The gorgeous models from Red Carpet Boutique, Nashley and Joanna, at the Grand Summit Hotel Gala Brunch www.redcarpetbtq.com

It was a pleasure meeting all of the beautiful and savvy brides, Bar Mitzvah moms and corporate meeting planners at the 2012 Grand Summit Gala Tasting.   The Grand Summit Hotel pulled out all the stops to show off their exceptional cuisine, service and hospitality.  The Grand Summit team, lead by Michael Marino, Jim Thornton and Teresa Garcia, along with the hotel’s discerning roster of preferred professionals, introduced the VIP guest list to exclusive event planning resources throughout the lavish brunch to ensure that they have the best special event possible.

After speaking with some of the Grand Summit Gala Pros earlier in the week, I compiled a top 10 list of planning tips that might come in handy for your upcoming wedding or special event...

The Grand Summit Hotel can help make your celebration fun, elegant & convenient.

1) All In One!  Consider a venue that offers your guests the convenience of attending your ceremony, reception, after party, over-nite accommodations and even the next-day brunch without having to worry about traffic, parking or being able to party like rock stars.   -Teresa @ The Grand Summit Hotel

2) Save It!  If you have any material left over from you wedding dress or bridesmaid’s alterations, don’t throw it out! The florist can use these swatches to wrap your bouquets.    -Matt @ Crest Florist

3) Think Big!  If your venue can accommodate larger tables, seat 12 guests together instead of ten and eliminate the expense of a few centerpieces.     -Matt @ Crest Florist 

Crest can wrap your bouquet with extra material from your dress. They can also preserve your bouquet as a keepsake the day after.

4) Forever Young!  If you’d like to keep your bouquet for posterity, it’s recommended that you drop it off to your florist the day after the reception for ideal preservation conditions.   -Matt @ Crest Florist

5) Picture This!  You don’t have to reinvent the wheel when you walk into the bakery looking for your special cake.  Show the staff a photo of something you saw and liked to ensure that they can help you get exactly what you were looking for.  -Ralph @ Bovella’s Bakery

6) You’re Worth It!  Make sure that the make-up artist you choose only uses the highest quality make-up products on the market; there is a noticeable difference.  Your skin and photographer will thank you.   -Diane @ Bella Faccia

Let the professionals, like Event Planners and Wedding Entertainment Directors do all the work so you can enjoy every moment of your once-in-a-lifetime celebration. www.WedGuild.com

7) Don’t Worry, Be Happy!   Try not to micromanage your own wedding reception or special event.  Let the professionals you hired do what you paid them to do.   If you put the right team in place, you’ll be treated like a celebrity and be able to enjoy the celebration as much as your guests.   -Marianne @ Cupa Cabana

8 ) Money Talks!  If you are working with a planner, be candid and let them know your approximate budget right from the start so they can help you prioritize your investments and save you a lot of time throughout the planning process.   -Cindy @ Events To Perfection

Surround yourself with the people you love and who love you back... the rest will fall into place. Photo Credit: Wendy Robinson

9) Keep It Real!  Even though you and your fiancé think that Dub Step and 80’s New Wave music are totally rad, try to remember that your guests might also enjoy a great mix of some classic favorites and the current hits to dance to during the reception.  -Benny @ Karisma Music Productions

10) The Secret!   Regardless of your budget and your definition of the perfect day, the success of your wedding reception comes down to one thing- The Guest List.  If you invite the people you care about and the people that care about you, the rest will take care of itself.   -Michael @ Magical Nights

I’m proud to say that along with Benny and his fabulous band, Karisma, MMP is also considered a preferred source of entertainment at the Grand Summit.   We always make a great team when we have the opportunity to collaborate.   I had a great time serving as the Master of Ceremonies for the Gala tasting and look forward to the next celebration!

P.s    For more event planning tips, advice and resources, check out our last article called “7 Ways to Bring the Wow and Have The Best Wedding Reception Ever!”

(from left) Pomptonian VP- Candy Vidovich, Chef Poon & President- Mark Vidovich

Is it possible to make a manager’s meeting fun? If you ask Mark and Candy Vidovich, the President and Vice President of Pomptonian Food Service, the answer is a definitive, “YES!” …even if they do have to cover content like government regulations, business policies and accounting laws.

