Posts Tagged ‘Blogger Bash’
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
A grand total of eight people showed up for Blogger Bash. And they weren’t all there at the same time. The event lasted from 6 p.m. until I left at 10:30 p.m.
Why was attendance so light? I dunno. Competing events that tend to attract bloggers. A lack of marketing by ME this time around. The crappy economy. Who knows.
The conversation was good, and the companionship. I got to meet HipKat. He and the adorable Cristi from Peoria.com was there. Frequent commenter SHay was there, as was Precinct Committeeman. C.J. and Gary Sandberg showed up, as well as his son, Cosmic Colt (I’m going to interview him later about cool ideas he has for the Riverfront).
But I will schedule the next one for a Friday or Saturday night, probably in late July or early August. I am open to ideas for location.
The Bash was good for Whitey as he eight eight customers on a day that otherwise would have been very slow. He sold beers, sodas and four pizzas. I’m only sorry we couldn’t in more thirsty people
Tags: Blogger Bash, Gary Sandberg, Peoriadotcom
Posted in site news | 10 Comments »
Sunday, June 21st, 2009
Events seems to have distracted me for a week or so. As of this moment, Blogger Bash is tentatively set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, at Whitey’s Tip Top Inn, 2601 N Sheridan Rd.
There was some talk of moving it to the Owl’s Nest, located at 2126-2128 W. Callender in West Peoria (at Waverly).
Frankly, I wouldn’t mind moving it there, as I’m always open to new experiences.
Any objections? I’ll make a final post and announcement tomorrow.
And we’ll have to have another one on a Friday or Saturday evening in July sometime … no doubt someplace air conditioned.
Tags: Blogger Bash
Posted in site news | 1 Comment »
Thursday, June 4th, 2009
Post whatever comment you like, but here’s a topic I want to throw out for public debate: It has been suggested that Blogger Bash out to be on a Saturday night once in a while.
So, would would there be any objection to moving the upcoming bash from Tuesday, June 30, to Saturday, June 27?
Also, I penciled in Whitey’s as the site for the bash, but how about trying someplace new, like the Owl’s Nest in West Peoria?
Tags: Blogger Bash
Posted in Overset | 7 Comments »
Monday, August 11th, 2008
Please direct all Blogger Bash inquiries, suggestions, insults, etc to Cory. He has assumed responsibility for planning the next bash, which is set for the fifth Tuesday in September.
I promise that I will keep my complaints to myself. And no excuses about not being able to find a babysitter.
Tags: Blogger Bash
Posted in site news | Comments Off
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
I’m not even going to try to name all the bloggers and others who attended. Lot of conversation. Lots of hugging. Lots of liquid refreshment. And the Cubs won 7-1 over the Brewers.
We even talked some shop.
Look for photos on some of the blogs. I’ll link to ‘em when the photos get posted.
Tags: Blogger Bash, peoria
Posted in Uncategorized | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, July 29th, 2008
July 29 is the fifth Tuesday of the month, so that means it’s time for Blogger Bash. It will start roughly at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Recovery Room, 802 W. Pioneer Parkway in Peoria. It’s the scene of the first, unofficial mini Blogger Bash, held many years ago.
Everyone is invited.
Tags: Blogger Bash
Posted in Local | 8 Comments »
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
I finally got some use out of my spiffy new digital camera by snapping some pics at tonight’s Blogger Bash. The evidence is available for viewing at my new blog: BillyDennis.com.
Meanwhile, C.J. Summers scooped the mainstream media with details and commentary on a federal lawsuit filed by OSF.
Tags: Blogger Bash, bloggers, osf
Posted in Local | Comments Off
Tuesday, April 29th, 2008
The Peoria-Area Blogger Bash will start at 6 p.m. TONIGHT at the Silver Bullet, 135 N Main St. East Peoria, IL. A map is available here.
I’ll try to be there at least by 6 p.m. This is an event held in a public place, so anyone can show up. Creators of Peoria blogs, commenters and readers are especially invited. We sometimes have newsmakers and politicians show up to schmooze too.
