Things to Do: Fashionable Life 9/8/11

Join the ladies of LilyPad for Fashionable Life on Thursday, September 8, 2011. Below is more information about the event taken from their website.

event details

The Fashionable Life is an event designed by young, professional DC women for young, professional DC women. It's the intimate, luxurious, and innovative beauty and fashion happy hour that we deserve.

As working women in DC we work hard to play hard. We spent years in school, interned our butts off and are finally on our way to achieving the lives of our dreams. And right now we're in that delightful space where we have friends, fun, jobs, and nothing to spend our money on but ourselves and our student loans.

The Fashionable Life aims to bring a great group of women together to laugh, talk, and network while indulging in delightful dishes prepared by a personal chef, cocktails crafted just for us, and manicures, massages, makeovers and one-on-one time with some of DC's hottest stylists. The girls at LilyPad sat down and thought about everything we wanted for an amazing evening out. Then we called up our friends and made it happen. We hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do, and that each event brings you closer to living The Fashionable Life.

when: September 8th, 2011 at 6 pm–9 pm
where: Hillyer Art Space, 9 Hillyer Ct NW, Washington, DC 20008

Buy tickets here

Things to Do: Speed Dating at the Washington Auto Show

I've always wanted to go to the Washington Auto Show and this year I finally have some free time.  As I perused the Schedule of Events, I came across one for Professionals In The City.  What a great venue to meet some fellow professional singles in the Washington, DC area!  See below for the information I pulled from the website.

  

The Washington Auto Show Takes “Speed” to a New Level
Partnership with Pros in the City brings Speed Dating to the Show Floor

February 1, 2011

7:00pm - 9:00pm

The Washington Auto Show® has partnered with D.C.’s most popular social networking group, Professionals in the City, to rev up the singles scene in Washington.

On Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., daters can pack in a slew of mini-dates amid the fun-filled atmosphere of people watching and car watching. Check in for schmoozing at 7:00 before the dating begins at 7:20.

Afterward, enjoy touring the magic of The Washington Auto Show and check out the latest gadgets and gizmos in the industry. Maybe you’ll even have a new friend join you! 

Tickets to speed dating cost $30, if purchased in advance, and includes entry to the Washington Auto Show on Feb. 1. Tickets are limited and may be purchased through Professionals in the City through its Web site at: http://www.prosinthecity.com/event/speed-dating-washington-auto-show-washington-dc-9707

For a more detailed event description, view the following video link to see speed daters in action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CCSBAl_qS0

Professionals in the City will enable daters to choose matches from the event through its exclusive online system, where members can exchange messages without disclosing their e-mail addresses.

MORE INFORMATION

Also, if you're just interested in going to the car show and not the speed dating event, Groupon is offering discounted tickets at 50% off for a limited time, they are only $6.  To purchase yours, click here.

For more information about this year's Washington Auto Show which will be held January 28 - February 7, 2011, click here.

Blogalicious DC

Last week my linesister and fellow blogger introduced me to Blogalicious.  What it is, is a national group of multicultural women who have an interest in blogging and social networking. 

A few of the women from the DC area who attended the 2009 Blogalicious weekend decided they wanted to host an event called "Creating Our Conversations".  The panel included four women bloggers of different ethnicities who blog on everything from where to go in DC (http://www.dcconcierge.com/) to the trials and tribulations of a young Breast Cancer survivor (http://fabulous-boobies.blogspot.com/).  It was an informative event and I look forward to their upcoming events.

The next Blogalicious conference will be held in October at the Ritz Carlton on South Beach.  For more information about Blogalicious weekend, visit http://www.blogaliciousweekend.com/

Below a brief video recap from the Blogalicious DC event held on February 17.


BlogaliciousDC Meetup Recap from Tyler New Media on Vimeo.

Networking Is Overrated

So I've always been a very involved person, I think it started in high school, you name it, I did it. College and grad school was much of the same. I've always enjoyed being busy and being surrounded by people who could nurture me as an individual both personally and professionally.

Now, I'm a member of many organizations including my alumni association, numerous business/civic associations, and my Sorority. Lately, everyone is all caught up in "networking". We've all heard the saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know," but often times I feel like networking is so overrated.

In my experience, at meetings and networking events I go to you meet someone, speak briefly, exchange business cards and never hear from that person again. I usually try to send a brief follow-up email but it never seems to progress. I feel like the only time the networking encounter evolves into more is if the other person is trying to holler. That is all well and good but if I'm trying to get to know you on a professional level, to help me advance my career, I'm not really trying to go out on a date with you. Nor am I interested in a quid pro quo relationship.

I'm sure there has to be a more effective way to meet people but as of now, I'm over the whole "networking" thing. I hoped by networking I'd be able to find a mentor but as of now I've had no such luck, any suggestions or tips would be greatly appreciated.