USA Today: Design Unleashed

Olympic Food Sculpture

British Columbia is not only the home of the 2010 Winter Olympics. It's also the third largest cranberry grower in North American, behind Wisconsin and Massachusetts. Unless you follow cranberries, you probably did not know that.
But knowing that, what else would the zany cranberry growers of British Columbia do with their cranberries to honor the 2010 Olympic competitors? Why, build cranberry monuments, of course! Like these cranberry-filled football stadium-sized logos: the international Olympic Rings and the Canadian Maple Leaf logo.
The Olympic Rings and Maple Leaf were sculpted by DESIGN SOLUTIONS (Stephen Stefanou) and cranberry-filled in Richmond, BC, a suberb of Vancouver, so one can only hope that some of the Olympians get to see these beautiful tributes. Hopefully, the tributes are in the flight path of the aerial security, so those folks will see them.
I guess there were enough cranberries left over, after the Olympic Rings and Maple Leaf, to create a cranberry moat around Richmond city hall. Are those some big red jelly fish made from cranberry Jello?
According to USA Today, the cranberries were harvested in October and November and then frozen and shipped to Richmond. They were just thawed and poured into form a few days ago.
I hope there is a way to clean these berries and make them into juice or something edible. Can anyone even guess how much antioxidant power is in 46,000 square feet of cranberries?

Chinese New Year 2010 at the Palazzo/Venetian Resort

TIGER AT THE PALAZZO RESORT

( 14-FT LONG X 7.5-FT TALL)

ROARING IN Strip Resorts Mark Chinese Year of the Tiger with Events & Decorations by SONYA PADGETT LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL February 11, 2010
If you want to get an idea of how important Chinese New Year is to Las Vegas, just visit any major Strip resort on Sunday.
There will be no shortage of lion dances, red lanterns, I Ching coins, citrus trees, banners, Asian dining options and entertainment.
That day marks the beginning of the Year of the Tiger on the Chinese zodiac and the start of Las Vegas' two-week courtship of the Asian market that travels here each year for the holiday. The Chinese New Year is a 15-day holiday set by a lunar calendar. It usually falls in January or February.
The Asian market has long been important to Las Vegas, but only in recent years have local resorts enriched their offerings to appeal directly to tourists who celebrate the holiday with a trip to Vegas, resort representatives say.
In addition to the colorful and traditional dragon and lion dances, resorts now offer dining specials and book Asian entertainment, such as the group Grasshopper at Caesars Palace or entertainer Sam Hui at MGM Grand.
"I think over time, Chinese New Year has come to rank up there with some of the bigger events that take place in Las Vegas," says Ron Reese, spokesman for The Venetian and Palazzo.
While it's hard to predict percentages, resort representatives expect to see an uptick in international visitors during the next two weeks, especially since that market has been less affected by the recession.
"Las Vegas is going to see a tremendous Chinese New Year's this year," predicts Gary Selesner, president of Caesars Palace. Caesars has been marking Chinese New Year for 35 years. "I would say at this point Chinese New Year is probably the most significant event in Las Vegas" and gaming revenues for the month should reflect that.
"It's just a great and growing market for the city of Las Vegas," Selesner says. "We're not the only ones who have recognized this."
This year, Harrahs will have lion dances at all properties, Selesner says. Nearly every major resort is decorated with traditional Asian symbols, another sign of the growing popularity of the holiday, he adds.
The Venetian and Palazzo have an Asian theme with citrus trees, red envelopes, lanterns and I Ching coins, among other things. The centerpiece of the decor is a 14-foot tiger (designed by Stephen Stefanou with Design Solutions ) in the atrium gardens at the Shoppes at The Palazzo.
"We brought a feng shui consultant in to talk about what to do," says Audra Danzak, vice president of floral and horticulture for Palazzo and The Venetian.
Some of the suggestions made were to ensure the water in ponds was still and that metal be used in certain displays.
Every decoration has a meaning and purpose to the Chinese and their placements can have an impact. For instance, bamboo and other elements were arranged in groups of eight, a number that is seen as lucky, Danzak explains.
They wanted the tiger designed by Stephen Stefanou , which took eight weeks to make, to project a proud manner but not appear too fierce.
Saturday at 3 p.m., a ceremonial dragon and lion dance is scheduled to start at The Venetian's porte-cochere and end at the upper Palazzo porte-cochere.
Also at 3 p.m. Saturday, MGM Grand will host a lion and dragon dance in the valet area and porte-cochere.
At 1 p.m. Sunday, a dragon dance will take place at The Venetian porte-cochere, wind through the casino and end at the Palazzo porte-cochere.
Also Sunday, lion and dragon dances will be at The Mirage at 3 p.m., Bellagio at 7 p.m. and Mandalay Bay at 10 p.m. The dances will be in the resorts' porte-cocheres.
At 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aria will host a lion and dragon dance in the porte-cochere.
Chinatown also will mark the holiday with a day of entertainment and events. There will be a variety of Asian cuisines, lion and dragon dances, martial arts demonstrations and other activities.
The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 21 at Chinatown Plaza, 4255 Spring Mountain Road. Admission is $3 for adults, $1 for children ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger.
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@review journal.com or 702-380-4564.

