TECH cocktail Chicago 9 Tonight

If you haven't already heard, tonight is the ninth TECH cocktail held in Chicago since the inception, in July of 2006. Five-hundred are expected at John Barleycorn-Wrigleyville from 6:30 till 9 p.m. to mix, investigate new start ups who are demoing, and network. Is it a good time? You betcha. Gotta go -- need to get down there to help set up.

TECH cocktail is brought to you by Frank Gruber and Eric Olson. Give it a look-see.

TECH cocktail DC3 - Thursday

TECH cocktail returns to Washington DC on Thursday, October 2 will be held at MCCXXIII from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. If you are in the area you should RSVP now, with a small donation as well to cover the ever increasing costs of taking TECH cocktail on the road. Always a good time, TECH cocktail DC3 will showcase six DC area start ups which will be demoing at the event. The six start ups are:

BrandClik.com an in-text ad network that provides content providers with a non-intrusive method for generating positive cash-flow without diluting their content. contribune.org was founded in June 0f 2007 was founded to discover, aggregate and model connections between the articles that motivate people and the causes they support. IntroIn has one straightforward purpose: to connect renters and people who have inside knowledge about rentals. After all, who knows more about any particular community than those who live there now? mingle360.com combines a single-purpose device with a powerful software application. The MingleStick is an innovative USB device using wireless technology to create connections between people. sharememe connects you with your friends simply and easily no matter how you communicate with them. With ShareMeme, you can send invites, polls, and links quickly and easily from a text message or the web through email, text message, IM, or Twitter. trooQ is the social marketplace that allows you to find what you are looking for, by giving you the ability to leverage your existing social networks to create networks of trusted people to buy and sell with.

There is still time to check it out, but do so while tickets are still available. Thanks to Frank Gruber and Eric Olson for keeping TECH cocktail alive and well in DC. Have a great time at TCDC3.

TECH cocktail CONFERENCE: Huge Success

After months of planning, the first TECH cocktail CONFERENCE came off without a hitch last week at the Loyola University Water Tower Campus, in Chicago. Announced last spring by co-founders Frank Gruber of Somewhat Frank, and Eric Olson of Olson's Observations, the CONFERENCE was as an additional way for the continuously growing TECH cocktail community to meet and learn what the rock star speakers had to share. Almost 300 guests attended the 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. extravaganza! TECH cocktail bags in the photo were a big hit!

As the Event Planner for all things TECH cocktail, the day was thought out in advance, complete with itineraries for all the "players" to avoid any "situations" and the event came off without a hitch. At the 8 a.m. opening, there was extra food if needed, including fresh fruit plates with whole grain muffins and rolls, which were continually replenished, along with various unlimited beverages. No one went hungry. The box lunch was delicious and plentiful -- feeding 300 people in 30 minutes requires complete organization and an outstanding set-up, thanks to Dana Adams of Loyola University Catering. The afternoon snack of lemon bars, brownies, and blondies, with additional fresh fruit and berry trays, kept the audience full and alert until the 5:30 p.m. closing. As a fan of lemon bars, these were the best I've tasted -- lemony and tart.

Nine volunteers kept the registration line moving so guests could check in, get their TECH cocktail tee-shirts and bags, along with their programs, AOL pens and name badges. Co-founders Frank Gruber and Eric Olson were pleased with the first TECH cocktail CONFERENCE and look forward to next year's version. (Frank Gruber, Evan Brown and Eric Olson watch a panel speaking at the conference in the photo.) Event planning ideas will be highlighted this week as I share how to hold an event without a hitch. Stay tuned. TECH cocktail has not only opened my eyes to all things technical, but also allowed me to meet the fabulous technology community from Chicago and beyond. Thanks, TECH cocktail.

TECH cocktail CONFERENCE - Event Planning

Planning an event can be a daunting task, from finding the venue to ordering tablecloths, signs, souvenir bags, and of course, food for the entire day. For the past several months planning has been underway for the first TECH cocktail CONFERENCE, to be held Thursday, May 29, 2008, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Loyola University Water Tower Campus, 25 East Pearson, Chicago. The count-down has begun, and in 12 days TECH cocktail will proudly sponsor it's first conference.

