• by Kelly Samardak , July 28, 2009

Digital Divas NYC, 230 Fifth, New York
July 27, 2009

I overheard in my office once that talking about the weather is the lowest form of conversation. This of course was uttered after I mentioned to another coworker that the rain was ridiculous or... it was snowing or something. So of course, I was all offended (because I 'm almost certain that everything is about me). Regardless, it's true--- it is not my preferred small-talk subject, but sometimes, it's just what's on everyone's minds. And in my case yesterday, it was all over my body. Because that's right, someone -- and I won't name names, but she's short and sort of loud -- forgot her umbrella and got caught in the middle of Madison Square Park as the fattest blobs of rain plopped rudely from the sky. So I guess that means that you and I are now engaged in the lowest form of conversation.

We can build off of it, though, and maybe give it double meat. As I ran through the park, almost sliding out of my heels and viciously protecting my recently rehabbed camera from the wet, I was also trying to BlackBerry Messenger (bb msg from now on, ok?) my pal Gail Hilton of Thought Equity Motion. Suddenly, my BlackBerry kept opening the dial prompt and entered "QQQ ######" no matter what keys I pushed. I darted under the scaffolding that's obscuring Dewey's Flatiron from the sun (as if that place needs help getting any darker), water streaming down my face, arms, and legs, my hair a matted NYPD horse's tail of gnarl and began swearing at my phone. A man next to me asked if I could look up "Rogue," a restaurant where he was supposed to meet his friends. His friends told him it was on the corner of 5th and 26th. I clicked around to get to my browser, and my BlackBerry pretty much blew up. I apologized to the dude and ran off to 230 Fifth, as the rain had finally regressed to a more spit-like annoyance. A suited and coiffed dude entering in front of me didn't hold the door, thanks.

I skittered into the lobby and remembered that the most recent message and tweet from the Digital Divas NYC group said the 27th Floor, but there is no 27th floor. Probably because, as I found out today, it said "at 27th st,",not the 27th floor. But do you know what's funny? Everyone else read it in that way, too. Weird right? Anyway. I made it up to the 20th floor and peered into the darkness. I saw Lauren Honig of MediaPost sitting on a couch thumbing her BlackBerry. She hadn't found these Divas yet. We did a lap and didn't find anyone. Two slender, tightly dressed waitresses informed us that two other women were looking for the group as well. They were Sabrina Michaeli of Mansfield Communications and Stephanie Coggin, a PR consultant.

Gail and her coworker Mollie Meyer, content sales manager at Thought Equity Motion, arrived soon after. Getting all Scooby Doo, we sent the Thought Equity Motion gals upstairs to look for the hosts while we held the fort downstairs. Eventually Lara L. DeSignor and Ann Quinn of Dogmatic arrived and herded us over to another corner of the indoor area of 230 Fifth. Let's get back to the rain for a minute. It was Monday, so 230 Fifth wasn't even close to packed to the gills inside, and because of the rain the roof wasn't swimming with people so much as runoff. This forced the Divas indoors, which was chilly, empty, and basementy. Purple and silver aren't exactly warming colors, either. I think given the small amount of attendees (blame it on the rain, Milli Vanilli!) and the lack of coziness, I wasn't seeing this happy hour in its ideal light. The way the chairs were arranged ,I kept anticipating formal introductions or a presentation and because that didn't happen I couldn't shake the waiting feeling.

I have never characterized myself as a diva because by definition a diva is either a very successful opera singer, which I am not, or a goddess or "divine one" if we're going all Latin on it. In modern usage, it's usually thrown at difficult personalities with overbloated impressions of their own success. Although, I suppose if Cher wants a room full of pink toads on tour, she kind of deserves them. This group's intention is to focus on the positives of the original definition of the word, which translates into the highly successful or success-minded businesswoman. In the digital realm of course. One such "diva" was Pam Graham (a grandma in her family is dubbed "mammy graham" heehaw), from A&E Television Networks. Whenever I meet someone from A&E (I say that like I'm always meeting A&E people, which I'm not), I gush about "Intervention" and how I'm only going to rehab if Jeff VanVonderen sends me. Pam is not stuffy, in case you were wondering. She scanned the drink menu, slapped it shut, and said "I'm just going to get a pirate drink," when indecision pushed her towards rum. Yar!

Rounding out a banquet half-round was the All-Ways Advertising duo of Diana DellaPave and Jenny Calderon. Dogmatic's Persia Tatar popped in around 7 p.m., which was about when I heard the call of the Food Emporium. With events every night and out-of town-guests this weekend, last night was my one "free" night to take care of what I like to call "life events." Next time I'll definitely hang around longer. Each new person added another layer of color to the group. As I headed out I briefly met the enter:new media duo of Emily Sobol and Stephanie von Tesmar who actually made me hesitate a little in my exit. So next time, Divas - let's do some anti-rain dancing and let's have it at a dive! I vote Digital Divas... McSorley's.

You can find larger pictures on Flickr

Send your party and event invitations to kelly@mediapost.com!