EVENTive: Event and Business Planning Blog from Banquetevent.com

Travel To Tacoma

As we continue our weekly feature on the local hotspots in the Seattle area we simply adore, we move slightly south to the area of Tacoma, Washington. Often an overlooked city in the shadow of its northern neighbor, Tacoma sits on the shores of the Puget Sound just 30 minutes south of Seattle. This is a city going through a renaissance. It is an exciting place to be with new restaurants and new hotels coming in to the area. Tacoma is actually the city with the perfect view of Mount Rainier, just ask anyone who has stayed or lived there. Here are a couple of fabulous places to stay and or have your meeting. We cannot speak of Tacoma without mentioning the Tacoma Dome, a major concert venue in this area, in addition to many many more fine restaurants such as the Pacific Grill. Be sure and stop in at the BITE Restaurant right at the Hotel Murano.

Hotel Murano
Best Western Tacoma Dome

Click here for more Tacoma, Olympia, South Puget Sound options for all event planning needs

Labels: Local Events

Kill-A-Watt

By Guest Blogger Mark Verner

Do you always leave your cell phone charger plugged in continuously because it's convenient? Do you leave you computer or laptop on all night in "sleep" mode? Do you leave some kitchen appliances plugged in even though you only use them once a month?

Even though these items are not being used or turned on, they still drain power out of your outlets. During these tough economic times most people are doing everything they can to help save some money. How much money could you be saving? Well you can easily find out with the Kill-A-Watt Power Monitor by P3. With the Kill-A-Watt you can find out which appliances are the energy abusers in your house. The Kill-A-Watt will pay for itself in about two months. Check out the Kill-A-Watt at the Choose Renewables website.

Labels: Going Green, Mark's Corner

Plan a Staycation!

For our Seattle based event planners, we will be starting a new weekly feature to help you get to know your city better. Check back every Thursday for more local ideas, tips, and advice. Just look for the "We Love _____" icon on each weekly post for local guides and resources.

Budgets may be a little tighter these days, but everyone needs a vacation right? If you are like us and are craving a little R&R these days, consider some hotel and resort options just around the corner. Staycations are a great way to take advantage of the utterly fantastic hotels and resorts in your neighborhood. After all, people come from afar to stay at some of the area's hottest and luxury hotels, and because you live within driving distance, you'll take enjoy the ritz and glam of a four star hotel, but without the cost of airfare, rental cars, and other travel expenses. So this winter and spring, do what we do, and plan your very own staycation. Here are some of our favorite hotspots you should check out.

Alexis Hotel
Hotel Monaco
Arctic Club Hotel
Mayflower Park Hotel
Hilton Seattle

Click here for more Seattle, Tacoma, and Bellevue hotels and resorts >>

Labels: Activities, Local Events

Don't throw out that box!

By Guest Blogger Mark Verner

Are you moving? Packing up materials for a tradeshow? Or just cleaning up around the house and need some boxes for storage? Well instead of going out and buying new cardboard boxes, check out UsedCardboardBoxes.com. They "rescue" truckloads of quality used boxes from large companies that might otherwise recycle them or throw them away.

UsedCardboardBoxes.com brings the boxes back to one of their regional distribution centers where they are inspected and sorted. Boxes that meet their strict requirements for quality, shape and strength are pre-packed into low-cost, earth-friendly "stacks" and "kits". They then "resell" those boxes to customers all across North America, via their website. They offer free shipping on any residential order and guarantee delivery in 1-2 business days.

UsedCardboardBoxes.com also has a service called FreeCardboardBoxes.com. UsedCardboardBoxes.com cannot buy back or pick up the boxes they sell, so they created this free service so that their customers, and the public at large, can exchange their used boxes for free. All you have to do is go to FreeCardboardBoxes.com and setup a free account. You can then either list the boxes you need, or post the boxes you have to give away. You can then pickup or deliver your boxes to people in your area. This will ensure that the box life cycle is extended!

Labels: Going Green, Mark's Corner

Green Idea

The Netherlands based company, Royal Boon Edam Group Holding, has created the world's first energy generating revolving door that is currently installed at the Driebergen-Zeist railway station in Holland. The door stores power generated in a capicitor bank and illuminates LED lights in its ceiling, while a large scale display outside the building shows pedestrians how much overall power has been generated by the door. This commercialized door is not to be confused with the "Revolution Door" project which still remains a prototype.

Source: InHabitat

Labels: Going Green, Something New

V-Day

Labels: Real Events

Pie In The Sky

We recently read about this innovative branding company from one of our favorite blogs, Mix Mingle & Glow, and we just had to share the idea with you. If you are looking for a new and innovative way to brand your company logo, name, icon or image then consider a Flogo. What is a flogo, you ask? SnowMasters research and development facility in northern Alabama became the home of what is now known as Flogos, or "logos that fly." A flogo is a cloudlike, balloonlike object created out of proprietary surfactant (soap) based foam formulations and lighter-than-air gases such as helium. Flogos are designed to last for as long as their visual impact is needed. Specific formulations are available to provide a life expectancy of a few minutes to an hour or so. The visual impact also greatly depends on atmospheric conditions such as wind and relative humidity. On average, Flogos last for 30 to 40 minutes. Flogos are Green and 100% environmentally safe.

Click here to view a demo.

