​Q: We'd love to know your story!
A: I was a journalism major with an emphasis in public relations. My dream job was to be an entertainment publicist, so I interned at one of the largest entertainment PR firms in Los Angeles (if not the world). In would walk Demi Moore, Bruce Willis, Shannen Doherty, Priscilla Presley - you name it. But the glamour soon wore off. I then dabbled in fashion and retail marketing before I landed aboard the Queen Mary as the Public Relations Manager. After that, I knew hospitality was my calling.

Q: What has been the most rewarding phase of your career?
A :Each phase has been rewarding for different reasons. Right now is a very rewarding phase because the pandemic and shutdown(s) has made me reevaluate things, which I might not have done otherwise. I'm working on projects that I would enjoy as a consumer--Dine Out Long Beach, Restaurant & Cocktail Week, Sip Trips to Santa Barbara, and more feature and travel writing for various publications. While 2020 was difficult (who needs a hospitality publicist when you're not open!?), it also made me pause, take a deep breath, and look not only at the big picture but the better picture.

Q: What do you do for inspiration? Do you ever hit creative roadblocks and how do you overcome them?
A: Traveling--even on day trips to places I've never explored--inspires me. Listening to "How I Built This" on NPR helps kick me into high gear because the topics and people are so inspiring. I love that show. As I've gotten older I seem to hit more creative roadblocks. What's always worked for me is a tight deadline - that's when I'm at my most creative. I was like that in college, and I'm like that in life.

Q: Who has been the most inspirational person in your life and at what stage? A: My dad was my rock. He passed away a couple of years ago, and I miss his advice and wisdom. He always seemed to have the right advice at the right time.

Q: What advice would you give someone wanting to pursue a career similar to yours?
A: So many recent grads are thrown into these entry level PR positions without knowing how to really write a basic press release, craft a proper pitch or comport themselves in a business setting. As cliche as it sounds, the saying "You only get one chance to make a first impression" is more than just words. Dress the part, save the f-bombs for the bar (or delete them from your vocabulary altogether), learn not only to write well but to re-write even better, and seek out a professional mentor - someone you respect and admire.

Q: What are the best resources that have helped you along the way?
A: A nice glass of wine at the end of the day. On a more serious note, I'd say networking with other PR and marketing professionals as well as CEOs, CFOs, entrepreneurs, etc. (over a glass of wine, of course).

Q: What are your top self care routines?
A: I get regular facials, massages, pedicures and manicures - if it involves the word "spa", I'm all over it. My husband and I also take long walks every night, which allows us to catch up on our day, discuss our kids, stay connected, etc. I also love to meditate, but I'm not good at carving out time for it.

Q: What is the most challenging part about what you do?
A: Keeping up with all the changes. When I started out in this business social media did not exist. Clients wanted to be on the front page of the LA Times Food section, between the pages of Conde Nast Traveler or on the local morning news show doing a cooking segment. Now everyone wants to be the next "influencer" and accumulate followers. So I find the shift a challenge, but one I embrace.

Q: If you weren't doing this, what would your dream job be?
A: Pouring wine in a tasting room or hosting food and wine tours to Italy


"Well-behaved women seldom make history"- Laurel Thatcher Ulrich

​By Elizabeth Arrighi Borsting

​When Garry Marshall selected Boulder as the setting for his quirky 1970s sitcom “Mork & Mindy,” starring an unknown Robin Williams, it had nothing to do with the Rocky Mountains or historic architecture. The town was cast because Marshall’s niece attended school there. That nonchalant decision catapulted Boulder from small town to small-screen stardom. These days, Boulder is a hub for hikers, intellectuals, artists, students, progressives, and foodies. No wonder National Geographic named the city the Happiest Place in the U.S.

HISTORIC DIGS
When the Hotel Boulderado opened on New Year’s Day 1909, Teddy Roosevelt occupied the White House and Mary Pickford made her screen debut. While the hotel has one foot in the elegance of a bygone era, it effortlessly bridges the past and present by offering modern amenities. The Italian Renaissance retreat features an iconic stained-glass canopy ceiling, a cantilevered cherry wood staircase, and the original 1906 Otis elevator still in use. Slumber in a room cloaked in Victorian elegance or opt for the chambers with contemporary furnishings ($290 and up).

PEARL JAM
A visit to bustling Pearl Street Mall feels slightly familiar—think a more urban Downtown Disney without Mickey and Minnie. This pedestrian-only destination in the heart of downtown stretches four blocks and is lined with stores, services, and restaurants punctuated by a plethora of public art, micro gardens, and splashing fountains. Bibliophiles will want to visit Boulder Book Store, a local favorite that spans three floors and is filled with tomes of classic and contemporary titles.

