Fall food guide: Oktoberfest, craft beer events and more this season in Metro Detroit Detroit News
Tag: craft
Collaboration Event: Novel Amphibious Craft
- An event to accelerate partnerships across Industry
- In advance of a new themed competition, Novel Amphibious Craft, launching in October 2022
- Meet subject matter experts in this field
The Defence and Security Accelerator (DASA) will host a collaboration event in advance of a new themed competition launch, Novel Amphibious Craft. This competition launches in October 2022, and will fund promising technologies to help develop a Commando Insertion Craft (CIC) fit to combat the threats of the 21st Century.
To create a platform that can transport personnel and light vehicles across great distances, in challenging conditions, whilst evading detection from coastal sensors is a significant challenge. It demands collaboration between experts in many disciplines, including those outside the defence sector.
This event looks to accelerate partnerships, by bringing together prospective innovators across industry. There will also be an opportunity to connect with subject matter experts from the competition team.
Why should you attend?
Attending the collaboration event will allow you to:
- understand the requirements of front line operators
- form new collaborative relationships with innovators that have complimentary knowledge
- meet the experts from DASA and the Royal Marines Commando Force
Who should attend?
There are multiple complex engineering requirements for this competition and we expect that a proportion of the proposals will be collaborative efforts between multiple suppliers. This event targets innovators interested in networking and/or establishing collaborations before submitting a proposal to the competition.
Register
Register your interest in attending via this Eventbrite page. Registration will close at midday on Friday 23 September 2022.
Background
The CIC will be the medium lift craft to deliver Royal Marine Commando teams and their equipment from specialist ships to foreign and hostile coastal access points without being detected.
Royal Marine Commando teams will be expected to operate independently and as part of a larger group, and will complement the force’s network of sensors and command and control capabilities. The craft must be able to travel ranges of 300 nautical miles (threshold) at speeds of no less than 25 knots in sea state 2.
The Novel Amphibious Craft competition is seeking innovative technologies that could help to develop a novel landing craft that can:
- travel at sustained high speed over a long range
- provide the ability to deliver personnel and light vehicles to a coastal access point with limited/ no impact on operational speed/capability
- relaunch from the coastal access point
- consider Signature Management across all spectrums to reduce probability of detection (for example thermal, radar, visual, acoustic)
This competition is expected to launch in late October 2022, with funding being provided to proposals that successfully pass DASA’s assessment and moderation panels.
Important information
- please note that the event will be an open public event held at OFFICIAL; the appropriateness of discussions should be considered by attendees
- while we encourage collaboration, we wish to stress that it is the sole responsibility of each attendee to consider and manage appropriately any disclosure of their proprietary information to any other attendee or party, given the public nature of the event
- there will be a limited hybrid component to this event via Microsoft Teams
- photographic identification will be required at entry
Further event details will be sent upon confirmation of your place to attend.
‘We missed the mark’: Vancouver craft beer event organizers apologize after guests report disastrous experiences
Lengthy lines, tech meltdowns, and limited access to water (for a fee) were a few of the many complaints
A month ago, organizers of the popular Vancouver Craft Beer Week (VCBW) festival sent out a media release spotlighting how the 2022 event promised to set itself apart from past iterations of the beloved tasting.
“With an ambitious new ownership team at the forefront, VCBW returns bigger and better than ever before with a number of new and expanded features,” it begins.
This weekend, after some accounts of ticket-holders having a disastrous experience, organizers of “the Lower Mainland’s largest craft beer festival” are issuing statements and apologies.
Attendees of the Saturday tasting event on the PNE grounds reported a massive line-up for entry, as well as lengthy line-ups at the beer vendor stands.
Guests were required to purchase RFID wristbands and pre-load them with a $50 deposit in order to purchase beers (on top of the admission cost). Organizers explained the cashless wristband system was put in place “due to logistical and health reasons,” and described the process as “easy peasy.”
‘Wasn’t as seamless as we had hoped it would be’
However, some attendees cited problems with the wristband system, including long waits to add funds, being charged multiple times, and usage problems. One frustrated ticket holder said the system was “barely working” in their post-event rant on Reddit.
In an initial statement shared online following Saturday’s event, VCBW organizers said: “Our goal was to simplify the process at the event removing tokens and ensuring all guests would be refunded anything they didn’t spend. We worked with a third party vendor for months, but unfortunately this process wasn’t as seamless as we had hoped it would be.”
