Tips for LinkedIn

February 21, 2012 by  
Filed under Ask Deb, Event Venues, Uncategorized

Puzzle Pieces

LinkedIn is among the more popular social media platforms and it is not hard to see why; it lets users make professional connections where most social media is better for making personal ones. LinkedIn has the benefit of influencing what comes up when doing searches like Google.  Instead of seeing potential embarrassing photos users are met with your professional profile.

 

Social Media for the Enterprise Presented by LinkedIn for Social Media Week emphasized some key points about using LinkedIn that we have shared below.

Develop A Brand

You are going to want to distinguish yourself and promote your positive attributes.

 

Showcase The Person Behind The Brand

People are going to want to know what makes you and your brand different so don’t be afraid to show your interests; just make sure that they don’t hurt your professional image.

 

Monitor Your Profile

Have relevant an up to date information. This will give people viewing your profile the right tools to effectively communicate to and about you. Help them understand what benefits you can provide by keeping information accurate and up to date.

 

Participate

LinkedIn has groups for nearly every profession, so join one and contribute.  This is all about visibility, by being an active participant you can show your expertise and raise your profile within your profession.

 

Make Connections Through Connections

Social media is about relationships and engagement; having a strong network is dependent on you making the effort; your connections are resource base and they can help you by providing new contacts.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/cityevents

Four Things You Never Thought of for your Valentine

February 13, 2012 by  
Filed under Ask Deb, Uncategorized

It happens every year. You and your sweetheart are basking in the post-holiday glow. All of the chaos of Christmas, Hanukah, New Years and oh-so many family get-togethers has passed and its back to just the two of you when suddenly you see it: that first pink and red shiny teddy bear in the drug store window.

Valentine’s day is a great fun day to show your partner how much you care about them, but the pressure to create a lasting romantic memory strikes fear in the hearts of even the most assured couples. So whether you’re old flames or a new romance check out these fabulous ideas to sweep even the hardest to surprise valentine off his or her feet.

Make it Unique
A box of chocolates and flowers are Valentine’s Day staples, but think outside the box to really knock the socks off your date. The perfect gift starts in knowing your date’s interests. At the same time picking a hobby related item when you don’t know much about the subject is a minefield. The safest route is to pick something fun, luxurious, and that they would never treat themselves to (forget practical gifts for this day). A great resource for strange gift ideas is http://www.thisiswhyimbroke.com/. Updated daily, here you can find gift ideas ranging from suit-jamas (silk suit pajamas), Ninja Star coat hooks, to remote control sharks. Prices range from the $55,000 working Tron motorcycle to the $6.87 glow in the dark toiler paper. It’s everything you never thought of, but always want.
Transformers USB Flash Drive $14.00

Make it Homemade
Not every Romeo and Juliet has the old-family money to throw around. There are hundreds of things you can make or do, even if your pocket book is on the lighter side. Homemade cookies, brownies, or other sweet treats always show your care and effort (which is always better than throwing a lot of money around). Can’t cook? Try a homemade craft or card. Everyone at CityEvents is in love with this neat idea guaranteed to impress: “Rainbow Roses”. Pick up 6 white roses and with a sharp X-acto knife, slice a 3 inch strip in the stem at the end, then quarter it so the end of the stem breaks into 4 prongs. Get four cups, and add 30 drops (super saturated) of food colouring of yellow red, blue and green in each cup (one colour per cup). Dip one piece of the stem in each for each rose, then gently tie the roses together so they don’t fall over (they tend to do that once the stems are split). Leave for 3-4 days and the roses will soak up the colours and the petals will begin to turn. Once they are coloured, cut off the split ends and be prepared to stun your date.

Dyed Flowers

A Night on the Town
Now that you’ve picked out something to give your Valentine, it still leaves the question about what to do? We live in an amazing city. Any night of the week there is something interesting going on, the problem is narrowing it down to find the perfect event to take your Valentine to. Any savvy-Torontonian knows to do their research before hitting the streets. The City of Toronto lists all festivals and larger events: http://wx.toronto.ca/festevents.nsf/. Here you can find everything from the fantastic Winterlicious meal-deals to Valentine’s Day parties. As always http://torontocityevents.ca/site/ has featured events if your date enjoys touring the city.

