2016 American Made Awards Cocktail Party

October 26, 2016

2016 American Made Awards Cocktail Party

Our fifth annual American Made Awards and Summit celebrating entrepreneurial spirit kicked off with a spectacular cocktail party atop New York City’s One World Trade Center building.

Last week, we gathered at One World Observatory, an event space offering panoramic views of New York City, and its surrounding waters from above 1,250 feet. It was the perfect venue for our event - and a perfect symbol of American pride, determination and entrepreneurism. Current Honorees, past winners, business colleagues, partners, and staff attended the cocktail reception. Thanks goes out to all the food and drink purveyors: PS Tailored Events, Watch Hill Oysters, Grand Central Oyster Bar, Fire Roasted Catering, Upland Cheese, Loki Fish Company, True North Salmon Company, Gotham Greens, La Brea Bakery, Hayden Flour Mills, Ample Hills Creamery, Mondavi, Sixpoint Beer, Sauza 901, and Michter's.

Tomorrow, I will post photos from Saturday's American Made Summit - our day-long program of informative, lively conversations with industry experts, innovators, and successful small business owners. It was a wonderfully enlightening and inspiring day.

: It was a wonderful night to toast to this year’s winning small business owners and entrepreneurs in the fields of crafts, design, food and style. Cin cin! (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Our American Made Awards cocktail party was held in New York City’s One World Observatory on the 102nd Floor Horizon Level.

: Here’s a view looking up to the top of One World Trade Center from street level. It is the tallest skyscraper in the Western Hemisphere, and currently the sixth tallest in the world – so amazing.

: Up in the Observatory, the space provided floor to ceiling views in all directions. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: The views from the venue were magnificent. If you look to the left of the photo, you can see the Statue of Liberty on New York City’s Liberty Island.

: My friend, Chef Pierre Schaedelin of PS Tailored Events, provided several small bites that were passed around the reception. They included: Loki smoked salmon celeriac apple remoulade on baguette, potato pancake with Loki salmon roe and sour cream, crispy True North shrimp with cilantro and ginger soy citrus sauce, Hayden Mills polenta square with wild mushroom toppings, seared True North scallops, caper lemon brown butter, broccoli rabe pesto, and of course, pigs in a blanket with mustard. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: This is Jeff Gardner, owner of Watch Hill Oysters from Winnapaug Pond, near Westerly, Rhode Island. These oysters were a huge hit. Thanks to the Grand Central Oyster bar, who also helped orchestrate this delicious feast. The oysters were served with mignonette and cocktail sauce. Next to the oysters – True North Shrimp cocktail – so fresh and good! (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: This wonderful selection of foods is provided by Fire Roasted Catering – pate and Gotham Greens lettuce wraps with smoked pulled chicken. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: A Wisconsin Cheese display with Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Quince & Apple Preserves and Potters Crackers. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: There were so many delicious cheeses to taste, along with fruits, nuts, figs, and other bites.

: This is one of our open bars featuring Sixpoints beer, Mondavi wines, and two themed cocktails – Maple Manhattan using Michter’s Rye bourbon, and a winter margarita made with Sauza 901 tequila and Natalie’s Orchard Island Juices honey tangerine. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Here are Brian Smith and Jacqueline Cuscuna of Ample Hills Creamery. They offered delicious ice cream choices – Coffee Toffee, Ooey Gooey Butter Cake with vanilla ice cream, and chunks of St. Louis-style butter cake, and The Munchies – pretzel-infused ice cream with clusters of Ritz crackers, potato chips, pretzels and mini M&Ms. http://www.amplehills.com (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Our editorial director of books, Ellen Morrissey, MSLO publisher, Daren Mazzucca, and beauty editor, Melissa Goldstein

: Here I am with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian and his wife, Margaret. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: My friend, Terri Blaire, and my makeup artist, Daisy Schwartzberg

: Martha Stewart Living and Martha Stewart Weddings publicist, Liz Malone, and Marci Greenfield, director of content marketing (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Guests, Jas Riyait, Dawn Sinkowski and Katie Covington (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: The observatory was so spacious with views from every corner.

: Brad Moore, Living editor-in-chief, Elizabeth Graves, and Daren (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Marie Grimmer and Laura Davidson

: Heather Kirkland and her aunt, Denise Leclair (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: My grandchildren, Jude and Truman, also stopped by and loved the oysters. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Here I am with designer, Eve Streicker, and Lazlo’s Christian Birky. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Food editorial director, Sarah Carey, and Francisco Clark, founder of Clark’s Botanicals, and a 2014 American Made Honoree. http://www.clarksbotanicals.com (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: I am joined by director of design, Anduin Havens, and Vinnie Cruz from Sixpoint Beer. Vinnie brought beer for the party – Sweet Action, The Crisp, and Bengali. He was happy to talk about beer and how Sixpoint keeps its high quality. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: My trainer, Mary Tedesco, and her sister, Diana

: Jude and Truman wanted to try everything – they are such good and healthy eaters! (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Director of partnership development and events for Sequential Brands Group, Dan DiMezza, and senior programming manager, Lauryn McLaughlin (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Jacqueline and Brian served their delicious ice cream to everyone at the reception.

: The Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley provided delicious wines – cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and fume blanc.

: Heather, co-founder of Back to the Roots, Alejandro Velez, and entrepreneur and “Trash is for Tossers” blogger, Lauren Singer

: Senior MSL marketing manager, Olivia Spadafore, with WOVNS Dena Molnar

: Sequential business development coordinator, Jordan Gross, Jake Passero, Maggie McLaughlin and Jean Marie McLaughlin (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: This bartender is pouring one of the evening’s themed cocktails, a winter margarita made with Sauza 901 tequila.

: Buzz Hyler and Kimberly Walker of The Libman Company, Daren, Lizzie, and Sarah (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Here is my longtime publicist and friend, Susan Magrino, and her team. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Dan, founder of influencer network Clever, Kristy Sammis, and Joe Petrillo, head of content partnerships at Clever (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Our head of video programming and development, Kim Miller-Olko, and associate project manager, Blaze Pennington

: Here I am with entrepreneurs and designers of Lfant Brands, twins Chris and Clayton Griggs. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Taylor Theiss, Lizzie, Brad, Michael Mosso, Daren, and Susan Schwartzman (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Joe, Heather and Victor Friedberg, co-founder and managing director of S2G Ventures (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Food editor, Greg Lofts, Melissa, Weddings editor, Brooke Porter Katz, and Jennie Tung (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Sarah Sandback and Sarah Anderson

: All our guests had such a wonderful time. (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Peter Grote, Lauryn, director of food development, Thomas Joseph, Blaze and my executive administrative manager, Dorian Arrich (Photo by Mike Krautter)

: Daren, Jenna Barber from Meredith digital sales, associate communications director for Saatchi & Saatchi/Toyota, Lulu Cao, and our West Coast sales director, Bianca Haley

: I welcomed our guests – current Honorees, past winners, business colleagues, partners and staff. It was a wonderful night to kick off our American Made Summit. (Photo by Mike Krautter)