Archive for May, 2009

Come hungry, leave happy

Friday, May 29th, 2009

How about taking time off our kitchens and let someone else take care of “what’s for dinner”? One Sunday a month, with a negotiated prix-fixe menu in a restaurant around town, let gather and end the week among friends! For $30.00 we’ll share appetizers family style, you’ll get to choose from a selection of entrees and we’ll toast to good friends and good food with a glass of wine, beer or well-alcohol cocktail.

Chicks CafeThis month marks the kick-off of our new Sunday Supper series. Our place of choice on June 14, will be Chicks Cafe and Wine Bar: a neighborhood bar with a welcoming, casual and friendly atmosphere, that yet, has a great sophistication and diversity in the food and beverages offerings with a focus on the cuisines of Italy, France and Spain.

For more details, email info@rdemarketing.com

0

Ultimate Events '09 – June: Fore @ 4pm

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Oh Little Audrey Says supports unique occasions to share in the aspirations and excitement of top small business owners as they produce ultimate quality events thanks to their talent, passion and panache. This post will be refreshed every month with new exciting events.

Golf courseWhat is Fore @ 4pm…

Growing your business is all about making contacts, so why not do it on the golf course? Come join fellow business professionals twice a month between May and October at various golf clubs throughout the Philadelphia region.

The KB Experience will be hosting Fore @ 4pm at golf clubs throughout the Tri-state area.

9 holes will be played shot gun start at each location with a cocktail networking after

9 holes Price: $ 45
Lesson Price: $ 125

Event Info

June 4th at Valley Brook

4PM 9 holes – 6PM Cocktail Networking Reception
200 Golfview Drive | Blackwood, NJ 08012
(P) 856-227-3171 | (F) 856-227-8036

For more information contact Kristie Bergey at Golf@kbexperience.com

0
Tags: ,
Posted in Raison d'Etre |

Dancing the Big Apple

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

For the past few weeks, I went back to my old time favorite: Lindy Hop, with a 3-weeks course refresher on the Big Apple, with LaB, a very dynamic group of Lindy dancers.

Here’s what the Big Apple looks like and, if you speak Lindy, the description. For the Lindy virgins, I encourage you to come to Society Hill Dance Academy and try one of my Lindy 101 class.

According to Stuart from LaB: “Nationally, the Big Apple is done as a reproduction of one documented in the ‘Keep Punchin’ movie from 1939. This was Whitey’s Lindy Hoppers version with Frankie Manning and its really great!”

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hruwaXe8Frc]

The Big Apple

Stomp kick switch cross jump turn
Brush push for 8
Cross left behind to snap for 8
Drunken sailor
Frog jumps
Apple jack + apple jack back to center
Look out far
Suzie Q 3 x8
Dusty rusty 4 forward 4 backward 4 left 4 right (opposite for leader on last 2)
Kick the baby 3 x 8
Flying Charleston x3
Frog jump right / left / back /back
Boogie front x2
Crazy legs x2
Frog jump right / left / left (right / left / right for leader)
Ride the pony
Walk walk (starts on 1)
Knee slap x2
Fall off the log end with partner arm in arm
Turn to one side 4 counts – turn to the other side 4 counts
Leader turn and finish side to side – jump around in circle
Bridge
Clap clap clap-clap clap wave x3
Shim-sham break (leader turning finish in one line facing audience)
Chichkeboomba right then Chichkeboomba left
Back with left foot
Knee up left then right moving forward
Kick change x3
Side step right – cross behind – jump side right knee up
Back step left – cross – ½ turn
Shrugs left x4
Shrugs right x2 end 2x feet open hip apart – bend forward butt out
Step back right left
Fall of the log right kick end w/ touch left foot
Frog jumps x4
Shorty George with slow walk on 7/8, 1/2, 3/4, then fast again and slow again on same timings, finish with 2 fast walk
Charleston starting with kick left foot
Around the world
Back step left, cross in front, end knee slap right
Back step right, ball change, cross in front, knee slap (x2 – each side)
Walk right, walk, down, up (left knee up)
Suzy Q
Flying Charleston (switch place with partner)
Suzy Q
Flying Charleston (switch place again)

0
Tags: , ,
Posted in Moves |

Star Trek | The Exhibition

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

I had the opportunity to preview the Star Trek Exhibition at the Franklin Institute. It officially opened on May 16th and “trekie” or not, it’s a cool way to spend an afternoon. What I learned: Vulcans only mate every 7 years, and if they don’t, they die. I’m glad I’m not a Vulcan!

Here’s a pick at the exhibit… en images!

"Get out of that chair!"

"Get out of that chair!"

Command central

Command central

"Where are we going next?"

"Where are we going next?"

0

Reason #100 – Philadelphia loves its beer!

