Where do you take out-of-town guests for dinner in the Triangle?

Where do you take out-of-town guests for dinner in the Triangle? I recently found myself pondering this when my childhood friend Todd called and said he was in town and wanted to meet up.

I lost touch with Todd in high school. He moved away the summer before 8^th grade. We remained pen pals for a couple years, and even visited each other a couple times. But our snail mail dwindled when we got our driver’s licenses, probably because we were spending less time at home and more time pursuing friendships in our own towns.

In college we briefly managed to find each other through the Internet. We exchanged an e-mail or two, but lost touch again. Occasionally I would Google him, but I could never find enough information to track him down.

Then a few months ago, through the power of facebook, we reconnected. I found out he was living in Atlanta and occasionally flew to RDU for business. He recently called me to say he was in Durham and soon we were making dinner plans. We had not seen each other in 12 years.

I wanted to show Todd how cool Durham is, so I suggested we meet at American Tobacco for dinner. Then I realized there was a Bull’s game that night, so the place would be packed. I opted for The Federal by Brightleaf Square, where I ordered the always tasty pork carnitas.

After dinner, we headed over to Tyler’s Taproom for beers. I showed him the rushing water feature, explained the area’s tobacco legacy and even walked him over to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. The game was underway, so the crowds had dispersed outside.

We didn’t have time to wander around downtown or take a stroll down Ninth Street. But between Brightleaf Square and American Tobacco, I felt like he got to see some of the Bull City’s flavor.

If you only had 3 hours to show an old friend around your Triangle city, where would you take them?

Weekend trip to UVA’s graduation reminds me that I’m growing up

I remember when my life was divided by semesters and breaks. Halloween break. Winter break. Finals. Spring break. Finals. Summer vacation. It was a cycle I adored.

When I entered the Real World, those semesters and vacations were replaced with 10 vacation days provided by Corporate America. It wasn’t an easy adjustment. I remember wondering why 365 days suddenly felt like a lifetime. But I adapted.

This weekend I went to the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va., to watch my boyfriend’s kid sister graduate from college. When we pulled up to her 15-bedroom house in mid-afternoon, we were greeted by members of the football team chugging beer on the porch next door, tossing around some foamy Nerf ball and dodging traffic.

The sis kindly let us crash in her bedroom on graduation eve (apparently you must book a hotel room a year in advance for commencement day). But the constant *thump-thump-thump* of the bass from the party raging downstairs meant we would get very little sleep. But what were we thinking, going to bed at 12:30 a.m. and all?!

The next morning, the race for the shower began. A house full of graduates meant we got up crazy early for dibs on a hot shower. When we emerged downstairs, roommates donning caps and gowns were popping open bottles of champagne for their mimosa breakfasts. We opted for the nearby coffee shop.

We had fun watching the procession of graduates walking (in some cases stumbling) down the lawn. Many of them carried cartoon balloons so their families could spot them in the sea of faces and gowns.

It was fun to relive my college days. Lucky for us Triangle residents, we don’t have to travel far to embed ourselves in college culture with UNC, Duke and NCSU in our backyards. But, believe me, I was thrilled to snuggle up under the covers in my house the next night, with only the occasional meows from my cats to wake me up.

Do you remember making the adjustment from college life to Real World? Have you been back to college to relive the those fun days?

Your guide to free summer concerts around the Triangle

Summertime means free concerts in and around the Triangle.

Here’s a list of all the summer concert series that I know about (some of my tweeps helped fill in the blanks). The list is alphabetical by city/town.

I know I’m missing some shows. Help me fill in the blanks by adding links and details in the comments section. Please note that I’m only listing free shows though, because in these tough economic times, we can’t all afford to pay $50 to see Jason Mraz.

CARY

WHAT: Sertoma Series

WHEN/WHERE: Sporadic Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays between now and July 18. See the full schedule here. All shows are at the Sertoma Amphitheatre in Bond Park, 801 High House Road.

COST: Free!

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: Chatham County Line, an awesome bluegrass band, will perform at 3 p.m. May 16. Also, don’t miss Blues man John Dee Holeman on June 20.

CHAPEL HILL

WHAT: Southern Village Summer Music Concert Series

WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m.  Sundays between now and Sept. 13. There are also a few additional shows on Fridays and Saturdays. Download and print the calendar here. The concerts are on the green, but if it’s raining, they’ll be moved to 610 Market Street (in the space that used to be Market Street Books).

