Tag: food
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!
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!
The 6 Best Snacks to Eat While Working in a Stressful Job
Working at ABCey Events, we know how stressful event planning can be. Sometimes there is not even enough time to eat a proper meal, which can have a negative impact on our health. Instead of grabbing a burger and fries at the nearest fast food place, you could spend your money on much healthier food that also helps you to become more relaxed. ABCey shows you the 6 best snacks to eat while working in a stressful job.
Avocados
Avocados are a real nutrient booster! They include glutathione, lutein, beta carotene, folate and the vitamins A and B. A few slices of avocado added to your sandwich gives you a boost of all these vital nutrients! But avocados are also great in salads or dips. The potassium included in avocados also lowers your blood pressure and makes you feel more relaxed. But be aware that avocados also include a lot of fat and should be enjoyed in moderation.
Bananas
Bananas officially belong to the world’s healthiest foods. Similar to avocados, bananas include a lot of potassium, which lowers blood pressure. They also fill you up quickly and are an ideal snack to eat if you’re in a rush. They are a great source of vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Berries
No matter if you like raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries; they are all a great source of antioxidants, which are linked to all kinds of health benefits and promote brain function. Berries are also very rich in vitamin C, which lowers blood pressure and relieves stress.
Crunchy Veggies
Fresh vegetables are always a good snack! Crunchy carrots or celery stalks are simply fun to eat and make you feel refreshed. They are low in calories but high in vitamins, which makes them real feel-good snacks. Additionally, we can dip our veggies in tasteful dips or hummus.
Nuts
Nuts boost our immune system with vitamins and zinc. Particularly walnuts include omega-3 fatty acids that prevent memory loss and keep our brain fit. Cashew nuts are especially rich in zinc, which fights against anxiety and depression. In addition, almonds, pistachios, and hazelnuts are great snacks for when you’re on the go.
Chocolate
Now that we’ve got the vitamins taken care of, it’s time for a different kind of power snack! Chocolate is a stress relieving snack that triggers specific hormones in our brain which help us to relax. Research has proven the positive effects of chocolate consumption on our mood and stress levels. The darker the chocolate, the more polyphenol and flavonol it contains. These antioxidants help us to stay calm in stressful situations. It’s a great excuse you can use to enjoy chocolate even more in the future!
What is your favorite snack to enjoy when you are stressed? Tell us about it in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.
5 Great Apps for Tech Conference Travel!
As the fall is quickly approaching, the girls at ABCey Events are looking forward to the many tech conferences coming to San Francisco! In preparation of the influx of travelers, we curated a list for the best new apps to make business travel easier. This list has you covered, from clothing lists to activity locators, so you can spend time on work and fun instead of a travel mishap!
1. Packing Pro App | $2.99 iTunes Store | This app is the best packing app on the market right now! The user is able to list out all your upcoming trips and customize needed items in lists within each trip. If you are stuck on what to bring on your business trip, Packing Pro has plenty of sample lists and has a huge catalog of items to place on your packing to-do list!
2. Gate Guru | Free on iTunes & Google Play | Gate Guru will save you plenty of time and worry when at the airport next! The home screen keeps track of all of your current and future flights inputed and will give you food options and airport lounges nearest to you. The JourneyCard screen also keeps you updated with any delays, security wait times, gate changes, and more. We highly encourage you to check this out this app to keep your airport trip as stress-free as possible!
3. Gogobot | Free on iTunes & Google Play | After a long day at a tech conference, Gogobot will lead you and friends to the greatest finds San Francisco and other cities have to offer! The app starts by having the user enter in the types of activities they typically participate in on vacation. Then it uses “tribes” which are groups of people with similar interests on the app to find places you may be interested in checking out. It also has a great locator on the app to find delicious restaurants in your same vicinity!
4. AwayFind | Free on all email platforms | The last thing you want to worry about while away at a tech conference is unnecessary and unwanted emails bombarding you the entire day! AwayFind is here to the rescue! The program allows the user to set up in advance which emails are important and should be set to an extra alert. This way, while sitting in a meeting you are only bothered if a specific message is important and alerts you via call, text, or notification. We can’t wait to give this a try in the future with our email platform!
