SEE YOU TMRW. @ THE BROOKLYN SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT

The Brooklyn Small Business Summit is tmrw. from 9 am - 5 pm at The Polytechnic Institute.

I will be speaking on a panel entitled Search Engine Optimization and Social Networking. My focus? Blogging as a tool for building your community.

Joining me will be Michael Ferranti, Founder and CEO of Endai Worldwide; Jennifer M. Shaheen, President of Technology Therapy; and moderator Elisa Balabram, Director of Local Development Corporation of East New York.

Hope to see you there!

To register (FOR FREE!) go HERE

If you want info about the Summit, go HERE

TRANSCRIPT OF MICHELLE OBAMA'S SPEECH AT MET MUSEUM of ART

Here is the transcript of Michelle Obama’s speech at Monday’s ribbon cutting for the Metropolitan Museum of Art American Wing here in NYC. You can also view the speech and cutting on the Met's website.

THE WHITE HOUSE

Office of the First Lady

For Immediate Release May 18, 2009

REMARKS BY THE FIRST LADY

AT THE RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY

FOR THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART AMERICAN WING

Metropolitan Museum of Art

New York, New York

3:16 P.M. EDT

MRS. OBAMA: Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you so much. Please, rest. (Laughter.) Good afternoon and thank you, Emily, for that introduction, and thank you for reminding me. You know, after 20-some-odd years of knowing a guy, you forget that your first date was at a museum. (Laughter.) But it was, and it was obviously wonderful; it worked.

So I am delighted to be here with you to celebrate American history through the arts. From the beginning of our nation, the inspired works of our artists and artisans have reflected the ingenuity, creativity, independence and beauty of this nation. It is the painter, the potter, the weaver, the silversmith, the architect, the designer whose work continues to create an identity for America that is respected and recognized around the world as distinctive and new.

The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art captures this spirit in presenting a variety of American art forms and providing a link to history for us to learn from, appreciate and be inspired by.

Our future as an innovative country depends on ensuring that everyone has access to the arts and to cultural opportunity. Nearly 6 million people make their living in the non-profit arts industry, and arts and cultural activities contribute more than $160 billion to our economy every year. And trust me, I tried to do my part to add to that number.

The President included an additional $50 million in funding to the NEA in the stimulus package to preserve jobs in state arts agencies and regional arts organizations in order to keep them up and running during the economic downturn. (Applause.)

But the intersection of creativity and commerce is about more than economic stimulus, it's also about who we are as people. The President and I want to ensure that all children have access to great works of art at museums like the one here. We want them to have access to great poets and musicians in theaters around the country, to arts education in their schools and community workshops.

We want all children who believe in their talent to see a way to create a future for themselves in the arts community, be it as a hobby or as a profession.

The arts are not just a nice thing to have or to do if there is free time or if one can afford it. Rather, paintings and poetry, music and fashion, design and dialogue, they all define who we are as a people and provide an account of our history for the next generation.

The President recently nominated renowned theater producer Rocco Landesman to chair the National Endowment for the Arts. Rocco's entrepreneurial spirit and his commitment to being a bridge between the philanthropic, non-profit and commercial arts community will ensure that all types of art and creative expression are provided fertile ground to live and to grow.

And that's what we hope to do at the White House, that's what we've been trying to do at the White House. We've been trying to break down barriers that too often exist between major cultural establishments and the people in their immediate communities; to invite kids who are living inches away from the power and prestige and fortune and fame, we want to let those kids know that they belong here, too.

I want to applaud the Metropolitan Museum of Art for all the outreach that you do, for having kids like these here today to be involved in this and to experience this and to share this with us, because this is your place, too. So we're very proud of the Met for the work that they've done.

So we are excited. Thank you for including me. And now we can get to the -- we're going to cut the ribbon now.

MY CLIENT, CHEF PETE, IN THE DAILY NEWS (YES, VEGAN DESSERTS CAN BE YUMMY!)

My client and Chef-In-Chief at Little Buddy Biscuit Company, was featured in the daily news.

He generously shared a recipe and tips for making yummy vegan desserts.

Way to go, Pete!

Click HERE to read the article.

Click HERE to read Groovalicious in Brooklyn, Pete's ultra-cool blog about cooking, music, and enlightened entrepreneurship.

NEW YORK DANCE PARADE.......YANA PULLED IT OFF BIG TIME!

My friend Yana Landowne is the Co-Executive Director and Board Member of the New York Dance Parade.

Holy smokes, do I have the utmost respect for Yana and the other members of the crew who organized this day-long event.

Hundreds of dancers made their way from 28th and Broadway down to Tomkins Square Park. I watched them all go by and then followed them to the main stage where a bunch of groups showcased their talents in choreographed performances.

There were also dance lessons happening, and impromptu performances occurring throughout the park.

