Thursday: Good morning from NOLA + here's what is on my (life and work!) agenda

Reminder: You can still RSVP for Monday's A-US-A Zoom!

Good morning from NOLA!

This is my first time in New Orleans since roughly around 2019, and I’m so happy to be back. This is one of my top 5 food cities, and it’s always exciting to see all the new developments in the area each visit.

Last night, I had my first experience with Senegalese food. We went to Dakar, the very-newly-opened restaurant from Serigne Mbaye, and it was excellent. I’ll chat more about that soon, but I shared some photos from last night in my Instagram stories!

Speaking of excellent experiences, my wonderful hosts just dropped off beignets and coffee from the one and only Cafe Du Monde at my room, and that is indeed the breakfast of champions.

They also left THIS in my room yesterday!

I’ve been at many, many properties over the year, but a typewriter to play with may be my favorite in-room amenity yet. As this hotel, Eliza Jane, is named after the owner and editor of the Daily Picayune in 1870 (a woman who owned and ran a newspaper in the 1800s!), it felt pretty perfect. Eliza Jane Nicholson was actually the FIRST woman in the country to publish a major newspaper. How badass is that?

Today, I have some cocktail (and gumbo)-specific exploring planned, and in related news, my latest for Forbes just published this morning!

Aly Walansky alywalansky.substack.com @alywalansky

These Cocktails Offer The Spirit Of Bourbon Street Just In Time For Mardi Gras via @Forbes

forbes.comThese Cocktails Offer The Spirit Of Bourbon Street Just In Time For Mardi GrasThese cocktails are perfect to capture the spirit of Mardi Gras.

Reminder: Zoom A-Us-A Is In A Few Days

Just a reminder for anyone who missed yesterday’s email: Jill, Alice, and myself will be hosting a Zoom (so, get it? Ask-US-Anything) on Monday, February 6th at 10 am PST/1 pm EST. We are limiting RSVPs to people who are a paid subscriber to any one of our 3 newsletters, but as space is limited, preference is going to anyone who is a subscriber to all three (free is fine). For more information on how to RSVP, you can check out yesterday’s newsletter here. That’s where you’ll find registration link, Zoom info, and far more. We’ll be covering the concerning rise in AI, the media layoffs of late, and anything else that comes up. No topic is off limits!

Newly published or freshly updated

Since people are often asking about the status of stories from a while ago, and I only share stories in this newsletter that were published or updated in the current week, I have created a list of my author pages at various publications to which I contribute. Bookmark it and make your life a bit easier.

This list will live on my Substack URL and be updated as necessary. That way, you can see what I’m doing at any publication, at any time, from types of stories to general structure of stories to even volume and frequency of my content at that outlet.

This can also help you to target pitching a bit better. That makes your job easier, and mine too!

• Forbes: These Mardi Gras Desserts Are The Perfect Finale For Any Celebration

• Forbes: These Cocktails Offer The Spirit Of Bourbon Street Just In Time For Mardi Gras

• Food Network: Häagen-Dazs Innovates with New Butter Cookie Ice Cream Cone

• RetailMeNot: 13 Purr-fect Valentine’s Day Gifts for Pets

• RetailMeNot: Affordable Valentine’s Day Gifts That Show Lots of Love on a Budget

• RetailMeNot: Coffee Shops and Restaurants With Bring-Your-Own-Reusable Cup Discounts

• The Kitchn: Cinnamon Toast Crunch-Flavored Bugles are Hitting Shelves Soon

• Forbes: How To Plan A Delicious Super Bowl Viewing Party

• Southern Living: Can You Freeze Cheesecake?

• Clean Plates: 5 Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods Perfect for Valentine’s Day at Home

• YourTango: 15 Unique Pieces Of Jewelry Women Love Most

• Mashed: Myths about Instant Pots You Need To Stop Believing

• Pawp.com: 14 Pet Hair-Proof Pants And Leggings For Cat & Dog Owners

• Clean Plates: 8 Costco Foods Nutritionists Love for Valentine’s Day

• SPY.com: Our Favorite Funny Valentine’s Day Cards Are Sure to Make Them Giggle (or Blush!) on February 14

• Forbes: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Luxury Seafood Boxes

• Forbes: Valentine’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Interactive Gifts For Couples Who Love To Cook Together

If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares! Please remember to tag @alywalansky and the outlet.

Here’s what I’m working on:

Be sure to read the below list carefully. Many are stories I posted about yesterday, but some of yesterday's stories are no longer listed and a few new ones have been added since yesterday. This (below) is everything that is still a currently open opportunity as of today.

Please remember when pitching me: Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com - do NOT just hit reply on this newsletter, or there’s a good shot your email will be lost in the heap. Give your email a subject line that makes it clear which story you are pitching me for — it’ll help you in the long run.

Please consult my industry insights guides on submitting expert commentary, sending emails that will catch a journalist’s attention, how to craft pitches journalists will say ‘yes’ to, and the right and wrong way to submit photos, if you need any extra guidance before sending your pitches.

Today.com

For Today.com, I’m rounding up deals at chains for both National Pizza Day (2/9), and Valentine’s Day. This isn’t simply that you are doing a heart-shaped pizza or a special menu item, but that you are doing some sort of specific deal or discount — think BOGO, freebie, discount code, etc. If you have anything, please email me the name of the chain, where it is located (if it’s not national), what the deal is, and how to claim it.

Southern Living

I’m working on an explainer on how to preheat your air fryer. Clearly, I’m very aware of how to preheat an air fryer - I use it nightly! But, I’d love an air fryer expert of some sort (other than me, haha!), to weigh in on times they would preheat and times they would not, and why. And, also, the benefits of preheating in certain recipes.

Forbes

I’m looking for cocktails that are in honor of the Super Bowl. These are cocktails that must exist on the menu at a bar or restaurant (it’s fine if it’s a special just for the next few weeks!). Please send me:

• Name of drink

• Where available

• Description of drink (NOT a recipe)

• Quote from bartender/chef/owner about drink/inspiration

• LINK to high res image of drink, with appropriate photo credit

**Please send all pitches for this one by Friday 2/3

Here’s what I’m currently working on for Valentine’s Day:

The best gifts for a romantic dinner at home

For all of these guides (and honestly, most guides for any outlet, I would prefer all pitches be sent in the following format):

• Name of product

• link where sold, price

• Description of product

• LINK to high res image

*please please make sure that an item is not discontinued, and is currently available and in stock to ship and arrive before Valentine’s Day before pitching me. Sound obvious? I got a LOT of holiday pitches that did not fit this qualification!

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Looking to up your affiliate marketing game?

Affiliate marketing is complicated, and it seems that the landscape keeps changing. If you are looking to be prepared for gift guide season and all other shopping-related content, you may want to try the Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. It's a brilliant course and it'll answer all your questions (including some you didn't know you had!)

Virtual consulting sessions...

Looking for a consult as you plan your next event or trip? Or just want someone to take a look at the pitches you’ve been sending and give some feedback?

I've been popping into a lot of PR team virtual meetings and some other fun stuff (Recently I even joined in on an agency’s team retreat right here in Brooklyn — it was so fun and I made so many new friends!) and making myself available to answer all sorts of questions about pitching, events, and trips from a media perspective.  I like to keep these things chill and comfortable and relaxed all by sharing perspective and learning from one another.

If you are interested in setting anything up for your own team in the coming months, please email me and we'll get something on the books! This is available for entire agencies or smaller group lunch and learn type concepts. If you are a freelance publicist and want to join in with a few other freelance publicist friends and set something up, we can do that as well!

Have a great day!

<3

Aly