Posts from February 2007

Traveling Man, Laptop, Smart Phone or Plain Note Pad, What works Best?

Let me confess that I am not a Laptop carrying guy. I do not own or have a Personal Digital Assistant, a Smart Phone or a Blackberry. I don't do text messaging.
My cell phone is a Nokia 6820 and even though it has web browsing and messaging capabilities, I still have to use them.
When I am on the move, going to a meeting, visiting a client or attending a seminar, my favorite note taking tool is a small spiral notebook.
The fact that I was born in the era when a black and white TV was a trophy might explain this.
Nevertheless before my upcoming trip to Austin for South by Southwest, I was wondering if I should upgrade by note taking.

If I want to travel lighter, is there a Smart Phone out there that would allow me to take notes, decent pictures, check my e-mail and write short blog posts?

Should I just get one of these very small Laptops?

The best way to know what works for me would be to try both before I buy. Like a courtship before getting engaged.
I am sure that some of you use any of these smart tools, what is your experience with them?

Maybe you make some of these Tech Tools or sell them, make your pitch but be honest!

Can using Tech Tools while listening to a presentation or taking part in a discussion be a distraction?
We might hear the notes rather than paying attention to the music.

Other South By Southwest pieces: Let me be your hired gun and  Doing Good to Great things in Austin


Movies and Magic: The Living Room Theaters...In Pictures

Remember when going to the movies was something special.

The Living Room Theaters in Portland (Oregon) is recapturing some of that magic by marrying the comfort of your living room and the most recent movie viewing technology with a cafe-restaurant right on site.
This way you can relax and enjoy the film without running around.

I wrote about the place a short while ago and of the creators of this wonderful space, Thea Robinson, was kind enough to send me a few snapshots of what they have to offer.
Here they are!
Drinks 
How about a cocktail?

Food2_3












Some Food Maybe?

Or having a Zen moment, are you a Lounge Lizard?                                                                                                                                                                                  

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You might event want to see Crossing the Bridge: The Sound of Istanbul or Shopping de Nuit (taking place in Glasgow contrary to what its semi-French title might imply).

For more details check my original Living Room Theaters piece: Living Room Theaters, A Movie, A Glass of Wine










Let me be your Hired Gun...Reporting First Impressions from 'South by Southwest'

I am really excited at the idea of attending my first South by Southwest Interactive in Austin in March.
This is not so much the geeky, technological part of it that I care about but rather the possibility to meet a lot of people face to face, some I already know online, others I will discover.

Since a number of the stories I write here on 'Serge the Concierge' have been syndicated, I thought I would raise my hand and offer my modest talents to report for your media outlet on the South by Southwest experience as seen by a Freshman rather than a professional media type or a veteran of conferences.

If you are interested, contact me.

Life is more exciting if you try new things.

I cannot be your man in Havana though.

More things about Austin: Doing Good to Great things in Austin


Caught in the Rain without Cover, Here comes the Umbrella Vending Machine!

Have you ever been caught in the rain without cover? Maybe you just ran out the door or forgot to check the weather first.
Usually I do not care much for vending machines which tend to crowd and pollute our urban landscape.
I would make an exception for a refreshing idea: Umbrella Vending Machines.

I could have used one of these when I visited The Chocolate Show in New York last fall.
As I stepped out of the subway. I got caught in a downpour without an umbrella to pop open.Uport_1

If you visit Singapore, Uport offers Umbrella Dispensing Kiosks in 6 locations.
You get instant protection for $6.00, a good deal.

They are looking to expand across Asia.

Will anyone pick up on the idea here in the US?

No monsoon there but in my childhood, during our summer vacations in the Pyrenees we got caught in a thunderstorm after we stepped off The Little Yellow Train almost daily.

Somehow related pieces: Chocolate Show, Episode 3 and A ride on the little yellow train

Spotted Uport on Springwise


Boston Taxis go Green with PlanetTran

I often lament how, at least in my corner of New Jersey, most of the Taxis you find are beat up or untidy or both.
They would not stand a chance in most European cities.
Well, Boston delivers the goods with an Eco-Friendly service named PlanetTran.Planet

Besides using recent vehicles, their whole fleet is made of hybrids.

