Latest Industry News from Mid-Atlantic Events Magazine

BATTLESHIP CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER COMMISSIONING

Wednesday, 22 May 2013 15:57

For Immediate Release

For more information, contact:

Jack Willard 856-966-1652 ext. 144

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it





BATTLESHIP CELEBRATES 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF HER COMMISSIONING



Governors, Tiffany Silver, Former Crewmembers, Gun Fire and Cake all part of Ceremony



May 21, 2013 – Camden Waterfront, NJ -- The Battleship New Jersey Museum and

Memorial will celebrate the 70th anniversary of her commissioning into the United

States Navy with a ceremony on her forecastle at 11am on Thursday, May 23.



Highlights of the ceremony will include remarks by former New Jersey Governors James

J. Florio and Christine Todd Whitman, both of whom were instrumental in securing the

Battleship New Jersey as a museum and memorial on the Camden Waterfront.  Both

governors are also Honorary Trustees of the Home Port Alliance for the USS New

Jersey, Inc.



“To have both governors present at this ceremony is truly an honor,” said Phil Rowan,

Executive Director of the Battleship New Jersey.  “The process of applying for the

berth of the Battleship began many years ago and if not for the support of both these

governors, she would not be docked at the Camden Waterfront and available for the

thousands of guests to tour her and learn about her amazing history.”



Also planned for the 70th Anniversary Ceremony will be remarks from crew members

who served aboard the Big J in the 1940’s, 1950’s, 1960’s and 1980’s.  The ceremony

will also feature the reading of Gov. Charles Edison’s speech during the launch of the

USS New Jersey from Philadelphia Navy Yard on Dec. 7, 1942 by John P. Keegan,

President of the Edison Foundation.  Mr. Keegan will also bring and display the sterling

silver champagne bottle case that was used to christen the USS New Jersey by Gov.

Edison’s wife in 1942,



The Battleship will also have on display several pieces of the Tiffany Silverware, on

loan from the New Jersey Governor’s mansion.  The Presentation Silver Service will be

available for inspection by guests attending the ceremony in the Captain’s In-Port Cabin.

The silver presentation, made possible by the US Navy, the Drumthwacket Foundation, and

Governor Chris Christie and wife, will be included for a limited time for guests to

experience as part of a Battleship tour.



The ceremony will end with the playing of Kate Smith’s “God Bless America,” the firing

of the portside saluting gun and cake for all guests!  Live patriotic music for the ceremony

will be performed by the Patriot Brass Ensemble and colors will be presented by the

United States Marines Honor Guard. 



The ceremony is free for all guests to attend.



Located on the Delaware River, along the Camden Waterfront across from the City of

Philadelphia, the Battleship is open every day for tours from 9:30am to 5pm. Explore

the new Turret II Experience! Hoist projectiles, load powder bags, plot a firing solution,

even pull the trigger and fire these legendary guns!  Guided Turret II tours launch

Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm.  To purchase tickets, visit

www.battleshipnewjersey.org. For more information, call 866-877-6262.



###

Pa. Convention Center Announces New ADA Accessibility Options

Monday, 20 May 2013 17:43

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 20, 2013

Pa. Convention Center Announces New ADA Accessibility Options

Scooters and wheelchairs are available for customers

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority today announced its agreement with Scootaround, Inc. to offer scooter and wheelchair rentals to its customers.

The rentals are part of a package of amenities designed to facilitate the mobility of conference and meeting attendees around the center’s one million square feet of useable space. The Convention Center has a multi-pronged approach to ensuring flexible accessibility options for customers with disabilities.

“This is a major advancement in our overall mission to enhance the experience of our customers while visiting the Convention Center,” said Ahmeenah Young, President and CEO of the Convention Center. “This agreement gives our exhibitors, event organizers and visitors the ability to save time and to avoid last-minute logistical issues that can arise during a convention, meeting or special event. It is part of our approach to hosting superior events.”

Advance reservations for scooters or wheelchairs are overseen by Scootaround, Inc. and are highly recommended.  In order to guarantee a scooter or wheelchair, customers are encouraged to make reservation at least 72 hours in advance of the event by calling Scootaround at 1-888-441-7575 ext. 6101.  Daily rental fees are $65 for scooters and $25 for wheelchairs.

