ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 4/1/16 – 4/3/16

Hello April and welcome Spring! This is definitely one of our favorites seasons here at ABCey when the flowers are in bloom, the days are longer, the weather is pleasant and the air feels fresh. The weekend is the perfect time to experience this wonderful season in the Bay Area and we’ve got you covered with some incredible events to get your April off to a great start.

1. Free Krispy Kreme Day

FRIDAY APRIL 1ST, 2016 | ALL DAY | KRISPY KREME (DALY CITY)* | FREE

The weekends are meant for indulging, so why not take a break from your healthy diet and satisfy your sugar craving with a free Krispy Kreme doughnut. And no, this is no April Fool’s Joke. Only a select few locations around the Bay Area are participating (the Daly City location is one of them) so make sure to call ahead of time before making your way down to a particular store.

2. Funcheap’s April Fools Pop-Up Comedy Weekend

FRIDAY APRIL 1ST, 2016 | 7:30PM & 10PM | FOLSOM STREET FOUNDRY | FREE*/$10

April Fools only comes once a year, so you can’t let the day pass without getting some comedy in your system. Funcheap is taking over the Folsom Street Foundry on Friday and Saturday night with their pop-up comedy show featuring some of the best comedians in the Bay Area. They’ll have a DJ spinning all night long and full bar with some amazing drink specials. Admission is free if you RSVP ahead of time (although $5 donations are encouraged), otherwise it’s $10 at the door.

3. Macy’s Flower Show: Family Fun Day

SATURDAY APRIL 2ND, 2016 | 11AM | MACY’S UNION SQUARE | FREE

Nothing screams Springtime more than flowers do and this weekend, the Flower Show at Macy’s Union Square is the place to be. The kid’s department is having a family fun day where the whole family can enjoy activities together such as bean bag tosses, kite making and other cool crafts, while enjoying music from a live dj. There are a myriad of other events happening that day, so make sure to check out their website so you don’t miss out!

4. “Liquid Sky” Jimi Hendrix Tribute

SATURDAY APRIL 2ND, 2016 | 7PM – 9PM | BAL THEATER, SAN LEANDRO CA | $20

Who doesn’t wish they could go back in time to see the legendary Jimi Hendrix perform?! Well until time travel becomes an actuality, the next best thing is the premier Jimi Hendrix tribute band, Liquid Sky. They’ll be at San Leandro’s historic BAL Theater, playing some of Jimi Hendrix’ greatest hits from his first three albums. Tickets can be purchased here.

5. TOM’s Wearhouse Sale

SUNDAY APRIL 3RD, 2016 | 9AM – 7PM | SAN MATEO EVENT CENTER | FREE*

Sundays are made for brunch and shopping and this Sunday, the 50,000 sq ft San Mateo Event Center will be be stocked full of TOMS products such as sunglasses and shoes for men, women and youth for the ultimate markdown of 50-70% off retail prices! And who doesn’t love TOMS shoes? They’re comfortable, affordable and are aligned with a great cause. Shoes will be refilled throughout the day, but of course it’s best to get there early to have access to all the best offerings. More info can be found here.

What are your plans for the weekend? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

#TechTuesday: Teleport App

#TechTuesday 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!

When configuring all the details while planning your next event, sometimes the “transportation” tab gets shuffled unintentionally to the wait-until-the-last-minute detail to arrange. However, if your event has VIP guests such as keynote speakers or sponsors, transportation becomes even more crucial to arrange asap. With the Teleport app, event planner and organizers now have a very simple and convenient way to chauffeur their VIP guests to and fro any event.

Teleport, in partnership with Uber, uses the ridesharing app to send an Uber ride to pick up guests and bring them to a location of your choice.

How it works:

You, the sender, will send a teleport request link to the person/guest of your choice. Once the receiver accepts the request, they will be directed to the web app where they will drop a pin to set their pickup location. They will then be able to see the ETA, a map to the final destination and all the driver’s information (name, phone number and license plate number). The receiver doesn’t need to have the Teleport app, Uber app, nor do they need to even have an iPhone.

Just like with Uber, the ride is paid for by the sender, so the receiver doesn’t have to worry about payments when the car arrives. You can even choose which type of car to send, like an UberBLACK for those VIP guests.

And just like that, your VIP guests’ transportation needs are taken care of; easy and hassle-free.

