New York – May 30, 1997 (Full Issue)

May 30, 1997

IT ALL HAPPENS the same night for some reason, but I managed to get to two of Silicon Alley’s top new media events last night. (It was GR8T getting to see everyone).

Virtual Growth’s growth
Starting out at Stephen King‘s Virtual Growth Inc. party was a revitalizing remix. “The Man” himself (my favorite virtual accountant Steve) says there’s music going on all the time. It’s true, and obviously works ’cause I’ve heard nothing but raves from various client firms–an impressive list to say the least. Steve echoes this by saying, “If you want to see the hottest stuff going on in the industry, check out our client list.” Their second annual spring party was held in conjunction with Daedulus at their offices, peppered with lush plants and fabulous food. I also liked the inline skates nestled next to the BNA tax payroll guide on the bookshelf, and the WebTV demo by Rich Santalesa. I got to catch up with Druce Vertes of StreetEye, Ted Werth of Primary Group and Andrew Gelman, counsel at NBC. I tried on Greg Ellin‘s rockin’ padded Silicon Alley-to-Silicon Valley motorcycle jacket by FirstGear. Listening to great jazz by the Rob Garcia Trio, there was a mini Skidmore Theater Department alum reunion between myself, Craig Zolan, and Mike Winston.

The party was still going strong when I left after an impromptu card trick performed by Michael Chaut.

Site Specific’s Charity benefit
The party continued at the National Cristina Foundation event at Hansen’s Brewery in mid-town. Seth Goldstein and Nicole Ferber of SiteSpecific filled me in on this wonderful organization and their efforts to aid disabled people with computers and technology. Our new media gurus are getting quite classy as I spotted Howard Greenstein of Microsoft in a Fab tie, his charming wife Pam in a beautiful lavender suit, David Blumenstein looking quite sharp, and Ryan Nelson in a cool U of Iowa Fencing jacket. Steve Mintz, Geo Geller, Clay Shirky and Mark Jeffrey of The Palace and I all marveled at the new Dilbert pen Robin Udcoff (Barnes & Noble) gave me to better aid me in my note keeping. The night went into the wee hours of the morning as Jim Butterworth, president and CEO of NetCast Communications, corralled a posse of us down to El Teddy’s for margaritas. Ole!

CyberChill at alt.coffee
BUZZBUZZBUZZ! IT SEEMS everywhere you turn The Mining Company is in your face. Their “spam wear” (T-shirts), posters, and billboard trucks are everywhere. My most recent sighting was at the 19th Cyberchill meeting at alt.coffee on May 15. This free-form meeting was initially created in reaction to the “boring” Cybersuds. Hmm, yet another happy go-er of early Cybersuds events … Anyway, people began getting together to show off cool stuff. The group was so successful that another stemmed off from it as well–the WWWAC VRML sig. While folks shouldn’t come to these meetings to get jobs, founder DJ Hacker notes that the contacts are valuable. The meeting is very informal: one Bill Gates look-alike was examining a paper airplane fashioned from one of TMC’s posters (haha) with such intensity he could’ve burned a hole in it. Most of the crowd was very Lower East Side-ish (flannel, doc martens, dreds, multiple piercings), there were a large handful of computer looking types (jeans, T-shirts, also in flannel), and one man dressed in a tan suit looking very Clark Kent-ish, tapping away on his laptop. It was mellow and relaxed and coffee coffee everywhere. These events are a cool, low-key, informative alternative for learningg about new technologies and meeting people away from the frenzied party scene in our Alley.

GRIT’s Inaugural Broadcast
ON MAY 21 GOULD Resources & Internet Telecommunications–that’s GRIT for short, partner–held an inaugural broadcast from The Museum of Television & Radio. This event honored GRIT’s donation of interviews, news, and talk format programming to the Museum’s permanent collection. The show’s content archived and discussed radio and television broadcasting from early yearss to present Internet transmissions. Some guests were: Tom Bergeron, host of “Fox After Breakfast,” veteran broadcaster Edwin Newman, and Rabbi Ronald B. Sobel of Congregation Emanu-El. I got to speak with GRIT’s president Robert Gould during the private reception following. He bubbled, “It’s great. I can’t believe it!” Host of “Media MADness” Aaron Cohen was equally exuberant. He introduced me to show host Jason Ojalvo who commented, “It’s nice the museum has recognized this media while its still fresh and not waiting till it is a relic.” Marketing director Jodie Kahn admitted, “it’s an honor to be accepted to broadcast from the museum and it’ll be interesting to see what Internet broadcast becomes.”

ServerCast’s calming gathering
A QUIET SOIREE away from the bustle of New York was held at ServerCast Communication’s offices overlooking the calming Hudson on May 16. Executive Vice President Peter Kirwan and I convened over “The Tub of Technology.” Usually filled with AOL disks (please send donations so they can fill it) this night the porcelain-lion-footed bathtub was filled with iced beerss and sodas. As the name may imply, ServerCast specializes in heavy server side management. Depending on the project, they use programs like Firefly, Ichat or NetGravity. Their clients are either typical Internet savvy new media companiess (SiteSpecific, Yoyodyne) not happy with their current server, or traditional companies who want them to manage a whole project. For some projects, ServerCast will partner with an outside design firm to handle those aspects. As I prepared to leave I admired the essential-office-accessory-lava-lamp and the 3-D picture of Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis sitting with a pile of money.

Russian Web Girls’ soiree
1. 2.
1. Marina Lakhman & Alla Kliouka 2. Ken Schaeffer & Russian Vodka Boy

SOBODNA AND THE DYEVUSKIIS were out! Klasna! The Russian Web Girls party was definitely a “heady” experience. In commemoration of their second issue and site design, Vodka Boys were running rampant, pouring nice clear cold Stoli into many a paper cup. Creative producer Vica Vinogradova, art director Alona Makeeva, and editor Marina Lakhman were among the stars of the show, modelling liquid slip dresses with smokey patterns by Anna Elia. Heather Champ graced the party with her appearance and Alex Chaffee, creator of Gamelan, donned a tux. Chucking back Stolis were CyberTimes editor Rob Fixmer and writer Lisa Napoli. Notable inventor Ken Schaffer was busy with the camera as his wife, award-winning actress, Alla Kliouka and I bonded once we realized we were both part of the same NYU Circle in the Square–Shepkin Theater School exchange program. Imagine that.

UPCOMING EVENTS . . . May 31, This month Echo‘s Alt.Film event is a sponsored screening and party at the New York Women’s Film Festival, 9 p.m. for this special screening of Clockwatchers, a film by first time director Jill Sprecher, written by Jill and her sister, Karen Sprecher. Location: The Screening Room (Varick St. @ Canal).

— June 2-3, NYNMA, “24 hours in CyberHell,” 212-785-7898, eileen@nynma.org.

— June 3-5, The Developers Career Network will host a career fair for programmers/developers at the New York Coliseum. The career fair, sponsored by SIGS Conferences, @NY, and Object Magazine, will be part of Object/Java Expo ’97. If you are interested in career opportunities at this event, please contact Mike Peck or 212-242-7447 ext 151. It is free and open to the public.

— June 9, Webgrrls, 600 Broadway, 5th Floor. 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Non-members: $5. Members: No admission fee. Bring food or drink to share (potluck). 212-642-8012

New York – May 30, 1997 (Full Issue)

Calendar of Events

Intel Music Festival Turns 3

New Century Networks bonanza

New York – May 16, 1997 (Full Issue)

Tipping the Hat to Ms. Pirtle

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