Archive for the ‘Announcements’ Category
Like pizza? The Lincoln Park Chamber is hosting its 2nd Annual Pizza Fest this weekend, June 21-22. And Jazz Conspiracy will be playing on Sat around 11:45. If you’ve never heard them, you’re in for a treat — especially since our own Matt Mayes is on drums. When: Saturday, June 21 and Sunday, June 22 Where: Parking lot at corner of Racine and Fullerton Come enjoy pizza from a variety of Chicago vendors, a cornhole (bean bag toss) tournament, great live music, a Best Pizza contest and more!
Just a quick reminder - because we’ve had some inconsistencies in the schedule postings - the next meeting is June 26. Email Jenni if you need more details.
This across the Benevich desk…a fr*e grant workshop by Yoki Songmaker via ayokisongmaker@aol.com. The deets from Yoki: Saturday June 7th 2008 Grants for Artist Churches Non-Profits
Just a quick reminder that our meeting schedule for the rest of the year is as follows: June 26 Feel free to suggest topics. I get most of our meeting topic ideas from member suggestions, and it works a lot better that way. One babe alone does not ideaXchange make.
You might not have noticed, but a few of our members are doing some pretty cool stuff online. Matt Mayes has launched Give Good Web, a site for “web development ‘n stuff” the content of which is mostly over my head but whose design is gorgeous. You can pick your own color, and one of the options is orange? How can I not love that! Amy Lillard is going blog-crazy over at her new site, Quiet Rebel Writer. I don’t know where she gets the time to write all those terrific articles AND server her clients but I’d like to know her secret. It’s my new favorite writing blog. Andrew Huff’s creation, Gapers Block, just got a redesign that made it even better. And with all the new blogs like Drive Thru, Transmission and Tailgate, there’s enough to keep you busy for days. I’m guessing more of you have cool new projects that I don’t know about yet, so chime in. What’s new for you?
The Trib featured ideaxchanger Jackie Sloane this month discussing the benefits of virtual networking. If you would like to learn more about e-networking and e-marketing, come to my presentation tonight. Hosted by Independent Writers of Chicago, I’ll be highlighting the work of several ideaXchangers in a discussion titled “Writing for the Web: How to Find, Get, and Do Your Next Writing Gig Online.” On Thursday, mix your virtual and physical networking at the mediabistro.com Chicago party for creative, content, media, and publishing pros at D4 Irish Pub & Cafe, just in time for the holiday. My cohosts and I enjoy getting to know your professional endeavors and introducing you to people with similar goals. Hope to see you at one or both events!
Fitting in with Jenni’s theme of the week, I’ve got a brainteaser for all of you. As independents, we’ve done all sorts of things to market ourselves. There’s the expensive, the cheap, the cutting-edge, the traditional. If there’s a potential for new leads and enhanced business image, we’ve probably done it. So what’s the single best marketing effort you’ve ever made? If someone were just starting out, or starting over, what would you recommend as a useful method to market your independent writing/design/consulting business? What did you do, and what did it do for you? P.S. If you haven’t already, check out my blog. Writers will find tips and thoughts on marketing, publishing, and day-to-day freelancing; independent creatives and other readers will find some fun columns to spark that creativity and keep it fresh. Enjoy.
After attending the SEED Conference this year, I was inspired to start practicing what I preach, and start a blog. Really, this is just a “cook book” of what I do and know. It can get a bit geeky/code heavy at times, but there will also be some entries related to improving your Google searches, as well as helping search engines identify the juiciest content on your website and generally useful office-type stuff. You can check out the blog (still a work in progress), and do post comment/questions/requests - always looking to improve.
Though always the first to eat and the last to leave the table, I used to think that cooking was more about fueling myself — mere drudgery. I decided two years ago that I love eating too much to not know how to cook well. I’ve come to enjoy the improv, self-expression, and sharing in cooking and serving meals. So, when my friend and fellow foodie Melissa Yen opened Vella Cafe with co-owner Sara Voden in ‘06, it was right around when I was learning to look at the act of cooking as art, as self-expression, as a gift for those I care about. Of course, I loved the blunch menu and the open, sunlit aesthetic of the cafe. Between stuffing my mouth and talking with my buddy about our craft projects, I thought about how creativity and pleasure can be found in the least expected places. I wager that Searah, owner of Early to Bed, would agree. Vella Cafe, “The m.henry of West Bucktown,” is up for a Time Out Chicago Eat Out Award. Get your own edible Big O this Saturday, March 2. It’s the last day to vote Vella.
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