J Public Relations’ San Diego office is accepting applications for a full time Foodie and Lifestyle Publicist position. Our office is rapidly growing and we’re looking for the “right” candidate with a strong work ethic to handle top culinary and lifestyle accounts.

The ideal candidate should be an enthusiastic PR professional with a proven track record of handling high-end culinary and lifestyle accounts, providing clients with top-tier media results locally, regionally and nationally.

Considered candidates must be extremely connected with culinary, consumer and lifestyle media, and be very savvy with social media. Candidates must currently be living in or around Southern California.

Savvy, smart, connected and proven all define award-winning J Public Relations, one of the top hospitality and luxury lifestyle public relations firms in the country. For more information please visit http//:www.jpublicrelations.com.

IMPORTANT: Please send resume with cover letter and salary requirement to aogden@jpublicrelations.com. At this time, we are not seeking junior level publicists or consultants. Resumes will only be accepted via email. No phone calls please.

Our ideal Senior Publicist candidate will:

• Have a minimum of 3 years experience in the hospitality, culinary, travel, tourism, restaurant and consumer lifestyle arenas, either having worked in an agency or in-house position.
• Must have stellar restaurant, lifestyle and media references.
• Must have experience coordinating press trips and handling luxury accounts/brands.
• Must have strong relationships with local, regional and national media contacts and consider reading Food+Wine, Robb Report, Bon Appetit, etc. a favorite pastime.
• Demonstrate a strong understanding of the evolving social media landscape and its impact on PR in addition to familiarity working with online media outlets and blogs.
• Must have experience managing public relations campaigns, including working with teams including junior level team members.
• Excellent verbal and written skills a must, a creative approach key.
• Possess a personal passion for a job well done.
• Believe that hard work will be rewarded and is looking for an agency that believes it too.

Spiced Pair, The Chanler's Fine Dining Restaurant

The Chanler at Cliff Walk is a quaint 20-room hotel with the most spectacular views of the water and is the only hotel to sit on the famous Newport cliff walk. Just an easy 3-hour train ride from New York City and full of breathtaking flowers, trees, mansions, great restaurants and beaches, this past month I was lucky enough to spend 24 hours in Newport, RI visiting the breathtaking property.

The ideal place to completely relax, The Chanler is only minutes away from the historical mansions, which are definitely a must see while in Newport.  Each room at the hotel has a grand Jacuzzi tub with a TV facing it and nothing beats eating decadent Spiced Pear French toast while overlooking the glistening water in the morning!

I was fortunate enough to visit during The Chanler’s first ‘Dinner with Duffy’, a hands-on cooking class led by Executive Chef Thomas Duffy at Spiced Pear, The Chanler’s fine dining restaurant. The twelve students and myself learned how to make homemade four-cheese ravioli and homemade fettuccini.  It was such a fun process and the difference between homemade pasta and store bought pasta is very noticeable. We then went on to learn how to make peppercorn and Dijon mustard crusted flank steak and boneless braised beef short ribs – both of which were easy to make and incredibly tasty! After we were done cooking, everyone enjoyed their hard earned meal in the Spice Pear’s intimate dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows looking out onto Easton’s Beach. The class was not only informative and delicious but it was a fun and an incredibly special experience.

The Chanler is a beautiful property that provides impeccable service and is located in a great town known for its summer fun. I enjoyed my trip so much that instead of jitneys to the Hamptons, this summer I will be on the Amtrak to Newport!

Think Pink!

Jessie

This year, San Francisco will be celebrating the 75th anniversary of the illustrious Golden Gate Bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge Celebrates its 75th Anniversary

The Golden Gate Bridge was originally the grand idea of bridge-builder Joseph Strauss, an innovative engineer who saw the need for a bridge to be constructed across the Golden Gate.  At the time, the only way to get across San Francisco Bay was by ferry, and by the early twentieth century the bay was clogged with them. After being opposed by parties and overcoming concerns from naysayers, construction finally began in 1933. On May 27, 1937, 200,000 eager and excited pedestrians crossed the Golden Gate bridge on foot and skates to celebrate its commencement. A suspension bridge of this length (1.7 miles) had not been tackled previously and it was a structural victory born of massive human effort and grand design, ultimately a huge boost of morale to Americans coping with the effects of the Great Depression. To celebrate the historic landmark, San Francisco will be hosting a year-long celebration, centered around the Golden Gate Festival taking place on May 27th. This spectacular event will span the beautiful coastline from Fort Point to Pier 39 and will include events and activities in the iconic San Francisco areas of Ghirardelli Square, Fisherman’s Wharf and the Maritime Museum-just to name a few.

