You can’t fly to New York to attend a conference of 5000 women, be addressed by none other than President Obama by live video feed, and eat lunch “with” Martha Stewart and Katie Couric without being a tad overwhelmed. You also can’t report back to anyone who didn’t attend without coming off as completely obnoxious.
Here, I will try, and I will duck tomatoes as you may throw them. Just know this isn’t exactly every day news for me, and I’m not name dropping. I know NONE of these people personally, and I’m happy to admit it. But it’s fun to get caught up in things for once.
Okay, first, the New York thing. I don’t know when my fascination for NYC began – five or six years ago perhaps. Maybe it’s always been there and I just haven’t noticed. Start naming off some of the most popular movies and television shows of the last fifty years and it becomes obvious – New York has us smitten, and our crush is far from over. How could you ever tire of a city like that when you are only able to see snippets at a time, and only if you are lucky?
View from the 35th floor of the Hilton New York
Central Park in the distance
We’ve watched television comedies take jabs at the city’s eccentricities, and we’ve watched beloved characters fall in love with brownstones as a backdrop. We’ve watched shows that romanticized nearly every aspect of life in the Big Apple and yet, we want more.
So, it is an understatement to say that the return of BlogHer to NYC this year brought a high tide of excitement. Now, on top of the already dizzying experience of a conference of this size (filled with people who want to genuinely and connect with hundreds of people, no less) we have to do it all in a city that…well, if it sleeps, it does so with the lights on, party shoes dangling, and music still playing at all hours.
Our experience at a conference is always what we make of it, and that’s a difficult thing for many people to remember. So often we get so busy following the schedules we have made for ourselves that we forget to just put aside our apps and our organizers and just follow someone down the street to go explore. Or we hurry off to the next event, leaving someone behind who we might have been truly connecting with. I try to find a balance in this – to get enough out of the sessions and events that it is worth making the trip, and to just breathe and go with the flow when there isn’t a plan. We need to be able to make new plans, and if those new plans include wandering for food at midnight, only to be so glad you did later on – so be it. That’s the magic, right there.
I went to sessions, I went to events, and I went to parties. But I also followed people to go exploring, and I went wandering for food at midnight – twice. I skipped a few things when I felt my time was better spent elsewhere, but stuck to my plan for the things that mattered.
And yes, we were addressed by President Obama in the grand ballroom. I wouldn’t have missed it – I think he is a truly gifted speaker. I also made a point of turning up for the lunches where I heard Martha Stewart and Katie Couric interviewed. I was curious to hear them speak, interact, and how they would relate to our group.
Chevrolet Official Canadian Party – A60 Rooftop Patio
Thanks to Mom Central Canada, Chevrolet and Impressions Public Relations
I went to sessions, listened, took notes and gave some thought to what I have done for work, and what else I might like to be doing once we are settled in Calgary. I went to parties with silly names that no longer faze me. The Chevrolet Official Canadian Party? The People’s Party? Sparklecorn? Cheeseburgher? I’ll meet you there next year, baby. I was on a rooftop overlooking the city, and I was at the foot of the Empire State Building, barely able to see the top. I wore pretty shoes, and I went barefoot in airport security. I dressed up, I dressed down and I suffered two amusing but survivable wardrobe malfunctions. I ate in a sweetly fancy restaurant for lunch, and I ate street meat from a truck at midnight. I drank twelve dollar cocktails, and ate chocolate s’mores. I was ridiculously energized, and utterly exhausted.
New York is like that.
Making s’mores at the Hershey’s suite at BlogHer ’12
I connected with some really inspiring, amazing and amusing people. I gave up sleep for inspiration, fun and connection. And I explored a city that makes me want to return, again and again.
You get out of a conference what you are willing to put into it, and how you are willing to flex as the event continues on. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet with so many people in one place. I never fail to come home with connections I would not have made otherwise – and while I make those connections every day online, face to face has just that much more to offer.
So there it is – the official BlogHer ’12 recap! I have plenty more to share, but it will come with some thought, reflection and context. For now, I’m home, I had a great time as always, and left with great memories. The staff at the Hilton New York were helpful and engaging, as usual. I would love to return with my family and introduce them to this great city.
Oh, and I flew home with Foreigner. Not every day you can say that. I sat behind Bruce Watson, guitarist, and while I didn’t approach him on the plane, there were a few giggles in our section as the flight attendant tried to look after him and the rest of us without getting flustered. I ended up walking out behind him and standing right near him at the baggage carousel. Want to hear my great line? “Hi. I don’t want to intrude, but I have a feeling my forty-seven year old music-loving husband is going to kill me if I don’t ask your name.” Awesome, right? He was very gracious, introduced himself, asked my name and chatted with me a few minutes. The band is playing here tonight, and I was right, when I texted my husband he was totally excited. So I turned back to Bruce and thanked him for being so gracious, showing him the text from my husband that read “I was RAISED on Foreigner”. He laughed and said “that’s awesome!”
