In May I was contacted by The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps, a global family of camps and programs that change the lives of kids living with life-threatening medical conditions. They were looking for help to raise awareness on their camps, their targets were young professionals. Seeing that my brother and I had raised $40,000 over the last two years for Hole in the Wall, they knew we were well-versed in what they do. Being in Public Relations didn’t hurt either; they knew I could get the word out and folks flocking to the event!

Hole in the Wall Camps’ mission is to serve as many children as possible – one smiling camper at a time. In order for our guests to feel the passion and determination of the association, we needed to be sure the venue was accommodating and the spirit of the camps was felt. Working with a great team, we were able to seal Mad 46, the rooftop of the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown NYC as well as singer/song writer Julia Ilowiecki for the entertainment.

The event was a huge hit! We had aimed to get 75-100 people through the door and to our relief there were over 150 people within the first hour. With such an engrossed audience, we were able to meet with guests and provide them with information on the association. We showed a slideshow on the camps and the CEO of Hole in the Wall Camps prepared a speech to enlighten the crowd and educate them on everything they do.

It felt amazing to put on such a successful event with the team at Hole in the Wall Camps. Thanks to those who came!

Allred’s
This hot spot, owned by the Telluride Ski Resort, sits on top of the mountain with killer views and even deadlier drinks. We especially liked the margaritas (in all varieties, including one aptly named, “The Cat’s Meow”).

9545
9545 takes mountain cuisine to the next level with its creative use of local ingredients and worldly flavors. We ordered the Pan Seared Salmon with Senora Cactus Tapenade, Melted Tomatillo Broth and Grilled Cilantro Garlic Polenta, as well as the Grilled Shrimp with Tequila Orange Sauce and Crispy Chorizo Corn Relish. Both were delish, but our favorite dish of the night was the Oreo Cookie Chocolate Parfait with FRIED Oreos. Yum.

Onyx & Suede
These trendy spots were both at Capella Telluride, proving that if that’s where you choose to lay your head (there’s nowhere that matches it, trust us), you don’t have to go far to get a great meal. We started at Suede and tried the “Constellation” beer flight. All four beers are brewed exclusively for Capella Telluride by local Smuggler’s Brewery. The brews range from an espresso-infused porter, to a light tasting spa brew – perhaps the world’s only green tea-based cider, and the Turner team’s favorite of the four.

Next stop was Onyx for one of the best meals we’d ever had. We sampled nearly everything on the appetizer menu, including the to-die-for Corn Cream, a fresh cream soup accented with roasted red pepper, poblano pepper and fresh corn salad, and Mini Crab Cakes complimented by herb jicama salad. Other top picks of the night included grilled shrimp, Angus beef tenderloin, grilled striped bass, and last but not least, a blueberry cobbler that we’re still dreaming about.

Floradora
For a more laid-back local hotspot, and popular with the summer festival crowd, try Floradora, serving up an interesting take on family-friendly organic cuisine, and a great weekend brunch. We liked the duck quesadilla and palisade peach cobbler more than anyone should.

No matter where you choose to dine, we learned that it’s nearly impossible to get a bad meal in Telluride. Not only does it offer up thrills for the ski and summer adventure crowd, but it appeals to even the most extreme foodie. So … Telluride or bust – as long as you’re not counting calories!

A couple weeks back, in the midst of the summer heat wave, others had the same idea. The SnowSports Industries America (SIA) hosted a Summer Snowdown Showroom which showcased the collections of some of the top brands in winter gear and apparel. We were there to show off the awesome new lines from Obermeyer: 4-way stretch performance fabrics, flattering down, faux fur accents, formidable kiddy buntings … you name it! Editors from countless media outlets got a chance to escape the heat and dream of powdered doughnuts, too, while sauntering from booth to booth and checking out the sampling of collections for Winter 2010-11.

As the successful event came to a close, the Snowdown winter wonderland was sadly packed up and put away until a later (cooler) date, and visitors had to face the reality of the summer rain showers and humid weather once again … but it was certainly cool while it lasted!

Whether you want to stay state-side or head south of the border, we have a few suggestions for that last minute summer escape.

In Colorado, you can check out the upcoming Perseids meteor shower in Estes Park. The Estes Park Memorial Observatory is the perfect place to star-gaze away from the city lights and see the meteors up-close. Over Labor Day weekend, Estes will be hosting their annual Arts & Crafts Show. More than 100 booths will feature a variety of art, including paintings and drawings, jewelry, metal work, clothing, gourmet pantry items, wood carvings, pottery, glass and more.

In the beautiful mountain town of Telluride, the 37th Annual Film Festival will take place September 3-6. Staying true to the spirit of film-making, this Festival is intended for pure indulgence and enjoyment of films. The program is kept secret and isn’t released until just before the Festival kicks off, a great way to watch the movies without bias.

Haven’t had a chance to stick your toes in the sand? Then, head to Mexico’s Riviera Maya for a last minute trip. Over Labor Day Weekend, on September 4th the Riviera Maya Jazz Festival is presenting a Latin salsa and jazz concert in the Riviera Maya’s gorgeous seaside village of Tulum. The concert will feature a selection of renowned Latin salsa and jazz artists including Araya-Orta Latin Jazz Quartet, Eddie Palmieri and India.

For the adrenaline junkies and outdoor enthusiasts out there, be sure to check out the awesome Weekend Getaways offered by REI Adventures. No matter where you are located in the U.S., a Weekend Getaway is nearby. Whether you want to learn to rock climb in New Hampshire, Virginia or North Carolina, kayak in Washington’s San Juan Islands or Wyoming’s Yellowstone Lakes, backpack in Shenandoah, hike in Vermont or summit a peak in California, REI has the ideal trip for you. Many Weekend Getaways still have space available but make sure to book soon before they fill up!

It’s not too late to take a break and have a real summer vacation with family and friends…now get out there and have some fun!

FourSquare
Easily seen as the leader in location apps, FourSquare’s more than two million users have helped skyrocket this startup into application super stardom. Encouraged by the opportunity to win badges by checking in multiple times at designated locations, as well as by area specials offered by local businesses, FourSquare focuses on building community and encouraging repeat business. Though the app encourages checking in to earn points throughout the day, partnerships with media giants like the New York Times, Bravo, and CNN have overshadowed the original purpose of participating in a game to earn points against other users .

GoWalla
Though GoWalla’s network is small at fewer than 500,000 users, this app has become a heavy hitter in the world of geolocation partnerships and promotions, working with brands such as Nike and Paul Frank. Users can check in, create a network of friends, share tips and earn pins to add to their GoWalla virtual passport. Once embraced mostly by California iPhone users, as of July, this app is now available on Blackberry and is increasing its reach beyond the West Coast.

Loopt
The original geolocation service for mobile devices, Loopt now boasts 4 million users since its launch in 2005. With variants like LooptPulse and LooptMix, the application allows users not only to track and contact friends, but almost recommend venues and locations, and even meet new friends. Rather than earning pins or badges, the new LooptStar now integrates brand rewards in the form of discounts and free music.

Others to watch:
MyTown
With more than 2.5 million users, this app for iPhone and Facebook is a combination of FourSquare and Farmville, creating a Monopoly-esque game where along with check-ins, players purchase property and collect rent.

GoMiso
With only 12,000 users, this app for iPhone may have a small network, but also has the most potential. Not limited to larger urban areas, GoMiso is the check-in game for TV lovers. Currently running a large Tour de France promotion, GoMiso allows users to check in to TV, films, and web series, and earn badges along the way. User numbers may be small, but there are already promotions with TNT, FOX, and Digg.

Google Latitude
http://www.google.com/latitude/intro.html
Similar to Loopt, Google Latitude may not be one of the most talked about apps, but as with all things Google, the numbers are impressive. More than 3 million users use the online and mobile app (which runs through Google Maps) to track and contact their friends, thanks to integration with GTalk.

More Resources:
ReadWriteWeb

Mashable

GeekSugar

In case you haven’t seen it, the title of the movie derives from the notion that Leo and company must implant, or incept, an idea within their target’s mind.  Being the PR working nerd that I am, I thought about how this plot made my identical twin, Leo, and I even more indistinguishable beyond our flawless, angular jawlines. The PR industry recognizes that merely telling people what to think, what to buy or what to wear won’t work (unless you have the Old Spice man doing swan dives (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLTIowBF0kE) for you). No, our job is to break down the essence of a product or brand into its purest form, and to present that essence to the public so that they can come to their own decisions. We just do the quiet guiding on the sidelines. So thank you, Christopher Nolan, for taking 10 years to describe to the discerning public what it is the world of PR does. We think you’re cool, too.

Still wondering where shepherds come in to the picture?  Shepherd’s Hope is a non-profit organization of volunteers that provides access to healthcare for the uninsured. Many uninsured workers are employed in small businesses that don’t offer health insurance, or they are low-wage workers that cannot afford to pay the costs associated with an employer sponsored plan. Shepherd’s Hope aims to provide a solution to this problem and will receive all proceeds from the auction held at the golf tournament

This year’s celebrity golfers, including Anthony “Spud” Webb and sportscaster Craig Sager, will be paired with their golfing buddies on July 22 and will begin the tournament on the morning of July 23.  Through Ultimate Escapes’ signature Ultimate Giving® program, golfers will have the chance to bid on five luxurious packages including five-night stays at Ultimate Escapes’ luxury homes in New York City and Los Cabos, Mexico.

This is the fifth year that Ultimate Escapes has partnered with their member and famous basketball coach, Doc Rivers; both are excited to be giving to Shepherd’s Hope.

What used to be a digital niche has spilled over into the mainstream world. Fashion bloggers have risen from obscurity to find themselves front row at Fashion Week, gallivanting around the world at the request of designers, and lending their creative hands to major brands. Simply by taking pictures of their outfits and posting them online! Who knew such a simple task could have such a profound effect?

The examples are numerous, but I’ll call out a few here. First, take Jane Aldridge from Sea of Shoes: the teen fashion prodigy was featured on larger-than-life superstar Kanye West’s blog. Why? He liked her style. Karla Deras of Karla’s Closet, along with three other bloggers, was recently tapped by Coach to co-design a limited edition handbag collection dubbed ‘Coach Collectibles.’ SoCal blogger Rumi Neely of Fashion Toast was invited to New York City for the opening of Forever 21’s massive Times Square store. Not only that, Neely starred in a photo shoot for the brand, shots of which were emblazoned on a massive billboard in the tourist haven. (Neely has also dabbled in collaborations; she starred in and released a line with Southern California clothier RVCA.)

The evolution of the Internet, and thus the blogosphere, has created a phenomenon that five years ago would seem unfathomable. While major fashion cities (New York, Milan, Paris) still attract the uber-stylish and powerhouse brands, the blogosphere has created invaluable opportunities for individuals like Aldridge (based in Texas) and Neely (San Diego) that are outside these cities. Bloggers such as Neely and Deras have been catapulted to a certain level of stardom—while the mainstream American public may not know them (yet), their inherent sense of style indicates their presence in the fashion world is has only just begun.

1)    Enjoy the local cuisine. Preferably aboard a 130-ft megayacht like the one David V. Johnson, owner/developer of Oil Nut Bay, North Sound Yacht Club and Biras Creek Resort, invited us aboard for breakfast one morning. If you can’t make that happen, we suggest indulging in several of the local favorite: Painkillers, delicious drinks made with rum, cream of coconut, pineapple juice, orange juice and nutmeg. They’ll make you forget all about that megayacht.

2)    Have a motorboating (this still makes us giggle) race through the renowned boating waters of the North Sound surrounding Virgin Gorda; we took out the complimentary Boston Whalers provided for guests of Biras Creek Resort. Afterwards, the loser buys Painkillers for all at one of the many cool island bars in the vicinity. Our favorite? The Fat Virgin, for both drinks and world famous conch fritters.

3)    Go spelunking at The Baths, one of the great natural wonders of the world. While known for its exceptional snorkeling, it also features magnificent caves and grottos. Just take our word and pay close attention to where you came from (there are plenty of signs leading you in, but strangely, none out!). We got lost and were forced to blame the whole situation on Eddy, our male tour guide, a.k.a.  guest from Islands, because aren’t men supposed to have a better internal compass for these sorts of things?

4)    Enjoy (read: harass) the local wildlife. We trailed an eagle ray and sea turtle while snorkeling at The Baths, tracked iguanas, hermit crabs and conch at Biras Creek Resort, and spotlighted sea urchins, lobster, sea cucumbers and loads of fish from Biras’ glass bottom boat.

5)    Exercise your inner-adventurer. We went sea kayaking, boating, snorkeling and hiking all in one day. We also enjoyed biking around Biras’ expansive grounds (fun, but we’re curious where the expression, “It’s just like riding a bike” came from. Riding a bike for the first time in five years is hard!). Don’t be afraid to try something new – we went paddle boarding, and then tried our hand at surfing. We didn’t get far, but we had a blast. We think the “belongers” (those who hail from the islands) would be proud.

But no matter if you want to stay close to home in Denver or venture to a new destination in Colorado, here are few alternative ideas for the day and night that would add a spark to anyone’s Fourth of July weekend this year! (And some of them are free!)

Be outdoorsy! Being a Colorado resident does not necessarily mean that you frequent the mountains. So this Fourth of July weekend, experienced camper or not- go camping! Traveling to sites like Clear Creek County, El Dorado Canyon State Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park are all great excuses to get away from novelty parties in the city.

If you are not in the mood for camping, but still want to get a way from the city try heading up to any popular winter ski destination, which have summer activities that are just as fun as their winter ones! Stop by Vail to get your sports fix and watch elite college men and women duke it out in the 2010 annual Vail Lacrosse Shootout. If you have time for a longer trek, you can head over to Aspen for an old-fashioned Fourth of July celebration including a free evening concert, or drive up to Steamboat for their Fourth of July Cowboys’ Round-Up Days and enjoy a taste of the wild west with their pro rodeo and cattle drive. Even Estes Park has great activities for this popular holiday weekend including a Classic Car show and Arabian horse show.

Although Red Rocks is a popular summer hot spot, what would be a better night than the Fourth of July to enjoy this venue? Even though the ticket may cost more than what you would usually pay for some 4th festivities, tailgating and being able to see nearly every fire works show in Denver thanks to Red Rock’s outrageous views will definitely be worth it! This year the Blue’s Traveler’s with Rebelution are set to play.

And even if you want to stay close to home this year for the Fourth, you can still avoid the masses of red, white, and blue and check out events in and around Denver. To kick off the weekend journey to the Denver Zoo, where they will be hosting a “zoo-li-cious” ice cream social for zoo members and their guests. At this event you can walk around the zoo, ice cream in hand, while learning more about global conservation efforts in effect for each animal. But if free ice cream and animals just aren’t your thing than head over to the Creek Arts Festival. This, being one of my favorite events for the summer, showcases visual, culinary and performing arts of local artists in the streets of Cherry Creek North.

But just in case you still want to stick to something inherently American, there are fireworks throughout Denver and surrounding areas that will take place all the way through the Holiday Weekend. Happy Independence Day Colorado!