From: Diva Las Vegas organizers (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Date: Thu Feb 18 2010 - 06:51:45 CST
In this mailing:
Org List
Two months
Laundry list
Opening mixer
HRC disappointment
Another possibility
Hostess for IP:
Oh Rats
Various LV updates
Pity Party
Opening thoughts
Go4it
Administrivia
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Org List:
This is the DLV 2010 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg@geekbabe.com)
Replies to this message will be forwarded to the DLVORG list and not
the DLV-Announce or DLV-Discuss list.
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Two months:
This is an earlier-than-expected mailing since many things
are happening, and as I've noted in several places below,
"the clock is ticking", several of them, actually. :)
Today is the 18th, making this the two-month point. I am
hoping that the Welcome Celebration thing was the last
major bump in the road for us this year.
. . . . .
First and foremost, one of our greatest needs is for a few
more dining options for Sunday and for Tuesday.
This can be something incredibly simple, or something very
precisely organized, depending on what you want to do.
It can be as simple as naming a place, agreeing to be there
to welcome the others, and simply using available tables.
No "cold calling", no explaining the nature of the group to
a hostess or manager, no deposits, nothing like that.
Of course if you want, you can do something more organized,
with reservations, sign-ups, etc. It's your call.
Please consider this, particularly if you're not coordinating
anything major so far. This does qualify for voting status.
. . . . .
As I've said, I want us to have activity sign-up ready to
roll out on March 22, which gives us about 5 weeks to get
anything that requires a sign-up or a headcount locked
in.
In the background, I am preparing check lists of info we
need to make this happen, and there are many blanks to be
filled in over the next several weeks.
You'll again notice that the schedule is again missing
from this mailing. I still do not have it updated, but I
am trying to get it in a state where we can still include
the abbreviated schedule in this weekend's general mailing.
. . . . .
Big thanks are due to those who have recently volunteered
for various functions. :)
In moving forward, those volunteers who have not yet
become involved with a major activity, you know who you
are, and I do too, :) can expect to be called upon to take
on some of the duties not yet spoken for, and possibly to
pinch-hit for those who may have to bow out unexpectedly.
. . . . .
Latest numbers:
As of Thursday morning, we have 153 validated attendees and
one validation pending. One was recently cancelled due to
non-response. One formerly-cancelled registration is pending
un-cancellation upon receipt of the "I agree" note.
We're currently seeing about one new registration per day,
with all but a few following through and validating.
Mailing list joins have been coming in at the rate of
about two per day lately.
. . . . .
A couple housekeeping items here ...
1. If you send e-mail to this list and the "real-life name"
in your "From:" field is not the name you are known by here,
please be sure that you include the name you are known by
somewhere in the body of the message.
2. If you send in anything here, or to me personally, and
don't get some kind of acknoledgement or response in a
reasonable time, let me know. Please be sure that your item
was received, particularly if it's regarding a somewhat
time-sensitive DLV issue. When things start getting very
intense, I try to respond to or at least to "ack" critical
items very quickly. Anything you send to the list here
should have at least a reference to it in the next ORG mailing.
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Laundry list:
Thanks to those who have helped clear items from this list!
. . . . . . . . . .
Let's review the schedule, as confusing as it may be in its
current state, and hit the high and low spots:
+Sunday, April 18:
Sunday is the day which appears to have the most items
which need attention.
+ 11:00am: Religious services (Metropolitan Community Church) - sv
We still need a host or hostess if this is to stay on the
schedule. This is an easy one, all you have to do is agree
to be there. Very easy ticket to voting status!
Volunteers?
+ 6:00pm: Happy Hour options (various)
+ 6:00pm: Irish Pub Happy Hour (McMullan's) - ms
+ 6:00pm: Sin City Happy Hour (Sin City Brewing - Flamingo) - ms
+ 7:00pm: Dinner options (Various)
+ 7:00pm: Irish Pub Dinner (McMullan's) - ms
+ 7:00pm: Flamingo Buffet dinner (Flamingo) - ms
I replaced my aborted Caesars Buffet with the Flamingo Buffet
and a HH in the Sin City Brewpub.
