COMEDIANS STAND UP FOR DIVERSITY!

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NBC Universal is seeking talent for Stand Up for Diversity. This is an open call opportunity for male & female comics of diverse backgrounds who are serious about being funny to be showcased for agents, casting directors, and television executives in consideration for future casting and development opportunities. Alumni include Hannibal Buress (30 Rock) and Deon Cole (Conan). Talent must have five minutes of polished material. 


Open call auditions will be held as follows:


July 10, 10 a.m. at Stand Up Live, 50 W. Jefferson St. Suite #200, Phoenix, AZ;


July 30, 10 a.m. at The Comedy Mix, Century Plaza Hotel & Spa, 1015 Burrard St. Vancouver, BC;


Aug. 11, 10 a.m. at The Punchline, 280 Hilderbrand Dr., Atlanta, GA;


Sept. 9, 10 a.m. at The Comedy Cellar, 117 MacDougal St., NYC


Only the first 100 comics will be seen, so early attendance is strongly recommended. Performers will have one minute at the initial audition. Callbacks will be held later in the day to perform a longer set, and the top comics will be selected to perform in the showcase that evening.


For more info, visit www.standupnbc.com or www.diversecitynbc.com

Happy Memorial Day!

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I bet you’re already enjoying the holiday weekend with your backyard full of family and friends, meat on the grill, and cooler full of cold ones as the summer to heats up!


I’m so jealous…


However, this is not a day to just stuff our faces. It is a day


to remember and honor our fallen soldiers, Prisoners of


Wars (POWs) and Missing In Actions (MIAs) from all wars.


A big Thank You! to the Rolling Thunder who rode into town on their bikes to celebrate the 25th year of their organization shedding the spotlight on POWs and MIAs like Jessica Lynch.

So, please take the time to remember and honor these brave people who did a lot for the USA and what it stands for.


Have a wonderful Memorial Day!

Real Advice on Dating

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19 year old Yemisi was recently on the Wendy Williams Show asking why the guys around her age that she likes just want to hit it and quit it!…While she on the other hand is trying to save herself for marriage, but doesn’t want to be alone in the interim.

Oh, the naïveté of youth...

In response, Wendy advised that the truth is most guys her age with their hormones raging only want to hit it and quit it to satisfy their sexual needs and if she doesn’t want to let them do that to her, then they probably won’t want anything to do with her in this stage of their lives, especially when many fast girls are more than willing to oblige them. 

So, Wendy advised that she will have to wait till she’s more mature and dealing with more mature men. I would say this used to be the case, but honey the way the world is now, even many older men are lustfully looking for young immature girls they can take advantage of because they are just looking to hit it and quit it as well. And if you don't let them hit it, they move right along the next girl or woman who is more than willing to accomodate their wants and needs.

That's one reason why there are so many single parents everywhere raising children by themselves. Also remember that those children are those whose parents didn't use protection or where the pregnancies weren't aborted. So in the big scheme of things, there's a lot of "physical coupling" occuring to have the numbers we see.

Looking at the dating landscape and what occurs, it's really not an encouraging situation. Sorry, it’s just the way it is…So, dear Yemisi, take heart. God will send you your man at the right time, but he will do that on his time table, not yours. So keep keeping yourself for your future husband even though it will be a challenge, but I know you are up to the challenge. 

Goodluck! 

Tammy Roman on the Wendy Williams Show!

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Reality real life "hot topic" Tammy Roman from the controversial and sometimes physically violent VH1Show, Basketball Wives was on the Wendy "How You Doin' " Williams Show today. Tammy who is the "round the way girl" acting former wife of former NBA star, Kenny Anderson looked great in a nice yellow spaghetti strap spring dress and sporting a nice hair weave as she sat pretty on Wendy's stage. Tammy looked so much better than how she looked on her debut on the show where fellow cast mate Evelyn Lozado had to remark that she wasn't feeling her "not too basket ball wife looking" outfit and weave.

She and Wendy started their discussion by reminiscing on her relationship with Wendy who was invited to her wedding to Kenny on a Yatch on the Hudson River because it was through Wendy’s radio show that she was kept her abreast of Kenny's whereabouts and actions, so she had to be invited to the wedding. Unfortunately, the marriage was not a match made in heaven. It ended after 6 years with two daughters for Tami to care for. This really isn’t surprising because she shared that days before the wedding when she was already heavily pregnant, Kenny brought her a prenuptial to sign. Talk about being stuck between a rock and a hard place! She said they don't have an amicable relationship, don't co-parent properly together and that Kenny doesn't really have a good relationship with their daughters. In all fairness to Kenny, he said he was young, immature and unsettled and couldn't effectively assume the role of a father when he was put in both positions. I see a lot of this happen and everyone suffers. That's why I always stress that you don't become good in any role if you are not adequately mentally prepared and ready for it.