On top of lines and payment issues, the biggest complaint was access to water, with attendees outraged they were not permitted to bring in empty bottles for filling with water, and only had the option to buy bottled water at $3 a piece. Many noted the water for purchase – when it was available – was warm Dasani.
“The event doesn’t provide free, accessible water. This is unacceptable for my health. Especially on a sunny day with minimal cover,” said a ticketholder in an email to organizers shared with V.I.A.
“They refuse to let you bring water bottles, and then they charge you for water, the absolute f’ing gall,” described Reddit user arrbos.
“One of my main gripes is with water – in the past attendees could bring a refillable bottle and there were water stations around the event. To limit ticket holders to $3 bottles of water ONLY is ridiculous for a liquor event. Water should be free and free flowing, especially with the heat we had yesterday. Every time we went looking for water there wasn’t even anyone at any of the marked water stations on the map. Incredibly shortsighted in my opinion,” commented Erin Searle (@von_rockinon) on Instagram.
‘Half our workforce didn’t show up’
VCBW attributed some of the issues to staffing problems. “Half of our workforce didn’t show up,” organizers said in a second statement issued late Sunday.
Many, however, felt like the organizers were not adequately taking responsibility, in particular for the no-show volunteers. “If it was due to staff being sick, they shouldn’t throw them under the bus for the issues with their event, citing excuses for atrocious lines with ‘staff that didn’t show up.’ They should instead take ownership for the piss-poor planning and organization. They could have anticipated this, after all, being in a pandemic for 2+ years,” said a Reddit user named f*ckyduck.
“Volunteers are not a ‘workforce.’ You failed to organize volunteers and failed on almost every other aspect. Depriving people of water is inhumane, monstrous behavior. You are greedy, unapologetic monsters,” said Beatriz Rod (@bettyrm90) on Instagram.
Some guests were more understanding. “Though I’m one of the people who was frustrated on Saturday, I am grateful to the volunteers who did show up and the breweries and their staff that kept the beer flowing as fast as they could to serve as many people as they could. I met some lovely folks on Saturday and the overcrowding, line, and lack of water was not their fault!” said Noelle (@dunworrybehoppy) on Instagram.
VCBW organizers said they now know that being understaffed and having wristband tech issues got in the way of showing guests a good time. “Unfortunately, we missed the mark,” they said, inviting feedback to be sent to them via email.
For some, though, the 2022 VCBW was the end of the road. “Never again,” avowed Reddit user caw___caw. “There [aren’t] chill vibes anymore like the previous year. It just feels like a chore having to run line to line to get your next beer. Chasing your buzz.”
Endurance events marketplace Let’s Do This raises $60M Series B led by Craft and Headline – TechCrunch
The appropriately named endurance (so: running, triathlon, cycling, etc.) events marketplace Let’s Do This (a YC alumni) appeared a couple of years ago listing all kinds of endurance activities globally and attracting the backing of stars such as Usain Bolt and Serena Williams, alongside more standard venture investors such as EQT.
Founded by Alex Rose and Sam Browne, both endurance runners and cyclists themselves, the startup has now raised a $60 million Series B round led by Craft Ventures and Headline. Also participating in the round were existing investors EQT, NFX and Y Combinator, as well as newcomer Morpheus Ventures. The celebrity backers include Serena Williams, Usain Bolt and U.K. gold-medal runner Paula Radcliffe. Angels include the founder of Gmail Paul Buchheit, as well as Ian Hogarth, founder of Songkick.
Sam Browne, co-founder, and CEO of Let’s Do This, said in a statement:
The global sports endurance market is worth an estimated $18 billion and, with face-to-face events finally a possibility again after a long hiatus, we know this is only set to grow … Excitingly, sport is just the beginning for Let’s Do This too. Thanks to the funding and support from our investors, we plan to extend into further verticals in the live events and experiences space.
Let’s Do This lists flagship events like Bay to Breakers, Long Beach Classic Half & 5K and Bay Bridge Half Marathon, but it’s clear that investors were attracted by the prospect of expanding into other verticals.
Part of the attraction to users, says the company, is that its algorithm uses data points from fitness tracking, race history and social connections to personalize its race recommendations. It’s easy to see how that could be broadened to “you liked this gig, so how about this one.”
It’s also tapping into a market that has realized that setting goals — such as for a race — helps someone stick to fitness. Research shows that people are 12.5 times more likely to develop a fitness habit 12 months after signing up to a race than from joining a gym.
