diff --git a/db/manifest b/db/manifest
index 9b732d4fe..3eeea65c4 100755
--- a/db/manifest
+++ b/db/manifest
@@ -137,4 +137,4 @@ cascading_delete_constraints_for_release.sql
 events_social_description.sql
 fix_broken_cities.sql
 notifications_with_text.sql
-
+notification_seen_at.sql
diff --git a/db/up/notification_seen_at.sql b/db/up/notification_seen_at.sql
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..67b29ddd8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/db/up/notification_seen_at.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN notification_seen_at TIMESTAMP;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pb/src/client_container.proto b/pb/src/client_container.proto
index 4ae83c193..04e172870 100644
--- a/pb/src/client_container.proto
+++ b/pb/src/client_container.proto
@@ -472,6 +472,7 @@ message TestClientMessage {
 // sent from client to server periodically to let server track if the client is truly alive and avoid TCP timeout scenarios
 // the server will send a HeartbeatAck in response to this
 message Heartbeat {
+    optional string notification_seen_at = 1;
     
 }
 
diff --git a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
index 93f73d829..440613536 100644
--- a/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
+++ b/ruby/lib/jam_ruby/models/user.rb
@@ -291,7 +291,12 @@ module JamRuby
       recordings.concat(msh)
       recordings.sort! {|a,b| b.created_at <=> a.created_at}.first(5)
     end
-    
+
+    # returns the # of new notifications
+    def new_notifications
+      Notification.select('id').where(target_user_id: id).where('created_at > ?', notification_seen_at).count
+    end
+
     def confirm_email!
       self.email_confirmed = true
     end
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/AAB_message_factory.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/AAB_message_factory.js
index 7f11e603d..0b86c7900 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/AAB_message_factory.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/AAB_message_factory.js
@@ -99,8 +99,9 @@
     };
 
     // Heartbeat message
-    factory.heartbeat = function() {
+    factory.heartbeat = function(notification_last_seen_at) {
         var data = {};
+        data.notification_last_seen_at = notification_last_seen_at;
         return client_container(msg.HEARTBEAT, route_to.SERVER, data);
     };
 
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/application.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/application.js
index 68db544ad..1210d1d7a 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/application.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/application.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 //= require jquery.infinitescroll
 //= require jquery.hoverIntent
 //= require jquery.dotdotdot
+//= require jquery.pulse
 //= require AAA_Log
 //= require globals
 //= require AAB_message_factory
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js
index 2b19b5d44..fbdf74a2a 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/jam_rest.js
@@ -934,6 +934,7 @@
         }
 
         function getNotifications(options) {
+          if(!options) options = {};
           var id = getId(options);
           return $.ajax({
             type: "GET",
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js
index ea0a39710..d78922ea7 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/jamkazam.js
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
     var lastHeartbeatFound = false;
     var heartbeatAckCheckInterval = null;
     var userDeferred = null;
+    var notificationLastSeenAt = undefined;
 
     var opts = {
       inClient: true, // specify false if you want the app object but none of the client-oriented features
@@ -92,7 +93,8 @@
     function _heartbeat() {
       if (app.heartbeatActive) {
 
-        var message = context.JK.MessageFactory.heartbeat();
+        var message = context.JK.MessageFactory.heartbeat(notificationLastSeenAt);
+        notificationLastSeenAt = undefined;
         context.JK.JamServer.send(message);
         lastHeartbeatFound = false;
       }
@@ -384,6 +386,26 @@
       return userDeferred;
     }
 
+    this.updateNotificationSeen = function(notificationCreatedAt) {
+      var time = new Date(notificationCreatedAt);
+
+      if(!notificationCreatedAt) {
+        throw 'invalid value passed to updateNotificationSeen'
+      }
+
+      if(!notificationLastSeenAt) {
+        notificationLastSeenAt = notificationCreatedAt;
+        logger.debug("updated notificationLastSeenAt with: " + notificationCreatedAt);
+      }
+      else if(time.getTime() > new Date(notificationLastSeenAt).getTime()) {
+        notificationLastSeenAt = notificationCreatedAt;
+        logger.debug("updated notificationLastSeenAt with: " + notificationCreatedAt);
+      }
+      else {
+        logger.debug("ignored notificationLastSeenAt for: " + notificationCreatedAt);
+      }
+    }
+
     this.unloadFunction = function () {
       logger.debug("window.unload function called.");
 
