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"This post is part of Mashable\u2019s Social Media Hub Series, which shines the spotlight on local social media communities, companies and personalities. The series is supported by Virgin America.\nNew York City is rife with digital savvy and entrepreneurial vision, so much so that not only has social media permeated through Silicon Alley, but it's stretching its reach to the arts, entertainment, and fashion.\nA city with such density begs for community events that bring together people with a passion for the web as a social platform. With more than we can possibly list, the variety of New York's events is nothing to scoff at as they continue to attract hundreds, if not thousands, on a monthly basis.\nWe've tried our hardest to present the best of the city's offerings, but we know that this is only a sampling of the deserving individuals and organizations who are advancing a more social way of thinking in the Big Apple.\nArts &amp; Culture\n\n\n\n\n\nJonathan Coulton: As a software developer or code monkey, turned self-made musician, Coulton [@jonathancoulton] has seen his web releases of new songs reach virality simply because he licenses them under Creative Commons terms. As a result, hit YouTube music videos, like the one above which has 3.6 million views, help spread his music. In September 2005, Coulton quit his day job and released a new song every week though the Thing A Week podcast [iTunes link] and his blog, helping him achieve web celeb status.\nGary Vaynerchuk: The hyper-charged wine guru is a social media success story, using the web as a platform to bring the thunder, disperse his Wine Library TV content, and actively engage with fans. Vaynerchuk [@garyvee], the consummate guest speaker, can always be found at web/tech conferences, is often quoted in major print magazines and papers, frequently seen on television networks, and spotted during football season at New York Jets games.\nArts, Culture, and Technology Meetup: Julia Kaganskiy [@juliaxgulia] created this group to explore the intersection of museums, technology, and social media. Just a few months old, the Arts, Culture, and Technology Meetup is already growing exponentially in popularity by bringing together professionals in the arts and tech communities. Attendees learn from each other's experiences, and discuss how to use social media to bring the arts to everyone.\nWalt Ribeiro: Social media's Walt Ribeiro [@waltribeiro] is the Gary Vaynerchuk of music. He teaches live, interactive music lessons to 150K plus viewers on Your Daily Music Lesson with Walt via Ustream. Ribeiro also organizes the Revision3 Meetup to celebrate and discuss the best of Internet television series.\nBaratunde Thurston: You may automatically associate Baratunde Thurston's [@baratunde] name with the hit site The Onion, where he's the web editor, but Thurston's comedic rise has also been supplemented by his social media activities. The self-proclaimed vigilante pundit's diverse achievements include contributing to the Huffington Post, appearing as a featured guest on CNN and NPR, emceeing the SXSW Web Awards, and hosting Stand-Up Comedy: Live at the Sage Theater every Thursday night.\nFashion 2.0 Meetup: Yuli Ziv [@yuliz] and Michael Pratt [@mikepratt] organize this meetup that attracts 150 - 200 people per event and connects fashion professionals who are revolutionizing the industry with their social media savvy.\n92YTribeca: This non-profit serves as an art space, music and comedy venue, trendy cafe, screening house, and now social media center for learning and networking. 92YTribeca [@92YTribeca] and Mashable have partnered together to create NextUp NYC, an event that will focus on social media discussions, with the next one showcasing lessons from New York's startup community.\nMatt Knell of MTV: Knell's [@mknell] contributions to the social space include co-organizing Social Media for Social Change, educating next-gen minds as an NYU Professor, and working as a member of MTV's Social Media team.\nStartups &amp; Venture Capital\n\nBoxee: The brainchild of Aver Ronen [@Boxee], Boxee is making waves as the next generation social entertainment dashboard for Internet content. Boxee is all about embracing the New York community, and even hosted an event to demo new and upcoming features. 600 excited Boxee fans showed up (while 5,000 more watched online) at Webster Hall to chat about all things Boxee, and even participate in a talent competition.\nDrop.io: Current NYC startup success story, Drop.io [@dropio], the real-time sharing site, is heavily involved in the New York tech community. Drop.io was also a recently featured guest at the NY Tech Meetup, where about 700 people in attendance were blown away by the startup's impressive offering.\nTumblr: The mid-sized blogging platform is another New York hit that embraces social media in their product and community outreach efforts. Throwing hit parties and meetups across the country, Tumblr's making a name for themselves in and outside the city.