Have A Spooktacular Halloween from Banquetevent.com!
Wishing you all a safe and fun Halloween!
If you like carved pumpkins but don't want to deal with the hassle of cleaning out the insides and making a mess, click here to start carving your very own pumpkin.
Check out our work below. Okay, okay, we admit it's the prettiest pumpkin of all, but give us a break!
1. Wear homemade costumes and skip the plastic store bought costumes. Not only do you save money, but you also save filling up our landfills with tossed-out costumes which are mainly made of plastic. 2. Use eco-friendly, organic makeup. Avoid the mercury, phthalates, parabens and fragrances that come standard in most brand name cosmetics. 3. Stock your bowl with organic, natural treats that are free from chemicals and preservatives. 4. Choose a reusable canvas bag or a pillowcase for the kids to haul all of their candy home. Avoid the plastic bags or plastic pumpkins which all end up in our landfills. 5. Instead of using a wax candle to light up your jack-o-lantern, try using a soy candle. They last longer and come from renewable soy bean crops. Wax candles release toxic chemicals like toluene and benzene through smoke and soot. 6. When buying your Halloween decorations, be sure to buy items that you can use every year. If you’re buying items you know you can’t keep for use next year, be sure to buy brands that are both recycled and recyclable.
Hopefully these tips will help make your Halloween a little more Green!
Last week we blogged about the sales of political Halloween masks and how their sales can often predict the winner of the presidential election. Now comes another, so-called "predictor" from 7-11 convenience stores. Let us introduce you to the 2008 7-Election, where 7-11 coffee drinkers show their support for one candidate over another by drinking from their respective choice's coffee cup.
Now you may be like us and wonder if any of these "predictors" are really accurate. Well, according to 7-11, during the 2000 7-Election, the George W. Bush cups outsold the Al Gore cups by just 1%...and we all remember how that election turned out. 7-11 also states that during the 2004 7-Election, the results tracked identically with published national election results: 51% George W. Bush and 49% for John Kerry (within a few percentage points of actual poll results in many states!).
So where does the 7-Election stand today? According to the national results tallied thus far, Barack Obama leads John McCain 60% to 40%. In Washington State, Obama also leads McCain 68% to 38%.
Can this all be true? Time will tell. Click here to track the results yourself.
The holidays are just around the corner, and chances are, you are busy as bee planning your company holiday event. How will you market it to your fellow employees? We highly suggest using online meeting registration and marketing to spread the word...here's why...
Company Meeting and Event Websites The Internet has quickly become one of the most efficient and cost-effective meeting marketing and communication tools. A meeting website, e-mail marketing campaign and online registration will boost attendance for almost any event, meeting or conference. Consideration for a unique event website might be applied as an incorporated part of your company or groups permanent website, or a standalone site or both! Effective meeting/event web site components you should consider including on the site could be:
On-Demand Attendance Reports
Email Invitation and Attendance Campaign
24/7 Meeting/Event Registration
Venue Information
Accommodation Details
Program & Agenda
Frequently Asked Questions
Web Casting (video options)
Content Archiving
Post-Event Follow-Up
Online Event Program Management Event planning online through use of on-line form submissions, emails and updates quickly and easily creates a unified affect that when done well, will narrow the physical or perceptive distance that might exist within your team(s).
You can track the progress of program development more easily.
Your team will communicate more effectively with each other and with the meeting presenters.
Much of the information in the program development system can be automatically used in emails and on web pages.
Online Meeting Registration Online meeting registration can increase registrations while decreasing registration costs! In fact, the simplicity and convenience of online registration is a critical contributor to assuring high attendance for many events. When considering companies to work with make sure they can offer you a visible proven track record for many unique types of events they have setup on-line registration within your company’s needs and details.
Do not overlook a company who is not a “known” factor.
Do your research. It will pay heavy rewards in the end.
Meeting Webcasting Web Casting and archived audio, video and presentation content enables expanded distribution of meeting content. It makes a very efficient tool to connect with those who may not be able to attend your meeting or event.
HOT Tip! You've all heard about eVite, but have you checked out PINGG? PINGG is an online event invitation and management service. And it's free!
Hey all you voters? Want to spread the word that you will be voting come this November? Send in your "I Will Vote" photo to the Secretary of State website. Check out some of the great photos we've found of local voters pledging to vote.