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js
index d948945dc..dc130dc78 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/layout.js
@@ -425,6 +425,7 @@
       unstackDialogs($overlay);
       $dialog.hide();
       dialogEvent(dialog, 'afterHide');
+      $(me).triggerHandler('dialog_closed', {dialogCount: openDialogs.length})
     }
 
     function screenEvent(screen, evtName, data) {
@@ -526,6 +527,10 @@
       }
     }
 
+    function isDialogShowing() {
+      return openDialogs.length > 0;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Responsible for keeping N dialogs in correct stacked order,
      * also moves the .dialog-overlay such that it hides/obscures all dialogs except the highest one
@@ -849,6 +854,10 @@
       showDialog(dialog, options);
     };
 
+    this.isDialogShowing = function() {
+      return isDialogShowing();
+    }
+
     this.close = function (evt) {
       close(evt);
     };
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/notificationPanel.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/notificationPanel.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5649a634
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/notificationPanel.js
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+(function(context,$) {
+
+  "use strict";
+
+  context.JK = context.JK || {};
+  context.JK.NotificationPanel = function(app) {
+    var logger = context.JK.logger;
+    var friends = [];
+    var rest = context.JK.Rest();
+    var missedNotificationsWhileAway = false;
+    var $panel = null;
+    var $expanded = null;
+    var $count = null;
+    var darkenedColor = '#0D7B89';
+    var highlightedColor = 'white'
+
+
+    // one important limitation; if the user is focused on an iframe, this will be false
+    // however, if they are doing something with Facebook or the photo picker, this may actually still be desirable
+    function userCanSeeNotifications() {
+      return document.hasFocus() || app.layout.isDialogShowing();
+    }
+
+    function isNotificationsPanelVisible() {
+      return $expanded.is(':visible')
+    }
+
+    function incrementNotificationCount() {
+      var count = parseInt($count.text());
+      $count.text(count + 1);
+    }
+
+    // set the element to white,  and pulse it down to the un-highlighted value 2x, then set
+    function pulseToDark() {
+      lowlightCount();
+      $count.pulse({'background-color' : highlightedColor}, {pulses: 2}, function() {
+        $count.text('0');
+      })
+    }
+
+
+    function lowlightCount() {
+      $count.removeClass('highlighted');
+    }
+
+    function highlightCount() {
+      $count.addClass('highlighted');
+    }
+
+    function onNotificationOccurred(payload) {
+      if(userCanSeeNotifications()) {
+        app.updateNotificationSeen(payload.created_at);
+      }
+      else {
+        highlightCount();
+        incrementNotificationCount();
+        missedNotificationsWhileAway = true;
+      }
+    }
+
+    function userCameBack() {
+      if(isNotificationsPanelVisible()) {
+        if(missedNotificationsWhileAway) {
+          // catch user's eye, then put count to 0
+          pulseToDark();
+        }
+      }
+
+      missedNotificationsWhileAway = false;
+    }
+
+    function windowBlurred() {
+
+    }
+
+    function events() {
+      $(app.layout).on('dialog_closed', function(e, data) {if(data.dialogCount == 0) userCameBack(); });
+      $(window).focus(userCameBack);
+      $(window).blur(windowBlurred);
+    }
+
+    function populate() {
+      // retrieve pending notifications for this user
+      rest.getNotifications()
+        .done(function(response) {
+          updateNotificationList(response);
+        })
+        .fail(app.ajaxError)
+    }
+
+    function initialize(sidebar) {
+      $panel = $('[layout-id="panelNotifications"]');
+      $expanded = $panel.find('.panel.expanded');
+      $count = $panel.find('#sidebar-notification-count');
+      if($panel.length == 0) throw "notifications panel not found"
+      if($expanded.length == 0) throw "notifications expanded content not found"
+      if($count.length == 0) throw "notifications count element not found";
+
+      events();
+
+      populate();
+    };
+
+    this.initiliaze = initialize;
+    this.onNotificationOccurred = onNotificationOccurred;
+  };
+})(window, jQuery);
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
index 6e4f49831..2e90b7c5e 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/sidebar.js
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
       var rest = context.JK.Rest();
       var invitationDialog = null;
       var textMessageDialog = null;
+      var notificationPanel = null;
 
