Three Day Weekend = Three Cool Friends !
Posted on 28. May, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Community
We are lucky here at the roger smith hotel to have an inspiring, creative and passionate group of loyal friends that support us on many levels. As a small token of our appreciation and in an attempt to repay what these people bring to our community, we will be featuring three new people every Friday as our ‘follow Friday’ list. Follow Friday, a concept born from the creative mind of Micah Baldwin, has lost some of what we believe Micah started it for, purpose. Do not get us wrong, when @RSHotel shows up in any #FF or #FollowFriday lists it is an honor. What seems to have happened though is too many people are trying too hard to pay homage to their friends without truly letting us know: who, what or why these ‘lists’ of people are worth following.
Have you ever taken a road trip? Not a day trip. What I am talking about is a multi-day excursion encompassing different states, cultures and obstacles along the way. If you do this alone it can be fun, do it with a group of people and it becomes life changing. In March I was lucky to be a part of an initiative by Chevy in which eight groups from around the country were given the opportunity to drive to SXSW in Austin, TX. There were five of us: Me, two people I knew well, one I had just met and lastly one I didn’t meet until the morning of our departure. Three of these people live in NYC and they are my Follow Friday focus this week. Khayyam Wakil, one of the five will appear in a future post… for now he gets this brief cameo (luv ya buddy)
When you are in a car for four days with people the trials and tribulations can either make you want to kill them, hug them, laugh with them, cry with them and in this case all of the above 
Most importantly you get to ‘live’ with them. Not as acquaintances, not as someone you nod to at a cocktail party – you get to experience their idiosyncrasies – what really makes them click.
I was honored to travel with this group, they added value to my life and have the innate ability to be genuine, outspoken and stand behind their values. For this I applaud them, embrace them as friends and strongly encourage you to do the same.
Sarah Simmons: Hands-down the Matriarch of the Chevy Tahoe. The voice of reason, organizer of insanity and most of all – just one of the most wonderful people to have a conversation with.
Nick McGlynn: Opposite of Sarah – Creator of insanity, A.D.D. overload master and photographer extraordinaire. Nick also possessed a skill none of us could match… he, for some reason, was the ONLY person that could consistently communicate with the On-Star ‘voice’. Thank you N-I-C-K !.
Jessica Randazza: PR and networking genius. Jessica kept us laughing, kept us calm and most of all was the ‘smile’ of the group. Willing to do anything for the cause- dressing in tinfoil, arm-wrestling a diner cook and getting a Chevy tattoo (in Sharpie). Most of all a loyal friend.
As we head into this long holiday weekend remember this:
Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day of remembrance for those who have died in our nation’s service. Memorial Day is about reconciliation; it is about coming together to honor those who gave their all. I strongly believe the three people I featured this week give there all every day and I am lucky to call them friends.
Have a Safe and enjoyable Memorial Day Weekend.
B
Sarah Simmons:
Sarah is Food and Wine magazine’s Home Cook Superstar. Sarah spends her days crafting new recipes and making instructional cooking videos in the hopes of helping others to become superstars in their own kitchens.
Tell her what you want to make!
Twitter: @SarahmcSimmons
Blog: homecooksuperstar
Nick McGlynn:
Nick currently does freelance event photography for various companies including his own site Random Night Out. Most recent full time job was at Gawker Media where Nick worked in their video department editing clips and managing interns. He also throw a monthly media event called Obliterati.
Twitter: @NMcglynn
Blog: nickmcglynn.com
Jessica Randazza:
A public relations and social media strategist for a global public relations agency with an extensive focus on nonprofit and consumer and currently resides in New York City.Its Jessica’s mission and desire to stay engaged in emerging technologies that enhance the way that consumers and individuals connect online. Which means she spends a lot of time on her iPhone — in fact she never puts it down.
She’s also is co-founder of ColdPavement, an exercise in meeting and talking with people you may or may not know in the communications field.
A graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, vegetarian cook extraordinaire, shoe enthusiast, struggling seamstress and yogini.