Check out the new "ZERO" messenger bag made by Rickshaw, a San Francisco based company. It's called the ZERO, named after the amount of waste generated during the production of each bag. According to their website: "Our new ZERO messenger bag is the result of a "less is more" product development initiative that combines minimalist design, monopolymer construction, localized sourcing and wasteless manufacturing - a holistic approach that simultaneously unites form, function and footprint. The ZERO is specially designed to optimize fabric cutting and eliminate manufacturing waste. The bag is made from scratch in Rickshaw's San Francisco factory from domestically sourced materials, thereby shortening the raw material supply chain and reducing its ecological footprint. To facilitate recycling, the bag is made entirely of nylon."
Check out Rickshaw's complete line of messenger bags at their website, and be GREEN in the Fall!
If you have children in grades K-12 and want to teach them about the importance of the upcoming election, encourage them to vote in the Washington State Mock Election. Voting starts at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, October 27 and the polls close at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, October 31. Results are posted after 5:00 p.m.
When voting begins, students participating in the Mock Election must "register to vote" by submitting their name and school. They will immediately receive a unique voter ID number, a printable voter registration card, and their ballot. Ballots are cast online. Election results will be available after 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 31.
Students will vote on all the same issues facing adults and will also vote to elect the next President and Vice President of the United States as well as local Governor.
HP is introducing a whole new option for PC lovers. And even we Mac users have to admit, it's pretty darn cool. Meet the HP Touchsmart IQ804 and IQ816 All-in-One Desktop PC that works similarly to your iPhone or iPod touch, only it also has all the conveniences of features of a regular desktop computer.
What The Retailers Are Saying: Redesigned with a next-generation, touch-enabled 25.5-inch high-definition LCD screen, the HP TouchSmart IQ804 all-in-one desktop PC is designed to fit wherever life happens: in the kitchen, family room, or living room. With one touch you can check the weather, download your e-mail, or watch your favorite TV show. It's also designed to maximize energy, with a power-saving Intel Core 2 Duo processor and advanced power management technology, as well as material efficiency--right down to the packaging. It has a sleek piano black design with elegant espresso side-panel highlights, and the HP Ambient Light lets you set a mood--or see your keyboard in the dark.
The touch-enabled 25.5-inch widescreen BrightView LCD offers height/tilt adjustment for optimal viewing. It offers a native resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels. Video is powered by the Nvidia GeForce 9300M GS HD graphics/video card, which provides 256 MB of dedicated video RAM and offers up to 2047 MB of total available graphics memory as allocated by Windows Vista. Enabled by PureVideo HD, movies come to life with outstanding picture clarity, ultra-smooth video and vivid color. The lifelike images have up to six times the detail of standard DVD movies. Delivering state-of-the-art graphics performance, GeForce 9300M GS graphics card is sure to give you the power and performance you crave to play the hottest DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 titles. Its 16x full-screen antialiasing technology delivers superior quality along with astounding performance and since it's optimized for Windows Vista. The integrated audio card is configurable to 6-speaker surround sound, and it can provide two-channel audio via its integrated speakers.
Watch the ad below:
The Touchsmart is not available yet, but you can pre-order yours at Amazon.com.
There is just no denying it. The staff at banquetevent.com loves animals. And in honor of Halloween, which is just around the corner, we wanted to share some photos with you of an adorable dachshund named Honey. We dare you not to fall in love.
View more pictures of Honey and her furry friends, check out Honey's flickr site.
Are you planning on dressing up your pooch for Halloween? Send us your pictures and we'll post them on our blog! Email us.
Whoever said Halloween was for kids was clearly mistaken. We'd like to introduce our new "Get Inspired!" series of party planning inspiration boards to help you get your creative juices flowing for your own happening events. After all, we are entering the busiest season of all, jam-packed with one holiday after another. So let's get started with our first board of the season!
Theme: A Grown-Up Halloween Colors: Black and Orange
The Colors: Go classic orange and black. Since orange is not a color most people use often, select accent pieces like napkins, candlesticks and small decorations that are orange in color. Then choose black items that are more recyclable like your chairs, table linens and candlesticks to complete the look.
