• by Kelly Samardak , May 20, 2009

Playing Catch Up, New York
This Week And The Weeks To Come, 2009

When I started writing this, I was supposed to be at The Hammerstein Ballroom covering the social, schmoozy side of the Turner Entertainment Upfront.  But I wasn't.  I'd like to dedicate my absence to the New York transit system.  See, the L train is never,  EVER, a pleasant experience.  If you're not crammed into someone's armpit and getting violated by their Jack Spade bag, you're waiting.  And waiting.  This morning, after wrestling through my routine with only one working thumb, I waited at the 3^rd Ave L stop.  I had to let the first train go by because when the doors opened, commuter's butts blooped out like tethered pigs momentarily freed.  No getting past that.  By the time the second train came, it was already 10 a.m., which was when I should have been ensconced in Hammerstein.  So today, let's just you and I talk about what's ahead this summer -- you know, let's catch up.

We should probably talk about Internet Week first, because it's the highlight of my life. No, I'm not being dramatic.  Nerds, nerds, and more nerds speckle the city, as everyone who wants to be anyone in the online world event and panel hops -- culminating with the greatest nerdling award spectacular, The Webbys.  The dates were announced months ago (June 1 - June 8, 2009!) and you bet your bottom dollar I contacted the PR people immediately.  In fact, I probably scared them, I was so early.  Regardless, after stalking them and prodding them with a big stick, I got confirmation today that I'm all press-passed up, AND I'll be covering the Webbys for you!  Remember how much fun we had last year? [insert smoke machine and sparkle-covered squiggly lines.] I met Judah Friedlander, Tim and  Eric (awesome show, great job!), and I even interviewed Seth Meyers and Ludacris.

But what else am I covering (or at least trying to cover) for you, my beautiful readers?  Don't throw up with anxiety, though it's going to be super-busy. Here's the list so far, and it's always up for manipulating:

Monday, June 1st: The ContentNext Mixer at Edison Ballroom.  The big kicker here is that I'll be reuniting with former MediaPost writer and current PaidContent superstar, Tameka Kee.  It will be glorious!  After flitting around there for about an hour, I'll head over to the Bubble Lounge to cover "The TechSet Bubbles Up Innovation."

Tuesday, June 2nd:  I definitely want to make it over to the FIT Great Hall to browse through the NY Tech Meetup showcase.  I love to see what explodes from the overactive minds of the New York tech community.  Usually I get angry and kick myself for not inventing these things.  It's free, so you should go support your favorite geek.  After I feed my brain, I'll head over to the Chelsea Art Museum to feed my face and tickle my culture and neighborhood bones with the kickoff event for Yelp Passport to Chelsea -- a weeklong celebreducation of the arts, culture, foods, and folks that make Chelsea as fabu as can be.  I'll be squiring my baldy there, so if you're going, you better say hi.

Wednesday, June 3rd: I'll be hitting the Digital Content NewFront, which looks more like a party than a conference -- I mean, seriously, Al Gore? College Humor's Jake & Amir?  I might pass out, star+nerd stricken! See for yourself, it's a ridiculous line-up and I can't wait to harass everyone at the cocktail party.  After I avoid arrest for violating my restraining order, I'll head over to the Visual Arts Theatre for the Media That Matters Festival.  There are a bunch of parties after that, but I haven't quite decided where to go yet.

Thursday, June 4th:  I'm going to try and make the NY Social Media Roundtable: Social Media For Non-Profits, followed by either the FledgeWing.com Networking event or the 2009 Do Something Awards at the Apollo in Harlem.

Saturday, June 6th: I disappear.

Sunday, June 7th: Webby Sunset Cocktails!  I'll be on the LES scaring Internetphiles with my multiflash red-eye reducer

Monday, June 8th: Hello! The 13^th Annual Webby Gala at Cipriani.  And yes, any after-party action will be fully documented for your entertainment. 

Before Internet Week pounces on us all, I do have a handful of events like tomorrow morning's Tweet To ReMIND breakfast at JWT, with Bob Woodruff Foundation and Remind.org cofounder Lee Woodruff; Gregory Galant, friend of everything short; and Stephanie Agresta, self-proclaimed Internet Geek Girl.  Next week I've got the GiveAndDate.com launch party.  GiveAndDate is, you got it, a New York City dating site that is melting together searching singles with philanthropy.  The deal is, before you start making plays, you have to donate to a charity.  I think it's funny that a dating-themed event is being held at Animal Haven.  The day after the pheromone fest is the fifth installation of Digital DUMBO, which I predict it will be the best yet with its digi+music theme. 

I have to begin detoxing now, so I'm fresh and clean and ready to not sleep in the weeks ahead.  Will I run into any of you guys during Internet Week?

Want to squeeze into the Internet Week jumble? Send invitations to kelly@mediapost.com!