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Creative Week ’11

// May 31st, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Events, News, Social Media

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.

–

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

Social Media Week ’11

// March 11th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Events, News, Social Media

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.

–

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.

BizBash Expo & Awards 2010

// December 6th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Events, Social Media

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.

Summer of Europe 2010: Part II

// September 7th, 2010 // No Comments » // Travel

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.

—-

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.

Summer of Europe 2010: Part I

// August 17th, 2010 // No Comments » // Travel

Stan Bashmashnikov - SMB.com

BY STAN BASHMASHNIKOV — SMB.COM. It’s hard to put into words what my six weeks in Europe were like. My go-to, responses have been to the effect of incredible, eye-opening, sobering, culturally-shocking, and one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. These are all strong words and statements. I know this sounds cliche, but sometimes, words don’t necessarily do enough justice when trying to convey, to both your friends and loved ones, just what you experienced. And yet, all of them seem to encompass what the trip was like – and much more.

I kept a travel journal throughout the trip. Mine had a specific catch. Not only does it contain my personal entries, but also those from the people I met along the way. The concept came about when I realized that I wanted to create something authentic that I can take back and reflect from this trip. Souvenirs and gifts are great, but they only go so far. With my “black book,” I can look back to specific days and bathe in the nostalgia. Living in the past is no good, but when it comes to visiting Europe, I mean c’mon, I think most would make an exception. Whoever I met and shared an experience with, I would ask to write in my book.  I’m sure I uttered the words “Do you want to write in my book?” at least a hundred times. While some people were completely turned off to the idea, the majority embraced it. Trust me – there are very good entries. They are confidential of course. Special thanks to those who were able to be a part of it.

This article, along with Parts II and III (coming soon) are meant to be both a personal account and a rough-guide for Western Europe. Some parts you may not agree with. Other parts may not be relevant to you in any way, shape, or form. Hell – I began the trip nearly eight weeks ago and here I am, sitting at my desk, trying to recollect everything using just my memory and my book. Take it for what it is. Just know the underlying message I am trying to convey — everybody needs to take an extended trip like this at least once in their lives. You will not regret it.

London — June 24th – 28th

Have you ever been to New York City? London is a smaller NYC with a really cool accent. It seriously felt like I never left Manhattan. The city is divided into neighborhoods that all have their own, unique little personalities and vibes (The West End, Uptown, etc.). Much like NYC, there is a theater district, grunge scene, art district, etc. Then you have your very own Times Square called Piccadilly Circus. Okay, its not as over-the-top annoying as the real times square, but it still gets the award for an awfully large, touristy area with an abundance of pickpockets. Wallets in your front pockets at all times. For this portion of my trip, it ironically didn’t feel like Europe, but merely an extension of back home.

London Eye in the background, along the River Thames.

I don't normally take pictures of Telephone Booths, but when I do, I prefer London Telephone Booths.

The actual city and what is most popularly known as London is actually divided between the City of London and the City of Westminster. All of the major tourist sites reside within these two cities. The free walking tours offered by Sandeman’s New Europe are the best. You get an enthusiastic, witty tour guide who takes you and a group around the major sites. If you are traveling alone, make sure to take these tours and make some new friends.

Can you say Monarchy? Buckingham Palace.

London is very serious when it comes to maintaining their security. There are over 40,000 CCTV cameras positioned in every street corner imaginable. The police presence is unmistakable. You will always know Big Brother is watching. Be careful — because they are very strict about almost everything, and out of all of the cities I visited, were the least lenient when it came to “fun.”

Big Ben looms in the distance accross the River Thames.

One of the highlights of this part of my trip had to be when England v. Germany was broadcast. The city was a ghost town – every living soul crowded the local pubs in town. Me and an Australian buddy of mine, James, visited a place uptown. What an experience. Talk about the definition of the word “rowdy brit.” English football fans live and die by their team. Although their team was eliminated from the World Cup playoff round, they still celebrated. We walked to Trafalgar Square where dozens of fans jumped in the fountain and began singing. London 2012 anyone?