Why the Flamingo Buffet? Because it's there. :) (Yes, Ginger,
I know it ain't haute cuisine by any means!) :) :)
We still need (at least) one more dining option for Sunday.
I know everybody on the list here eats! It can be about
anything. Please consider picking a place and inviting
the gang to join you!
+ 9:00pm: After-dinner common gathering (TBA) - mv
I would like to hear some discussion about after-dinner
activities for Sunday, since this is one big hole we need
to fill.
I've previously suggested a two-track mainstream and safe
set of activities.
We do need to lay down some plans for this evening soon. Yes,
the clock is ticking. :)
. . .
+ Monday, April 19:
I think that Monday is solid and full, assuming our plans
for the "Plan B" replacement Welcome Celebration go forward
from this point on.
. . .
+Tuesday, April 20:
+ 7:00pm: Eating Out Night (Various)
+ 7:00pm: Milano's option (Milano's) - mv
+ 7:00pm: Joe's option (Joe's Crab and Steak) - ms
+ 7:00pm: Firefly option (Firefly - Plaza) - ms
Now that the Murder Mystery has been moved to Wednesday,
I think we need at least one, more comfortably two dining
options on Tuesday. Please keep in mind that we are expecting
a close-to-record total turnout this year, and we need the
combined capacity on our multi-track evenings.
Other than that, I think Tuesday evening is solid.
. . .
+Wednesday, April 21:
Wednesday is solid. Closed to additional activities.
. . .
+Thursday, April 22:
Assuming the Pity Party plans fall into place, I would say
that Thursday is shaping up nicely. I do think that we
still need some kind of a local dining option, plain or
fancy, opposite NSD, prior to the Pity Party. I know that
both venues being discussed for the Pity Party do not
serve food.
. . .
+Friday, April 23:
Wheels are turning WRT our ending get-together.
. . . . .
Now we can review a few misc. items.
Edy?
Lunch at Fashion Show Mall and Fashion Show?
Is this a "go"?
. . . . .
Alanna?
Bahama Breeze? Any news?
. . . . .
Ginger?
Lunch locations?
Hello! Testing 1 2 3 {tap-tap, blow in microphone} is this
thing on? :)
. . . . .
Ginger? SBS Social?
Ping Ginger. :)
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Opening mixer:
First of all I share the disappointment at the falling-through
of the HRC plans. I was counting on this very much and I
thought it would be a major happening in the history of DLV.
However, as we know, rain must fall and doodoo happens! :(
Things like this are nothing new to DLV. We had a major
facility close at very short notice, a couple weeks before
DLV, in the early 2000s, and we had a vendor renege on some
locked-in-solid plans just prior to DLV in the mid 2000s.
In all cases we've worked through these and had very
successful events.
Anyway ...
I had a nice chat Wednesday with Ron Aronsohn, proprietor
of what I've been calling the Blue Ox Way-West, which he
prefers to be known as the Blue Ox Tavern.
We confirmed Nora's initial conversation and reserved Monday
the 19th of April for our opening festivities.
He initially expressed concern when I mentioned "up to 100",
but eased off when I noted that about 2/3 of those would
actually be eating and that people would be coming and going
all evening.
Preliminary plans are for something "just like last year"
and those are to be clarified and confirmed in the weeks
to come.
They have a nice web site:
>From looking at the photos, it appears to be a bit larger
and nicer than the former Blue Ox West on Valley View.
Unless somebody comes up with something which is very
substantially superior to this in all respects, I think
we need to stick with it.
If any alternate plans are to be made ,we need to have those
proposals on the table (one appears below) very shortly with
enough details to make some informed decisions. Yes, the
clock is ticking. :)
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HRC disappointment:
Mary Beth writes:
>I'm sorry the HRC fell through.
