Ground Floor Public Affairs - Let's Get It Started

Constant Readers: Apologies for the fact that it has been a while since my last posting. I am working on a video-based format and it is taking some time to get that up and running.  In the meantime, forgive the "bloggy" personal nature of today's entry. Just felt the need to write about this.

  Last night, I attended the office-warming party of Ground Floor Public Affairs, the consulting firm founded and run by Alex Tourk (right).  The party started at 6 pm and I arrived at 6:30 thinking it would be early enough to get some yummy food from Tommaso's (which is downstairs from the GFPA offices and was reserved for the party) and say hello to the Man of the Hour.  Well, when I got there, there were already people spilling out into the street even though both the GFPA offices and Tommaso's were open.  There must have been hundreds of people there in what can only be described as an Alex Tourk Love Fest of Epic Proportions! (All well-deserved, of course.) So, I waited in line and kissed the ring and congratulated him on this successful endeavor but quickly had to move along, for there were throngs of other people eagerly waiting to shower him with heartfelt hugs, kisses and compliments. 

Now it was 6:50. The place was full of Supervisors, City Officials and other people I assumed are generally more important than me. What to do? Drink, of course! (The line for food was almost as long as the line for Tourk, so I gave up on that.) I went upstairs where booze was easier to come by and whom did I meet? Why the crew from one of my favorite websites (see right hand column) the Fog City Journal! 

Elaine Santore was as witty and interesting in person as she is on the site. I admit that, sadly, my first reaction is to hate smart and beautiful women like Elaine, but she was so sweet, too, that I couldn't help but really like her and spent much of the night chatting with she and Hope Johnson (also quite lovely). I also met the talented Luke Thomas who, I was surprised to learn, has a very cool British accent.  He took some pics of us that I hope I don't look like hell in. Another friend of the FCJ, Bob Brigham was there and was kind enough to chat with me and point out all the people I should have recognized but didn't. So embarrassing. I must make some flash cards for the next event.

At around 8 pm, I ambled downstairs to see if the crowd had cleared enough to get some food.  Whilst working my way to the back where the pizzas were, I found myself standing next to M.C. Hammer. Yes. You read that properly. M.C. FREAKING HAMMER!! I knew the night would not, could not, get any better than it was at that moment. So, I again swam though the sea of Tourk's adoring fans, this time to say goodbye. And to thank him for the booze. And to tell him he has a great and diverse crew of friends. And to blurt out (too) loudly, "How the F*CK do you know M.C. Hammer?!!"

What can I say? It was a full moon. Good times.

-Melissa

Comments

[Bob Brigham]

It was great meeting you, fun night.

While MC Hammer was fun and all, I think Tourk could have kicked it up a notch if his band would have played.

[el Greco]

OK, MC Hammer being there leads to all kinds of rumor-grinding. Do I smell another mayoral candidate? Hey, if Arnold the movie star can be guv, why not MC as mayor? Very interesting...

[Greg]

sounds fun! saw your pic at FCJ...very cool!

some where in storage I have an old piece of direct mail from a fremont mayor's race where the guy listed as one of his top 3 endorsements, "MC Hammer" and had a picture of him with MC, this was back in the day when he had that ginormous house on the hill. it was cool to see a downballot race with such a high profile endorsement (this was back in MC's heyday)....

its in the same box as my "Frank Jordan for Mayor" postcard set (yes for real) and other assorted whatnots.