“Day of” rentals can also be arranged at the FedEx Office located inside the second level of the Convention Center near 12^th and Arch Streets. This location has a dedicated inventory of six scooters and four wheelchairs that are rented on a first-come, first-serve basis specifically for walk-up patrons of the Convention Center.  For questions regarding scooter or wheelchair rentals from FedEx Office, please call 215-925-1218 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

In addition to the chairs and scooters, the Convention Center offers path-finding information with accessibility icons on its way-finding machines located throughout the center. Please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for information about the following additional services:

• Interpreters
• Assistive Listening System
• Cassette Tape of Printed Materials
• Braille Materials
• Large Print Materials
• Special Diet

About the Pennsylvania Convention Center

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is located in Center City Philadelphia, situated at the center of the city’s many cultural offerings and world-class dining and entertainment scene.  The center is the 14th largest such facility in the nation with more than 1 million square feet of useable space and it features the largest exhibit space and ballroom in the Northeast.  The newly renovated Center has won numerous awards and recognition, including a gold LEED certification and the designation as the Best Government/Public Building of 2011 by the Engineering News Record of New York.  For more information, visit www.paconvention.com.

Contacts:

Deirdre Childress Hopkins

Pennsylvania Convention Center

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; 215-418-4754

Pete Peterson

Bellevue Communications Group

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , 215 990-8928

The Great Chefs Event 2013

Thursday, 16 May 2013 15:45

THE WORLD’S MOST CELEBRATED CHEFS CONVERGE IN PHILADELPHIA FOR THE EIGHTH ANNUAL GREAT CHEFS EVENT

More than 40 acclaimed chefs to cook for 1,200 guests at the foodie charity event of the year   

PHILADELPHIA (May 2013) – James Beard Award-Winning Chef Marc Vetri, restaurateur Jeff Benjamin and James Beard Winner Chef Jeff Michaud will host more than 40 of the world’s greatest chefs this June for the Eighth Annual Great Chefs Event to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation and the Vetri Foundation for Children.

On Tuesday, June 11, more than 1,200 guests will gather at Urban Outfitters world headquarters on Philadelphia’s waterfront for the foodie charity event of the year. A host of more than 40 top-flight chefs from around the globe will join by donating their time, talent and food to create delectable samplings for guests prepared right in front of their eyes. Guests will enjoy music and mingling, as well as silent and live auction items, which include one-of-kind experiences like a gastro-tour of Piedmont, Italy for six with award-winning chef Marc Vetri.

“Our daughter set out to find cures for all kids with cancer through a front yard lemonade stand and she would absolutely be thrilled by the embrace of the culinary community to continue her mission,” said Liz Scott, Alex’s mom and Co-Executive Director of the Foundation. “This event has continued to inspire us by showing us that generosity of the culinary community to come together for a cause, in this case to help achieve the dream of my daughter. I couldn’t be more thankful to the entire Vetri team.”

The Great Chefs Event began as a small tasting event at The Restaurant School at Walnut Hill College with just eight local chefs and 100 guests, raising an astonishing $50,000. It has since grown to become a nationally recognized fundraiser and last year, in 2012, a stellar cast of 43 international celebrity chefs and 1,200 guests raised over $1 million. The 2013 event hopes to surpass its previous year’s fundraising success.

The Eight Annual Great Chefs Event will welcome returning chefs including Tom Colicchio, renowned chef and head judge on Bravo’s Top Chef; as well as several other famous faces including the Food Network’s Iron Chefs Jose Garces and Michael Symon. Several of the other participating chefs are James Beard Award winners and nominees, including host chefs Marc Vetri and Jeff Michaud, Vinny Dotolo and Jon Shook of Animal/Son of a Gun, Marco Canora of Hearth, and Drew Nieporent of Centrico/Tacombi/Mestizo, among others. (A complete list of 2013 Great Chefs Event participants can be found below)

“We are extremely moved each year by the dedication of the talented chefs, as well as the volunteers and sponsors that are committed to helping improve the lives of children,” said Jeff Benjamin, co-founder of the Vetri Foundation for Children. “It has been our honor to partner with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation for the past eight years for this worthy cause.”

Galvanized by their experience at the Great Chefs Event, several chefs have partnered with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation to create their own unique culinary event in their home towns. Chef Suzanne Goin, along with business partner Caroline Styne and Chef David Lentz, hosts an annual Los Angeles event each fall titled, “L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade” bringing together over 1,000 supporters of the Foundation. Chef Jonathan Waxman of Barbuto joined the childhood cancer crusade by introducing “Lemon: NYC,” an annual chef-driven event in New York City, which will be host its 3rd installment in 2013.

