From C. Paul Luongo, the Mayor of Copley Square

It's Clambake Time!

2009-06-01T16:09:00.003-04:00

Exclusive for the BACK BAY SUN

It’s Clambake Time!

By C. Paul Luongo

Roger Berkowitz, Chief Fishmonger and President, LEGAL SEA FOODS with 30 locations on the East Coast offers these two exclusive recipes for a delectable clambake,
indoors or out!

Outdoors (for 4)

Ingredients –

4 chicken lobsters
4 lbs. cleaned steamers
4 lbs. cleaned mussels
4 ears of corn
1 large piece of chorizo
Rockweed or seaweed (available at Legal Sea Foods)
Softened herb butter for brushing

Step 1 Place lobsters in salted boiling water for 2 minutes.
Remove, drain well and cut in half lengthwise. Brush
meat side with herb butter and place on hot grill.
Continue basting until meat is cooked through (approx. 5-6 minutes)

Step 2 Soak seaweed in cold water for several minutes. Remove and
shake off excess water. Arrange seaweed on hot grill and nestle
clams and mussels in seaweed. Cover grill and remove shellfish
when they pop open, (approx. 10-12 minutes). Discard any mussels
or clams that do not open.

Step 3 Place unshucked corn on hot grill and cook until tender,
(approx. 10-12 minutes)

Step 4 Cut sausage into four equal pieces and place on hot grill for
approximately 10 minutes.

Step 5 Divide clams and steamers between four plates and place an ear
of corn, piece of chorizo and one lobster on top.

Step 6 Serve with melted butter on the side.

Indoors (for 2)

One pot lobster bake.

Ingredients

2 chicken lobsters 2 lbs. cleaned steamers
2 lbs. cleaned mussels 2 ears of corn
2 small pieces of chorizo 1 cup of white wine
1 cup of water 2 diced shallots

Step 1 Place 2 lobsters on the bottom of a large oversized stock pot.

Step 2 Layer the mussels and clams on top of the lobsters.

Step 3 Create a final layer with the corn and chorizo

Step 4 Pour wine, water and shallots over everything and cover with a lid or
aluminum foil.

Step 5 Cook over medium heat for at least 30 minutes or until all the clams and mussels have opened.

Step 6 Divide clams and mussels between 2 plates and place an ear of corn, piece of
chorizo and one lobster on top.

Step 7 Serve with melted butter and liquid from the pot on the side.

Alternatively, save yourself all this work and effort and walk or drive to your nearest LEGAL SEA FOODS location (there are 3 in Back Bay) and for only $36.95 you can dine regally without all the work and enjoy this sumptuous feast in a comfortable setting year-round!

C. Paul Luongo is President of
C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Public Relations
& Marketing, Boston

Easter Sunday

2009-04-02T13:36:00.002-04:00

Exclusive to the BACK BAY SUN

Easter Sunday, April 12th 2009

Easter, the principal festival of the Christian church year, celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The origins of Easter date to the beginnings of Christianity, and it is probably the oldest Christian observance after the Sabbath (observed on Saturday). Later, the Sabbath subsequently came to be regarded as the weekly celebration of the Resurrection.Many of the cultural historians find, in the celebration of Easter, a convergence of the three traditions - Pagan, Hebrew and Christian.But it is pointed out by some that the Easter festival, as celebrated today, is related with the Hebrew tradition, the Jewish Passover. This is being celebrated during Nisan, the first month of the Hebrew lunar year. The Jewish Passover under Moses commemorates Israel's deliverance from about 300 years of bondage in Egypt.The Feast of Easter was well established by the second century. But there had been dispute over the exact date of the Easter observance between the Eastern and Western Churches. The East wanted to have it on a weekday because early Christians observed Passover every year on the 14th of Nisan, the month based on the lunar calendar. But, the West wanted that Easter should always be a Sunday regardless of the date.To solve this problem the emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicaea in 325. The question of the date of Easter was one of its main concerns. The council decided that Easter should fall on Sunday following the first full moon after the vernal equinox. But fixing up the date of the Equinox was still a problem. The Alexandrians, noted for their rich knowledge in astronomical calculations were given the task. And March 21 was made out to be the perfect date for spring equinox.The dating of Easter today follows the same. Accordingly, churches in the West observe it on the first day of the full moon that occurs on or following the Spring equinox on March 21., it became a movable feast between March 21 and April 25.Still some churches in the East observe Easter according to the date of the Passover festival.The preparation takes off as early as on the Ash Wednesday from which the period of penitence in the Lent begins. The Lent and the Holy week end on the Easter Sunday, the day of resurrection.

Here are some special Boston restaurants to celebrate the Easter holiday!

MEIL BRASSERIE PROVENCALE BOSTON at the INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, 510 Atlantic Avenue, Boston, 617 747 1000. The Easter Brunch is served 11AM – 1PM,
$57 per person, children 12 or under, $25 per person.
Brunch includes a salad station, raw bar, carving station (lamb & prime rib), hot station (vegetable, artic char) omelets, crepe station, desert station.

TAJ HOTEL, 15 Arlington, Street, Boston 617 598 5255 for restaurant reservations.
Easter Buffet on the Roof, 17th Floor, Easter Bunny, Seatings at 11AM and 2:30PM.
Adults $88, Children 4-12yrs, $44. Includes Shirley Temple or soda for toasting.
Buffet includes appetizers, Indian cuisine, Mediterranean Charcuterie and salads, sushi presentations, egg-travagent breakfast selections, pan-seared salmon, chicken breast, scallop with risotto, carving stations with lamb and prime rib and artistic dessert fantasy buffet.

FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL, Oak Room, 138 St. James Avenue, Boston 617 267 5300.
Easter Buffet, $45 Adults, $20 children (6-12), children 5 and under free.
11AM to 2PM, reservations required. Buffet includes honey glazed ham, three pepper crusted rib eye of beef, seared crab cakes, truffle rubbed organic chicken breast all with spring vegetables and light horseradish whipped potatoes, eggs, Kobe burger, New York Strip Steak and a dessert buffet.

Happy Easter!

C. Paul Luongo is President
C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Public
Relations and Marketing, Boston

St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-04T16:08:00.000-05:00

ST. PATRICK’S DAY, Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

Boston - St. Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17, his religious feast day and the anniversary of his death in the fifth century. The Irish have observed this day as a religious holiday for thousands of years.

On St. Patrick's Day, which falls during the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and celebrate in the afternoon. Lenten prohibitions against the consumption of meat were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast—on the traditional meal of Irish bacon and cabbage.

The first St. Patrick's Day parade took place not in Ireland, but in the United States. Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through New York City on March 17, 1762. Along with their music, the parade helped the soldiers to reconnect with their Irish roots, as well as fellow Irishmen serving in the English army.

Over the next thirty-five years, Irish patriotism among American immigrants flourished, prompting the rise of so-called "Irish Aid" societies, like the Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick and the Hibernian Society. Each group would hold annual parades featuring bagpipes (which actually first became popular in the Scottish and British armies) and drums.

Up until the mid-nineteenth century, most Irish immigrants in America were members of the Protestant middle class. When the Great Potato Famine hit Ireland in 1845, close to a million poor, uneducated, Catholic Irish began to pour into America to escape starvation. Despised for their religious beliefs and funny accents by the American Protestant majority, the immigrants had trouble finding even menial jobs. When Irish Americans in the country's cities took to the streets on St. Patrick's Day to celebrate their heritage, newspapers portrayed them in cartoons as drunk, violent monkeys.

However, the Irish soon began to realize that their great numbers endowed them with a political power that had yet to be exploited. They started to organize, and their voting block, known as the "green machine," became an important swing vote for political hopefuls. Suddenly, annual St. Patrick's Day parades became a show of strength for Irish Americans, as well as a must-attend event for a slew of political candidates. In 1948, President Truman attended New York City 's St. Patrick's Day parade, a proud moment for the many Irish whose ancestors had to fight stereotypes and racial prejudice to find acceptance in America.

Today, St. Patrick's Day is celebrated by people of all backgrounds in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Although North America is home to the largest productions, St. Patrick's Day has been celebrated in other locations far from Ireland, including Japan, Singapore, and Russia.

In modern-day Ireland, St. Patrick's Day has traditionally been a religious occasion. In fact, up until the 1970s, Irish laws mandated that pubs be closed on March 17. Beginning in 1995, however, the Irish government began a national campaign to use St. Patrick's Day as an opportunity to drive tourism and showcase Ireland to the rest of the world. Last year, close to one million people took part in Ireland 's St. Patrick's Festival in Dublin, a multi-day celebration featuring parades, concerts, outdoor theater productions, and fireworks shows.

Here are some recommended places to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Boston!

The Beehive, 541 Tremont Street, Boston, is celebrating St. Patrick's day in a more traditional style. Kicking off their "Bee Irish" festivities at 5.00pm on the 17th of March, the Beehive promises traditional Irish "comfort food" such as Wild Irish Salmon Shepherd's Pie and Lamb Stew, as well as traditional Irish music from Hogan's Goat and plenty of Guinness of course. There is no cover charge for this event that promises to be one of the biggest in Boston on St. Patrick's Day.

Other Boston Irish pubs include the BLACK ROSE, DILLON’S, CLERY’S, and the PURPLE SHAMROCK.

CPL

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston

Public Relations Financial Stimulus Plans

2009-02-11T10:21:00.002-05:00

At Last! Public Relations Financial Stimulus Plans
now available in the United States and Canada!

Boston- C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Boston, Public Relations & Marketing throughout the United States and Canada is offering new clients a Stimulus Plan custom-tailored to meet their objectives at reduced prices to fit any budget.

Call for details.

CPL

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,Public Relations & Marketing, Boston

Valentine's Day

2009-01-27T15:03:00.002-05:00

Exclusive to THE BACK BAY SUN

VALENTINE’S DAY, Saturday, February 14, 2009

According to church tradition St. Valentine was a priest near Rome in about the year 270 A.D. At that time the Roman Emperor Claudius-II had issued an edict forbidding marriage.

When Claudius became the emperor, he felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus, would not make good soldiers.

So to assure quality soldiers, he banned marriage. Valentine, a bishop, seeing the trauma of young lovers, met them in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. Claudius learned of this "friend of lovers," and had him arrested.

The emperor, impressed with the young priest's dignity and conviction, attempted to convert him to the Roman gods, to save him from certain execution.

Valentine refused to recognize Roman Gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully. On February 24, 270, Valentine was executed.While Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he came in contact with his jailor, Asterius. The jailor had a blind daughter. Asterius requested him to heal his daughter. Through his faith he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius' daughter. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her "From Your Valentine," a phrase that lived ever after.Valentine thus became a Patron Saint, and spiritual overseer of an annual festival. The festival involved young Romans offering women they admired, and wished to court, handwritten greetings of affection on February 14. The greeting cards acquired St.Valentine's name.The Valentine's Day card tradition spread with Christianity, and is now celebrated all over the world. One of the earliest cards was sent in 1415 by Charles, duke of Orleans, to his wife while he was a prisoner in the Tower of London.

In the United States, the first mass-produced valentines of embossed paper lace were produced and sold shortly after 1847 by Esther Howland (1828-1904) of Worcester, Massachusetts.

The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year behind Christmas. The association estimates that women purchase approximately 85 percent of all valentines.

Here are some very special places to celebrate VALENTINE’S DAY in Boston

TOP OF THE HUB, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, February 15th
$250 per couple, beverages, tax and gratuity not included
Live entertainment.

The Menu

Kama Sutra
Tempura Oysters, Tomatillo Sauce, Creamy Masa, Pico De Gallo
Or
Pastry Quiver Full of Cupids Arrows
Poached Asparagus Wrapped in Black Forest Ham, Baked Puff Pastry & Cheese Fondue, Rosewater Hollandaise
Or
Love Potion #9
Champagne & Mussel Soup, Caviar Cream

* * *
*Cuban Coffee Cocoa Rubbed Pork Tenderloin
Slow Roasted Pineapple, Star Anise Vanilla Bean Compote, Pasilla Banana Mole Sauce
Or
Rosemary Scented Rack of Lamb
Celery Root & Sweetheart Potatoes Gratin, Honey Glazed Baby Carrots, Pomegranate Gastrique
Or
*Grilled Beef Tenderloin
Winter Black Truffle & Goat Cheese Soufflé, Braised Artichoke, Bordelaise Sauce & Mustard Cream
Or
*Pan Seared Salmon
Red wine Risotto, Parmesan Broth, Nasturtium Butter, Haricot Verts

* * *
Rocket Arugula
Spiced Spanish Almond Sweet 100’s, Stilton Cheese, Jerez Tomato Vinaigrette

* * *
Raspberry Chocolate Cake
Cherry Brandy Truffle, Godiva White Chocolate Sauce, Cherry Coulis

Other places to celebrate VALENTINE’S DAY in Boston include AVILA, BAMBARA, BEACON HILL HOTEL & BISTRO, BEEHIVE, BRICCO, Café Fleuri, LANGHAM HOTEL, DAVIO’S, HAMERSLEY’S BISTRO, PERSEPHONE, RADIUS, SAGE, SEL DE LA TERRE, TARANTA, TURNER FISHERIES, UNION and the FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL.

CPL

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston

C. Paul Luongo on WBZ Radio

2008-12-22T10:34:00.002-05:00

C. Paul Luongo on WBZ RADIO
Tuesday, December 23, 10 PM
1030 ON YOUR AM DIAL

C. Paul Luongo, President, C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Public Relations & Marketing, Boston will appear with Raphael Oliver, General Manager, TOP OF THE HUB and Richard Kolac, Vice President, COMMONWEALTH WINES on Nightside with Dan Rea to discuss food, wine, restaurants in Boston and Nationwide.

The show airs in 38 States. Gift certificates to the STANHOPE GRILL (Jurys Hotel), TOP OF THE HUB, Fathoms Restaurant at the NEWPORT MARRIOTT and Starbucks will be awarded to the radio audience who call into the show.

So stay tuned! Merrie Christmas.

Thanksgiving Dinners

2008-11-11T10:31:00.000-05:00

Exclusive to the Back Bay Sun

GOURMET THANKSGIVING DINNERS IN BOSTON
By C. Paul Luongo

THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL, Boston 510 Atlantic Avenue
MIEL BRASSERIE PROVENCIALE - 11 AM to 3 PM - 617-217-5151

Thanksgiving Day Brunch - $68 Adults, $30 Children, plus tax and gratuity: $13 Parking Validation for 4 hours, Credit Card number required for parties of 6 or fewer. 6 or more requires credit card and photo ID.
Harvest Buffet
Salads
Mesclun Greens, Frisee and Watercress
Vegetable Provencal Salad
Haricot Verts with Toasted Almonds and Parsley Vinaigrette
Truffle-Scented White Asparagus and Wild Mushroom Salad
Caesar Salad with Parmesan Croutons

Raw Bar
Oysters on the half shell
Clams on the half shell
Shrimp Cocktail

Carving Starving
Roasted Turkey, Cranberry Compote, Gravy
Prime Rib, Dijon Mustard Horseradish Cream, Au Jus

Hot Station
Chestnut Honey Glazed Salmon
Medley of Vegetables au Gratin
Grilled Corn and Roasted Acorn Squash
Caramelized Onion, Chestnut and Corn Bread Stuffing

Desserts
Assorted Mini Desserts to include -
Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pie,
Apple Cinnamon Pie, Assortment of Cheese Cakes,
Chocolate Mousse and Assortment of Crème Brulee

Selection of Juices and Soft Drinks,
Hot Apple Cider, Coffee and Teas
Upon Arrival

More –

Page 2 of 2

Thanksgiving Dinner is served from 5-11 PM, with a 4-course menu at the same prices as above.

THE FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA, Copley Square, Boston, 617-267-5300

Thanksgiving Day Brunch in the Oak Room
Three-course brunch menu with a choice of appetizer, entrée, a baker’s basket and the dessert buffet: 11:30 AM to 2 PM - $35 per person. Children under 5 are free. Dinner will be a la carte from 5:45 PM to include slow-roasted turkey, accompanied by chicken and apple sausage cornbread stuffing with cranberry chutney and turkey gravy.

Turkeys-To-Go is offered as a perfect choice for those who prefer dinner at home. The FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA will handle the cooking and baking. The hotel can prepare a fully-cooked, ready-to-serve dinner for four at $190 or eight people for $235, packaged with all the necessary trimmings, including an apron!

The TURKEY-TO-GO DINNER includes –
A 14 or 20 pound roast turkey Butternut Squash
Stuffing Gravy and cranberry sauce
Mashed potatoes Corn muffins, rolls and butter
Green beans Choice of pumpkin or apple pie
Carrots (Dinner for 8 includes one of each)

In addition to this delectable meal, Turkey-To-Go includes re-heating and serving suggestions. All Turkeys-To-Go orders must be received by 12 Noon on Monday, November 24th.

The STANHOPE GRILLE at JURYS HOTEL - 350 Stuart Street, Boston - 617-266-7200 is offering 2 Prix Fixe Menus at $72 and $60 with a children’s option available.

TOP OF THE HUB RESTAURANT & LOUNGE - Prudential Tower - 800 Boylston Street – Boston - 617-536-1775. 4-Course Menu, Adults $58, Children $25 (6-12), Children under 6 dine free. Dinner served 11 AM to 8 PM. Entertainment by the Brian McCree Group from 4-8 PM. There’s a Thanksgiving Lounge Menu that includes Chicken Lollipops $13, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup $7, Fried Judith Point Calamari $14, Grilled Angus Burger $15 and Spiced Pumpkin Bread Pudding $9.

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston

America's Oldest Restaurant

2008-06-10T09:54:00.001-04:00

AMERICA’S OLDEST RESTAURANT

DURGIN-PARK
340 Faneuil Hall Marketplace
Boston, MA 02109

Lunch: 11:30-2:30 pm
Dinner: 2:30-10 pm
Open 7 Days
All Credit Cards Accepted
Reservations Accepted
Telephone: (617)227-2038
Seana Kelley, General Manager

By C. Paul Luongo

In 1827 John Durgin and Eldridge Park food merchants in Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston decided to open a restaurant for the merchants who came to buy produce and meat in the stalls.

Today the place remains the same with the red-checkered tablecloths on the second floor, ceiling fans (now with air-conditioning) and the wait staff friendlier than in years past when rudeness was the accepted norm.

In 1972, the Kelley family purchased the restaurant to provide Yankee fare prepared fresh daily. Only three families have owned it since the Civil War. Ark Restaurants in New York is now the owner.

Authentic Yankee dishes like Potted Beef with Onions ($7.95), hand-patted fish cakes ($8.95), broiled scrod ($14.95 to $19.95) oyster stew ($15.95) and creamy chowder ($4.95) are still served with blocks of corn bread. Short-ribs ($9.95), a long-time stalwart, served with vegetable, potatoes and corn bread, are only served at lunch because there is usually none left over for dinner.

Real strawberry shortcake made with home-made biscuits ($5.95), and whipped cream, Indian pudding ($5.95), and coffee jello made with real coffee grinds ($3.95), (just like the pilgrim’s made), are still popular desert items.

It’s also one of the few places in Boston to offer Yankee pot roast ($10.95) lunch and ($13.95) dinner, formerly offered at popular Boston cafeterias such as Hayes and Bickford’s and the Waldorf.

The dining area (25 tables for 250 diners) is situated high above the sidewalk up a long flight of stairs. There’s a bar and smaller dining room on the ground level with outside tables.
More -
Cooked entrees are elevatored down via dumbwaiter from the third floor kitchen to the waiters’ station in the second-floor dining room.

Seating is communal style with diners joining others at various tables. Singles are usually directed to a table called Clam Chowder because of the painting above it.

All potatoes are inspected for imperfections before they are mashed and the carrots are peeled by hand. Corned beef is corned on premises and apples are peeled one by one in a hand-cranked gadget, and then made into applesauce. Gravy for turkey dinner comes from a roux that is whisked constantly until thick and mahogany brown. Everyone is trained the Durgin-Park way, no culinary school graduates here!

Today’s menu includes Poor Man’s Roast Beef ($10.95), Prime Rib of Beef (Yankee cut), 20 oz ($28.95), Roast Loin of Pork ($16.95), Lobsters range from ($29.95 to $55.95, 2 ¼ lb), pastas are ($14.95 to $16.95), New England Clam Bake is $48.95.

There is a DURGIN-PARK COOKBOOK ($19.95) available along with other DURGIN-PARK souvenirs.

My companions and I dined at DURGIN-PARK recently and here is our report.

We began our meal with appetizers of fried clams ($21.95) and Steamers ($19.95). The fried clams were delectable with a mix of small and large clams (my favorite) and the steamed clams came in a bowl with several dozen bivalves and the appropriate drawn butter with dipping broth.

Susan started with a cup of clam chowder ($4.95) -- recognized just that day as “Boston’s Favorite Stain” in a Tide Detergent contest. Creamy with the real stuff and very smooth, it was better swallowed than spilled on a blouse! Her entrée: two thick cut pork chops on the bone ($17.95), grilled well and plenty to go home. Staying true to the comfort food theme for the evening, sides were mashed potatoes – with just the right number of lumps and carrots steamed with butter and parsley.

Katherine had the Fresh Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes ($24.95) which came with a side of mashed potatoes and corn. The crab meat was fresh and delicious, and tasted great with their side of tartar sauce.

