Are those restaurants within walking distance of the hotel?

Oh, and thanks for finding the info!

One of them is, sort of - but it's not the kind of walk I'd like to make alone, at night, really. This is part of the problem - most things in Durham are either really expensive or in a strip mall, and nothing is very walkable. If it's downtown, it doesn't feel safe, and if it's not downtown, you need a car.

(I know, I would never make a good PR person!)

We haven't done a whole lot of pimping for this location as of yet, but here goes.

After getting no bites from the convention planning sites, I put in a call to a hotel in Atlanta that I remember from when I lived there. If we seem to be considering this, it would be great if Ginger could go scope out the facilities in person, since it's been several years since I lived around there.

But, this would be the deal:

The Highland Inn (http://www.thehighlandinn.com/) in Virginia Highlands. It's not the *nicest* place in the world, but it's not bad either - not unlike the hotel in NOLA, I'd say. Located well - near shops, restaurants, bars, buses, not far from the metro. Convenient to downtown. Easy walk to Little Five Points, Carter Center, Midtown.

Rates:

Prom: Ballroom rental on a Saturday is typically $1000 plus deposit, knocked down to $900 if you also book a room block. Post prom clean-up is available for $175, otherwise you do it yourself - I believe you have until 11 the next morning.

They do not have food or drink service - you can do caterered, or you have kitchen access to do it yourself. Similarly, you can bring your own liquor, but you need a licensed bartender. (I can probably scare one up without too much trouble from my days of yore bartending at a place down the street, but it would be a consideration).

Rooms: Room rates are discounted with the ballroom rental -

Single (1 Full size bed) $62.95
Queen (1 Queen size bed) $77.35
Double (2 Full size beds) $86.35
Suite (1 Queen size bed with a sitting area) $95.35 Atlanta is an interesting place with lots to see and do, fairly easy to get to from most US areas, and has some discount airlines. If it seems like there's interest, I can throw together some more detailed city info.

Brenda, that sounds really awesome.

Just for what its worth... The Prom doesn't have to be exactly the same thing its always been. It could be a boat thing or a barbecue joint thing or a big picnic thing or any number of things.

Brenda, that sounds perfect!

We could go here: [link] (looks lovely, though I've never been)

Or we could go here: [link] (a little more homey, but I have been there and the staff is great)

The cons with a retreat center arrangement would be:

sorta isolated
transportation would involve more rentals/carpools
we'd have to bring our own liqour and deal with it ourselves though they would take care of the feeding of us (no liquor license)

The pros would be:

hiking, swimming, boating, etc.
inexpensive lodging with food included
a big bonfire for Prom

I think its worth considering something new. We do spend a lot of time hanging out with one another and a retreat setting would be ideal for that. Transportation is a little more complicated, but not unduly so and we'd save quite a bit of money.

I think it has a lot of potential, being more able to do things our way. The people I spoke to were very nice, too.

I can check it out. It's certainly a great location. I've passed The Highland Inn a million times and eaten in the restaurant on the first floor, but I never really processed it as a place to stay. It would be about 3/4 mile to Little Five Points and an easy shot to Virginia Highlands. Both have good restaurants and clubs, although I prefer the Little Five Points vibe.

I could pitch Atlanta as a location at length. We have the world's largest indoor aquarium; a decent art museum designed by two major architects, which has an ongoing relationship with the Louvre; a zoo with pandas; the Carter Center, which has the museum of Carter's presidency, plus exhibits; the MLK Center; and the world's largest piece of exposed granite.

If people are interested, I can set up a web page with Atlanta information.

I like the idea of being able to do our own catering. I'm sure there must be several bartenders in my friend-of-a-friend circle. That circle includes a number of musicians, so I could probably scare up some equipment.