Sponsors for the Eighth Annual Great Chefs Event to benefit Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation include:Urban Outfitters, The Emerson Group, All Clad, David Stout & Martine Lamoreaux, CHOP, Department of Pediatrics, WP Realty, Larry Magid, Pearl Properties, Cigna, Holt’s Cigar Co., Marc & Megan Vetri, Open Table, PREIT, Taylor Colicchio & Silverman LP, Dr. Benjamin Cooperberg, Amy Greer and Mark Murphy, Law Offices of McDonnell & Associates P.C., Rachel Shoshana Jewelry, Judd Tirnauer, Ron Iannacone and Michelle Bovoso, Tierney and ARAMARK.

For information on how to become a sponsor, contact Mandy Zeilinger at The Vetri Foundation for Children, (215-735-0200)

To purchase tickets visit www.VetriFoundation.org or for more information www.AlexsLemonade.org.  


About Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $60 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 275 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

About The Vetri Foundation for Children
Founded in 2008 as a result of its affiliation with Alex’s Lemonade Stand, the Vetri Foundation for Children was established to help children experience the connection between healthy eating and healthy living. Current initiatives include the development of “Eatiquette,” a program that helps schools provide healthy, scratch made meals while working within the federal guidelines for the National School Lunch Program. Students eat family style, allowing them to practice life skills such as teamwork, communication, manners and portion control while receiving fresh, nutritious lunches. The Vetri Foundation for Children is a 501(c) 3 organization. For more information, please visit www.vetrifoundation.org


Participating Chefs for 2013:

Franklin Becker - The Little Beet - New York
Jonathan Benno - Lincoln Ristorante - New York
April Bloomfield - The Breslin Bar and Dining Room - New York
Jimmy Bradley - The Red Cat - New York
Joey Campanaro - Village Belle - Philadelphia & The Little Owl, Market Table - New York
Marco Canora - Hearth - New York
Andrew Carmellini - The Dutch - New York & Miami
Cesare Casella - Salumeria Rosi Parmacotto - New York
Michael Cimarusti - Providence, Connie and Ted’s - Los Angeles
Tom Colicchio - Colicchio & Sons, Craft Restaurants - New York
Gina DePalma - Babbo Ristorante & Enoteca - New York
Vinny Dotolo & Jon Shook - Animal, Son of a Gun - Los Angeles
Elizabeth Falkner - Krescendo - Brooklyn
Neal Fraser - Grace, BLD, The Strand House, Fritzi Dog - Los Angeles
Clark Frasier & Mark Gaier - Arrows Restaurant, MC Perkins Cove, Summer Winter - Ogunquit, ME
Jose Garces - Garces Group - Philadelphia
Duff Goldman - Charm City Cakes - Baltimore
Paul Kahan - One Off Hospitality Group: Blackbird, avec, The Publican, The Violet Hour, Big Star, Publican Quality Meats - Chicago
Mark Ladner - Del Posto Restaurant - New York
Jenn Louis - Lincoln Restaurant, Sunshine Tavern and Culinary Artistry - Portland, OR
Barbara Lynch - Barbara Lynch Gruppo - Boston
Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson - Frasca Food and Wine - Boulder, CO
Joseph Manzare - Zuppa, Globe, Tres Agaves, Hecho - San Francisco
Mary Sue Milliken - Border Grill Restaurants & Truck, Too Hot Tamale - Los Angeles
Fred Morin - Joe Beef, Liverpool House – Montreal
Marc Murphy - Benchmarc Restaurants - New York
Drew Nieporent - Tribeca Grill - New York
Ken Oringer - Clio, Uni, Toro, Coppa, La Verdad, Earth - Boston
Graziano Pinato - Taverna del Colleoni & Dell'Angelo - Bergamo, Italy
Douglas Quint & Bryan Petroff - Big Gay Ice Cream - New York
Marco Rossi - Osteria Le Cantine D - Bergamo, Italy
Jonathon Sawyer - The Greenhouse Tavern, Noodlecat - Cleveland
Michael Schwartz - Michael's Genuine Food & Drink, Harry’s Pizzeria - Miami & Grand Cayman
Mindy Segal - Hot Chocolate Restaurant & Dessert Bar - Chicago
Shake Shack – New York & Philadelphia
Nancy Silverton & Matt Molina - Mozza - Los Angeles
Michael Solomonov - Zahav, Percy Street Barbecue, Federal Donuts - Philadelphia
Daniel Stern - R2L - Philadelphia
Michael Symon - Lola, Lolita, Roast, B Spot - Cleveland
Bill Telepan - Telepan - New York
Sue Torres - Sueños - New York
Michael Tusk - Quince - San Francisco
Jonathan Waxman - Barbuto - New York
Rocco Whalen - Fahrenheit, Rocco’s Nachos and Tacos - Cleveland

