• by Kelly Samardak , May 23, 2008

Apartment Therapy Book Launch Party, SoHo, NYC
May 17, 2008

Before heading to the launch party for apartmenttherapy.com's book ("Apartment Therapy Presents: Real Homes, Real People, Hundreds of Design Solutions") I hit the Web site for a little recon. Ugh, beautiful apartments with colorful carpeting, sassy prints, and decadent artwork. "Ugh" because I still have a sign over my door that says "happy birthday" and my birthday was in February. I shoved the green-eyed monster in my sack and headed out.

Rain pitter-pattered on the part in my hair as I made my way to the apartment therapy SoHo loft. I was nerdily excited by the prospect of meeting the folks from Gawker and gothamist, so perspiration was at an all-time high. The intense moist heat that wrapped around my face when I stepped off the elevator into a hallway full of people who not only didn't introduce themselves to me, but also simply stared exacerbated this.

"Hi, people I don't know!" I chirped, which is my customary greeting to people I don't know. One of the gawkers (not from Gawker) was Chris Phillips, who invited me to this shindig. He immediately looked at my nametag, on which I had printed "Chauncey" (not my name) and shook my hand with minor confusion. He then led me to the bar.

Note to Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, founder, apartment therapy media: the "pickletini" may not take off. Pickles, pickle juice, and vodka put a little vomit in my mouth. I celebrate the tubular green sandwich buddy, but not in an alcoholic beverage.

Chris introduced me to the charming and adorable blue plaid jacket wearing Marlon Gobel, assistant men's creative director, Bill Blass. Marlon's Chelsea digs are featured in the book and I have nothing but love for someone who decorates with bloated prints of screaming toddlers and shocked monkeys.

Back at the beverage cart, hunting for some live blogging, I found a very open Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan ready to talk about his book and his squiggle.

"I have always felt that if you create a space you love, then everything in your social life will fall into place" gently posed Maxwell, "I had clients who were trying to get pregnant with no success. We redecorated their apartment and now they're expecting!"

"Because they had space to do it!" I exclaimed. Chris Phillips laughed heartily while Maxwell regarded me suspiciously. He has a bit of that hacky-sacking ethereal hippy flavor to him that I can appreciate. Which explains the "squiggle"-- the logo of apartment therapy media.

"It's something I've been drawing for years. It illustrates what I feel to be perfect flow. The way you walk through a room, the way the energy of a room feels. And that flow makes everything else fall into place." You heard it here, the mystery of the "squiggle" revealed!

While I snapped pictures of the quirky attendees on my way out the door, I met my deity equivalent: The Murray's Cheese representative, Jasmin Mirsal. Jasmin invited me to stop by and get a tour of the Murray's Cheese grotto.

I really hope I'll be walking into a cool dank cave made of cheese, with Playboy bunnies frolicking and splashing around, offering me Wheat Thins.

Oh. PS. I didn't meet anyone from Gawker or gothamist because apparently some people were at "the show" and hadn't shown up yet. Yeah. Thanks for that invite.

Peep the full set of photos on Flickr!

Want Kelly to taste your pickletini and cover your party in Just an Online Minute? Send invitations to kelly@mediapost.com!