Monday Night Party Report
As I awoke in my hotel room and stumbled over to my laptop, there was an email from the esteemed editor of this publication asking, “Party report? The world wants to know. - EOM.” I replied bleary-eyed, “It’s on it’s way.” So here it is. As you may or may not know, party coverage is very difficult, requires preparation (napping) and recovery (sleeping late) hence the lateness of this report.
The evening began with a Tribal Fusion hosted exhibit hall cocktail reception, which was well attended and made for good end of the day wrap-up conversation. At 6 p.m., there were three early parties to choose from: Atlas DMT’s cockatil party at the Swisshotel Edelweiss Penthouse Suite, Doubleclick’s AD:TECH Chicago party at the W Chicago Lakeshore Hotel and CIMA’s AD:Tech After Party at Harry’s Velvet Room.
After preparing (napping), I decided to check out the CIMA party which, while well attended, was very hot and very expensive. Filled with plush chairs surrounding tables and low level music, Harry’s did make for good conversation and networking. After spending some time in the main room, I discovered a long dark hallway that led to the “smoking room,” which was far less plush and filled with smoke.
Following the early parties, a group of us went over to the Tribal Fusion rooftop party, which was easily one of the best parties of the night. The heat didn’t seem to matter once the open bar and free food presented themselves. The open air and casual atmosphere were welcome changes to the dark and smoke filed Harry’s Velvet Room, although it did make the event vulnerable to crashers, one of which accosted people claiming to have worked variously for Hugh Heffner and the mafia.
At midnight, the lights came on, leading initially to thoughts of much needed rest, but sleep would have to wait. There was yet another party to check out. Word spread of a party at Transit sponsored by CPA Offers (I believe) which was the only party of the night that resembled the familiar meat market, throbbing dance beat type event that has become a classic staple of AD:TECH shows. This party had the ubiquitous VIP room which required a wrist bracelet to enter but the only proof required of your VIP status was the ability to lift a yellow bracelet off a table and affix it to your wrist. The stairs to the VIP room were manned by the traditionally huge linebacker like bouncers who would look ominously at your wrist before unhooking the velvet rope to let you up. Since everyone was a VIP and had a bracelet, the presence of these gentlemen was comical, especially when the main dance floor was empty. The only people dancing were the uniformed CPA Offers women doing that thing that women do on the dance floor. Sadly, information as to whether the bar was open or not at Transit must have been stored among brain cells that I killed last night while researching this story.
And yes, I did look and feel exactly as Rick describes in his Party Post Coming ditty. I feel much better now thank you very much.