Twitter: @JessicaRandazza
Blog: jessicarandazza .com
And the Winner Is… “Henry’s Rooftop Bar”
Posted on 17. May, 2010 by BrianSimpson in Hotel, Lily's Restaurant
It’s official! The name of the terrace on the 16th floor of the Roger Smith Hotel will be called
“Henry’s Rooftop Bar” and here is the winner with her entry:
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“You should name the bar after Henry…he’s pretty much the cutest thing in the world and I think you should appreciate him a bit more around there.”
Our Fearless leader on 'his' terrace @RSHotel
We are all excited for the bar to open on Memorial Day Weekend, 2010. Henry is particularly anxious for his new Summer hang-out. Many people have had the pleasure of experiencing the terrace during events on the 16th floor Solarium. Now, for the first time in over 5 years, we will be opening from 5-10pm Monday-Friday with a full bar, wine, draft & bottled beer and food.
Stay tuned for a few ‘warm-up’ events leading up to the official opening !
Jerry Rudes reporting from Cannes for Roger Smith News
Posted on 14. May, 2010 by DanielKalmar in Events, Hotel
Jerry Rudes is in France reporting from the world famous Cannes Film Festival, for Roger Smith News! Here are some short videos of interviews with people involved with Cinemonde and others. Enjoy!
Help us name our Bar! Rooftop Terrace of Roger Smith
Posted on 10. May, 2010 by DanielKalmar in Events, Hotel
One of the best things about the Roger Smith Hotel is the diversity within the property. Guest rooms, Lily’s Bar & Restaurant, lively events spaces, The Lab Gallery (for installation and performance art) and now for 2010 the Roger Smith Hotel introduces the ______________ our 16th floor terrace/roof bar.
With spectacular views, a breeze form the East River, food, cocktails and free WiFi it is sure to be one of midtowns hidden gems this Summer.
Below is a short video tour of the terrace and some insight as to what its all about. The main purpose of this post, besides letting you all know about the terrace, is to inform our loyal community that we want your help in naming it!
What is the point of being the “social media hotel” if we aren’t social… what better way than to have our friends and followers help us decide on the name of our terrace bar…
Please watch the video and submit your suggestions below.
Note: The winning name will receive a clambake for six people on the terrace anytime this Summer.
See you all soon on the 16th floor!
Introducing: Roger Smith Mobile Webpage!
Posted on 06. May, 2010 by DanielKalmar in Hotel
Denis Hurley from Mobile Meteor has been of extraordinary help in the birth of the newest addition to the RSH product: our very own Mobile Webpage! This is the mobile website that will be activated whenever a SmartPhone user connects to us online. It automatically connects to the Hotel webpage and the Roger Smith Life Blog when the smartphone is turned sideways!
James Knowles of RSH also chips in with his own opinion!
Sites included:
www.rogersmith.com
www.rogersmithlife.com
Social Cinema Week @RSHotel
Posted on 26. Apr, 2010 by Editor in Events
Social Media has changed the face of virtually every consumer-related industry. It is now a primary tool for marketing and distribution running the full range from webisodes, TV shows, networks, and major motion pictures alike. In socializing cinema, the very way audiences view and enjoy entertainment itself as co-viewing evolves along new social platforms and added screen involvement. By situating cinema, programs and movies are moving outside beyond the theater and living room in real-time and becoming living media alongside our daily lives. Profound social good and edutainment increasingly results from the global connection and information provided by dramatically lower barriers of entry, user generated content, word or mouth and viralization.
SoCin recognizes the game-changing impact of Social Media and the web on the Film and TV industry. Its Social Cinema Week aims to provide balanced panels of leading experts from both Film and TV as well as those with social expertise. Importantly, SoCin’s new approach to industry networking parties provide intimate environments to take these conversations further, spark academic debate, and begin building Social Cinema best practices.
Schedule
SoCin NYC will take place from April 27-29, 2010, and will be a ‘can’t miss event’ for studios, networks, technology companies, producers, directors, actors, digital and social media professionals, brand representatives, ad and marketing agencies, entrepreneurs and investors.