Their fleet is available in the US at airports in Boston , Providence and Manchester for the East Coast plus San Jose, Oakland and San Francisco (service started a week ago) on the West Coast.

The kind of company and goods I would be proud to advertise.

Play 'Another Green World' for Me!

Another 'Tree Hugger' transportation piece I wrote: Teaching Evolution, EV  Rental Cars,  Hybrids Only

Discovered 'PlanetTran' on Springwise


Doing Good to Great things in Austin, Let me know! I will be there in March

Doing Good to Great things in Austin and would like to share them with me, here's your opportunity.
I will be in your city from March 10 to March 14 for South By Southwest Interactive and open to suggestions.

If you recently opened an exciting store, a bakery, a restaurant, a wine bar or wine store, a cheese store, a brewery or created a new service that will revolutionize our life contact me.
I might not be able to see everyone but I will review all the proposals I get.
I will of course write about the best ones.

If you launched a new Bed and Breakfast or Boutique Hotel, I still have not finalized my hotel stay so I would be delighted.

I am looking forward to hear from you.


Love Gone Bad...Chrysler sure does not believe that 'Love is the Killer App'

Getting my daily fix of fresh business news with Marketplace Morning, I was left scratching my head after hearing that Chrysler planned to lay off 13.000 people.
It is not the number that surprised me but the poor timing.
Why announce that on Valentine's Day?
Did the note to the concerned employees also suggest that they return gifts and flowers purchased for their loved ones and cancel their restaurant reservations?
Was it a computer generated human resources decision?
God only knows!
In any case it feels like The Grinch or Bad Santa doing a replay in February.
The car maker surely does not believe that 'Love is the Killer App' to paraphrase our friend Tim Sanders.
My two cents.

Related story: Should it take a MBA to discover that you have to give in order to get? 


Ice Ice Baby...Valentine's Day on Ice...Making new plans?

If the weather sneaks upon you in the form of an ice storm and 50 miles an hour winds on Valentine's Day as it does right here in New Jersey, what happens to your carefully planned celebration?

Do you call the restaurant you picked and cancel your reservation and instead get prepared food from a local place delivered to your door?

If you took the day off or work was canceled (say, you are a schoolteacher), you find inspiration  and whip up a fantastic meal.Skating

In New York City, a visit to the Skating Rink at Rockefeller Center (pictured here) might be romantic?

As for the soundtrack of your day are you playing 'Stormy weather' or out of pure irony 'Ice Ice Baby'?

Share your 'new' plans with us if you are in the same quandary!

Previous 'Cupid' entry: Love Bites and Quick Dance Steps means extra points with your Valentine


Love Bites and Quick Dance Steps means extra points with your Valentine

Quantity is not everything, a special something, something, a little magic can add to it.

The Well Fed Network invited people to Highlight a Restaurant that made a Valentine's Day special.
Visit Well Fed on the afternoon of Valentine's Day to see the best stories.

One thing that a girl wants from time to time is a moment on the dance floor.Tango_1

If I had to describe my dance abilities, I would choose David Byrne circa Talking Heads as my style or lack thereof.

The Morning News comes to the rescue with The Non-Expert: Dance with instructions and graphs to illustrate them as Tango shows.

Bonne Chance!


Love and Money? It's Only Blog'n Roll but I like It...Almost Famous?

What started for me as a way to share with current and potential customers of New Jersey Concierges some knowledge of food, wine and travel, life tidbits and a sprinkle of music has taken a life of its own.

To paraphrase Mick, It's only blog 'n' roll but I like it.
Am I famous? I don't think so.

I do enjoy the fact that more and more people care to read my thoughts, deep or not.
It puts me in contact with people the world over. The 'old dog' learns new tricks.

The basic truth is I don't think I can do something well if I do not like what I am doing.
I find it fun and rewarding to be able to share things with others.

Hard work and patience bring the financial rewards

My take on For the not so rich and famous by Anne Zelenka on Web Worker Daily, itself commenting on a Wall Street Journal Paygrade article.

Other Money, Honey and Work musings: The Hippie Guide to Climbing the Corporate Ladder
and Should it take a MBA to discover that you have to give in order to get