INFORUM at the Commonwealth Club of California

In the past, when I heard about the Commonwealth club and Inforum, I thought it was about boring lectures by boring people but how wrong was I. I just went to two awesome Inforum events and they was absolutely amazing. The first one was Sal Khan of Khan academy, a really smart, witty and funny man who created free global education for all… amazing!!! The second event I went to was Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of facebook. She was smart, professional and a working mom… hats off to her… another awesome and inspiring event. The people and guest speakers are headliners, current and in the news. What a great way to be inspired and learn from these amazing and inspiring speakers. Saw another event with Jacque pepin, but the tickets were all sold out, so you have to register early. Can’t wait to see what future inspiring speakers are lined up. Must go, if you enjoy intelligent discussions and current news.

I attend many functions at The Commonwealth Club and always enjoy the diversity of topics and dig the very intellectual vibe that is happening. Last week, one of my favorite websites had a contest to give away tickets to Joel Stein Bites, billed as a beer and conversation with Joel Stein at the Swig bar on Geary. Luck was with me and I attended courtesy of the comp tickets which included a mug of draft beer and a copy of Joel’s book, Man Made. Nish (of Unilocal fame) opened the event and introduced the dialog with Stein. Stein was obviously sick, but being the manly guy he is never complained even one time and soldiered through the night, hanging out and signing everyone book and having great little chats after the program. Joel Stein — Swig — and COMMONWEALTH?! Who’d a thunk it? Kudos to Commonwealth, Broke Ass Stuart, Joel Stein, Swig, et al.

As many of you will probably hear on Saturday night from my mother, I graduated 1^st in my bar school class at the casino I used to work at. Why my mother feels this will help me land a husband, I will never know. I don’t think my abilities to press buttons on a liquor gun or my memorization of casino-​standardized drinks are a part of what makes the men flock, but you never know.
Graduating 1^st in my casino bar school may sound impressive, what with the learning drinks, glassware, wines, the order for cocktail waitresses to call drinks, etc… but it’s really not. I was the only girl in the class, and as far as I knew, the only one with an actual college degree. Which clearly served me well in my bar school studies. We had to think of drinks when we «graduated” — one of which was tasty, and the other was disgusting but looked cool.
Anyhow, I probably know more than most when it comes to bartending. And when I mean most, I mean the rest of you people who only know the being served side of a bar. For a bartender, I actually know quite a bit. I’ve paid my dues in the service industry– working my way up from hostess, through server, as a barback, and finally a bartender. It’s not like I went to some hinky dink school that doesn’t teach actual customer service skills. Oh no, I deserve every bit of being a bartender, when I was one, that is. I had the pleasure of working at a cabana bar, where I got to pretty much make up drinks all the time, to one of the busiest bars in the casino at a microbrewery. Again, the only female.
Despite what my mother will try to tell you, I am not a champion bartender. I had the opportunity last night to see some of the masters in action, thanks to Nicole G. CMYE cocktail smackdown? I’m in– not only because I can talk the talk (mostly), but because I like to see what others come up with. I had no idea what to expect from this, although I was pleasantly surprised. Sure, my A.D.D. started rearing it’s ugly head after awhile (or it could have been my liver growling), but it was quite informative.
Once we were released to the alcohol, that’s when the problems started. It was just too darn crowded. They should have demonstrated the drinks during the panel discussion, so we could see it, not when everyone was jostling to be the first one to grab a glass.
I would be interested in joining… possibly. Only if they can promise that I’ll get elbowed less, because I will ALWAYS win that battle.

Just listened to the Unilocal founders conversation and enjoyed it immensely. I highly recommend signing up for the free podcasts in iTunes.

INFORUM rocks my world.
No one would refute the fact that in years past, The Commonwealth Club has had a stodgy reputation. INFORUM has changed the landscape with a smart, active, driven group people in their 20s and 30s.
Speakers I’ve seen and loved: Deepak Chopra, Jamie Oliver, Ethan Hawke, Chuck D, Michael Moore, The Rza, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Yann Martel, Spike Lee, Eve Ensler, Khaled Hosseini.
Of course, the fact that I ran this organization for 5 years does not taint this review in any way. Wink, wink.

Stay smart and current. Makes me feel great too get off work and engage my brain for an hour before going out or home. Interesting speakers & topics that actually pertain what is happening in the world today. Infourm is the 35 and under commonwelth club membership.
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