2013 Wawa Welcome America!

Friday, 10 May 2013 15:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS CONTACTS:

Lauren Cox
215-683-2067
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Randy Giancaterino
215-683-2070
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it





Mayor Nutter Announces Star-Studded Lineup for 2013 Wawa Welcome America! Festival Wawa Welcome America will feature performances by The Roots, John Mayer, Jill Scott, Demi Lovato, Ne-Yo, Grace Potter, J. Cole, Ben Taylor and Marsha Ambrosius



(PHILADELPHIA) May 9, 2013 – Once again, Philadelphia is celebrating the nation’s birthday in style by putting on “The Largest Free Concert in America,” as part of the Wawa Welcome America! festival. Today, Mayor Michael A. Nutter announced that the Philly 4th of July Jam will feature a number of top musical artists, including: The Roots, John Mayer, Jill Scott, Demi Lovato, Ne-Yo, Grace Potter and J. Cole, along with Ben Taylor and other surprise guests. An additional performance by Marsha Ambrosius will take place on July 6 during the Taste of Philadelphia.


“The City of Philadelphia is proud to welcome an incredibly talented group of musicians to our city this Fourth of July,” said Mayor Nutter. “We believe that this year’s festival will go down in history as the best yet. We know that Philadelphia is the foremost place to celebrate our nation’s birthday. With this superb lineup of talent, we have an opportunity to prove it to the world.”


Philadelphia’s own The Roots, will return as the house band for the Philly 4th of July Jam. This year’s guest artists will join The Roots on stage in a series of nonstop, electrifying performances.

John Mayer is one of few musicians to achieve both critical acclaim and popular appeal. A seven-time Grammy Award winner, Mayer has earned accolades for each album release while selling more than 20 million albums worldwide. Known as a musician who defies genre boundaries, he has collaborated with a range of artists, including Eric Clapton, B.B. King, The Rolling Stones, Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.  His most recent album—Born and Raised—is nearing platinum and he kicks off his first tour in three years on July 6 in Milwaukee, WI.

After launching her career through several projects with the Disney Channel, Demi Lovato made a smooth transition into the world of Pop music before she even turned 20. With three successful albums under her belt and a fourth on the way, Lovato is a force to be reckoned with. In 2012, Demi was hired as a judge for the second season of the American version of The X Factor, and it has been confirmed that she will return for the show’s third season. “Heart Attack,” the lead single from her upcoming album, Demi, sold more than 500,000 copies and was certified Gold in just four weeks! Demi is scheduled to be released on May 14.

Jill Scott, a Philadelphia native and accomplished R&B songstress, has filled the airwaves with her music for more than a decade. With four studio albums and several Grammy, she has proven that she is here to stay. Scott has also been seen recently on HBO's Number One Ladies Detective Agency, Lifetime's Steel Magnolias, and numerous other film and TV projects.

A Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter, composer, and producer, Ne-Yo is one of the most talented artists in music today. With tracks such as “Give Me Everything” and “Let Me Love You,” Ne-Yo continues to dominate the Pop and R&B charts. When the R&B superstar isn’t recording platinum albums and Top 10 singles of his own, he lends his talents to others in the industry. For years, Ne-Yo has penned hits for Pop’s biggest stars, including Beyoncé, Rihanna, Usher and others.

When Grace Potter began performing with her band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals in 2002, they were self-producing albums and touring extensively on the festival circuit, sometimes doing more than 200 shows a year. Today, the Vermont-based band has taken its place among music industry peers, creating critically acclaimed albums and having their music featured on hit TV shows like The Voice and The X Factor. Grace’s unique voice has landed her numerous comparisons to legendary rock blues singers such as Janis Joplin.

J. Cole, the first artist to sign to Jay Z's Roc Nation label, is one of the most successful emerging hip-hop artists in the game today.  After releasing several successful mixtapes on his own, the young rapper’s long-awaited debut album, Cole World: The Sideline Story, debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard Top 200 charts, and sold more than 200,000 copies in the first week. J. Cole also received a nomination for Best New Artist at the Grammy Awards in 2012.

Ben Taylor, the son of legendary folk rock artists James Taylor and Carly Simon, is currently on tour promoting his album Listening – his first in four years. After self-producing his music for more than a decade, Listening is Taylor’s first album with Iris Records.