Hiberdating
Not every Valentine is the type to dance till dawn. Knowing your date’s style social style will dictate if you paint the town red or curl up inside in front of a roaring fire. Staying in and “Hiber-Dating” as it’s affectionately known can be better than spending your money and time outside. Make it a perfect cozy evening for two with a bottle of wine (check the LCBO’s blog for hot deals) and a home cooked meal. Making the night a personal party for two does take some planning however, so stock up on snacks, treats, and movies and your evening is sure to be sizzling.Couple holding hands

 

There are many different routes to take when planning the perfect Valentine’s Day but when in doubt keep it simple, keep it thoughtful, and just remember: make it unique to your unique couple style!

8 Tips on Planning and Hosting Winter Events

February 1, 2012 by  
Filed under Ask Deb, Event Venues, Ontario


The days are shorter, the night are longer but don’t let old man winter stop you from hosting your most fabulous event yet! Follow these CityEvents tips to create a Winter Wonderland on any budget

1. Pick a Theme and Stick to it!

For a winter event let the season inspire you and all your décor, theme, activities, and food options. A fun festive tip to try is pick one winter item, anything from a crystal icicle, a snowy forest, or a roaring fire and from that item recreate the feel, smell, taste, touch and sound that object brings you in all your event’s details.

2. Stay Warm!

The temperature may be dropping but your parties are heating up!  Make sure your guests stay warm, and bundle up coming and leaving your event. It can be anything from having a heated area when lining up to enter the venue to as simple as offering extra mittens and scarves to your guests when they leave (bonus points for having your event logo on the accessories!). For smaller parties have your guests brave the cold with a cup of Goodnight Hot Chocolate!

3. Make Outside Inside

Why let the seven feet of snow outside your door limit your options. Make outside inside with different heating setups. Try installing a tent area to take advantage of a larger lawn. Small budgets are no problem, as decorating a yard with fairy lights and having folded blankets on chairs creates a winter wonderland while giving your guests a chance for a breath of frosty fresh air.

4. Safety First

Safety should be a concern for all savvy planners year round but winter presents its own unique challenges. As much as possible check the weather reports for the day of your event and shovel, salt, and snow-blow all walkways! Always do a run-through of your whole floor-plan to make sure there are no slipping and sliding risks. Have enough coat racks (or coat check) as well as mats for wet boots and shoes. As always, for any guests who were feeling the festive winter spirit and consumed have alcohol, insist on a taxi or have alternative transportation on standby. Two numbers for the Toronto area are: Beck 416-751-5555, and City Taxi 416-740-2222

5. Use the Season to Your Advantage

Winter is the best time to match your décor to the season. Ice sculptures, and ice luges (for beverages) are beautiful, reasonably priced, and an impressive visual for your guests. The lower light of the afternoon sets any candles and lighting aglow. Rich colours: crimson, snow white, pine greens pop against the drab background of the urban winter. The crisp air makes savoury smells more noticeable, and any warmth always draws people in off the street. Counterpoint the heat and energy of your party with the frosty outside and all your event choices will be that much more of a standout.

6. Try Something Different

As beautiful as the winter season is there is something to be said with doing the exact opposite! Vacation sales spike in the New Year for a reason – people want an escape! This is the perfect time to juxtapose a wacky or different theme to shake your guests out of their winter hibernation. Who wouldn’t want to try a January Hawaiian Luau or a Murder Mystery Dinner instead of a traditional February Valentine’s day party?  Get creative and try something no one else is doing! It’s sure to be noticed.

7. Timing is Everything

They’re called the “Winter Blahs” for a reason. Holiday season is very busy with Christmas, Chanukah, New Years and reunions. Guests may be worn out by January 1st, but there is a large empty period from Jan – March. This is the perfect time to plan your winter party and give your guests something to look forward to! Half the trick in creating a good buzz is standing out from the competition, and with little else going on even the smallest party will shine.

