Kurt Cobain Watches “Smells Like Teen Spirit” For 1st Time @RSHotel
Kurt Cobain Watches “Smells Like Teen Spirit” For 1st Time @RSHotel
Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Hotel
The power, the amazing ability to connect even the most random information, is what makes the internet so astounding. Yesterday as I am scanning TweetDeck I notice a tweet scroll through the ‘Roger Smith Hotel‘ column. (not everyone uses @RSHotel I figured out a while ago. lol )
Here is the tweet sent out by Roger A.K.A. @yaysarcasm to @SuzanneVara Owner of Kherize5 Advertising & Social Media Agency and my response:
Roger quickly responded with a tweet leading me closer to the truth:
I instantly looked up “Heavier Than Heaven” on-line continuing to track down the truth behind Roger’s tweet… its not that I didn’t believe you Roger but afterall it is twitter…right?!
Here is what I found next:
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page 205 Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain By Charles R. Cross
page 205 Heavier Than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain By Charles R. Cross
I have walked into work today feeling a little bit different. Call me corny but in a Hotel that has built a reputation on story telling and people this to me is a damn good one. Kurt Cobain, Nirvana… fan or not you have to admit the history and nostalgia behind this discovery is a story to be repeated and shared.
I end by thanking Roger @YaySarcasm and @SuzannaVara for having a social conversation and sharing your insights with us here @RSHotel ! I will always remember this… its just cool.
R.I.P.
Honored To Be A Shorty’s Finalist
Posted on 04. Mar, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
A year ago Adam Wallace and I (Brian Simpson) and the TEAM at The Roger Smith Hotel barely knew what the Shorty Awards were and we sure in hell were not getting into the event! Note: Last year even Julia Roy was left in the cold, literally. Fast forward one year and we find ourselves one of five finalists in the category of Customer Service. Although the Shorty Awards are a Twitter based awards recognition, we at RSH know that customer service goes way beyond what can be conveyed in 140 characters. Our on-line presence has certainly been instrumental in finding new friends, converting them into guests and following up to ensure satisfaction. It is fitting that the day after the event Tamar Weinberg has a blog post that expresses this same message. Tamar quotes Joseph Jaffe as saying “Roger Smith Hotel, through their bevy of ‘humans,’ actually participates. They go out of their way to welcome any social media-initiated guests in person…”
OUR ROGER SMITH FAMILY
We were honored to be a part of The Shorty Awards and be listed in the Customer Service Category alongside:
and of course, and big congrats to, Winner ComcastBonnie
Thank you again to all that have supported us and make our jobs here at RSH more fun because we are surrounded by greatness everyday!
See you next year… with a lead image photo from behind the podium 
Party For A Purpose ~ “Cents of Relief”
Posted on 01. Mar, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community
Yesterday, via Twitter, I learned my friend John ‘Speed’ Raser was having an event here in NYC. I was bummed out when I realized the date conflicted with my trip to SXSWi. John is super excited to be having this event here in New York City and is anticipating a great turnout! Because of John’s passion and commitment to his friends I feel compelled to share his enthusiasm in a blog post. As a bonus I am including a great video from John’s YouTube channel… It has nothing to do with the event but everything to do with John and his awesomeness. Enjoy the video and please come out to support John and his friends on March 11th.
Cents of Relief (501c3) was founded by John Raser’s highschool buddy, Anup Patel and his fiance Rina Patel to help provide healthcare to women and children caught up in human trafficking / sex trade. John says “Anup is one of the most brilliant, hard-working, and compassionate people I have ever come to know.”
He credits his fiance, Rina, as being the driving force behind the organization. “She is such a strong, sweet, and dedicated woman.” says Anup. I’m happy to help such unselfish and deserving friends.
If you live in New York City, or will be there March 11, 2010, we would love it if you came out to support this worthy cause. I mean it’s at Jay Z’s 40/40 Club and tickets are only $25 bucks in advance ($30 at the door). Not to mention there is a free vodka hour and free Aveda mini day spa included! Need I say more?!?! I’ll be there with some friends from Orlando and would love to throw back some Cristal with you!
