Month: October 2014
Tech Tuesday: EventMobi, Create, Customize, and Launch Your Event App
Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming technologies for their innovative ideas and impact on the event world!
“Create, customize, and launch your event app!”
This week, we are encouraging you to check out EventMobi. This application enables event planners and marketers to create their own event app for their individual needs. Millions of event planners, marketers, and attendees from more than 40 countries use this app, which is easily accessible from a smartphone, tablet, or any other online device.
How it works: You have full control over the creation of your personalized event app. Whether you want to include registration features, post-event reporting, or attendee activities, EventMobi helps you to set up the features you need. If you’re in doubt, you can contact the EventMobi support team, who will help you design your app according to your needs.
Why we love it: EventMobi is easy to use and cost-efficient! You can customize your personal event app exclusively with features you really need, without any clutter. Using EventMobi also reduces the need for paper, which helps your event simultaneously go green and stay organized!
No matter what kind of app you create, EventMobi keeps it secure and confidential! You can create pre-event, on-site, and post-event features, with individual branding for your company. Organizations like Disney, IBM, and SalesForce are just some of EventMobi’s popular clients.
StartUp Monday: Hall – Group Chat and Instant Messaging for Companies
Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events!
Hall is a social app that brings your team together. You can chat, share files, and create groups with people both in and out of your company. Businesses can easily send and receive messages one-on-one or in groups with users who are in- and out-of-network which erases the need to constantly check your work email.
Another feature of Hall is the ability to integrate other services, such as Dropbox, Jenkins, and Hubot, so you can check out what’s happening on online services all in one place.
Why We Love Hall: Hall is not only FREE, but it is accessible anytime, anywhere! You can access it from your iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux and the Web because it syncs across all devices. It’s perfect for events because we can easily communicate with our client and send messages to all of our staff in the blink of an eye, no matter what device we’re on! We’re not the only ones who love Hall as Intuit, VH1, Zynga, NetApp, Amazon.com, and JCPenny are loving the product too!
Would you use Hall’s group chat and instant messaging for companies you’re interested in communicating with? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Available on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac , Windows, Linux and Web
Seasonal Fall Foods for Our Tables
ABCey Events loves using the freshest fruits and vegetables to feed our guests! We are super excited to welcome a new season of food to spice up our event menus! Squash, apples, pears, sweet potatoes and other Fall foods are making their way onto our tables in the coming months. Here are some fun recipes to incorporate into your fall festivities!
Festive Pumpkin Dip
This spiced delicious Festive Pumpkin Dip is the perfect use of seasonal fruits and vegetables, like pumpkin and peppers, to serve to your guests as an appetizer. Just be warned, they may not want to stop for the main course!
Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Onions
While the turkey might be the protein of choice in November, we think pork roast goes pretty well with classic Autumn vegetables. In this Pork Roast with Sweet Potatoes, Apples, and Onions, you’ll be able to experience all of the Fall flavors in one delicious dish. Did we mention this recipe is gluten free?
Apple Bundt Cake with Caramel Glaze
Apples, spices, and caramel glaze; what is more Fall than an Apple Bundt Cake? We’re sure we won’t be able to leave the table after having a slice of this festive cake, but it’ll be worth it!
Spiked Mulled Apple Cider
Cozy up with a spiked mulled apple cider on a chilly Fall day. Basically the Autumn version of sangria, this hot drink has orange zest, cinnamon, cardamon, nutmeg and apples of course! Just keep them coming.
What are your favorite foods to eat this season? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend LineUp: San Francisco October 9th – 12th, 2014
There is a weekend of festivals ahead of us and ABCey has selected the best ones for you! Our weekend lineup shows you where to find the best entertainment and coolest festivities. From party animals to food lovers, we’ll fill you in on the hottest spots in San Francisco!
