San Jose – Here I Come!
September 21, 2009 by Stacey Harmon · Leave a Comment
I’m headed to San Jose the first week of October for several major real estate events that should be on the radar of any Realtor or person interested in technology, social media, and real estate:
- California Realtor Expo 2009 (The annual CAR Convention)
- Tech Tuesday (Day long technology training preceding the official CAR Expo)
- RE BarCamp Silicon Valley (A free un-conference attracting the technology progressive and interested in the Real Estate business)
Here is a rundown of the great opportunities these events provide as well as some auxiliary activities I’ll be participating in. If you’re in San Jose, hopefully we’ll cross paths while I’m there (join me at a Tweetup?!):
Friday, October 1st, 2009:
- Social Media Success for Realtors Presentation: Anyone a member of SAMCAR (San Mateo Association of Realtors)? If so, come hear me speak for free (thanks to Pango Group for sponsoring me to speak)! Registration starts at 10:30. Presentation is from 11:00-12:30. It you would like to attend, RSVP via email to Julie Ziemelis, Director of Public Affairs for SAMCAR.
Monday, October 5th, 2009:
- RE BarCamp Silicon Valley: This is a free, day long event, born from the desire for people to share and learn in an open environment. There is no set schedule or topics. Instead, the day is shaped by the passionate real estate professionals who gather and discuss how technology and social media can benefit the real estate business. Any forward thinking Realtor who is interested in applying technology to their business should attend. It is an outstanding way to network with industry elite and add be engaged in discussions that can truly transform your business. If there is interest, Andy Kaufman and I will be facilitating a session that day discussing how to use Twitter to enhance your conference going experience. Hope you can join in. The event is free, but you do have to RSVP hereto attend. Twitter hashtag for the event is #rebcsv.
Tuesday, October 6th, 2009:
- Tech Tuesday: An add-on day to the CAR Expo, Tech Tuesday is full of technology training and tips to help Realtors in their business. The twitter hashtag for Tech Tuesday is #TTCarExpo. There are some great techie agents presenting – including Ted Makel of Keller Williams, Simi Valley who is part of the opening panel titled “Text, Tweet, and Sell: A Dialogue on Tech’s Possibilities for Today’s Agents”. Other great sessions include:
- The Benefits of Blogging
- Media is the New Marketing: How to Attract the Right Attention
- Best Practices for Building an Online Presence
- Social Media and Social Networking: A Guide for REALTORS
- Tweetup at Tanq Bar (San Jose Marriott) starting at 5:15 pm: Within walking distance of the Tech Tuesday I’m hosting a tweetup. Come mingle with fellow Tech Tuesday attendees over a drink (everyone is responsible for their own food/drinks…just to be clear!). Tech Tuesday attendance is not required to join in on this one though…if you want to come on out and say hi, please do! @candacecapella, @ericstegemann, and @andykaufman will be there too. More info and RSVP list is here.
Wednesday, October 7th, 2009:
- CAR Expo 2009: California’s largest real estate trade show which draws “thousands of California’s key franchise executives, top producers and movers and shakers every year for educational networking, and professional development opportunities”. The Expo runs for 3 days (Wed the 7th – Fri the 9th). I’ll be there on Wednesday in order to check things out and see what’s hot this year at the vendor show. Twitter hashtag for the conference is #CARExpo.
"Please Enjoy A Complementary Robe" and other experiences from Manhattan
January 12, 2009 by Stacey Harmon · 6 Comments
My business trip to New York City for the Inman RE Connect Conference wasn’t confined to learning and networking…I had some fun too! This post is dedicated to documenting some of those New York experiences that caught the attention of this California gal.
I ate, and ate, and ate. Started with some NY style pizza:
Had a suggestion to try Bobby Flay’s Bar Americain. 
My waitress recommended the lobster and avocado cocktail (it was divine!) and the asparagus chopped salad. I added a glass of wine and thoroughly enjoyed my first dinner in New York. She did not steer me wrong.
Also tried some Thai food with a group of RE.net friends (not so sure about the fried fish):
BBQ’d some Korean food over real coals:
And, had some cheesecake at Juniors (the pickles, beets and onions were complimentary):
Used the hotel gym to get in a half hour on the treadmill. Not my typical view during my runs:
Decided to take a spin on skates around Rockefeller Center’s ice skating rink. Going in I was feeling a little lethargic from my travels, but a few spins around the rink in the cool winter air cured that. It was exhilarating and made my cheeks rosy! I brought my Flip Cam to document my trip around the ice:
The RE.net community throws some great parties and saw some bars the likes I have never seen before. Rob Hahn took a group of us to the Salon de Ning - a small, swanky bar at the top of the Peninsula hotel with great views, expensive drinks, and art hung from the ceiling. Trulia introduced me to Grace, a sauna themed bar complete with a pool and steam room. Too bad I didn’t bring my suit! Then Active Rain had a party at one of the best bars I’ve ever been to – 230 Fifth. I knew it was an interesting place when I was greeted by a sign that said “Please Enjoy A Complementary Robe” followed by a rack of red hooded fleece robes. This was the wardrobe for the rooftop portion of the bar, and I took a video of it (the video is a bit dark, but the view was spectacular).
I did what I could to experience all forms of New York transportation. Took a taxi from JFK to my hotel (didn’t document that one on film). Rode the Subway (so great – thanks to Mike Simonsen for helping me with the ticket and documenting the event!):
And, took the train then the air train back to the airport thanks to my trusty guide Jeff Turner (who even navigated the purchase of the tickets for me and Jay Thompson!):
Lots of fun memories from this trip!