SoCin NYC will take place from April 27-29, 2010, and will be a ‘can’t miss event’ for studios, networks, technology companies, producers, directors, actors, digital and social media professionals, brand representatives, ad and marketing agencies, entrepreneurs and investors.
Media Sponsors: Marketwire, Sobel Media, Definition 6, NBC, Porter Novelli (confirmation pending)
April 27 – The New Wave of Production and Distribution: Social Media Ridding the Middleman
- Frank Radice, Moderator, Definition 6, Expert In Residence
- Mark Friedlander, SAG, Head of Emerging Media
- Christopher Horton, Cinetic Media, Head of Acquisitions
- Lloyd Kaufman, Troma Studios, Acclaimed Producer, Director
- Mark Lipsky, Founder, Insight Cinema, Acclaimed Producer
April 28 – Socializing Cinema: Enjoying Film and TV in the Living Room and Beyond
- Frank Radice, Moderator, Definition 6, Expert In Residence
- Adam Broitman, Circ.us, Partner, Chief Ringleader
- Ryan Osborn, NBC, Producer, Today Show; Social Media Task Force
- Bill Hartnett, NBC, SVP of Advertising and Promotion
- Mike Berkley, Comcast, Product Strategy
April 29 – Social Cinema: Use of Social Media for Marketing TV and Film, Indie to Blockbuster
- Fred Sibert, Frederator Studios, Next New Networks
- Eric Berger, Sony Crackle, EVP
- Itzic Cohen, ClipSync, CEO
- Tom Carpenter, Epix, VP Operations, Digital Chief of Staff
- Lin Dai, VP, Programming and Production, Alloy Digital, a division of Alloy Media + Marketing
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
The #140 Conference on Ustream!
Posted on 21. Apr, 2010 by DanielKalmar in Community, Events, Hotel
The 140 Characters Conference: New York City (#140conf) will be taking place April 20-21, 2010 at the 92nd Street Y. This event is shaping up to being the largest worldwide gathering of people interested in the effects of the real-time Internet on both business and “we” the people.
Our event is mostly sold-out. The remaining tickets available for #140conf NYC are one day passes to attend on Wednesday, April 21st. If you would like to network with the #140conf NYC community, please consider purchasing a ticket for our networking party on the evening of April 20th. #140conf NYC will be broadcast live in it’s entirety on UStream. Please join the broadcast over at:http://www.ustream.tv/nyc140conf.
The format at the #140conf events is unique. Individual talks 10 minutes, keynotes are 15 minutes and panel discussions are no more than 20 minutes. During the course of the two days more than 140 people will share the stage at the 92nd Street Y in about 70 sessions. To get a feel of the energy you may experience in April, click here to review the videos from the 2009 #140conf NYC.
At #140conf NYC we will be taking a hard look at something Jeff Pulver calls “The State of NOW” and the continued effects the worldwide adoption of social communication platforms such as twitter is having on a number of industries including: Celebrity, “The Media”, Advertising, Politics, Education, Music, Television, Comedy, Real Estate, Public Policy and more.
The take aways from this event will provide the attending delegates knowledge, perspectives and insights to the next wave of effects twitter and the real-time internet will have on business in 2010 and beyond.
#140conf Los Angeles will be taking place October 5/6 and #140conf London will be taking place October 26/27. If you are interested in speaking and/or sponsoring these events, please contact Jeff Pulver.
David Spark interviews @jeffpulver with his take on #140conf and the Real-Time web while at SXSW 2010
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 !
Social Media in Sweden: Andrea Jovell Swensson
Posted on 15. Apr, 2010 by DanielKalmar in Community, Hotel
Adam Wallace of the Roger Smith Hotel met up with Andrea Jovell Swensson, PR consultant for the Swedish company “Tillväxtakademin” (translating to Academy of Growth) in Sweden. In true Roger Smith fashion, they sat down in Lily’s Restaurant for a quick bite and started chatting.
Here, Andrea sheds light on her own perspectives on what Social Media and Twitter means to the business world, how it is used in Sweden and how fast it’s growing! Check it out.
