Host your Grad Night Party at Big Al’s Progress Ridge!

• 6 hour Grad Party 11pm – 5am entire facility rental
• Sunday-Thursday
• Minimum 200 guests
• Includes: Pizza, unlimited sodas, cosmic bowling with show rental,Wii Lounge, billiards, & full-swing golf simulator
• $40 per person
• Add-on unlimited arcade for additional $10 per person
• Decorations included: 4 balloon bouquets in your school colors

Additional Add-ons & upgrades available for additional cost include:

• Menu upgrades
• Cookies & cupcakes
• Hynotiist, henna tatoos, bungee, mechanical bull, prize wheel, lazer tag, magician, tarot card reader, cash cube, sumo wrestling, photo chains and much more.

3 Hour Grad Nights and Closed Door Jr Grad Parties also available. Please contact Jennifer Berry for free lunch & tour and more information at 971.269.8035 or jennifer.berry@ilovebigals.com

Big Al's Progress Ridge Entry

About Big Al’s

Big Al’s, “The Next Generation of Entertainment” is 60,000 square feet of awe-inspiring FUN! Our full-service venue offers premier accommodations, extraordinary atmosphere, and superior customer service. We have 42 state of the art bowling lanes, a 4,000 sq ft arcade, and the largest Sports Bar in the Pacific Northwest equipped with pool, shuffleboard, and an 8ft x 36ft big screen! If you’re looking for an event to remember, mix business with pleasure and come see why so many companies keep coming back to Big Al’s!

Book Your Next Event at Grand Central Restaurant and Bowling Lounge.  A great location for your casual or business event.

Grand Central can provide events with unparalleled versatility. Used alone or combined, our mezzanine level spaces create a spectacular atmosphere for events large and small. Our private rooms are wired for sound, have high speed internet connections and PowerPoint presentation & slideshow capabilities. Our 12 luxury bowling lanes feature leather couches, coffee tables, and a high tech video and sound system, with full event service available at your lanes.

Grand Central is a full-scale restaurant and bar offering a fusion of contemporary American fare and Pacific Rim influenced cuisine featuring Northwest flavors.

Grand Central Restaurant & Bowling Lounge is ideal for:

• Corporate Functions
• Youth Sports Parties
• Birthdays & Alumni Events
• Business Luncheons
• Private Lunch/Dinner Events
• 2 Private Rooms Available
• Fireside Lounges

Please contact Grand Central’s Events Coordinator for more information. 503.231.1926 or grandcentralevents@cegportland.com

Andina Restaurant will participate in the Momokawa Supper Club dinner series with SakéOne on March 19 at 7 pm, held in Andina’s upstairs event space, Tupai. The series challenges chefs to create a multi-course meal to be paired with specialty sakés. The catch is that the dishes they create must avoid stereotypical Japanese and Asian fare. The evening includes Chef Hank Costello’s menu and saké pairings for $55 per person plus gratuity. Reserve your seats by phone at 503.228.9535.

Tupai Event Space

Andina is a proud ambassador of Peruvian cuisine. Their diverse menu features traditional dishes from the Andes as well as Novo-Peruvian creations, which combine a wonderful array of native ingredients with modern techniques and presentations. Andina’s newest private event space, tupai, is located directly above the restaurant. tupai features a dedicated kitchen and full-service bar; eucalyptus floors, natural light, and Inca-inspired architecture; and an open space that can be customized for any type of event, from intimate dinners and business presentations, to cocktail parties and wedding receptions with live music and bar service. Borrowring its name from the Quechua word connot “gathering space”, tupai can accommodate up to 65 guests for a seated dinner and 100 guests for a standing reception or cocktail party.

Andina Restaurant
1314 NW Glisan, Portland, OR 97209
503-228-9535
jennifer@andinarestaurant.com

From the formal elegance of traditional Japanese bento dining to colorful and delectable serviced buffet delights, let Chef Naoko amaze your guests with her special creations for your special event. The chef’s love affair with the Pacific Northwest ingredients and her more than 20 years experience in organic cooking combines to provide a distinguished cuisine unique to chef Naoko.

