Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV – SMB.COM

It is increasingly evident that social media is no fad — but in fact a mainstream staple. Many parts are constantly moving within this dynamically complex whole. When it comes to user engagement and interaction, an argument can be made that online photo sharing is the single greatest force behind this. Buddy Media, one of the more prominent social media consulting companies, points out that user engagement on Facebook spikes 20% when photos are thrown into the mix of context. This isn’t surprising, but rather intuitive. Pictures are worth a thousand words – not the other way around. And as a result, consumers are more likely to respond in any way, shape or form to a picture, as opposed to just plain text.

The groundwork is clear. Companies are quickly responding to this rapidly-growing sector. In this section, I am going to highlight a few companies – both new and known – who are setting into motion unique and different methods on what we, the consumer, can do with our online photos.

Color’s patent-pending advanced proximity algorithms locate all other smartphones using this application. Every photo and video is instantly shared with other nearby phones.

Color is an application for iOS and Android devices that – at the heart – is a proximity based photo sharing solution. Essentially, Color digitally connects multiple smartphones, which are within a pre-specified range of each other, and allows those users to “digi-sync” their photos, videos, and text to one defined destination. Picture going out on a Friday night for a friend’s birthday. You can bet there are at least 5 people taking pictures and/or video. And of course – these individuals sporadically document different parts of the night. No clear timeline exists. Things become lost in translation. Only bits and pieces span across an extended period of time, leaving many gaps. Color’s patent-pending advanced promixity algorithms locate all other smartphones using this application. The work is done for you – right then and there. Every photo and video is instantly shared with other nearby phones. Seamless and intricate - with no uploading, emailing, or attaching required. Their website and demo can be found at www.color.com.

The concept is truly revolutionary. Between all of the clutter in the mobile world today – the potential of this idea can reach FourSquare proportions. What I mean is there are parallels: the location-based concept combined with mobile photography blend a “checking-in” function but for your pictures. Imagine you are at a Yankee game or a Bob Dylan concert. Now, picture your FourSquare feed – and then your Instagram library. By loading this app, you are checking-in with only photos. You may scroll through recent photos from behind the Yankee dugout or backstage at Dylan’s rehearsal. My imagination may be getting ahead of itself. Nonetheless, the possibilites are endlessly intriguing.

Kaptur allows a user to easily arrange all media from an event so everyone’s photos, videos, and status updates can all be found in one place.

Kaptur, unlike Color, lives online and focuses on the consumer’s need to structurally organize their photos to one location. Their platform lets a user easily arrange all media from an event so everyone’s photos, videos, and status updates can all be found in one place. Once you have media organized this way, you can treat it as a single album and download it all at once, share it with friends, and organize it however you like. A great use case for this are weddings – as exampled on their website (www.weddings.kaptur.com).

Proximity-based software is irrelevant in this case, since wedding albums are inherently selective and specifically organized (bride’s family, groom’s family, friends, etc.). I asked owner and CEO Tej Bhatia what changes he envisions in this field and how Kaptur plans on adapting in a rapidly evolving arena. “While social networks are ‘social’ and photosharing does ‘share,’ both are still based on the concept of user profiles and photo albums, neither of which scale well for groups. Kaptur provides a solution that scales without changing any existing user behavior when it comes to social networking and photo sharing.” Simple yet brilliant, Kaptur is poised to move the photo sharing industry further along towards a more synchronized, all-inclusive digital destination.

Twitter’s recent integration of a native, in-house photo and video sharing service into it’s platform is a real game changer. You are able to enter a keyword or search term which will return results, in addition to a filmstrip of photos and videos.

Which brings us to the beast in the room (or more appropriately – on the web): Twitter. Now, we already know the power of 140 characters. We’ve seen the social, marital, and political repercussions time and time again. And of course, we’ve found out that an image is definitely worth a thousand words, not just 140 characters. So why is this relevant when it comes to photo sharing? People posting pictures to twitter has been around since Day One, right? This is all true. Twitter’s recent integration of a native, in-house photo and video sharing service into it’s platform is the real game changer. Third party companies, such as TwitPic and YFrog, become rendered obsolete.

The bigger differentiator is that all of these photos and videos, uploaded by the Twitter community, will now be searchable. Very similar to the hashtag user experience, a specific keyword or search term will return results, in addition to a filmstrip of photos and videos. Categorically speaking – this gives Twitter a huge x-factor when it comes to competing with Facebook. Unlike Facebook, you are able to search through the masses without certain privacy restrictions. The “public domain” that Twitter has created will only compliment the search-ability of their photo sharing service. Who knows – Google Images might have to watch it’s back.

Evidently, an exponential number of innovations are being made in the field of digital photo sharing. And for the right reasons, mind you. Between proximity, organization, and mass outreach – one can argue that an exciting road is being paved right in front of our eyes (and hands, ears, etc.). Our society wants things to be quicker and easier. These wants, one by one, are rapidly coming to fruition.

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Stan Bashmashnikov (@stanmichaelbash) runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on topics including online marketing, social media, and innovation. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.

Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV – SMB.COM

Vitality still exists in the creative industry. Yes, and more so than ever before – as proven last week. New York City hosted Creative Week from May 9th – 15th to celebrate the most ingenuous, innovative, and introspective minds in advertising, design, and digital media.  The One Club, a non-profit organization that aims to propel the recognition and promotion of excellence in advertising served as chief host for what was a week filled with tremendous highlights.

Before acknowledging the present, humility still lies in appreciating the past. The awards have truly evolved throughout the years. In 1961, the Advertising Writers of New York first awarded “Gold Keys” to honor great copywriting. 15 years later, the Gold Key was aptly replaced by the Gold Pencil. Evidently, the times have changed. The keys on a typewriter and lead pencils are rarely used in modern day ad agencies. But the memory remains. The next generation of creative minds has never looked so promising.

The Gold Club organization was generous enough to provide me with a Creative Week Press Pass that granted coverage of the week-long events from an angle exclusive for most. I am both grateful and humbled by this. There was so much content to absorb. But one theme was clear: brands were extending beyond TV and branching out into the real world. What I mean is, brands such as Old Spice, Gatorade, and Nike – for example, had integrated the user-experience into their campaigns (which we will get into later). The games had definitely changed – and in my opinion, for the better.

New York City hosted Creative Week from May 9th – 15th to celebrate the most ingenuous, innovative, and introspective minds in advertising, design, and digital media. Photo credit: The One Club.

The icing on the ad-cake was the The One Show – a who’s who awards gala comprised of modern day Mad Wo/Men from the advertising industry. The scene was elegant and classy. Top-shelf mixers were shaken, not stirred. Alice Tully Hall in the Lincoln Center was flowing with cocktails, hors d’ourves, and the muffled sounds of creative conversations that one could only hope to catch a dose of. Of course, this is to be expected. I could tell after conversing with a few award recipients and their colleagues in attendance – I was in for an eye peeler. It didn’t end there. A celebrity showing had also made their mark. Isaiah Mustafa, better know as “The Old Spice Guy,” was the show host. Not to be outdone – house DJ ?uestlove of Grammy award-winning Philadelphia hip-hop band The Roots  provided a great mix of musical ambiance in the theater. The power players were all in attendance: Oglivy, DDB, BBDO, Leo Burnett, Weiden+Kennedy, TBWA – among others. Curtains up.

It was extraordinary to finally be able to associate not only names, but faces, with creative campaigns. Ads from tv, print, and digital immediately became even more familiar. My eyes were telling my mind: “Are you seeing this?” More notably, Ogilvy’s Topsy (VIDEO) campaign resonated ever-so deeply with the audience. The project followed a woman living with AIDS for 90 days. The goal was to document her medical treatment that she previously didn’t have access to. The commercial, ingeniously, is played backwards from Day 90. You are introduced to a timid woman. By Day 1, you feel the hairs stand on the back of your neck.  The words “miracle” and “hope” come to mind.

One Show host Isaiah Mustafa ("The Old Spice Guy") and ?uestlove (The Roots) rehearsing before the show begins.

Best in Show – it seemed – was a lock for Old Spice. After all, their bread and butter was hosting the show. Not so fast, extremely eloquent and funny, Old Spice Guy. Nike’s Write The Future (VIDEO) took the grand prize. Such a commercial, done to this caliber, is fantastic in all sense of the word. If you are unfamiliar with it – Nike launched the campaign in June of 2010 to coincide with the World Cup. The effort was aimed to make up for the fact that they were not official sponsors. It did the trick. The 3-minute storybook sequence showcases superstar, I mean superheroes – in their respective countries – all on one field, and the “journey” they must take to win the cup. Coupled with a few cameos, the player’s personalities really get to shine. The message: you control your own destiny, or more aptly put: “Write The Future.”

The following night, the One Show Interactive awards were held at Terminal 5 - showcasing the best of the best in digital and online advertising. Essentially, this was the virally-inspired, new wave of advertising tactics that the industry has seen as of late.  Kevin Swanepoel, President, puts it all into perspective: “Ten years ago, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube didn’t exist. Google had eight employees and was little more than a promising search engine. Facebook now has over 500 million users who spend 700 billion minutes per month on their site. Twitter users are sending out 55 million tweets a day. YouTube users are watching 2 million videos a day.” Retrospectively, these are powerful benchmarks to consider. And so, while some individuals grew weary and cautious of the times – the brave few marched on. He adds “This simple insight led our winners to use social networking in blog and innovative ways – to create wonderfully entertaining branded entertainment. Their adaptation and adjustment of their craft to the consumer marketplace are the reason they are being recognized.” Clearly, the rules are being re-written. We live in a society that is ever changing. Those part of the new media are the ones doing the writing.

