gala

11/102018

Vamos a la playa – join us for some evening fun in Berlin!

News evening, gala, soccnx, social connections by Maria Nordin

The moment you all have been waiting for has arrived! And trust us, we have been waiting for it too!

Long we thought there was not going to be an evening event this, the 14th edition of our conference. We just couldn’t see how. It actually was a terrible feeling as we know that the evening event where we round off day 1 of the conference, is one of those things that our attendees value the most. To relax after a day of conferencing, have dinner and some fun with that person you tried to chase all day to have a moment to talk to. To make new friends, catch up with dear old ones, and to tie those so important business knots.

Then a series of unforeseen events occurred which made it all possible! Happy faces all around. So what should we cook up this time? Those of you that have visited our conferences before know that we always want to do something more for you all. Good meal and drinks, yes. But also that extra quirky thing, like a special venue, some crazy activity or just something that make you smile.

For example, we have had our events at a playground with go-carts and climbing wall in Stuttgart, a table tennis bar in Chicago, Hockey hall of Fame (!) in Toronto, a Photography Museum in Stockholm or a Science Museum with dinosaurs in Boston.

So, therefore, it’s totally natural for us to invite you to a beach party in Berlin! Yes, you heard right. Beach party.

Welcome to Beach Mitte which is an indoor and outdoor venue with good food and fun games, and an outdoor beach! Enjoy archery at the outdoor bonfire station or challenge your colleague on table football, XXL Jenga or table tennis.

The address is as below and it takes approximately 30 minutes by public transport from the conference venue.

BeachMitte
Caroline-Michaelis-Str. 8
10115 Berlin

We start at 19:30 and continue into the night.

19/042018

Game time! Our Gala night will be as fun as ever – join us in Philadelphia and Social Connections

News billiards, buffalo, dart, evening, event, fun, gala, games, networking, night, pool, shuffleboard, table by Maria Nordin

Are you like us, who thinks that networking is as big part of a conference as the sessions and the learning and knowledge sharing?

Do you also, like us, think that evening events with peers, customers, business partners and IBMers brings that extra special layer of a conference?

A moment where you can have more relaxed conversations and get to know people you wouldn’t otherwise? Good. Are you also ready to have fun? Even better.

You are most welcome to our Gala night after the first day of the conference, Thursday April 26, 2018

We at Social Connections take pride in not only giving you food and a place for networking, we also want to give you that little extra. A trip down memory lane among our earlier Gala nights: Sensapolis in Stuttgart where we did wall climbing and go-karting, Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto where we played ice hockey games and shot pucks on goals, Ace Bounce in Chicago where we played table tennis to name a few.

So what have we cooked up for you this time?

Let’s just say pool/billiards, darts and shuffle boards. Accompanied by food and refreshing beverages.

Welcome to Buffalo Billiards 118 Chestnut St. Philadelphia at 7:30 pm. Right after speed sponsoring at the conference venue. Dress code: business casual

Do you want in on all the fun? Register here for Social Connections 13 in Philadelphia. The IBM Collaboration conference with value. One free ticket to our Gala event is included!

See you!

30/092017

Welcome to the Social Connections Gala night in Vienna!

News connections, evening, fun, gala, night, party, reception, social, socialconnections, vienna by Maria Nordin

Finding a venue for our Gala night is one of the most fun tasks when planning the Social Connections conference.

We all know our attendees look forward to the days with sessions, learning, networking and fun. We also know that our attendees almost as much look forward to our Gala night where they can wind down/wind up (whatever they prefer) after a day of conferencing with their peers, friends, colleagues, customers and partners.

Our Gala nights are often positively talked about long after the conference, which we are very happy for. So we always take time to find that place where we think we can achieve that special Social Connections Gala vibe we all like so much.

This time we found the oldest cellar vault in Vienna. Arrive hungry! The chefs here concentrate on traditional and fresh food, often from local producers.

The Melker Stiftskeller is part of the Melkerhof in Vienna’s Schottengasse 3 in the first district. A certificate from 1629 proves that there was a wine-cellar connected with the Melkerhof already at that time. The Melker Stiftskellers fine cuisine developed out of this wine-cellar.

In addition to the good food there will be some extra fun we can’t reveal yet.

So join us for an evening of good food and lots of laughter in a historic environment!

Melker Stiftskeller is located in Schottengasse 3, A-1010 Wien and is a 10 minute walk from our conference venue.

Welcome

15/052017

Party time! Time to reveal the location of Social Connections fabulous Gala evening!

News 12, Chicago, conference, connections, event, gala, gala reception, ibm, ibm connections, reception, soccnx, social, social connections, socialconnections by Maria Nordin

We know that a perfect way to end the first day our conference is a fabulous Gala evening together with old and new friends! Other ingredients should include good food, refreshing beverages and something extra fun. And this is the Chicago edition!

Welcome to a fun and playful evening at the table tennis club Ace Bounce – the home of PING PONG.

Ace Bounce offers an immense subterranean playground. Filled with ping pong tables each with their own party going. All kept in perpetual motion by DJs. And topped off with generous servings of food and beverages by award winning chefs & mixologists. Perfect for our conference!