Toll House

To honor the San Francisco lexicon, the MetWest Terra’s Bay Area Collection of four properties will be offering guests exclusive packages throughout the month of May, including specials at Casa Madrona, Hotel Abri, The Lodge at Tiburon and Toll House Hotel.

Toll House Hotel - Los Gatos, CA

Situated in the heart of beautiful Los Gatos, Toll House captures the charm and ambiance of historic downtown and is only steps away from a bustling array of chic boutiques and eateries. In honor of the Golden Gate 75th Anniversary, Toll House is offering a $75 credit to Three Degrees Restaurant for guests that book a three night stay anytime during the month of May. Discount will be taken at time of check-in. Rate valid for stay dates throughout May 2012. Subject to availability. For more information visit http://tollhousehotel.com/packages/goldengate75/

The Lodge at Tiburon

The Lodge at Tiburon - Tiburon, CA

Across the spectacular San Francisco Bay, The Lodge at Tiburon is a simple, sublime escape from the bustle of the city. Only steps away from the Bay docks, The Lodge is a quaint retreat nestled among the cafés, boutiques and galleries of Tiburon and is adorned with relaxing décor and an inviting ambiance. This hidden retreat offers quintessential Northern California experience and offering a third night at $75 for guests that book two nights throughout the entire month of May in honor of the Golden Gate 75th Anniversary. Discount will be taken at time of check-in. Rate valid for stay dates throughout May 2012. Subject to availability. For more information visit http://lodgeattiburon.com/packages/goldengate75

Hotel Abri San Francisco

Hotel Abri San Francisco - San Francisco, CA

Ideal for the leisure and business traveler, the newly transformed Hotel Abri is a modern day urban oasis featuring a sleek décor complemented by contemporary art and upscale amenities. 2.5 blocks away from Union Square, Hotel Abri delivers the future of urban hospitality in the heart of San Francisco: innovative, practical and cool. Guests can celebrate the Bay Area’s most famous landmark, Golden Gate 75th Anniversary, with a third night at only $75 when they book two nights throughout the entire month of May. Discount will be taken at time of check-in. Rate valid for stay dates throughout May 2012. Subject to availability. For more information, visit http://hotelabrisf.com/packages/goldengate75

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa

Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa - Sausalito, CA 

Casa Madrona Hotel and Spa is poised on a lush hillside overlooking Richardson Bay. Situated in an ideal location the waterfront in downtown Sausalito, a picturesque and upscale Bay Area community north of San Francisco, just across the Golden Gate Bridge and in close proximity to Napa and Sonoma wine countries, downtown San Francisco and National Park scenery. The intimate, Northern California hotel perfectly blends the amenities of a full-service hotel with the charm of a historic inn. In celebration of the Golden Gate Bridge 75th Anniversary, guests receive a $75 credit to use at The Spa when they stay two nights throughout the entire month of May.  Discount will be taken at time of check-in. Rate valid for stay dates throughout May 2012. Subject to availability. For more information visit http://www.casamadrona.com/sausalito-hotel-packages.php

Going into the last week of my internship at J Public Relations, it has definitely been a bittersweet ending, but undoubtedly more on the sweet side. I can truly say that I had an unforgettable experience at JPR and formed lasting relationships.  I learned more than I ever expected, having sharpened my sense of public relations, familiarizing myself with the media world, and surprisingly fine-tuning my IT and computer skills.  I gained hands-on, valuable knowledge that will only benefit me as I begin my career in the PR world.  As this was my first foray into the PR industry, I thought I would share the top ten most important things I learned during my time here and hopefully help pave the way for many more interns who will have the opportunity to cut their teeth at J Public Relations.

Ramona and the NYC girls Enjoying Happy Hour

• Practice makes a publicist. Being proactive and taking initiative are crucial in order to be successful – especially as an intern. Whether that meant creating media lists, asking questions, or writing pitches and press releases, I constantly volunteered and challenged myself.

• Be resourceful. Google is your friend. Whenever I found myself with a question – whether it was related to our clients, industry news or terminology, I always tried to be proactive in finding out the answers on my own rather than simply throwing my hands up. Don’t get me wrong, asking questions is always a good thing. But asking questions backed with potential answers that you’ve already researched shows you are invested in making sure you get it right.

• Become an expert at CisionPoint. I realized how significantly important this program is and quickly learned how to master it – its an invaluable tool and definitely helps connect and find key media contacts for clients.

• Getting the right contact is EVERYTHING. I had to make sure I was compiling lists and pitching the right contacts for the angles.  Anyone can send an email to the first person on the editorial list and hope that the pitch “sticks.” To set yourself apart and be successful, you must invest time in the research and read, read, read to know who makes sense to pitch relevant information to.

