funny by accident. http://shanaray.posterous.com social media, tech, food and wine in a world that takes itself too seriously. posterous.com Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:16:00 -0800 munch monday 2011 from @biteclubeats. http://shanaray.posterous.com/munch-monday-2011-from-biteclubeats http://shanaray.posterous.com/munch-monday-2011-from-biteclubeats
Media_httpwwwbiteclub_deadr

Heather Irwin JUST made my day! Never again while working in downtown Santa Rosa will I say anything about having a case of the "Monday's"

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray
Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:15:00 -0700 @scobleizer & @shelisrael talk social media in santa rosa. http://shanaray.posterous.com/scobleizer-shelisrael-talk-social-media-in-sa http://shanaray.posterous.com/scobleizer-shelisrael-talk-social-media-in-sa

We all are hungry for more information on Social Media and how to work together within a business or community.  All of the biggest conferences are in San Francisco which means that you have to drive all the way into the city, pay for parking, food, drinks and of course A LOT just to get into the conference. 

Robert Scoble and Shel Israel are two significant names in the social media world.  Their book, Naked Conversations: How Blogs are Changing the Way Businesses Talk with Customers defined blogging back in 2006 and changed the way businesses looked at the Internet. They taught people that blogs offer businesses a way to have meaningful conversations with their customers, which was lacking in traditional methods of communication.

Both have spoken at some of the largest social media conferences in the world and now they are coming up to Santa Rosa for one night on September 10th.  The two haven’t been on the same stage for over two years and for only $25.00 you can see them reunite for the Wisdom of We 2010 Seminar & Tweetup (or #WOW10 or the Naked Reunion).

They will be participating in a round table discussion, which means that attendees can ask them any question they want about social media, blogging, creating communities, working together, or….   This kind of information usually comes at a very high price at seminars or conferences, and you usually have to pay extra for the food and drinks.

At Wisdom of We 2010 Seminar & Tweetup, everything is included in the price.

Wine from the Northern Sonoma County Wine Road, which includes some of the best pinot, sparkling and zinfandel that Sonoma County has to offer will be poured at the tweetup. Local Sonoma County charcuterie, antipasto and cheeses will be provided by the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country as well.

You have a week left to buy your tickets online for only $25.00, so make sure to get some for your whole office, ASAP. Tickets will go up to $40/$45 at the door. 

Robert is a top 100 tech blogger, tech evangelist, speaker and author. His blog Scobleizer is one of the top 100 tech blogs and he is one of the top Twitter people to follow on multiple lists. He currently works forRackspace, building a new community of people fanatical about tech startups called building43.  Prevously, he worked as a technical evangelist at Microsoft and Fast Company as a video blogger.

Shel Israel is a Social Media “Pro” that consults with leading Fortune 100 global enterprises and single entrepreneurs in home offices. In addition to co-authoring, Naked Conversations, he wrote the book Twitterville: How Businesses Can Thrive in the New Global Neighborhoods. His blogGlobal Neighborhoods, offers social media tips and he is a senior fellow and advisory board member to the Society for New Media Research (SNCR), and serves as the social media advisor to StepOne, anorganization that helps Spanish companies make American business connections.

 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray
Mon, 12 Jul 2010 14:47:00 -0700 such a blah day out. http://shanaray.posterous.com/such-a-blah-day-out http://shanaray.posterous.com/such-a-blah-day-out

This is the view from the desk I am sitting from at the Democrasoft HQ in downtown Santa Rosa.  It is ugly out, but thanks to Natalia and Pandora, I am having a great first day (more info on what exactly I am doing to come).

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray
Fri, 14 May 2010 15:34:00 -0700 #AMGEN Bicycle Display Contest in @CourthouseSQ http://shanaray.posterous.com/amgen-bicycle-display-contest-in-courthousesq http://shanaray.posterous.com/amgen-bicycle-display-contest-in-courthousesq

This long weekend is all about cycling here in Santa Rosa.  Courthouse Square is host Saturday’s Rose Parade which starts at 10am.  The theme this year is ‘rose pedals’ which combines the traditional rose theme with a celebration of bicycles, just in time for Monday’s AMGEN Tour of California stop in Santa Rosa (which just so happens to be the home of Levi Leipheimer, the winner of the last 3 tours).  

I am working with the Courthouse Square Merchant Association with social media, helping with @CourthouseSq on Twitter and their Facebook Page, Courthouse Square in downtown Santa Rosa.

Courthouse Square shops decided that they wanted to show their support for the tour by decorating their storefront windows with bicycles donated by the Trek store in Santa Rosa.  To make it into a competition, Trek donated a gift certificate as a prize for the best display.  Sift: A Cupcakery also donated a dozen cupcakes to the winner.  

This is where we need you guys, the Facebook Fans!  Each store thinks their storefront is the best, so we need you to vote for your favorite one! 

Please visit our Courthouse Square AMGEN Tour Photo Album and click LIKE on the picture of your favorite display.   There is a glare from the sun hitting the windows, so I encourage you to come visit downtown to see the display’s in person.

The image with the most ‘likes’ will win. 