We are sure you will enjoy a night with a game of table tennis and a bite to eat with your customer, your IBMer or that other business partner!

Register for Social Connections here and then check your email for the registration link to this evening event! Make sure you secure your spot to our fabulous gala night! 1 ticket per attendee.

So come and play with us! The Social Connections team is in hard training! 🙂

09/042015

Social Connections 8 gala reception announced… Enjoy ‘A Night at the Museum’!

News boston, gala, gala reception, reception, soccnx by Maria Nordin

After the first afternoon of the Social Connections 8 event has concluded, we would like to continue the day’s conversations in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Therefore, we would like to invite all registered participants to join us for a complementary gala reception at the fascinating Museum of Science, courtesy of our Champagne sponsors, Trilog Group.

As the most highly attended cultural institution in New England, the Museum of Science offers novel surroundings and out-of-the-ordinary experiences that are sure to intrigue and entertain all our attendees!

With an array of interactive exhibits extending across three levels, the Museum’s Blue Wing may be the most unique and entertaining space in Boston. Where else can you dine amid dinosaurs and experience a hair-raising one million volts of lighting all in the same evening?

To top all that off, there will also be a variety of live music on offer all evening – you may just spot a few very familiar faces too!

Given our central location at IBM, no formal transportation will be required – the Museum of Science is just a short walk from the conference location.

Please contact us if you have any special dietary needs or allergies.

We look forward to seeing you in Boston!

16/102014

Announcing the venue for the Social Connections VII Gala Reception

News gala, reception, soccnx, social, stockholm, vii by Wannes Rams

The event’s gala reception takes place on the evening of Thursday 13th November, between 7:30pm and 10:30pm.

The team know that we have a lot of live up to when it comes to our gala receptions – a castle in Wales, the historic Guinness factory in Dublin, overlooking the lake in Zürich, and then that majestic view (and fireworks) in Prague! However, after much searching, we think we have found one of the very best venues in Stockholm for this event’s evening gathering…

We are truly delighted to announce that we be hosting the gala reception at Fotografiska – the world-renown photography museum:

It all began in 1940 when the court photographer Sundgren presented a proposal for a photographic museum in Sweden. The Magazine Photo spoke with museum directors and photographers who showed interest and enthusiasm. Although the idea of a permanent home for photography was discussed back and forth, nothing happened until 70 years later when the doors to Fotografiska finally opened in Stadsgårdskajen in Stockholm.

The initiators and founders of Fotografiska are brothers Jan and Per Broman who both have a long history working in the photography industry. To assist them they have a dedicated group of coworkers with expertise within various fields.

This incredible location is on the water’s edge, with views across Stockholm:

Fotografiska is housed in a former industrial Art Nouveau style building dating back to 1906. Designed by Ferdinand Boberg, the building was used for the customs control of goods and is listed as a building of cultural interest. The original brick facade of the beautiful customs building is intact, while the interior has been renovated to house the museum. The city of Stockholm has funded the 250 million crown restoration costs. Today, the entire 5,500 square meter space is filled with photographs and exhibitions from around the world.

The evening will begin with welcome drinks, before an optional tour of the museum’s finest exhibits:

Exhibitions are the foundation of Fotografiska. Our ambition is to exhibit world-renowned photographers, many who have never been shown in Sweden, as well as those who are not yet established. Since our grand opening, May 20th 2010, we have shown legends like Annie Leibovitz, David LaChapelle and Nick Brandt and introduced new photographers like Helena Blomqvist, Klara Kallstrom and Johan Wik.

We believe photography is an art form with a bright future that grows increasingly important for us humans. In addition to being a place where humans meet, we find inspiration, peace and strength from it.

This will be followed by a three course meal designed by the museum’s chef, Paul Svensson:

Our kitchen pride themselves on the same excellent quality and standard as the rest of the museum. Our aim is to create experiences for all the senses – where tastes, fragrances, our choice of raw materials and the surrounding environment combine as part of a well-considered whole.

Down at Fotografiska’s kitchen, our ambitions are just as high as in the rest of the building. Our goal is to create experiences that will appeal to all the senses, where the tastes, fragrances, choice of raw ingredients and the ambient environment all contribute to a carefully considered total concept.

Our philosophy is rooted in Swedish culinary traditions, however we dare to differ and are happy to go beyond national borders to seek inspiration.

We are convinced that you have the same high demands on what is served as we do. That is why it goes without saying that the starting-point for our menus is the change of seasons. This means that we try to avoid unnecessary transportation and use organic products as far as possible. We work together with carefully chosen suppliers and our preference is always for Swedish raw ingredients.

Paul Svensson, one of Sweden’s most celebrated chefs, is closely involved in our activities as a source of culinary inspiration and a concept developer.

There’s something very special about sharing a meal together, so with plenty of opportunities for networking and enjoying each others’ company, we believe this will be a wonderful way to cement the relationships made or continued at the event!

The Social Connections team have no doubt that this will one of our best gala receptions yet. So if you haven’t already registered for the event (and the reception), please do so now!