How? It’s pretty simple actually.  Just call up professional event facilitators like us who specialize in interactive corporate entertainment. And, if your budget permits, bring in a celebrity chef to present an informative and passionate cooking demonstration to stimulate your team.

Mark and Candy knew that throughout the daylong meeting, they’d have to present some mandatory topics that were admittedly a bit “dry and boring,” so the goal was treat their team to a well-paced itinerary that included a delicious breakfast buffet, some unique audience interaction, an inspiring state of the company address from the President, an impressive lunch spread, an enthusiastic recognition of veteran team members called The Platinum Club, and an interactive grand finale that featured some awesome prizes and genuine team camaraderie.

Pomptonian's Platinum Club VIP's- Kathleen Mosdar, Bridie Carty and Bobby Greene

I’ve had the pleasure of serving Pomptonian for 15 years.  I thought that amount of time was pretty noteworthy until they announced all of the of the recipients in the 2011 Platinum Club- especially the top three!..  Kathleen Mosdar has been with Pomptonian for 25 years, Bridie Carty for 35 years, and Bobby Greene for…… 51 years!!! Each of the Platinum members  got a well deserved standing ovation and special gift from Mark and Candy.

Pomptonian serves 180,000 students, (100,000 for lunch) in 80 New Jersey school districts everyday.  And Pomptonian is the recipient of the 2011 Above and Beyond Award. The highest recognition for any company serving New Jersey schools.

Special thanks to Dominic Leone, the Bethwood’s Banquet Manager, for his hospitality and professionalism.   Dominic and the Bethwood team made sure that MMP had everything we needed to produce a smooth event.   They were quick to reply to phone calls, very accommodating at the pre-event site survey and totally on-point the day of the meeting.  Awesome teamwork!

Mark Vidovich, President of Pomptonian Food Service, delivers his opening remarks

If you are the CEO of a successful firm and want the room warmed-up and ready for inspiration when you take the stage at your next important meeting, we can help.

If you are a meeting planner and want the room to be energized and focused before your keynote presenter delivers their awesome-ness, we can help.

And, if you are a publicist who wants to give your client or brand’s next promotional tour stop a healthy dose of positive energy, we can help.   From event production to event facilitation, we’ve got the talent and resources to make it happen. -mp

**Candy and Mark’s son, Nick Vidovich, took some candid photos throughout the meeting and shared them with us.  We promised to feature a few here on the MMP Blog and to post the rest of the pictures on the MMP Entertainment Facebook page.

Encore Gallery:

Program Cover

In case you haven’t heard, Sunday, May 1, 2011 was an unforgettable day. People were cheering, smiling, sharing a few emotional exchanges and uniting together to celebrate  extraordinary efforts.   Why?

The Glenpointe Marriott’s Grand Ballroom was packed for the MS Center’s 14th Annual Spring Fashion Fling.   The event raised money for patients and families living with Multiple Sclerosis with a fabulous luncheon, raffle and fashion show.

And of course, if you’re like most folks here on the east coast, the day became even more memorable later in the evening for much different reasons.

On top of it being one of the nicest days of the year weather-wise, it was great to see the whole MS  Center team in action and all the volunteers gathered again for such a worthy cause; like Susan Zurndorfer, from the MS Center, as the event Chairperson, Chris Cimino, from WNBC-TV as the Honorary Chairperson and Saks 5 Avenue providing  the fashions.

MS Center friends and VIP's: (From Left) Gabe Savarese from Biogen Idec, Marcello Pedalino from MMP Entertainment, Englewood Cliff's Mayor & HNHC Foundation Chairman- Joeseph Parisi, Susan Zurndorfer- Fashion Show Chairperson, Sandi Farrell- MS Center Volunteer, Marie Franco from The Westchester Marriott, Patrice Jungermann from The Sheraton Crossroads, Lisa Futterman from The MS Center, & Chris Cimino from WNBC TV

It was also nice to spend the afternoon with my good friend from high school, Gabe Savarese. He works for Biogen Idec, a fortune 500 company that provides research and development in the fight against neurological diseases like MS.    Biogen was a generous contributor at the event and Gabe volunteered his time to assist the patients from the MS Center who were modeling onto and off  the runway during the show.

