If you are looking to build morale within your own company consider looking toward your employees for inspiration. A local company out of Seattle called Noetix is doing just that. Noetix has taken life size images of the people that work there and created an employee wall of fame. Photos where taken at a company event and posted on one of the hallways at the company. Now when employees arrive, they are reminded how important they are to the company each and every day.

Labels: Activities, Inspiration Corner, Smart Solutions

Our holiday inspiration boards continue with this easy to re-create and ultra spectacular Thanksgiving board. Planning an entertaining and family-friendly turkey day has never been easy.

Theme: Giving Thanks, duh!
Colors: Stick to pale oranges, cranberry reds and sage green

Click image below to enlarge.

Top Row: Oak leave cornucopia from Martha Stewart; Leave outdoor lanterns from Martha Stewart; Fall urn from Martha Stewart
Second Row: Fall leave piecrust cutters from Williams-Sonoma; Decorative straw turkey from Williams-Sonoma; Textured Pillar Candles Cardamom Cedar from Restoration Hardware; Vintage Monopoly game from Restoration Hardware
Third Row: Miracle on 34th Street; Fully-cooked smoked turkey from Honeybaked Ham; Homemade cranberry sauce; Sweet cinnamon pumpkin soap caddy from Bath & Body Works
Bottom Row: Pumpkin home fragrance oil from Bath & Body Works; Caterer plates at Pottery Barn; Della Robbia Topiary from Ballard Designs; Nutty Pecan martini from Rachael Ray; Giving Thanks book by M.J. Ryan



Create the look:

The Decor: We like choosing simple decor items that can also carry you into the Christmas season. So stick with fruits and vegetables and dark greens as your design backdrop.

The Food: When it comes to planning a meal for a large group, don't try to do everything yourself. Ask your guests to bring a side dish, and don't feel like you are backing out of the responsibilities by asking others to help out with the meal. Remember, it is Thanksgiving after all, so let your friends give. Of course, there is always the main staple, the infamous turkey. If you are a Tom Douglas mini-me, go ahead and try to make your own frozen/thawed turkey with all the dressings. But if you are like us, consider a catered turkey or a pre-cooked turkey from Honeybaked Ham. Add your own garnishes, and be sure to throw away any evidence of a "store bought" bird so your guests will never know. And, if nothing else, ditch the canned cranberry sauce for the real thing. It's pretty simple to make and you can gloat that you made it from scratch all night long.


The Entertainment: How often do you have all your friends and family together? Not that often right, so make the most of it. Pull out some "family fun" games and stick Miracle on 34th Street in the dvd player. (Yes, we realize this is a "Christmas" movie, but the movie starts out depicting the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, so work with us here).

The Mood: From the moment your guests step inside your welcoming home, make sure they are bombarded (that's right, we said bombarded) with the scent of the holidays. Our pick is the lovely scent of spiced pumpkin, which can also carry you right into the Christmas season. Create the scent with burning oil, candles and room sprays and add extra touches with scented soaps and lotions in the bathroom.

The Booze: Be adventurous and try out a new fall-themed cocktail like spiked hot cider, pecan martini or pomegranate mint mojito. What other time of year can you try something so festive?

Labels: Activities, Food and Beverage, Inspiration Corner, Real Events, Trends

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!

Labels: Inspiration Corner, Smart Solutions

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

Click image below to enlarge.






























Top Row: Dishware from Pottery Barn; Monogram pumpkins from Martha Stewart; Pumpkin Whoopie Pies from Rachel Ray; Table setting from BBJ Linen
Second Row: Halloween Jenga from Amazon.com; AFI's top horror film Psycho; Halloween Chandelier from Enchanted Decor; Stars from Enchanted Decor
Third Row: Chandelier details from Ballard Designs; Trick or Treat lighted bags from Ballard Designs; Cheddar Fondue from Food Network; Spooky cocktails from Food Network
Bottom Row: Chocolate spider dessert from Food Network; Bat glitter candles from Plum Party; Mrs. Incredible costume from Display & Costume; Napkins from Plum Party

Let's get down to business...