The former actress who was on Real World and Married With Children, was relief VJ on Beach MTV, MTV Jams, Primetime MTV and also featured in Rude Awakening and was signed to a development deal which ended because of her marriage and having kids. Luckily, she has now revived her career and will be a series regular on a new scripted program, which she can't divulge information on now. They also discussed Wendy not being a fan of the reality show and such reality shows because of the undignified depiction of grown black women fighting each other. Also, celebrities like Nicki Minaj and Star Jones also said they don't like it. It makes sense because all these pretty ladies acting so violently and catty isn't good especially because young impressionable minds who don't know that all these shows are somewhat scripted watching the show will believe that's how women should behave and emulate their bad behavior.

When asked about her portrayal on the show as not very ladylike such as when she got into the table episode with Evelyn and when she was verbally abusive to Keisha Nichols and the subsequent backlash she received from viewers where they complained including asking, "Why is Tammy so hood?" And her daughters having to hear negative things about their mom, she said she is not like that all the time and she has her "girlie" moments, and in reference to her downright bad moments, she said, "Everyone has moments they aren't proud of." She also shared that the incidents taught her a valuable lesson because she wasn't responsible and accountable on the huge platform Basket Ball Wives gave her and her daughters weren't proud and also embarrassed of their mom. To be fair, she also shared that other behind the scenes occurrences that viewers weren't privy to contributed to that, but she also owned up and said she takes full responsibility and has apologized to Keisha... I can say about her actions all is hurting people hurt people, so maybe she should be cut some slack…

Although there have been petitions to end the show, VH1 will never end such a highly watched and rated show and it has been renewed for season 5, and to show her vow to not repeat her past mistakes she said, "I am making a personal vow not to see that look in my daughter's faces." Let the church say amen!

She also looks trim because she had liposuction, but still drinks beer not fearing getting a beer gut because she loves it so much. I would like to caution women against doing this. On the Dr. Oz show a renowned plastic surgeon was on saying, that if you don't change your food and lifestyle choices after liposuction you will gain the weight back in other areas such as your arms. So just make better food and exercise decisions people! She also had a heart scare at 41 years old and when she was asked why? She said, "I think it's just the stress of life, not the show. It is what it is." People, I can't stress healthy living enough! In the romance dept. she's good as she shares her life with her age appropriate boyfriend of many years who doesn't watch the show and asks her, "What have you done now?" when he hears about any of her drama on the show.

To be fair to Tammy, she has been through it all from being the wife of an NBA star to becoming a single mother dealing with an absentee and irresponsible ex-spouse and receiving food stamps. That’s really humiliating. I really felt for her when she said on the show that she had $70,000 when she married Kenny and had $70,000 when she divorced him 6 years and two daughters later. This shows that women must be smart and careful when making decisions. Another thing I noticed is her maturity by having lunch with Kenny's new Caucasian wife asking her to encourage him to help to raise their daughters. That was really big of her because that rarely happens. From their conversation, according to his new wife, Kenny who is now a house husband who participates in their kids PTA meetings is a very different person in comparison to the NBA star Tammy married years ago. I can’t stress enough that men need to be allowed to mature before they are made fathers. Women, I’m speaking to you to put the brakes on conception through prevention because you know men often don’t think of the children when they are hitting it so the responsibility falls on you.

Be sure to watch Basket Ball Wives on VH1 and as much as you are being entertained by these women’s actions, as you watch, take the time to listen to these women's stories so you can make better decisions in your own lives. It is a wise person who learns from others mistakes without making them personally and facing the consequences…

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Jennifer Siebel Newsom's film exposing the insidious effects of mass media portrayals of women and girls premiered at Sundance in 2011, was screened on Oprah's network, and has been seen by over a million people. Interviews with powerful women from Condoleezza Rice, Nancy Pelosi and Gloria Steinem, to Margaret Cho and Rosario Dawson.  leave you armed with new perspective and a passion to change things.

Media critic, Max Weiss hosts the film and an insightful, open panel discussion after. Panelists include:
Mia Jones is a grass roots arts organizer and the director of Youth Empowerment through Conflict Resolution at American Friends Service Committee.
Dr. Sheri Parks (Univ. of MD) appears frequently in public and in the media to discuss popular culture as public mythology and its effect upon individuals, families and minority cultures. Her forthcoming book is Fierce Angels: The Strong Black Woman in American Life and Culture.
Catalina Rodriguez moved to the US from Ecuador when she was 20 and is one of our dynamic Highlandtown neighbors. Oh yes, and by day, she’s the Hispanic Liaison for the Mayor’s Office.
Bernadette Wegenstein is a linguist, filmmaker, and Director of Johns Hopkins’ Center of Advanced Media Studies. She’s the author of several books and articles considering the intersections of the body, technology and media, and the director of the 2007 documentary Made Over in America.
Max Weiss (host) is the Managing Editor of Baltimore Magazine, longtime film critic for WBAL TV and radio, one time staff writer for the City Paper and a ubiquitous Baltimore media presence generally. Bringing Miss Representation to the Creative Alliance was her idea!
BUY TIX!   View Trailer

ICSC Spotlight: Union Market signs 11 restaurants, Capital City Diner

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Today at the International Council of Shopping Centers Convention, developer Edens told DCMud that the Union Market has 11 restaurants signed to the new development, including the Old CapitalCity Dining rail car.
The historic site, formerly known as the Capital City Market, is being redeveloped by J Street and Edens.
One of the eateries is the Old Capital City Diner whichEdens bought on eBay for $40,000 according to the Washington Post.Have to assume that was an exciting bidding war. Probably worth it simplyfor the “buy now.”
The developmentof Union Market should be interesting, and no one has ever complained aboutmore food. Another Edens spokesperson said the company is not ready to releasethe names of the 11 restaurants, but those will soon be released and an opening expected this summer.


