January 2nd, 2014
In celebration of the recent World Series win by The Boston Red Sox, we thought this would be a great time to show you this baseball themed Bar Mitzvah.
It wasn’t just any baseball themed Bar Mitzvah, it’s one with a surprise Red Sox appearance enjoyed by all.
Nancy Goldstein of Amazing Celebrations hit a home run with this very festive celebration at the Simsbury Inn in Simsbury, Connecticut.
Photography was by Brian Ambrose Photography.
Custom pennant place card display
Cute signage directing guests
The ballroom with a black and white color theme
Baseball pennants in acrylic vases as centerpieces
The menu with very clever wording
The kids had their own lounge area with LED tables
Everyone had a great time with Wally the Green Monster, the official Boston Red Sox mascot
A great photo op with a Fenway Park backdrop
The colorful sports themed candle lighting display included all of the Bar Mitzvah boy’s favorite teams
Candy, in vibrant, colorful buckets, was a hit at the end of the night
The favors were plaid pajama pants with the Bar Mitzvah boy’s event logo
Party Planner: Nancy Goldstein of Amazing Celebrations
Photography: Brian Ambrose Photography
Venue: Simsbury Inn
Lighting/Entertainment: Boppers Events
Surprise visitor: Wally, The Green Monster, the official mascot of the Boston Red Sox.
We thank Nancy Goldstein of Amazing Celebrations for sharing this wonderful Bar Mitzvah with our readers.
January 1st, 2014
It was an easy decision to pick the venue for the B’not Mitzvah of Madison and Joey Siegel. The Siegels are owners and directors of Tyler Hill Camp, a popular sleep away camp in Tyler Hill, Pennsylvania. The weekend started with a bus ride to camp followed by a delicious barbecue lunch. Color War broke out with a plane dropping down flyers, setting off lots of excitement. The weekend was filled with a lakeside Havdallah service, Color War breakout and competition, lots of dancing plus a bonfire and fireworks.
Pictured L-R: Dad Andy, Bat Mitzvah girl Joey, Bat Mitzvah girl Maddie, little sister Dylan and Mom Wendy.
The photographer was Dave Welsford Photography. The rest of the vendor information is listed at the end of this spotlight.
Wow Creations designed the fold-over invitation in the girls favorite colors of purple with apple green trim.. The attire read, “Labor Day Cool” for adults and “Club Chic” for the kids
The outside of the envelope featured a cute round sticker with their names
Bat Mitzvah girl Joey greeting her guests as the buses arrive
A plane flew overhead dropping flyers announcing the Color War breakout!
Flyers with guests on Team Maddie or Team Joey were dropped from the plane
Whether you were on Team Joey or Team Maddie, everyone enjoyed the friendly competition
The sneaker relay competition
Friends liked the tug-of-war rope competition
The Havdallah service, led by Rabbi Diana Gerson, was held near the lake in the gazebo on the beautiful grounds of Tyler Hill Camp.
The first half of the service took place outside
Homemade service programs
The weather report for the weekend was questionable and since they wanted the service to be outside there was a “Plan B.” They arranged in advance for the Dining Hall to be set up for an indoor service. As it turned out, there was a massive thunderstorm in the middle of the outdoor service. Just as it was about to pour, they hustled everyone inside and they picked up the service right where they left off! As luck would have it, the rain stopped just as the service ended and the cocktail hour was outside
Large cut out letters of the girl’s names lined the path into camp
Here’s Maddie next to her letters
The place cards for the adults were handwritten letters as if Maddie and Joey were writing from camp. They were displayed on thick tree bark
The Rec Hall had a “club look” with curved lounge furniture and up lighting from Todd Yahney Entertainment
Homemade containers of s’mores ingredients served as delicious centerpieces on each table
The girls looked beautiful in their service dresses and their party gowns. Here they are in their white service dresses holding candy centerpieces for the kids tables
Both girls changed into beautiful gowns for the party
Todd Yahney Music and Entertainment, who is used to visiting camps all summer, provided the music entertainment and kept the dance floor packed all night long! Todd Yahney Entertainment set up and ready to rock!
The sisters making their entrances…
With the help fo the Todd Yahney Entertainment dancers
Everyone was on the dance floor all night long
MC Todd having fun with Maddie, Joey and their friends
The Siegel family front and center with all of their guests
Maddie and Joey during their candle lighting ceremony surrounded by their friends
You can’t have camp without a bonfire
After the party, the night ended with a wonderful camp tradition, fireworks!
The favors were burn-out hooded sweatshirts from Everything Camper. The girls model their sweatshirt favors
On Sunday morning guests enjoyed brunch and the Sunday morning camp tradition of “Bagel Toss.” Bagel Toss is an activity all campers love. Each bunk gets to elect a counselor to throw a bagel. The counselor that gets it the closest to the target without going out of bounds wins a prize for the bunk!
Getting ready for the Bagel Toss
Mitzvah Project
Maddie and Joey chose two organizations for their Mitzvah Projects.
Through UJA-Federation they created a personal page. Check it out here
Instead of gifts, the Siegel family asked guests to make a donation to one of two organizations that best “spoke to them.” SCOPE-NY (Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education) is an organization that provides scholarships for inner-city kids to go to a non-profit sleep-away camp every summer. The other organization was a Long Island day camp, Camp Kehilla. Camp Kehilla is a camp for kids with Autism and special needs. So far, they have raised more than $11,000 for Camp Kehilla and $10,000 for SCOPE. They are going to be volunteering for both organizations as well.