Why we love it:

Teleport streamlines communication. Unlike with the traditional Uber app, the sender no longer has to be the middle-man, communicating the details back and forth between the receiver and driver. Now you can make sure that your guests get to where they need to be, making it one less thing you have to worry about on the day of your event.

Plan to use the Teleport app for your next event? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

#TechTuesday: SummitSync

#TechTuesday 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!

Networking is an essential part of the business world. When it comes to events, meetings and conferences, networking helps to develop meaningful relationships and connections that can unlock future business opportunities. However, when at a conference with thousands of attendees, finding those connections can sometimes be nerve-racking and just flat-out awkward. SummitSync is the solution to that problem. Like Tinder for conference apps, it brings the fun and excitement back into networking, making it more efficient and easy.

How it works.

First you sign up with your LinkedIn account.

Then you can choose which conference you are attending and in which city.

Once you have your selected conference, you can scroll through profiles of event attendees.

Swipe right if interested or left (not interested).

And just so swipe lefts don’t get too awkward, the app only allows you to connect with attendees that reciprocate your interest.

Once a connection is made, you can then message through the app and plan a time to meet at the actual conference.

SummitSync is transforming the way conference attendees engage; making it easier to discover and develop valuable business relationships. Gone are the days of countless handshakes accompanied by awkward and forgettable conversations. Instead, build those relationships beforehand and spend less conference time worrying about making the right connections and more time engaging in the actual conference.

Planning on using SummitSync before you attend your next conference? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 3/ 4/16 – 3/6/16

We love the weekends and we want to make sure that you enjoy them to the fullest. Take advantage of these [hopefully] work-free days and sleep in a little bit; relax. And if you want to get out and have some fun, ABCey’s Weekend Lineup has got you covered with some exciting events that involve orchestra music, chocolate AND an alcohol tasting party! Say what?!

1. “Off the Grid”: Friday Night Food Truck Party

FRIDAY MARCH 4TH, 2015 | 5PM – 10PM | FORT MASON | FREE*

It goes down at Fort Mason on Friday nights. If you love food, then Off the Grid is your type of party. Featuring over 30 food trucks, food tents and dessert carts, this is one food-tastic party. Steamed bao buns? Check. Lobster rolls? Got it. Frozen Custard? Yes Please! Come with a full wallet and an empty belly and spend the night indulging in all the food truck offerings.

2. Awesome Orchestra Classical Jam: Video Game Music

FRIDAY MARCH 4TH, 2016 | 7pm – 10pm | UPTOWN BODY & FENDER, OAKLAND, CA | FREE

Calling all gamers and musicians! Are you ready for a musical adventure? If so, then join Awesome Orchestra Collective this Friday for a night of amazing orchestra music in a fun and casual environment with people like you who get excited by incredibly high musicianship. Part open rehearsal, part performance, they provide sheet music for those of you who want to join in and an open space for those of you who just want to listen. This Friday’s theme is Video Game Music and it’s going to be one epic night you don’t want to miss.

3. International Chocolate Salon

SATURDAY MARCH 5TH, 2016 | FORT MASON | 10AM – 6PM | $20 ADV/$30 DOOR

Chocolate on chocolate on chocolate! Satisfy your cravings this Saturday with chocolates from some of North America’s finest chocolatiers and confectioners. The day will be filled with chocolate tastings, chef and author talks, and wine tastings, so all my chocolate lovers need not miss this sweet event. Head over to their website to get more info and purchase tickets.

4. SF Weekly’s Drink 2016 Tasting Party

SATURDAY MARCH 5TH, 2016 | 1PM – 5PM| CITY NIGHTS | $20-$25

Why not toast to the weekend? This unique, buffet-style tasting event will feature samples from 20+ breweries, wineries and distilleries. And to make sure you’re not drinking on an empty stomach, they’ll be providing complimentary appetizers. Tickets can be purchased here.

5. 2016 San Francisco History Days

SUNDAY MARCH 6TH, 2016 | 11AM – 4PM | THE OLD MINT | FREE

Get your learn on this Sunday at the Old Mint which will be transformed into pop up museums of San Francisco’s history. San Francisco has a rich and full past that many people don’t know about, so here’s your opportunity to get an in-depth look into this amazing city. Visit here for the full schedule of events.

We hope you get a chance to take some time out for yourself this weekend. If you plan on heading to any of these events, hit us up on Facebook and Twitter and tell us how it was!