Washington D.C. real estate development

ICSC Spotlight: DSW takes over D.C., L St. Borders site gains a future

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DCMud’s man at theInternational Council of Shopping Centers Convention survived thatshopping center jungle with a couple new updates, both conspicuously involvingclothing …

•  DSW,the footwear retailer, plans to open three new stores in Washington, D.C. Onewill be in Columbia Heights, one in Friendship Heights and one on Connecticut Avenue.So anyone who has been stocking up on heels for the coming shoe drought canbreathe easy.

•  Following the trend of transforming ex-Bordersinto things that have absolutely no hope of raising the national literacy rate(see: the Hamilton), alarge but as-of-yet unnamed clothing retailer will be taking over the oldBorders site on L Street.

Atlantic Plumbing site breeds grittiness, controversy

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The AtlanticPlumbing site, which is being redeveloped by JBG and NewYork architect Morris Adjmi, currently stands as a fairly dilapidated set of abandoned buildings surrounded by residential pockets and, ofcourse, the 9:30 Club. But the developers expect to begin demolitionand have prepared concept-designs later this summer and to have finished the developmentcompletely by early 2015, according to the project manager, JBG's James Nozar.

Thearea is split into three parcels, not-so-confusingly denoted as A, B and C.Parcel C is north of Florida, include a “burned out shell of a church, awarehouse and a parking lot,” but this site is on hold at the moment.

Parcel A is nextto the 9:30 Club, on the northwest corner of 8th and V streets. It’s abandoned save for the small bit the 9:30 Club uses as storage. The inconspicuous collection of buildings will be replaced by a 10-storybuilding, and will be the first to start construction.

Parcel B is to the south and is essentially a 13,000 s.f. square (redundant as a squarefoot square is). A 6-story building - shorter because it falls within the arts overlay while Parcel A does not - is slated to pop up here.

The site wasoriginally subject to a PUD obtained by Broadway Development in a joint venture with Walton Street Capital. JBG bought the property at auction, though Walton Street Capital remains a joint venture partner.  The PUD has since expired.Nozar expects the new development to span 350,000 s.f. and include 350 units over a floor ortwo of 5,000 to 15,000 s.f. of retail and for Parcels A and B to be underconstruction by next spring or summer.

“Our plan is togo in under the current zoning and move forward with that without asking forany zoning release,” Nozar said. He hopes the newretail will feed off the existing retail, especially the large crowds drawnalmost nightly by the 9:30 Club’s concerts.

“We really wantto engage existing retail that’s there,” Nozar said. “We want to take advantageof the activity that’s there on the street. The 9:30 Club is always going to bethere. There’s always going to be people on the street.”

With the purpose of having the site retain a “grittier, more arts and cultural oriented” feel,JBG hired New Orleans native Morris Adjmi as its architect based on designs the development team had seen in Brooklyn (see photos above). With Adjmi, JBG felt it could create contemporary design while being true to the neighborhood.

“We thought thearea has a grittier, edgier feel. It kind of has a Brooklyn kind of vibe, atleast as far D.C. has that,” Nozar said. “We want the building to feel like its alwaysbeen part of the neighborhood."  Adjmi said hewants to draw on the “context of what is there now: a mix of industrial formsand … vines and plants overtaking some of the buildings.”

“I like thisidea of mixing in the industrial landscape and combining that with some reallynatural green elements,” Adjmi said. “I think those together will fit into thesite and be really interesting architecturally.”

Adjmi has aninterest not just in making the buildings seem like they’ve always belonged, but in making them seem like they’ve always been there.

 “I grew up inNew Orleans, and I was always fascinated by two things: the incrediblearchitecture but the fact that that architecture almost looks better in itsarrested and decaying state,” he said. “It’s possible to build architecturethat relates to both history and the context of the place but transcends thesimple mimicking of forms.”


Presumablyreferring to a Washington City Paper article,Nozar said JBG has “gotten some flak from reporters from bringing in architectswho aren’t in D.C., but we did that on purpose.” Lydia Depillis of the CityPaper, in an update on that post, calls the headline “a mildly sarcasticindignation over a New York architect coming to Washington,” but many of thecommenters seem earnestly peeved about the out-of-towner. 


Adjmi said he has no intentions of making the building look like a "New York Building." “I don’twant this building to look like it flew in from New York. I want it to looklike it belongs there,” he said. “Nobody’s going to know where I’m from whenthey see the buildings.” 

