FreeThink

Braving the Bike with the BTA

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:12:00 +0000

In an effort to be more sustainable, healthy, and to avoid my morning dose of road rage, I have recently become very interested in biking to work. However, the thought of braving the city streets on two wheels scares me to death. In an effort to better educate us all, last Thursday Stephanie Noll, Programs Manager from the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA), came and spoke to our office about the "rules of the road" as they apply to bicycle safety. (Side note - Stephanie road her bike here in a skirt! Who said you can't look great while you ride?!)

In the words of the BTA, the workshop "tells new and old riders alike about the laws, skills, and basic gear and basic maintenance that they need to know about to be safe and comfortable biking to work." Stephanie brought maps of bike routes, and taught us the basics of bike riding from hand signals, and easy ways to mount your bike to public transportation, to the best way to stay dry in our oft-times rainy climate. One of the biggest topics covered though, was how to share the road and pathways with cars and pedestrians alike, giving all of us novices a bit more courage to brave the road ahead.

Thanks to byCylce.org (a bicycle trip planner, similar to mapquest) I now have my safest and easiest route to get to work. With my helmet on and my lights lit, I plan to soon be brave enough to face the traffic (and the weather!) and truly enjoy the outdoors on my way to work.

-Hannah Hasbrook

Maxwell Lunch Bunch

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 15:17:00 +0000

Because today was such a beautiful sunny day, we Maxwellians were inspired to stroll through our neighborhood and lunch at the Sellwood Food Carts. After soaking up the sun and enjoying the yummy entrees procured from Garden State Foods and Kiko's Taqueria Uruapan, we sauntered over to Staccato Gelato for homemade Italian ice cream. Sated and then some, we returned to the office with renewed appreciation for our little pocket of Portland.

- Vicky Hastings

Consulting Your Cabinet

noreply@blogger.com (Hannah) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 00:02:00 +0000

Like a lot of women, I rely on word of mouth for recommendations, news and gossip. My boyfriend calls my close group of friends my "cabinet." When we are discussing something, he will often ask me if I have "consulted with my cabinet." While this can be annoying, it's true. I have found great hairdressers, clothing lines, sales and recipes by talking with my friends or reading their blogs - almost never by watching commercials or reading ads in newspapers and magazines.

Engage Moms recently shared some interesting facts about marketing to moms that totally validates the "cabinet" mentality. Some tidbits:

There are 35.3 million moms online with children under the age of 18 - a number projected to reach almost 37 million by 2012.
- There are only about 40 million moms, total, with children that age, across the U.S.
- Of the 36.2 million women actively participating in the blogosphere weekly, as either publishers or readers, 46% - or just over 16.5 million - have children at home.
- 67% of moms online look for advice from others when making a purchasing decision.
- 78% of moms who blog review products.

Engage Moms also reports that "Studies show that moms are increasingly losing trust in established 'experts' - institutions and the like - while trusting more in what other moms have to say."

It's nice to read this article, and confirm that I am not the only one that uses a "cabinet" of family and friends to navigate the world and discover the best (and worst) products to buy.

-Hannah Hasbrook

Where's the Beef?

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:23:00 +0000

Why I'm on the board of the Food Alliance.

-Jen Maxwell-Muir

Journalism 2.0 - The NY Times Gets It

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 19:16:00 +0000

Our team tipped off the New York Times to Astoria-Warrenton's colorful Fisher Poets Gathering last month and was happy to see an article run in this week. While it was a reminder that old school journalists still exists - reporters who don't like to work with the PR people who pitch a story because they want to unearth their own contacts/experiences - the result was still great. What I'm most impressed with is that the reporter not only captured the gritty, authentic essence of the event, but what they did with it online. Check it out: full interactive coverage that includes a slide show and sound bites of sea shanties and poetry, in addition to a traditional article. The New York Times could give a clinic to other publications for how to leverage the Internet to deliver news.

-Jen Maxwell-Muir

AMA MAX Awards

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 23:30:00 +0000

Maxwell cleaned up (to put it humbly) at the AMA MAX Awards, taking home more trophies than anyone else. While it was fun to win Best PR Campaign (Travel Oregon/Oregon Bounty), it was especially rewarding to be recognized for our work beyond media relations. In the category for Best Single Medium Advertising - Non-Traditional, our Seed the Day consumer engagement campaign for Dagoba Organic Chocolate was up against Henry V's work with KEEN on the STAND campaign - a project that we've always admired. Competing against other digital media firms, our Kettle Foods Death Valley Chipotle Facebook application was selected Best Single Medium Advertising - Interactive.

