July Experts Corner

Raising the Bar: Blue Label Bartending by Garrett Blackwood It’s a bride’s worst nightmare. The bartender shows up late and leaves drunk, ruining what should have been a perfect day the bride can never recreate. No matter what type of special event a host plans, whether graduations, private parties, reunions or corporate events, no one should ever have to experience the embarrassment of an irresponsible and unprofessional bartender.Read more… Try Me! by Ned Shadid Sometimes people find themselves leaving their profession or a company that doesn’t hold their interest. Maybe that’s because it doesn’t challenge them or pay them enough to make them stay. I guess I can understand that because over twenty years ago I embarked on a new venture that led to a fulfilling and successful career in catering. The challenge? Serve the most difficult to prepare foods for the largest crowds anywhere. Read More… Your Wish Is Our Command by Jess Barnes One of the most important vendors a couple will select for their wedding day is the DJ, a sometimes overlooked detail that can mean the difference between a great time and a disaster. The only thing worse than a bad wedding singer is a DJ who lacks the necessary tact and sensitivity to their client’s taste in music and candor to make a reception all it should be.Read More… Endless Possibilities for Summer Fun! by Jennifer Lindsey-McClintock Are you parents tired of hearing your kids complain about being bored? Are you scrambling for ways to have family fun but can’t seem to get free of the media monster’s movies and video games? Looking for a way to mix up a boring exercise routine and get out of the gym? You might be surprised to find your answers with the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.Read More…

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	Smooth Sailing Events! -Tip From Garrett Blackwood, (Blue Label Bartending) “To keep your events running smoothly, communicate, communicate, communicate! Assign multiple tasks to one person but do not assign one task to multiple people. Keeping everyone on the same page and consistently communicating with your team will ensure there is no confusion, no chaos and no stress!"
	Try me! -Tip from Ned Shadid, (Ned’s Catering) First things first. The budget. While you’re in the planning stage, the most important step, be sure to predict your total cost or the bottom line will get away from you quickly. Have you estimated things like sales tax and the bartender set up fee, or transportation costs? These things can sneak up on you and blur the solid per person cost you initially set. Don’t be surprised, be informed and prepared. Use planning software and checklists so you don’t leave anything out of the equation. Second always check references, especially if you are planning an event for the first time. If you obtain references for the vendor services you plan to use, you’ll talk to people who are planning the same kind of event you are creating and you’ll know quickly who to choose. When selecting a caterer, always ask for a taste test!
	Move to the Music! -Tip from Jess Barnes, (Shake Rattle & Roll/Black Tie) Do you have a group of people at the office who can’t seem to let down their hair and work together? Are you dreading finding the right entertainment for that family or class reunion? Nothing brings people together like music and Karaoke is a great way to break the ice. Karaoke can bring out the best in fun loving friends and help loosen people up who need to get better acquainted. Try it at your next party and watch even the most reserved guest grab the mic and move to the music.
	Endless Possibilities for Summer Fun! -Tip from Jennifer Lindsey-McClintock, (Oklahoma City Parks & Recreation Dept.) When enjoying our parks this summer, please remember that safety comes first. It’s always a good idea to follow a few guidelines to enhance your park experience: 1) Parents – stay involved and help supervise your child’s activities at the playgrounds and spraygrounds. 2) Sun Protection – remember sunscreen is critical in the summer sun (SPF 15+), even if you’re only outside for a few minutes. Make sure to keep a hat and glasses handy, too, for extra protection. 3) Awareness – be aware of your surroundings! When at our parks, if you spot broken glass, hazardous materials, or anything suspicious, don’t hesitate to contact the Parks and Recreation Department at 297-2211! Safety is our top priority and citizen comments are always welcome. Stay cool and have a great summer!

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Add Balloon Art to your next event! Here is your chance to win that unique touch to your next party, corporate event or wedding!    Register to win a spectacular balloon sculpture, an eye-catching arch to a dazzling dance floor canopy to a magical stuffed balloon centerpiece!     From themes, to columns, to arches, bring smiles to your next event with balloons!      Event Planning By Leilani 1601 Exchange Avenue Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73108 405-672-5193 www.eventdecorating.com

It’s a bride’s worst nightmare. The bartender shows up late and leaves drunk, ruining what should have been a perfect day the bride can never recreate. No matter what type of special event a host plans, whether graduations, private parties, reunions or corporate events, no one should ever have to experience the embarrassment of an irresponsible and unprofessional bartender.