MMP Entertainment provided the audio support for the production as well as the annual half-time performance.

Click here, if you’d like to support the MS Center and the fight against Multiple Sclerosis.  Onwards and upwards.  See you next year!   -mp

Every now and then, however, an early Christmas gift (or Chanukah present for my Jewish friends) comes right to my door wrapped in a nice little red bow.  (like this week)

Through  a serendipitous LinkedIn exchange, I reconnected with Judi Rothenberg , the Lifestyle editor for NJ Savvy Living Magazine. The title of this article, Sophisticated, Affluent, In the Know is actually the magazine’s official branding on the masthead! … I know!!! Perfect.. right?

Rothenberg’s envious responsibility is to cover the places to go, the people to know, what to buy , where to eat and what to do in the garden state and beyond. As she puts it so eloquently on her brand new facebook page, “I’m on the prowl for what’s unique, wonderful and fun.” Not a bad gig right?  Sound familiar?

Judi Rothenberg aka Savvy Sara

Judi has a gift for observational writing with an entertaining dash of wit thrown in for good measure. Judi’s creative and artistic side (evident from the private collection that adorns her magnificent home) also gives  the savvy savant a huge advantage when it comes to appreciating beauty in all shapes, colors and sizes.

And NJSL fans are like us… they want things filtered.   They see right through disingenuous marketing fluff and don’t like it when their precious time is wasted.  Therefore, Rothenberg’s selection process has to be on point when she decides what to cover and report.

As a result of our comparable demographic, and a fair amount of research of her previous articles, I’m inviting Savvy Sara, Judi’s pseudonym, to share some of her articles with the MMP blog, fan page and twitter.

This link will take you to a few recent “savvy sightings” to wet your appetite. Enjoy!  -mp

Topics include:

*Eco-friendly jewelry & services

*Dinner ideas for the modern family

*Add a little sophistication to date night

*A google site for parents by kids

*Give your daughter & her friends the Rock Star treatment

*The NJ food and wine festival

*And since we had such a huge response to our “dog lovers” campaign last year, check out Around the Collar, a site that Savvy Sara found for those who think their best friends deserve the best in fashionable accessories.

*One more…  If you want to switch things up for a day and trade in your daily cup o’ joe for a nice cup of tea, (friends will tell you that I’m a huge fan of tea & dessert after a delicious meal!) Savvy Sara found a location that will add a little sprinkle of class and elegance to your next outing.

Photo Credit: Mario Anzuoni / REUTERS

Chances are if you turned on the news or listened to the radio over the past two years, an over-whelming barrage of doom and gloom was being relentlessly shoved in your cautiously-optimistic face and into your ‘everything’s gonna be alright” ears.

By no means was it all rainbows and butterflies, but there were definitely some success stories that went under-reported or got conveniently left out of the conversation because they didn’t jive with a political agenda or enable another greedy speculator to manipulate a particular investment.

Case in point, Samsung Electronics.  We have had the pleasure of entertaining the Samsung team and their families since 2005.  Throughout the decade, they have become one of the dominant global companies for consumer electronics and technology.  If you’ve picked up anything other than an iPhone or iPad that was really cool in the new milleniem or watched something on a flat-screen television latley, you’ve probably seen the Samsung name on it.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

In 2009 and the first three quarters of 2010, Samsung Electronics did the seemingly impossible by pessimists everywhere...  “The manufacturer of the 7000 Series 3D flat panel TV estimated that consolidated revenue during 2010 came to $137.31 billion, which would be an increase of 13 percent from the previous year’s record performance.  (source: Kelly Olsen,  AP Business Writer)

And check out this quote from Robert Yi, Vice President and Head of Samsung Electronics’ Investor Relations Team, from almost a year ago to the day… “Despite the uncertain business environment in 2009, Samsung was able to achieve record revenues and strong profitability based on our technological and marketplace leadership.  We see this positive growth and performance flowing on into 2010 as the global economy continues to stabilize.”    Like I said, unfortunately, these weren’t the stories earning prime-time sound bytes for the general public to sink their teeth into when a little positive reinforcement could have had significant positive impact on morale.

