Last night Eastwick held its third annual Black and Orange Bash at the Triton Museum of Art in Santa Clara. The event featured Eastwick’s favorite artist-in-residence Bob Nugent, (also known as staffer Erin McCabe’s dad), and his beautiful artwork, which is featured at the museum between now and December 30, and was a great time if I do say so myself.

Pacote 1, Bob Nugent

The more than 200 people in attendance seemed to enjoy the festivities. We’ve heard rave reviews about the music - thank you former Eastwicker Russell Barber and his fellow bandmates - the food and drink - the venue - and the entertainment (which included sketch artists and a fortune teller) - but most of all, the compliments are pouring in about the fabulous collection of people in attendance. We had clients and prospective clients, partners and friends of the agency - also known as FOEs. We had analysts, press (several who reported on the party) and former and current employees.

My favorite part of the night was when I had the chance to introduce people with like interests - personal or business - who hadn’t known each other before. If you were a fly on the wall last night you would have heard many conversations that started with, “great to finally meet you. I’ve heard about you for a long time.” Or “I’ve heard really interesting things about your company and have wanted to meet you.” There were lots of things that made last night’s event a success, but when I think about the secret ingredient that makes these kinds of events a step above the rest, it’s when people can make new and renewed connections with cool and interesting people. That was the real show last night.

b&o, black and orange, bob nugent, Eastwick Communications, halloween party, russell barber, triton musuem

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With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I’ve started to prepare myself for the usual ups and downs of big family gatherings. Don’t get me wrong, I love my family. But like the family that‘s profiled on ABC’s drama Brothers and Sisters, we have issues - and sometimes those issues can cause some pretty heated dinner table discussions. Just like the Walker Family whose escapades are brought to life Sunday evenings, many of our discussions and honest disagreements are around politics - or specifically polar political positions. Inevitably sometime during the dinner conversation I am labeled a liberal, and my husband will roll his eyes as he hears the very far right opinions of my brother in law.

This Thanksgiving I am actually hopeful that we’ll find more common ground no matter where on the political spectrum we fall. Environmental issues. I’ve never understood how or why environmental issues became political - especially a cause of the left. After all, isn’t clean air and water an issue for all people? As early as last year, I remember having a heated debate with one of my sisters (the staunchly Republican one) about the use of fluorescent light bulbs as being over hyped; as was many other issues surrounding “going green,” she argued. I was dumbfounded during these exchanges as to how anybody could find fault with the increased efforts of both individuals and corporations to reduce energy use, carbon emissions, waste, etc. She wanted to make it a political issue - I wanted to make it about the environment. Now don’t get me wrong, my sister recycles, picks up litter, isn’t wasteful about energy use, etc. But if you wanted to get her hackles up all you had to do mention anything about the “green” movement.

Today, I’m happy to report that there seems to be some in her thinking. And I can’t take any credit for it, either. I think the tide has finally turned for my right leaning relatives because there’s been so much proof, facts, research, reports, etc. from all political walks of life that it has become a cause that everyone can get behind. Al Gore’s Nobel Peace Prize nod - while not free from political association - is still hard to argue with no matter what your party affiliation. I am happy to report that during my recent visit with my sister and her husband this past weekend we actually talked about composting, sustainable energy systems and yes even fluorescent light bulbs without so much as a raised voice. So as we get ready to gather together next month, I am happy to report that there will one fewer item on the “do not talk about list” with my family this Thanksgiving- and for that I am truly thankful.

ABC, al gore, Blog Action Day, brothers and sisters, nobel peace prize, thanksgiving

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