Hacks/Hackers Philly launches, will host first meetup to connect journalists, technologists

Hacks/Hackers, the grassroots national chapter-based organization that brings together journalists and technologists, now has a Philadelphia group.

Hacks/Hackers Philly, organized by Public School Notebook web editor Erika Owens and Azavea GIS analyst Dana Bauer, will host its first meetup next Tues., Oct. 18 6 p.m. at the Municipal Services Building. RSVP here.

“Anyone with an interest in technology and/or journalism should attend, in particular people with ideas, questions, enthusiasm, and persistence,” said Owens. “We’re thinking the first meetup will be a chance for people to get to know each other and learn about the hacks/hackers concept. We want to see what types of things people in Philly are interested in. Do they want to build projects? Do they want to skill share? Both? Something else?”

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Reminder: our meetup is tonight!

Just a friendly reminder to head on over to Octo Waterfront Grille on Columbus Boulevard tonight to grab a few brews with Technically Philly and Silver Marketing Group.

In fact, the first one is on us.

The weather is set to be a relaxing 80 degrees, and what better way to spend a beautiful day than enjoying a Delaware River breeze with your closest friends? We hope to chat about the local technology industry, hear your thoughts on TP and find out what you all are working on.

So, RSVP and come find us under our large Technically Philly banner that looks like the logo at the top of the page. We hope to see you there!

Technically Philly’s June meetup at Octo!

It’s been too long, Philadelphia. Let’s hang out.

True, we held a meetup last month at the venerable Dark Horse Pub just off South Street, but we just can’t get enough of you folks.

Wednesday, June 30, we’re partnering again with Silver Marketing Group to host a technology professionals meetup at Octo Waterfront Grille along the Delaware River.

We worked with Silver in January and we were thrilled with the turnout. When several established technology community folks stopped by and mentioned that it was a more diverse crowd of people than they were used to—including members of the city’s many technology silos—we were thrilled. And we’re sure this one will cross as broad a spectrum of techies in Philadelphia.

As always, we hope you’ll come and chat about our editorial and what’s happening with Philly tech. It’s of course a great networking opportunity, as well. The gig is free, and oh yes, and there’s a free drink in it for anyone who shows up. Make sure you RSVP. And gosh, with all the movement around waterfront development going on, where better than Octo.

Let’s drink one to this great city and to our vibrant technology scene. See you there!

Thanks for attending our May Meetup @ Dark Horse Pub

Thanks to the 20 or so of our readers who dropped in at our May meetup at the Dark Horse Pub in Society Hill.

It was a busy evening in our community, in addition to the Ride of Silence and a Phillies game, and we still got the chance to talk shop at the main bar.

Of the 20, we only saw two familiar faces, which is a true testament to how this community is still connecting. Many a business card was doled out and a developer whose company we profiled told us about getting referrals and clients out of the story.

Thanks to the gang at the Dark Horse Pub.

As discussed, we’ll look to host themed meetups, along the topics of transparent government development and the region’s Philly-suburbs business divide.

Event Highlights for May 17-23, 2010

We like to talk about our community being a growing, developing and diverse collection of smart people who involve themselves with technology and innovation one way or another.

This week’s free events make that seem apparent.

Though, the developers’ happy hour meetup of the Build Guild has been temporarily shelved, Wednesday is looking busy and varied.

First, out in the ‘burbs, Philly.net is hosting a panel discussion on the battle between all those browsers out there and what it means for how we all use the interwebs.

Later that night in town, Philly Startup Leaders is hosting one of their always sensational pitch blitzes Wednesday night, and, yes, as part of our monthly meetup schedule, the same night, we’ll be at Dark Horse to hear from you.

Then on Saturday, the Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby will bring out all the gear heads who’ve been tinkering on their strange and always artistic human-powered vehicles — you know, bicycles with an even more interesting look.

Web developers, entrepreneurs and the DIY crowd are all satiated, and that’s not all for the week.