Washington D.C. real estate development news

HPRB Votes Down 16th Street Mixed-Use Church and Office Building Design

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During a concept review hearing yesterday, the Historic Preservation Review Board voted 5 to 2 against granting The Third Church of Christ, Scientist and ICG 16th Street Associates, LLC an exception that would allow them to build a mixed-use church and office building more than 90 feet high at 910 16th Street (between K and I), where the church currently stands. This would have broken a restriction placed on the historic district of 16^th street, which leads to the White House and is where The Third Church of Christ now stands.  The review did not include discussion of the highly contested demolition and rebuilding of the church.

Historic Preservation Office staff members David Maloney and Steve Callcott presented a 16-page report urging the Board to deny an exception for a number of reasons, including incompatibility “with the character of the street as a whole” and a fear of creating a precedent of breaking the height rule on 16th Street.

According to the report, "The proposed structure would exceed the 90-foot height limit in several respects. The street facades would extend above the limit to 93.7 feet, calculated from the allowable measuring point on I Street. An extra ninth floor would rise to 107.7 feet, with a 30-foot setback from 16th Street and a 15-foot setback from I Street. The top of the mechanical penthouse would be at 123.7 feet.”

Originally, the project was proposed as an 11-story building with a copper façade. Following comments from the HPO, ICG and architect Robert A.M. Stern Architects partner Graham Wyatt scaled it down to a 9-story building with a stone façade for it to blend better with neighboring buildings.

Since the height restriction has been controversial for years and because this is a historic district, Maloney said it would create a slippery slope with a precedent that other developers could use to break this rule and begin to break down the historic district's uniformity.

“The physical nature of the historical district … is established by the requirement that has been in place since 1894 not to exceed 90 feet,” Maloney said.

ICG principal David Stern, Third Church member Darrow Kirkpatrick and Wyatt represented the project.

Stern said he hoped the project wouldn’t be judged on what might happen, while Kirkpatrick called the report a “substantial burden on our religious beliefs” (though it should be noted the only thing in question was the height of the office building, specifically the addition of a ninth floor, which would not include any part of the church, according to the renderings presented by Wyatt).

The hearing lasted approximately three hours, though it wasn’t until the final twenty minutes that board member Rauzia Ally asked Wyatt was asked what seemed like the most important question: Why does it need a ninth floor?

His answer was that the church is set back into the building and takes up valuable office space, which would be reclaimed by adding a ninth floor. The board was not impressed.

The room filled almost completely for the hearing, and various arguments took place throughout the day including attacks on Wyatt’s architecture, complaints about the lack of religions iconography on the building and arguments about from where in the city can one actually see the extra floor (which is set back 30 feet in the plans).

Several members of the area’s ANC spoke, including 2B chairman Will Stevens, who complained that the staff report never mentions the ANC and said, “Not only will [the ninth floor] not detract, it will add historical flair.”

Former Washington Post columnist and University of Maryland professor emeritus Robert Lewis argued in favor of the extra floor by questioning if it would actually set a precedent.  David Alpert founder of Greater, Greater Washington said, “Historic preservation is … becoming the anti-height movement.”

Gretchen Pfaehler, Nancy Metzger and Robert Sonderman also voted to adopt the staff report’s recommendations.  Pfaehler explained her decision concisely: “That’s the law.”

Washington D.C. real estate development news

MRP’s Penn Quarter “Trophy” Office Loses Investment Partner, Gains Investment Partner

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MidAtlantic Realty Partners, LLC (or MRP) announced it has a newjoint-venture partner in ASB Real Estate Investments to build its previously announced Class A “trophy” office building planned at the southwest corner of Ninth and G Streets in Penn Quarter and intends to begin construction this summer. The former investment partner was Rockpoint Group LLC.


Regardless of the change in ownership, it doesn’t appearthat anything else will be different - MRP is still going to the dance, just with a new date on its arm.

Construction on the former NationalCapital Area YWCA site is set to commence this summer, and it’s still plannedas a nine-story, 112,000 s.f., LEED Gold building with a glass curtain wall. It’salso still being designed by San Francisco-based Gensler.

So life’s pretty much the same 900 G Street, and for MRP, save for the handthat feeds it.

Washington D.C. real estate development news

It's SNO big deal!

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It’s beginning to feel a bit like spring but it was just a few weeks ago we were buried up to our knees in snow! The weekend of February 6, 2010 is not one anyone at Gala will soon forget. With record breaking amounts of snow, closed roads, freezing temperatures and some fabulous vendors we all survived the ‘snowpocalypse’ of 2010 and our bride and groom JoAnn and Daniel were still able to have their wedding. Knowing early in the week what Mother Nature might have in store, we set off for Annapolis not knowing quite what to expect except that the show must go on!
Despite the harsh reality check we all awoke to on Saturday morning JoAnn and Daniel proved to everyone that there was nothing that could stand in the way of their wedding. We were having a wedding, minus about 300 guests. What we faced that weekend is truly a testament to who we are in this business and what we can do when faced with adversity- even if a tree falls through the roof of the tent! When you have a team of exceptional vendors who all are truly invested in making this the best event possible-regardless of the conditions. We definitely gave this couple an experience they will never forget.
Special thanks to all of the vendors who helped us all keep everything together-
Blue Sky Films, Occasions Caterers, MBK and Associates, Frost Lighting, and Crow Entertainment DJs.


