Tuesday: A heartfelt thanks + everything I'm working on going into the holiday
Tuesday: A heartfelt thanks + everything I'm working on going into the holiday
Hello!
I wanted to take a second to thank you for THE HUNDREDS of birthday emails and messages I got yesterday. You all really know how to make a girl feel loved.
You know, at the end of the day, maybe this is a newsletter to share story leads and industry insights. But, to me, it's more than that. It's an incredible community, filled with old and new friends. We see it in the Zoom AMAs and the comment threads and all the other interactions that we have, that it's not just about what I'm working on or who you are representing, but us working together and learning from one another. I might from time to time give some pointers on things like pitching or events or follow ups, but please believe me when I tell you that as much intel as I try to put out there, I learn at least that much from so many of you, through your thoughtful emails and the in-depth conversations we've had.
So, thank you - thank you so much for being here, for reading and participating and being who you are. And for making me feel better at who I am each and every day trying to be.
This is also probably the last email before Christmas -- only because I think a lot of people are starting to wind down for the week, and I'm doing my best to respect everyone's attempt at work/life balance. Maybe I'm even doing a bit to respect my own as well! I do have a consulting session in a few minutes, though, and also a restaurant tasting I'm super excited about later today (it involves a new Lower East Side hotspot!)...so let me quickly. hop to it and share what I'm working on for the week to come.
(And, yes, even though this email is probably the last before Christmas unless any sort of sudden breaking assignment happens - i WILL be back and working in the days between Christmas and New Year's, just probably on a modified schedule. Expect a few emails next week and at least one industry insights edition within that time frame as well.)
OH and last night was AMAZING. My friend Lisa hosted Amber and I for blowouts and clip-ins at RPZL at the Plaza Hotel (my favorite people at my favorite salon, as I said) and then we went downtown to Striphouse - sort of a birthday tradition for me, I am obsessed with their truffle blue cheese olive martinis. And I'm also excited to have the lion's share of our leftovers to enjoy for lunch today!
I shared some photos and videos on my Instagram stories and more to come soon!! (Including more about those awesome clip-ins! Obsessed...though they could easily be a gateway drug...!)
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: Dominique Ansel Goes Futuristic With An Automated Cookie Shot Robot
Forbes: Save Time By Getting Holiday Meal Essentials Delivered To Your Door
Eat This, Not That: 10 New Cookbooks We Can't Wait to Get Our (Oven) Mitts on in 2023
Eat This, Not That: 7 Best Matzo Ball Soup Recipes To Make Tonight
Clean Plates: 9 Products That Will Actually Make You Excited to Workout
RetailMeNot: Stores Open Christmas Day + Christmas Eve Store Hours 2022
Forbes: Viva Magenta: Pantone’s Color Of The Year 2023 Has Inspired Gorgeous Cocktails Nationwide
Eat This, Not That: This Is the Best Way To Cook Brisket, According to Chefs
SPY: Dear Procrastinators: These Are the Best Places to Buy Gift Cards Online
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.
RetailMeNot
The Best Galentine's Day Gifts for your Besties: I’ll be updating this story I did last year (so if you represent a product that is in last year’s guide, please let me know if there’s any changes to it as far as price, availability, etc). But I’ll also be adding a dozen or so new products that are also great gift ideas for your bestie this year (in the same format as last year’s, if you want to use that as a guide when pitching.)
The Best Affordable Valentine's Day Gifts: I’m also working on this guide to affordable Valentine’s Day gifts. Trying to stick with under $100 for these items.
Clean Plates
Trader Joe’s Frozen Foods Perfect for Valentine’s Day at Home: I’m looking to round up people’s Trader Joe's frozen items that would work well for a Valentine's Day celebration at home. This could be either for a date night or for a girl's night in. It’s a crowdsource but I’m also very open to those from RDs or nutritionists, as well.
Costco Foods Nutritionists Love for Valentine’s Day: I’m looking to ask nutritionists to share some of their favorite Costco finds that work well for a healthy Valentine's Day celebration.
HelloGiggles
I’m working on two new gift guides pegged for - not holiday 2022 - but new years and Valentine’s 2023. I DO have a bit of time to play with on these, but the topics are:
Products to help you sleep better in 2023 - everything from bedding to supplements and more.
Sexy things to gift yourself this Valentine's Day - everything from underthings to more fun things, whether you have a partner or not.
Forbes
Tableside cocktails: These are cocktails that are prepared in some form tableside. I’d love to be pitched those that currently exist on bar/restaurant menus. Please include all the following info:
1 - Name of cocktail
2 - Where it’s on the menu (so name of restaurant/bar, city, state, URL) - this cocktail must exist, either on the permanent menu or as a special, somewhere where people can go and order it.
3 - Description of drink (please do not send a recipe, it’s not necessary!)
4 - Quote from a bartender/bar manager/chef about the drink (and please don’t forget to include their name and title)
5 - image of cocktail (and please include any necessary credit info)
Boozy desserts: I’ll be honest, I rarely have dessert, but when I am out for dessert, I always joke that I prefer to drink my dessert - perhaps with an espresso martini. But I want to flip the script on that. Rather than round up dessert-like booze (which I’ve done before several times!), I’d love to round up desserts that have booze in it. Think pudding, cake, etc, that involve booze in some format — same parameters as above. Must exist on a menu somewhere.
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Have a great day!
<3
aly