5. Expensify | All Platforms | While traveling for work, it can sometimes become frustrating to save every receipt. Expensify simplifies this process when it allows you to take a photo of your receipt and it automatically enters the information into your online expense report. While on your mobile phone, it further allows the user to create and submit expense reports. The app also has great tools including flight updates, offline mode for airplanes, automatic mileage counting, and can log & bill hours. Simply put, this app has it all for everything you may need on a tech conference trip!
Which apps will you be using at your next tech conference this fall?! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
5 Summer Apps That Make You Want To Party!
Here is our salute to the summertime barbeques and outdoor parties that are taking the nation by storm! ABCey Events has found the five best apps to make any summer party kick it up to the next level.
1. First, and most importantly, download the SunSmart App. After recording your skin type, this app will tell you when it is time for another layer of the lotion! Everyones’ skin is different so what is good for someone else is not neccesarily good for you. Please be careful this summer and where the appropriate amount of sunscreen!
2. No summer party is ever complete without the jams pumping! To ensure your party is music filled with only the best tunes, check out TuneIn Radio, a free radio app that lets you broadcast your own music or pick and choose your favorite songs! One of the best and newest music apps we have seen in a while.
3. To add to the party vibe of your event, download the Mixology app to learn how to make yummy cocktails! This app explains how to create each drink so your party is a booze-filled success! Perfect for pool parties!
4. On to one of the most fabulous grilling apps you will find, GrillTime. GrillTime sets off alarms on your phone when to flip burgers, chicken or any other meat! Instead of guessing when the food is ready, or forgetting about it because of how much fun your party is, rely on this app to help you make the best tasting barbeque anyone has ever had!
5. Finally, what is a party without a little Karaoke? Karaoke Anywhere is a mobile app that, like its’ title says, you can take and rock out anywhere! What other game is more perfect for a pool party than a little friendly karaoke competition?
How will you be celebrating this summer season? Let us know below in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!
Tips to take your FIFA World Cup Viewing Party to the next level!
Calling all sports fans! In light of the recent start of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, here are some tips to help make your next sports viewing party a win! Here at ABCey, we love these ideas and hope you can use them for your next viewing party!
1. Fans unite, online! Download the Official 2014 FIFA World Cup App on your smartphone and stay updated! This app provides live coverage of all 64 games, wherever you go! Unite with the players, coaches and fans worldwide. With this free app, you can now take the game with you everywhere you go, literally.
2. Seating! Bring the indoors outside and get creative with seating! Take the couches and blankets to instantly give your viewing party a different vibe! This is where you will be spending the most time, so make sure it’s comfortable. To make your party outdoors and affordable, just rent a projector if you don’t have one!
3. Make food, fun! Create an interactive, personalized snack bar so friends can customize and eat without having to wait for the snack bowl to make it’s rounds.
4. Photos! Take photos of your friends and all the fun you are having! Redefine the selfie and use the Muku Shuttr remote to capture all the guests at your party, including yourself! Check out the Muku Lab Shuttr!
5. Theme! Let your party show which team you’re rooting for! Don’t be afraid to create your food and wall decor using soccer balls and team flags as inspiration! Let your next event scream team spirit! We think an overarching Brazil theme is great too. Don’t know where to start? Try this brazilian pineapple and coconut batilda; it’s bound to be a hit at your next party!
Are you planning to throw a FIFA World Cup viewing party? Let us know if you would use any of these ideas! Leave us a comment below or on Facebook & Twitter.
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 6.12.14- 6.15.14
Looking for something fun to do this weekend in and around the City? Here at ABCey, we have you covered from electronic picnics to World Cup viewing parties to fun things to do with your dad on Father’s day!
Featured event: Sunset Island |Saturday, June 14|12:00am-9:30pm|Great Lawn, Treasure Island| What better way to celebrate the last official weekend of spring and usher in summer than an outdoor picnic and festival on Treasure Island?! The groovy musical guests include Phuture, Kyle Hall, Beautiful Swimmers, Awesome Tapes From Africa and many more! And the best part of all, the event will be bringing in some of the best local food trucks from around the Bay Area, including Senor Sisig, Mr. Nice, Eat Fuki, Curbside Coffee and Me So Hungry.
1. Waterfront Flicks: Outdoor Film Night |Thursday, June 12|8:00pm|Jack London Square, Oakland| Looking for good movies to watch this summer? Look no further than the kickoff movie night at the Waterfront in Oakland this Thursday evening in Oakland. This is a summer-long-event and is free every Thursday night! For this Thursday evening, they will be showing Gravity, and for the rest of the summer’s movie schedule, check out the website. They show a mix of new and old movies, perfect for everyone to find a movie or two they want to see over the summer!