*Special thanks to Blue Sky films for the above video.

Industry Wedding

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We recently had the honor of planning the wedding of two great friends, Monica Vidal and Jack Hartzman. One very important detail that one must first divulge is that both the bride and groom are photographers for Washington Talent, Photo and Video. Well-loved by many events professionals, the happy couple has been in the event industry for over fifteen years. From the moment they got engaged, we knew that their wedding was going to be one for the books! Both Jack and Monica allowed us a great deal of creative freedom in planning their wedding. We worked with an incredible team of vendors, and with our combined creativity we were able to design and execute a fabulous and memorable wedding.
One truly unique aspect of their wedding was the dinner-theatre style ceremony. Upon arrival, guests were immediately directed to their respective tables. Once each guest was seated, the bridal party emerged from the back of the ballroom and walked through a free formed aisle to “Feeling Good” preformed by George Jamison of Spectrum, from Washington Talent. The bride was sung down aisle to “Power of Love” preformed by Ginny of Onyx, another Washington Talent band. A gold satin draped Chuppah placed in the middle of the dance floor awaited the bride and groom. The couple was surrounded by over 200 of their closest industry friends and members of their family as they exchanged vows. This unique ceremony was only one of many memorable moments from the evening. It was truly a magical evening not only for the bride and groom but also for all of the event professionals that assisted us in creating this fabulous wedding.

Five Royal Trends

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In a little more than two weeks, the eyes of America will be focused across the pond
to watch one of the most anticipated events of the century. We just can’t resist the
appeal of a Royal wedding! The gown, the jewels, the horse drawn carriage – it’s
every girl’s princess fantasy come true! In a culture already heavily influenced by
the latest celeb trends you can expect this years wedding season to follow suit –
here are our top 5 spring wedding trends influenced by the future King and Queen…

Sleek and Chic

While we don’t yet know what the soon to be Princess Catherine will don as she
walks down the aisle – we do know not to expect Diana the sequel. However, it has
been rumored that she has over three dresses in the works in case one possibly gets
leaked to the press. Kate’s style: polished, clean, and classic with a stylish edge will
certainly mean a more streamlined look – creating a true modern day princess.

Lace, lace, lace

We are seeing lace pop up everywhere from dramatic dress details to floral
arrangements and bouquet wraps, cake embellishments and even on invitations!
Lace details are it this season.

Tradition

There is no escaping the pomp, circumstance and ceremony that go with royal
nuptials. Expect this side of the pond to follow suit with more emphasis on the role
family plays in the ceremony – an elevated position for the mother and longer more
traditional services rich in family and religious traditions.

Tiaras

Diamonds and jewels-oh my! The more bling the better and while I wouldn’t suggest
donning a crown sized jewel – sparkly combs, tiny tiaras and a bejeweled veil are
back in a big way.

Arrivals

While most brides will not arrive to their big day in a carriage drawn by 10 white
horses, expect to see more of an emphasis on the big ‘reveal’. Classic cars, horse and
buggy, a vintage motorcycle – these are just some of the ways American brides are
making their entrance in a true princess fashion.

Gala Gets Kudos in the New Issue of Capitol File Magazine!

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Gala got a lot of love in the new issue of Capitol File Magazine, available on newsstands now! In addition to coverage of the WHCD Afterparty we produced for the mag at the Reagan Building - you can find a great profile on Gala Events, Inc.'s president (femme fatale and fearless leader) Jaime Greenwald (twitter @galaplanner) in the SCOPE section. Check out the article below then click through for some great party pics!

Tips for a Fabulous Fourth!

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Read on for tricks and trends from Gala Events, Inc. President, Jaime Greenwald on how to ensure your 4th of July is fun and fabulous!


I love the Fourth! Fantastic weather, sunset at 9 pm, family and fireworks - now THAT is a party! As I am getting ready for our annual bonfire, I wanted to share some of my top quick tips to put the entertain in entertaining!





One of my favorite desserts to serve around the 4th of July bonfire is a sweet creation I call Bannana Boats!Take one whole bannana and slit open the skin. In the opening add mini marshmellows and chocolate chips. Wrap in tin foil and place in firepit so that it can warm. Wait about 15 minutes and serve with a spoon. Its yummy delicious, interactive and easy to eat without a plate! How easy and fantastic is that?!?




