Party Across America Chosen as a "Top Gift Book for 2009"

Some pretty cool news came in today - the Atlanta Gift Show (the largest gift convention in the world) selected Party Across America as one of the "top new gift books of '09." It's quite an honor because they only choose a handful across all of the publishing houses. The gift show people want the Party Across America book signing to include a live band, disco ball, and take place on the Saturday night of the convention -

NBC interview this morning

They Brought in a Keg at the Book Signing

Our family takes a ski vacation in Steamboat Springs, Co. every Christmas. The book store here is a small, locally owned shop, and they were open to a Party Across America book signing. I showed up last night for the "author event," and Off The Beaten Path bookshop had gone out and purchased a keg of Fat Tire - the best beer in the west. Now that's I call a book signing! We sold books, drank suds, and watched the snow fall.

Can you imagine Barnes & Noble doing something like this? No way on earth.

1st Colorado Book Signing was "A Sellout"

Thank you all so much for coming to the Northern Colorado Centerra Barnes & Noble tonight. The signing was a sellout - 42 books in about 3 hrs. What a cool experience - Party Across America is definitely the antithesis of the doom and gloom news media. We aren't just selling books - we're selling the USA!

The World's Largest Disco

After we wiped off the clown makeup from the Macy's Day Parade, we headed to Buffalo. Why Buffalo you may ask? Because the World's Largest Disco happens every year on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. The Disco has raised over 1.5 million dollars for children affected by cancer over the past 15 years and it's one heck of a party. The organizer (and an incredible human) Dave Pietrowski and I have become buddies through Party Across America. Dave had us up and gave us the V.I.P. treatment - which included going to a Buffalo Sabres game with Greg, Peter, Bobby, and Cindy Brady who were the guests of honor. Buy your disco tickets in September because al 8,000 tickets sell out faster than you can say "Soul Sister." The picture is here is Bobby and Peter - it was hard to remember their real names.

We Were Clowns in the Macy's Day Parade

It was a whirlwind Thanksgiving trip back east. Somehow the parade organizers got wind of the book and we wound up being clowns in the Macy's Day Parade in NYC. It was definitely a surreal experience to come down Broadway and into Times Square. A mass of people having a great time, kids looking on with sheer joy on their faces - what an adrenaline rush! The craziest part was looking up into the windows of each building - every window in each building was jam packed with people - and nobody was talking about the economy!

Best to Order Through Amazon....for now

Hey everyone - just wanted to let you know that major bookstores will have Party Across America on shelves by Dec. 17th. However, if you want to get it before Xmas - order it through Amazon.com. Amazon is shipping the book within a day and it's a couple of bucks cheaper - like $10.50 instead of $12.95 (the Barnes & Noble cost).

Which Celebrations Deserve to Crack the Top 101?

As soon as I landed this book deal, I just knew that this blog would prompt discussion and suggestions about what acutally deserved to be in the top 101. I fully prepared myself for comments like "I can't believe that so-and-so isn't in the book!"

You know what, bring it on! The publisher wants a second edition of Party Across America. The second edition will include events from the original version ( Burning Man, Kentucky Derby, Tour De Fat, Mermaid Parade, St. Patty's Day in Savannah, Over The Line, Halloween in NYC ), but I will add about 15-20 new extravaganzas. So please, let me know what should be considered!

Try to keep these few things in mind:
1. It has to be a public party ("my buddy Dave's Memorial Day Barbeque Bash" doesn't qualify)
2. It has to be an annual event that happens in the SAME PLACE each year
3. It has to have an intangible quality of energy - something that people rally around and look forward to all year long

Please provide some stuff to back up your suggestion - how many people go? how long has it been going on? what's it like to be there?

If it ends up in the book you will get a contributing credit

The Party Version of 1000 Places to See Before You Die?

There have been a couple of "pre-release" news articles written about Party Across America and they've all said that it's like the party version of 1000 Place To See Before You Die. I guess I can see the parallels, but as the bias author, I have to respectfully disagree.

1000 Places To See Before You Die pretty much lists each place and gives a super brief description of each. This book is more like a Lonley Planet or any other guidebook - it provides complete guidance, including where to stay, hotel prices, when to buy tickets, local public transportation, what to pack, and tons of party tips. I guess it's nice to be compared to such a successful book, but I just feel like 1000 Places to See is more of a list than an actual guidebook. Anyone agree?

Has the election changed our attitudes?

Whether you voted for Barack Obama or John McCain, one thing has become quite clear. This country is ready to move out of the black hole that we've been in for quite some time. I am a total believer that the attitude of a depression or a recession is self-perpetuating. The worse we think things are, the less we spend, and the further we sink. The news media daily doom and gloom sessions have only pushed these great United States lower and lower.

Your 401K plan will bounce back! Housing prices will rebound - we need to relax and have some fun. I'm not trying to sell books - I'm trying to sell the United States! We live in a truely amazing place and we need to take advantage of it. The best way to do this is to take our limited time on earth to celebrate our existance. After all, when we're all old and grey, we will look back on certain times and experiences in our life and smile - now is the time to make those memories.

PROMO VIDEO

The Samples play Party Across America party

The Samples came over, checked out the book, and decided to play a few tunes

Welcome to the Party Board!

"Party Across America: 101 of the Greatest Festvials, Sporting Events, and Celebrations in the U.S." is published by Adams Media and will be available in ALL Barnes & Noble stores throughout the U.S. The book comes out in November 2008, but you can always place an early order on Amazon.com. Also, please check out our website www.partyacrossamericabook.com