Barrett is excited to continue his pastry design career at A Legendary Event.

Leah Stephens has accepted the position of Catering Sales Manager. Leah comes to us from her most current position as Catering Sales Manager for Divine Events. Prior to that, she was Catering Sales Manager at Cobb Performing Arts Center.

Sophia Lin has been promoted to Design and Catering Sales Manager. Lin has worked at A Legendary Event for approximately three years. She has been an integral member of the design, sales, and production teams. Lin has extensive industry experience along with a B.S. degree in Hospitality Management from Cornell University.

Legendary’s Summer Intern Jessica Porter will take on the new role of Junior Event Manager. She did an outstanding job with the company over the summer months and A Legendary Event is looking forward to her continued growth.

Tony Conway, Owner and President of A Legendary Event said, “I’m so excited about the new promotions and additions to our talented crew.”

A LEGENDARY EVENT wins ISES Esprit Award for High Museum Wine Auction

This weekend, A Legendary Event won a prestigious ISES Esprit Award from the International Special Events Society (ISES) in the category of Best Off-Premise Catered Event. A Legendary Event was awarded top honors for catering The High Museum Atlanta Wine Auction’s 16th Annual Gala Dinner. The menu's distinct southern flair was a big hit with the 800 wine-loving guests. In addition to A Legendary Event's Executive Chef Lincoln Stevens, the event featured several Guest Chefs from the Southern Foodways Alliance including Athens' Chef Hugh Acheson who prepared this savory low country stew (see above photo).

Traveling back from the awards ceremony in San Francisco, Owner and President of A Legendary Event, Tony Conway commented by phone, “It is great that our team’s work was recognized by our peers for such a title.” ISES is dedicated to recognizing excellence in events and honoring those individuals whose vision and creativity make their events "Special." For more information contact http://www.ises.com/.

Open Hand's Party in the Kitchen promises to be "White, Hot, Cool"

ATLANTA - (August 6, 2009) The seventh annual Party in the Kitchen, on Wednesday, September 9, 2009, benefits Open Hand, a nonprofit organization that prepares and delivers over 5,000 meals every day to homebound seniors and individuals living with chronic disease or critical illness in seventeen counties throughout metro Atlanta. Open Hand's Comprehensive Nutrition CareSM program combines these meals with nutrition education, counseling and therapy to help clients prevent or better manage chronic disease.

Party in the Kitchen will be held in the new warehouse space at 181 Armour Drive in Midtown recently secured by Open Hand for the expansion of its kitchen and distribution operations. The location is directly adjacent to Open Hand's current Ottley Drive facility. According to co-chair Sally Dorsey, "Party in the Kitchen will not only be a wonderful chance for guests and supporters to celebrate the incredible work Open Hand does in the community, but a perfect opportunity for them to preview how effectively Open Hand's new space and its existing facility will be integrated into one beautifully functional campus."

Billed as a "White, Hot, Cool" party, the evening will feature a wide variety of fabulous dishes prepared by many of Atlanta's best chefs (see below). Guests, who are asked to dress in white, will also enjoy music provided by DJ Tye West, and an exciting silent auction featuring exceptional travel and entertainment packages, fine dining experiences, and many one-of-a kind items. Complimentary valet parking will be provided.

Party in the Kitchen co-chairs (pictured l-r) are Open Hand Board members Todd Tautfest and Sally Dorsey and A Legendary Event's Tony Conway. Party in the Kitchen's Gold Sponsor is BNY Wealth Management. Silver Sponsors are Ketel One Vodka, Harry Norman Realtors, A Legendary Event and Here to Serve Restaurants. Media sponsors are Atlanta Magazine, Flavors, and Jezebel. Reserved admission is $500 for each Patron ticket and $150 for each single ticket. Tickets may be purchased at ProjectOpenHand.org or by contacting Michelle Duncan at 404-419-3333 or mduncan@projectopenhand.org.

A Legendary Event Recognized for Catering and Design Excellence

On July 29th, A Legendary Event received the following awards from the National Association of Catering Executives at their national conference in Charlotte, North Carolina.

1) Best Catered Event with a budget above $75,000. We constructed a 40' x 100' on-site kitchen at Atlantic Station in order to prepare, plate, and serve an amazing 3200 plates in 90 minutes for the Atlanta High Museum Wine Auction Gala Dinner. Apparently, the National Association of Catering Executives also thought this was a pretty amazing feat.

Our sumptuously southern menu was composed by some of the Southeast’s premier restaurant chefs—Chef Todd Richards of Kentucky’s Oakroom, Chef Hugh Acheson of Athens Georgia's Five and Ten, Chef Mike Lata of Fig, and Atlanta Chefs Gerry Klaskala and Chef Kathryn King, both from restaurant Aria. Each dinner course was paired with fine wines by renowned vintner guests of such acclaim as Burgundy wine-maker Alex Gambal and Central California’s Joseph Davis.

2) Best Guest Table Presentation of the Year. We created a "Sustainable Table" for DIFFA’s (Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS) Dining by Design Gala Dinner. Since we were emerging from a long drought, we wanted to send a strong message of conservation by using plants such as succulents, cacti, and kale that are self-sustaining by living off the moisture of their own leaf systems. Some of the plants we incorporated into our design, such as Tillandsia, are able to grow in rocks, trees, pottery, and even in mid air. Our over all message by creating a sustainable table was the importance of being more conscious when using natural resources along with the importance of recognizing the inherent beauty of nature. This table concept has since drawn lots of attention and was even featured in the May issue of Delta Sky Magazine.

3) Best Event Production of the Year with a budget below $25,000. In addition to winning the award for Best Guest Table Presentation we were also thrilled to be recognized with an award for Best Event Production for the same event. Each year, this particular event raises approximately $300,000 for organizations dedicated to AIDS research, education, and outreach. This event, featuring 40 custom table environments created by top national and regional designers is a remarkable display of cutting-edge creativity and concern. We're honored to be able to play a significant role. Guests are given a sneak peek at the collection of elaborate table designs at the Preview Cocktail Party. The following evening’s Dining by Design Gala dinner features delicious hand passed hors d’oeuvres followed by a three course five star menu. After dinner, guests engage in a silent auction, table-hopping, and after dinner cocktails.