TweetUp RoundUp

I wanted to announce that as an addition to this, you can follow @bostontweetup for up-to-date information on tweetups going on in the Boston-area. Love it!

Send emails and comment on the blog about TweetUps and I’ll keep it updated as much as possible. The cool thing is I can update this on my phone using the WordPress iPhone app!

Have fun!

Here’s the TweetUp RoundUp for the week of March 1st

Monday

No events

Tuesday

No events

Wednesday

Event: OpenCoffee Cambridge MeetUp

When: 8:30-10:30AM
Where: Andala Coffee
286 Franklin St
Cambridge, MA

Description: Fellow web entrepreneurs and VCs gather once a week in Cambridge, MA to grab some coffee, free WiFi, and chat about what’s new.

Link: http://www.meetup.com/OpenCoffee-Cambridge-Meetup

Event: Redbones TweetUp

When: 6:15-9:15PM
Where: Redbones
55 Chester Street
Somerville, MA 0214

Description: Gather in the basement bar area and have at it. Dinner and drinks are on your own tab. Some of us are gathering for dinner at about 6:30, we’ll get a long table or two in the basement.

Link: http://redbonestweetup.eventbrite.com/

Thursday

No events

Friday

No events

Saturday

No events

Sunday

No events

Clearly there’s more going on…right?

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Moving right along, we’re going to end February with a BANG! Good stuff this week!

Send emails and comment on the blog about TweetUps and I’ll keep it updated as much as possible. The cool thing is I can update this on my phone using the WordPress iPhone app!

Have fun!

Here’s the TweetUp RoundUp for the week of February 22nd

Monday

No events

Tuesday

No events

Wednesday

Event: Spring Training TweetUp
When: 7-10PM
Where: Communispace
3484 Washington Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Description: Come celebrate Red Sox spring training…free food/drink with Red Sox gear - otherwise $5 contribution towards the snack budget

Link: http://twtvite.com/mggj16

Thursday

Event: Social Media Breakfast 12
When: 8:30AM-10:30AM
Where: Ryles Jazz Club
212 Hampshire Street
Cambridge, MA 02139

Description: Our next Social Media Breakfast will focus on using social media as a tool to reach and activate established networks outside of the social media space. Utilizing a strong network connected through Social Media as nodes, or outlets to access the global community unleashes the power and reach of Social Media.

Link: http://smb12.eventbrite.com/

Event: Forrester Winter TweetUp
When: 6-10PM
Where: Redline
59 JFK Street
Cambridge , MA

Description: Forrester will be hosting our first Tweetup of 2009 at Redline in Harvard Square. Join us for snacks, cash bar, and a great time!

Link: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1496553/

Event: WBUR EatUp
When: 7PM
Where: WBUR
890 Commonwealth Ave
Boston, MA 02215

Description: Please come share what you’ve been up to these days. What are you blogging about? What’s cooking in your kitchen? Caterers, bring cards and pamphlets and whatever other schwag you possess.

Link: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1516339/

Friday

Event: Pink Slip Party
When: 5:30-9PM
Where: TBD

Description: Upbeat, forward-looking networking parties to connect those looking with those hiring with those supporting. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. There can be some great talent at these events if you are hiring or looking to get project work done.

Link: http://pinkslipparty.eventbrite.com/

Saturday

No events

Sunday

Event: Boston Media Makers
When: 10AM-12PM
Where: Doyle’s
3484 Washington Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Description: LIVE Twitter: We go around the table and talk about what we are do, ask questions, present a show and tell. All within a 3 minute time limit. It’s fun.

Link: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1425251/

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So after last week’s success and GREAT events, we’re gonna keep it going!

There’s more stuff going on these days than anyone can imagine. And that’s a very good thing.

Send emails and comment on the blog about TweetUps and I’ll keep it updated as much as possible. The cool thing is I can update this on my phone using the WordPress iPhone app!

Have fun!

Here’s the TweetUp RoundUp for the week of February 15th (My dad’s birthday!)

