10 Ways to Recession-Proof Your Career

With the current state of our economy at its weakest since the Great Depression, it’s not surprising that many individuals are nervous about losing their jobs. While the thought of this may have some of you running around in panic, I have gathered together a list of 10 simple things you can do to recession-proof your career.

1. Be visible. Unfortunately, now is not the time to take those extended vacation days. At this rate, your position may be eliminated while you are gone. Also, it’s important to find a way you can distinguish yourself positively from the crowd, and trust me…you won’t do this rolling into work 2 hours late.
2. Build your network. Current research suggests that 70 to 80 percent of jobs are found through networking. Go to special networking events within your industry and be sure to bring lots of business cards. Also, don’t forget to call, e-mail, and set up informal chats with family and friends. You never know – your dad’s college roommate’s son may be VP of the company of your dreams.
3. Get online. It’s important to have professional profiles on social networking sites, such as Facebook or LinkedIn, and update them often. These sites allow you to network with other individuals in your industry to give you some fresh, innovative ideas you can bring to your boss.
4. Give your personal best. Always be sure to give 110 percent; volunteer for extra work, stay late/come in earlier, and don’t complain! Times may be rough now, but all your extra work will pay off later when the economy turns up and it is time for a promotion.
5. Stay ahead of the curve. It is important to keep up to speed with what’s happening in your organization both internally, as well as externally. Stay on top of major shifts within your industry, anticipate change, and remain open to it. You are more likely to keep your position if you are able to demonstrate the ability to remain flexible.
6. Be in synch with your boss. This absolutely does not mean you need to suck up to your boss. This does mean that you need to learn how to flow with the ways he or she likes things to be done and present them well.
7. Take a class and build your skills. Consider going back to school for a higher degree, or just taking a class to stay on top of current trends in your industry. You need to make sure you remain competitive in your field – and furthering your education really shows your boss you are dedicated to your career and your performance.
8. Become a thought leader in your industry. Speak up at the next staff meeting and don’t be afraid to share your ideas. Be the first to start a blog at your company or volunteer to speak at your next industry conference.
9. Show them the money. Now, more than ever, bosses are most concerned with the company’s bottom line. Initiate brainstorm meetings with your boss and co-workers about ways to make and save money. If you place your focus on the company’s profit, your boss is more likely to pay more interest to you.
10. Be a winner, not a whiner! Find ways to do the work you don’t want to do by working alongside people you enjoy working with, or learn how to delegate the work to those who may enjoy doing it. It may be helpful to ask for a little more time to complete the work so you can learn how to do it in an enjoyable way.

Good Luck!

Christine

Penta, your event planning solution!

5 Reasons to Twitter

With Myspace, Facebook, Linkedin, and a million more other social networking sites taking over the Internet, you may be feeling as overwhelmed as I am. That’s why when I was introduced to Twitter, a free social networking site to stay connected to co-workers, as well as friends and family, I cringed at the idea. However, after doing some research of my own, I learned that Twitter is unlike any other social networking site on the Internet; therefore, I wanted to share a list of the top 5 reasons to use Twitter.

1) Networking. Whether it’s keeping in touch with an old friend or finding a new job, Twitter allows you to network with a large range of individuals. Twitter enables you to “follow” your connections to find out what they are doing. Unlike Facebook and Myspace, you choose to follow these individuals because they are of interest to you. In return, people are able to follow you as well.

2) Informative. Many current trends and information regarding breaking news stories appear faster on Twitter than any other social networking site. Janis Krums, for example, posted the very first photo of U.S Airways Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson back in January on Twitter from his iPhone. Within seconds, twitterers were informed of the breaking news that was happening in the Hudson.

3) Free PR. In today’s technological world it has become quite expensive to get your name out there. Twitter provides a simple and efficient way to let your followers know about you or your company. You can even upload your press releases for free so followers can become aware of breaking news regarding your company or organization.

4) Mobility. You can connect to twitter and your followers all-access from anywhere with Internet. Let your followers know that you will be late for a meeting, or boarding a plane from New York to LA, all from your cell phone. You can also be updated on what your followers are up to any time, day or night.