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!

Labels: Activities, Food and Beverage, Inspiration Corner

When you want to transform a room, decorate for a theme or style, or just create that one magical focal point for your ceremony or reception, call Robinson Design & Events!

Robinson Designs & Events, artists, designers, fabricators...long respected members of the Pacific Northwest event community, offers full-service décor for all kinds of social and corporate events. Our goal is to surprise and delight their clients and their guests.

Each year at the Northwest Event Show, Robinson Designs & Events creates new themed environments that simple amaze us. We can't wait to see what they come up with this year.

Can you?

Register here for the 2008 Northwest Event Show.

Labels: Activities, Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Local Events, Real Events

We are pleased to welcome WestCoast Drape as an exhibitor in the Northwest Event Show for the first time. Drape and fabric has the ability to turn an ordinary room into an extraordinary display of creativity and design. With WestCoast Drape your options are truly limitless.

On New Year’s Day 2006 Wes Walterman, opened WestCoast Drape with an idea of creating a premier drape company. Walterman joined forces with Scott Galloway as VP of Operations and Sales to develop and honor standards of product value, business integrity, and customer service designed to eclipse the competition. From their home base in Portland, Oregon, they began working to set a new standard in pipe and drape rental. Today, WestCoast Drape has seven satellite offices throughout the western United States including Seattle, Phoenix, Portland, Los Angeles, Palm Springs, San Diego, and San Francisco.

WestCost Drape is the official drape provider for the 2008 Northwest Event Show. They will also be on hand to answer your questions and showcase their impressive portfolio and stock fabrics.

Labels: Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Real Events, Something New

One of the best things about the Northwest Event Show is our amazing sponsor lineup. We have the best of the best in event design, production and execution in the business. And for one day, they all come together to show off their stuff. This week and next, we'll be introducing you to sponsors one by one, so you can get a head start in knowing which exhibitors are the ones you need to look for first.

Today, we'd like to highlight PJ Hummel & Co., one of the best known event decorators in the area today. PJ Hummel & Company, Inc. is an award-winning event décor and production company—creating impressive special events for private and corporate clients. A one-stop shop for your entire event design needs. In today’s world of doing more with less, you need to get maximum return on your event investment. With PJ Hummel, the only limitation you have is your imagination.

PJ Hummel & Company strives to provide the finest event design and décor, delivered with impeccable style and grace. Each event is carefully planned with a purpose to create unforgettable tangible experiences.




PJ Hummel & Company has been collecting authentic props, antiques, and theme décor for over 30 years. The company’s design studio and magical themed warehouse is located in Tacoma, WA on the Middle Waterway. PJ Hummel & Company’s magical themed prop warehouse makes the company unique. An interactive space with over 15,000 square feet, filled with ideas and promises of dreams to be. The Company’s warehouse is open to clients to experience and explore. A total of 10 multi-sensory vignettes are set for clients to view and touch, including lighting and special effects.

Look for PJ's designs the moment you walk into the registration lobby of the Northwest Event Show and also in the center of the show floor as she and her team of professionals create a stunning "rest area" for you to kick back and relax after a day of fun and eating!

But wait, have you registered yet? If not, head over to nweventshow.com and register today. Only those that pre-registered will receive validation for free parking!

Labels: Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Local Events, Real Events

As you know, the Northwest Event Show is going green this year and we look forward to presenting you with fresh ideas and inspirations to help you think outside the box in event design.

There is nothing more beautiful than nature, so it is no wonder that current trends in event planning design and decor are gathering inspiration from nature's finest elements. A key theme in event design trends for 2009 is to bring the outdoors inside in the form of floral centerpieces and room focal points.

