MediaPost | Just An Online Minute

Agencies Grab Honors, Look Toward Super Bowl And Beyond

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:12:00 -0500

Top executives from winning agencies such as MPG Global CEO Maria Luisa Francoli, GroupM Interaction COO John Montgomery and Saatchi & Saatchi X CEO Dina Howell were in attendance Tuesday as "Media" Magazine handed out its annual Agency of the Year awards.

Dealing With Costumephobia In A Room Full Of 'Superheroes'

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 16:43:03 -0500

My stomach was turning as I stood outside of Crimson on Broadway, waiting for the doors to open for MediaMind's 10th Annual Rich Media Awards. A few days earlier, MediaMind's communications and media relations manager Alice Suh told me that it was superhero-themed. Worse - people would be in costumes. They had even hired superhero actors to perform. This would be great if I didn't have an irrational fear of costumed people.

Pinging That Pong With Thought Equity Motion

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 17:00:04 -0500

I went to Though Equity Motion's 2nd Annual Ping Pong Show Down at SPiN NYC the other week. This write-up has been in the works for a while, but I hurt my back and spent the past few days whining and staying in bed (send flowers, please).

Geeking Out In Soho

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:50:00 -0400

Last Wednesday's GeekChicDaily and TOKYOPOP launch party at Kidrobot in SoHo was the perfect way to escape the fall drizzle and NYC mud/crud puddles. I had been skipping around the office all day saying that I was going to a party at a robot store (note: Kidrobot is definitely not a robot store, but a geek-friendly destination for collectible tchotchkes and silkscreened hoodies and whatnot), so I was a little disappointed that Rosie from "The Jetsons" didn't greet me at the door to put my wrist band on.

Just An Online Minute... Ace-ing A Night Of Karaoke

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 16:41:07 -0400

I'm blaming Richard Blakeley and the entire staff of ShareThis for the reason that I'm writing this article from my couch instead of my office. I've written about Websdays in the past, but this one was different because ShareThis was sponsoring it, which meant open bar and a night of karaoke at the Ace Hotel. If you know how obnoxious I am, it should come to no surprise that karaoke is my favorite party activity, which naturally lends itself to losing one's voice -- especially when you're already wrestling serious allergies in the first place. So here I am, at home, squeaking and coughing. I was bested by Internet Week during Advertising Week.

Just An Online Minute... Ad Club Honors Feeding America

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 19:30:13 -0400

Kicking Advertising Week off at a luncheon at the Plaza's Grand Ballroom isn't too shabby, especially when the wine starts flowing at 11 a.m. (although I'm sad to report that no one was drinking it, not even this lush reporter who showed up sauced on codeine and allergy meds). Gayle Taryn does PR for the Advertising Club of NY and always throws great events. When I finally trick a man into marrying me and letting me spend all his money, I'm calling Gayle to have her plan the wedding.

Just An Online Minute... Socializing With The Social Media Stars

Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:16:02 -0400

Tuesday evening found me running through Times Square like a tourist, even asking a cop for directions to the Marriott Marquis before he pointed right in front of me. I hate Times Square so much. But there was a party and a bar that needed emptying, so I did my duty as a hard-hitting party reporter and showed up.

Just An Online Minute... Exploring All The Meanings Of 'Get Served'

Fri, 16 Sep 2011 14:15:09 -0400

Last Friday night, I deviated from my usual routine of ordering Thai food, turning off my phone and watching "SVU" and instead smeared on some makeup and headed over to the W on Lex for the Get Served event after-party sponsored by The Daily and The Macallan. I was supposed to go to the event itself -- the opening of the Vanderbilt Tennis Club in Grand Central Station -- to smack a few balls around the court, but I frown on all sports that don't take place in bars, so I declined the invite and just showed up for the after-party.

Just An Online Minute... An Unnaturally Glamorous Wednesday Night

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:01:01 -0400

I'm always amazed at how great girls look after work when I go to parties. I usually show up with my hair tied on my head, tired eyes and a less-than-fresh attitude, so I don't know why I was so surprised when I showed up at the launch for new jewelry line chloe + isabel to find every girl there (except me) looking bright and happy, with perfect hair. It was, after all, a fashion-y event.

Just An Online Minute... Lounging on Leroy

Fri, 26 Aug 2011 16:31:32 -0400

On Wednesday, my BFF from Canada came to town and I immediately dragged (luggage in hand) her to MediaTrust's Peter Bordes gorgeous townhouse on Leroy Street. Peter was hosting a cocktail party on his rooftop garden in honor of the first night of LeadsCon. We walked in around 7 and I was blown away by how beautiful the place was, and wanted to weep at the thought of going back to my Brooklyn walk-up after I realized the place was five stories.