Unfortunately the Durgin Cut (32 oz) Roast Prime Rib of Beef ($39.95) end cut was not available so I had to settle for the Yankee Cut (16 oz) ($28.95) boneless and while bountiful it is not as tasty as one with the bone. Nonetheless, we came home with ample beef for the rest of the month. It is served with a baked potato and squash.

And while we call sampled the desserts including fresh homemade strawberry shortcake ($6.25) Boston Cream Pie ($6.25) Baked Indian Pudding ($5.95) and Coffee Jello ($3.95), my favorite is the jello made fresh with DURGIN-PARK coffee and whipped cream, the Pilgrim’s favorite and currently popular with Japanese tourists.

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston

Mother's Day Column

2008-04-15T11:27:00.001-04:00

Mother's Day in the United States
Sunday May 11, 2008
By C. Paul Luongo

The United States celebrate Mother's Day on the second Sunday in May. In the United States, Mother's Day was loosely inspired by the British day and was imported by social activist Julia Ward Howe after the American Civil War. However, it was intended as a call to unite women against war.
In 1870, she wrote the Mother's Day Proclamation as a call for peace and disarmament. Howe failed in her attempt to get formal recognition of a Mother's Day for Peace. Her idea was influenced by Ann Jarvis, a young Appalachian homemaker who, starting in 1858, had attempted to improve sanitation through what she called Mothers' Work Days. She organized women throughout the Civil War to work for better sanitary conditions for both sides, and in 1868 she began work to reconcile Union and Confederate neighbors. In parts of the United States it is customary to plant tomatoes outdoors after Mother's Day (and not before).
When Jarvis died in 1907, her daughter, named Anna Jarvis started the crusade to found a memorial day for women. The first such Mother's Day was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on 10 May 1908, in the church where the elder Ann Jarvis had taught Sunday school.
Grafton is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. From there, the custom caught on — spreading eventually to 45 states. The holiday was declared officially by some states beginning in 1912.
In 1914 President Woodrow Wilson declared the first national Mother's Day, as a day for American citizens to show the flag in honor of those mothers whose sons had died in war.
Nine years after the first official Mother's Day, commercialization of the U.S. holiday became so rampant that Anna Jarvis herself became a major opponent of what the holiday had become. Mother's Day continues to this day to be one of the most commercially successful U.S. occasions.
According to the National Restaurant Association, Mother's Day is now the most popular day of the year to dine out at a restaurant in the United States.

Here are a few choice restaurant selections in Boston to enjoy a special Mother’s Day Dinner.
TOP OF THE HUB, 800 Boylston Street, Boston, 617-536-1775
TOSCANO, 46 Charles Street, Boston 617-723-4090
AUJOURD’HUI and BRISTOL ROOM, FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, 240 Boylston Street, Boston, 617-338-4400
OAK ROOM, FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA HOTEL, 138 St. James Avenue, Boston, 617-267-5300
DAVIO’S, 75 Arlington Street, Boston 617-357-4810
L’ESPALIER, 30 Gloucester Street, Boston, 617-262-3023
SASSO, 116 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617-247-2400

Enjoy!

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston
Russell Brodmerkle, Researcher

Easter Holiday Column

2008-03-13T10:13:00.000-04:00

AMERICA’S BEST! EASTER BUFFETS/DINNERS
Sunday, March 23, 2008
By
C. Paul Luongo

FOUR SEASONS HOTEL Main Number 617-338-4400
240 Boylston Street Restaurant Reservations 617-351-2037
Boston, MA 02116 General Manager, Bill Taylor

Aujourd’ Hui 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Easter Holiday Buffet $98 Adults, $49 Children
(Tax and Tips not included)

Garde Manger Station
Fingerling Potato Salad, Smoked Bacon and Mustard Vinaigrette
Caesar Salad, Sun-dried Tomatoes, Parmesan, Garlic Croutons
Regional Farm House Cheeses, Bread display
Grilled Spring Asparagus, Goat Cheese, Shallot Dressing
Greek Style Pasta Salad, Pennette, Feta Cheese, Olives, Red Onions, Peperoncini, Fresh Oregano, Tomatoes, Red wine Vinaigrette
Field Greens with Crisp Onions, Blue Cheese, White Balsamic Dressing
Charcuterie Platter, Assorted Mustards, Pickled Vegetables

Breakfast Station
Selection of Fresh fruit, Cantaloupe, Honeydew Melon, Sliced Pineapple and Kiwi, Bowls of Strawberries and Blueberries
Individual Yogurt and Granola Parfait
Malted Waffles with Maple Syrup
Classic Eggs Benedict with Chive Hollandaise
Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, Chicken Sausage
Oven Baked Hash Brown Potatoes

After 2:30 Pasta Station
We will switch the to a Pasta Station serving
Spinach and Cheese Ravioli with Porcini Cream Sauce
Rigatoni Pasta, Grilled Chicken, Kalamata Olives, Roasted Tomatoes, Arugula Pesto
Cheese Tortellini, Rock Shrimp, Spring Onions, English Peas, Lemon Nage

Foccacia Bread, Long Bread Sticks, Parmesan Cheese, Spiced Chili Olive Oil

Seafood Harvest
Atlantic Smoked Salmon and Mini Bagels, Traditional Garnish
Smoked Sable, Trout and Pickled Hearing
New England Clam Chowder
Chilled display with Cocktail Shrimp, Snow Crab Claws, Cracked Lobster, Spiced Mussels and Clams, Calamari Salad, Cocktail Sauce, Remoulade and Mustard Mayonnaise, Lemon Wedges
California Sushi Rolls
Selection of American Caviar with “Untraditional Garnishes”

New England Carving Station
Roast Breast of Turkey, Herb Gravy, Buttered Green Beans
Spiced Honey Glazed Ham, Black pepper Biscuits
Whole Roasted Rib Eye, Yukon Gold Mashed Potatoes
Garlic and Rosemary Stuffed Leg of Lamb, Arugula and Teardrop Tomato Salad

Pastry Selection From our Pastry Shop

Ballroom 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM
Easter Holiday Buffet $98 Adults, $49 Children
(Tax and Tips not included)

Bristol Lounge 3:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Easter Dinner $75 per person

_________________________________________________________________

TOP OF THE HUB Main Number 617-536-1775
Prudential Tower General Manager, Raphael Oliver
800 Boylston Street Executive Chef, Mark Porcaro

Brunch 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
$67 Adults, $29 Children
(Tax and Tips not included)
Skywalk Admission Included
Entertainment 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Lee Childs Duo

Jumbo Lump Crab Salad
Saffron Aspic, Cucumber
Green Pea Soup
Morel Crème Fraîche
Seasonal Fruit & Berries

Eggs Mornay
Bone in Ham Steaks, Vermont Maple Syrup Baked Beans
Eggs Benedict
Traditional Hollandaise Sauce
Asparagus & Manchego Cheese Omelet
Red Pepper Salsa
Ham & Cheese Toast “Croque Monsieur”
Red Bliss Hash
More-
Garlic Studded Leg of Lamb
Fingerling Potatoes, Olives, Haricot Verts, Oven Roasted Tomatoes
Pan Seared Chicken Breast
Simmered Spring Vegetables, Thyme Jus
Rib Eye Roast
Pommes Dauphine, Asparagus, Béarnaise Sauce
Herb Crusted Halibut
English Pea Risotto, Anis Sauce

Watercress & Radish Salad
Orange Vinaigrette

Nougatine White Chocolate &
Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake
Mango Cream Sauce, Tapioca

Dinner 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$67 Adults, $29 Children
Marty Ballou Trio 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Menu includes Green Pea Soup, Rib Eye Roast and Herb Crusted Halibut.

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston

Saint Patrick's Day Column

2008-03-13T10:11:00.002-04:00

SPECIAL TO THE BACK BAY SUN

Beannachtai na Feile Padraig!
Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!

By C. Paul Luongo

Here’s a special selection of Irish Pubs for your enjoyment!

MCFADDEN’S Dan Ianello
148 State St, Boston, 02109 General Manager
617-227-5100
7am - 2am

Specials include Green Miller Lite beer for $3 and green Jell-O shots cost $5 each. Authentic Irish fare including Shepherds Pie will be served until 1am. 5 different Guinness taps are $5 each. Also a complimentary Irish breakfast, which includes white & black sausage on Irish soda bread with hash and eggs will be served from 7am-9am. The first 100 guests will receive a free t-shirt. The cover charge is $10. Doors open at 7am and Alcohol served at 8am.
________________________________________________________________________

BLACK ROSE Paul Moore
160 State St, Boston, 02109 General Manager
Glynn Company, Owner
Phone: 617-742-2286
Fax: 617-451-7414
Email: info@irishconnection.com 8am - 2am

Expect a very hectic crowd in one of America’s top 10 Irish establishments. There will be live bag pipers performing throughout the day. Treat yourself to a Pint of Guinness imported from Dublin for $5.75. The menu will include Shepherds Pie, Garlic Steak, Irish Pork Sausages, and Chicken Curry all ranging from $10-16.
__________________________________________________________________

COOGAN’S Paul Wilson
171 Milk St, Boston, 02109 General Manager
Glynn Company, Owner
617-451-7415
9am - 2am

At Coogan’s there will be live music all day. Cover charge of $10 in the afternoon. The main dish being served will be corned beef & cabbage just under $10. After the meal enjoy a desert made with Bailey’s Irish crème among a very exciting atmosphere.

____________________________________________________________________

THE PURPLE SHAMROCK Nick Godfery
1 Union St, Boston, 02109 General Manager
Glynn Company, Owner
617-227-2060
8am - 2am

The Purple Shamrock is expected to be one of the most happening bars in Boston on St Patrick’s Day. There is a cover charge of between $25-50 and there will be long lines at the door if you are not there early. Breakfast will be served starting at 9am and will include Bangers, eggs, toast as well as fried tomatoes, under $10. There will be a small Irish menu in the afternoon including corned beef and cabbage.
____________________________________________________________________

CLERY’S Jamie Durham
113 Dartmouth St, Boston, 02116 General Manager
Glynn Company, Owner
Phone: 617-262-9874
Fax: 617-262-3817
Email: Clerys@Irishconnection.com
11am - 2am

Clery’s was voted the best neighborhood bar in 2002 and they are looking forward to a very busy day with a fun upbeat crowd. There is no cover charge and they have a fireplace to escape the frigid New England weather. The menu includes orange rosemary salmon, steak and mushroom pie and a fried haddock sandwich ranging from $7-14. You can wash the meal down with one of 16 draught beers including the Irish beers Guinness and Smithwick’s for $4.75 each.

____________________________________________________________________

GOODY GLOVER’S Dan McMyler
50 Salem St, Boston, 02114 General Manager, co-owner
617-367-6444
11am-1am

Goody Glover’s offers a unique Irish experience with a cozy ambiance and inviting décor. There will be an intensely St. Patrick’s day menu offering 10 different plates all made with corned beef and cabbage including poached egg and home-fries to corned beef and cabbage egg rolls $8-$13. Goody Glover’s also offers traditional Irish Beer Smithwick’s and Guinness for $5.50 each.

Slainte!

C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston
Russell Brodmerkle, Researcher

Stanhope Grille

2007-11-13T10:14:00.000-05:00

SPECIAL TO THE BACK BAY SUN

STANHOPE GRILL
Jurys Boston Hotel

Jurys Hotel opened four years ago at the former site of the Boston Police Headquarters in Back Bay at the corner of Stuart and Berkeley Streets. Stephen Johnston is the General Manager and has done a wonderful job running 223 superior and deluxe guest rooms plus two executive suites and an elaborate Presidential Suite.
Young Bostonians are drawn to the CUFFS bar on the lower level, before entering the main dining room, The Stanhope Grill. I1 BARISTA is a bar-lounge on the main floor.
The STANHOPE GRILL has prepared a new menu for the current season which includes specialties such as Braised Lamb Shank ($34), Tournedos of Beef Tenderloin ($30), Pan Seared Ahi Yellow Fin Tuna Steak ($31) and Fresh Herb Tagliatelle Pasta ($22).
We began by sampling exotic two portion carafes of martinis from their “Most Wanted” list ($11), including a Green Monster named in honor of the Red Sox, as well as a Watermelon Martini.
Our dining adventure commenced with an Amuse Bouche consisting of a pan seared scallop in a light Miso and PonZo glaze. Fresh Focaccia Bread with delicate herbs, olive oil and imported Irish butter, was a fabulous beginning to a lovely evening. We split an order of Tagliatelle Pasta, tossed with asparagus, olive oil poached tomatoes, kalamata olives and spinach that can be garnished with pecorino Romano cheese. It was the most delectable pasta dish I’ve had in a long time, exceeding the North End and yet prepared by an Irish Chef!
I had the Casco Bay North American Atlantic Cod ($28), bacon crusted and served with a lentil ragout, Chanterelle mushrooms, smoked tomatoes and pearl onions. It is so good, the Chef should win a Culinary Oscar! My assistant, Marion, had a 12 oz. Northeast Family Farms Sirloin $38 with a Pinot Noir risotto cake, asparagus and red onion jam accompanied by a Bordelaise sauce. She reported a savory melt-in-your mouth beef. Susan, another guest, had the Niman Ranch pork chop ($30) on the bone, cooked to perfection – thick, juicy and well-trimmed, served with a Vermont goat cheese bread pudding and steamed spinach with a mustard sauce and pancetta. The flavors combined to create a hearty celebration of the harvest season.
There also is an extensive list of domestic and imported wines.
Deserts ($8) include Strawberry Rhubarb Shortcake with Chantilly cream to die for, Chocolate Fondant with espresso ice cream and Jameson carmel sauces, peach sorbet, Mango Crème Brulee and several others including home made ice cream.
The STANHOPE GRILL is tucked behind CUFFS BAR. Low ceilings, walls covered in textiles and a comfortable mix of banquettes and stand along tables.
The STANHOPE GRILL is open for lunch and dinner, 7 days and breakfast is served both buffet style and a la carte with a special Irish breakfast ($17) two eggs, home fried potatoes, black and white pudding, rasers & sausage, Bachelors baked beans, grilled tomato and brown bread. Whew! This breakfast will last you for days and is worth every dollar bill! Brunch is available on Saturday from 7:00 am to 11:30 am and Sunday from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm.
An inexpensive menu at CUFFS served day and night includes such favorites as BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwich ($9), CUFFS Blackened Burger ($13), ¼ pound Hot Dog ($9), Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($10) and Lobster Roll ($16).

THE STANHOPE GRILL
350 Stuart Street
Boston, MA 02116

Hotel Telephone – 617-266-7200
Stanhope Grill – 617-532-3827
Fax – 617-266-7203
Breakfast Hours – 7:00 am – 10:30 am
Brunch -Saturday – 7:00 am – 11:30 am
-Sunday – 7:00 am – 2:00 pm
Luncheon – 11:30 am – 2:00 pm
Dinner (week days) – 5:50 pm – 10:00 pm
Dinner (Friday & Saturday) – 5:30 pm – 10:30 pm
All Credit Cards Accepted

November 2007
C. Paul Luongo is the President,
C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Public Relations and Marketing, Boston

2007-10-09T13:39:00.000-04:00

The Top of the Hub
52nd Floor, Prudential Towers
Boston

By C. Paul Luongo

On a clear day, you can almost see New Hampshire’s Mt. Monadnock from the Prudential Center’s 52nd floor, home of the Top of the Hub. Boasting such an impressive view over the city skyline, it is obvious why it has been a Boston attraction since 1965. General Manager Raphael Oliver has overseen the Top of the Hub through three transformations since he began in 1990. Describing this latest renovation as a “softer” look, he points to the cream-colored linens, the recently-installed wine cellars partitioning the dining space, and the clean architectural lines that come together to create a surprisingly intimate atmosphere.
The polished and expert wait staff quickly serves exotic drinks as Oliver chats amiably about his desire to continue adding to the restaurant’s growing wine list. The Three Berry Martini ($12) with Stoli Blueberi Vodka, Chambord, cranberry juice, and sweet & sour, is a heady blend of summery fruit, while the Watermelon Martini ($11) with Ketel One and watermelon liqueur is a lighter, more subtle option (without a watermelon garnish). The Silk Pomegranate Martini ($13) was a bitterly refreshing blend of Silk Vodka and pomegranate juice, and the Tropical Splash ($10) was a tropical, sweet, clean and refreshing bouquet of Bacardi “O”, Bacardi Limon, Bacardi Coco, and pineapple juice. Fortunately, for the guest who believes that calling anything except the classic Beefeater, dry with three plump olives, a martini, is near blasphemy, the Top of the Hub’s bartender understands the subtle art of creating the perfect treatment for gin.
To start, we are presented with the Tempura Shrimp ($16), attractively plated in
the elegant and simple Asian-inspired style. Biting into the lightly-battered shrimp, the pineapple glaze gives it a sweet afterthought.
As the next appetizer is brought to our table, Executive Chef Mark Porcaro explains how they prepare the Chicken Lollipops that are settled in front of us. In his
quiet way, he describes how they are steamed, drenched in corn starch and deep-fried, and then tossed in a sambal honey sauce. The plates are cleared quickly as we are served a small sampling of the Capellini Pasta ($28 for a full order) with Braised Baby Clams, Pancetta, Garlic, and Roasted Tomatoes. Additionally, the Tartar of Yellowfin Tuna ($15) with Avocado, Cilantro, and Pickled Ginger was memorable for its flavor, texture and freshness.
The soup that is brought out next is the cause of some light-hearted debate. Sopa Vermelha ($7) is a Portuguese soup with chorizo, potato, beans, and a thick, textured tomato-based broth. It is closely reminiscent of kale soup, which spurs a good-natured debate over the nature of “proper” kale soup between Oliver and Porcaro. Their congenial banter continues for a few moments as the table is cleared to make room for the entrées.
The Braised Lamb Shank ($29) with Roasted Garlic, Rosemary mashed potatoes, Lamb juice and Gremolata is a Brobdingnagain (more than a pound) serving of delectable lamb falling off the bone, and enough for two, really!
The Dry Aged Sirloin ($44), aged for 22 days, was worth the wait, perfectly served charbroiled on the outside with a cool pink-red center.
Adobo Rubbed Grilled Center Cut Pork Chop ($28) came on the bone, and was a thick, juicy mouthful. The creamy masa offered a smooth, corn-infused side dish and blended perfectly with the chunky tomato, green pepper and red onion salad heaped over the chop.
The Sauteed Salmon ($29) was heavenly, with tender, buttery meat topped with a
crispy-thin layer and served over black truffle corn polenta. The sweetness of the polenta was complemented beautifully by the 2005 Hitching Post Pinot Noir, a tarty red with a little buzz.
To finish the evening in style, trays laden with every dessert on the menu are laid on the table. The Caramelized Pineapple Vanilla Bean Tea Cake ($9) is served with Chai Tea Ice Cream and Myer Lemon-Honey Coulis. The Toasted Coconut & White Chocolate Mouse ($9) was sweet and playful, while the decadent Warm Chocolate Cake
($9) is paired with refreshing mint ice cream to contrast with the richness of the dessert.
The Crème Brûlée ($9) is dangerously addictive as their special dessert offering. The Freshly Baked Cookies ($12), including sugar, peanut butter, chocolate chip, and Heath bar, are served with Chantilly Cream and come warm and soft, straight from the oven.
Whether you’re looking for the perfect spot to host your special event, share a romantic dinner, or impress your friends from out of town, the restaurant will cater perfectly to your needs. Its welcoming and elegant atmosphere, excellent cuisine, and personable staff, (not to mention the most stunning view in Boston), make The Top of the Hub one of Boston’s most timeless gems.

Top of the Hub
52nd Floor, Prudential Towers
Boston
617-536-1775
All major credit cards accepted.
Open 7 days a week 11:30am - 1:00am and Sunday brunch beginning at 11:00am.
The lounge hosts live music nightly including vocalists on weekends, with no cover charge, though there is a $24 minimum if seated at one of the lounge tables.
Sun & Mon: 8:00 pm-12:00 amTues - Thurs: 8:30 pm-12:30 amFri & Sat: 9:00 pm-1:00 am

August 2007
C. Paul Luongo is the President of C. Paul Luongo Company,
Public Relations & Marketing, Boston.

Beyoncé & The Summer Shack

2007-08-29T12:17:00.000-04:00

THE SUMMER SHACK AT MOHEGAN SUN

The summer evening began with a cool pitcher of Peach Sangria at the SUMMER SHACK ($27) and it was so good that if it had not been for our tickets to see Beyoncé, I’d have stayed sipping all night! Olé!

The Sangria marinates for 24 hours with white wine, peach schnapps, oranges, pineapple and peaches, and a little sugar.

The Summer Shack as you know is our Best Seafood Restaurant in New England with locations in Boston, Cambridge, Logan Airport and Mohegan Sun. One will be opening in Atlantic City next year.

Despite the fact that their specialty is seafood, they also have the Best Hot Dog in Town at $5.50 from Pearl Kountry Club. It comes accompanied with fries and sauerkraut. They also make the best fried chicken wings in town and you can buy them singly for only $2.75 apiece.

My companion and I split their monster hot dog and chicken wings (buffalo and fried) followed by a Shack Surf & Turf special for $50, including 12 oz. of steamed king crab legs and a 16 oz rib eye steak done to perfection (I am finicky about meat being burnt to a crisp). I ordered it medium-well and it was wonderful. It also came with corn on the cob (my passion).

My companion is not a seafood person so he ordered the 12 oz. NewYork Sirloin with béarnaise sauce and fries for $26 with a special order of brown rice, $4. He approved.