Tags: Blogger Bash, East Peoria, silver bullet
Posted in Local | 2 Comments »
Monday, April 14th, 2008
Unless there’s an outpouring of opposition, I’m going to call the R.F.P. over and declare that we have a winner.
The next Peoria-Area Blogger Bash will start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 29, at the Silver Bullet, 135 N Main St. East Peoria, IL. A map is available here.
I’ll try to be there at least by 6 p.m. This is an event held in a public place, so anyone can show up. Creators of Peoria blogs, commenters and readers are especially invited. We sometimes have newsmakers and politicians show up to schmooze too.
Tags: Blogger Bash, silver bullet
Posted in Citizen Journalism | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, April 8th, 2008
As is tradition in the Peoria Blogosphere, a Blogger Bash is held every time a month has a 5th Tuesday. That means we are due for a bash on April 29th. There has been some discussion over at Cory’s site, but no definitive conclusion.
So, I’m opening the floor here for request for proposals. I’m in favor of any Peoria site — or one on the other side of the river — that’s locally owned (and NOT a franchise joint … grrr) that has food, liquid refreshment, and is set up to allow folks to walk about and mingle. In other words, a pub or tavern. We’ve had some successful bashes at joints like Whitey’s on Sheridan and the Firehouse on Pioneer Parkway. How about the Basket Case on West Main? Just an idea.
As aways, these bashes are held in public places. anyone can attend, of course, but all Peoria-area bloggers are invited, as are regular commenters. It’s always great when public officials can attend, for a little off-the-record conversation.
Tags: bars, Blogger Bash, pubs, taverns
Posted in Citizen Journalism | 16 Comments »
Tuesday, January 29th, 2008
Here’s the scoop:
- Blogger Bash
- Tuesday, January 29th, 2007
- 6 PM-???
- Buffalo Wild Wings
- 5121 W American Prairie Dr
- Peoria, IL 61615
Tags: Blogger Bash
Posted in Citizen Journalism | 16 Comments »
Thursday, December 27th, 2007
I decline ALL responsibility for the details for the next Blogger Bash. I’ll be perfectly happy to attend the next bash — provided it’s held on Jan. 29, 2008, the fifth Tuesday of the month. But Cory really, really, really wanted to have it at Buffalo Wild Wings (a hated chain restaurant). By agreeing to this wish, I also left Cory in charge. So, if you want to vote for which of two locations to hold the Bash, go over to his site and vote.
Just one thing, though: No matter what, the rule in the Peoria blogosphere is that we leave all anomocities behind. EVERYONE is welcome.
P.S. I’ll probably need a ride if the event is going to be held in East Peoria.
Tags: Blogger Bash
Posted in Citizen Journalism | 11 Comments »
Thursday, November 1st, 2007
During Blogger Bash, C.J. mentioned his get-together with Darin LaHood. Ceej has the post up now.
* C.J. hates being called “Ceej.”
Tags: Blogger Bash, Darin LaHood, Ray LaHood
Posted in Citizen Journalism, Statehouse & Capitol | 1 Comment »
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
One topic discussed at the blogger bash was the proposed city business license. For a couple of reasons I am opposed.
First, this solution is based on the problem that a single scofflaw taxpayer, the former Wendy’s franchisee, went belly up without paying their taxes to the city for many many months. Unfortunately, this seems like a classic elephant gun to kill a gnat plan. Rather than look at the existing procedures and determine if this was an aberration or part of a growing trend which could be solved with more consistent oversight and timely court action, a proposal comes forward to find an easy way to “assure that this outrage never occurs again.”
Unfortunately this is an all too often government response where the “bad facts” result in a less than stellar law (or ordinance). As an example, lets say that a person commits an outrageous act of DUI and causes the death of someone. In response, the policy makers mandate that all cars be outfitted with a BAIID (Breath Analysis Interlock Ignition Device) to make sure that you have to blow into a tube before starting your car. If there were lots of similar instances, then perhaps we as a society would tip the balance in favor of more regulation and less freedom. If, however, it was the one and only time the circumstances had occurred in this way, I think most people would be much more hesitant to impose this new mandate, despite the likelihood that “such an outrage would never occur again.”