Just An Online Minute... Playing Verbal Pong At AdMarketplace's Beer Pong Olympics

Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:26:02 -0400

The floor of Newark's Continental Terminal at 6 a.m. (note: I do NOT live in New Jersey) is no place to write a fabulous party column, but, since I'm jetting off to spend a long weekend on Nantucket for another fabulous party with my friends, this is the only option. See, I'm keeping my promise to write every Friday!

Just An Online Minute... Getting Beyond The Regulation Networking Event

Fri, 12 Aug 2011 15:45:55 -0400

Networking events suck. To be fair, all events that focus on mingling with strangers rather than drinking too much usually aren't fun. But when I heard that Richard Blakeley, founder of the Webutante Ball and editor at Thrillist, was leveraging the success of Internet Week to a monthly networking party for the Internet crowd, I knew I had to check it out.

Just An Online Minute... 212NYC Throws A Beachy-Keen Event

Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:17:28 -0400

This past Bastille Day, instead of watching "Les Parapluies de Cherbourg" and drinking a bottle of French wine, I headed out to Manhattan's Water Taxi Beach at South Street Seaport for 212 NYC's Summer Beach Party. There was certainly nothing French about the event, but it promised fully stocked bars, lots of food and a performance by Funk Master Flex and rapper Fabolous.

Just An Online Minute... The Definition Of A Good Party

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:45:31 -0400

Speaking of parties that didn't suck, Definition 6 threw one of the best parties I've been to in New York last month. It was the after-party for the PromaxBDA 2011 Conference, where I stayed too long, drank too much and danced on the roof deck.

Just An Online Minute... Internet Week Party Roundup, Part One

Fri, 10 Jun 2011 16:15:36 -0400

As Internet Week 2011 winds down, it appears that my liver and sanity both made it out unscathed. Mostly.

The first party on my Internet Week itinerary Monday was the joint eHow and Rachael Ray event at Bar Basque. I was a little apprehensive because the last Rachael Ray event I went to was horrible -- stale food, weird drinks and an awkward venue. So, imagine my surprise when I walked to the balcony to find a beautiful setup of food stations, pleasant music, great decorations and delicious drinks.

Just An Online Minute... CementBloc Talks Shots of Japan. Hint: Not Sake Shots

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 16:15:05 -0400

I'm slowly realizing that there are people besides my mother who read this column. See, I've developed a following of haters amongst certain NYC PR girls, so when my editor asked me to cover CementBloc's Internet Week "Driving Influence Marketing in the Health and Wellness Sector" event, I was less than thrilled, pretty sure that I would have a horrible time, be honest about it, and add another media-world enemy to the list of "people I can't talk to in public because they will probably hit me." Luckily for me, I would have a good time at the event.

Just An Online Minute... Starved, Cramped In VIP Room: Getting The 'Special' Treatment From NYWIFT

Wed, 01 Jun 2011 12:05:04 -0400

To say I went to better keggers in high school would be an understatement when talking about this night. The event itself was worthwhile -- a New York Women In Film And Television awards ceremony honoring the behind-the-scenes experts in costumes, makeup and hair. Not so worthwhile: the venue itself, which felt like the basement of a Ramada Inn by the Sioux City airport. It was terribly hot, we were served small portions of stale popcorn, and the stage used what appeared to be a shower curtain as the backdrop.

Just An Online Minute... Checking Out The ANDY Awards

Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:47:04 -0400

This ANDY Awards write-up has been sitting on my desktop for about two weeks, but deadlines are meant to be missed, I suppose. The event was on Thursday, April 14, and that weekend I went to a Yankees game, drank a lot of beer, screamed at Jeter from the cheap seats in the pouring rain and caught the worst cold of my life. Being the germ-incubator that I am, I got the art department sick, leaving no one to format this post. That's not so bad, because it gave me more time to reflect upon my experience to provide you, my adoring fan base, with the most accurate recap I have in me.

Just An Online Minute... Meet Your New Minute-trix

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 13:00:20 -0400

Carrie Cummings here, MediaPost magazine editor, and now your new Online Minute girl. The daytime MediaPost gig keeps me pretty busy, so I won't be able to party and post as frequently as my predecessor, the much-missed Kelly Samardak. But I assure you, dear readers, that my mingling and party hopping will turn you green with envy. There couldn't have been a better event to start my post with than adMarketplace's Spring Dinner at the Soho House.

Just An Online Minute... Endings Are Really Beginnings... Or Something Like That

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:47:05 -0500

I have tried to write this a good 80 times this week. When thanking people that I met through this beat who inspire and influence me, whom I grew to trust, whom I could share an inappropriate laugh or story with, people who were beacons of real in the murky waters of the ultimate schmoozefests -- well, I didn't want to leave anyone out. But I'm afraid I will. So I get word-stunted. Keep in mind I'm a shower thinker, so if I have left you off, realize I'll kick myself in the shower later, which will be more frequent in the near future since I'll actually have to go into an office.