I'm sorry too, MB!
>I was really looking forward to going there.
Well, you can still look forward to going there, just not
for the Welcome Celebration. :)
I'm sure that HRC Strip will appear at least once on our
final schedule. Exactly how it's used will most likely be
Suzane's call, but I can envision at least three strong
possibilities. The minimum would be something like an
Eating Out Night option for Tuesday. More likely would
be something like a mainstream option for Sunday or an
in-town dinner on Thursday prior to the Pity Party.
Another possibility would be a "Plan C" for Friday,
should others not work out. I don't think the music
level and the level of exposure will be as much of an
issue for a closing thing as for an opening mixer.
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Another possibility:
Here is another possibility for an opening mixer, and/or a
possible larger gathering on Friday. Please read this over
and comment.
Marisa writes:
>I just finished talking to the manager at Firefly on Paradise
>and they have a banquet room for more than 100 people with a
>mini bar and separate bathrooms in the room.
>They have a cocktail party deal that costs $100 for the room
>and then we need to spend a minimum of $1500 on food and
>drinks for 100 people, less for 50 people, they may have
>different levels of the minimum also.
>The person hosting the party is required to order trays of
>food (tapas) and if more food is needed, we can order off a
>limited menu (to make it easy on the kitchen, they have 55
>different tapas). Valerie is Emailing the details to me
>tomorrow and I can check it out by this weekend if this
>sounds as if it will work for meet and greet.
>Their website is: http://fireflylv.com but they don't have
>the cocktail party info on the site, just a $25/$30 and $35
>banquet deals.
>Firefly at the Plaza does'nt have bathrooms in the room or
>that would be a nice place to have the party.
Thanks for taking the initiative to do the legwork, Marisa!
I think the best fit for this is Friday, should the Bahama
Breeze plans not work out, but I'm not dismissing it for a
possible opening mixer, should it work, price-wise and
logistically.
We need some feedback on this option, gang, and as I have
said, the clock is ticking. Comments?
Here are my personal concerns and comments:
1. Obviously, somebody has to come up with the $100 deposit,
and from what you say, I'm assuming it's not refundable. Is
this correct?
2. The food looks like it will be from communal tapas trays,
paid for at once. Again, I'm seeing a $$$ logistics issue.
3. Doing the quick math in head, I think we would be well
covered for an average $15 per person food and drink tab
for an estimated turnout of 100 bodies. However, I see a
logistics nightmare in working out the details of being
sure that those who consume the food pay for it. And no,
I don't think that any kind of a fixed price "just to
walk through the door", even if minimal, is what we want
to do for our opening mixer, or even for our closing
get-together if it can in any way be avoided.
Marisa, if you want to move forward with this, either as
a possibility for Monday or Friday, please outline to the
group here exactly what you have in mind for dealing with
the fiscal issues, such as where the $100 will come from,
how it will be recovered, and how the sharing of the food
cost will be done, considering both those who will be
eating there, and those who choose to eat elsewhere.
An unlikely related question, but still a possibility, how is
the shortage to be covered should unforeseen circumstances
spoil the turnout and we fail to meet the $1500 minimum?
Thanks again, Marisa. :)
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Hostess for IP::
Danette writes:
>Hello, I'd be more than glad to be a Hostess at the Imperial
>Palace. I already have my room reserved and will be there on
>the 18th early afternoon. Please let me know one way or the
>other.
Thanks, Danette! :)
There ya go, Holly! If you don't have Danette's e-mail, write
in and I will forward it.
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Oh Rats:
Tracy writes:
>Gee it's too bad about the HRC thingie I was really looking
>forward to that event. Shucks and Rats!!!! But OH well the
>show must go on.
Yes, fiddlesticks! Fudge! Firetruck!
