How to Incorporate Fall Flavors Into Your Event

How to Incorporate Fall Flavors Into Your Event

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Planning on hosting an experiential event this fall? If so, then you may also want to serve up some fall-friendly snacks and treats to get your attendees immersed in the spirit of autumn. Whether you decide to set up food stands throughout your event space or simply pass out treat bags to your attendees, we've got some tasty and relatively simple fall snacks to consider serving up.

Apple Cider Doughnuts

Apple cider and doughnuts go together perfectly, allowing you to bring the joy of a day at the apple orchard into your event space! These are super easy to make, especially if you buy the doughnut mix pre-made. And don't worry; you don't need to fry them. You can purchase a doughnut baking mold that will allow you to pop these in the oven for easy, mess-free baking.

Pumpkin Energy Bars

Treat your attendees to a fall flavor with an added energy boost by whipping up a batch of pumpkin energy bars. These are easier to make than you may realize, and the pumpkin flavor comes from adding some canned pumpkin puree. Honestly, these taste a lot like pumpkin bread, but have added nutritional benefits and will provide the energy your attendees need to power through the day.

S'mores Cookie Bars

Shy of setting up an actual s'mores station at your event (which we totally recommend, if you can pull it off), these s'mores cookie bars are probably the next best thing. You can make these pretty easily by starting with your "typical" chocolate chip cookie dough (buy some pre-made from the store, if you prefer) and adding chunks of Hershey bars and marshmallow. Spinkle in a little cinnamon and chunks of graham crackers before baking, and cut into small bars once cooled.

Marshmallow Pops

Marshmallow pops make for yet another delicious and fall-friendly snack, and they're especially fun if you're going to have any children at your event. These are pretty simple to make. Simply begin with large marshmallows (like the kind you'd use for roasting) and dip them in melted chocolate before rolling them in sprinkles. You can use a toothpick or small skewer to hold them. Pop them in the fridge for about an hour, which will give the chocolate time to harden. Then, enjoy! If you want to get really festive, you can even melt white chocolate and add food coloring (we're thinking fall colors, like reds and oranges) to really pull of that autumn theme.

Fall Friendly Trail Mix

Who doesn't love a bag of trail mix as an energizing and filling snack? Incorporate fall flavors into your trail mix by starting with a store-bought bag of traditional trail mix. Then, add some butterscotch chips, chocolate chips, and pretzels. Season with a bit of salt, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Mix well and enjoy! You can serve these up in small bags to make them easy for your event attendees to grab and take with them. If you want to incorporate a little Halloween spirit (depending on when you're holding your event), you might consider adding some Halloween candy. Maybe stay clear of the candy corn, though. 

These are just a few ideas for snacks and treats you can easily prepare to bring some lovely fall flavors into your next experiential event. Your attendees will love these snacks, but don't be surprised if you get people stopping you to ask for the recipes. And of course, if you're still on the hunt for a great space to host your next event in the Miami area, be sure to check out Soho Studios!

Why Bumble Used a Food Truck for its Latest Experiential Event

Why Bumble Used a Food Truck for its Latest Experiential Event  

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As most Millennials know, mobile app dating is tough. “Catfishing,” or pretending to be someone you’re not, is a pretty big occurrence across Tinder and Bumble alike. Bumble is a dating app which requires women to message matched men first. Bumble, itself, recently released an anti-catfish mobile app feature. To promote itself, the Austin-based tech company created a New York airstream food truck.

It served fish tacos, promoting its new photo verification feature capable of weeding out phony Bumble accounts. The “catfish” slang term was created and popularized back in 2010 during a documentary. Now, it’s been implemented into the mobile app’s photo verification feature to screen out the prevalent fake accounts.

The feature makes users snap a selfie in highly specific poses, so as to make sure the user isn’t using another’s pre-existing photos from Facebook, Instagram or another visual-based website. Soon, Bumble will extend into the friend networking world—becoming much more than a dating app. Photo verification might not be the most alluring feature, but Bumble’s idea creators have sustained a positive marketing campaign pinned to the app’s classier approach to mobile dating.