5) Provide customer service. People tend to share their true feelings about a company or product when they are in a social group. Many companies now can create a Twitter account to address these problems and concerns, as well as provide customers with further information regarding their company or organization. For example, Tablet Hotels created a Twitter account and viewed a posting from one of their members that stated a front desk worker was giving her a hard time. Within 30 seconds, customer service of the hotel was able to resolve the issue.

Find Penta On Twitter!
PentaEvents

EmilyROhnstad
ChristinaLWeber
CECarney

Penta Happy Hour at Whistlin’ Dixie’s

Penta Happy Hour at Whistlin’ Dixie’s

With President’s Day weekend already behind us, and the four-day work week coming to an end, what is there to look forward to next week? Well, I’m extremely excited for next Wednesday, February 25th. It’s my first company happy hour, and I would love to spend it with YOU! Come join the ladies of Penta for a FREE one hour happy hour at Whistlin’ Dixie’s from 6-7pm. And, there’s absolutely no rush to leave after 7. Stick around with us and enjoy 2-for-1 specials from 7-9. I think it’s going to be such a fun time. I invited a bunch of my friends from school to come for the happy hour so they can finally meet the people I work with, network meet new friends, and to obviously enjoy a few free cocktails! It’s so refreshing to be able to go out with your co-workers in a setting other than the office, and take business to a more social level. Everyone is so great here, and I get more excited each day being here and surrounding myself with these ladies!

So with that said, we would love for you to join us Wednesday, February 25th at 6pm, at Whistlin’ Dixie’s for networking, friends, and cocktails!

Whistlin’ Dixie’s also offers these Wild West Wednesday Specials:
$2 Dixie’s Tequila Shots
$2 shots During Karaoke
1/2 off Appetizers
Shotgun First Beer and get Second One FREE

Whistlin' Dixie's
714 West 11th Ave.
New York, NY 10019

For any questions or a free event consultation please contact Emily Ohnstad at 212-334-2080 or
eohnstad@pentaevents.com.

See you Wednesday!

-Kelly

Top 10 Free Things To Do In New York City

With the economy in the worst shape it has been since the Great Depression, its not that easy to have a social life in New York City now a days. I decided to compile a list of the top 10 things to do in New York City…and the best part is they’re absolutely FREE!

1) Free Drinks
MyOpenBar provides an extensive listing of venues in NYC that offer free booze to its patrons. The website is constantly updated with new promotions and deals from local bars for discerning drinker. Many of the specials include certain “well” drinks (the standard ones – not top shelf) for a fixed amount of time. These places are not your standard “hole in the wall” bars either; several of them are located in Midtown and the Lower East Side.
http://nyc.myopenbar.com/


2) Free Bar Food
Now that you know where the free drinks are, why not find out about the free bar food? GridSkipper provides a list of bars and restaurants in NYC and Brooklyn that offer cheap deals on food when you buy beer. I would recommend the Crocodile Lounge on 325 E 14th Street for its free pizza and skeet ball.
http://gridskipper.com/62732/nyc-free-bar-food


3) Free Friday Cultural Events
After doing some research, I was surprised to learn how many cultural institutions offer free admission on Fridays. The International Center for Photography, Museum of the Moving Image, and Museum of Modern Art are just a few among many of the institutions offering free admission. A detailed list of further places, as well as numerous other deals during the week can be found at:
http://gonyc.about.com/cs/museums/a/museumdeals.htm

4) Free Comedy
The Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre, located at West 26th in Chelsea provides its audience with anything that is comedy. Comedians offer everything ranging from improv, sketch and standup to pranks, jokes, and podcasts. They also offer improv classes for aspiring actors.
http://www.ucbtheatre.com/

5) Free Tickets to a New York TV Show
Instead of sitting home watching another episode of your favorite daytime or late night TV show, why not become part of the audience for free? Nytix provides free tickets to tapings of your favorite TV shows that are located in NYC. Shows range from The Colbert Report to Saturday Night Live and more. http://www.nytix.com/Links/TV/


