Dec 242010
 
2010 Holiday Thanks for My Work, Wine and Wheels

I have so much to be thankful for this year, including items in the three categories of this blog. So on Christmas Eve, here are some Work, Wine and Wheels highlights from 2010. In the work realm, 2010 was a great year. A lot of what Strategic Communications Group accomplishes for clients doesn’t become public […]

Dec 212010
 

As readers know, we’ve been exploring Chapoutier wines since being impressed with his entry level Belleruche Cotes du Rhone. After being disappointed by the first 100% Syrah wine of his we tried, we recently had a Les Granits 2007 from Saint Joseph. Here’s my take.

Dec 162010
 
Nice Meal at Tempo Restaurant

Last weekend Gabriele and I had a very nice experience at Tempo, on Duke Street in Alexandria. It’s easy to miss if you’re not looking, set back from the street a bit and next to an Enterprise Rent a Car as you drive out of Old Town.  The cuisine is old-school French/Italian served in a […]

Dec 142010
 
Thoughts on the Upcoming BMW 1 Series M Coupe

BMW M — that’s a term that means a lot to auto enthusiasts. It’s a term that connotes a car that is the epitome of its class, the absolute sporting pinnacle of that particular style of car. Ever since BMW put the twin turbo, 300HP N54 engine in it’s 1 Series car, there was speculation […]

Dec 092010
 
Counting the WikiLeaks Story Lines

With every new day the WikiLeaks saga seems to reveal another story line. As the expression goes, “you can’t make this stuff up.” In the process, it’s highlighting rapidly changing — and often unstable — elements in Internet-based communication. First let’s take the emerging model of cyber attacks. People no longer just get angry at […]

Dec 072010
 
Majestic Cafe Continues to Deliver

Over two years ago I wrote a review about The Majestic, on King Street in the heart of Old Town. It was a strong performer that night, and was again recently when Gabriele and I returned. Last time at the Majestic I wrote about us enjoying a 2006 Allan Scott Pinot Noir with dinner. The […]

Dec 022010
 
Advice for a Career in Public Relations

My latest interview is with Beth Hardy Okun, a PR professional located in Atlanta, Georgia.  Beth and I met via a PR discussion group in LinkedIn, where she was discussing the PRSA Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) program she had just completed. Beth and I discuss the value of the APR certification, agency work vs. […]

Nov 302010
 

In my last blog post, I made mention of my quest for a good value, good tasting $20 Bordeaux. It has not been an easy quest. But I’m excited to say I’ve made two discoveries worth sharing. Here are links for more information: Chateau Beaumont 2005 – .pdf from the vine maker with lots of […]

Nov 192010
 
Why I go to an Indie Mechanic

One of the first things you should do if you own a BMW out of warranty is find a good independent mechanic. On this blog I talk about the DIY things I’ve accomplished, but the big stuff needs a professional. Gary Martin at Martin Motorsports is an enthusiast who I can trust to maintain my […]

Nov 162010
 

Yesterday I started my work week with a Small Business Roundtable breakfast at the Tower Club. The event was sponsored by the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) National Chapter. The topic was social media — what exactly does that buzz word mean in a b2b/b2g environment, and how can executives put it to work for […]