I love to cook, but I’m always making stuff up in the kitchen or following a recipe once.  And, I’ve realized that I’ve forgotten a few of the basics, such as making sauces. So, I’m excited to see that local, 20-year-old restaurant Ricardo’s Italian Cafe is starting a monthly cooking class in their kitchen with Chef Mark Adams. Each month Adams will teach a new Italian cooking...

When: 6-10pm, Jan. 16, 2010 What: Family Friendly Rock Band Party with Live Music Why: Benefits SCOSaG Where: Tin Can Tavern, 1909 Locust Avenue Break out your inner rock god with a night of Rock Band and rock bands. Play the highly addictive Rock Band I, II and Beatles on a Wii upstairs and see live rock music down stairs! An all-ages event from 6 pm to 9 pm, parents and their children are invited to play...

Despite the looming recession and constant negative forecast for retail companies, Washington, Mo.-based wholesaler The HomePort Collections (THP Collections) has maintained a steady course in regards to its marketing and public relations efforts. The company not only improved the quality of its 2009 annual catalog but continued to expand its selection with new items released in August 2009 … just in time...

Have you ever tried to tap out a song beat to a friend, then you have the friend guess what you are tapping? It seems so obvious to you what the song is, because the music is playing in your head. Your friend, however, only has the benefit of your tapping… and it turns out that only one in 40 can guess a tapped out tune correctly, at least according to dissertation research by Elizabeth Newton in 1990....

Right now, one of the fastest ways to boost your Web site’s Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is to add video. Recently, Mary Krummenacher introduced me to Activated Marketing – a rather affordable route for small and medium businesses to integrate video into Web sites. For instance, a video cast starts at $580. This includes the actors, script, production and basic graphics. Extra features might...

Beth Minnigerode with Standing Partnership wrote an interesting post about the rising demand for communications authenticity in advertising. I find the query interesting, but I have to wonder if such authenticity ever left the consumer culture. I think that it was a consumer desire largely ignored, and with such backlash against the corporate culture, many brands are changing their tune. Regardless of your...

While Time Magazine’s Facebook Etiquette Rules were prompted by a YouTube video on “What Men Hate About Facebook,” the article makes some solid points. Here is a preview of some of the more valuable tips: 1. Stop taking quizzes. Nobody cares what literary time period you are. 2. If you sync your Twitter account to Facebook so that you fill others’ news feeds with a constant stream of...