The One Show Interactive awards were held at Terminal 5 - showcasing the best of the best in digital and online advertising.

Droga5′s Puma (VIDEO) Hardchorus campaign was a definite crowd-pleaser. Who doesn’t like English football? Who doesn’t like singing? Mix them together. A group of twenty plus English football fans, or “hooligans,” gather around a camera to sing Savage Garden’s “Truly,Madly, Deeply.” That sentence alone should be enough reason to see it. The comedic undertones and halfway-decent harmony is even more reason to enjoy this delightful ad. I love 90s music, and hate to admit that I knew the words to that song. But, evidently I’m not the only one. Nicely done, Droga5.

TBWA’s Gatorade Replay (VIDEO) campaign won multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze pencils at both shows. The Replay campaign principle tugged at every athlete’s nostalgic recollection: the chance to replay a memorable game from their past. Limits had to be made. Gatorade selected various games – primarily along the criteria that the game ended in controversial or abrupt fashion. In one specific instance, two rival high-schools in Detroit took the ice eleven years after a 1999 hockey game almost cost a player his life. One can only imagine the overwhelming closure completing such a game can produce.

Backstage following the One Show Interactive awards, Isaiah Mustafa was a charismatic host with outstanding material (and a little help from his writers).

Creative Week reminded all that unwavering creative thought and a well-crafted idea can go a long, long way. Even to an award show. Even to have the idea be the host. It is remarkable – and again, a true testament to the minds behind the wheel. The medium for which the message is conveyed is limitless – more so than ever before. Television and print campaigns, once the pioneers of the industry, are now being complimented with a strong social media and digital marketing presence. Well rounded approaches lead to significant results. Having all of these tools in an organization’s arsenal is well – deadly.

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Stan Bashmashnikov (@stanmichaelbash) runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on topics including online marketing, social media, and innovation. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.

The One Club is the world's foremost non-profit organization for the recognition and promotion of excellence in advertising.The One Club produces three annual awards competitions: The One Show, O

Scott Yager - SMB.com Contributor

BY SCOTT YAGER – SMB.COM CONTRIBUTOR

Once one of the most popular bands in the world, Creed has since become a punch line – an example of what people hate about modern rock. It would be easy to combat anti-Creed statements by listing their accolades, mentioning how many stadiums they sold out, hit singles they wrote, or awards they won. This only fuels the fire. It reminds the Creed-hater why they have begun to hate the music industry in general – why Rock ‘n’ Roll has drifted from what it once was into something different. Ultimately, something a lot more cliché. The truth is that Rock ‘n’ Roll has always been cliché. In fact, the Creed you know and hate are only a product of what the music industry made them become in an effort to maximize their economic potential. When you take Scott Stapp’s piercing vocals, combined with elements such as his ability to craft a powerful chorus and combine it with the sheer flawlessness of Mark Tremonti’s guitar riffs — there is no doubt that the end result would be an abundant collection of top 40 hits.

I had a chance to speak to Creed front man Scott Stapp about their most recent album, Full Circle, which was released in late 2009. We talked about the evolution of Creed, who took seven years off before getting back together in 2009, as well as his upcoming solo acoustic tour.

“We put out an album called Full Circle in late 2009 and were real excited about it. I’m getting ready to get my solo record out in addition to working on my first book, which will probably be out the first quarter of next year. The solo album will hopefully be out in June of this year.” says Stapp, clearly excited about the projects he has ahead of him.

Creed front man Scott Stapp talks about the band's most recent album, Full Circle, which was released in late 2009. He talks about the evolution of Creed, their 7-year lengthy hiatus, the criticims over the years, and his upcoming solo acoustic tour.

Full Circle is definitely a step in a harder direction for Creed – a band who has always been a much heavier rock act than they have been given credit for. When I ask Scott if he thinks this album is their hardest effort yet, he recalls back to Weathered, which was released in 2001. It was the band’s last album before their lengthy hiatus.

“You know I sill like to think that Weathered was one of our heaviest records – definitely one of our darkest records. Full Circle is definitely parallel with it. I think it was a great expression of where Mark and I are as songwriters, as well as where Creed is today. It definitely brought our sound into 2010 with some aggression behind it. We also explored some swamp rock and blues rock – but with a metal edge to it.”

Admittedly, the majority of the songs that Creed has become famous for (With Arms Wide Open, Higher, One) are a bit cheesy and when taken out of context, can really help one understand why they’ve been treated with such a lack of respect. Although the songs are fundamentally and structurally superb, their sappy nature contrasted greatly with the pessimistic times of this nation (I.E. 9/11). We need to dig deeper to really get an idea of what this band is made of. Songs such as What If or Weathered open the listener to a different side of the band.

The reception from hardcore heavy metal fans has been overwhelming for Full Circle. Evidently – this news is surprising considering these are the individuals who had previously determined that the work of Creed was simply “not for them.” The news couldn’t me any more thrilling and refreshing.

“I think the word should get out about that with Creed. With Arms Wide Open really opened the door into a large group of music lovers but it really didn’t represent the band in its entirety. We’re a pretty hard rock band and we have been since day one. And I mean – what an amazing guitar player Tremonti is.”

The reception of Full Circle from hardcore heavy metal fans has been overwhelming. Evidently – this news is surprising considering these are the individuals who had previously determined that the work of Creed was simply “not for them.”

When I bring up that some of the blame should be put on the record label for not releasing many of their harder tracks as radio singles, Scott agrees but also reminds me that they have released a couple of their harder tracks as singles as well.

“We do have some songs like Bullets and Ode and some others that did have those riffs and a harder edge to them. However, those were mainly on rock radio. The music genre has changed and what gets crossed over to modern rock and even top 40 can be harder. I think the future looks bright for Creed.”

It’s ironic that their newest album is called Full Circle because a 180-degree rotation would be more accurate in describing the approach of the latest effort from Creed. Most bands tend to start off with a more raw, hardcore sound and only begin to turn it down when they see success. Creed has actually worked the other way for most of their career – the latest example being with Full Circle. Their most mellow album is, by far, My Own Prison. Weathered, their third album, was by far the most innovative and metal-driven stuff they ever put out. Full Circle, which can be considered their comeback album, is another step in that direction, with Tremonti going lower and more emphatic with his guitar riffs and Scott Stapp’s preachy vocals taking a back seat to the point that they are hard to even notice. There are moments, and a few of them, where one might blindly hear part of a song and think it was System of a Down (“Suddenly ”) or KoRn (“Bread of Shame”).

There are tons of really explosive hard rock tracks on Full Circle that would have made great singles. The band however released “Rain,” much more of a ballad, as their first major single. I ask Scott if he regrets this – looking back on how the album was ultimately received, implying that one of the heavier tracks would have represented the album better.

When you take Scott Stapp’s piercing vocals, combined with elements such as his ability to craft a powerful chorus and combine it with the sheer flawlessness of Mark Tremonti’s guitar riffs — there is no doubt that the end result would be an abundant collection of top 40 hits.

“I agree with you, I wanted to put out Bread of Shame as the first single and I was outvoted. I also would love to have had Suddenly be a single. It is what it is and the pros that handle this kind of stuff for the artists, I guess they are a little more dialed in than me. Coming from a pure artistic standpoint – that was my vote all along” says Stapp, who seems to have a good attitude about the way the decisions were made, laughing at the irony of being overruled in a decision making process about his own songs.

We talk about Creed’s time off as a band and how it positively impacted them as a group, as individuals, and their collective creative process.

“It was much needed. We benefited in ways that we haven’t even shared on a personal level as far as growing as human beings and working out specific kinks in each of our lives – us developing our families, which has become the center piece of all our lives. It is going to help us as musicians and help us rebuild Creed to put the band where it needs to be. Although we got back together and wrote the album in literally two and a half weeks, we had seven years of material on the back burner that we saved for each other.”

Scott is hitting the road as a solo act as well. However, this live experience will be very different from the average Creed concert. Scott is stripping down all the songs, performing them with limited instruments and acoustic guitars. He tells me what fans can expect from the intimate performances.

“I’m playing guitar. I’ve got a buddy of mine who plays guitar. I’ve got two twelve-year-old boys who are itching to play – they come out and join me sometimes. Trying to keep it all in the family, I guess. It is just a way for me to reinvent the wheel, so to speak, for me as far as the Creed material as well as my solo material. It’s a way for me to demo new material, actually write new material, and be very interactive with the fans. This really helps me as a singer/songwriter to really push the boundaries of my voice, to really just allow my subconscious to flow and not really stay along any specific guidelines – to just allow the music to come out the way its going to come out.  Up to this point I am really happy with how its been going and happy with the response. Its something I want to continue to do for the rest of my career. I feel its essential to me in terms of staying true to my craft.”

Creed is one of the few bands that actually became less restrained and strayed farther from their mainstream identity with each and every album. No one knows this because before anyone thought about taking the time to get to know Creed, they had already adopted this pre-conceived notion to hate the band.

