ProfNets of the Week

by admin ~ July 30, 2010

FOOD: Tailgating 2010 - Freelancer Tailgating is an all-American phenomenon that gets into high gear with college and NFL football, NASCAR, major league and minor league baseball, Jimmy Buffet concerts, and even high-school and youth sports. Some of the most creative food is prepared and served here and the cocktails, wines, beer and iced tea seem to be constant trendsetters. My annual series of columns called Tailgatin’ Down South and Gourmet Highway are devoted to this outdoor feast and celebration now and on through the Super Bowl. These appear in many markets, in my print and online columns, and will be included in my new radio show “Southern Ways.” I am looking for a consensus as to the most popular spirits and cocktails (or is everything margaritas and Bloody Marys?), new and distinctive, even healthier mixes, whether wine has a growing presence or if new canned/bottled beverages are emerging that still are not well known. Who are the best tailgating cooks? What places and events do tailgating with flair? Is there a beer trend, like crafts, gaining? Low-resolution photos of people enjoying themselves beside a grill, or under a tent with nicely presented food and beverages are welcomed, particularly when team loyalty is apparent. Families, good friends and good cheer have top priority. Contact: XXXXXXX

NON-EXPERT: Breaking a Baby’s Bad Habits — Freelancer
I’m working on a potential story for American Baby on breaking a baby’s “bad habits,” like using a pacifier, needing to be rocked to sleep, only napping in mom or dad’s arms, etc. I’m looking for moms to share what their child’s habit was and how you got them to break it. Contact: XXXXXXX

LAW: ‘Nanny State’ Laws in California — Sunday Times of London
‘Nanny State ‘Legal moves to calm San Diego beaches, including seeking to plug a loophole that allows drinking on inflatable tires in three feet of water but not on the sand, follow recent local California laws to ban “beer pong” in Huntington Beach, mooning at trains in Laguna Beach, etc. There appears to be a growing gulf between what outsiders think of as Californian hedonism — free and easy silliness — and local laws designed to protect Californians from themselves. First, I am seeking other examples of California and other state/city/local legal clampdowns on human foolishness — and then comments about what this means in the “land of the free.” Contact: XXXXXXX

RELIGION/TODAY: Religion and Notre Dame Football — Medill News Service
I am looking for an expert on the intersection between religion and football at the University of Notre Dame. Contact: XXXXXXX

             

Mediashop Client of the Week: The Douglass

by admin ~ July 28, 2010

            BRP Companies and Halstead Property Development Marketing recently announced that 75% of units are under contract at The Douglass, a new high-end condominium development located in South Harlem at 2110 Frederick Douglass Boulevard and the corner of 114^th Street. A 9-story newly constructed building near Central Park and Morningside Park, The Douglass offers 38 condominium residences featuring a mix of one, two and three bedroom residences that range in size from 762 to 1,355 square feet and in price from $529,000 - $969,000. The four magnificent penthouses, many with views of Central and Morningside Parks, feature private terraces, designer lighting, Calcutta gold marble countertops, and soaring 12-foot high ceilings.

            After sales launched officially in November 2009, the development sold rapidly, reaching the 75% mark in eight months. Buyers have taken advantage of the reasonable prices, excellent design and quality finishes, as well as the 25-year 421-A tax abatement and availability of FHA and Fannie Mae financing.

           “We are very excited to have completed this number of sales in such a short period of time at The Douglass,” said Stephen G. Kliegerman, executive director of Halstead Property Development Marketing. “Buyers today are looking for all of the amenities that The Douglass offers including affordable homes, high end finishes, value and location.”

For more information on The Douglass please visit: http://thedouglasscondo.com/

             

Mediashop Clients in the News

by admin ~ July 28, 2010

Mediashop clients have appeared in a wide range of publications in the last week.  Here are a few articles highlighting our clients in the news:

• The Douglass, a new development in Harlem, announced that they were now 75% sold and ready for immediate occupancy! This exciting news was featured online in Curbed, Uptown Flavor, and Real Estate Rama.

• The Stevie Awards are still being talked about world-wide as the International Business winners celebrate their recognition. This week, New Delhi’s Indian Railways Blog and The Korea Herald both gave praise to their respective nation’s business honorees.