2010 Winter Olympics

Richmond Cranberries Create Unique Tribute to 2010 Games
February 8, 2010
A spectacular tribute to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games from Richmond’s agricultural community has been unveiled in Brighouse Park, immediately adjacent to the Richmond O Zone, the City’s official site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Thirteen million floating cranberries, weighing about 13,600 kilograms (30,000 pounds), have been formed into an image of the Canadian Olympic Committee’s iconic logo which features a maple leaf, torch and the Olympic rings.

“Richmond was determined to make a bold and spectacular contribution to the challenge from the Canadian Olympic Committee to ‘Paint The Town Red’ in support of our Canadian athletes,” said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “At the same time, we’ve been able to proudly showcase to the world one of the many things that make Richmond unique – in this case our agricultural heritage, proudly represented by our cranberry growers.”The innovative tribute to the Games is 73 metres long by 58 metres wide (240 by 190 feet) or more than 4,200 square metres (46,000 square feet) in total area. It will remain on display throughout the 2010 Games.

"This installation conveys our passion as farmers, and shows our excitement in having Richmond serve as a Venue City for the Winter Games,” said Dan Keefer, representing Richmond’s cranberry growers, who collectively worked with the City to create the innovative display. “It’s also a great opportunity to spot light the cranberry to visitors from all over the world as more people worldwide are discovering the taste, versatility and health promoting properties of the wonder berry.”
“When we launched Paint the Town Red last fall we knew we had something great but we never envisioned this,” said Michael Chambers, president of the Canadian Olympic Committee. “The City of Richmond has embraced our campaign and this cranberry logo is an incredible manifestation of the support of Canadians for our Canadian Olympic Team. I would like to thank the City of Richmond and the cranberry growers for their creativity, I know the athletes will gain inspiration from this throughout the Games."

Originally planned for the display in front of the Richmond Olympic Oval, extreme river currents and a concern for crew safety prompted the relocation. In the spirit of the Olympic Games, often defined by the refusal to give up, the new location puts the display right in the heart of 2010 activities.
“As farmers we know that Mother Nature has a mind of her own, so we’re always adjusting to the forces of nature,” added Keefer. “We are excited to share this creation with Richmond and visitors from around the world interested in learning more about our city and the industry my family has spent more than 40 years supporting.”Richmond is the heart of Canada’s cranberry country. Cranberries represent the largest agricultural crop in Richmond, and Richmond is the largest producer of cranberries among all cities in Canada with more than 60 family-owned farms.

“We have a unique opportunity as an Olympic Venue City to showcase Richmond’s culture, resources and ingenuity, said Mayor Malcolm Brodie. “The combination of the installation at Brighouse Park and the harvest display in City Hall’s channel gardens is an amazing opportunity to celebrate our leading agricultural crop.”
In addition to the large cranberry installation at Brighouse Park, the water feature at Richmond City Hall will also be filled with thousands of ruby cranberries. Visitors will have an opportunity to meet some of Richmond’s third and fourth generation Richmond cranberry growers who will offer their time and don waders – outside of the traditional harvest season – to share stories of the harvest from the City Hall bog, February 13-21.