Creed is one of the few bands that actually became less restrained and strayed farther from their mainstream identity with each and every album. No one knows this because before anyone thought about taking the time to get to know Creed, they had already adopted this pre-conceived notion to hate the band. Creed began to represent the negative aspects of the music industry – not because they actually were to blame for any of it, but because their hit singles were just too catchy to be able to stand.

What’s sad is that there has been so little to grab onto in the realm of rock music over the past few years. The glory days of the 90s are a long ways away. People are forced to cling onto the opinions they previously formed and the relationships they made with bands from years past. This is sad because Full Circle is one of the best hard rock albums to come out since Metallica’s Death Magnetic last year.

For a genre of music that is based on mediocrity, it’s hard for people to relate to a band that is so good at what that they do. In a way, Creed were the anti-Nirvana. Nirvana didn’t care, so much so that Kurt Cobain‘s vocals and guitar playing during certain live performances became utterly appalling. This bothered no one however because the only thing worse than not caring to the point of sucking is caring a lot. That’s what Creed do. They care. They care about their music and they care about their craft.

Please download and listen to the first four tracks from Full Circle. If your opinion of Creed has not been altered, then there is most likely nothing that these guys can do to fix that. As depressing as that truth may be – some bands are just meant to be hated forever.

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Scott Yager is also a Managing Editor/Columnist at The Sound Magazine (www.ctsound.info) and Contributing Editor/Columnist at The Campus Socialite (www.thecampussocialite.com).

Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV – SMB.COM

From February 7th – 11th, Social Media Week simultaneously descended upon media-savvy cornucopias such as New York City, San Francisco, Toronto, London, Paris, Istanbul, São Paolo, Rome and Hong Kong. These week-long series of biannual conferences aim to bring thousands of people together every year through both shared and collaborative learning experiences. Essentially, the underlying goal is to try and advance our understanding of social media’s role in modern society.

Crowdcentric, owner and operator of Social Media Week, graciously asked me to help alongside fellow social outreach consultants at primary hub locations including Google HQ, Paley Center for Media, Red Bull Space, JWT, and Hearst. Within these social media hubs, multiple daily events were organized bringing together nearly 5,000 professionals from over 40 different industries. Obviously – social media has cross pollinated across the majority of today’s professions. It goes without saying that the week-long festivities can be defined best using buzz words: unique, inspiring, engaging, definitive, and memorable – all rolled into one.

Social Media Week 2011 ran from February 7th - 11th. There were over 5,000 attendees in NYC alone from nearly 40 industries.

In order to appreciate SMW’s rapid growth, one must take take a step back and look at it’s young history. The week-long event was first held in February of 2009, solely in New York City. Organizations such as The Nielsen Company, New York Times, and Razorfish, among others, served as initial sponsors. The attendee response was extremely welcoming – and enough reason for SMW to expand to more locations: San Francisco, London, Berlin, São Paulo, and Toronto in February of 2010.

Collective attendance tripled from 2,500 to nearly 8,000 worldwide in only a year of operation with the help of sponsors such as Pepsi, Motorola, and Meebo. The week of events are now bi-annual – typically held in February and September, respectively. Social Media Week 2011 (February) was anticipated to be nothing short of spectacular – and it undoubtedly lived up to all of the hype.

SMW's Opening Party was held at the Celeste Bartos Forum inside the New York Public Library.

Monday had finally come – and the first destination on my itinerary was the Google Hub. Sola Obayan, Google Hub Producer and Principal at BTO Solutions, led a dynamic group of production assistants and social outreach consultants in promoting, organizing, and effectively executing the daily events. A special thanks goes out for her guidance and leadership. While I was only able to lend my services for the first two days, they were equally filled with a plethora of events, volunteers, and curious attendees.

The first day included a discussion led by Sapient Nitro, outlining what our lives would be like if they were a complex social network. The concept was at times amusing, yet downright brilliant. For example, what if we spoke in “tweets” to everyone we interacted with? Or what if we reprinted embarrassing pictures of our co-workers and handed them out? Sounds a bit ridiculous – but actually, many parallels were drawn between real vs. social behaviors. You’d be surprised how small the disparities really are. The context was incredibly insightful and surprising to the majority of the attendees. A feeling of “realization on how social media has re-shaped our lives” was prevalent throughout the room.

The following day, Opera Solutions hosted an open discussion on applying major data analytics to the abundant amount of social media data that is out in cyber space. Taken directly from the pamphlet, this statistic is eye-opening: “Facebook logs 695 status updates per second and Foursquare tallied more than 381 million check-ins in 2010. Over 35 hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute and Twitter’s 170 million users send 95 million tweets each day.” While many theories were offered and broken-down, it was evident that a real answer does not exist – Yet.

The Paley Center for Media was one of five Social Media Hubs during SMW 11. Paley showcased the Open UN discussions on Tuesday and Thursday.

The week was moving right along. Between running around New York City, meeting individuals within different facets of the industry, and compulsively tweeting out relevant content – I would say my mind was occupied. Mentally speaking, being short on rest was a trending topic. Next on the list was the Paley Hub, located at the Paley Center for Media. It was coordinated and led by Melissa Hall – the Marketing & Events Director for the Independent Handbag Designer Awards. Again, a special thanks goes out to her and all of the individuals  along the way who are undoubtedly the reason why social media is so engaging.

My time spent at the Paley Hub included involvement in a day-long Open UN session entitled Engagement in the Age of Real-Time. Hosted by the United Nations Global Pulse, Open UN during SMW was geared to serve as a free-flowing conversation about how open, social, real-time technologies are changing the relationship between people and institutions around the world. In fact – if you think about it – open platforms are allowing for unique opportunities of participation in the real world that was once reserved only for experts. Numerous points, and counterpoints were made – all of which are too lengthy to list. The discussion was academic to near perfection. The panel was very engaging – which in turn propelled the audience to interact even more so.

The Red Bull Hub, located in SoHo of NYC, provided a more laid-back, gaming-art inspired theme.

This recap would feel incomplete without mentioning the sheer astonishment, decadence, and magnitude of the JWT, Red Bull, and Hearst Hubs. I was able to help out on a minimal scale at these respective locations – while still allowing myself time to catch the majority of discussions. One of the biggest draws of the week came on Wednesday at JWT, when CEO & Co-Founder of Foursquare, Dennis Crowley, spoke about the future of location-based mobile platforms. “We live in a dynamic time and I’m excited what Foursquare has in store for the 2011 year” he mentioned during an extremely brief chat following his speech. Upon recent launch of the Foursquare 3.o update, it is even more clear what he meant.

One of the many highlights of my week came at SMW’s Opening Party (New York Public Library) and Closing Party (District 36), respectively. Working alongside Marcel Opilka from Nokia, I was tasked as the primary photographer at Nokia’s Photostation via their brand-new N8 devices. Yes – a camera phone operated photo station, but you’d be surprised, this thing was a tiny beast. The 8-megapixel photos were spot on. I have to thank Jazzo Marrero, of Brooklyn Robot, for assisting me in creative pose-ideation and impromptu PR duties. Our participants were also very clever. Comes with the territory, wouldn’t you say? The Macallan scotch surely aided in this process. You can find most of the pictures here and here. Once taken, the photos were instantly uploaded to SMW’s facebook page and copies were digitally printed to give to participants. Hilarity ensued.

Left to Right: Ben Scheim, Maria Laboy Perez, & Stan Bashmashnikov at SMW's Closing Party (District 36). Photo Credit: Gary He & Insider Images.

Overall, the week ended on a high note. Many thanks to the entire Social Media team – led by Toby Daniels, Brian Leddy, Lauren Hurst, Ben Scheim, and Sara Haile-Mariam. All of the volunteers I met along the way – looking forward to reconnecting once again. It was truly a pleasure working with you all. A fantastic job done on such an immerse, wide-spread scale. The power of social media made it feel like all 5,000+ NYC attendees were in one, intimate setting. And that rare ability to bring so many people together is a true testament to the undoubted longevity of this young industry.

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Stan Bashmashnikov (@stanmichaelbash) runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on topics including online marketing, social media, and innovation. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.

Scott Yager - SMB.com Contributor

BY SCOTT YAGER – SMB.COM CONTRIBUTOR

Lightning Crashes and Dolphins Cry are just a couple of the songs that made Live one of the most popular rock acts of the 90’s.  One cannot argue that the most distinct quality displayed by Live were the heart pounding vocals of Ed Kowalczyk, whose signature look and emotional lyrics became synonymous with 90’s alternative. Still to this day, songs like All over You, Selling The Drama, and many more from the multi-platinum album, Throwing Copper, are played on terrestrial in their daily rotation. Even though the music of Live carries on each and every day, the band itself has grown apart over the past few years and front man Ed Kowalczyk is currently a full-fledged solo artist. His solo album, titled Alive, was released last year and he’s been touring ever since. The second single off of the record, titled Stand, will be released this month.

Ed tells me that his live show is a combination of his new stuff and the Live hits we know and love. “Of course it’s getting in touch with the new record Alive but I’m pulling out some of the old gems as well and some things that people aren’t expecting. It’s a cool set because people don’t know what to expect.”

Typically solo careers can be viewed in two different ways. Some solo careers are much anticipated and seen as growth for the particular artist involved, whereas other solo careers can come to negatively embody the destruction of a once beloved group of performers. Ed seems to view his musical career as two separate entities that do not need to be mutually exclusive. When he talks about his latest solo project one can tell that for a singer/songwriter who has been doing it one way for so many years, that a change of scenery and process was long overdue.