Below we have provided samples from Los Angeles event planner Krislyn Designs. Krislyn Designs successfully uses natural shapes, colors and textures found in nature to create stunning and masterful event decor sensations. We particularly love the use of potted trees and plants as room centerpieces.

Labels: Going Green, Inspiration Corner, Trends

Only three weeks now until the 2008 Northwest Event Show takes place at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center on September 23. Have you registered yet? If not, here are just a few of the reasons why you should...

• It's 100% free to attend. That's right, the Northwest Event Show is free for all qualified meeting and event planners. Heck, even if you only plan one event a year, or have never planned an event before but have a major one coming up, this show is for you!
• Not only is it free, but we'll also give you free stuff! Just for attending the show you'll receive the 2009 B&E Event Resource Guide as our complimentary gift. The guide retails for $14.95 in bookstores, and truly is the most comprehensive planning tool around. The best part is, the 2009 edition will be in FULL COLOR for the first time ever. And you'll be receiving it hot of the press!
• The Northwest Event Show is occurring in conjunction with the 2008 SUMMIT INDUSTRY Meeting, also a first. If you are planning on attending the SUMMIT you'll get two great shows on one day.
• You'll learn the latest Green Event Planning Tips. This year's event is going green and we have the best ideas and inspirations in town so you can plan greener events too.
• Chances to win three weekend getaways to Skamania Lodge, Suncadia Resort, and Sunriver Resort complete with the royal treatment.
  
• The exhibitors are top-notch! With over 250 booths you'll never get another chance like this to meet with the area's top event planning professionals, in one place, on one day. They are the best of the best in design, catering, entertainment, team building and more!
• All the food your belly can take, and then a little more. You'll get to sample the best food Northwest caterers have to offer. It's definitely not a day to wear tight pants!

Have we convinced you yet? If so, head on over to nweventshow.com and register for the 2008 Northwest Event Show! You cannot afford to miss this spectacular event!

Labels: Activities, Food and Beverage, Going Green, Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Local Events, Real Events, Smart Solutions, Something New, Trends

There are some things that we come across that just crack us up and this is definitely one of them. Meet zeralights, the creators of fiber optic fashion accessories. That's right, just like their website says, zeralights brings sparkle to fashion accessories.




Zeralights is the creative inspiration of Barbara Sears Nelson, a Colorado native who currently lives in Denver. After multitude attempts, the day finally dawned allowing her to market her own creations combining sparkle design with products made from Luminex fiber optic fabric.

Now, while the actual fashion accessories are a bit "out there" we do however like the options zeralights offers for events. Check out the below table and chair linens and wine glass accessory.

Labels: Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Something New

Auctions have more than gained momentum over the past few years. Although many companies have been using auctions for many years, due in large part to the popularity of Ebay and their on-line auctions, the growth of companies and organizations turning to auctions for revenue involvement has more than tripled.

Most auctions can be pretty simple and are believed to date back to Babylon in 500 B.C. What are they? Simply put an auction is the process of buying and selling things by offering them up for bid, taking bids, and then selling the item to the highest bidder

In economic theory, an auction is a method for determining the value of a commodity that has an undetermined or variable price. Auctions can be with reserve or minimum, or without minimums, or absolute or no reserve. In reserve auctions, there is a minimum bid or reserve price; if the bidding does not reach the minimum, there is no sale (but the person who puts the item up for auction may still owe a fee to the auctioneer or auction company). In absolute or no reserve auctions, the sale is guaranteed, with only the price left to be determined. In the context of auctions, a bid is an offered price.

In terms of security/privacy, there are two main types of auctions:


Private auction:
In a private auction the identities of the bidders are hidden, so anyone that buys the item can remain anonymous. This is normally done for either security reasons such as rare gems or art, or to avoid embarrassment if the item is more risk.
In a public auction, the bidders' identities are not hidden and anyone is welcome to attend the auction.

