Katherine McPhee helps Lipton shine bright in NYC

Lipton Iced Tea recruited singer and actress Katharine McPhee to host the Lipton Summer Tastes Party, which celebrated the summer solstice with an illuminated installation that will provide 24-hours of light to New Yorkers.

The luminous orb, aptly named the Lipton Sun, was created in partnership with the Pratt Institute.

"Summer is the time of year we all look forward to because longer and brighter days are perfect for fun times with friends and family. The Lipton Sun symbolizes that summer is officially here and that the possibilities are endless," said McPhee.

"We're thrilled to have partnered with Lipton Iced Tea to bring the Lipton Sun to life in a creative way," said Eric O'Toole, assistant professor at Pratt Institute. "At the heart of this partnership is a common thread — the spirit of embracing possibilities. The students at Pratt emulate this every day and we couldn't agree more that, from a design perspective, the sun is the ultimate symbol of all the possibilities that summer has to offer."

In addition to the Lipton Sun, which will be accessible for public viewing at New York City's Beekman Beach Club through June 24, Lipton is hosting other activities to enhance its brand awareness. The company plans to publish Summer Taste Reports on its social media pages, which encourages consumers to get the most out of summer with Lipton’s portfolio of beverages. Lipton will work with Katharine McPhee, entertainment host Mario Lopez and NYC mixologist Scott Fitzgerald on content for the guides.

The company will also host a contest on Facebook that encourages consumers to upload a photo to the page, using the hashtag #TasteofSummer, for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip for two to the Bahamas.