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When we were planning our tour we easily pegged San Francisco and Los Angeles as markets that we wanted to visit. And we knew that we needed something in between. A look at the Google map pointed us to San Luis Obispo. But we had never heard of this magical place that they call SLO. Who could we visit? What could we do?

A quick call to the Chamber of Commerce turned us to Missy at iiiDesign. Missy and the iiiDesign crew told us all about their market, and introduced us to SLOCAMA, the San Luis Obispo Creative and Marketing Alliance.

They scheduled a SLOCAMA meeting at the iiiDesign Studios for marketing, creative and internet workers. To meet and greet with the passengers of the Plaid van. What cool people. Super friendly, engaging and full of fun. We traded road stories and agency shop talk. And made new friends in a place where we all now want to live.

The iiiDesign space was super. They've moved in with Big Images and Delicious (not that delicious, but another delicious), and renovated an old garage/mechanic building, turning it into the ultimate creative studio. It's a group space, shared with all three firms. The end result is a sweet place filled with inspired creatives and a collaborative work environment.

If that weren't enough, after directing us to an awesome location for the 11:40 show, then treated us to a BBQlicious lunch at the Firestone Grill.

Thanks everyone in SLO for getting a little Plaid today!!

Labels: san luis obispo, tweetups

posted by darryl ohrt at 5:49 PM 0 Comments

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Our tweet up tonight took place at the British Banker's Club. Kind of appropriate for a town living on loads and loads of VC cash.

Really cool people stopped by to chat about good times, bad times, gossip and technology. Plaid love was shared (through swag and free drinks), contact info was exchanged, and potato chips were eaten.

We met Brian Shaler, Ryan Kuder, Shel Israel, JJ and a bunch of other really cool people.

We snapped some pics and then hit the road for a long drive to San Luis Obispo. Thanks to the Social Media Club for setting this up and making it all happen!

Labels: san francisco, swag, technology, tweetups

posted by darryl ohrt at 11:01 PM 0 Comments

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Somewhere in between San Francisco and Los Angeles is a place called San Luis Obispo. Everyone knows someone in the major markets, but what are we to do when the Plaid van drives through San Luis Obispo? More importantly, how will we ever learn to pronounce San Luis Obispo in front of the locals?

Lucky for us, there's iiiDesign and SLOCAMA. Missy at iiiDesign hooked us up. Gave us the low down on San Luis Obispo. Taught us that we can call the place "SLO." And introduced us to the SLOCAMA group.

San Luis Obispo Creative and Marketing Alliance (now you see why they call it SLOCAMA) set up a special meet and greet for Plaid. We'll get to hang with the cool people in town. Trade marketing and brand ideas. Share stories. Learn where the cool people eat good food.

Look for us in SLO on Tuesday, July 29!

Labels: tour route, tweetups

posted by darryl ohrt at 2:35 PM 1 Comments

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The new tour shirts are here! We're stoked. They look awesome. If you invite us to visit your place while on tour, you'll be getting one of these. We're also giving them free to the first five people who sign up for our TweetUps, in each market.

RJ says that you're going to look totally hot in these tees. So even if you don't live or work on the west coast, you may want to book airfare now and meet us in the city of your choice. T-shirts worthy of your travel. Only on the Plaid Summer Tour.

Labels: swag, tshirts, tweetups, van goodies

posted by darryl ohrt at 12:58 PM 0 Comments

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We're having a TweetUp in Vegas, so that the entire town can stop gambling and having sex for just a moment. (And think about creative ideas, and social media.)

Come join us August 1, 8:30am at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, 4550 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas.

Sign up on the dashboard. The first five people to register get a FREE Plaid tour t-shirt!

Judging from the website, it looks like we can expect a bunch of cute dogs sipping coffee there. I'm not sure if that's true or not, and we are only hoping to meet some fun marketing, creative and internet workers from Vegas. But we'll settle for dogs, if that's all we're given.

Labels: swag, tweetups

posted by darryl ohrt at 1:05 PM 1 Comments

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A friend in Los Angeles says that Peets is the bomb. So Peets it is for our Los Angeles TweetUp, too!

Come hang with us at the Peets on 1154 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, on Wednesday, July 30. 8:30am. First five people to sign up on the dashboard get free PlaidNation tour t-shirts!

We've concluded that regardless of location, anywhere in Los Angeles is inconvenient for about 75% of the population. So we'll either deal with that, or trust that people in LA love their cars enough to drive from wherever they may be. Or they'll arrive on roller blades. To see a Plaid van.

I've got my eye on that sweet looking yellowish drink with yummy stuff on top. Looks really good right now, doesn't it? See you at the TweetUp!

Labels: swag, tour route, tweetups

posted by darryl ohrt at 4:10 PM 0 Comments

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We're told the locals really dig a place called Peets - so we're officially scheduling the San Fran TweetUp on July 25 at Peets on Market Street.

Come, bring a friend, share a coffee. Get Plaid swag. The first five to register get FREE Plaid tour shirts! (see "Tweetups", on the dashboard)

Come to hang with other internet geeks, marketing geeks and Plaid peeps.

Friday, July 25, 8:30AM
Peets Coffee & Tea, 2257 Market St

See you there!

Labels: swag, tour route, tweetups

posted by darryl ohrt at 9:43 AM 0 Comments

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We've chosen an awesome location for our Seattle tweet-up. Bauhaus Books & Coffee. We're stoked to check them out. Some have said they're the best in Seattle. (They had us at "bauhaus.")

Come hang out! You can sign up on the tweet up board, on PlaidNation.com. First five to sign up (and show up) get free Plaid tour shirts.

We'll kick off at 8:30am, on July 22. Bauhaus Books & Coffee, at 301 E. Pine Street, Seattle. Look for us there! We'll be the ones looking like "out-of-towners", with a Plaid van.

(Thanks to Michelle for the suggestions!)

Labels: tweetups, van goodies

posted by darryl ohrt at 7:44 PM 0 Comments

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Our new pre-tour Plaid tour shirts have arrived. They were designed by coworker Matt, who also designed the van graphics.

Personally, I have trouble pulling off seafoam green. But Matt says it's the next big thing. And the people that control those things talk to Matt, so he would know.

Some girls have indicated that the shirt makes their boobs look bigger. I swear I'm not making this up and that we've actually received those comments. We make no guarantee to this effect whatsoever. They're only t-shirts, and possess no magic powers that we are aware of.

We'll have these shirts at Tweet-ups while on tour (free to the first registrants of each meet-up), and for sale on the tour dashboard, soon.

Labels: tshirts, tweetups, van goodies

posted by darryl ohrt at 2:36 PM 0 Comments