• Always remember to give praise and support. Something I admire about JPR is how they consistently recognize the hard work and achievements of the team through “Pink Praise” – not only at the management level, but amongst the team as well. No matter how small the task, I always felt appreciated and pumped up to work hard.

• Take criticism constructively. I wanted and often asked for feedback, and then used it as a learning experience to improve my skill set. Isn’t that the ultimate point of an internship? Those who think they already know it all will have a rude awakening. 

• Lunch with your coworkers is more than socializing. It is amazing what you will pick up as an intern when you go out to grab lunch or sit down and eat with senior account leads and publicists. Tune in and take the time – it can sometimes be the most valuable part of your day.

• I’m representing JPR. I immediately became aware that whether I was meeting a client, at an event or just answering the phone, I had to conduct myself professionally because I am a reflection of and often the first impression of the firm. 

• JPR would ignite a passion. What initially started as an “interest” in travel and lifestyle PR has developed into a career path I am pursuing with genuine enthusiasm.  How many people can say they truly enjoy coming to work? –I could.

• How much I would miss my coworkers.  I knew I was going to make friends, I did not know it was going to be so hard to leave them. But another key thing I learned? Never burn bridges – always stay connected to key role models and influencers you meet.

Thank you to all the women of J Public Relations. You have impacted my internship experience in more ways than you’ll know.  It’s been my privilege, and I am very grateful to have had the opportunity to work with such amazing ladies.

Always thinking pink,

Ramona (a.k.a. Mones)

O’Dwyer’s just released their annual PR firm rankings issue and out of more than 120 independent U.S. PR firms ranked by net fees, specialty, geography and annual growth, we are thrilled to announce that J Public Relations registered the second biggest percentage gain, with a 63% growth, among 100 of the largest firms represented in the rankings.  JPR Founding Partner Kim, who is featured in the article, states that “our success and growth can be directly attributed to the unbridled passion, enthusiasm and expertise our team brings to each of our client and media relationships, resulting in true collaboration designed to deliver top level results”.  To read the full feature, click here.

We loved seeing Y.CO’s, latest addition to its luxury yacht collection in this month’s Robb Report. Coined by the publication as a “Penthouse apartment at sea,” Y.CO’s Vertigo is one-part luxury, one-part speed. Under sail, the 220’ sailing yacht can whisk up to 12 guests practically anywhere in the world at 18-knot speeds while offering all the amenities that come with, well… a penthouse.

For the yacht’s interiors, famed French designer, Christian Liagre, created an “urban at sea” atmosphere by incorporating custom-made furniture to match the brushed oak, leather and steel in the yacht’s 5,200 square feet of living space. On deck, an outdoor cinema complete with a drop-down film screen and 10-person hot tub provides entertainment off of one of the yacht’s five primary dining areas- another being a 12-seat marble table below the flybridge. Instituting the latest in technology, Apple TV-equipped display panels are scattered throughout while Google Earth Technology is harnessed in to display a 3-D global image of the yacht, giving guests the ability to see where they are in the world at any point in time.

And whenever guests feel like taking a shallow water expedition, the Vertigo’s matching 26-foot limousine tender is always on standby.

Anyone who follows JPR knows we LOVE Pinterest!   Our team is continually pinning inspirational photos that make us want to travel, party or just smile and think pink.  So we were thrilled when we read an article in the LA Times about how travel agents, travel writers and CVBs across the globe are using Pinterest as a virtual pinboard trip planner.  When you think of it, we take more pictures on vacations than any other time – because there’s no better way to capture a beautiful ocean view, luxurious suite, or candlelit restaurant.  Enjoy this article – it has some great tips for using Pinterest to plan your next trip!  To read the full article on LA Times, click here and to follow JPR on Pinterest, click here. 

Discover breathtaking places like this picture of St. Lucia in the Caribbean on Pinterest

JPR NYC gathered in Central Park bright and early last Sunday at the Run as One walk to support lung cancer. A cause near and dear to pink lady Greer’s heart, the JPR girls tied up their running shoes and braved the morning cold to walk with thousands of of New Yorkers to raise money and awareness for the cause. Waking up before 8 a.m. isn’t easy on a Sunday, but team “Sheryl’s Soldiers” (named after Greer’s mom) all rallied for the walk, raising a total of $3,715 for lung cancer. The pink ladies are excited to make this an annual event in NYC…brunch to follow the walk of course!