For dessert I had a refreshing watermelon granite which consists of watermelon puree, sugar, ice and vodka and blended so that it forms crystals served in a cup, $8.

The Summer Shack is open seven days, 11:30AM-11PM on weekdays. ‘Til 1:30AM weekends, food service ‘til 11PM, late night menu ‘til 1AM.

All credit cards.

Reservations call (860) 862-9500.

BEYONCÉ AT THE MOHEGAN SUN ARENA

Now about Beyoncé! My God. The show begins and pandemonium breaks loose as the screaming audience stands and dances in the aisles. A big fire is at center stage with fireworks, smoke and flashing lights all around.

Suddenly Beyoncé appears on stage at the top of the stairs in a silvery chic gown, which ultimately reduces to a short dress.

The band consists of ten female musicians, 3 back-up singers, 6 female dancers and 4 male dancers.

During the 2-hour concert with 5 costume changes, multicolored computer graphics and lights in the background, Beyoncé, who is very beautiful and has a powerful voice, begins to sing her set list which consists of CRAZY, FREAKUM, GREENLIGHT, BABY BOY, BEAUTIFUL LIAR, NAUGHTY GIRL, ME MYSELF AND I, DANGEROUSLY IN LOVE, FLAWS AND ALL, DESTINY’S CHILD MEDLEY, SPEECHLESS, I BE DAMN (GHETTO TANGO), RING THE ALARM, SUGA MAMMA, UPGRADE, BONNIE AND CLYDE, CHECK ON IT, DÉJÀ VU, GET ME BODIED, DEENA, LISTEN, and IRREPLACEABLE.

Many of the songs were co-written by Beyoncé and she has been honored by ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) by receiving the Songwriter of the Year in 2005. In addition, that year, she received the most Performed Songs Award.

There are terrific keyboard and saxophone solos through the night and at a certain point Beyoncé floats down from the ceiling to the stage by gripping a giant umbrella.

There are ballet dancers and very athletic male dancers doing complicated choreography and Beyoncé even includes a DREAMGIRLS segment. The show ends with her singing Happy Birthday to everyone, which refers to her newest album B’day (short for Birthday).

Beyoncé is sure to be a superstar for a very long time.

Ticket prices were $150 to $90.75 and she packed the arena with 8,000 screaming fans.

Todd English's Tuscany

2007-06-27T14:10:00.000-04:00

TODD ENGLISH’S TUSCANY RESTAURANT AT MOHEGAN SUN

Anytime a restaurant manager comes to my table with an overflowing, fresh banana martini, I’m off to a good start! That’s exactly what David Weiler, Restaurant Manager at TUSCANY did on a recent Saturday evening prior to the FRANK SINATRA JR. show at the Cabaret.

TUSCANY has rustic charm with exposed beams with fiberglass boulders to emulate the Taughannick Falls. While there is no water flowing inside the restaurant, there is a courtyard near the falls outside with patio seating. The 55-foot high waterfall is called the Taughannick Falls because it represents a treacherous crossing point during the tribe’s migration.

There are 180 seats with a full bar for 10 seats (you can also eat at the bar) with three alcove private tables complete with curtains for privacy and a chef’s table for 10 looking into the glass-walled kitchen.

We started our dinner with delicious flatbreads with names like Arthur Avenue, Bronx Bomber, Bianco, Rustic Margherita, Tuscan and Almalfi Shrimp. They are like mini- pizza slices each with various combinations of tomatoes, mozzarella, pepperoni, basil, prosciutto, rock shrimp, scallions, etc. They range from $9 to $12 for a whole flatbread. Arthur Avenue refers to the famous Italian section of Brooklyn known for its Italian cuisine!

Next came Antipasto dell Casa, at $4 for each item, including “Vegetale” cauliflower, artichokes, peppers, etc. Salumi consists of prosciutto, mortadella, capicola and other cold cuts and finally Formaggio with a mixture of cheeses. I can’t eat cheese but made a good dent in the Salumi of prosciutto and mortadella with my flatbread and was by now sated before the entrees arrived.

But being the good critic that I am, we did manage to sample a bit of the Crispy Cod ($28) with macadamian nut crust, tatsoi salad. The cod was not flaky or tender. I also sampled Grilled Rack of Lamb ($32) with vegetable Panini, couscous yogurt (mine wasn’t well done as expected) and Garganelli, a wild boar sausage with broccolini and pasta aglio e elio. Ricotta pesto comes with this but I cannot eat it ($24). The pasta was a bit gummy.

My companions sampled the Wood Grilled Tuna with chilled noodles, stir-fry vegetables and toasted peanut ($32) which they say was very tasty, the Mahi Mahi with celery root puree, crispy oysters, plum Glaze ($32) cooked perfectly to satisfy my guests and the Filet Mignon grilled onion watermelon salsa, cornbread ($38) which they reported as “cool sweetness and warm buttery meat.”

We also sampled the Kurabutto Pork Shank with sweet potato polenta and toasted walnut salad $30. This was the hit of the evening. It’s braised by Chef de Cuisine, Jeffrey, for five hours.

As an extra attraction on Friday and Saturday evenings there is an Italian strolling guitarist who comes to your table and sings!

There are few desserts and therefore I opted for another banana martini as a wonderful way to the end the meal and prepare for the Sinatra show. The restaurant is open 7 days, lunch and dinner. Lunch reservations can be made by telephone at (860) 862-3236. Telephone dinner reservations can be made at (888) 226-7711.

Lunch is served buffet-style at the Tuscan Table everyday from 12PMto 3PM. Dinner hours are from 5PM to 10PM everyday except Saturday, when the kitchen stays open until 11PM.

Judy Garland

2007-06-20T11:00:00.000-04:00

And Now Ladies and Gentleman, Miss Judy Garland

This 90-minute (no intermission) show opens with Judy, garbed in a white pant-suit, attempting to deal with a tape recorder in her London hotel room. She is struggling to record memories of her life for a book to be written as she needs the cash.

Through her reminiscences, we learn that she began performing at a tender two-years-old in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and appeared in vaudeville as part of the GUMM SISTERS with her siblings and parents. She complains about how many people stole money from her and reveals that it was George Jessel, the noted comedian, who gave her the last name of Garland which later became Judy Garland. This is part 1 of a 2 part presentation with Tim Evans at the piano (that I think needs tuning).

Kathy St. George, formerly a school teacher from Stoneham, plays Judy. She offers a pleasant presentation of Judy without Judy’s vibrato. Otherwise she’s mastered the hand mannerisms and hair (wig) and in Part II makes three costume changes. She first appears in a silver beaded top with blue skirt, later changes on stage behind a theatre trunk into a black dress and finally into a tramp outfit to sing, A COUPLE OF SWELLS, a song made famous in one of Judy’s movies with Fred Astaire.

During the second act she sings all the songs identified with Judy Garland, including-
I’LL GO MY WAY BY MYSELF,
ONCE IN A LIFETIME,
WHAT A DAY THIS HAS BEEN,
THIS CAN’T BE LOVE,
ALMOST LIKE BEING IN LOVE,
I’M ALWAYS CHASING RAINBOWS,
ZING WENT THE STRINGS OF MY HEART, (which she sang as an audition for MGM,)
YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU,
THE BELLS ARE RINGING FOR ME AND MY GAL,
THE TROLLEY SONG,
GET HAPPY (with Soft Hat),
THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY,
CHICAGO,
A COUPLE OF SWELLS,
and SOMEWHERE OVER THE RAINBOW.

There was a standing ovation in the half-empty theatre. It makes for a good summer theatre presentation and is entertaining. The show closes July 1 and plays Wednesday-Saturday at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM. There is also a matinee on June 27, 2PM. For more information about the show, check out www.andnowjudygarland.com.

And Now Ladies and Gentlemen, Miss Judy Garland
LYRIC STAGE
140 Clarendon Street
Boston, MA
617-585-5678

Tribute to Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee

2007-06-13T11:27:00.000-04:00

Everett Longstreth Orchestra Tribute to Benny Goodman and Peggy Lee, with Vocalist Amanda Carr at The Stoneham Theatre

Some things just never go out of style. Pearls. Well-made suits. And swing music. And when Everett Longstreth and his 14-piece orchestra took to the stage at the Stoneham Theatre to pay tribute to Benny Goodman, it was clear why. The precisely executed arrangements and tight integration of reeds, horns, drums, chords and ivories never fail to get toes tapping and heads bobbing.

The evening featured a wide range of Goodman’s best-known works, and was enhanced with the vocal renderings of Amanda Carr, covering songs from the more than 60-year career of Peggy Lee.

Leader Longstreth kicked the evening off with “Let’s Dance”, giving clarinetist Sil D’Urbano and alto sax player Ted Casher the first of many spotlight solos. Alas, the restored movie theatre did not have room for dancing – to the dismay of a nearly sold out crowd of 360+ (if the bouncing of the row I was in was any indication of the audience’s desire to “cut a rug”!?).

Other favorites in the first half included “Stompin at the Savoy” (another one screaming for a dance floor), “Don’t Be that Way” and “Benji’s Bubble”, a light and bouncy tune written for one of Goodman”s daughters.

Amanda Carr began her tribute to another one of Goodman’s legacies – Peggy Lee – with “Tangerine”. Dressed in a long-flowing gown, reminiscent of the days of glamour, Carr did justice to several other Lee favorites, including “It Might as Well Be Spring” and “Indian Summer.”

The second half of the show began with “A String of Pearls” (of course, what would a night of swing music be without the Glenn Miller signature tune?). Followed by “Clarinet Marmalade”, when leader Longstreth gave D’Urbano more than a moment to impress the crowd with his homage to the clarinet genius that Goodman was at the height of his career. Not to be outshone, the orchestra’s drummer Jimmy Latini, wowed the crowd on the next tune -- “Runnin’ Wild” – with a solo that lasted long enough to let the other band members lay down their instruments and lean back in the their chairs, as Latini took to the skins in a frenzy.

Carr joined the orchestra again, and spent the next 45 minutes revisiting Lee’s career, mapping her selections to the varied and ultimately troubled life of the young woman from North Dakota who lit the stage with Goodman, and for decades later. “It’s a Good Day”, marking Lee’s launch, then on to the more vamp-ish tunes Lee is known for, including “He’s A Tramp” (penned by Lee for Disney’s “Lady and The Tramp” and, according to Carr, well-suited for describing Lee’s picks when it came to men), “Big Spender”, “My Man” and “Fever”.

Illustrating the differences between the world in which Lee lived and the world we live in today, Carr sang “Mañana”, a No. 1 hit in 1954, definitely outside the realm of political correctness. Carr’s cover of “Show Me the Way to Get Out of This World”, written by Lee near the end of her career, was a sincere tribute to Lee, who’d paved the way for so many women singer/songwriters, with just the right blend of wistful tone and powerful delivery.

After nearly two hours, the evening came to close as Longstreth ended with “Swing, Swing, Swing” – as much a tune as a cheer for the wonderful sound of the big band.

Naked Comedy

2007-06-13T11:25:00.000-04:00

Naked Comedy

The first Wednesday of every month is the Naked Comedy Showcase at the IMPROV BOSTON, Cambridge, with Andy Ofiesh as your naked host. Yet this middle-aged, be-spectacled, chubby, out of shape, owlish looking comedian spends his daytime hours as a software engineer! Yes, the whole show is naked, 7 performers, male and female, each does a naked stand-up of about 7 minutes while telling funny stories or jokes.

Most of the comics are twenty-something or early thirties. One exception is Dr. NO NO NO, a 60-ish school teacher, who asks the audience questions about lots of things to be answered by members of the audience. Yes, he too, is naked and the questions range from oral sex, to “is sex more important than money?” to children and sex, wildest sex, etc.

There’s even a BU linguistics student who performs and I asked if any of his classmates has seen him or if he is ever propositioned. It’s a no on both counts.

The club is small, 60 seats maximum with stadium seating in the center and theatre seats on each side. The show is about 90 minutes. There is no food or booze. Admission is $10 cash or online. The audience is mixed both male and female. You must be 18 or older.

Toward the end of the show Andy asks if anyone in the audience would like to perform and sure enough, on the night I was there, a young 20-something female ripped off her clothes and told stories about her hippy parents. Amazing. However, it’s not that uncommon.

When asked about some of the strangest or wildest responses from the audience, Andy was quick to reply with a story about a couple who had come to see the show. When asked if anyone from the audience would like to join the comedians on stage, the young man was quick to volunteer, and even quicker to get his female companion equally undressed because he refused to go onstage naked unless she either donned a blindfold or did the same. To the amazement of the audience, the young woman opted out of the blindfold (and her clothing) and met her boyfriend on stage.

Another comedian that I didn’t see asks if anyone would like to perform with him but they must be naked. No problem.

Andy says, “We don’t strip; we’re just naked,” and that there are similar clubs in Worcester and New York.

IMPROVBOSTON
1253 Cambridge St.
Cambridge, MA
617-576-1253
http://www.improvboston.com/

Diana Ross and the Paragon Restaurant

2007-04-12T10:05:00.000-04:00

DIANA ROSS AT THE FOX THEATER, FOXWOODS’ RESORT & CASINO
Mashantucket, CT
By C. Paul Luongo and Susan Bassett

Welcomed by a nearly sold out crowd, 63-year-old Diana Ross rocked the Fox Theatre with an energetic mix of favorites – covering her years with the Supremes, on her own and honoring women of song who inspired her.

Her entrance reflected a flair for drama, with her arrival on stage heralded by her own
cries of “I’m Comin’, I’m Comin’,” before she ascended a staircase in the middle of the stage to “I’m Comin’ Out,” dressed in a brilliant red off-the-shoulder gown and surrounded by a foamy red boa.

From that moment on, Ross’ performance was all business – solely focused on delivering the performance. Ross ran the tightly orchestrated performance like a well-oiled machine – covering nearly twenty songs and five costume changes in just over an hour. She didn’t acknowledge where she was or even comment on the enthusiasm and outpouring of love the audience offered – but the almost mechanical nature of the engagement did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm.

Backed by 2 vocalists and a 5-piece band, the Queen of Motown quickly brought the crowd to its feet with an invitation to revisit the good old days. Her repertoire covered the 40+ years Ross has been performing, hitting favorite after favorite, including “Baby Love”, “Stop in the Name of Love”, “Touch Me in the Morning”, “Sweetest Hangover”, “Love Child”, “Ease on Down the Road”.

Her band offered musical interludes between outfits – freshening up the old favorites with a Latin twist or a tribal beat, giving the audience an opportunity to linger just a little longer in those days of yore.

While the Motown, disco and soul numbers are full of heart-thumping rhythms and danceable lyrics, Ross’ singular talent came through near the end of the performance. Dressed in a white sequined gown and under a single spotlight, Ross delivered two Billie Holiday signature songs, stilling the crowd and demonstrating yet again why she is indeed one of America’s most treasured artists.

PARAGON RESTAURANT AT FOXWOODS’ RESORT & CASINO

Par∙a∙gon (pār´ə-gŏn´) 1. a model or pattern of excellence. 2. the perfect name for the ultimate dining experience at Foxwoods’ Casino. Perched high atop the Grand Pequot Tower, Paragon provides an elegant venue for celebrating momentous occasions or success at the Baccarat table with superb food, attentive and skilled service and gracious atmosphere.

Paragon, one of the precious few AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurants in Connecticut, is the brain child of Chef de Cuisine Scott Micaelson, who spent 14 years at other Foxwoods’ eateries before designing and opening Paragon in 2000. From the starched white linens to the monogrammed china rimmed with platinum and hefty silverware to the slipper dining chairs, Paragon speaks of worldly indulgence – in good taste, of course. A recent visit was short, but delicious enough to leave us eager to return to experience more of the culinary excellence offered there.

Greeted warmly by the maitre’d, we were seated immediately at a table before floor-to-ceiling windows that provide a panoramic view of the valley below. Described as continental, Paragon’s cuisine reflects a mix of influences with a strong emphasis on organic, naturally raised foodstuffs. The menu, still in winter mode, was well in keeping with the fact that spring was still in hiding. The indulgence began with the evening appetizer special: a pound of Alaskan King Crab legs, steamed and served, of course, with drawn butter [market price]. Meaty, generous and presented in an elegant array, the shellfish provided a festive beginning. The second choice, a heady bowl of French Onion soup [$12] , seasoned with fresh thyme and Marsala wine, was thick with sweet flavorful onions. Topped by a large piece of thick, crusty French bread, covered in Gruyere cheese, the dish smoothed out the rough edges of a weekday and warmed body and spirit.

Warm, lavender-infused cloths were provided to wipe away any sticky residue and it wasn’t long before the steaming and aromatic main courses – Angry Lobster
[market price] and the Veal Chop “Elephante” [$42] arrived. The lobster was succulent and spicy, seasoned with browned garlic, fresh red chilis, cognac and a splash of pomodoro, tossed with a generous serving of fettucine, which unfortunately was just a little too toothsome.
The veal chop, was indeed an elephant-sized portion – barely fitting on the plate. Covered in buffalo mozzarella, pepperocini and pomodoro, the chop was just a little past the medium ordered, but the flawless balance of the sauce more than compensated – fresh, tangy and vibrant – it tasted almost of a sunny day in Italy.

An unexpected highlight was the spinach, sautéed with garlic – a perfect medley of earthy and intense flavors. The side dish selected was the quintessential seasonal vegetable – an asparagus and mushroom sauté in a brown butter béarnaise [$12]. The spears were well-trimmed and cooked with just enough rosemary to restore hope that spring may indeed arrive.

Time and capacity for rich dishes were limited and so dessert was not part of the experience at Paragon. If the winter menu’s sweet choices are any indication of promise, it’s likely that when the restaurant reopens on Mother’s Day after a kitchen renovation, those with a penchant for decadent flavors will find satisfaction at Paragon.

Chinese New Year

2007-02-27T10:05:00.000-05:00

Chinese New Year at the Mohegan Sun's BAMBOO FOREST

The Year of the Pig, 2007, means a year of prosperity and fortune to the Chinese people. To start a great year, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT, planned a selection of events from February 18 thru February 25. The events included the Chinese Lion Dance, a concert by a popular Chinese performer and, of course, how could there be a celebration without food! In the only Chinese restaurant at Mohegan Sun, Bamboo Forest, an excellent and authentic Chinese New Year’s meal has been prepared by Chef Lee.

Chef Lee was born in Kwongtong Province, and later moved to Hong Kong where he worked as a chef for five years. Before coming to Mohegan Sun in 1996, Chef Lee was the Chief Chef for Chinese Fortune Kitchen at Trump Plaza Hotel and Casinos in Atlantic City, following an exciting and impressive culinary career.

There are 12 different dishes on the special New Year’s menu, all with very wonderful and lucky names. The ingredients are shipped daily from New York and Boston’s Chinatown, selected by Chef Lee. They are all guaranteed to be fresh and healthy.

The first course is “Wonderful”- a soup with clams and vegetables with bean curd. The clams are very fresh; the soup is light and refreshing.

The second course on the menu is the “Cold Holiday Platter”- jellyfish with pickled pork on the side. With a crunchy and chewy texture, jellyfish is something you don’t see used in other cuisines, but it is a popular course in a Chinese restaurant.

The third course is called “Good Fortune”- a dish of dried oysters, shiitake mushrooms and vegetables over a bed of lettuce.

“Triumph” is the fourth dish on the menu. It is a traditional New Year’s plate of pigs feet and Chinese broccoli. The meat has been carefully cooked; it is not dry, and the fat does not feel greasy.

The fifth course on the menu is “Spirited”- lobster plated over a bed of Chow Fun flat noodles.

The sixth dish on the list is “Spectacular.” The name accurately implies that the dish is delectable. It includes whole abalone, dried oysters, fish mai, dried scallops, sea cucumber, shiitake mushrooms and vegetables. Fish mai tastes soft, reminiscent of tofu, and the sea cucumber is slightly chewy, like biting into a piece of pork skin.

Next on the list is “Crispy Chicken”- half of a chicken nicely fried, with crispy skin and tender meat.

The eighth course is “Catch of the Day.” It is traditional for a Chinese family to always have fish during the New Year. Fish in Chinese is pronounced “Yu”, and it has the same articulation as “to have extras.” In Chinese culture it means to always have prosperity year after year.

Next is “Buddhist Delight”- a mixture of mushrooms, vermicelli, bean curd and bamboo pith. The bamboo pith comes from the inside of a bamboo, and is both crunchy and soft and rarely seen on menus in America.

Tenth on the list is “Marvelous”- stir-fried clams with stuffed fried tofu. The tofu was stuffed with shrimp and fried to seal in the stuffing.

Next on the menu is “Seasonal Greeting”- dried scallops and bamboo pith with pea leaves. The pea leaves were very tender, and the bamboo pith was well seasoned with the dried scallops.

Last but not least on the menu is “Happiness”- fried rice with baby corn, scallions, carrots, lettuce, chives, shrimp and Chinese sausage. During the Chinese New Year it is traditional for families to have dried meat, so the sausage is an important addition to the meal. In ancient China, without refrigeration it was important to preserve food and the practice has been passed on for generations.

From the menu one can feel the passion Chef Lee puts into his career. His dishes are carefully thought out, hoping to bring good luck for the people who come to Mohegan Sun.

