Spoke was pleased to host last night’s Yellow-Tie International Networking Happy Hour at our office (and the penthouse above our office courtesy of The Friedman Group).

Thanks to all 230+ people who made Nacho Average Happy Hour and special thanks to the great people from Yellow Tie, The Ticket Guys and Chuy Arzolas.

Were you there? Were you caught networking? Look for your picture in the gallery and let us know in the comments.

P.S. If you parked in The Church lot, don’t worry…we’ve cleared it with The Big Guy, and you’re forgiven.

Follow Up Links:
Spoke Marketing
Yellow Tie
3224 Locust (Friedman Group)
The Ticket Guys
Chuy Arzolas

As I write this, the stock price of New York Times is trading below the cost of a weekly subscription. They’re losing money like it’s their job.

It’s no surprise that newspapers are dying, they report on it themselves fairly regularly. But…I’m really confused why they’re throwing gas on their own fire? Wherever I turn (actually, it’s usually when I turn to page 3) publishers are teasing me with story headlines, and then telling me to ‘read this story online…’.

Um. I’m holding the paper (paying for it, even). I don’t WANT to read your publication online.

I get it. It’s cheaper to publish some of the content online, plus the (hypothetical) ad revenue from the limitless pixels to pawn off might make web-only content alluring….but they’re wrong.

And they’re alienating their customers.

I like to read the newspaper…you know…the actual newspaper. Sure, I read news snippets and short articles online, but to really ‘read’ a story, I prefer the printed page. Heck, if there’s a long article online, I print it out to read (yes, I know that’s really stupid, and yes, I do recycle).

I’ve even proven to publishers that I’m willing to pay for the privilege of the printed word; we get 2 1/3 newspapers delivered weekly (I’m being charitable and counting St. Louis Post Dispatch as a third), and stacks of magazines.

Why then, do they force me online to read their content? I can barely tolerate the new format of the new Rolling Stone (a much, much smaller “more traditional” format rolled out Oct 30 of last year), but I like it a helluva lot better than reading online.

I guess I’ll have to learn to read online (like you). Or buy a better printer…

Spoke is proud to host the Yellow Tie Drinks and Handshakes Networking Event at our office.

Date: 5/12/2009
Time: 5:30 – 7:30
Location: Spoke Marketing
3224 Locust Blvd
STE 304
St. Louis, MO 63103
view on map

Phone: 314.827.0600

Come network with 200+ connectors, movers and shakers at Spoke’s mid-town office. To RSVP for this event go to www.yellow-tie.net/spoke.

Food and Drinks by Chuy’s (first drink free, cash bar thereafter)
Enter for a chance to win 2 Field Level Cardinals Tickets courtesy of The Ticket Guys

Don’t forget to RSVP for this event here.

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Another great #spokefriday happy hour at Spoke’s office this Friday.

Here are the pictures from the event.