COST: Nearly all of the shows are free, but a few have an admissions fee. It’s best to check before you arrive.

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: This eclectic concert series includes everything from B.O.D. (a Grateful Dead cover band) to Project Mastana (Bollywood sounds). Chances are you can find at least one concert matching your taste. (Thanks for the link @jreesnc)

CLAYTON

WHAT: The 2009 Clayton Town Square Concert Series

WHEN/WHERE: 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month between May 21 and Sept. 17 in Clatyon’s Town Square.

COST: Free but vendors are on hand to sell pizza, beer and Italian ice.

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: Liquid Pleasure apparently won praise at this concert series last year. The dance band has performed with The Temptations and The Four Tops among many others. But I think Abbey Road Live (a Beatles cover band, of course) sounds like fun. Although, as a huge Beatles fan myself, I’ve always been a bit skeptical of bands that claim to cover the Fab Four. (Thanks for the link @mediatwo)

DURHAM

WHAT: 2009 Music on the Lawn Concert Series

WHEN/WHERE: Various dates between now and Sept. 4. All concerts are from 6 to 8 p.m. at the American Tobacco Campus (on the lawn). Check the schedule here.

COST: The concerts are free, but Tyler’s Taproom is nearby and they’re usually selling beer. Organizers ask that you don’t bring coolers or dogs (sorry, Fido).

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: The bands usually perform on the brick island under the Lucky Strike tower, creating a picturesque scene. The series is co-sponsored by N.C. Public Radio WUNC, which means the bands are part of the station’s Back Porch Music series.

WHAT: Warehouse Blues Concert Series

WHEN/WHERE: The series starts July 24 and runs every Friday until Sept. 4.  It’s located in the courtyard of Durham’s West Village Apartments, 604 W. Morgan St. All shows are from 6 to 8 p.m.

COST: Free. The concert series is sponsored by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department. The city even provides chairs.

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: The schedule is tentative, a parks employee told me. I highly recommend John Dee Holeman (scheduled Aug. 7). Cool John Ferguson is a must-see and he is tentatively scheduled to perform on Sept. 4. Don’t miss Captain Luke either (he’s scheduled for July 24). Both Ferguson and Luke are featured in the video below.

HILLSBOROUGH

WHAT: Last Fridays

WHEN/WHERE: The last Friday of every month from April through September. Concerts start at 6 p.m. Here’s a list of this year’s performers. The shows are on the old courthouse lawn in the downtown historic district.

COST: The concerts are free. But food vendors, crafters and others set up booths on the sidewalks surrounding the courthouse, so bring money if you plan to indulge.

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: This month’s performance features the Cyril Lance Band (Blues/Rock), but I’m a big bluegrass fan so the June 26 performance by Strictly Clean and Decent (Bluegrass/Folk/Celtic) would be my pick. (Thanks for the link @Hillsborough).

RALEIGH

WHAT: Downtown Live

WHEN/WHERE: Seven concerts are scheduled on Saturday nights between May 30 and Aug. 22, check the schedule here. The concerts start at 2 p.m. with the headliners usually taking stage close to 10 p.m. The shows are in Moore Square. Bring a blanket or chairs if you plan to arrive early, otherwise, plan on standing and working your way to the stage.

COST: Free. But since it’s sponsored by Bud Light, plan to pay a billion dollars for a small cup of beer (really, I think it’s like $5 a cup).

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: As always, this year’s line-up features a few one-hit wonders (Jimmy’s Chicken Shack and Marcy’s Playground) and few-hit wonders (Candlebox, Filter and Tonic … May 30, June 13 and Aug. 8, respectively). But there are some gems, including Joan Jett on July 11 and The Charlie Daniels Band on July 25.

WHAT: Music on the Porch at Seaboard Station

WHEN/WHERE: Friday nights starting May 15. Shows are from 7 to 9 p.m. at Seaboard Station by Ace Hardware and Peace China, 802 Semart Dr.

COST: Free, but alcohol will be available for purchase.

MUSICAL HIGHLIGHTS: I have not found a complete listing, but I did find this. Looks like the only two performances announced are The Tims Bluegrass Band on May 15 and Funkuponya on May 22. (Thanks for the links @jcstille and @ayeshamus).

