SoCal Milpitas/BWO Party Poll

[jdberger]

I was talking with Gene the other nite, and this is really easy to do - the only issue is that people have to commit to coming.

Most of us were pretty suprised to see how many people showed up to the NorCal event. Us NorCal folks are dependably flaky.

If folks were interested, this could be done in a hotel ballroom, 10-top tables and everything with a rubber-chicken dinner (maybe something more exciting)...but there would have to be a firm committment of at least 50 people at about $50 each.

If interested, I can do some further research.

[USN CHIEF]

I am in with what ever the cost is... And I like your idea JDberger

[bwiese]

LA area suggestions (I have not been to either of the 1st two, but legendary status propagates northwards):

Lawry's Prime Rib, Beverly Hills...

http://www.lawrysonline.com/theprimerib_beverlyhills_gen_info.asp

Fogo de Chao, home of the "meatsicle":

http://www.fogodechao.com/locations/beverlyHillsCA.htm

Or, Fleming's steakhouses in Woodland Hills, El Segundo or Newport Beach (there's one out in Rancho Cucamonga too...) At least some locations offer 'private dining' with rooms of 30-60 seats but I expect with Calgunner ingenuity we can pack more in a room. Expect, without wine, a prix fixe dinner of salad + meat/side + dessert to run at least $60-$70/head.

http://www.flemingssteakhouse.com/locator.asp

I can testify that the one in Palo Alto is scrumptious.

[Kestryll]

Nice choices Bill, I looked at Flemings earlier in the day.
Lawry's looks nice but a bit pricey.
To be frank I'm a tad concerned that if things get too far above the 40-45 per person mark we might start pricing some people out of the event. That is why I set a price range question in the poll. I know several calgunners down this way are students at the many various colleges around.

Two places I saw that piqued my interest since they are also hotels were these ones:
Airtel Plaza

http://www.airtelplaza.com/default.asp

Not too bad but a bit away from Burbank airport.

Sportsman's Lodge

http://www.slhotel.com/

Good pricing on the 'Build it yourself ' buffet, close to the airport and in a decent area, Studio City. This one looks cool just for the name.
Here are the buffet menus: http://www.slhotel.com/menu_dinner.pdf
Scroll down to the Studio City Buffet
My choices would be these:
Salads: Mixed Garden Green Salad, Classic Caesar Salad, Marinated Artichoke Salad, Tri-Color Rotelli Shrimp Salad and Chinese Chicken Salad.

Entree: Roasted Tri-Tip With a Cabernet Demi-Glace, Garlic and Herb Grilled Pork Loin and Grilled Soy Ginger Salmon.

Accompaniments: Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Wild and Long Grain Rice and Seasonal Fresh Vegetables.

Desserts: Assorted Pastry Display and Fruit Salad. (Dessert is kind of weak but we could probably get them to switch out for something like Triamisu and Cannolis.)

This Buffet come in around 25-30 per person.

[bigkahuna04]

Sportsman's Lodge....

I've attended several conferences there in the past few years - good food...good parking and the facilities can accomodate a fairly good size group.

If I get enough notice...I know I can arrange my work schedule ...so count me in.

[krby]

Sportsman's Lodge....

...good parking.

I used to live in "the Valley" sort of near Sportsman's lodge. The "good parking" shouldn't be dismissed. 30 cars showing up to a place in L.A is a tough problem. The places in San Fernando Valley will likely have better/more parking on average.

I would be in for this trip, hopefully it's a few weeks down the road as now is a bit packed.

[SemiAutoSam]

Isn't there still an Airport in the City of Burbank still?

Well I wont be able to fly into that Airport but many others could.

I am in, of course.

Kest, that steak joint in Rancho Koo Koo Munga would be a great choice.

IMHO it would be best to hold this event somewhere outside the City limits of Los Angeles.

It would certainly spare the Northern boys from the headache of flying into LAX. They could fly into the Ontario Airport and get a great room without a million people crowding them at all times.

Just a thought.

Anywho...I'm in wherever it happens.

[Kestryll]

Sportsman's Lodge is 15 minutes from Burbank Airport, that's where matt and i flew out of to go up north last week.

[tankerman]

Long Beach also has a very easy to use airport. OC/John Wayne is nice but expensive to fly into.

A weekend mabe be easiest, Socal members are so spread out and week day traffic is just so brutal.

Some place off the 210 maybe near Pasadena might be good. Gives easy access for folks from Riverside/San Berdo (since the 210 now goes all the way through), LA County and OC. Plenty of other freeway choices

[Richie Rich]

I would be in provided it was on a weekend and not in Los Angeles proper.

O.C, Long Beach, San Bern, Riverside, San Diego are all cool by me.... Anywhere but LA. Just hate going anywhere near that place.

(no offense intended to any Calguns members who live in LA)

Should we send Iggy and Allison formal invitations?

[brassburnz]

Long Beach also has a very easy to use airport. OC/John Wayne is nice but expensive to fly into.

A weekend mabe be easiest, Socal members are so spread out and week day traffic is just so brutal.

Some place off the 210 maybe near Pasadena might be good. Gives easy access for folks from Riverside/San Berdo (since the 210 now goes all the way through), LA County and OC. Plenty of other freeway choices

+1 on the weekend. I've had dealings with several Calgunners, and they were from Ventura, Riverside, San Bernadino, San Diego, Orange County, and all over Los Angeles county. Assuming you want to start dinner at 7:00, there's no way people counld get to a central location during rush hour traffic during the week.

[Stormfeather]

I'm in!

uh. . . I would hope so!

[VeryCoolCat]

Fogo de Chao, home of the "meatsicle":

http://www.fogodechao.com/locations/beverlyHillsCA.htm

Oh my god that place is heaven, all the damn meat you can eat... the INCREDIBLE cheese filled bread (ya doesn't sound that great but DAMN), fillet mignon, rack of lamb, all kinds of damn expensive meat... all on a buffet.

Place costs $65 bucks though

[phobos512]

I'm in...Primary concern for me is going to be work schedule, because if I'm out of town then obviously it's no good.

As long as I have advanced notice I think I'll probably get me a free room at a nearby Holiday Inn so that the fiancee and step son can come and we'll be good to go.

[DSA_FAL]

I'd suggest somewhere in the Anaheim area since it's in the center of SoCal. It would be pretty easy to get to for people in SD and in the IE areas. I'm sure the restaurants in west LA are nice but they are a long drive for the people in San Diego.

I also think that Anaheim probably has lots of facilities that could host an event like this because they see conventions all the time.