       function initializeSearchPanel() {
         $('#search_text_type').change(function() {
@@ -116,23 +117,8 @@
       }
 
       function initializeNotificationsPanel() {
-          // retrieve pending notifications for this user
-          var url = "/api/users/" + context.JK.currentUserId + "/notifications"
-          $.ajax({
-              type: "GET",
-              dataType: "json",
-              contentType: 'application/json',
-              url: url,
-              processData: false,
-              success: function(response) {
-
-                  updateNotificationList(response);
-
-                  // set notification count
-                  $('#sidebar-notification-count').html(response.length);
-              },
-              error: app.ajaxError
-          });
+        notificationPanel = new context.JK.NotificationPanel(app);
+        notificationPanel.initialize();
       }
 
       function updateNotificationList(response) {
@@ -362,12 +348,8 @@
           $('#sidebar-search-results').height('0px');
       }
 
-      function incrementNotificationCount() {
-          var count = parseInt($('#sidebar-notification-count').html());
-          $('#sidebar-notification-count').html(count + 1);
-      }
-
       function decrementNotificationCount() {
+        /**
           var count = parseInt($('#sidebar-notification-count').html());
           if (count === 0) {
               $('#sidebar-notification-count').html(0);
@@ -375,6 +357,13 @@
           else {
               $('#sidebar-notification-count').html(count - 1);
           }
+         */
+      }
+
+      // one important limitation; if the user is focused on an iframe, this will be false
+      // however, if they are doing something with Facebook or the photo picker, this may actually still be desirable
+      function userCanSeeNotifications() {
+          return document.hasFocus() || app.layout.isDialogShowing();
       }
 
       // default handler for incoming notification
@@ -402,6 +391,13 @@
 
           $('#sidebar-notification-list').prepend(notificationHtml);
 
+          if(userCanSeeNotifications()) {
+            app.updateNotificationSeen(payload.created_at);
+          }
+          else {
+
+          }
+
           initializeActions(payload, type);
 
           return true;
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/utils.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/utils.js
index 583881cbe..61ea676c7 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/utils.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/utils.js
@@ -153,9 +153,9 @@
     $element.bt(text, options);
   }
 
-    context.JK.bindHoverEvents = function ($parent) {
+  context.JK.bindHoverEvents = function ($parent) {
 
-    if(!$parent) {
+    if (!$parent) {
       $parent = $('body');
     }
 
@@ -328,9 +328,9 @@
   }
 
   // creates an array with entries like [{ id: "drums", description: "Drums"}, ]
-  context.JK.listInstruments = function() {
+  context.JK.listInstruments = function () {
     var instrumentArray = [];
-    $.each(context.JK.server_to_client_instrument_map, function(key, val) {
+    $.each(context.JK.server_to_client_instrument_map, function (key, val) {
       instrumentArray.push({"id": context.JK.server_to_client_instrument_map[key].client_id, "description": key});
     });
     return instrumentArray;
@@ -652,22 +652,22 @@
     return hasFlash;
   }
 
-  context.JK.hasOneConfiguredDevice = function() {
+  context.JK.hasOneConfiguredDevice = function () {
     var result = context.jamClient.FTUEGetGoodConfigurationList();
     logger.debug("hasOneConfiguredDevice: ", result);
     return result.length > 0;
   };
 
-  context.JK.getGoodAudioConfigs = function() {
+  context.JK.getGoodAudioConfigs = function () {
     var result = context.jamClient.FTUEGetGoodAudioConfigurations();
     logger.debug("goodAudioConfigs=%o", result);
     return result;
   };
 
-  context.JK.getGoodConfigMap = function() {
+  context.JK.getGoodConfigMap = function () {
     var goodConfigMap = [];
     var goodConfigs = context.JK.getGoodAudioConfigs();
-    $.each(goodConfigs, function(index, profileKey) {
+    $.each(goodConfigs, function (index, profileKey) {
       var friendlyName = context.jamClient.FTUEGetConfigurationDevice(profileKey);
       goodConfigMap.push({key: profileKey, name: friendlyName});
     });
@@ -675,12 +675,12 @@
     return goodConfigMap;
   }
 
-  context.JK.getBadAudioConfigs = function() {
+  context.JK.getBadAudioConfigs = function () {
     var badAudioConfigs = [];
     var allAudioConfigs = context.jamClient.FTUEGetAllAudioConfigurations();
     var goodAudioConfigs = context.JK.getGoodAudioConfigs();
 