Break a World Record, Compete in Guitar Hero and more this weekend

Random weekend events in the Triangle:

FRIDAY

* I love that show “Cash Cab”. I usually suck at trivia (as my former roommate Tim Donnelly can attest), but I can actually answer a lot of the questions on that show. The show’s host, Ben Bailey, will be in Raleigh tonight and Saturday, performing standup at Goodnight’s Comedy Club. Tickets are $22.75 each, but if you’re a fan, it might be worth checking out.

* If you’re trying to save money, here’s a great deal. The Morehead Planetarium in Chapel Hill is lowering its ticket prices to $1 this weekend to any regularly-scheduled planetarium show. The special is good from 6:30 p.m. Friday to 3 p.m. Sunday

SATURDAY

* There’s a Confederate Memorial Service at the Silent Same Statute on UNC’s campus at 10 a.m. Saturday morning. The service includes a performance by the 11th NC Regiment Band, which will be in full uniform and play with period instruments. Figured some of you history buffs might want to head over there.

* Saturday marks U.S. Postal Service’s “Stamp Out Hunger” food drive. So if you have some extra non-perishables set them next to your mailbox Saturday to help out those in need. Also, in case you didn’t know, the price of a stamp will increase Monday from 42 cents to 44 cents.

* Cash Cab guy performs Saturday night too. (See above)

* Put your Guitar Hero skills to the test while raising money for the Boys & Girls Club of Wake County. There’s a Guitar Hero World Tour Tournament from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday at Best Buy in Knightdale. The tournament will feature Triangle Guitar Hero master Blake Peebles, who I interviewed earlier this year:

* Participate in the “World’s Largest Coffee Break”. The folks at Ten Thousand Villages in Cameron Village are participating in the effort to set a new record for the Guiness Book of World Records. At 3 p.m. coffee drinkers are invited to raise their mugs and join others in time zones across North America to break the record. The effort is part of the day-long World Fair Trade Day event at the store.

SUNDAY

* The $1 Planetarium ticket deal I mentioned above ends today.

As always, please add any events that you’ll be attending or that you want to promote in the comments section.

My weekend successes and failures: World Beer Festival, Durham Bulls, Dog Walking and much more

Last weekend zoomed by. I woke up early Saturday to walk my friends’ dogs, stopped by Biscuitville for a quick breakfast and then came home to collect my boyfriend for World Beer Festival in Raleigh. He threaded pretzels on dental floss (making necklaces that would later come in handy as munchies and palate cleansers) while I drove us to Moore Square.

By 12:10 p.m. we were inside the gates thanks to @chiatar and his mad line saving skills. Here’s a scene from under the beer ten:

I think this was my fifth Beer Fest, so you would think I have it all figured out. But soon I loaned my only pen out to @chiatar and was left with nothing but my Blackberry to record my favorite beers and mark my progress (which I never did). So instead, I stuck to pale ales and other light beers, only occasionally sipping on the BF’s stouts and porters. I don’t remember being wooed by any beers this year, but I also think I drank considerably less than previous festivals too. It was still a lot of fun.

Other highlights from the weekend:

* We had second row seats behind home plate at Friday night’s Durham Bulls game. I know you can usually sneak and grab better seats at the ballpark. But it’s more fun when you actually have great tickets. Too bad they lost. But the fireworks show afterward more than made up for it.

* I got to see Big Fat & Stealthy perform improv at Comedy Worx. They are consistently hilarious, so I love laughing at them.

* I was disappointed to see Best Buy in Crossroads changed its Friday and Saturday night hours to 9 p.m. They used to stay open until 10 p.m., which meant me and the BF could show off our Rock Band skills late at night to the teeny boppers. Grrr.

* Saw some gorgeous jewelry and other crafts at the Handmade Market. Couldn’t afford the rad orange skirt I desperately wanted, but it reminded me that I need to sign up for a sewing class with the gift certificate the BF got me for Christmas (what am I waiting for?).

* I dog sat all weekend for my friends. So I got to go on a couple of walks around Lion’s Park. Made me realize I don’t make it out to parks nearly as much as I would like.

* I found part of my mom’s Mother’s Day present at the flea market at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds. Score!