Monday

No events

Tuesday

No events

Wednesday

Event: VixML MeetUp
When: 6:30-8:30PM

Where: Viximo Studios

1 Camp Street
Cambridge, MA 02140

Description: During this first meetup, we’ll be looking at a new free toolkit call VixML. VixML has been designed for both designers and developers in mind. It makes it easy to build content applications for the iPhone without having to learn a programming language!

Link: http://vixml.eventbrite.com/

Thursday

Event: Free Agent Jungle: Boston Lunch
When: 11:30AM-1:30PM
Where: Tavern In The Square
1815 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02140

Description: For a complete description, please take a took at the Eventbrite page.

Link: http://freeagentjungle-bos-01.eventbrite.com/

Event: Pop Culture & Social Media
When: 5-7PM
Where: Bartos MIT

Description: No description at this time.

Link: N/A

Event: TiE Boston
When: 6-9PM
Where: Reservoir Woods
930 Winter Street
Waltham , MA -02451

Description: Marketing in a Down Economy - How to get the most out of your marketing spend. Moderator: Doug Banks, Editor of Mass High Tech.  Panelists Include: Praveen Ramanathan (Founder of Ayantek), Robert Collins (VP of SHIFT Communications), Altaf Shaikh (Founder of List Engage)

Link: http://www.tie-boston.org/TGS/EM/viewevent/viewEventPT?id_event=2971&from_where=chapter_homepage

Event: PermissionTV TweetUp
When: 6-9PM
Where: The Kinsale
2 Center Plaza
Boston, MA 02108

Description: This TweetUp is all about Boston area tweeps getting together to meet, drink, eat, and discuss social media, next generation online applications, and Boston startup culture. This event is an excellent opportunity for everyone to put faces to the twitter names they’ve been DMing for so long. Don’t forget to bring your favorite tweeting device, use the hashtag #ptvtweetup, and tag all your content with “ptvtweetup.”

Link: http://ptvtweetup.eventbrite.com/

Event: Hubspot 1K Customers Celebration - SOLD OUT!
When: 7-9:30PM
Location: HubSpot HQ
1 Broadway
Floor 5
Cambridge, MA 02142

Description: Come join HubSpot in celebrating its most recent milestone: reaching 1,000 customers!
We’re inviting friends, family, customers and colleagues to our brand new office to enjoy a fun evening of music, games and socializing. Expect hors d’oeurves, drinks and perhaps a few surprises!

Link: http://hubspot1k.eventbrite.com/

Friday

Event: Social Media Breakfast NH #1 - SOLD OUT!
When: 8-10AM
Location: Southern New Hampshire University
Hospitality Center Ballroom
2500 N. River Road
Manchester, NH 03106

Description: Building Bridges
For complete description, check out the eventbrite page. SMB is a great event to try to go to and although I can’t go to this one, I HIGHLY recommend going to one of these. You can meet some amazing people at these events.

Link: http://smbnh1.eventbrite.com/

Saturday

Event: High Ed TweetUp
When: 7-10PM
Location: Lucky’s Lounge
355 Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210

Description: 1st High Ed Tweetup of Boston. We’ve been talking about it for a while, but it’s time to finally pull the troops together.

Link: http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/1774136/

If you have anymore, please, send them my way and I’ll post them!

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Finally, I have a purpose for this blog now. Welcome to the TweetUp RoundUp.

Every week, I will list as many TweetUps going on for the week in the Boston/New Hampshire Area. It’ll give you a good idea as to the kinds of events I like to go to and even if I can’t make all of them, I’d like to find an easy way for you to find them all!

Sometimes, there will be video, other times just text but either way, you will make up most of the content…by letting me know about TweetUps that week!

Send emails and comment on the blog about TweetUps and I’ll keep it updated as much as possible. The cool thing is I can update this on my phone using the WordPress iPhone app!

Have fun!

Here’s the TweetUp RoundUp for the week of February 8th (5 months ’til my birthday!)

Monday

Event: @stevegarfield Birthday #SteveUp
When: 1PM
Location: Expresso Royale (near BU area)
Description: Happy Birthday Steve!

