Blogging Get Together At Al’s Wine & Spirits
Posted by Mitch Mitchell on Feb 2, 2013
For someone who doesn’t drink, it seems like I’ve been to Al’s Wine & Spirits on Clinton Street a whole bunch of times. This time it was for a get together of local bloggers, something I got invited to at the last minute on a very windy night and decided I just had to go, especially since I was having a last minute massage at Armory Massage in the same area.
When I walked in the door I was recognized by Renee Benda, aka cusecomm, who writes about local things like I do on this blog, who was talking with Mark Strong, aka phomancho, who writes about food. I was connected with Renee, though it wasn’t until later when I put her picture and seeing her in person together; much more attractive in person. 🙂 I didn’t know Mark, but we’d talk a lot early on.
Eventually people started trickling in and I got to know some of the names. There was Christopher Malone, aka chris___malone (that’s 3 underscores), who works in politics and writes short stories, and was soon followed by Kelly Covert, aka trimommykelly, who writes about life as a triathlete, mother, and all around superwoman, and Amber B, aka amberbinteriors (that’s all I got out of her lol), who writes about interior design.
Once Margaret McCormick, aka mmccormickcny, who I wrote about almost 2 years ago when she challenged the Doubletree hotel in a cookie contest, showed up, Mark and I went to save us a space in the establishment, where we talked about his penchant for loving to create interesting food combinations, including desserts he won’t eat; strange concept to me that one, but I’m hoping to talk him into making this cookie thing surrounded by a brownie in a cupcake wrapper for me; oh yeah!
When others finally joined us we were off and communicating. I knew some of the folks already, like Sunny Hernandez, aka sunnyinsyracuse, with whom I’ve shared a few adventures I’ve written on this blog, including my first visit to the B’ville Diner and the day she tried to kill me at Green Lakes State Park, who writes about pies of all sorts, and Steve Borek, aka steveborek, a local business coach and theater arts producer who, along with Sunny, was part of a theater production I saw called Urinetown, a strange little show that I actually liked, though I wasn’t sure I would, who writes about business and coaching; makes sense.
And there were some people who came I didn’t know or hadn’t yet met in person. Those folks were Joanna Giansanti, aka joannagiansanti, who writes about graphic design and creativity (we were connected already so it was our first meeting), and Christie Jones, aka bedsidesign (who also doesn’t always look like her pictures), who writes about interior design, and her husband Ian, aka helloianjones, who’s the spitting image of Elvis Costello and even plays guitar!. And Sunny came with her man Steve, aka SMARTASScny, who runs Trivia Night at Wise Guys every Tuesday and informed me that real Irish people don’t eat corned beef & cabbage; who’d have thunk it?
It seemed like everyone had a great time as no one was left out of a conversation that I noticed, and maybe the one thing we didn’t do that maybe next time we will is have a quick moment to talk about our blogs, although I’d have had to figure out which one to discuss with so many of them. There were a lot of other people who said they wished they could come but couldn’t, and it was put together pretty quickly so maybe next time it’ll be an even bigger event, with better weather. Hey, this is Syracuse right?
It’s great finally meeting local bloggers, and I’m someone whose said that it’s great when we can support each other since most of us seem to have bigger followings elsewhere. I’ve looked at all the blogs on this list that I’m about to share with you below; go take a look, comment if you have something to say, and look for a message concerning the next time we get together, because I know it’s happening. Anyway, here’s the list:
Eat First
The Proof Is In The Eating
My Life As A Trimommy
Simple Dwellings
The Infinite Abyss(es)
Sporadic Attic
Creating Leaders, Followers Want To Follow.
Giansanti Design
Bedsidesign
For Your Pies Only

I had a really good time meeting and speaking with everyone.
You nailed it. Christie’s husband Ian does look like Elvis Costello. I kept saying to myself, he looks like someone though I couldn’t put my finger on it.
I’m with you on shopping for clothes. Not a fan. It’s a hard time searching for something that fits.
I thought I looked charming in my new Eddie Bauer hoodie. ;-p
Steve, I forgot that we talked about clothes shopping; ugh. And as cold as it was outside, you looked warm in your hoodie.
This new hoodie is really comfy.
It was a fun night! great to meet everyone. Let’s do this again some time!
Absolutely; we need to get it done.
Mitch Thank you for the wonderful write up! I can’t wait to set up the next meeting. And You’re right next time everyone should give a little talk about their own blog and what they write about! Also I’m looking into new headshots 😉
Renee, you did a great job pulling together so many people in such a short time; just amazing. We might need a different venue with the possibility of more people coming so that we can actually talk to each other at the same time, even if it’s a short period. I actually have ideas; rare! lol What a fun time; thanks for inviting me.
So great to meet local bloggers! Thanks Renee for being our hostess with the mostess 🙂
Jealous!!!! I wish I was there!! Glad you guys had such a good time
We wish you were there also Jenn; we’ll get you one of these days. 🙂
Mitch I’m on it! And I agree a new venue will help. I honestly had no idea what to expect for numbers I only had about 7 RSVP’s two weeks out. Our group doubled in the days leading up! Now that I know there is so much interest we can look at having an actual event 🙂
Next time I’m thinking we have will have more structure.
Thanks Sunny!
Jenn I will let you know some dates for future events we would LOVE to have you!
Jenn’s in NYC; I’m thinking she might have some issues getting to one of these unless it was on a weekend. lol
Great recap, Mitch! Definitely looking forward to the next meet-up!
Thanks Joanna, and of course it was great finally meeting you in person.