A subscriber recently commented that she’d love to use this community as a way to make real life social connections. In her words, “many of us are like-minded, similarly aged, and probably have similar interests since we all follow you. Maybe actual friends can be made. Your timing of branching off into focusing on yourself independent from children might prove to be an excellent springboard for us as well.” She suggested Mommy Shorts/Apparently meet-ups centered around major cities and then maybe splintering into more local areas.
That all sounds amazing, but I feel like my fear of throwing a party and nobody showing up would majorly hinder this plan. So let’s start small. Let’s figure out where we all overlap in location…
Leave a comment below with your city and state. Include your country if you are outside of the US.
Put your location first in your comment so that others can scan and see it easily. Before leaving a comment, please read through everyone’s responses. If your city has already been mentioned, leave your comment under that thread instead of starting a new one. This way I can see how many people are in each place and you can feel free to talk amongst yourselves!
Will you use this to meet up in real life having nothing to do with me? That is up to you. Will I consider doing a post-Covid meet-up in the city with the most comments? Maybe! Am I interested in having a super awkward meet-up with one or two new mom friends in NYC? Yes, for sure! Would I hop on a plane tomorrow if I discover I’ve got a plethora of followers in the South of France? Most definitely!
I think when the idea of meet-ups around social media presences first started popping up, it was hoards of fans surrounding huge personalities like DJ Khaled and Jake Paul. I thought, I would never attract that many people which might make the meet-up feel unsuccessful. But recently, I saw a tiktok with four women having brunch, each with an identical looking pug in an equally adorable outfit. In the comments, someone said, “How did you find a group of friends with such an identical interest?” And the answer was, “We met online!”
In my old age, I no longer desire a party filled with adoring fans. I just want four friends with identical dogs eating brunch.
Apparently is a newsletter by Ilana Wiles. If you’ve been enjoying it for free, please consider supporting it financially by upgrading your subscription! As a paid subscriber, you’ll get access to my “close friends” group on Instagram, my “Big Kid Problems Support Group” and all past TV Club discussions.
Ilana, I think I would jump on a plane for a MommyShorts girls weekend somewhere! You could host them in different places for women to fly to for a make-new-friends girls weekend somewhere new. And those subscribers who live in that city can curate the itinerary!
So I technically don't live in NYC anymore, but we still have a place in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights to be specific), and my family is there, so I come in often (more so pre-pandemic). Will comment elsewhere with my regular location.
Marin County is amazing. I lived in Tiburon within a 5 minute walk to a grocery store, Peet’s Coffee and other little shops. Mill Valley was great too, but depending on where you live it can be colder and far from things. Go explore and get a feel for what areas you like.
Ilana, I think I would jump on a plane for a MommyShorts girls weekend somewhere! You could host them in different places for women to fly to for a make-new-friends girls weekend somewhere new. And those subscribers who live in that city can curate the itinerary!
I love this idea! Where do you live?
I live on the Gold Coast in Australia. An Australian MommyShorts adventure? Or I’d go to NYC again in a flash!
I’m in Canberra, Australia so we’ve got beaches and the nation’s capital covered 😂
Adelaide, South Australia 🇦🇺
I
Adelaide, South Australia too. Come on down to Australia Ilana!
This is a great idea! And we could get a huge group rate!
I am soooo down for a shorties weekend!
Wait, is Shorties our official name? I like it. :)
YES YES YES! 🙏🏻 Miss you so!
This is another Lucy ;-) xxx Miss you too!
🤣🤣🤣
I love this idea, too!!!
This would be awesome!
Same!!
NYC!!!!!
If you comment here- tell me what part. Tribeca for me.
Tribeca and have we got any British ex-pats?!
NYC, Battery Park since 2014, but born and raised in Copenhagen, Denmark
Bayside, Queens
My parents are in Douglaston!
Same!
:) enjoy the snow day!
Brooklyn!
Yay, Park Slope, Brooklyn here!
South Slope/Greenwood Heights
South Slope here!
Also Park Slope!
Brooklyn Cobble Hill
Boerum Hill - Brooklyn
Also Brooklyn, Fort Greene/Downtown Brooklyn! Kids go to school on the LES, though.
I'm also in FG
Same
Gowanus, Brooklyn
Also Brooklyn, Carroll Gardens/Boerum Hill!
Kew Garden Hills, Queens
Kew Gardens! Just across Queens Blvd from you!
Forest Hills, Queens.
Same! 🙌🏼
I’m also in Forest Hills! Can I add you on Facebook?
Just down Austin Street from you, I’m in Kew Gardens!
Ozone Park
South Slope/Windsor Terrace
Upper manhattan/ Washington heights, anyone?
Upper UWS here!
UWS
UWS! I'm 25 and childless but I'n a great babysitter!! :)
Same !
UWS too!
UWS as well!
Riverdale (Bronx)!
I’m in Riverdale too
Also in the Bronx
UWS
Hudson Square (between Tribeca and The West Village)
Columbus circle!
Queens! (Jackson Heights)
I'm in Jackson Heights too! (Also is this Natalie, Norah's Mom??!!)
haha, yep!!
I’m from Jackson Heights also. Hello neighbor!
Hi! Also in Jackson Heights :)
Also Queens, but Kew Gardens!
Queens!
Also Queens, but Floral Park
So I technically don't live in NYC anymore, but we still have a place in Brooklyn (Brooklyn Heights to be specific), and my family is there, so I come in often (more so pre-pandemic). Will comment elsewhere with my regular location.
Upper East Side, NYC
Noho/ Village
Upper East Side
Upper east side too!
NYC! UWS after 10 or so years in Chelsea
Uws!
Carroll Gardens Bk
Wellington, New Zealand 😎 But my ♥️ is in New York!
I’m in Wellington too!
I love how quickly this took off! I hope it’s indicative of interest.
Thanks for inspiring the thread!
I know, the comments are moving so quickly!!
Hi from Montevideo, Uruguay, a small country between Brasil and Argentina.
Yo soy de Pilar, cerca de Buenos Aires, Argentina. En el 2011 conocí a Ilana cuando vino a grabar un comercial a Buenos Aires, that was cool!
San Juan, Argentina
También soy de Montevideo! Pero llevo 19 años en 🇺🇸
My mom is from Ecuador. ❤
My mom is too <3
Hola Elisa! Soy Maria Paula de Bogotá, Colombia. It’s nice to see a fellow South American in the community.
Bay Area, CA
Bay Area - San Jose, Ca. Interested in a meet up!
San Jose!
Sunnyvale
San Jose!!
San Jose!
Former San Josean (born and raised but now we live on the Central Coast near SLO)
Hey!!! Los Gatos!
Bay Area - Antioch, CA
I’m in Brentwood!
Bay Area - Lafayette
Hey I am in Moraga!
I didn't think I'd see another Lafayette.. :-)
Bay Area (Belmont), CA
Oakland (we moved here 8 months ago from Connecticut) so I’m still learning the Bay Area.
Also newish here (pre Covid)
We are moving that direction this summer. Any recommendations for great neighbors for three kids where mom can walk to awesome coffee??
East Bay Area: Berkeley, CA!
also Berkeley!
Piedmont, CA. Right next door.
I’m a stone’s throw away from Piedmont. Not too far from the Montclair area.
Marin County is amazing. I lived in Tiburon within a 5 minute walk to a grocery store, Peet’s Coffee and other little shops. Mill Valley was great too, but depending on where you live it can be colder and far from things. Go explore and get a feel for what areas you like.
Mill Valley in Marin County!
Danville, San Ramon or Pleasanton
San Carlos, ca (Bay Area)