Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Playing catch-up

Once again, I'm pleading busy, despite having several hundred things I've been meaning to note here. Please accept these travel-related brevities compliments of the management:

• South by Southwest Interactive was delightful and embiggened; rumors had that attendance topped 5,000 this year. The growth was certainly evident in the attendees and crashers at Break Bread with Brad. An expected 150 guests became 300 before the night was out. All in all, the crowds notwithstanding, it was as ever a great experience and marvelous opportunity to catch up with friends old and new.


• Best discovery of the Austin week: Opal Divine's—the Sixth Street incarnation—where they stock 65 single malts and a decent cigar selection. Fortunately, I wasn't introduced to this nirvana until the night before I left or no one would have seen me all week.


• I'm in New York again this week, concluding a long consultancy, and I'll probably stick around through the weekend to take in a friend's show and perhaps a few others. I'm not sure when/if I'll have space for socializing, but if you've a proposal for drinks or whatnot, be in touch.


• I'll also be in Chicago the first week(and -end) of next month. Same caveats apply.

Sunday, February 25, 2007

Break Bread with Brad SXSW Eve 2007

If you're headed to Austin for SXSW Interactive, I do hope you're planning to arrive Friday evening in time to join me for the Eighth Annual Break Bread With Brad. A new location this year, but the same marvelous party: good food and drink (a tasty menu and cash bar), good friends and a great opportunity to mingle, plot and reminisce before the madness of the conference begins.

There is also the possibility of a special Break Bread With Brad limited-edition commemorative gift. Ah, the mystery!

Sound like something you'd be interested in? Yeah, I thought so. Check out the details and RSVP at upcoming.org.

(Photo thanks to Austin Tolin and Creative Commons.)

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

So I borrowed a thou and called American Airlines

So...I've been a smidge busy. October and November didn't actually exist—as nearly as I can ascertain—outside of my office, December was one long, mad holiday blur and January, which I expected to be somewhat more placid, proved to me that optimistic expectations are luxurious but wrong, wrong, wrong.

Having just been through the most hectic few months in memory, all I really want is a good, long nap. So, naturally, next week I'm headed to the city that Messrs. Kander and Ebb assured us "never sleeps".

Actually, after several months of making unannounced 24- or 36-hour surgical strikes on the city for meetings, openings and whatnot, I'm looking forward to having a couple of consecutive days just to...be a part of it. There'll be meetings, of course, but I've also set aside some time to catch up on a few shows (some that I've not seen, wish to see again or need to see friends in), walk some avenues and catch up with some pals. My whole schedule is sort of up in the air, but...hey, why not? Let's lift a glass!

How about it, New Yorkers? Join me this Sunday night, let's say 9:30-ish, at one of my favorite West Village haunts, Vol de Nuit (their frites can't be bite beat). I'd love to see you!

If you can't pop by, be in touch. Perhaps we can arrange another chance to get together.

Saturday, July 21, 2001

It toddles

A brief update from the road: Chicago is, as ever, lovely and energetic and, just footsteps from my Lakeview hotel, throbbing with activity on this sultry summer evening. I had dinner earlier — a mini-edition of the increasingly popular "Break Bread With Brad" event, perhaps coming soon to a city near you — with a convivial crowd of the city's web elite, wherein we gossiped mercilessly and traded esoteric trivia and ate stuffed pizza and terrorized the remaining restaurant populace with a lightning storm of flash firings from many, many digital cameras.

Three more days in this city of oh-so-big shoulders and perennially snack-worthy men...my professional obligations satisfied, you may call on me at Sidetrack, the convent at which I worship when away from home.

Monday, July 16, 2001

Break Bread with Brad Chicago

Amusement Park Physics: What are the forces behind the fun?

BREAK BREAD WITH BRAD: CHICAGO: Details are forthcoming — my other plans are coalescing, so I'll probably send out eVites later today — but there's still time to join me this weekend in the Windy City!