Last Thursday I went to the Tobacco Company for a Virginia Bloggers happy hour. Anytime there is a blogger event within walking distance from my office and parking garage I just have to go! No excuse not to, right? It was a great evening – being around like-minded people in our city always seems to motivate me. I came home with a lot of energy and excited about writing more entries in advance. It seems to come so easily to me after events like this one. I have to be inspired, I guess. I ended up passing out my new calling card to some ladies I had not met previously and when I headed home I made sure to find them on Twitter / Facebook / Bloglovin’ and added them to my follow lists.

The Tobacco Company is this gorgeous old four-story tobacco warehouse that was renovated into a dining and bar establishment. The whole place is magical after dark in the dim lighting. It has a wide range of the cast of characters who hang out there at night. From age 21 to retirees, and people dressed in every kind of style (or not dressed enough…!). Their catering had set up a gorgeous spread for us – I hope you all will check them out if you ever want to host an event in downtown RVA. I know I am now thinking about my 30th birthday next August… Funny how perspective changes as you grow up. When I was a little kid, this was that fancy place grownups go to after work with old school single-party closed-off dining rooms upstairs (not as fancy as those in Hello Dolly! but, y’know)…

Some of the blogger friends – old and new – that I spent the evening with last night. Photo credit is Sydney at Chic Stripes:

Also pictured:
Brian of Brian McDinosaur and Ledbury
Liz of I Heart Vegetables and Virginia Bloggers
Christina of Tiramisu for Breakfast
Judy of Anthrofashionist
Erin

Also present:
Shannon of Thirsty Richmond
Larissa of RVA Fashion Girl, RVA Fashion Bloggers, RVA Fashion Week
Valerie of Pursuit of Sweetness
Alex of The Zen Kat
Ashley of Attempts at Domestication

Are you all members of your local/state blog groups? It is a wonderful way to network and get some feedback from peers in your area! Their perspective makes all the difference.