After a whirlwind early workweek that included a very fashionable Fashion Party, followed by a very fashionable Economic Breakfast (I know, you want my job, don’t you?), it was time to settle in somewhere in the middle and get down to some Chamber business.
Pumpkins brought to you by Bar Louie. And Mother Nature.
I love connecting people. Love love love it. I did it before my job at the Chamber, and I do it still. I am happy if, when someone tells me they need something, I can help them move toward that end. Sometimes that goes awry, like yesterday when I set up a lunch between some folks who I figured would be interested in each other’s businesses. On Monday, I set up a Wednesday lunch at 11:30 to meet these 3 guys, put it into my calendar and done. Wednesday rolls around, and at, oooohhhh, 12:07 I get a phone call from one of the attendees. I am not yet, at this time, an attendee, as I had set my lunch appointment for 11:30 PM. Smooth move, Ex-Lax. Lucky for me, these are good-natured guys, and had already ordered lunch by the time I screeched up, 45 minutes late. One of the nice guys is Michael Karras, of Fordham Capital Partners…he’s a tie guy, and his polka-dotted number from Thomas Pink is a great one.
Not my brother
My Tie du Jour is from the “346” collection from Brooks Brothers. It’s black with tiny, baby blue paisleys. I think it jumped off of my blue and white shirt pretty darn well, if I say so mydarnself. This tie is a good example of one that looks pretty boring up on the tie rack, but put it on and it gets to another level. I received a few compliments, one of them very nice and surprising to me, on this tie, and it just goes to show that you need to get these ties out for a spin once in a while.
Before I started 100 Days, 100 Ties, I know that I had 15-20 ties that I went back to, over and over. The above-mentioned Michael was saying a similar thing about his collection. I hear similar things, that guys have a bunch of ties that they don’t use, and are looking for a spark. I have been kicking around the idea of having a Tie Exchange; I’ll do it locally at first, but then expand it online, hopefully. If someone got 3-5 new ties, and knew that they have 2-4 weeks to wear them, I think it would liven up a wardrobe. So, in early- to mid-November, I’ll set up a lunch, and folks can bring ties and get some new (to them) ones.
Last night was our monthly Business After Hours, held at Buffalo Wild Wings Evanston. If you haven’t been there, you should. 74 TVs (including 2 in the men’s room) festoon the walls, and there are all kinds of sports going on. There were a few GWTs…some new ones, and some alums.
Vince Roberts was one of the first two GWTs…and he looks so young! As I may have mentioned, he made a great donation to the Evanston Community Foundation, based on the number of PWTs (Philanthropists With Ties) that I got on camera during 100th Tie Week. His purple tie kicekd ass.
John Harris is with Koenig & Strey, and I loved his tie. Perfect for a party.
Chris Tierney is working out of our office for a few weeks, selling space in the Evanston Community Map. Information about how to advertise can be found here.
And, then, we have David Blake, who is with Just For Fun Entertainment, a company with sets themes for (mainly) kids’ parties and then throws them for you. Or, actually, for your kid.
Thanks for reading…Brooke
100 Days, 100 Ties 
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