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Filed under: ASI Shows, Editorial, Fun
Happy 2010, Everyone!
I’m just back from the ASI Orlando Show, where — despite record cold temps (in the ’30s!), the show was a huge success. From Education Day, to General Colin Powell’s keynote address, to the sizzling fashion show and rollicking amusement park gala, the show was a fantastic way to kick off a new year and decade.
There were tons of creative, wow-worthy new products introduced by our industry’s ingenious suppliers and everyone’s mood was positive, upbeat and optimistic.
Here are some quick photos from the trip, and more next week when I’m in Dusseldorf, Germany for the PSI Show — the world’s largest ad specialty event.
Cheers!
– M
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| Dave Saracino, one of the industry’s favorite personalities and the man at the helm of Counselor Top 40 supplier BIC Graphic, held court at an Orlando establishment — Aw Schucks — with as much character as he has. The highlight? Senoir Saracino did a rousing rendition of Frank Sinatra’s “My Way.” When you’ve loved and lost like the Chairman of the Board and the vice president of BIC, you bring down the house. |
(From left): The always-charming president of Counselor Top 40 supplier Polyconcept North America David Nicholson, Counselor Top 40 distributor Gateway/CDI’s CEO Chuck “Chuckles” Fandos and Polyconcept North America’s national sales manager, Scott Anderson, my new favorite person. David graciously invited us all to dinner and that evening was the highlight of the show for me. Rock on, revelers. |
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| Counselor Top 40 supplier Gemline’s national sales manager, Steve Hettrick (center) and Chuckles Fandos — someone who just makes me happier whenever I’m around him — pose with a friend at Aw Shucks. If you ever get a chance to have some cocktails with Chuck or his partner at Gateway/CDI, Conrad Franey, run, do not walk. |
Wednesday
December 23, 2009
Filed under: ASI Shows, Editorial
Hi Everyone!
I hope you’re enjoying this fabulous holiday season and are getting ready for a new year and decade so awesome that it’ll erase all the angst, stress and hardships of the last one.
Are you going to be in Orlando for the ASI Show from January 3-5? I am! If you’re there, please join me on Education Day (Sunday, 1/3) for two panel discussions I’ll be moderating.
If you’re an exhibitor, take a break from setting up your booth on Sunday for a free luncheon panel just for suppliers featuring four top distributor salespeople: Dan Jellinek from Touchstone Marketing — one of Counselor magazine’s Fastest Growing Distributors; Mercy Crespo from Counselor Top 40 distributor HALO/Lee Wayne; Burke Buchanan from Counselor Top 40 distributor Vernon; and Joe George from Counselor Top 40 distributor American Solutions for Business. They’ll share with you what it takes to win and keep their business, and their stance on topics like who’s responsible for product safety, what makes a great supplier and what they’d like to see from trade show exhibitors. This exhibitors-only luncheon discussion, “What Distributors Want From You,” will be held from 12:00-1:30 p.m. in room 202AB of the Orlando Convention Center.
If you’re a distributor, join me for a panel discussion on a topic near and dear to my heart: “The Fine Art of Creative Self-Promotion.” To be held on Sunday, 1/3, from 2:45-3:45 p.m. in room 104 of the Orlando Convention Center, this panel will feature: Power 50 member Greg Muzzillo, co-CEO of Counselor Top 40 distributor Proforma — a company that’s won numerous awards for its phenomenal self-promo campaigns; Leo Eisner, a 50-year industry veteran and top sales rep with CounselorTop 40 distributor HALO/Lee Wayne who’s generated a majority of his business over the years through self-promo initiatives; and Jake Krolick, ASI’s new media marketing guru, who’s an expert at using tools like video, Facebook and Twitter to boost sales and business.
I look forward to seeing you all at the first national ad specialty trade show of the year, and hope you can make it to one of my panel discussions.
Have a very Merry Christmas and a spectacular 2010!
Cheers,
M
Filed under: ASI Shows, Editorial, Fun, Travel
Hi Everyone!
I’m just back from the ASI Chicago Show, which was awesome on a multitude of levels. It was fabulous seeing old industry friends (Windbrella’s Bob Hechler, JournalBooks’ Tim O’Boyle & Jamie Raynor and R.S. Owens’ Scott Siegel, I’m looking at you… ; ) ) and meeting some amazing new ones like industry veteran Lisa Bennett.