Although each campaign is distinctive in its own right, all three reflect important characteristics of Maxwell work. They authentically brought the clients' brands to life in ways that consumers could emotionally connect. They generated strategic results against modest budgets and measurable objectives. And they were for great clients willing to experiment with new ideas.

Apparently this approach doesn't only resonate with consumers; Oregon's AMA judges dug it too!

- Vicky, Sam & Molly

Green Grannies

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:37:00 +0000

Once upon a time, retirement homes didn't exist. Elderly grew old with family and friends and were integral and valued members of society. They passed down years of skills, knowledge and stories. As much of the western world has closed elderly out of our modern everyday life we've lost their tricks of the trade. And until recently, their absence has largely gone unnoticed.

But when times get tough we suddenly miss our grandparents' depression-era know-how. Thanks to Green Grannies, a project from Oxfam's new lifestyle campaign, Good Ideas Unltd, the older generation is spreading their wise words once again; not around the kitchen table, but on YouTube. From how to get the most out of stale bread to mending clothes, these grannies know it all. This project is brilliant on many levels. It allows elderly a contemporary outlet to be relevant and respected, even in our tech-heavy, youth-obsessed culture AND encourages sustainable lifestyles. Perhaps soon we'll go beyond watching grannies on our computer screens and we'll welcome their canning, sock-darning, story-telling, re-purposing, non-car diving knowledge back into our personal lives.

-Molly Cooney-Mesker

Numbers Don't Lie

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:44:00 +0000

We've all been watching the decline of newspapers but the hard facts are tough. My colleague Erica pulled current circulations figures from Cision for a handful of newspapers and compared with 06 data. Note the freefall, as high as 30+%:

Atlanta Journal Constitution
2006 = 365,011
2009 = 274,999
-90,012

Houston Chronicle
2006 = 521,419
2009 = 448,271
-73,148

Los Angeles Times
2006 = 907,997
2009 = 739,147
-168,850

Miami Herald
2006 = 312,811
2009 = 210,884
-101,927

The Plain Dealer
2006 = 476,424
2009 = 305,529
-170,895

The Oregonian
2006 = 342,040
2009 = 283,321
-58,719

Celebs on (for) Sale

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 19:38:00 +0000

We recently learned that due to these trying economic times, celebrities now come at a new low, low price. Like everything else, famous spokespeople, celeb endorsements and star appearances are now ON SALE.

And I'm only half joking... in many ways this is a great time to inexpensively explore the realm of celebrity marketing. If you're so inclined.

In one "offer" we recently received, a company will survey celebrities about issues related to your brand and the reduced-rate responses are yours to use in press materials and announcements. You pay for the number of celebrity respondents and costs depend on how "big" the celebrities are. Y'know, fame-wise. Soap Opera actors, reality stars and "stars of yesteryear" come at the bargain rate of $3,500... but many will "work" for less (yay?). Bigger stars (the ones still working, I presume) still fetch higher figures.

So the question is - when does it make sense to reach for the stars?

-Erica Erland

Starbucks Creates a Buzz

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 23:35:00 +0000

Starbucks' new ~~instant coffee~~ "water soluble caffeine product," Via, caused quite a stir last week. Via, which has been in development for the last 20 years, will be available in Starbucks cafes next month. Howard Schultz, chief executive of Starbucks, believes that Via provides "innovation, competition, and value." Hmmm...

With Via entering the market, Starbucks is presenting a coffee beverage that we will both have to schlep to a Starbucks cafe to pick up and prepare ourselves. It baffles me that Starbucks sees this as an opportunity for growth. I will admit, every Saturday morning I pour boiling water into my coffee grounds to make a great cup of coffee - it's called a French press. It costs me far less that $1 per cup and I would wager that it may actually taste better, too. So, my initial reaction is to question their rationality. To be fair, I will soon be one of the masses that will try a complimentary sample. Maybe this will change my mind - after all a packet wouldn't break on camping trips. I can't say as much about my French press.