I was looking forward to it too, but I think we have a very
good solid "Plan B" which we need to run with. We'll have
a good crowd and a very good time!
>Also I'm working on a car pool thingie for the M Resort
>venture/get together/event so yes the beat goes on and great
>news about the registering turnout! Good show!!!
I think that doing the carpool thing will very much help
your turnout. What I might suggest is a carpool staging
area, as we've been doing for NSD.
>PS: I have changed my home base hotel from Paris to the
>Stratosphere dew to a just received free night suite comp.
>Yippeeeeee (I love my Casino host)
It's really amazing what just a little gaming action can get
you these days! Really. I was surprised at the rate I got
for what I consider some meager action. :)
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Various LV updates:
Holly writes:
>A couple of notes...
>The Artisan hotel has reopened under new management BUT
>unless you are staying there, you cannot eat in the restaurant
>without calling in advance and making a reservation. I get the
>impression they are struggling.
>I went to dinner at Bahama Breeze Saturday night with a
>group of approximately 20 from Glamour Boutique.
>Reservations had been made days in advance so they were
>expecting us. They weren't ready for us when we arrived.
>The service was sluggish and disorganized. On the positive
>side, the food was good as always.
Yes, I have seen cases where the service at the BB has been
lacking. We had complaints the first year, and we almost
did not return, except for some management assurances that
service would improve. It did.
>The Sahara Hotel- The buffet has permanently closed. NASCAR
>Cafe is now serving breakfast 7AM-9:30AM. Paco's is permanently
>closed. The Caravan Cafe (coffee shop) has been relocated to
>the area formally housing Paco's. Seating has been reduced to
>less than one half of what they were capable of seating before.
>The wedding chapel has been closed. Rumors floating about- The
>area beyond the NASCAR Cafe will be walled off from the general
>public and permanently closed off. This includes the old
>buffet area, the arcade area, the wedding chapel, the upstairs
>showroom, and the conference center. Some renovation work on
>some rooms may be going on during the time DLV is scheduled.
>I think it will be the Tangier's Tower. My wife and I both
>noticed a tension among the staff that we hadn't detected in
>the past. And it was evident that additional staffing cuts
>have been made in every area (that could explain the tension).
I really hate to see the Sahara downsize, but the reality is
that even though the economy is improving, business in Las
Vegas is still down, hence the great room rates we're now
seeing for the second year in a row. (Silver lining in the
cloud, I guess ...) :)
Thanks for the updates, Holly.
. . . . .
>I haven't seen anything about my request to move the Murder
>Mystery to Wednesday night. In fact, haven't seen much from
>ORG in about a week except for the hotel reports. Have I
>missed some mailings?
That has been adjusted on the schedule, and noted in the ORG
mailing which went out on the 16th. It may have "crossed in
the mail" with this submission of yours.
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Pity Party:
Mindy writes:
>Good Times or Escape sound good to me for pity party.
Agree.
I know that wheels are turning WRT lining up one of these
for a combined Pity Party and Jam Session on Thursday.
We shiver with antici ... {say it!} PATION awaiting Susan's
report. :)
>is there a room mate match this year? I may have an extra
>bed in my time share.
Diane? You listening in?
Or, anybody here need a room? I think it's only fair that
volunteers get first dibs on things like this. :)
Yes, officially we have roommate matching, but as we saw
last year, I'm not anticipating that much demand for it
for DLV 2010 since room rates are still very low.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Opening thoughts:
Kate writes:
Referring to the item below!
>This will be my 5th DLV.
>I am very disappointed in the cancellation of the Hard Rock
>opening night. I have already booked my hotel location around
>this event.
I'm disappointed too, but I don't think it's to anyone's
advantage, collectively or individually, to do anything
but move forward with the planning of DLV doing the best
we can with what we have to work with.
