ContentNext Mixer, 230 Fifth, New York
October 28, 2008
With the slew of ear-bleeding concerts, fresh (never NOT fresh) CMJ showcases with a little web site
launch tied in, I'll bet you've been asking yourself; "Self, when am I going to see a good chicken-finger-mini burger- networking schmooze fest?" I hear you loud and clear, you
tiny-food-loving, veggie-tray-scraping media freaks! Which is why I went out not once, but twice, into the dark of night with a building cold the size of Sarah Palin's original "wedding
hair" do (not showing you my political affiliation, simply making a coif observation) to hit the ContentNext mixer. Oh yes, they called it a mixer. Tomorrow I'm going to the ad:tech
cotillion. 
I am impressed daily by the various ways Ad:Tech PR
types try to make an intro sound personalized. Sucker that I am, I rarely remove myself because you never know which way the wind will blow in the future. But I fall into a pool of digression now,
fueled by the dull whir in my ears and the inability to register scents. My nose is occupied by goblins that I'm fairly certain took root last night as I walked to 230 Fifth TWICE (forgotten
camera, then wallet). Why cover a mixer with a cold? Was it a sadistic desire to infect as many uber networkers in the Flatiron district as possible? Was it the undeniable draw of free munchies?
Nah, if I'm going to keep it honest with you, I have to say the main draw was Tameka Kee, former MediaPoster, current paidContenter.
Aside from reuniting with the now West Coast-loving Tameka, I was
curious to meet David Kaplan of the ContentNext crew, a fellow I have heard many stories about in the recent past.
Hey, I hear mini burgers are the cure for the common cold. After snarfing on
the round brown stuff I interrupted Steven Alperin, Director Strategic Planning, Senior Broadcast Producer (sheesh), ABC News Digital; Jeff Morris , Vice President, Digital Media, Corporate Strategy,
Business Development and Technology, The Walt Disney Company; and Michael Clemente, Senior Executive Producer, ABC News Digital Media.
Steve asked the question that's on everyone's minds
lately; "What's the mood here?" At these shindigs, people appear unshaken and happy. Let's not forget that when networking, people are less likely to rock the "woe is
me" style. Read your "guide to interviewing for doofuses." Maybe when everyone leaves, they cry softly on the way home, hugging themselves to keep it together.
Behind the
Wolfman was a gaggle of ContentNexters with Jeremy Serkin, Senior Producer, Internet Initiatives for The Anti Defamation League. Serkin was showing off his brand new ADL sack and sharing subway
horror stories (older gentleman karate-chopped Jeremy's newspaper away from his face). I recommended that if for no other episode than the bus episode, he check out "It's Always Sunny In
Philadelphia." Best show on television (hi, Charlie!)
Oh! I ran into Andy Kraut from OMD who, along with Sara Rossi, Catherine Tarasoff, agreed that the waitresses were like evil-drink-dealing demons. Literally, the last drop of [name your poison,
not your poisson] would hit your tongue and there the teeny-black-skirted she-demon would be, with a tray of frosty refills. Not so goulishly, it was a pleasure to finally meet Katie Smith Adair,
looking all casual fashionista in her Obama T-shirt and girlie blazer. She was there with another Morris+Kinger that I haven't met, but know through the power of email, Jennifer Moses. They
informed me that I just missed a GOOD Magazine soireee. Hello, Justin Kazmark, I love me some GOOD, where was my invitation?
I wrapped up my evening quickly as NyQuil goodness awaited me at
home, which meant I very briefly got a hello in with Matt Caldecutt, The Great Pumpkin of fall media parties and his henchman, Lisa Lacy.
Cliff's notes time! 230 Fifth:
Paid! good views of The Empire State Building AND The Chrysler Building, good service. 230 Fifth: Fired! Enough with the barely-there skirts and hotsy waitresses. Maybe
pretend to evolve for business functions. Guests' open/nice factor: Paid! Operating with a creeping cold: Fired! 
Just so you know, there's a chance you won't get a Minute
tomorrow due to my staying in tonight and getting healthy instead of heading to the launch party for Whale Wars!
Send invitations to kelly@mediapost.com if you've got a veggie platter you're dying show off to your media friends.
Get the rest of the photos on Flickr!
Follow my hunt for the softest nose tissues and the best
media soiree on Twitter.