That said, in the last month Starbucks has added a "value-menu" to their offerings (though they refuse to call it that) and now instant coffee. Initially people were willing to pay $4 for a latte because they were buying the "Starbucks experience," in which one could get a consistent cup of coffee wherever Starbucks was sold. However, in this struggling economy many have found the cost of coffee from Starbucks to be beyond what their tightening budgets can handle. Starbucks' cafes are closing all around the world, "partners" are getting laid off in record numbers and Starbucks is seemingly trying anything to get people to walk through their doors. Is the Starbucks brand, which once thrived, now dying?

-Hannah Hasbrook

Watch Out

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 19:49:00 +0000

You will get totally sucked in. Check out an effort by Orange wireless in the UK to promote unlimited texting. While you're there, sign up to learn a new language!

-Jen Maxwell-Muir

A Rare Find

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 19:31:00 +0000

Although wine tasting is one of my favorite things to do any time of year, I had forgotten that winter is an especially good time to pursue this hobby. Harvest is over, winery people have time to chat about their wines, and this leisurely pace makes it easy to discover new wineries and varietals. Touring the Yamhill Valley area on Saturday, our group was delighted to stumble across Daedalus Cellars in downtown Dundee, Oregon. Newly located on Highway 99 near Tenth Street, the tasting room is a bit hard to find, but definitely worth the effort. Having the opportunity to chat with direct sales manager Sara Shaw, taste Daedalus' Gruner Veltliner, and learn more about Aron Hess' low-intervention winemaking was the highpoint of the day. Daedalus is only one of two U.S. wineries that make "Gruner," an Austrian varietal.

There are so many tasting rooms in Oregon Wine Country that it's easy to find something new and amazing on every outing. On your next visit, I encourage you to check out Deadalus.

-Vicky Hastings

Will Blog for Food

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:27:00 +0000

It's an interesting concept. Can an outreach effort to a legion of bloggers help raise $5,000? We hope so, because the effort is for the Oregon Food Bank, the hub of a network of 915 hunger-relief agencies in Oregon and SW Washington. The organization has been hard hit by the recession, where families who have never known hunger are turning for emergency food. The problem is, demand is so the agency is struggling to keep up with community needs.

"Layoffs, foreclosures and other economic disruptions are taking a terrible toll on our neighbors," they say. We all know it's true. Who doesn't personally know someone affected by these tough times?

So we've joined in tandem with other bloggers this month to spread the word about this modern-day food drive (please manually enter 'blog for food' in the tribute section on the Oregon Food Bank donation page in order for your donation to count toward the campaign). As the Oregon Food Bank's slogan says... because no one should be hungry.

-Jen Maxwell-Muir

Where have all the writers gone?

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 22:14:00 +0000

As print publications feel the effect of tightened ad spending and trim the editorial mastheads, many newly unemployed (or less reliably employed) mainstream journalists are making their way to the World Wide Web.

We already know that blogs are driving purchase and now, with experienced journalists flocking online to continue their reporting work, the digital media is continuing to grow its credibility and influence. For clients with a soft spot for print media, there's another upside to reaching out to Web-based writers now - many of the friends we make online during these "trying economic times" will ultimately go back to work for print publications... taking their new-found brand affinities with them.

Additionally, as newsroom staffs and editorial teams shrink, journalists are tasked with doing more in less time and with fewer resources. We're now seeing editors turn to blogs for research and sometimes even expert sources. The result? Food, fashion and beauty bloggers are showing up quoted in the pages of glossy magazines recommending products and highlighting trends.

For an agency already well into the work of "blogger relations" it's nice to see the new energy infused into existing online media as well as the creation of new blogs and Web sites. Our recommendation is that now, perhaps more than ever, it's important to build and nurture relationships with bloggers and Web writers... you never know where they'll go!

- Erica Erland

Happy Birthday, Oregon!

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 23:32:00 +0000

Can you say "sesquicentennial?"

Christina and I attended an AMA luncheon today about "Marketing on a Shoestring," related to Oregon's 150th birthday coming up this February 14.

To kick things off, Governor Ted Kulongoski assigned a smart, driven team of marketing professionals with the enormous task of creating a grassroots, partner-driven campaign with the lofty goals of 1) making sure everyone in the state knows 2009 is Oregon's birthday and 2) making sure everyone has at least one positive Oregon experience during 2009.

I don't know about you, but rarely do marketing professionals go along with goals that require reaching everyone.

Luckily, the team lead by Lee Weinstein and Saga Shoffner were up for the challenge. To date, they've been incredibly successful gathering partners and sponsors, navigating some tough waters to unite public and private groups and exploring a variety of marketing avenues that seem to be on track to actually reach every Oregonian.

