Virtual Events


At the end of last week, I participated in a virtual event with Food & Wine with my fellow foodie friend (see us above).  Their annual event in Aspen, Colorado was cancelled this year and the organization decided to host an online replacement event, complete with food demos and wine tasting to follow along with.  My friend who came to partake with me is someone that I trust very much and therefore felt safe having her come to my home for this special event.  She and I have worked the social media for the past few years for other Food & Wine festivals, such as those in Newport, RI and Nantucket.  If anyone is interested in following her on social media.  Her instagram is @tinita80 and @christinamirraevents, and she has also been doing a super fun weekly cooking class during the coronavirus pandemic with families that she has cooked or nannied for in the past (@cookingwithtinaandthecats).

ANYWAYS,

We attended the Food & Wine Classic at Home and had a total blast.  (Click that link to watch the recording of the event!)  Ahead of the event, Food & Wine provided those who registered (for free!) with recipes for the demonstrations that would happen during the live stream as well as a list for six bottles of wine that would be part of two seperate tasting demos.  We initially became interested in the event because of our good friend Ray Isle.  We met him at the other events we've worked social media for and taught him what a selfie is!  He is just such a fun person, an incredibly engaging speaker, and also casually the executive wine editor for Food & Wine.  His section of the virtual event was a wine tasting paired with pizza, something that I can get behind almost any day of the week.

There were TONS of fantastic presenters that I wish I could have been seeing in person, but each of them did a great job making their own spaces work for a virtual event.  This was not the first virtual event that I've attended during this coronavirus pandemic.  I have been doing a lot on the interwebs to further my education and also for work purposes.  Online classes, like some I've blogged about already are a great way to stay engaged mentally when many aspects of life might seem uncertain right now.  Additionally, I have been working with the Worksite Wellness Council of MA (WWCMA) and they have been hosting incredible educational seminars in regard to how the pandemic is affecting employers and their employees.  Their next event is actually this coming Wednesday, July 27th, on the topic of emotional health during this time.  You can register for that event here.

While I don't recommend that anyone spends all of their time online while we are still social distancing and dealing with the pandemic, I think that utilizing these offerings intermittently could be of great benefit.  For instance, today it is 97 degrees in MA and I am indoors in the AC, trying not to get heat exhaustion.  This is the day that I will spend more time online, searching for resources or allowing myself to take mental breaks with streaming entertainment.

It is still summer, and I still always recommend that people spend as much time outside as possible (with sunscreen on, of course).....but when the temperatures are this high, safety must be taken into account.  I know I'm looking at the weather at the beginning of each week myself and planning my outdoor and indoor time accordingly.

There are many other organizations providing webinars or courses in various topics.  All it takes is a search of your interests to see what might be out there for you!  Happy hunting!

-Vicky










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