about Crush It @ American University

Gary Vaynerchuk, the “Social Media Sommelier.” Gary is a rock star in the industry and you can hear his compelling story first hand of how he was able to quickly grow his family wine business from a $4 million business to a $45 million business within a 5 year period through his unique approach to branding. After building his family’s local business into a nationally recognized leader in the wine industry, he tapped the power of social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook to promote Wine Library TV, his popular video blog about wine. Since then, Wine Library TV has successfully revolutionized the concept of wine tasting in a short time frame for generations to come and receives more than 80,000 viewers per day.

A panel discussion led by John Bell and Q&A session will follow Gary’s remarks.

RSVP at this link http://www.american.edu/kogod/calendar/crush_it.cfm

about Obama Inauguration

Leslie, her mother and I went down to the mall to see Obama get sworn in. It was cold and crowded, but totally worth it.

about Thummit's 'last night on Earth' poll

It's your last night on earth. Where would you eat?

In the DC area, Jesse and I both would eat at Restaurant Eve.

Why do we ask? JESS3 has been working with the DC-based start-up, Thummit, and are glad to share these two opportunities:

1. A beta invite code: DCeats (enter it in here http://www.thummit.com/)
2. A chance to win a $200 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice. This is for all beta users who vote in the "Last Night on Earth" poll from now until the end of December.

So what exactly is Thummit?

Thummit makes restaurant reviews simple, social and portable.

1. It’s simple. In the modern sea of information, Thummit is based on the belief that less is more – a quick Thumms up or down from a friend is more helpful than a long rant or rave from a faceless stranger.

2. It’s social. Thummit lets you share and save advice from friends and other trusted sources easily and quickly.

3. It’s portable. Rate restaurants from your computer, your mobile and even via Twitter (just "@Thummit"). Give and get recommendations whenever and wherever you need them!

A big thanks to friends and rockstars Nick O'Neill, Frank Gruber, Justin Thorp, Aaron Brazell, Jimmy Gardner, Adam Ostrow and Meghann Parlett and for helping spread the word. Join in, take the poll, share it with your blog readers and have a wonderful holiday season.

about who the fuck is that guy? dc politics edition

about Ellwood Thompson's comes to DC in 2009!

Connect with Ellwood online through their blog, Flickr, Vimeo, Twitter account and Facebook Page and get to know Ellwood through a walk around their store:


Ellwood Thompsons // At A Glance from Ellwood Thompson's on Vimeo.

A rendering of the store that will be joining the folks of Columbia Heights later in 2009:

JESS3 is excited to join Metrocurean, New Columbia Heights, The Green Miles, Columbia Heights News, Prince of Petworth, Pulse and Signal, Washington Canard, The 42, Buttermilk & Molasses, Natural~Specialty Foods Memo and our own Leslie Bradshaw in announcing that Ellwood Thompson's is coming to DC next year!

As you may recall, JESS3 has done all of the branding, blog design, video production and social media work. We look forward to having our Richmond client join us up in DC, not to mention bring with them local, organic, sustainable and fair-trade grocery options.

If you are a DC-area blogger interested in covering this story on your blog, we would love to drop you a line. Leave a comment here or shoot us an email: lesliebradshaw ~at~ jess3 ~dot~ com.

about Thirsty Bernie in Arlington, VA

2163 N Glebe Rd
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 248-9300

I went with leslie last night and we had a charcuterie plate with pates and little bits. Then we had meatball sliders that were tasty and unique and also primaly fulfilling in a way meat and cheese on crostini can provide. I then had a hamburger as well, which is what I came for in the first place. their chef makes his own sausages and meats and grinds everything himself etc. its INCREDIBLE, I was really impressed. The reason I am writing this blog post is because its in a little strip mall in N.Arlington and youd never find it if you didnt know what you were looking for. ... AND because according to our waiter, Stachowski is apparently leaving to do something else in a few weeks so get it while you can!

really good fresh homemade bright green pickles, tasty interesting flavors all round, lots of large flat screen tvs blaring sports and lots of special homemade MEAT.

"The he-man menu is the creation of chef Jamie Stachowski, whose charcuterie was one of the best things about Restaurant Kolumbia. When he and his wife, Carolyn, closed that K Street eatery a year ago, Stachowski—who claims to have worked in 27 restaurants since he was 14—was a man without a kitchen. So what did the burly chef do? He holed up in his garage and made meat." - washingtonian

Watch a video of Stachowski making sausage

about magnificent snowmen in the streets of Russia

While DC is expecting cold temps and a few inches of snow - at best - Russia flexes its Northern *ahem* prowess in this magical advertising campaign for a play called "Snow Show" (the Story of Slava Polunin).

I couldn't seem to find the creative firm behind this idea, but that the images made it in the two papers I read thus far this morning (Wash Post Express and Wash Times) says something for its reach.

Anyone have more details? (I'd ask my Russian colleague today, but she's travelling on business)

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO BUILD ONE:

posted by: Leslie