If you're not sure how you're going to celebrate, the Oregon 150 team has also made it easier to follow all of the sesquicentennial events. Meet Seski, the lovable and mysterious sasquatch mascot, who enjoys showing up in unexpected places like the Oregon Zoo and Civil War football game, and who also happens to be quite good at social networking. Check him out on Facebook, Twitter and his very own blog.

(Not to worry -- Christina and I were just acting scared for the camera. He really is very polite. And very tall.)

So whether you're a native Oregonian or an Oregonian in training, find something to do this year that celebrates our great state. And who knows, maybe you'll see a sasquatch along the way.

-Laura Herbert

A Perfect 10

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 21:03:00 +0000

New Year's Eve has come and gone, but my friends and I are still talking about the fantastic time we spent saying goodbye to 2008 at Portland's Ten01 restaurant. It was a perfect 10 evening -- praise I rarely dispense. The ambiance, the food and the beverages were as good as I could possibly imagine. Of special note were the Manhattan cocktails prepared by our favorite bartender, Kelley Swenson, who also created Oregon Bounty beverages at the New York City media event we produced for Travel Oregon last fall.

If you're looking for a wonderful dining experience, Ten01 fills the bill.

-Vicky Hastings

The End of Consumerism?

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:35:00 +0000

As a marketer, it's my job to help our clients sell goods and services. Some people have challenged that my career choice is in direct conflict with my advocacy for sustainability. I'll admit it's a paradox, which is why we work so hard to align Maxwell with businesses that believe in investing in sustainable business practices.

There's another type of inconsistency to ponder; it's what economists call the "paradox of thrift." The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that consumers are finally curbing the spending spree of the past decade, and actually saving more and spending less. We all know the DIY movement -- from backyard gardening to old fashioned sewing -- has gained huge momentum. Looks like the days of our parents (depending on your age) and grandparents -- where reduse, reuse, recycle stood for being thrifty -- are back.

The irony is that, what used to be revered as a quality character trait, is now bad for the economy. Typically savings help fuel investments, but in a recession, when consumers pull back, it contributes to a downturn. Like everyone else, I want the economy to get back on its feet and the millions who have lost their jobs to regain financial security. But I'd be lying if I didn't admit to some satisfaction that people are digging their hands in dirt, cooking their own meals, reading on public buses and, hopefully spending more time with loved ones. It's a forced slow down for sure, but maybe our culture will benefit in the end.

-Jen Maxwell-Muir

Stores That Really "Pop"

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 01:36:00 +0000

It's a slow holiday week, the perfect time to catch up on my pile of industry reading. I just finished the Hartman Group's 2009 Cultural Trends report, which had some great insights and interesting concepts. First on the list (and my personal favorite): the "pop-up" store.

In 2008, brands ranging from Fiat to Target created mini-stores in major cities to raise awareness of their products and personality. Open for a limited time, and frequently offering specialty items not typically available on shelves, pop-up stores provide consumers with playful, unique shopping experiences and a whole new level of brand interaction.

Target's four NYC storefronts, dubbed "Bullseye Bodegas," were open for only four days, giving New Yorkers the chance to pick up exclusive fashion creations by high profile designers.

Method's pop-up store in NYC offered their consumers a way to fully engage with the products. It featured aroma stations, exclusive mix & match kits and an opportunity to trade out old, toxic household cleaners for free Method products, In addition, brand ambassadors were on hand to answer questions and give advise.

I've always loved the pop-up store concept, though I've never actually been in "the right place at the right time" to go to one. I wish more companies would give people outside of major metropolitan cities (particularly NY and LA) the chance to have unexpected interactions like these. Oh well, maybe someday. In the meantime, I'm keeping my eyes peeled for that magic moment when I finally happen upon one in real life...

-Sam Burton

Zappos -- Open for Questions (But It'll Cost You!)

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 19:21:00 +0000

How do they DO it? For $39.95, Zappos will tell ya!

It's no secret that we're big fans of Zappos here at Maxwell PR. Pioneers of the free shipping both ways model, this online shoe retailer (and now clothing, accessories 'n' more) was a trailblazer in bringing the in-store shopping experience to the Internet. We dig it, and so do lots of others it seems since the company is slated for sales of $1 billion this year.