The Decor: Halloween is a pretty simple holiday to find decorations for. But if you have the time and energy, try simple crafts for your decorations like pumpkin carving, glittered votive candle holders and edible spooky snacks. Homemade decorations are far more interesting and impressive.
The Entertainment: What would a Halloween party be without a scary film? We checked AFI's top 50 horror films and the film Psycho topped the list. Even if you aren't all going to sit down and watch it intently, stick it in your dvd player and let it run. Just the screams and scary music will add to the overall abiance.
The Food: Plan a meal that allows people to gather around the table, talk and mingle. A formal sitdown dinner is just not appropriate for a Halloween party. Consider a fondue party with cheddar cheese dip. It's a fun and tasty activity, plus it matches your color scheme!
The Fun: Since it is a Halloween Party after all, costumes are a must! Give an award for the best costume and the most creative costume. It will turn your event into a competition, encouraging your guests to step it up a notch. And since you are the awesome party planner that you are, we suggest going as Mr. or Mrs. Incredible!
Looking for some Halloween fun for the kids? Check out the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle. Pumpkin Prowl at Woodland Park Zoo offers treats for your little goblins, carved pumpkins, live entertainment and more! This all takes place over three howling nights: October 24th, 25th, & 26th, 5:00-8:00 p.m.
Tickets are on sale at all Bartell Drugs locations and at the zoo starting Monday, October 6th. $9 for adults, $7 for children 17 and under, Free for children 2 and under.
Museum of Fright
Bring the whole family out to the Museum of Flight on Halloween! For just one night each year, The Museum of Flight becomes The Museum of Fright! This Halloween, bring the kids down to the Museum as the whole family will be scared silly with safe and fun activities that will leave you in stitches! Enjoy tons of Halloween treats, games and more! Meet the ghosts of aviation's past and hear the stories of flights long dead and gone. Fun and "dead"ucational activities for the whole family all evening long!
ADMISSION TO THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT IS FREE AFTER 4 PM
Mirror Mirror On The Wall, Who Is The Scariest Of Them All?
It has often been said that people's choice of political Halloween costumes can often predict the winner and loser of the presidential race. You may predict that the most purchased political mask of the year would equal the candidate the voters think is the "scariest" option. After all, this is Halloween and the time for spooks and tricks. But, surprisingly, that is not the case. According to online costume retailers, the quantity of political masks purchased predicts the winner, not loser of the presidential race. In fact, they say that they have been able to predict the winner of the last seven elections, simply by mask sales!
So who will win this year? According to a recent article featured on AOL.com, so far, Barack Obama masks are outselling John McCain masks in Spirit Halloween and iParty stores and online at Amazon and BuyCostumes.com.
Will mask sales predict the winner? We'll just have to wait and see.
Emerald City Applause Awards Wednesday, October 15, 2008 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM at the Columbia Tower Club 701 5th. Ave, 75th. Floor Seattle, WA 98104
Celebrating the Gems of our Industry
The entries are entered, the judges have judged, and the excitement is building in anticipation of the 4th Annual Emerald City Applause Awards!
Join your colleagues and friends in honoring the best of the best in Washington’s event industry! Your presence is requested to come and savor the excellent work done by some of the top companies in our industry.
NACE AUCTION October 21st Annual Auction RSVP by October 16th 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, October 21st, 2008 RSVP by Thursday, October 16th at www.TacomaNACE.net Sharon McGavick Student & Conference Center Clover Park Technical College 4500 Steilacoom Blvd. SW Building 23 Lakewood, WA 98499
The Tacoma/South Puget Sound Chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives invites you to our annual auction Cooking up Success! benefiting Clover Park Technical College's Culinary Arts and Floral programs & the NACE education program.
Murder Mystery aboard the historic Steamship Virginia V November 1, 2008 7-10 p.m. Departs from Seattle's Lake Union Park 860 Terry Avenue North Seattle, WA. 98109 For a cruise around Lake Union and Lake Washington
Join Events on the Edge and the historic Steamship Virginia V for a special Halloween theme murder mystery celebration and adventure aboard the High Seas, with a 3 hour Dinner Cruise around Lake Union and Lake Washington. Halloween costumes are welcome but not required! Time: Boarding/cocktails 6pm. Mystery & Dinner Cruise 7-10pm Cost: $85.00 per person plus $2.00 fuel surcharge for Buffet Dinner, Mystery & Cruise (does not incl tax or gratuity) Tickets: Available online at www.virginiav.org or call 206.624.9119 Parking: Lot & street parking is available at Lake Union Park.
