From Kiehl’s to cupcakes

I can’t imagine things being much busier than the IT Lounge, but the past few weeks have come pretty close! My team and I were flying all over Canada (and to and from New York) for a number of exciting events. From Kiehl’s to cocktails to cupcakes… talk about multitasking!

The September 29 opening of Kiehl’s Since 1851’s in Chinook Mall in Calgary was a huge success! The store was packed with customers who were so excited to have the store in their city. Products aside, the vintage touches, like the Harley Davidson and chandelier, were big hits. Every city needs a little bit of New York apothecary in it, don’t you think? :)

The most memorable part of the trip was probably the in-store interview we arranged with Calgary’s Breakfast Television. We talked a construction worker into being the unofficial “model” for the segment and he let the Kiehl’s team give him a skin assessment on camera. What a good sport!

While that was going on, Peter van ’t Zelfde, who develops Bols’ flavours from the company’s headquarters in Amsterdam, was in Canada to host events in Vancouver, Edmonton, Ottawa and Winnipeg. He gave bartenders and restaurant owners the chance to try new flavours and spoke about the—get this!—one million drinks that you can make with Bols liqueurs! I’m not a big drinker but they have a new apricot brandy flavour that sounds so perfect for the fall. I can’t wait to try it! As you could probably guess, my staff had a great time helping organize the events and travelling around the country to promote this amazing 430-year-old brand.

If you wish you could have been there, don’t worry—you can still get involved. Bols is looking for new flavour ideas—something truly Canadian! Send your ideas to Andrea at andrea@nkpr.net. Your recipe might end up on Bols' bottle tags in stores all over the country!

I’ve also been spending a lot of time in New York City lately. So much so that there’s a new article about why I’m here (we expanded to NYC last year). The next interview I want to do about New York? Food! I’ve taken more than just one bite out of the Big Apple in the past few days. Magnolia cupcakes, croissants at Pastis, lunch at Blue Water Grill (including a PB&J sundae for dessert), more Magnolia cupcakes… Not a single apple, actually. Huh. Isn’t that ironic?

XO Natasha