Ed Kowalczyk is currently a full-fledged solo artist. His solo album, titled Alive, was released last year. The second single off of the record, titled "Stand", will be released this month.

“A couple years ago I definitely came to an end of chapter moment in my life where I was just looking for new inspiration. I had been doing it the same way for so long. As soon as I started to think about it in those terms I got really excited about music again and found myself in Austin, Texas with a bunch of new musicians who eventually became my new touring band.”

Ed seems to not only be content with his current career as a solo artist but it seems he has found new ways to reinvigorate himself and the fans, starting with a little tour he created called Open Wings Broken Strings. On the tour Ed and a couple other well-known singer/songwriters strip their songs down to do entirely acoustic sets. On this upcoming leg of the tour Ed is joined by Emerson Hart of Tonic and Leigh Nash of Sixpence None The Richer.

“It’s a cool set because people don’t know what to expect. It’s also a chance for me to talk about the songs and just have a conversation. Besides all the production that we all love so much like the P.A. rockin’ with the full rock band, this is different and people are really diggin’ it.”

Kowalczyk came up with the tour himself and now he just wants to see where it goes. He is the first person to point out the other talent on the tour and really sees it as something that could continue on through upcoming years, exposing fans to their favorite lead singers both up close and personally.

“My vision for the whole thing besides being this sort of stripped down singer/song writer thing was just to continue to leave the door open to see who wants to come do it, we’re real excited to have Emerson coming out and well see who’s next.”

1994's Throwing Copper is a multi-platinum treasure. Even to this day, songs such as Lightning Crashes, I Alone, All Over You, and Selling The Drama are played on daily radio rotations.

Leigh Nash has been a mainstay on the tour thus far and definitely brings a female touch to an otherwise all-male lineup of performers. “Leigh Nash from Sixpence None the Richer, this is another artist where people have heard her band a lot but she starts her show a capella and it’s so beautiful, it sets the tone for the entire night. Then it’s just on from there.”

Unlike some lead singers who eventually break away from the band that made them a household name, it seems like Ed has chosen to embrace his past and combine his old hits with his new ones in an effort to create the total Ed Kowalczyk experience. Some stubborn artists attempt to reinvent themselves completely, distancing themselves from the songs that lent them their initial fan base and thus, are mainly responsible for getting them to see you on the road. Ed certainly does not fall into this category.

By coming up with an all acoustic tour Ed has found a way to dive back into the old library of hits but do so in a fashion that the typical Live fan might have not been exposed to just yet. “It started out kind of humble and small, as an off the cuff idea but it’s really grown into something that people are enjoying.  This tour has reconnected me back to the essence of those songs. People don’t realize that by the time they hear the record its been so produced and made into this huge awesome rock thing, that it starts out really intimately with just me in a room and a guitar, an acoustic guitar is what I write on. In some ways that guy gets lost in the shuffle over the years. “

When I ask Ed about other artists who may have chosen to put their older hits on the back burner during their solo career he seems to respect other artists’ decisions, however it seems like that approach is just not for him. “To each their own but to me it has always been clear to me that every night I want to give everyone a broad vision of who I am as an artist and that includes all my work as the songwriter in Live and up through the present. It always was something where I embraced my whole spectrum of my life as a songwriter.”

Ed seems to not only be content with his current career as a solo artist but it seems he has found new ways to reinvigorate himself and the fans, starting with a tour he created called "Open Wings Broken Strings."

Live and Ed Kowalczyk have always been disproportionately popular in The Netherlands. When I ask Ed why he thinks his music is so huge over there he jokingly says “I wear a wig over there a la David Hasselhoff. But then seriously adds that “I always felt like The Dutch were really interested in my lyrics and really hung on each one. I felt like maybe it’s because everybody can speak English over there as a very close second language, that maybe they took apart the lyrics in a different way because of that and got more out of them and just really connected.”

Some secrets are best kept untold though however as Ed adds, “It’s been kind of a mysterious relationship because it’s something that people ask me about all the time and I say it’s one of those things that I don’t really want to know, I just want it to keep going.”

When I bring up the 90’s as a whole to Ed I get the impression that he thinks back on the era just as fondly as I do, and as most fans of alternative rock music should. “The 90s were definitely the singer era. Singular voices like Eddie Vedder and Billy Corgan. You hear them and you know that they are connected to their music. You can’t even say it’s a connection, it’s a oneness.”

“One of the coolest things that people say to me about a song like Lightning Crashes is that they have been able to grow with the song, in other words, the song still matters to them. If they hear the song in 2011 its not just ‘I remember this song from back in the day’ but it still matters to them. Its still something that they have grown up with rather than out of.”

Ed's solo album entitled "Alive." By coming up with an all acoustic tour, Ed has found a way to dive back into the old library of hits but do so in a fashion that the typical Live fan might have not been exposed to just yet.

Ed looks back on some of the negative responses they got when their music first debuted over fifteen years ago and is now able to view those traits as positive attributes that gave their music legs and kept those songs relevant for so long.

“A lot of criticism of my lyrics was that they were too mature for my age, like here is this 23 year old guy singing about lightning crashes and birth and death and all these big issues…and now from the perspective of fifteen years later, the fact that those songs still matter is because they touched on a timeless element that has really aged extremely well. It’s one of those things as a songwriter that you hope for.”

To someone wondering if they should go to the Open Wings Broken Strings tour to hear classics like Lightning Crashes and Dolphins Cry, of course you should, cause not only will Ed be belting out these famous Live songs from the 90’s but he is stripping them down and performing versions of them you probably haven’t heard or seen before. Choosing to use his separation from the band as a positive artistic influence on his music Ed is performing only with himself and a guitar. Ed even stops in between songs and tells stories about how songs came to be or what they mean to him after all these years.  The level of intimacy at these shows is a rare experience for a long time fan and lending yourself to such a process is not something that every singer/songwriter out there is willing to do. It displays what we call “balls” in an artist to have a confidence in their work and in themselves as a performer to get up on stage without all the distractions that typically make up a larger show.

Open Wings Broken Strings is coming to Norfolk, CT on Wednesday March 2nd. Dates and Locations for the rest of the tour are below!

3/1 State Theater – State College, PA
3/2 Infinity Hall – Norfolk, CT.
3/3 YMCA Boulton Center for Performing Arts – Bay Shore, NY
3/4 City Winery – New York, NY
3/5 Westcott Theater –Syracuse, NY
3/6 Spruce Peak Performing Arts Center – Stowe VT

Ed is also heavily involved with the World Vision Charity and is donating all the proceeds of a special single you can buy online to the cause. Check out www.EdKowalczyk.com for info on how to donate, buy merchandise and keep up with Ed and his solo career.

—-

Scott Yager is also a Managing Editor/Columnist at The Sound Magazine (www.ctsound.info) and Contributing Editor/Columnist at The Campus Socialite (www.thecampussocialite.com).

Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV – SMB.COM

In early December, I was graciously invited by guestofaguest.com to attend a Gen Art Show at the Hudson Hotel in Midtown, Manhattan.  These lavish, who’s who, high-end events are thrown several times a year by the Gen Art Foundation, a subsidiary of the Gen Art Organization. Essentially, Gen Art is an arts and entertainment organization that showcases emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists.

Their productions reach nearly 100 events annually – within populated markets including New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, and Chicago. Gen Art had filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy earlier in May of last year. However, rumors were swirling that they had secured funding from angel investors. I kept asking myself  – would I really be attending their farewell show?

A live fashion show showcasing Jordan Betten's Custom Leather collection served as the centerpiece for the Gen Art Resurrection Benefit.

It was titled the “Resurrection Benefit” – and dubbed “the last Gen Art experience in your lifetime.” The Gen Art Foundation was pulling out all the stops. The genesis of the event was to raise funds to pay back a group of emerging independent filmmakers and fashion designers who suffered economic setbacks when the company was economically-afflicted in early May of 2010. And rightfully so – after 15 years and over 1,000 events – ranging from industries such as fashion, entertainment, music, and media – the company deserved to make a last-stand, if you will, to stay afloat.

The organization has helped introduce names throughout differing industries. Actors Adrian Grenier (Entourage) and Zach Braff (Garden State, Scrubs), and most recently, Rooney Mara (The Social Network) have all been showcased at Gen Art events prior to achieving showbusiness stardom. Brad Anderson (The Wire, Fringe, The Machinist) and Tim Blake Nelson (O Brother, Where Art Thou) were fledgling filmakers trying to make their way to the top when their showcases were previewed at a Gen Art event.

Gen Art showcases photography from up-and-coming professionals such as Miles Ladin (who is not pictured - his photos are the two in the background).

Ultimately – the night proved to be a huge hit amongst the crowd. A red carpet ushered the way for our notable attendees – including Michael K. Williams (The Wire, Boardwalk Empire), Paz De La Huerta (Boardwalk Empire), Norman Reedus (Boondock Saints,  The Walking Dead), in addition to designers Richie Rich and Chrissie Miller of Sophomore. I was lucky enough grab a makeshift-position next to photographers from the New Yorker, Newsweek, and People. Exciting stuff, undoubtedly. While my shots weren’t particularly up to some DSLR standards, a handful were featured on guestofaguest.com. I’ve included the majority of them in the gallery (located at the end of this article).

Another pose with the art - SMB style.

