For you newcomers, a few people have become a little chummy on this blog (yes, I know, that might be a bit of an understatement, it’s become a big love fest here). Some blog regulars have become email buddies and a few – Barbara, Tracy and Kristin – decided to meet in person, in New York, a couple of weeks ago for an event they have dubbed the first annual Ann Leary Blogapalooza.
Tracy has written up her version of the big event, and for the past several days she has been trying to email the accompanying photos, and I’ve been trying to reformat them for the blog, but I’m afraid I couldn’t include them all, and fear that they might not be in the proper order. Nonetheless, without further ado, here’s Tracy’s wonderful report:
“The first Ann Leary Blogapalooza was a smashing success! Barbara, Kristin, & I all admitted we were a little nervous, but when we met, we greeted each other with hugs like old friends. Kristin brought her friend Lindsay, who she was visiting in NY, along, and Lindsay blended in perfectly. We all chattered away happily and luckily, the place had emptied out before we got there, so we didn’t disturb anyone.
We sang our praise about Ann & her books, and if you look closely at my copy of ‘Outtakes’, you can see all the little green post-it flags. They’re all pages where I found something that was hilariously funny, touching, sad, or where I really identified with Julia. Lindsay didn’t understand how we could become friends on a blog, so we explained how Ann replies to comments, and how fellow bloggers post things to each other in the comments section, and that some of us are now emailing each other, and are friends on facebook.
She still couldn’t quite grasp how this could happen, and I told her that when I found the blog at the end of March, I felt at home right away. I said that after the ‘Who’s Youer than You’ post, when many people shared things about themselves, it became an even more close knit community. We told her all about how Ann shared her and Denis’s vacation to Italy, and how down to earth she is, that we all feel like we know her, etc. She sat there in a kind of shock I think. We all told her she has to read the blog to understand, & she better start soon!
Yes, I’m the dork who made the sign. 
You can’t see it very well, but I had all 4 of us sign it to mark the momentous occasion. For future Blogapaloozas (I love that word!!!), I will be happy to make them, renumbering them of course. Hehe
After brunch, Kristin and Lindsay left to go to Governor’s Island, and Barbara and I decided to spend the afternoon together. We parted ways with more hugs and all said we were so happy that we had met.
I could stop here, but I’m hoping that Ann will indulge me and let me share Barbara’s & my adventures that afternoon. We had such a good time. We stayed in SoHo for awhile, walking around enjoying an arts and crafts street fair. Suddenly I stop and tell Barbara to look across the street. An artist had canvases hung up in a stall, and every single one was of HUGE bare women’s BUTTS!!!!! I kid you not. We laughed and agreed that we couldn’t imagine anyone wanting that hanging in their house. We walked further down and came back up the other side of the street, and I wanted to see the front of his stall to see if he painted anything else. Nope, just more huge women’s butts! We laughed so hard and decided that he must have a fetish. I SO wish I had taken a picture because mere words can’t describe it.
We decided to go to see this clock: http://www.scoutingny.com/?p=134#comment-79 I had been to see it before, and tried to photograph it as it did its magic on the hour, but it actually does it about 2 minutes before, so was caught off guard. It is gorgeous. So I decided to get it on video with my camera. So we get on the subway, but half way there we realize that we weren’t going to make it on time, and didn’t want to have to hang around waiting for the next hour.
Next idea, there’s a photographer who has a stand outside the Apple store at 5th Ave & 59th St, and I really love his photographs of NYC. So we change subway lines to head up there. We get near there, but find that due to the Puerto Rican Day Parade, we can’t get anywhere near there, and the cop I spoke to said the vendors there had probably been thrown out for the day.