As a cool treat for our guests, I love to take white wash clothes ( I buy them in bulk at costco) wet them and put them in baggies in the freezers. Let them chill then pass around the fire. This is a great way to clean up and cool down on those hot summer nights.
For extra refreshment, I always keep pitchers of infused water in the fridge at our beach house. It's tasty, easy, and just what you need on a balmy evening!
Some of my favorites are:
Lemon and basil A pitcher of water with 2 whole lemons sliced and eight fresh basil leaves
I also love Lime and peppermint A pitcher of water with two limes sliced and 4 freash mint leaves.
It's easy to combine any of your favorite citrus or herb favorites to please a crowd of any size! Get creative and show off your own personal taste!
Until next time, enjoy our Independence Day, happy entertaining!
-Jaime

Planning a Champagne Reception on a Beer Budget

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Contrary to what some would have you believe; despite the economic times event and conference planning for a company is a vital party of their internal and external marketing campaign.  The only real thing that has changed is having to plan these same events on a smaller budget; quite the challenge for Event Planners everywhere.

At Capitol Event Firm we are always looking for new and unique ways to cut costs for our clients.  We do this by investigating various vendors and negotiating new deals and terms, researching unique venue spaces that might not be used for typical events or conference, but can be transformed (with a little event imagination) into a fabulous event space within your budget.  We also take pride in NOT marking up vendor costs and instead passing along our savings directly to the client!! 

This article is a quick read that highlights some ways that Corporate Event Planners can help their clients cut budget costs for their clients. 

Save YOUR client money!!

In the spirit of saving money we are offering a fun contest for our Facebook, Twitter, Blog fans.  Send in some of YOUR money saving event tips and pictures of these events throughout the month of February-and you can be entered into winning a $100 gift card to Amazon.  We will post the pics and tips as they come in!!

Hope you have an eventful day!!

Zaiba Hasan

Monday Morning Quarterback...

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A representative of Capitol Event Firm, Zafar Hasan (AKA "my hubby") reporting his experience to us live from the Super Bowl in Indianapolis, Indiana.  We will be bringing you a 2 part series on the experience and how Indianapolis is an underutilized conference/meeting town.

When one thinks of having a conference, meeting, event in the Mid-West area, the first city that pops up is Chicago.  Being born and raised in Chicago I do have to say I am partial to hosting events there (go Bulls) though their 2nd cousin Indianapolis (or cutely nicknamed "Indy") is a valid choice when planning a conference or meeting for your company.

Indianapolis,being located in the mid-west has the benefit of being a centralized meeting place for your conference attendees.  With their airport recently undergoing renovations and the ease of getting around within the airport it really can be a great destination place for your travelers.


"Indy" like it's cousin Chicago is a walking city (great for Green Meetings) with access to over 200 restaurants, 24 hotels (4700 Hotel Rooms), and 745,000 square feet of exhibition space!

Take a moment to see how  Indianapolis will be a great fit for your next meeting or conference and give Capitol Event Firm a call to see how we can help you facilitate your meeting needs.

Have an Eventful Day.

Planning A Sporting Event

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CEF Rep With Chris Berman of ESPN

View from 45 Yard Line

Super Bowl Circle

Planning a successful sporting event like the Super Bowl require lots of patience and as much planning and coordinating as other Special Events.  If planning Super Bowl XLVII isn't in the cards for you planning a smaller scaled sporting tournament may be. Planning a sporting tournament is a fabulous way to help raise funds for charity, create a "fun" way for your company to brand itself, and participate in your local community and is pretty simple to facilitate. 

Here is a quick "how to":

You will need the appropriate sporting equipment (basketballs, basketball courts--Basketball Tournament, tennis balls, tennis courts--Tennis Tournament--you get my drift) poster boards with markers, registration, a few fabulous prizes, refreshments, and of course your volunteers.

1.  Choose a location, time, and sport.  Acquire the appropriate permits from your city parks and recreation departments in order to ensure that your location and time is secured.  This is also a great time to make sure that there are no other competing events taking place.

2.  Based on registration determine how many teams you will have playing in the tournament.  This is the time that you will figure out tournament semantics depending on how many teams are signed up (will there be single elimination, best of 3, best of 5 etc.)  Logistical timing is key to running a smooth sporting event.

3.  Determining budget-what is your entry fee, what is the cost of renting location, equipment, referee officials, sponsorships, charitable donations etc.  Depending on what your "end game" (no pun intended) will help determine your cost structure.

4.  Advertise--this is especially important if this is a charitable event.  The more exposure the better!  Hit all of your local papers, invite some of the local sports editors to participate, internet, create a Facebook page; all of these are fabulous avenues to get the word out.

5.  Plan on inviting local food merchants/vendors (charging them a fee may also help out with number 3 your overall budget).  Having refreshments at your tournament may not only be helpful towards your event budget but will be an added benefit to your tournament participants, and helps create an overall "family fun" atmosphere...who doesn't like a good hot dog at a baseball game?

6.  Create tournament brackets and make sure it is visible to all those attending.  After all aren't we really there to see who is winning??

7.  Volunteers--your event is only as good as the people who are helping out.  This is also where your referees or umpires fit in assuming you want to hire professionals to oversee the tournament. 

8.  Choose prizes for your winners! Gift cards, trophies, cash are all great options for your tournament players.

In 8 easy steps you can plan a fun and innovative sporting tournament that people will not only be psyched to participate in, but will be talking about long after the last trophy is passed out.