2. 2014 World Cup Live Outdoor Big Screen Party |Saturday, June 14|9:00am|Civic Center Plaza| In honor of the World Cup “kicking off” this week, there will be an outdoor viewing party taking place in the plaza of the Civic Center! This is an all day and completely free event, so why not take your favorite sports buddies and friends over to the center on Saturday and watch Colombia take on Greece at 9am, Uruguay and Costa Rica at noon and Italy versus Germany at 3pm. This sounds like a great place to get into the soccer spirit and watch the World Cup!
3. Burning Man Precompression |Saturday, June 14|7:00pm-2:00am|8410 Amelia Street, Oakland|With only 81 days left until the renowned Burning Man festival in Black Rock City, Nevada, make sure to head over to Oakland to get a small taste of what is to come! This event is held at NIMBY and is an indoor/outdoor event, with 6 stages of epic beats, art cars, fiery installations and much more. Make sure to get there before 9pm, when tickets only cost $15, after that it bumps up $10 to $25!
4. North Beach Festival |Saturday and Sunday, June 14-15|10:00am-6:00pm|North Beach District, San Francisco|North Beach is celebrating its 60th annual festival this year. This two day event is free and welcomes you to come and explore! During these two days, the streets of North Beach shut down while food vendors, artists, musicians and craft vendors flood the area. Lovingly known as the Italian district of San Francisco, expect some of the best Italian food you will ever eat! You really do want to make sure that you make it over to this festival and bring dad as a special Father’s Day treat!
5. Giants vs. Colorado Rockies |Sunday, June 15|1:05pm|AT&T Park, San Francisco|Of course, there are always baseball games going on in the Bay Area, so that is nothing special. However what is special is that on Sunday, Father’s Day, the Giants play at home! If your father loves baseball and you have yet to get him a present, head over to Stubhub or the Giants ticketing area and pick up a couple of tickets to make your dad’s day as special as you can!
This Father’s Day weekend is filled with so many different things to do, it’s bound to be an incredible holiday! Let us know how your weekend goes in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 6.5.14- 6.8.14
The summer kickoff parties are in full swing this weekend and here at ABCey Events, we can’t wait to attend some of these fun and exciting events in the Bay Area! As usual, there are plenty of events to choose from and this weekend we narrowed down some of our favorites including parties, fairs, and festivals!
Featured Event: DISTRIKT Revel Station| Saturday, June 7th|1:00 pm-10pm|16th Train Station Oakland|Head over just across the bridge to Oakland and attend DISTRIKT Revel Station. This event is a non-profit electronic music party and the only fundraiser in the Bay Area prior to Burning Man. The party will feature 4 areas of sound by DJ’s DISTRIKT, Dusty Rhino, Friends and Family, and Opulent Temple. Food and beverages will be offered and a cool new lounge area will be built making this year the biggest year DISTRIKT Revel Station has had! This sounds so fun and we can’t wait to see pictures and hear how this event goes! This event is 21 and over with $20 presale / $30 door.
1. Sunset Artisan Fair |Saturday June 7th|11:00 am-4:00pm|3635 Lawton St. San Francisco|The Artisan Fair is an annual event featuring handmade DIY(do it yourself) crafts by local artisans. These include jewelry, art, sewn goods, accessories, and more. Also included at the event are gourmet street food and deserts with live music! Every year 100% of the proceeds go to a charity organization. Sounds like a great way to spend a Saturday!
2.Basic Training Hayes Valley Launch Party |Saturday June 7th|12:00 pm-4:00 pm|432 Octavia St. San Francisco|Do you love to workout outdoors? Come attend the launch of The Basic Training fitness hub, an innovative outdoor workout space for public use in Hayes Valley. The free, pop-up fitness pod will transform a previously unused parking lot to a colorful, bright, multi-use space. The day kicks off with free Basic Training workout classes from 8 am until 12 noon at the top of every hour. Starting at noon, the party begins with free food, free drinks, music, and giveaways until 4 pm. So get sweaty with Basic Training’s day of fitness and fun!
