Don’t Fuhgettaboutit!
May 17: You watch The Sopranos. You talk about the show. Sometimes you even find yourself humming the theme song. What you probably don’t do is think about what The Sopranos can teach you about improving your business. It’s time to start. Robinson Donovan’s speaking event series, That’s Your Business, will put the focus on how a concept that got turned down by every broadcast network ended up generating revenue in the hundreds of millions and helped turn HBO into a $1.5 billion cable TV juggernaut. Author, professor, business expert, and Sopranos expert Al Gini will explain how The Sopranos became a cultural phenomenon, and will discuss how taking risks, investing in quality, and generating buzz can pay off for you. And bring an appetite for Italian-American specialties, including Sopranos family favorites such as veal parm, baked ziti, and, of course, capicola (gabagool). The event will be at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting house, starting at 5:30 p.m. For more information, call (413) 732-2301, ext. 403, or E-mail service@robinson-donovan.com by May 10.
World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast
May 19: The 2007 World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast will return to Main Street, Springfield, from 8 to 11 a.m. in celebration of the city’s 371st birthday. For the past two years, Springfield has celebrated its birthday with the annual flapjack feast on the grounds of the Eastfield Mall. Tickets are $3 for adults and $1 for children. For details, visit www.spiritofspringfield.org or call the Spirit of Springfield office at (413) 733-3800.
eWomen Network
May 22: Ginny Wilmerding, business consultant and author of Smart Women and Small Business: How to Make the Leap from Corporate Careers to the Right Small Enterprise, will be the guest speaker at the eWomen Network accelerated networking dinner event from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The evening’s theme is “Be Your Own Boss and Thrive.” Area women in all areas of business are encouraged to attend to exchange ideas and resources, and make connections with other women in the region. The cost is $45 for guests, $35 for members. For more information, see www.ewomennetwork.com or contact Shana Ferrigan Bourcier at (413) 566-8443.
‘Springtime in Paradise’
May 26-28: The annual Paradise City Arts Show, featuring 250 competitively juried artists from 30 states, takes place at the Three County Fairgrounds in Northampton. Show hours are May 26 and 27 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and May 28 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. In addition to the show, a silent and live auction to benefit WGBY Public Television is planned, as well as an artful scavenger hunt, and hands-on weaving, doll-making, and quilting projects hosted by the Fiber Art Center. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $5 for students. Children under 12 are admitted free. For more information, log onto www.paradisecityarts.com.
Solar Sprint Race
June 2: The Western New England College School of Engineering in Springfield will host the 14th annual West Central Mass. Junior Solar Sprint race from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Alumni Healthful Living Center parking lot. Seventh- and eighth-grade students will race solar-powered cars they designed and constructed. The cars will be judged for design and race on a 20-meter track. The event is free and open to the public. In the event of rain, the event will take place inside the center. Schools scheduled to participate include Amherst Regional Middle School; Chestnut Middle School in Springfield; John M. Lynch Middle School in Holyoke; Powder Mill Middle School in Southwick; and Wood Hill Middle School in Andover.
