Sipping wine, sampling high-caliber munchies and mingling with a cavalcade of entertaining characters — not to mention rubbing elbows with the luminous Rosario Dawson. Sounds like your typical happy hour, right? (Well perhaps minus hanging out with Rosario Dawson.)

But this Thursday night get-together was far from standard. On June 4, Corkbar hosted a fundraiser for the Lower Eastside Girls Club. Guests provided a donation to the Girls Club for the opportunity to attend the social event. The happy-hour-with-a-cause featured periodic updates on the Lakers game unfolding nearby at the Staples Center, and a raffle where a variety of luxury items were up for grabs. Prizes included a one-month Pilates gift certificate and a Clinique basket chock full of must-have skin care essentials. Dawson played emcee and even expertly modeled the stellar pair of Jimmy Choo shades being raffled off as she read the winning number.

The Lower Eastside Girls Club was created back in 1996 to provide services targeted toward the female set, since girls were left out of the local “boys” club. The nonprofit offers programs designed to develop environmental, entrepreneurial and ethical leadership in this lesser-served region of New York City. Girls have the opportunity to delve into digital filmmaking (check out their impressive girl-produced videos at Girlsclubvideo.blip.tv/), a community radio station and even nutrition workshops.

The entrepreneurial spirit can be seen in their three social venture businesses; The Art+Community Gallery, La Tiendita Fair Trade and Girl Made Gift Shop at the Essex Market and the Sweet Things Bake Shop. The funds being raised by events like the one in L.A. will go towards the construction of New York City’s first and only Girls Club facility that will house the organization’s current endeavors (along with several new ventures) all under one convenient and eco-friendly roof. The new green center is scheduled to open in 2011.

For more information on this positive demonstration of real girl power, head over to Girlsclub.org.

photo courtesy of wag staff worldwide

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Google “Twitter,” and the first search result says, “Twitter: What are you doing?” The follow-up question that comes to mind is does anyone really care? I think that’s the reason I avoided signing up for an account. But through recent researching, I’ve discovered some things that have made me reconsider.

An ABC News article mentioned how the recession has caused more people to join online dating services and social networking sites. Forums provide a medium for people to engage with others, share their thoughts and have an open — we’re talking cyberspace open — dialogue with others.

So it makes sense that Twitter’s following, according to Nielson ratings, has had an astounding 1382% increase from February 2008 to February 2009. Twitter lets subscribers ask questions, get advice or just express how they feel. Twitter does this in a compact way that, according to Twitter.com, is an “antidote to information overload.” (That 140 character limit is a real fan-favorite.)

Politicians talk about what they’re working on, where they’re campaigning and even what they think about recent events. In fact, you can search for your state’s “congresstweeple” on Tweet Congress. News organizations update Twitter with the latest news and those who subscribe get it instantly. The news isn’t the only Twitter lure. Celebrities are another big reason why people join. Ashton Kutcher has almost 1 million people who care about what he has to say all day, everyday.

Real people also find reasons to sign up for Twitter. Zeeshan Hyder, 22, joined a few months ago just to follow basketball players. He says he hasn’t updated his own profile in months.

Michelle Hadi posts Lakers updates on Twitter. During games, she uses an “extreme amount of Twitter.”

“I don’t follow friends, I follow celebrities,” admitted the 21-year-old Hadi. “I think it’s stupid, but I can’t put it down.”

Those who aren’t into following celebrities or sending out personal updates often find Twitter pointless.

“Well, I figure I’m not important enough to have a Twitter,” Samantha Chui, 20, said. “I mean, do people really need to know every single minute what I’m doing? It’s kind of weird, like TMI.”

Twitter disagrees. Under their “Why section” on their homepage, it states, “Because even basic updates are meaningful to family members, friends, or colleagues — especially when they’re timely.”

Alana Taylor, a student blogger from New York University, writes that Twitter is so popular “because it has created Micro Fame.” Selfishness and greed are natural parts of human nature and having people “follow” you — having people care about what you’re doing at every moment creates this feeling of Micro Fame that can be undeniably attractive.

In fact, it might be the desire for Micro Fame that separates people like Hadi from others like Hyder and Chui. I don’t plan on creating an account for myself, but perhaps if I have the urge, I’ll subscribe to someone that gives me daily news updates, jokes or interesting info I need — in 140 characters or less.

Do you tweet? Follow i am that girl on Twitter.

photo by nathan makan

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