Organizationally and visually – the event was out of this world. A whirlwind of multi-media content was featured everywhere your gazing eyes had turned. The live fashion show/photo shoot was the centerpiece of the show, as young up and coming models and photographers, respectively, aimed to make heads turn. A job well done on all accounts in this area. The theme couldn’t have been anything other than custom leather, which was hand-made and presented by Jordan Betten of Lost Art (who dresses musicians such as Lenny Kravitz and Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler). And let’s not forget about photography. The event featured five emerging photographers – Miles Ladin, Arturo, Sam Bassett, Stephen Meierding, and Michael Wientrob – who all did a remarkable job showcasing their visual talents (Google them).

The talent didn’t end there. I got a chance to speak with Kelly Calabrese, from RealTVFilms (www.realtvfilms.com), who interviewed many of the notable guests in attendance. She mentioned how unique Gen Art truly was – both as an organization and as a benchmark for discovering young, emerging talent spanning numerous industries. While this was considered a goodbye benefit – we both agreed that Gen Art would be back and in full-force in 2011. Only time will tell. Be sure to follow Kelly and RealTVFilms at the aforementioned website as they cover the Sundance Film Festival from Aspen on January 20th – 30th.

Thanks for being great sports, ladies. See what I did there?

Maria Uroos, of DesiROckerz (www.desirockerz.com) is an up-and-coming photographer/graphic designer who offered some great insights as to why photography is her chosen expertise. She noted how much she appreciated the high-level of art being showcased at the event, hoping to one day have her work displayed at a major Gen Art event. I’m real, real optimistic this will one day happen for her. Her style is quite innovative. Be sure to check out her talents on her website, listed above.

My final thought was a composite feeling of respect, awe, and sympathy for the entire Gen Art organization. Because of companies such as themselves – up-and-coming professionals, in whatever industry they made be in, are given the opportunity to showcase their talents to the masses. And all it takes is one person to notice. Our country is built upon this principle to pursue what makes you happy – and it is made better by “talent facilitators” such as Gen Art. I’m optimistic you’ll be hearing their name again in 2011.

–

Stan Bashmashnikov runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on industries such as creative marketing, online media, and social networking. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.

Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV — SMB.COM

“The social media bug has, for the most part, infected most dynamically, innovate industries.” Would you say this is a bold statement? Highly unlikely. It’s a true statement. Let’s face it – If you’re like most people, you’ve accepted the unmistakable need and value that companies such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have provided. More so than ever before, citizens, both abroad and at home, are integrating social media into their daily lives.

Companies are no different. An industry will adopt popular trends and practices brought to light by small companies and/or communities in exchange for increased brand building, maximum exposure, and overall growth.  I wanted to spotlight the event industry – and more specifically, a company called BizBash - for whom I had the opportunity to work alongside with ServedFresh Media, covering the BizBash 2010 Expo & Awards show on October 27th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City.

BizBash, founded in 2000, is already one of the leading trade media companies servicing the event industry. They are multi-faceted: publishing magazines and e-newsletters, hosting Web sites, and producing trade/award shows for corporate event professionals and marketers, sales, PR, fund-raising, and HR execs. Their website, www.bizbash.com, provides users with access to comprehensive, searchable directories of over 7,000 vendors. The database offers photos and coverage of past events, archived magazine issues, and even a job board dedicated to special events-oriented employment opportunities. They truly have extended their arms in many directions. Be sure to visit the BizBash Masterplanner (a subscription-based calendar of events for the current year).

Now – this was an expo showcasing the best of the best in the event industry. An event for people who throw events. It goes without saying that no expense was spared. My initial reaction, during the press preview on the floor before the opening to the general public – was WOW. Normally, a booth at an expo is fairly basic, and quite frankly – often boring. Oftentimes, the company’s table, laid out under a monochromatic theme, showcases a half-way enthused representative who is handing out plain, white business cards. They approach you, but – you often doubt how much they truly believe in what they are selling. If you’re lucky, you get a free keychain. Or fridge magnet. Luxury stuff right? Now imagine the exact opposite of that. This is what I saw: elaborate booth setups, enormous backdrops, 75″ flat-screens, mini-casinos, wine-tastings, the list goes on. It was truly a spectacle and undeniably, some sort of elaborate amusement park for professionals.

In Bloom New York was among several exhibitors that I had the opportunity to interview. Based out of the upper west side of Manhattan, they specialize in full service floral event and venue design. If you’ve ever been to Greenhouse, a high-end club/lounge on the lower west side – you would be pleasantly surprised to know that In Bloom NY fully designed the entire venue. The fact that the first floor feels like you are literally in a Forrest while the upstairs feel like a twisted, underwater location out of the James Cameron movie The Abyss solidifies In Bloom’s unique talent and eye for design. The place is truly remarkable and all credit, visually-speaking, is well deserved. Roshy Naini, Creative Director, mentioned that their Facebook page (located here) has served as a great tool in collaborating with both potential and existing clients. Additionally, their Twitter handle (located here) has been instrumental for their wedding planning business, as various wedding planners have contacted them via Twitter for their expertise. She also informed me that In Bloom was doing VH1′s Save The Music at Cipriani Downtown in early November – a show set to feature performances by John Mayer and John Legend, as well as their official after party.

Bottom floor of club/lounge Greenhouse - designed and created by In Bloom New York

A look at the upstairs looks like an alternate, underwater dimension - courtesy of In Bloom New York

Another exciting company, Frames (formerly Leisure Time Bowl), spoke to me about their recent four-year, $15 million renovation. Located centrally inside the Port Authority in Midtown Manhattan, Frames combines a modern bowling venue alongside a chic bistro-style restaurant and separate dance lounge. They feature 28-bowling lanes with a state-of-the-art soundsystem to accommodate all of your musically motivated needs. Don’t think Frames forgot about using social media – they recently reached out to both Time Out NY and The Village Voice in order to advertise their Facebook Fan page (located here) and their Twitter handle (located here). Although the renovation was obviously both lengthy and costly, the company hopes to be profitable within under a year.

Classy, professional, bowling shoes. Frames NYC features 28 bowling lanes and 2 private ones with VIP.

Newly renovated bistro-style restaurant. Situated close to both the dance floor and arcade room.

One of the most innovate and dynamic parts of this expo was BizBash’s “Social Media Lounge.” Headed by Liz King of LizKingEvents and her team of fifteen, it was a generously sized “chill-lounge” situated directly in the center of the Javits Center. The intent here was genius, yet simple. You stop by, sit down, kick back, relax, and engage in social media. Have a twitter account but don’t necessarily know how to use it? They showed you. Want to join other networks besides Facebook? Done and done. It was a full-service, all-inclusive destination for all your social media needs. Whether you were “tweeting” about the event or “liking” the exhibitors,  it became evident to most who came how much the times had changed in a matter of years. During my interview with Liz King, she modestly informed us that BizBash 2010 was the second-most trending topic on Twitter that day. Incredible stuff – especially knowing you had contributed to such a staggering statistic. She re-iterated how much value social media brought to both companies and individuals. I couldn’t agree more.

TwitPic photobooth sans fake mustache. Photo courtesy of Swig Productions.

Following the award ceremony, all in attendance were invited to the afterparty at SIR’s Stage 37 – an event venue from music industry giant SIR Entertainment. I am beating a dead horse at this point, but once again, no expense was spared. A party, thrown following an event, thrown for event throwers. Still following? There were females-on-stilts-dressed-as-mermaids, impersonators, acrobats, jugglers, live bands, and the like. You really got a sense that everyone involved within the industry subscribed to the motto “Work Hard, Play Hard.” Talk about over the top, this took the cake.

Ultimately – BizBash and ServedFresh Media did a fantastic job – from start to finish. The exhibitors were like nothing I had ever seen and the press staff couldn’t be more accommodating. And when it comes to social media, there isn’t a doubt in my mind that, similar to most industries, the events industry is creating viral buzz – moreso than ever before.

–

Stan Bashmashnikov runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on industries such as creative marketing, online media, and social networking. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.

Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV — SMB.COM.

Barcelona — July 25th – 31st

I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my trip. España. A fabled, Spanish land bulging out of southwestern Europe. I’ve been hearing stories about this place my whole life – yet longing to actually one day visit. Hyping things up seems to be my style. Bartha, as the locals call it, was at the top of my list from day one. Something about their culture has always intrigued me. When I look back, I can confidently attest that there was slim, to very, little let down; Barcelona and Ibiza (next section) were the perfect cities to close-out my tumultuous trip.

Started in 1882. Set to be completed in 2026. The Sagrada Famiglia is Gaudi's most treasured creation.

At this point in the journey – I had seen and been through it all. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating. But I had a head full of stories and a heart full of ideas – all of which I brought back with me. Part of the reason why I am writing a couple months later is because nostalgic reflection and recollection has always been a more rewarding writing experience. A little selfish and slightly self-indulgent. But, I encourage you to try it. Let the events settle in your system for a while. Then, when everything digests, churn out more long-winded, inspired memories. I also procrastinated – but that’s neither here not there! All in all, 5 weeks had now flown by and for some reason – seemed like 5 years. London, where my travels began, seemed like ages ago. I couldn’t believe Barcelona was finally staring me in the face.

Overwhelmed much? Standard menu with over 60 tapas to choose from.

