FEBRUARY 4 2002 We are once again pleased to be able to "break the news"
before anyone else concerning Antiques Week in NH...It's Official:

                   Flamingo makes a bold new move!

                       Announces Acquisition of
                 Hopkinton & Quechee Antiques Festivals

 In a bold move that will change the face of the New England antiques
 show business, Flamingo Promotions has acquired The New England
 Antiques Festival in Hopkinton, New Hampshire & The Vermont Antiques
 Festival in Quechee, Vermont.

 Frank & Cathy Sykes of New England Events Mgt. are proud to announce
 the sale of these two shows to professional show managers Tina & John
 Bruno of Flamingo Promotions in Northport, NY. "This move is a natural
 for Flamingo" stated Cathy Sykes. "Tina is a native of New Hampshire
 and brings a great amount of enthusiasm and positive rapport with the
 dealers who already exhibit at her 30 antiques shows on Long Island,
 in Westchester and the Hudson River Valley." "I've known the Brunos
 for a number of years through my association in New York, and I'm sure
 they will do a fine job." Cathy Sykes stated.

 This news comes on the heels of Flamingo also acquiring the Start of
 Manchester Antiques Show from Kay & Bill Puchstein, a story we broke 2
 weeks ago. (look for articles in our Feb. 7th issue) As it turns out,
 Tina had been looking for a venue in New Hampshire when she and Kay
 struck an agreement for that show. When Cathy Sykes heard of the Start
 of Manchester acquisition, she offered Tina the Hopkinton & Quechee
 shows.

 Frank & Cathy Sykes started The New England Antiques Festival in
 Sandwich, NH 6 years ago, returning to New Hampshire after working for
 Stella Show Mgt. in NYC. The show moved to the NH State Fairgrounds in
 Hopkinton, NH to be closer to the other Manchester, NH events.

 Billed as the first and the largest antiques event of Antiques Week in
 New Hampshire this show will continue to run the first weekend of
 August - right before the Start of Manchester show. One of the more
 interesting shows at the beginning of Antiques Week in New Hampshire,
 The New England Antiques Festival presents over 200 highly respected
 Antiques dealers from across the United States who exhibit in 5
 buildings and outside in tents, offering a broad range of Americana
 and country furnishings as well as accessories and a wide assortment
 of decorative and garden items. This year's dates are Saturday &
 Sunday, August 3 & 4.

 Also part of the agreement was The Vermont Antiques Festival. Started
 at the Rutland Fairgrounds 4 years ago, The Vermont Antiques Festival
 was moved to the Quechee Gorge Village Antique Mall last year. Tents
 were raised, admission was dropped and huge crowds gathered for the
 treasure hunt. Despite the cool Vermont air and the US invasion in
 Afghanistan, the dealers were so happy many of them stayed an extra
 day. The dates for The Vermont Antiques Festival are Columbus Day
 Weekend - October 12 & 13 so that the many visitors can enjoy fall
 foliage and the extra long weekend.

 Tina is already working on the transition and assures dealers
 "Everyone will retain their booth space and the only changes foreseen
 are to produce a more rewarding experience for all involved!" Cathy &
 Tina will work closely for the first year to make the transition
 smooth and reliable. They will concentrate their efforts on
 revitalizing the shows through the addition of increased customer
 draws and dealer services such as appraisals, book signings, family
 events, and credit card services. Flamingo is especially noted for
 enhanced advertising and keeps their eye on drawing retail customers
 through television and radio. As with all Flamingo shows, the high
 level of quality and professionalism that knowledgeable dealers and
 customers have come to expect will be the primary focus of growth
 here.

 Last year Frank & Cathy Sykes started an antiques shop in Wolfeboro,
 NH called Dragonflies Antiques and want to turn their efforts to
 buying and selling antiques - their first passion. In addition Frank
 Sykes parents Dick & Mary Sykes have recently retired, passing the New
 Hampshire Book Auction business on to Frank and Cathy who look forward
 to holding a couple of book auctions per year in addition to their
 Annual Antique & Classic Boat Auction each June. In addition to their
 shop and auctions, Frank & Cathy will continue on as managers of The
 Annual Wolfeboro Antiques Fair in Wolfeboro, NH. At 49 years, The
 Oldest Antiques Fair in the country is right at home in The Oldest
 Summer Resort in America." For more information contact Cathy Sykes at
 1.603.569.0000 or Dragonflies@metrocast.net.

