When I think of parties, especially ones during the holiday season, the word “bowling” rarely comes to mind. Mistletoe, hot cocoa, ugly sweaters … sure. But bowling? So when I learned that the 2011 Hunter Holiday Party (my first) was happening at a place called “Lucky Strike,” I held off on getting too excited.

Rookie mistake. Not only was the party a blast, but the venue couldn’t have been better. Unlike the hokey, nerdy bowling alley I had envisioned, Lucky Strike turned out to be a very classy lounge with a great vibe, incredible food, an awesome DJ and of course, some intense bowling.

We played pool, took our turns in the photo booth and enjoyed a night together out of the office. As the night wore on and drinks began to replace hors d'oeuvres, we even got a chance to let loose and bust a move on the dance floor, which made for some pretty entertaining dance battles. Let’s just say I taught a few people how to dougie.

So what has this newly minted Hunter learned from his first out-of-office social event? That Hunter Public Relations is an agency that both works hard and plays hard. At some agencies, the fast-paced nature of the work keeps you from really connecting to those around you on a level deeper than business collaboration. Thankfully, that’s not the case here. I’m glad I get to work with so many people who are both professional and incredibly fun. Here’s to having fun this holiday season!

-Jason Woodward

Autumn is my favorite season for three reasons: the amazing weather and foliage that hits the Northeast region, the start of professional football season, and, most importantly, the onslaught of great pumpkin beer. Every year, around this time, stores and bars begin celebrating the colder weather with grand displays featuring brews embracing the season’s favorite flavor. And since my personal attempt to create my very own pumpkin beer was thwarted by a siphoning incident, I’d like to take the blog post to share my favorite options for you to indulge in the awesomeness that is Autumn beer:

1. Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat, the category’s newest addition, is one of the best pumpkin beers of the season. The unfiltered wheat ale features crisp flavor of nutmeg, cinnamon and clove that could only be delivered from a Shock Top cask. It has easily become my personal “must-have” beer of the season.

2. Smutty Nose Pumpkin Ale is more relaxed in flavor but not in quality. The smooth taste and thick texture makes this ale the perfect compliment to your annual Thanksgiving dinner. Start planning your sides around it.

3. Blue Moon Harvest Pumpkin Ale is a spicy and sweet autumn beer inspired by one of the top Belgian Whites beers. It is the great addition to the traditional citrus flavor of the Blue Moon family but brewed with the bounty of fall spices making it a necessary addition to your weekly Sunday tailgate.

- Dan

My cheap-travel-scouting most recently landed me in New Orleans for an end of the summer trip, with the hopes of boning up on my French and knowing I would probably gain a few pounds.

Amid threats of 20 inches of rain from Tropical Storm Lee (and after I just survived Hurricane Irene!), I made my way down to the Big Easy for Labor Day weekend.

Dodging raindrops, I ate my way through the city.  Even though I’m spoiled from NYC’s amazing cuisine and don’t eat much seafood, I was overwhelmed and delighted at what I found – including a plethora of Tabasco sightings, one of Hunter Public Relations’s most long-standing clients which happens to be headquartered in Louisiana. Here are some of the culinary highlights from my weekend:

Alligator cheesecake at Jacques-Imo’s:  I summoned all my courage to try this crazy dish, and it is almost exactly what is sounds like – alligator andouille and shrimp baked into a cheesy, creamy casserole. Just don’t expect whipped cream.

Turtle soup at Commander’s Palace:  Never did I think I’d eat two animals scooped out of a swamp in the same weekend, but this famous dish was again surprisingly delicious.  Listening to a jazz trio as I ate it over brunch definitely didn’t hurt.

Chargrilled oysters at Acme Oyster House:  Even if you don’t eat oysters (like me), chances are you’ll enjoy these.  I generally don’t pass anything up that is coated in cheese and garlic, so these little guys didn’t stand a chance.

A Bloody Mary at Pat O’Brien’s:  Just perfect, served with a pickled green bean. Best if not consumed on the same night as a Hurricane and a Hand Grenade.

Not even the hurricane-force winds took away from my weekend. So if your next trip is threatened by unfavorable weather conditions, just remember, it’s never raining indoors.

-Lauren

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…no, I’m not talking about the holidays.  I’m talking about Tales of the Cocktail (TOTC), the world’s premier cocktail conference held in New Orleans.  Each July, more than 2,500 bartenders, spirits brand ambassadors, spirits companies and yes, public relations professionals endure the NOLA heat all for the love of cocktails.

This was my fourth year attending TOTC and let me say it was one of the best. Not only did I spend six days with eight other fabulous Hunter PR team members, I also had the pleasure of attending and executing events with some of the best bartenders in the country who have become some of my best friends. That’s one important thing I’ve learned – always befriend your bartender.  They are some of the smartest, passionate and most kind people you’ll ever meet.