The prices for these dishes also have very deep meanings. In Cantonese, the number “2” is pronounced “I,” the same pronunciation with “easy,” so $22 means to have a very easy year. The number “8” is pronounced “Fa,” the same pronunciation as “to make a lot of money,” so $28 means “to make a lot of money easily.” The number “6” is pronounced “lou,” the same as “road,” and when you put 6 and 2 together you get “the road in the future will be very easy for you.” It is in his careful attention to detail where one can see the chef truly loves his job, and is thankful for every opportunity. He wants the best for the people who come to taste his food, and wishes them well in the next year.

Sex in St. Patrick's Cathedra. A Snicker Kiss. Men in Thongs. What's Gone Wrong Here Promotionally!

2007-02-19T15:08:00.000-05:00

Sex in St. Patrick's Cathedral. A Snicker Kiss. Men In Thongs. What's Gone Wrong Here Promotionally!

Just this month, Boston received an apology and $2 Million for a TURNER BROADCASTING campaign gone wrong. Blinking electronic devices were left on bridges and subway stations for some crazy reason to help promote a late-night cartoon, AQUA TEEN HUNGER FORCE on Turner’s Cartoon Network about a talking milkshake, a box of fries and a wad of meat!

What kind of insane person would create, much less approve of, such a wacky campaign? I wonder.

For the SUPER BOWL, MARS showed two men committing violence against themselves after they accidentally kiss! This would sell candy bars? Come on. Something’s gone wrong on Madison Avenue. A while ago, a beer company (whose name I won’t mention out of respect for the church) actually created a contest to sell beer, “Sex For Sam 3,” by daring someone to have sex in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Imagine that! This to sell beer?

What geniuses on Madison Avenue are creating these monstrous ads and wouldn’t the public know better? No wonder that Pepsi asked the public to create a Doritos spot for the Super Bowl instead of their usual “creative sources.” We obviously have a shortage of promotional talents in America if all they can do is create campaigns that are offensive, not pertinent and cause friction in the community.

MEN IN THONGS selling beer? Followed by an apology by the company for the commercial on the Super Bowl was a complete embarrassment for the company and the viewers.

And how ‘bout the jockstrap commercial for the NFL? Outrageous.

When I worked on Madison Avenue for YOUNG & RUBICAN, a large prestigious Advertising Agency, everything we did was to promote the client’s brand to sell more goods and services. Nowadays, no one pays attention to the objectives and instead focuses on creating the wackiest ads just for the sake of attention without regard to the client’s aims.

Another example is the milk campaign where celebrities are photographed with a milk mustache. This is insane. It’s been proven that the campaign has failed to sell more milk despite the fact that the campaign continues, I suppose, just for the sake of amusement. That’s expensive amusement! And Mayor Menino agrees.

Let’s go back to the grey flannel suit era where advertising and promotional campaigns had class, were pertinent, and sold the goods and services agencies were paid to produce.

We’ve gotten far-a-field, and pay attention more to gimmicks, celebrities, and non-effective ways of promotions that do nothing but waste stockholders’ money without any redeeming value.

Louis Prima, Jr.

2007-01-01T10:05:00.001-05:00

LOUIS PRIMA, JR. AT THE MOHEGAN SUN CABARET

In the fifties I went to see LOUIS PRIMA with KEELY SMITH at the old RKO BOSTON theater on Washington Street, with my mother and older sister and afterwards treated to dinner at LORDS, famous for their fried clams. This was before LEGAL SEA FOODS! (Such a treat for me who is addicted to these bivalves.) Louis is gone and Keely Smith is a friend of mine. Having seen her in New York at the REGENCY HOTEL. I was so impressed with her performance that I recommended her to Fred Taylor who books the talent at SCULLERS in Cambridge. Since then she has appeared there yearly. She’s 76, a recent widow, and her voice is as good as new!

To bring you up-to-date, now there is LOUIS PRIMA JR he lives in Las Vegas, of course. He is the product of Louis Prima’s marriage to another singer who replaced Keely Smith after their divorce. Her name is Gia Maione. She also recorded with Louis, Sr. and now lives in Florida.

Anyway, all this by way of the fact that LOUIS PRIMA, JR. is a dynamic, explosive entertainer who comes on stage with a six-piece orchestra (the Witnesses) and female vocalist, Emerald Yancey. Louis never stops moving. His arms and legs are in constant motion, he wears a business suit and tie and three earrings on each lobe. He is of medium height and 42 years old. At the early age of five he began playing the drums and by eight also played guitar. In the 80’s he formed a rock band and by 1995 returned to his father’s music.

Today, in addition to managing restaurants at Las Vegas airport, he recreated THE WILDEST SHOW set by his father in Vegas which was a top attraction for many years. He sings and plays trumpet (like his father) with all the LOUIS PRIMA hits including SING SING SING, JUMP JIVE AND WAIL, ANGELINA, JUST A GIGOLO, THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC (a favorite of mine) BUONA SERA and WHEN YOU’RE SMILIN. Louis duets beautifully with Emerald Yancey in I’VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN, CRAZY and OLD BLACK MAGIC. I AIN’T GOT NOBODY receives a standing ovation and he ends the 90 minute show with WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN where all of them parade through the audience playing and singing the title song. It was a bravura performance at the CABARET sold-out show for 350 excited guests, $30 cover.

Afterwards, I met with Louis backstage and asked if he was on amphetamines, and he said no, that he’s always this energetic. I also asked if he had seen many of his father’s TV shows and he hadn’t but screened some scenes of them for his show at MOHEGAN SUN. I told him we’d like to see the show in Boston and he’s willing to come! I immediately placed a call to Fred Taylor, Master Booker at SCULLERS in Cambridge to act on it.

Tommy Amarto is the Musical Director and terrific saxophone player and all of the musicians do solos on trombone, sax, trumpet, piano and guitar. From now on every time I hear the word “jump” I’ll do it just as Louis, Jr. does when he sings the word. Don’t miss this show wherever you are! And tell Louis C. Paul sent you.

Pompeii and Caesar

2007-01-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

Dinner at Mohegan Sun - POMPEII AND CAESAR

It was the best FRITTO MISTO ($17) I’ve ever had! It’s an appetizer but let me tell you, it’s so big. You don’t need an entrée. And delicious? My, oh my! Succulent pieces of scallops, swordfish, fried shrimp, salmon, bass, and calamari were marinated 20 minutes in buttermilk and a secret spice blend, than rolled in part semolina wheat flour and fried in clean oil. FRITTO MISTO is the Italian version of the Japanese tempura.
It was followed by SPAGHETTI BUCANIERA ($23) which was a Brobdingnagian serving of pasta. It was done to perfection, not hard or very soft, just right. Instead of al dente, which often is under-cooked, it was in a perfect tomato sauce and served in a open Foccacia Bowl (edible) with oodles of shrimp, calamari and scallops. I ate it all except for the bowl. I was by now fully sated!

My companion devoured the night’s special which was a boneless breast of chicken filled with roasted red peppers, oven-dried tomatoes with sautéed spinach wrapped in prosciutto pan seared and served with a jumbo lump crab and lobster risotto ($36).
A Burgenland Riesling from Austria is ($13) per glass. Desserts included a wonderful, warm pineapple upside down cake with caramelized brown sugar sauce and coconut ice cream and tiramisu with kahlua flavoring ($8).

We didn’t have a chance to sample the entire carte du jour which included appetizers Oysters Napoleon ($16) Lobster Salad and Avocado Tier ($16) and entrees with Osso Buco and Farro ($28) Rack of Lamb ($32) and Seared Beef Tenderloin ($34).
Dennis Young is the Chef (formerly of Biba and Rialto) and I can’t wait to return for more!

Normal Times

2006-11-01T10:05:00.001-05:00

Normal Times

The President is at the World Series in New York practicing his pitching and being guarded by 1,200 of New York’s Finest along with the Secret Service and the National Guard watching all bridges, tunnels and subway stations.

A squadron of F-15 fighter jets stream overhead at Yankee Stadium in a 30-mile no-fly zone.

The Vice President is in a bunker at “an undisclosed location.”

Bomb shelters and gas masks are hot sellers.

The John Hancock Tower Observation Deck is closed and the whole block around it is barricaded.

Office buildings in New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. now require ID for entrance to floors above.

The LNG Liquid Gas tanker (that heretofore arrived and sailed away without notice) now requires a Coast Guard Escort into Boston Harbor and the bridges over it are closed for its arrival.

There are armed guards at all airports and the wait for security clearance is up to two hours.

Almost all airlines are bankrupt. The New York and Washington, D.C. shuttle is gone.

You cannot drive your car to the terminal in Los Angeles. You now leave it at a “satellite location” for a shuttle bus ride to the airport.

Knitting needles and jackknives are verboten for airline passengers.

Amtrak is booming with passengers!

The Post Office is installing equipment to detect “biohazardous materials.”

Anthrax has been added to our lexicon having affected postal workers, government employees and journalists.

Postal workers and other handling mail and packages now wear protective gloves.

The House of Representatives closes for almost a week due to Anthrax scares. Several Americans have died from it. The U.S. Supreme Court meets elsewhere.

The Emmys TV Show has been postponed twice for safety measures.

Unemployment is up and the stock market is down.

Profits are the exception and losses are reported everywhere.

Restaurants are empty and hotel rooms go begging.

Cruise lines are deep discounting and riverboats on the Mississippi sail no more.

The World Trade Center is gone along with 5,000 Americans including 350 firefighters, police, hundreds of young stockbrokers and innocent civilians.

“God Bless America” and the National Anthem are at the top of the Hit Parade.

Amen.

Frustrations in the 21st Century

2006-11-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

Frustrations in the 21st Century

The MBTA goes automatic. Awful. Why? No human contacts and the machines don’t always work.

Homeless doorman prevail at retail outlets morning, noon and night. It’s disturbing and should be outlawed. We need the vagrancy law renewed.

Automated telephone systems. Now here’s one that I could expound upon for days.

There ought to be a law that requires all companies to provide a system where a human being answers when you press zero.

Otherwise, companies today want you to be their unpaid telephone operators. Worse, they won’t give you any information about personnel or telephone extensions.

Since when has it been that companies go out of their way to not want you to connect with them? Is this the new American way?

How do they stay in business?

There are times I call and you’re given 16 choices! Can you believe it? 16 choices and none of them what you want or are looking for.

The minimum information a company should provide is the name of the President and telephone to that office. Most executives, however, do not want to bother with callers for whatever reason and most don’t even return calls.

I make it a practice to return all telephone calls even if I don’t know the individual calling. You never know what good news the caller might have for you or what information is important to your business.

There are many times I have to record in my business records that I could not get through the complex telephone system of a prospective client. That’s shameful, and whenever possible, I let them know about it.

This high tech generation has a lot to learn. I think it’s awful that they are comfortable dealing with machines rather than humans.

I have no cell phone. No ATM card. No iPod. I don’t do emails and I prefer human telephone contact rather than text messaging or computer printouts. In fact, some companies are now offering e-mail free Fridays so that employees can talk to one another instead of machines.

Mayor Menino agrees with me. Most top executives feel the same way.

We are over computerized, to the detriment of human contact. Little wonder that in this day and age humans are having difficulty connecting with one another despite all the social outlets.

Online dating services are proliferating. It’s another gimmick to profit from innocent customers wanting a quick fix for their social needs.

Give me a break. Take me back to the 50’s, 60’s and even 70’s. The times they were better then.

Celebrity and Media Political Endorsements

2006-10-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

Celebrity and Media Political Endorsements Fail for Political Candidates

Almost all of the major newspapers endorsed John Kerry, and everyone from P.Diddy, Bruce Springsteen and James Taylor gave concerts and appeared in support of Kerry. Yet he lost. What happened?

Did he lose the Middle American voters for his liberal views? Did he seem too aloof, stiff and insincere for a Democratic candidate? Or did he rely too heavily on his celebrity endorsements to pool the young voters?

Only one in ten voters were between the ages of eighteen and twenty-four in the Presidential election, which is about the same as in the 2000 campaign, despite all the energy by national personalities to encourage young voters. Other studies done, however, show that polls with voters ages eighteen to twenty-three, an age group of mostly college students had an impressive 3.4 million turn out this year. Could education be linked with voting?

As far as the media endorsements are concerned, the public today has access to just as much information as the media and therefore doesn’t rely on them anymore to tell who to support. Media political endorsements have gone the way of the dodo bird.

In terms of the relationship between the media and this year’s election, there are two large problems: ignorance of young voters and poor choices for role models on the part of the candidates.

I believe Winston Churchill once said, “If you are under thirty, and you vote conservatively, you don’t have a heart….if you are over thirty and you vote liberally, you don’t have a brain.”

Perhaps these movie stars, rock stars and even P.Diddy should stick to what they do best - buying over the top jewelry and entertaining us common people. I mean it’s all well and good that even teen celebrities used this campaign to urge their fans to register, but with all due respect, was their idea to join on this recent trend of civic duty theirs or their publicist’s hope to better their image?

It seemed that every kind of celebrity was urging young people to vote. While I commend their efforts, I find it hard to be inspired by P.Diddy’s slogan like “Vote or Die”. Young voters tend to vote with their heart and that generally applies to a more Left wing view. “I want to be inspired. I want to be taken seriously. I don’t want the idea of someone shooting me in the chest if I don’t make it to the polls,” says Elizabeth Moran, twenty-one year old of Milton, Mass.

And not to pick on Sean “Puffy” Combs, but his slogan is simply a joke and frankly an insult to young voters. “I guess Puffy will be killing a lot of people this week,” jokes Dan McDermott, twenty-two, of Norwood, Mass.

Why didn’t someone advise Kerry to pick more suitable celebrity endorsers? Who made the decision to have Bruce Springsteen be the voice of the young American? Maybe that would have been a great choice in 1988, but last time I looked, “the Boss” is a little too old for this campaign. “I mean, Bruce Springsteen is really not someone I’m into, he’s more for a thirty-five year old,” admits Virginia Kelley, a twenty-two year old student at Boston College.

The only true celebrities that young voters listen to are the comedians. The ones that think intellectually and sarcastically just like normal young people in America.

Chris Rock’s HBO special “Never Scared” is a perfect example; a true genius performance that was hilarious and entertaining, yet had an overtone of pure intellectual insight on our country today. Why didn’t Kerry have him involved in his campaign?

Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show”, a news satire, is the only show on television that young voters get their news from. Studies show that most young people in America get their news from that show, even though the show doesn’t attempt to give accurate news.

Instead of concerts, slogans and advertising, celebrities and politicians alike should do one thing- educate instead of patronize young voters. Show them how to register to vote, how to file for absentee ballots and urge them to go to the polls. Then they will see a difference in young people voting.

The fact of the matter is young people are never told how to vote and it’s amazing that in a huge part of the country, voting education is gone mostly unnoticed in schools and homes. Young people lack the wisdom and life experience to note the long term benefits of voting, therefore they must be taught. Not just about our history as Americans but on ways we can change it.

Update on Press Kits and News Releases

2006-09-28T09:27:00.000-04:00

UPDATE ON PRESS KITS AND NEWS RELEASES

PRESS KITS – PRINT, ONLINE or CD?

Online press kits take too much time to review and print.

CDs are easier to use than online kits, but take time to load, click through and print. Many people send printed kits with a CD version enclosed.

Printed kits are still popular and always good, but keep them short and to the point. Plain vanilla will do just fine. Editors and reporters don’t want to buy anything, they simply want to cover what is newsworthy about your company or organization. That should be the focus of your kit’s contents.

If you have the budget, produce kits in all three versions, print, CD and online. That way you’ll reach everyone.

You can’t go wrong asking the media what they prefer and provide them with it.

One Editor’s Comments – “At a trade show, for example, I can pick up 20 printed press kits and go through them in 15-20 minutes to pull out the information I need, toss what I don’t. If I had to go through 20 online kits, I would need several hours. So, I prefer printed kits, although I do like the stuff to be available online, as well, especially if I need to find something I forgot or I didn’t see in my manual review.”

NEWS RELEASES

Content, not graphic appeal is what counts for editors and reporters. And page one is still the important document.

Double space is the standard for traditional news releases; single space for e-mail is easier to work with editing and cut and paste functions.

Get to the point, give the facts, no editorializing. Editors and reporters want news.

Don’t suffer over your text. Reporters and editors are unlikely to use it as is. They will write it in their own style.

Don’t sweat the lead sentence or paragraph, give them the facts and information, they’ll do the rest.

Minimize the use of adjectives, adverbs, and connectives. These “fillers” make your copy longer and interfere with the news.

Avoid hyperbole. Editors and reporters can tell whether your company or product or issue is newsworthy. Exaggeration is a turnoff!

Press releases sent as attachments are universally disliked. They can be hard to open in some cases and sometimes can close down the system.

Don’t use throw-away quotes such as “We are pleased to release our new product” or “We are delighted to welcome Mr. Jones to the management team”. Instead say “Our new product will reduce retail costs, etc.” or “Mr. Jones’s 20 years of experience with Wal-Mart will fuel our launch into the retail market”.

CPL
2006

The Buying Power of PR-- How to Get the Two I's

2006-09-28T09:26:00.000-04:00

Hire a PR Firm to Get the Two I’s – Ink and Intelligence

________

* One PR agency compared advertising to “air cover” (bombs) which “soften up” a target while PR is “the Marines” who go in and occupy the territory.

* “Above all, make the PR firm part of your company. Too often, it’s an adversarial relationship. A company hires a firm and says, ‘Okay let’s see the SOB’s do it.’ Don’t dare them to do things. Trust them.”

* “Clients foolishly equate size with intelligence – the bigger the agency the better. What counts is the ability of the person or team on your account.”

* A New York PR counselor with more than 25 years experience said that for $20,000 a month the PR firm should be able to come up with four or five major placements a year – besides counseling and the day-in and day-out product, personnel and other routine announcements.

_______

The Buying Power of PR

_______

In a recent Public Relations survey, 28% of those surveyed said a magazine feature article would impact their buying decisions, while only 8% indicated the same for magazine ads.

In terms of believability, newspaper articles are believed by 95% of those surveyed; magazines are a believable information source for 89%; TV talk shows placed 71% in believability, and direct mail pieces and a celebrity endorsement rated 63% and 45%, respectively, in believability.

R.H. MACY & CO., New York valued an editorial placement at 10 times the value of the same size ad.

______

PR Provides New Business Opportunities

2006-09-28T09:25:00.000-04:00

How Public Relations Provides New Business Opportunities by Creating/Increasing Demand and Other Benefits

_____________________________________

Boston, Mass. – Public Relations can be a very effective tool in providing new business opportunities for your company. Getting your company’s message before the public will increase sales by creating demand for your product or service, augmenting the value of company stock (for public companies) and helping recruit more qualified employees.

“Visibility in the news media not only enhances your advertising, it also makes it more believable,” says C. Paul Luongo, President, C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Public Relations & Marketing, Boston. “It is the most efficient form of communication, reaching more people, per cost, than any other vehicle.”

Keeping the company name before the public builds a strong customer base and wide recognition. In the process, it helps the public see you as a leading expert and spokesperson for your profession or industry.

Public Relations Agencies also see things in a company that go unnoticed by employees, things that then become newsworthy items are reported by the press to give you valuable corporate exposure.

A professional public relations agency can easily find something exciting and innovating about your company to report to the media on a local, regional or national level.

And the price is right. For example, a four minute interview on the NBC-TODAY SHOW is worth $240,000 if you were to pay the current advertising cost of $30,000 per 30-second commercial. And of course, an editorial endorsement has 10 times more credibility than a paid commercial.

Caveat Emptor: Having a positive public image today can also help avert bad publicity if a future disaster strikes!

Public Relations and Sex

2006-09-28T09:24:00.000-04:00

PUBLIC RELATIONS AND SEX

Boston – Someone once said that Public Relations is a little like sex: most people think they’re good at it, few really are.
For any company tight on a budget, a successful Public Relations campaign can work wonders by raising company visibility, boosting sales and customer loyalty and helping to introduce a new product. While Public Relations doesn’t displace advertising, it is a lot cheaper and far more effective in generating favorable consumer opinion because it involves a third-party media endorsement.
If you are tapping into your own market research, conducting an exclusive survey, or staging an event, you can use PR to issue newsworthy stories about these activities to the media. Making charitable donations or volunteer efforts are also valuable news topics. Even an executive’s appearance at a seminar on a panel or a seemingly run-of-the-mill speech shouldn’t be overlooked as ways to generate important company news.
A company which employs a PR firm will find that the agency provides the expertise, resources and press contacts necessary for any successful PR campaign, thus saving valuable time – time that is better spent conducting company business.
C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Public Relations & Marketing, Boston, offers SPECIAL NEWS PROGRAMS that begin at only $25,000, plus expenses for 4 Local – Regional Features and $50,000, plus expenses for 4 National News Features. And they’re guaranteed!

Press Releases

2006-09-28T09:23:00.000-04:00

PRESS RELEASES

Press Releases can be an important ingredient of a company’s communications program.

Press Releases can offer the following news -

* Company Product or Service information.
* Executive Announcements
* Financial Reports
* New Business/Contracts
* Mergers or Acquisitions
* Stock Market Performance
* New Stock Issues
* Social Marketing Programs
* Employee Benefits or Labor News

According to JACK O’DWYER’S NEWSLETTER, “financial and computer editors receive about 500 news releases per week and that two-thirds of the releases are so weak that they go directly into the wastebasket.”

A good PR person must also be a good reporter to present information that is of interest to the news media, of benefit to the company and to the reader. If it doesn’t serve all three, it doesn’t work.

Matching the news outlet with the information to be imparted is important, otherwise it is a waste of time, expense and energy to send something to an inappropriate news outlet.