>The Blue Ox up on Decatur (not sure if this is the right street)
>was a nice dining option a few years ago but the HRC was going
>to be a nice High Tone place with huge socializing area and an
>easy cab ride to and from for those staying on the strip, which
>amounts to 95% of us I assume. This is merely a guess at the
>percentage!
The old Blue Ox West was on Valley View, which is about a mile
east of Decatur.
My guess is that 60% or so will stay on the main portion of
the Strip. Remember that we have about 20% locals, plus many
who have their own accommodations such as timeshares,
rental properties, condominia, etc.
However, the point is valid. Many will have a 5 mile taxi
ride instead of a 1 mile taxi or monorail ride.
One thing to keep in mind is that 70%+ of the attendees will
travel hundreds, thousands, and even tens of thousands of
miles to attend DLV. In this perspective, I don't see a
5 mile ride to join the others to be out of line at all.
>I realize that The new and improved Blue Ox isn't the one I
>referred to but it is Still A Blue Ox and not a nice upscale
>terrific spot like the HRC.
>I really really don't want to start my Only T-week long outing
>in the year at The Blue Ox, 25 minutes drive away from where
>I am going to be staying and with a $30.00 cab ride with tip
>each way. You asked for opinions so please don't stomp on this
>one as I am seriously considering not going as of now.
>The HRC is just what DLV needed to raise the bar, We just
>lowered it considerably due to a bit of noise which if
>handled right could be adjusted at the time of the event.
>I know from experience that individual speakers can be
>adjusted in Any establishment with some relatively easy
>negotiating. I am one of the older ones, but the noise
>level though a bit annoying sometimes can be tolerated
>due to being in friendly company and nice surroundings.
Everybody knows that sound can be adjusted, if the management
wants it to be. That's the point. This has been escalated
to the GM level at HRC in Las Vegas. They refuse to adjust
the volume for us due to the fact ... "there are other
guests that are here for the music/ambiance."
If we had more time, I would say that it would be worth a
shot going over the GM's head to their corporate office
with the "do you realize how much business they turned
away ..." angle, but we have just passed the two-month
mark and don't have that liberty at this time.
If you think you can do better at negotiating, please feel
free to do so. Phone the GM at HRC in Las Vegas and see
what can be worked out. (If, so, please do so immediately,
as the clock is ticking!)
>Please reconsider this bad decision.
If you can convince HRC to give us a quiet area for our
opening mixer, subject to the constraints which have been
discussed here, then we can reconsider, and you will most
certainly be regarded as Heroine Of The Year.
Keep in mind that Suzane, who has an established relationship
with the staff and made a trip on site, could not get them
to bend on the music level.
However, we're now getting to the point in time that if we
are to circle back to a HRC Welcome Celebration, things
need to happen now if not sooner. :)
>NB.. A huge Thank you so much to Suzanne for the terrific
>idea and the work involved in the original set up. Such a
>pity this is! A very dissappointed DLV'r
Yes, I agree. Suzane performed far above and beyond the
call of duty in planning what almost happened!
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Go4it:
JoAnn writes:
>>This is something very similar to what we've had the past two
>>years at what I'm calling the Blue Ox Way-West, on Sahara
[deletia]
>>If there are objections, please suggest alternatives. :)
>*Go for it !! JoAnn Segrue*
I agree.
If it were not for the fact that the expectations of the HRC
opener eclipsed the past two years' Welcome Celebrations,
we would be eagerly anticipating a Blue Ox opening mixer
this year.
It was rated for enjoyment at 4.52 (57 responses) in 2009
and 4.49 (53 responses) in 2008. Comfort level was 4.76 in
2009 and 4.81 in 2008. Those ratings are hard to beat!
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Administrivia:
This is the Diva Las Vegas 2010 organizational list.
One address for all items regarding this list, additions, removals,
changes, submissions, questions, etc.:
dlvorg@geekbabe.com <--- NOTE: all lower case
Diva Las Vegas 2010
April 18 - 23, 2010
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
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