-    for (var i=0; i < allAudioConfigs.length; i++) {
+    for (var i = 0; i < allAudioConfigs.length; i++) {
       if ($.inArray(allAudioConfigs[i], goodAudioConfigs) === -1) {
         badAudioConfigs.push(allAudioConfigs[i]);
       }
@@ -689,10 +689,10 @@
     return badAudioConfigs;
   };
 
-  context.JK.getBadConfigMap = function() {
+  context.JK.getBadConfigMap = function () {
     var badConfigMap = [];
     var badConfigs = context.JK.getBadAudioConfigs();
-    $.each(badConfigs, function(index, profileKey) {
+    $.each(badConfigs, function (index, profileKey) {
       var friendlyName = context.jamClient.FTUEGetConfigurationDevice(profileKey);
       badConfigMap.push({key: profileKey, name: friendlyName});
     });
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@
     return badConfigMap;
   }
 
-  context.JK.getFirstGoodDevice = function(preferredDeviceId) {
+  context.JK.getFirstGoodDevice = function (preferredDeviceId) {
     var badConfigs = context.JK.getBadAudioConfigs();
 
     function getGoodDevice() {
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@
       }
       return deviceId;
     }
-    
+
     var deviceId = null;
 
     if (preferredDeviceId) {
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@
       }
       else {
         deviceId = getGoodDevice();
-      }        
+      }
     }
     else {
       deviceId = getGoodDevice();
@@ -733,14 +733,14 @@
   }
 
   // returns /client#/home for http://www.jamkazam.com/client#/home
-  context.JK.locationPath = function() {
+  context.JK.locationPath = function () {
     var bits = context.location.href.split('/');
     return '/' + bits.slice(3).join('/');
   }
 
-  context.JK.nowUTC = function() {
+  context.JK.nowUTC = function () {
     var d = new Date();
-    return new Date( d.getUTCFullYear(), d.getUTCMonth(), d.getUTCDate(), d.getUTCHours(), d.getUTCMinutes(), d.getUTCSeconds() );
+    return new Date(d.getUTCFullYear(), d.getUTCMonth(), d.getUTCDate(), d.getUTCHours(), d.getUTCMinutes(), d.getUTCSeconds());
   }
   /*
    * A JavaScript implementation of the RSA Data Security, Inc. MD5 Message
diff --git a/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/downloads.js b/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/downloads.js
index 1c3976f90..82ef0a1da 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/downloads.js
+++ b/web/app/assets/javascripts/web/downloads.js
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@
             var clicked = $(this);
             var href = clicked.attr('href');
             if(href != "#") {
+                context.JK.GA.trackDownload(clicked.attr('data-platform'));
                 rest.userDownloadedClient().always(function() {
-                  context.JK.GA.trackDownload(clicked.attr('data-platform'));
                   $('body').append('<iframe class="downloading" src="' + clicked.attr('href') + '" style="display:none"/>')
                 });
             }
diff --git a/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/sidebar.css.scss b/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/sidebar.css.scss
index 4234bc5e3..9134f21b1 100644
--- a/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/sidebar.css.scss
+++ b/web/app/assets/stylesheets/client/sidebar.css.scss
@@ -42,6 +42,10 @@
         -webkit-border-radius:50%;
         -moz-border-radius:50%;
         border-radius:50%;
+
+        &.highlighted {
+          background-color:white;
+        }
     }
 
     .expander {
diff --git a/web/app/views/api_users/show.rabl b/web/app/views/api_users/show.rabl
index 9c1d18422..eff5b3c5c 100644
--- a/web/app/views/api_users/show.rabl
+++ b/web/app/views/api_users/show.rabl
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ end
 
 # give back more info if the user being fetched is yourself
 if @user == current_user
-    attributes :email, :original_fpfile, :cropped_fpfile, :crop_selection, :session_settings, :show_whats_next, :subscribe_email, :auth_twitter
+    attributes :email, :original_fpfile, :cropped_fpfile, :crop_selection, :session_settings, :show_whats_next, :subscribe_email, :auth_twitter, :new_notifications
+
 
 elsif current_user
   node :is_friend do |uu|
diff --git a/web/app/views/clients/index.html.erb b/web/app/views/clients/index.html.erb
index d28fd6ae5..02e1a0176 100644
--- a/web/app/views/clients/index.html.erb
+++ b/web/app/views/clients/index.html.erb
@@ -311,6 +311,10 @@
         }
         