To assist you in planning for 2009, Olympia Lacey Tumwater Visitor & Convention Bureau invite you to participate in the Umbrella Tour. Specifically designed for meeting and event planners, this two-day event is sure to get you acquainted with Thurston County as a meeting and event destination.
RSVP TO: Heather Antanaitis, Membership & Marketing Development Olympia Lacey Tumwater Visitior & Convention Bureau Toll Free: 877.704.7544 Email: marketing@visitolympia.com
Whether you have never been to the area or it is been a while since your last visit, this Familiarization Tour is sure to give you a fresh perspective on what the region has to offer. You will experience our finest attractions, explore restaurants and enjoy two complimentary room nights at the Phoenix Inn & Suites/Red Lion Olympia.
Please join us for the Umbrella Tour November 15-17th. Space is limited, so we ask that you RSVP by November 5th.
We think you'll love this local website that helps you connect with local teachers so you can learn just about anything. Meet teachstreet.com where you can search for teachers of a certain craft in the Seattle and Portland area. So if you want to learn to sail, cook, sew, dance, play the piano or just about any other craft you can think of, Teach Street helps you find the skilled professionals in the area that can turn you into a pro yourself.
Once you have found a teacher you can then go onto teachstreet.com and write a review that will help others find a teacher that is right for them. We also like how the site recognizes what craft you want to learn and offers books about the similar trade that are available for you at Amazon.com.
Check out Teach Street and let us know what you think.
In less than a month, our country will elect a new President of the United States. In the spirit of the season, candy makers are taking advantage of this sweet opportunity to offer politically inspired edible goodness. Check out what we've found below.
This election year, Byrd Cookie Company wants everyone to Vote With Taste! Get your campaign headquarters ready with our selection of Democrat or Republican tins filled with Key Lime Coolers (left). Show your patriotic spirit with this red, white and blue tin collection! They are sure to be a hit with your guests at any election event this year!
Made with the traditional Japanese art of kumi ame (rolled candy), Kai's Candy Campaign ‘08 candies (below) are here to add some fun to the race for the Presidency. Each candy is individually wrapped, and the lollipops come on super long 8" sticks. The flavors are similar to American hard candies, but with a more mild flavor. But look out for the small Obama candies - they have a zesty mint flavor!
If candy is not quite your thing, you may be more interested in a mocha cafe drink with special packaging to promote Senator McCain and Senator Obama from McStevens.
Lastly, L.A. Burdick Handmade Chocolates have developed a variety of sweet treats representing both candidates. Enjoy an assortment package of candies that include awaiian Pineapple, Kenyan Coffee, Kansas Corn Crunch and Tennessee Sour Mash in the Obama package, and Arizona Citrus, Hot Pepper Tequila, Peanut Butter, and Kentucky Rye in the McCain assortment.
As the days get shorter, the temperature drops and the leaves fall, most people are preparing for the long, rainy Winter to come. Although we can't avoid the inevitable, we can still try and make the most of the outdoors. Why not grab the kids and head out to one of the local Seattle corn mazes? You can also pick out your own pumpkin for Halloween!
South 47 Farm
Bring the whole family to The South 47 Farm pumpkin patch for an autumn adventure you'll never forget! Find the perfect pumpkin in the field, explore the "Tribute to the Tractor" Corn Maze, greet the goats and alpacas, take a hayride (weekends only), and visit the farmstand and U-pick, fields for fresh veggies, specialty pumpkins, and decorative items. We've got loads of pumpkins to choose from:
Distinctive pumpkins—perfect for cooking or decorating. Choose from white Cotton Candy, red Cinderella, blue-grey Jarradale, and more.
Winter Luxury pie pumpkins—great in pies or other harvest treats
Mini-pumpkins—just right for party favors
Jack-o'-lantern pumpkins—ideal for carving a Halloween classic
Search the field for the perfect Jack-o'-lantern pumpkin. Check in the farmstand for the others. This Saturday, Oct. 11, we're delighted to welcome back TR & Terry, who will entertain you with their folk music.
Hours: Our fall 2008 hours are: Wed/Th/Sun, 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Fri/Sat, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. The farm is open through Oct. 31.
Location: Conveniently located at the corner of NE 124th St. & the Woodinville-Redmond Rd. in Redmond, Wash. From I-405, take the 124th Street exit, head east for two miles on 124th Street, and look for the white gate! More info at our website: The South 47 Farm.
Stocker Farms
THIS YEARS THEME: Join Stocker Farms in welcoming Cascade Land Conservancy (CLC) to the world of corn mazes. See how conserving farms, forests and open space can be a fun family activity. Our ten acre maze has two miles of trails to challenge your senses. Enjoy views from any of our three bridges that look over the field all the while discovering how CLC is working to improve the livability of the Puget Sound Region in the next 100 years. Open days and evenings, this is fun for everyone!
Remember that this is a corn field. The ground can be uneven and muddy. We encourage you to dress appropriately for the weather, bring a flashlight for evening outings, and please leave your pets at home.
GROUPS Excellent team building activity for work, church or school groups. We can help you create a fun challenge for your office or group.Group Rates & Info Groups are entitled to some special benefits.
First, groups of 20-49 save $1.50 on admission. Groups of 50 or more save $2.00. Second, your group can take advantage of our express admission gate. All groups need to pay as one to take advantage of these benefits.
Directions: 8705 Marsh Rd. Snohomish, WA 98296 Highway 9, (1) mile South of Snohomish: Turn West on Marsh Road and right into our entry. Located just across Highway 9 from the farm market. More info at our website: Stocker Farms.
Maris Farms
Corn Maze - Where getting lost is half the fun! A series of trails cut into a large field of corn in a maze pattern for you to solve. The maze has several large bridges to cross to enjoy a panoramic view of the field and farm. The maze usually takes about 45 minutes to complete. You'll find numerous activities and landmarks to help you in your journey. Open Daily 10-5:30. Regular admission: $8 for ages13 and up, and $5 for ages 3-12. Weekday discounts available.
Night corn maze (FLASHLIGHTS REQUIRED) offered on 10/17 & 18, 24 & 25, 10/31 & 11/1, 6:00-9:00 PM (Last entry @ 9:00). Also on Wednesday nights 10/22 & 29, 6:00-8:30 PM (Last entry @ 8:30) $12 for Friday & Saturday night maze, ages 13 and up $8 for Friday & Saturday night maze, ages 3-12 Wednesday Nights (10/22 & 29) $10 & $7
Directions: From Sumner/Tacoma/Federal Way/Seattle: From Hwy 167 and Hwy 512, go east on SR 410 Left at first light onto Old Sumner-Buckley Highway, Continue on Sumner-Buckley Hwy approx 4.5miles, look for Farm on left.
We recently heard about a great organization that is making a difference in the lives of our military troops.
Cell Phones for Soldiers hopes to turn old cell phones into more than 12 million minutes of prepaid calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas in 2008. To do so, Cell Phones for Soldiers expects to collect 15,000 cell phones each month through a network of more than 3,000 collection sites across the country.
The phones are sent to ReCellular, which pays Cell Phones for Soldiers for each donated phone – enough to provide an hour of talk time to soldiers abroad.
Cell Phones for Soldiers was founded by teenagers Robbie and Brittany Bergquist from Norwell, Mass., with $21 of their own money. Since then, the registered 501c3 non-profit organization has raised almost $1 million in donations and distributed more than 400,000 prepaid calling cards to soldiers serving overseas.
Through increased fundraising efforts, the Bergquist family hopes to raise more than $9 million in the next five years to fund new programs, such as providing video phones with prepaid service to allow soldiers abroad to see their families on a regular basis.
If you are like many of us and have an old cell phone just sitting in a drawer, consider donating it to this great cause. Click here for details on how to donate your phone.
Yesterday, this blog was featured in an article by Meetings And Conventions magazine and recognized as one of the top blogs for meeting & event planners. The exact verbiage states: "There's an excess of advice, trend spotting and pontification by and for planners on the web, but the insightful blogs described below consistently are worth reading."
Special thanks to all of our readers. We look forward to bringing you more great business and event planning tips and tricks!
Click here to read the full article and see who else made the list!