The CONFERENCE focus takes a "no nonsense" approach to running a successful business leveraging technology and the Web. Experienced top-notch speakers include Mike Domek of TicketsNow, Dick Costolo, former CEO of Feedburner, acquired by Google in June, 2007, Jason Fried of 37 Signals, Adrian Holovaty of ChicagoCrime.org (now Everyblock) and Geneive Thiers, founder of SitterCity.com, as well as many more. Keynote and panel discussions allow attendees to select the path that best suits their interests and needs. A complete schedule of speakers and panels can be seen at http://www.techcocktailconference.com

The brainchild of Frank Gruber and Eric Olson, TECH cocktail received the Illinois Technology Association's Chicago cityLIGHTS Award for having the most influence on technology in the state of Illinois the past year. And it continues. The CONFERENCE runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and culminates with the popular TECH cocktail mixer event, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. at John Barleycorn -- Wrigleyville. Registration is still available -- hurry! Hope to see you there.
Photo Attribution: somewhatfrank

Tonight's the Night

Don't have time for a long post today --- girl things need to be done in preparation of the black-tie Chicagoland event tonight. Frank Gruber and Eric Olson are up for the Illinois Technology Association CityLIGHTS Award in recognition of their successful TECH cocktail events in Chicago, Boston, Boulder and DC. Seven-hundred people will be attending the Gala at Union Station; cocktails at 6 and dinner at 7. So much to do: shower, wash and dry hair, a real feat when it is long and curly, like mine. Dress in a favorite outfit, NYD jeans and sweater, pack and get on down to daughter Jessica's place. Why not stay at home, you ask? Staying two miles away is much easier than staying in the burbs.

Tomorrow you will hear who won the CityLIGHTS award; being nominated for it is a huge unexpected honor for Frank and Eric, winning it would be totally remarkable. One more thing: I'm taking both the black lace jacket and the pink silk jacket with me so I can decide at the last minute which one better answers that famous female question: does this make me look fat? The good news here is as bad as the stomach flu was, I have now lost 9.5 pounds as a result. Every cloud has a silver lining. Gotta go, so much to do......

Photo Attribution: somewhat frank

Chicago CityLIGHTS Award Finalists -- TECH cocktail

For the past two years, TECH cocktail, the brainchild of Eric Olson (left) and Frank Gruber (right), has provided a venue to help start-up companies demonstrate their innovative ideas to others in the technology field. Now Eric and Frank have been nominated for the 2008 CityLIGHTS Award by the Illinois Technology Association (ITA). Honoring outstanding information technology companies, executives and advocates in Illinois, ITA will present the awards to the winners at the ninth annual CityLIGHTS Award Gala on April 3 at Union Station. The black-tie event will serve cocktails at 6 and dinner at 7 to over five-hundred technology specialists in the state of Illinois.

Among the competition for the CityLIGHTS Award, which is given to an individual who has made a significant impact on the Illinois technology community, are Ron and Jeff Galowich, co-Founders of Initiate Systems,
Bob Geras, president of LaSalle Investments, Brian Knudson, CEO of NogginLabs, Inc., Frank Gruber and Eric Olson, founders of TECH cocktail, and Brad Spirrison, president of MidwestBusiness.com.

TECH cocktail is a mixer event that allows start-ups the opportunity to strut their stuff to the local technology community at regularly scheduled mixers in the area. Several start-ups highlighted at previous TECH cocktails have been acquired and are able to continue their work as a result of their technology debut at TECH cocktails in Chicago, DC, Boston and Boulder. Kudos to Eric and Frank for starting a company that allows others to profit from their innovative sides. To continue providing information to anyone interested in innovative business ideas, the first TECH cocktail Conference will take place at Loyola University, Water Tower Campus, on Thursday, May 29, followed by TECH cocktail Chicago 8 at John Barleycorn that evening. Register for the conference while there are still slots. Congratulations to Frank and Eric for being nominated for this award.

