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Discussion Notify me of new comments Author Thread: Where Y'at "Society" Page Spanish Johnny Where Y'at "Society" Page Posted: Monday, March 08, 2004 12:52 PM (PST) A letter published in the current edition of Where Y'at commends the paper for progressing from the "tourist crap" it was.  The letter then goes on to discuss faults that the writer still finds in the paper, one of which seems to be the SSDC page:   "But there are still vestiges of that old tourist/frat magazine.  It's most prevalent, or most glaringly obnoxious, in the society page.  Who are these people? I've never seen them before in my life.  Do they actually live in New Orleans?  Do they only come out of their houses for the msyterious monthly martinin parites you only get an invite to if you are either an editor, a photographer or a model for Maxim?  Whose society is this?  There are more than enough scenesters in New Orleans that would gladly pose for a picture.  You don't need Coyote Ugly to ship them down."   You can't buy publicity like that!  I think the SSDC page may have run long enough, and the pictures mostly look the same anyway.   Spanish Johnny Comments: Flat Nested Threaded Embedded Oldest First Newest First Author Thread: Whosyourdaddy Where Y'at "Society" Page Posted: Monday, March 08, 2004 5:05 PM (PST) Spanish Johnny:   Your response seems like a hasty and surprising retreat from our higher principles.  Surely, we cannot simply take the rantings of one writer and assume that he speaks for a large cross section of the population.  I encourage you to consider the source of this letter before passing judgment on the column.  In just 20 minutes I discovered some things about the author of this letter that lead me to believe that his "contribution" is nothing more than a cheap attempt to gain publicity for his band "Mexico 1910", an instrumental band whose musical offerings fall considerably short of interesting.  As a member of a band myself, I understand the desperation that sometimes attends the desire for attention and mainstream acceptance and success, but I don't subscribe to the school of thought that encourages a disgruntled member of the music community  to write a nasty-gram to a local publication (attaching the name of his band, no less) in order to get the name of the project out to the readers of that publication.  In some ways, his letter to you is an admission that he thinks your page has some following, or he would not have included the name of his band.  Unfortunately, Miles' letter seems to suffer from the same illness that alleges infects the SSDC column... a desire to be seen at any cost... does this lead us easily to the conclusion that the column should be discontinued?      Further, as you well know, the SSDC is what we all make of it.  If you, or Miles Britton, or anyone has some input on parts of the scene in NOLA that are not being covered, then take some pictures, write some copy and forward it to Noah or to other publications.  Proactivity is our salvation, not complaining!  Perhaps someone should attend a Mexico 1910 show and let everyone read about what it is like.  The SSDC has had a long tradition of supporting bands and other social enterprises, but that support was driven by the contribution of many members, not just one.  We should aspire to increase the contributions of all members, not to simply stifle the voice of one (even if he is the vocal leader of the group).  Perhaps a modification of the content of the column is in order to help improve public sentiment, but a wholesale retreat from the column in this case seems ridiculous.  Why deprive ourselves of the potential good of the column without first asking how to make it better, how to improve its scope and readability?  If I had heeded similar suggestions 7 years ago, when we were building the SSDC, I dare say, we would not be having this discussion right now.      Who's Your Daddy Rizzo Where Y'at "Society" Page Posted: Monday, March 22, 2004 8:10 AM (PST) As a board member, I have responded to the piece in Where Y'at.  It will most likely appear (I hope :-) in the next issue, but I am also posting it here:   Maxim Overdrive? I was a little taken aback by a recent letter to the editor.  While I must agree with the author that I think Where Y'at has indeed come a long way and is indeed now one of the more anticipated reads on my list, I must take exception to a couple points.  Mr. Britton writes in his letter that the "society page" in Where Y'At is "glaringly obnoxious" and questions who these people are, as he has never seen them before. First of all, the "Where Y'Been" section is not billed as a society page.  It is a section of the paper that is dedicated to a local group through it's support and affiliation with Where Y'At.  For Mr. Britton's benefit, the Sunset Social Drinking Club is a local organization made up of young professionals who do indeed live in the city.  Coyote Ugly does not, in fact, ship us down.  In the eight years SSDC has been in existence we have hosted an event every month.  Our events have ranged from gathering on the rooftop of the Woodward Wight Building (which does not require a tux or bring us anywhere near Bourbon Street) to restaurant openings, theme parties, and philanthropic events.  Since our inception, our purpose has been to encourage local membership and support of local musicians, artists, writers and the other creative and social activities within the local community. We send out a weekly eNewsletter informing locals of local events.  Everyone who is interested gets these invitations, not just the connected and/or beautiful.    I'm sorry Mr. Britton doesn't know any of the people he's seen in the WYAT column. Sometimes we feature past members who have extended their lives into other cities nationally, and they keep their connection to NOLA through WYAT and our emails. But I am surprised that someone would assume that because he doesn't recognize a few faces that they must be from out of town.  I know a lot of people in New Orleans, but certainly recognize there are a lot of folks I have never met.  Most months the web address of the SSDC is listed with the pictures.  If someone wants to know more about the pictures or events in the Where Y'Been column, it is very easy to look up.   As an Executive Board member of the Sunset Social Drinking Club, I put a lot of time and effort in organizing our events.  I confess that having a few pictures in a local paper makes me feel like I've helped a person or two have some fun; it is a unique pleasure.  I know I am not the only person who turns to the back of Where Y'At first to see what pictures made the paper.  Yes, being part of the SSDC Board does make me somewhat biased, but that factor aside, Mr. Britton's slam of our page in Where Y'At was based on something he simply assumed, rather than had first-hand knowledge or had bothered to research.  I welcome him, as well as anyone else, to check out our website (www.ssdcnola.com) or come to an event before passing judgment. New Orleans is one of the greatest cities in the world, we celebrate diversity and a love for life, and we share that local commitment with this great local publication.   Sincerely, Sara Gradual VP Communications, SSDC New Orleans

New Posts Any other chapters? Posted by mspiral on Thursday, March 02, 2006 (PST) Just a Question Posted by Lara on Thursday, February 10, 2005 (PST) Swing & Lindy Hop Classes - Feb 22nd Posted by BigCash on Monday, February 07, 2005 (PST)   New Events Trunk Fashion Show and Party Do something a little different... Friday, October 22nd SSDC Halloween Haunt and Bourbon Street Marcn Got your costume ready? Saturday October 23rd THE ENDLESS NIGHT FESTIVAL VII You are cordially invited to experience a full weekend of dark pleasures and unearthly delights in America's most deviant and haunted city, New Orleans for the seventh annual Endless Night Festival!