PRNewser First-Birthday Party Coverage


Just An Online Minute… Good, Good, Good, Good Libations with PRNewser

Posted October 13th, 2008 by Kelly Samardak

PRNewser's First Birthday Party, Libation, New York
October 9, 2008
Getcha PRNewser Heahhh, says Joe Ciarallo. Not really, but put that guy in a newsie hat and some knickers and we've got ourselves a winner. Joe's not just one Editor of the now year old Newser, he's also Mr. NiceGuy, so it's safe to say that you won't find a negative word in any of my posts about anything he's attached to. Call me biased and I'll call you correct. It's easy to write nice things about good people. However, my camera did get me into a near altercation with a non-PRNewser guest. Trouble follows me, people, like that clubfoot squirrel in Madison Square Park.
 

I live in the East Village (how writer cliché, I know). When I moved in, I wasn't technically a "writer", so cut me some slack, jack. Libation, the location of the celebration, sits in the LES, which is a hop, skip and a jump from me even in uncomfortable shoes. There's a different energy down there. More fashion risks, more of a laid-back attitude - but also a more heightened poser appeal - you know, those people trying to look destitute in their Chanel gutter chic line? No gutter chic at the PRNewser party, though! Gail Hilton, Director of Sales and Marketing, Qwikker, and I walked into the red and cozy self-proclaimed club (didn't feel like a club) and walked into a kerfuffle. A nametag was missing and a slightly tweaked fellow was waving his arms around and rubbing his head (at the same time!). "But I work for mediabistro!" he said, sounding exasperated. I would be, too, as he was none other than the OTHER Editor of PRNewser, Jason Chupick.
Selfie name-tagged up, Chupick disappeared into the crowd like Chupacabra after a good bovine protein shake and the sea of PR people that would frighten any writer large or small parted to reveal the New York chapter of the Twitter fan club. Not only did I reunite with the fabulous Flavie Bagnol, Director of Communications, Thrillist.com and David Blend, Executive Editor Thrillist.com, but PRNewser celebrated side by side with the Editor in Chief of PlayGirl, Nicole Caldwell; Hamilton Nolan, writer for Gawker and also stepbrother of MediaPost's very own Karl Greenberg; and Andy Seccombe, whose nametag said Australian Writer's Guild, but whose business card said Writer, uppingtheandy.com, which is way cuter.
Does the phrase "two-dollar champagne" send chills of high school New Year's Eve parties past down your spine? What about two-buck cosmos? Yeah, me too, but everyone sipping on the bubbly stuff said it was deeeelicious. Seen sipping was none other than new Dogmatic recruit, Persia Tatar, fan of bubbles, sparkly things, nerdy stuff but not so much a fan of shellfish, like lobster. Belle Lenz, PR supermaven and winner of the Just An Online Minute most fabulous haircut contest (betcha didn't know it was even running, that's how good Belle is), was in the house, and I got to speak way too briefly with her before Matt Caldecutt swooped in to get more real people to the Media Meshing soiree afterwards. Caldecutt wasn't 100% his usually jolly self because he was a little worked up about good friend Nichelle Stephens' financial predicament (cough couch SCAM cough cough), a story that scared the granola out of me. It warms the old crusty cockles to see friends looking out for each other.
Let's move to the Twitter gallery, shall we? I'm even going to use their Twitter monikers so we can all be social media-hip together, hey now! @TiffanyWinbush, @woodlandalyssa, and @rocknrob were represented the Twitter mob, and it was our first time meeting each other in the flesh. Working the room revealed a dozen or so more "yeah, can you believe it, we've known each other forever on Twitter, but just met now!" stories that made us all feel a part of something bigger than the Montauk Monster.
You should know that none of the writers started breakdance-fighting with the PR reps. See, we can all just get a ong. Well, except for the two snappy ladies I accidentally backed into while trying to take a picture. "Excuse ME. THANK you!" one sniped with a flick of her wrist and a flip of her hair as she regarded my intrusive backside with distaste. This camera, it's going to get me a cameo on "JAIL:Manhattan" some day. One can only hope. I need a weight-lifting regimen and bland food diet.
Invite kelly@mediapost.com to your online baby's birthday bash and get covered in thewarmth of Just An Online Minute!