6) Free Dance Classes
An easy way to keep in shape and learn a few new moves, ClubFreeTime offers listing of a wide variety of free dance classes. From Salsa classes, to Flamenco lessons and even Irish Step dancing, there is bound to be a class that will best fit your personality. http://www.clubfreetime.com/viewcategory.asp?view_category=dance

7) Free Gallery Opening Tours
Not only do some galleries provide free admission to their openings, but they may also give out free drinks as well. While this may sound great, the hardest part is finding these places. However, you’re in luck! Another feature from ClubFreeTime is a great listing of free gallery opening tours in NYC. The listing includes the name of the gallery, as well as the time and date of the opening.
http://clubfreetime.com/new_york.asp

8) Staten Island Ferry
Once quoted in a guidebook, “One of the world's greatest (and shortest) water voyages,” the 5 mile, 25 minute ride on the Staten Island Ferry provides a majestic view of New York Harbor and a no-hassle, even romantic, boat ride, for free! From the deck of the ferry you will have a perfect view of The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. You'll see the skyscrapers and bridges of Lower Manhattan receding as you pull away and coming into focus again as you return.

9) Big Apple Greeter
There’s no better way to explore NYC than with a true New Yorker who loves the city! Big Apple Greeter was founded in 1992 as the first “welcome visitor” program of its kind in the United States. Today, there are roughly 300 volunteer greeters who will show you a favorite neighborhood, answer your questions, and demonstrate how easy it is to use free public transportation…all for free! This is a great program for those who are new the city and want to learn more.
http://www.bigapplegreeter.org/


10) Free clubs and gigs
Frequenting local clubs and gigs is a great way to explore different areas of the city. However, overpriced cover charges and drinks may make this difficult, especially in this economy. In light of all this, I was able to find a terrific website, http://www.freenyc.net/, that gives an awesome list of upcoming of performers who are playing at clubs with absolutely no cover charge! The site provides a detailed listing of the venue, as well as the performer with the time, date and location.

-Christine

Penta – your event planning solution!

Impress Your Sweetie This Valentine’s Day at Honey

With Valentine’s Day just three days away, the thought of planning a romantic night out with your special someone last minute could be very stressful. That is why Honey, a charming 3,000 square foot venue with exposed brick, warm mahogany paneling, and chocolate brown leather banquettes, is the perfect sweet spot to impress your date.

Honey, located at 243 West 14th Street, is offering an unbelievable three course price-fixed menu that includes two bottles of wine or champagne per reservation. At $65 per person, you and your date can soak up the ambiance of Honey, while sipping on champagne, and savoring the delicious food the pre-fixed menus has to offer.

Honey’s Valentine’s Day three course dinner includes:

Appetizer

Beet and Goat Cheese Salad
Roasted Baby Beets, Crumbled Goat Cheese, Arugula,
Spiced Walnuts, with a lemon vinaigrette

Blue Cheese Pomegranate Salad
Mesculun, Blue Cheese, Cherry Tomatoes, Sugar Snap Peas with a Pomegranate Vinaigrette

Entrees

Citrus Glazed Salmon
Cilantro Mango Rice, Haricot Vert

Pan Seared Chicken Breast
Served with Shallots, Blood Oranges, Wild Mushrooms, Parsley, Mint, New Potatoes

White Cheddar Fondue by DIP
Served with Assorted Vegetables, French Baguette & Walnut Raison Bread

Desserts

Profiteroles

Assorted Truffle and Cookie Selection

Milk Chocolate Fondue by DIP
Served with Brownie Bites, Rice Crispy Treats, Lady Fingers, Strawberries, Bananas, & Marshmallows

It’s not too late to plan something special for your date this Valentine’s Day! Call 212.620.0222 to make reservations for this Saturday, and spend Valentine’s Day impressing your date at Honey.