3. Union Street Festival|Saturday, June 7th-June 8th|10:00 am-6:00 pm|Union Street to Gough to Steiner Street., San Francisco|Looking for a place to try new food, craft beer, and wine all while enjoying local art and community groups? Come visit the Union Street Festival this weekend. For the 2014 festival, the six blocks of the event will feature a unique collection of fashion, food, technology, crafts, and health and fitness booths. Grab a couple of friends and experience this long-standing San Francisco event.Free to attend but bring money for food and drinks!
4. Silent Frisco| Sunday, June 8th| 11:00 am| Ocean Beach San Francisco|Love to dance and listen to music? This San Francisco based event uses cutting edge technology to enable artistic expressions with headphones! Silent Frisco will provide more than 3,000 two channel festival optimized headphones for attendees. These headphones operate on two simultaneous long-range feeds providing the best audio. This enables attendees to enjoy the music while neighbors enjoy peace and quiet. Silent Frisco always tries to find places where concerts normally wouldn’t be and their mission is to get people under the stars, out in fields, or at this year’s venue, Ocean Beach! Silent Frisco is featuring 2 channels: Boys Vs. Girls. The two hour set will include: Kraak & Smaak• Ana Sia• Pumpkin• J*Labs• Motion Potion• LAURA Lisbona• DEEJAY THEORY• HOLLY RICH• DING DONG • KIMBA• Matt Haze. We can’t wait to see this event come to life!
5.California Dreaming- Poolside Party+ Fashion Show +Trunk Show |Sunday June 8th|12:00 pm-7:00 pm|The Hotel Phoenix 601 Eddy St. San Francisco|Come check out the best of the best in local San Francisco DJ’s and Designers while enjoying some poolside fun in the sun! The second annual party will feature eleven DJ’s and seventeen, with more to be announced, designers. This is a great chance to bring along some friends and support local talent! We love a good pool party and this one sounds like a ton of fun!
This weekend is guaranteed to be a great time with all these fun events. The girls at ABCey want to hear what you will be up to! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 5.29.14- 6.1.14
Here at ABCey, we are always excited when the weekend comes around, and we’re sure you are too! There are some great events taking place all throughout the Bay Area, including music festivals and lots of food. No matter what you choose to do, it’s sure to be a great time!
Featured Event: BottleRock Festival | Friday, May 30 – Sunday, June 1 | Napa Valley | This is the second year of this feature music festival in Napa Valley including 60 bands with tons of wine, food, and beer. The lineup is sure to please any type of music taste with favorites including Outkast, Eric Church, Matt and Kim, and more! Even if the music isn’t enough for you, the signature local food will definitely draw your taste buds in. The food offerings range from sushi to barbecue, and everything in between. Single and 3-day passes are still available for $279.
1. Off the Grid Twilight at the Presidio | Thursday, May 29th | 5-9pm | Main Post Lawn Presidio | Here is a great example of why we love the Bay Area! Off the Grid is a reoccurring event every Thursday until June 26th and is the perfect excuse to leave work a little early this week. This event is free to the public and includes lantern-lit cabanas, campfires complete with relaxing Adirondack chairs, and plenty of food trucks. Come out and relax with family and friends while listening to the free music and taking in a leisurely summer evening.
2. Start Up and Tech Mixer | Friday, May 30th | 5 – 10pm | W Hotel, SF | This event is a great chance to network with other individuals in the tech industry and create a shared network of ideas. We’re very excited about the Start Up and Tech Mixer which will include a variety of speakers and areas for networking with other tech professionals. It’s sure to be a great time with a wide range of participants, food and drinks, and professional development. The event keeps the best of what tech conferences offer to bring a unique tech event to the industry.
3. Chocolate and Chalk Art Festival | Saturday, May 31st | 10am – 5pm |Gourmet Ghetto, Berkeley | This event is a chocolate lover’s dream with the acclaimed Gourmet Ghetto supporting local business and art at the same time! Buy tickets for the variety of dessert offerings and then sample unique chocolate, which will include: goat cheese truffles, a variety brownies, Oreo shakes, Caribbean chocolate soup, and more. The chalk art portion will include a contest between contestants on the sidewalks and will add a fun interactive flare for the event attendees. We’re jealous of all those that will make it out to Berkeley to sample these tasty chocolate dishes!
