New York – December 12, 1997 (Full Issue)
December 12, 1997
‘TIS THE SEASON for holiday parties, office functions and Internet World. The whirlwind generated from this major conference in our fair town, during the busiest tourist, season offers a sack loaded to the brim full with ideas, contacts, and Net presents (presence) a plenty. There were at least ten events during the day and five events a night to go to. Armed with an artillery of friends who were willing to brave the crowds and scene, here are some of the tidbits from the busiest week of the season:
ExecTech summit of schmooze
Thursday, Dec. 4 — What a night! Two big office parties competed with the ExecTech summit at 55 Broad Street for revelers and shop talk. Larry Rosen of N2K schmoozed with daughter Sondra (the company’s publicity director) around the Digital Sandbox, while the money folks like Ronald Celmer of ProspectStreet Ventures, Paul Gardi of GeoCapital Partners, and Bob Masiello of the Industrial Technology Assistance Corporation perused the booths.
Around The Globe and Connors
Meanwhile, uptown, the office of Connors Communications office had an exquisite fresh fragrant evergreen wreath with lovely little white lights and sprite sprigs of holly throughout. All employees wore fresh red or white flower buds pinned on their lapels to identify them from the guests. The caterers were so efficient they scared me — they kept whisking away the food, only to bring it back just as quickly but in a smaller, more appropriate bowl as the portion dwindled. The Globe‘s party was less subdued by the time I got there. Hits from the 80’s were blasting from one employee’s computer, as the sound system played other hip tunes, a full spread of gourmet hors d’oeuvres were still aplenty and the beverages were flowing. Co-founder Todd Krizelman beamed, as he should — he and Stephan Paternot landed $20 million in financing recently.
In the Sandbox again — N2K
Friday, Dec. 5 — N2K‘s holiday party was also in the Digital Sandbox. Many, many music people were there, and a handful of new media types too. One woman (who shall remain nameless) horrified a good number of us as she combed her hands through the pretzel, peanut, cracker Chex mix searching for cashews. Ew! While guests filled up at a falafel serving station, a band set up and played after 9:00 pm. I ended last week at Times Square arcade haven XS for an interview on GRIT as the Tourde Grit stopped by there before driving (literally) into the Javits Center for Internet World. The local online radio folks, led by founder Rob Gould, drove an RV from San Francisco to New York, broadcasting all along the way, and throughout the convention. Talk about hearty travelers and talk show hosts!
Go-Digital Candian conference, The New York Pops and BizSig gatherings
Monday, Dec. 8 — The Canadian Consulate of New York and g-Digital‘s Summit on E-Commerce aimed to bring together Canadian and U.S. new media firms to share ideas, create new ones, and generate biz opportunities. That same night, I was rubbing elbows with Mayor Giuliani and First Lady Donna Hanover at Gracie Mansion. Skitch Henderson was honored with the Handel Medallion and we listened to a piece by George Shearing just for Henderson. Many other music afficionados, notable New Yorkers, and other New York Pops supporters were on hand. It was a fine, elegant evening and reminded me of all the deep treasures the city has to offer in so many different industries. Meanwhile over in No Man’s Land at the Javits Center, Silicon Alley met IWorld head-on as BizSig entrepreneur Miles Rose premiered his Silicon Alley morale building flick, “Why New York Works for New Media” and introduced Microsoft chief technologist Nathan Myhrvold to Silicon Alley. The peanut gallery included the likes of Fred Wilson and Jerry Colonna of Flatiron Partners, Microsoft’s Howard Greenstein, and Ken Jordan who is now working for Andersen Lemke.
Multi-company media bash
Tuesday, Dec. 9 — This was a week of excess, and fittingly DoubleClick, Alta Vista and Wild Wild Web TV show had their bash at XS, the multi-game arcade party space. The whole Alley, and many Valley folks were out to revel in the fun, frivolity, and feasts of networking and the Net. Meanwhile, all of 21st Street was literally abuzz with Silicon Alley revelry the same night.
One Club 1st Digital Award show
At the One Club Gallery, a cast of interactive agency honchos took in the august advertising group’s first-ever digital media show, put together with the help of Agency.Com’s Kyle Shannon and Chris McCarthy, formerly of Avalanche and how on the west coast with RedSky Interactive. Swilling Merlot and munching on salty olives were Wired co-founder John Battelle, Peter Seidler and Cherry Arnold of Avalanche, and ubiquitous Alley party boy Jon Sarno. A few doors up the block at MayRose, digital PR man Michael Kaminer hosted a hopping holiday party for friends, clients, and countrymen. Among those sipping the (even better) Merlot were New York Times technology business editor Rob Fixmer, who recently moved back to the print paper after founding CyberTimes, Village Voice scribe Austin Bunn, and Cone Interactive ink-driver Shelley Bates.
The Politics of Parties
Wednesday, Dec. 10 — As Bill Clinton tied up all of midtown in knots, digital party-goers dodged police truncheons as they dated to walk to the Waldorf-Astoria for the first “dinner” (in the loosest sense of the word) of the Association of Internet Professionals. Andrew Kraft, chief operating officer for the nationwide group, welcomed House minority leader Dick Gephardt while folks like Brian Cooper of E&Y, Bennett Kleinberg of Edelman, publicity diva Lauren Shanahan, and wired club space guru Andrew Rasiej. Braving the security junta that descended on midtown to protect the President from marauding commuters, many folks made their way over the Museum of Television and Radio, where a positively glowing Steve Case hosted the AOL Studios bash featuring tasty pasta and chicken canapes. Making the scene were outgoing (and under appreciated) NYNMA executive director Lori Schwab, CyberTimes columnist Lisa Napoli, and a cast of hundreds.
What a week! Stay tuned next week, for details on the wild World Wide Web Artists Consortium bash, hosted by yours truly.
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