See how I’m willing to make a fool of myself for him? Well, he was home looking after the kiddies for me. I figured it was the least I could do!
Have you ever attended BlogHer? Did you attend this year’s? What was your favourite memory? What did you like most? What else did you go do or see?
I’d love to hear all about your BlogHer adventures!
In 2013, the BlogHer conference will take place in Chicago.
I won’t even dream of it quite yet…
I’m so glad that I got to see you as much as I did. You’re one of my favourites, you know.
I’m just glad that ought of 5000 people, your face kept popping up in the sea of bloggers. Sometimes, the only thing I need to keep myself from falling apart is the reminder that there are friendly faces around me. And yours was one of those. Until we cross paths again my sweet friend…
Was so good to see you again, lady. I almost wish the conference was in Small Town USA—that way I wouldn’t feel guilty about conferencing when I should be taking in the wonderful city and I wouldn’t feel guilty about exploring the streets of NYC when I should be conferencing. Heh.
It was good meeting you (again), and this may have been my favorite BlogHer yet. I’ve been four or five times, and I think that even though the numbers grow every year, I’ve still managed to find quiet moments to visit with friends, and that value is immeasurable.
Yes, really great to meet you and actually chat a few moments – though as always, they are quick and pass us by before we know it. This was my third BlogHer – it’s different every year, and the people make it worth it every time. The rest is gravy.
You make me wish I had been there and I am looking forward to reading whatever else you decide to share!
Thanks for reading, and commenting, Misty! Yes, more to come, but it takes time to sort through it all. What a whirlwind! ; )
Thanks for sharing this experience in the words that only YOU can weave. I’ve never been to Blogher. Sigh…one day. Visited NYC for the 1st time not long ago and boy, “smitten” indeed. That city is alive. I *may* have openly wept upon seeing the Statue of Liberty. See you at Blissdom??
Lady, I’d have been so happy to see you there! Smitten kittens, both of us. I can’t imagine ever seeing it all. Blissdom – have a ticket, will make it if I can! Relocation crazy has to come first. ; ) xoxo
I was so convinced that I’d made the right decision not to go this year UNTIL I remembered how much fun I had last year. Sigh. It sounds amazing & magical and I truly missed hanging out with you. Glad you had an awesome time.
Oh, God, I know. I wish I could attend far more conferences than I do…and yet, they take a huge amount of energy. You had enough going on! I would have loved to have seen you, though. ; ) xo
This is such a great (and positive) re-cap. Thanks for taking the time to write and share. Hope to have a BlogHer experience sometime in the future. Chicago would be fantastic!
Louise – we still have to meet! Someday, BlogHer or Blissdom Canada, we’ll manage it. Thank you for reading!
In the end, I loved the city and the conference. The first night, I wanted to cry and come home (long story), but then NYC swept me off my feet and we had a short love affair. NYC is truly an inspiring, addicting, embracing, terrifying, eat-you-up-and-spit-you-out type of city…which is why I love it. Of course the best part was hanging out with some BlogHer girls on the last day
Yes, exactly! It’s so crazy and wonderful and just that tiny bit intimidating, lol! Had fun hanging with you, lady. Glad you stayed long enough to love the city and see so much! ; )
I dream of attending BlogHer but summer is the time of year when I become a stay at home mom. I hope that I can go next year. I have only been to Chicago once by I loved it. And, the chance to really expand my blog, my followers, and my knowledge of blogging would be a dream come true!
I loved this post. It gave me a great sense of what happened and made me want to go even more.
Thank you.
http:familyfoodtravel.blogspot.ca
That’s great, and exactly why I like to write a recap! Thanks for reading! Hope you get to Chicago! ; )
I agree. It was overwhelming. It is a place I will want to return to for sure be aide my kids really wanted to come too. I opted just to go by myself and connect- something I did not think I could manage with them there. That ended up being a good choice. It was a great chance for me and I can’t wait to return. Very nice to meet you.
My favorite part was meeting the gals I chat with all the time at Momchat @momcentral and @brysboo
That was even better than the president’s address.
Yes, I would love to take my kids but my youngest is a bit too young to understand the significance and enormity of it all. Plus she would just be a giant handful there at age three. ; ) I would love to take everyone later, but not at conference time!
Nice to meet you too!