RESTAURANT GUIDELINES MAY 3, 2016 5 PM 9 PM
Taste of Adams Morgan Update & Restaurant Participation Information Stroll, sip, and sample your way through one of DC s most vibrant neighborhoods at the 4th Annual Taste of Adams Morgan event benefiting Mary s Center. Taste of Adams Morgan is an annual neighborhood event during which local restaurants open their doors to provide tastings to hundreds of attendees who have purchased taste tickets. We would like to invite your restaurant to support this event and the Adams Morgan community through your participation. Taste of Adams Morgan will be located in the Adams Morgan commercial corridor, along 18th Street from Florida Avenue to Columbia Road between Belmont and 16th Street. The hours are from 5pm to 9pm on Tuesday, May 3rd. In 2015, Taste of Adams Morgan raised over $11,000 with the help of 15 restaurants. All proceeds benefit Mary s Center and the 36,000 individuals and families who will be served this year. Mary's Center provides health care, family literacy and social services to individuals whose needs too often go unmet by the public and private systems. Taste of Adams Morgan is planned in partnership with the Adams Morgan Partnership Business Improvement District. This packet provides an overview of all details your restaurant will need to determine whether you will participate.
RESTAURANT RECOMMENDATIONS In order to best highlight your menus, we suggest that all restaurants offer at least 2 tastes. Show off who you are; but please plan your taste(s) as items that will be easy to execute at high volume. Please be prepared to serve at least 300 tastes. This amount is subject to change. Mary s Center will provide an updated count 1-2 weeks prior to the event. We recommend tastes be served in the readyorder style with easy assembly. Have at 1-2 staff members dedicated to the tasting station. Staff members will be responsible for collecting tickets, manning the station, and distributing tastes. Your station should be fully operational for the full 4 hours of the event (5pm 9pm). This event is rain or shine. Beverages may be served as tastes but your other offering should be food. Feel free to offer additional specials for sale to complement your tasting options. Each taste = 1 ticket Each taste = approx. value of $5- $7 Please provide your menu to Mary s Center by April 8, 2016. SERVINGS Adams Morgan is one of DC s most unique neighborhoods and home to some of the most unique restaurants. Taste of Adam s Morgan is the perfect time to show off! Have your chef highlight their signature dishes and cuisine by offering two tasting options. Each restaurant should provide a minimum of 300 servings of a portion of a featured menu item with a perceived value of $5- $7. EQUIPMENT/ STAFFING Please supply your own serving equipment chaffing dishes, serving plates, napkins, utensils, water and ice to hold and serve food. Disposable plates and utensils are strongly recommended. Mary s Center strongly recommends having 1-2 staff members designated to the tasting station, serving food and accepting tickets. It is also recommended that there be a clear distinction between the event and regular restaurant operations. There will be a Mary s Center volunteer at each location acting as a Face of Mary s Center in order to direct attendees and offer information. However, they will not be collecting tickets. All station operations should be handled by the restaurant staff. SET UP Please be ready to serve your first taste promptly at 5. We recommend that each restaurant designates a specific area for the quick preparation and distribution of their tastes, with an assigned staff member. We encourage you to create a sign that displays the items you are serving at your restaurant with detailed descriptions. Mary s Center will be providing coolers of water for patrons. EVENT SCHEDULE 2pm Set-up begins 5pm Event begins 9pm Event Ends If desired, a restaurant may offer a beer, wine, or signature cocktail as a taste option. However, one of the tastes should be a food. If you choose to include an alcoholic beverage as a taste, all ID checks are the responsibility of the restaurant.
PROMOTION Taste of Adams Morgan offers multiple opportunities for your restaurant to gain exposure and increased foot traffic. To show our appreciation for your participation, you will be featured in professionally designed collateral including: Event flyer Event poster Taste Guide, which features a map and submitted menus Posters will be hung and flyers will be distributed throughout the neighborhood to increase excitement about the event. The Taste Guide will be given to all 600+ attendees during the of the event. The event will be promoted through a number of different avenues. At least 5 emails will be sent to Mary s Center s extensive network of over 10,000. Other avenues include: Community listservs Press releases Blogs Print media ADMISSION/ TICKETS Tickets are available for sale online at WWW.MARYSCENTER.ORG/TASTE and on the day of the event. Tickets are priced as follows: $25 4 Taste Tickets $40 8 Taste Tickets $10 Taste After Party DEADLINES THE PARTICIPATION DEADLINE FOR RESTAURANTS IS APRIL 8, 2016. As a participating restaurant, your restaurants will benefit from Mary s Center s extensive promotional campaign for the event. Due to printing deadline constraints, we cannot guarantee that restaurants that confirm after April 8 will be included in ALL marketing materials. SOCIAL MEDIA To boost attendance and ticket sales, Mary s Center will utilize our popular social media following to promote the event and the restaurants that participate. Provide Mary s Center with your social media handles (using the attached response form) so that we can tag you in posts promoting the event. Follow us on our social media sites and share our posts to start the conversation about Taste of Adams Morgan using the information below: Twitter @MarysCenter Facebook @MarysCenterDC Instagram @MarysCenter Hashtag #TasteAdMo
2016 TASTE OF ADAMS MORGAN RESTAURANT PARTICIPANT RESPONSE FORM TASTE OF ADAMS MORGAN MAY 3, 2016 5 PM 9 PM RESTAURANT INFORMATION RESTAURANT NAME CONTACT PERSON EMAIL ADDRESS CITY STATE ZIP PHONE CELL @ @ @ FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM TASTE MENU Select two of the following: Taste #1 Vegetarian Gluten Free Taste #2 Taste #3 (optional) Signature Date By signing above, I am agreeing to the participate in Taste of Adams Morgan on Tuesday, May 3rd from 5:00 9:00, and adhere to all stipulations outlined in the event packet. Please return completed form to Angeline Jefferson at ajefferson@maryscenter.org by APRIL 8, 2016 QUESTIONS: call (202) 420 7049 or email ajefferson@maryscenter.org www.maryscenter.org/taste #TasteAdMo @MarysCenter