But I digress, back to TOTC.  While there, we attended some truly memorable events including a 1940s party at the World War II Museum, the Diageo Happy Hour with 40 bartenders making cocktails and the closing Bartenders Breakfast where everyone danced the night away.

I also had the opportunity to experience all the amazing food New Orleans has to offer. No judgment, but I ate at Mother’s three times, Cochon Butcher twice and August and Herbsaint once. 

Although it’s hard to believe, we actually do learn a lot at a “cocktail conference.”  By attending seminars and trying new products you really have your finger on the pulse of cocktail culture.

Even though TOTC just ended, I’m already counting down the days to 2012!

- Vanessa

Growing up in South Florida, I’ve never really known what it was like to dress for different seasons, let alone organize your wardrobe for them. Then I moved to Hoboken, NJ. So after my first, long winter season, I decided I was going to reorganize my closet and embark on my first ever Spring cleaning.

A few Florence and the Machine songs later, I found myself with FOUR garbage bags of clothes that I wanted to donate. That’s when I thought, “Wow. What if everyone at Hunter Public Relations did this? I wonder how many bags we can get?” 

After some perky conversations and inspiring emails, Hunter PR’s First Annual Spring Cleaning with Meaning was born, thanks to the support of the new Hunter Parks & Recreation grants program to encourage staff camaraderie outside the walls of the office by supporting staff-initiated outings including topical film viewings, volunteer days and adventures through the great city that surrounds us. The idea was to get everyone at Hunter PR to put aside clean, wearable clothes and I would organize a few of us to go around the city and pick them up because who wants to lug around garbage bags of clothes on their way into work.  The goal was to donate 20 bags.

Fast forward to Saturday morning, May 21. We need to identify who these folks are. Hunter PR co-workers…. Nick, Rose, Lauren E. and I jump into the Hunter PR van and embark on our mission. We start in Murray Hill, head to the Upper East Side, Hell’s Kitchen and finally, down to Wall Street. It’s a gorgeous morning in the city. Rose is tweeting and taking pictures along the way.

After our last stop, the van is full. So full that we had to go to The Salvation Army’s  warehouse in Hell’s Kitchen. We arrive and I happily announce “Hi. We have 26 bags we’d like to donate.” They gladly take us in and we unload the van.  As we pull out in an empty van, my heart is filled with joy.

It was an incredible feeling to think of an idea and have it come to fruition. It took an Excel sheet, two All-Staff emails, a Google map print out and a few hours on a Saturday morning to collect 26 bags of clothes to make a difference in countless lives.

Thank you to all of my wonderful colleagues that helped make this program a success. I look forward to next year!

- Ana

Happy St. Patty’s Day everyone! With the last name Sullivan I may automatically qualify as official culture ambassador, so allow me to entertain you with some fun factoids to satisfy your yearly interest in all things Irish. 

It might not come as a surprise that a holiday named after a saint actually started out as a religious holiday, and the iconic shamrock with its three leaves was originally cited as a symbol of the holy trinity. These days the number one symbol for St. Patrick’s Day is drunkenness, and there are plenty of bars you can get your Irish on with some green beer. But how else can you celebrate the nation that brought you such wonders as U2, James Joyce and the magical money-hoarding sprites called leprechauns?

Well you could run a record-breaking marathon dressed as such a leprechaun. Running may not be associated with St. Patty’s Day, but breaking world records should be. The Guinness Book of World Records itself is brought to you by Ireland, and it’s no coincidence that it shares the name with the famous Irish brew. The book was founded by the managing director of Guinness Breweries in 1954 and was originally given away as a marketing gimmick for their beer.  Now the Guinness Book holds its own record as one of the best-selling book series of all time (thanks Wikipedia!).  So if you can beat a 4 hr 22 min 08 sec marathon time in a handsome green suit, you can gain a world record and celebrate authentic Irish culture all in one go. I’ll drink (Guinness) to that!

If long distance running isn’t your thing, enjoy the holiday festivities by attending the St Patrick’s Day parade, go green, or irk your friends by pranking them with rubber snakes. Either way, enjoy the day and remember: Everyone’s Irish on March 17th!

Meg

In 1989 at age 62 I started a new business! Thinking about it now, it seems so crazy, but after leaving Ogilvy & Mather I was unsatisfied and not ready to retire.  Moreover, I wanted to prove to myself that I could realize the kind of PR agency I envisioned.  With two people willing to take the risk with me, Hunter MacKenzie Cooper was born in my apartment on East 38^th Street. 

 That first year was a scramble – euphoric when McIlhenny Company decided to move its business to us, frantic in locating decent affordable space, funny when trucking in used furniture from the United Wrecking Co., triumphant when we lured Grace (then Thompson, age 20 something) to join us.