To make this even more fun, we will be giving away a dozen cupcakes to one random Facebook fan who participates!   Winners will be announced on Monday, so make sure to vote right away!!

Thanks!

 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray
Sun, 02 May 2010 19:27:00 -0700 dry humor, music, beer & chaos in railroad square. http://shanaray.posterous.com/dry-humor-music-beer-and-chaos-in-railroad-sq http://shanaray.posterous.com/dry-humor-music-beer-and-chaos-in-railroad-sq

On second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place.  - Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Today the Toad in the Hole Brew Pub in Railroad Square (Santa Rosa) had their second annual Mostly Python event where they closed off the street, served beers in plastic cups, had bad performers act out Monty Python skits and several local bands played (including Healdsburg favorites, Steve Pile and CRAZY FAMOUS).  But the best part of the afternoon was the Carnival of Chaos' Juggling Act.

These guys were also at the Park Avenue Catering Open House I went to a few weeks back and they are definitely an act I want to see again! 

A sneak peak from their website:


Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray
Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:16:00 -0800 @sifted grand opening in @downtownsr. http://shanaray.posterous.com/sifted-grand-opening-in-downtownsr http://shanaray.posterous.com/sifted-grand-opening-in-downtownsr

Finally I am getting to writing my wrap-ups of the craziness of last week.  With Sonoma County Restaurant Week and the grand opening of Sift: a Cupcakery in downtown Santa Rosa, my week was filled with dining out, cupcakes and of course, I was never without my trusty iphone.

Friday night was the Grand Opening celebration of Sift.  Owner Andrea invited local Santa Rosa business owners and media to come take a look around (their new party room should be open by the middle of March), eat some food, drink some Chandon bubbles, eat some mini cupcakes and.....

Try pairings of Dogwood Zinfandel with cupcakes that actually had the zinfandel stirred in.  This is something special that Sift does for different winery events.  Any winery can call them up and purchase cupcakes with their own varietal blended into the frosting for wine.  Unfortunately, Sift cannot sell these cupcakes directly to the public because the alcohol in the wine isn't baked out of the frosting like it would inside the actual cake part.

Enjoy the photobooth in the party room.  Not normally there, but it was a great addition to any party!

Create their own cupcakes at the sprinkles bar.  Part of the party package that is offered is a cupcake decorating class where everyone can pick and choose their cakes and decorate them with a frosting of their choice and then of course, with SPRINKLES!!!

If anyone ever visits Sift make sure to sign in on Foursquare or tweet a picture or two to @Sifted

Cheers!

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray
Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:44:23 -0800 opening of @Sifted http://shanaray.posterous.com/opening-of-sifted http://shanaray.posterous.com/opening-of-sifted Wine County’s favorite cupcake shop, Sift: a Cupcakery just opened their third location in downtown Santa Rosa.

Owner, Andrea Ballus is excited to bring her cupcake creations to Santa Rosa because “it is the heart of wine country and a central place for anyone to pick up a dozen cupcakes or stop in for a quick dessert after dinner, drinks or a movie.”

For this very reason, they will be staying open until 9PM on weekends.  Pretty cool.

Sift on Facebook

Sift on Twitter

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray
Mon, 19 Oct 2009 20:21:00 -0700 the beginning of @25digitalmedia. http://shanaray.posterous.com/the-beginning-of-25digitalmedia http://shanaray.posterous.com/the-beginning-of-25digitalmedia

It is official. Philip Wyers and I have an office. 25 Old Courthouse Square, Suite #8, Santa Rosa 95404 is the address and the inspiration for the name of our new venture - 25 Digital Media.

Some say that they do not believe in fate.  But me glancing over the Craigslist section for housing in Downtown Santa Rosa randomly while drinking tea and working from Peet's Coffee and coming across the listing for this office couldn't have any other explanation.  I just happened to come across the listing for an office in downtown Santa Rosa and mention it to Philip, almost jokingly.  He loved the idea and met me downtown to go take a look. 

As soon as we saw the outside, we knew that it would be the perfect opportunity for each of us to take our businesses to the next level….

Okay, many who are reading this know that I consult with businesses on social media marketing, run Congresswoman Woolsey’s online efforts and basically promote Sonoma County on a daily basis.  What you might not know is that Philip Wyers has been my rock over this past year.  He is a web designer, e-commerce manager and email marketing guy (yes, he designed BreathSocialMedia.com) and the person who has kept me sane over this crazy world-wind of a year.

So here we are, just moving into the office.  We currently have no internet connection or chairs, but we do have two desks and a sign that says “Happy Hour” which we decided was going to be our motto: @25digitalmedia, because everyone needs another reason to go to Happy Hour.  I think it is fitting because of my obsession with happy hour food and cocktails and Philip’s obsession with a great deal.

So, watch out for more to come from us….. And, if you ever need another reason to go to Happy Hour or discuss online promotions, you know where we are.

 

 

 

Permalink | Leave a comment  »

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/560682/123460598.ITSTKDJy.IMG_0172copy.jpg http://posterous.com/users/1bet9cTN11D Shana Ray sharayray Shana Ray