Not my party, but it's probably going to be simpler for Kristin to say where she's spending New Years, and invite people to come with.

The other way -- lies insanity.

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Putting my research skills where my mouth is, I looked up info on having a Little Vegas New Year's in Tunica Mississipi. Alas, while they have the slot machines and the budget buffets, they don't have the room capacity of Vegas. Everything's booked on the casino strip.

Heartbreak Hotel currently has 2 king suites available for $129 (i king bed in each) and 1 queen room (2 queen beds) available for $109. It's an Elvis theme boutique hotel located across from Graceland, so only those with a very high kitsch tolerance should consider it.

Two decent hotels I know of in Memphis proper have sorta pricey rooms available (the Hilton has standard rooms for 2 starting at $159 a night and Homewood Suites go for $149 a night for 2), but both are pretty far from Beale Street and all the downtown hotels I'd trust are either booked or astronomically expensive.

I'd be willing to provide chauffer service for up to 3 people, and can comfortably host 2 in my apartment. But I do think the ground distances involved would make things impractical for a medium to large group - anything more than 2 vehicles full would get very hard to coordinate.

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Hey y'all - regarding tonight - any Bayistas up for karaoke at The Mint?

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Oh man, juliana, were I healthy - in a heartbeat.

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It's an Elvis theme boutique hotel located across from Graceland, so only those with a very high kitsch tolerance should consider it.

Dude. I loves me some Matt.

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Speaking of driving 2000 miles, I would like to take this opportunity to apologize for driving directly through Memphis and not stopping to see you, Matt! Sorry! It wasn't until late in the planning stages that I'd realized you were on my route, and since it was a path we hadn't driven before we weren't sure exactly when we'd be through. Ended up being there at 10 am on a weekday, so it prolly wouldn't have worked out anyway. Still, sorry we missed you.

Anyway, there's also Phoenix for a temperate winter destination.

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I think Memphis is a fun idea. That hotel sounds like a blast.

Anyway, there's also Phoenix for a temperate winter destination.

Yep, that was on my original list. Phoenix can be really nice.

Not my party, but it's probably going to be simpler for Kristin to say where she's spending New Years, and invite people to come with.

The other way -- lies insanity.

ita, that was the original intent of why ND and hereward had suggested Vegas. They were planning to go there anyway. Since the prices turned out to be astronomical, I was just putting feelers out because I would love to spend time with other folks.

And in terms of what was being suggested, this:

From where I'm sitting, everyone's suggesting their own cities, plus Vegas and Phoenix. Maybe it's lazy and/or selfish (and I mean those terms lovingly), but it's not elitist coastalism.

was the impression I'd gotten as well.

Anyway. Nebbermind. I'm thinking now about going to Austin to visit a big group of friends from another board that I haven't seen in ages. I would love it if buffistas were there too, but I can hardly offer to host or anything.

And honestly, money may prevent me from going anywhere at all.

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Sorry! It wasn't until late in the planning stages that I'd realized you were on my route, and since it was a path we hadn't driven before we weren't sure exactly when we'd be through. Ended up being there at 10 am on a weekday, so it prolly wouldn't have worked out anyway. Still, sorry we missed you.

No worries Liese, that time of day I would have been in Arkansas buried under a pile of work that I couldn't ask off from. But everyone on the board has a standing invite from me if they're in the city in the late evening or on a weekend, I'd be happy to act as tour guide or offer the hospitality of one of the local clubs/restaurants as proxy for my foodless kitchen.

Are any NYC folks going to go get crushed by the mob of peoplewatch the big apple drop in Times Square?

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Not in person -- been there, done that, got trampled by the drunken masses. (Plus, if you want a really good view, you have to camp out at least a day in advance. I'm all about the watching it on TV from my living room.)

Vegas or Little Vegas sounds like oodles of fun, but I've already overspent my travel budget for the year, so unless a winning lottery ticket falls into my lap, I'll be at home with DH, a bottle of prosecco, and the best we can afford from Caviarteria.

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Might consider Laughlin: [link] They have casinos, AND glow-in-the-dark bowling.

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