Himmelrich PR is excited to expand its scope of work in four new markets, having begun promotion for Bebe Paluzza’s upcoming Baby & Toddler Expos. And with Mother’s Day only a few days away, there seems a no more appropriate time to have babies and family on the brain.

The Chicago Baby & Toddler Expo will be the first show of the season for Bebe Paluzza and a brand new show for the company, which recently expanded to five markets throughout the country. We’re excited to be promoting Bebe Paluzza’s new partnerships, hundreds of exhibitors, nationally-known speakers, and successful events! (And we’re excited to now provide our services to 24 consumers shows in 13 markets.)

This may be an example of the adage “good things come to those who wait.”

One of our summer interns just called to say he will not be in Baltimore this summer as planned. So, we suddenly find ourselves with a lot of fun, important work, and one less person to do it.

Interns at Himmelrich PR are introduced to the full range of public relations activities, by having experience doing everything we do - promoting shows and events, writing media materials, creating online content, conducting research, working with the media, and arranging promotions.

We are looking for someone who is energetic, proactive, deadline-oriented and professional. And is looking to learn a lot this summer.

Interested candidates should send contact Mike Fila at mike@himmelrich.com. (no phone calls, please)

Sugarloaf Craft Festivals completed its Spring 2010 season with a flourish last weekend in Timonium.  Attendance at the three-day event beat last year’s attendance by a 20%. Happy visitors purchased more than $1.2 million in fine arts and contemporary crafts.

This exciting finish caps a very encouraging show season for Sugarloaf. Active marketing to the crafts community resulted in many more new exhibitors than in recent memory. Sugarloaf saw more first-time visitors, and the positive impact of its social media efforts (including more than 7,500 “People Who Like” it on Facebook) was confirmed by exhibitors, as well as constant conversations on Facebook.  Attendance results for the season beat the industry standard, and an impressive $5.7 million in sales was recorded in just 18 show days.

At the end of the day (or, the end of the show season), we think that these results not only speak well for the value of thoughtful and diligent public relations but for a change in consumer confidence. We are already looking forward to next season.

Himmelrich PR president Steve Himmelrich was one of three panelists at this morning’s Baltimore Public Relations Council meeting.  Billed as “Spend the Morning with Baltimore’s PR Veterans,” the presentation quickly turned into a discussion on social media (as do most current media-related discussions).  Attendees asked about how to help clients understand the role of social media in a PR plan, tricks and tools for staying current with new applications and media changes, and integrating online media with more traditional public relations tactics.  Steve was happy to share how we manage our media operations, and used some of our most recent successes (particularly for the Maryland Science Center and Sugarloaf Craft Festivals) as illustrations.

After 20 years in space, and some daring missions to repair and upgrade its technology, the Hubble telescope continues to provide us with breathtaking views of the universe.  It also continues to hold a very strong grasp on the imagination of space enthusiasts, as evidenced by the success of the recent IMAX film now playing at the Maryland Science Center, and three recent stories published by the Baltimore Sun.

Last night, the Maryland Science Center hosted veteran astronaut Dr. John Grunsfeld, who spoke to a crowd of over 400 Hubble fans before a screening of the film.  The event–and the film—were a reminder about the significance Hubble’s mission, the legacy that it will leave, and the vast potential of its work yet to come.

Lights, Camera, Cosmos

Cool 3-D IMAX Film Showcases Hubble Repairs

Hubble mission takes audiences on thrilling odyssey

The Contemporary Museum’s Mobtown Modern concert series and its curator, Brian Sacawa, are prominently featured in an article in this week’s City Paper about the rise of modern music culture in Baltimore. And yes, that is Brian on the cover.

In the piece, editor Lee Gardner describes how contemporary composition favors bars and art galleries over the traditional concert hall, and where a small group of entrepreneurial musicians, like Sacawa, are bringing little-known New Music composers to a growing number of curious fans.

The first credit in the article goes to the Contemporary Museum’s concert series, currently in its third season.

A new month, a new fiscal quarter, the season and the holidays of renewal, our lucky 13th anniversary – all at the same time, and all good reasons for us to have taken a brief break from our work to realize our March Madness.

In the past 31 days, we were honored to start working with three new clients and renew relationships with three former ones… to help a client top 6,500 Facebook fans… to promote a consumer show (one of the five we promoted this month) that recorded a 28% increase in attendance over last year… to support standing-room-only music and film events… to begin promoting two major fundraising galas and the opening of a first-of its-kind LEED-platinum facility, to create partnerships between our clients and some pretty prestigious national brands…

Life (and business) is good.

Himmelrich PR’s Mike Fila has been selected to join the inaugural class of Business Volunteers Unlimited Maryland’s Getting Involved in Volunteer Experiences (GIVE) program.

As part of the two-year program, Mike will participate in volunteer and leadership development experiences, culminating in placement on the board of a local nonprofit. Mike has already rolled up his sleeves to help the Baltimore Free Store move its facilities.

In addition to GIVE, Mike also volunteers with the National Academy Foundation High School – Baltimore.

This weekend’s Sugarloaf Crafts Festival in Hartford, CT is off to a great start – good crowds on the first day, brisk sales, lots of positive feedback from the 200 exhibiting artists and their appreciate customers, and some nice media mentions.  Check out the early coverage on Fox CT,  and in the Connecticut Post, Danbury News - Times, and Stamford Advocate.

Thousands of homeowners took advantage of our first warm days last weekend to celebrate the unofficial (but for us, with clients hosting seven consumer shows in the next seven weeks, it’s official!) start of spring – the annual Maryland Home & Garden Show.

The only “snow” we saw at the show was a flurry of press! The Baltimore Sun featured the Show in a story by Eileen Ambrose and numerous posts on Susan Reimer’s Garden Variety blog. WJZ and WBAL also broadcast live from the fairgrounds. TV personality, and the “mad scientist” of clean Joey Green, was featured in articles in the Baltimore Sun, Jewish Times and Carroll County Times, as well as in appearances on WBFF, WJZ, and WBAL.