You're going to Real Estate Connect, aren't you?

Do not miss Inman’s Real Estate Connect event next week. The crowd is big and the program rocks. Whether you’re an agent, broker, vendor, media company exec. or pretty much anyone interested in the future of the industry, you need to make the trip out to San Francisco.

Yes, this is a blatant plug for the conference. And it’s heartfelt. In a past life I was president of Inman News. I was there for the first show in July of ’97 and helped produce every conference through 2004.

The event has become even better since I left. And my appreciation for its value has increased as an attendee. The breadth of content ensures you’ll leave with new insights. You’ll make more contacts in three days than you would in three months at the office.

That’s not hype. It’s a reality I’ve experienced firsthand.

Marc and I will be there and hope to see you. I am moderating two great sessions — a deep dive into real estate search with some of the category’s leaders, and a discussion on social media’s promise in real estate. Marc is leading two sessions focused on helping brokers get their arms around marketing and the Web 2.0 phenomenon.

And if you’re looking for the best places to eat old-school Italian in North Beach (i.e., burgundy by the carafe, 7-course family style goodness, heavenly chicken parm) just ping us. We’ve got that category covered.