So we decided to go to Make My Cake, a bakery in Harlem, just a couple blocks north of Central Park. I’ve been wanting to get there because they say have the best Red Velvet cake in the world (it will have to be incredible to beat CakeMan Raven in Brooklyn!). We consult the map and find that we’re not near any subway lines that would get us there, so decide against that. I realize now that it never occurred to me to take a cab, I’m a subway girl. Hehehe
We decided to just take the subway back to Times Square to check out the areas they have blocked off to cars, and have chairs out for people to sit in. We head over to Columbus Circle to catch the subway and decide to go into the Time Warner building to use the restrooms. At the top of the escalators is a Borders. Great, we’ll use the restrooms and make sure ‘Outtakes’ is displayed properly. We looked through all the displays and on the Fiction shelves, no ‘Outtakes’!!!! I checked the in store computer, & it said ‘Likely in Store’. So I went to the register to buy the same kind of laminated NYC map that Barbara has (I don’t need a magnifying glass!!! It shows the subway stations & lines!!!), whip out my copy of ‘Outtakes’ with its multitude of post-it flags, and proceed to politely harangue the cashier about the store not having it. I told her that they had to get more in stock, that it needed a special display, that when it came out in hard cover last year it was voted #1 Beach Read, & that it was hysterically funny, fabulous, etc. I went on & on. I told her to tell her manager that he or she HAD to order a large supply and display it. Of course, dummy me; I should have talked to the manager myself! [Editor's note: I ADORE you guys for this]
We head down the escalator, only to find that there are 2 humongous statues of a man and a woman. Coming down the escalator, what do we see but the back of the woman’s statue, and she had a HUGE bare BUTT!!!!! We just looked at each other and laughed hysterically! Barbara said ‘OK then, it’s just the day of huge bare women’s butts!’. It was just too funny for words.
When we got to Times Square, Barbara had the idea for these great photos:
[Editor's note: Seriously, I love you guys]
These were taken in one of the areas on Broadway that are closed to traffic. It is really pretty amazing, they have all these chairs set up (cheap ones for now, it’s an experiment to see how it affects traffic flow), and it’s so popular that it’s hard to find an empty chair. It also makes it much safer to walk through Times Square.
When Barbara & I got there, we joked that if the Naked Singing Cowboy was there, we’d get a picture with him as a joke, just for the blog, but he wasn’t there. I told Barbara about the 2 Naked Singing Cowgirls, one who is in her 20’s and hot looking, but frankly skanky because she wears pasties – ick! Then there’s this one: (These are especially for you Barbara since you left without the, uh, pleasure, of seeing her)
[Editor's note: Thank heavens the skanky one wasn't there]
Yes, this woman actually hangs out in Times Square like this, and believe it or not, she looks worse in person! The guitar is kind of holding them up, but those babies hang down really low! I’ll never forget the first time I saw her with a friend. She’s like a train wreck, you CAN’T not look at her!
I still had some time before my bus, so I found an empty chair, here was my view:”
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Bev – so happy to hear that you’re on the mend! I’ve been thinking of you. Great news about the move, too.
I got peer pressured into joining Facebook a couple of months ago, but don’t use it too much. Glad that the blog is staying as is!
Ann:
I posted a comment last night, but it has not shown up as of this morning. I’m wondering if I did something wrong or if it’s lost in the netherworld of the internet.
Among other topics I mentioned, I stated my concern that many people on this blog are expressing a desire to move our conversations to Facebook. Like Alan and D, I have no desire to join Facebook. The only reason I have an account is so that I can view photos posted by my best friend in Seattle, who has become a devotee of this website and who finds it easier to upload her pictures there and have me view them on that site. Please, everyone, try not to change the charm, intimacy, safety, and depth of repartee which exists here.
Yeah Bev, so glad to hear it! I was going to post saying we needed a Bev update. I’m so glad you’re doing well & that your move is going well.
Alan, you are too funny! The front lines, & empty chairs near the singing cowgirl. You’re making my sides hurt. She’s lovely & classy, I don’t know what you’re talking about!
So don’t feel left out!
I don’t think we’re talking about moving things to facebook really. Some of us are on there, & have found that it has helped us become really good friends. It’s just a great way to get to know people better, since you post pics & whatever info about yourself you want. It’s also a great way to keep in touch, easier than email, it’s kind of hard to explain. Ann had set up a page for Outtakes, & that’s what she referred to.
Yes, fb can be a HUGE time suck, especially when you first start. It’s like a new toy, & it’s like ‘ooohh, new shiny things to play with, ooh, who can I find next that I lost touch with???’ As you get used to it, you realize you can’t possibly keep spending so much time on it, and you manage your addiction. It really is a wonderful thing.