Want to plan your next sporting tournament...ask a CEF Representative how we can help??!!

Hope you have an eventful day.
Zaiba

I will always love you...

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This blog is dedicated to one of my musical idols-Whitney Houston (1963-2012) may she rest in peace!
One of my earliest musical memories from my childhood was laying awake at night WAY past my designated bedtime waiting to hear B96's (a Chicago radio station) "top 5 at 9" where for WEEKS and WEEKS on end Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You" topped the charts at number 1.  I would wait patiently until the song began and quickly  push record on my tape player (yes tape player) and exhale quietly as my younger sister slept next to me, and watched as the tape began to pick up Ms. Whitney's magical voice. 

My best friend Rubina and I would belt out her songs in the privacy of my basement REALLY thinking we captured the tone and sound of her voice (kids can dream can't they).  For in the three minutes that the song took to play we could be anything we dreamed of being. 

Her death served as a reminder to me that as cliche' as it sounds-life is TOO short.  This Valentine's day I will make it a point to carve out a moment in my CRAZY life and acknowledge what is truly important to me.  My husband and three beautiful kids, my family, and friends, my work that I love so dearly.  At the end of the day these are the people and things that I can honestly say I will always love...

I Will Always Love You

Until next time-have an eventful day.
Zaiba Hasan

How to "Go Green" at a Meeting without Breaking the Bank

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The reality is all responsible companies want to incorporate sustainable "green" practices into their meetings or events.  However going "green" isn't always the more affordable option for our budget conscious clients.  At Capitol Event Firm we know a few tricks that will not only make your next event more "green" but can save you money as well.

Make technology work for you.  Have an app created for your smartphone.  You can have ALL conference materials, presentations, registration literally at your fingertips within your personalized application.  Most personalized apps cost anywhere between $2000-$5000 however, you are probably saving half of that money by not having any printing cost.  The added benefit of that is for those inevitable last minute changes, alterations can be instantly uploaded!  Your attendees will always have up to date information.  No more wasted paper.

Name Badges CAN be recycled.  Ask your attendees to keep their name badges throughout the conference and ask them to recycle them at the end.  At our last conference the recycled name badges served as a raffle for a $100 Visa gift card.  It added a "fun" aspect to recycling those name badges and we were able to use them again for the next event (saving our client money).

Plan your event around public transportation and choose a venue with a "walk-ability" factor.  This obviously cuts down on your events carbon foot print but it also enables your attendees to view the conference city from a different view point.  When you aren't in a car you are more likely to notice the local atmosphere.  Walking also provides your guests a bit of a "breather" literally from your non-stop conference events.

Using local and organic produce whenever possible.  When choosing event space or catering I always inquire about their usage of local produce.  One it's a lot healthier to serve, two you are supporting the local merchants of the conference city, and three your meeting is instantly a deliciously "greener" event.

Minor tweaks not only save your client money but enables you as the planner to facilitate a more ecologically efficient event.  In an era where we need to do our part for the environment a little bit goes a long way.

Call us today (855) PLAN-ALL to ask how we can make your next event a "greener" one.

Have an eventful day,
Zaiba Hasan

For Immediate Release: Capitol Event Firm Creates “Taste of Columbia Heights” to Benefit Pro-Bono Client, One World Education

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Washington, DC, April 30, 2012 -- Zaiba Hasan, Founder/President of Capitol Event Firm in McLean, VA, donated her event planning services to One World Education (OWE), planning the OWE 4^th Annual Youth, Culture and Learning Celebration which will take place May 1^st at the Gala Theater in Washington, DC from 7-9pm. 
The Celebration includes a silent auction fundraiser to benefit OWE and will bring together board members, supporters and the community in what Hasan calls “a Taste of Columbia Heights.”  She added, “while the budget was challenging for an event this size, I realized we had an opportunity to showcase and involve the community by having local restaurants provide food for the Celebration.” 
The annual event will feature 9 Columbia Heights restaurants.  Hasan noted that “One World Education is doing incredible work for the children of Washington DC.  Once we established the venue for the Celebration, I realized that we could strengthen ties to the Columbia Heights community by featuring food from the neighborhood.”  Participating restaurants have donated their food for the benefit.
One World Education is a Washington, DC based non-profit promoting youth literacy.  The Annual Celebration honors the organization’s student ambassadors and recognizes the support of the community, while hosting a silent auction to benefit their literacy programs.  Hasan is personally dedicated to the issue of childhood literacy, and agreed to donate her services to benefit OWE, saying “I love what One World Education is working towards, and I am honored to be a part of creating their Celebration.”   
For more details about One World Education and the Celebration, please visit http://oneworldeducation.org/yclc
About Capitol Event FirmCapitol Event Firm provides meeting and corporate event planning services to clients around the world.  A boutique, woman owned business based in McLean, VA, Capitol Event Firm serves clients across industries with personalized service, unparalleled attention to detail, and a commitment to meeting every client’s budget.  Founded in 2001 by Zaiba Hasan, a 13-year special events veteran, Capitol Event Firm is a member of Meeting Planners International and the International Special Events Society.  For more information, please visit www.capitoleventfirm.com.
Contact:Jennifer Mulchandani, 703/304-0465, Jennifer.mulchandani@gmail.comorZaiba Hasan, 202/247-6120, zaiba@capitoleventfirm.com           

A Grand Opening at Recess

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Since we're in the process of catching up after the holidays, I figured it was time I update you all on a new nightlife venue opening in downtown DC. Just prior to Christmas, I had the pleasure of attending the soft-opening of Recess Lounge on December 16th.

