Happy hump day!
So much to get to today - but first wanted to take a second to wish the incredible Amber Katz a very happy birthday — one way of you wishing her a happy birthday is to subscribe to her Substack today (which is one of my own favorite AM reads - it’s SO fun and has all the best info — much like Amber!)
So, yesterday’s marathon of a day was awesome. Somehow managed to file three stories before heading out for the day mid-afternoon (something I rarely do - the file three stories part, sure, but leave for the day before happy hour? rarely!). Curel hosted me for a fab facial using their products (believe it or not, my first facial since pre-pandemic and my skin was really grateful for the TLC), and then after, I had a lovely drinks catch up with some friends in from LA - and some dear old friends from NYC, and made some new friends in the process — it was a very special night!
Tonight, I have a press dinner I’m SUPER excited about (like the kind of excited I am laying out my clothes 8 hours in advance) - at a restaurant that is VERY much on my bucket list, and the event is hosted by one of my very close friends — so it’s another night that’s sure to be one to remember.
There really is nothing quite like a night out with friends in NYC. It never ever stops being special, and it never ever stops being the best place to be. (Of course, maybe I’m just blessed to have the most amazing friends ever.)
OK, so you probably want to chat about work stuff now, don’t you? I mean, why not…
A ton of new content has published since yesterday morning’s email. This includes a bunch of breaking food news I covered for Food Network this morning - from a pickle pizza (yesss!) at Pizza Hut to a new exciting vegan option at Taco Bell and a new Coca Cola flavor, lunchtime will be rather exciting this week!
In other new content, that guide to the best Father’s Day sales I’ve been compiling for RetailMeNot the last few weeks is now live — and there’s some doozies are there! Get ready to get shopping! And, yes, this one will get updated again before Father’s Day with late-breaking sales, so feel free to keep sending those sales in. (And I’m now beginning to work on their July 4th sales guide as well, so please send that info along as soon as you have it available!)
And in travel news, I’ve officially confirmed my August Nashville trip and a November Dallas trip (in this neck of the woods, all work travel is considered tentative until flights are booked and details are confirmed but these are now officially happening) - and there’s July Kansas City and Las Vegas trips in the works as well. I’m so excited to get to see so many of you in the coming weeks - including some I haven’t seen in years. I am gratefully in Vegas pretty often, but this will be my return to Nashville after over three years, and my first time back in Dallas in about five years! And this will be my first time in Kansas City - but since my Substack tease about this trip last week, SO MANY of you who live in the area or are from the area reached out, that I’m sure it’s going to be an incredible time already!
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! Check out my guest appearance on the Italian Wine Podcast this week, where we discussed all things Substack. Other recent podcast appearances include the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast with the incredible (and super fun!) Lexie Smith, where we chatted about 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.
RetailMeNot: The Best Father’s Day Sales and Deals to Shop in 2023
Food Network: I Tried TikTok’s Dirty Martini Pasta – And It Belongs in Your Weeknight Pasta Rotation
Food Network: Coca-Cola’s Newest Flavor ‘Ultimate’ Tastes Like Leveling Up
Food Network: Taco Bell Unveils Its First Fully Vegan Entrée Item – No Modifications Needed
Food Network: Pizza Hut’s New Pickle Pizza Is a Big Dill for Pickle Lovers
Food Network: This Distillery Is So Proud of Their Gin, They Found a Way To Wear It
Forbes.com: This Retreat Is The Perfect Getaway For Meat Lovers This Father's Day
Forbes.com: Martini Lovers Headed To NYC Have Found Their Dream Retreat
Forbes.com: 9 Cocktails To Celebrate Dad This Father’s Day
RetailMeNot: Father’s Day Gifts for Every Type of Dad
Forbes.com: Father's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts To Stock His Freezer
Forbes.com: Father's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For The Dad Who Loves To Grill
Forbes.com: Father’s Day Gift Guide: The Best Cookbooks To Add To His Collection
Forbes.com: Father's Day Gift Guide: The Best Gifts For The Culinary Traveler
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.
Southern Living
I’m doing stories right now on both English cucumbers and white peaches (different stories!). Looking for produce experts, chefs, farmers, dietician/nutritionist and a botanist or similar professional etc, to weigh in on both. Please do not send commentary without emailing me first, I have a specific list of questions for each. Thanks!
RetailMeNot
All the Best Fourth of July Sales to Shop Now: I’m working on an update of this story from last year. A lot of these might change, so note any run-through dates IF the retailer has those when pitching me. Otherwise, it's OK to describe the sale as "for a limited time." I’m going to try to include spots such as Home Depot, Lowe's, Best Buy, Amazon, Target, Walmart, Ancestry, 23andMe, Fitbit IF they are throwing a sale. If pitching me for this one, please be sure to include what's on sale, how to shop it, the promo code (if any). Maybe the promo code is storewide, so that makes it super flexible. Whatever the shopper needs to know about how and WHY to shop the sale.
I’m also updating this story from last year: Stores Open Fourth of July + Fourth of July Store Hours. Please look at last year’s version for an idea of format and what I’m looking for - and if I included your store hours or sales last year, feel free to reach out and give me updates!
Forbes.com
For Father’s Day, I’m looking for chefs to share one way their own dad or a father figure in their life inspired their work as a chef. Perhaps it’s a kitchen technique or recipe or even a philosophy about an ingredient or food or cooking in general. Please email me at alywalansky@gmail.com if you have chefs open to giving commentary (even better if they can share some sweet photos of them and their dad in the kitchen!)
Outlander is coming back soon (and droughtlander is finally ending!) so I was wondering if there’s any bar/restaurants doing fun cocktails in celebration of the return? Let me know!
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 (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!
Let us know when you have a trip to Atlanta! We need to get you here :-)
Pickle pizza??? Yes please!