Vortex is on to something.

I like the tactic of asking what the venue can do for you price wise, hearing the alternatives (and or hemming and hawing) and closing with this is what we'd like to pay.

It never hurts to negotiate and, depending on their event bookage, you can sometimes get great prices and additional amenities simply by letting the venue talk itself into accomodating you.

I don't have much time to write at the moment, but I just wanted to say what an AWESOME weekend I had in New York! It was just about as perfect as I could have imagined. I got in late Friday night and met up with Polter-Cow on Bleecker Street, where we wandered for a little bit and ate some ice cream, and then I realized I was about to drop from exhaustion, so we parted ways and I headed over to Jesse's apartment. Jesse, by the way, is a fabulous host, and she has the sweetest cat I've ever met.

I spent most of Saturday exploring the city with P-C: Times Square, the East Village, the Staten Island Ferry, and many, many subway lines. We only got a little bit lost, which led to my running into a friend of mine from South Africa! Very cool. Then around 8:30 we made it to Jessica and Ethan's place for pizza and The Apple (oh. my. god.) with Tom Scola, Trudy, and Kristin. It was so much fun to hang out with them, and it was great to finally meet Ethan. We ended up staying till 11, at which point it was too late to make it over to msbelle's place, so Trudy and Kristin took me home until Jesse got back, then walked me over to her apartment (thanks again).

Then on Sunday we all congregated at the Park Street Grill for a delicious kosher brunch, organized by kat perez (thanks!), and I finally got to see, and talk to, and hug Nilly! I think we sat there for close to three hours, and it was heavenly. There were fifteen Buffistas in attendance: Trudy, Kristin, Jesse, Tom Scola, billytea and Bec (who is charming!), Jessica and Ethan, Polter-Cow, Hil, ted r, msbelle, kat perez, myself, and Nilly. I got to geek out about travelling with various folks (and see Nilly's Israeli passport and US visa--very cool), and billytea delivered a commercial for Tim-Tams, whereupon we discovered that they sell Tim-Tams in Israel!

Afterwards, a smaller group of us walked over to the Met and wandered around there for a bit. P-C had his suitcase, which they wouldn't allow inside, so we took it in turns to sit outside and guard his terrorist luggage and enjoy the beautiful weather. I got the chance to chat up kat p, for which I was quite grateful. My newest plan is to convince her and her DH to move to Mozambique so I can go visit them there ALL THE TIME. All too soon, it was time to leave; one last round of hugs (incidentally, Scola gives the best hugs), one last long Nilly embrace, and then, um, I accidentally absconded with her cellphone. oops. But I remembered while still on the bus with Jesse, so I gave it into her keeping, since she'll be seeing Nilly again today. Sorry!

It was an altogether excellent weekend, and I wish it had lasted ten times as long.

Edit: Kristin, you rock for getting your pictures up so quickly! I was dumb and didn't take any. :-(

Good advice! I will try that aproach with the pricier places.

Did you get the table -t?

Got it, but don't know what to open it with. However, I can't get to that e-mail account while I'm at work, so I was gonna bother you about it later. If you want to e me the program name, i'll be able to start entering stuff when I get home tonight.

I made it in Access.

Then on Sunday we all congregated at the Park Street Grill for a delicious kosher brunch

Park East Grill, actually.

P-C had his suitcase, which they wouldn't allow inside, so we took it in turns to sit outside and guard his terrorist luggage

Hee hee hee.

then, um, I accidentally absconded with her cellphone.

How much do I love that you used the word "absconded"?

Kristin, you rock for getting your pictures up so quickly! I was dumb and didn't take any. :-(

Kristin does rock, and you non-picture-taking people are welcome to my doubles. I'm sure you're very anxious to see how the Kiki picture turned out.

Oh, good, then I can work on it on the laptop.

Did we defer the city choosing vote until next week or is it on Wednesday? I seem to recall deferring but my memory has been tricking me lately.

It was an altogether excellent weekend, and I wish it had lasted ten times as long.

It was! Brunch was great, and everything anyone has said about Nilly ever is true. Except she's not so tiny. She is, for instance, taller than my mother, who's a great little woman, and shrinking rapidly. But Nilly is delightful company, and very enthusiastic about everything she's seen and done here.

And for those who haven't seen it, the Broadway production of The Lion King is just amazing. Best live show I've ever seen, hands down. The costuming and choreography is unbelievable. They've augmented the movie too; there are some additional songs and they've fleshed out some plot points.

Park East Grill, actually.

Ah, I thought I might have that wrong.

I'm sure you're very anxious to see how the Kiki picture turned out.

Kiki vs. the Statue of Liberty! KIKI SMASH! (And I'd be extremely grateful for doubles, thank you.)

everything anyone has said about Nilly ever is true.

It's sort of amazing. She's really one of the kindest, most gracious people I've ever met, and yeah, SO enthusiastic!

Except she's not so tiny.

Hil is winner and still champion!