You can buy tickets here
Killington, Okemo & Ski Vermont Tweet-Up
Posted on 24. Feb, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community
Thursday February 25th 6-8 p.m.
Join Killington Resort, Okemo and Ski Vermont for a New York City après at the Roger Smith Hotel. We’ll talk about how much snow is falling on two of Vermont’s best mountains while we are in the City drinking and talking about skiing and riding, and why we all need to get out of the City for the weekend and enjoy a Powder Day!
2 for 1 vouchers, free passes, wearables and much more!
Although there may not be any snow on the ground here in NYC…Check out the LIVE view from Killington Mountain, VT !
Also take advantage of Henry’s Birthday Room Special
Click on my tummy for my special discount code
$99 Now – March 3rd !
Hats Off To Our Friends (Red Sox Hats That Is)
Posted on 21. Feb, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Uncategorized
Back in January Adam Wallace and I (Brian Simpson) had the chance to speak at Jeff Pulvers #140Conf Meet-Up in Cambridge, MA. While we were there we were invited, via Twitter, by The Colonnade Hotel (@Colonnade) to come have lunch and talk ’social media’. We met with Chris, Nicole and Katie at Brassarie Jo’s inside the Colonnade. A couple of weeks later Katie was in NYC for business and stopped by to say hello and visit The Roger Smith. This is how connections and friendships evolve. Last week I decided I needed a new Red Sox hat, and in my opinion, there is only one place to buy one, Yawkey Way – outside of Fenway Park. I spent the weekend in Boston and enjoyed amazing hospitality at The Colonnade. As a resident of Boston for thirteen years The Colonnade was always my popular Summer hang-out due to their great rooftop pool! Being able to actually stay there was indeed a treat. I even ran into a couple people I knew that now work there. Because of their involvement and commitment to social networking I have a new Boston ‘home’. If you are ever in the Boston area or live near Boston I suggest you go by for a room, a bite to eat or a drink by the pool (Summer only). You will not be disappointed.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand ‘Check-Ins’
Posted on 20. Feb, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
Last Thursday afternoon I received a call from my friend Julia Roy. Julia had been approached by Susan Dominus, of The New York Times, to participate in an article Susan was doing on the social network FourSquare. Julia asked if it would be O.K. to do the interview at Roger Smith Hotel. Her reasoning was to hopefully include other FourSquare users in the article. (on most nights there is someone here “Checking-In” on FourSquare) This gesture alone shows why people like Julia excel in social media. FourSquare is a way of sharing your dining, shopping, traveling, museum hoping, train riding and sight seeing experiences with other people.
FourSquare is about the strength of community. To quote Kenneth Hartley Blanchard “None of us is as smart as all of us.” Julia could have done the interview on her own and it would have been great. She would have shared it, the twitterverse would have re-tweeted it and the world would continue to spin about one thousand miles per hour. Instead, Julia recognizes the greater strength and potential energy of community. Everyone has an audience: Damien consults on building your companies brand. Clay has studied under Seth Godin and now assists a variety of businesses with their overall strategies. Jill has a loyal community on YouTube as a videographer that surpasses most of its users. I (Brian Simpson) work at Roger Smith, a hotel that has become a go-to business for all types of social media personalities.
Collectively the story became what platforms like FourSquare stand for… connecting friends and strangers with commonalities to create conversation.
Jill Hanner's NYSC Mayorship
It was a great night and we at The Roger Smith Hotel wanted to thank Julia for including us. I/we would also like to thank Jill, Clay and Damien for sharing their unique and individual insights as to why FourSquare is important to them.