\nScott Heiferman: As co-founder and CEO of Meetup.com, Heiferman's [@heif] intimately aware of the necessity of using social media to bring people together. As such, Heiferman associates himself with a number of New York meetup groups including the NY Tech Meetup, the New York Open Coffee Club for entrepreneurs, and NY Video, a group for web video professionals.\nMelanie Notkin: SavvyAuntie is a Webby nominated startup for Family and Parenting, and the site's savvy female founder, Melanie Notkin [@SavvyAuntie], is just as worthy of praise. She's an auntreprenuer who's managed to take a simple idea that stemmed from personal experiences, and turn it into a viable business. The Savvy Auntie blog, which Notkin authors, is also listed on Alltop in the startups category.\nFred Wilson: Wilson [@fredwilson] is a VC and managing partner at Union Square Ventures and Flatiron Partners. He's involved in the New York social media space as it relates to venture capital, and can be found speaking at a number of local events. Wilson's also a prominent blogger and his blog, A VC, is great at digging into what it takes to get funded, providing reasons to walk away from a deal, and simplifying the complex terms that are likely to stump new entrepreneurs.\nDavid Rose: \"The Father of Angel investing in New York,\" according to Crain's New York Business, Rose [@davidsrose] is the chairman at New York Angels, the early-stage venture capital company. Rose is also the man behind SparkSpace, the Incubator at Rose Tech Ventures, an incubator and tech center overlooking the Shake Shack, where entrepreneurs can set up shop for reasonable fees.\nCharlie O\u2019Donnell: The \"ordinary guy with nothing to lose\" is a former Union Square Ventures analyst who's gone on to found the career discovery site Path 101, and the technology professionals group nextNY. O'Donnell [@ceonyc] also keeps busy in the social media space via his blog, This is going to be BIG, which is a combination of lifestreaming content like photos, music tracks, and experiences, with deeper conversations about the New York web/tech community and career education.\nJeff Pulver: Serial early-stage seed investor, Pulver [@jeffpulver] has also played a pivotal part in the VoIP and television on the web industries. Pulver's contributions to the social media scene include organizing Social Media Breakfast, and the 140 Characters Conference, which will explore the effects of Twitter on marketing, advertising, and celebrities.\nMedia Makers\n\nHenry Blodget: Former corporate financier and current Internet analyst, Blodget [@hblodget] is the CEO and editor-in-chief of Silicon Alley Insider. The widely respected online publication calls New York home and covers startup related news both inside and out of Silicon Alley. Blodget's also a co-host on Yahoo Finance's Tech Ticker.\nRachel Sterne: CEO of GroundReport.com, the citizen-powered news platform that shares ad revenues, Sterne [@RachelSterne] is a powerful advocate for rewarding and inspiring citizen journalism. She even organizes the Citizen Journalism Think Tank meetup group.\nAllen Stern: CenterNetworks Editor Allen Stern [@centernetworks] is the man behind the publication and he's been using the site to cover social media and web 2.0 trends since 2006. Stern has also created HTMLCenter, launched business card startup CloudContacts, holds an MBA, and has a diverse background in finance, technology, and marketing.\nLynne D Johnson: Johnson [@lynneluvah] is the senior editor and community director for FastCompany.com. An active member of the New York social media scene, she authors a blog, Digital Media Diva, for Fast Company about web, media and consumer trends, and writes a personal blog at lynnedjohnson.com.\nNatali Del Conte: The face of social media in New York, Del Conte [@natalidelconte] is a correspondent for the CBS Early Show and New York's CBS local news affiliate, WCBS. She also keeps busy with Loaded, a CNET TV show, and the Buzz Out Loud podcast.\nWhitney Hess: Whitney Hess [@whitneyhess]  is an independent user experience design consultant working with Happy Cog, boxee and other companies putting people first. She's an active member of the NYC social media scene.\nCaroline McCarthy: CNET News writer Caroline McCarthy [@caro] covers the social web. Before switching to social media-centric news, McCarthy was CNET's voice on New York City tech culture. McCarthy recently worked as a behind-the-scenes volunteer for the New York edition of Twestival.\nPeter Shankman: As the founder of Help A Reporter Out, the largest free repository in the world connecting journalists with sources, Peter Shankman [@skydiver] is the ultimate connector. Shankman is also the CEO and founder of Geek Factory, Inc., an NYC-based PR and marketing firm.\nPlaces of Interest\n\nShake Shack: The 23rd &amp; Madison kiosk-style eatery with renowned burgers and shakes is in the heart of Madison Square Park. With so many technology companies and startups in the area, this Shake Shack has become the default place where people in the industry grab a bite.\nDumbo, Brooklyn: Thanks in part to the efforts of Kristin Maverick [@kmaverick] of Carrot Creative, Dumbo, a Brooklyn neighborhood, is an up-and-coming digital community with a hyper-connected offline presence. Maverick's event, Digital DUMBO [@digitaldumbo], is a monthly gathering gaining steam, where local companies can gather together and exchange information.