Photo attribution: somewhatfortyplus

TECH cocktail Chicago 7 - Well Done Again

Over 500 guests showed up Thursday night for another meet and greet at John Barleycorn-Wrigleyville for TECH cocktail 7, the dream technology mixer of Frank Gruber and Eric Olson. While it was Chicago cold outside -- very cold -- the mood inside was upbeat and productive as several sponsors provided the liquid refreshments and the guests provided the fun. A new website was announced, http://www.techcocktail.com/ as well as a new May conference, TECHcocktailCONFERENCE at http://www.techcocktailconference.com/. The all day conference landed at Loyola University, Water Tower Campus in Chicago, May 29, with something for everyone, followed by TECHcocktail 8 at John Barleycorn-Wrigleyville that night from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m.

TECHcocktail is always a positive high energy event and this one was no different; there were new faces and familiar ones, new demo-ers and new sponsors, and the fine and friendly staff of John Barleycorn-Wrigleyville to meet everyone's needs. Congratulations to Frank, Eric and Barleycorn's -- well done. These events continue to get better each time.
Photo attribution: somewhatfortyplus

TECH cocktail 7 Lands In Chitown

Over six hundred party-goers will be on tap Thursday night at John Barleycorn-Wrigleyville, when TECH cocktail returns to Chicago for the seventh event in less then two years. The "go to" place for technology enthusiasts, geeks or geek-wanna-be's, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and girls who just want to have fun, TECH cocktail is the brainchild of Frank Gruber and Eric Olson. Born over a cup of coffee one fine day when Frank and Eric decided to start a series of mixer events where guests could interact in a friendly fun learning environment, TECH cocktail has spread to Washington DC, Boston and on March 7 heads west to Boulder. Each event is bigger and better then the previous.

TECH cocktail amplifies the technology signal in Chicago and the signal is getting stronger and louder with more and more sponsors. TC7 is being sponsored by Google, ChicagoMicro, Imprint Enterprises, Fiodan Corporation, Mullen Law Firm, Saper Law Offices, Fitzgerald + Hewes, hubbard one, Interactive Mediums, FTC Forbes Technical Consulting, Interactive Mediums, Frost, Ruttenberg & Rothblatt, P.C., Hinshaw & Culbertson, Matthew Kuehl Photography and bub.blicio.us. Anyone interested in sponsoring a future event can contact Frank and Eric at cofounders@techcocktail.com. Sure to be a great time, TC7, I'm here for you.

Photo attribution: somewhatfrank

Blogging High

Everyone has a creative side, though some are unable to latch onto it and experience all it has to offer. It's there, under layers of protective clothing, eager to be discovered and released. English professors have known it for years: the more you write the better you write, and the better you write the more you write. This also applies to blogging, a disciplined type of writing that requires one to discuss a variety of topics on a regular basis in an established style on the web.

Blogging is the magnifying glass to the world, allowing the writer to see things through "new eyes." Blogging can increase creativity, sensory ability, and writing skills. For this detail oriented person, blogging has opened my eyes to the world around me that was already fully visible, but somewhat hum-drum and routine, until now. Writing a blog forces one to see things with eyes wide open, as though seeing them for the first time. The good feeling one gets when returning home from a business trip or even a vacation is experienced everyday from blogging. Candles have a new aura about them, leaves and rocks look more interesting through the lens of a camera, and a portion of an object can become more interesting then the whole. The beauty of a child's smile, a shadow on a flower, or a leaf gracefully swirling toward the earth are all seen as if for the first time. A greater depth of life is experienced and seeing old things in a new way is youthful and good for the soul. Blogging achieves this.

Some will say they are unable to blog, it's too hard, too scary, too open, too personal. Hogwash. These are the very folks who need to establish a blog and start writing posts; soon they will amazed at the positive physical result. They will feel good. They will feel proud. They will increase their critical thinking skills. Events that had been occurring regularly and had become routine will be viewed differently. Lemons in a bowl, tomatoes on a window sill, or water in one square of a screen are all interesting photos that can be examined in 500 words. With eyes opened to the big world, a blogger will experience life from a new perspective. All this without a drop of scotch or a handful of chocolate truffles. Blogging is a healthy "high" and I'm addicted.