Startup Monday: Slack

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!

When it comes to the workplace, collaborating in a team is the norm. Although extremely beneficial, it requires continuous back and forth dialogue which can sometimes get a little hectic and disorganized when having to communicate through multiple online platforms. We’re all about efficiency and productivity here at ABCey, so today we’re highlighting Slack, a messenger app that is sure to improve your team communication, making it more simple and more efficient.

Channels:

Team Conversations are organized into Channels. You can create different channels for specific departments, groups or conversations. Public channels are open for all members of the team, allowing them to pop in at any time and join the conversation. Private channels are for confidential projects that can be viewed by invitation only.

Direct messages:

Need to communicate to someone directly? Use the direct message function to send private and secure messages.

File Sharing:

Working on an event proposal or drafting a contract? Documents, images, pdfs, spreadsheets can be uploaded into a particular channel and team members can view the document and make comments on it.

App Integration:

Need to access your twitter feed? You can streamline the tools and systems you already use by plugging app notifications into particular channels.

Search and Archive:

Everything in Slack is archived. You can search for specific conversations or even content within a particular document that was shared on a channel.

Device Syncing:

Sync the desktop app with your mobile phone and you’ll always be connected to the conversation.

Slack is the perfect platform to organize your team communication and increase daily productivity. Planning on using this amazing app for your team? Let us know on Facebook or Twitter!

#TechTuesday: Spinn Coffee

#TechTuesday 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!

What’s the best part of waking up? Why, it’s coffee of course! Nothing gets the day started quite like a piping hot cup o’ joe and for the busy professional, caffeine first thing in the morning is necessary for a productive day. For the coffee junkies out there, your mornings are going to get even better in the near future with Spinn Coffee, a WIFI connected coffee brewing machine.

Spinn uses centrifugal force to brew its coffee with beans only. No cups, pods or filters means zero environmental waste. Prefer drip, french press or espresso? Spinn can do it all.

How it works.

Download the Spinn App.

Connect your SpinnBrew to your WIFI network. Once connected, you can customize how you prefer your coffee to be brewed.

Brew coffee right from your phone.

Spinn uses only quality coffees from local and international roasters. Get connected to these community roasters through the app where you can browse, shop and review their coffees.

You can add your fave coffee beans to your Beanlist that acts as your coffee playlist. When your faves get low in stock, they’ll be automatically re-ordered and delivered right to your door.

It gets even better than that. Want to wake up to the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee? Set Spinn to start making a brew while you’re still in bed and your coffee will literally make itself.

Why we love it. Spinn is the reinvention of coffee for the modern, technology-driven world; it’s a smarter way to drink coffee. It takes care of you by doing the coffee making for you and takes care of our planet by creating a more sustainable way to enjoy your favorite morning pick-me-up.

Need Spinn Coffee in your life? You can pre-order now!

Be sure to let us know how much you love your java on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Monday: Gone|Selling on Demand

Out with the old and in with the new! To start the new year off right, we want to help you lead a more productive life by tackling one unproductive nuisance: clutter.

Our living and working spaces are constantly full of so much junk and clutter. We tend to accumulate more stuff than we need, buying more and getting rid of less. Oftentimes, we either let the clutter continue to pile up or we resort to donating everything. Figuring out the how and where to sell our items is such a hassle and with our busy lives, we just don’t have the time. Today, we’re highlighting Gone, a startup that will resale, recycle and upcycle all of your old junk.

Gone is a concierge service that makes selling your unwanted items a whole lot easier. They manage all the logistics of the entire selling process so that you don’t have to and they unsure that all of your items get sold for the best possible value.

HOW IT WORKS:

Once you decide what items you wish to sell, you can either upload a pic into the app or through a text message. Gone will then pick up the items at the location of your choice.

After inspecting the items, Gone will set a selling price and list it for sale within 1-5 business days. In order to get the best bang for your buck, they analyze transactions from around the world in order to determine the proper market prices. The marketplace that they use to sell the items depends on the demand and average price for said item.

After your items are packaged, Gone will contact buyer, negotiate a deal and ship your items. You are able to monitor this entire process within the app!

PAYMENT:

Gone makes the payment process easy by allowing you to choose from several options: check, PayPal or Amazon Gift Card. After they deduct costs for preparing items for sale (inspection, pricing, postage and packing materials), they charge a commission of 7%-15% depending on the demand of the item. You’ll then receive payment within one to several weeks of sale.