\nNew Work City: Established by Tony Bacigalupo [@tonybgoode], New Work City [@nwc] truly embraces the notion of community and motivates independent professionals to work outside the home and connect with other bright minds. The space has become one of New York's most popular and largest coworking venues.\nWeek-long Extravaganzas\n\n\nInternet Week New York: Internet Week's fast-approaching second annual June gathering will include upwards of 80 different events designed to pay tribute to New York's Web presence, and foster an even more well-connected community of Internet leaders. Presented by IADA and The Mayor's Office of Film, Theater, and Broadcasting, this year's event will feature sessions on a variety of topics including conversational marketing, social media for non-profits, and web strategies for financial services. Of course, there will also be countless evening events that are sure to bring out New York's digerati.\nSocial Media Week New York: The first ever Social Media Week New York recently took place February 9 - 13 and included a variety of free workshops, panels, and community-centric events. Mashable was proud to participate alongside New York notable social media names and companies in planning and supporting the event.\nNYC Entrepreneur Week: This week-long series of events, currently in progress, is specifically designed for entrepreneurs and early-stage startups to get the training, knowledge, and rich information they need to be successful. Entrepreneurs are paired with mentors, investors, and capitalists, for more focused insights. One of the primary highlights includes a competition for 21 different teams to create the best business plan and win funding and strategic guidance.\nEvents for Everyone\n\n\nNew York Tech Meetup: Run by Nate Westheimer [@innonate], this meetup, with 58 events and counting, gives 5 - 7 individuals the opportunity to demo whatever they want to a captive New York tech audience. Events are so popular that the group has amassed over 8,000 geeks and techies, typically reaches a 700 person capacity for each event, and has become the default meetup setting for the web-connected.\nAs a result of the group's popularity, Westheimer has created a complimentary group \u2014 termed the Community Committee \u2014 where hand-selected niche community leaders work to connect New York's disparate communities and improve communication between all sects.\nnextNY: 2,000 of New York's next big technology innovators call themselves members of the nextNY [@nextny] group. The next event is scheduled to take place at Union Square Ventures and revolve around the topic of conversion metrics.\nShorty Awards: Twitter's ceremony for crowning content achievement in 140 characters or less, the first annual Shorty Awards took place on February 11, 2009 and handed out awards, based on Twitter votes, for 26 categories. The event was hosted by CNN anchor Rick Sanchez, covered by a number of media outlets, and even featured in the New York Times.\nMore NYC Organizations That Get it\n\nNotable NYC organizations include AOL; college review site Unigo; the Amazon of handmade goods, Etsy; video provider Magnify; social media branding company Buddy Media; creative online portfolio network Behance; web TV company Next New Networks; wine social network Snooth; online doctor appointment site ZocDoc; The Tisch School of Arts Interactive Telecommunication's program at NYU; and many more.\nMashable: Yep, that's us. Our editorial spotlight rarely shines on a few New York residents that work really hard to make Mashable the best social media guide on the web: our COO Adam Hirsch [@adamhirsch], Features Editor Sharon Feder [@sharonfeder], and Community and Marketing Director Tamar Weinberg [@tamar]. Additionally, Events Director Brett Petersel [@brett] is always working away at planning New York's must-attend events. He's played an integral role in organizing Lunch2.0, TechKaraoke, and the NextWeb meetup.\nMashable makes it a point to support local events as well as plan events like NextUp NYC, SummerMash NYC, and many more.\nSeries supported by Virgin America\n\nVirgin America: It\u2019s time to make flying good again. It\u2019s time to bring great service back to the skies. And while we\u2019re at it, let\u2019s not forget style, entertainment, and relaxation-all for an astonishingly reasonable fare. So every time one of our planes takes to the sky, it\u2019s proof that there is a better way, that people can expect more from flying, and their happiness is worth fighting for. We believe this is how air travel should be, that this is how to fly. Virgin America.\nMore social media hubs from Mashable\n\n- Social Media Hub: Seattle\n- Social Media Hub: Boston\n- Social Media Hub: Los Angeles\n\nNew York image courtesy of iStockphoto, VFKA; Boxee photo courtesy of holaphil, Flickr; Shake Shack photo courtesy of wallyg, Flickr; Melanie Notkin photo courtesy of b_d_solis, Flickr; Internet Week photo courtesy of heresiarchic, Flickr; NY Tech photo courtesy of katielips,  Flickr; Next New Networks photo courtesy of fredseibert, Flickr."^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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