Christian Leybold, partner at Headline, said:
There is a distinct camaraderie that group endurance events bring, but most organisers are stuck with low-tech platforms that offer a lacklustre user experience. With Let’s Do This, Alex and Sam have revolutionized how we bring offline experiences online.
Founded in 2016, Let’s Do This, says it now has more than 5 million users globally. It now plans a U.S. expansion via its new new Colorado office, and the growth of its U.K. team, as well as additional social features.
Celebrate Women’s Month With These Craft Beer Events
The craft beer industry hasn’t always been synonymous with inclusivity. Ownership and brewhouse positions are predominantly held by white males. A recent study by the Brewers Association pointed out that just 2% of breweries are fully owned by women, and 7.5% of brewing production staffs are female.
The numbers are a little better for those working in non-production, non-service roles – roughly 37% of those are filled by women. Five of those women, area craft brewery sales representatives, have created a celebration of Women’s Month through a series of events in March that should help to highlight women in the industry and benefit the Sojourner Truth House in the process.
“The idea for Women’s Month was always there but genuinely there weren’t enough of us to give it the attention it deserved,” said Julianna Pierandozzi, a sales rep for 3 Sheeps Brewing. “All of the brewery reps involved started seeing each other more and we knew we could start something great. Important to all of us was also the charity aspect with the Sojourner Truth House. We wanted to be able to support a group that has been supporting women in our community for years.”
VOTE FOR WISCONSIN’S BEST CHEESE
Here’s your chance to crown the very best block! We’ve partnered with Sendik’s Food Market to create this tournament showdown of our state’s best cheeses, and we’re counting on you to choose the winner. In fact, you can taste all of the cheeses include in this bracket at all of Sendik’s full-service stores. Learn more here!
Women’s Month kicks off on Sunday (March 6) at New Barons Brewing Co-op (2018 S. 1st St.). From 1 to 6 p.m., one dollar of every beer sold goes to the Sojourner Truth House. The kickoff is the first of nine similar events.
The group that put the plan in action consists of Milwaukee-area reps from five well-respected craft breweries. Pierandozzi teamed up with Jen Durkin (Surly Brewing Company), Kelly Miller (Revolution Brewing), Clare Twietmeyer (Rhinegeist Brewery) and Kylen Eberlein (Indeed Brewing).
“I definitely see the inclusion of women in the industry growing day by day,” explained Miller, who has been a Milwaukee-area rep for Revolution for close to one year. “I think people are starting to realize that women enjoy craft beer and are just as great at selling it. I have even had a few people tell me it is like a breath of fresh air working with me because they are so used to working with men and it’s a nice change of pace. There is still a way to go, but I am excited with the progress I am seeing.”
Pierandozzi added: “More female reps, more female buyers, more female owners mean more inclusivity in the beer business. Groups like Barley’s Angels, Girls Pint Out and Pink Boots Society started the presence and knowledge that, yes, women drink beer. Having female owners, buyers, and reps solidifies that fact. I can’t say it’s always as easy for us, but we are hoping that events like the ones we are putting together can make that fact more well known. It also puts us in contact with each other.”
The Women’s Month events are happening all around Milwaukee. Each offers great beer and each helps the Sojourner Truth House.
- Wednesday, March 9: MKE Burger (6421 S. 27th St.) at 4 p.m.
- Thursday, March 10: Saint Bibiana (1327 E. Brady St.) at 4 p.m.
- Friday, March 11: Ferch’s Crafthouse Grille (418 N. Mayfair Rd.) at 5 p.m.
- Sunday, March 13: Sugar Maple (441 E. Lincoln Ave.) at 4 p.m.
- Wednesday, March 23: The Brass Tap (7808 W. Layton Ave.) at 5 p.m.
- Thursday, March 24: Von Trier (2235 N. Farwell Ave.) at 5 p.m.
- Sunday, March 27: Station No. 06 (6800 W. Becher St.) at 11 a.m. and Bad Moon Saloon (4035 S. Clement Ave.) at 11 a.m.
“Inclusivity doesn’t begin or end with women,” said Durkin, who has been with Surly for more than two years. “There are so many good ideas and perspectives that are underrepresented. I’d like to see the craft beer industry never stop working towards more diversity and more inclusivity. As for the future of women in the craft beer industry, we’re just going to keep kicking ass!”
