News: April 2, 2010 Edition

Content is going to get better here at Sex and the Beach. In the future, I'll be featuring some guest posts by great writers.

Also, as I'm currently not writing my Silicon Beach column for Miami New Times, I'll be discussing the local social media scene here with a little bit of tech.

It's basically all the stuff I do and love, true to my header: "plus stuff that's more interesting than sex!"

I'm debating on whether to port this blog over to Wordpress. But honestly, if it aint broke, why fix it? I'm still on old blogger and don't feel a need to change anything as content is king around here. Bloggers, any thoughts?

PRESENTATIONS


On April 14, I will be collaborating with Life is Art and the Association for Women in Communications of South Florida for a networker during which I'll hold an informal talk about blogging. Visit Life is Art for more details.

You can learn more about my talks and presentations, as well as classes, over at Wily Wordsmith. Sometime later this year, following on the success of the Hands on Small Business courses I taught last year, I will be holding seminars on writing and blogging, so stay tuned.

BLOGGER MEETUP

If you're interested in exploring ways of monetizing your blog via e-commerce, come to Monty's South Beach on April 16 to meet Ted Rubin of Open Sky. First two drinks on Ted's tab! This is an informal get together for local bloggers, so please stop by to network and catch up. Visit the tweetvite for more details: Let's Talk Shop About Blogs.

TWEETUPS


We're doing it again! SxSe (South By South East) is happening in May this year at the Hyatt Pier 66 in Fort Lauderdale. Because Miami Beach wasn't shallow enough ... or too shallow! Everyone is welcome to the tweetup on Saturday, May 22, which will be held at beautiful Pelican Landing right on the intracoastal. There is also a special rate on rooms. Visit SxSe for more information.

BLOGS

Go check out my friend and fabulous fellow writer, Lourdes G. at IvoryGreen. She's also starting a new beauty blog with a focus on South Florida.

Sweet Home Hialeah is not new, but boy does it give me some chuckles.

NEW BOOK

Unlike my last failed attempt to write a book about the history of Harley Davidson in Cuba, this year I've got plans to write something that should present no problems. It's going to be something like "Manola's Guide to Cuban Miami For Gringos," probably a self-published book you can carry easily in a pocket. Andrew Nelson, National Geographic Traveler contributor, gave me the brilliant idea while we were having dinner during his twitter crowd-sourced trip to Miami. Go read his informative and beautifully written article: Tweet Me in Miami.

SoFla Blogup 2009

I fondly recall the first blogger meetup in Miami ... though Hidden City has told me that proto-bloggers socialized in Miami as far back as the dawn of the interwebs.

But in recent history, circa 2006, several established bloggers who are still active today got together for conversation, drinks and food at Tobacco Road. The meetup was inspired by the fact that Stormhoek Winery had put together blogger shindig in South Beach for a Gaping Void campaign. A few people were turned off by the commercial nature of the event and decided that "we" could meet up all on our own. I don't remember who "we" was; it was a loosely defined collective. It just sort of happened.

None of us had met in person, though we knew each other's blogs well. There were no name tags and we had to introduce ourselves one by one -- kind of like when you're in elementary school on the first day of class and have to tell the rest of the kids what you did last summer. I remember talking to some fellow bloggers before the event who were downright shy. "OMG, I have to meet people in person? What's that all about?"

Putting a face to the blog was a big deal back then, but boy, how things have changed since 2006! For many of us, social media has made the face-to-face far less awkward.

It's time to get together again. James and Annette from Soul of Miami and I have teamed up with Graziano's at Brickell for another afternoon of socializing on November 21st, 2 - 5 pm, possibly longer -- if any spontaneous plans should occur.

The first hour will be bloggers ONLY. Afterward, readers and fans are welcome to mingle! Please visit Soul of Miami for details and to RSVP. If you are a blogger, make sure you do reply so we can have a name tag ready for you at the door.

RSVP AT SOUL OF MIAMI