* I spent part of Sunday afternoon in the hammock listening to my iPod. I swung in the hammock to a little Patsy Cline, Vampire Weekend, Spoon, Journey and Norah Jones. How’s that for an eclectic mix?!

Things I didn’t get done this weekend that I wish I would have:

* Finish stripping and staining my dresser. I guess it will just sit in the garage half done for another week.

* Give myself a pedicure (who can afford to pay someone in this economy?).

* Clipped and filed my coupons. I haven’t even unwrapped the Sunday News & Observer from the bag yet (thank you Internet for providing me with my news). Sue Stock would not be proud.

* Get my oil changed. This is the biggest pain-in-the-butt chore ever.

But there’s always next weekend! What were the highlights of your weekend?

Lots of Festivals and other things to do in the Triangle this weekend

I’m writing this a little later than I would like, so I’m leaving off Friday events.

Here’s your list of some weekend to-dos in the Triangle:

SATURDAY

* It’s festival season. Here are a few you can check out today: Apex PeakFest, Wake Forest Meet in the Street Festival, Downtown Raleigh Festival of Hope, Carrboro Day, Strawberry Festival in Old North Durham Park. Of course there’s also World Beer Festival (which is where I’ll be), but I’m pretty sure both sessions are sold out. You may be able to find last minute tix on craigslist though. I wouldn’t advise paying over $65 unless you’re dying to go (they were about $60 each w/ fees for folks who ordered them online).

* If you love horses (or if a horse show is the closest your kid is going to come to getting a pony) then check out the May Days Annual Horse Show at the Hunt Horse Complex at the NC State Fairgrounds. The event is Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

* If you’re in the mood for comedy (you know I always plug comedy), the Triangle will see two professional comedians. You can see Bill Bellamy (who I’ll always remember from countless hours of watching “MTV Jamz” and “MTV Beach House”) at Goodnight’s Comedy Club in Raleigh. Or you can head to Durham Performing Arts Center to see the Mike Epps and Friends Comedy Show.

SUNDAY

* If you like jewelry, crafts, art, etc. do not miss The Handmade Market. The event features “hip handmade goods from 50 of the best and brightest independent designers, artists, and crafters from NC and beyond.” I went last year and walked away with a painting, keychain, necklace and an awesome seahorse shirt. (See pic I took at last year’s event on the right). The event is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Marbles Kids Museum.

* The May Days Annual Horse Show is also today (see above).

I’m positive there’s a lot more going on this weekend, but I didn’t have as much time to dig around this week as I would like. So, as always, feel free to add the weekend events you know about/are looking forward to in the comments section.

Have fun.

Here’s what happens when 250+ come together for a Triangle Tweetup

Last night was the biggest Triangle Tweetup yet. At least 250 tweeps walked through the blow-up Bronto-lined hallway into Bronto Software in downtown Durham to meet the avatars they’ve been chatting with on Twitter.

From the moment I arrived, I was overwhelmed. First with shooting a live shot for the 6 p.m. news with Donald Jones for his forward-thinking Live@MyNC news show. Then it was time for an organizers meeting with @waynesutton, @kbodnar32, @therab and @dgtlpapercuts. All the details for the event were typed out on Wayne’s mac, which he synced with his iPhone so he could address the audience.

After introductions, I thanked everyone for bringing toiletries to help the Urban Ministries shelter in downtown Durham. I’ll be putting together toiletry kits in the coming days to drop off to the shelter. I love how generous everyone was. All the donations filled the entire trunk of the car.

Then it was time for the panel, which featured the exclusive premiere of the Twitterific 2.0 an iPhone app that makes keeping up with your tweets on the go easier. You can watch the demo here. There was also a panel discussion about brands using Twitter. You can watch the full panel discussion here.

Other exciting highlights include the launch of pici.me a fun, well-designed site created by @covati (the genius who also created my beloved idek.net). He’ll have more news about pici.me soon, for now you can see some of the fun photos we snapped using his Mac last night. Also in recent Mac news, @mike9er released Beak, a cool Twitter client especially for the Mac. It too is very clean and well-designed. So you Mac users, be sure to check out the work of these talented Triangle developers (who both work at Bronto).

