Silicon Prairie Social is the latest in a line of events that have a simple purpose: Getting technology folks together to have a free drink (and you don’t have to be a technology folk to attend). The inaugural social will be held at Mullen’s Bar and Grill in Lisle, IL (which is in suburban Chicago). The organizers are planning a great event with free food and free cocktails, but there is one catch you have to RSVP for the event.

Microsoft is a sponsor of the event and several of us will be there including Dave Bost and Angela Binkowski. As a sponsor we have a table that attendees can come by and chat with us. We are thinking of showing some kind of demo of some cool technologies like Silverlight or Photosynth.  But then again, we might just plug in an XBOX and play some Guitar Hero II. If you attend the event, be sure to stop by and say hello.

Can these events actually be fun?

I went to the Madison, WI version of this event, the High Tech Happy Hour this last Thursday and it was a blast. They had it in a fabulous venue, the Orpheum Theatre and Lobby, which is a classic theatre that has to date back to the 1920’s. It was really neat to talk to so many people in a casual setting. I even met a professional hypnotist at the event.