The Great Blackout at the 2011 New York Auto Show

I'm starting to feel like a bit of a disaster.  Wherever I am, disaster strikes:  2003.....The great blackout in NYC (and I was living in Minneapolis at the time.), 2009......the Cobo Hall Fire at NAIAS and now, 2011.....the great blackout at the Jacob Javits Center.  Wherever I go, trouble follows.  Last night, around 7:50 PM. all of the lights dimmed in the middle of the New York Auto Show at the Jacob Javits Center.  It became very dark, very quickly.  I love the resilience of New Yorkers because an event like this barely registers to them.  As someone who has officially spent more time in LA (11 years) versus NYC (9 years), I did look around to make sure this was just a faulty electrical moment instead of a true emergency.

I also love that Jalopnik and the NY Times Automotive Section were on to my tweets within seconds.  Are they trolling for auto show information by the moment?  Either way, I am impressed.  The consumers remained calm and the lights were back on within 8 minutes. The only thing that I questioned was the lack of response from show management.  We didn't hear a peep from them.  Surely there is a universal PA system to tell the public that everything is okay and that they are working on restoring power?  Does anyone have an emergency plan in place these days?  I know Cobo Hall didn't do a thing during the fire in 2009.  The other good news is that New York's famed "Gang Night" on Easter Sunday was the calmest in years, so maybe my luck is changing after all.

Lights back on and all is well at the 2011 New York Auto Show........

**The views/opinions on this page are not necessarily those of TOYOTA.

North American International Auto Show 2011

If you have been following me on Twitter, then you have seen my notes and comments on NAIAS.  Right after I finished the live internet broadcast of the Toyota Prius v in LA, I jumped on a plane to Detroit to the North American International Auto Show.  This is the fourth year we have hit Detroit with Toyota Live and I have to say, I am having a better time this year than previous years.  Yes, service is still slow and things still close down early, but the economy is looking up in this town and the automotive industry is a whole lot happier versus January 2009.  I ranted and raved last year about my visit and an electrical fire in Cobo Hall dampened one of the days, but I think Detroit and I have turned the corner and happily, we have a new understanding.  Check out a few fun photos from the first weekend of NAIAS:

Thanks to Joe Neuberger and Jalopnik for giving me the secret sign via Twitter to get my free CFL bulb from BYD Auto.

 I am one big day-glow orange pumpkin head while being interviewed for a local news story. Ah, convention center lighting!

Hanging with NASCAR's Camping World Truck Series champion and Toyota Racing team member, Todd Bodine.  

Photo 1 & 4:  Courtesy of Trackside Tina.

Photo 2 & 3:  Courtesy of Matthew Troyer.

2010 in Review: January

It's that time of year again, a time to reflect and look back on the year that was:  2010.  I will be kicking it off with 5 photos each day over the next 12 days.  It was a busy year and one that professionally was very rewarding.  I look forward to achieving more of my goals in 2011 along with a little more time set aside to relax and rejuvenate.  May I present, January 2010:

1.  We kicked off the year on The Web Files with an interview about the controversy surrounding the release of The Bannen Way.  Jesse Warren and Mark Gantt couldn't be nicer (or cuter) and they went on to win multiple, well-deserved Streamy Awards.  Check out one of my favorite interviews of 2010.

2. Despite my pasty white thighs, I cannot stop wearing this Deborah Viereck dress bought at Roni B's.  I bought it for The Bannen Way interview, but I also showed up in the dress at the Ghostfacers premiere and Fashion's Night Out event. Time to retire it from photographed events rotation, sigh.

3.  This photo is from the NAIAS Charity Preview Night also known as the "Adult Prom" in Detroit.  It's a super swanky night filled with cars, stars, interesting fashion choices, and a headliner crooning the night away.  

Me and 2009-2010 Toyota Account Manager, Lisa Cole:

4.  Ah, we can't forget this day:  The Great Cobo Hall Fire.  It was just an electrical fire, but the evacuation process was chaotic and the smell was even worse.  Jalopnik picked up the photos that I Tweeted out, so I gained a few more automotive friends in the process.  Here's my account of the fire. 

5. The other fascinating element of NAIAS is the rabid photographers that come each year to photograph the cars and the girls.  I have one photographer who has come year after year to my show and he made laminated place mats for me this year.  It was certainly the most unique gift I have received from a fan.  And no, I don't eat off of KB place mats each night, my blue Target ones work just fine, thank you.

Come back tomorrow at Red Carpet Closet where I look back on February 2010--Chicago, Club 33, and the infomercial streak begins.