Public auction: In a public auction, the bidders’ identities are not hidden and anyone is welcome to attend the auction


Vickrey auction
A Vickrey auction is a type of sealed-bid auction, where bidders submit written bids without knowing the bid of the other people in the auction. The highest bidder wins, but the price paid is the second highest bid. The auction is believed to have been created by William Vickrey. This type of auction is strategically similar to an English auction, and gives bidders an incentive to bid their true value.

English auction
This is the type of auction commonly used by the English auction houses like Sotheby's, Christie's, and Phillips. Participants bid openly against one another, with each bid being higher than the previous bid. The auction ends when no participant is willing to bid further, or when a pre-determined "buy-out" price is reached, at which point the highest bidder pays the price. The seller may set a 'reserve' price and if the auction fails to have a bid equal to or higher than the reserve, the item remains unsold.

Chinese auction
Basically, a raffle.

Dutch auction
In the traditional Dutch auction the auctioneer begins with a high asking price, which is lowered until some participant is willing to accept the auctioneer's price, or a predetermined minimum price is reached. That winning participant pays the last announced price. The Dutch auction is named for its best-known example, the Dutch tulip auctions. ("Dutch auction" is also sometimes used to describe online auctions where several identical goods are sold simultaneously to an equal number of high bidders.

All-pay auction
An auction in which all bidders must pay their bids regardless of whether they win the prize. The highest bidder wins the prize. The all-pay auction is often used to model lobbying (bids are political contributions), or other competitions.


Sealed-bid first-price auction
Also known as Sealed High-Bid Auction or First-Price Sealed-Bid Auction (FPSB). In this type of auction all bidders simultaneously submit bids so that no bidder knows the bid of any other participant. The highest bidder pays the price they submitted.

Sealed-bid second-price auction, also known as a Vickrey auction: This is identical to the sealed first-price auction, except the winning bidder pays the second highest bid rather than their own. This is very similar to the system used by eBay.

Silent Auctions
Where bids are written on a sheet of paper, and at the predetermined end of the auction, the highest listed bidder wins the prize. This auction variant is often used in charity events, and many items may be auctioned simultaneously. Participants submit bids normally on paper, near the item. Other variations of this type of auction may include sealed bids. The highest bidder pays the price he or she submitted.

Auction Catalog
An auction catalog is a catalog that lists items to be sold at an auction. Each entry typically includes a "lot number" identifying each item uniquely, a detailed textual description, and either an estimated price, or a "reserve" price below which the item will not be sold. Photographs may appear with the entry, or grouped into a separate section of the catalog; for mass-produced items like postage stamps, the textual description may be considered sufficient.

As a combined information source and "sales brochure", an auction catalog must tread a fine line between accuracy and promotion. For instance, any damages or flaws must be described exactly, so that buyers cannot be claim to have been deceived, but at the same time the description will typically include words playing down the bad points (as in "brownish spot that does not detract from appearance" or "faint crease, as is common"). Similarly, special characteristics are also called out, such as "one of only four known examples of this type", or perhaps a photograph of an item of jewelry being worn by a famous person.

Auction catalogs may be sent gratis to favored customers, but the better catalogs will cost, sometimes as much or more than a regular book. These kinds of catalogs may in turn be sold by bookstores, or even appear as items in book auctions.

Some time after the auction is concluded, recipients of the auction catalogs will receive a "prices realized" document, a bare listing of the lot numbers and the prices for which each was sold.


When one thinks of online auctions they typically think of eBay, the world's largest online auction site. Like most auction companies, eBay does not actually sell goods that it owns itself. It merely facilitates the process of listing and displaying goods, bidding on items, and paying for them. It acts as a marketplace for individuals and businesses that use the site to auction off goods and services. EBay was the first company to popularize the notion of conducting an auction over the Internet. The auction software that EBay uses is proprietary and not available to the general public.

Using Mission Fish as an arbiter, eBay allows sellers to donate a portion of their auction proceeds to a charity of the seller's choice. Some high profile charity auctions have been advertised on the eBay home page, and have raised large amounts of money in a short time.