Thursday, May 21st, 2009
Selection of French beers at Le Bec Fin - Beer Week 2008

Selection of French beers at Le Bec Fin - Beer Week 2009

With a line-up that featured over 50 of the biggest names in brewing and 679 successful events, Philly Beer Week (PBW) 2009 held in March became the country’s largest celebration of beer event, in only its second year.

From what I noticed, in March, there are 2 ways of showing your love for beer in Philadelphia: the Erin Express way… a stroll from bar to bar, drinking cheap beer and where what matters is quantity; and the Beer Week way, a journey through a wide variety of beer tasting and their pairing with food, here, what matters is quality.

In 2010, Philly Beer Week will be moving from March to June, which I believe is a good thing: warmer weather and no confusion possible with St Patrick’s day and it’s crowd of Miller Lite drinkers.

So wether you’re a beer novice, like a I was last March, or a connoisseur, save the date: June 4 to 13 2010!

0

Where did Little Audrey go? (Episode 4)

Wednesday, May 20th, 2009

feet_4Those feet are made for walking. Guess where they are (precise location) and win a t-shirt. Just put your answer in the comment section!

0

Opinion on cooking steaks

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

The worst thing a restaurant can do is serve an overcooked steak. Medium-rare means it still juicy and red inside. Per the Wikipedia definition: “warm red center; firmer”.

I’m polite and respectful of the value of food, and will not send the meat back. But I will probably leave a review on Yelp and probably NOT go back to that restaurant.

0
Tags: ,
Posted in Opinions |

On the menu of the French Cafe: Salade de Chevres Chauds

Monday, May 18th, 2009
Salade de Chevre Chauds - Photo credit: Sara Maternini

Salade de Chevre Chauds - Photo credit: Sara Maternini

A dish you’ll find in most bistro and brasserie in France, but also on the table at family dinners.

Salade de Chevre Chauds (Warm Goat Cheese Salad)

For 2 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 small round goat cheeses (preferably Crottins de Chavignol)
  • 7 oz. lettuce
  • 4 slices ham
  • 1 apple
  • 4 slices of bread (preferably Baguette)
  • 2 tbs mustard
  • 3 tbs red wine vinegar
  • 6 tbs olive oil
  • Salt & pepper

Preheat the oven at 400°.

Cut the cheeses horizontally in 2 thick slices.
Heat the cheese slices in the oven for 13 minutes (until soft), place under the grill for 1 minute if necessary.
Clean the lettuce and place it in a bowl. Cut the ham in thin strips. Skin and dice the apple. Reserve.
Prepare the dressing by mixing mustard, vinegar, olive oil, salt & pepper in a bowl and pour over the salad. Toss.
Plate the salad and garnish with ham slices and apple dice.
Toast the bread and dispose 2 slices on each plate. Add a warm goat cheese slice on each slice of bread.

Bon appetit!

0
Tags:
Posted in French Cafe |

Wheels of life

Friday, May 15th, 2009

Ray & Melinda

When I started dancing many many years ago, I found a joy that I never experienced before. Dancing helped be through the toughest times and several times gave me a purpose when everythings else in my life was going down. I often wondered what I would do if something happened and I ended-up in a wheelchair. What would life be without dancing.

Meeting Ray Leigh and Melinda Kremer, from American Dance Wheels, not only answered that question: I would keep on dancing; but also shed a new light on the purpose behind the dance. It made me realize that in the most dramatic situations, dancing can be a reason to keep on going.

Through my work at Society Hill Dance Academy, I had the opportunity to get trained in wheelchair dancing, both as an able-bodied and an ambulatory-disabled dancer. It’s been one of the most enlightening experience and I can’t wait to help bring more people on the dance-floor both on their feet or on their wheels.

American Dance Wheels is “the home of the first American style wheelchair ballroom and Latin dance program in the world”, and I’m a firm supporter of that cause. SHDA is hosting a benefit event for the association on June 13, stay tuned for more information.

0
Tags: , ,
Posted in Stories |

Raison d'Etre (a.k.a RDEMarketing)

Thursday, May 14th, 2009

Logo RDERaison d’Etre incorporates all the dimensions of the ultimate relationship marketing experience with the launch and expansion of its online outreach.

The rdemarketing.com website gives you a broad idea of the services offered by Raison d’Etre, includes samples of projects ran for clients in various industries, and markers on who we are and what our mission is.

The Raison d’Etre Facebook Fan Page is dedicated to friends and supporters of our initiative. It also is a forum for marketing & hospitality oriented events in the Philadelphia area that Raison d’Etre organizes or partners with.

The LinkedIn page will give you an idea of the size of our network and provide feedback from clients and partners.

The Twitter account @RDEMarketing, provides a fresh insight on a broad range of subject, instantaneous opinions, ideas, comments. Tweets can be educational or just amuzing. The best way to stay tuned on what’s cooking at Raison d’Etre.

The monthly newsletter brings Raison d’Etre’s news straight to your mailbox and provides its subscribers info, promos, and special deals from our clients and partners… Click here to sign-up!

0