That Lisa and I have never met is perplexing. Lisa, who lives in Chicago, is a multiline rep who handles companies like Counselor Top 40 supplier Ash City, my friend Leigh’s company, Say Thank You with Coffee, and some others. She is sassy, hilariously wry and we share many of the same friends. She also has the distinction of being the person to convince me to stop being such an old-school whiner and join the Twitter flock. (Though I still maintain, as I routinely tell SnugZ’s Charley Johnson, it will be easier to raise the dead than to get me on Facebook … that so isn’t happening.) Stay tuned for next week’s blog which will have my Twitter info.
The show itself was well-attended and steadily crowded, and participation in ASI’s educational offerings was up nearly 10% from last year. I myself moderated two panels, which turned out well – mainly because I am so lucky to be friends with such talented people. On my panel for suppliers, which offered the chance to gain insights into how to win a distributor’s business and loyalty, I had Deluxe Corp.’s Sheila Johnshoy, Touchstone’s Tad Webster, Brown & Bigelow’s Cindy Jorgenson and WorkflowOne’s Mike Riddle. On my ”Secrets to Wildly Successful Self-Promotions” panel, I had industry speaker and veteran Cliff Quicksell, OnTime Promotions’ Sharon Biernat and PromoShop’s Kris Robinson. I’d like to thank all my panelists for being so gracious and giving with their time and expertise.
Lastly, my favorite event of the Chicago Show is always the Counselor awards banquet, where we recognize the Person of the Year, as well as the Top 40 suppliers and distributors (for a list of winners, click here). It was an exciting night for me because my girl Bonni Shevin-Sandy, executive vice president of Counselor Top 40 supplier Dard, won the very well-deserved International Person of the Year award. I adore Bonni, and when it comes to doing business in a global marketplace, my girl has skills!!!
The funniest line of the evening came from Chuck Fandos (”Chuckles,” as I call him), who took one look at the group of hooting and hollering rowdy rummies – PromoShop’s Kris Robinson and Memo & Sabrina Kahan, Chuck’s business partner Conrad Franey, Sweda’s Jim Hagan and Scott Pearson, BIC’s Dave Saracino, in addition to myself and ASI’s publisher Rich Fairfield – at our very prominently placed (dead center in the front of the room) table and looked at me with dread. ”What the hell are you doing putting us up so far in the front, Michele??? Look at us – we’re back-of-the-bus kind of people!!!” But hey, that’s my way – I love surrounding myself with excessive rock stars and charismatic wackos. ; )
Enjoy some photos below from the show and look for more next week!
Cheers,
M
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| Mark Messner, a former pro football player with the L.A. Rams and now with Canon Printing, and my girl Jilly Albers, sales chica extraordinairre with WorkflowOne. Jilly’s cocktail of choice is the “Skinny Pirate” (Captain Morgan and Diet Coke), which she has Mark hooked on as well. Between the two of them, they drank Kitty O’Shea’s — the bar at the Hilton Hotel where all the industry partiers gather before heading off to Shenanigan’s — dry of Captain Morgan’s. Seriously. The place actually ran out! Rock on, my little revelers. ; ) |
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| Jilly and I on Monday evening at Kitty O’Shea’s. There has not been one night Jilly and I have hung since we met that we haven’t had an EPIC time (even if we need a timeline and photographs to remember all details). |
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| Here’s my pal Samantha Tucker, who oversees programming ASICentral.com and is one of the coolest tech nerds I know, at the Counselor Top 40 banquet. If you received Tweets from ASI broadcasting the names of each award-winner in real time, that was Sam Twittering like crazy. |
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| Shall I count the ways that I adore Jim Hagan (left), the president of Counselor Top 40 supplier Sweda? He’s funny, he’s whip-smart, he’s charming as hell and he can drink shots like a rock star. Love, love, love him! Here, Jim’s looking suave at the black tie Counselor awards banquet, with my boss, the ever-patient and tolerant Rich Fairfield, ASI’s senior vice president and publisher. It’s mystifying that Rich doesn’t drink more to dull the pain of dealing with me. ; ) |
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| Could there be a more glamorous couple? With Sabrina and Memo Kahan, the owner of Counselor Top 40 distributor PromoShop, let it never be said that this industry is devoid of The Beautiful People. |
