Word of Mouth leads into the Tastiest of Ports! Huh? Read on my fellow Entrepreneurs, business owners, startups, students and mentors! Welcome to another chapter of the wild, crazy and always fun and productive Entrepreneur Social Club, held every Thursday night, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm, most always at downtown St. Pete historic venue NOVA 535. We had several newcomers tonight, and I always ask them how they heard about the ESC. Tonight, it seemed that there was a magical hot tub experience where the secrets of the ESC were revealed…
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Rainmakers Join our Foolish Celebration
Rainmakers Join our Foolish Celebration during our weekly Entrepreneur Social Club gathering here at the historic downtown St. Pete venue NOVA 535. We meet every Thursday night, since 2009, most always at NOVA, occasionally offsite when NOVA 535 Unique Event Space is booked for a wedding or special event. Tonight is March 31st, and since I run the meetings, (tomorrow April 1st being my 48th birthday), I wanted to make this a 100% social event. No sit down meeting meeting, just music and drinks and laughter and friends and food and some QT with my fellow Entrepreneurs. Plus we had just met Architect Larry Ladelfa, of The Rainmakers, another club, a pure business one, last week. He said he’d bring his group here to check out the ESC and NOVA, and so here’s our story of just that! Remember, my birthday is on April 1st, yes April Fools day….you’ve been warned!
Food Porn and 5 Dollar Facials
One of my favorite components of The Entrepreneur Social Club is my fellow Entrepreneurs and the things that come out of their mouths. We had several newbies tonight, Thursday March 24, 2016. They ranged from pre-start-up to successful business owners. Julia, a newcomer, was offering organic facials, 5 Dollar Facials, and the double entendre was enjoyed throughout the evening. We enjoyed it so much that after several drinks during dinner, we purchased the url http://5dollarfacials.com. Yes we risk takers and visionaries, those of us who create and lead and make the world a better place,we need to blow off a lot of steam and stress, and the ESC is a strong dose of that healing medicine. We need to laugh, and joke and be silly to rebalance our inner cores, from the ever present over-tilt of too much work, not enough play. So tonight I’m titling “Food Porn and 5 Dollar Facials.” Read on at your own risk!
Lucky Night at NOVA 535 with Dinner Drinks at Queens Head
Thursday March 17, 2016 aka St. Patrick’s Day, was, as these publicly celebrated holiday are, a meeting attendance wildcard. It’s uncertain how many people show up each week for the Entrepreneur Social Club, aka the ESC, as we don’t require any registration. Just show up to downtown St. Pete venue NOVA 535, and enjoy! With these ‘minor’ holidays (we’re closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas, for example) you never can tell who’s gonna show up. I had just literally got off the plane from Las Vegas Catersource 2016, and it was a bit of a late start, then my fellow Entrepreneurs joined in for our weekly fix. And what an excellent night it was. I’m calling this story. A Lucky Night at NOVA 535 then Dinner and Drinks at The Queens Head. Yes I know the English and Irish aren’t historically pals, but Tracy the owner of the always fun and delicious The Queens Head was in attendance, so our restaurant choice tonight was easy peasy!
Pitching at the deep end of the Artpool
Thursday, March 10, 2016 was another exciting gathering of our weekly social club for business owners and Entrepreneurs. The last few meetings had people squeezing in here and there, while this week was a bit smaller. Size matters, and when we have smaller groups (under 25 guests) we can spend a bit more time drilling down, vs with larger groups, we only have about 90 minutes for everyone. They both are great and I enjoy each for what it offers. Tonight we dug deep: Pitching at the deep end of the Artpool. But before tonight’s ESC, I spent some time in DTSP, short for Downtown St. Pete, getting my hair cut at world-famous VLVT Salon on Central Ave, then “lunching” (always sounds so cool vs “having lunch”) at the always delicious Gratzzi Italian Restaurant. Earlier, while I was showering, I used the great smelling, all-natural soaps from local, fellow Entrepreneur Kim, founder of Bodhi’s Basics. A day full of Entrepreneurs creating wonderful things for us all. When’s the last time YOU THANKED an ENTREPRENEUR for all they do? =D
A Delightfully Unexpected ESC Reunion then Oyster Bar and Ruby’s Elixir
It’s Thursday night again, which means the Entrepreneur Social Club, which meets most always here at historic venue NOVA 535 in beautiful downtown St. Petersburg, Florida. Occasionally we’re offsite when NOVA is booked for a private event. we had a packed house. I LOVE seeing the entire table full, tonight was a delightfully unexpected ESC reunion, so many faces returning from their busy lives. Tonight was unusual as several, independent clumps of friends and Entrepreneurs randomly show up for this Thursday’s Entrepreneur Social Club. Plus there was around ten newbies. I asked all the newcomers how they heard of ESC, and EVERYONE said from a friend or business associate. I then asked who spent time today on social media and EVERYONE raised their hands. I wanted to drive home the point that Word of Mouth is still the most powerful way to gain new business.