Tuesday

Event: Tech Tuesday: Gadgets Gathering
When: 6-8PM
Where: 1 Memorial Drive, Cambridge, MA 02142
Description: Gadgets, Geeks and Microsoft! Can’t get much better than that! Lots of cool people going!
Link: http://techtuesday090210.eventbrite.com/

Wednesday

Event: Project Glam/Project Infinity - The Pilot: Valentine’s Day Seminar
When: 6:30-9PM
Where: McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurant
Description: Total Self-Promo! Running a seminar with German Lam, an awesome and very popular chef! We are going to talk about anything and everything Valentine’s Day. Single or not, man or woman, if you would like some extra help when it comes to Valentine’s Day, you won’t want to miss this! Space is limited so grab your tickets now!
Link: http://projectglam.eventbrite.com

Thursday

Event: Ignite Boston 5
When: 5:30-9PM
Where: Hooley House
Link: http://radar.oreilly.com/2009/01/ignite-boston-5.html

Event: Boston Twestival
When: 6:30-??PM
Location: OM Lounge, Cambridge, MA
Description: 175+ cities around the world will be hosting Twestivals which bring together Twitter communities for an evening of fun and to raise money and awareness for charity: water. Get tickets ASAP because space is VERY limited!
Link: http://boston.twestival.com

Friday

Event: Friday the 13th LunchUp
When: 12-2PM
Location: Chacarero, 26 Province Street, Boston, MA 0210

Description: Meet Chris Andrew and get yourself one of the greatest sandwiches on Earth.

Chris Andrew, creator of the famous Foodies group on Tweetworks, will be in Boston this week. It is only fitting while he is here that we give him a great big warm welcome.  And if you order the sandwich that ranks atop the “Mike Langford’s Top 5 Sandwiches” list you will definitely feel warm inside.
Link: http://tweetworksfoodieslunch1.eventbrite.com/

If you have anymore, please, send them my way and I’ll post them! Great to finally find a good purpose for this blog. Hope it works out for everyone here!

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I should have announced this sooner but the blog has been shut down temporarily. I have been consumed by the growing success of Project Infinity that this other blog just had no chance to survive.

But, I think I may have come up with a solution that will actually be pretty good that I’d like to try out.

So give me some time - maybe even a few hours - and I’ll post my idea. I think you all will like it.

For those who have been reading the blog, I thank you for your support and hope you at least stick around for the next iteration. It’s been a long time since I started this nearly a year ago.

Wow…

So I Lifted a Toyota Corolla.

Sounds ridiculous but I don’t care. It happened and the people who I helped will never forget it.

Last night, after working 18 hours, I felt the need to have a drink and just wind down. But why not do it with a buddy I haven’t seen in a while?

So I pulled up in front of Sonsie, where I used to work and also where my buddy works. He wanted to get off a little early so he told me to stick around. Considering how absurdly cold it was, I decided to chill inside with the bouncer and try to stay warm. That didn’t work because he had to open the door for all the smokers needing to get their nicotine surge.

By the way, how do they do it? Not only do they go out there with no coat on, but also they are freezing themselves for the next 6-8 minutes. On top of that, they are slowly killing themselves but I guess at that point, why not further the process by getting frostbite?

Anyway, my buddy was able to get off work and went to get his bag to change. When he came back, he asked me if I had a tie bar because someone just got a flat tire. I happened to have one and gave it to a very nice couple in a 2004 Toyota Corolla. The guy was so appreciative and went to work on the tire. It seemed like he was ok so I went back into warmer places in Sonsie. When my buddy was ready, I just assumed that the guy was just wrapping up because it usually doesn’t take that long to replace a wheel. Boy was I wrong.

As I walk up to the car, the car slips off the jack and with the flat tire already off, the car crashes onto the street. That was not good. The woman fortunately was already out of the car but she was freaking out and I didn’t really know what to do. So I just blurted the first thing that came out of my mouth. “Just wedge the jack and then wedge the flat under it until you can put the jack in the right place again.”

To my surprise, it actually worked! It took another 15-20 minutes to get it done but it worked. My buddy at that point decided to walk his girlfriend home and I told him I would meet him since her place is right down the street.

Surprised by my genius, I stick around with the couple just to make sure everything else went smoothly. He was able to get the spare on and then he began to lower the car. Then, it happened.

He forgot to move the flat tire from under the car it gets stuck. The woman wants to try to move the car and run over the flat. Terrible idea. I told her not to and asked the guy to jack it back up.