“Beyond Twitter: An App That Truly Lets You See City”
JOIN FOURSQUARE NOW: Here
Susan Dominus
Special thanks to: Susan Dominus, writer for the NYT and Nicole Tung Photographer for the NYT
Beauty Pearls For Chemo Girls Fashion Show
Posted on 04. Feb, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel, fashion
What comes to mind when someone mentions cancer to you? I (Brian Simpson) am a cancer survivor and my first thoughts range from being bald to living on the bathroom floor. When I observe conversations about cancer I see sullen faces and hear tones of empathy. Thankfully people like Debbie Kiederer and Marybeth Maida look at the world through rose colored glasses. They have collaborated on an amazing book, a book that sends a message much bigger than its pages. “Beauty Pearls For Chemo Girls” is a book to inspire, educate and encourage woman who have to go through the ordeal of cancer treatment and the angelic people that stay by their sides and assist.
On Thursday, February 11th, BP4CG will be hosting a wonderful evening at The Roger Smith Hotel. From designers to make-up artists the night will consist of ‘making-over’ two strong and courageous women currently undergoing cancer treatment.
Debbie and Marybeth are two women that we respect and support for all their efforts in such an important yet difficult arena.
Click on the link for all the details and to register for the event – we hope to see you here. If you can’t make it please spread the word, follow them on Twitter and become fans of their Facebook page.
The Noel Foundation and Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls invite you to celebrate and support women facing cancer with our first ever chemo girl makeover fashion show.
February 11, 2010
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The Roger Smith Hotel
501 Lexington Avenue
New York City
Join us for cocktails, food, fashion and fun featuring expert advice from the groundbreaking new book and community website Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls — live streaming video coverage to the street and the web.
Come meet Louis Philippe and Christine DeAngelo — two of our Beauty Pearls Experts.
Goody bags include a signed copy of the Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls book with chocolates* to celebrate the Valentine’s tradition.
Show the Love!
Proceeds will benefit the Noel Foundation
The NOEL Foundation was created to commemorate the extraordinary life of Noel de Caprio. Faced with spectacular success and frightening challenges, Noel always maintained a creative, courageous approach to life. Faced with obstacles or told that “things look bad”, she would smile and politely ignore the message. Regardless of the situation, she had an uncanny ability to turn disaster into opportunity. Her inspiration remains. Her charm still lingers. Her presence is missed. And so, to encourage that same, slightly irreverent behavior in others and to ease the financial pressures that usually accompany the physical realities of living with cancer, The NOEL Foundation was founded. We help cancer survivors with quality of life issues. This is a local foundation that helps within this community. We have a volunteer board and all monies donated find their way to people who need our help.
B.WËLL
In a medical setting that sometimes loses humanity in the interest of expediency, b.wëll seeks to bolster spirit and encourage strength. b.wëll’s immediate concerns are the physical changes that often occur during treatment. Our staff are experts in the design and care of wigs, and can also help with skin care and makeup to minimize the obvious signs of treatments. b.wëll also offers wellness services that have proved to be effective allies during treatment. It is our profound hope that b.wëll will someday be out of business. For information concerning our work…203.321.1469 x339…wig consultations can also be scheduled through our reservation line at 203.322.3445.
To learn more about Noelle, visit www.noelle.com
To learn more about Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls, visit our website at www.beautypearlsforchemogirls.com
Beauty Pearls for Chemo Girls Event Details and Registration
Marybeth & Debbie
Marybeth Maida is a journalist and breast cancer survivor who has worked in television, film and web for more than 20 years. She is Chief Operating and Strategy Officer for Public News Service, an independent, state based network dedicated to producing news in the public interest; President of the Beauty Foundation for Women’s Cancer Care, and vice president of the Red Bank Borough Education Foundation. Marybeth lives in New Jersey with her husband and children.
Debbie Kiederer is a 25 year veteran of the retail cosmetics industry, a digital strategist, and Founder and Principal of ChalkDust Consulting. She is an executive board member of the Hunt Hill Farm Trust, Skitch Henderson’s Cultural Center; an advisory board member of the New Canaan YMCA Diving Parents’ Association; board member of the Beauty Foundation for Women’s Cancer Care, and a
member of Cosmetic Executive Woman (CEW) and the Metropolitan Executive and Professional
Registry. Debbie lives in New York with her husband and children.
