| Q & A 05.13.09 4:21 PM |
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To Expand National Harbor Food & Wine Festival, Lynn Schwartz Listens to Attendees, Adds Family-Friendly Elements
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 | Shows Inc.'s Lynn Schwartz
Photo: Courtesy of the Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor |
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FROM WASHINGTON
The second annual Food & Wine Festival at National Harbor hits Maryland's waterfront complex June 6 and 7. Show manager Lynn Schwartz of Annapolis-based Shows Inc. is returning after producing the 2008 event, which she considered a success—despite a few problems. The festival hit its attendance target of 5,000 guests per day on the first day, but fell short on the second. This time around, Schwartz has increased the emphasis on food (with fewer alcohol vendors), developed programs for children (who weren't allowed last year), and changed the layout to boost attendance. With the festival just weeks away—and final preparations in high gear—we spoke to Schwartz about these and other changes.
What's planned to make this year better for families?
One of our lessons learned from last year, our debut year, was that some attendees want to bring their children to the festival. People voiced their complaints as it is, after all, an outdoor weekend event. I had to listen to our audience. To that end, we have added hands-on cooking classes for children, face painters, a balloon-animal maker, and the Maryland-Delaware Watermelon Association’s Watermelon Queen will host a watermelon seed spitting contest. The National Peanut Board with mascot Buddy McNutty will teach kids fun tasty ways to incorporate more healthy produce options into their diet and creatively explore, through drawing, their favorite ways to put that energy to work. Pirate cruises on the Potomac River are available at an extra charge.
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RELATED TOPICS
National Harbor, Food and Wine Festival at National Harbor, Food & Wine Magazine, Aspen Food & Wine Festival, South Beach Wine & Food Festival |
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| NEWS 11.07.08 11:52 AM |
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AmEx Publishing Nixes Holiday Party, Keeps Annual Briefing
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FROM NEW YORK
More news of canceled holiday get-togethers: Today, we got word that American Express Publishing—which owns magazine titles like Travel & Leisure, Food & Wine, Departures, and Executive Travel—is eliminating its company-wide holiday party this year and may even cancel its 2009 celebration. Headquartered in New York, the media conglomerate has offices across the country, including Los Angeles, Florida, and the Midwest.
"Yes, we [American Express Publishing] are suspending our holiday party this year in light of the economic climate. We will be gathering the company for our annual year-end business update," Jill Davison, vice president of corporate communications at American Express Publishing, wrote in an email. "While we're streamlining the program—in light of the times—it will be equally informative to last year's agenda. It's important that we get together as a company to review the year and to chart the course ahead for what we all know will be a very challenging road ahead in '09." —Anna Sekula
RELATED TOPICS
Corporate Holiday Parties, American Express Publishing, Travel & Leisure magazine, Food & Wine Magazine, Departures Magazine, Travel & Leisure Golf, Executive Travel |
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| EVENT REPORT 10.13.08 1:53 PM |
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Wine & Food Fest Mixes Edible and Musical Offerings
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 | The New York City Wine & Food Festival's Meatpacking Uncorked
Photo: Jessica Torossian for BizBash |
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FROM NEW YORK
The first New York City Wine & Food Festival this weekend filled the meatpacking district—and some other areas—with celebrated chefs and foodies for a four-day celebration of all things culinary. Led by Lee Schrager, director of special events for Southern Wine & Spirits and founder of the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, this Northeast series was produced by Karlitz & Company and benefited the Food Bank for New York City and Share Our Strength.
Covering a variety of topics, the weekend-long fair included more than 70 individual seminars, panel discussions, food demonstrations, cooking classes, and large-scale tasting parties. And even with food squarely center stage, the biggest events of the festival—Burger Bash, Sweet, Chelsea Market After Dark, and Midnight Music and Munchies—also provided musical entertainment, from DJs and roaming performers in elaborate costumes to a coffee psychic and an appearance from Tom Colicchio singing and strumming a guitar.
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RELATED TOPICS
New York City Wine & Food Festival, Southern Wine & Spirits, Food Network, Food & Wine Magazine, Travel & Leisure magazine, Share Our Strength, Food Bank of New York, MGM Grand at Foxwoods, DailyCandy, Ferrero, Perrier, Absolut, Target |
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