The nightlife scene was fairly standard for a major city. I say this because it was well within the comfort zone. I’m used to the bars and clubs in Manhattan and this was no exception. The higher-end places demanded strict dress codes. You had your college bars where 2-for-1 drink specials encouraged playing tonsil hockey with somebody you had met about an hour ago. The hole-in-the-wall dive bars welcomed you with pints, and pints, and more pints of their finest house brews. Truthfully, it was nothing out of the ordinary. NYC is a little more classy, which suits my preference. But hey, to each his own. My only complaint – everything shuts down around 1am. You win again, NYC, and remain far ingrained in my heart.

St. Paul's Cathedral at sunset.

I must say – London is a good starting point for Americans planning on traveling through Europe. It’s almost unfair to travel to Europe and be in a city where English remains the most common language. The adjustment is subtle but still enough to force change. Be prepared to see the sun set at 10:30pm and rise at 4:00am over the summer. Also, don’t get turned off when the British scorn at your American accent. And please, attempt to speak with a British accent as often as possible. While you may get some looks and ruffle a few eyebrows — it’s so worth it! Some tension may still exist several centuries later. But over a pint, everyone becomes each other’s best friend.

Paris/Versailles — June 29th – July 3rd

Ah, Paris. You weren’t even supposed to be part of my trip. I visited you back when I was a wee-lad in my 13th year of life. Ireland was supposed to be the next stop. Yet, how glad am I to have so spontaneously changed my mind – because this was potentially my favorite city of the whole trip. Everyone should visit Paris.

The actual city itself is huge. It is so spread out that it took me a good 20 minutes on the subway everytime I needed to get to a major destination. Every train is local. The concept of “express trains” really doesn’t apply here. As most urbanized, metropolitan city dwellers know, these big cities get really humid in the summer time. Paris was no exception – I don’t weigh much, but I swear I must’ve sweat out a good five pounds over six days. Every day, walking around with a travel backpack on, logging at least 5 miles a day — there will be sweat. Additionally, be prepared to get harassed by street vendors selling.. you guessed it.. designer handbags, sunglasses, and watches! I mean, its got to be real Gucci if they say it is right!? Just walk by and ignore – it will save you valuable time.

Spain v. Portual + Eiffel Tower = C'est Bon.

But on to the good stuff. My trip consisted majorly of lodging in Hostels. Some of you may have cringed when you saw that word. Others maybe immediately thought of the movie. It’s completely not what you have been conditioned to think. For those unfamiliar with the concept, Hostels offer limited amenities, much  like Motels do here in the States, but make up for it with a great social environment (lounge, on-site bar, game room, etc.). Remember when you lived in those crammed college dorms your Freshman and Sophmore year? Imagine that, but people from literally every corner of the world. Plus, everybody is also traveling, thus is in the same adventurous mindset. Great experience. If you’re a twenty-something traveler and you like meeting new people, don’t think twice. This is easily the way to go.

Paris was my first realization of how truly lucky I was to be traveling Europe. And additionally, how perfectly convenient that it was also during the World Cup! The Spain v. Portugal match was on later in the day and a group of new friends and I decided, why not watch it? Wouldn’t you know – there was an enormous TV screen set up in front of the Eiffel Tower. It wasn’t until I was sitting there with my new friends – with our bottles of Merlot, at least 6 different types of cheeses, baggetes, crepes, assorted cold cuts — watching Spain score that first goal amidst a crowd well over 100,000, and the Eiffel Tower in the background. Hearing “Waving Flag” and “Waka Waka” play while people were waving their countries flags and dancing like Shakira. Yeah – that was one of those moments I will definitely not forget for a long, long time.

The Royal Palace at Versailles

Gardens at Versailles - the French are very good at controlling nature.

A day-trip to Versailles is a must. I hear visiting Normandy an hour outside of town is too, which I unfortunately didn’t get to do. Bear in mind, you will be doing a lot of walking through the gardens at Versailles. Fun history facts for you history buffs (Yes – I still remember these off the top of my head). Versailles is where France was ruled during most of the 18th and 19th century by King Louis XIII and later on, the XIV. The country was essentially a monarchy. The palace at Versailles is comparable to Buckingham Palace where the Queen “rules” in England. It is also where the Treaty of Versailles was signed that ended WWI. And last but not least – back in the late 1800s, a document was signed that created Germany in the Hall of Mirrors. Let me say this again – Germany was created in France. No kidding right?