Some Tweeps played Twitter Twister, which @ToastySnacks organized to bring a little spice to the Tweetup. Watch a match here:

And then there were the connections. The thing about Triangle Tweetups is they are getting to be so big that it’s becoming difficult to meet all your new tweeps and catch up with your old ones. I had an awesome conversation about love, journalism and blogging with @ilinap, but missed most of the panel discussion because of it.

I got to catch up with two dear friends and tweeps who haven’t seen in several months (@ashleysue and @ldbaldwin) but didn’t really get to go as in-depth as I would have liked. I got to have a refreshing conversation about social media jobs with a newly-employed @JasonPeck. I enjoyed sampling some delicious IPA from @FullSteam and the Shotgun Betty Hefeweizen from @loneriderbeer.

I met quite a few of my tweeps for the first time, including the very funny couple @sonofalink and @dottyus.

And then, as the night progressed, it was time for me and my beloved @mammalpants to turn over our Triangle Tweetup Queen & King titles. We were bestowed the honor at the last Tweetup by @ToastySnacks (who made the way cool sashes) and @InstantTaylor (who is crazy funny if you’re looking for someone new to follow).

I chose @lruettimann who some of you may know for her candid blog PunkRockHR and the mom (and voice)  behind the cat Twitter account for her feline @MrScrubby.

@mammalpants turned his King title over to @JazzyChad, the talented developer behind TweetGrid.

There were so many more introductions. I hope everyone who went was as impressed with this event as I was. We’ve come a long way from the first Triangle Tweetup in winter 2006, when only 5 people were there.

Nine simple things you can do to make yourself (and strangers) smile more

I know your mom taught you not to talk to strangers, but I’m here to tell you that you’re missing out on a lot if you always walk with your head down and try to avoid eye contact or friendly exchanges with strangers.

That doesn’t mean you need to buddy up to the creepy guy in the parking deck elevator. But it does mean it’s time to stop living in your own little bubble. Life is about experiences. So loosen up and have some fun.

Try some of these:

* Compliment strangers. If you see a woman in the waiting room in an adorable dress, tell her you like it. The small remark could easily brighten someone’s day.

* Mean it when you ask someone how they are. There’s nothing worse than an insincere “How are you?” from a check-out lady, a co-worker or acquaintance. If you’re going to ask someone how they are, ask it with a little sincerity. And if they seem like they’re not doing so hot, take the time to ask a follow up question and listen to them (unless, of course, it’s obvious they want to be left alone). If you don’t care how someone is, don’t ask them.

* Challenge yourself to answer the question “How are you?” without using generic words like “fine,” “OK,” “alright,” or “good.” If you’re having a good day, try saying “I’m having a lot of fun today, thanks for asking.” If your life sucks, try saying “could be better, could be worse.” Please just don’t say “fine” anymore.

* Ask questions. People love to talk about themselves (that’s why there are so many blogs). So if you’re shopping at a garage sale and you have a question about a whacky item, ask the hosts what’s up with it.  If you’re travelling and there’s a non-creepy stranger who looks like a local nearby, ask them about the area, where to eat, etc.

* Take a different route to school, work, the gym, etc. We become complacent with the neighbors, businesses, parks, etc. that we pass on our commutes. We know how long it will take us, whether we’ll catch that red light or not, and other nuances of travelling the same route every day. But you might be surprised what you’ll discover if you add an extra 10 minutes to your drive or bike ride and take a few different roads.

* Smile. It’s so easy to do. A sincere, toothy-grin can sometimes change someone’s entire perspective of you or their situation.

* Sing out loud. I’m an awful singer. I can’t even sing an entire song on Rock Band on the easy setting (despite being able to play guitar on hard). But you better believe that when Ace of Base comes on the ’90s station, I have no shame and pretend like the sign opened up my eyes while I’m driving down the road. If you can’t sing, dance.

* Ask for help. Don’t have so much pride that you waste 10 minutes wandering around Lowe’s looking for a bolt when you can just as easily ask the person in the vest to help. Often, when you ask for help, you’ll learn something new.

* Be a kid again. If you’re wandering through a sporting good store and there’s a skee ball table on display, play a quick game. If you see a kid selling lemonade on the corner, stop your car, dig out some change and buy a cup (and always pay more than what the kid is charging). Play peek-a-boo with the toddler sitting in the cart in front of you in the check-out line. Blow bubbles. Play hopscotch.

Am I out of line? Do you have any easy living tips to add?