Lastly, always call the news outlets to reconfirm their address, telephone and name of the person to whom the news release is directed. Often, you will find that the person on your press list is no longer employed, has moved on to another responsibility or worse, you have an incorrect spelling of the person’s name.

You will achieve professional communications success if you follow these rules.

PR Outranks Ads

2006-09-28T09:22:00.000-04:00

PR OUTRANKS ADS IN AAF STUDY

__________________

New York – Jack O’Dwyer’s Newsletter, New York, reports that PR outranks advertising in terms of “strategic importance,” according to a survey for the American Advertising Federation, Washington, D. C.

The survey asked 3,000 senior managers of U.S. companies to rank the “strategic importance” of seven departments in meeting sales and marketing goals.

PR ranked third behind product development and strategic marketing while advertising ranked sixth, ahead of the legal department.

PR ranked seventh and advertising fourth when companies with ad budgets of $25 million+ were asked how they would use a large amount of extra funds that became available. Half of the respondents agreed that ad campaigns should use PR.

____________

PR Contributes Business Results

2006-09-28T09:21:00.000-04:00

Public Relations Contributes Business Results Through Sales Generation
A $6 ROI
_____________________________

Boston—C. Paul Luongo, President, C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Public Relations and Marketing, Boston, reports that “PR consistently contributes meaningful business results through sales generation.”

“It delivers a better ROI (return on investment) than any other form of marketing,” continues Mr. Luongo.

One dollar invested in mass-market TV advertising yields about $1.25. Price promotions might return only $.75, but one dollar invested in PR will return an average of $6.

“Marketing and innovation produce results, all the rest are costs,” reports an industry analyst.

Public Relations merchandizes the advertising and makes it more believable.

PR is more than media relations and more than a marketing tool, PR is a powerful sales driver.

PR is a Good Marketing Tool

2006-09-28T09:20:00.001-04:00

PUBLIC RELATIONS IS A GOOD MARKETING TOOL

By C. Paul Luongo

Boston, Mass. – Of all the tools at the disposal of marketing people, one of the least used, especially among smaller businesses, is public relations, or PR.

Yet the proper use of PR can have an invigorating effect on a company’s entire promotional efforts for a relatively small expenditure compared to paid advertising.

Traditional advertising and marketing materials, even when effective, carry the taint of biased information serving the self-interest of the company that produces it. Few people like the idea of being “sold”.

When prospects rely on their own positive opinion of a company or product, no matter what engendered this opinion, they are well on the way to selling themselves.

PR is the art of creating, or sustaining, a positive opinion among the public.

Marketing and PR professionals help create positive opinions through every contact a company has with the public including –

· Stories by print and broadcast media
· Customer Relations
· Community Relations
· Event Sponsorships
· Charitable Contributions

Treatment of customers is important and the easiest to monitor. Customer satisfaction studies show that happy customers inform between five and seven people about their experiences while unhappy customers tell nine to fifteen.

At C. PAUL LUONGO COMPANY, Boston, we provide these services for small business budgets beginning at only $25,000 plus expenses for a local-Regional Special News Program that guarantees maximum exposure at minimum cost.

Press Conferences

2006-09-28T09:20:00.000-04:00

ON PRESS CONFERENCES

1. Select a large room without a sunny window that will cause glare for photographers and camera crews assigned to cover the story.

2. Don’t start before 10AM, and if the news is slightly soft, the earlier in the week, the better. Weekends are bad with only skeleton media crews available.

3. Time your announcement so that it coincides with a major event.

4. Select on-sight locations rather than stuffy hotel conference rooms.

5. Brief the press in advance and provide background information so that they can ask intelligent questions.

6. Measure the success by outcomes and not by numbers.

Large vs. Small PR Agency?

2006-09-28T09:19:00.000-04:00

Large vs. Small PR Agency?
By C. Paul Luongo

Once upon a time, when large agencies were pitching accounts, small agencies stood still. Nowadays, however, the best way for a small agency to win an account is to come in right after a larger agency has made their presentation.

Why? Economics, 2004. Most clients now know that small agencies offer the same service at 25-30% less than a large agency plus personal service from the top!

Small agencies offer executive experience that will actually be used on the account, i.e. the people you see in the new business pitch are those you’ll have on your account. Big agencies send high-salaried executives to pitch the account and then relegate it to their junior staff once the contract is signed.

In fact, Virtual PR agencies are now offering lower cost service with high priced executives formerly at large agencies now employed by small PR firms.

After all, you can be in a farmhouse in Maine with a computer, modem, fax, instant messaging and e-mail and service clients very well without the high rents and overhead of big city locations. Up until 10 years ago if you weren’t in New York you weren’t important. That’s all changed.

My agency has always solicited clients throughout the United States and Canada since our founding in 1964 without a problem of location. In fact, Boston has always had a positive image for us in dealing with out-of-town clients. Invariably they had a Harvard or other educational connection not to mention the medical services offered at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

Clients want results however accomplished. Media coverage and communications counsel can be attained without excessive overhead and fancy offices.

“Larger agencies are still living in a Lexus dream, while clients are driving in a Ford Escort world” reports a small PR Agency counselor.

Executives at large agencies have usually not pitched a news story since being elevated to senior positions requiring time spent on budgets, new business and other administrative tasks. They don’t know what’s going on out there!

Small agencies can expend more of their monies offering senior level salaries and reduce many lower level service personnel as executives do more of the “hands on” work themselves. Retainers have also fallen. $30,000 a month fees are not now offered as easily as before and agencies are scrambling for the minimal $5,000 a month client.

Welcome to the New PR World!

How to Successfully Deal with the News Media

2006-09-28T09:18:00.000-04:00

How To Successfully Deal With The News Media
By C. Paul Luongo

* Be sure you are contacting the correct news person at the media. If not, find out before you make contact.

* Extend a helping hand – become a resource, beyond the client (company). Let them know of industry news they cover, apart from your company or client.

* Provide the media with background material and debriefings. The more you act like a clearinghouse for information the better your relationship will be.

* Network with journalists as often as possible at various charity events, sports activities or political receptions.

* Know your company and industry. Supply good accurate information. Always pitch your products and company in a way that’s realistic.

* Press releases don’t equal a media relations strategy. A release is only a tool. PR’s value is strategy, not mass mailings.

* Don’t lean on technology, pick up the phone! Develop the relationship. People like to buy lists and email everybody. You will get better results by targeting and meeting people firsthand! Email is a poor substitute for real PR strategy and targeted relationship building.

* However, if you are requested to email a story idea, here are some tips –

1. Don’t use more than one screen of copy.
2. Present clear, cogent subject lines.
3. Don’t use industry lingo or technical terms.
4. Be sure that it is addressed to the correct person.
5. Eliminate v-cards which appear as attachments.
6. Tell your media contact why the story is right for their audience.

How to Hire and Get the Most From Outside PR Counsel

2006-09-28T09:16:00.001-04:00

Excerpts From
HOW TO HIRE AND GET THE MOST FROM OUTSIDE PR COUNSEL
By Jack O’Dwyer, New York

New York – “The PR Firm’s job is to convince the media of something,” reports Jack O’Dwyer, Publisher of the leading eponymous Public Relations Weekly Newsletter.

“Unless you have a huge budget, the impact of ads, direct mail, graphics, etc., is going to be small potatoes compared to what is said of you in the media.”

As a client, you can seek to build relationships with reporters and can order your PR firm to do so. Only one PR pro in a hundred attempts to strike up an ongoing relationship with editors, the opposite of previous practices. One corporate PR executive says that “they experience a call from the press as drive-by shooting. PR pros are spending no time in the ‘hood’ (neighborhood) building ties.

One executive states that CEOs are willing to pay “almost anything” for a good media relations person. He advises CEOs not to hire anyone who “expresses an aversion to the media.”

PR is influencing how you appear in the media, not how you are treated by the media. PR people who mostly know methodology rather than subject matter cannot be effective in such a venue.

Prospective PR clients must realize that unlike the past, large numbers of people working in PR now have had no experience in the media and are uncomfortable in dealing with reporters. Media relations experience of people on your account should be checked.

PR cannot exist on its own – it has to be part of a mix of communications methods that delivers a “consistent” message to “target” audiences.

Most clients oppose integration of AD/PR on the agency side; clients want competition among their various agencies – not coordination. They find that agencies are not apt to be equally talented in advertising and PR.

PR closes the sale. While advertising creates excitement and interest in products and services, almost no one buys anything anymore just on the basis of ads. The consumer wants more info and seeks it via general and specialized publications, friends and the Internet.
PR can have an immense effect in a short period of time and at a comparatively low cost. But the CEO of a company must be personally involved in the PR effort, including press relations. Advertising and sales can be well-handled by various company units, but not PR. What you want from your PR firm are the two “I’s” - Intelligence and Ink.

The worst form of PR that can be practiced for you is the junior PR firm account executive who calls up reporters and asks, “Did you get the release on (your) company?” The best type of PR is when the reporter calls you with a story idea and asks you for advice. You want a PR firm that knows all of the major analysts and writers in your field and can broaden your range of press contacts.

A lawyer who worked for a large PR firm once commented it was his impression that most PR was practiced “on” clients and not “for” clients. You don’t want that happening to you.

You want a maximum of up-to-the minute business intelligence and stories or just mentions of your company name or its products in the media and a minimum amount of intellectualizing over what PR is or isn’t.

You especially don’t want grandiose future plans and strategies described in glowing terms. Beware of such buzz words as “strategy,” “management,” “integrated” and “marketing” or any combination of them. PR people are well aware such talk just gets to be “bafflegab” after a while. And people who tell you PR isn’t press relations are like restaurant owners telling you there’s more to their restaurants than food.

The best use of a PR firm is when they supply useful information to influential reporters and analysts who have large audiences. You get third-party endorsement and wide readership or viewership at comparatively low cost. The ad campaign will create the desire and PR will move in with the information.

One PR agency president compared advertising to “air cover” (bombs) to “soften up” a target while PR is “the Marines” who go in and occupy the territory.

Many PR firms say that if they don’t place stories, they are apt to lose an account, no matter how much advice and strategy has been given to the client.

The PR firm is one part of a four-member team that is needed for good PR. . . .the CEO; a close aide that is always on tap to handle press calls; your outside PR counsel and the press/security analysts themselves.

PR firms work best when there is a staffer at the company who knows PR and can act as both a buffer and liaison with company executives. The staffer
can be helpful to the press and analysts by always being available (nights and weekends). A big problem in the PR counseling industry these days is that it often takes days for a reporter to reach an A/E or executive. Faced with this unavailability, reporters stop calling the PR firm.

Media relations is the hardest thing to do for a PR firm and it may not be the most profitable. It’s up to clients to keep the noses of their PR firms to this grindstone. Yet, the PR industry practice for many years has been to depreciate press relations.

If a PR firm pitches your account and makes all sorts of promises, even for marketing PR, without pointing out the need for CEO availability, new corporate policies, marketing data, access to line executives, willingness to take lumps in print as well as kudos, etc., then you should be highly suspicious.

One definition of PR is that it is “doing good and getting credit for it.” Another is that PR is “winning goodwill.” Our definition of PR is that it helps the client in appearing in the public forum, it’s the business of explaining.

The new business pitch for one New York firm for many years consisted merely of giving the prospective clients a complete list of its accounts, contacts and phone numbers and urging the clients to call all of them. The agency usually got the business – even when other firms made full presentations.

You can’t expect too many press placements or other results in the first three months. During that time, you educate them on your business and the business of your competitors. “Above all, make the PR firm part of your company. Too often, it’s an adversarial relationship. A company hires a firm and says, ‘Okay, let’s see the SOBs do it.’ Don’t dare them to do things. Trust them.”

The most common mistake clients make is hiring an agency in a hurry to fight fires that have been burning for years. The clients want the fires put out fast – preferably overnight.

One corporate PR executive reports that people who hire agencies often don’t know anything about PR and the people pitching the account often don’t work on it. Almost invariably, the PR committee sees too many agencies in too little time and winds up choosing the winner in a blur of fatigue.

Clients don’t know how much a solid PR program costs. They expect too much, too soon, for too little. Clients foolishly equate size with excellence – the bigger the agency the better. What counts is the ability of the person or team on your account.

Companies continue to confuse advertising with PR and they evaluate PR firms by ad agency criteria. Clients are generally unaware that a PR budget can often be as effective as an ad budget four or five times as large.

Some of the smaller PR firms keep all of their employees up-to-date on all of their accounts as much as possible. A client who calls can always expect some kind of help or at least knowledgeable interest in his or her problem.

A New York PR counselor with more than 25 years experience said that for $20,000 a month, the PR firm should be able to come up with four or five major placements a year – besides counseling and the day-in and day-out product, personnel and other routine announcements.

These are the ‘home-runs’ of the business; solid features in the NEW YORK TIMES, NEWSWEEK, TIME, etc. This is the most efficient way to reach big audiences. Stories in the trade press don’t count that much. They’re too easy to get into.

Do Reporters Read E-Mail Releases?

2006-09-28T09:16:00.000-04:00

Do Reporters Read E-mail Releases?

More than half (52%) of the 50 reporters, who responded to a recent survey, said they look at some of the press releases they get by e-mail.

Only 8% of the reporters said they actually open and read between 90% to 100% of the releases, while the largest number (26%) look at less than half of the releases they get.

The poll was conducted by Ben Silverman, who is director of development and contributing editor for FindProfit.com. He said all of the respondents are beat reporters at daily papers, with circulations ranging from under 100,000 to over 500,000. The reporters polled cover business, politics, sports, local affairs, crime, travel, technology and the arts.

Twenty-two percent of the reporters said they get releases via snail mail, but only 2% of the reporters said they read them.

Thirty-six percent get releases via fax, which are not read by 64% of the respondents.

When releases arrived via an eFax number, 56% of the journalists said they read them; 44% do not.

Silverman said faxing appears to be the best way to get someone to read a press release.

Seventy percent of the journalists said they monitor press release wires such as Business Wire and PR Newswire, and 76% find information contained in press releases on the wire are useful.

Sixty-two percent feel the majority of press releases incorrectly target their beat.

Corporate PR Priorities

2006-09-28T09:15:00.000-04:00

CORPORATE PR PRIORITIES

Boston – A leading CEO recently stated that there are four groups a business executive must address. They are: shareholders, employees, customers and communities. An effective professional Public Relations Program can be instrumental in assuring that these key groups are properly dealt with and informed.

Shareholders must receive critical financial information as soon as it is known. Dissemination information on a regular basis directly to shareholders as well as to the mainstream financial media is an important part of any Public Relations Program.

Employees must be informed about corporate programs and issues that are important long before they read about them in the press or hear rumors. Proper communication with employees promotes a sense of loyalty and camaraderie, which in turn, motivates them to offer products or services of a higher quality on the market for consumers.

Customers need to know everything about a company’s products or services in order to build brand loyalty – the more informed they are, the more likely they will decide on your company’s product. As a popular company slogan says, “An educated consumer is our best customer!”

Communities must be assured that the company is working to benefit them, in addition to maintaining a profitable margin to satisfy shareholders, employees and customers. An effective PR program, designed to meet these objectives, can assure continued growth and profitability for all concerned.

Biotechnology PR Today

2006-09-28T09:12:00.000-04:00

Biotechnology PR Today
By C. Paul Luongo

Public Relations, first used by our third President, Thomas Jefferson, is now being utilized successfully by Biotechnology Companies to give them the recognition they require and seek for the following reasons –

Public Companies require information to be disseminated about its product and financial status.
Communicating corporate, scientific and financial developments maintains shareholders and attracts investors.

Biotech companies are dependent on their business potential, research and development activity to be known by investors to reduce perceived risk.

Visibility, which results from sustained and effective communications, paves the way for trust which in turn translates into greater demand for the stock and higher share prices.

Key tools of a good investor relations program include presentations and telephone calls to brokers and investors, e-mails, mailings, conference calls and reporting of events on the Internet.

What attracts potential investors is managements’ credibility, financial health and business outlook plus technology merits.

Press releases announcing a major event should be followed by a conference call and then made available on the company’s website. Follow-up with major shareholders and brokers, analysts and reporters helps foster solid and durable business relationships. This integrated approach optimizes a company’s visibility, its trust and demand for stock.

Here’s a list of things to do for a small capitalization biotechnology company to get the news coverage it requires –

Develop a network of reporters interested in your company. If possible, build relationships with them before releasing your news.
Prepare a Press Kit on your company and send it to reporters by mail or e-mail including a short summary of the company, the news and context.
Highlight aspects of the story of interest to their readers. The easier you make their work the better and greater the chance of it being used.
Allow time for the media to become familiar with your information and call to stress highlights of the story for that particular news outlet.
Have your President available for reporters at all times with immediate access to direct telephone, cell phone and home phone available, in addition to e-mail address and fax number.

What's In a Name? The Cost of a Name? The Cost of History and Memories?

2006-09-08T17:32:00.000-04:00

What’s In a Name? The Cost of a Name? The Cost of History and Memories?
By C. Paul Luongo

The Ritz-Carlton Jumper Classic. The Fleet Jumper Classic. The Fidelity Jumper Classic. Blah. Blah. Blah.

These days names of events, prestigious buildings, stadiums, yes even subway stops are all up for sale.

How’s this? Copley McSquare? Perdue’s Park Square? Datek’s Downtown Crossing? Armani’s Logan Airport? Schwab’s Sumner Tunnel?

But do we want it? All of these names are evanescent. Next year there will be another new name for the same venue depending on who’s paying for it.

Is there no sense of history or sentimentality?

You go to a ball and it’s The Tiffany Ball, The Saks Soiree, The Hilton Classic, The American Airlines Theatre? American Airlines? Whoa. Yes, give me a break. In Times Square, no less. Since when has American Airlines been known as an Impresario on the Big, White Way?

At a Ball all the Corporate Fat Cats sit together ringside and the peons are next to the kitchen. Does this say something about the “greening of America?” and America’s Greed?

How will our grandchildren recognize a place if the names keep changing depending on who paid for it last? Will it be the FTD Cemetery this year and the Allstate Gate of Heaven next year?

And how ‘bout the CMGI Stadium? Awful. The Tweeter Center, oh-my-God. The Staples Stadium. Stupid. Bad taste, bad karma.

Its even infiltrated our prestigious institutions. Get this. The Murata Dean of the F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business at Babson College. Why can’t we just have the Babson College Graduate School of Business? Isn’t that more appropriate and prestigious?

What’s next? Will the Pope rename it Alitalia’s Vatican City? Domino’s Leaning Tower of Pisa? Verizon’s Venice?

The Wal-Mart White House? AARP’s Viagra Vitamin Pills?

Good grief! Enough already. Please, I need my Bank of America Buffered Aspirin. And Good Night, Mr. Greenback!

Wealth In America: The 6th Star

2006-09-08T17:31:00.000-04:00

WEALTH IN AMERICA: THE 6TH STAR

Ah Luxury! How sweet it is. Nowadays, there’s been an inflation of stars given to luxury hotels. 6 Stars! 5 Stars is not enough. The reason? During the first half of 2004, gross operating profits at high-end hotels rose nearly 9% compared with only 5% for mid-scale hotels. As a result, some hoteliers are attempting to create a new top tier for travelers with an appetite for more coddling. The idea is to focus on highly individualized services such as personal butlers, chefs, drivers and concierges, as well as unique architectural designs and experiences. Some even offer dog massages and butlers-on-call to handle difficult tasks like filling the bathtub!

Interestingly, much of the spending is coming from people in their 30’s and even 20’s as Americans continue to accumulate more wealth at a younger age. Younger people are more willing to blow a few thousand dollars on a posh weekend than their parents were at the same age.

There are now 2.3 million millionaires in the U.S. (7.7 worldwide) and their wealth is expected to grow at 7% a year through 2008. Villas now renting for $5500 and $6600 per night come with their own butler and chef and even a preferred room temperature!

Paul Allen, Microsoft billionaire (at just 52 years old) has a new 400 ft. pleasure boat, “The Octopus”, complete with basketball court, music studio and personal submarine! Also, a 72 ft. sailboat, 59 ft. speedboat, music studio, costing more than $250 million and $10 million a year to run.

Today’s biggest yachts are loaded with new technology and toys which anticipate the rocking movements of a boat and offset them with underwater fins or gyroscopes, making mega yachts perfectly still even when anchored. High-tech security systems, stereos, theaters and swimming pools have become standard. Most come even with garages to house jet skis, motorcycles, small motorboats and other vehicles.

The rich are now finding it harder to set themselves apart. Mega yachts have grown in size from a typical length of 110 ft. in the mid-1990’s to well over 150 ft. today, and the market for luxury yachts has more than tripled since 1997. Some boats cost well over $100 million! The most expensive Mercedes used to be the CL600 about $100,000 in the 1990’s. Last year, the Mercedes group introduced the Maybach 62 for $350,000 and this year started selling the SLR for over $450,000 with a long waiting list!

Volkswagen AG’s Bugatti is about to introduce a sports car priced at more than $1 million.

Patek Philippe, Rolex and Breguet are now selling watches priced at more than $200,000.

The inflation rate for luxury goods reached 7% last year, more than twice the overall U.S. inflation rate. The wealth held by millionaires world-wide rose to $28.8 trillion at the end of 2003, up 11% from $26 trillion in 2001. That’s more than the annual gross domestic products of the U.S., Japan, German, France and England! The wealth controlled by individuals in North America with more than $30 million in financial assets jumped 45% to $3.04 trillion from $2.1 trillion in 2002.