Kelly

Top 5 Best & Worst Gifts to Give Your Man

Valentine’s Day is the one day out of the entire year when couples, young and old; married or dating; gallivant about to officially celebrate their love for each other. While many guys will tell you Valentine’s Day is stereotypically a “woman’s holiday,” I beg to differ. With Valentine’s Day just 3 days away, I began scrambling to come up with the perfect gift idea for my boyfriend. After consulting several close girlfriends and performing a little research of my own, I have come up with a list of the 5 best and worst gift ideas for your boyfriend. So, for all the ladies out there who are still struggling to find that perfect gift, I share with you my findings:

Top 5 Best Gifts to Give Your Man:

1. Beer of the Month Club:
Each month, taste-testing professionals from the Beer Club sample award-winning microbrews from across the country. Only their favorites become monthly selections in the Beer-of-the-Month Club. Your guy will receive 12 smooth ales and hearty lagers a month - all brewed exclusively for their members and delivered to your door brewery-fresh. Pricing and order information can be found at: http://www.amazingbeerclub.com/product3.cfm?utm_source=GIFTSCOM&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=AC-BEER&utm_content=PRODUCTAD&utm_term=BEER-3

2. Tickets to a Sporting Event:
While your sweetie may be dismal about the end of football season, you can cheer him up with basketball tickets or maybe opening day for a baseball game in the spring. Not only will you show him you care but you can join him in something that he loves! The best way to find tickets for the perfect event is through ticket master: http://www.ticketmaster.com/

3. Valentine’s Day Breakfast in Bed Gift Basket:
Nothing says, "I love you" like breakfast in bed and an outstanding line of Valentines Day Gift Baskets that are guaranteed to impress! Get the day started on the right foot, or help savor the night before by making an easy, delicious gourmet breakfast in just a few minutes with this thoughtful and romantic Valentines Day Gift. He’ll wake up to the aroma of fluffy pancakes, fresh country ham, authentic maple syrup, blueberry jam and much more! It’s not too late to order today:
http://www.gourmetgiftbaskets.com/Valentines-Day-Breakfast-Gift-Basket.asp?refer=Gifts(Valentines)

4. Intimate Bedroom Gifts
OK ladies, let’s face it…our men love it when we’re a little naughty. Why not make him extra happy this Valentine’s Day and surprise him with some sexy lingerie or an intimate pleasures board game to play after dessert. Maybe you would like to send him a Panty Gram? Find out more at: http://www.sendapantygram.com/what_is.php

5) A Classy Watch
Simple, yet sweet, a classy watch is the perfect gift for your guy this Valentine’s Day. His friends and co-workers will be so impressed…and just think, he’ll never have an excuse for being late again! I would recommend viewing: http://www.rolex.com/ or http://www.bulova.com/

Top 5 Worst Gifts to Give Your Man:

1) Sex for Dummies
I would hope there would be no explanation needed for this one; however, it’s important to note that it’s very rare that a book is a romantic gift for your guy…especially in this case if it’s the “pocket-sized edition.”

2) His and Hers Golf Clubs
While I understand it may be hard to for you to accept, you need to come to terms with the fact that he needs his little activities to spend time away from you every now and then. Yes, you may look at this gift and think; “He’ll appreciate the fact that I want to spend time with him doing the things that he enjoys.” However, trust me when I tell you he will be thinking, “I want to be wherever you are, doing the things you find most relaxing – like golf; that thing you do on a 150 acre golf course, while I find ways to complain it’s too far from hole to hole.”

3) Cooking Classes
There isn’t a girl I know who wouldn’t dream of having her own Emeril Lagasse to cook her dinner every night. Unfortunately, for most of us this is not the case. Again, while you may see this as something fun you can do together, if you just spring it on him on Valentine’s Day he may take it as, “I don’t like your cooking and so here are some classes so you can improve.” If you really would like to take the classes together, you should plan around both of you work schedules and decide on special cuisines you can make together so nobody gets their feelings hurt.


4) Cheap Liquor
Well you know what they say… nothing says, “I love you,” like a good bottle of Jack Daniels Tennessee Whiskey! OK, so I know what you’re thinking… what if it’s my guy’s drink of choice? Well, instead of purchasing the bottle, why not make that extra step and take him out to a nice restaurant where he can order the drink if he wants? Ultimately, if your guy’s a wine drinker, a nice red or white would be the perfect way to set the mood this Valentine’s Day.

