Tuesday: A piece I'm very excited about is now live! Plus: Travel-ready nail update, a penny for your (laptop case) thoughts, and more!
Good morning!
Had a great night last night, being reunited with a fun friend I hadn’t seen since my Ireland trip this spring (and the night involved negronis and delish pasta, as the best nights often do!).
(FYI: There’s a new negroni-related story pending, scroll down to that section for more info!)
Yeah…that embed isn’t the most flattering thumbnail of me, but it was a great time!
In other fun news, a story I’m very excited about published this morning. For Travel & Leisure, I chatted about what I look for in lightweight luggage (esp necessary as I live in a 4th-floor-walkup and do a lot of lugging, well, luggage up and down stairs!).
I’ve taken that bag with me on a bunch of recent trips, and it’s been an absolute godsend.
In other accessory-type news, a bit of a reader poll for you: Does anyone have a laptop case they use and love and would recommend? I bought a new one to go with my new computer when I bought it in May - and since then, I’ve gone through three laptop cases! They just keep having issues. Would love some recommendations from the crowd (not for a story. But who knows, it can always end up in a story at some point - this is more a crowdsource than anything because I value your opinions and I know among this group is experts at, well, all things in life!)
Anyway…trying to get my ducks in a row as I travel again in a few days, which of course means my apartment (and schedule!) looks like a bomb hit it…
However, I do have priorities and did take the time to make sure my nails were Nashville ready!
Stay tuned for more to come! And, as usual, please scroll down below for all my other newly published stories and what I’m working on…
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!
PS: I love doing podcasts!
Last week, I was a guest on the Eat.Drink.Social podcast, and we chatted about my upcoming travel, recent press trip experiences, and so much more. Check out my guest appearance last week on Jamie Stone’s A Little Too Much podcast. We had SO much fun discussing everything from the changing landscape of events and trips to our thoughts on some emerging food and cocktail trends.
Some of my latest podcast appearances include Media Circus Podcast with Taiisha Bradley, as well as the Italian Wine Podcast, where we discussed all things Substack, and the Coffee N° 5 podcast, where we chatted about effective strategies for promoting emerging brands to journalists and securing media coverage. Other recent podcast appearances include the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast with the incredible (and super fun!) Lexie Smith, where we covered everything from press dinners and events and trips to, well, sippin’!
I’ve recorded a few others that should be live soon as well and I’m always open to doing more — email me at alywalansky@gmail.com.
Travel & Leisure: This Carry-on Luggage Is Lightweight Enough to Lift Up 4 Flights of Stairs — and Fits 5 Days' Worth of Clothes
TODAY.com: The best drugstore eye creams to tackle wrinkles, dark circles and dryness, according to experts
Forbes.com: Remember Tony Bennett By Recreating His Go-To Pasta Order From His Favorite Astoria Italian Restaurant
The Kitchn: Sam’s Club Just Brought Back This Bakery Favorite and It’s the Best $4 You’ll Spend All Week
Clean Plates: Ordering in? Dietitians Share Their Go-to Healthy Takeout Orders
Yahoo!: 5 Reasons You Need to Try Dry Brushing Right Now—& Our Top Affordable Choices to Shop
Forbes.com: Sam Heughan’s New Sassenach Gin Promises ‘A Trip To Scotland In A Glass'
Food Network: Magnolia Bakery and Ess-a-Bagel Pair Up to Make A Banana Pudding Bagel
Food Network: The Weeknd Launches His Own Instant Coffee with Blue Bottle
Parade: The 17 Best Bagel Shops In NYC for Lox and a Schmear or Perfect Bacon, Egg and Cheese
Parade: Clueless About How To Use an Air Fryer? Consider This Your 101 Guide
Forbes.com: 11 Spud-Centric Dishes To Enjoy On National Potato Day
Reader’s Digest: What 11 Mysterious Flight Codes Really Mean
Southern Living: Can You Safely Eat Sprouted Potatoes?
Food Network: Mustard Skittles Will Take You on a Confusing-Yet-Somehow-Makes-Perfect-Sense Flavor Journey
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
I’m getting started working to update my Labor Day Store Hours roundup piece from last year. Please check the link and if you were a chain mentioned, please email me and tell me if your hours for that day are the same or need to be modified from last year’s info. (And if you are another chain with Labor Day store hours info, please do send! Thanks!)
Forbes
National Negroni Week is soon, and I’m rounding up creative and unique spins on negronis available at bars and restaurants around the country - do you have one at one of your clients? Send me the info, please! (Use the parameters from the cheeseburger story below for how to submit!)
National Cheeseburger Day is in a few weeks, and I’m looking for creative and unique spins on the cheeseburger around the country, found on menus at bars and restaurants. Have one? Please send me:
1 - name of dish, as well as name of place it is served, as well as city, state and restaurant URL
2 - description of dish
3 - Quote about dish (please remember to include name and title of person being quoted)
4 - image (link please) and any appropriate photo credits
A reminder: If ALL these parameters are not met, I may not be able to consider your submission.
For both these stories, I’d love input by August 25, please! (Please try to avoid being that person who emails after the story is published asking to be squeezed in…you know what the answer will be…)
Looking to up your affiliate marketing game?
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Virtual (and now in-person!) 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 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. Note: I’m also available to travel for consulting sessions as long as travel expenses are covered. We can chat!
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!
Love Nashville - have so much fun!!!
Love my Calpak backpack. Great laptop case and perfect carryon. I saw three people with it on my last press trip and bought mine as soon as I got home!