If you have any experience with changing a flat you understand that there are people who are good at using the jack. Some people are just really quick with it and others are just not. This guy was terrible. It would have taken another 10 minutes for him to jack it up and I really needed to go.

So I told him I’ll lift the car and he can pull the tire from under it. He laughed and said, “yeah, right.” I just told him to get ready to move the tire on my go. I asked the woman to step back and I went there and in the back of my head, I was saying to myself, “What the hell am I about to do?”

The answer was lifting this car.

I get under the front wheel well and pull up the car. The guy thought that he was going to have to pry it out and pulled with more force than necessary. It wheel along with him flew back from the car and he fell back against the car behind him. No one was hurt.

Realizing how painful this is, I let go and the car falls and shakes around. I turn around and the look on the woman’s face was of total shock. She said, “You lifted the car! Like, the wheel was off the ground!”

I didn’t really realize what happened so I went to pick up my tie bar. They were so thankful and said that it was their Christmas miracle. Meanwhile the woman kept asking me who I was and if I was real.

I just smirked and jokingly told them to get AAA.

Well today is officially Thanksgiving and I am not here to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving! That should be understood.

I am here to say something very simple. Everyday is Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Saint Patrick’s Day and all the other major holidays. If we treat every day like it’s a holiday, can you imagine how much more fulfilling your life will be?

Just some food for thought (no pun intended).

It’s funny how anything can inspire me at this point. Earlier today, I mounted my hard drive on my laptop and when it popped up, it showed the name of the drive – Reckless Drive. It made me laugh and during that laugh, I had a flash of short memories.

It was only four months ago, I thought my life was screwed. I had such a hard time getting a job in the video game industry and then an even harder time getting a job in the design industry. My parents were on my back about it and I was starting to panic.

I ended up going back to my job as a valet at the Taj Hotel (formerly the Ritz-Carlton), while going to job fairs and applying to jobs online in the meantime. It wasn’t fun, I’ll tell you that.

And then, after meeting so many cool people at SummerMash that amazing night in August, there were many things that sparked inside of me. I never felt anything like this before and I just had it. That will to succeed – on my terms.

Usually, my actions are very impulsive and for me, there’s usually no turning back. I make quick decisions and I go with it. If you were on the outside looking in, my actions would definitely be seen as very reckless. But taking risks is what I figured would be the difference between me succeeding in life and me spending the rest of my life under my mother and father’s care.

I took the risk and slowly started applying for jobs. I decided to go after a promotion to manager at the Taj. Instead, they sent me over the Sheraton as a manager-in-training. That has been huge for me in terms of what opportunities has opened up for me so I’ll definitely take that. With a more flexible schedule, it gave me not only a more consistent income, but also time to decide what I could do to inspire and help people, eventually making a living out of it. Alas, Project Infinity. You can read other parts of my blog to find more stories of the origin of Project Infinity.

It’s been two months (tomorrow) since I officially started Project Infinity but I can honestly say that I have grown so much as a person since that night at SummerMash. I am so happy with what has changed in my life and meeting so many amazing people. I am also extremely excited about where all this is going. “The possibilities are infinite,” as my good buddy Tyler says.

So funny how all of those memories were just flashes when I saw “Reckless Drive.”

But when it comes down to it, it is ALL about the reckless drive that we have to succeed in life.

Do you have it? And where do you get yours from?

Last night at BOSup was an amazing time! I got to finally meet some really already cool people and I got to meet some new people as well. It was such a long week for me, and this was the best way to end it. Plus, I haven’t been in Jillian’s or Tequila Rain in so long – it was good to hang out there and bring back some old memories.

There are so many people to thank for this, I couldn’t just tweet this out. It deserves a little bit more than 140 characters.

First of all, props to the sponsor of the event, Hubspot! Mike Volpe, you are the man! Thanks for helping putting all of this together and allowing us to eat some great appetizers. Loved the fries!

Also, thanks to Lisa Dilg, Jami, Rob and Mike Langford for helping put all of this together. I’m glad everything worked out and you were taken care of while you were here. Would love ALL of you to come back again sooner than later!