Recess occupies the space that was once Geisha Lounge just one block from the White House. The location couldn't be more perfect for this type of club because of the recent arrival of the W Hotel and it's nocturnal contributor, POV. Each of these venues cater to a well-heeled DC crowd and offer patrons a little bit of everything along the 15th Street corridor. And with the addition of Recess, we now have several nightlife establishments all within walking distance of the K Street clubs like Lima, Tattoo, Lotus and Park at Fourteenth. Downtown DC has never looked so good! Or vibrant for that matter.

I've been to my fair share of opening parties. They usually dress up the clubs to look extra special and bring in "VIP" guests. The problem is most of us have no idea who the "VIP" guests actually are. And the night following the opening is usually a letdown; a true taste of how the club will operate. But Recess was different. They did bring in cocktail tables for guests to mingle near and converse over drinks. But the club operated and looked pretty much like you'd expect a finely tuned venue. Had I not known this was the first few nights of operation, I would never have been able to tell. An awful lot of thought was put into making this operation run smoothly...and it showed.

The venue itself can be described in one word. Beautiful! It's dressed in dark woods salvaged from centuries old walnut trees. There's a bar the entire width of the lounge near the front and a DJ booth dead center toward the rear. The entire room features an abstract lighting feature that can change based on the mood, music or whatever else your heart desires. There are tables and couches that run along one side and split the DJ booth, but most of this lounge is a dance floor. After spending several nights inside this venue, I can best describe it as a very large recording studio. The sound and acoustics are pretty much what every studio is designed to be and from what I can tell, there are zero flaws in the Recess system. I've only been in one other lounge that can match that type of sound quality and it's the venerable Cielo in NYC.

Owners Fisayo Esconsay and Brandon Howard, former DC club promoters, tell me Recess was designed around the music. I like to hear this! They also tell me they'll have at least one night that features house, one that features hip hop/top 40 and another that will cater to the smooth R&B and jazz fans. One thing is certain, you'll have a hard time standing still in this joint.

But above all of the promotional sounding verbage, high-end sound and fancy cocktails created by a bevy of mixologists, Recess comes with class and soul. Most of the nightlife venues I spend my evenings in are dressed up nice and have the latest and greatest gadgets in sound. But very few are able to touch each individual personally. From the moment I walked into Recess to the moment I closed my tab at the bar, they made me feel like they really cared to have my business. Both Brandon and Fisayo mingled with their patrons like everyone walking through the door was a friend. It's this attention to their customers happiness that will make this lounge one of the better in our vast District of a nocturnal abyss. I hope each of you will take the time to visit Recess because the people behind this lounge are dedicated to their concept and it shows.

The top photo and those below are part of a larger photo gallery I created from the soft-opening party. As you'll see, the design and colors in Recess make it very easy to shoot photos and very easy to capture the vibe of this beautiful club. If you'd like to see more, check out the complete gallery, otherwise enjoy your Recess...

USF Fires Coach for ... Coaching

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I don't typically stray too far from the nightlife reporting on here. But outside of my passion for the nocturnal life is my love of sports. So I couldn't help but comment on the recent firing of former USF football coach Jim Leavitt.

Having lived in Tampa for a few years, I'm well aware of the job Leavitt has done at USF. Folks have to remember the the University of South Florida didn't have a football program 14 years ago. Jim Leavitt was their first and only head coach. He built the program from ground up when they operated out of trailers held together with duck tape. Today they are members of the Big East conference, are a major player in South Florida recruiting and are routinely featured on national television playing other high-profile programs. To say USF football would not be where it is today without Jim Leavitt is an understatement. Leavitt is USF football!

So the controversy stems from a player who Leavitt "reportedly" grabbed by the throat and then slapped. And yet the player in question and his parents are denying those claims. Most of the close to 100 players at USF stand by their coach. USF however fired Leavitt because "internal and external" investigations found two eyewitness accounts that said otherwise.

Forgive me for thinking this, but we are talking about football right? I mean, this is the sport where you hit people, is it not? And it is a coaches duty to get their team fired up for games and/or when their players might be down on themselves along the sidelines...right? I mean, what type of football team is USF trying to produce?

One of the best quotes I saw in the comment section on ESPN said... "South Florida: fired their coach for grabbing and slapping a kid to get his attention. SLAPPING. The same thing a woman could do to you for an inappropriate pick up line in front of a police officer and not get charged."

Yeah, I'd like to recommend the next coach of USF keep a minimum of 2ft. distance from any player and bring lollipops to practice to keep the kids happy.