Yana, kudos to you and your team!

MY NEIGHBORHOOD NICKNAME

I was in the podiatrist's office. He has been working in Carroll Gardens, a historically Italian-American neighborhood, for decades. He said "Yeah, a lot of people around here are only known by their nicknames. So if Johnny Whatever passes away and you say 'Johnny Whatever passed away' I might say "Who?" And they you'd say 'Oh, Bazooka passed away!' and then I'd know who you're talking about.

So people in the neighborhood get nicknames, names like Bazooka and Hot Dog, and people forget their real names.

One of the guys I see and chat with regularly at the corner bagel store said to me this week "I have your nickname. It's THE MOUTH." And I'm like "THE MOUTH?" And he says "Yeah, cuz you like to chat it up with everyone." And then I realized it was a compliment. If this neighborhood guy was giving me my neighborhood nickname, then I was officially one of the gang.

PANORAMIC VIEW OF BROOKYLN BLOGFEST 2009

Photo credit: Flatbush Gardener

DREAM BINDER REVISITED

Over the last couple of weeks, I read a book that I'd been eying for a while: Jack Canfield's The Success Principles: how to get from where you are to where you want to be.

There's a lot of good ideas under one roof. My only complaint is that nine times out of ten, Jack uses men as examples to illustrate his concepts.

Anyway, while reading the book I got motivated to write down my 6-month goals for June - November 2009. I typed them up, and then put them into my DREAM BINDER 2009. (See cover to the left.) Here's my description of what a Dream Binder is, edited from a previous post:

It's a 3-ring binder and in it I keep documents and mementos related to my goals for the year. I mostly use magazine pics for inspiration or write notes on 3x5 cards to record what I want or what events occurred that related to my dreams. OR I write something I want as if it has already occurred.

Quick Dream Binder tip: I use plastic page protectors designed to go into a 3-ring binder. I glue or tape 3X5 cards or visual inspiration/mementos to heavy white paper, slip that into the page protector, and snap the page into the 3-ring binder.

Here's something interesting that happened in my dream binder in 2006: I cut out pictures of two things I wanted to win in the New York Public Library Sweepstakes. Although I did not win the spa vacation, I did win a gift certificate to a restaurant in Manhattan! In looking in Dream Binder 2006, I also see seeds of good things that have started to happen in following years.

In summary, a Dream Binder is both a scrapbook and a crystal ball. You can look into it to see good things that happen along the way and to set your intentions for good things to come.

POWArts Presents You and Your Money: Creating A Conscious Money Relationship

This event description is from the website of POWArts, The Professional Organization of Women in the Arts:

Learn how money issues are not only about money; how your subconscious (and conscious) beliefs drive your actions; and how self-sabotaging beliefs lead to "Underearning, Overspending, Debting and Money Fog." Walk away from this interactive session with a better awareness and understanding of your money and practical steps you can take towards a more conscious relationship with yourself and money.

Money Relationship Mentor Helen Kim helps you create a conscious relationship to money so you can live a life of full wealth. Believing that everyone carries their own answers, she stresses a two-pronged approach, addressing the practical and emotional aspects of your relationship to money. In addition to working with private clients, Helen provides live and telephone workshops in New York City. She is a Certified Financial Counselor and a graduate of the Juilliard School. www.YourMoneyRelationship.com

Program Details:

Please join us on Wednesday, May 20th at 6:30 p.m.

Program to begin promptly at 6:45 p.m., reception to follow

Collective Hardware Gallery, 169 Bowery at Delancey

RSVP by Monday, May 11th to rsvp@powarts.org

THE SMALL THINGS ADD UP

Photo Credit: Jeffrey Braverman

SIMPLE PLEASURE #5: CONTENTMENT

I just came out of 5 months of intense organizing for The Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest. It happened, it was a success, and I learned a lot about what works at a big event and what I'd do differently next time.

After Blogfest was over, a voice in my head shouted "NEXT!" and I pushed myself to set off on accomplishing a bunch of new goals. My body rebelled big time: it took major effort to get the smallest task done. Finally, I realized I needed to take a few days to just rest, be pleased with myself, and be CONTENT.

As Alice Walker (well, the character of Shug Avery) says in The Color Purple: "I think it pisses God off when you walk by the color purple in a field and don't notice it."

So I'm deciding to stop for a moment to chill and notice the big victory I just pulled off with a lot of other people.

How right that in a used bookstore today, I found a gem of a book called - yes - Contentment:Wisdom from around the World by Gillian Stokes. Here's an excerpt:

Contentment is a state of grace, a state of peace and happiness,appreciation and enjoyment for what is, right now. Desires, in contrast, can never be satisfied. Once we get what we crave, we soon find it lessatisfying than we expected, so we strive for something else. The only escape from this perpetual wheel of want is to discover the contentment and perfection we already have.