I’m not trying to pressure anyone, there are many people who won’t join, and don’t panic, we’ll all still be here. The blog friends I’ve become fb friends with, we discuss things other than the blog, well after initially discussing how much we love Ann & the blog.
We’ll all still be here, & I promise we won’t be talking about you behind your backs.
Sorry to those who sent me friend requests. I don’t know why I don’t have them But now I’ve opened an Ann Leary group page. You don’t have to be approved. Anyone can join. it’s here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31267821248&ref=ts
And don’t worry, you don’t have to facebook. This blog isn’t going to change.
Just wanted to quick update, My leg seems to be doing great! I am mostly moved into the house..just have a little left to do, will send Ann pics when it is done… Colleen thankyou! did you get my email with my phone number?
Ohh and I facebook too,I did send Ann a request….)
Thanks to everyone!
Morning all!
I have to say that I’m on board with Alan regarding the Facebook etc. social networks. I understand that authors love to keep up with all that – wonderful for book sales, but I guess I don’t want to be that connected.
My husband and I got back from the Vineyard a week ago and I didn’t take my computer. It would have been handy to check my email, but nothing earth shattering happened while I was gone. I had my cell phone of course, so any emergency could be addressed.
But frankly, I LOVE Ann’s site and would prefer to stay here.
Does this mean that I’m a party pooper???????
Just checking in now after having been away for the last few days to visit family in upstate NY (coincidentally, in the city of Ann’s birth).
Thanks for the report and pix from the front lines of Blogapalooza; I understand that New York City is still recovering from the whirlwind invasion. And, based upon one particular photo, I think it’s fair to suggest that there may well be plenty of empty, available chairs in Times Square in the immediate vicinity of the Naked Singing Cowgirls.
In a somewhat-related matter, it was with a fair measure of consternation that I noted several comments here about migrating some of this blog’s goings-on onto Facebook. To date, I have made a conscious effort NOT to join Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, or any other online social network for fear that doing so will gobble up inordinate amounts of my time, energy and what’s left of my sanity. And while it’s certainly tempting to suck it up and take the Facebook plunge along with a whole bunch of you, it’s just not something that I’m willing to commit myself to, at least for the immediate future. (Suddenly I feel a little bit like Rachel Dratch’s “Debbie Downer” character….)
http://www.videosift.com/video/Debbie-Downer-Visits-Disney-World
Great photos and stories from the Ann Leary Blogapalooza ladies. Thanks for sharing, Tracy, Barbara, and Kristin.
About Facebook: I must confess to being very close to a hater of this website. One of the reasons I enjoy Ann’s site so much is that we have a fairly limited number of people who comment, and that, I think, is one of the reasons it has become so meaningful and safe to us all. Even if many of you also join Ann’s Facebook page, I sincerely hope that you don’t leave this blog. Joining Facebook is something I have tried several times, but there is simply no charm or intimacy or importance to it for me.
Please, please reassure me that this blog won’t diminish in number or relevance. I’m not insulting those of you who love and enjoy Facebook. It’s just not for me, and I would be sad to lose this wonderful connection with Ann and all you terrific people.
I would have loved to have gone to the blogapalooza and hope I can go to the next one…
Looks and sounds like you guys had a great time…
Although reading the post made me feel as tho I was….
Thank you Tracy and Ann!
Good job Lupe, I will look for you on there.
Now I’m insulted! I sent Ann a friend request weeks ago, & she never friended me! hrumpf!
Ann:
I re-did the Facebook, and it seems to be working now. I have friends in there I did not know I had!. I mean,I know the people but I have no clue as to how they got connected… maybe they use your address book… there are NO secrets in this world.
And you have lots and lots of friends. Saw a photo of Devin and she smiles just like you.
Saw a photo of John Leary, who perhaps is Denis’s brother (the one who hurt him with the arrow??). And lots and lots of people.
It is still oven-like hot here…I wonder when is this going to clear.
Forgot, Ann, book inspector reporting for duty! I ended up going by the Time Warner building after all. As usual, my loosely planned NYC days have a way of not turning out anything like I planned. I just go with the flow.
Anyway, STILL no Outtakes at the Borders there! When I asked the girl at the information desk, she um, didn’t know when they would be getting any in. I went through my rant again & said that I was there 2 weeks ago and they didn’t have it then either. So Borders sucks. They also didn’t have An Innocent either! The nerve! Maybe get your publisher on it?