8. Make it Fun!

This is the most important thing to remember! As planners we can get caught up in the detail and forget to see the big picture. People come to events to have fun, so think critically. Is this something I would have fun at? Spontaneity is the key to fun; why not whip up a snowball fight at midnight? Drop snowflake confetti? Keep your guests guessing and keep it fun! Happy Planning!!

 

Outside may have been freezing rain but things were heating up for the 7th Noche Caliente Liberty Village Social Hour at Williams Landing!

January 31, 2012 by  
Filed under Past Events

On Thursday Jan 26th Liberty Villagers bundled up and headed out to network, socialize and most importantly have fun! Planned by Rod Ponce of RPC and Deb Lewis of CityEvents, Liberty Villagers were treated to a night of relaxation, amazing door prizes, and a signature Liberty Village cocktail.
For one evening the January gloom melted away into the chic urban glamour of the neighborhoods’ hottest new restaurant. If you missed out on the action, the next Liberty Social Hour is in the works for April 2012 we look forward to entertaining you at one of our upcoming events.

The 100 plus guests ranged from young professionals enjoying a post work signature Liberty Village cocktail, to marketing CEOs networking the room, to a retired couple out for an evening of fun. The attendants may have been varied but everyone had one thing in common: Liberty Village! Despite being the fastest growing district in Toronto Noche Caliente Liberty Social Hour perfectly captured the close-knit neighborhood spirit of the Village community.

Chatting with a six-time veteran of Liberty Social Hour, Amelia Paddington, she filled us in on how she became a fixture at the Liberty Social hour. “My husband and I walked into the first one without a clue to what was going on and not knowing a soul, but by the end of the night we had met so many people, some of whom even lived in our building and we had never spoken to! It’s gotten so much bigger since that first social hour, but its community events like these that make me love where I live”.

Over 20 local businesses generously donated samples, gift cards, and coupons to promote the village and appreciate its residents. Everyone left with a gift bag and a smile on their face. January may be the longest month of winter, but in Liberty Village they kicked the year off with a bang! Can’t wait for the next one!

Don’t get left behind, find out when the next Liberty Social Hour is on www.torontocityevents.cawww.inlibertyvillage.com, or follow CityEvents on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with upcoming events!

To see pictures of you and your friends from the event visit www.flikr.com/cityeventstoronto

For more information on this event visit, www.torontocityevents.ca, Facebook/LibertySocialHour-NocheCaliente, www.williamslanding.ca or www.inlibertyvillage.com, and supported by www.mercadonews.com, andwww.bhive.ca.

A few companies helped make this event possible were, Mercado, Vocado, Lust for Lashes, Portrait Dental, Deanceology, BrazenHead, Temple Kitchen, Bar Vespa, King West Fitness, Body Food, Magic Oven, Sell off Vacations, Vibrant Lifestyle, The Floor Studio Inc., Dinning Date Night, and Liberty Village Eye Care.

 

A midtown event venue popular for social events

November 9, 2011 by  
Filed under Ask Deb, Event Venues, Ontario, Toronto

A midtown event venue popular for social events Rosehill Venue Lounge offers a casual ambiance in the Rosedale and Summerhill area of Toronto, just south of Yonge Street & St. Clair Avenue. This venue is the “hidden gem” of special event venues in Toronto, with the ability to transform itself to suit almost any event need. Think of it as a Swiss knife for a venue and its versatility to convert for any event.

The space is great for a group around 100 and has a great kitchen for the chef’s to work out of but can grow to over 350. You can fit a dance floor with seated dinner if you have this size group, the space doesn’t feel overwhelmingly large or small-just comfortable. The ambiance is really nice with the exposed ceilings, brick walls, laminate/brick floor, and sofas in the lounge area and looks beautiful at night lit up by candles. Rosehill is perfect to have a dance floor, stage or focal point but also a casual lounge area.

The venue offers its clients the personalized service each distinct event requires. The staff is always on-the-ball and very friendly. From your first meeting, through the planning process, to the date of your event Rosehill can offer as much support as you require. It is steps from the subway and located next to a Green P parking lot. If you’re looking for a space that’s a little different, easy to get to from downtown, and not a banquet hall, check it out www.rosehillevents.ca

6 Rosehill Avenue, Toronto
ON M4T 2B7
(416) 923-2232

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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