YumSugar

Is Cooking a Way to Heat up a Date?

partysugar — Thu, 01 May 2008 15:33:34 -0700

Being single, I've had my fair share of online dating experiences. However no online dating service seems as exciting as this cooking show that FitSugar told me about. The interesting website - Feed Me, the Brooklyn Cooking Dating Show - invites two singles into the kitchen. They cook together, and the date is filmed and then posted for all to see on the site.

I love the concept behind this idea: that food and cooking can bring two people together. However, you won't see me on an episode anytime soon - the service is for New York residents only.

It did get me thinking about cooking and the effect it can have on romantic relationships. What do you think about the service? Is cooking a way to heat up a date?

Source

Next Up For Twitter: Wine

YumSugar — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 11:42:20 -0700

Those who've been mystified by Twitter's business model will find themselves further intrigued by the social networking sensation's latest venture: a Twitter wine label.

Fledgling, as it's called, launched today both online and on Twitter. For $20, oenophiles and Twitter fiends can choose between a California Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, both produced by custom wine facility Crushpad. For each bottle purchased, $5 will go to Room to Read, a world literacy organization.

The partnership between Twitter, Crushpad, and Room to Read - all based in San Francisco - is being labeled the largest online wine project to date. Would you be inclined to buy a bottle of vino from Twitter?

A note to Twitter users: Don't forget to follow YumSugar on Twitter!

Skittles Ups the Ante With New Website

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 11:32:30 -0800

As the recession has affected consumer buying behaviors, the candy business is seeking to adapt. Mars-owned Skittles is no exception. In an attempt to reach out to the social media set, the fruity candy has completely rebranded its homepage.

Visitors to Skittles' main page are redirected to a search of the word "Skittles" on the microblogging service Twitter. The videos point to wacky Skittles commercials posted on YouTube; a "friends" section connects users to a fan page on social media giant Facebook; an image section leads to Skittles pictures on photo-sharing site Flickr; and those looking for information on Skittles products are connected to user-contributed online encyclopedia Wikipedia.

"Skittles lives in a world that is unexpected," said Carole Walker, VP of integrated marketing communications for Skittles. "We are leveraging what we think are the key consumer social media touch points."

The Skittles site requires users to enter their date of birth, as it doesn't advertise to users under the age of 12. Do you think this strategy to target older audiences will prove to be successful? Or is it too risky to depend on user-generated content? Does it change the way you view Skittles?

Source

Come Party With Me: Olympics Viewing - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 11:15:15 -0700

The Olympics start this Friday, so naturally this week, I'm planning an Olympics viewing party! You can host this party while watching the opening ceremony, or invite friends to enjoy your favorite sporting event. After checking the online schedule of the games to determine the date of your viewing, send invitations. These festive postcard invites are simple to make, to learn how it's done, read more.

To make similar invitations you will need the following supplies:

colored cardstock
glue
scissors
computer and printer

To assemble the invite:

Create a new document in Microsoft Word. Insert a circle and copy it four times so you have five circles. Arrange in the staggered pattern of the Olympics symbol. Change the color of each to coordinate with the symbol: blue, yellow, black, green, and red. Underneath the circles, write out "Let the Games Begin!" Print out on plain paper and set aside.

Open another new document. Write out the details of the party and center to the left of the page. For my message I used the font Baskerville Semibold in size 12 to write the following text:

Please join me in celebrating
The 2008 Olympic Games
At a Gymnastics Viewing Party

Sunday August 10, 2008
The competition starts at 6:30.
La Casa de Party, San Francisco

RSVP: psugar@sugarinc.com

Print on plain white paper and check for grammar or spelling mistakes. Once satisfied with the wording, print on the colored cardstock.

Cut down to the size and shape of a postcard.

Cut out the Olympic symbol. Glue to the back of the postcard.

Write the guest's address next to the text, stamp, and send.

View 13 Photos ›

Happy Hour: Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 16:15:25 -0700

Though I enjoy the occasional Manhattan, I'm not usually a drinker of straight bourbon. Like scotch, the Kentucky libation always seemed more like a sippin' drink for old dudes. But lately, I've been acquainting myself with these potent brown liquors, and I have to say that neither scotch nor bourbon is anything to be afraid of. (That is, as long as you don't drink too much.)

Case in point: Blanton's Single Barrel Bourbon, distilled in Frankfort, KY, has taught me that truly excellent bourbons go down easy - almost too easy - even without a mixer. I recently picked up a bottle of a batch made especially for a San Francisco spirits shop, but you can buy it online for about $50. From the waxed-sealed racehorse-adorned top to the hand-scrawled date, Blanton's is clearly a special-occasion bottle of hooch.

One sip and you'll understand what separates high-end bourbon from everyday booze like Jim Beam. The rich, caramel liquid has the decadent taste of toffee with a hint of woodsy, almost fiery flavor. It's best served over ice or just "neat" in a glass, but if you simply must dilute it, I recommend a bit of water. Have you gotten into high-end bourbons? If so, tell me your opinions below.

Come Party With Me: Pool Party - Invite

partysugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 10:15:44 -0700

Two of my girlfriends are celebrating their half birthdays this month, so I'm planning a pool party to honor the occasion. It's going to be a fabulous fiesta filled with sun, swimming, and serious eats. All this week I'll feature my best pool-party ideas so feel free to use them to host your own perfect pool party. When hosting a party in the Summer, it's best to give your guests an advance notice of the event, so send invitations as soon as you have the date selected. To learn how I made the easy invites seen here, read more.

To make a similar invite you will need the following supplies:

image of a pool
colored cardstock
scissors
glue
computer and printer

To make the invite:

Drag the image into Photoshop or Microsoft word. Insert a text box on top of the image and write out the details of the party. For my invite, I used the font Dakota in size 14 to write this message:

It’s time to jump into summer!
Please help us celebrate
the half birthdays of
Emily and Katie

Saturday, July 19, 2008
2:00 in the afternoon

Katie’s parents' house,
Petaluma, CA
regrets only 415.555.5555

Check for grammar and spelling invites. Print out on plain paper and cut down to size.

Mount on the colored cardstock and cut down to size.

For this type of invite there are several sending options: you can slide into an addressed envelope, upload the invite image to your favorite online invitation service (evite, pingg), or add as an attachment to a regular email.

View 9 Photos ›

Source

MenuPages: Scope Out Menus Before You Eat

YumSugar — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 06:30:23 -0700

Last week, Partysugar asked if you like to read the menus before eating at new restaurants. I know I do: Especially if it's a reservation I've been looking forward to for a while, I'll often pore over a menu for days, thinking about what I might order.

Many restaurants publish menus on their web sites, but for the ones that don't, MenuPages is an excellent resource. This web site posts full menus for thousands of restaurants in eight metropolitan areas: New York, San Francisco, LA, Philly, Boston, Chicago, DC, and South Florida. You can look up restaurants by name or browse by cuisine and neighborhood. To ensure that its menus are up to date, the site takes submission directly from restaurants, and readers can also suggest joints they'd like to see featured. For why I love this web site, read more

Of course, many restaurants change their menus weekly or even monthly, but MenuPages tries to stay as real-time as possible. Often, the menu online is exactly the same as what you'll find while dining, and even when it isn't, I still love MenuPages. It gives me a great idea of the types of dishes served, not to mention a realistic representation of the prices.

If you don't live in one of the eight regions featured on MenuPages, I highly recommend consulting it the next time you travel. Have you guys used this site? If so, what do you think?