The Sacre C'Oeur atop Montmartre.

Hopefully the brief history lesson didn’t bore you. It’s okay if it did. Onto more stories. A great place to go at night is, believe it or not, anywhere along the River Seine. Try and get close to the Cathedral de Notre Dame. Hundreds of people come out to sit by the water and listen to these mini-concerts that go on. I went with a friend on a Wednesday evening and the river was alive. Believe me when I say, sitting near the water with the cathedral directly in front of you, observing the French culture with your bottle of.. you guessed it.. wine: little sappy, but memorable nonetheless. Another memory is my last night at the Sacre C’Oeur (Sacred Heart). The Sacre C’Oeur is less popular than Notre Dame, but once you see it, you immediately appreciate it. It sits atop a hill in Montmartre. During WWII when Paris was bombed from the sky, legend has it that numerous bombs were dropped all around the church but not one soul perished. It feels like the most peaceful part of the city. Watching the sunrise on the steps of this place with the opposite sex was something out of a movie. I’m extremely classy. If you have the chance – stay up and make some memories at the Sacre C’Oeur.

A view from the inside of the Louvre.

You’re probably asking yourself, well what about the touristy stuff Stan? I want to be a tourist. You’ll need to spend a good amount of time at the Louvre. I forget the exact fact, but it goes something like this: If you were to spend 30 seconds on every painting and sculpture in the Louvre, you would be there for 25 days. The place is enormous. Know what you want to accomplish, grab a museum map, and go. I spent about four hours there and was thoroughly “museumed-out” afterward. Obviously, you’ll want to climb Tour de Effiel. You can muscle it and walk up to the halfway point like I did. Or you can take a lift to the tippy-top, which I didn’t have time to do. Either way, it’s best way to catch a panoramic glimpse of this beautiful city. Some other notables include Museum D’Orsay, where you will find Van Gogh’s famous self-portrait. Moulin Rouge is a good show to catch if you are willing to spend 90 Euros. For authentic French culture and cuisine, climb to the Montmartre district. It’s easy to find – the Sacre C’Oeur (Sacred Heart) Church is the centerpiece.

Brussels — July 4th – 6th

Chocolate and Beer. Seriously, these are literally the only two reasons to visit Brussels. I’m not trying to sound closed minded, but the culture and sense of nationalism seemed to be absent here. But the former two words? The city thrives on it! Any street corner or local store that you turn to, you are immediately being enticed into purchasing either a chocolate something or a nice, cold, delicious, Belgian ale. I can’t blame them. The chocolate comes in various shapes and sizes, ranging from little, bite size truffle candy to 3 foot candy bars. I bought a waffle, strawberry, banana, raspberry, chocolate syrup concoction that left me in a sugar coma for a good half hour. Don’t forget to bring some back home, or your parents will be very angry with you.

It tastes just as good as it looks - awesome.

The Grand Place, where you will find the best chocolate and beer vendors in town.

Belgian beer is a thing of beauty. I fell in love with blondes all over again – Blonde Belgian Ales such as Duvel really go down smoother than anything back in the States, and taste phenomenal. Leffe also sticks out in my mind as something that I recall being really great tasting. Trust me, you can’t go wrong walking into a Belgian pub and getting a pint of whatever is on tap.

The Atomium, built for the '58 Worlds Fair.

Brussels' most famous statue: Mannequin de Pis, or "Little Peeing Boy."

A 20 minute subway ride north is The Atomium. Built for the 1958 Brussels Worlds Fair, it provides the best view of the city. You walk through the different spheres on your way up, learning about the history of the city. Personally, it was interesting but only for a few minutes. Still worth it to go.

Stay Tuned for Part II including Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague.

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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.

The Return of SMB.com

// May 19th, 2010 // No Comments » // News

After a year long hiatus, stanmichaelbash.com is back!

I am going to keep this posting very short – as there is still much work to be done with the site. Stay tuned.