Jan 21, 2008

Face to Facebook

I consider myself to be something of an early adopter, but there’s one party I’ve come to late: Facebook. The social networking site launched in 2004, but I only caved to friends’ endless urging and joined about two weeks ago (another latecomer: Chicago senior editor Jeff Ruby; see his hilarious attempt at a Facebook profile). And now, here I am: a true convert, posting messages to The Boyfriend to ask when he’s bringing dinner over. It helped that I read in the February issue of Entrepreneur magazine that more than half of Facebook’s 60 million uses are over the age of 25. That’s my demographic, whether I like it or not.

Some folks use the site mostly to connect with old friends—and I did hear from my long-lost eighth-grade boyfriend, who recently relocated to Israel—but I’m an even bigger fan of the “groups” and “events” functions. Users can alert friends and friends of friends about parties they’re hosting, making Evite a thing of the past. PR types have been using the tool to spread the word about bar openings and launch parties—a handy tip for all of us who love the nightlife. Berry Chill Yogurt Couture, a frozen-yogurt spot aiming to target the late-night crowd with a 4 a.m. closing time on weekends, hasn’t even opened yet and it already has 512 friends. 

Coming up this week, per Facebook: Celebrity DJ Samantha Ronson returns to Crimson Lounge to spin Friday from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. And next Monday, the 28th, the Lookingglass Theatre Junior Board holds a party for potential new members at Rockit Bar and Grill: “Calling all fun, socially active, philanthropic young professionals with a passion for building innovative and cutting-edge art and theatre in Chicago,” the Facebook notice reads.

Next Friday, February 1st, Bright Pink founder Lindsey Avner (a Facebook “friend” of mine) is hosting a charity event at Le Passage; 100 percent of the proceeds will benefit the group’s efforts supporting women with breast and ovarian cancer. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $40 for VIP. Facebook lets users see how many guests are confirmed or undecided for each event; as of this writing, 177 people and counting are slated to attend the Bright Pink bash. I’m planning on covering the party for Last Girl Standing, then linking to the blog from my Facebook page. Hey, some of the gimmicks may be for kids, but Facebook’s not a bad tool for a busy adult world.

Posted at 04:33 PM in Nightlife | Permalink

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