Posts from — January 2008

This past Thursday we held the 2nd canvas Open Mic Night. It was a grand success in many ways. We had a really nice turnout over 40 people coming to have good times, listen to great music from our featured performers Electra Jacobs, Glenn Roethel and Joe Iadanza and others and spoken word led by Vik Rajan, Neil Fruchtman and Marcy Neuman and of course to taste delicious scones, muffins, cookies, coffee and tea provided by Whole Foods Market. Tom(Publisher of canvas) and I started the afternoon looking for a rug. It took us some time but we finally found one we thought would work well. It is truly amazing how a concrete floor can be transformed by an inexpensive throw rug! Then the clearing of the desks and chairs to create as best we can an open mic atmosphere in our offices here at Footprint Media. The night began with my wife Tara working the front door and getting our sponsor and their representative Loni from Integrative Healthcare Solutions set up to give chair massages. With no prompting at all Joe, Glenn and a great musician named Stu hopped up on stage and started a jam session. I intro’d a quick welcome on the mic and the night was off an running. One of the things that made this event a success for me was when I saw my good friend Harlan friedman come through the door with his girlfriend Lauren. He and I have known eachother for over 25 years and its always a good time when he is in the house. Another great thing was something Joe said inbtwn playing which was that he is accepting donations to produce his next album and he is putting everyones name in the album that helps him out. If you havent heard his music or if you have and you want to hear more go to: www.joeiadanza.com However, the absolute best part of the night for me was when it was over and immediately Joe, Glenn and I did some spontaneous high fiving and looking at the joy on the peoples faces that attended, played or spoke. The energy in the room was some of the purest I have felt in some time. I did not see one person that didnt seem to be enjoying themselves and for me personally that was extremely rewarding because that is one of our goals with canvas :to create the space for people to build community and ENJOY themselves in a healthy, wholesome, accepting and welcoming environment. Open Mic Mission: SUCCESSFUL

Tomorrow (Thursday Jan. 17) we’re hosting our 2nd Open Mic Nite at the Footprint Gallery (canvas Office). We’re excited because not only is it the Open Mic Nite but we have great art from The Nature and Wildlife Photographers of Long Island showing at the gallery.

It should be a great night and we hope those that can will join us. The link below gives more detail.

Tom Pellicane – Publisher, canvas Magazine

Open Mic Nite

Yes, I’m tired, but this not a complaint or whining… This is a satisfying tired!

Last night we had the Greendrinks networking event and it was great! The folks at Cirella’s Restaurant were accommodating, we met a lot of new interesting people who attended the event. Everyone I spoke with told me they enjoyed the food and were happy they came.

Yeah I know, some of you were saying it was a little tight, but hey we had over 80 people come out for the event, it just gave us each a little more time to talk to the person or people next to us.

The event ended at 9, a lot of people were leaving closer to 10. Having attended a lot of events during my career that I was counting the minutes until I could get out of there, it was good to see people still wanting to hang out and talk past 9.

We were fortunate to have a reporter from Long Island Magazine come, I look forward to the story getting published, she asked me “does this draw a diverse group of people (in their work life) or do I find similar types of people coming?” I told her “It’s very diverse, see this guy next to you he does Socially Responsible Investment Planning, see the guy next to him he’s an Artist.”

Kermit the Frog said something like “it ain’t easy being green.” I hope the writer she saw the diversity and the synergy of the group during her time there. It’s not easy being green because you don’t necessarily fit into the box people associate with it.

Sometimes I think this group should be renamed “Sustainable Drinks” because this is really about people from a Sustainable Mind Set coming together without labels. You know, there’s a lot going on out there the needs to be shared with the masses. People are making great stuff happen and it’s not all about putting the bottles at home out for recycling, which is a saying someone recently said to me. It’s beyond green at this point.

That said, Thanks to all who attended and to all who made it possible.

Dean Cirella if you’re reading this that means you too!

Alex Wolff of Alex Wolff Photography took some great pictures you can check them out clicking on the link below.

Tom Pellicane, Publisher - canvas Magazine

Greendrinks at Cirella’s Photos

We have another Greendrinks event tomorrow night. It’s at Cirella’s Restaurant (click on Greendrinks below). It’s funny the owner of the Restaurant called to ask if they need to specifically make Greendrinks. After I laughed, I said no, and explained the Greendrinks concept again.

We’ve been asked about the “Greendrinks,” ala what some places do on St. Patricks Day, a lot and laugh each time we’re asked.

However this also means we need to do a better job of explaining what it is…
In its simplest form Greendrinks is an opportunity for like minded people (eco-consciouness) to meet and network. At some point we may include other things but we’ve met some great people through these events and hope others have as well.

Tom Pellicane - Publisher, canvas

Greendrinks