Nine things to do in the Triangle this weekend

This weekend is shaping up to be the most gorgeous one of the year so far. With temperatures forecasted to reach nearly 90 degrees this weekend (they’re calling for sunny and a high of 89 on Saturday and 87 on Sunday).

So with the wonderful weather and the stupid recession in mind … Here’s your list of weekend events that might be worth checking out in the Triangle:

FRIDAY

* The 3d annual Bluesfest Benefit at Longview Center in downtown Raleigh sounds like a good deal. You’ll get to hear John Dee Holeman (who was one of the best performers at Shakori Hills last weekend. The 80-year-old Bluesman and Storyteller still has it.) and harmonica man Geroge Higgins. Tickets are $10. It starts at 7:30 p.m. and proceeds benefit the very deserving Music Maker Relief Foundation.

*Head to Golden Belt in Durham to see The Rosebuds, Midtown Dickens and Lost in Trees for $12! The money benefits the Durham Arts Council. (UPDATE — I accidentally posted this under Saturday, but the concert is tonight!).

SATURDAY

* Put the finishing touches on your spring cleaning by dropping off all the documents you need shredded at the NBC17 Shred-It Event (what, you didn’t think you’d get through this list without any shameless self promotion in this post, did you?). So if you have a box (or boxes) of old documents you need shredding, come to Village Square Shopping Center in Cary or Indigo Corners Shopping Center in Durham between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., we’ll handle the rest.

* Go shopping for random props, vintage screen art, signage and scenery at the Valentine Design Group and Aardvark Printing yard sale. The Clean Out The Clutter Parking Lot “yard sale” is from 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Saturday 1019-1021 East Whitaker Mill Road in Raleigh. If you still have the yard sale bug after visiting this sale, head over to the N.C. State Fairgrounds for the flea market. It’s always fun and completely free to get in.

* The Durham Earth Day Festival is probably your best bet if you want to be outside doing something different on Saturday. The growing festival features music, plenty of vendors and educational booths, and it gives you a chance to hang out in downtown Durham. It’s from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday in CCB Plaza.

* If you’re already in Durham for the Earth Day Festival, steer over to Duke Gardens for the Plant and Craft Festival, which runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.

* Springfest at Chavis Park in Raleigh sounds like it could be fun for families. The free event will supposedly feature rides, vendors, entertainment and food. It’s from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday.

* If you’re an aspiring photographer, but can’t afford to take an intense class. You can drop $12 on the Introduction to Digital Photography Workshop that the Raleigh City Museum is hosting. The class is perfect for those of you who haven’t dived into digital photography yet. It’s at 2 p.m. Saturday.

* Go to a drag show. Legends in downtown Raleigh is featuring a 9:30 matinee, a midnight show and another at 1 a.m. for you night owls. Be sure to get a Shish-Kabob afterward from the man who sets up his cart near the club’s entrance. They are delicious! (See my pic on the right … mmmm).

Please ADD YOUR EVENTS to the comments section so us Triangle dwellers don’t miss out on something cool!

I’ve marked 63 things off the list of 101 Uses for Twitter

I normally don’t respond to chain blogs here. But since I’m such a Twitter fan girl, I couldn’t help but participate in this post created by my Triangle tweeps, Jeff Cohen (@dgtlpapercuts) and Kipp Bodner (@kbodnar32).

Here’s how they explained it. Feel free to participate on your own blog and let me know how many of these you marked off your list:

“Since Twitter is still on the top of everyone’s mind, we thought it would be a good time to document 101 uses for Twitter. Since this list was meant to be both fun and educational, we want you to share it with your readers and indicate how you have used Twitter. There are certainly many other uses for Twitter, but we wanted to compile a list that could be created in under one hour. Please feel free to add your own uses in the comments.”

