July 14th, 2011 found the Corson Building immersed in the disguise of a vibrant and bustling Moroccan market for this year’s annual Bastille Day. Complete with the photo booth by Sol Hashemi, goat staring, chicken races, hookah bar, henna tattoos, magic, oysters provided by the Walrus and the Carpenter and crêpes by Wiley Bush and the Joe Bar, among the famous fare of the Corson Building; all to the sweet jams of Eldrige Gravy and the Court Supreme, Diminished Men, Bradley Dunn and music for the kids by Caspar Babypants, ending the night with an impromptu Célébration de la france parade and sparklers at midnight.

bastille-day-at-the-corson-building from Mike Prevette on Vimeo.

At our The Corson Building Bastille Day Fete we welcomed over 350 people into a french village for a night (and day!) The party was bumping from 3 p.m. to the stroke of midnight. Kids, French people, scenesters, foodies, families, chickens, rockers, neighbors, crepe enthusiasts and dreamers all mingled together under a tri-color canopy of tissue-paper bursts playing games and eating delicious foods. The entertainment included Caspar Babypants aka Chris Ballew of The Presidents of the United States of America, Schoolyard Heroes, The Pharmacy and Can Can dancing by The beautiful Atomic Bombshells. Savory Corson crepes, oysters, and stew were eaten en masse and les boozes were enjoyed by all, including French specialties kir and pastis. Someone named Michelle won dinner cooked by Matt Dillon as a reward for supporting The Vera Project through buying some raffle tickets. Young and old alike went nuts in the Mungo Thomson Skyspace Bouncehouse (2007) provided by Western Bridge Gallery. Francosonic DeeDay Jack nee DJ Jacque ran a crazed dance floor while people made bike-powered spin-art, got psychic readings and particpated in chicken races. An epic fete for the ages.

We threw a patriotic bash for more than 1000 community members. The Cal Anderson Park Alliance hired us to produce their signature event to celebrate our nation’s favorite holiday, Independence Day! The event was free to all and featured free cotton candy, free root beer floats, free tie-dye, free spin art, free family portraits and a free root beer tasting garden. Bands played all day on the main stage including kids jammers Recess Monkey, urban Latin beat makers Picoso, Lo-fi pop from Katherine Hepburn’s Voice, and the funky soul sounds of Lady A and the Baby Blues Funk Band. Guests enjoyed pizza from Via Tribunali and dogs from Wandering Wieners. Caffe Vita served coffee and guests were free to participate in a hotly contested pie-eating contest and Pet/human look-alike contest. This was the celebration the founding father’s were waiting for!

7th Annual Capitol Hill Independence Day Community Picnic from Patrick Wright on Vimeo.

We created an awesome Aurora Borealis as witnessed from an Alaskan Lodge for PopCap Games’ annual holiday party. Every detail was authentic from the hundred Stansport red lanterns burning the midnight oil to the hand carved wooden sign. It was a green affair with 20 pairs of free-cycled skis, found deer antlers, family heirloom chainsaw carvings and several vintage toboggans. DJ Whatever spun some clever tunes while guests gambled the night away, sang to karaoke in the Northern Lights Karaoke den, took ice luge shots and blended boozy milkshakes on the bike-powered Adventure blender. All capped off by a midnight snack of good old fashioned grilled cheese sandwiches.

Synapse Product Development held its annual Christmas party in their office this year. The Synapsters arrived to a winter wonderland filled with snowboards, skis, and disco balls. All guests were treated to a walk down a tree-lined aisle culminating in a glowing sculpture of an icy mountain. All twenty-five Christmas trees were purchased from the Dunshee House Christmas Tree sale, with the lion’s share of the proceeds going to their programming, including the Seattle Aids Support Group. A guitarist strummed as Synapsters, friends, families and clients nibbled on tasty morsels from The Boat Street Kitchen and sugary snowballs from Trophy Cupcakes. The elegant affair was punctuated by a skateboard exhibition in the company’s in-office half pipe and a parade led by girls dressed in winter forest ensembles.

All photos by Philip Kramer.