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| Kris Robinson, my pal and vice president of Counselor Top 40 distributor PromoShop, is the God of Green (and he’s no slouch when it comes to self-promos; many of his win awards and garner double-digit ROI). Want someone to give you a tutorial on how to successfully integrate eco into your business? Kris is the go-to guy. Here’s to you, Mr. Robinson … ; ) |
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| Jake Krolick, ASI marketing manager and rock journalist/videomaker on the side, is ASI’s version of illustrious, iconoclastic and famously wacko music writer Lester Bangs — reporter of all the best degenerate musicians of the ’70s. |
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| Here’s Jakey with ASI’s marketing manager for suppliers, Colin Graf. When Jakey and Colin are out on the party circuit at a show, they always remind me of the Night at the Roxbury guys. |
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| My girls, the gorgeous Sharon Biernat (left), a 20-year distributor sales veteran, and the luminous and svelte Natalie Townes, enjoying cocktails and conversation at Kitty O’Sheas. |
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| My editorial colleauges, Counselor editor Andy Cohen (a.k.a., Captain Killjoy) and Managing Editor & star of The Joe Show, Joe Haley (a.k.a., my reluctant “handler”) partying after the Counselor awards banquet. |
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| ASI’s advertising director Dan Dienna, ASICentral’s dominatrix Samantha Tucker and Marketing Manager Colin Graf, exemplifying the old adage, “A rose between two thorns.” ; ) |
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| Sharon Biernat and Ira Neaman, owner of Counselor Top 40 supplier Vantage. I met Ira about 11 years ago, and since that time, I have always referred to him as the “Yoda of Wearables.” A phenomenal teacher on the topic of apparel, he is. |
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| Industry favorite Jay Donlin, vice president of sales & marketing for Counselor Top 40 distributor Newton Manufacturing, shown here with the super-sweet and fun Angie Gibbons, formerly with Visions Awards, now a distributor client. |
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| The editors out in force. From left, Counselor editor Andy Cohen; ASI Show education coordinator (and one of my favorites!) Dana Reaume; Editor-in-Chief & Vice President of Education, Melinda Ligos; Staff Writer Dave Vagnoni and Executive Director, Research Services Larry Basinait. |
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| So how cool is this? Jim Hagan, president of Counselor Top 40 supplier Sweda and Scott Pearson (”Giggles” to you and I…), its super-talented vice president of merchandising, were out and about on the town after the Counselor banquet and ran into football superstar Peyton Manning. They asked him to sign their Counselor Top 40 award, and hot Mr. Manning happily obliged. |
Filed under: ASI Shows, Editorial, Travel
Hi Everyone!
We’re just back from ASI’s second annual New York Show and it was both a success and a blast! The trade show posted strong attendance of nearly 2,800 distributors from 1,338 firms, up more than 7% from 1,247 firms last year. Education day attracted nearly 450 distributors – up about 8% from a year ago. Even more impressive because education day was held on a Sunday.
I’m a little out of my comfort zone in New York, but with the help of some friends, managed to hang out in some of the best places. For example, at the legendary Algonquin Hotel, where writer Dorothy Parker and other renowned writers traded bon mots and barbs around the notorious “vicious circle,” Shepenco’s Dan Townes and I had quite a few cocktails. A New York landmark, lounging at this hotel and it’s amazing bar — steeped in tons of local lore — was the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Had I known it existed, I would have shaken Dan down to buy me the Algonquin’s $10,000 martini — into which they plop a diamond in lieu of ice. (Click here to learn more about the famous — and infamous — writers who used to frequent the Algonquin: and here for some trivia regarding the historic establishment.)
This napkin, mystifying free from any spillage from my three Cosmo martinis, bears a famous quote from Robert Benchley, Dorothy Parker’s BFF and prodigiously talented writer for The New Yorker, Vanity Fair and Life magazines in the ’20s and ’30s.
So, without further adieu, enjoy the sights from the show!
