• by Kelly Samardak , March 26, 2009

The Lazy Environmentalist On A Budget Launch Party, Twelve 21, New York
March 25, 2009

Lately I've been so mad at this city -- a city I used to be so in love with. I used to walk around with a smile on my face, waving at every pigeon, squiggling my toes in the Central Park grass while Capoara dance fighters stretched and wiggled, reading every splash of graffiti, smelling every traveling box of street meat and simply making sweet sweet love to the cacophony that IS the orchestrally boisterous island of Manhattan. Now it's a pit of bad news. New nomads fresh from lost homes, public urination and upchucking abound (directly in front of me, thank you - on both counts), whistles and catcalls and thing you wouldn't want your granny to hear careen off the constantly under-construction jackhammered buildings and sidewalks. The only thing getting more slender on me is my wallet as the prices to eat, drink, live, and GET TO WORK are getting jacked up every day. It's ridiculous. New York, I love you, but you're bringing me down. Give me something good for the soul already. Let's try hockey and some eco-friendly therapy...

Real quick -- on Tuesday I took in a Rangers game in the NHL luxury box along with Amy Corr, illustrious wordsmith behind MediaPost staples like Out to Launch and Media Creativity, and some other journalists who probably get edgy about being named in public places. It was my ultimate meal, if we're being honest -- a buffet of hotdogs and hamburgers, potato chips, and Bud Light. It was fun up in the box, but I like to smell the ice and hear the puck skittering between the goalie's legs. The multiple knock-down, drag-out fights on the ice made me think that we should pull together an "old media" vs "new media" wrestling match. Maybe sumo. Someone get on that. Mike DiLorenzo, Director of Corporate Comms for the NHL, is planning big fat TweetUp in the NHL Store on 6th Ave NYC on tax day in conjunction with the launch of "thePORTAL" That should be a hoot -- and you'll be able to read about it here.

Last night was pretty good for the soul, I'd have to say. It was the launch party for The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget by Josh Dorfman. Slap "lazy" in front of anything and I'm in. Well, wait. I'm not lazy, but I think like a lot of people out there, when it comes to the environment, a lot of the changes in our usual lackadaisical behaviors seems intrusive if not simply a "hassle." Why I put that in quotes, I don't know. I like the approach of "yeah yeah yeah, we know you're busy, but it's your environment, dingbat, so at least do the base level stuff." 

The event was slapped together nicely and in a lovely shade of green by the folks at Notes on a Party -- an online mag for you entertaining folks out there. Twelve 21 was the perfect space for the amount of guests they had at critical mass time. I only got elbowed by a few boney gals, but otherwise it was easy to weave through and snap pics of Andrew Graham, energy writer and corporate copy writing dude extraordinaire, regaling Rebecca Reyes, communications superstar at IBM, about his basil gimlet. I vouch for that gimlet, it was a truly delicious sip. The Stirrings bar line was never daunting (though believe it or not, I stayed away), and the bartenders were incredibly courteous -- none of that "I guess I'll pour you a drink, you plebe" attitude. 

The lovely Morris+King tag team of Katie Smith Adair and Jen Moses rendezvoused with their pingg posse by... the pingg table, of all places. I later found Margo Spiritus, VP of Marketing & Business Development at pingg, hanging out with Gail Simmons -- she of Food & Wine and "Top Chef" fame. Gail's husband, Jeremy Abrams, was also there, repping his company, audiostiles. Judging from Gail's big smile and super-sweet demeanor (she THANKED ME for taking a photo), the wedded life may indeed be blissful.

I was eavesdropping on Lorien Gabel, co-founder and CEO of pingg and another guest and heard the phrase "amateur night" so I assumed they were talking about St. Patty's Day. They weren't, they were talking about weekends in NYC. You have to go out on a Tuesday night to avoid the amateur night of the weekends. It sounds snooty, but I totally agree. I think it's an age thing. In Manhattan, you can't just go out for a cozy beer on a Saturday night with your dude or gal -- you'll get manhandled, bulldozed, and challenged to a dual. Oh wait, we're supposed to be talking good for the soul...

Oh -- after snapping a picture of Matt Caldecutt, half-man, half -press release over at Trylon PR. and his open-bar-lovin' party partner Nichelle Stephens, I met Philip Germano, President of Germano, Inc -- who then handed me off to Zak Kunish, planner of luxury weddings and special events. I asked him what the most luxurious wedding was so far and he turned me green with jealousy. Grand Cayman. Yeah. I told him he should really aim high and get someone's wedding planned at the location of your dreams: the Grand Prospect Hall. Zak is down to earth, with a great sense of humor, someone who seems to really enjoy his job as well. So yeah, get married -- take Zak to the islands with your family!

So there you have it -- great space, great colors, adults who know how to conduct themselves in public, and overall a good for the soul and the earth theme. Let's try to ride this good soul stuff out, New York, ok? I don't want to have to break up with you.

Invite kelly@mediapost.com to your par-tay and you're in Just An Online Minute!

See green in the party photos on Flickr!