“We are excited to be back celebrating the Fourth of July in our hometown and we can’t wait to put on another great show for everyone on the Parkway this year,” said The Roots’ Ahmir “?uestlove” Thompson. “These artists, who represent a variety of genres, are a perfect fit for the eclectic musical community that can be found in Philadelphia.”

This year, Wawa Welcome America! is giving festival attendees more reasons to celebrate with free events and performances extending past the Fourth of July. One of those performances will be that of Marsha Ambrosius, who will fill Penn’s Landing with the sounds of her soulful music on Saturday, July 6, followed by the Adventure Aquarium Waterfront Fireworks Spectacular. Ambrosius, who made a name for herself as a member of the duo Floetry, released her first solo album, Late Nights & Early Mornings in 2011. The album debuted at Number 1 on the Billboard R&B charts, and its second single, “Far Away,” landed her two Grammy nominations.

The 2013 festival calendar provides visitors with enticing reasons to stay in Philadelphia after the Fourth of July holiday and enjoy all that the City has to offer. Wawa Welcome America! encourages travelers to extend their vacation and continue their holiday celebrations after observing the nation’s birthday, in its birthplace.

“Wawa Welcome America! is looking forward to putting on another outstanding festival this year,” said Desiree Peterkin-Bell, City Representative and Executive Director of Welcome America, Inc. “We are determined to provide our guests with the best possible experience during this 20th anniversary year, and we believe that the musical talent secured for this year’s festival will help us achieve just that.”

Additional details about Wawa Welcome America!’s musical performances, including local acts that will be a part of the festivities, will be available online closer to the start of the festival.

Wawa Welcome America! is a multi-day festival that celebrates America’s birthday in America’s birthplace, Philadelphia. In 2013, Welcome America, Inc. is proud to celebrate 20 years as the producer of Philadelphia’s Fourth of July festival. For more information, please visit www.welcomeamerica.com, like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/wawawelcomeamerica and follow us on Twitter at @July4thPhilly.

Meadowlands Liberty CVB Showcase for Super Bowl 2014 Events

Friday, 10 May 2013 02:39

The exhibition will be hosted by the Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau (MLCVB) and the Meadowlands Regional Chamber who are captains of the "Huddle Zone," in the Meadowlands, which is the local organizing committee charged by the NYNJ Super Bowl Host Committee to promote Super Bowl-related events and activities in the Meadowlands Region.

The Big Game Experience will take place on Wednesday, May 22nd at the Meadowlands Convention Center at 355 Plaza Drive in Secaucus and consist of a trade show, tours of various off-site restaurants and event venues, and seminars featuring veteran Super Bowl event promoters.

"The Big Game Experience will create a platform for local companies to develop business opportunities, provide a visibility mechanism to promote the region, and engage communities who want to create Super Bowl activities," said Jim Kirkos, founder and president for the MLCVB. "It's also perfect for the event planners from literally around the world that are interested in hosting Super Bowl events, introducing them to local caterers, event locations, hospitality resources, and production companies and service firms with plenty of time for them to plan something really special within minutes from MetLife Stadium."

The Exhibit Floor will be open from 12pm to 7pm and offer multiple exhibit opportunities.

It will also be providing corporate event planners with tours of local venues and destination facilities. The tours will be arranged by categories including event spaces and performance venues, shopping and retail and hotels and restaurants.

Local and national event specialists will be joined by a world-class set of panelists who will discuss topics including how non-profits, civic organizations and communities can plan and host Super Bowl-related events as fundraisers; and additional seminars to provide CPM credits to participants.

The day will conclude with a networking opportunities and a special keynote address in the "Owner's Lounge" which will also feature entertainment throughout the day for those returning from bus tours.

The Meadowlands Liberty Convention and Visitors Bureau (MLCVB), a division of the Meadowlands Regional Chamber, is the comprehensive destination-marketing channel for travel to the metropolitan New Jersey region. The MLCVB presents its unique sports, entertainment, ecological, cultural and transportation assets as an emerging primary destination as well as an alternative to New York City to attract new and extended visits.  The MLCVB played a crucial role in bringing the 2014 Super Bowl to the region, and it continues to lead the public debate surrounding issues that will affect the growth of the region.

For more information: www.mlcvb.com / 201-939-0707

WHEN: Wednesday, May 22, 2013

WHERE: Meadowlands Convention Center, 355 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, NJ and various additional locations for site tours