With leaders of companies ranging from Southwest Airlines and Best Buy flocking to the Las Vegas headquarters hoping to learn a thing or two, Zappos has decided to open for questions.

According to a profile in Brandweek on Monday, Zappos is rolling out a new program called Zappos Insights which will let companies dig into the Zappos way and get answers from actual Zappos folk -- for a monthly fee. A company CEO said the service is targeted at companies looking to build their businesses and fills a management consultant role at an affordable rate -- $39.95 per month.

Sounds like a good deal for general brain-picking! We’ll have to watch and see if subscribers line up to listen in on the business tips from inside Zappos. Seems like if the model works it might be nice to bring in guests from other companies as well, since even $39.95 per month might seem steep for a single perspective after awhile. Maybe those peeps from Southwest and Best Buy could weigh in on how they applied what they learned?

-Erica Erland

Learning from the 'Big Fish'

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 20:58:00 +0000

A few of us had the opportunity to attend the Portland Advertising Federation's presentation about connecting with your audiences online. It was an engaging and refreshing presentation by Jay Corson, Vice President for Account Services at Big Fish Marketing (Big Fish's clients include A&E, Bravo and Comedy Central, among other large entertainment outlets). Big Fish's approach to online marketing is relevant and progressive, including trade media, online advertising, viral games, online PR and social networking. It was revitalizing to hear Jay bid farewell to the days of pop-ups and bland, obtrusive, misplaced banner ads. We've all seen the changes taking place on our MySpace and Facebook pages: not so long ago MySpace thought I was a 45-year-old man looking for a date; now they seem to have an inkling that I am a younger woman, although they still think I'm looking for a date -- I am not.

Recently brands have started to breathe life into online ads by incorporating social networking, text message technology, gaming and blogs to traditional online media to create campaigns that converse with, relate to and entertain consumers. This new breed of ads live on niche websites, social networking pages and allow thoughtfully targeted customers to become part of online communities, earn deals and give to charities they connect with. These new and improved ads provide action-driven, clearly indicated buttons that don't sweep you off the webpage but keep content in the ad box on the webpage you want to be on.

C'est la vie to the days of irrelevant banner ads and neon pop ups!

-Molly Cooney-Mesker

Maxwell Holiday Office Bash!

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 21:24:00 +0000

We had our "office party" last week and it was one of our best yet. As Kate Sokoloff of LiveWire! said, "Office parties are supposed to be a bore -- didn't you get the memo?" Ha! I loved her for that because she captured everything about what we try to do with our party: make sure it's actually fun. Mix good music, great food and fun activities and the end result is a pretty darn good mixer. What is always fun to see is how interconnected the Maxwell community is, which is always evident at the party when old friends get reacquainted and new connections are made. In some cases it's (sadly) the only time I get to see some people every year!

On top of the party we always work to incorporate an interactive activity and/or fundraiser. In the past, attendees have made such items as ornaments and sock puppets. This year we sent T-shirts to decorate for a cause. We raised nearly $700 at the party!! People were so creative and generous that we made a last-minute decision to match the donations to charities ranging from Oregon Humane Society to Big Brothers Big Sisters. A great topper to a fun night (that, yes, resulted in a slow moving Friday a day later...)

Cheers!

-Jen Maxwell-Muir

SeaPort 'Hits the Sky Running'

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:22:00 +0000

When I first heard about SeaPort Airlines, a new carrier which flies almost exclusively between Seattle and Portland (Seattle-Pendleton service just began last week, and soon Seattle-Astoria will take to the friendly skies), quite frankly I just didn't get it. 'PDX to Boeing in 90 minutes' they claimed, but what about security? Parking? What about all the other 50 things that turn a 3-hour flight into an all-day hellish rigamaroll? Simply put, they don't have all that. And today when I attended a presentation put on by the American Marketing Association's Portland chapter about SeaPort Airlines I finally learned why.

Because they operate only on 9-passenger planes, under the current laws SeaPort is too small for the FSA to force regulation upon. This means no security check-ins or long lines to speak to a "customer service" represntative. They also aren't required to even operate out of a major airport, that's why Seattle flies into Boeing field (MUCH closer to downtown then Sea-Tac), and Portland operates out of a terminal next to Flightcraft at PDX, which equals ample valet parking at each venue. It also means you only have to arrive 15 minutes before departure time -- pretty sweet!

