Easy Ways You Can Go Green

Here are a few easy and completely doable steps you can take to help improve the environment according to GreenHotels.com with a few extra tips from B&E added in...

1. Share seeds and plant cuttings with friends and neighbors to make our Earth greener! (Banquetevent.com recommends giving seeds as party favors at your next event. Check out ecoparti.com for ideas and options).

2. Buy or make some inexpensive cloth napkins to use instead of sending thousands of paper napkins to the dump each year. (You could also check out rice napkins available at ecoparti.com for another earth friendly alternative).

3. When you see a streetlight burning during the daytime, report it to the local light company. Keep calling until the repair is made.

4. Rarely do we need to use the amount of detergent recommended. Use about half or two-thirds of a measure, and then adjust with each load.

5. Don't throw anything out of your car windows, and don't let any of your passengers throw anything out either. Keep our countryside clean and beautiful.

6. Install dimmers on light switches and save electricity. We don't always need full lighting. (At your next event we highly recommend lowlight anyhow. It's way more attractive and actually helps you focus on the event speaker, food, and each other).

7. Use of pesticides and all lawn and garden chemicals should be kept to the absolute minimum necessary. The detrimental effects of these chemicals are multiplied as they are washed by rainwater into our sewers and then into our waterways. (Ask your office building manager what types of chemicals are being used in office lawns and plants. If harmful substances are being used, find out what it would take to get the building landscapers to change products. Sometimes all it takes is having someone ask).

8. Direct rainwater downspouts into gardens rather than into the street so that plantings can benefit.

9. Turn off the lights and TV, and close the drapes when you leave your office, hotel room, conference room, and other common areas.

I'll Have A Double Tall Latte With My Glass of Wine Please

A new coffee shop called Voxx Coffee recently opened on Eastlake Ave in Seattle. Yes, we realize this may not sound like new news in our coffee obsessed city, but this particular java shop has an unexpected twist. Voxx Coffee also serves wine. This funky shop has our vote for a hot new spot! Check it out.

Address: 2245 Eastlake Ave. E.

For the Kid at Heart

We found this very interesting company called FlattenMe, where images of your child (or even yourself) are uploaded to their website and then superimposed into a personalized children's storybook. We think these incredible and affordable books would be wonderful gifts, especially for anyone with children who you don't know what to get. These books are only $35!

The book shown to the left is called "Here There Be Pirates." Several other story options are also available.


Here's how it works...

How's This For Dinner With A View?

A new fad spreading (or should we say "rising") across Europe, Africa and Asia is called Dinner In The Sky. Dinner In The Sky is a unique event meant for anyone who wishes to transform an ordinary meal or meeting into a magical moment that will leave a lasting impression on their guests! Dinner in the Sky takes place at a table suspended at a height of 50 meters by a team of professionals.

Dinner in the Sky is available for a session of 8 hours.

Dinner in the Sky seats 22 people around the table at every session and three in the middle (chef, waiter, entertainer…). Just to give you an example: This means that, at a rate of 3 sessions per hour, more than 500 people could have access to this exceptional platform, or only 22 if you want an exclusive VIP event.

Don't take our word for it? Check out some of these photos from their recent events...

Wine Rocks Seattle!

On March 27, witness professionals rock out at the "Wine Rocks Seattle" event held at the Gibson Guitar Showroom in Pioneer Square.

Here is what the site says: A new event featuring noted Washington wine personalities as the evening's ROCK STARS! Not only do they make excellent wine that you can taste throughout the show, they sing, play guitar, sax, drums and more! Taking place at the very urban, hip, Gibson Guitar Showroom in Pioneer Square where every wannabe rock star wants to be. Sample gourmet fare provided by Beecher's Cheese, Salumi Artisan Cured Meats and Theo Chocolates.

Tickets: $35 each set (limited to 100 people), must be 21+ to attend, ID checked at door

Early Set: 6 – 8pm | Late Set: 9 – 11pm

Performances and Wine Tasting:
Jamie Brown, Waters Winery (Guitar)
Rob Newsom, Boudreaux Cellars (Guitar)
Rusty Figgins, Clos Sainte Rose (Drums)
Doug McCrea, McCrea Cellars (Saxophone)
Bill Herzog, DiStefano Winery (Bass)
Gordy Rawson, Chatter Creek (Bass)
Paul Gregutt, Seattle Times Columnist/Author of Washington Wines & Wineries,
The Essential Guide (Guitar)

Purchase Tickets at: winerocksseattle.com

Decor Item of the Month: March

We love to theme event designs around holidays, but at the same time, it's important never to go overboard with cliche holiday items. That's why we love this simple floral centerpiece for Easter. Note the subtle Easter eggs hanging simply from the branches, accentuating, not overpowering, its modern design.

Put Your Stamp On It

We'd like to introduce you to a fun company specializing in "infinite one-of-a-kindness." Meet Zazzle, an online retail company selling one-of-a-kind products. We found these incredible custom postage stamps and we know you'll love them. They are completely authorized by the United State Postal Service, so they are totally legit and ready for mailing. Next time you mail an invitation to your next event, remember that even the packaging is important in making a first impression. These unique stamps might be just the touch you need to the set the tone for your event.

Here are some of our favs...