Are the Texas beaches pretty much all gross and ickky? taking notes for potential future trips. or not.

oooh Memphis

While I would dearly love to play host/tour guide to any Buffistas who care to visit the city in small groups, I think it's a really, really bad choice for a large f2f. Any of the above cities would probably be much better suited for our needs.

Speaking of, is Nashville already covered by a point person? If not, I can start making calls and e-mail inquiries.

So, it seems that the Cleveland Visitor and Convention Bureau, which I'd asked for information about hotels and cool things to do and see, sent information to some hotels. I got an e-mail today offering us $79 per room and a free hospitality suite at a Clarion Hotel and Convention Center near the airport. It's not within walking distance for partying or stuff doing, but it is near the public transport route. I'm guessing there'll be other offers. I told them no decision would be made on city until July, and no decision on hotel until October. I guess they wanted to be proactive.

eta: The Hampton downtown, with wireless access in guest and public areas, has offered $89.00 per night, free hospitality suite if we use 60 rooms total (pick up of 60 or more room nights) includes free breakfast. Parking is $15.00 a day.

and the Wyndham at Playhouse Square, an amazing hotel, has offered $95 a night, free prom space. It has an indoor pool, sauna, hot tub and gym, with free spa products in the guest rooms.

The Cleveland Marriot downtown (near the Wyndham) has offered $129.00 a night, free prom space. It's less attractive than the Wyndham, and doesn't have free spa products in the bathroom, but does have the indoor pool, hot tub and gym.

This is a question to the stompies. Can we use the b.org voting system to narrow down our choices for the F2F 2005? I'm not sure what goes into setting up a vote and all of that with the b.org system but it seems like that would be the way to go for this.

Can we use the b.org voting system to narrow down our choices for the F2F 2005?

Can't we just do a Mr. Poll? That's what we've done in the past.

I'm not sure what goes into setting up a vote and all of that with the b.org system but it seems like that would be the way to go for this.

I've set up all the official votes. It's just a glorified form that sends an email from each voter to whoever volunteers to count them. Seems like a Mr. Poll would work fine for the F2F.

Mr Poll has the advantage of being anonymous and giving instant results (nobody has to count anything), and the disadvantage that it is sometimes possible to vote more than once. But in the past, we've always trusted people not to cheat.

t Poking head, making myself comfortable

So, with the usual warning that nothing is finite and there are no commitments yet until after my visa is approved (my interview in on the 12th of July), I wanted to start finding out the when-and-where-s of people in order to make at least some vague plans regarding my trip.

Here's what I think so far: IIRC, Kristen mentioned that both her and Allyson aren't going to be in LA between the 18th and the 23rd of August. I can't possibly arrive to LA when the two ladies who are behind the whole possibility of the trip aren't going to be there. What I figured was, probably flying from Israel to LA on the second week of August, spending around a week in LA, then San-Francisco, on the weekend of the 21st, and from there, to the other coast, and I'm still not sure exactly where to (straight to NYC? DC? Boston? Have no idea yet), and still not sure about the time, probably not less than a week.

So a total of 2-3 weeks, in the latter part of August. Or that's what it seems, so far.

This is especially addressed to the amazing people who offered to host me while I'm in the USA. Is this schedule working for you? How subject to changes can it be for you? When are people in/out of town (for me to check if the scheduling can work around that)? And how long is it before August?

Oh, and the most un-answered question of all: how much do Buffistas rock?

[Edited to metion again, because I'm a great chicken, that I won't be able to commit to anything until after my visa is approved.]

[Edited again because I have to log off for the night (the computer is acting up and the system administrator wants to play with it), so I'll check in tomorrow. Sorry to post and run!]

Oh, and the most un-answered question of all: how much do Buffistas rock?

7.

(resubscribing)

Boy oh boy, does that schedule work for me. So far as I understand it, you'll be coming up from LA to SF by car (not sure whose car yet, probably NoiseDesign?), and staying with me. There will be a huge party, a BBQ (I'm getting sources for kosher meat and poultry from Ayelet, as well as kosher restaurants, so that should be fine), and I'll have a virginal, never-used set of cookware with which to cook for you.

So, from the SF end - who's shooting for the SF leg of Nilly's visit? We'll need to make sure everyone has the means to get here (this will be so much easier if Nic's working, so fingers crossed for this), and that everyone has a bed for the weekend.

edit: I know, I know, still not committed. Not to worry, it will be, and we still have to plan as much as we can as a contingency.