Everyone knows DC media folks don’t need an excuse to drink, but I suppose getting tipsy does feel better when you can call it “networking.” That’s the theory, anyway, behind the latest journo/comm drinking/schmoozing organization, a ragtag group of communication professionals who slapped a fancy name on themselves (The Consortium), created a facebook page and invited folks out to drink at the amusingly swanky Park at 14th (if you facebook it, they will come).

The crowd at last night’s “DC Media/PR Spring Social,” The Consortium’s first endeavor, was relatively small, but it included some DC media-event regulars, and a lot of genuine networking did seem to be taking place (aided and abetted by the felicitous Matt Keller, who co-organized the event and has high hopes for the Consortium rivaling MediaBistro).

And perhaps I left before the real fun started—if facebook is to be believed, I completely missed Robert Stacy McCain hanging out with the Sugarhill Gang. If sheer level of weirdness is the mark of a good event, this alone makes the social a resounding success. Photos under the cut [pardon the blurry/squiggleness; my camera is acting up]:

ElectionDissection.com’s John Vaught LaBeaume with mysterious media entrepreneur Lawrence Carew and Liberty University Dave:

The Fund for American Studies’ Julie DiCarlo staring longingly at CEI’s Ivan Osario (either that or at one of the 18 Miami Vice look-alikes that populated the event [unfortunately, not pictured]):

Event co-host and Free Masons Director of Communications Matt Keller with CEI’s Christine Hall:

Event co-host and CRDF Communications Manager EA Dyson with Washington Times’ Robert Stacy McCain:

At least the small crowd size guarantees it’s easy to get a drink:

More blurry, weirdly-colored crowd shots. [not trying to be artistic; my camera just really sucks]:

What the party would have looked like on LSD?