Girl 2.0 Event
Posted on 22. Sep, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Events
TWITTAMENTARY: GIRL 2.0 NYC FINALE
The sneak preview of Twittamentary will be the closing event for the New York portion of Girl 2.0, a global campaign focused on driving female innovation and technology between China and the U.S.
TWITTAMENTARY: THE FILM
Twitter accelerates serendipity. Bonds are forged as a result of unexpected encounters between strangers as they share moments of their lives real time.
Twitter also attracts controversy. Cynics see the popular micro-blogging service as the breeding ground of ‘narcissists’ and “micro celebrities” who are lured by the promise of instant fame.
Why has this seemingly banal micro-blogging service captured the world’s imagination?
In this documentary, filmmaker Tan Siok Siok (@sioksiok) peels away the hype and explores the human dimensions of how lives connect and intersect, and then are affected and changed as result of encounters on Twitter.
Here is a list of some people that took their time to be a part of the film:
NYC
@jeffpulver/Jeff Keni Pulver/Creator,#140conf
@JeffreyHayzlett/ Jeffrey Hayzlett/
@KathrynJones/KathrynJonesProducer/
@ PAWeissenstein/Peter Weissenstein
@fionabloom/Fiona Bloom/ Entrepreneur
@mizmetro/Miz Metro/Music Artist
@davidavidavid David Blumenstein
@misskatiemo Katie Morse/
@calindrome/ Callie Kimball/ Writer
@bsimi /Brian Simpson/Director, Social Hospitality/Roger Smith Hotel
@anncurry
@ozsultan (shows up in photo montage)
@digiphile
@NYT_JenPreston
@emilyspearl, marketing professional
@holaphil
Chicago
@williger / Darren Williger
@prsarahevans/Sarah Evans/Public Relations Consultant
@ChicagoDiane/Diane Saucier/ Senior Executive, Technology Company
@lizstrauss /Liz Strauss/ Brand Strategist
@cruiter/ Mike Dwyer/Improv Comedian
@InteractiveAmy/ Amy Ravit Korin/Social Media Consultant
@Ramon_DeLeon/Ramon De Leon/ Operating Partner Domino’s Pizza Chicago
@padschicago/Anne Marie/ Homeless
@ReganPTX/Richard Regan/Trader
@ allanschoenberg. Allan Schoenberg/Corp Comm Director/CME Group
@CMEGroup
@ChicagoDiane
LA
@AdventureGirl/Stephanie Michaels/Travel Journalist
@hardlynormal/Mark Horvath/Advocate
@fuzheado/Andrew Lih/Journalism Professor USC
@JeffreyPollack/Jeffrey Pollack/Commissioner, World Series of Poker
@adwal/Adam Wallace/ New Media Manager, The Roger Smith Hotel
@RealAnnieDuke Annie Duke – Professional Poker Player
@soleilmoonfrye — Actress, Writer
@Marielhemingway /Mariel Hemingway/ Actress, Writer
@spinaltap/ Ted Cohen / Managing Partner, TAG Strategic
@Tim Kring (@TimKring) – Creator, Heroes
@marlooz — Filmmaker/Social Media Maven from Holland
Twittamentary is created in the open spirit of the Web. Twitter users are invite to contribute ideas and videos to the film. When the film is completed, it will be released online under a creative commons license.
For more information, visit http://www.twittamentary.com
Purchase tickets to the premiere: Twittamentary Eventbrite
Twittering Through Chemo: Brian Simpson & Drew Olanoff @ SXSW Conf
Posted on 22. Apr, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel
When I tell people that cancer saved my life, I get the same look every time, Bewilderment. If not for cancer I am not writing this post. Those of you that have become my friends are not reading it (and you’re not my friends)
I would not have had the courage to leave my career and fight for something bigger, more important. The friends that I have made combined with the joy and love I have experienced in the last eighteen months have made me realize this is living. Its about actually getting the most out of life with no excuses. Life is filled with mistakes, heartache and pain – no matter how optimistic you are. Surviving cancer has made me (and this will be a fun over use of overused words) a guru-maven-expert-cowboy-ninja-coach-superuser-connoisseur and master sage of finding the good in everything.