Anywho, when we provided the entertainment and event production for their Holiday Gala at The Venetian in 2009, I was admittedly a tad curious as to how everyone could be so festive when most people you ran into kept saying that the sky was literally falling.  Now  I know. 

This year, at their new corporate headquarters, when we produced their annual Holiday Family Fun extravaganza, you could also sense the joy and optimism in the air.  Granted, who wouldn’t be smiling when they’re playing Minute To Win It interactives and dancing with their kids to Bar Mitzvah classics and current hits, but you could tell there was more to it.  It was more than just a fun and enjoyable vibe- which is fine by us, it was a refreshing and invigorating sense of  … “oh yeah, life is good!… we earned this celebration!”

Listen to the word of Matthew..."just keep livin"

As I continue to follow, study, and learn from our impressive portfolio of corporate clients, one distinctive factor for achieving success is glaringly obvious;  a stellar CEO is what will ultimately take a company from good to great. The stellar CEO’s that are also humble will usually defer much of the credit to his or her team.  This, in most cases, is the right thing to do and is certainly a valid truism.

Beyond that being an established fact, if you ever get the opportunity to meet a fortune 500 CEO, a note-worthy entrepreneur, or even a super-cool actor, you will encounter some uber-impressive men and women.  They usually have just the right combination of natural instinct, intelligence, people skills, vision, perseverance and leadership skills to make for a formidable force to be reckoned with.

Matthew McConaughey

I’ve always been told that you are who you surround yourself with.…  Now MMP didn’t quite make 137 billion last year and Jim Kramer wasn’t interviewing me to learn more about my company, but just enough of the Samsung aura of hard work, team work, resourcefulness, and foresight rubbed off on me to keep my glass half-full of positivity and prosperity.

Special thanks and sincere gratitude to Kristen and the entire Samsung team for having us back again.  We’re looking forward to the 2011 event schedule.  -mp

p.s Just in case you need another reason to feel good about Samsung or life in general, check out the strategic partnership they made with Best Buy and Matthew McConaughey‘s j.k livin Foundation

What a cool Thank You card from Sheryl and Gary Weine!

They celebrated their 60th Birthday together at the historic Kip-Riker Mansion in South Orange, NJ. They reminisced with family and friends and danced the night away to the Beatles, the sounds of Woodstock and of course, Elvis Presley.

The night was filled with memorable moments.  One of my favorites was at the end watching Gary and Sheryl sing I Got You Babe, one of their favorite songs, to each other.  This was followed soon after with a wonderful friendship circle that featured all of their guests, arm in arm,  belting out American Pie. It was beautiful man. 

Yet another event where I thank my lucky stars for having such an awesome job. Life is good! -mp

***Another signature touch that we brought to the celebration was a personalized photo  montage (below) which sparked nostalgic conversation in between the action.   (The action included lots of dancing, toasts, vocal tributes and special performances)

The Palace At Somerset Park

Last month I teamed up again with my good friend and Signature Event partner, Jason Jani, for another exceptional portfolio piece.  Our client, Pomptonian Food Service, was celebrating 50 years of excellence in conjunction with the New Jersey School Board Association’s 2010 Convention and Member Appreciation Gala.

Throughout the day, upwards of 2000 attendees were shuttled back and forth from The Palace at Somerset Park to attend educational seminars and informational symposiums.  Topics included; social media, energy efficiency plans, public relations, health benefits and the effects of nutrition and wellness for students.  Speaking of nutrition, the Pomptonian currently provides staffing, high quality lunches, and innovative culinary concepts to over 70 school districts in NJ.

Guests enjoy the festivities at the V.I.P Lounge

After a long day of taking notes and networking, the Pomptonian and the NJSBA wanted the remaining attendees to return to the Palace to relax, enjoy a nice dinner and have some well deserved fun!

In addition to several other performance and specialty interactives that were taking place simultaneously throughout the colossal Palace, Jason and I were given 1/2 of the West Ballroom to create the Pomptionian V.I.P Lounge. Since most attendees registered in groups of 3 to 5 people, we were told we’d be catering to intimate crowds of 10 to 30 guests at a time who would stop by and leave as they wished, have a drink or two, grab a bite to eat, and maybe even bust out a few of their favorite dance moves. No problem! 