Union Square Fall Fashion Festival
Thursday, October 9 | 5PM to 11PM | Union Square | Free The stores on Union Square will be celebrating the upcoming fall fashion and are inviting everybody to a fashion party in the heart of San Francisco. Participating shops will be offering discounts and gifts, combined with entertainment, refreshments and music. Most stores will be open late! Fashion fans that want to continue the festivities, are also invited to the after-party at Hawthorn Cocktail Lounge. You can purchase tickets for the after-party here. 
Fleet Week
October 9 – 13 | 11AM to 6PM | Northern Waterfront, San Francisco | Free Fleet Week is back! In honor of the armed forces of our nation, the Northern Waterfront will be presenting air shows, ship parades, and military displays. Visit the pier to enjoy all kinds of live entertainment and performances. Visitors can watch the famous ship parade on Friday at 11AM and the Blue Angels air show rehearsal from 12:30PM to 3PM. If you like fireworks you can watch the firework show on Saturday at 8:30PM. For the full program click here. 
2014 World Vegetarian Day Festival
October 11 – 12 | 10AM to 6PM | SF Country Fair Building inside Golden Gate Park | Free from 10 AM to 10:30AM, then $10. Free for students with ID and children under 12 years. This two-day festival is a must for all vegetarians, vegans, and meatless food lovers! Aside from guest speakers, talks, cooking demos, and health exhibits, there will be plenty of free samples! Inform yourself about a healthy diet and learn how to use plant-based meat substitutes like seitan or soyrizo in your meals. Click here for the schedule. 
Yerba Buena Night Festival
Saturday, October 11 | 4PM to 10 PM | Yerba Buena Center for Arts, 701 Mission Street (at 3rd Street) | Free | If you’re looking for a fun culture event, the Yerba Buena Night Festival will be your best bet! The 4th annual outdoor event presents music, dance, and art on 5 stages. Enjoy performances by Ensemble Mik Nawooi, Hope Mohr Dance, The Verms, and many more. Novela, La Boulange, Off the Grid and many other vendors will be there to spoil you with delicious food. 
Decompression 2014
Sunday, October 12 | 12PM to 12AM | Entrance 19th Street and Mariposa | Cover: $15 before 4PM, then $20 | Do you love Burning Man and can’t wait for next year? You don’t have to wait that long for your next Burning Man experience! Dedicated Burners have the chance to party, enjoy music, dancing, performances, and art this weekend, in good old Burning Man style. Dig out your fanciest costume and join Decompression 2014 for a day celebrating the Playa.
Which festival will you be enjoying this weekend? Tell us about your plans in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Think + Drink: Building Successful Businesses in the E-Commerce Era
Looking for a fun and innovative event to attend next week?! On Wednesday, October 15th, Atelier Advisors is hosting Think + Drink, an event offering its attendees insight into building a successful businesses in today’s e-commerce era. Come along for a night that can’t be missed, a night of great discussion, networking, and cocktails!
Featuring Julie Wainwright
October’s Think + Drink event will Feature Julie Wainwright, founder of and CEO of The RealReal, a luxury resale marketplace online with a platform reshaping the way we look at consignment shopping! Wainwright is a pioneer of the e-commerce era, working as both the CEO of Reel.com (1997) and Pets.com (1999), she was also featured in TechCrunch‘s “40 Over 40” Silicon Valley entrepreneurs (2014) and recognized as a top female entrepreneur by San Francisco Business Times.
Atelier Advisors
Atelier Advisors, founded by Lili Balfour, provides strategic and financial advisory services to early-stage companies, companies committed to changing the world with their innovative ideas and platforms. Atelier Advisors have helped over a hundred companies raise $200 million.
Will you be attending Think+Drink? Don’t forget to purchase tickets on Eventbrite.com. Tell us your thoughts about this event in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Tech Tuesday: WanderList, A Digital Travel Guide
Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming technologies for their innovative ideas and impact on the event world! This week we want to introduce you to WanderList, a digital travel guide that provides you with a hand-curated list of things to do in your current city!
WanderList is a digital travel guide which provides recommended restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and hotels around San Francisco with future plans to launch in other cities. This San Francisco startup was inspired by the more than 40 countries its team has explored.