The cranberry installation is part of Richmond Revealed, a series of visual spectacles that are celebrating the diverse commerce, culture and heritage of Richmond and showcasing it to the world during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. For more information visit Richmond Revealed.

Richmond Review: Designer Turns Millions of Cranberries into Art!

Dallas-based designer Stephen Stefanou is in Richmond lending his creative talents to the second-biggest Olympic spectacle in Richmond.

By Matthew Hoekstra - Richmond Review
Published: January 30, 2010 6:00

There’s nary a sniff of interest from Rover and Bowser. But in a matter of days, a piece of artwork nearly the size of a football field will be one of Richmond’s largest spectacles.
In the off-leash McDonald Beach Park on Sea Island, workers are arranging red beams to form the Olympic rings.
Within days the design will be towed down the Middle Arm in pieces and anchored on the Richmond Olympic Oval’s doorstep.
Thirteen million cranberries will then fill the floating structure and the latest Richmond Revealed display will be complete—in time for the arrival of the Olympic flame Feb. 9.
“It’s the largest scale and most daunting project we’ve ever done,” said designer Stephen Stefanou.
Told to do something with cranberries—and something big—the Dallas, Tex. designer imagined a display floating in the Fraser.
“It was a lack of a place to do it that made me to look to the river. In a way the river is the front lawn of the building, so that’s where we could put the decoration,” said Stefanou.
His crew built steel-reinforced fiberglass beams and filled them with foam, and trucks hauled the pieces to McDonald Beach earlier this week.
Alaska fishermen who’ve joined Stefanou’s team will use their boats to tow the floating sections down river when the tides are just right.
It won’t be easy. The pieces must cross under three bridges, including the Moray Channel Bridge, where clearance on either side is a matter of a few feet.
The team has also had to consider river traffic and current. Special buoys will hold the 62-by-70-metre design in place despite the tides and specialized netting will keep the berries from turning into fish food.
A giant maple leaf and flame will join the cranberry-stuffed Olympic rings in the design—one of many Stefanou has created in his firm’s 30-year history.
A pre-med-student-turned-designer, Stefanou specializes in seasonal or event-related displays, and recently returned from Las Vegas where he created a few Chinese New Year displays. Besides the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Vegas, his work has graced Rockefeller Center in New York and prestigious shopping malls of the United States.
For the Richmond project, Stefanou has been working with Ocean Spray, the cranberry co-operative that’s contracted him for less-ambitious displays of the berry in the past.
“What’s most interesting to me on this project was realizing how much science and art come together to make something like this work,” he said. “In the process of doing this, we’ve had a lot of science at play—a lot of marine engineering and disciplines that are frankly new to my company.”
For local cranberry growers, it’s an opportunity to show the humble berry to the world.
“We’ve been farming cranberries here for a long time, and we’re just excited this is happening right in cranberry country,” said Lisa May, 29, whose family started farming in Richmond in the early ’60s.
All the berries in the river display were harvested in Richmond last November. They’ve been patiently waiting in the freezer for their waterlogged Olympic journey.
“They’ve figured out a few things to make sure they’re going to last for the entire Games and maintain their beauty,” said May.
Local growers will also be dumping cranberries in city hall’s water feature during the Games. May will be one of the farmers standing in the water—wearing hip waders—telling international visitors the beauty of the bloated berry.
“I think it’s catching on in more parts of the world and more people are learning about the beauty of the cranberry. Not only do they taste good, but they’re good for you,” said May.
***
Olympic cranberry display
•13 million cranberries weighing 13,600 kilograms (30,000 pounds) will form the logo of the Canadian Olympic Committee in the Middle Arm
•It will measure 62 by 70 metres and cover more than 3,200 square metres (34,000 square feet)
•More than 30 anchors will hold the display in place
•All berries will come from Richmond farms
•Richmond is Canada’s largest producer of cranberries with more than 60 family-owned farms, the majority of which are part of the Ocean Spray co-operative
•Cranberries will be composted at the end of the installation

