April means many things: the start of baseball season, the thawing of winter and, in Boston, the beloved Boston Marathon. For many years, the marlo offices were located at 667 Boylston, directly at the Marathon finish line. Our Marathon parties were the stuff of legends (if we do say so ourselves) drawing a wide variety of friends, neighbors, and local notables, and over time, became known for their expansive Mexican spread and frozen marg machine. While we enjoyed many a festive celebration, it goes without saying that the 2013 bombing cast a shadow on an annual tradition for so many. However, during those dark days when we lost access to our office temporarily as the investigation unfolded, we relied upon the kindness of our community to step in and provide solace – and physical space – when we needed it most. Specifically, startup incubator MassChallenge opened up their office in the Seaport to us and for that we will always be grateful. When we moved to bigger digs in Downtown Crossing in 2014, we left our Marathon party behind…and this year are thrilled to resurrect it for one night only to help out a locally based Mexican restaurant that is struggling to survive due to the drastic reduction of foot traffic from office workers downtown.

Also celebrating a milestone anniversary this year, Villa México Café has spent the past 25 years offering authentic, homemade Mexican food in Boston. This family-run business located in the Financial District has added to the rich culinary tapestry of our city for more than two decades and, after reading about their plight in the Boston Business Journal, it was clear to us that they’d be the perfect match for our revived Marathon party Mexican feast.

For this studio series, we’ve also partnered with InnoCrew, whose mission is to empower and support early-stage founders through monthly events, genuine relationship-building, and authentic conversations. In the spirit of supporting the community of entrepreneurs and startups that was there for us in those dark days in 2013, we’re delighted to co-host this event with them. Plus, we hear they’re taco-eating machines!

Join marlo marketing and InnoCrew for an all-you-can-eat taco extravaganza with all proceeds going directly to Villa Mexico. And yes, there will be a frozen marg machine 😉

Jars of Villa Mexico Cafe’s famous salsa will be available to purchase, as well as discounted catering gift cards for a ten-person taco party at $125, normally $150!

**This is a 21+ event.

Wood Monkey Tour of Boston Chinatown

The office we lost as a result of COVID was in DTX, mere blocks from Boston Chinatown. Today, we’re even closer – literally steps from the iconic Chinatown gate – and we are committed to celebrating the cultural vitality of our neighboring community. During Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month we’ll be offering two educational opportunities around Chinese culture.

marlo marketing officially opened our doors on April 1, 2004 (talk about an April Fool’s Day!), making our Chinese Zodiac sign & element the Wood Monkey. The lucky number for this year is 7, and intelligence, wit, and creativity characterize wood monkeys. Yep, sounds like us!  Boston Chinatown expert Jacqueline Church has created a special Lucky 7 Tour exclusively for marlo marketing that will last approximately an hour and visit 7 shops to try 7 authentic Chinese bites.

Each tour is limited to 7 people at the special marlo rate of $77 each.

One of our all-time favorite things in life is summer, so what better way to celebrate than to gather on the first official day of the best season of the year to pay homage to some of our other favorite things!?

Join us as we partner with the Foundation to be Named Later (FTBNL), an organization that creates opportunities and a future of possibility for young people in Boston & Chicago, for a fundraiser that celebrates a wide variety of things we love, like chocolate, wine, supporting good friends, meeting new people, and raising money for worthy causes. Get your wine on while sampling to your hearts content a wide variety of Valrhona chocolate couvertures, each offering their own complex flavor profile. But rest assured, this won’t be a stuffy pairing event; it’s about enjoying the things we love…and if a glass of cold Chablis with Valrhona Manjari Madagascar 64% Dark Chocolate is your idea of perfection, we’re here for it!

Wait, there’s one other thing we love… Restaurants. If you do too, you’ll want to bring some extra $$ to enter to win a raffle of $1,000 worth of restaurant gift certificates that will make your summer even more delicious. This is one summer soirée you won’t want to miss!

Kick back a cold one with CEO/Chief ‘Gansett himself, Mark Hellendrung, a marlo marketing client since 2009. Learn the history of one of New England’s most storied brands – from its days as the one-time Official Beer of the Red Sox to its fall from grace as Nasty ‘Narry, to its triumphant return to glory today as one of the leading craft brewers in the country. Mark will be joined by the indomitable Lee Lord, ‘Gansett’s head brewer and a badass female in a male-dominated brewing world.

Sample ‘Gansett’s current lineup, from lager to craft, while enjoying a variety of pretzels from Eastern Standard Provisions.

**This is a 21+ event.

Known as Boston’s most hospitable host, it’s a little-known fact that Garrett also loves to cook. A marlo marketing client since 2006, Garrett will go behind the stove tonight for the most intimate of private dinners, preparing a five-course meal with each course representing one of the restaurants that have shaped his two-plus decade career in hospitality. From being the youngest GM in The Kimpton Group’s history in San Francisco before returning east where he ran and created some of Boston’s most beloved restaurants, including No. 9 Park, B&G Oysters, Island Creek Oyster Bar, Row 34 and, of course, Eastern Standard.