Just An Online Minute... Waggener Edstrom Cures The Winter Blues

Fri, 04 Feb 2011 12:30:56 -0500

Last night I popped out of the 4 at Grand Central around 6:15 p.m. a time at which I really don't like to be caught in that beautiful old travel hub. The key is to plant your head aggressively forward, your feet unwavering, and your shoulders at the offense -- and you just GO. It helps to harness a little crazy eye --which I do -- to part the sea of people in front of you. At least until you connect with another crazy eye and it becomes a duel of wills, but that's a story for another day.

Just An Online Minute... Robbers Report To The Rose Club To Cop Champagne And Apps

Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:15:23 -0500

When I first started writing this column, the immediate obvious stress was knowing absolutely NO ONE at these shindigs, with the sub-stress of what the hell to wear. I had spent the earlier part of my career in an Internet technology lab where jeans and hoodies were the norm, and then I also observed other bloggers and the hipster tech crowd sporting more of the same. But the events were different and my role was different. I had to blend, I had to be part of the party, not the frumpy weirdo in the corner creeping and taking notes. Last night as I prepared for The Plaza Hotel, I felt that sneaky little twinge of outfit intimidation yet again.

Just An Online Minute... Is This The Real Life? Is This Just Fantasy?

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 14:45:50 -0500

Tonight I'm heading to The Plaza Hotel, The Rose Club to be exact. I can't believe that in the three years of writing this column, The Plaza has been a wanted destination not yet realized, until now. I feel like I should hit some thrift stores for a full-length faux fur coat before heading over there - or maybe get a little lip enhancement so I can quack my way through the lobby unnoticed. I'll fill you in on the event tomorrow, but you can be confident with your guess that it's not for the launch of WalMart's latest ammo and cigarettes luxury line.

Just An Online Minute... It's The Final Countdown!

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 12:16:47 -0500

Today is mixed emotion Monday! Much like the events in this column, it's a bit up and down. Why the mixed emotions? Why the first paragraph drama? Step inside, dear loyal reader, and see what I've got for you.

Just An Online Minute... Digital DUMBO Enters The Terrible Twos

Fri, 28 Jan 2011 16:00:52 -0500

Last night Digital DUMBO celebrated their 2nd birthday at The DUMBO Loft, sponsored by Carrot Creative.

Just An Online Minute... Most Chilled Out Event Of The Year, Pants Optional

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 15:15:04 -0500

Today's party was insane. White stuff EVERYWHERE, guests without pants (some without any clothing at all!), sharp weapons hurled angrily, and the venue was constantly changing. It was like an around the world party, only it was centered in a lovely pocket of Manhattan where every step was at your own risk, the soundtrack was provided by strange wet squeals, and everyone's moods were elevated - even the children! It must have been the white stuff. It HAD to be the white stuff.

Just An Online Minute... Confess To Yoxi Your Digital Addictions And Help Others To Recover

Wed, 26 Jan 2011 15:00:47 -0500

Last night I headed down to the Bowery/Lower East Side area of Manhattan, packed tightly with cabin fever. If you're in NYC, you're tired of the weather -- and if you're not in NYC, you're tired of hearing about the NYC weather. I'll put a positive spin on it and say I welcomed the opportunity to bundle up and go for a nice 20-minute walk from my home office into the city darkness. This place has sizzling corners in the face of any weather or trappings of the clock, which is why I love this column so much - I get forced out at night to meet new corners and new people, like the team at Yoxi, who have some ideas for that BlackbBerry you can't put down.

Just An Online Minute... The Macallan Gets Art And Celeb Crowd Drunk On Photography

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:00:25 -0500

How do I even start? Last night was such a roller coaster ride through art snobs, art freaks, turtleneck aficionados, free-drink fans, celebrities, blast-from-the-past reality-show favorites, and brushes with greatness (I'm looking at you, Tina Fey's assistant), wild risky haircuts, leopard-print pants, sky-high stilettos, and weird food, my fingers are getting tangled trying to lay it all out for you. It was all part of the clever and eye-feeding campaign for The Macallan, a single-malt Scotch whisky, where master photographer Albert Watson captured the real-life journey of The Macallan cask. <

Just An Online Minute... The Best Books That Give You The Business

Thu, 20 Jan 2011 14:15:14 -0500

Every year, it's the same thing. I promise myself I'll read more. "Be more well-read," I tell myself, standing in the pizza section of the grocery store. This year I decided to expand my reading promise to include taking down my "I don't need other people to tell me how to do things" wall. You know, the one that's resistant to what I like to call "Business Self-Help" books. The "Be the flower you see in the ad" sort of books. When I got the invitation to cover the 800ceoread Annual Business Book Awards party, it was like a sign.

Just An Online Minute... This Week: Whiskey, Women, And Words

Wed, 19 Jan 2011 15:30:06 -0500

"Wine, Women, and Song" is one of my favorite Harvey Danger tracks. If I tweak it a little bit, it is also the background music to my week: whiskey, women, and words.