Here's the article from the Contra Costa Times about the workshop smonster attended. If you have very sharp eyes, you might be able to pick her out in one of the pictures.

Ah. When she mentioned "Suhaila", I was pretty sure that was who she was referring to. Cool!

Oy.

Update:

Only just learned that a few people were still having issues calling the central reservations number (the 800 Holiday Inn booking phone number) about non-smoking rooms.

Here's what you do:

1. Call the HICC directly. Phone number is 415.626.6103

2. Ask for Inhouse Reservations

3. Tell them Buffistas and give them the dates. Tell them your preference.

4. If anyone experiences any difficulty, let me know. Don't suffer in silence. Making this as easy and as stress-free an experience as possible is part of the point-person gig, but I can't do it if no one tells me about a problem, okay?

Did we ever get a group code for making reservations online? "Buffistas" is too long.

eta: Nebbermind. It's "BUF." Duh!

Is there any information people need about any aspect of the booking arrangements that isn't readily available?

Please to let me know, muy pronto, and we can let Laura know; she's being an angel and keeping the page.

Deb, I was able to make my reservation for a non-smoking room over the net, so that works. The only possible problem I see there is that it said there were no double rooms available. I only need a single, so it doesn't affect me, but others may have a problem if that's true.

Oh, maybe that double room thing is why it didn't work for me.

ETA: I called the number Deb posted above and had no trouble. Also, she extended the Buffista rate an extra day to give me checkout on Tuesday instead of Monday.

So the "no doubles" is a net glitch?

If anyone else runs into that problem, I can ring them back and see about fixing it.

Also, at some point in the not too distant future, I'll need a headcount of how many people who are staying at the hotel are also planning on doing B2B. For one thing, for those doing it who are checking out the same day (Sunday), we'll arrange with the hotel to keep your luggage until after the race. Also, if everyone or anyone running or strolling or strutting or waving regally or whatevering the B2B is interested in an outdoor BBQ or similar thing at Chez Grabien post-race and probably post-Footstock, I'll need to know that, as well.

Hec and I have briefly discussed trying to get tickets for Giants-A's in Oakland, probably Sunday afternoon. If there's any interest, please let me know. We'll probably need to get tickets a lot earlier than we left it at the LA F2F given that we're talking interleague rivalry.

I would be interested, although I suspect that the game will be sold out within hours of going on sale.