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When it comes to stylish eras, you can’t beat the 1920s. There is a reason the jazz age is chosen as the theme for many a celebration and “The Great Gatsby” keeps getting remade for the silver screen. For a high-end holiday event for the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Atlanta (EO), we drew inspiration from the 1920s intellectual and cultural revival, the Harlem Renaissance, bringing that Cotton Club-Cab Calloway-Count Basie feel to Bishop Station in West Midtown. And because this was also the decade of Prohibition, we styled it like an exclusive speakeasy that went all out with spectacular décor, creative cocktails and a casino royale.
Welcome to the Juice Joint
First impressions matter, so we started the journey to 100 years in the past as soon as guests arrived. They walked a sleek, black carpet with black rope and stanchions flanked by statement florals and dramatic uplights to be greeted by a costumed doorman. The door was accented with a vintage frame and jazz-era graphic.
Guests had photos taken in front of an elegant boxwood wall surrounded by tall, feathery palms. Then, if they knew the password, they proceeded from this stylized courtyard into the building for a jazz club-themed cocktail reception before heading upstairs where the main event took place in a room of exposed brick. It was an ideal location for an underground nightclub – even if it was just for one night in the 2020s.
Stop Along 125th Street
The cocktail reception welcomed guests to sip and savor among highboys draped in metallic linens. We topped these with thematic centerpieces – think gilded Art Deco – and multiple glowing votives. Luxe lounge seating was decorated with high-glam accent pillows, and large, gold-framed images of jazz musicians were placed throughout the room. To the bar, we added oversized black-and-white feathered arrangements and created a moody atmosphere with strategically placed uplighting.
With all the nods to jazz, we had to include live music, of course. During the reception, guests enjoyed the harmonious sounds of a live jazz trio, courtesy of our friends at Rare Formation Creatives.
Visit the Club Casino
Like alcohol, gambling was illegal during the roaring 20s, so a high-end casino was a must-have in our Atlanta speakeasy. We leaned into the concept of a backroom gambling den, and guests enjoyed craps, roulette and blackjack tables, complete with professional croupiers and dealers, playing for custom EO dollars.
Adjacent to the casino tables, we dressed highboys and large round tables with luxury linens and topped them with a mix of short and tall centerpieces, as well as many candles to create a warm glow. We added jazz-age arrangements to the bars and buffet stations. The rustic walls, herringbone floors and chandeliers hanging from the venue’s curved, vaulted ceiling offered the perfect ‘underground’ setting for these touches of glamour.
We continued this captivating look on the terrace, where highboys were draped with sparkling linens, and votives and uplights completed a sophisticated outdoor gathering space.
There was more jazz too, in this case a Rare Form DJ + live jazz combo, perfect for the dance party that capped off the evening.
It ain’t bragging if it’s true, and what we know is that several members who attended the event told us it was the best EO event yet. We could even say, it was the cat’s pajamas.