Jason Jani, Marcello Pedalino and the Signature Event Team

Jason’s vision for the production layout was on point as always.  From the luminescent projection of Pomptonian’s signature logo on the cathedral ceiling, to the L.E.D decor lightscaping to the surround coverage of 4 plasma screens displaying custom visuals, retro music videos and guest candids, word spread quickly throughout the Palace that this was a cool place to stop by and enjoy life for awhile.   Of course Jason, as one of the top DJ/Remix artists in the country, manned the DJ booth all night and dropped a masterfully-blended soundtrack of lounge, pop, classic funk and current musical audience pleasers.     I handled the on-site logistics, client relations, hospitality and interactive Emcee hosting.

Marcello entertains the guests with an interactive game from Minute To Win It

Over the course of the four hour reception, we had several occasions where a select group of guests were either enjoying the evening’s soundtrack with a nice glass of chardonnay, dancing to their requests with colleagues or competing in an impromptu challenge from our Minute to Win It repertoire.  We were very pleased with the feedback from the NJSBA, The Palace and the happy guests.

Special thanks to the Palace team; Stacie DeMicco, Senior Conference Planning Manager, Kristie Pappas, Senior Corporate Sales Manager, Anthony Panchery, Banquet Manager and Richard McConney, Director of Banquets as well as Erik Endress, Director of Association and Meeting Development and Marcia Lavingne, County Activities Coordinator from the NJSBA for their professionalism and coordination assistance.

If your company is planning a convention, team building workshop or a holiday gala and you’d like to take it to the Signature Event level, contact us to schedule an on-site consultation and design session. Our client portfolio includes The Allen & Co. Media Summit in Sun Valley Idaho, Macy’s, The Borgata, Samsung Electronics, Bank of America, Pathmark, LG Electronics, David Tutera, Synchronoss Technologies and AnnTaylor.    -mp

The Weddings of Distinction Team with Marcello Pedalino (Center) in the library of The Ashford Estate: Ginny Connolly, Maggie McSorley, Meghan Jacobs and Steve Babbitt

Through the majestic gates upon entry yesterday afternoon, guests drove up the tree-lined pasture of the Allentown multi-acre estate enjoying the beautiful fall foliage that NJ natives cherish.   After a stroll though the grounds including a stop at the Conservatory, Reflections Pool, Library, English Gardens and Floating Gazebo, Vernon welcomed his guests in the Chapel. He moderated a brief creative counsel and officially introduced Weddings of Distinction to the V.I.P wedding professionals in attendance. Among the many industry notables were Kathi Evans from All The Best Celebrations and Erik Kent from NjWedding.com.

Like our Signature Event level offerings with entertainment and event production,  Weddings of Distinction is a concept that encompasses the finest in locations, hospitality and customer service that New Jersey has to offer. Stay tuned for the recap of the Signature Corporate Event that Jason Jani and I produced for the New Jersey School Board Association at The Palace at Somerset Park which took place on Tuesday.

The Ashford Estate

The tour continued with a delectable dinner social back in the Conservatory with stations from Main Street, passed hors d’oeuvres by Merri-Makers and some refreshing mixology courtesy of Marsilios. We made our way up and throughout the tri-level mansion to get a sneak peak at the well-appointed guest rooms and simply divine bridal suite.  Each room features its own unique decor and personal touch of design pleasure.  Our excursion’s denouement took place at The Ashford’s Grand Ballroom.   From the graceful lines of the chiavari chairs to the well-thought out floor plan to the customized Fennelli lighting,  it’s a visually stunning combination of sophistication and luxury.

Naturally, The Ashford Estate, or a Wedding of Distinction at Bonnet Island is not an inexpensive proposition. Expect to invest upwards of $25,000 for the property rental alone in peak season.

Photo by: John Arcara www.JohnArcara.com

For those who appreciate cachet, beauty, talent, experience, rarity or historical significance, you already know about  investments deemed priceless. Most brides and readers of this blog agree that a once- in- a-lifetime event falls under that category.

Ashford’s official website and facebook page will launch at years end.  Until then, for additional photos or to set up a private tour and design session at the Ashford, Bonnet or any of the Weddings of Distinction properties, contact me at your earliest convenience @ 732-547-1677 and we’ll set it up with the WD team.