• Uptown Flavor gave readers a sneak peak at the new 2280 FDB in Harlem, an article with inside information fully accompanied by a lengthy slide show of images from the new luxury development.

             

What’s The Buzz All About? Public Relations In The News

by admin ~ July 27, 2010

Each week, Mediashop PR gathers interesting and newsworthy public relations articles in the news.  We decided to share news from Brandweek, New York Times and Weber Shandwick.  We hope you enjoy! 

In a recent article in Brandweek, it was reported that Dawn, the Proctor & Gamble-owned dish washing soap, is executing a new marketing campaign that is not as squeaky clean as its other campaigns in the past. Instead of focusing their marketing on highlighting new products, it compares Dawn’s as being a more powerful type of soap then the other two competitors. In the TV, print, and in- store, one of the competitors looks very similar to Colgate-Palmolive’s lower-priced Ajax brand, whose sales have been faster than Dawn’s sales. In these hard economic times, dish washing soap sales have been up because more people are staying home more and cooking and therefore cleaning, but Dawn who is currently rated number one, wants to make sure that their dollar sales are growing just as fast or faster than competitors such as, Ajax. How do you think the public will respond to this new campaign? Do you think it will hurt Proctor & Gamble’s reputation?

Are you ever bored during the pre-show experience, watching banner ads and trivia questions before a cinema production? According to this New York Times article, Screenvison, a company that sells and programs in-cinema advertising, has a new campaign to spice up their advertisements. This company plans to start using the “advertisement” block of 20-minutes in a private showing to various marketers in New York. Many sponsors like Nascar and Timothy Mosley, otherwise known as Timbaland, will release exclusive footage that marketers can sponsor. Screenvision’s goal is to make the movie-going experience more interactive by using cell phones to download coupons that are only accessible to movie-goers. This new “advertisement” block will be shown in September. Do you think this marketing tactic will entice movie-goers to pay more attention to the advertisements before the show?

Weber Shandwick, one of the world’s leading public relations firms, announced yesterday in a press release that they have endorsed the ‘Barcelona Principles’ which are seven principles that were put in place to help effectively measure public relations on a more common ground. These principles were adopted by the annual European Summit on Measurement last month, where representatives from 33 countries attended. To view the ‘Barcelona Principles’ please download here.

             

Mediashop Client of The Week

by admin ~ July 23, 2010

In honor of his birthday, this week’s “Client of the Week” features Mediashop’s favorite chef, Norman Van Aken. World renowned Chef Van Aken is known internationally as the founding father of “New World Cuisine,” a celebration of Latin, Caribbean and Asian flavors with traditional European technique and is also credited with introducing the concept of “fusion” to the culinary world. In his cooking, Chef Van Aken creates an interplay between regionalism and restaurant technical knowhow which is unmistakably revealed through the menus at each of his establishments. In 2003, Chef Norman Van Aken was inducted into the James Beard Foundation’s “Who’s Who” of food and beverage in America and in 2005 the foundation nominated Norman’s, his previous restaurant in Miami, as the “Best Restaurant in America.”  Similarly, The New York Times claims that Chef Van Aken is South Florida’s best chef.

Recently, Chef Van Aken returned to Miami to open Norman’s 180, his new culinary and conceptual restaurant that presents a more casual dining experience and features a culinary concept he describes as “broadly American.” The restaurant designs a cuisine and style that pays homage to the incredible diversity and creativity of food found and made in America. 
 

Norman’s 180 shares the spirit of culinary diversity but is interpreted locally, as it is amongst the first restaurants in South Florida to offer “farm-to-table” foods, with its menu featuring locally grown and seasonally fresh ingredients. Offering both small plates and full-course meals in the dining room, Norman’s 180 features chef-driven, sophisticated food and provide patrons with a unique dining experience and value. Some of the featured dishes at Norman’s 180 include: 
              

             - DUCK MEATBALLS 
             - GULF SHRIMP CEVICHE
             - The WIG BURGER KEY 
             - WEST YELLOWTAIL SNAPPER
             - THREE LITTLE PIGS (a pork trio of BBQ baby back ribs, trotter cake & “ham n’ mac n’ cheese)

For reservations at Norman’s 180, please call 305-529-5180 and be sure to check out this cool slideshow of the restaurant featured on Urban Daddy.