Thanks to a generous invitation from the folks at the luxurious Sandpearl Resort, we recently had the opportunity to experience the true beauty and relaxed sophistication of Florida’s Gulf Coast first hand.  The elegantly appointed hotel sits right on one of the most pristine beaches along the coast in a town most appropriately named, “Clearwater.”  Boasting majestic sunsets that are not to be missed, the beaches in Clearwater are not affected by the recent oil disaster and due to the way the Gulf current flows, they will not ever be (barring any unforeseen hurricane disaster).

 As we entered the four diamond resort, we were greeted with a warm welcome and offered chilled champagne along with a cool noeroli scented “decompression cloth” to refresh our weary faces after a morning of travel.  Then left to unwind and relax the rest of the day, we were treated to a poolside cabana where we enjoyed refreshing frozen lemonade and a juicy burger with crispy homemade potato chips. Read more »

The sign for BB King’s Blues Club now shines brightly in City Place. At last we have a venue that serves up great music and food!  Last night I attended the VIP grand opening for the club.  There is so much to rave about.  The atmosphere is ambient and sexy and sets the stage for all to follow.  The acoustics are first class and the food is award winning, down home and finger lickin’ good!  Their staff is enthusiastic, knowledgeable and well versed in making your experience there a memorable one!  The venue offers flexible space for any event.  It’s indoor area that can accommodate up to 650 guests seated or 800-reception style and speaking from experience, they rock when it comes to making the event special.  They host live music every single night, last night the BB King All Star Band, 10 piece ensemble, had us all feeling the beat.  If your looking for a great experience I urge you to stop by and see what’s rockin’ at BB Kings in City Place where you can eat, drink and dance your blues away!! . 

Boy this has been some year!  However, despite the poor economic forecasts, the highest unemployment since the great depression and world crises’ at large, I am still looking forward to Thanksgiving. 

I have always appreciated Thanksgiving, as it stands alone in its virtues.  Maybe it’s in the preparation process.  After all, I plan events for a living.  Or maybe it’s filling my home with all the smells that evoke comfort, or perhaps it’s the family and friends who gather and share in the abundance.  For me, there is a sense of peace that comes from knowing that around this country, gathered at all sorts of tables of every size and shape are people sharing whatever they have with one another.  That is a powerful thought, as each of us has reason to be thankful, even though it sometimes appears that the grass is greener in someone else’s pasture. 

There are many other benchmarks for the approaching holiday season like “Black Friday,” the busiest shopping day of the year and then  “Cyber Monday,” when e-shoppers get down to business.  Yes, the days ahead will be frantic with shopping, decorating, wrapping and mailing, all the commercial things that make the “season”.  Still, it’s Thanksgiving that speaks to me.  It’s a day to take the time to reflect on our lives and give gratitude to God for who we have become, all we have been given and for what we can share with others. 

I hope that the spirit of Thanksgiving touches your life and that you take a moment to count your many blessings and be thankful.

Finding magical locations to host events is just one of the hats planners wear.  With an exclusive invitation from the Lisboa Convention Bureau, I joined planners from around the world to experience the seven hills of Portugal.  Our away home from home during the stay was the Pestana Palace Hotel.  This Five Star hotel is a nineteenth century Palace, now fully restored to its former glory and classified as a National Monument. The Pestana offers 190 sleeping rooms and sits on a lush, private park with many subtropical trees and colorful flowering plants.  From the gardens to the Lake House, one can enjoy impressive and panoramic views of the Tagus River.  Our first evening was spent exploring the “old world” where our guides, in costume, transported us back in time.  They engaged us in the stories of their lives as we journeyed the limestone streets to a Fado dinner celebration.  Fado (translated as destiny or fate) is one of the main highlights of the culture that bridges the past with the present, through song and dance about the sea or the life of the poor. 

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The Club at Admirals Cove in Jupiter, Florida is that gem! Up until now it has remained an exclusively private club to the members and their guests of this upscale community.  The property is a first class facility and it offers a 31 room Inn, a World Class Golf Course, Spa, Marina, a beautiful ballroom with pre-function area and several meeting spaces.   Read more »

Want to “dazzle” your guests and a clever idea for your next event?  Why not throw a SPArty.  Just imagine your party space transformed to look, feel, smell and sound like a spa… Then imagine being able to enjoy many of the services and amenities that are available in a traditional day-spa with your closet friends while sipping a fabulous libation and noshing on gourmet delights.  Then think about how your guest will be vying for an invitation. 

I enjoyed one of these amazing evenings and now I am hooked!  SPArties Mobile Spa offers spa services performed by a fully licensed/certified, professional and experienced staff.  They service all of New Jersey, New York City and the surrounding areas, Philadelphia, Southern CT and all of South Florida. They will travel to ANY location, nationwide.  So why not slip in one of your favorite new age CD’s, pour yourself a glass of wine and start making out your guest list!  SPArties is perfect for grand openings, award ceremonies, release/product launches, recognition ceremonies, bachelorette parties, bridal & baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, staff appreciation, gatherings for family and friends - for any or no reason at all!  SPArties will work with any budget, in any location and with any amount of guests - no SPArty is too big or too small!

Check out their website  www.sparties.com or call 877-SPArtie(S) for additional information. Join their blog at http://sparties.blogspot.com/