By Madina Toure
Some of the borough’s top social media influencers got to meet each other for the first time at the first-ever Queens Social Media Mixer last week.
Individuals who contribute to Queens or talk about Queens on their social media accounts got together and mingled at Flushing Town Hall at 137-35 Northern Blvd. in downtown Flushing. The event was organized by the Queens Tourism Council.
Sierra Brown, who runs the Instagram account for the Queens Tourism Council, created the May 8 event as a way to unite people who express their passion for Queens virtually.
She defined social media influencers as individuals who have at least 1,000 followers and have Queens-focused accounts.
“I’m really passionate about the development of tourism in Queens and creating an in-person community among people who are a virtual community,” she said.
Using the hashtag #QueensSocial, attendees were asked to answer two Twitter questions, one asking them what makes Queens the best borough and the other asking them to explain how they embody Queens.
Those with the most creative responses received a one-night stay at the new Hilton Garden Inn in Long Island City.
They were also asked to put their best photo on Instagram to win a pair of tickets to Queens Taste.
Additional prizes included an Edible Arrangements bouquet just in time for Mother’s Day, a $50 gift basket from the Queens Center Mall and two six packs of group fitness classes from Invest In Your Body.
Katha Cato of the Queens World Film Festival screened a short animated film exploring social media.
The event also featured dumplings from Dumpling Galaxy, teas from TeaUs and drinks from Queens Courage and Metropolitan White Vodka. Shawn Choi, Flushing Town Hall’s director of marketing and community engagement, said the event gave the organization the opportunity to bring in an audience it is seeking.
“This is the audience that we wanted to get here: younger, hip, into social media and online,” Choi said.
Attendees said they enjoyed networking with other individuals who were similarly passionate about Queens.
Jeigh Hall, a brand development manager for Sela, saw the mixer as a chance to promote his company’s businesses and to meet social media influencers in the borough.
“There are a lot of people who care about Queens,” Hall said.
Loycent Gordon, owner of Neir’s Tavern, a restaurant in Woodhaven, noted that social media will be key in helping to better promote the borough.
“There’s always a nucleus of people that see the future and have the ability to promote the future of Queens,” Gordon said.
Brooklyn resident PJ Policarpio, who works as an educator at the Queens Museum, said Queens is undergoing a transformation, commending the work that smaller cultural institutions can undertake.
“I’m thinking we’re at this level where Queens is branding itself and making a brand,” Policarpio said. “I’d be interested to see where it goes.”
Reach reporter Madina Toure by e-mail at mtour
