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This magazine was designed as a user-driven resource for professionals tasked with developing and designing new restaurants as well as remodels. A big part of fulfilling that mission involves reaching out to our readers and finding ways to be of value to them. With that in mind, we launched our first invitation-only event, Tour the Design Trends, which debuted in Chicago on June 13.

With the aid of our sponsors, we took attendees on a trolley tour that stopped at four distinct new dining spaces. We let them meet some of the designers and operators of the spaces, and we even sampled some of the exceptional food and drinks that make the restaurants true destinations. 

The launch of Tour the Design Trends is the first of what we expect will be many events and initiatives aimed at getting us closer to our readers — and our readers closer to what’s important to them and their careers.

We’re also proud to announce the launch of the rd+d awards, a unique hybrid set of awards that seeks to honor both form and function in restaurant design from concept through execution. In addition to honoring the best restaurant design, we’re also looking for the best new concept launch, the best new prototype from an existing chain and an Outside the Box award for teams who took an entirely new approach to their old way of thinking. We’re accepting entries through October 1, 2016, and we’re eager for you to share your projects with us. Visit our awards page for more details.

If all this weren’t enough, at press time for this issue, we’re finalizing the details for the Foodservice Equipment and Design Global Thought Leadership Summit, a joint venture between rd+d and Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine, scheduled for September 20-21, 2016, at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. This invitation-only event will bring together leaders from every channel of the foodservice market — operators, designers, architects, dealers and more — for two days of learning, discussion and networking. Drop me a line at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you’d like to attend.