Auction Houses
If you prefer to have professionals setup and run your auction, then you will need to find an Auction House. No matter where you live, auction houses are always around and have been as long as auctions have been held. Remember auctions were more popular in the mid-twentieth century than they are now.

Auctioneers
There is usually always a need to consider a professional Auctioneer. Even if you decide to setup and create your own auction in-house, keep in mind that good auctioneers can bring much higher prices, for profit or charity proceeds than an amateur.

The party employing the auctioneer pays a commission regardless of whether he or she procures a sale, unless the auctioneer is responsible for the failure of the sale. The auctioneer is entitled to a reasonable sum unless a statute or contract provision determines the amount.

Depending upon what type of auction you are considering, a good place to look for additional information on auctions and auctioneers is Answers.com and Wikipedia.

Labels: Activities, Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Smart Solutions, Trends

Got a theme for your next event? Here is one you may not have thought about. Lately we've been noticing some furry friends hopping, crawling, swimming, and flying into event theme decor. That's right, event table decor is taking it to the animals.

We found just a few examples at one of our favorite independent art websites, Elsewares. Check out these letterpressed coasters below from Sesame Letterpress. Sesame Letterpress is a letterpress studio in Brooklyn, NY (right under the Brooklyn Bridge, actually!). It's there that husband and wife Matt Heindl and Breck Hostetter make all their letterpress goodness.



We also loved these studio salad plates from Working Glass Studio. A fresh new concept in the art of dining. These sturdy, colorful, square salad plates are made of lightweight melamine. They're a perfect choice for outdoor dining or to combine with other tableware for an eclectic mix. Sold individually so you can build your own set! Working Class Studio is the product development arm of the Savannah College of Art and Design, giving students real world experience designing and marketing home accessories and lifestyle products.

Lastly, check out these totally chic and incredibly unique serving trays from IBride (below). These trays combine magical imagery with intricate lattice work, and are perfect for serving the special friends in your life, or hanging on your wall as a stunning accent. Each tray is constructed to last using a century old technique which applies high pressure laminate to an environmentally friendly, recycled wood core. They are sturdy and gorgeous, and when we heard how they were made, we had to have them.

Ibride is an innovative French design team led by three members of the same family. The century old technique used to create their gorgeous and intricate trays uses recycled wood and gives it new life as a functional tray or home accent.

Labels: Food and Beverage, Inspiration Corner, Something New, Trends

Social Media Conference NW 2008 - The New Word of Mouth Marketing
Date: Sept 10 & 11, 2008
Location: Whatcom Community College 237 Kellogg Road
Bellingham WA 98225
Contact: Tami Eastwood, 360-733-4014, ext. 111 or Tami.Eastwood@wwu.edu
URL: www.socialmediaconferencenw.com

Whatcom Community College, Bellingham, WA 'Word-of-Mouth Marketing has expanded from the town square to the digital village. The "buzz" about your business is now online, measurable, search able, and permanent. Come to learn why you must and how you can participate in the conversations that are your market. Explore how your business or organization can benefit from this marketing opportunity and take it to the next level. Hear from leading social media marketing pioneers and practitioners. Walk away with practical plans and resources. This conference organized by Western Washington University's Small Business Development Center (SBDC), the Technology Alliance Group (TAG), and Whatcom Community College has been designed for small-to-medium businesses and organizations interested in learning how to use social media to generate revenue. The conference, held at the Whatcom Community College campus in Bellingham WA, will feature six plenary sessions and 21 breakout sessions featuring presentations, discussions and hands-on labs. A few of these include: bottom-line reasons for businesses to blog; social-media research and marketing strategies; podcasting, vodcasting, and crosscasting; bulletproofing your organization for social media; the risks of ignoring social media; Google adwords; building online communities that matter most to your business; and ways to determine return-on-investment for social-media efforts. Early registration is $198 until Aug. 27, and $275 after that. To register for the conference or to learn more go to http://www.socialmediaconferencenw.com/ or contact Tami Eastwood at the Small Business Development Center at (360) 733-4014, ext. 111. Tickets are limited. Sign up early to secure a seat!

