Got more to add?  Let us know.  Perhaps we will create a page called “Quick Guide to Getting Connected” or something and keep it updated (with help from the community).

Boulder Beta

• Startup mixer event which started in 2011.
• Great social format for local startups to present what they are working on.  Don’t miss it!

Boulder Denver New Tech Meetup

• Monthly feedback forum for startups (400+ attendees in Boulder and 100+ in Denver).
• From their Meetup page: “The local community gets together to network, socialize and show-and-tell new technology. Join us.”

Boulder.me

• The place to go to find out about local tech startup activities.
• From their website: “organization devoted to informing and serving the vibrant startup community in beautiful Boulder, Colorado. We do that on this website; on Twitter, and with outreach and events all year long.”

Boulder Open Coffee Club

• Casual biweekly forum to discus local and national tech business activities. Held on Tuesdays starting at 8am at Atlas Purveyors, 1505 Pearl.
• Get there early if you want a seat since it is usually SRO.
• Search the #bocc hashtag on Twitter for updates, they don’t have a Twitter account.
• Want to find out if it is tomorrow?  Check out this handy website.  Thanks Eoin Coffey!

Boulder StartupDigest

• Weekly email update on local tech startup activities.
• Subscribe to StartupDigest and select the Boulder edition (lots of other interesting cities too).

House of Genius

• Smaller feedback forum for startups (~20 attendees).
• From their website: “House of Genius assembles diverse minds to disrupt normal thinking patterns and ignite new ideas. … 15 professionals … engage in an open, intense dialogue and debate to spawn truly innovative views and solutions.”

Ignite Boulder

• Event which happens about every 6-8 weeks in which presenters get 5 minutes to “teach something, enlighten us, or simply inspire”.  It is a good time and you usually walk away with a new appreciation for something.

Startup Women

• Biweekly networking forum for female entrepreneurs.
• Meets every other Tuesday (opposite of Boulder Open Coffee).
• There is an early conversation session at 8am that usually meets at Ozo Coffee on west Pearl and a more formal session (speakers, topics for discussion) at noon at Boulder Digital Arts.
• Join the Meetup site for details.

Finally, if you are not on Twitter, fix that fast. Many folks in the Boulder tech community use it as their primary means of communication.  You can find out things like what Jason Mendelson (@jasonmendelson) is thinking, usability best practices from Lyn Bain (@lynbain), frank social media advice from Erika Napoletano (@RedheadWriting), podcast and BOCC updates from Michael Sitarzewski (@msitarzewski), food blogger noms from Grace Boyle (@gracefullplate) and so much more.  Get on it!

[Note: Fiona intends this to be the starting point for others to add their two cents - use the comments to add your thoughts on how newcomers can get connected in our community! - Bing]

That didn’t stop Mateo Restaurant (@mateorestaurant) from making me feel like one while simultaneously giving me the most fun story to tell for more than one of the publications I write for, as well as a nod from @boulderbars, for whom I’m also a reviewer.  Delicious food, impressive service, and great company for me – - killer write-ups, totally free press, and a sold new customer for them.

Here’s the story of how one local Boulder eatery used Twitter to not only simply engage me, but won my business, my taste buds, and my little social media-loving heart.

It started last Tuesday. I follow @mateorestaurant on Twitter, and they’d tweeted:

“Inviting all of Boulder to @mateorestaurant tonight! Love to see you tonight… Great happy hour tonight!!!”

So, I responded:

“Well, what IS your happy hour?”

The following conversation ensued:

@mateorestaurant: Amazing drinks and food special… 5-6:30pm.
@doniree: but, but, what IS the special?
@mateorestaurant: frits $2, salade… $3 cheese tasting $7…more..Drinks…house wine $4 Stella $3… just a little taste!
@doniree CHEESE TASTING?
@mateorestaurant: daily selection of cheese, fruit, wine jelly, nuts, and grilled bread
@doniree: SWEET! I’m a cheese FREAK. How about your wines? Anything special? I’m tapped into a neat wine blog and would love to chat
@mateorestaurant: All kinds of specials… You will need to come in and taste everything…
@doniree: Sigh, that’s a tall order, but I just might be the chickadee to do it!
@mateorestaurant: We would love to see you!

I didn’t make it in on Tuesday, but on Wednesday, I tweeted this:

“Need to: make dinner, pack for MN (!!!) and get some writing done, but all I can think about is cheese and wine @mateorestaurant; any takers?”

I quickly got a response – again from the restaurant:

“We hope to see you soon!!! Come see us anytime…”

Not wanting to be a tease, I showed up. I beat my dinner companion (my roommate) to the bar, so I saddled up, ordered the house red and the bar nuts while I waited. The bartender, Alex, and I started chatting about the wine and the menu and I mentioned the cheese plate.

Alex the Bartender: “Are you on Twitter?”

Me: “Why yes, yes I am! Are you the one running the Twitter account for this place?”

Alex the Bartender: “No, actually. That’s the owner’s wife. She called not long ago and mentioned that we’d have a couple of girls in for wine and cheese plates, and to make sure to say hi. So, hello! And thanks for coming in.”

I waited until Alex the Bartender turned around before I let my jaw hit the floor, but I was SO impressed that not only had someone at Mateo got me through the doors, but they made an extra effort to welcome me once I got in there.

Further conversation with Alex the Bartender revealed that the owners were Matthew and Megan Jansen (Matthew is also a chef there), and that Megan was the one behind the Twitter account. A few moments later, I checked in with Tweetie and found this:

We hadn’t even gotten our cheese plate yet, and I’d been welcomed by @mateorestaurant on Twitter, Alex the Bartender (care of Megan the owner’s wife) and then byMegan herself (and Megan?  I’m going to try to swing in this Friday to say hi).

Color me impressed, y’all.

And that’s not even getting into the awesomeness that was the food.  Those details can be found on my own little food blog, NomadicFoodie.com.  Remember, I’m not a food critic or expert of any kind - I just LOVE to eat.  And drink great wine.  And enjoy great service.

And I totally and completely adore when my love of social media meets my love of food and dining.  Mateo Restaurant, you have won my little tweeting heart.

Brad Feld at Boulder.me from Andrew on Vimeo.