If, for whatever reason, your items don’t sell within 90 days, they’ll either send the items back to you or extend the selling period for another 90 days. When needed, Gone can arrange a tax write-off for donations and even recycled items.

We love how Gone has revolutionized online selling, helping to make your life easier, clutter-free, and more productive.

Thinking about using this service the next time you have items that need to be sold? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Guide to Super Bowl City

This upcoming week is a big one for the SF/Bay Area. If you didn’t already know (because you must be living under a rock), we are planning to host to one of the biggest events in sports, SUPER BOWL 50! Although the actual Super Bowl game will be held at the new Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, SUPER BOWL CITY, a free-to-the-public fan village, will be located at the Justin Herman Plaza in SF. It will feature family-friendly activities for fans of all ages and will be the epicenter for all of the fan energy and excitement. And because we here at ABCey love planning things ahead of time (of course), we wanted to make sure you were in the know about what to expect during this momentous time.

First things first: TRAFFIC. SF is already known for it’s ridiculous rush-hour traffic so just be prepared for absolute madness. This might be the perfect time to actually follow through with your New Year goals of getting in shape and pull out that old cycle and bike to work. Or walk. Seriously, it WILL be that bad. But just for your convenience, here’s a couple of handy-dandy graphs that outline the street closures/detours for autos and the shifted bus routes. *click both to enlarge*

Second: WEATHER. I know you’re probably like who cares about the weather when it’s SUPER BOWL? But trust me, it matters. Most of Super Bowl City is outdoors and being that SF’s weather is extremely indecisive, it’s always best to be prepared. Here’s the forecasted weather for the upcoming week:

FAN ENERGY ZONE Powered by SAP:

This area in Super Bowl City will be celebrating the Bay Area’s technological leadership and innovations and will feature three distinct, yet connected areas:

THE FAN DOME. This 40-foot tall dome will be the place where fans get a chance to live out their sports dreams. There will be interactive games on giants screens and fans’ movement will be replicated by motions sensors that light up the Dome. Talk about innovative.

THE FAN WALL. This 50-foot wide x 15-foot tall video wall will capture the visual and virtual buzz of Super Bowl City. It’ll show the leader boards and stats from Fan Energy Zone games, display user-generated and social media content and even stream live video feeds from around Super Bowl City.

THE FAN STAGE. This “live” area of the Fan Energy Zone will be the hub for celebrity appearances, autograph signings, Djs and MCs.

THE CITY STAGE Presented by Levi’s:

This stage will be located in Sue Bierman Park inside Super Bowl City and will showcase live musical, cultural, and performing arts entertainers. It will also feature headlining performances from Alicia Keys, One Republic, The Band Perry and more! And it’s all FREE!

NFL EXPERIENCE Driven by Hyundai:

Located in the Moscone Center, this will be pro football’s interactive theme park celebrating the history of sports and the Super Bowl. It will include: interactive games, NFL Play 60 Zone for the youngest of fans, and meet & greet autograph signings with current and past football players. You’ll be able to get an up-close look at previous Super Bowl championship rings and have the chance for a photo-op with the iconic Vince Lombardi Trophy. It will also house the largest NFL shop offering official NFL limited-edition Super Bowl 50 merchandise and NFL products.

ROAD TO 50 APP:

This app right here will be your Super Bowl 50 survival guide. It will outline all of the celebrations happening around the Bay Area detailing the schedule of events, hours, ticket info and an interactive map. It will also feature location-based alerts, transportation info, photos and videos. The coolest part of the app is the Fan Mobile Pass. If you check-in at certain activities you can collect badges, unlock exclusive content and even be entered for a chance to win tickets for Super Bowl 50!

Of course, this guide is only scratching the surface of all the incredible events happening during the next week. For the complete, extensive list head on over to the official Super Bowl 50 website.

How excited are you for Super Bowl City and Super Bowl 50? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 1.29.16 – 1.31.16

The last weekend of January is here and we’re seriously wondering, where did the time go? If you’re not into the hype of Superbowl events (or just don’t want to deal with the madness that is Superbowl City), ABCey has compiled a list of our top 5 fave events happening in the SF/Bay Area this weekend. And guess what? They have nothing to do with sports. From beer parties to Chinese New Year celebrations, you’re sure to end off the month with a BANG!

