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Saturday, February 19, 2011

I got to hang with the cool kids

Yes, I am a week late in posting this. To recap: last Friday, after trekking around NYC for two days for work-related meetings/site visits (10 event sites in 2 days -– it can be done, if you have the right footwear, and plan a path that bypasses the NY Fashion Week venues), I met up with some fabulous bloggers:

JAN2011 104(l. to r.) Naomi of Design Manifest; moi; Leigh of Marvelous Kiddo with cutie-pie W; get-together instigator Raina of If The Lampshade Fits; and Alicia of Alicia B. Designs. Also in our party but traveling incognito was Alexis of The Studioist. This photo and numerous others patiently taken by the dapper and gracious Nick of Cupboards).

Now I’m the last person who will intentionally meet up with complete strangers for the night, but herein lies the difference: I felt like I already knew these ladies. I’ve been reading Raina and Alicia’s blogs for 3 and 2 years, respectively, and when the meet-up lineup was announced, I happily perused the archives of the other blogs so I could get a sense of the assembled company.

It was a great meet-up! I asked my contact at the Hudson Hotel to assist with making us a reservation in their Library Bar and we enjoyed prime seating in front of the fireplace on a cushy leather sofa and less-cushy ghost chairs.The music was a little too loud but we all managed to chat for a few hours about blogging, design, crazy commenters, our respective hometowns, Alicia’s recent move and engagement, Naomi’s new apartment in Philly, what makes a good dinner party menu, etc. etc. like a bunch of old pals.

JAN2011 106 
Raina and I at the end of the night – a little giddy, a little exhausted (according to my camera this was taken at 2:38 am!), and apparently both fans of large necklaces. Another photo by Nick.

I have on past occasions waxed poetic about the value of all you readers, lurkers, commenters, followers and the online community we have built for ourselves, but there is something satisfying about actually meeting people you’ve “known” online and having it really click. When I tried to explain the nature of this meet-up to some friends and co-workers, their non-bloggy brains could not process it. “Wait, you’re meeting people you haven’t met yet? But you know them? But you haven’t met them?” I finally had to describe it as akin to meeting a bunch of pen pals.

Thanks again ladies (and Nick) for a great night and I hope we can do it again!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm having a giveaway of a nice khaki jacket as soon as I get 5 more followers. Come on over and check it out!

DI

Raina Cox said...

Awww - I love that picture of the two of us!!!

The pleasure was all mine, Miz R.

cheatymoon said...

So nice to see your photos and read your description of the night.

I think it is like pen-pals. Totally makes sense to me...

xoxo

essbesee said...

great pic of you and raina, and, ahem. they got to hang with the cool kid, kiddo.

sas said...

dude - LOVE Your dress.
and as soon as i get stateside i am totally looking you up :)

Naomi@DesignManifest said...

Robin,

It was so nice to meet you!! Despite the noise, your choice was a cozy and delightful hang-out spot. Oh and I can't believe you guys were out so late!! You had me beat.

xo
Naomi

PS- still waiting on that dinner part recipe ;)

Alicia B. Designs said...

Robin! What a sweet post. You girls were out sooo late!! Looks like a ton of fun after I left...I was so happy to have met everyone there--everyone was too cool.

Blog friends are like modern day pen pals. Thats an adorable idea. How was your weekend in NYC? Did you find anything awesome at the flea markets?

xoxo
Alicia

Studioist said...

Such a fun night. It was incredible to meet you all and Robin, we've got to get together again and chat more.

knitseashore said...

Sounds like you all had an awesome time! I've met some wonderful friends through my blog at knitter meetups, and there was no awkwardness at all...felt like we had known each other from way back when. The internet is so great for finding people of like minds and hearts. :)

Mumsie said...

I think it's just great that you were able to do that and yes, it is like meeting up with a bunch of pen pals.
I toast you all,