Today’s instant multimillionaires tend to be younger than the rich of the past and more likely to splurge on lifestyle goods to differentiate themselves from hoi polloi affluent people.

As Oscar Wilde said “Living well is the best revenge!”

Voice Mael (Strom)

2006-09-08T17:30:00.000-04:00

Voice Mael (Strom)
By C. Paul Luongo

Telephone robots. That’s what we’ve become. Corporations today are forcing us to deal with voice mail that is at once exasperating, time-consuming and in many cases an insult to our intelligence. Where was it written that we be forced into being the virtual corporate telephone employee for the very businesses that we are trying to reach? Business that heretofore would have humans manning the phones to help, assist and control the flow of communications which nowadays is the WORST in modern history.

Take for example, this voice mail of the Holmes Group in Milford, Massachusetts (508-634-8050) makers of home appliances such as heaters, humidifiers, fans, air purifiers and lighting. This is an exact transcript.

“You have reached the Corporate Headquarters of the Holmes Group. If you know your party’s four-digit extension number, please enter it now.
For company directory, press 1.
For all other calls, please listen carefully as our menu options have recently changed.
If you are a retail business, requiring a return authorization, please press 2.
If you are a retail business with any other questions, please press 3.
For Consumer Services, please press 4.
For address and directions to this location, please press 5.
For the Travel Office, press 6.
If we haven’t covered your choices, please listen carefully.
To reach the General Voice Mailbox, for Sales, press 4260.
Marketing Home Environment, 4271.
Marketing Kitchen, 4272.
Marketing & Creative Services, 4261.
Purchasing, 4262.
Finance, 4263.
Human Resources, 4264.
Supply Chain, 4265.
Engineering, 4266.
Information Technology, 4267.
The Executive Office, 4269.
To repeat this menu, please press 9.
For all other calls, please press 7.”

I hung up. How rude to expect anyone to follow these time-consuming pronouncements!

Another winner is at Conexant Systems, Inc. Newport Beach, California. Here’s the voice mail for 949-483-4600.

“Hello and welcome to Conexant.
If you know the extension of the person you are trying to reach, press 1.
If you know the name of the person you wish to reach, press 2.
For all sales pricing, technical support and sales literature, press 3.
Please note if you select option 3 you may experience a delay of up to 30 seconds before your selection is processed.
For general information, including address and employment verification, press 4.
For Investor Relations, press 5.
If you would like personal assistance, please press 1, then dial extension 5300 when prompted.
To repeat this menu press 9.”

Even here in Boston, a place we like to think of as more sophisticated and cultured, the MaidPro Franchise Corporation (617-742-8080) voice mail boggles the mind, and they’re in the SERVICE Business! Here’s how it goes.

“Hello and thank you for calling MaidPro.
Your call may be monitored to assure quality customer service.
If you have never used our services and would like to gain information or receive an estimate, please press 1 now.
If you are a current MaidPro client and wish to make a schedule change or have a question, please press 2 now.
If you know your party’s extension you may dial it at any time.
For the company directory press the # key.
If you wait on the phone a person will answer and ask you your name, company, and reason for your call. If the company has not originally contacted you, then you are told to call back and dial extension 349.
Extension 349:
Hello and thank you in advance for offering your products and services to our organization.
Please follow these instructions very carefully, as we will not deal with venders that don’t.
Please fax a single page document to 617-720-0700 outlining exactly what products and services you are offering.
And we will pass it along to the appropriate party.
They will respond to you. Please do not follow up with phone calls.
This applies to all cold calls, and unsolicited calls.
Thank you very much … we appreciate it.”

Lastly, CIS-US, Inc. in Bedford, Massachusetts greets you with these insults at 781-275-7120.

An automated system says press 0 to speak to the operator.
The receptionist answers and I ask to speak to the company president. (They won’t give out the president’s name).
Receptionist asks who this is and from what company?
They then say they’re directing your call.
Phone rings and another automated systems answers and states -
We appreciate your interest in our company, but we are not accepting any solicitation calls for we don’t have the time nor resources to properly answer every call that we receive.
Please leave your name, company, number and purpose of your call. We will pass the information on to the appropriate party. If we feel there is a need for your service then we will be in contact with you.
After the tone leave your message.

Help! Where’s my pain-killer. Where did we go wrong? Ma Bell, where are you when we need you? Come Back Lily Tomlin!

Tipping

2006-09-08T17:29:00.000-04:00

Tipping
By C. Paul Luongo

Tipping habits differ widely between cultures. Any traveler knows that the U.S. is the most tip-happy country in the world!

In Europe, they tip 10% to taxi drivers and 10-12% to waiters unless there is a service charge in which case you don’t tip. (Some people leave some loose change in that case).

In the U.S. 15-20% is the acceptable gratuity in restaurants depending on the quality of the service.

Bartenders, Doormen, Restaurant Musicians, Swimming Pool Attendants (even if they don’t pull you out of the water) receive tips.

But why not Plumbers, Bus Drivers or Teachers?

It makes sense to tip those we expect to serve us again and tipping generously at a restaurant you use weekly provides a possible guarantee of good service and a table away from the kitchen on your next visit.

But why do people tip taxi drivers they’re not going to see again or leave gratuities in restaurants in cities they rarely visit?

Somewhere, people are tipping drivers and waiters in a city they will never visit again but you will benefit from their generosity as someone will benefit from yours.

Tipping is more prevalent in countries with a culture of individualism than those with a more collective spirit.

Service providers like tipping, of course, because they can offer lower prices and pay their employees less.

Most of us wish they would incorporate service into their prices and pay their staff higher wages and eliminate their customers’ uncertainty about whom and how much to tip.

A recent survey found that 34% of Americans wish they were not expected to tip!

Until it is outlawed, however, most of us will continue to tip, never quite sure whether we are tipping the right people or offering too much or too little.

Most people will continue doing it unless they cannot face the embarrassment or antagonistic atmosphere that follows a failure to tip or because it seems mean to deny people who earn less money than others.

I will continue to tip, generously when provided with excellent service and be sparing of generosity when service is substandard or non-existent.

The Rules, Does Anyone Pay Attention?

2006-09-08T17:28:00.000-04:00

The Rules.
Does Anyone Pay Attention?
By C. Paul Luongo

The other day at the gym a young man was running the wrong way on the track and I politely asked him three times to please go the other way. He just ignored me.

I therefore asked the attendant, who was in the basketball court below, to do something.

The attendant said, “Is it bothering you?” I responded, “Yes.”

The staffer came up to the track, looked at the runner, said absolutely nothing and then, without a word, the young man left the gym.

I explained to the staff attendant, “I asked him three times to run the other way and he didn’t respond.” Whereupon the attendant said to me, “Well, everyone is not the same. Not robots.”

Robots?

The huge sign posted on the gym wall stipulates the direction of the track for users each day. Why bother having rules if it doesn’t matter. Robots indeed!

Something is wrong here.

In California, the law allows officials to fine automobile drivers for making a turn on red in certain intersections. High tech cameras are installed to catch violators. Yet some people are up in arms and appealing this issue. Why?

The law is very clear: you don’t turn on red. The miscreants caught ought to be open game, right? No, not with Californians.

In Connecticut, a similar camera technology fines speedsters doing over 65 and automatically issues fines for drivers.

I wonder, why are residents of Connecticut more law abiding than those in California?

And how about the person who gets in the express checkout line at the grocery store clearly designated for only three items when the customer has twelve? And the grocery clerk allows it? What do you say or do?

Do cell phone users realize that when they are not in their homes or offices that no one else cares or wants to hear their conversations? Why do they always talk at a high volume? And usually about nonsense, such as: “I’m just a block away; I’ll be there in five.” Shouldn’t we establish a “cell phone voice” to soften the attack for ambient listeners? Why do you think our forefathers installed doors on telephone booths? Now

we are a community of “open booths” with total disregard for our involuntary eavesdropping!

Let’s play by the rules, guys, please! Gals, too.

Maybe if the airlines had sensible rules about knives and box cutters and those who examine the contents of carryon luggage had followed the rules, the events of September 11 would not have occurred.

The Cardinal, Julia Child, Ozawa & Enron

2006-09-08T17:27:00.000-04:00

The Cardinal, Julia Child, Ozawa & Enron
By C. Paul Luongo

Overkill.

So long, Seiji. Screams the headline in The Boston Herald.

Catholic leaders hit coverage, reports The Boston Globe.

Julia Child attends umpteenth farewell dinners, before “retiring” to Santa Barbara but threatens to return. Enron collapses.

Enough already. All of these stories in the news media are so hyped up, endless, rewritten, copied versions of what we just read the day before over and over again. On Radio, TV, Magazines and Newspapers.

When the news media grabs hold of a story they don’t let go. Why didn’t the media report the Catholic sex scandals when they occurred 30 years ago? And why is it so fashionable to do so now? Ad nauseam.

Two cardinals have suggested that the clergy sexual abuse crisis is a relatively minor phenomenon that is being turned into a major scandal by the media and others with an ax to grind.

To be sure, most sophisticated Catholics knew all along that 50% of the clergy are gay (including pedophiles and ephebophillies) but accepted it without question ‘til pedophillia and ephebophillia surfaced. And multi-million dollar settlements became known.

Even Jack Welch, Jr., former Chairman of GE told a group of journalists that the collapse of Enron was being overblown by the press. And why didn’t the media report it earlier?

Last year a music critic at The New York Times questioned Ozawa’s talent, but Bostonians have embraced the maestro as one of their own despite the fact that after living here for 29 years, he still struggles with the language.

And who would have ever thought that an Asian native would some day head our prestigious symphony orchestra? But in his remaining days as Conductor, the media frenzy has been wild with adoration and God-like praise. Oftentimes with three or four stories in a single publication not to mention broadcast coverage.

With Julia Child, it got to be a joke to attend “another farewell party” and each time it was religiously covered by the media as newsworthy as if it was for the very first time. One columnist in The Boston Globe even facetiously asked the question “is Julia Child leaving?”.

Trying to get a legitimate story published in the media is difficult without “an exotic news angle” and it’s easy for the media to state that “if its already been published in another news outlet” no matter how obscure that news outlet is, they’re not interested. Excuses. But when there’s a “name” involved or “sex” then it doesn’t matter that everyone else has reported the story. It’s news. Every time. Over and Over again.

Have I made my point clear?

September 11, 2001, An International Day of Remembrance

2006-09-08T17:26:00.000-04:00

September 11, 2001
An International Holiday Day of Remembrance

By C. Paul Luongo

Yes. And here’s why.
1. It has changed the way we travel.
2. The way we work.
3. The way we enter buildings.
4. The lives of almost 3,000 families.
5. Reassessment of life’s priorities.
6. Where we eat.
7. Lifestyle changes.
8. War with terrorists.
9. American troops in Afghanistan.
10. How business is conducted.
11. Airport security.
12. Airplane safety measures.
13. Protection of U.S. military bases.
14. Immigration policies.
15. Canadian border crossings.
16. Where we park cars.
17. Observation towers.
18. Protection of U.S. Harbors.
19. The Statue of Liberty.

20. The White House.
21. Historical Monuments.
22. The Pentagon.
23. The Armed Forces.
24. Anthrax.
25. Identification Requirements.
26. Unemployment.
27. Bankruptcies.
28. Destruction of New York Real Estate.
29. Tourism.
30. Firemen.
31. Policemen.
32. Safety Regulations.
33. Skyscrapers.
34. Patriotism.
35. Presidential Leadership.

Pearl Harbor did not have the same impact on America. 9/11 did.
An International Day of Mourning is required.

Seniors As Co-Eds on College Campuses

2006-09-08T17:25:00.000-04:00

A Million people now turn sixty every month which means that older people will outnumber the young for the first time in history!

They’re even enrolling in college classes joining young students on campuses throughout America.

The number of people over sixty will rise to two Billion in 2050 from six hundred Million today, with the oldest (those eighty and over) increasing to three-hundred and fifty million from seventy Million. By then people over sixty will outnumber children up to fourteen years old. More retirees are taking advantage of programs that allow them to audit college courses. Colleges are also now courting seniors as students for good community relations and alas…even with an eye to bequests!

How do young students feel about this? We surveyed students in the greater Boston area and here’s what they had to say –

“Having the input of senior citizens allows colleges to maintain a sense of tradition but simultaneously courses must always be changing with the times, constantly revolutionizing, and I feel like if they are controlled by seniors, colleges may be held back a bit.” –Chris Charron, 22 of North Attleboro, MA

“I think that students no matter what age have the right to participate in education. I feel that as long as colleges are not taking away the options and flexibility for their younger students, gearing certain aspects of their curriculum to an older generation is acceptable”-Amy Stevens, 20 of Wellesley, MA

Some students complain that it creates hassles in that seniors ask questions that are not appropriate such as the issues of euthanasia. “However, it helps to have a role model who is older and helps facilitates the class.”, says one student.

Interference by enthusiastic auditors can be disruptive and sometimes professors will ignore the raised hand of eager retirees.

Some colleges charge a fee lower than younger students and others ask no fee at all.

Certain developers of retirement communities even boast the “education opportunities of universities close by” and even feature pictures of residents and lists of courses they’ve taken. Also, seniors who have a positive experience may encourage their grandchildren to attend. Barnard College even uses audit classes as a way to connect with alumnae, who can return later in life to add to their education.

However, Harvard University doesn’t allow them because “Our program is designed for undergraduate degree candidates”.

Other Universities have created special retirement learning institutes, with customized classes, concerts and field trips and group seniors together in classes instead of with undergrads.

Certain professors say the more senior auditors, the merrier. Some colleges even pair undergrads with auditors in an “Adopt-a-Senior” program, assigning them books to read and discuss together.

At the University of South Florida, the class popular with undergrads is “Life after Death” and the class popular with auditors is “The Dead Sea Scrolls”.

Scott Peterson, Kobe Bryant, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Michael Jackson

2006-09-08T17:24:00.000-04:00

Scott Peterson, Kobe Bryant, Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Michael Jackson
By C. Paul Luongo

Now, do I have your attention? What do these five have in common?

They keep popping up in the news daily and have for some time.

Why should we care about Scott Peterson? Every day deranged citizens mame, kill, and murder for no reason, or reasons that don’t validate the crime.

So why is the media obsessed with Scott Peterson? Do Americans really care or is it the fault of the media looking to fill newspapers, magazines and television shows with titillating subjects that will amuse and entertain their audience while positive news begs for an audience? Why is he singled out? Does he have a PR agent flogging his crime? If so, what does he have to gain? After all, in most cases, monies derived from criminal acts are forfeited legally to the government.

Recently a Catholic priest stated that the media is quick to print bad news about the church but the good work they do often goes unreported. Once again, bad news sells, good news goes unnoticed. I repeat. Good news doesn’t sell as well as bad!

Did the world know Kobe Bryant before his alleged sexual encounter with a hotel concierge? Perhaps the sports journalists and special sports audiences knew, but not the general public. His new found fame, ironically, is now responsible for multi-million dollar endorsement contract cancellations. Not nice, but the media frenzy continues.

And Britney Spears’ “wedding”? Is she not a smart cookie to think of some outrageous plot to help sell her next album due out soon? Is she taking lessons from Madonna, her new found “padrone”? It’s well worth the $560,000 she gave her paramour to dissolve the marriage with multi-million dollar worldwide publicity and coverage in major pop magazines.

Unlike Britney, Paris Hilton is a totally unattractive, untalented bimbo who became an icon only because of her genes and esteemed hotel name. Why she needs to have the world view her having sex with two or three males other than for prurient reasons is astounding. And despite these ignoble acts, she has been offered $3 Million and a contract at Fox-TV. Sex sells!

Lastly, Michael Jackson. Sigh. The fact that he is gay (which according to his mother is against his religion) is not news. That he is a pedophile is. Before the revelation of sexual encounters with adolescents did we hear of Michael Jackson’s life in Neverland? Not unless he was entertaining Elizabeth Taylor, whom he is desperately trying to resemble, or filming Neverland for huge sums of money for the TV networks.

Recently I announced the 40th anniversary of our Public Relations Agency, but because the media looks for more than plain vanilla items, I have to add more facts than just the anniversary itself. I need a “hook,” so to speak. Perhaps a Paris Hilton escapade?

Therefore, dear readers, be sure that the next time you contact the media you bring lots of titillating news to move the press enough to print or broadcast the subject. Your chances will be better than submitting a pleasant news story about the plight of those living in rural America.

RSVP Column #2

2006-09-08T17:23:00.000-04:00

RSVP Column II
By C. Paul Luongo

HERE ARE THE TOP 20 DOs AND DON’Ts WHEN PLANNING A SPECIAL SOCIAL EVENT.

1. Don’t say Black Tie Optional. It’s confusing. Make it Black Tie or Business
Attire.

2. Don’t say Semi-Formal. Either it is or it isn’t. Make it Business Attire or Sports Jacket.

3. Don’t say Creative Black Tie. It usually isn’t and puts pressure on non-creative
dressers.

4. Always list a telephone number with a person’s name who is knowledgeable about
the event and can answer questions politely and intelligently, for reservations,
questions, etc.

5. Use simple invitations. Don’t have a book to read to find out the basic
questions…where, when and what time.

6. Always send handwritten envelopes. No typewriter or computer generated labels.

7. Place seating cards at the table so that there is no doubt as to where guests sit.

8. Mail invitations as far ahead as possible; you’ll increase attendance.

9. Always include the coat check in the price of admission.

10. Don’t charge for soft drinks.

11. Don’t have speeches before dinner.

12. Plan for guests who cannot eat meat, fish, cheese, and spices. Let guests reserve a plain (chicken/vegetable) dish. Even scrambled eggs will do!

13. Beef is a problem. Some like it rare, others well done, and some are in-between.
Chicken, lamb, or veal is better.

14. Also think about having fast-food delivered….Kentuckey Fried Chicken, Pizza (with
various toppings), Hot Dogs, Hamburgers…..you may even get those companies
to underwrite some of the costs!

15. Chinese food can be less expensive, delectable and more exotic.

16. Always accept credit card payments.

17. If possible, offer complimentary parking or necessary parking information.

18. For an outdoor event, plan ahead and either have a tent or a rain date immediately
available.

19. Select a location reachable by public transportation to avoid problems with certain
guests without private cars.

20. Plan for people who cannot attend at the last minute and how they can donate their
tickets to someone known by the committee.

RSVP

2006-09-08T17:22:00.000-04:00

RSVP

Throughout the year, I attend many social events in Boston, New York, Washington, D.C. and Toronto. This year, in addition, I also attended a special event given by Prince Charles in London.

I will be writing this monthly column to enlighten you about these social events so that you can attend vicariously through these columns, without charge, and know the best from the worst. Use them as a future social guide and for helpful hints on how to deal with various social situations that may occur.

The best party by far was given by The Prince of Wales Foundation in London this June to benefit the Prince’s charities. Everyone was there. The King of Greece, Sting, Joan Rivers, Lauren Bacall, Valentino, Donatella Versace, Camilla Parker Bowles (her coming out party), Marylou Whitney, Suzy (New York W Social Scribe), the Forbes Family, Brian Mulroney, former Prime Minister of Canada, Robert Trump and a dozen or more Park Avenue and California socialites among others.

All the food came from Prince Charles’s Highgrove farm, and the setting was in an old tramshed in the East End. The music and entertainment was also wonderful. Although it
was a mere trailer, the men’s room even had chandeliers and fresh cut flowers….a royal flush, indeed!

Back in Boston, we’ve had several disasters. The first was a few weeks ago at The Seaport Hotel when World Boston decided to honor Pat Moscaritolo, the widely over-publicized head of the Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.

I am a very active supporter of World Boston activities and entertain their foreign visitors on a regular basis. Therefore, I was shocked when told that my table assignment had been changed from number 21 to 42, way at the back of the room because “a board member needed my seats.”

At table 42, a rude guest told my client (who was with me) that he had reserved the whole table and that we had to leave. We did. In addition to my chagrin, I was doubly embarrassed because I had a client in tow. Nonetheless, we left promptly, registered our complaint with a World Boston representative, demanded and got a quick refund and instead had a more civilized and I’m sure delectable, if not less expensive, dinner at Aura, the hotel’s main dining room.

Later, I was told that there was some dreadful mistake and that our two original assigned seats at table 21 were vacant all night. Go figure. However, we did miss seeing Pat Moscaritolo lionized for the umpteenth time.

Another disaster occurred recently when I attended the black-tie Pan Mass Challenge (aptly named). Indeed it was a challenge for me in several ways.

The dinner benefits The Dana Farber Cancer Clinic. I had never been before. Being that it was in the ‘hood’ at the Copley Marriott cost only $75, and was for a good cause, I decided to try it.

About 800 guests were packed into the hotel during the cocktail hour, it was difficult to get a sense of this affair. I didn’t recognize a soul, which after living in Copley Square since 1962, is almost impossible to have happen to the Mayor of Copley Square. But it did.

By the time I got to my dinner table, some 350 pound football player had already eaten my salad--he even admitted the fact! And others at the table were questioning why I was there! Indeed! Speeches were going on at this time and without waiting to sample the Chilean Sea Bass listed on the menu, I decided to abruptly end my debut at the Pan Mass Challenge and repair to a nearby seafood restaurant and familiar watering hole.

A much more pleasant experience was at The Eye Ball at the Copley Plaza where Rosalie Cohen, who has a fine sense of style, arranged for crispy Peking duck served with oriental pancakes and hoisin sauce with scallions and Baby Lamb Chops as hors d’oeuvres (I’m a sucker for lamb chops). The beef entrée was returned upon request well done. The gracious waiter even got a 7UP when asked….imagine that!