Labels: Activities, Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Local Events, Trends

Once you find the perfect vendor for your event, the next step is to negotiate a contract. Here are some tips and considerations during this process.

NEGOTIATION AND CONTRACTS
Facility negotiations sound serious, but they don't have to be intimidating. These are important conversations because negotiations build relationships, which will lead to contracts. Contracts are serious business and when you, as a planner, enter into a contract, you want to be sure you have all the knowledge and information you need. Keep in mind that negotiable items and practices vary between areas of the country, so what may be standard procedure on the East Coast is not necessarily the same on the West Coast.

HOMEWORK PAYS OFF!
Before you begin negotiating, you need some tools! If you have done your homework (refer to the first section), you'll be set! You need your meeting profile or prospectus, a history of your meeting or event, the value of your meeting to the facility (your budget), and a profile of your group. If you know your requirements, they will dictate the specific items you can negotiate.

NEGOTIATIONS SHOULD BE WIN-WIN
Don't get bogged down in sleeping room rates! Rates are only one item that can be negotiated. The list of negotiable items may be as long as you want ...it never hurts to ask! But, in order to have a successful meeting, negotiations should be a win-win process. For example, if you get the hotel to provide complimentary meeting room space, but in order to afford this, the hotel cuts back on service staff for your meeting...who wins?

CONTRACTS
The most important things to remember are that contracts should be written with an equal amount of risk for both parties, and that all your discussions are put into writing so there will be no confusion when it's time for your event.

Labels: Activities, Industry Alerts, Inspiration Corner, Smart Solutions

As you may have heard us mention, once or twice, the 2008 Northwest Event Show is going green! In honor of our Emerald City, the Northwest Event Show will showcase green event planning methods, decor, tips and trends to make your own green event planning ever the more simple and easy-to-do. To start off, the 2008 Northwest Event Show will be held in one of the greenest event venues in the city, the Washington State Convention & Trade Center. Located in the center of one of the most environmentally progressive cities in the nation, the Washington State Convention & Trade Center (Center) has long been an industry leader in energy conservation and recycling.


Here is the short list on how the WSCTC stays green...

• 1. They continue to invest our resources into renovation projects to make the facility even more efficient
• 2. The Center’s lighting systems to replace older equipment with more efficient fixtures, resulting in savings of over 3,000,000 kWh per year
• 3. New touchless faucets and self-flushing toilets are being installed throughout the facility to reduce water consumption
• 4. Tons of food scraps, food soiled paper and disposable service items are separated from
• trash and recyclable materials and sent for composting instead of to local landfills
• 5. The new meeting facility at 800 Pike will achieve LEED Silver Certification following completion of renovations in 2010

The Washington State Convention & Trade Center is doing their part to preserve the city and world we live in. To read even more about what the WSCTC is doing, click below for their "GREEN NEWSLETTER."

Labels: Activities, Going Green, Inspiration Corner, Local Events, Smart Solutions, Something New

Sometimes in this new green-friendly world, it is easy to wonder what part you can make as an individual. But the truth of the matter is that the best way to make your contributions to sustaining the earth is to make small commitments and changes to your every day lives. Here is one way to start.

Let's face it, Seattleites love their morning cup of java. Whether you get your cup at Starbucks or Seattle's Best or Tully's or even the local stand in your office, each time you order a piping hot cup of joe, your barista most likely also includes a cardboard sleeve to protect your hands from being burned. Just think how many of these paper products are used and thrown away each day.

Now comes a reusable alternative to the cardboard sleeves. CupKozy, available through Etsy, creates new cup sleeves made of felt, chosen for its superior insulating properties. They will fit most 12, 16 and 20 oz. disposable coffee cups, and the best part is they are reusable day after day.