Hi, my name is Garrett Blackwood and I started Blue Label Bartending because I saw a need for energetic, attractive and professional bartenders who would specialize in event bartending. With most events scheduled on weekends, professional bartenders are unable to leave their restaurant or bar to provide their services and event planners end up settling for unskilled, unprofessional and irresponsible bartenders. I should know because I heard horror stories during the years I bartended in Tulsa. I decided to use my experience to train professional bartenders to serve the special event industry at an affordable price.

In addition to our private bartending services, we have a bartending school to ensure each bartender is well educated about liquor and licensing laws and well trained in superior customer service, special event bartending, and hundreds of drinks. They faithfully adhere to company policy which includes on time arrival and no drinking before or during serving hours or while closing down the bar.

Knowing you have a well trained, professional bartender brings peace of mind. The last thing you want to worry about is a guest who drinks irresponsibly and puts you at legal risk for damages. Our bartenders monitor alcohol consumption and we are licensed and carry a $1 million dollar liability insurance policy so no matter where you host your party, you can savor your evening and enjoy your guests with peace of mind.

Let us enhance your next event with a company who is raising the bar in our industry and yours. We bring the best service to your event no matter how small or large to locations all over the state. For more information, visit us at www.bluelabelbartending.com or contact our offices at 405.651.8373 in Oklahoma City or in Tulsa at 918.671.5222

Blue Label Bartending

Sometimes people find themselves leaving their profession or a company that doesn’t hold their interest. Maybe that’s because it doesn’t challenge them or pay them enough to make them stay. I guess I can understand that because over twenty years ago I embarked on a new venture that led to a fulfilling and successful career in catering. The challenge? Serve the most difficult to prepare foods for the largest crowds anywhere.

Hi, I’m Ned Shadid and I was a franchise sales director for Big Ed’s Hamburgers. I opened 42 locations in Oklahoma and Kansas, operating two of them here in Oklahoma. Soon I could see the flooded market in fast food hamburger restaurants and decided that the finer side of dining held more demand and piqued my interest in artistic cuisine.

I started Ned’s Catering with one goal in mind: to provide a restaurant quality meal at any location for even the largest gathering with the most challenging menu selections. I knew it would be difficult to offer the kind of high quality food I wanted to serve to very large crowds but I decided to go for it.

Today all our hard work and research has paid off, with over $2 million dollars in sales annually. We serve even the most challenging products including Chicken Marsala, Risotto, Bay Scallops, and U10 Jumbo Shrimp at events for more than 500 people. We regularly serve three to five thousand meals for Boone Pickens’ OSU stadium on the club level and we operated food services for Heritage Place, serving two to five thousand people.

Brining portable equipment allows us to serve virtually anything a client wants to offer their guests. Among many popular menu items are our seasoned grilled beef tenderloin and dinner rolls. In fact, at the recently held National Conference of Mayors at the Cowboy Hall of Fame, they couldn’t get enough of our rolls so we sent some home with them.

That’s the kind of service we give and those are the kind of large functions we excel at. Ned’s catering is also on the road, serving famous bands with our road crew for acts like ZZ Top, U2, Jason Aldine, Kelley Clarkson, the Gaithers and more.

Think you have a menu that can’t be achieved with a large crowd? We get that a lot but what we also hear even more is ‘wow I didn’t know you could do that.’ Try me.

One of the most important vendors a couple will select for their wedding day is the DJ, a sometimes overlooked detail that can mean the difference between a great time and a disaster. The only thing worse than a bad wedding singer is a DJ who lacks the necessary tact and sensitivity to their client’s taste in music and candor to make a reception all it should be.

I’m Jess Barnes and that’s why I created Black Tie, The Wedding DJ’s, a branch of Shake Rattle & Roll designed to offer couples a DJ who specializes in weddings. I discovered this business over twenty years ago when I filled in as a DJ for a friend’s sorority party in college. As a long time music lover, I decided to DJ and eventually started my company.

Today our DJ’s travel all over Oklahoma in varied venues from intimate parties in backyards and barns to large, uptown events in ultra-formal galas. With back up equipment and DJs on call, you never have to worry about a no show DJ or disastrous technical difficulties. Although we’re a large company, our DJs collaborate on each wedding to create an atmosphere that is unique to every reception. We hire DJs based on their ability to connect with clients so they always deliver exactly what our customer ordered.