Special thanks to Chris, Kathi, Ginny, Steve, Maggie and Meghan for their genuine warmth and hospitality.   The possibilities for future collaborations are very exciting.   -mp

Meredith Model, Patrice Olszewski wearing Terri Jon

Nordstrom, Holy Name Hospital, WNBC’s Chris Cimino, Inserra Supermarkets and MMP Entertainment teamed up again on Saturday for the 13^th annual MS Spring Fashion Fling at the Glenpointe Marriott.

As always, the goal of the show was to raise money for the MS Center and to entertain several hundred guests by giving away fabulous prizes, treating the guests to a delicious luncheon, and of course, showing off some of the hottest fashions of the season.  Thanks to some angelic volunteers, sponsors, a dedicated staff and my professional colleagues, the 2010 event was another successful collaboration.

Meredith Model, Aida Sinusaite leads the finale wearing Sean Collection. At the podium, Maryellen Moffitt.

In addition to giving out an Iron Man II voice activated L.E.D t-shirt and a $100 cash prize to the winner of Face The Cookie, we also organized a Facebook Challenge that coincided with the show.  MMP Entertainment was delighted to welcome the 40 new fans that joined our Celebrate Life team!

One of the main attractions at the Spring Fling is the fashion show that is produced by MEM Production’s Maryellen Moffitt.  A consummate professional and couture connoisseur, Maryellen is the go-to coordinator if you want to organize a fashion-based event that’s going to dazzle the crowd.

Many of my readers know that I appreciate style, that I’m a huge fan of Nordtsrom, and that my clients and I are always attending exclusive events with various dress codes; so I asked Maryellen for her thoughts on what 2010’s line had to offer.

“As fashions change from season to season, so too do the obligations of entertaining and being entertained.  There will be times that your event will be elegant, yet not quite mandating a formal ensemble.  There will be that destination wedding that you just aren’t quite sure what the appropriate attire will be.  There will be dinner invitations where you need to be elegant, yet not over the top.  In response to the varied social whirlwind of globe hopping trendsetters like the ones in our audience, Nordstom is offering ‘Elegant Alternatives.’ Fashion that will make you look and feel glamorous, yet not require a tiara and jewels. “

MS Center's Lisa Futterman, WNBC's Chris Cimino, MS Center's Susan Zurndorfer and MMP Entertainment's Marcello

Sounds good to me.  See you all next year!

Special thanks to Patrice and Christina from the Glenpointe Marriott for their hospitality.  The accommodations and customer service were first class as usual.

MMP Entertainment will be taking $250 off of any Bar/Bat Mitzvah, Wedding, Corporate Event or Private Celebration that is booked by a guest who attended this year’s fashion show.  MMP Entertainment will also match that amount and donate $250 to the MS Center for each event contracted.

If you’d like to donate your time, money, product or service to the MS Center, please contact Lisa Futterman at futterman@mail.holyname.org

.
Encore Gallery:

Super Bowl champ Drew Brees submits his father of the year photo

Some of my “job” requirements as an entertainer and entrepreneur are to perform in places like Las Vegas, to eat in restaurants like Carnevino, to listen to guys like Don Piper and to attend shows like Cirque Du Soleli‘s, Love.  I think it’s safe to say that I’ve got one of the best jobs in the world. Well, maybe it’s a tie with this guy.

Mike, Jason and I landed in Vegas on Superbowl Sunday.  Normally, you wouldn’t find me watching football for three hours in a row; but when the underdog team actually has a chance to win and you find out how cool the quarterback is,  count me in.  Even though the game was awesome and the commercials were funny, my favorite part was when Drew Brees held his son up at the end.  Unless you’ve gone to the dark side and become completely cynical and devoid of all human emotions, it was a goosebump-inducing Kodak moment.

Some of you may remember the hit show, Soul Train. “A groove that will make you move real smooth.”  Don Cornelius and the Soul Train Gang used to bring “peace, love, soul” and some great music into America’s living rooms every week.  John Rozz, from Sound Spectrum Entertainment, produced a Soul Train tribute event at the top of the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas to commemorate the show’s 40th anniversary. I was chosen to be one of the performance Emcees.  The event featured classic videos, retro costumes, Text Live, and two of the biggest disco balls I’ve ever seen.   Good times!