It was awesome to see people again, such as Liz (and nice finally meeting Jesse – you are so cool), Ari, Wayne (haven’t seen that guy since I met to SummerMash – wow, so much has happened since), Kara, Jamie, my main man Ben, Rebecca, Brian, Kevin, Bob Collins, Jim Spencer and anyone else that I may have forgotten. If I did forget you, reply and I’ll give you love! Everyone deserves it!

And for all of the people I finally got to meet – oh, man, it was just an incedible experience meeting all of you! Every time I come to these events, I just feel so lucky to be able to be included and have a chance to meet such great people in one place. I mean, when you think about it, it’s damn near absurd the quality of people in that room. People from all over the country, coming to meet in one place, to hang out and meet people. I just find it so cool.

Chris Bowen, Alicia, Joe Cascio (we need to set up that golf tweetup!), Tamar, Jay Huber, Danielle, Matt, Todd, Kerstin, Morriss, Ellie, Patrick, Lori, Amanda – wow, I can’t believe I met all of these cool people – it was awesome meeting you and I hope we can all stay in touch!

Here are some links to pictures from the event. I’ll post mine when I get my camera back from Bob (thanks for grabbing it…it was probably better you found it or else I may have broken it at that point of the night)

Mike Volpe’s Flickr
Kevin Micalizzi’s Flickr
Ellie Mirman’s Facebook photos

If anyone else has pictures and want me to post the link, let me know and I’ll put it up too!

Of course, how can I forget my favorite women, Amy and Christine?! You guys just make my life that much more enjoyable. My life would be totally different without you two! Thanks for everything and I really would have liked it if you just told me that there was Chinese food!

What a great time! Ok, my love overload has concluded.

Wednesday night, I had the opportunity to listen to and meet one of the men who has inspired me to change my life and do what I really want to do. You would think it would be some famous pick up artist but he is far from that – he’s even better. His name is Gary Vaynerchuk and he pretty much does everything. He runs a wine shop in New Jersey called Wine Library, has a daily Internet show called Wine Library TV, where he reviews bottles of wine (awesome show!). He also does brand consulting and is a great motivational speaker. He also created a t-shirt search engine with his brother, AJ called PleaseDressMe. Gary, if I missed anything or said anything wrong, feel free to chip in.

You wonder how the hell does he have time for all this and still have time to eat, sleep and see his wife every so often. He explains a lot of how he does this in his blog. Listening to him, he made me realize that I what I decided to do for a job, I want it to be what I do for the rest of my life. And what I mean by that is, I want to look forward to everything that I do about my job. Doing work is something I want to be excited about. When I tell people about what I do, I want them to feel my passion and get excited as I explain what exactly it is that I do. One thing that was especially important to me was that I wanted my job to help me grow more as a man. This is how Project Infinity came into fruition. And in the month and a half, it has seriously changed my life.

Well, I finally got a chance to meet him Wednesday night in NYC! Mashable was running the event at the Volstead but for some reason, the venue refused to turn down the music. So we had to have him do a motivational speech “soap-box” style, half of block down the street from the lounge. I was running late and so I just missed a little bit of the speech. But you have to listen to this.

Meeting Gary afterward was amazing. He is such a down-to-earth guy, an incredible person and I am glad I came across Wine Library TV on that summer day in June. That moment symbolized the beginning of the rest of my life. For that I am grateful.

This was also my first time in NYC at night and I have to say, I had a great time. The Bolt Bus is such a great way to get to the city. After this trip, I will be going into the city much more often. And that means good things for everyone involved.

Thanks to Stephanie Frasco, Brett Petersel, and Mark for showing me a good time in NYC and giving me a place to pass out.

A special thanks to Amy, who was awesome enough to tough it out and go with me! We almost missed the bus going to NYC and we were freaking out! We made it by 30 seconds. Then the bus got to NYC really late and we thought we were going to miss Gary. But it all worked out! That night, she also introduced me to some VERY cool people, including Gary! As exhausted as we were, on the way back, the trip wouldn’t have been nearly as special if you weren’t there. I thank you so much! I will not know how to repay you but I will!

And of course, thanks to Gary for helping me out in every way possible.