While couples often hire a wedding coordinator, many do not. That’s why we’re prepared to handle the announcements and juggle the reception events with grace and style, carefully keeping the focus on the bride and groom while engaging their guests. We work with the facility manager to help welcome their guests, with the caterer to announce dining and cutting of the cake and with the photographer to capture those moments they’ll treasure forever. We include lighting to liven up the dance floor and décor lighting such as monogrammed initials for the floor or wall and “up lighting” to accent reception décor.

We listen carefully to our client’s request because we know couples want to play all the songs that celebrate the love and joy they share. No obnoxious jokes, no inappropriate music and no DJ’s “working the room” soliciting for that next event. We know the difference between enthusiastic, professional entertainment and bad taste.

At Shake Rattle & Roll and Black Tie DJ’s we invest our time and emotions into your event so that you get the most intimate and gratifying experience possible. Your wish is our command.

Are you parents tired of hearing your kids complain about being bored? Are you scrambling for ways to have family fun but can’t seem to get free of the media monster’s movies and video games? Looking for a way to mix up a boring exercise routine and get out of the gym? You might be surprised to find your answers with the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department.

Hi, I’m Jennifer Lindsey-McClintock and I love my job as the Public Information and Marketing Manager for OKC Parks and Recreation. Everyday I’m reminded why I decided to stay in my home state because it’s my job to make sure people know about all that Oklahoma City has to offer.

We manage 5,000 acres of land encompassing 144 parks and public space. We run golf courses, lakes, trails, swimming pools and “spraygrounds”, senior centers, nature parks, the Myriad Botanical Gardens and other municipal garden centers, plus two performing arts centers including the Civic Center Music Hall. We provide specific recreation activities and wide open spaces for fitness, play and recreation.

What’s new this year? Plenty! Our new skate courts on Route 66 and South Lakes Park is the hang out for beginner and intermediate BMXers, boarders, and skaters. Fitness is more fun on the Cardio Course at Lincoln Park and for walking or jogging gurus, Bluff Creek’s new track is a must see in the heart of pristine woodlands. Don’t miss the newly renovated Eisenhower Plaza at Stars and Stripes Park where patriotism is at its best for park lovers everywhere!

Families cool off and splish, splash and spray their way into summer fun at our free spraygrounds where kids enjoy water wheels, spray cannons, and water dump buckets! Be sure to visit our Aquatics Centers and don’t miss the Earlywine Aquatic Center, soon be home to Oklahoma’s first tunnel slide. The vortex-like structure will thrill sliders down a three story ride to the drain. Watch out below! Also take advantage of free fishing classes for your kids ages 5 to 15.

Everything we do at the Oklahoma City Parks and Recreation Department reflects our mission to provide opportunities that enhance the quality of life for our citizens. Young and old, there’s something for everyone right here in Oklahoma City!

Discover all Oklahoma City has to offer at www.okc.gov/parks

When Grandma prepared Sunday dinner with fresh, natural ingredients, everyone raved about her fabulous food. Now that homemade difference is available for catered events – from simple fare for a few to elegant gourmet meals for up to two hundred appreciative guests.

Hello, my name is Gail Murchison and I’m the owner of “Something To Remember” catering. I’m proud to say I come from a long line of awesome cooks. Raised in Arkansas and the oldest of four children, I learned the art of preparing delicious Southern meals from my mother, aunts and grandmother. Like all the women in our family, I enjoy cooking for others, but received my first big opportunity to cater an event when I was asked to prepare meals all weekend long for our church’s women’s retreat. I received so many referrals from that one opportunity that I eventually decided to convert a hobby I loved into a real business. And, it’s been growing by word-of-mouth ever since.

At Something To Remember, everything we prepare is made from scratch and as close to natural ingredients as possible. No frozen chicken here! The soups, sauces and gravies – even the salad dressings are all homemade! Desserts are all made from scratch with real butter for an out-of- this- world tasting cobbler, chess pie, strawberry or chocolate cake.

Some of our entrees include Grilled Chicken Alfredo, Coq Au Vin, Baked Chicken Salad, Beef Burgundy, Spaghetti and Meatballs, Baked Ziti, Pot Roast, Chicken and Dressing, Pork and Sweet Potatoes, and Parmesan Portobello Chicken. We also provide hot and cold hors d’oeuvres for the simple to simply elegant reception.