DEW’ing It Well
Posted on 29. Jan, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community
Back in December Karen Hartline invited me to the DEWmocracy Event here in NYC. I, along with a bunch of other NYC caffeine junkies, was able to get a firsthand glimpse of what DEWmocracy was all about. The Pepsi Company
@Bsimi blocked from @PepsiCo... huh???
(links to Twitter page even though they have blocked me?) truly handed the brand of Mountain Dew over to their fans /evangelists! It is a twelve month – 7 stage process that has allowed for the creation of three finalists. From flavor to color and even label the brands new product will come from the people.
What's your pick...
Your brand becomes so much more valuable when you stop talking about it and others start ’screaming’ about it!
The Turner Prize 2009 by Danika Druttman
Posted on 28. Jan, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Arts, Community
The Turner Prize 2009 may be over, but I am still thinking about it. While back in London for the holidays, I popped in to Tate Britain to check out the exhibition of the shortlisted artists. To give you a little back story about The Prize, it was founded by The Tate in 1984, and has emerged as one of the most well publicized and controversial art prizes around. Its intention is to highlight developments in contemporary British art. The exhibition itself, is designed to enable the public to view and inspire dialogue about the work of the shortlisted artists. Over the years the Turner Prize has developed a reputation for encouraging the debate ‘is it art?’ with their annual pickings. YBA’s (Young British Artist’s) have over the years populated a notable percentage of the artists included (Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, Antony Gormley, for starters). They sculpted and ultimately iconicized the 1990’s British contemporary art scene; high on volume, charisma and ‘boxless ideas’, Sensationalist is a word often used to describe the YBA’s and their art.
In spite of The Turner Prize’s reputation, 2009 can not be described as loud. I felt it elegant and thoughtful; here are the pieces that I enjoyed the most, both for the visual impact they had on my eyes, and the ensuing conceptual stimulation for my brain.
Lucy Skaer
The skull of a sperm whale is no doubt breathtaking in its own right, however, I feel like the point of this piece was more to do with the art of viewing. Being forced to see the piece in stages, through slits in the wall, slowed down the viewing experience. Certainly in my case, the effect was that it made me look, REALLY look, at Skaer’s work. As a result I can say that this was my favorite piece. I invested the most of myself into the experience, in order to attempt to grasp the meaning of this work.
Richard Wright (winner)
What a grand number, yet delicate, subtle and mortally beautiful. Mortal is an appropriate word to use, Wright’s work is painted straight onto a wall, and when the show closes, the piece is painted over (the same goes for the exhibited piece at Tate Britain). The ephemeral quality represents a rebellion against the art institution yes, clearly, but for me personally, it was a curious experience to know that this was almost definitely the last time I was ever going to see this work again. It may be a shout, but I am going to suggest it anyway, many types of beauty are fleeting, yet this is also the type that is most memorable, and that is how I feel about this work.
This makes me think of an artist that we will be showing at The LAB in April, Morgan O’hara. Her work also has this finite quality, it lives for as long as it remains on the wall and once it has been painted over, we must rely on our memories and documentation to refer back to her work of art.
Lastly, you’ll see in the video that I included a little footage of the message boards, intended for the public to voice their opinions. What a pleasure to take the time to read through people’s thoughts, be them honest, funny, unimpressed, thrilled, and everything in between. To me, it highlights the continued importance of dialogue about contemporary art, whether you are in it or not.
About > Danika Druttman
The perfect date for Michael Bloomberg & Queen Beatrix…
Posted on 27. Jan, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel
If you could send Michael Bloomberg and Queen Beatrix of Holland on a date, where in the world would you send them?
Today’s competition for the #rogersrooms giveaway is based on the connection between New York and Amsterdam, Holland. Our very own Adam Wallace has brought the Roger Smith Hotel with him overseas and is currently in Amsterdam, speaking at the Enterprise 2.0 conference!
The winner in the US gets a 1-night stay at the Roger Smith Hotel, while the winner in the Netherlands gets to have dinner will Adam in Amsterdam!
