This was the 4th year of the annual SOL Film Festival (www.thesolfilmfestival.com). I love the Hampton area --- it was really nice this year. No rain, no cold ... as a matter of fact, I heard from Rebekah Pierce (Editor of Average Girl Magazine from Richmond, VA) that the rain came down after we left. So I guess I brought the sun back to Cali with me!

Kudos to the Hampton Marina Hotel, recently taken over by Crowne Plaza. Even though they were under construction, it was a great stay! And the views of the marina are fantastic.

The SOL Film Festival has grown to be so much more than a group of indie film lovers and artistic hopefuls getting together to watch films - the opportunity to do more has grown each year. Book-store owners, magazine editors, publishers, entrepreneurs and local small business owners are in the house during the weekend of the SOL Film Festival. Filmmakers found themselves setting dates to be screened at local restaurants, authors were passing review copies of recently completely manuscripts to editors and entrepreneurs were doing worthwhile networking - it was a social extravaganza!

Both Thursday and Friday night we ended up at the Soul Food Cafe in downtown Hampton, and I promise you that the only reason our group of 15 or so "after party folks" returned on Friday night was because Thursday night was awesome. I personally returned for the Apple Martini's, truth be told!

I could go on and on, but really wanted to list some of the folks that were in the house. Also, I am returning to Richmond, VA to do a Strategic Partnering workshop at Average Girl Magazine's Biz Women's Expo ... check out this SOL Searchers and Supporters:

TYSON HALL - www.tysonhall.com

BLAKE GLENN - www.looneyexecutive.com

LINDA PATE - www.talkshoe.com/tc/12895

REBEKAH PIERCE - www.averagegirlmagazine.com

VINCE PAUL - www.talent-link.com

That's just to name a few .... to be continued when time permits

Be well! Denise Spiller