My dear friend Rachelle Hruska of Guest of a Guest -- who I've always called “Omaha” -- turns 26 tomorrow. Since the first day I met her, which I think was the first or second day she hit town, Rachelle has been a trusted friend. She gives me advice and comforts me when I need those things, and she always laughs at my bad jokes. I dubbed her “Omaha” not just because that’s where she hails from, but also because she entered my world of friends with a certain naiveté, enthusiasm, and eyes wide open. My friends can be heartless teases, and I was determined that “Omaha” could always lean on me for a truth and the consequences that it brings.

Now our first meeting seems like a very long time ago. Rachelle is no longer “Omaha” -- not even to me anymore. She and "her baby," Guest of a Guest, have outgrown the hick references. If this is a bit of a puff piece it's because she's earned it, and of course I adore her. GOAG has doubled its business in the last six months. Last week, with everything looking down, she had her best week ever. She told me she feels that “there's a need for the blog, people need their news faster than traditional media, and that it's more than a gossip site, my readers need to know what’s going on in New York." She feels that the blog's success lies in it "not being overly critical but still willing to call a spade a spade," and that "this city is attracting more and more creative people and in these times people are more about having a good forum to express that burgeoning creativity.”

She also attributes her success to her amazing staff of writers, photographers, and artists, many of whom just help her out from time to time. She feels that people need and want her site to be "positive, creative, and inspiring" and she feels it's "important to show people in great despair that there are great things being done in this town, and that you can do it if you give it a try.” It hasn’t been easy on her. She was criticized early on by other sites, accused of being naive, new to journalism, and new to this town. Although some of the shots were cheap, she admits that some were well deserved. "It inspired me -- even the cheap shots -- I was determined to prove them wrong." She has been true to her sources, never burned them, and encourages more people to contribute and get involved with her site. “It’s really hard to be this consistent source every single day, but if we can help a little and encourage people to be creative and show people what young creative people are doing and hold people accountable, then we’re making a difference. People are depending on us for this information -- if a kid reads it and is inspired to pursue a passion, then it’s all worth it. All these things that we love or hope for, if people stop creating, then in five years we won’t have a country. The site needs to be a positive creative force."

I read Guest of a Guest daily, and at the end of the year when I did my “Best of New York” round up, I declared it to be the best nightlife blog in town. I had just gotten a similar award from the Village Voice, and Scott over at Down By The Hipster received the Paper Magazine trophy and my declaration may have seemed merely gentlemanly to some. But those close to me know that that’s not the way I play. I meant it. From a guy who day in and day out tries to deliver my little niche of nightlife news, I am awed by the amount of content and quality of writing that Rachelle produces. Sure, once in awhile she misses a little, but considering the amount of content and the nature of her subject matter -- a society of publicists, promoters, owners, celebrities, and artists that all too often embellish, lie, and exaggerate -- she has an amazing track record. As Scarface didn’t say, "even when they tell the truth, they lie.” “At the end of the day I’m sitting at my computer aggregating content," she said. Thank you, Rachelle, for bringing it to us. It’s a hard job and nobody does it better than you.

Happy birthday, Rachelle. You’re a real good reason to be cheerful.