Drop by the restaurant on SW Jefferson Street to try the food, or make an appointment with Naoko to discuss your event in detail. She would be delighted to create a special menu and catering style to suit your vision and budget. Or check out Chef Naoko’s catering menu for your selections or to use for ideas.

Honored to have been chosen: At the end of last year, local band Pink Martini released their  latest album – 1969 – with Japanese singer Saori Yuki.  It was an immediate smash hit reaching number one in the US and many other countries.  To celebrate the success, Saori Yuki was invited to Portland to sing with Pink Martini at their concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall.  Saori Yuki is widely considered to be Japan’s Barbra Streisand and a special pre-concert reception was arranged for her, hosted at the residence of the Japanese Consul General, and Chef Naoko Catering was selected to cater the event.  Naoko was so honored to be chosen to cater for such a high profile event, and to be involved in preparations for the Pink Martini concert, which she also attended.  It was fantastic!

Chef Naoko and honored guests with Japanese singer Saori Yuki

Want to ring in the New Year with an experience you’ll never forget?!?! Join Pronghorn Club in Bend for Dinner, the Party and the Night!

~ Call 541-693-5300 to Book ~ $299 per couple for Dinner, Party & a Room!

Already have plans for dinner? Then join Pronghorn after for the best Party in town and stay the night! $199 per couple. Includes over night accommodations in a Junior Suite and 2 entrance tickets to the party.

6-9pm Dinner Service (reservations required), Prix Fixe Menu at $50 pp or Ala Cart If guests dine with us, $10 discount on party price – 9pm: last seating.

8:30-12:30am Party in the Clubhouse $60 per person Out of the Blue Band, Appetizers included, 2 drinks included, Party hats, noisemakers and streamers for everyone. If guests dine with Pronghorn, $10 discount on party price.

Big Al’s officially announces it will be hosting Black Friday Beer Fest at both their Vancouver AND Beaverton locations November 25th (12pm ­ 7pm) & November 26th (11am ­ 8pm) in 2011.

Big Al’s has brought in festival tents with walls and heaters, along with a stage for Live Music Friday evening to add to the festival atmosphere. Saturday, however, it’s about beer and ball.  The big screen TV’s will roll out for Rivalry Saturday and a Civil War/Apple Cup experience not to be forgotten. Guests interesting in attending Big Al’s Black Friday Beer Fest can visit ILoveBigAls.com or Big Al’s Facebook pages for more information.

Big Al's Black Friday Beer Fest

WOW! Bravo! Live exceeded our expectations and that of both vendors and attendees. Not only did we see excellent attendance but we had multiple people tell us during and after the show how much fun they had and how great everything was. For some Bravo! Publication employees and attendees it was their very first show and for others, it was a welcome gathering of old colleagues and friends. It was unanimously decided that it was Bravo’s best show ever and for very good reason. With the endless help of the Oregon Convention Center we were able to produce a seamless show that drew an amazing amount of attendees. Plus with our amazing group of vendors we were simply blown away by people’s creativity, hospitality and unique products.

The theme this year was Destination Northwest and immediately as you walked into the exhibit hall you were transported to a lush, inviting entryway that directly reflected how inspiring our landscape is. Just by walking around and seeing the different array of booths you could sense that it took a tremendous amount of work, most of the vendors working late into the night before getting everything to look just right. The collection of vendors that participated put on a fantastic show and many said that Bravo! Live is their favorite event of the year.

Many vendors also commented that they saw a tremendous amount of foot traffic and emphasized that it was the right type of foot traffic, making valuable connections with event planners from all types of industries. We were thrilled to hear this feedback because that is Bravo’s number one goal for putting on this type of event.

Hybrid Moon put together a great video for us which they recorded, edited and uploaded directly from the event, right from their iPhone! Check it out below:

Bravo! Event Live 2011 Tour • Shot, Editied and Uploaded using an iPhone 4

Again, this event was spectacular and the only way it was possible was with the joint efforts of so many hardworking and creative people. For us, it’s our biggest event of the year but also a chance for people to come together and do business in a way that is fun, interactive and unique. The success of this event inspires us to make the Bravo! Wedding Affair even more of a triumph. As the year winds down the work picks up and we thrive off the positive feedback we get from vendors and attendees after our shows.