First order of business – Tapas. This is all I ate when I was there (as well as a random occurrence of McDonalds). My logic was simple: try as many different tapas as possible in a span of six days. You might have the opportunity back in the States – but surely, it’ll taste different. I won’t list them all out. Off the top of my head, some that stood out include Tortillas de Camarones (Shrimp Fritters), a Prawn, Artichoke, and Bacon concoction, and Lamb Meatballs – I forget the exact Spanish name but they had me balling. You get the picture. There were as many tapas bars there as there are fast food joints here. Sad but true – why is this nation obese again? Make sure to also try the Valencian-originated, customary dish Paella. Paella is a thing of genius. Simple yet complicated, coming in the form of either seafood, beef, or a blend of both. You are given one of these choices over cooked rice, vegetables, beans, delicious red sauce, and various exotic spices. Add sangria to illuminate your taste buds. The service was exemplary. For a skinny guy, you’d be surprised how much I fancy food – and this was a stellar dish.

Park Guell - Public park (by Gaudi) which is truly an abstract place where everything looks completely out of the ordinary.

Prior to visiting Barcelona, I had never specifically heard of Antoni Gaudi. I’m convinced the name must’ve brushed by me in history class. However – for whatever reason, I had no idea who this individual was. All I knew is that he was a god in Barcelona; one of those men who people admired and praised for decades. Before going, people told me to check out this, and that – all designed by him – and I casually agreed. Hell – what was I supposed to expect? Reserving judgment is something I’ve always been keen of. Trust that your intuition is honest enough to judge things for yourself. I must submit though – his work was truly remarkable.

Some of his best architectural creations include the Casa Mila, Park Guell, and Sagrada Famiglia, which is still unfinished. Let me put this in perspective. The scheduled completion date is sometime in 2026. I say again – 2026! I get anxious when I have to plan 6 months ahead. The Sagrada Famiglia is a massive Roman Catholic church and described as “Gaudi’s magnificent archetoric and religious vision.” The completion date is slated to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of his death. Building began in 1882. Do the math, then do the mental math. It will have been built in 144 years . The extensive amount of cultural, structural, and technological changes in Spanish society since construction began is utterly absurd! This being an incredibly ambitious project would be a complete understatement. Hopefully they make their deadline – the primary centerpiece chapel hasn’t even been started yet.

The Boy Scout: Marshmallow on a stick. Shot of Tequila. Bar on fire. Roast marshmallow, dip into tequila, eat marshmallow, take Tequila. Repeat.

What is an entry about Barcelona without mentioning the nightlife? Quite empty and lacking substance in my opinion. Well – what can I say about the nightlife in Barca – it is on par with NYC, if not better at times. Make sure you are up for it. If New York City is the city that never sleeps, Barcelona is the city the never stops. Seriously. Spanish people don’t eat dinner until around 10pm. And they eat for hours (most European cultures do). They don’t go out until sometime around 1am. And yes – the celebration goes all night. Clubs and Shot Bars rule the realm. Take my word for it – you don’t sleep at night in Barcelona over the summer. You catch up on sleep at the beach during the day.

FCB Stadium - the words translate to "More Than Just A Club."

And what a thing the beaches in Barcelona are. Beautiful, carefree, and extremely welcoming. They are typically very crowded – especially in the summer months. I found the majority of the people to be extremely friendly, contrary to previous destinations on my trip. This is the perfect getaway from noisy, touristy, Barcelona streets such as Las Ramblas. Kick back and stay comfortably-hydrated.

There is a plethora of beach-side clubs and perfectly tucked away shot bars to choose from. Begin the night at the shot bars – they are super laid back and provide a very welcoming atmosphere. Plus, you’ll want to gradually get into party mode before you hit the clubs. I highly recommend one called Gato Negro. Don’t ask me the address. Once again – ask the locals, they’ll know exactly where it is. This was, by far, one of the coolest places to be. One shooter was called the Boy Scout: you are given a marshmallow on a stick and a shot of Tequila.  Bartender pours out some lighter fluid and lights a  small section of the bar on fire. Roast your marshmallow on the fire, dip it into the tequila, eat the marshmallow, and take the Tequila! Honestly – just one big sugar rush. Those that cringe at the sight of Tequila – this completely diminishes the taste, believe me. There were more too. Lets just say that the bartenders in Barcelona like to get creative with fire when serving you drinks. Don’t forget – moderation always. Undoubtedly something you can’t pass up.

Ibiza — August 1st – 4th

Pulling into Ibiza City harbor at 6am following an overnight ferry from Barcelona.

Ibiza is the European version of Las Vegas. This coming from someone who hasn’t even been to Vegas. However, this was the general consensus among those “in the know.” When it comes to culture and rich history – there really isn’t anything notable to speak of. If I recall correctly, the land was overtaken by Spanish conquerors many, many years ago. In today’s day and age, Ibiza is known primarily for one thing: the club scene. The city’s economy rises and falls as a function of the revenue from the clubs. It’s remarkable that this little island, 6 hours southeast of Spain, is home to the largest, most prolific clubs in the world. Over the summer, the resident DJs (meaning they play at least once a week at a specific club) are David Guetta, Tiesto, Armin Van Buuren,  Paul Van Dyk, Swedish House Mafia, and others. For those that don’t know – these five are ranked in

Cafe Del Mor - popular dinner location where large crowds gather to watch the sunset.

the top 10 for DJs in the world. It costs anywhere from 40-70 Euro a night for a ticket. Comparatively speaking – and for a lack of a better example (lets use Rock) – imagine if Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Metallica, U2, and Sublime (who were all big at the same time in the early 1990s) all played weekly at a specific location. That never happens. Nor will it ever. Techno, Trance, and House Music is probably the only genre of music where this can plausibly work. But that’s beside the point. Point being – the island is truly an electric place.

Let’s back up a little. Throughout my journey, most of my travel was done by train. Day, night, overnight, day-bleeding-into-night – it always seemed to be a long and arduous journey. Call me corny – but I was ecstatic to take an overnight 6-hour ferry to Ibiza. Me and my travel buddies, who I had only met in Barcelona, decided it would be a good idea to sleep on the top level of the deck outside. Well – it was a good idea. Sure the temp dropped overnight. Sure, comfort on folding beach chairs isn’t ideal. But when else do you get to wake up to a sunrise  atop of a massive ship, coasting into the harbor of a remote Spanish utopia? There was no dissent amongst the group.

We stayed in the area of Sant Antoni – which is 15 minutes north of Ibiza City. Truthfully – it doesn’t matter where you are geographically situated on the island. Everything is accessible by cab – as most of the major clubs are awkwardly located between the major cities. Taking cabs, unfortunately, is the only way to go (unless you rent a vehicle). It gets very expensive, very quickly. Even after a few days, you’ll be very surprised by how thin your newly acquired, European leather wallet feels. And no, it’s not because the wallet is a slim fit. Make sure you are going in with a decent amount of spending money.

DJ Tiesto. Ibiza. Self-explanatory.

Armin Van Buuren. Armin <3's You.

Roger Sanchez - on the opposite side at Amnesia.

The beaches. What more can I say? I highly stress – do not miss your opportunity to visit Ibiza’s stunning beaches. Spanish beaches, in correlation with their people, are breathtaking and like nothing you and I have probably ever seen. I am proud to say that I went to the best beach I’ve ever been to in my life, thus far, called Cala Conta. The locals treasure this place because it is yet to be “touristerized.” Words don’t do it justice. But I can try – follow along imaginatively. You are walking down an old, lightly color dirt path. Looking directly ahead – you see nothing. You see desert road and blue skies. But – there’s a cliff in the distance. You begin to see cars parked – one after the other.  As you approach closer and closer, you are able to overlook what is beyond the cliff. People. And not in an overwhelming, get-me-out-of-here-it’s-crowded sort of way. Ridiculously attractive ones, at that. Crystal water. Perfect sand. Mojitos made on the spot. Lukewarm water. Swimming with families, and their families, and their families of exotic fishes. Seriously – this place is probably where Microsoft found those default Windows wallpapers that come pre-stocked with your computer. I’ve dreamt of this place ever since, but eventually always seem to wake up.

Cafe Del Mor overlooks the bay - boats, cruise ships, para-sailing.

The clubs. Once again – this is just one of those things where words inevitably fall short. Monday night – we bought tickets to see DJ Tiesto at Privilege, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the largest club in the world. Yes. It was massive. I may be wrong but instinct is pushing me to compare it to the size of a football field. I recall watching old concert footage from places such as the Meadowlands or Wembley Stadium. The scope of the crowd was quite similar to this scale. Regardless, there were people everywhere – in the corner’s corners of your eyes. Dancing, jumping, wailing, falling – this was energy to the max. He put on an incredible show. The following night, we saw Armin Van Buuren at Amnesia. Not as big of a club, but not small by any stretch of the imagination. Such a surreal experience – one night followed by another. There isn’t much to say except to submit and acknowledge that every club in Ibiza is worth the expensive price of admission. Don’t miss out.

—-

And there you have it. This concludes the Summer of Europe 2010. Thanks for reading – and as always, stay tuned for future articles in the Travel section.

Stan Bashmashnikov runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on industries such as creative marketing, online media, and social networking. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.

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Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV — SMB.COM.

Prague — July 14th – 18th

Paris was breathtakingly memorable. Amsterdam was an experience unlike nothing else. Prague was an unexpectedly, pleasant surprise of architectural, cultural, and historic beauty.