VegasDeluxe by Robin Leach

Bellagio Conservatory celebrates Chinese Year of the Tiger

by Robin Leach

An early Happy New Year to all of our Chinese friends! The Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens began its celebration of the 2010 Chinese New Year with a display rich in history and meaning (designed by Stephen Stefanou of Design Solutions). Chinese New Year falls on Feb. 14 this year, so it’s a double celebration!.
2010 is the Year of the Tiger, and the conservatory’s design is guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui, the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy. The centerpiece of the exhibit is a majestic tiger, whose coat is comprised of dried botanicals. The tiger stands among a garden of Taihu rocks and overlooks a tranquil pond of Koi, a symbol of abundance and fortune.
Rocks and water are viewed as essential features of any traditional Chinese garden and symbolize the larger world around us. After spending decades forming underwater, Taihu stones were chosen because they are believed to encourage circulation of ch’i, or natural energy.
Legend has it that Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year, and 12 came. The third animal in the Chinese zodiac, the tiger serves as a symbol of luck and bravery. Those born in the Year of the Tiger tend to be natural leaders, competitive and self-reliant.
Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens celebrates Chinese New Year and the Year of the Tiger.
Just steps away from Bellagio’s courageous feline ambassador, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Prosperity stands amid gold-leafed I-Ching coins, a traditional Chinese money symbol. Widely recognized as the strongest symbol of good fortune and great luck in the New Year, the God of Prosperity is flanked by two Ming Dynasty-styled dings, ancestral vessels that protect against bad fortune.
Nearby, a trio of 6-foot-tall giant pandas, made of more than 9,000 living plants, frolic in a lush garden filled with towering bamboo. Considered a national treasure in China and listed as an endangered species, pandas spend at least 12 hours each day eating as much as 84 pounds of bamboo.
Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens celebrates Chinese New Year and the Year of the Tiger.
A zigzag bridge leads to a wing-tipped Ming Dynasty-styled gazebo painted a deep red lacquer with gold trim and green-tiled roofs. Red signifies happiness, while the upturned roofline wards off evil spirits. The sharp pattern of the bridge protects against negative energy and bad spirits, and a majestic mountain, seen as a pillar between heaven and Earth, serves as a backdrop.
Feng Shui was used to position the flow of water into the conservatory, and not away, ensuring the flow of positive energy. Silk Chinese lanterns add to the auspicious nature of the exhibit on display through Feb. 28.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground,

Vegas News: Celebrate Chinese New Year 2010

Celebrate Chinese New Year 2010 At Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens
January 7, 2010 by VegasNews
Beginning January 10, Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens will celebrate the 2010 Chinese New Year, the Year of the Tiger, with a unique display filled with hidden meaning. The Conservatory's design (created by Stephen Stefanou of Design Solutions in Dallas, TX) will be guided by the ancient practice of Feng Shui -- the art of using surroundings to attract harmony, balance and positive life energy.
The dramatic centerpiece of this exhibit will be a majestic tiger. His 'fur' coat will be comprised of dried botanicals. The tiger will stand among a garden of Taihu rocks and overlook a tranquil pond of Koi, a symbol of abundance and fortune. Rocks and water are viewed as essential features of any traditional Chinese garden and symbolize the larger world around us. After spending decades forming underwater, Taihu stones were chosen because they are believed to encourage circulation of ch'i, or natural energy.
Legend has it that Buddha asked all the animals to meet him on Chinese New Year. Twelve came. The third animal in the Asian zodiac, the tiger serves as a symbol of luck and bravery. Those born in the Year of the Tiger tend to be natural leaders, competitive and self-reliant.
Just steps away from Bellagio's courageous feline ambassador, an 18-foot-tall Chinese God of Prosperity will be found amidst gold leafed I-Ching coins, a traditional Chinese money symbol. Widely recognized as the strongest symbol of good fortune and great luck in the New Year, the God of Prosperity will be flanked by two Ming Dynasty-styled dings, ancestral vessels that protect against bad fortunes.
Nearby, a trio of charming, 6-foot-tall giant pandas, made of more than 9,000 living plants, will frolic in a lush garden filled with towering bamboo. Considered a national treasure in China and listed as an endangered species, pandas spend at least 12 hours each day eating up to 84 pounds of bamboo.
Within Bellagio's Conservatory, visitors also will find a zigzag bridge leading to a beautiful, wing-tipped Ming Dynasty-styled gazebo painted a deep red lacquer with shimmering gold trim and green-tiled roofs. The color red signifies happiness while the upturned roofline will ward off evil spirits. The sharp pattern of the bridge will protect against negative energy and bad spirits. A majestic mountain, seen as a pillar between heaven and earth, will serve as a dramatic backdrop.
The teachings of Feng Shui also will be used to purposely position the flow of water into Bellagio's Conservatory, and not away, ensuring the flow of positive energy. Oversized brilliant-red, silk Chinese lanterns throughout the conservatory will add to the auspicious nature of this spectacular exhibit.
Visitors are invited to celebrate Chinese New Year in Bellagio's Conservatory & Botanical Gardens January 10 through February 28.
Chinese New Year Facts:
The Year of the Tiger is February 14, 2010 - February 3, 2011
People born in the Year of the Tiger tend to be competitive and love to stand-out
Chinese New Year Conservatory Facts:
Three 6-foot-tall giant pandas comprised of Helichrysum Icicles and Hemigraphis Erect
18-foot-tall God of Prosperity
I-Ching coins are traditional money symbol
Zigzag bridges, water and the color red protect against evil and ensure positive energy