WHY THE BROOKLYN BLOGFEST ROCKED

1. The core planning committee worked hard, had fun, and excelled at cooperation and colloboration

2. The volunteers did a stellar job at holding down the fort

3. The panelists and Blogs of a Feather leaders reached out to the participants and to one another.

4. The hosting sites - Powerhouse Books and Galapagos - were welcoming of us and also well-organized.

5. Blogfest Founder and Exec. Producer Louise Crawford is a big-picture thinker who stays true to her vision while welcoming the ideas and visions of those folks she collaborates with.

For more coverage (including pics) of the event, go here:

* Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn
* Pardon Me for Asking

Photo courtesy of Pardon Me for Asking

BROOKLYN BLOGFEST IS TONIGHT...HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

From Only the Blog Knows Brooklyn:

Tonight: Brooklyn Blogfest at PowerHouse Arena in DUMBO

Brooklyn Blogfest is gonna be so cool.

--The panel, WHY WE BLOG, moderated by Megan Donis is going to be very interesting.

--The raffle with great prizes, including a Casio digital camera, a Casio watch, a framed photo by Hugh Crawford of Coney Island in the snow, a Babeland goody bag, a framed Ork Design Brooklyn poster donated by Brooklyn Frameworks and MORE.


--There's going to be lots of tasty food and a cash bar at the after-party. Galapagos is inventing a special Brooklyn Blogfest drink.

At Powerhouse there will be iced tea courtesy of Yelp. Bottled water courtesy of Outside.in, and snacks courtesy of Peeled Snacks and Whimsy & Spice Brooklyn Confectioners .

You're gonna love the videos: 20 photographers contributed to Picture Brooklyn: A Tribute to the Borough's Photobloggers edited by Adrian Kinloch of Brit in Brooklyn. All your favorite photobloggers will be represented.

The Blogs-of-a-Feather, small group sessions led by notable bloggers, will be a chance to network and get insight and advice.

What else: The Shout-Out a Blogfest tradition, will be like a groovy open-mic at Galapagos Art Space MCed by Rob Lenihan of Luna Park Gazette.

So come one, come all and find out why Brooklyn is the bloggiest place in America at the Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest on May 7, 2009. Doors open at 7 pm at powerHouse Arena in DUMBO.

Brooklyn Blogfest 2009 is an exciting, idea-filled event for bloggers, blog readers and the blog curious, where you will find: Insight. Advice. Inspiration. Resources.

Here's your chance to meet your favorite bloggers; learn about blogging; be inspired to blog.

"Where better to take the pulse of this rapidly growing community of writers, thinkers and observers than the Brooklyn Blogfest?" ~ Sewell Chan, The New York Times

This year's event is dedicated to Robert Guskind (1958 - 2009), the founder and editor of Gowanus Lounge.

WHY WE BLOG is the theme of a panel discussion moderated by Brooklyn Independent Television's Megan Donis and featuring Jake Dobkin of Gothamist, Anne Pope of Sustainable Flatbush, Tracy Collins of Freakin' Blog, Bed Stuy Banana, and Melissa Lopata of Hip Slope Mama.

This year Brooklyn Blogfest introduces BLOGS-OF-A-FEATHER, special small-group sessions led by notable bloggers in a wide variety of blog categories, where you can connect with other bloggers who share your interests.

Also on the agenda: A VIDEO TRIBUTE TO BROOKLYN'S PHOTO BLOGGERS by Adiran Kinloch of Brit in Brooklyn, WHY WE BLOG VIDEO SPOTS by Blue Barn Pictures, THE ROBERT GUSKIND VIDEO, and the annual SHOUT-OUT: a chance to share your blog with the world!

Whether you live to blog, blog to live or are just curious about this thing called blogging, you won't want to miss Brooklyn Blogfest 2009: the best Blogfest yet.

For information, interview and sponsorship opportunities for Brooklyn Blogfest, contact Louise Crawford (e:louise_crawford(AT)yahoo(DOT)com, c: 718-288-4290).

Fourth Annual Brooklyn Blogfest

May 7, 2009
Doors open at 7 p.m.
powerHouse Arena
37 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
Admission: $10 ($5 for students and seniors)

Brooklyn Blogfest After-Party
Galapagos Art Space
16 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
(right across the street from powerHouse Arena)

THE PHENOMENAL VOLUNTEER TEAM OF BROOKLYN BLOGFEST 2009

All of these people stepped out of the woodwork to help out at tomorrow (Thursday) night's Blogfest.

Without this amazing team, Blogfest could not happen. Thank you!!!

