Sunday, April 10, 2011

Charlie Sheen on Tour

Got talked into checking out Charlie Sheen's New York tour stop



He was in full form, telling stories



showing of his tattoos



mugging with celebrity guests including ex-NY Met star Daryl Strawberry



The audience loved him and he was funny more often than not.

I was pleasantly surprised and actually enjoyed the show

Friday, April 8, 2011

Return to Berkeley

I went to UC Berkeley for my MBA back in 1984-86. So it's been a real treat to participate in a current course in branded entertainment.



Last week I went back to Cal



to worked with the b-school students and their outstanding professor Krystal Thomas (yellow top in center)



I also mixed in two really great meals, lunch at the Ironwood BBQ, a really great light and healthy California style BBQ place.



And dinner at Camino, a fantastic new american place.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

BCA Dinner

The Black Culinary Alliance is a very special organization that works to recruit, train, and place more people of color in the food industry.



I recently attended their annual fund raising dinner which featured fantastic food cooked by students in the program.



Founder Alex Askew (far right) is an amazing guy, who almost single-handedly runs the entire organization.



During my remarks on stage I quoted the Buddha

“Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."

Alex is the living embodiment of this.

South Beach Wine and Food 2011

I've fortunate enough to attend the South Beach Wine and Food Festival every February since 2006.

The 2011 edition featured all the great food and drink


from celebrity chefs like Bobby Flay.


But this year was extra special since it was the first festival for the Cooking Channel brand



and it's new star chefs like Leanne Wong from Unique Eats

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Week in Vegas

This past week I was in Las Vegas



for 2011 edition of the Consumer Electronics Show.



The big themes were:

1) 3D television, especially some new sets that do not require glasses.



The 3D effect on the glasses-free sets isn't as dramatic as it is on the sets with glasses, but it's pretty noticeable compared to today's typical 2D sets.

I think in a few years glasses-free 3D will become mainstream choice, while 3D with glasses will be for the higher end videophile.

2) Internet connected TVs.



Within a few years there will be little difference between the flat screens on your wall, the tablet screens in your hand, and the smartphone screens in your pocket. All three screen platforms will let you watch tv, surf the web, make video calls, and send e-mails.

3) Table computers, over 70 iPad killers were on display including one from Toshiba that runs full Windows 7 and does everything you regular desktop or laptop computer does.



I was a panelist on a discussion of how to generate revenue from all the media platforms.



In my view, in the end there will be one single media platform, just available on wide variety of different screen sizes to fit when and where the consumer wants to engage with their media.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

NFL Day

Tony Wyllie, head of PR for the Washington Redskins invited me to today's Redskins Giants game.



I've been a Redskins fan for over 30 years,



so it was a real treat to be at the game,



even if it was another Redskins loss.

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Party Week

Been pretty busy the past seven days with parties in three cities in two countries.

First up was



Food Network Canada's 10th Anniversary Party in Toronto, Canada.



I was joined by David and Nina Rocco from La Dolce Vita, Nadia G. from Bitchin' Kitchen, and Laura Calder from French Food at Home.

Two days later



I was in New Orleans with all it's Bourbon Street excitement




for Emeril Lagasse's annual fundraiser. Emeril, wife Alden, and kids were there.



Along with authentic Creole entertainers

Then back to New York



for the event celebrating Barney's holiday store window display featuring Food Network stars Ina Garten and Sandra Lee

Paula Deen was there



The crowd went wild for Bobby Flay, Paula Deen, and Emeril



Finally the National Urban League fund-raising dinner



featuring NY mayor Michael Bloomberg



The Rev. Al Sharpton



and British pop star Corinne Bailey Rae.

I'm really worn out and looking forward to taking Thanksgiving week off.