Similarly, if the justification for this ordinance is as reported, this singular outrageous incident, then I would argue that regulating all HRA businesses is overkill. Would it make it easy to enforce? sure, but the convenience of the government should not be the only or even the highest priority.
Second, you will forgive the business community, or the rest of us for that matter, for being suspicious of nominal government fees. With the State’s recent practice of astronomically raising fees, then sweeping them for other uses, we view even nominal fees as a government’s opportunity to create a revenue source which down the line is more palatable than raising general taxes or cutting costs.
Governments are faced with an nearly insatiable pressure to fund new priorities, e.g. new cops, new sidewalks, etc. Unless the council can guarantee that the fees will never be increased (which I don’t think constitutionally they are permitted to do) then any fee, however nominal, is an invitation to “update” as needs arise.
I’ll close with two questions. Where is the will to abolish the garbage tax? What were the fees and regulation for pushcarts when they were originally enacted? Sometimes, the past is prologue.
Tags: Blogger Bash, HRA, Matt Jones, Peoria City Council, Taxes, TIF
Posted in Local | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, October 31st, 2007
The bash was a huge success and a fun time was had by all.
Rich Miller of Capitol Fax never showed (too busy rounding up news and gossip out of Springfield, no doubt). None of the students from Jonathan Ahl’s class showed up. There quite a few first-time bashers, from including the folks responsible for Tails from the River City, The Atheists Down the Street, Secret Server, Ramble On and Problems are for Solving.
I’ll for get someone mad at me if I tried to mention everyone who was there. I neglected to set out s sign-in sheet OR even to pass out that “Hello! My name is … ” stickers
Suffice it to say the usual folks showed up. If you were there, and didn’t get a mention, I apologize. Please leave your name and a link in the comments section, thank you.
We did have two special guests.
Matt Bisbee, who’s working on Jim McConoughey’s campaign stopped buy to chat with me and the other bloggers. He’s a nice guy, we chatted about public radio and the effect blogging is having on politics. Apparently, Peoria Pundit is a frequent topic on the public radio show he’s involved with over there.
Not long after one Matt left, another stopped by: Matt Jones, a frequent commenter. We chatted about news, politics and the law. Matt’s a staunch GOPer and a supporter of Aaron Schock. We chatted a bit about the complexities of campaign finance regulations, a topic that he touched on his one and only post on Peoria Pundit.
Matt, a former prosecutor, made a case for his former boss, Peoria County State’s Attorney Kevin Lyons. He says Lyons’ biggest strength is also his biggest weakness, namely his unwillingness to consider public reaction when he decides who to prosecute and for what charges to file.
Do I have any scoops as a result of these chats? Not really, other than there’s probably going to be a meeting soon among all three campaigns for the GOP nomination for Ray LaHood’s 18th District Congressional seat. The topic will be the behind the scenes complaints about Federal Election Commission rules violations. Apparently, everyone is finding fault with everyone else.
Oh, yeah. One other bit of news: The female bloggers are making noise about having their own Blogger Bash. Fine. let them have their little hen party. We manly-man male bloggers will hold out OWN bash, where we’ll tell dirty jokes, ogle women and belch loudly and unashamed.
And if you see Eyebrows, insist she tell you what happened at the gynecologist.
UPDATE: I forgot another newbie, Scott Fletcher, formerly of Podcheck Review. He’s got another blog now, but I do NOT have the URL. Send it to me ASAP. He described it as a blog about podcasting, software writing and what happens when your child poops in the bathtub. Sounds like a must-read to me.
UPDATE 2: Jen feels slighted.
UPDATE 3: Scott F.’s site is here.
UPDATE 4: Oh, great! Now Ms. PH feels snubbed. Can I help it if I am so fascinating?
UPDATE 5: SOMEONE was glad to be there.
Tags: 18th District, Aaron Schock, Blogger Bash, bloggers, blogging, Jim McConoughey, Matt Bisbee, Matt Jones, Ray LaHood
Posted in Citizen Journalism | 25 Comments »
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Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates