2 recently produced cd releases by percussion artist jason lee bruns. the jlb jazz collective is a los angeles-based ensemble that plays around town and records with various guest musicians, and the egrem session is a recording he made while on a research & cultural immersion visa in cuba.
kicking off the new year is the perfect time for a promotional push to help bump up business–especially after the holidays when everyone is making resolutions to go check out that cute, neighborhood yoga studio. creative seeds is a dance studio and creative space offering classes for all ages throughout the week. january 12-17, 2009, is the week of free try-outs, so if you’ve got that resolution to get in shape, wanted to try out capoiera or pilates, or have kids who need to get their ya-ya’s out, drop in and check them out!
i have been looking at this boutique motel’s web site for a few years, always longing for a good excuse to go. we go out to joshua tree a few times per year, but only have time to hit the desert hot springs hotel & spa for some afternoon soaking on the way home. this time we made desert hot springs the destination in itself at hope springs resort.
december in the southern california deserts is probably second only to early springtime when everything is in bloom. the air was cool and clear, though still warm in the sun. this getaway spot highlighted the low-key, wind-down, quiet-first aspects in advertising no tvs, no cell phones by the pool, no kids & no pets. okay then! what they do have are sparse chic rooms that get down to business with an ipod hookup, wifi, comfy waffle weave bathrobes, signature herbal toilitries, an outstanding daily continental breakfast, and a community kitchen just off the pool area with the invitation to chill your wine or pour yourself a glass of their multi-citrus & cucumber spa water. taking that recipe home with me!
i won’t lie, i did all manner of floating, swimming and soaking. there are 3 pools, the hottest at 104 in a covered gazebo for maximum steam action, the next around 95 with natural champagne bubbles, and the main pool at about 80 degrees. the garden area around the pool offers every shade of green in the indigenous california desert landscape, while keeping a nice sense of privacy between the pool and the rooms. also, the standard checkout is noon, and they invite you to stay and hang out after you check out of the room–bonus!
we took our time to reflect on the past year and brainstorm on projects to come in 2009 while taking in the majesty of mt. san jacinto capped with a dusting of snow. the quiet was just what we needed and the scenery an excellent motivator. i think the wine helped too. i highly recommend this place for a creative retreat or weekend getaway–we are back, recharged and refreshed!
[editor’s note: the good news is, i have come back to hope springs every year. it’s a wonderful place for a retreat. the hotel went up for sale in 2011, i only hope someone with as much care buys it and keeps it going—i love this place!]
historian, professor, musician, author, entrepreneur and downtown-revitalizer only begin to describe all the things darryl holter has going at any one time. he is a very interesting and energized person who brings his interest in history and storytelling to everything he does. our first project together was his autobiographical piece my father and i: a minnesota memoir, a tribute to his father in which each chapter tells another aspect of how his life was shaped by this powerful relationship.
the 2008 future of business media conference materials got more literal this year with the critical state of the economy. for the 2nd year running, contentnext looked at the future of business deals within various markets in digital media, this time with the ability to compare current trends with the previous year’s predictions.
this john deere title from creative publishing international showcases all types of projects for landscaping with stone, excellent for homeowners and do-it-yourself types. i must admit, after looking at my own brick patio and how poorly it had been set, i used one of the step-by-step patio layouts, framed it out, filled it in, and really improved both the look and stability of it. great ideas and projects to build on of ways to improve your property and how to do them yourself.
trepan cultivates mutation in forms and styles of reading and writing, discarding traditional barriers between genres and forms, seeking out unexpected openings, and creating them where necessary.
the 6th issue of trepan is press-ready! the theme is mindlessfulness, touching on ideas of process and development of ideas. look for more information at trepan.org
part of contentnext’s expanded offerings include half-day conferences, such as econCeleb on the subject of digital celebrity media, set for summer of 2008. this conference collateral included a full-color program book, event signage, wall projections and an event badge.
rounding out the identity materials for contentnext, being a social media company and relatively paper-free, this is one of the few roll-outs that have gone in nearly-reverse order from the usual procedure. they first developed a brand around necessary communications based only on a logo and a mission statement, then backed it out with support materials. while some projects can become scattered when done out of order, we stayed consistent and on-point with good guidance, oversight and a clear corporate communication from the beginning. in the end it reinforces the “whatever works” philosophy in terms of order–it came together really well and that’s what counts.
parlato design studio 