Labels: Going Green, Industry Alerts, Smart Solutions, Something New

Organic Bouquet

By Guest Blogger Mark Verner

Even though Valentine's Day is all about Red and Pink, you can still go Green for your sweetheart! You can give your Valentine a more eco-friendly bouquet with Organic Bouquet.

Organic Bouquet is a boutique shopping experience that balances your personal sense of style with their shared concern for the well being of people and the planet. Their unique collection of stylish and one of kind products are carefully selected based on the highest social and environmental standards—giving you the comfort and peace of mind in knowing that your purchases make a world of difference.

Organic Bouquet's Bio:

Since 2001, as Organic Bouquet, we've been offering sustainably grown flowers fresh from our partner farms. In fact, we've played a key role in the transformation of the floral industry by promoting and living up to the highest social and environmental standards—developing the most eco-friendly floral packaging, initiating the industry's first carbon offset program, and growing our flowers in a way that is gentle on the earth and that safeguards the ecology and the well-being of wildlife and farm workers.

Learn more about Organic Bouquet at http://www.organicbouquet.com/.

Give your sweetheart some of the "Greenest" Red roses this Valentine's Day!

Labels: Going Green, Mark's Corner

Gone In A Flash

The holidays are officially over and that means you probably have a whole new collection of digital family photos to weed through. And if you are anything like us, you take close to a thousand shots and later realize only a handful actually turn out. There are always those dozens of photos that must be deleted because Uncle Jim was making a funny face or Aunt Grace was looking away from the camera. If this sounds like you, then you are going to love the new technology available on the Sony Cyber-shot camera. The Sony Cyber-shot camera is equipped with a feature called Smile Shutter. All you have to do as the camera user is select the Smile Shutter mode and press the shutter button. When aimed at your subject, your camer will actually detect a smile and automatically snap a picture when a grin appears.

How great is this for doting parents and grandparents who take endless shots of a newborn baby in hopes to capture that first smile?

We love the idea. Great job Sony.

Labels: Smart Solutions, Something New

Plan The Perfect Valentine's Day With Some Oldies But Goodies

When it comes to Valentine's Day and sharing it with your loved one, planning some traditional activities is always a winning movement. Here are some quick ideas to help you prepare for February 14th.

Top Row: Sweetie Pie cookies from Williams Sonoma; Dinner and a show at Teatro Zinzanni in Seattle or San Francisco
Second Row: An Affair To Remember with Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr; Flowers from Metropolitan Market; Dinner for two at home from Food Network
Third Row: SPAAHH at Hotel 1000 in Seattle, WA; Dancing couple photo by Andrew West

Plan 1: Stay In. If you plan to stay in for Valentine's Day, make the most of it by preparing everything from scratch. Make a sweet dessert and prepare a Valentine's menu. If you are not a great cook, no fear. Most of the restaurants around town offer take-out so call ahead of time and order your favorite meals for two. Finish the night with a romantic movie like "An Affair To Remember" and enjoy the company of your sweetheart.

Plan 2: Hit the Town. We suggest a dinner and a show option. Find out what is playing in your area and plan a night at the theatre, comedy club, jazz club or ballet. Your best bet is to find a place that serves food while you watch like Teatro Zinzanni in Seattle, WA. Be sure to dress the part in your best duds and make the most of this holiday that only comes around once a year.

Plan 3: Couple's Spa Day. Often Valentine's Day is best celebrated when you and your love can take a step back from the everyday stresses of life to recharge and rejuvinate. What better way to energize yourself than with a spa package for two?

Labels: Activities, Real Events

E-Cycle Washington is Here!

By Guest Blogger Mark Verner

Washington now has a FREE, convenient and environmentally responsible recycling program for computers, monitors, laptops and televisions. Now is the perfect time to take advantage of this free service as most people are getting rid of their current TV's for new HDTV's in preparation for the February 17, 2009 switch to digital TV transmissions. Even though this date may be pushed back to June 2009, you can still take advantage of this service.

Who can use the program?

Households, small businesses, schools & school districts, small governmants, special purpose districts, and charities can recycle electronic products free of charge in this program. Click here for more information.

Where can I recycle?

Call 1-800-RECYCLE or visit 1800recycle.wa.gov to find electronic product recycling services in your area. If you don't live in WA, check your local recycling facility for similar recycling programs like this one.

What can I recycle for free?

Televisions
Computers
Computer Monitors
Portable or Laptop Computers

Please note that computer peripherals such as keyboards, mice, and printers are not included in this program.

Labels: Going Green, Mark's Corner

Computer Geeks Rejoice

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a computer geek. We would call ourselves computer geeks. But there is also no reason at all why computer geeks like us can't be geeks with style. We have found the perfect match for computer savvy women who also love to accessorize. Check out these beautiful Swarovski crystal Phillips elections actually designed for "her". From usb drives to headphones, these bedazzled computer accessories are a rarity indeed - so enjoy.

Source: Gizmodo

Labels: Smart Solutions, Trends

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Travel To Tacoma

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Kill-A-Watt

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Plan a Staycation!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Don't throw out that box!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Green Idea

Saturday, February 14, 2009

V-Day

Friday, February 13, 2009

Pie In The Sky

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Organic Bouquet

Monday, February 9, 2009

Gone In A Flash

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Plan The Perfect Valentine's Day With Some Oldies But Goodies

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

E-Cycle Washington is Here!

Monday, February 2, 2009

Computer Geeks Rejoice