[Originally posted at MediaPost.com Oct. 13, 2008]

Stamford's Rich History


Stamford’s Rich History

Stamford, Conn., was signed over to European settlers in July of 1640, and has been home to a mixed bag of historic landmarks, happenings and people ever since. Originally called Rippowam by the natives, the city has transformed itself in many ways not limited to its name. Signs of change in Stamford are visible; from new developments and renewal projects, to historic buildings still standing in the city, to a meticulous historical society determined to maintain the city’s old-world integrity and charm. Stamford has a rich history still available for you to see—you need only know where to look. Those of you traveling by foot may want to stroll Stamford’s South-End historic district, bordered by Penn Central railroad tracks, Stamford Canal, Woodland Cemetery, and Washington Boulevard. For information about other sites in Stamford, be sure to contact the city’s historic center (information listed below).

Stamford Historic Center
1508 High Ridge Road
(203) 329-1183
First stop on any tour of Stamford’s historic sites is the Stamford Historic Center, established in 1901, where you can treat yourself to some of the most knowledgeable historians in the area. Through September, you can also catch the organization’s current art exhibit, “The Lost Streets of Stamford”, which takes visitors on a visual tour of photographs documenting streets destroyed in Stamford’s urban downtown redevelopment plan, begun in 1952. Visit the center’s Web site for information on upcoming exhibits, volunteer opportunities, and more.

Sterling Farms
1349 Newfield Ave.
(203) 461-9090
Sterling Farms is an interesting example of urban renewal—and one of the best places in Stamford to sample delicious seafood. Once a 144-acre dairy farm servicing Stamford, the property now houses an 18-hole public golf facility.

Read the rest of this post here.

[Originally posted at StamfordCTGuide.com]

Main Street Pub Crawl: Stamford, CT

Main Street Pub Crawl

European cities and towns have historically used the pub crawl (or “gin” or “beer” crawl) as a social networking tool for people living in or visiting a certain area. Pub crawls, by design, blend communities, tourists, landmarks, and (of course!) drinking by guiding revelers along a given route to enjoy brief visits at a number of watering holes offering food, drink, entertainment, and unrivaled atmosphere. It’s a great way to reacquaint yourself with the place in which you live, or an excellent way to sample local fare and meet a lot of interesting people.

Spanning less than half a mile along Main Street, the below bars offer one of the best concentrations of excellent pubs in Stamford. From plasma televisions showing round-the-clock sporting events to island décor to outdoor patios, a few even have free wireless (not that you’ll be doing any work!), dart boards, and pool tables. And full menus to boot!

So grab some friends, and spend your next happy hour checking out some of the best spots Stamford has to offer. But be sure to call for a cab to get home!

1. Tiernan’s Bar & Restaurant
187 Main St.
Stamford, CT 06877
(203) 353-8566
Starting the pub crawl off on an appropriately Irish foot, we begin with Tiernan’s; noted for its wide selection of delicious imported beers and reputation for being the best venue for rock in Fairfield County. Sample the delicious Irish fare, enjoy live entertainment Thursdays through Saturdays, surf the Internet with Tiernan’s free wireless access, bask on the outdoor patio, or park yourself in front of one of eight plasma televisions. Happy hour runs 5-7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and there is never a cover charge.

Read the rest of this post here.

[Originally posted at StamfordGuide.com]

Book Review: Religious Literacy

Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—and Doesn't
Stephen Prothero
(HarperOne)

Out here in the sex industry, we hear a lot of the same religiously conservative arguments over and over again against gay marriage and abortion rights, for abstinence-only education, and why porn is ruining our social and moral fibre. More often than not these debates are paired with Bible citations; whether they be Soddom and Gemmorah or Adam and Eve. The inability of the pro-choice and marriage-equality crowd to engage in these disagreements with the same artillery as the religious right is a disservice to our opinions, points, and general discourse. Wouldn't it be great if the people fighting from the left understood Biblical texts and could point out weaknesses in arguments against tolerance?

Stephen Prothero didn't write Religious Literacy to lay out a strong case for the left's religious education: He wrote the book to hold a mirror up to society and prove that almost all Americans lack a comprehensive understanding of even the most basic religious information; causing a serious impediment to our grasp on international issues as well as domestic political policy. The book makes a very strong case for teaching at the very least a basic world religion course to high-schoolers; as well as a separate Bible 101 class. And coming from a particularly agnostic viewpoint, I gotta say: The man has a point.

[Originally posted at playgirl.com/blog]