We also received gifts of chocolate truffles and an attractive sterling silver covered photo album. After dinner, we were entertained by a vocalist imported from New York who sang Gershwin songs, and while no Lena Horne, she evoked memories of when the Oval
Room (where the dinner was held) was a supper club in the 40’s and 50’s with the likes of Vic Damone, Hildegarde and Lena on stage! (though it’s before my time).

The guest list was “uninspired” except for Betty & Frank Avruch (the voice of Channel 5) and being seated near the door (hint?), I took my leave at 9:45PM without notice before the dancing began.

The American Ireland Fund Dinner, held every year at The Copley Marriott, is unwieldy; 1600 fat cats, mainly Irish, pay a minimum of $750 a person for the privilege of eating awful food (the lamb chops this year were an exception). It was much too crowded for either social or business networking. A suggestion: Why not have a series of three dinners in one week with about 500 guests at each event? A much more enjoyable and comfortable setting in which you could actually hear conversations.

Another bit of advice (and this pertains to many other events as well) is to have the dinner speeches, films, entertainment begin when the dessert is being served. The message will be sweeter and the guests will not be held hostage for a serving of overpriced food.

My next report will be later this year, at which time I’ll report my social peregrinations in the New Year!

J. Walter Thompson Drops Its Name, Reputation

2006-09-08T17:08:00.000-04:00

J. Walter Thompson Drops Its Name, Reputation

What’s going on out there? Established names in business are changing names to stay in tune. I ask, in tune for what? And why fix it if it ain’t broke? What does this change of name solve? J. Walter Thomson, legendary Madison Avenue Advertising Agency established in 1878 recently announced a change in the name to JWT. Is this going to make the agency better? No. But the agency reports that “James Walter Thomson is so far in the past, he doesn’t buy us anything anymore.” What? The agency wouldn’t be in business today without Mr. Thomson.
Agencies seeking to reinvent themselves are shifting focus to permission-based marketing tactics that get consumers to receive ad messages. Mr. Jeffrey, CEO, admits the name change likely won’t be enough by itself to turn around the massive entity of 315 offices, but they’re doing it anyway.
Would you buy more cars from GENERAL MOTORS if the name is changed to GM? FORD to FM? CHARLES SCHWAB to CS?
It’s Crazy.
When I first started in the Public Relations business I couldn’t wait to be 5 or 10 years old. Now after 41 years it’s working against me. People ask, “What, you’ve been in business 41 years?” With some sort of negative connotation.
I ask you, if you went to see a doctor who had been in business 41 years wouldn’t that mean something to you as opposed to a young intern who’s been practicing for only a few years?

If you hear of a baked bean company in business for 100 years you think they must know something about baking beans, and that seems to be important somehow. And it’s true it should mean that they know about baking beans. Just as someone in the Advertising, Public Relations, or Marketing business.
A while ago a restaurateur on Boylston Street changed its name for the third time in 10 years. I asked why despite the fact the business was profitable. He said, “Show me a restaurant on the street that has kept its name for 10 years.
Who’s dictating these rules and why? Are kids responsible for this? And if so, what do they know?
Established names are an important anchor to our economic system. If names are changing constantly, their history or economic well-being are not being served.
Should McDonald’s now be just BIG MAC? And if so, wouldn’t you want to know who’s behind BIG MAC? Do you accept a name without challenge just because it’s a new name?
Should the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA now be known only as USA? Should the POPE now be known as Mr. P?
Maybe P. Diddy and Lil’ Kim know something we don’t.

Holiday Birthdays

2006-09-08T17:04:00.000-04:00

Holiday Birthdays!

Unfortunately I was born at 10PM on New Year’s Eve … and I’ve never had a proper Birthday Party.

Why? Because it’s always New Year’s Eve … and O yeah, it’s also my Birthday. It always takes second place.

Even when I lived in New York and flew home on New Year’s Eve, my family would say … “Oh, we’ll celebrate it tomorrow.”

Sounds just like the Queen of England whose birthday is in April but is celebrated in June when the weather is better.

Now let’s face facts. The worst time to be born is Christmas Eve. Next, Christmas Day. Third, is New Year’s Eve.

Let’s form a Club, because I know we all have the same sad horror stories, and we can console ourselves by sharing these miserable forgettable birthdays.

You never get a Birthday gift, it’s always a “Birthday & Christmas Gift.”

When I’m out on New Year’s Eve, with friends, it’s embarrassing to say … “Oh, it’s my birthday tonight!” Right away a certain feeling is expressed and I know what they’re thinking. “Oh, do I have to pay for his bill tonight?” or “O God, I don’t have a gift for him.”

On New Year’s Eve, at 10PM, I always want to drink a toast to me, as that is the precise hour of my birth and it gets in the way of the New Year’s Celebration.

I’ve been thinking that like the Queen of England, I should possibly celebrate my birthday in the summer months when I think everyone should be born and the weather is nicer, warmer and sunnier. But I’ve yet to try it.

I remember only a few Birthday Cakes in my life! Think how many bakers have been cheated out of baking my cake and are poorer for it.

Famous people born on December-January holidays include – (my business birthday is even January 8th)

December 24th-- Ava Gardner, Ricky Martin, Howard Hughes
December 25th-- Humphrey Bogart, Cab Calloway, Conrad Hilton
December 31st-- John Denver, Donna Summer, C. Paul Luongo
January 8th-- Shirley Bassey, David Bowie, Elvis Presley

Can you just imagine how their birthdays were celebrated? Was Ava Gardner with Frank Sinatra? Did Ricky Martin celebrate La Vida Loca? Was Humphrey Bogart with Lauren Bacall? Did Cab Calloway Hi De Ho on that night? Did John Denver have a Rocky Mountain High? Did Shirley Bassey sing Goldfinger? And I’m sure Elvis celebrated with toasted Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches, right? Did Conrad Hilton check into the Waldorf? Donna Summer sings She Works Hard for Her Money?

We are Capricorns and very industrious, hard-working, intelligent people who like the fact that the goat is our symbol for our astrological sign, climbs the mountain one sure-footed step at a time and earns his wings every day.

Capricornians are conservative in social and business environments and always tell the truth. We don’t like miscreants, indolent or dishonest people.

Traditional Capricorn Traits also include practical, prudent, ambitious, disciplined, patient, careful, humorous and reserved. Also pessimistic and fatalistic, miserly and grudging, over conventional and rigid.

We are also one of the most stable and serious of the zodiacal types.

It’s been said that when practical ability allied with the drive of ambition are required in employees to make a project succeed, Capricornians are the people to hire.

Other famous Capricornians include Richard Nixon (January 9th), Sir Isaac Newton (December 25th) and Louis Pasteur (December 27th).

Write and let me know if you were born on a major holiday and we’ll celebrate together on a special night in the year. How ‘bout Bastille Day in July?

50 Things That Annoy Me

2006-09-08T16:51:00.000-04:00

50 Things That Annoy Me

Cellphone use in public places

Voice mail without human options

Automobile commercials

Furniture commercials

Boys with baseball hats backwards

Flip-Flops on men and women

Complex telephone systems

Rap, Rock and Hip-Hop

P. Diddy

Suze Orman

Britney Spears

Supermarket checkout lines

Sports programs

Homeless door openers at retail stores

Homeless pandering

Parades through the city

The circus

Red Sox fans

The Red Sox

Hugh Heffner

Ben Affleck and Matt Damon

All of the Wahlbergs
Terrorists

Airline security

Jeans with holes

Ariana Huffington

Body odors

Menstrual odors

Misdirected mail

Rude and inept cab drivers

Heavy petting in public

Credit Card foreign outsourcing

Childproof medicine bottles meant for adults

National TV meteorologists

Unnatural blonds

Old women as bleach blonds

Dr. Phil

Transsexuals

Body piercings

Tattoos

Hillary Clinton

Males wearing earrings

Ubiquitous tipping containers

Motorcyclists

Excessive air conditioning

Undercooked foods

Youth oriented media

White stretch limousines

Athletic shoes worn with business attire

People who don’t return telephone calls or emails.

50 Things I Like

2006-09-08T16:50:00.001-04:00

50 Things I Like

1. Fried clams at the ATLANTIC FISH COMPANY

2. Hot dogs and fried chicken at the SUMMER SHACK.

3. XM Radio

4. Barbra Streisand

5. Horseback riding

6. Yachting

7. The beach

8. The LIMOLINER to New York

9. Toronto and Washington, D.C.

10. Boston in the fall

11. Sex

12. More sex

13. Australia

14. Jay Leno & THE TONIGHT SHOW

15. Melon Martinis at BRASSERIE JO

16. Pasta

17. Pizza without cheese

18. Concierges and Doormen at the FAIRMONT COPLEY PLAZA

19. Hand written notes

20. Chicken nuggets and baked potatoes at WENDY’S

21. COORS LIGHT draft beer

22. Tripe

23. Lamb kidneys for breakfast

24. Breakfast at the FOUR SEASONS with Adam

25. Chicken lollypops at the TOP OF THE HUB

26. IGGYS Bread

27. Fireplaces

28. Very ripe plum tomatoes

29. Brownies at the farmers market

30. BRIGHAM’S ice cream

31. Anything at REDBONES

32. BROOKS BROTHERS

33. Optimistic people

34. Millionaires

35. Coconut mocha frappuccinos at STARBUCKS

36. SMITHFIELD ham

37. Polite people

38. FEDEX and FEDEX people

39. Jonathan Schwartz on XM Radio

40. Clambakes

41. Asian work ethics

42. Subway popcorn

43. Homemade potato chips at the RITZ

44. Anything chocolate

45. Real Christmas trees

46. Keith Lockhart and the BOSTON POPS

47. Boston’s medical facilities

48. Boston’s public transportation facilities

49. The North End

50. NEW GOLDEN GATE CAFÉ in Chinatown

Furniture Store Commercials

2006-09-08T16:50:00.000-04:00

Furniture Commercials

And then there are those “two boring brothers” one with a “hippie hairdo”, both with the worst Boston accents. They’re attempting to become media celebrities because they own a few furniture stores recently purchased by billionaire Warren Buffet.

Do we really need this kind of harassment, hawking furniture night and day on TV and Radio ad nauseam? They are the Taliban of the furniture industry, striking terror in the minds and hearts of unsuspecting, innocent Radio-TV listeners. They come on, without warning, interrupting my classical music station and forcing me to find safe haven in my CD’s and Tapes.

And how ‘bout the other one who constantly shouts, “I Doubt It!” as if he’s still a first grade retarded soul and the other who professes “comfort, quality and price, that’s nice, by jove, I think they’ve got it!” To add insult to injury, his wife is in the scenario as well. What a price to pay for marriage!

Indeed, a headache is all we all get from this and other loud, annoying phrases. And thwack goes my TV Zapper. Good riddance to this banality!

Since when did it become mandatory for unqualified improper Bostonians to show their worst speech and acting ability in TV-Radio commercials? It’s an assault on our intelligence. At least, in print ads, their dreary elocution and mindless, cheap Hollywood antics disguised to sell bargain furniture are hidden.

Are Bostonians so dumb as to reward these furniture B-players and encourage them with actually visiting their lairs and buying their stuff? My God, I think so; otherwise they wouldn’t be able to afford the media bills.

Then there’s the Indian who qualifies for dispensing embalming services to the needy with the drone of his funereal-accented voice attempting to encourage listeners to visit his “furniture or lighting store?” I don’t know which because as soon as he comes on I tune out. Again another abrupt interruption in my day of listening to beautiful music.

Shouldn’t broadcast executives be more sensitive to their listeners’ comfort? Don’t they know, we simply tune out and turn off?

Whatever happened to the Paine Furniture Company ads or other classic, elegant purveyors of fine furniture who better represented the furniture industry? They did it without gimmicks and made certain that their ads were honest, straightforward, direct, no-nonsense and intelligent, not tasteless gimmicks.

Oh, Mr. Sloane, where are you now that we need you?

F*#@ The Eff Factor

2006-09-08T16:49:00.000-04:00

F*#@ The Eff Factor

Effing, freakin’, frigging, freaking, alas the f-word is becoming mainstream!

(The F-word comes from the German word “fliechen,” which means to strike).

Thanks to TV Personalities like Howard Stern, a classless but rich idiot, x-rated words are creeping into the news media with regularity.

Recently, Dan Rather interviewed Dolly Parton on CBS-TV SUNDAY MORNING and was visibly embarrassed to mention that she was just as famous for a “certain part of her anatomy, as she was for her other talents.” At which point Dolly quickly responded about her “boobs” being enhanced for her personal desire and appearance.

I’m amused now that the FCC is pondering whether the F-word is approved if used as an “intensifier” rather than in a sexual sense. This is ridiculous; we all know what’s going on here, don’t we?

Let’s face it, businessmen, lawyers, accountants, teachers and yes even the clergy are using x-rated words as never before so that one day soon, the shock of the words will be morphed into commonly acceptable language. And then we’ll go inventing other words to titillate people.

Let’s create some new x-rated ones like bladderful? Crapescent? Or how ‘bout diggery dung? Will Americans be more accepting of these terms? Dunno.

But what difference does it make? What’s going on here is the ability of people to communicate effectively (with or without swear words) and using them only when necessary. Maybe we should have a new icon in our computers to substitute for a four letter word like F*#@! pronounced (fstarnumbersign) and we will all be happier. No insult to anyone, and used in every day writing and speaking.

Can you just imagine the Queen of England uttering her annual message to say that it has been a real F*@#ing Year? Or President Bush referring to his Democratic opponents as “those F*@#ing Bastards?” Bastards, now there’s another words in common usage today where it was verboten until recent times by accepted English language.

Unless you’re referring to the “bastard son,” the use of bastard has not been popularly accepted.

Balls, butt or tits? Balls as referred to testicles, is not popular, in print; butt is in popular usage instead of ass and tits, except as used in the song “Tits and Ass” from the Broadway play CHORUS LINE is vulgar (and I still believe it’s vulgar in the play).

Another term in common verbal usage is “s—t happens.” Recently opponents of our Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney used the slogan “Mitt Happens” and we all got the campaign message, however we never spell s—t in accepted media.

FCUK (French Connection United Kingdom) is a British retail store wishing to attract attention, but I believe, in poor taste. Anyone can determine what the message is.

And ballbuster? Only when used as an intensifier! Ha.

Bottom line, use your own judgment and standards in your written and oral communications. Also, know your audience.

There are times when F*@# is acceptable and other times not.

When in doubt, there is a dictionary entitled THE FUCKING CONCISE OXFORD DICTIONARY! Believe it or not.

Distressed Casual Dress and More

2006-09-08T16:47:00.000-04:00

Distressed Casual Dress and More

Body Piercing. Male Earrings. Tattoos.

“Up your nose” used to be a very vulgar statement. Nowadays it refers to ring placed there and elsewhere.

How awful.

Many of today’s young people seem to lack standards, a sense of style, a sense of self-respect.

Unfortunately, it even extends to their music and movies.

They’re accepting frivolous entertainers who dazzle them very little talent but lots of skin.

Casual dress consisting of a sport shirt and jacket may be acceptable but T-shirts, cut offs and torn jeans are not – except in your own backyard.

But we can’t pin the blame on kids. Unfortunately, there are no adults making the rules – parents all too often opt out of setting standards.

But change is blowing in the wind. An important step in the right direction is that more and more schools are requiring uniforms for grade school students. This will inspire them and help develop better taste and style later in life.

The Boston Sunday Globe on September 23rd reported that Phillips Exeter Academy students voted unanimously for a new dress code which requires boys to wear collared shirts and ties and prohibits girls from wearing a list of revealing fashions, including spaghetti strap and midriff-bearing tops. Imagine! A class act. A move in the right direction.

At the other end of the spectrum at England’s Eton, formal clothes are worn to the classrooms. Prince William is a classic example of this upbringing. A bit overdone, but far better than the alternative.

America needs more youth role models other than Lil’ Kim, P. Diddy and Eminem. They set the worst examples in America for our kids. JFK, Jr. set a wonderful example when he was alive.
Sean Jean Clothing? A joke. Yet it sells because it’s considered “hip” not because it’s correct. Hip to me often means horrible. Jeans with holes and oversize trousers not only look unattractive, they also hide the fact that many teens are overweight because they gorge on greasy Big Macs – a move that guarantees Big Sizes. Not an attractive look. Not a healthy lifestyle.

Michael Jordan with his golden earrings does not help. Michael Jackson with his “shin pads” worn during his live 30th Anniversary Performance a Madison Square Garden does not make sense. Performers at this level belong in a tux not threadbare clothing.

What’s next? Tank tops and Speedos at graduation ceremonies? Minis as wedding dresses with track shoes for the long trek down the aisle?

"People took the concept of business casual, which started out as an innocent little perk allowing workers to ditch their blazers and skirts for a more comfortable look, and turned it into amateur night at the fashion improv," reports Gina Shaw in an article for Arrive magazine published by Amtrak.

Business casual was considered an employee benefit, and used by a lot of corporations to attract new graduates because of a manpower shortage. Companies did everything to recruit people.

Now, there’s a very conservative feel in America at the moment and with the economy not quite as good as before, details matter more and people are more careful. In fact, several menswear manufacturers recently launched "Dress Up Thursday," a campaign aimed at bringing high style back to the workplace.

J. P. Morgan recently adopted a business casual dress code and Morgan Stanley Dean Witter even inked an employee discount deal with J. Crew after it got on board with business casual.

55% of companies recently surveyed reported casual dress in the workplace every day of the week, but companies are being more specific about what they mean and when they expect people to wear professional attire. Before it was looser. Now it’s casual chic, as opposed to casual sloppy. Remember what you wear to work reflects your professional style.

The less skin you show, the more powerful you look!

Corporate Names

2006-09-08T16:45:00.001-04:00

Corporate Names

Avaya. Verizon. USX. NStar. And now Altria.

What’s going on here? Corporate names are being changed to “reflect their true meaning”.

Really? Let’s take a look.

Does Avaya spell Telephones to you? And furthermore if Avaya is in the communications business why is it that when you call the company headquarters in Basking Ridge, New Jersey at (908) 953-6000 and ask for Donald K. Peterson, President, they will not connect you to him or even take a message. Imagine that?

Is Verizon better than New England Telephone?

And does USX mean U.S. Steel? “X” has come to stand for X-rated not steel. Or how ‘bout Nstar for Boston Edison. It sounds much more like the name of a constellation than a utility company. Is Noveon the best one for that all-American name, B.F. Goodrich?

Corporations are paying millions of dollars to “communications experts” for coming up with names allegedly more suitable and better representative of what the company’s activities really are.

I daresay that if I took a street survey and mentioned any of the above names, most people wouldn’t recognize them for what they are.

Our world has changed since September 11th and we need a sense of stability and reassurance. Our firefighters, policeman and EMS people, along with the rest of the country, like our old fashioned, familiar, American names and take comfort from the fact that they are still around. Names like PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Kellogg, Campbell Soup, Sara Lee, Wrigley, Smuckers and Tootsie Roll are all publicly traded companies and doing well, thank you very much.

Recently I received a letter from Geoffrey C. Bible, Chairman of and Chief Executive Officer of Philip Morris Companies Inc. and he explains the name change to Altria:

· “The name change is designed to achieve clarity. Currently, Philip Morris is part of the name of our parent company as well as our two tobacco operating companies – Philip Morris U.S.A. and Philip Morris International Inc. As a result, people often refer to the wrong company when talking about “Philip Morris.” We regularly see examples of this in the media and in conversations with numerous stockholders. A new name for the parent company should help clarify our corporate identity, and make it clearer when reference is made to each of our tobacco operating companies.

· This is a good time in the company’s evolution to adopt a new name. The Nabisco acquisition and the Kraft initial public offering provide the most recent evidence of our growth and evolution. The acquisition of numerous global consumer packaged goods brands over the past decade provides an additional example of how we have changed. We are evolving culturally, too, as we work diligently on a variety of responsibility initiatives, both at the corporate level and within each of the operating companies.

· The proposed name fits our mission. Altria Group, Inc. - the new parent company name we will be proposing to you – embraces innovation, growth and new opportunities. Altria, derived from the Latin word altus, meaning high, symbolizes for us a company that is already great, but reaching ever higher. The name was chosen to reflect our aspiration to be a financially strong global family of consumer products companies that delivers peak performance, shareholder value and growth through operational excellence, consumer brand expertise and commitment to responsible business practices.”

Blah, Blah, Blah.

“The corporate practice of adopting vague, faux-Latinate names can help companies shed their image problems,” said one communications expert recently. “Philip Morris had been wounded in the tobacco wars, and had to erect a ‘fire wall’ between its cigarettes and its food and beverage products. You don’t want any carcinogenic associated with your macaroni and cheese.”

Fine, now can I have a pack of filtered Altria’s please?

Cell Phones

2006-09-08T16:45:00.000-04:00

Cell Phones

Yesterday, while walking to work, I heard the most peculiar sound of music coming from someone nearby. I then realized it was the new Britney Spears song, "Toxic." The gentlemen, yes that’s right, gentlemen in the nine hundred dollar suit, felt the need to have this tune play over and over again from his cell phone. It wasn’t simply someone calling him on this ridiculous ring; it seemed this man felt the need to have his own theme music on his morning commute to work. Hasn’t this cell phone nonsense gone on long enough?

