Friday, October 30, 2009

NYC Triple Threat


It’s our favorite weekend of the year – Hallo-fallback-a-thon!

Saturday kicks off with gouls and goblins haunting the streets for some Halloween fun. Don’t forget to set your clock back 1 hour on Saturday night as we fall into Winter. And of course, the Grand Daddy of them all – the NYC Marathon crosses the finish line on Sunday.

Get your kicks warmed up because it's going to be a fast paced weekend!

Thursday, October 08, 2009

Go-Go Gadget Meetings!


Associations Turn a challenge into opportunity

An ironic outcome of the challenging economy is the advent of association "super-meetings" in New York. While in past years, numerous smaller meetings may have been held in multiple locations, merging everything into one big event to save money creates both opportunities and challenges in attendee networking.

First, the challenge - how can an association keep track of all these extra attendees? An international food association we recently worked with frequently uses a hand held product called SpotMe (http://www.spotme.com/). Other associations are opting for special networking events, scheduling off-site dinners, and splitting the meeting into smaller working groups that in-turn split off into smaller venues within and away from the main site. That requires great communication among attendees and we work closely with top New York hotels who now offer inclusive Wi-Fi throughout their properties.

Now, the opportunity. Gadget-makers, especially those with the latest hand-held devices are eager to test their products in a major consumer mecca like New York. Put 800 business people in one Manhattan location for several days and sponsorship opportunities will abound.

As a leading New York DMC, we are on the front lines of new tech product placements both in the storefront, on street-level ads, and at meetings. As June's launch of the newest Palm proved with 2-hours lines, New York City is the place to sell a gadget to professional.


Friday, October 02, 2009

Octoberfest!


We’re back with round two of what’s happening this Fall in NYC.

It's hard to believe October is already here, but at least it brings with it a whole new batch of things to see, taste and experience in the City that never sleeps.

October Happenings:

NYC Wine & Food Festival: October 8-11
Spend Columbus Day weekend with an all-star lineup of celebrity chefs including Bobby Flay, Rachael Ray, Tom Colicchio, Guy Fieri, Giada De Laurentiis and many more. Enjoy culinary demonstrations, discussion panels, book signings and special tasting events in America's culinary capital. Proceeds benefit the Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.

Battle of the Badges: NYPD vs. FDNY Boxing: October 9
It’s been more than a two-decade wait, but the Battle of the Badges is back! The WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden plays host to a new take on this New York tradition, as the toughest of the tough from the NYPD and FDNY step into the boxing ring for a night of friendly competition and good fun. Of course the real winners this night are the charities: the New York Firefighters Benevolent Association and the NYPD Fighting Finest.

The Lord of the Rings at Radio City Music Hall: October 9-10
For true-blooded fans, it’s not enough to see The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring in a movie theater. It’s not even enough to see it on an IMAX screen. Really, the only way to truly appreciate J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga of the battle for Middle Earth is in Radio City Music Hall, at a screening set to live music by the 21st Century Orchestra. This lavish production, which already received rave reviews when it opened in London, is an impressive experience for both music fans and fantasy fans alike.

Times Square Dog Day Masquerade: October 18
Dogs in costumes? Just another day in NYC. It’s silly and it’s cute (last year’s winner was a Chihuahua dressed as Elle Woods from Legally Blonde), but it’s also all for a good cause—the event raises awareness for Animal Haven’s Adopt-a-Pet program.

CMJ Music Marathon and Film Festival: October 20-24
An annual event with nearly 30 years of tradition, the CMJ Festival has always cut out the middle man and brought the music industry (and more recently, the film industry) directly to its fans, from the newest media to the most-vibrant live performances at New York's top venues. Odds are, 2010's need-to-know bands and films will be here, so don't miss the chance to take a peek in the crystal ball this October.

NY Chocolate Show: October 30-November 1
Life in the City gets sweeter for a week every fall, as restaurants, bars, retailers and others find ways to feature chocolate in their businesses. The week culminates with the Chocolate Show, a full-on chocolate expo, chock-full of inventive live demonstrations, samples and more. And the chocolate’s not just for eating: previous installments have featured chocolate-clad models strutting down runways and children creating chocolate artwork.