 For our first assignment from Kraft we staged a formal Washington Dinner Party for 140 food writers at the Willard Hotel.  George and Barbara Bush look-alikes greeted everyone, satirist Mark Russell performed, and Miracle Whip appeared in every course, including dessert.  It was a blast, a total success.  That event plus our work for Tabasco sauce provided the credentials to build the business.  And the clients started coming our way - Dannon, Pillsbury, Nabisco, Planters/LifeSavers, Haagen-Dazs and several more in just the first few years. The company grew and changed, evolving into what it is today.

I’m so very proud of the success you have achieved while maintaining a culture that nurtures and fulfills.  It’s way beyond what I could possibly imagine those many years ago.  I’m truly honored that my name is still on the door.  Congratulations …and may the next 22 years be even more fantastic!

How are you celebrating this Valentine’s Day? Maybe you’re planning a dinner with your date or preparing a home cooked meal – with an extra dose of love. Here is a new idea, brought to you courtesy of lifestyle website YourTango.com: February 13 has been appointed “Break Up With Your Ex Day.”

How many of you plan to check out your ex’s Facebook profile to see what they’ve been up to? Perhaps the break-up is recent and you’ll want to find out if your ex has moved on and is planning a romantic getaway with someone new. Or, maybe you parted ways back in high school, but through Facebook you still “keep track” of your ex.

Whichever your preferred method of stalking, take comfort in knowing you are not alone. In a recent survey, 48% of people said that they look at their ex’s social networking profile too often. So from February 1 through 13, YourTango.com is asking people to unfriend their exes on Facebook, unfollow them on Twitter, Foursquare, etc.

So this year, celebrate Valentine’s Day by breaking free from the past. Grab your new guy or girl or a friend and raise a glass to what’s to come. And keep in mind, when you update your status this Valentine’s Day, your ex is probably stalking you, too!

Frauke

For some living in Manhattan (I’m tempted to even say most), the Financial District is another country, a Siberia, a no-man’s land of suits & banks that ceases to exist after 6 pm; a neighborhood where avenues & street numbers have been abandoned; a piece of the island where no one ventures unless you’re a tourist visiting Ground Zero or Century 21.  Well, I’m here to break these myths & give my fellow Manhattan-ites a reason to visit the Financial District, fondly known as “FiDi” to those who call it home.

Besides having the Brooklyn Bridge & Statue of Liberty in our backyard, FiDi has great things to offer in the way of history & culture.  For exhibits and museums, there is Bodies at the South Street Seaport, which allows visitors to explore the human form, The Museum of Jewish Heritage, a living memorial to the Holocaust, and The Skyscraper Museum.

If you’re looking to fill your food & drink cravings, try one of the numerous restaurants and bars in the area -

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar is a great option for Italian lovers.  Try the Insalata di Arugola & Bianca Pizza!

Nelson Blue is NYC’s first New Zealand restaurant & bar.  The food is good, music dance-worthy & the atmosphere is always fun. 

Probably the most well-known spot is Stone Street, a cobblestone road tucked away in the heart of FiDi, home to several great spots like Ulysses’ (a pub style bar with live music on most Saturday nights) and Vintry Wine & Whiskey (a luxury bar that offers 80 wines and 100 whiskies).

So now that you have a brief overview of the Financial District, it’s your turn to explore.  Hop on practically any train, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…A, C, E, 4, 5, 6, R, J, Z.

Melody

Lists.

Can’t sleep with them.

Can’t function without them.

It seems as though Santa isn’t the only one who makes a list and checks it twice these days. There are holiday shopping lists, guest lists, greeting card lists, and most imminently applicable, New Year’s resolution lists.

I’ve never been one to make grand New Year’s resolutions – maybe because I don’t want the abiding guilt of letting another resolution, or to-do list, go unrealized. But kudos to all you out there who carry the list-loving spirit into creating New Year’s Resolutions.

This year, my roommates and I will be hosting a night in the New Year’s Eve. Not an easy task… In a NYE-related list I can endorse, here’s my list of activities that can keep your friends and family happy at home on this holiday:

- Start the party at 10, so you don’t have to feed the masses.

- Keep finger foods and plenty of caffeinated beverages available to keep everyone awake!

- Create a dress code for party guests. At my apartment this year, there is a strict elastic-waistband-only pants rule.

- Keep group games available to engage the guests. Electronic Catch Phrase and Taboo are party faves in my house (it’s by sheer providence that they are also my client) and running charades or a game of Just Dance on the Wii are crowd pleasures.

- Take pictures aplenty to keep the memories alive.

Here’s to a healthy and happy 2011. May your to-do lists be crossed off systematically.

Ali