Recently a man on the track at the YMCA dialed friends for an hour while running. Were these calls so vital that they had to be made during a workout? Another man was at the urinal at the Marriot Copley Place and talking on his cell phone with business papers under his arm. He looked at me and said that he was multi-tasking. Multi-tasking indeed!

It seems these days cell phones are as common as the telephone. Today, no one uses just a land phone. They need to page, text message, IM, email, or call while they are driving in their SUV.

To these people, I have one thing to say. Do cell phone users in public realize that they are not in a private phone booth or at home in a private environment when using their cell phone to others annoyance?

Should we now have to initiate laws about cell phone use in public as they have in autos? I wonder, do people talk on their cell phones during sex for technique instruction? Do you now bury a corpse with a cell phone to call from the beyond?

Because I am a man of action, I have a solution -- I believe that we should instill some classic Victorian etiquette for cell phone use. Primarily when one is on the phone in a public place, one should remember one rule – consideration!

Nancy Dunnan, author of Amy Vanderbilt’s Book of Etiquette (Harper/Collins), suggests these seven cell phone rules of etiquette –

Use your cell phone only when really necessary and keep your conversations brief.
Restrain yourself. You don’t need to tell your nearest and dearest that –
You’re pulling into the driveway
You’re just a block away
You’re heading for the restroom
Be wise. You should use your cell (or any other phone) if you –
Need to change plans at the last minute
Are stuck in a traffic jam
Will be late picking up your child
Forgot something truly important
Discover your train or plane has been canceled or delayed
Understand the technology. Cell phones are sophisticated. You don’t need to shout into yours. A normal voice level, even a very low level voice will reach the person at the other end.
Don’t try to compete with Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Steven Speilberg. Turn off your cell as soon as you enter a theater. The same holds true for the opera, ballet, philharmonic and museum.
Respect fellow diners. People reading the newspaper at breakfast want peace and quiet. Couples having dinner at Locke-Ober want privacy. Jumping on your cell phone and yakking away could ruin a well-planned marriage proposal.
Move it. When you need to make a call, remove yourself from the center of things. Make your calls away from your fellow travelers, diners, friends and strangers.
And, a word to the rest of the world… Don’t be shy about asking someone on a cell phone to lower their voice. But do it nicely. Suggest that they speak more quietly, move to another area and keep it brief. You have as much right to request quiet as the cell phone use has to make a call.

Remember that no one but you is interested in your conversation but you and the person you are talking to, so for the sanity of humanity follow these steps –

Never use your phone in these places –
Train, Amtrak or the T-the commute is bad enough, don’t make it worse
Waiting Rooms
Restaurants
Dressing Rooms – no one needs to know everything that you buy
Anywhere waiting in line – entertain yourself doing something else
Classrooms - text messaging during a class is simply immoral
g. Church – confessions are meant for your priest, not your mother, brother, boyfriend, credit-card Company, etc.

Don’t make calls in public places out of sheer boredom, or not multi-tasking enough. With all the chaos in our world today, there is something to be said for some silence to think, to reflect or simply to daydream. By being on your phone when it isn’t necessary, you are not only ruining that small moment of serenity for yourself, but anyone who has the unfortunate place of being near you.

No one ever needs to have a special ringer so that they feel like an individual. If you want to be original, state your opinions on things, don’t believe that “Toxic” will truly reflect your personality

Finally, if in doubt, turn it off!

Are You a VIP?

2006-09-08T16:43:00.000-04:00

Are You a VIP?

Today’s VIPs, are not really.

Ever notice that when you go to a “VIP Party” you hardly recognize anyone?

Who are these people? Where do they come from?

Well, let’s take a look.

Friends of the person giving the party. Friends of the Publicist. Friends of the caterer. Buskers. Shills. Street venders. Friends of friends.

But are they important? Are they truly VIPs?

One local freeloader was widely exposed in the Boston Globe no less because he “crashes parties”. Imagine! A few years ago you could be arrested for that. Now he’s accepted as a celebrity.

Friends of mine are on every opening “VIP List” even though they are not important. In fact, they even admitted to me recently that they go to the ‘burbs for a cheap dinner and never spend a penny in the invited establishments.

Another gentlemen who is retired and living in Boston is at all the parties. Totally unimportant to anyone except himself and his ability to be on lists that offer free food and booze.

A few years ago, a Toronto hotel publicist telephoned to ask why I should continue to be given VIP status, despite the fact that I had been staying at the hotel for some time as a VIP guest. I hung up immediately and stopped staying there.

How do you answer a dumb question like that when they have my Press Kit to indicate that I am president of a Boston PR firm, Author of the book, AMERICA’S BEST 100, a Journalist who has written countless articles ranging from Public Relations to Travel, Restaurants and Social Critiques for varied publications, and have made appearances on TV-Radio Shows in the US and Canada including regular appearances on the NBC-TV Today Show.

My God, what else should I have to do to qualify as a VIP? Go naked with earrings, tattoos, body piercings and green hair? Give me a break.

The club scene is another eyesore. Ever notice that it is the Big Burley Muscled males with big pecs guarding the door, who probably haven’t graduated beyond grammar school, who decide who get in or not? While being paid $9.50 per hour! They know VIP’s? Hardly. What they look for are outrageous demeanor, clothing, a sleeve of tattoos, body piercing (the weirder the better) the new age qualifications for VIP.

Show up in a Brooks Brothers suit and tie and you are relegated to the back of the line.

My, how things have changed. Standards? There are none. It’s all who you know no matter how important or not you happened to be.

Then there are those of us who attend many social, civic and charitable events during the year in Boston and contribute to many worthy causes, and yet their names are rarely listed nor does their photo appear in social columns. This despite the fact that certain “Social Editors” list VIPs in attendance that includes lovers, miscreants and assorted hoit polloi. Even an obnoxious decorator couple. Go figure.

It’s the Golden Rule. He who has the gold (on their bodies and around their neck) rules.

Background? History? Achievement? Doesn’t count. Gone. No one cares.

Used to be that in Boston, background or accomplishment mattered. Not anymore. New York had the title of “everything for sale”. Now it’s universal, except Europe where the only bastion of standards can be found today. So get on a gondola and sail on to a better more qualified “social, VIP climate” that is representative of an educated cultured history and background, which in the old days were the qualifications for VIP status in America.

Affirmative Action

2006-09-08T16:42:00.000-04:00

Affirmative Action

Affirmative action in education shows rising support in America (56% vs 49% in 1995). Yet quality often suffers because of equality. Furthermore, it stamps all minorities with a badge of inferiority. Why should educators lower the grade expectations of students just because of their race? That’s prejudice in reverse.

Why should a student be denied admission to an academic institution to make room for a minority student not as qualified? (Or vice versa). Education is a gateway to success in American society and should not be denied those qualified.

When Americans are applying for jobs, employers don’t consider race (it’s illegal) and therefore the fact that the minority student didn’t do as well as its counterpart is not considered. Just intelligence and ability. Isn’t that what really matters?

When I was entering the advertising business on Madison Avenue, I was only 1 of 4 Italian Account Executives with a blue-chip 4-A Advertising Agency (Young & Rubicam).

Italians were O.K. to be in the Art or Creative Departments but not good enough to be in client contact with Anglo-Saxon, Protestant clients such as Proctor & Gamble, General Foods, Chrysler Corporation. But I didn’t let this interfere with my goals.

Blacks weren’t even allowed in the mailrooms. Women were only hired on “female accounts” such as the Personal Products division of Johnson & Johnson. Rich “connected” kids form Ivy League schools where hired for the mailroom at $60 a week and it was considered a “prestigious job” to be on Madison Avenue with a blue chip advertising agency. Jews were not allowed and therefore started their own agencies with Anglo-Saxon types to front for them.

I persevered and finally remained in the business and here I am 38 years later in the Public Relations business … one I never thought of entering in my youth.

My, we’ve come a long way since then. When I opened my Advertising, Marketing, Sales Promotion & Public Relations Agency in 1964 I never toyed with the idea of calling my agency by any other name, which as you can see is of Italian origin. C. Paul Luongo Company, Public Relations & Marketing, Boston.

I didn’t run to the ACLU, Italian-American Leagues, or any other ethnic support group. I did it on my own, on my own terms, and while difficult, (and it still is) I accomplished my objectives without having to rely on affirmation action rules which I think are harmful for people to deal with and expect special consideration in life because of their race, creed or color. It spoils them. Then they expect special treatment in life which is ephemeral.
Success is a 4-letter word spelled w-o-r-k and without it you won’t get ahead. There are no short cuts to success. Regardless of race, color or gender. If you’ve got it … by God, flaunt it with careful style and intelligence. Don’t depend on others to do your dirty work. Don’t run to racial or religious groups for help. Be independent.

Don’t think of yourself as an African-American or Asian American or Spanish-American. I never did. I am an American. Period. Forget labels. Forget everything but your intelligence, fortitude, persistence, ambition, goals and dedication to a standard of principles to move you forward for a speedy, successful life. Labels are for loafers. Be smart. Start today to overcome any liabilities you may have and remember the refrain from that old song ... you've got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.

A Kinder, Gentler Nation

2006-09-08T16:41:00.000-04:00

A Kinder, Gentler Nation

Some years ago, this was the wish of former President Bush.

Now, it’s here!

It’s September, 2001 and because of the tragedy on the 11th of this month, look at what’s happened to Americans.

On the Acela Amtrak Train from Boston to New York this week, I bumped my head on the overhead storage bin and two people jumped up to ask me if I needed help and if I “was all right?”

That would never have happened before.

In the elevator at my athletic club in New York (whereas normally staid members never speak unless known to you) this week in the elevator they asked, “What floor are you going to?” and volunteered to press the elevator button! Another commented on the beautiful weather that day.

That would never have happened before.

I went to the club library looking for the dictionary, which was missing. When I asked a young man about it, he responded “Can I help?” I asked, “Are you smart? Do you know these two words I want to look up?” Turns out he was a 35 year oldish doctor doing a residency at Columbia University and while he didn’t exactly know the precise definitions of the two words, he was very close, and smiled. We both laughed.

That would never have happened before.

Managers of restaurants, restaurant workers, bartenders, cab drivers have all taken a more sensitive interest in people and are making a greater effort to be more accommodating. There’s such a “vulnerable feeling” all around.

The would never have been there before.

My apartment manager called today to ask if my maintenance request had been fulfilled. Imagine! That’s a first.

There’s a general feeling of helplessness and malaise in the air. Sorrow. A mournful feeling among Americans trying to understand this unspeakable tragedy that has happened. A current count of 6,500 dead and missing. A despicable terrorist act.

Lastly, I called my VISA company today to complain that they had assessed a late fee and interest charge to my account of about $45 when, in fact, I had paid the balance in full, but it didn’t get there on time. I said, “Well, maybe it got delayed en route because of the recent World Trade Center tragedy.” The man on the other end of the line quickly removed the charges in question with extreme politeness and concern.

I hope we continue to be a Kinder and Gentler Nation with the advice of former President Bush without another tragedy needed to accomplish this enhanced atmosphere in our country. God Bless America!

2005 Economic Forum

2006-09-08T16:39:00.000-04:00

2005 ECONOMIC FORUM

The headline in the WALL STREET JOURNAL screams HOLLYWOOD GOES TO DAVOS!
Now I ask you, do we need Hollywood stars attending the World Economic Forum?
Do economists attend the Oscar’s? No.
Other than for publicity purposes, why then do Hollywood celebrities insist on sticking their nose in a forum where they don’t belong?
Allegedly, Sharon Stone wanted to pledge $10,000 to buy mosquito nets “to help prevent malaria in Tanzania”. Did she have to go to Davos to do this? Why not just send a $10,000 check to Tanzania and be quiet about it? Her career must need an uplift.
Same with Bono, Angelina Jolie, Richard Gere. I think it’s insulting to have these celebrities share the same stage with Prime Minister Tony Blair, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates, former President Bill Clinton and South African President Thabo Mbeki.
Bono has called on the west to provide aid and for its financial institutions to cancel debt owed by African nations. What does he know about finance and the details of those financial institutions providing funds to African nations?
World Economic Forum (WEF) subjects such as Taking Responsibility for Tough Choices and Arab Reform are hardly subjects for discussion with Angelina Jolie who has opted to discuss Reinvent Yourself in a workshop for which she did not show up. Figures.
If this continues, the Forum will become a platform for misplaced priorities and foolish causes and it poses real risks to clear-sighted corporate, national and global governance subjects.
According to Claudia Gonzalez, a WEF media Handler, who shepherded actress Sharon Stone and actor Richard Gere through the five day conference, the goal is to mix issue-driven stars with serious CEOs.
As far as I’m concerned this is like mixing serious economists with actors at the Oscar’s or the Golden Globe awards. Would that be appropriate?
As one executive attendee at the WEF states, “I don’t want to be hit up for money by celebrities every time I attend.” Amen.

Pornography

2006-09-01T10:05:00.001-04:00

Pornography

Porn is “in.” Never before in America has pornography been so prevalent and accepted, at all levels of society.

It’s in-your-face sex at every turn. Movies, magazines, newspapers, videos, are all to blame for this scourge in America.

The media is printing things that not too long ago would be banned not only in Boston, but everywhere.

I’m always shocked at the sex ads in the BOSTON PHOENIX for oral, anal and threesome sex offerings. Just amazing. Even husbands and wives looking for more thrills. But Americans appear to want it, otherwise, it wouldn’t exist.

Take for example porn in hotel TV outlets, which is a big revenue center for them. It seems that people cannot wait to check into their hotel room, lock the door and enjoy pornographic films. Yet in person, these very same people would decry it.

Porn on the Internet is the second most watched offerings for all sexes and is growing daily. Little wonder that parents are having a difficult time rearing their children when we are surrounded by it daily.

Music videos of rap, hip-hop and rock artists are constantly provoking their sexual appearances rather than their alleged vocal or dance talents.

In fact, a porn star by the name of Jenna Jameson has even written a book explaining how to make love like a porn star and has sold millions of copies. Imagine!

Gyms are now teaching women how to strip as a health and exercise benefit rather than the traditional exercises.

President Clinton didn’t help matters when he declared that he did not have sex with “that woman Miss Lewinsky.” He only had oral sex that he doesn’t count as sex, and now young people imitate him.

Hooking-up and having friends with “benefits” is very common among students in schools and colleges throughout America.

In earlier times, affluent Americans had a place on their property called a “garconaire” where young boys learned about sex. We ought to have it today for everyone.
At the very time that health organizations are attempting to curtail the increase in sexually transmitted diseases, these practices don’t help, but hurt their cause.

While prostitution is illegal, ads in local papers for “escorts,” “masseurs” and other euphemisms for sex are allowed and indeed flourish with impunity.

Can we go back to Doris Day and John Wayne? Life was simpler then, and more enjoyable… and less costly!

Blonde Obsession

2006-09-01T10:05:00.000-04:00

Blonde Obsession

Why is it that Americans (more than any others) feel that blonde is better? In fact, dark-haired Europeans are beautifully sophisticated.

Young, old and in-between are bleaching their hair like never before.

Bad examples on TV are Barbara Walters, Andrea Mitchell and on a local level, Susan Wornick. Not to mention certain Blacks/Asians who have done it!

I’m surprised that TV moguls have not advised their news people on their appearances.

There’s a saying that “Blondes have more fun,” but I don’t subscribe to that.

I believe that there’s nothing like your natural hair color except if you’re gray and you resort to coloring your hair only to its original color. I don’t find gray hair necessarily becoming.

I think that unnatural blondes make a mistake by appearing “less intelligent” for the sake of their hair.

There’s nothing like a handsome brunette who stands out from the pack of bleach-blondes.

People doing serious work would not change their hair color for the sake of appearances. And, they present themselves better in an intellectual manner without distraction.

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” was a movie with Marilyn Monroe some years ago and people have taken to believe it. It was only a movie, for God’s sake, not the real thing!

Constant photos of blondes have encouraged this philosophy and it’s become boring to see people with dark roots and blonde dyed hair. It’s not natural and is unbecoming.

It seems everyone is trying to look “Hollywood” without the physical assets to match it.

Just because movie stars, TV personalities and rap artists do it, doesn’t mean that it is proper and acceptable.

Prince Charles said it, “Everyone thinks they’re a star nowadays”. Well, it takes more than hair coloring to be a celebrity and become the Madonna’s of the world.

Madonna, as a matter of fact, is a classic example of a shrewd woman who changes her hair at the drop of a multi-million dollar contract for SHOW BUSINESS PURPOSES. She’s clever, makes millions ($80 Million on her last tour), but that’s show business, not real life.

Americans are currently walking around thinking they’re Madonna, Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson. They’re not. Give it up, for America’s sake. Be an original, not a carbon copy of some unbecoming personality.

Cher Forever!

2005-04-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

Cher Forever!

She’s 58 going on 30. Looks fabulous. Energetic, talented, entertaining and still, after doing 316 shows, presents the most fabulous show-stopping one-and-a-half-hour revue of all her hits, movies and TV appearances.
The CHER show, recently presented at MOHEGAN SUN ARENA in Uncasville, Connecticut, began with the dynamic, ever-popular VILLAGE PEOPLE consisting of an Indian Chief, Policeman, Hard Hat, Military Man, Cowboy and Biker singing all of their still popular songs such as MACHO MACHO MAN, IN THE NAVY and of course YMCA, for a 45-minute presentation before the arrival of the star.
CHER arrived on stage descending from the ceiling in a chandelier, dressed in a Victorian costume which is then torn away by dancers, leaving CHER in a G-STRING covered with silver, shimmering icicles. WOW! What an entrance. For the second song she even arrives on stage atop a life-size mechanical elephant!
She sings all of her hits (and others) such as, I STILL HAVEN’T FOUND WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR, BANG BANG, STRONG ENOUGH, IF I COULD TURN BACK TIME and ends with her super-hit BELIEVE.
And if you can believe this, she changes costumes with each song and you’ll see her in everything from jeans, to harem-inspired costumes, to multi-colored slacks. All of this on a mystical set accenting each musical presentation, complete with aerial acrobatic dancers, back-up singers and musicians.
A sold-out arena of 7500 people applauded and enjoyed the show with an audience of mainly middle-aged to older guests all chanting CHER’s hits. In fact, the 40ish year-old woman sitting in front of me was mouthing all the lyrics!
Throughout the evening there are glimpses of CHER in her many TV appearances with David Letterman, George Burns, Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett as well as her late husband Sonny Bono singing I’VE GOT YOU BABE.
Also, there are movie clips of CHER in WITCHES OF EASTWICK, SILKWOOD, MASK, TEA WITH MUSSOLINI, SUSPECT, MERMAIDS, STUCK ON YOU and MOONSTRUCK!
Don’t leave this earth until you’ve CHERED-IT!

David Brudnoy, 1940-2004

2004-12-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

DAVID BRUDNOY 1940-2004

The last time David called my office was a few months ago to ask if I would speak to his students at Boston University about the subject of Public Relations. Of course I said I would, but I never heard from him again.

So many times have I had a variety of clients on his show and it didn’t seem to matter if it was a financial subject, which for the most part I would be involved with, or a fun JELLY BEAN story, David was comfortable at all levels and an uncommonly polite and concerned individual.

He always made sure that authors got credit on the show and would give out TOLL FREE TELEPHONE NUMBERS to help sell books or whatever the subject of the interview was about.

He’s also the only journalist that would go out of his way to mention my name on air with a client story which is most unlikely. Usually broadcasters stick to the subject matter, period.

David’s living room was his broadcast studio in the later years with all kinds of memorabilia and hundreds of books. I remember one day I commented on a STORK CLUB ashtray and told him that when I lived in New York, I was a VIP member of the club. Thereupon he insisted that I have it and to this day it sits in my office.

I also recall mentioning that I knew Peter Duchin, the orchestra leader, who had recently been on his show with a new book and before you know it, David insisted that I have the book which had been autographed to him!

Often I would come across David running through COPLEY PLACE on his way to a movie screening and I couldn’t help being impressed with the fact that because of his illness, he really couldn’t feel his feet touch the ground, yet he walked as if there was no problem.

On a dining experience with Kevin Myron (his former WBZ producer) at ABE & LOUIE’S, I somehow began to choke on a piece of meat and David quickly summoned someone to perform the Heimlich maneuver. And he was so concerned for me, despite his terminal illness.

When I called him recently about a client, THE NEWMAN SCHOOL, he quickly responded because he was a neighbor of the school and very interested in the programs offered. As we speak, we were trying to put together a show with several private high schools in the Boston area to discuss education issues.

Education was always an important topic to David and he wanted to play a role in helping to shape the future minds of the city he called home. He became a full professor this year at Boston University, teaching three courses (all the while continuing to host his radio show every night and reviewing hundreds of movies every year!!).

Students say his was the toughest course they ever took but also the best. There are hundreds upon hundreds of glowing course evaluations and many past students ready to give testimonials at will. He also became a fraternity brother at Emerson College where he mentored the young men and served as a role model for the lives that lay ahead of them.

He was very demanding of his students and his colleagues, expecting assignments and tasks be completed to the same degree of quality that he expected of himself. The result being that anyone who had the opportunity to work with him or know him was better because of it.

David Brudnoy was a rare gentleman indeed, touching many lives. In some sense he was a 19th century renaissance man living in the 21st century with all the sensibilities of an era that showed considerably more consideration to all people. The world needs more people like David Brudnoy. But there was only one.

I always called dear David by his Hebrew name, so good night, DAVEED.

We’ll miss you.

Naked News

2003-01-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

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