I thought Deb talked to Lilibeth about it and was assured we'd all get non-smoking rooms, but I think the folks in reservations just don't have a clue.

I did, and Sparky reposted the instructions. You all have non-smoking rooms, with sliding doors that open to balcony or pool area places where you can smoke your little lungs out, if you so desire. Ditto the hospitality suite.

I would like to take a moment to announce that this is - I sincerely believe - going to be the best-stocked HS ever. Perkins went deliciously nuts with the carbs and dried fruit and booze and water and plates and cold cups at Costco; I have gone nuts at Trader Joes and Whole Foods.

Right now, 32 chicken drumsticks are simmering in a mixture of Soy Vay! marinade, worcestershire sauce, sesame oil, medium peppers, lemon juice and garlic. We have achieved an astonishing range of cheeses ranging from Baby Bells to Port Salut to Brie (yeah, deal with it, this is wine and cheese country). I have two cherry fudge torts made, likewise 60 deathbombs. There is soy milk for juliana. There is a dark French roast coffee, freshly ground, from Whole Foods. There's a case of mixed flavours, diet and regular, of Hansen's soda; there's peach nectar and prosecco and lots of wine. There's a tub to put the drinks in, probably in the bathroom.

Pete will have lots of nitrite/nitrate free deli stuff to choose from: there's Black Forest ham, salami, and two varieties of turkey. I have all the fixings for green salad (mesclun, mushrooms, shredded organic carrots), with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. I have a nice bit of cucina alla Toscana coming up, in the form of an insalata caprese (mozzarella balls, tiny tomatoes, fresh chopped basil, olive oil, vinegar), and a fagioli con tonno (white beans, good albacore tuna, chopped basil, olive oil, lemon juice) and two bottles of grappa. juliana is baking bread; I believe Vortex is making cheesecake.

I am tired beyond the dreams of man, but damn, this house smells good.

edit: and I still have to shop for the BBQ.

I wanna go to the HS for dinner tonight.

So I've been thinking about the dim sum thing. And while it is, as Deb says, generally accepted that the best dim sum in SF is at Yank Sing, it's also true that it's not nearly the cheapest. It's pretty steep, and it's also not in Chinatown.

So here is the Chronicle's overview of Chinatown and if you scroll to the bottom you'll find a list of Chinese restaurants, including a couple of dim sum places. Laura recommended Great Eastern, and this place New Asia both has good reviews and seats 1,000 people. Which means we would not likely have to wait for a table and the dim sum would be constantly moving through.

So I'm thinking people who wanted to do dim sum could just agree to meet at one of these places around 10-10:30 on Saturday (before the rush). New Asia is at Pacific and Stockton, close to North Beach.

ND, you'd be standing there, forlorn and hungry. It's all still here.

And there's a LOT of it. I am determined that everyone will be extraordinarily well fed.

And while it is, as Deb says, generally accepted that the best dim sum in SF is at Yank Sing, it's also true that it's not nearly the cheapest. It's pretty steep, and it's also not in Chinatown.

Gods, no, it's pricey as hell. Also, all the way down near South Beach. The food is amazing, but there are other very very good dim sum places in this town, and the Chron list is a nice one.

Deb, those goodies sound absolutely scrumptious. Really looking forward to noshing it up in the HS. Yum.

And there's a LOT of it. I am determined that everyone will be extraordinarily well fed.

There's also a slight chance that I went a teensy bit overboard as well.

I need to do a load of Kilts tonight. I also need to get some of my packing started.

So I'm thinking people who wanted to do dim sum could just agree to meet at one of these places around 10-10:30 on Saturday (before the rush). New Asia is at Pacific and Stockton, close to North Beach.

This sounds like a good idea to me. How about 10:30?

There's also a slight chance that I went a teensy bit overboard as well.

Like I said: deliciously overboard.