5) Gift Cards
While I thought cheap liquor was bad, I have to say that giving your sweetie a gift card is about as impersonal as it gets. Even though you may purchase one be to his favorite store, you are better off going to the store and trying to find the perfect gift for him there. This will at least show you put time and effort into the gift and it will show that you know a little something about him.

Well… that’s it! I hope this helped. Now go out there and get to shopping!

Christine

Single in the City

Do you find yourself dreading walking down the streets of Manhattan on Valentines Day, in the midst of a sea of red and pink? Is your plan to rebel against this Hallmark holiday by locking yourself in your apartment, putting on sweats, eating ice cream and watching movies like Casanova, waiting for the clock to strike 12:00 am, February 15^th? Valentine’s Day shouldn’t just be reserved for couples only. So instead, round up your friends, get all dolled up, and check out 10 Places where Singles can Defy Cupid together in NYC this Valentine’s Day!

1. “Ex-orcism at the Village Pourhouse.” 64 Third Avenue, at 11^th St. Bring a picture of your ex and mount it up on a dartboard! For those with great aim, hit bulls-eye and win a free hour open bar; and for those who just bring a picture and take out some post-relationship anger, enjoy free Bud Light.

2. “Cupid is Stupid at the Town Tavern.” 134 West 3^rd Street. Enjoy a $20 top shelf open bar with complimentary Love Potion and Passed Hors d’Oeuvres from 7-9, with a donation of Canned Goods to benefit City Harvest sponsored by Anheuser Busch.
3. “Single Soiree” at SideBar. 118 East 15^th Street at Irving. Sip red and pink cocktails, eat from a delicious chocolate fountain, and mingle with other singles to their live DJ.
4. Southern Hospitality’s Valentines Day Singles Ball. 1460 2^nd Avenue. SoHo offers a $45 4 hour Premium Open Bar from 10pm-2am, and also $6 drink specials and specialty shots all night, including Love Potion #9, Bleeding Heart, Love Bites, Pink Crush, and Love Bird.
5. “No Love at the Cow” @ Sunburnt Cow. 137 Avenue C. Singles will come together on Saturday for a $20 two hour open bar from 6pm-8pm, which includes the night special, “love potion.” Also, take some shots from the “ice luge of love” and hope for the best!
6. 1^st Annual Singles Ball at Hudson Terrace-621 West 46^th Street. Savor chocolate covered strawberries, a champagne reception, and a 1-hour open vodka bar, while dancing the night away with other singles under the beautiful chandeliers. Tickets are $30 for women, and $50 for men.
7. People Lounge. 163 Allen Street (LES). Mingle with hundreds of singles, listen to their live DJ, and sip on your drink of choice during the 9pm-midnight cash bar. RSVP at valentineguest@nyminutedating.com.
8. New York’s Largest Singles Anti-Valentines Day After Work Party. Thursday, February 12^th from 6pm-midnight @ The Taj. 48 W 21^st Street. Surround yourself with hundreds of NYC singles for a night of flirting, networking, and dancing. Enjoy Hors d’Oeuvres, happy hour, and door prizes! You must purchase a ticket prior to event.
9. Not feeling the bar scene on V-day? No worries. Leave the flowers, chocolate, and romance at the door, and throw a party with your friends! Have your friends invite their friends, and so on. Send out cute and humorous invitations. Here is one that I came across that I thought would be absolutely perfect:

Roses are red,

Violets are blue,

This invitation is only for you.

Do not bring a date,

To this little soiree,

Come celebrate single life on Valentine's Day!

10. You don’t need someone else to take you out and buy you something nice. So gather up your girlfriends and pamper yourself! Throw an “I’d rather be in debt than in a relationship party” and shop ‘til you drop. Get a massage, buy a new outfit, and treat yourself to a nice dinner and cocktails, because we all deserve it!

Mingle if you’re single! Valentine’s Day isn’t all about love, relationships, and pink and red clichés. Take advantage of what this city has to offer on Saturday. So, go out with your friends, have some drinks, and enjoy all of the other singles living in NYC!

Kelly