It’s that time of year again.  In the spirit of Christmas were giving twelve pieces advice  to take your Christmas party to another level.  Feel free to sing these gems to the tune of The Twelve Days of Christmas… unfortunately you’ll find that they lack all rhythm and rhyme, but they certainly are fun.

“On the twelfth day of Christmas my event planner said to me…”

12. Spice up your menu with non traditional items…don’t limit yourself to milk and cookies.

11. Decorations don’t have to be green and red…

10. Bring a Dish you’ve made before…don’t try something new your friends have to sample it.

9.   Play a Christmas movie on mute…It’s a Wonderful Life can be a lot for fun when narrated by your friends.

8.   Presents aren’t needed to make a party great

7.   Kid’s games aren’t only for children…who doesn’t love decorating ornaments and cookies?

6.   Add food coloring to your favorite cocktails to match the décor

5.   New Christmas music comes out every year… experience the classics with a twist.

4.   We go to a hundred “Christmas” parties… try throwing a Kwanza party to have fun   while learning something new.

3.   Instead of a secret Santa party where no one wants the gifts bring gifts that will be donated to the less fortunate.

2.   Holiday parties don’t have to be limited to the indoors… hot chocolate and space heaters go a long way…especially if you do something fun like a tree lighting.

1.  Never EVER require your guests to carol.

What I have learned at Penta:

As my time with Penta comes to an end, I wanted to share what I have learned from this internship.

One: Networking is important. Working with Penta I have learned that networking is a huge part of an event planner’s job. Networking events are something one must attend in this industry. While attending these events, you can meet potential clients, other event planners, vendors, journalists, and bloggers. I have found it is important to take the time to introduce yourself, exchange business cards, and see how you can help each other out in the future. When attending these events, I began to see some familiar faces on more then one occasion. It is important to make a good first impression because you never know when you’ll meet them again.

Two: Event planning is not your average 9 to 5 job. I have experienced many different events, company picnics, holiday parties, corporate meetings, weddings and more. I have learned that the event planner is the first one to arrive and the last one to leave. I have woke up at 4 in the morning to be at an event and did not get home until midnight that evening.

Three: Social Networking is here to stay. If you are going to be in the event planning industry, or any industry these days, social networking is a must. I have learned that you will need a Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, website and blog to have a successful business. Having these social media sites is one more way to connect with people, advertise events and reach out to potential clients.

Four: There is more to event planning than just parties. Being an event planner you do have a chance to be creative and brainstorm, but there is another side to event planning. Many days I find myself behind a desk, actively working with MS Word and Excel, writing emails, making phone calls and other administrative duties. Although this side to event planning isn’t as exciting, it is still important to the job.

Five: Don’t get discouraged. Clients can and will change their minds. Sometimes changing their mind includes not using your services, which can be frustrating. Although projects/clients may go a different way, try to keep a positive, professional attitude. Also, stay in touch with all potential clients for future opportunities.

Overall, my advice for future event planning interns is to take every opportunity your internship gives you. Go to the networking events, work hard on any task you are given, and don’t be afraid to offer your opinion. I have loved my time here at Penta. I am thankful for Michele and Emily for giving me this opportunity.

–Casey Gallagher

Are you looking for a classy evening on the town full of wining and dining? An evening full of decadent cuisine, rare spirits, live jazz and a sophisticated atmosphere? Then Brandy Library is the place for you.

Brandy Library is located at 25 N. Moore Street in Tribeca. Brandy Library offers an elegant yet casual evening with a plethora of rare spirits to enjoy. If you are looking for a 1945 Darroze armagnac, a Pierre Ferrand cognac 1914 or a Springbank 1969 single malt, Brandy Library has it. With a menu of 100 signature and classic cocktails complimented by carefully chosen wines and beers, Brandy Library is sure to please. If you’re not sure what to get after looking at the extensive menu, just ask one of the very talented mixologists behind the bar.

The cuisine at Brandy Library is decadent, sweet and savory. Where else in the city can you get a Malai Tikka, house Cognac-cured foie gras, crème brulee, fresh éclairs or warm chocolate cake with a molten center at 4:00 in the morning?

Brandy Library offers a Spirit School where you can become an expert on fine liquor for just $90 per student. You’ll taste some of the finest elixirs on the planet and learn about who created it, when it was created, where and why. Soon enough, you’ll be mixing drinks for all your friends.

Brandy Library requires polices that might not suit everyone. From Tuesday- Saturday, Brandy Library strongly suggests reservations. They want to insure their guests not only enjoy their time, but also are not over crowded. As in any public library, the use of loud and/or vulgar language is strictly prohibited and all public displays of affection should be in good taste. To keep the atmosphere mature and elegant, Brandy Library will not serve a person who is in an inebriated state and all guests must be the minimum age of 25. Although there is no dress code at Brandy Library, any disrespectful or insulating attire will be turned away. These policies are not in place to prohibit a good time but rather help insure one.

The atmosphere of Brady Library is one of class. With jazz music playing daily (live music by Joel Forrest on Monday night’s 8:00pm-midnight), low lighting and lounge furniture, Brandy Library has a warm and cozy feel that makes for a great date night or a small get together. For more information on Brady Library, please visit there website at http://www.brandylibrary.com.

If you would like your next event at Brandy Library contact Casey Gallagher at cgallagher@pentaevents.com.

Penta is back this week with our Venue Spotlight. This week, Penta wanted to find a great happy hour place for all the hard workers in New York City. Katwalk Bar and Lounge is the place to be.

