BlogCrush/ OC Press Club Panel

150 bloggers, journalists and members of the press gathered for an informative and educational panel hosted by BlogCrush and OC Press Club recently. Graciously hosted by the wonderful Anaheim Marriott Suites, it was a night of amazing food and great conversation centered around the intersection between traditional journalism and new media. BlogCrush invited some amazing panelists to share their wisdom including: Steve Churm (Churm Media), Michele Himmelberg (Disneyland PR), Chris Epting (Author and Columnist) and Keven Sablan (The OC Register). All of whom were invited as they have been leaders in new and traditional media.

Marcy Massura (BlogCrush Co-Founder) moderated and kept the conversation moving along, as well as Suz Broughton (Co-Founder) who added some wonderful words of wisdom. Marcy had joked that she saw the evening like a ‘gang truce’ trying to bring two sides of the world together to eliminate the friction between traditional press writers and less formal bloggers. Her goal she said was ‘to help both sides respect each other for the role they each play in story telling.’ 

More educational/ panel events are being planned for 2012 from BlogCrush.

We hope you will plan on attending them all!

 

A very special thank you to Anaheim Marriott Suites for an astonishing array of unique food including  the famous macaroni cheese bar! And wonderful service. If you are considering a event of any scale in Orange County please consider Anaheim Marriot Suites.

 

PHOTOS are COURTESY of the talented Kathleen Enge.

Do not duplicate without permission. Copyright 2011

Letter from the President of the Orange County Press Club to BlogCrush Members

Dear BlogCrush Members:

On behalf of the OC Press Club, I’m pleased to be partnering with BlogCrush
on the Blogging/New Media Panel & Mixer.

The world of journalism has been changing rapidly. Traditional reporters continue to embrace social media and incorporate it into their ever-expanding roles, more and more online-only news sites are being launched, and the “new journalism” world is filled with bloggers who provide niche news to faithful followers.

The OC Press Club recognizes the importance of all media – traditional and new – and welcomes bloggers and others to join the OC Press Club. Our annual Journalism Awards Contest held every July has several new categories for bloggers, but of course you must be a member of the OC Press Club to enter. I encourage you to participate in the Press Club as we plan more fun events and mixers for 2011-2012.

I look forward to seeing you on Nov. 9. You’ll be able to meet the Press Club board and members, and learn more about the OC Press Club.

Sincerely,

Christopher Trela
President, OC Press Club

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If you'd like to attend the BlogCrush / Press Club Panel and Mixer on Nov., 9, please RSVP, here.

It’s a DrinkUp!

We hope to see many of you at BlogWorld next month. Marcy (BlogCrush Co-Founder) is speaking on Saturday as well and hope you will be there to join in the fun. Sidenote? She is giving away a YEAR’S SUPPLY of BACON at her presentation.

StyleWeek OC 2011 (PR Host: Jane Gillespie, Irvine)

Host: Jane Gillespie, Irvine

One of my favorite things to do are things I have never done before. Over this weekend I had an opportunity to spend the evening at StyleWeek OC at The Irvine Spectrum Center. It was Rack Rave kick off party for many many FAB-U-LOUS fashion centric events taking place at the much loved shopping center AND at the world famous Fashion Island. Invited BlogCrush members were treated to a VIP lounge and amazing goodies.

We were also thrilled to get some one on one time with the master of ceremonies Nick Verreos. Don’t know him? You should. He is from Project Runway and besides that? His gowns are being worn by everyone from Beyoncé to Carrie Underwood. He is simply hilariously charming. Suz and I are considering joining his posse actually. I am sure he has a shopping/cocktailing/gossiping posse that could use two bloggers.

Suz, Nick and me. We are shiny happy people.

Jamie and me. With my new hair color mistake. My colorist owes me a fruit basket or a new iPhone5.

 

How about a gourmet dinner in a shoe box? Really astonishing good roast beef sandwich from Nordies bistro. I took one home to the husband. We have plans to go eat there next week. Seriously. THAT good.

 

Our tweets were streamed on the awesome rave backdrop. This DJ was great. Let’s all be glad there was no alcohol at this event. Saved me from table dancing regret.

Oh and the FASHION show! Great looks that were very wearable. Lots of animal prints color and that whole mix and match thing I can never pull off without looking like Punky Brewster. It was inspiring- and I will be back to The Spectrum to shop soon.

Perhaps I will see you there?

Want to attend StyleWeek and be cool like us?

GO HERE!