4. Live 105’s BFD | Sunday, June 1st | 11 am | Shoreline Amphitheatre | We are excited about this Sunday’s concert at Shoreline Amphitheatre for Live 105’s 20th annual BFD concert! The lineup is unique with bands ranging from Foster the People and M.I.A. to Fitz and the Tantrums. This is sure to be a fun-filled day with live music and dancing to pass your Sunday. Tickets are still available and range from $47 for grass seating to $285 center stage. Check out the lineup this Sunday!
5. Walking Distance Dance Festival | Friday, May 30 – Saturday, May 31 | Friday @ 7:30pm & Saturday @ 4pm | Locations Vary | Here is a unique chance to see dance performances outside the theatre! This weekend marks the start of the Walking Distance Dance Tour that will lead its participants throughout the Mission district watching a variety of top dance companies perform. It will be a distinct chance to view a variety of dance styles and blends of music. We’re sure this will be a great way to gain a different perspective of the city with it’s blend of dance, music, and architecture.
This weekend is guaranteed to be a great time with all these great events. The girls at ABCey want to hear what you will be up to! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter.
ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 3.20.14 – 3.23.14
It’s the first day of Spring and we can’t wait to celebrate by attending some great events this weekend! As usual, there are tons of awesome things going on in the Bay Area. At ABCey, we did some digging and are bringing you our top picks!
FEATURED EVENT: 7th Annual Disposable Film Festival | Thursday, March 20th | Castro Theatre | 10pm | Opening Night kicks off with a festival favorite, our Competitive Shorts Premiere! The evening showcases a curated selection of the best of thousands of disposable films made on a variety of devices from around the world. All films are rated by an expert panel of judges. Fans get to vote for their favorite films for the Audience Choice Award! Be the first to see this year’s collection of the best disposable films made on everyday devices like cell phones, pocket cameras, and webcams.
1. Magnolia Cocktails | Thursday, March 20th | San Francisco Botanical Garden | 5:30pm | Celebrate the first day of Spring by coming out to enjoy evening cocktails garnished with magnolia petals in a relaxing secluded garden! Wander through the lovely, hidden nooks of the Exhibition Garden, and learn more from the docents about the Garden’s magnificent magnolias.
2. BOOKSWAP: Farm Fresh Edition with Novella Carpenter | Friday, March 21st | The Booksmith | 6:30pm | Join the first Bookswap of 2014! Never been to one before? Here’s how it works: You pick a book you love. The Booksmith closes the store early, opens the wine, serves some dinner, hands you a coupon, and turn you loose inside the bookstore with 30 of your new friends. At the end, there will be a big, rowdy, white elephant-style swap. You’ll part with your book, and leave with a book someone else adores! You will be joined by Novella Carpenter, who’s memoir Farm City has been chosen for One Book and One Marin. Get the chance to ask her any questions you’d like, and about her new book Gone Feral coming out in June.
3. Jemima Kirke: New Paintings | Friday, March 21st | Fouladi Projects | 6pm | Fouladi Projects Gallery is pleased to present new portraits of women by painter and RISD alumni, Jemima Kirke. Jemima has by now become widely known for her role as “Jessa” on HBO’s series “Girls”, but her intrinsic identity is as the artist in her studio, painting idiosyncratic oil on canvas portraits of friends and family. She was recently named one of Forbe Magazine’s “30 under 30” for Art and Style! You don’t want to miss out on her inspirational work!
4. DASH | Saturday, March 22nd | Un-scripted Theater Company | 10pm | DASH is a brand-new late night improv comedy show from the San Francisco improv veterans Un-Scripted Theater Company. It’s a hour-long madcap romp, incorporating your suggestions into a fast-paced, no-holds-barred, completely original show each week! Come early and enjoy a wide variety of microbrews, sodas, and snacks in the Salon across the hall. This event will take continue to take place every Saturday!
5. Aca-West A Cappella Festival | Sunday, March 23rd | University of San Francisco | 9am | This awesome festival is hosted by ASUSF Voices and features Deke Sharon, Vocal Producer for Universal’s hit film, “Pitch Perfect” and NBC’s “The Sing Off.” Workshops will be held earlier in the day covering a broad range of topics like vocal percussion, song writing, vocal arranging, and behind the scenes of Pitch Perfect and the Sing-Off. The festival will also feature a concert in the evening with performances by Vocal Rush (from “The Sing Off”), The Riveters, and The House Jacks.
How will you choose how to celebrate the beginning of Spring?! Which picks were your favorite? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!