Last Night's Party: Thank You, and Sorry.
We here at TNG wanted to thank everyone who came out to Solly's for last night's "Meet Someone New" Party. We'll have photos up soon, but I can tell that we packed the place with interesting men and women that, yes, seemed to be meeting new people. I also enjoyed a couple stimulating debates with party guests on the nature of The New Gay and whether or not we were actually doing anything new. Remember: we really do welcome your input.
The "sorry" is for anyone who had to wait in line to get in, or that couldn't get in at all. Our great turnout unfortunately filled the bar to capacity. It is definitely not our intention to exclude anyone and we will be looking for a larger venue for our future parties.
On that subject, do any of you out there in TNG-ville have ideas for a good venue? We're looking for a sizeable bar thats not specifically gay and is metro accessible. An outdoor area would be nice, but not necessary.
20 comments:
Thanks Amy, Zach, Michael, and Ben for putting the event together. I have to say though that while there I felt very much like Jonathan did at Town (a tale he recounted in his 4/8 post here) - a little alienated and disappointed. A friend remarked that, despite the best of intentions, folks didn't appear to be talking to others outside of their comfortable circle of friends. Maybe it was my own mood at the time. Maybe it was the cramped quarters. Maybe both. I suspect many gals and guys showed up with the idea that this just happened to be another a gay night out but didn't take to heart your proposal for a meet-and-greet. I'd like to hear what other have to say. Again, I commend your efforts to create a sense of community.
I agree - I wanted very much so to talk to new people (there were some cutes there last night!), but alas, I was consumed by all those who I already know and didn't end up speaking to anyone new . . . my fault, I don't think it was TNG's or anybody elses. I think the point is, TNG offers a chance, and we as individuals have to step up.
I managed to meet some new people, but the serious overcrowding made it difficult to comfortably mingle. I think it can be fixed with the right location change.
I was a little bummed about that too. At one point this group of 3 or 4 guys was standing near me so I went over to introduce myself, take their picture, and offer them a nametag….and nothing. They wouldn’t even make eye contact with me. It’s as though I were shouting into a black void. I looked over at TNG Michael (Zack, do we really have to refer to each other as TNG such n such? Makes me feel like a fucking mouseketeer) and we both started laughing our asses off. I think they left and went to cobalt eventually. I still have hope for those guys, though.
In the end, you have to love people enough to keep plugging away, and hope that your efforts pay off eventually. Overall, It seems like people had fun. If it were not so packed, maybe it would have been easier.
Have it at Marvin! Eric & I will DJ!
-Ollie
Wonderland Ballroom in Columbia Heights
I was really excited to wear a name-tag, but when I arrived there were none left! I had to use a hand-me-down. The horror! I blame this on why I only introduced myself to two people. ;)
I actually had a great time last night - I got to meet Amy, Mike, Zach, and Ben and was at least a witness to one of said debates with Zach.
Alcohol is entirely responsible for trying to introduce myself around a bit, so I'd recommend to others that didn't meet anyone new just to drink more and the rest will happen on its own. Remember, drinking has no downsides. None at all.
In terms of another location - what about Local 16? Its on U street, huge, and has a great rooftop deck which would be awesome in the summer. Plus its large size would allow its usual clientele the chance to meet some gays without being squeezed out or totally taken over. Also, its my favorite bar in DC, which doesn't hurt things either.
"Remember, drinking has no downsides. None at all."
Speak for yourself, Conquistador. I'm about ready to go take a nap in my office kitchen. And I had to make myself stay awake late watching Gossip Girl and eating cheese fries from BCB so I wouldn't be hungover today.
gossip girl is back on monday!!! christ i'm excited. christ i'm a loser.
really wish i could have made it to the party. i coulda got all up in the new gays' faces for being snobs or whatever too.
If taking naps at work, eating cheese fries from BCB, and staying up late are downsides, I don't want to know what kinds of things you think upsides are.
i'm disappointed that i couldn't make it last night. with only straight friends it's hard to go to these kind of events.
If there was a waiting in line problem last night at Solly's, moving the event to Marvin's will only compound that . . . the last gay party at Marvin's I was accosted by the rude-ass doorman and told to wait in line for 45 mins, before being rescued by friends already inside . . . No to Marvin's.
Yeah, Many Thanks to Amy, Zach, Michael, and Ben for putting this mixer event together. I have to agree with a previous comment above that at first, guys didn't appear to be talking to others outside of their comfortable circle of friends. I blame myself for doing this also. But as a foreign guy, I've come to realize that if you approach a guy you don't know in DC, and say "hi", they automatically assume you are hitting on them and that you have another agenda other than just meeting someone... so it is *still* kind of hard to actually *meet* someone new. I don't know if this happens to other guys or is it only me. The few (2 or 3) I met last night were friends of friends... I consider that a success! He he
I do, commend and thank the TNG guys and gals for trying new, fun, out of the box events! Keep them coming!
Speaking of lines, wherever you take the party, please make ask the bar to be prepared with enough staff!
Great work, TNG. As for whether the concept "worked," I don't know. When I arrived around 10, it was super crowded, but people were doing a lot of introducing themselves and others; and hour later, everybody seemed to have put their insecurity/snob blinders back on and clumped into their little impenetrable circles, so I left. What are you going to do? Most people are lame most of the time, so it's inspiring to see even an hour of more open human interaction - good work.
i was at yeasayer!! missed out again.
maybe we should not impute snobbery to people talking to their friends. i showed up with friends and fully intended to meet new people, but i'm shy so it's not easy - even at an event specifically designed to help guys like me be less shy. it's also just human nature to socialize with familiar people, though i see why people are frustrated. stupid human nature...
anyway, i just think it's counterproductive to assume everyone is an asshole, though it's easy to be cynical. i would agree that a less crowded space would make meeting people easier. whenever i left my circle of friends for whatever reason, i was so determined to get out of the way of space where people were trying to walk that i failed to make eye contact or try to meet anyone new. i was looking at the ground to make sure i didn't trip over people's feet!
thanks to tng for arranging this. i hope there's another one soon.
Zach is really hot. Is he single?
Yes, Zack (note the spelling) is hot. He's also my boyfriend. Luckily i'm not the jealous one, he is. There were lots of other hot guys there, though...
I got to meet new people!
And also catch up with friends. It was fun, but I am looking forward to a larger venue, as much as I like Solly's. Local16 sounds like a good idea--similar to Marvin, but bigger. Or what about DC9?
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