Katwalk Bar and Lounge offers many inviting happy hour options that make it an intriguing destination for friends and fun.  Katwalk is located 2 W 35th St., between 5th Ave & Avenue of The Americas.  This location is convenient for the commuter from Jersey to get to the 33^rd St. Path Station, Long Island residents to Penn Station, or a stone throw away from Grand Central for the Gossip Girls on the Upper East Side.  With Katwalk being so close to Madison Square Garden, hailing a cab won’t be a problem.

Katwalk’s ambiance is reason enough to explore this venue.  With dark wood paneling, soft candle light, towering ceilings, and beautiful furnishings, Katwalk creates a luxurious fun environment for its bar patrons.  Plasma screens and projectors play anything from the hottest music videos and fashions shows to your favorite sports game.

Katwalk’s music is a mix of 80’s, rock, top 40, classics and hip-hop so you wont be tired of the of the same three songs repeating.  With classic bar food and Asian cuisine, Katwalk will satisfy anyone’s hunger. Last, but certainly not least, is the Happy Hour specials. Katwalk’s Happy Hour is Monday through Friday, 3pm-8pm with $6.00 Frozen Drinks, $3.00 Domestic Drafts, $6.00 Premium Wine and Champagne, $3 dollar shots, $4-6 dollar Specialty Cocktails and Beer, free Appetizers for parties of 15 or more and a free Coat Check.  You can’t go wrong!

If you want to check out Katwalk’s Happy Hour specials, join Penta this Friday, from 3pm-8pm.  If you need help planning your next Holiday Happy Hour, contact Casey Gallagher at cgallagher@pentaevents.com

For more information on Katwalk, visit their website at:
http://katwalknyc.com/index.html

Though this isn’t my first turkey day in New York City, it is the first one since my family has moved to the city.  I guess in the traditional sense this will be my first Thanksgiving here.  Most people who know me know that I am a traditionalist to the extreme.   Routines prove to be a little hard to change in my life.  The food we will devour has never been contended until this year.  As my mom will be getting married the day before Thanksgiving we will need to make room for new traditions this year.  Though I refuse to give up my mom’s sausage stuffing and cranberry sauce straight from the can, I’m going to let the torch be passed on the centerpiece of the meal… the turkey of course.  One tradition that I will not mind replacing this year, the parade!  I’ve always watched the parade on TV first thing is the morning.  This year I will be clutching hot chocolate, standing among the crowds, craning my neck straight up to see the balloons.
–Brynne

I am so excited for this year’s Thanksgiving Holiday that I can smell my mother’s sweet potato casserole from here.  This year, I will be leaving chilly New York and spending my Thanksgiving in the south at my parent’s house in Charlotte, NC.  On Thanksgiving Eve, I am meeting my friends at a local bar to enjoy drinks, catch up, recall unforgettable memories, and laughing til my belly aches.  On Thanksgiving, I plan to nurse my hangover with tastes of all the traditional Thanksgiving fare and Holiday favorites.  This year, my boyfriend’s parents will be joining the Holiday feast at my house, meeting my parents and extended family for the first time and adding a little spice to the traditional meal.  The Thanksgiving tradition I am most excited about is Black Friday!  I plan to spend more money than necessary on discounted items I cannot live without.  To rest my feet after a successful shopping excursion, I will be cheering on my USC Gamecocks on Saturday as they dominate over Clemson in an epic college football battle.  I will miss my fast paced, metropolitan life style, but I am looking forward to some good ole’ southern comfort.
–Emily

Thanksgiving. The time of year where family and friends get together to eat, drink and eat some more. This tradition in my family is a little different from most.  We enjoy a Gallagher Thanksgiving.  Usually, my Mother has to work on Thanksgiving Day, so my parents cook in the morning and we enjoy a Thanksgiving lunch, where we say what we were thankful for.  (I am Thankful for my internship, my family and my friends).  After lunch, my mom goes into work and sometimes my dad would tag along to keep her company.  My older brother, my little sister and I either lie around the house and watch TV or see a movie at the theater.  Another Gallagher Thanksgiving tradition is celebrating my birthday. Yes, I was born on Thanksgiving. (My dad still gives me a hard time that he had to eat hospital food for his Thanksgiving meal that year.) Whenever Turkey Day is around the corner, I know for me it means food, drinks, friends, family and, of course, presents! This year I will be spending Thanksgiving here in New York City.  This will be my first non-Pennsylvania Thanksgiving/Birthday. First, I’ll go see the Macy’s Day parade while my brother works at the Apple Store (It is not a Gallagher Thanksgiving unless one of us is working).  Then, I will come back to my apartment to my roommate and my brother cooking a Thanksgiving Feast.  I plan to grab the pumpkin pie out of the fridge, plop myself on a comfy chair in the living room and enjoy my Thanksgiving meal.  Although I will be missing Pennsylvania Thanksgiving/Birthday, my first NYC Thanksgiving/Birthday will be one to remember.
–Casey

Thanksgiving will be a fun one this year.  The younger of my two older brothers recently relocated with his family to Long Island.  Now, for the first time in many years, all of us live in the same state and even better…we are all about 30 minutes from each other.  This year, Thanksgiving will be spent at my brother’s house.  It will be a smaller holiday but I am looking forward to getting to spend it with my brother, his wife and their two very cool kids (and my husband and parents of course – that’s a given!)…something we did not get to do very often when they lived in Virginia.  We will miss my oldest brother and his fiancé at the Thanksgiving table this year while they escape to the Florida sun.  My sister-in-law’s parents will also be present which means I can expect to see a fair amount of scotch drinking among the men and hear lots of very loud talk about politics.  I’m thinking I’ll escape with the kids to play Wii when that starts.
–Michele