Its there, we are all good people.
The video in this post is a shortened version of my talk at SXSW with my friend Drew Olanoff. Without cancer mine or his, we are not friends. I BlameDrewsCancer for creating our friendship…see, even cancer has a good side. Thank you to all that attended our talk & to all of you that have supported and encouraged me.
Special thanks to Hugh Forrest and SXSW for the amazing opportunity to share our stories and a forum to hear the stories of others.
To @DannyGoulash & @Adwal for editing the video and The Team of The Roger Smith Hotel for the time and support to do it all!
Bsimi
Brian Simpson and his journey to Vermont
Posted on 19. Apr, 2010 by Editor in Community, Hotel
It has been almost one full week back in NYC after an amazing two weeks at The Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, VT.
I was lucky enough to escape the city and spend time amongst the residence as they entrenched themselves in their passions; fiction writing, poetry, sculpting, painting and sometime a little of all these disciplines.
The experience truly opened my eyes to the world of self expression and the importance of art in any form.
Beyond the art, poems and pieces created, the real experience was getting to know all of the amazing people and where each gets their inspiration from.
Allen, Bruce, Vanessa, Donna, Anne, Claire, Geoffrey, Emily, Kester… trust me this list goes on and on… Thank you all for your friendship – I look forward to staying in-touch and seeing what comes next from all your creative minds.
Special thanks to Gary & George for being fantastic hosts and to Ariel for ridiculously good food !
Brian & NYC Team Take Chevy Roadtrip to SXSWi
Posted on 08. Mar, 2010 by AdamWallace in Community, Events, Hotel
Brian Simpson (@bsimi) of the Roger Smith Hotel (@RSHotel) left today as captain for the New York team (#NYChaos) for the Chevy Road Trip to South By South West (#ChevySXSW). The team will be driving to Austin, TX and have to complete a series of challenges along to way and they are competing against teams from all other areas of the country.
The New York team, NYChaos, has four other people in addition to Brian: Jessica Randazza, Sarah Simmons, Nick Mcglynn, and Khayyam Wakil.
Stay in touch with the teams trip and adventures here: http://nychaos.tumblr.com/
Also become a fan of our Facebook Fan Page NYChaos
…and to all of our NYC friends coming to SXSWi please support us and help us win! There are bragging rights at stake here and we know none of you want to lose to Detroit, Chicago,
North Carolina, Florida, Atlanta… need we say more
GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF THE SEVEN OTHER TEAMS !!!
- Team North Carolina: @jakrose @waynesutton @theRAB @nikisnotes
- Team Detroit: @balanon @bchesnutt @walkerau @davemurr
- Team Atlanta: @tessa @kimber_regator @linneamc @scott_regator @chris_regator
- Team Chicago: @timjahn@michaelcourier @pragerd @TheScottBishop
- Team Lansing: @betsyweber @callkathy @snagit @mulka
- Team San Diego: @brassfield @briandrandles @venesslynn @stolenumbrella @jessiemarcel
- Team Florida @tammycamp
Kurt Cobain Watches “Smells Like Teen Spirit” For 1st Time @RSHotel
Posted on 05. Mar, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, 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:
-
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, Events, 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
Hats Off To Our Friends (Red Sox Hats That Is)
Posted on 21. Feb, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel
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, Events, fashion, Hotel
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.
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.
Earning A Seat At The Table
Posted on 22. Jan, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community, Hotel
In the last year we at The Roger Smith Hotel have been fortunate to host some of NYC’s best Social Media events. This allowed us direct access to attendees, organizers and sponsors. Almost through osmosis we were able to learn so much and make connections on a level rarely afforded to people. Adam and I (Brian) spent most of 2009 sitting at the kids table of social media. Now with the support of our RSH Team, owners and you, our community, we have earned a seat at the table. The big table.
On Monday, January 25th, Adam will be off to Amsterdam for a speaking engagement at Enterprise Social 2.0 : Rip or ROI? hosted by KGS Global Summits.
This will be a valuable learning experience and a great way to kick-off 2010.
As always, thank you all for your continued support. We look forward to amazing things from all of you in the next few months… please let us know what you are doing so we can be there to give our support back to you !
