For a portfolio sharing event you need:
1. Photographers
2. Prints!
3. A couple of hours
4. A venue, preferably with a large table and room to comfortably view the work.
What comes next is chance to converse and really just learn about what people are doing. While photography is undoubtedly more popular and ubiquitous than ever real-time in-person discussion of it is unfortunately rare. Technical questions were welcome, but the “how” was never really the focus of it all- neither was there intense debate or arguments over composition or “projects”. Every single participant involved does what they do because they simply want to and like to do it. That’s a fine basis for making pictures. This approach to photography produces honest and interesting work. I think the conversation while looking at the prints matched this feeling- talk that spilled over into dinner at a nearby Chinese place we had to ourselves.
These kinds of events allow for a real sense of satisfaction for those involved-it’s a feeling that you’ll never fully get from a paid workshop or flickr comment thread. If you have some photo friends in your area I really suggest putting together something similar together as well.