As for the food truck, it existed to celebrate the app’s newest feature. After all, the photo verification feature was created in a playful way—giving users control of their identity verification without necessarily breaking down the app’s intrigue. Called “The Great Catch” promotion, Bumble’s food truck promotion handed out free catfish-centric dishes. Aside from the catfish tacos, the truck had catfish sliders, roasted squash salad and honey-sweetened Arnold Palmer which was popularized through “Top Chef’s” Sam Talbot—a Brooklyn contestant.

Marketing for a mobile app is tough, but Bumble’s Director of Marketing, Chelsea Maclin, reportedly created the campaign to invite newcomers with open arms while celebrating its current users. The app’s huge user base, stationed in New York, let various Bumble brand ambassadors verify their mobile devices while waiting for grub. These ambassadors could then explain how Bumble—and the offshoot, Bumble BFF—worked. They walked attendees through the app’s download, setup and use. Meanwhile, the app’s preexisting users were invited to learn more about the app’s features.

The photo verification feature, of course, was at the centerfold. Bumble users were given branded giveaways, including pins, hats and t-shirts. Then, they were allowed to participate in the brand’s many on-site photo booth experiences. No experiential event is complete without a conference. Thus, Bumble invited its key influencers and press people to take part in The Great Catch. They were given yellow tackle boxes—branded, of course—each packed with anti-catfishing messages and swag.

Bumble is an engaging experience, and it was deserving of a campaign capable of touching the catfish topic lightly while also recognizing the app feature’s important use. Because Bumble’s goal is to help users create meaningful relationships, much of the experiential event was created to connect with the app’s users on a personal level. Online safety, accountability and freedom can be a touchy subject—but Bumble covered it with grace.

Miami Beach Food Truck and Music Festival

It’s time to make plans to attend the Miami Beach Food Truck and Music Festival at the newly renovated North Shore Bandshell on 7275 Collins Ave. in beautiful Miami Beach, FL.

A snapshot from when the food trucks visited Soho Studios...

Held every fourth Wednesday of the month, Miami Beach Food Truck and Music Festival is rapidly becoming one of Miami’s premiere events with thousands in attendance. The North Shore Bandshell is one of artistic symmetry and excellent acoustics situated on Collins Ave. Beachside.

Event times are between 5 and 10 PM. Live entertainment consisting of various artists and a host of food trucks offering a cuisine from around the globe translate into a great night out.

The smorgasbord of food trucks includes: Coffee Break, Boba Station, Sugar Yummy, Mushaboom, Dolci Pecati, Moty’s, The Mexican, Gastropod, Arepa Box, Garcia Brothers, Latin Burger, Sakaya, Catered Bliss, Health Nut and Ms Cheezious and many more local favorites.

The food trucks are a bit hit in South Florida and they are excited to have the opportunity to provide their cuisine to the local residents and tourists alike.

The offerings are Latin flavored dishes from burgers to ethnic and more. Acting Assistant City Manager Max Sklar states that “We’re looking forward to people enjoying good food, music and the charm of our beautiful beaches.”

The North Shore section of Miami is a popular tourist destination as well. There are 48 restaurants within a few blocks of the North Shore Bandshell, and a multitude of motels as well.

Another plus to attending the Miami Beach Food Truck and Music Fest, is its proximity to the beach. Enjoy a day of fun and relaxation with beach activities before the Food Truck and Music Fest. Miami’s beaches are well known for their fine sand beaches. Play volleyball on the beach or just lay in the sun and watch the crowd.

Five bars and clubs are also within walking distance of North Shore Bandshell on Collins Ave.

Soho Studios is another great place for entertainment-located 2136 NW 1st Ave., the Wynwood District of Miami. Call or check their website @ http://sohostudiosmiami.com/ for event dates and times. Soho Studios is a gigantic 65,000 sqft convention center suitable for anything from Auto Shows to national conventions.

Due to the magnitude of their events, it is an important source of revenue for the surrounding businesses.