b'literally, taking their magic to the rooftop of the St. Regis in TheNYC. Theyve blazed a trail on Nantucket events, at places like the Cleveland Art Institute, and in California vineyards. We have observed their masterful staging at home in Lincoln in the canvas of of the exquisite Love looks like this outdoor drive-by nativity at First Plymouth. Larger-than-life animal puppets, Mary and Joseph, moving snowflakes, majestic lights and motion. For Mike and While there is a little bit of deserved Hillis & Company is cominSara, a very challenging commission and installation; for Lincoln, to town mystique to this story, we had to pull it out of the box injoy to the world.the attic. Sara and her husband Scott love the Club like we all do. Mike is the good neighbor who doesnt spend any time talking aboutThe team is, Mike says, a celebration specialist creating his companys accolades. They dont aggrandize. Nevertheless,extraordinary moments while managing a sometimes ice-capped its interesting to know the reindeermountain of logistics. The St. Regis affair required them to lease a are in good hands. restaurant that was no longer in business because they had a space and walk-in coolers big enough to handle prep.They share easily about serving members over four decadesTell us about any challenges unique to the for celebrations of birthCCL project. and baptisms, graduationsMike: The timeline to do this! Managing the budget, with increases and weddings that led toin freight cost, and updates and changes related to materials that children that led to thehavent yet shipped. Anticipating tariffs and bringing things in early weddings of those children.to get ahead of them. Finding space to store the inventory of hard But Hillis & Companygoods, trees and garland. The Club is storing the trees and garland has also gone up on thethat came in from a display house that does work for Macys, Neiman housetop,Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.We couldnt go just anywhere to buy greenery and trees. This material will be set up and taken down year after year. It must be heavy duty, constructed well, and match fire retardant restrictions for the city and state. Sara: Same with the ribbon, which comes from one company. Its thick and heavy duty because it will be packed in boxes and refluffed year after year.Purchasing takes a lot of time. Sometimes well envision something thats hard to find. Mike: It takes a lot of time if you want the final product to end up like you envision and make people smile.Is that the goal for this best time of the year at CCL?Mike: We want members to smile at the unexpected, to talk about how traditional elements have been used in surprisingly different ways. The Club has invested in garland and trees and materials that wont change each year. Ribbon and other elements bring the twist that takes the ordinary to extraordinarythis is what we want members to notice and begin to anticipate each holiday.11'