WanderList’s main selling point is that travelers don’t have to lug heavy travel books around when they’re exploring different cities. Instead, they just check in on their phone to see where the best places around them are located. Since the content is frequently updated, globetrotters will always be given the most up-to-date information and be more informed about their traveling decisions.
Why We Love WanderList: Aside from being FREE, WanderList shows us where to go – places only locals know about – and tells us why that particular location is so cool. As event planners, we’re always looking to discover new venues and vendors, which is made so much easier by WanderList who finds us the best of the best. Since we use our phones everyday to call Ubers and post selfies to Instagram, why not discover favorite spots on your phone as well. Exploring cities was never easier! 
What city would you want to explore with WanderList? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Start Up Monday: Munchery
Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events!
With the mission of “reinventing weeknight dinner!” Munchery provides for its followers not only affordable food delivered right to your door, but healthy food as well (and did we mention tasty!) Working in event planning we understand what it’s like to live life on the go, being swamped with overflowing meeting and scheduling, planning out what’s for dinner is usually just an after thought to an already stressful day. But with Munchery meals you get food that is good as well as convenient with an ever changing menu that is sure to rival your local chinese take out!
How it works: Every day a team of local chefs create a variety of handmade entrees and desserts, all you have to do is select an entree of your choosing and select a time for delivery between 5-9pm (and don’t forget to tip your delivery driver).
Why we love it!: Not only does the Munchery provide it’s customers with deliciously affordable meals but for every meal ordered a meal is donated! And not to mention that the business is green, using sustainable packaging with boxes made of renewable plant fibers.
Would you try out Munchery? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
Wearables You’ll Want To Wear
With the iWatch on the scene let’s face it, wearables are becoming quite the hot commodity. But instead of the clunky futuristic looking gadgets lurking out there, why not try on something you can actually…well wear! ABCey Events would like to introduce you to our favorite wearables of the moment, both on the market and coming soon!
MICA Bracelet
The MICA bracelet, or My Intelligent Communication Accessory, is a beautiful gadget, combining elements such as semi-precious gems and water snakeskin with cutting-edge technology. The style comes in both black and whites and features a curved sapphire glass touchscreen display. On the bracelet, users will be able to receive alerts, SMS messages, and other general notifications, right on your wrist! The MICA is not yet released so many other functionalities of the bracelet are TBD. But no need to worry, MICA bracelets will arrive on shelves this holiday season at select Barney’s and Open Ceremony stores!
The Everpurse
Shooting to the top of our wishlists this Christmas has got to be the 2015 Everpurse, posing as a sleeker more versatile version of it’s predecessor. As a clutch, rather than a wristlet the Everpurse will be able to store daily essentials such as sunglasses, beauty basics and of course, our phones! In addition to the size the new model provides new designs as like the Saffiano leather bags with delicate gold hinges, replacing the clunky silver hardware, and a simpler color palette of black, deep blue and nude. Similar to it’s predecessor the 2015 Everpurse will be able to give your phone a 48 hour charge while zipped in, with the new model will be able to now double your battery’s life giving it up to 96 hours of juice!
Linou
Want a wearable that’s a little simpler, as well as sustainable? Why not try the Linou? The Linou comes in two forms, the Notification Necklace and the Wood Tech Watch, mixing technology with a sleek and natural design. This simple little gadget made from wood (black ebony timber, bamboo, or walnut), stainless steal, and sapphire and serves as notification tool linking to your phone via bluetooth. The Linou vibrates as well as has different custom color alerts based on the notification. Fashion-tech guru, and designer Christopher Magick set out to create a wearable more focuses on the design.
Memory Ring
Though the Memory Ring is adorable, this little guy really packs a punch with memory starting at 16GB with the capacity to store you digital valuables, like photos, personal, and work files. It’s fashionable as well as handy in work situations, planners can have all their files at the tips of their fingers if a crisis every arises all while looking fabulous at the same time! Though the ring still isn’t on the market, be sure to get an Early Bird Pledge on Kickstarter available for $40! This ring is not something to miss, especially with the holidays coming up!