Design Solutions designs the 2010 Winter Olympics in British Columbia

13 Million Cranberries to Reveal Richmond to the World!

RICHMOND, BC, Dec. 2
Thirteen million floating cranberries, weighing about 13,600 kilograms (30,000 pounds), will form a spectacular tribute to the Olympic Games on the Fraser River next February. (This display was designed and created by Stephen Stefanou of DESIGN SOLUTIONS of Dallas, TX)

A massive depiction of the Canadian Olympic Committee's logo will float in the Middle Arm of the Fraser River, just offshore from the Richmond Olympic Oval throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The stunning, never-before-seen tribute to the Games will be 62 metres long by 70 metres wide (200 by 230 feet) or more than 3,200 square metres (34,000 square feet) in total area. The logo, which consists of a maple leaf and Olympic torch sitting overtop of the five interlocking Olympic rings, will be constructed from cranberries contained in a specially-constructed floating form.

Richmond is Canada's largest producer of cranberries with more than 60 family-owned farms. The cranberry installation is part of a new program entitled Richmond Revealed, a series of visual spectacles that will celebrate the diverse commerce, culture and heritage of Richmond and showcase it to the world during the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

"We are extremely proud to be an official Venue City of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games," said Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie. "The eyes of the world will be on us during the Games and Richmond Revealed will tell the stories of our past, present and future."

Richmond Revealed will showcase other leading local industries such as aerospace, aviation, technology and transportation. Other highlights of Richmond Revealed include:
- A giant inukshuk, up to seven stories in height, constructed out of
stacked shipping containers.
- A room-sized model of the Canadarm, Canada's internationally-famous
contribution to the International Space Station and US Space Shuttle,
along with models of the Mars Rover and other aerospace projects
contributed to by Richmond's aerospace leaders.
- A spectacular double dragon dance accompanied by mass tai-chi
performance on Chinese New Year on February 14, 2010. The dragons are
150 metres and 75 metres in length.

In addition to the large cranberry installation in the Fraser River, the water feature at Richmond City Hall will also be filled with cranberries. To celebrate Richmond's agriculture industry, visitors will be able to meet with local cranberry growers, as they demonstrate how cranberries are harvested.

"Our family has been growing cranberries in Richmond for four generations, and we're proud to continue the tradition of farming my great grandfather began in the 1880s," said Richmond grower-owner Todd May. "It's incredibly gratifying to grow a fruit that's versatile, good for you, and is enjoyed by people in different countries all over the world."

The City of Richmond is home to the Richmond Olympic Oval, the signature venue of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, which will host 12 days of long-track speed skating competition. The City will also be home to the Richmond O Zone (www.richmondozone.ca), the largest official celebration site of the 2010 Games, featuring 17 days of free world-class live entertainment, sports and culture.