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

Top Wing Places In The City for Super Bowl Sunday

Being that I have not seen one full football game this season and feel lost in this sea of Eagles, Giants, Jets and Patriots fans, (because I am a Carolina Panthers fan) I am looking forward to this Super Bowl Sunday for the food, friends and commercials. Football food means one thing to me, CHICKEN WINGS. Since my boyfriend took the liberty of inviting all of our friends to my apartment for the big game, it is times like these, I thank God I am an event planner and feel personally obligated to provide the best wings in the city. ---Emily

Seeing that I am a Giants fan living with a die-hard Falcons fan, a Jets fan, and a Cowboys fan, you can imagine the chaos that takes place at my apartment every Sunday during football season. I must admit, the sad 44-6 annihilation of the Cowboys by the Eagles, the firing of Jets head coach Eric Mangini, and the realization that none of our teams had made it to the Super Bowl seemed to be quite discouraging. However, in spite of the all of this, we have decided to swallow our pride and take part in the game's festivities…and what better way to celebrate another team's success on the Super Bowl? Friends, drinks, and a great big bucket of chicken wings! ---Christine

Here are our findings…we would have done a "Top 10" but there were only 8 places delicious enough for our list.

Top Wing Places In The City for Super Bowl Sunday

1. 1849 (Emily's personal favorite)
183 Bleeker St. 212-505-3200
http://www.1849nyc.com/contact.php
The wings are delicious and affordable, especially at happy hour. Although they are not delivering for the Super Bowl, they do offer Buffalo and Honey BBQ flavored wings and would be a great spot to watch the game.

2. Dinosaur Wings
646 131st St. at 12th Ave. 212-694-1777
http://www.dinosaurbarbque.com/
Dinosaur normally delivers but this Sunday they only offer pick up. Dinosaur has 4 different flavors; Mild/Honey BBQ, BBQ Spicy (staff favorite), Garlic Chipotle, and Doubles Duel. They offer a large order of 13 wings at $11.95.

3. Brother Jimmys
Many Manhattan Locations
http://www.brotherjimmys.com/
The staff says their wings are "unbelievable" and they don't work on commission. They are delivering Sunday but your orders must be in before Sunday. Wings come in flavors of Chipotle, Hot and Mustard.

4. Blue Smoke
116 E. 27th St. Park Ave. South 212-447-7733
http://www.jazzstandard.net/blue/index.html
Minimum for delivery is $500. They only have Chipotle chicken wings. You can order 44 wings for $31 or 100 wings for $63.

5. Blondies
212 W 79th St
New York, NY 212-362-4360
http://blondiessports.com/
They are delivering on Sunday but are not delivering during game time, 4:45 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Besides that time they deliver every quarter hour. The delivery standard is a bucket of 50 wings or a platter of 100 wings. The flavors are plain, mild, medium, hot, smokin', scorchin', sizzlin' and ouch.

6. Buffalo Wild Wings
139 Flatbush Avenue Brooklyn, NY 718-943-9453
http://www.buffalowildwings.com/
I know this place isn't in Manhattan but it is so delicious, I had to include it. They have a long list of available sauces, including, staff favorite, Honey BBQ and Spicy Garlic. The hottest wing sauce requires a signed waiver in order to eat it. They do not deliver but have affordable wing plates ranging from 6 wings for $5 to 50 wings for $30.

7. Bonnie's
278 5th Ave Brooklyn, NY 718-369-9527
http://brooklyn.citysearch.com/profile/7356065
Again, in Brooklyn, but this place was more confident about having the best wings in NYC than any other location. They do not deliver but offer Mild, Medium, Hot, and Hotter wings. The kitchen is willing to make the wings as hot as you want them. Staff members typically eat the wings at a medium flavor but no matter what flavor, the spices in the sauce are delicious.

8. Atomic Wings
Multiple locations in Manhattan.
http://www.atomicwings.com/site/
The menu is available online. The wings are come in plain, mild, medium or hot. They are delivering on Sunday. They claim to be the most authentic Buffalo Chicken Wings in Manhattan, ordering their wings directly from Buffalo, NY.

If you have any other suggestions or favorite wing places please let us know at info@pentaevents.com.

Manhattan Event Planners Out Smart Family Friendly Con Artist

New to the event planning industry at Penta Dynamic Solutions, naturally, I was thrilled when my boss asked me to plan my first event. Unfortunately, the party was cancelled last minute but this story is just as exciting as the event would have been.

Please let me introduce Rubin Roberts. He began as a client open to any recommendations from Penta and quickly became a family friendly con artist, wanting to pay for a small budget family reunion with faulty credit cards picture I.D.

Due to poorly written emails with several grammatical mistakes, only two weeks notice and a request to hire a Dee Jay from across the country, I began planning the event with a watchful eye. When I asked Roberts to call to go over any event details, he insisted we communicate via email since he is hearing impaired.

After all planning had taken place, Roberts requested to pay his upfront fee of $10,000 with five different credit cards. Still wary of the situation, my boss advised me to ask for copies of the front and back of each credit card, photo identification and a signed contract. Once the contract was received, the signature neither matched the photo identification nor the credit cards. Instead, each card had a printed signature from, what seemed to be, taken from a cursive font on Microsoft Word. The commercial photo identification license, to my surprise, was a beautiful blonde woman. After phone calls to both MasterCard and the Division of Motor Vehicles, we confirmed that all of the cards were fabricated. There was not much else I could do, but cancel the event.

I am afraid to ask but, do people really think they can get away with things like this? The most mind boggling part of the whole story was when we told Roberts we would not be able to move forward with assisting with his event. He had the audacity to ask “what do you mean by them not being valid?”

Rubin…Really!?!