Our 2015 Favorite Restaurants in Downtown St. Pete for Dinner After the ESC
After our weekly Entrepreneur, Social Club meeting ends, we head further into downtown St. Petersburg to one of our favorite, delicious restaurants, where we eat, drink (more!) and continue to be merry! The ESC is a purely social club infused with strong, real-world business wisdom, mentoring, networking and problem-solving. And all of that work’s up our appetites, so I’ll get right down to the sharing of our 2015 Favorite Downtown St. Pete Restaurants for Dinner after the ESC. They are in alphabetical order for ease and fairness, I’ll note the ones that are member-owned and / or exceptionally great! Keep in mind that we only go to restaurants with adult beverages, though some here only serve beer and wine. Also, a key factor is lighting, ambiance and being able to sit 12-20+ of us all together. No sitting apart, this is a group event, the Entrepreneur Social Club. And yes, it’s ok to buy me, Michael S. Novilla, the founder, dinner. =D
Queens, Cards and Illustrations
Queens, Cards and Illustrations. February 18, 2016
Every Thursday night, since 2009, we meet, most always at my historic venue NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, located in beautiful downtown St. Pete, Florida, for the Entrepreneur Social Club, aka the ESC. We spend the first 30-45 minutes drinking, socializing and schmoozing, in a fun, casual atmosphere, before we sit down for the meeting. Our rules are simple, NO religion NO politics, just come and enjoy a fun and productive couple of hours with like minded Entrepreneurs – from ideas and start-ups to Billion $ businesses. NO need to register, just check the MEETING LOCATION (most always at NOVA, occasionally offsite when NOVA 535 is booked for private wedding or event).
Popcorn and Pitches at historic venue NOVA 535 in Downtown St. Pete
Popcorn and Pitches at historic venue NOVA 535 in Downtown St. Pete
Every Thursday night, since 2009, we meet, most always at my historic venue NOVA 535 Unique Event Space, located in beautiful downtown St. Pete, Florida, for the Entrepreneur Social Club, aka the ESC. We spend the first 30-45 minutes drinking, socializing and schmoozing, in a fun, casual atmosphere, before we sit down for the meeting. Our rules are simple, NO religion NO politics, just come and enjoy a fun and productive couple of hours with like minded Entrepreneurs – from ideas and start-ups to Billion $ businesses. NO need to register, just check the MEETING LOCATION (most always at NOVA, occasionally offsite when NOVA 535 is booked for private wedding or event).
Why Orange you here with us enjoying the Entrepreneur Social Club
If I had to describe this week’s, July 30th, 2015, Entrepreneur Social Club, aka ESC, in one catchy phrase, it’d be: Why Orange you here with us enjoying the Entrepreneur Social Club?! Huh? The citrus reference will make sense soon enough! Remember that the ESC is our weekly get together, our ever growing family of business owners, students, start-ups, rich and powerful mentors, designers, inventors and Entrepreneurs representing of every industry and corner of the globe. At time where we let off some steam and spend it helping each other. Last night was another fabulous continuation of this, since I founded officially the ESC back in January 2009. It’s most always held at historic venue NOVA 535, though occasionally we are offsite because NOVA is rented for a private event. – ya know – paying down the mortgage, one 5 star event at a time!
