VimLab Promotions is a Public Relations, Marketing and Events firm based in Minneapolis, MN specializing in the fields of music, architecture, fashion, sports, restaurants and nightlife. Since I grew up in southern California, a lot of people wonder how and why I wound up very happily living in the midwest. Here's the story: I grew up in the beautiful bubble that is The OC. Although it's a lovely place, I was restless and needed more out of life than great beaches, weather and malls, so I headed north to San Francisco for college. Living there and going out to fabulous parties every night, I found a deep appreciation for house music and the people who love it. I was 22 and waitressing at a restaurant in SOMA called Maya when this handsome, funny guy at my table asked me to go to dinner. That guy was Jeff and we have been happily together ever since. We got married in 2004 with a beautiful wedding overlooking the ocean in Laguna Beach. After college, I was lucky enough to fall into a PR agency job, working for some of the coolest hotels, wineries, restaurants and benefit events in the Bay Area and I loved it. After about 4 years, I decided to go out on my own and started VimLab Promotions. Minneapolis is a great place to start your own company and be creative, so we decided to come back to the place where Jeff grew up. His hilarious friends had become my friends and even though it was really hard to leave SF, I think we made the right decision.

Our first VimLab event was a 4th of July Boat Party on the Mississippi and it was a hit. We wanted to bring a part of SF to the Twin Cities, and did this by producing and promoting shows with Om Records DJs from San Francisco. In our first year, we brought Kaskade, Rithma, Marques Wyatt and Afro-Mystik to spin in intimate venues around Minneapolis. In just three years, we have brought Kaskade back ten times, and each show has been incredible. He is an amazing person as well as my favorite artist, and we are lucky enough to call him a close friend. We have worked with various clients and produced an array of events, from the VimLab Chocolate Lounge at the Twin Cities Chocolate Extravaganza to the Love Boat with Captain Chuck Love and the Grand Opening of Uptown City Apartments. Our "belinda jensen is not a celebrity" t-shirt series sold out and managed to anger some who think a local weatherperson is a celebrity.

The boat parties we've thrown out of Boom Island have all been amazing nights on the river and we look forward to more boat parties next summer!

In addition to throwing parties, we handle PR and Marketing for several fabulous MN based clients including 15-year-old prodigy Freestyle Stunt Rider Aaron Colton who is the &035;1 Stunter in the U.S. and Youngest Professional Streetbike Freestyle Stunter in the World, Charlie Lazor and his ingenious FlatPak house and Simply Ella adorable kids clothes and infant car seat covers. We handled PR for Roomsa's incredible album, "Oceans" that is now available on iTunes and www.aphrodisio.com. We also work with the beautiful Whitney Bistro & Onyx Bar in Bloomington and help Meet Minneapolis promote the beautiful city we now call home. We are always looking for interesting new people to work with, and want to help make Minneapolis an even more creative and hip place to live.

VimLab Client Roster:

FlatPak house (www.flatpakhouse.com)

Simply Ella (www.simplyella.com)

Aaron Colton (www.aaroncolton.com)

Roomsa (www.myspace.com/roomsa)

Kaskade (www.kaskademusic.com)

Meet Minneapolis (www.meetminneapolis.com)

Babalu (www.babalu.us)

Whitney Bistro & Onyx Bar (www.whitneybistro.com)