Book It!

Looking for a creative way to showcase photographs from your last event or possibly in search of a new way to showcase your business? Check out Blurb.com where you can create your very own store-quality books in soft or hard cover. Book templates are available for 20-440 page counts and are priced per book and range from $12.95 to $64.95 depending on the book size and page count. Present your company and projects in a bookstore-quality hardcover or softcover book featuring 4-color commercial-quality printing and binding. You'll receive a discount when you order 10 or more books.

Just download the Blurb BookSmart Software, add photos, artwork and text and then order your very own customized book. You have complete creative control of your design and you'll receive your book in the mail in approximately 7 to 10 business days.
Why we love it? Since the books are printed on 80-pound paper with commercial printers, you'll bet a bestseller look with construction paper prices!

New MLS Team Name Announced

Seattle's new Major League Soccer club officially has a name. Last week, over 14,000 Seattleites registered their vote naming the new soccer club Seattle Sounders FC. The name Sounders has been identified with soccer in this community since 1974. The name is locally-oriented, historic, and reflects the community. Also reveled is the team logo and colors.

For more information about the team visit SoundersFC.com

"The most provocative residental high rise in Seattle since World War II"?

Mosler Lofts, a collection of 150 New York loft-style condominiums and town homes, is Seattle's first condominium tower that is certified Built Green and Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), and the Seattle-Post Intelligencer calls it "the most interesting and provocative residential high-rise to appear in Seattle since World War II."



Seven homes remain at Developer Direct pricing from $449,900. Homes range from an open one-bedroom to a 1,545-square-foot two-bedroom, southwesterly facing penthouse home priced at $1.395 million.

So how is this condominium built green, you ask? For one, the building is surrounded by Green Streets, meaning, the landscaping on the building's grounds incorporates eco-friendly techniques to finish the overall tranquil setting of a green building. The building itself is built with a green rooftop with a landscaped surface that will filter water naturally. Inside you'll find Energy Star appliances, non-toxic wall paint, and other eco-friendly home materials such as Sile stone kitchen countertops, Kahrs hardwood flooring, and imported porcelain bath tiles selected both for their beauty and sensibility.



So why should all this matter to you? According to the U.S. Green Building Council, buildings account for:

• 36% of total energy use and 65% of electricity consumption
• 30% of greenhouse gas emissions
• 30% of raw materials use
• 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually)
• 12% of potable water consumption

In the event industry, we rely heavily on tourism. The Northwest is famous for its beautiful waters, clean air and natural green vegetation, factoring for the increase in tourism to our lovely region. A “green” building incorporates design techniques, technologies, and materials that lessen its dependence on fossil fuels and minimize its overall negative environmental impact, allowing both our Northwest land and our economy to flourish as a result of simple eco-friendly building tactics.

Little Lamps

At banquetevent.com, we love fresh ideas and smart solutions, and this recent great find is so simple, yet so ingenious we just had to share it with you. Available at Wishing Fish, are a unique table top lamp design called Gorgeous Helen. Made of parchment, each set contains 3 different lamp shades with whimsical designs printed in a faint white. All you do is place a tea-candle inside a wine glass, place the lantern over the glass and voila! You'll have charming little lanterns for your tabletop design.


Set of three lanterns available for $18.

Learning to Give

We'd like to introduce you to a new option in charitable giving - and it involves teaching your children at an early age how to give as well. At your next child's birthday party, guests are invited to an ECHOage birthday party through an online invitation. Instead of bringing a wrapped and packaged present, guests simply RSVP and give a secure online gift of money. Payments are pooled for the purchase of ONE special gift for the birthday boy or girl and to support ONE meaningful cause.

On the ECHOage website, the host parent chooses an online invitation, picks a charity to support, and then emails the invitation to friends and family. The host parent receives funds from ECHOage in the mail for the purpose of purchasing the ONE meaningful gift for the birthday child. ECHOage also mails a portion of the donated funds to the charity chosen by the child, and the host parent receives an official tax receipt.

The organizations supported by ECHOage are as follows: EarthCorps, International Child Art Foundation, Girls Inc., & Nourish America.

Grand Opening Waterways Kirkland

Come celebrate the grand opening of Waterways Cruises Kirkland location at Carillon Point. Waterways Kirkland now offers regularly scheduled dining and sightseeing cruises as well as private events departing from Carillon Point. Waterways brings its expertise and service to the Eastside.

When: Wednesday, April 30
Time: 5-8 p.m.
Where: Pier-side at Carillon Point
RSVP HERE

Newbies at Banquetevent.com

We've had some new event vendor additions to banquetevent.com that you need to know about.

Destination Getaway!
Marcus Whitman Hotel & Conference Center
Six West Rose Street
Walla Walla, WA 99362
Contact: Chris Coates
Phone: (509) 525-2200
Website: www.marcuswhitmanhotel.com


New Banquet Facility!
Piatti Ristorante & Bar
2695 NE Village Lane
Seattle WA 98105
Contact: Joe Bongiorno
Phone: (206) 524-9088
Website: www.piatti.com


Children's Equipment Rental!
Crybaby Comforts
Seattle, Washington
Contact: Lisa Cook
Phone: (425) 260-4788
Website: www.crybabycomforts.com