* Other volunteers are listed on “About the Blogfest Planning Group”

Joyce Szuflita (Volunteer Co-Coordinator) – NYC School Help

Alice Crawford
Amanda Wiss – Urban Clarity
Ameet Maturu – Rice of Life
Brenda Backer – A Year in the Park
Casey Fitzpatrick – Out About Brooklyn
Cathryn Swan – Washington Square Park
Chandru Murthi – Seeing Green
Claude Scales – Self Absorbed Boomer
Elizabeth Palmer - Midnight Cowgirls
Hyatt Michaels – F.O.K.U.S.
Julio Barros – E-String Technologies, Inc.
Joyce Hanson - Good Girl Blog
Kim Maier – The Old Stone House
Martie McNabb – Memories Out of the Box
Michael Szuflita
Morgan Doninger – Puzzling NYC
Neil Carlson – Brooklyn Creative League
Peter Solomita (Music), Groovalicious in Brooklyn
Robin Lester – Clinton Hill Blog
Tuey Connell
Yvett Velazquez

SIMPLE PLEASURE #4: HAND-WRITTEN THANK YOU NOTES

When I was growing up, I loved going to get the mail from the mailbox and helping my mom go through it all. Best of all was getting envelopes personally addressed to ME! Nothing was better than party invitations or letters or birthday cards from grandparents, camp friends, or pen pals addressed to Eleanor Traubman.

I still love coming home to hand-addressed envelopes. The other day, I came home to this pretty gold-embossed thank you note from my dear friend Ceclia Andre.

I keep a little stack of thank-you notes on my desk so I can dash one off at any moment. It makes a big difference to people to let them know in this tangible, heart-felt way that their actions and gestures carry significance.

SIMPLE PLEASURE #3: IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

The other night, when I couldn't sleep, I went to my bookshelf and started paging through my little inspirational books. One of them was It's Not Easy Being Green And Other Things to Consider, written by Jim Henson, the Muppets, and Friends.

Jim Henson was and is one of my idols and major sources of inspiration.

The book fell open to this entry:

When Jim left the planet so suddenly, all of us who loved him, worked with him, were inspired by him, gathered in New York City. We were like dandelion seeds clinging to the stem and to each other. An on May 16th, the wind began to blow.

There's no stem anymore. We're all floating on the breeze. And it's scary and exhilirating. And there's nothing we can do about it. But gradually, we'll all drift to the ground and plant ourselves. An no matter what we grow into, it'll be influenced by Him. We're Jim's seeds. And it's not only those of us who knew him. Everyone who was touched by his work is a Jim-seed.

He changed our lives. He changed the world. And we'll continue
his work, because that's how inspiration operates. People die, but
inspiration lives and grows. Inspired by his gentleness, we'll fill the
world with gentleness. Inspired by his vision, we'll fill the world with
visiion. Inspired by his chicken imitation, we'll fill the world with
laughter."

-- Jocelyn Stevenson

SIMPLE PLEASURE #2: THE CHILDREN'S SECTION OF THE PUBLIC LIBRARY

Even if you are not with a child, why not visit the children's section of the public library?Go and re-discover the picture books and chapter books that brought you joy, delight, and comfort as a young person.

A nice resource for folks who love children's picture books: Julie Fortenberry's Picture Book Illustrations.

Simple Pleasure Tip: Set aside an hour or two to browse the children's section of the local branch of the public library.

Note: I am dedicating the month of May to the topic of simple pleasures. If you have a simple pleasure that you would like to share with my readers, send me an email with your name, and a link to your site, along with a jpg. attachment with a visual of your simple pleasure. (Original artwork and photos are preferred.) I will post entries at my own discretion.

CREATE GOOD KARMA: BE A VOLUNTEER AT BROOKLYN BLOGFEST 2009

Hey good people. I am recruiting a volunteer crew for Brooklyn Blogfest 2009, which takes place next Thursday May 7th at Powerhouse Books in DUMBO. The after party is at Galapagos - right across the street.

If you want to join this incredible team of people, email me at ETraubman@aol.com

BENEFITS OF BEING A BLOGFEST VOLUNTEER

• Meet incredible people
  
  
• Free exposure for your website or blog: we post a link to you on our website Brooklynblogfest.com
  
  
• Half price admission - $5
  
  
• Three free raffle tickets for all kinds of goodies
  
  
• Create good Karma - what goes around comes around

SIMPLE PLEASURE #1: LILY OF THE VALLEY

The Simple Pleasure of the day is Lily of the Valley.I found this little beauty at Trader Joes. It's extremely delicate, smells heavenly, and makes the perfect cousin to the yellow freesia that sits on our kitchen table.

Simple Pleasure Tip: Find a plant or flower that you usually admire from afar, and allow yourself to bring it into your home.

Note: I am dedicating the month of May to the topic of simple pleasures. If you have a simple pleasure that you would like to share with my readers, send me an email with your name, and a link to your site, along with a jpg. attachment with a visual of your simple pleasure. (Original artwork and photos are preferred.) I will post entries at my own discretion.