The good news is that the Barnes & Noble in Union Square did have a good number of Outtakes on the shelves of New Paperbacks. They had a small table of Summer Reading, but it was all hard cover. But at least I didn’t have to go through my rant with them too.
Kim, got your email, just emailed you back. Can’t wait for the Drag Queen Invasion!
Just got Barbara & Sandy O’s requests last night. Facebook has brought some wonderful people back into my life from high school 28 years ago, & we’ve been having the best time together in the last 6 months.
Kristin, you are so sweet! ‘A positive energetic day, Tracy is where it’s at’, you made my day!!!!!! I’m sure you thought I was nuts when I called you after brunch & said wait, you need this specific laminated map, not the one I had!!! lololol But Barbara’s really is much better, I used it yesterday. Thank you Barbara! I loved the comment about Lindsay’s husband. hehehe
The map idea w/ where the pics came from is a great idea.
Kim, & Lupe, is it possible that you joined facebook under an old email address? If so, the emails are going there. Or, as Sandy said, they could be going to your spam/junk folder. I hope you figure it out & get on there, fb is where it’s @ people!
Candy, you’re welcome, it was so much fun, I just wanted anyone who might have been a little nervous about coming out & meeting strangers to see that the people from this list are great, & that we already have things in common. As for the pic w/ Adam Ferrara, he’s such a doll. He was a real sweetheart. The whole day was a dream come true.
I just added a photo from my trip into the city yesterday. It’s of something Barbara & I saw that I didn’t get a photo of that day.
How funny!! I loved reading of your adventures. Wish I could join you! I will have to join the FB page too. I am addicted to Facebook! (There. I said it.)
Candy–you are not alone in Dorkville….never been there either. But yesterday, I took the plunge, and it’s not as tough as I feared. There are things I need to learn about it; how to get pictures there being the next thing to acccomplish; but overall not a bad experience.
Lupe – me too. I signed up a long time ago, did nothing with it, forgot my password, tried to change it and I get nowhere. I see my friend’s photos plastered on it. I feel like the Diving Bell and the Butterfly Man. I can only see – can’t do a damn thing but stare at the wall.
Lupe, do you check your spam folder? Sometimes those messages go there.
Gee, I have never had a problem with FB….
How fun does that look, thanks so much for sharing the pics. Tracy- I looked at your pics and I am so jealous you got your pic taken with Capt. Needles from RM, would love to get my arms around him. Confession to blog buddies: never been on face book, ever. Guess every blog has its’ dork.
Kim:
I am having trouble with Facebook too. I joined in a long time ago, and every time I try to sign into it, it does not recognize ID+password, so I ask to reset the password, so it tells me it is going to email ‘all of your email contacts’ the instructions on HOW to change it… and I am still waiting… been months…. just tried it again…. something is up.
What a hoot – Skanky cowgirls and you guys – how funny is that?
I’m new to Facebook and I’m clueless. Something is wrong. I’ve signed up, I’ve tried to get on Ann’s, I forgot my password and everytime I try to change it, do “anything” with facebook, it stays in hourglass mode. I’m giving up. I can’t even get help from the help mode. Its totally frustrating me.
It was wonderful meeting Barbara and Tracy. I was a bit nervous, you never know. But I saw their smiles and big hugs and it was like we were old friends. Seriously folks, if you want a positive, energetic day, Tracy is where it’s at. Her knowledge of the city is amazing. Lindsay was impressed and she’s lived and worked there for 25 years! Between Barb and Tracy, my trip was fairly effortless and a lot more fun. Lindsay’s husband couldn’t understand why we needed a certain laminated map, until we were in a torrential downpour, soaked, and I’m the only one who knew exactly where I was. I had other tourists looking at my laminated map. Except for the fact we wore shorts and didn’t carry umbrella’s, (because hey, it was typical Seattle weather) I don’t think we stuck out that much. lol. Ann, I love the idea of pictures of your book and bloggers in different places. You should put up a map and put a pin/dot where they are. What is the best format to submit the pics.
I went to Ylenia’s site and I couldn’t find the translate button. Still too much New York in my head. Could someone help me.
Good morning..
It is a hot motherf here in Northern California and I have a lot to do.
Glad to see that we spoke our minds during the last two days.
Wondering about Bev’s status., but she will get around to share when ready.
And maybe, just maybe I will join in for next year’s Ann Leary’s Blogapalooza… must plan this with care due to other engagements.
Do you know that you can download RM’s episodes, as they happen on Amazon.com for $1.99/each?
And do you know that the DVD will come out in September for Series Five??
There.
I will join Facebook. I will make some movies to post of things you may relate to and I shall dig some photos.. all as time allows.
Yes this is a Love Fest and Ann did it.
Oh, read Huckleberry Finn (half way) last evening, downloaded for free from Gutenberg. In the past, I could not read the different dialects, but now I am good at it. I may insert some of the portions that I found funny, as we go along.
Tammi: I am still working on your blog comments.
And Alan: did I get it or did I miss it all together??
Trace:
I sent you an email. Whereever you stay is fine. We will work around it. You might want to change it to Sat to Sun. The event will be Sat. You can wear anything or you can wear nothing. Its that kind of a place. Who cares!!!!!!
Wow! Great idea! Love the pictures of you reading Ann’s book. Makes me realize how much I miss NYC and the sun! We had a wicked storm here last night and lost power. Next year I want the date of the next Ann Leary Blogapalooza. I will definitely attend. Hopefully it will be in Manhattan, if not make it some exotic far away island, this will be a great excuse to get away!!!!
Christine
Forgot to say: Kim, I’m all booked for Fri & Sat @ the place I usually stay in Merrick!!!! So I’m good to go for the Drag Queen Invasion! lolol Can’t wait. Let me know the details.
Yikes, I don’t think I have the appropriate attire, I wear jeans & sneakers to work everyday, & never dress up! Help!!!!
I’m going to be sure to bring all my extra memory cards for my camera, I have a feeling I’m going to need them. hehehehehe
Oh baby, photo contest! I’m in.
Lisa, you made me lose it! Yes, she ‘hangs out’ literally & figuratively! lololol I love you, I’m so glad we’ve become friends through this blog!!!! I hope you’re enjoying the weekend with your visitors.
I joined the facebook group.
Well, it’s a gorgeous day, & I’m off to play in the city! Yeah, life is good!
Love this! Tracy was kind enough to share some pictures with me beforehand. It sounds like a great day.
[non editors note: I love the editor's notes]
Tracy, when I saw the picture of the cow girl and you typed that she “hangs out” in Times Square, I lost it!
Hope to join the next one.
Tracy great photos and stories! lol! Sounds like you girls had a great time!
I’m all about facebook! Going to join the group now!
Thinking thinking thinking of photo contest ideas…hmmmm….should be fun!
Again, thanks Tracy. Also, the photos of Tracy and Barbara have given me a great idea for a contest. It will be a photo contest. Who can take the funniest photo of yourself (or somebody or something else) reading my book in a public place? Everybody can email me the photos and I’ll post them in a few weeks.
Also, Sandy suggested we start a Facebook page and I realized I started one up last spring, when my book came out. Then forgot about it. It is here: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=31267821248&ref=ts
So join up and we can move the party over there!
Ann, thank you for all of your hard work on this over the last few days! I was beginning to think that it wasn’t meant to be with the issues of the photos not going through. I really appreciate what you did. I love your editor’s notes too. ‘Good thing the skanky one wasn’t there’ lolol Yeah, like this one wasn’t super skanky.
I must admit that I feel very special being a ‘Guest Blogger’ on Ann freaking Leary’s blog! I am honored.
There are more photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/31419505@N03/sets/ if anyone wants to see the photos she had to cut and a few more I didn’t send.
It was a wonderful day, and Barbara and I had a blast together that afternoon.
I urge anyone in the NYC area to come to the next one, or anyone who is visiting NYC to let us know and we’ll have one especially for you. I guarantee you will have a great time, and maybe even have some adventures afterward like Barbara and I did. We didn’t know anything about each other before that day, & we had the best time together.
Oh and Ann, when I’m in the city tomorrow, I’ll be keeping my eye out for any bookstores to check on the stock of ‘Outtakes’ in them as well. I’m like a bull dog! I won’t be back up by the Time Warner building this time though.