And we think they are pretty darn stylish too. See what you think below.

Labels: Food and Beverage, Going Green, Inspiration Corner, Smart Solutions, Something New

We'd like to thank PartyBluPrints.com for the scoop they sent us on a free party planning manual for the 4th of July. Party Blue Prints has put together a 17-page "how-to" to guide you through the steps of planning the ultimate 4th of July picnic. From invitation ideas to recipes, the manual has it all.

Here is a sample of what you'll find inside...

Make this picnic easy as A, B, C! Keep Your Guests Comfortable & Clean:

• a. Banish the bugs – 1 hour before guests arrive, light bug bomb and citronella candles. Set out individual bug spray wipes and/or spray for guests' convenient use.
• b. It's a picnic, so while you're “roughing” it, offer your guests the opportunity to “wash up” with wipes and/or hand sanitizer – a must have at a picnic!
• c. Give your guests a place to kick back: Provide plenty of clean and comfortable seating (chairs, blankets, benches, etc.)

Keep Waste to a Minimum:

• a. Mark your beverages. Use ClinQ™s , these clever peel off stickers adhere your to drink (whether it's a glass, bottle, disposable cup or plastic bottle). Each has a different symbol so you can identify your drink from the rest. This avoids waste as guests inevitably forget where they set their drink – all they have to do is remember their symbol.
• b. Put out a recycling bin for empties.
• c. Use renewable dinnerware or acrylic dishware and cloth napkins (for fun you can purchase flag bandannas and use them as napkins).

Keep it Cool & Wet:

• a. Ice, Ice and more Ice: There's nothing worse than lukewarm or hot beverages on a hot day. Make sure you have more than enough ice to continually replenish the supply. General rule of thumb is 2 lbs. of ice per person.
• b. Hydrate your guests: Have plenty of non alcoholic beverages on hand - make sure to consider all your guests: adults, children, elderly.
• c. If your yard offers no shade, create some with a few umbrellas. You can also purchase a fan or two that mists while it cools – now that's cool!

Click here to download the entire manual.

Labels: Activities, Food and Beverage, Inspiration Corner, Real Events

Music plays such a huge role when it comes to planning any get together. Even when it's lightly playing the background, choosing festive songs to match your party theme is a must. And now with music programs like iTunes, you can make your own custom mixes with just the click of a mouse.

Here are some great 4th of July tunes to set tone for your big bash...

• Born in the U.S.A. – Bruce Springsteen
• 1812 Overture - Tchaikovsky
• Proud to be an American – Lee Greenwood
• America – Neil Diamond
• America the Beautiful – Ray Charles version
• Ballad of the Green Berets – Barry North
• Color Me Red, White and Blue – Dolly Parton
• God Bless America – Kate Smith or Celine Dion (our favorite Canadian!)
• Living in America – James Brown
• My Baby is American Made – Oakridge Boys
• Peaceful World – John Mellencamp
• Some Gave All – Billy Ray Cyrus
• Star Spangled Banner – Jimmy Hendrix, Whitney Houston and a host of others
• This Ain’t No Rag – It’s a Flag – Charlie Daniels Band
• This Land is Your Land – Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Peter, Paul and Mary
• Travelin’ Soldier – Dixie Chicks
• Undivided – Bon Jovi
• Rodeo – Aaron Copland
  
• Stars and Stripes Forever – John Philip Sousa

Labels: Activities, Inspiration Corner, Local Events, Real Events

Candles add an extremely elegant touch to your evening event. In low light, the gentle flicker of candles sets the stage for a blissful evening. But, unfortunately, due to safety concerns, many event facilities do not allow candles to be used on site. So what are you to do if you had your heart set on a hundred flickering lights?

Meet Ashley Danae Designs. Ashley Danae Designs creates flameless candles that are made o