Although Something To Remember specializes in buffets set-ups, we are also able to accommodate sit-down meals. All affairs are all inclusive from quality disposable eating ware to fine china. We have you covered for any event… weddings, graduations, retreats, parties and showers of all kinds, appreciation dinners, and anniversaries. In fact, .just about any special occasion you can think of is made even more special when the meal reminds your guests of that great home-made taste Grandma served up with love.

When choosing a caterer for your next event, remember that home-made is simply better. If Grandma is just too busy to help you with her made-from-scratch recipes, call Something To Remember. Even Grandma would approve.

Have you ever found yourself at a formal social or business event and not really sure which fork is which, what was the right thing to wear, or even if it was okay to bring a guest with you? There’s no reason to feel uncomfortable. Proper etiquette is a tool anyone can and should learn….even young children.

Hello, my name is Carey Sue Vega, and I’m an Etiquette Expert. After receiving my degree in Recreation from OSU (yes, there really is such a degree), I worked for a major cruise line as Youth Coordinator and then Cruise Director. As the host for Captain’s parties and VIP events, I realized that many of the passengers were not familiar with proper etiquette in a formal social setting. After all, few people sit down to a formal dinner on a regular basis. I realized that I could help educate people on etiquette, so that they feel more comfortable in a formal setting.

As an Etiquette Expert, I offer a series of classes at various venues in Oklahoma City and Edmond for children (fifth grade through high school), college students and adults.

Students learn proper posture, eye contact, how to shake hands and make proper introductions, among other topics. The younger students have challenge assignments they take home to implement skills learned in class. By working on the assignments at home, they see firsthand how putting the skills into place, they receive positive feedback and reinforcement.

In our adult classes, we review proper etiquette for social and business occasions. Topics include party planning, table etiquette, silverware and settings, passing food,

“gentlemen” manners, as well as mixing and mingling tips. We also discuss the proper way to write, send and respond to invitations. We answer questions like, “When is it alright to bring children?”, “How should I dress?”, “What are the rules in a business setting”, and even, “Is it proper for a lady to wear a hat after dark?”

If you would like your child to learn proper manners, or if you would like to brush up on your social or business etiquette, please give me a call or check out my blog at, www.careysuevega.com to learn about upcoming classes.

What’s the one addition to your venue set-up that can magically set the mood and transform an entire room into the perfect setting for your special event? The answer is as simple (and affordable) as lovely; color-coordinated chair covers with sashes.

Hello, my name is Dorinda Chapman, the owner of Pink Petal Linens. It was actually my brother and his wife who first introduced me to the fun of supplying chair covers for weddings and other special events. They were Louisiana wedding planners who moved their business to Tulsa after the disaster of Katrina. I started helping them with setting up chair covers with sashes for events in hotels and other venues. I just loved how they made the room look and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Later, when I was deciding on a way to supplement my income, I decided to make the commitment to start a chair cover rental business of my own. Today, I’m thrilled to say Pink Petal Linens is a thriving, full-time business.

At Pink Petal Linens, we offer event planners and individuals the option of ballroom or folding chair covers in white, black and ivory with a choice of organza and satin sashes in a voice of 25 colors to complement your theme, florals or bridesmaid dresses. Although a favorite among wedding planners, these lovely chair covers and sashes are also very popular for birthday parties, showers, retirement and anniversary parties. Our red sash creates a festive holiday mood for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. There are pastels for Easter and autumn colors that add that fall feeling for Halloween and Thanksgiving events, as well.

Pink Petal Linens’ chair covers and sashes are always spot treated, cleaned and pressed or steamed for a fresh look before they’re boxed for the next customer.

There is no minimum order at Pink Petal Linens, although we can provide up to 1500 for larger events. Delivery is available on orders of over 50 chair covers but scheduling is limited so reserve early. You may also schedule a time for pick up and return that fits into your busy schedule. We offer installation at an additional fee. Installation includes delivery, set up and tear down leaving you with one less worry on your special day.

When you begin considering decorating options for your special events, remember that quality, color-coordinated chair covers and sash from Pink Petal Linens provide that all-important “wow” effect the moment your guests enter the room. Give us a call or check out our website for more details.

Dorinda Chapman, Owner

 Someone once said, "If you have a really good idea, plant it, nourish it and watch it grow."  Well, that’s exactly how Bridle Creek Horse Ranch & Resort got started – a simple vision that grew into a 128-acre family business that might just be the perfect setting for your special event or family outing.