Guests will also enjoy fresh bread from the new ES Bake Shop, specialty cocktails created by Garrett’s longtime Beverage Director, Jackson Cannon, and a thoughtful selection of paired wines chosen by Garrett himself. This is one dinner party you won’t want to miss.

We’re not ready to reveal this hot ticket just yet…stay tuned for an event you won’t want to miss!

We’re not ready to reveal this hot ticket just yet…stay tuned for an event you won’t want to miss!

We’re not ready to reveal this hot ticket just yet…stay tuned for an event you won’t want to miss!

In today’s new world of remote and hybrid work, the marlo team is just as effective working from home, setting up shop at a client restaurant, or while traveling on the road. And while we no longer have an office where people come every day, we use our little Leather District studio space to come together as a team when we miss that human connection. Join the marlo team to raise a glass to being grateful for all that we have this holiday season with a cookie swap and champagne party. All guests are asked to bring a holiday cookie that is meaningful to their season for sampling and swapping (assuming any are left over, that is!).

Starting a business, especially at the ripe young age of 32 before having the opportunity to experience the importance of work/life balance and nurturing one’s own soul, has sent Marlo on a wellness journey over the past 20 years to counter the daily demands of entrepreneurship. We’ll start our 12-month studio series on a high note with an interactive talk by Jessica Diaz on Honoring Your Energy for Health & Wellness: A Human Design Workshop.

Human Design blends ancient wisdom with modern science to offer a personalized approach to health and wellness, respecting your unique energetic makeup. Join us to embrace your authentic self, reduce stress-related health issues, and embark on a new year’s journey to lasting health and happiness. Using nothing other than your birth date, birth time, and birthplace, you can:

• Learn how to get out of your mind and trust the intelligence of your body
• Embody the strategy intended by your particular Type (1 of 5) in order to live with ease
• Better understand how to say yes or no to life’s choices
• Determine what to clear out of your life to make space for the things that are good for you
• Understand your purpose in life

Learn how to honor yourself by living your authentic design over healthy snacks and beverages. Every attendee will receive a $50 credit toward a personalized reading with Jessica.

Bevvies – and wine in particular – have always been a big part of the marlo marketing journey, beginning with one of our OG clients, The Nantucket Wine Festival, a marlo client for 13 years until it sold in 2012. We’ve also worked with a variety of game-changing wine, beer, and spirits brands over the years, not to mention several chocolate clients, and know that few things pair more beautifully (but really, does anything not go with chocolate?!).

Join us for a fun post-Valentine’s sipping event solo, with friends, or with your sweetie where we’ll sample a selection of reds beyond the usual Pinot Noirs and Cabs; think of those varietals you’ve seen on menus but weren’t sure about committing to a glass. Wine expert Jen Scott of the delightful family-owned, downtown Boston neighborhood favorite Georgie’s Wine Shop & Bar has carefully selected a superb series of reds to pair well with a variety of Valrhona Grand Cru chocolate couvertures, offering their own unique composition of complex flavor. Instead of the usual stuffy formal program, you’ll have the freedom to mix and match to your liking, depending on your personal palate preferences. No two adventures will be the same – the only thing we guarantee is that there will be no sweeter way to celebrate the love we have for wine and chocolate!

**This is a 21+ event.

We’ll wrap up the first quarter of our series in a BIG way, with an exclusive private dinner hosted by Tom Berry, Chief Culinary Officer, and Chris Jamison, visionary and founder of COJE Management. Tom has been a client of Marlo’s since he was opening chef at Bambara in 2002 – her public relations work with him predates even the founding of the agency. She made a fateful introduction to Chris Jamison before the legendary Yvonne’s opened in 2015, and the rest is history. Today, Tom is the culinary genius behind the food at Yvonne’s, Lolita, Mariel, RUKA, Caveau, Coquette, Cocorico and the group’s next project, Mr. H, opening Spring 2024 in Boston’s Seaport.

Prepared and served personally by Tom, guests will enjoy a medley of COJE’s greatest culinary hits, along with a small teaser of Mr. H, paired with a special selection of accompanying wines. Chris will be on hand to share his perspective on what inspires Boston’s coolest hospitality group as they continue to innovate into 2024 and beyond. And COJE Beverage Director Ray Tremblay will be behind the marlo bar creating handcrafted cocktails to start and end the evening on a high note.

To make this evening even more special, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Challenge Unlimited at Ironstone Farm. Located in Andover, MA, they have been helping children and adults find hope and healing through equine-assisted therapies for 40 years. Tom’s 4-year-old daughter, Hazel, who has visual impairment and developmental delays because of a rare genetic disorder, has immensely benefitted from the program she started at 2 years old. The program is incredibly important to Tom and his family, and he’s excited to share more about it (as well as amazing food and wine!) for our March event.