Dates of Bobby G/Orlando Bobby Honorary Convention 3/27-3/30

[SCWine]

Lori & Lee

[JimHow]

JimHow +1
Mr. Vino +1
DavidG +1
Winona Chief + 1
SF Ed
Stefan + Lucie
Glenn
Tom + Gail
Rob & Susan
Nic
Michael + Nalan
hm$ + Lisa
Lori & Lee

Total: 23
57.50% sold out.

[JCNorthway]

Don't increase your percentage yet, Jim. But Paula and I are hoping to make the journey this year. We need to sort out a few things, but we are looking forward to connecting with old (and new) BWE friends.

Jon

[JimHow]

Okay Jon, hope to see you and Paula in the nation's capital!

[tim]

Tim + 1

[DavidG]

Rather than start another thread, I'll post here on the plans for Saturday night's festivities.

We can have the Alcove Room at Charlie Palmer Steak, a room that is perfect and a venue that is pretty well in tune with our concept. This will be our 4th time there for a BWE Main Event.

Costs tend to be a little high compared to some of our other venues, but this is DC and everyone has been OK with a $200-225 price tag in the past, so I will assume that is still OK.

That price will be all-in - tax, tip, corkage and glassware - for a 1-hour reception with butlered hors d'oeuvres and inexpensive but decent NV Champagne for all (special bottles of bubbly welcome if anyone wishes to bring one), followed by a 3-course seated dinner (salad, choice of beef, salmon or tortelloni entree, and dessert), 3-4 decent wine glasses/person, and corkage for as many bottles as we wish to open.

Now for a couple of questions:

Cheese course between the entree and dessert?

Blind tasting? Theme? Once we get past 30 people, even with 1.5 oz tasting pours, we need 3 bottles of each wine for this. It's a lot of work to organize, but I'll do it if there's strong interest and willing contributors.

[JimHow]

JimHow +1
Mr. Vino +1
DavidG +1
Winona Chief + 1
SF Ed
Stefan + Lucie
Glenn
Tom + Gail
Rob & Susan
Nic
Michael + Nalan
hm$ + Lisa
Lori & Lee
Timmy + 1

Total: 25
62.50% sold out.

[JimHow]

Thanks for taking the lead DavidG, I'm fine with whatever the group wants to do.

[RDD]

Charlie Palmer's has always treated us well and has first class service.
Plus we know Celeste's mother!
Thanks David!

[Claret]

Have the two esteemed invitees responded yet?

[JimHow]

Ha ha Orlando... A skip and a hop to Washington.
Of course we want them there.
But no pressure.
Except for Mr. Vino.
The pressure is all on Mr. Vino.

[DavidG]

It's till a long way from next March, but it's time for me to put a deposit on the Alcove room at Charlie Palmer to hold it for the Saturday night dinner.

Planning for an hour of passed hors d'oeuvres and Champagne, followed by a 3-course dinner. Or a 4-course dinner if you all want a cheese course.

Going to try to keep it under $200/person all-in (food, corkage, rental for real wine glasses, tax, tip).

Everyone still on board? Any more takers?

[JimHow]

Sounds like a plan to me!

[Jay Winton]

Thanks David. Who will be the treasurer-TominDC once more? Also, I'm working on finding a venue for Friday night. I'm thinking of a private room that holds 35 max? Does that make sense?

[DavidG]

Tom's been a bit busy lately, and since the Charlie Palmer arrangements are a little simpler now that I've done it before, I think I can handle the treasurer duties. I'll post more details once I get a final cost figure from CP's.

A Friday venue for up to 35 should be perfect.