Fabulous PDX started out as a simple way to inform people about GLBT business networking events in Portland, Oregon. I had recently joined the throngs of people creating a Facebook profile and immediately established a Facebook Group dedicated to informing people about business networking events. It was called Fabulous Business Portland.

The group gained rapid popularity and I began to hear murmurs of a need for one central place to find out about all kinds of Fabulous Events in Portland – not just business networking. Buoyed by positive responses to the intial group – especially the weekly reminder messages – Fabulous Business Portland became Fabuolous PDX. All kinds of events were now listed: parties, support groups, networking events of all kinds and special listings for queer youth.

The weekly email messages grew in length, at one point exceeding Facebook’s ability to send them. The group membership also grew rapidly.

What also grew was the amount of time I was putting into the project. I run my own internet marketing business. So, I began to seek a balance between working hard to help Facebook make money and working hard to make money for myself. Rather than discard an activity I had grown to love – informing Portlanders about the Fabulous events all around them – I decided to create a way to generate a small amount of income while continuing the project.

Yep…it’s true. It’s all about the money!

So, I launched FabulousPDX.com. There are four major upgrades from the Facebook Group and the weekly messages:

1. This website utilizes Google Calendar. This means that I can have multiple people entering events, the calendar is visible for months and months into the future and others who use Google Calendar can simply copy events into their personal celandars.
2. Fabulous Portland people can advertise on the site.
3. The new FabulousPDX.com has a blog feature, which allows myself and other authors to write freely about events and fabulous life in Portland, Oregon.
4. While the Fabulous PDX Facebook Group will continue, along with abbreviated messages, this site now incorporates an email system that will send listings directly into the email inbox of your choice. This improves the usability of links in the email message and the messages just look better.

So, please enjoy the site. Make comments. If you know people  who may want to write for the blog or advertise to the fabulous audience in Portland, please show them the site and ask them to contact me.

–Rob Patton, Fabulous Rob, July 2, 2009