Okay. Where do I even begin?
First of all, it’s a miracle that I walked out with my wallet still intact. I think that deserves a nice round of applause. (Thank you, thank you very much…..oh, by the way I’m Audrey Jennifer! Hello!)
By the time I rolled into NOVA 535 for tonight’s Entrepreneur Social Club meeting, yup it’s Thursday night again, November 3, 2016 to be exact-O, there were already several members milling around the bar. For reasons to be discovered, we’ll call tonight, “Milling Around DTSP with Boxes Full of Flavor”. Other members were already at the meeting table, chatting away. I was running a bit late, you know, busy BUSY Entrepreneur and all that. Our delightful neighbors, Alin Leslie and Caylin McDonie of Dollylocks Salon, the really cute, modern and organic salon just a few stores down the south, were in the house. Yeah! Plus, I spied several new faces awaiting their first ESC experience. Guess it’s time to get things rolling for another fun and productive night of networking, schmoozing, drinking, learning, growing and Tom Foolery! (Love Sheri Kendrick chewing on Tony’s head!)
This week’s Entrepreneur Social Club, held Thursday Night October 13, 2016, was a blast for everyone involved. We had some very interesting newcomers that sparked intriguing conversation that soared as we enjoyed a new atmosphere, for the actual club meeting, at The Queen’s Head. Located at 2501 Central Avenue, DTSP (aka DownTown St. Pete), TQH (Ring em up and ask for the Queen 727-498-8584) is certainly an ESC favorite restaurant and bar. We eat here often after our meetings, which are typically held at wedding and event venue NOVA 535. The turnout this week was wonderful, counting to about 30 group members in attendance, and it was clear that each person was intrigued by and benefited from the topics offered for discussion. Let’s call it Dinner and a Meeting with The Queen. (more…)
Another beautiful Thursday evening here in downtown St. Petersburg, Florida, and October 27, 2016 brings the weekly Entrepreneur Social Club Meeting. This week our home base, historic venue NOVA 535, was booked for a wedding. Luckily one of our favorite members, photographer and charity Little Light Of Mine founder Sheri Kendrick, offered up her 2542 central Avenue, DTSP space. Coincidentally it was her birthday – Happy Birthday Sheri!! Sheri Kendrick is a little light of ours!! Conveniently next door at 2444 Central Avenue is fellow ESC member Mandy Keys, with her delightful Community Cafe. A cafe perfect for coffees and other yummy hot and cold beverages, brews and ciders, plus a healthy, tasty menu for lunch, dinner and late night dining! Check out their game night! Thanks Mandy for sharing some chairs with us; and mmmm that caramel coffee of yours was delish!
This week was a change of pace for Entrepreneur Social Club as we opted to focus a bit more on the “social” aspect of the night. The group met at historic downtown St. Pete (DTSP) venue Nova 535 for drinks and social hour before heading over to one of DTSP’s finest dining and wine spots, Brick & Mortar. This allowed an opportunity for each of our members to feel more relaxed and open as we got to know one another a little bit better.
It’s Thursday night in Downtown St. Petersburg, Florida! The weather here could have been playing a major factor in our decision making. Luckily for the west coast of Florida, Hurricane Matthew stayed just east of the east coast, sparing Florida much of its deadly potential. Many many homes and businesses elsewhere were trashed and flooded. Ugg. We feel for those who were affected and send them our love and support. Thursday also means it time for us Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Start-Ups, Dreamers, Students, and Wizened Mentors to gather for our weekly Entrepreneur Social Club (ESC) meeting. It’s most always at my beautiful event venue NOVA 535, except tonight NOVA 535 is booked for a wedding. So the ESC is off site, back again at the well gorgeous modern sushi restaurant, Souzou.
We are Celebrating Bishop’s Coffee and Tea Prohibition here in downtown St. Pete, aka DTSP. That means it’s Thursday Night, that time when Entrepreneurs, Business Owners, Students Start-Ups and the Curious gather (mostly always here at) historic venue NOVA 535 in beautiful Downtown St. Pete, Florida. The Entrepreneur Social Club: a mix of networking, partying, socializing, and schmoozing, plus mentoring, evolving, learning, growing and sometimes even sampling delicious new products! Thursday September 29, 2016, was a large rowdy group, with lots of newbies. People from every industry, ex-Military, coffee and spirits companies, mortgage brokers, action coaches, and team building puzzle companies came together… Welcome to the ESC!
Tonight Thursday September 8, 2016 was another gorgeous yet hot St. Petersburg evening as we rolled into historic venue NOVA 535 for another ESC gathering. Instead of heading out after our scheduled ESC meeting, which runs 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, dinner was in tonight, testing out Spotlight Catering. Hint! Their food was delicious! Who am I? Michael S. Novilla the founder of the Entrepreneur Social Club (ESC), way back in 2009, in honor of Ben Franklin’s Junto Club. Also I own and run NOVA 535 Unique Event Space and DowntownStPete.com. But tonight isn’t about me (below) it’s about my fascinating fellow Entrepreneurs like good old Ben….do read on!
Hey there fellow Entrepreneurs! This is the Entrepreneur Social Club, and I DO warn everyone that Social is in the heart of our name and attitude. Yes we are super productive and helpful. Yes we have lightbulb moments each Thursday night during our meetings. Yes we provide real, honest constructive feedback, starting with your pitch and business card. Yes we create a ton of real value and new business, plus global connections and new friendships. Yes this is a business social club. However, as previously aforementioned, this IS a SOCIAL CLUB and we will get completely dark alley, sideways now and again. Watching a gorgeous downtown St. Pete sunrise on Friday morning, after a hilarious and SAFE uber ride home across the Howard Frankenstein Bridge, enjoying a morning-cap of apples, cheeses, gourmet organic pickles, super hydrating coconut waters and such is the way to complete a night FULL of tom foolery. Especially when we “promised” ourselves that at Ruby’s Elixir, we’d be “Just One and Done” HaHaHahaaaa!! Just One and Done, really, just one and done…. that’s Hilarious!
Each Thursday night the Entrepreneur Social Club (ESC) meets in person, most always at my meticulously renovated, historic wedding and event venue NOVA 535 Unique Event Space in beautiful Downtown St. Pete, Florida. Last week, Thursday August 18, 2016, NOVA 535 was booked for a WIFT event, that’s Women In Film and TV. It was hosted by Rose Rosen, of Casting by Rose, she’s fabulous! I wrote a story about it, “I Make Films Like a Girl” , if you’re interested. As to tonight, since I was co-hosting WIFT at NOVA, Nick “I’m You When you Can’t Be” Mazeika and Audrey Jennifer, ESC’s new Hostess (with more than the Mostess!) met Jason (it was his birthday, happy birthday Jason!) and Mandy Keys Owners of Community Cafe at their really cute location at 2444 Central Avenue for our weekly planned ESC gathering.