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Technically Philly May Meetup: 6:30 p.m. 5/19 @ Dark Horse Pub

Continuing our pledge to host a monthly event in which we can meet, drink beer and discuss all the many ways we have failed and can do better the next time, the May Technically Philly meetup is here.

We want to be available.

Next Wednesday, May 19, starting at 6:30 p.m. at the Dark Horse Pub in Society Hill, we’ll be there and hope you will too.

It’s a good Irish pub, but $3 Yuengling and Blue Moon drafts will allow you to go easy on the wallet. If you remember, last year’s Open Chefame was held there.

Technically Philly May Meetup
Wednesday, May 19 @ 6:30 p.m.
Dark Horse Pub
421 South 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 928-9307

BarCamp NewsInnovation is this Saturday

Just as passionate as we are about Philly’s tech scene, we’re downright crazy about local journalism. Heightening our awareness of the city’s news ecosystem is a recently released report by J-Lab that recommends that the William Penn Foundation allocate money to support local public affairs reporting.

That’s why we have organized the second annual BarCamp NewsInnovation, a chance for anyone interested in news to gather and talk about the innovative things they are doing at Temple’s Annenberg Hall this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Just like BarCamp Philly, this event is FREE.

This year, representatives (see full attendee list) from newspapers around the country, journalism startups and academics have signed up and we’d like to invite our community as well. At the very least to show some Philly pride, but hopefully to help add some fresh voices in the discussion around news and technology.

We hope to see you there!

What we learned at our Fishbowl / A thank you

TP founders Brian James Kirk (left) and Sean Blanda (right) listen to suggestions from attendees.

A huge “thank you” from the bottom of our techie hearts to the roughly 25 people that came out last night to our Fishbowl and one year anniversary after-party.

With the help of Philly Startup Leaders, a mix of entrepreneurs, TP readers and PSL members all gathered together in at the University of Arts to hear our vision for the future of Technically Philly and to offer both praise and criticism.

At the event, TP told a condensed version of our history and outlined our six planned revenue strategies. Three of which (advertising, jobs board and events) we have made some sort of progress on. We then opened it up to the attendees and heard a wide spectrum of ideas that were of infinite value to us, both as journalists and as businessmen.

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Celebrate Technically Philly’s first birthday TONIGHT

As we announced last week, we’re excited to be celebrating tonight our first year covering Philadelphia’s technology community.

We considered blowing it out with Jägerbombs, shots and perhaps a mechanical bull, but that just doesn’t feel right. We have a lot more work to do, and with that in mind we’ve partnered with Philly Startup Leaders to host a business fishbowl at the University of Arts before we kick back with a few light drinks.

We want to discuss with you how to make Technically Philly a sustainable news product at a time when sustainable news products are struggling. Let’s talk about how we can best serve you and create a stronger portal and mouthpiece for the region’s technology community. Register here for that biz fishbowl. If the business part bores you, join us at the Irish Pub at 12th and Walnut for an after-party where we’ll talk shop over $2 domestic drafts and $3 well drinks.

We’re excited to see how things turn out in our second year. We hope you’ll join us to help plan it and celebrate with us 365 days, 600 posts and 1,800 tweets of local technology coverage.

Technically Philly to celebrate birthday with Philly Startup Leaders Fishbowl

As you may have heard, dear reader, Technically Philly celebrated its first birthday last week on February 9.

After twelve months of covering startups, investments, city government policy and general technology news, we are still hard at work trying to make Technically Philly a sustainable source of tech news for the region.

We have our own ideas about how this will look, making efforts to build up or Jobs Board as well as offering detailed advertising packages. However, we wanted to throw open our revenue strategy to you, our readers, and the community-at-large, for criticism and advice.

That is why we are partnering with Philly Startup Leaders to be the subject of the group’s next Fishbowl at the University of Arts on Wednesday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m. REGISTER HERE.

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