The rules for this post are the following:
1. Please post this on your blog in its entirety
2. Bold or underline your uses for Twitter
3. Add the tag twitter101 to the post
4. Make sure you link back to both of the originating posts: Kipp’s and Jeff’s
5. Add a comment to this post if you like
6. Tweet your post with the hashtag #twitter101

101 Uses for Twitter
1. Answer the Question “What are you doing?”
2. Tell Your Friends Your Going To Jail
3. Alert Your Family That your Plane Has Crash Landed in The Husdon
4. Explain To The World What You’re Eating
5. Announce You’re Currently Peeing
6. Your Chair Can Tell The World You’re Farting
7. Plants Can Tweet You For More Water
8. Say Something That Gets You Fired
9. Gather A Group Of Friends For Drinks
10. Say Something That Gets A Job Offer Pulled
11. Say Something That Angers a Client
12. Complain about a Product or Service
13. Ask for Free Stuff
14. Obsess about Bacon
15. Tweet for Your Dog or Cat
16. Showcase an Endless Array of Self-Portraits
17. Meet People at a Concert
18. Share News
19. Report from a Natural Disaster
20. Pimp Your Blog Links
21. Pimp Your Mom
22. Ask for 1,000,000 Followers
23. Announce the Song You are Listening To
24. Tell People How Awesome Your Macbook Is
25. Wonder How This Twitter Thing Works
26. Gratuitous Cursing
27. Comment That You Are Sitting At Your Desk
28. Make Fun of People Who Use PCs
29. Complain about How Facebook is Ripping Off Twitter
30. Wondering if Anyone Uses MySpace Anymore
31. Ask Someone to Marry You
32. Report on Your Blind Date
33. Tell Everyone What You Thought About the Latest Blockbuster Movie
34. Spoil The Ending of a TV Show
35. Thank Someone for Great Customer Service
36. Complain About Bad Customer Service
37. Bemoan The Fact That Traditional Media Doesn’t Get It
38. Share Speaker’s Speech from Conference
39. Make Fun of People Who Are Not at SXSW
40. Revel That You are Not at SXSW
41. Tell People How Wasted You Are
42. Talk about the Weather
43. Share Heartwarming Stories About Your Kids
44. Link to Photos of Your Vacation
45. Use a Location-Based Service to Tell Everyone about Your Latte, including a photo and a map
46. Post Cute Pictures of Your Pets
47. Meet Members of Your Local Community
48. Sell Stuff
49. Buy Stuff
50. Promote Events
51. Crowdsource Ideas for Things You Get Paid to Know
52. Hire A Freelancer
53. Report on Terrorist Activity
54. Name Drop People You’ve Only Met Online
55. Name Drop People You Are Having Lunch With
56. Send A Message To The President
57. Talk About Which Twitter Desktop App You’re Using
58. Talk About Snuggies
59. Use Stupid Shorthand such as: nom nom, lol, FTW, WTF, etc…
60. Try to Make Others Jealous of How Awesome your City is
61. Pimp The Latest Sci-Fi Trailer
62. Tracking Trends
63. Announce Your Plane has Landed: Wheels Down
64. Review Movies
65. Tell A Story
66. Make a Public Apology
67. Admit You Did Something Stupid
68. Ask for Computer Help
69. Complain about Battery Life
70. Pitch Your Startup to Scoble and Techcrunch
71. Make New Friends
72. Exclaim the Guy/Girl Across the Room is Hot!
73. Argue Politics
74. Wish Twitterville Good Morning
75. Tell your Followers to Have a Good Day
76. Tell the Twitterverse Goodnight
77. Share Quotes
78. Express Your Belief in a Higher Power
79. Avoid Sending E-mail
80. Learn
81. Listen
82. Ask for Help
83. Raise Money for a Charity
84. Share Stats of Social Media’s Growth
85. Auto-Pimp your New Twitter App
86. Auto-DM Welcome New Followers
87. Get a Date
88. Ask for Travel Recommendations
89. Share What You’re Reading Offline
90. Provide Traffic Updates
91. Talks Sports and Update Scores
92. Share Recipes
93. Tell Someone You’re Running Late
94. Find and Share Funny Videos
95. Talk to Your Boss
96. Train Surgeons
97. Make Yourself Look Smart
98. Change the World
99. Bash Microsoft
100. Express your Undying Love for Twitter
101. Retweet

I’ve met so many fun people through Twitter and have had so many fabulous experiences because of it. I was friends with my boyfriend on Twitter before I met him in real life. I’ve managed to meet new people in coffee shops and at events by tweeting where I was. I’ve hired a freelancer through Twitter. I’ve been introduced to delicious new restaurants through Twitter.

If you’re still on the fence about whether you should join or not, I hope this list will provide you some encouragement. If you decide to join, be sure to find and follow me. I’m @GinnySkal.