Some Mom Advice from Wendy:
“Oy…I wish I had relaxed more and not worried about what was out of my control. If your event is dependent on the weather, be prepared for anything and everything, make your alternative “inclement weather” plans ahead of time and then move on. I focused so much on the weather report (the Weather Channel app still haunts me in my dreams) that I had a hard time staying focused on the rest of the plans for the weekend. I think I would have enjoyed the planning ten times more if I had not obsessed over whether it would or would not rain! Rain or no rain, it would be the most memorable and amazing experience for my daughters — and that was what it was all about! I also wish I had extended my invitation list to more of our friends and not worried about whether or not the venue would be too crowded. The more the merrier, and I regret that I didn’t invite a couple of more people that I wish had been there simply because I was worried about space.”
Vendor Directory
The following vendors made Maddie and Joey’s B’not Mitzvah very special. If you give any of them a call, please let them know you read about their services on MitzvahMarket.com.
Venue: Andy and Wendy Siegel, Tyler Hill Camp, 516-656-4220
Rabbi: Diana Gerson, Our Family Rabbi
Party Planners: Mom Wendy and Dad Andy
Caterer: Tyler Hill Camp chefs along with chefs from Lake Bryn Mawr Camp and Conference Center
Photographer/Montage: Dave Welsford Photography
Videographer: D and M Video 201-768-1899
Music Entertainment/Candid Photography/Photo Favors/Lounge Decor/Up lighting: MC Todd, Todd Yahney Entertainment, 516-781-4700
Favors: Jessica Jacobs, Everything Apparel, 516-450-5288
Invitation: Suzi Evangelatos, Wow Creations, 516-997-0451
Cake: Rockland Bakery, 845-623-5800
Décor/florist: Carmen Bolin Floristry, 800-263-9975
Madison, Joey service dresses: Fetch Dress Boutique, 516-864-0660
Madison, Joey and sister Dylan’s dress: Nikki’s Dresses, 631-385-6093
Mom’s service dress: M’stique, 516‑496‑3488
Mom Party Outfit: Lester’s
Hair/makeup: Stefanie 516-351-7953
Transportation: Stout’s Transportation, 800-245-7868
Party security: Tyler Hill Camp staff
January 1st, 2014
Jimmy Dee Entertainment is one of New York’s most sought after sources for Entertainment and Enhancements for Private Events.
Recently, Jimmy Dee Entertainment celebrated their 25th year in business and was awarded the prestigious “Best of Westchester” award in 2012 and 2013. Boasting a talented roster of MCs, DJs, Motivators, Musicians and Specialty Talent, Jimmy Dee has every option imaginable to make any event unique.
We spoke with Alex Lampert, a partner with Jimmy Dee, to learn more:
MM: With so many entertainment companies to choose from, why do you think Jimmy Dee has had so much success?
AL: I believe our success is due, in part, to our meticulous attention to detail when working with our clients. We’re not the type of company that sits back and waits for clients to present us with their ideas. Our team of event planners is very assertive in letting clients know when it’s time to start putting “event-blips” on their radar.
Our attention to detail in the planning phases of an event carries through to the talent that is placed at the event. We have very high standards for our own staff, as does our clientele, and they take comfort in knowing that they are trusting the success of their event in the hands of people who care about it just as much as they would their own.
Being in business as long as we have, you see trends come and go as well. In order to not only stay in business but to be renowned within our market, we are constantly innovating and expanding to keep up with the trends in events and trends in technology. When guests attend any event, they will always note what was “different” or something they had never seen before. Whether or not they want it for their own event, those things stick out in people’s minds and show that our company is not just full of great entertainers and music, but great ideas as well.
MM: One of the many strengths you talk about are your talented MCs and the variety of personalities on your staff. Please tell us about them.
AL: Our clients have the privilege of working DIRECTLY with the MC of their choice. Whoever they would like to have at their event is a guarantee from day one. As their date approaches, our MCs meet with their clients either at their home, their venue or at our office to review all details and logistics for their big day. Each one of our MCs has 10+ years of experience in the industry so you know you’re not getting any Rookies! Learn more about our MCs here.
MC Kevin and a guest having fun!
MC Alex working a Mitzvah
MM: You offer many other services. Please describe what else families can book with Jimmy Dee.
AL: We are always adding more options for our clients. By the time you have finished reading this, we’ve probably already released some of our newest photo favor options!
Chocolate photo favors!
Aside from DJ and MC Entertainment, we offer everything under the sun! Some of our most popular options are our Photo Booths and Photo Favors Stations, Airbrushed items, Lounge Furniture and Cubbies, Arcade Games, Creative Stations and Specialty Talent.
In 1991, Jimmy Dee joined forces with Fantasy Flash Photography and Video. Through Fantasy Flash, we offer our clients the option of packaging in photojournalistic photographers and videographers to capture, creatively, our clients’ events. Package rates and savings are offered when combining multiple services.
MM: How has your business evolved over the years?
AL: Years?! Try decades! We have grown immensely in the past 25 years and with each year we continue to raise our own bar. We started as just a DJ company and through the years have continually added tons of services and options but we have not lost quality control on our flagship service – our Entertainment. However, being that we offer so much, our management team has evolved from their role as a point-of-contact for just the DJ service. We have five full time event coordinators that can be reached at any time during the week or weekend to plan anything from the largest scale event to answering the most menial of questions. Our event coordination team not only helps you plan and produce your event, but they also take part in graphic design, video editing and facilitation of outside vendors to ensure that every detail about your event is EXACTLY as vibrant and unique as you want it to be.
To learn more about Jimmy Dee Entertainment, visit their extended profile page in our Vendor Directory.