More at the end of the week when I give a heartfelt send-off to the best show on TV, Battlestar Galactica. Get ready to get your CYL-ON, my little toasters! ; )
Cheers,
Michele
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| A throng of attendees enter the second annual ASI New York Show on opening day, this past Monday. |
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| At the famed and fabulous Del Frisco’s steak house, here I am (center) with Randee Horwitch (left), vice president of sales at Counselor Top 40 supplier Dard and my gal pal Bonni Sandy, the company’s executive vice president and the president of Dard Design. A savvy, wicked-smart cookie, Bonni’s brilliance is only exceeded by her wit. |
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| Brett Hersh, president of AdMints (left) and Sean Huban, director of sales for ePromos, enjoy a drink after the first day of the show at ASI’s “Welcome NYC” reception. |
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| Ron Ball, ASI’s vice president of supplier sales and my weapons-grade wacko work husband, raises a glass at Balthazar. Not a huge fan of New York City, my boss Rich Fairfield — ASI’s senior vice president, publisher and a native New Yorker — made it his mission to show me a side of New York I would love (trust me… that’s not such an easy thing). Knowing what a Francophile I am, he took Ron, Dard’s Bonni Sandy and Randee Horwitch and I to Balthazar on Spring Street in SoHo — a French bistro that looked (and felt) as though I was back in my beloved Paris. I drank quite a few Kir Royales (champagne with a drizzle of Chambord) and declared it my favorite place in New York. What can I say? Rich knows me well… |
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| Cliff Quicksell and I, at the Marriott Marquis bar. Cliff was one of the first people I met in the industry, about 11 years ago at an industry networking mixer. His name badge said, “Hello! My name is… Buffy.” And that is what I still call him to this day… “Buffy Quicksell.” |
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| ASI’s Executive Director of Distributor Services, Christian Brandt and one of the ASI Show’s top-drawing education facilitators, Cliff Quicksell. |
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| Star magnets Matt George (above, left) & Joe Haley took turns cozying up to Tracy Morgan, one of the stars of NBC’s hit sitcom “30 Rock.” Joe and I love “30 Rock,” due in large part to the tour de force performance by Alec Baldwin. If we had seen him, I would have coerced him to join us for cocktails, with the intent of doing naughty things. |
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| With stunning views of New York City, hundreds of guests enjoyed ASI’s hospitality at the “Top of the Rock” gala, held on the famed building’s 64th floor. With a sumptuous spread of food, top-shelf open bar and a fabulously fun band, it was the perfect night in mid-town Manhattan. |
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| (From left): Dan Townes, owner of Shelbyville Pencil/Shepenco & his wife Natalie — both of whom resemble the fabulously witty and cocktailing bon vivants Nick & Nora Charles from “The Thin Man” television series from the 1930s — shown here with industry educator extraordinaire, Cliff Quicksell. |
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| (From left): ASI’s editorial staff, in all their wacky glory, at the bar inside the Marriott Marquis in NYC: Wearables editor C.J. Mittica, Staff Writer Dave Vagnoni, Education Director & Stitches editor Nicole Rollender, Staff Writer Matt George, Senior Application Developer Samantha Tucker, Web Designer Steve Hawk, Counselor editor Andy Cohen and Managing Editor & star of The Joe Show, Joe Haley. |
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| ASI’s radio and Internet celebs at the swanky and high-class Rodeo bar, located at 375 3rd Ave. in NYC. Taking advantage of the bar’s “Recession Special” (a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon and a shot of Whiskey for $7) are Web Designer extraordinaire Steve Hawk, Staff Writer Matt George, managing editor and star of “The Joe Show” Joe Haley and Counselor editor Andy Cohen. Steve Hawk, who is a beer aficionado and brews his own award-winning beer would have rather swallowed shards of glass, I think, than PBR. |
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| As guest photographer Joe Haley said, “Check out the Oy-Veys… the toughest Jewish street gang in New York City!” From left: Counselor editor Andy Cohen, Web Designer Steve Hawk, Senior Application Developer Sam Tucker — the shiksa mascot of the group — and Wearableseditor C.J. Mittica. |
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| You have to hand it to ASI marketing rock star Jake Krolick, who always — regardless of what city we’re in — finds the most high-brow, refined establishments. This one, Rudy’s Bar & Grill, comes up under the search phrases: “dive bars” and “free hotdogs.” ASI’s cast of characters, from left to right: Dan “The Man” Brown, director of distributor services (honking Porky’s snout); Jake Krolick, marketing manager & Dionysian degenerate; Mike Landis, distributor services account executive; Porky, the other white meat; Shannon Blaszczyk, account executive, catalog sales; and Chris Glowacki, account executive, supplier Internet sales and recipient of ASI’s prestigious Rising Star Employee of the Year Award. |