Which of these wearables are you inclined to wear? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend LineUp: San Francisco October 2nd-5th, 2014
Alright folks! Looks like it’s everybody’s favorite topic of the week, weekend plans! Whether your looking to hit the clubs, get pretty in pink (gentlemen included), or listen to a little blue grass, ABCey Events is here to shed some light on the matter.
Featuring: Lorde
Thursday, October 2nd | 8PM | Greek Theater, Oakland | $60| Though she is only 17, and gained a record deal at age 12, Lorde has certainly become one of the biggest breakout artists of the year. Her first single “Royals” won her the title of “Best New Artist” on the 2014 Brit and Billboard Awards and the coveted title of “Song of the Year” at the Grammys! Whether your already a fan or ready to convert to one, Lorde is the artist to watch, why not at the Greek Theater?
Dance Party at Nightlife
Thursday, October 2nd | 6PM – 10PM | California Academy of Sciences| $12 | Kick off your weekend with a little bit of color! This Thursday, California Academy of Sciences hosts their weekly Nightlife Event (age: 21+) and this week they are throwing a global dance party featuring a Museum wide dance-a-thon, ODC Dance performance, Bella Gala, and even a work out class!
Supperclub SF Hosts Pink Friday
Friday, October 3rd | 10PM – 2AM | Supperclub SF | $15 online, $20 door | Get ready for what can only be described as a fabulous night! Filled with pink attire and pink drinks, this event honors Breast Cancer Awareness! Pink Friday features recording artist Kike Barrera, raffles, and signature cocktails! So get ready for a good cause as well as a fun night! Enter the promo code: THINKPINK to get $5 off your ticket sales online or at the door.
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
Friday-Sunday, October 3rd-5th | 12PM – 7PM | Golden Gate Park | FREE | Saving up for Halloween? Why not enjoy some great music without breaking the bank? San Francisco’s annual Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival is back in town, here to celebrate music for music’s sake. So grab a blanket, set up a picnic, and just relax and enjoy good music, good people, and a great time!
BYOB Brunch Pop-Up in a Mansion
Sunday, October 5th | 11:30AM | Naked Kitchen | $40 | Want to skip the brunch lines this weekend? Why not try out a prix-fixe family style brunch in a mansion! At this Brunch Pop-Up, Chef Anthony, formerly of Michael Mina and Per Se is kicking off this October with a tasty seasonal menu!
What will you be doing in San Francisco October 2nd-5th? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
5 Spine-Chilling Halloween Event Ideas to Spook-ify your Night
Happy October! At ABCey, we are so excited to start October because that means Halloween is right around the corner. We’ve collected a list of our 5 favorite hair-raising Halloween event ideas for you to start planning now!
Host a Murder Mystery Party
Send out invitations in creepy-crawly font and plan the meal to revolve around Halloween-inspired food (think: Bloody Mary potatoes, Vampire Delight Martini, and Turtle Caramel Apples).
Throw a Scary Movie Marathon
Make some popcorn, light some candles, and get ready to scream! In need of some scary movie ideas? Put on Hellraiser, Friday the 13th, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and, obviously, Halloween!
Hold a Pumpkin Carving Party
With a spooky playlist and plenty of templates, hold a pumpkin carving party to get in touch with your artsy crafty side. Bonus: You can roast the pumpkin seeds for a healthy, delicious snack when you’re done!
Entertain a Haunted House
While this event might call for the most work, the quality you put in will most certainly correlate with the number of screams. Don’t forget to add plenty of cobwebs and maybe even a chainsaw or two.
Throw a Costume Party
Of course, for all of the events above, costumes should be involved, but have a specific party that recognizes each person’s unique outfit! Vote on “Most Creative,” “Scariest Couple,” “Naughtiest Costume,” and “Best Dressed!” Eat, Drink, and Be Scary!
What are your plans this Halloween? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!