quote:

Originally posted by markb:
Besides, between naps, watching Matlock, the 4:00 senior special at Denny's, and a 5:30 bedtime, Doug doesn't have time to chase wimmenfolk.

You don't think there are wimmin at Denny's at 4:00pm?

You've obviously never ordered the blue-haired special....

Does that come with a side ord....


.... nah, I can't.

It's for the best, Jon...

bump!!
maybe this thread should be a sticky, non?

Oui.

So how are we going to decide when and where? Take a vote? Appoint a committee? Let someone volunteer to spearhead organizational stuff, and let them have it in their town?

I think the conversation so far has clarified the broad-brush things that have to be decided soon.

1. When will this thing happen? We need to decide whether there's anything to contraindicate summer, since school schedules factor in for teachers, spouses of teachers, parents, and students. And do we want to have it on a holiday weekend, or avoid it?

2. What city? I'm hearing that it might not matter all that much, as long as the city is an airport hub.

3. What kind of venue? Someone's home, with people finding their own lodging? A retreat center, which might be less posh than some options, but would have a distinct benefit of allowing more time to visit with each other? Or some kind of hybrid of the two--perhaps renting a reception hall for the party and letting people stay where they like.

Any other thoughts?

quote:

A retreat center, which might be less posh than some options, but would have a distinct benefit of allowing more time to visit with each other?

And this would be a good thing?

quote:

Originally posted by Mary Anna:
Any other thoughts?

There should be snacks.

Chicago would be nice.

Expensive, but nice.

Las Vegas has great airfaires and great deals on rooms. Pianos abound and it wouldn't be hard to get access to some of the more fun ones -- like the art deco "B" at Bellagio or something.

Let's see, a city:

1. that is a major airline hub.
2. that is located between two major cities with lots of members and a great railway system.
3. where hotels are reasonably priced.
4. with lots of history.
5. with an incredible impressionist art gallery.
6. known for its restaurants.
7. that could provide a piano factory tour.
8. where nearly all major piano brands could be played in one setting.
9. that is in the top six in population.
10. that is not intimitading to get around and has big city feel with small town charm.


If only we could find a city that matches all these characteristics.

quote:

Originally posted by fathertopianist:
Let's see, a city:

1. that is a major airline hub.
2. that is located between two major cities with lots of members and a great railway system.
3. where hotels are reasonably priced.
4. with lots of history.
5. with an incredible impressionist art gallery.
6. known for its restaurants.
7. that could provide a piano factory tour.
8. where nearly all major piano brands could be played in one setting.
9. that is in the top six in population.
10. that is not intimitading to get around and has big city feel with small town charm.


If only we could find a city that matches all these characteristics.

Funny, but I don't remember some of those characteristics being discussed. Nice, of course, but I just don't remember others mentioning them.

The phrase "stacked deck" comes to mind.

i'm voting for washington, dc. cindy, can you have the estonia ready for us by spring 2010?

seriously, we should take a vote.

here's a selection based on where we have the most forum members:

new york metro area
soca
washington metro area
chicago metro area
seattle
boston metro area


too bad we don't have more forum members from the san francisco bay area (why is that?) that would be a great place to have the party, too. i like it better than soca or seattle for a west coast location.

new york is probably both the easiest to get to and has the most forum members within a 100 mile radius.

chicago is more central, obviously, but how many of us are in the vicinity of chicago?

boston has lots of forum members nearby too, but it is pretty far away for people in the northwest, southwest, and southeast.

thoughts on the other locations?

otoh, we could all drop in on daniel in hawaii in february.

quote:

Originally posted by fathertopianist:
If only we could find a city that matches all these characteristics.

Indeed that would be ideal. However the Emerald City only exists in fiction.

If you're angling for Philadelphia, I rather like the idea. I don't agree that it meets all the criteria, but it comes fairly close.

Maybe if we package this as a convention, we could get special rates on rooms and access to pianos from a hotel. The togetherness of a retreat center sounds fine, but a hotel might be easier to pull off and a city hotel typically has lots of places in and near the hotel where smaller groups can convene based on their common interests. Failing in the finding of common interests, we could always divide up and take and give odds on the various fights.

Big Al

quote:

Originally posted by QuirtEvans:

quote:

Originally posted by fathertopianist:
Let's see, a city:

1. that is a major airline hub.
2. that is located between two major cities with lots of members and a great railway system.
3. where hotels are reasonably priced.
4. with lots of history.
5. with an incredible impressionist art gallery.
6. known for its restaurants.
7. that could provide a piano factory tour.
8. where nearly all major piano brands could be played in one setting.
9. that is in the top six in population.
10. that is not intimitading to get around and has big city feel with small town charm.


If only we could find a city that matches all these characteristics.

Funny, but I don't remember some of those characteristics being discussed. Nice, of course, but I just don't remember others mentioning them.

The phrase "stacked deck" comes to mind.

Well' it's hard for a Philadelphian to feel they have stacked any decks. We are used to being passed by and passed over. I wonder if the Phila contingent isn't reading this thread and might be interested in presenting a compelling case (ala being the "WTF Olympics" city. Time for Phila members to weigh in.

quote:

Originally posted by Lisa:
I'd be in for NYC or DC (anywhere I don't have to fly). But don't forget Philadelphia (the poor overlooked stepsibling of DC and NY) -- we don't have a ton of members actually living here, but hotel rates are cheap, there's lots to see, we could probably convince Rich to let us hang at Cunninghams for a while, and it's an easy train ride from NYC and DC (and from New England too, just a little longer!). Oh, and we have cheesesteaks, LOL!

I already weighed in for Philly, back at the top of page 2. Now I feel REALLY overlooked!