Meadow Lark Farms helps organize outdoor dinners in the summer. Photograph courtesy of Meadow Lark Farms

​BIG FARM-A
The term farm-to-fork has been overused in recent years when it comes to restaurant jargon. However, in Boulder, named the Top Foodiest Town in America by the editors of Bon Appetit, the term is more than just lip service. During the summer, you can graze on the grange at a number of chef-hosted farm dinners. These rustic gatherings include meals prepared with produce harvested at the designated farm with guests seated among the crops at long wooden tables illuminated by twinkle lights. Meadow Lark Farms, which works with a dozen farms throughout the Boulder area, is one organizer of such feasts.
MOUNTAIN ELEGANCE
With airbrushed views of the Flatiron Mountains coupled with full-service convenience, St Julien Hotel & Spa looks as fresh today as it did when it opened in 2005. From the lobby, with its cool marble and rich wood appointments, to the plush rooms and suites, no detail has been left to chance. Neutral hues, modern amenities, and contemporary decor add to the understated elegance at this upscale retreat ($500 and up). Everything needed is housed beneath the hotel’s roof--pampering, feasting, sipping. With downtown through one exit and Boulder Creek Path through another, it’s up to you whether to wear heels or hiking boots.
SPILL SOME TEA
The Boulder Dushanbe Teahouse is a symbol of global friendship and cultural exchange with sister city Dushanbe in Tajikistan. More than three dozen artisans from several Tajikistan cities contributed to the decorative details and elements that grace this iconic and hue-popping building, from the hand-painted ceilings and tables to the imposing columns and exterior panels. Starched lines and refined touches set the stage for a traditional afternoon ritual with freshly baked cakes, scones, crustless sandwiches, and a range of steeped teas.

A burger from The Sink, where Robert Redford once worked. Photographs courtesy of The SinkA FAMOUS SINK
Boulder is made up of lots of wonderful neighborhoods, including The Hill where the University of Colorado is situated. Like most college towns, this particular neighborhood is filled with trendy cafes, coffeehouses, boutiques, and bookstores. One such place is The Sink, a popular cafe where a young Robert Redford once worked as a busboy and where President Barack Obama made an impromptu visit in 2012 to have a signature Sinkza pizza, which the owners have since renamed the POTUS Pie.
Through Aug. 15: The Colorado Shakespeare Festival explores the Bard’s influence through an array of productions, education, and engagement. Performances take place at the historic Mary Rippon Outdoor Theatre. cupresents.org

​It's the ultimate cocktail party, and it's happening every Friday night at 7pm (pst) on Instagram Live @americastoast. 

As the nation continues to observe social distancing, Friday night makes its return with #AmericasToast, a grassroots movement to guide our nation back to a sense of normalcy.  Here's how it works:

1. Order dinner & drinks from a local restaurant
   
2. Find your at-home Happy Place
   
3. Log onto Instagram at @americastoast
   
4. "Doors" open at 7pm (PST)
   
5. Request to make a toast
   
6. Get ready for your cue
   
7. Lights. Camera. Action!  You're on.  Raise a glass and give a shout out to someone who needs it
   
8. You just raised $10 for a worthy cause (for every person that logs on, Dreambox Creations will donate $10).  

“Friday nights have become really fun,” said Dan Bejmuk, co-founder and CEO of Dreambox Creations, a leading digital marketing agency with one of the largest portfolios of restaurant brands and one of the creators behind #AmericasToast.  “Not only was it incredible to connect with people after what has been weeks of isolation, but it was also wonderful to see people toasting their local restaurateurs, bussers, greeters, bartenders and servers.   We also had some restaurateurs join in and raise a glass with their guests, too.”

So far Dreambox Creations has donated more than $2500 to the California Restaurant Association's non-profit, Restaurants Care.  The organizations provides support and funds for restaurant workers and owners in-need. 
 
#AmericasToast is a simple call to action for people to show their support to the restaurant industry, which has been hit particularly hard by the COVID-19 crisis and is also an industry with some of the smallest profit margins.  With many states temporarily loosening the laws to allow restaurants to sell alcohol beverages for takeout and delivery, it has helped these small businesses make up some of their losses by offering cocktail kits, growlers of beer and bottles of wine to enjoy at home.  And, of course, it’s just as meaningful to order a milkshake, soft drink or iced tea and partake in #AmericasToast on Friday night, too.

For more information, visit www.americastoast.org