Special thanks to my good friends, Beau Kramer, from California, and Ron Brown, from Kansas, for sharing this photo and the encore gallery for today’s entry.

Marcello performs at the Soul Train 40th Annivesary Tribute

While in Vegas for the show, I attended several business and entertainment-related workshops to indulge MMP’s infinite commitment to continuing education. Topics included; decor lighting design, enhanced customer service techniques for brides and grooms, fresh ideas for Bar Mitzvah interactives, enhanced technology applications for improved social media relationships and advanced production concepts for the new decade. Culinary & hospitality highlights for some of these presentations took place at the Sterling Club, the Capital Grill and Carnevino.

**Editors Note: I didn’t realize that chef Mario Batali’s highly sought-after 7 course “meat tasting” menu at Carnevino was served a bit on the rare side (seared).  The staff was very accommodating and offered those of us who are used to eating our steak at The Outback-…a NY strip that was out-of-this-world in exchange without laughing out loud.  At least, not right in front of us.

p.s. The staff plugs Mario’s iPod directly into the restaurant’s sound system and just lets her rip at random- at a high volume.   Luckily, my group and I were fans of the Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin.

The highlight of the week was the presentation given by Don Piper, the author of the best selling book,  90 Minutes in Heaven. Bonnie Traylor’s review of the his book on Amazon will bring you up to speed on the messenger and the message…

90 Minutes In Heaven, Revell Publishing, 2004

“Written in straight-forward, simple style without a lot of “religionese,” Don Piper has told the story of his devastating accident, his brief time in heaven and his return to a life full of pain and questions. I read it cover-to-cover in two hours and then loaned out my copy. I would recommend this book to just about anybody — to those with questions about faith, questions about prayer, questions about life and death and pain which we all face to some extent.

His descriptions of heaven are human ones – simple, not overly poetic or grandiose, just those of someone who experienced the indescribable and then tried to describe it. I loved the descriptions of the incredible heavenly music and I get the feeling that vast choirs and heightened senses await us there. And despite the incredible experience, Piper found it too personal, too private, and too intimate to share with anyone for over a year after his accident. I’m so glad he found the courage to do so.

I also love the honesty with which he describes his pain and depression and the inevitable questions that we must face when we have close encounters with the Almighty. The God we meet is often not the one we expected, and while we can’t understand why God does what he does, we can no longer deny this God we don’t understand. And while we hold these two things together, our lives are changed and grace is showered down amid the ruins of what we thought was important to us.”

Cirque Du Soleil's interpretation of the Beatles music library, Love

I found Don’s speaking style to be very similar to his writing style.  He masterfully connects with his audience and effortlessly delivers his messages.  The one sentiment that has stuck with me since that day was, “find a new normal.”  No matter what happens, regardless of the circumstances- find a new normal… embrace it, and move on. I know many of the readers of this blog can appreciate the change in dynamic that occurs within a lifetime.  Not only am I finding a new normal, I’m learning that “normal” is an extremely subjective frame of mind.

I liked how Don never sugar-coated how difficult life can be and never pretended that life was always fair.   Most of all, I loved how Don proved beyond a shadow of a doubt how important it is to have faith in someone and to have something to believe in.

Speaking of love, the icing on the cake of a great week in Vegas was seeing Cirque Du Soleli’s interpretation of the Beatle’s, Love show.   Even if you’re not a big fan of the Beatles and only know their popular recordings like me, you’ll still be amazed, wow’d and blown away by the dancing, the acrobatics and the theatrical spectacle that Cirque shows are famously known for. From the opening number of Get Back to the grand finale mega-mix of Hey Jude, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonley Heart’s Club Band and of course, All You Need Is Love, you couldn’t help but to smile and say to yourself, “life is good.”

The Fountain Show at the Bellagio

(Honorable mention for the icing on the cake award was sitting outside at the Paris casino’s cafe, Mon Ami Gabi, eating Bananas Foster while watching Bellagio’s Fountain Show across the street. I had the chance to catch up with my good friends, Scott Faver, from Arizona, and Chuck Lehnhard, from Hawaii.)

What a week!

On the flight home, the words of Steve Wynn came to mind… “Las Vegas is sort of like how God would do it if he had money.”

Encore Gallery: