This year marked my first visit to BlogHer, an annual conference that brings together thousands of bloggers from all walks of life.  Here, they can interact with brands & distant friends, learn about new & existing products, and get advice from fellow bloggers & PR professionals. 

This year’s event was held in sunny San Diego from August 4^th–6^th and attracted bloggers & brands from all over the world.  Since it began in 2005, BlogHer has grown to more than 3,500 attendees and attracts people who blog about everything from parenting to technology to finance.  You name it, you’ll find someone there who blogs about it!

If you are like me and have never attended BlogHer, here are some helpful tips for surviving next year’s event:

Wear comfortable shoes!  No matter if you’re attending or working, you’ll be on your feet throughout the day so be sure to dress for function.

Pack lightly…because there is tons of swag for attendees that you will want to bring back with you.  From food to personal care products to glassware, you’ll want to save room to bring back all of the goodies to try (and blog about!).

Bring plenty of business cards.  Think about how many you think you’ll hand out.  Now, double that.  No matter if you’re a brand representative or a blogger, BlogHer is all about networking so it’s important to have your contact information easily accessible to share at all times.  They run out quicker than you think!

Download the BlogHer App.  The smartphone application will help you navigate the many sessions, demos and parties that are offered.  Also included are a map of the expo floor, a list of sponsors and a live twitter feed of all tweets about BlogHer ’11.

Till next year!

-Melody

For some living in Manhattan (I’m tempted to even say most), the Financial District is another country, a Siberia, a no-man’s land of suits & banks that ceases to exist after 6 pm; a neighborhood where avenues & street numbers have been abandoned; a piece of the island where no one ventures unless you’re a tourist visiting Ground Zero or Century 21.  Well, I’m here to break these myths & give my fellow Manhattan-ites a reason to visit the Financial District, fondly known as “FiDi” to those who call it home.

Besides having the Brooklyn Bridge & Statue of Liberty in our backyard, FiDi has great things to offer in the way of history & culture.  For exhibits and museums, there is Bodies at the South Street Seaport, which allows visitors to explore the human form, The Museum of Jewish Heritage, a living memorial to the Holocaust, and The Skyscraper Museum.

If you’re looking to fill your food & drink cravings, try one of the numerous restaurants and bars in the area -

Adrienne’s Pizza Bar is a great option for Italian lovers.  Try the Insalata di Arugola & Bianca Pizza!

Nelson Blue is NYC’s first New Zealand restaurant & bar.  The food is good, music dance-worthy & the atmosphere is always fun. 

Probably the most well-known spot is Stone Street, a cobblestone road tucked away in the heart of FiDi, home to several great spots like Ulysses’ (a pub style bar with live music on most Saturday nights) and Vintry Wine & Whiskey (a luxury bar that offers 80 wines and 100 whiskies).

So now that you have a brief overview of the Financial District, it’s your turn to explore.  Hop on practically any train, it’s as easy as 1, 2, 3…A, C, E, 4, 5, 6, R, J, Z.

Melody