Obviously, SeaPort is tailored to the business traveler, not the casual consumer. At a roundtrip ticket price averaging out to $300, I'll probably still be putting my pedal to the metal (or hopping aboard perma-tardy Amtrak) when I head up north to visit friends, but then again my time in not necessarily money, for many (much more important) others, it is.

However, one thing I think SeaPort is really missing the boat on is not offering their customers a frequent flier program, at least not from what I can gather on their website. These programs really do help strengthen brand loyalty, and heck, if somone is using your service enough to garner a free trip (or perhaps gift cards to high-class Portland or Seattle restaurants), give it to them already, you'll make the investment back 10-fold! Consumers, such as myself, love nothing more then a good ROI.

And SeaPort, let me know when you start offering a Tigard-Sellwood route -- I could really use the help with morning traffic!

-Christina Stewart

Maxwell Launches Oregon Wine Country Web Site

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:56:00 +0000

Armed with the knowledge that consumers engage more with YouTube videos and Flickr photos made by real people as opposed to professionally finished images, Maxwell PR produced a new Web site for the Willamette Valley Visitors Association featuring amateur videos and photography.

The new site shows potential visitors the real Willamette Valley, not only what some fancy-shmancy PR team had mocked up (natch). However, on this site, the professional photos actually help demonstrate the natural beauty of the region and reinforce that people here are proud of their land -- and deservedly so.

Check it out for yourself and plan your next wine tasting tour.

-Vicky Hastings

Stop and Smell the Rosey's

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:21:00 +0000

Last week Jen Scott and I hit up the Portland Advertsting Federation's Rosey Awards at the Newmark Theater. There was a lot of fun to be had between reconnecting with old colleagues, former classmates and current friends -- not to mention sweet sippy cups for us to haul our free drink(s) around with!

Maxwell didn't enter any awards ourselves, but we certainly couldn't help but be impressed by all the fantastic creative work that goes on around town. Big winners that night included Borders Perrin Norrander, Leopold Ketel and Nemo Design, among many other worthy agencies.

Other highlights included the length of show (one hour -- pretty dang good in the world of award shows!), genuinely funny announcers (check out this clip in particular) and, seriously, the comraderie among the audience members -- everyone seemed to be rooting for everyone.

Hopefully we'll see everyone again for the next "Showdown in Stumptown."

-Christina Stewart

Oregon and "Twilight" -- A Match Made in (Tax Rebate) Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (DoubleE) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:28:00 +0000

I admit it -- I've started reading "Twilight." Yes, that same "Twilight" you're seeing everywhere you turn; bookstores, websites and, most recently, the movie theater.

Set to release this Friday in the U.S., "Twilight" centers around high school, first loves and, naturally, vampires. I won't ruin the plot for you (mainly because I've only read half the first book so far), but like any hald-decent teen creation, drama ensues. And not just your run-of-the-mill "OMG, we're wearing the same prom dress!" drama, we're talking bonified restless eternal soul-type drama.

Suffice to say, it's a nice guilty pleasure with an added bonus -- it was filmed right here in Oregon. Although set in Forks, Wash., due to Washington taxes and Oregon's tax rebates, our fair state won the Pacific Northwest bidding war. According to the Statesman Journal, "Twilight" spent over $20 million here in Oregon, and if this film's a hit, you can bet three more will follow (there are four books in author Stephanie Meyer's saga).

Entrepreneurial Oregonians throughtout the state have already started to cash in on "the next 'Harry Potter.'" A "Movie Sneak Preview Trip" started Monday, Nov. 17 and will run through tomorrow in the Portland area, with visits to the Columbia River Gorge, St. Helens and other locations planned. How much does it cost to get your hands on this Cullen-loving trip? Well they range from $699 to $949 each for privileges such as a talk by the film scout for "Twilight" and a preview of the movie Tuesday. As of Monday, 15 people were signed up. "Passion for Fashion and Prom" is another event scheduled to take place next August at the View Point Inn in Corbett.

Now I don't know how I'd feel about all this if was a St. Helens resident who suddenly had my small town descended upon by throngs of sharp teeth-loving teens. But I do know that these interactive tours are a fun (and lucrative) way to ramp up tourism in certain areas. The "Harry Potter" franchise has brought millions of pounds to UK tourism, and revitalized cities once thought almost-dead.

Now I'm not saying a vampire or two could compare to all that, but hey, if a wizard can do it, who's to say they can't?

-Christina Stewart