Team "Sheryl's Soldiers" Posing After the Walk

Travel + Leisure’s ”It List” recognizes the absolute best new hotels to open around the world that reshape their destinations yet still deliver an authentic sense of place.  Among an oceanfront refuge in Chile to a Hollywood mogul-owned resort in Italy’s untrammeled Basilicata region, we are thrilled to announce that JPR client, Washington School House located in Park City, Utah made this year’s 2012 T+L ”It List”.  Complete with creamy white wainscoting, vintage chandeliers, and French and Swedish antiques, Travel + Leisure loves that the 1889 schoolhouse, renovated to the studs, is more Alpine chic than Rocky Mountain rustic.  To read the full article, click here.

The Today Show also featured the stunning hotel in a recap of the “It List” this morning – to watch the full clip, click here.

We don’t know about you, but our favorite part of travel often involves the FOOD. We love trying the local cuisine, new flavors and talented chef’s creations!  What better way to submerse yourself in the local culture than actually trying your hand at cooking with the local ingredients?  Gadling recently collected this fun roundup of resorts across the globe where guests can make everything from tapas in Barcelona to homemade chowder in Ireland. Here are some JPR clients also offering guests the unique experience to combine luxury travel with fun, hands-on cooking classes:

The Regent Palms

Not traditionally known as a culinary destination, Turks and Caicos now has a Wine and Cooking class where guests will learn techniques from Michelin-rated Chef Eric Vernice of Parallel23, the renowned award-winning restaurant at the Regent Palms Turks and Caicos. Chef Eric and Turks’ only professional sommelier, J.S. Richer, team up for an exclusive hands-on cooking course which includes a live demonstration on how to prepare specialty dishes, an intriguing wine pairing lesson, and of course enjoying the gourmet masterpiece itself. Guests will walk away satisfied and inspired with their newly attained set of skills. Classes must be pre-arranged through the concierge, and require a minimum of four participants. For guests staying in one-,two-,or three-bedroom suites or penthouse room categories who prefer a more exclusive lesson, courses can be coordinated in-room in the suites’ state-of-the-art kitchens.

Recipe at Paresa Resort

Hidden in the cliffs amongst a lush tropical landscape, Paresa Resort, a luxury pool suite and villa resort in Phuket, Thailand, offers it’s very own Thai cooking school, Recipe. In a classroom boasting 270-degree ocean views of the stunning Andaman Sea, Master Chef Ryan Arboleda uses local ingredients and state-of-the-art equipment to lead guests though a Southeast Asian culinary journey. Classes include a visit to a nearby market and picking local herbs from Paresa’s own garden, making this a truly unique, interactive, market-to-table Thai cooking experience. In addition to their classes, Recipe offers a private dining option where students can create their own dinner party, showcasing their newly developed culinary skill set for up to 12 guests.

Lake Placid Lodge

Lake Placid Lodge, the only luxury resort located on Lake Placid, offers a new teaching kitchen geared toward all skill levels, from novice chefs to seasoned professionals. Students have the option of choosing a one-on-one demonstrations or group classes for up to twelve people in the state-of-the-art space. Courses are led by Executive Chef Nathan Rich, who joined the Relais & Chateaux property from the Mandarin Oriental Boston in early 2011. The Lodge offers a la carte classes, culinary weekend programs, cooking series classes and a weeklong “Master Class” with Chef himself. A personalized apron is provided for all participants to take home as a memento.

Cook'n With Class

Located in Montmartre, Cook’n With Class takes the “Paris Like a Local” approach to everything they do, offering the opportunity to shop in the local markets with your chef instructor, cooking the best that France is known for, and all in a very convivial environment.  They even offer a molecular gastronomy class. Cook’n With Class reports that their market class is the most popular because their guests would most likely not go to such a local market, where no one speaks English, within a quintessential Parisian neighborhood.  Since opening in 2007 they have needed to double their space and the number of classes has grown exponentially.

Saltbox Chef Simon Dolinky

Ceviche and gazpacho.  Chef Simon Dolinky of Saltbox Dining & Drinking, located in downtown San Diego’s Palomar Hotel, is launching a new cooking class series creatively dubbed, “Simon Says”.  The courses will highlight Chef Simon’s favorite seasonal ingredients as guests learn to create a dish or cocktail featuring his chosen theme.  The upcoming summer series will feature ceviche on June 30^th, gazpacho July 28^th and corn on August 25^th.

Last but certainly not least, guests who select the Inn the Garden package at the Rancho Bernardo Inn will experience an alfresco lunch in it’s truest form. After picking their own fresh ingredients during a guided outing in the Rancho Bernardo Inn garden, guests will watch Chef create a masterpiece out of the handpicked spring harvest. . For $499 a night, this package also includes a one-night stay for two, a bottle of wine specially selected to complement the custom lunch and a Jr. Garden Tool kit for any child gardeners who tag along.