 New England Antiques Festival: August 3 & 4, 10-4, State Fairgrounds,
 Hopkinton, NH

 Vermont Antiques Festival: Oct 12 & 13 - Columbus Weekend, 10-4,
 Quechee Gorge Village, Quechee, VT
 
 

 For further information contact TINA or JOHN BRUNO at FLAMINGO
 PROMOTIONS. Phone: 1.631.261.4590 ~ Fax: 1.631.262.1912 E-Mail:
 flamingoshows@aol.com ~ Web: www.flamingoshows.com/www.psmashows.org

MANCHESTER, NH ­ JANUARY 15, 2002: Kay & Bill Puchstein, owners of Puchstein Promotions, Inc., and Tina Bruno, President and CEO of Flamingo Promotions, Inc., announced today that an agreement has been reached between the two parties for Flamingo Promotions to assume management and operation of The Start of Manchester Antiques Show!

According to the Flamingo Promotions press release “as one of the most respected, and the first Manchester show of Antiques Week In New Hampshire, the Start of Manchester Antiques Show presents over 80 highly respected and prominent Antiques Dealers from across the United States offering the finest examples of true Antique Americana, Country, Primitive, and Folk Art Furnishings and Accessories in indoor Room Setting Displays.”
 

Flamingo Promotions produces over 30 of the finest Antiques Shows throughout Long Island, the Hamptons, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut. For Tina and John Bruno this represents the culmination of a long held goal ­ Tina is a New Hampshire native and has longed to return to her roots with her highly respected Antiques Shows. This move brings together the perfect blend of opportunity and professional ability that will result in an even better Antiques experience for Dealers and Customers alike!

Ms. Bruno wishes to assure her Dealers that all will retain their historic booth space and even tighter Quality Control will exist! John Bruno is a highly respected Antiques Appraiser who appears on a number of well-known antiques related TV Shows. He will work with local Antiques Appraisers to aid in Quality Control. Current and prospective Exhibitors are urged to contact Ms. Bruno with any questions. The couple have indicated they do not intend to make any drastic changes to the show. Instead, they will concentrate their efforts on re-vitalizing the show through the addition of increased Customer draws and Dealer services such as Antiques Appraisals, Book Signings by well known Antiques Authors, Credit Card Service, and On-Site Shipping. Flamingo is especially noted for their increased Advertising venues such as Radio & Television. Ms. Bruno foresees no adverse impact due to this Management change. As with all Flamingo shows, the high level of quality and professionalism that knowledgeable Dealers & Customers have come to expect at Flamingo Events will be the primary focus of growth here.

Show Dates: August 6 & 7. Show Hours: Tuesday: 12noon-7pm/Wednesday: 10am-6pm. Admission: $10/Person.

Location: JFK Coliseum, 303 Beech Street, Manchester, NH, (The Ice Rink, between Lake Ave & Valley St.)

FLAMINGO PROMOTIONS: Phone: 1.631.261.4590 ~ Fax: 1.631.262.1912
E-Mail: flamingoshows@aol.com/flamingoshows@msn.com
Web: www.flamingoshows.com
 

Background: Tina & John Bruno of Flamingo Promotions present the finest, most innovative, and successful Antiques Shows in New York. From Better Antiques & Collectibles to Specialized Themes and Formal Room Settings, Flamingo Shows are among the most respected Antiques Events held on Long Island, and throughout The Hamptons, Westchester, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut each year. The Brunos have over 35 years experience as professional Antiques Dealers, over 15 years experience as Antiques Show Promoters, and are Executive Board Members of the national Professional Show Managers Association (PSMA) and the Long Island Professional Antiques Dealers Association (LIPADA). Further, John Bruno is an Antiques Appraiser and Television Personality who appeared throughout the complete runs of “Personal FX ­ The Collectibles Show” and “Treasures In Your Home”, and currently appears on Metro Channels “Finders/Keepers”, The Sally Show, The God Squad and many other national TV Shows discussing and appraising Antiques.