Casually, our response was “According to the DMV, your driver’s license does not exist and according to MasterCard, your credit cards do not exist. Given this information we will not be moving forward with your event.” If that isn’t clear, I don’t know what is.

I wanted to Blog about this event, not to whine and complain, but to warn all venues, restaurants and event planning companies of Rubin Roberts and if nothing else, provide a laugh to any of our readers.

Emily

In this case, it's obvious at first glance but it may not always be. Here is where Rubin Roberts went wrong.

1. Date of Birth should be MM-DD-YY

2. Name should be Last Name, First Name

3. Address must exist If you google Rubin's address, it does not exist in New York State.

4. Eye color in picture should match description.

5. Signature should be your own and not cursive font from Microsoft Word.

6. Photo should have a grey background.

7. The I.D. Number should exist.

8. Signed contract and credit card authorization form should match signature of government issed I.D.

New York State of Mind

A Philly girl at heart, the idea of moving to New York City wasn’t exactly what people would call drastic. Growing up as a little girl and living only 100 miles from The Big Apple, I had NYC in the palm of my hands and at my disposal whenever I wanted to go visit. I graduated high school four years ago, and ventured up the turnpike to Staten Island, where I began my undergrad career at Wagner College. I remember looking out from my dorm room on my first night, and seeing nothing but bright city lights, the Verazzano Bridge, huge skyscrapers, and the Statue of Liberty. It was absolutely breathtaking, and I knew right then and there, that I made the right decision. Every free moment of time I had, any exciting opportunity that came by my way to go into the city, I took without hesitation. I was the girl with the subway map, the slow walker through Times Square gazing up at the bright lights at 4am, and the one who wasn’t aggressive enough with hailing a taxi when it was raining during rush hour.

Well, as graduation rapidly approaches and as I begin my Spring semester internship at Penta, I continue loving New York, experiencing new people, places, and ‘things,’ staying nostalgic as I enjoy my favorite (and still very touristy) things in the city.

A few of my favorite places to go and things to do/see in NYC...

The Staten Island Ferry. I’m a little bias, but I absolutely love riding the Staten Island Ferry. The view of the Verazzano Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, and lower Manhattan is incredible, and it’s absolutely FREE! Whether you are on it during the day, at night, or if you’re lucky to be on it during a sunset, the view will take your breath away.
Lombardi’s Pizza. 32 Spring St. (The corner of Spring and Mott) Lombardi’s is the World’s first Pizzeria and it’s the Best of New York. The setting is of an old eatery, and the pizza is delicious. I recommend the meatball pizza!
A walk over the Brooklyn Bridge at sunset is a must. Maybe I’m just in love with the view of the city, but this is another view you must experience, whether you’re a local or from out of town.
Serendipity. E. 60th St. If you’ve ever seen the movie Serendipity, you absolutely know why I’m in love with this restaurant. The atmosphere is both laid back and romantic, whether you’re coming in for lunch with your family and friends in the summer, or enjoying their frozen hot chocolate in the winter with your boyfriend.
Central Park. I love everything about Central Park. Laying out in the sun on a summer day, going to the Central Park Zoo, taking a horse and carriage ride, strolling through Strawberry fields while paying a tribute to the Beatles, or enjoying a romantic meal overlooking the lake at the Central Park Boathouse. There is so much to do in Central Park for all ages!

These are just a few of my favorite places to go and things to do in the city. I get really exciting thinking about how much fun I am going to have, and how much experience I’m going to gain as I begin interning with Penta. This city is full of endless opportunities, and I look forward to experiencing many more of them!

Kelly

Consider A Professional Event Planner For Your Planning Needs

I read a good article this morning on businessnfinance.com that I'd like to share...

"Hosting an interesting and energetic event that you can also relax and enjoy will likely require the services of a professional event planner. The planning of a party or event demands extensive management and good concentration. Any event demands a lot of good work, be it a small personal affair or a large corporate gathering. The event can be a private personal party, a wedding ceremony and concerts, among others.

Hiring a professional planner to work out the details of an event will often precipitate the best possible outcome, with very minimal or no mistakes. When deciding from among the available event planners, lookout for the following features. Any good event planner has resource knowledge of materials and goods, as well as knowledge of prices for such things. They know the highest and lowest market prices and they know where to get quality goods and services. For example, a weddings planner will literally purchase and plan for everything, from the wedding cake and flowers, to transportation and honeymoon reservations. All you and your guests have to do is show up. This saves a lot of time and money. They also relieve stress from the event host by making them feel relaxed and totally stress free, providing exclusive event management from beginning to end.

A professional event planner also offers great and unique ideas to make any event memorable. They usually have original, imaginative and creative ideas for all events. A good, experienced planner will have more than enough experience to bring the event to fruition. When scheduling for the different components of the event, a good planneris time efficient, knowing how much time the pastry chef, caterer, florist and decorators are likely to need. They can look for suitable indoor or outdoor venues to host special events and will have a back-up plan in case of inclement weather. They intricately understand the set standards and are familiar with event contracts. This can really save a lot of money. Acquire a professional event planner who easily understands your budget to provide a superb event. A lot of professional event planners are members of an event management company, and are affiliated with other companies that can provide things such as music, photographers, DJ's and caterers. The good planners listen before contributing. The show is theirs to run, but owned by the host. To get quality services and value for money, book them at least six months in advance of your upcoming events."

http://businessnfinance.com/general-business/803-consider-a-professional-event-planner-for-your-planning-needs

There are many ways that you and your company can benefit from using Penta Events to plan your next conference or gathering.  We hope to have the opportunity to discuss them with you.  If you are in the NYC area and interested in an event planner, please contact us at 212-344-2080.

Thanks!

-Cweb