         JK.bindHoverEvents();
+
+      setInterval(function() {
+        console.log("IN FOCUS: " + document.hasFocus());
+      }, 1000)
     })
 </script>
 
diff --git a/web/vendor/assets/javascripts/jquery.pulse.js b/web/vendor/assets/javascripts/jquery.pulse.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..872c24b31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/web/vendor/assets/javascripts/jquery.pulse.js
@@ -0,0 +1,72 @@
+/*global jQuery*/
+/*jshint curly:false*/
+
+;(function ( $, window) {
+  "use strict";
+
+  var defaults = {
+    pulses   : 1,
+    interval : 0,
+    returnDelay : 0,
+    duration : 500
+  };
+
+  $.fn.pulse = function(properties, options, callback) {
+    // $(...).pulse('destroy');
+    var stop = properties === 'destroy';
+
+    if (typeof options === 'function') {
+      callback = options;
+      options = {};
+    }
+
+    options = $.extend({}, defaults, options);
+
+    if (!(options.interval >= 0))    options.interval = 0;
+    if (!(options.returnDelay >= 0)) options.returnDelay = 0;
+    if (!(options.duration >= 0))    options.duration = 500;
+    if (!(options.pulses >= -1))     options.pulses = 1;
+    if (typeof callback !== 'function') callback = function(){};
+
+    return this.each(function () {
+      var el = $(this),
+        property,
+        original = {};
+
+      var data = el.data('pulse') || {};
+      data.stop = stop;
+      el.data('pulse', data);
+
+      for (property in properties) {
+        if (properties.hasOwnProperty(property)) original[property] = el.css(property);
+      }
+
+      var timesPulsed = 0;
+
+      function animate() {
+        if (typeof el.data('pulse') === 'undefined') return;
+        if (el.data('pulse').stop) return;
+        if (options.pulses > -1 && ++timesPulsed > options.pulses) return callback.apply(el);
+        el.animate(
+          properties,
+          {
+            duration : options.duration / 2,
+            complete : function(){
+              window.setTimeout(function(){
+                el.animate(original, {
+                  duration : options.duration / 2,
+                  complete : function() {
+                    window.setTimeout(animate, options.interval);
+                  }
+                });
+              },options.returnDelay);
+            }
+          }
+        );
+      }
+
+      animate();
+    });
+  };
+
+})( jQuery, window, document );
diff --git a/websocket-gateway/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb b/websocket-gateway/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
index 70ee50421..866429bfb 100644
--- a/websocket-gateway/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
+++ b/websocket-gateway/lib/jam_websockets/router.rb
@@ -565,9 +565,30 @@ module JamWebsockets
           raise SessionError, 'connection state is gone. please reconnect.'
         else
           Connection.transaction do
-            music_session = MusicSession.select(:track_changes_counter).find_by_id(connection.music_session_id) if connection.music_session_id
-            track_changes_counter = music_session.track_changes_counter if music_session
+            # send back track_changes_counter if in a session
+            if connection.music_session_id
+              music_session = MusicSession.select(:track_changes_counter).find_by_id(connection.music_session_id)
+              track_changes_counter = music_session.track_changes_counter if music_session
+            end
+
+            # update connection updated_at
             connection.touch
+
+            # update user's notification_seen_at field if the heartbeat indicates it saw one
+            notification_seen_at_parsed = nil
+            notification_seen_at = heartbeat.notification_seen_at if heartbeat.value_for_tag(1)
+            begin
+              notification_seen_at_parsed = Time.parse(notification_seen_at)
+            rescue Exception => e
+              @log.error "unable to parse notification_seen_at in heartbeat from #{context}.  notification_seen_at: #{notification_seen_at}"
+            end
+
+            if notification_seen_at_parsed
+              connection.user.notification_seen_at = notification_seen_at
+              unless connection.user.save(validate: false)
+                @log.error "unable to update notification_seen_at for client #{context}.  errors: #{connection.user.errors.inspect}"
+              end
+            end
           end
 
           ConnectionManager.active_record_transaction do |connection_manager|