1. BEER FRIDAY

Friday, January 29th, 2016 | 4pm-11pm | Devil’s Canyon, San Carlos, CA | FREE*

Looking to have a good ‘ole family-friendly time this weekend? Well, head on down to the Peninsula’s own Devil’s Canyon Brewing Company in San Carlos, CA. Enjoy a night filled with food trucks and live music with sustainable hand-crafted beer (for the adults) and root beer (for the kiddos). One dollar from each pint of beer sold will be donated to the Redwood City Animal Shelter – Pets in Need program, so be sure to drink up! For more info, check out their website.

2. JAZZ PIANIST: MAX CHANOWITZ

Friday, January 29th, 2016 | 6pm-8pm | PianoFight | FREE

After a stressful week, there’s no better way to relax than listening to the smooth sounds of jazz with a cocktail in hand. PianoFight, a full service restaurant and bar in the Tenderloin district, will be featuring renowned jazz pianist Max Chanowitz. Admission is free, but be sure to RSVP in advance.

3. 2016 CHINESE NEW YEAR FLOWER FAIR

Saturday, January 30th, 2016 | 10am – 8pm | Chinatown | FREE

Kick-off the celebration for the Year of The Red Monkey at the 2016 Chinese New Year Flower Fair. Hosted on the weekend before Lunar New Year, the flower fair is a chance for families to purchase the traditional flowers, plants and fruit for the holiday. While you’re shopping, enjoy traditional Chinese dances, music, art and cultural displays. The kiddos can enjoy the festivities too at the Children’s Play Area, where there will be a petting zoo, photo booth and other fun activities!

4. FREE ICE CREAM SANDWICH DAY

Saturday, January 30th, 2016 | Noon – 4pm | Stonestown Galleria | FREE*

I-scream! You-scream! We-all-scream for ICE CREAM! And you know what’s even better than ice cream? Free ice cream! C.R.E.A.M. (Cookies Rule Everything Around Me) is celebrating their grand opening at Stonestown Galleria Mall by giving away free mini ice cream sandwiches. There’s no official rsvp for this event, but you must like the CREAM Facebook page or sign up for Five Stars.

5. TREASURE ISLAND FLEA

Sunday, January 31st, 2016 | 10am – 4pm | Treasure Island | FREE

Say farewell to January with a Sunday Funday. Head over to the beautiful Treasure Island for their monthly open-air flea market. Located on the west side of the island on the Great Lawn, you’ll get a chance to support numerous local vendors such as indie designers, handmakers, bakers and up-cyclers. Not interested in doing any shopping? No problem! You can enjoy outdoor exhibits and live music, participate in scavenger hunts, and satisfy your hunger with gourmet food trucks.

Which events are getting you most excited about the weekend? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Friday Faves: SF Event Venues – Bimbo’s 365 Club

San Francisco is an event planners paradise. Being such a beautiful and vibrant city, there are a myriad of unique venues to choose from when it comes to planning your next event. Here at ABCey Events, we want to highlight and share some of our favorite local treasures!

Bimbo’s 365 Club has been a San Francisco landmark for the past 65 years. Originally opening on Market Street in 1931, it was established after the Great Depression to revive the spirit of San Francisco and bring fun back into the hearts of the people. Moving to its current location on Columbus Ave in 1951, it quickly became known as the hottest nightclub in town. Today, it’s a sought after venue for special events, private parties and concerts.

Step inside and you’ll immediately feel like you’re transported back in time to the golden age of entertainment. Designed with Art-Deco influences, the venue is dripping with elegance and class.

Surrounded by lush velvet drapes, the showroom showcases terraced dining platforms with tiered seating and elegantly draped tables topped with glowing candles.

They boast a full production stage with theatrical lighting, a front of house sound board that produces state-of-the-art sound and a large dance floor. They also host a bar, full kitchen available to caterers and valet parking upon request. With a capacity for up to 685+ for private parties or receptions and between 150-475+ for dinners, this venue is sure to meet all your event needs.

Clearly, it’s not hard to see why Bimbo’s 365 Club is one of our favorite venues. With its timeless decor, state-of-the-art amenities and incredible seating capacity you’re sure to wow every guest at your next event. Let ABCey know if you’d like help planning your next event there!

Wouldn’t you love to plan your next event here? Also, what are some of your favorite San Francisco treasures? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter !