The backstage story is that, back in 2011, this chap, oozing the stereotypical Brit charm, wit and accent strolls into the Entrepreneur Social Club one Thursday evening. Tony Michaelides is his name and the one thing everyone learns really quickly, is that Tony is a master storyteller. The rare kind of stories that you never try to escape from, nor the usual kind you feign interest in, and certainly not the ones that leave you bored to tears. Tony has spent the last several decades among the coolest of the cool, within the inner sanctum of the Rock and Roll world, and has lived to tell those tales. And tell them well he does. Tony and I, we quickly became pals.
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Glaciers, Grizzlies and Gold – Welcome to Alaska
MONDAY – TUESDAY JUNE 23 -24 2014: Anchorage
About 24 hours ago I decided to leave Calgary, parting from my best pal Drew Edwards as he made his way southwest to Bellingham to spend time with his brother Frank. Uncle Frank, now that’s another story for another day. Ask me sometimes about R-9 scallops and Grande Marnier at 11 am in Whistler….. Anyhoo, my path leads me northwest, heading further into the wild tundra called Alaska. The Sled Island Festival, held every June in Calgary, just wrapped for 2014, so now it’s time to ramble on. [Check out my blog about Calgary’s Sled Island Festival 2014]
So Welcome to Alaska. It’s cold, there are bears, gold and glaciers. That’s about all I know, except this will be the just the kind of adventure I’ve been yearning for. So after a good “night’s” rest at a delightful B n B out on Goose Lake, owned by an equally delightful Susan. There are really nice people renting out their homes and apartments to be found on AirBnB. (“Night’s” because It’s never really dark here in Alaska during the summers…odd at first but it’s growing on me). So I catch the early morning train towards…
Music, Comedy and Model Milk – Welcome to Calgary’s Sled Island Festival
When my vacation opportunity door opens, I quickly scramble to find somewhere to escape to. Running a 5 Star wedding and event venue, NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, means that every client and guest experience is critical. Just a bit of pressure. So with only a week or two available to roam, I touch base with my best pal Drew Edwards to collaborate. Drew, among other things, is President of Comedian Ron White’s business empire, and is always up for an adventure. He adds “check out their festivals” to my suggestion of visiting Canada. Stampede, Calgary’s most famous, isn’t until July…so
While riding my bike downtown St. Pete, I discovered Paris London Tokyo
While riding my bike downtown St. Pete, I discovered Paris London Tokyo..
I spend a lot of time pedaling my 7-speed “Townie” around downtown St. Pete. A major part part of the charm and excitement of it, aside from the obvious time away from being in front of this computer screen, is the certainty that I’ll always discover something new.
How I fell in deeply in love with my new Instagram alter ego, nova_supernova
How I fell in deeply in love with my new Instagram alter ego, nova_supernova
I’ve gotta admit I’ve had a new distraction the last few weeks, kinda around the time I gave up my Cable TV. A coincidence only regarding the cable TV break-up but interesting timing none the less. I had heard roomers and quiet whispers of the dangers but I decided to buck-up and try it myself. What you may ask? Well I finally found my self on Instagram after hearing several local teens talk about tagging and #tagging photos from their incredible sweet 16 party held recently at my venue NOVA 535 here in downtown St. Petersburg. Aka “the BURG”.
[Jennyfer and local legend DJ Ich]
The birth of a Rock Star
‘Please allow me to introduce myself, I’m a man of wealth and taste. ‘ Indeed wealth comes in many forms and you won’t be hearing any sympathy from this devil ! Living a lifetime in a job you love brings with it many stories, a wealth of lessons learned and some magical memories. As Cesare Pavese once told us, ‘We don’t remember days , we remember moments. The Birth of a Rock Star!
Sales in the 21st Century – It’s Not About You!
There is an impression that the world of sales has suddenly changed, leaving most businesses out in the cold wondering what happened to their revenue. In actuality, this couldn’t be further from the truth. If you had been watching carefully, this was the inevitable conclusion of all that has come before. The fact that a few years ago we were calling it Sales 2.0, is a clue that this is a progression, not a spontaneous appearance. One thing that is true, sales looks nothing like it did 20, 10, or even 5 years ago.