Let’s get this straight, dollface. Our client parties are the bee’s knees. And this year was no exception. We didn’t just go old-school. We went reeaalllllllllly old school. With a speakeasy-themed shindig that had people drinking covert cocktails out of teacups and saying things like “well, this is positively the cat’s meow.” (Okay, maybe people didn’t talk all old-timey. But they definitely thought it.) There was a jazz chanteuse, there was gambling. There were two cops who raided the place. And of course there was the ubiquitous FAME photo booth. Which has nothing to do with the prohibition era, but everything to do with fantastic blackmail pictures. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some fringe to sweep up.

Every year, one lucky guy or gal at FAME is honored with the FAMA Award, a title earned by the strongest, fearless-est warrior among us. So it was no surprise when the great Eric Weiss (a direct descendant of Thor himself) received the award–bragging rights and limited edition poster, secretly designed by the talented Intern Sam. Congratulations, Mr. Weiss. Sign our posters? Holds out sharpie

Yes, yes. It’s the same locally-run MyBurger you know and love from your midday-meeting-dodging skyway wanderings. Just FAME-ified a bit. When the owners came looking for a design partner for their brand update, partner we did–becoming MyBurger’s first stockholder. (If creative compensation models were a burger, this would be a Double with cheese.)

And oh, the scope. Identity. Environment. Website. You name it. Right on down to the beloved box (MyBurger’s preferred mode of transpo). We started by updating the palette, and reports of blue accent chair-hoarding at the new location have proven the principle of scarcity does indeed have some validity. We then revealed the reworked mark, starring custom type and original illustration. Ogle it here.

At that point, we kicked it into “Let’s-get-this-joint-up-and-running” mode, bossypantsing it over everything from millwork finishes to surfaces, furniture, lighting and yes, condiment art installations. You go, mustard. Easy modern. Comfortable industrial. Call it what you like, but the result is a place where you want to hang out until the malt coma sets in.

Neighborly touches serve as a shout-out to the Calhoun locale. Like the fresh water squid on the back wall, poised to devour what appears to be a Single Original with cheese. (Condiment selection unclear.) But no need to wrestle that fella for a meal. Step up, order your own and say a little prayer to the burger gods, promising uncharacteristically good behavior in exchange for a location in your own neck of the metro area.

Apparently, we clean up real good. Because at our client party/open house/reason to drink, FAME’s sleek, shiny offices grabbed the attention of a Mpls/St.Paul editor. An editor who went on to write about our space–from the concrete floors that kill our feet (ok, maybe it’s our heels), to the modern chairs that’d make that “Shabby Chic” lady cry into a floral slipcover. Turns out, she was so inspired by our place of business that she’s thinking of starting a little tour o’ sweet offices around the city. We think she may even want to move into President Lynne Robertson’s sassily remodeled work abode, or CCO Bruce Edwards’ spankin’ new corner digs. We just hope she gives us enough notice to stash our extensive Beanie Baby collection. We don’t want to ruin her impression of us. Wanna check out the space for yourself? Give us a mega piece of business and get invited to our client party. Otherwise, you’ll have to settle for pics here.

FAME just partnered with local Minneapolis Camp Tanadoona, designing materials for their first-ever Capital Campaign. And it’s never been more fun to ask for cash. Because the 88-year-old camp is using said funds to revamp and winterize their 103-acre grounds, including new camper-approved activities like an Aqua Blob (we don’t know what that is, but it sounds awesome), and a slackline. Along with the well-designed plea for sweet moolah, FAME also did the research and positioning strategy, created a completely new brand identity and led an extensive PR campaign–which may or may not have included tie-dyed press releases. Oh, and in the process, we earned the distinction of being Camp Tanadoona’s “Partner of the Year.” Which means one thing. We need to toast. Some Marshmallows.

As such, he will now be addressed as “Sir” and will refer to himself in the third person. We’re updating the sign on his door right now. Kidding. Totally kidding. Congratulations, B. So, drinks are on you, right?

Listen, we don’t care when those two crazy kids are going to get married. (Well, yes we do, secretly. We really, really do.) But this post is about a different relationship. The one between Angie and Time Warner Cable. Miss Jolie recently sat down with TWC to be interviewed about her movie, In the Land of Blood and Honey, which is featured on Time Warner Cable’s On Demand. And doing what we do best, FAME created a spot to urge Facebook fans to order the movie, then cut three additional cross channel spots from their chat. What do we hope to gain from the project? Lots of movie orders, of course. And perhaps Angelina getting a tattoo of the Time Warner Cable logo.

Then of course there’s Donkey Kong, who’s actually an ape, and well, you really don’t want to get him mad. Anyhoo, no one’s angry at the moment, so nothing to see here except some great design work. Three FAME projects were recently golf-clapped into their place of honor among the other deserving contenders in the HOW International Design Awards. See the Ivey Awards Commemorative Book (divas), the Cinco de FAME-O Invite (donkeys), and the Roller Girls Poster (you decide) by clicking on the handy link above. Or for all you fresh-ink-sniffers, pick up the actual issue and inhale til you hear your boss walking by.

Lest this one go the way of the overthink, we busted out an outdoor campaign from blank stare to final files in a scant few days for local cab company Blue & White Taxi. Clearly, even a pickle with arms and legs shouldn’t be driving, drinks or no drinks. But the staggering pickle man makes a good point. When you’re out celebrating with a few cocktails this season, call these fellas to get you home safely.