Upon mine, Chris, and James’ arrival to the city – we were part of a truly luxurious European train travel expedition. I’m exaggerating slightly – we rode second class. But this speed-demon was nothing like the one from Amsterdam to Berlin. The air was perfectly cool, drowning out the summer day. There were dozens of empty seats. No crying babies on board to disturb your rest. But the icing on the cake? The three-course Czech meal consisting of beef goulash, and other various edibles. The meal could’ve easily been on Top Chef – it was that good. Needless to say, this was starting off on the right foot.

One of the reasons why the Stare Mesto looks like a scene out of a movie at night.

Most people are unaware of the hidden treasure that is Prague, Czech Republic. Typically referred to as the most westernized city in Eastern Europe, it was practically unharmed during World War II. Because of this, most of the old architecture, dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries remains standing. This is remarkable considering that nearly every major city in Europe was bombarded during the war.

First things first – walk down to the Stare Mesto (Old Place) and take in the city’s town square. Out of all the town squares on my trip, I found this one to be one of my favorite. You will find the Orloj, or Astronomical Clock, at the forefront winning over the tourist masses. At the top of every hour, the “The Walk of the Apostles” occurs where puppets, figurines, and other moving sculptures signify the changing of the hour. Every tour guide said the same thing to us – “You will most likely be disappointed with it.” Sure enough, the build up, waiting among the crowd, camera in hand – was much more exciting than 30 seconds of watching toys move around. It’s worth to see – but just to say that you saw it.

Prague Castle at dusk across the river is like nothing you've ever seen before.

Looming across the Vltava River, its hard to miss the city’s most noticeable landmark – the Pražský hrad, or Prague Castle.  And what’s even better? You’ll be mesmerized by the quality, precision, and preservation of the statues lining the Charles Bridge (the bridge that connects the city to the Castle District). This was quite surreal for me. The words ageless and priceless are are an understatement. The golden-embroidery on every statue is something  rarely found anywhere in the world. Whether it be philosophers, poets, and religious figures – the subtle gold lining entrenched within the stone is an instant crowd-pleaser.

We were sure to visit Karlovy Lazne, supposedly regarded to be the largest club in Eastern Europe. I hated this place. Remember high school dances? Remember how awkward and cheesy they were? This place had 5 floors of that. I can guarantee that the overwhelming majority of the people here were teenagers. Talk about a tourist trap. Don’t believe the hype. This place also charged a hefty cover – all for a major let down. Again – consider going here, but just to say that you went.

The Old Jewish Cemetary is a must see. No longer in use, the oldest headstone reads Avigdor Kara, 1479.

Don’t forget to eat. Two of my favorite meals of the trip were here. The country’s national dish is Roast Duck Neck (and other crazy variations of Duck). Now, depending on how big of a Duck fan you truly are – you still have to appreciate the delicious goodness the Czech prepare. One night – we ate this specialty dish in front of the Astronomical Clock. Again – a Top Chef nominated dish, in my opinion. On a completely different night, after the guys had left – an even better meal. Tucked away in a small, village-like street, me and my friend Donna found a Russian restaurant. Completely authentic; I felt like my mom was cooking. They even asked me what my last name was. We feasted with a traditional Russian lunch – complete with Bouillon Soup, Pelmeni, and Ribs.

Praha  houses a very prominent Jewish district in the northwest part of town. Above all, the Jewish Cemetery immediately blew me away. In addition to the fact that it is literally hundreds, and hundreds of years old, all the graves are stacked atop one another. A designated path takes you on a walking tour through generation after generation of deceased souls. The headstones are breathtaking, leaning atop one another like spectators at a concert. They are surprisingly well preserved for something so old. It was truly an eerie feeling walking through there.

Budapest — July 19th – 21th

I wasn’t even supposed to go to Budapest.  The initial plan was to visit Vienna. I couldn’t really associate Vienna with anything right off the top of my head. Don’t let this be your reason for visiting a place. It was just mine – at the time. Upon heavy contemplation, via Google Image search, in addition to a few intriguing conversations  – I decided I was going to pull the proverbial travel-trigger and take an evening train to Buda. Here is the story.

The Baths at Budapest - the picture doesn't do justice to how massive this place was.

It was the furthest East my journey had taken me. And for about an hour – I was questioning it. Let me elaborate. My train arrived around 23:00 (11:00pm). Now – I arrived late-night in both Paris and Brussels – and had no problem getting comfortably acquainted with the general surroundings. People were out and about. Lampposts illuminated narrow, dark streets. The shadiness factor was minimal. But for some reason – Budapest was slightly different. The Keleti train station gave off a deserted, Wild West aura. Honestly, the place felt completely deserted. Once the remaining passengers scattered, I swear I must’ve been alone with a handful of homeless people, who were asking for money in this extremely wide open terminal. The bus stop was right outside. I finally made my way to my hostel. Surprise, surprise! They overbooked me. The owner, an older, lanky man in his mid-50s with a thick Slavic accent, drove me to a sister hostel. The kind gesture was much appreciated – really couldn’t be picky at this point. I felt a little uncomfortable though – and he was driving a BMW 6 series. Really? Is the Hostel business really that good? He pulled up to an old, project style building and walked me in. No lights. No elevator. A putrid, dark staircase. We were going to the 6th floor. My guard was undeniably up at this point. He opened the door and I let out a huge sigh of relief – an American receptionist greeted me and I saw other, young travelers watching an episode of The Office in the background. The moral here? Not sure – but it definitely had me on edge.

The view from Buda - Parliament Building across the Danube River.

Onto the history! The sheer size of Budapest amazed me right off that bat. The city is divided into two parts: Buda and Pest. Buda lies west of the Danube River, while Pest lies east. Geographically, the layout reminded me of Paris and London. An enormous river running through a massive area of land. While the city is united and sovereign – the general feel in both areas is vastly different. Buda sports a country-side, hilly vibe. Quaint villages and narrow hillside pathways sprawl across the mountainous region. Buda Castle is located here – and is definitely worth hiking up to for the incredible views. Expect nothing but peace and serenity from an area called Buda. Pest is more urban, city-dweller, business district-esque. Consider it the central area for everything finance, government, and economics. Noisy and urban.

Stunning Church located directly in Pest.

Out of all the things to check off your “travel list” – spending a day at the Turkish baths unmistakeably takes precedent. Budapest is very well known for having exquisite baths. They don’t play around. An all day pass ranges anywhere from fifteen to twenty-five euro. With all the amenities and cool side sections (whirlpool, sauna, hot/cold jacuzzi, etc.) – it pays for itself. This was the perfect break for my trip. Backpacking, you are walking five miles every day – at the minimum. Assuming you go during the summer, you are sweating through your clothes for the majority of the time. This wears you down – mentally and physically. And personally, you can only see so many town halls, grand squares, churches, and bridges before it gets repetitive. Not to say that you won’t appreciate it – by god, you still will. But – it loses its novelty. Anything that will take you away from being an obvious tourist, do it! Thank me later.

Munich/Dachau– July 22nd – 24th

Center city in Munich, down the street from St. Michael's Church.

Bavaria is an experience in and of itself. Much like Budapest, my stay here was short but sweet. The southern German city is primarily known for one thing – Beer. Lots of it. I forget the exact statistic – but during Oktoberfest, they consume a lot of it. Enough to fill lakes, rivers, and oceans. Wormholes in space. If it were water, it would cure malnourished children in Africa and put out fires in Los Angeles. You get the picture. So it goes without saying that the vibe here, when compared to Berlin, is vastly different. It would be like comparing Apples to Antelopes. Conservatives to liberals. America to Europe. There is a huge difference.

A visit to the famous Hofbrahaus goes without saying. Hitler and the Third Reich frequented Munich’s most famous beer hall, complete with 3-floors and over 700 seating locations. Everything is still vintage – from the carvings on the tables to the Liederhosen worn by the staff. Although it has become very touristy, most visitors will still be in for a great time. Talk about instant friends. As soon as you sit down – you’re family. Like Olive Garden but it doesn’t absolutely suck. Sorry Olive Garden – you can’t turn grandma’s old

Food and drinks at the world-famous Hofrahaus - no words, just delicious thoughts.

Italian recipes and mass produce them. Me and my new friends took a seat amongst hundreds. We feasted on delicious bratwursts, frankfurters, wiener schnitzels – you name it, we had it. And of course, the house brew in a liter mug was a home run. Try it all or you will regret it!

In terms of the nightlife, check out Osterpark Ost on Graffingerstrasse. That sounds confusing – I know. The cab drivers and locals know where it is. Essentially, it is a sectioned off street, weaving in and out of itself, consisting of an absurd number of Bavarian clubs, bar, and lounges. I’m talking 20+ here – all tightly knit into a relatively small space. The street runs rampant with debauchery, yet still feels very well controlled. Europe does a good job in figuring this out. I compare it to Bourbon St. with a clubby, Bavarian twist. Did I just coin Bavarian St? Maybe.

Dachau Memorial put up in 1997 - words not seen here read "Never Again" in Hebrew, French, German, Russian, and English.