Mama Would Be Proud

Watching TECH cocktail hosts Frank Gruber and Eric Olson meet their guests Thursday night at John Barleycorn-Wrigleyville was awesome. Both are young, Frank is 29 and Eric is 24, both are good-looking in a GQ kind of way, and both are out-going well mannered and charming guys who know how to make their guests feel welcome at their party. Over 500 people made their way to the top floor of Barleycorn to visit with sponsors, watch demo's, exchange business cards and business plans, and have one heck of a good time.

But that's not all. These are life changing events, where unsuspecting well qualified individuals meet their future employer and make the jump to a new job, often in a new location half way across the country. Thursday night was no different. One HR executive with the American Medical Association was there to "hire another good person." Already having hired five employees from previous TECH cocktails, this well dressed man was on a mission to meet, greet, and collect business cards and resumes. No doubt he was successful. Those in attendance know the tech field well, are hard workers, yet managed to tear themselves away from their jobs to socialize with their mirror images in an upbeat and fun atmosphere.

Single-hop charmed the crowd with their massive give-aways, including an iPod, games, tee-shirts, and hamburgers with fries, then hot dogs and other finger foods to provide nourishment and added excitement. Green jaw-breakers are called that for a reason, but served up in large green bowls they are hard to refuse. With so many professionals of various ages and in various attire in one locale, from jeans and "going out" shirts to finely tailored suits, TECH cocktail continues to be the place to be. Congratulations Frank and Eric.

TECH cocktail 6

Over five-hundred party-goers have signed on to share the fun when TECH cocktail returns Thursday evening to Chicago for the sixth event in eighteen months. The place to be for technology enthusiasts, geeks or geek-wanna-be's, entrepreneurs, business professionals, and girls who just want to have fun, TECH cocktail is the brainchild of Frank Gruber and Eric Olson. Born over a cup of coffee one fine day when Frank and Eric decided to start a series of mixer events where guests could interact in a friendly learning environment, TECH cocktail has spread to Washington DC and Boston. And the party gets bigger and better each time.

According to The Chicago Sun Times, "Tech Cocktail events regularly attract hundreds of virtual movers and shakers who share and pitch business ideas to one another while enjoying one or a few free drinks." TECH cocktail amplifies the technology signal in Chicago and the signal is getting louder and louder with more and more sponsors. TC6 is being sponsored by Centro, Singlehop, Carepages, Optimus Solutions, Athena, ChicagoMicro, myAOL, Saper Law Offices, Fiodan Corporation, Sittercity, Origin Ventures, Seat Quest, MK Capital, and Interactive Mediums. Anyone interested in sponsoring a future event can contact cofounders@techcocktail.com. Sure to be a great time, TC6, I'm here for you.

TECH cocktail Chicago

Getting together has never been as much fun nor as successful as when groups of technology experts, start-ups and folks who just want to have fun, get together for TECH cocktail, a social mixer founded in 2005 by Chicagoans Frank Gruber and Eric Olson.

TECH cocktail returns to Chicago for the 6th time on Thursday, November 15, and a good time will be in order for all who RSVP. With as many as 500 people in attendance, John Barleycorn-Wrigleyville is the location for the event that provides free drinks, free demonstrations, and free laughs for all.

TECH cocktail went on the road recently and showed up in Washington, DC and Boston -- both successful and both filled with techies, start-ups and free drinks. How can TECH cocktail continue to be such a success? It's the result of the two founders: both Frank and Eric have warm personalities that contribute to the continued success of the events. Each is a good looking and bright guy who takes time to talk to everyone, shake hands with all, and smile at everyone and in photos with those who attend. And why not? Everyone at the event is upbeat and filled with excitement, happy to be there and waiting to meet others. I've been to a few TECH cocktails and know the crowds, the cameras, and the camaraderie. I'll be back for the next one as well.

Always from 6:30 to 9:30 on a Thursday evening at an upbeat yet relaxed venue, TECH cocktail continues to embrace Chicagoland and all it has to offer. And Chicagoland technology experts, start-ups and folks who just want to have fun continue to embrace TECH cocktail.