People came hungry and the caterers did not disappoint- we’d list all the amazing food but the photos from Andie Petkus Studios simply speak for themselves! Take a look at the pictures below and make sure to check out the entire gallery from the show here.

Again, thank you to everyone involved and who came and here’s to next year’s show!

Peter Corvallis Production’s amazing booth. We loved the colors and mounted deer head!

That’s right folks, we needed TWO blog entries on transportation for our upcoming Bravo! Live event showcase on October 19 at the Oregon Convention Center. You’ve already heard us gush about Eco Shuttle, Aspen Limo Tours and Double Decker PDX but we simply have to rave about our other four transportation experts: Game Truck, Games 2 U, Twilite Limousine and Tour and Konect Aviation.

Game Truck and Games 2 U offer a fun and unique party experience- they literally bring the games to you. More importantly, it’s not just about playing games. Game Truck likes to look at video game parties as a way of team building and also stressing that they’re not just for the couch potato- they encourage kids and adults to get active. But its not just for kids- Game Truck can be utilized for your next corporate, bachelorette or birthday party!

Inside one of Game Truck's cars. Check out all those flat screens!

Games 2 U also offers great, exciting team building activities for both kids and adults. Need we mention that they have laser tag, 4-D video, foam machine AND a giant hamster ball? The real question is- who wouldn’t feel like a kid again?

Seriously, doesn't this look like fun?

If giant hamster balls and foam parties aren’t your thing, fret not! We have two other great transportation vendors that will be at the Bravo! Live event. Twilite Limousine and Tours offers all sorts of vehicles to get you where you want and need to go. They have a fleet of trolleys, limos, Hummers and even Prius’! How’s that for luxury and being environmentally friendly!

One of Twilite's awesome vintage trolleys!

Finally, let’s not forget Konect Aviation. They were at the Willamette Valley Event Showcase at the beginning of October, flying in their helicopter as the sun was barely rising. They offer tours, lessons and commercial work and taking a ride in one of their ‘copters is a truly COOL experience. C’mon- we KNOW you’ve always wondered what it would be like to take a ride in a helicopter! Started in 2009 by Michael Kopera and Ingo Nehls, they transformed their love for flying into a quickly growing business and we’re lucky enough to have them again for the Bravo! Live event.

Susan from McMenamins, Ingo from Konect and our very own Mary Lou from Bravo!

Make sure to visit all of our fabulous transportation experts at Bravo! Live from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Oregon Convention Center-Hall D. Admission is complimentary for all qualified event planners. For more information on the event please see below:

http://www.bravoevent.com/bravolive/

When planning an event the issue of transportation can be a tricky one- what kind do we need? How many people are we taking? Will it be comfortable? If you underestimate or under compensate you could be in hot water. Sometimes just getting to and from the event is the most important part!

Luckily, these three fabulous transportation companies take the guess work out and make it simple, affordable and fun. Aspen Limo, Double Decker PDX and Eco Shuttle all offer great ways for your guests to travel in style and comfort. What’s more fun than riding in a limo? Or a double decker bus painted cherry red? Let’s not forget the sustainable Eco Shuttle!

All three of these companies will be at the Bravo! Live event showcase displaying their services and offering great deals for attendees. What’s great about Double Decker PDX is that they can go anywhere- no seriously. Whether its a wine tour or touring downtown Portland’s nightlife, they can do it. each bus can fit up to 30 people, which makes for planning a corporate event a breeze. Plus, with their affordable rates you don’t have to stress about people finding a safe way to get to your event.

Aspen Limo is great if you want variety. Maybe you want a limo for a bachelorette party or a Black Denali for a more private event. They have five types of cars to choose from, easily fitting around your party size and criteria. Did we mention they offer more than 15 different types of tours? Yup, from wine tours, Columbia Gorge tours, Oregon Coast tours and more, they’ll take you there!

Eco Shuttle is great for the environmentally conscious party planner. They use waste vegetable oil which is free from most restaurants and causes significantly less damage on the environment and is 100 percent safe on motor vehicles. They offer everything from Green Beer Pub Crawls, wine tours, sporting event transportation and of course, corporate events.

Make sure to check them out if you come to Bravo! Live! For more information on Bravo! Live and how to register, please visit http://www.bravoevent.com/bravolive/