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| (From left): Ross Silverstein, iPROMOTEu’s director of marketing Linda Forsvall, and ASI’s senior vice president Dan O’Hallaran enjoy the “Rat Pack”-style atmosphere of the Carnegie Cigar and Scotch Bar in New York City. |
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| IPromoteU’s Ross Silverstein and my new favorite gal pal Sheila Johnshoy, director of promotional products for the Deluxe Corp. What a pair… For those of you who know Ross, he’s a pistol; Sheila is as whip-smart as she is fun! |
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| (From left): Ross Silverstein, CEO of Counselor Top 40 distributor iPROMOTEu; Glen Carrigan, president of Counselor Top 40 distributor EmbroidMe (Canada)/Plan Ahead Events Canada; and Tipton Shonkwiler, brand director for EmbroidMe/Plan Ahead Events relax after the show at the Carnegie Cigar & Scotch bar for an exclusive event hosted by ASI executive director of distributor services, Christian Brandt. |
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| The lovely and lively Missy Kilpatrick, vice president of Castelli, and my old pal Michael Bistocchi, vice president of CleggPromo, party like rock stars at the ASI Show gala at the Top of the Rock. |
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| In full view of the patrons at Rudy’s Bar & Grill on 9th Ave. between 44th & 45th Streets, this fine young gentleman leans against this upstanding young lady for some late-night support. Let it never be said that the City that Never Sleeps isn’t one super-duper friendly town! |
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| Karyn Coates, ASI’s executive director of E-Media & Member Benefits, meets Anthony Geary, a.k.a. “Luke Spencer” — a super-celeb on ABC’s legendary soap opera “General Hospital.” At the hotel where we all stayed in NYC, the Marriott Marquis, there was a party being held for ABC’s soaps. Karyn, being all super-stealthy, managed to slip into the party and sidled up to some of her favorite stars. We just want to know, Karyn, where was that hottie guy who plays Nikolas Cassadine? He would have had us in a lather… ; ) |
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| Here’s ‘Lil Joe Haley, ASI’s managing editor and star of “The Joe Show,” posing with Cameron Mathison — who stands 6′ 1″ — and is a star of the ABC soap opera “All My Children” and was on season five of “Dancing with the Stars.” Our colleague Karyn Coates, executive director of ASI’s E-Media and Member Benefits, apparently squealed like a teenybopper when she saw the soap star… though, sadly, not “The Joe Show” star… ; ) |
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| ASI’s Brandon “B-Rabbit” Miller (above) and Steve Cattau, both distributor services account executives, go down for the count on the bus ride back to Trevose after a high-energy, non-stop ASI NYC Show. |
Filed under: ASI Shows, Travel
My last day in sunny L.A. was bittersweet. I was excited to get home to the family, but I had such a nice time chatting with the exhibitors and attendees, that it was hard to pull myself away and make the short trip to LAX. (I actually cut it pretty close, not realizing how they herd hapless travelers outside before even reaching security.)
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Filed under: ASI Shows, Travel
Hey there, Joan here blogging from the California leg of the Advantages Roadshow. I was delighted to learn that a video would be shown on the magic bus tour from Newport Beach to Ontario, CA. However, when I learned it was a comedy involving a ventriloquist, I became instantly creeped out.
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Thursday
September 25, 2008
Filed under: ASI Shows, Travel
Greetings from warm and sunny California – and I mean that in all ways, both the people and weather are a friendly and inviting group. I’m happy to be a guest on Michele’s blog, however don’t expect party central. The “magic bus” is a bit more subdued without Michele (understatement of the year.)
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Filed under: ASI Shows, Editorial, Fun, Travel
Hi Everyone!
Welcome back from Chicago! If you weren’t there, YOWZA, did you miss a good time! I can’t remember a show where everyone seemed to be in such a great mood and going off the rails they were having so much fun!
The show was fabulous and the parties were epic — but don’t take my word for it; check out the menu of mayhem and debauchery in the array of photos below. I don’t know about you all, but I have serious concerns as to whether my liver will cease quivering in time for the SAAC Show next week. And that one, my friends, being my last show of the year, is where I go out with a bang, not a whimper. ; )
More on Friday!
Cheers!
– Michele
Tom Riordan, CEO of Maple Ridge Farms, and I share a drink at the Mix bar in the Hyatt — where the elite meet to eat and the rummies flock to drink. Tom and I had never met in person before, and he was as delightful as I had heard. read more
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