Host: Jane Gillespie, Irvine

BlogCrush at UltraLuxe

In the heart of OC, there is a movie theater that breaks the mold. Not only is this a state of the art 100% digital facility but this the only movie theater in OC with the coveted and AMAZING D-Box seats. During a recent BlogCrush event, we were given the opportunity to test out this technology.

So what is D-Box?

The chairs are preprogrammed with movement to coincide with the movie. Watching a train scene? The seats vibrate and rumble with movement. Watching a flick with a plane ride? You will sway and move as the plane does. This is so hard to explain in print…but suffice it to say, it is a one of a kind unique experience that brings movie watching to the full immersion sensory level. It is not like a ride, it is subtle.

Subtly awesome.

Combine that with seat-side service (dinning menus and yes, COCKTAILS), a beautiful bar/lounge and free parking? Well, I can not imagine why you would watch a movie anywhere else in OC.

 

Suz and I pretending to be in the talented Joshua Paige band. 

Turns out they don’t really need 40 yr old housewives as back up singers. But we offered. Because we are nice like that.

More information on UltraLuxe in OC

Are you a Blogger in Southern California? Join BlogCrush today!

Fellow Crushers thoughts on UltraLuxe:   Steve – Kristen – Valerie- Rita- Kathleen

Announcing BlogCrush Select Events

Starting today, per your request for smaller more specific events and also based on market place demands we are now offering BlogCrush Select Events.
So what does that mean to you?

It means we will be assisting brands and businesses
by creating experiences for pre-selected bloggers.

It is about making valuable connections.

Our goal is to make sure the brand is introduced to bloggers who are interested in their product, service or location.
And about giving the blogger an experience that they will honestly enjoy which will be easy for them to write about on their site.

Think of us as the 'eharmony' of the brand/blogger experience.
You could call it BlogHarmony.
(Which I suggested but was shot down : )

So we settled on...

BlogCrush Select Events.

BUT PLEASE DON'T WORRY.
We will still be doing our free events where every single one of you is invited.
We promise!

Any questions?
As always we love to hear from you!
 

@marcymassura
@suzbroughton

#BlogCrushFamilyParkRazorNight!

There’s a hashtag for you.  Our last outing saw the BlogCrushers bring reinforcements…in the form of children and spouses as we got our party on with the great folks from Team Razor and put a little wear and tear on the first phase of the Orange County Great Park.

The event was BYO, bring your own family, bring your own picnic, bring your own Razor…or you could strap on a Team Razor helmet and try out some of their newest editions to the line.  Our Orange county blogger kids tested them all, sending both the chalk and the sparks flying from the highly coveted Razor models like the Grafitti, the BoGo and the eSpark.  And even more fun were the scavenger hunts they held giving some of them away.  You haven’t lived until you’ve seen that many kids running with excitement in every direction.

 

Phase one of the Orange County Great Park is scheduled for completion in 2012, and it’s off to a wonderful start. They have the balloon ride and the carousel already installed and you can have free rides on both into the evening.  All the children were running free between the Team Razor track and the carousel on what turned out to be a perfect Southern California evening.

 

The nearby Palm Court Arts Complex includes the Great Park Gallery and Great Park Artists Studios. It is currently showing it’s inaugural exhibition, Plane Air Power through October 16, 2011.  This collection of work by the artist Jorg Dubin honors both the history of the El Toro military base, which originally occupied the land now evolving into the Great Park and the unique California art movement of Plein Air.  It’s a wonderful statement, capturing the intentions for the future of this visionary project and it’s meaning for Orange county.

 

Additionally, the Great Park features concerts, sports clinics and a Kids Rock interpretive playground, three lighted soccer fields, fully landscaped 9-acre Walkable Timeline and bike trail, the Farm & Food Lab and an Agricultural Pavilion, a picnic meadow, the 100-acre Great Park Farm and a Farmers Market on Sundays and they do a great job keeping you up to date through their Facebook page and on Twitter.  They are an amazing addition to Orange County, and they’ve only just begun!

 

We want to thank Team Razor for sponsoring this event, the kids loved being able to try all their terrific products. This is one company that hasn’t rested on the laurels of the now iconic original Razor. You can see the creative expansion their brand has taken by going to their site, where they offer safety tips, a vast RazorRiders community, news updates and games to play.  Be on the look out for Team Razor and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

And as always, Marcy and Suzanne ran an incredibly smooth event. Much fun was had by all at this unique opportunity for a BlogCrush family night.  Now, on to the next blogging adventure…

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This post was graciously written by BlogCrusher Lana Waggoner.

She’s blogging @ http://shelivedinashoe.com -Twitter and Instagram @WoodbridgeOC