Now, I’ve probably overused the word “sobering” throughout my writings. I believe it justifies itself. The overall theme of the trip seemed to shift day-by-day. A day at the beer garden followed a night out can easily be overshadowed by one expierence of culture and history. Obviously – Dachau was this. This was my 2nd concentration camp of the journey, Sachenhausen (outside of Berlin) being the first. Officially opened in 1933, it was the first of its kind. Many of the forthcoming camps were modeled after this one. Needless to say – it made me feel the same way as Sachenhausen. For a lack of being wordy – it was, once again, appalling to see the grounds. And hear the stories being told by the guides. It rained too. Lot of very elderly people too. Made me wonder – a lot. Kind of brings you down to Earth, or just down in general. But that doesn’t matter much. What matters is the memory that will resonate with me for a long, long time. Dachau is a sobering place.

Stay Tuned for Part IV concluding my travels with Barcelona and Ibiza.

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Stan Bashmashnikov runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on industries such as creative marketing, online media, and social networking. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.

Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV — SMB.COM.

Amsterdam — July 7th – 11th

Amsterdam. Still gives me chills when I say that word. The mix of culture, architecture, and eclecticism certainly sets the city apart from any other place I’ve ever been to. Talk about liberal and free-spirited individuals – they certainly practice what they preach. You always hear about it from your friends, but nothing compares to experiencing it first hand.

For this portion of my journey, two of my good buddies from home, Chris and James, flew over from the States. Thanks. Although maybe I shouldn’t say thanks – how can you even question passing up an opportunity to travel Europe!? Traveling alone is great – the sheer independence builds so much character, but after a while, you miss being around those that know you best. Guys – you couldn’t of picked a better time to visit.

The Old Church, conveniently located right across the Red Light District.

I’ll begin by saying this: Amsterdam is a modern day Pirate Town. Funny right? Everybody I met generally agreed with this statement. Seriously – “You take what you want, and you give nothing back.” Think of it as organized lawlessness. In most cities, anarchy would ensue. Yet, Amsterdam has brewed (pun intended) the formula to keep literally everybody happy. No wonder the Dutch control the largest port in the world southwest in the city of Rotterdam. I bet back in the olden days, Jack Sparrow and company called this place a permanent residence.

Amsterdam is very safe. We didn’t come across any particularly shady areas, or witness absurd acts of violence. We witnessed absurdity – but that’s neither here nor there. Indulge in my philosophy for a moment: Law and order exists here, but very, very loosely. Consider “the law” as an underground practice: it exists but isn’t necessarily visible to you. Because of their incredibly liberal, hands-off approach in government, people are naturally good and as long as they are happy, are not susceptible to doing anything stupid. More simply put – the stress-free, care-free vibe of the city prevents any need to riot, murder, or misbehave. It is truly a democracy. You have to love the Dutch.

Expensive Dutch Townhouses - traditional architecture at its finest form

The architecture is another facet that cannot be ignored. The traditional, rounded top townhouse style that fills the city at nearly every street corner truly sets Amsterdam apart from anything else in the world. If and when you visit, you will immediately notice that some of these buildings are leaning forward. It’s hard to miss – trust me. Way back when, a genius architect decided to design the buildings to lean a few feet forward. The intention was that when furniture was being rope-lifted up using the pulley mounted at the top, it would be further away from the house and thus, not hit anything on the way up. Ridiculous theory. Somebody clearly more intelligent came along and proposed to just make the pulleys longer. Longer pulley = no more leaning houses. That’s why some lean, and some don’t (and a few lean because of water erosion). The more you know.

The canals and the unique architecture set this city apart from most.

I have to talk about the Red Light District. After all, how can I not. You always hear about it but like most things in life, seeing is believing. The concept works so well for the Dutch. These ladies rent out “windows” and “beds” to advertise themselves to potential clients. Notice how I tried to keep that as PC as possible? You walk up to them and negotiate a fair price. If she finds the price to be right, the magic happens. If you try and act out, well, watch out. We witnessed an individual take pictures with his camera. Immediately, the lady chased him down, smashed his camera to pieces, and poured urine on his head. True story – they take their job seriously. But I digress. I’m in Marketing and let me tell you – some of them need to take Branding 101. This is a business! Some are texting on their cell phones while others gossiping with their next-door neighbors. Forgive me for sounding like a pimp here… but lady, you’re working in Amsterdam during tourist season – show some effort! We figured out a subtle, yet effective, correlation: the narrower the alleyway, the more attractive the female was. This makes sense too. Less traffic, more safety, and some privacy: this was the only part of the business model that actually made sense.

World, this is where your Heineken comes from.

I haven’t forgotten about you, World Cup 2010. Yes, I was in Amsterdam during the world cup final match between Netherlands and Spain. My attempt to put it into words will undoubtedly fall short. You just had to be there – it was the single, greatest mix of culture, entertainment, and sports that I have ever been a part of. The Saturday before the final, and the Sunday leading up to the match at 20:30PM(8:30PM) – the city was electric. These videos will hopefully offer up a thousand words. Imagine a city engulfed in orange everything: buildings, cars, lamp posts, restaurants, kids, dogs, cats, etc. Even the escorts in the windows sported Van Persie and Robben jerseys! Everywhere you turned – you were either blinded by the orange decor or deafened by the orange Vuvuzelas, which I ended up purchasing. The city set up 5 enormous TV Screens in Museumplein, a huge outdoor field located next to the city’s two most famous museums, the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum. Can you beat this view?

Now, describing the environment at this field is truly something out of a movie. I look at the pictures and still smile. Chris, James, and I were able to get atop a 4-story makeshift building for a better look. The view was breathtaking – something that will never fade from my memory. These videos pretty much sum up what 300,000 people, from all over the world I might add, look like rooting for their team on the biggest day during the largest, multi-cultural sporting event in the world.

You really can’t beat that. Such a rare opportunity, and yet, it was the perfect storm of European summer travel, a world cup finale, and the most laid back city in the world. Visit – you’ll come back with stories, guaranteed.

Berlin/Sachenhausen — July 12th – 13th

The Brandenburg Gate is clearly the centerpiece to this stoic city.

Following what had to be one of the most miserable 6 hour train rides, mainly due to the fact that there was no AC on our 100 degree train, we arrived in the German capital of Berlin. Right off the bat, the city felt desolate and deserted. The words eerie, still, and lifeless first came to mind. Berlin is actually underpopulated; the city is built for 5 million people but only inhabits less than half of that. Plus, it was scorching outside.

Although the war is over, Berlin still breathes as two distinct cities: East and West Berlin. Sure, the wall came down nearly twenty years ago. But the remnants – both culturally and physically – still remain. West Berlin boasts most of the financial sector and generally feels very Westernized, in terms of restaurants, shops, and general population. On the other hand, East Berlin is more grungy, alternative, and eclectic; the majority of the buildings sport graffiti and the inhabitants were definitely much more “unique.” Honestly, I loved both areas. I never shy away from cities that offer up something for everyone. Its just mind-boggling to think how different the residents in both areas were.

Holocaust Memorial; starts out shallow and low - the deeper you go, the lower the ground is and the taller the columns are. Clearly, a visual metaphor for what happened.

Berlin isn’t just different geographically. The city, during the day, is as proper and stoic as they come. Much like London, statues and memorials commemorate fallen generals of past. Everywhere you turned – you could see a statue in your sights. Being a Jewish male, walking through the Brandenburg Gate for the first time – I must admit there was a sense of apprehension and uneasiness. I remember watching old Leni Riefenstahl propaganda films in my general education classes where the Third Reich would parade in on their old Rolls-Royces through those gates. Incredible to think I actually walked through 70 years later.

And the famous Berlin nightlife scene. You never would think so if you only saw the city during the day. The city is home to very posh, exclusive clubs – most of which I forget the name of. Somebody mentioned that celebrities from the likes of Kate Moss, Lindsay Lohan, and Colin Farrel frequent Berlin for these specific venues. Who knew – I never would have guessed. Although we only had one night to experience, it really does live up to expectations – highly recommend checking it out. Just ask the locals and they’ll tell you all about where to go.

Prisoners were shot if they stepped onto the "Neutral Zone." It was common for prisoners to be killed this way, not because they attempted to escapes, but because they viewed it as the quickest, simplest end to their suffering.

The culmination of this leg of the trip was an hour away in Sachenhausen – the 2nd Concentration Camp that opened following Dachau in 1933. To say this was a sobering expierence would be an understatement. Again – I reiterate – Jewish male, holocaust family history, first time visiting a concentration camp. Definitely a surreal experience. Makes you appreciate everything tenfold.

As I was first walking in, listening to the tour guide provide a general background of the location, I couldn’t help but imagine the thousands of families being marched on the same ground I was now standing on. The entrance to the camp is a large iron gate with a clock at the top. The clock reads 11:07 – the time the camp was liberated in 1945. As all concentration camps did, the gate has the words “ARBEIT MACHT FREI” inscribed, meaning “Work Will Set You Free.” This was the Nazi’s way of falsely legitimizing the camp – declaring it as a prison where “hard work” and “due diligence” lead to reward and eventual restoration of rights. Fittingly, they called this “Station A.” The gas chamber/crematorium they called “Station Z.” You went from A to Z.

"Station Z" - the last station.

I can describe so much more – but I think most people get the idea. Walking around these was definitely not easy. Stepping onto those campgrounds made me cherish everything I have back home. It sounds cliche, but I realized something: how lucky I was. No matter your religious preference – it deserves a day’s worth visit.

Stay Tuned for Part III including Prague, Budapest and Munich.

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Stan Bashmashnikov runs stanmichaelbash.com, focusing on industries such as creative marketing, online media, and social networking. Please visit the Contact Me link at the bottom of the page for more info.