MADRIGAL!
Were I not going to be in Massachusetts that weekend, I'd totally drive down just to go to Roscoe's with two pale Wisconsinites, oh yes.
You're like my fairy godmother, and Santa Claus, and Q all wrapped up into one! Q from Bond, not Star Trek.
Buffy ,'Help'
F2F 3: Who's Bringing the Guacamole?
Plan what to do, what to wear (you can never go wrong with a corset), and get ready for the next BuffistaCon: San Francisco, May 19-21, 2006! Everything else, go here! Swag!
JZ - Jul 28, 2005 12:04:42 pm PDT #4042 of 10001
See? I gave everybody here an opportunity to tell me what a bad person I am and nobody did, because I fuckin' rule.
Madrigal Costello - Jul 28, 2005 12:07:35 pm PDT #4043 of 10001
It's a remora, dimwit.
Oh, frell. And Almanzo does the niftiest acoustic guitar version of Jayne's song, too.
JZ - Jul 28, 2005 12:10:20 pm PDT #4044 of 10001
See? I gave everybody here an opportunity to tell me what a bad person I am and nobody did, because I fuckin' rule.
Does he wear a cunning hat?
I am all agog with wonderment that his name is Almanzo. Now I am even more jealous of Hec for his dinner with the two of you and the other Midwestistas when he was in Chicago. And I was already terribly envious to start with.
Madrigal Costello - Jul 28, 2005 12:12:48 pm PDT #4045 of 10001
It's a remora, dimwit.
Oh, I just call him Almanzo. Actually, the nickname he chose for himself is Bob. Master of understatement, he is. Anyway - slightly back on topic - new email addy is better, reallygoodname@gmail.com
Laura - Jul 28, 2005 12:20:30 pm PDT #4046 of 10001
Our wings are not tired.
Madrigal!
That's all I got. I will be more than a couple thousand miles away from LA at that time. Nice to see your font around these parts though.
sumi - Jul 28, 2005 12:23:07 pm PDT #4047 of 10001
Art Crawl!!!
It is nice to see you here Madrigal!
What an excellent adventure you guys are having.
DavidS - Jul 28, 2005 12:35:14 pm PDT #4048 of 10001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
Madrigal! I am also sad that I won't get to see you before you land in Australia, but will take smug comfort in having seen you in December.
Chicken/Waffles. Nature's perfect slashy pair.
Matt the Bruins fan - Jul 28, 2005 12:44:12 pm PDT #4049 of 10001
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand
Madrigal! Consider yourself virtual-tacklehugged. You're headed off to the land of koalas and Billyteas?
deborah grabien - Jul 28, 2005 1:49:51 pm PDT #4050 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
Holy - MADRIGAL!
(does the Missing Madrigal Dance)
deborah grabien - Jul 29, 2005 8:13:13 am PDT #4051 of 10001
It really doesn't matter. It's just an opinion. Don't worry about it. Not worth the hassle.
OK, a question for everyone, posted up here with Abi's rec and permission:
I now have two complete and one incomplete proposals in hand, from three SF hotels: The Holiday Inn Civic Center, the Ramada Plaza (where Nicole stayed during Nilly!palooza, literally around the corner from the Holiday Inn), and the Miyako.
The Ramada, alas, is a no, I think. They don't have internet access in any of the rooms (only in the lobby). The proposed hospitality suite has no fridge and no AV, and may not be negotiable. And they want $119 a night for a double-bedded two bed room.
The Miyako is a hotel I dearly love, and have some history with, but as much as I'm loving Margaret (their events person), Lily Ruiz, their catering person, is being an asshat. I have the partial bid from them - waiting back on the issues we're not seeing eye to eye on. I don't know if the "sorry, this isn't negotiable" stance she's taking is a dealbreaker, but I'm leaning that way. Why offer a hotel a lot of money if they're going to be obstructive and then act as if they're doing you a favour?
Sod that. I love the Miyako (gorgeous, comfy and eclectic, in a brilliant neighbourhood, and steeped in history), and the rate is decent - they're offering $109 a night. But we aren't looking hopeful about things like our own food, rather than their food, in the hospitality suite. Prom, yes. Hospitality suite, no. That's OURS.
Which brings me to the Holiday Inn, and right now, my personal inclination is to stop right there. There simply doesn't seem to be a downside.
The price is superb ($99 for a room wit two double beds, with a handful of four-bedded rooms available a a jaw-dropping $119 a night). The ballroom is three huge rooms with sliding doors, opened up; we get a choice of the full bar with bartender and buffet table inside, or at the poolside - or both, because they're perfectly happy to begin the evening with drinks at poolside and then move everything indoors for us, as part of the deal, no extra charge. They'd bring in a portable full dance floor, gratis; $1800 worth of bar and their catering and the ballroom is comped.
The hospitality suite has two TVs and DVD players; they'd bring in a fridge, again gratis. If we want more room in the hospitality suite, they're happy to take out beds (it's a two-bedroom suite with a living room) and replace beds with extra seating. Every room has high speed net access, and it's included in the price. They have ADA-compliant rooms and anything erika and her mom needed would be handled by their VIP people.
The level of personal attention and one on one care here is stellar. The price is unbeatable value for San Francisco. The location is three minutes walk either north or south to damned near every bus line in the City - on 8th between Market and Mission.
I have their written proposal in hand. So my question is: how many more does everyone need to see for comparison, and if this one is unbeatable for the SF bid - do we need more at all?
Your thoughts, please. I asked Abi first in email, and her tendency is the same as mine - if none of the others are coming close, why overload?