[dlvorg] Brief mailing with lots of info. Comments please ...

In this mailing:

Org List
Celebration discussion
Hofbrauhaus details
Off Strip Bistro
Yardhouse menu
Border Grill
Front money
Celebration thoughts
Venue comments
Administrivia
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Org List:

This is the DLV 2016 Organizational Mailing List (dlvorg_at_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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Celebration discussion:

Big thanks go out to those who have been pounding the pavement (or the
telephone) :) seeking details of our venue options. Several new details
have come in and appear in this mailing.

Please read, digest, and most importantly, comment.

We'll do a summary of our current options shortly.

Thanks all! :)
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Hofbrauhaus details:

Vera writes:

Okay Ladies,

Here is the scoop from the Event Sales Rep at the HaufBrauHaus.

1. April 1 - Apr3 is a high rate period due to the Auto Manufacturers
(or Retailers) Convention that will be in town that weekend. She would
have to charge us a rate way above what we probably could afford...
think in the area of what it would have cost us to book Caitlyn Jenner.
But at least we'd get music and entertainment.

2. She could offer us a section of tables but they would be in the main
beer hall and not separate as in the Beer Garden out back. (see #1)

3. They would charge per person so there is no option to "not dine and
just drink and only socialize".

4. No split checks..they could accommodate taking up to 5 credit cards
to divide the total tab, then each card owning person negotiate with the
others to get your money reimbursed.

5. Drinks of course, would be separate.

6. She is emailing me some menu choices which I guess determine the
price per person.

Sorry, I wish I could give you better news....

Vera
. . . . .

Vera,

+It was a pleasure to speak with you a little bit ago.

+As per our conversation, I do not have a private area available. But
+I can give you a section in our Main Beer Hall. I am sending you a
+few menu options to show your group. Please keep in mind that this
+is a very busy night with the convention that is in. I cannot hold
+any space without a signed contract. I look forward to hearing back
+from you soon either way.

+Take care and thank you again.

+Best regards,Karen Kugler

+HOFBRDUHAUS LAS VEGAS
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Thanks for checking this out, Vera.

Comments, ladies? (Gentlemen?)
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Off Strip Bistro:

Marisa writes:

Just finished talking with the reservations person who works for "Off
The Strip Bistro and Bar" and a bunch of other restaurants in LV.

She began with $8000 min for the whole upstairs or $5000 for part of it
with a limited menu that we choose a certain number of items off the
whole menu or we can get 50 plus seating with the full menu down stairs
(cash bar) and a $1000 minimum ($500 CC swipe with the reservation).

The logistics of collecting that $500 doesn't sound like much fun and I
think the food would be on one bill. I have more questions for her, so
take a look at their menu and location online if you want me to pursue
this any farther. They're across from the Flamingo on the Linq
promenade. She also may have other options in LV, but this looks like a
good one to get connected with for future events.
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Annie responds:

Thanks, Marisa.

Off Strip was a candidate for something (forget what exactly) last year
but was not used. It's apparently a new branch of an existing place
which is located south of the main Strip area.

The 50 on the lower level option actually sounds promising. That number
is right in the range of the number of full-meal sales that can be
expected. $1000 is not that difficult of a minimum to obtain.

We've always been able to work around up-front deposits and we do have
another pledge for same below.

I personally do not think we really need a separate area.
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Yardhouse menu:

Cami sends in the following menu, forwarded from her contacts:

http://www.geekbabe.com/dlv/misc/cami033116.pdf
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Border Grill:

Delaney writes:

As it appeared that we were closing in on using the Yard House, I didn't
want to muddy the water - however, it appears that may be less likely.

One option I looked at for other reasons last year was the Border Grill
in Mandalay Bay.

They indicated that they could handle 300 people and would do separate
checks if they knew in advance. This was the result of a phone call late
last Spring - the person who gave this information did go to check with
the manager on duty, but it certainly can't be assumed to be a firm
commitment.

I offer this as a possible back-up, not to put another horse in the
running.
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Annie responds:

Thanks Delaney.

Yes, this may be a good strong possibility if none of the others work
out. We've had smaller groups at Border Grill off and on over the years
with no issues that I am aware of.
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Front money:

Vivian writes:

If a place requires advanced deposit, I can pitch in a grand.
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Celebration thoughts:

Aleta writes:

> I think that for that 5% that are not willing to commit $35 we
> should not base a decision on them. In doing so we are adding a
> condition that will make it virtually impossible to make everyone
> happy and find a suitable location to host the event.

I generally only order food and my tall glass of water with no ice, I'd
probably not spend $35. I would not want anyone to hold the bag on this.
No one should have to make up for anyone else.

> Several other venues in recent years have done things "our way",
> and some of those have given us some of our best turnouts in our
> history.

No one should have to play the gatekeeper.

> I found a nice upstairs room at "Off The Strip Bistro and Bar" that

> The two ladies hosting think that we can order off the menu and those
> that don't dine with us can join us at the bar after dining elsewhere.

I personally hope that everyone could dine together regardless of
whether they order food or not.

> The Tilted Kilt could be another dining option.

I'm not real familiar with the Tilted Kilt but I'm sure it's worth
looking into.

> All of these options have the advantage of being located in the Linq
> complex, which will be in easy walking distance from where many of our
> people will be staying. This is a strong advantage and facilitates a
> good turnout.

I am very much in favor of the Linq area.

> In the alternative, whoever is willing to coordinate the event and
> makes it a prepay collecting the $35 two days in advance, we can go
> that way.

I'm not in favor of prepayment, it's a headache for all concerned and
sometimes people have changes of plans.

> One in particular is that when pressed by venue staff for estimates
> of heads through the door, we do need to estimate on the low side.

Agreed, this is not about impressing anyone. I like to err on the side
of caution.

> What I see as our choices presently are to go back to places we have
> used in the past like Trevi, Bahama Breeze, or Artisian where anyone can

I am fine with returning to Bahama Breeze. They have really taken care
of us over the years. I am absolutely not in favor of the Artisan. I've
found them not to be good at serving large groups in a timely manner. A
bar person was also discourteous to a good friend of mine by refusing
her a glass of water. I must admit before you that Artisan is a non
starter for me. I've had good times at Trevi, check issues aside I would
eat there again.

> I realize that there are some attending DLV that are on fixed incomes
> that can't afford a lot of things. But should the group be penalized

> for that? We can't make everyone happy all of the time so we have to
> try to please the majority of our group and Cami's suggestion does

I've had my share of $300 steak dinners for two, I personally am not to
worried about price. But what is more important to me is to have a large
gathering, I favor a lower price point to bring more people in.

> And $25 is not that much to pay for an evening out.

I think $25 is doable, but not $35, that $10 is a big difference,
especially when holding a guarantee.

> I'm confident enough in this assertion that I would be willing to
> "put my money where my mouth is" and put a reasonable amount of
> my own funds at risk to assure such a spending level.

I would hope no one would have to risk taking a bath on this.

> On a per person basis, one menu selection and two bar drinks can
> easily hit $35.

Given my normal pattern of eating, I usually settle in the $25 range,
I'm not into bar drinks, not my thing.

I'll allow for the possibility of staggered serving, it's understood as
long as the delivery of the food to the tables is in a short span of
time. I had about twenty people at The Prime Rib Loft (Orleans Hotel) a
few years back and the entire group had their food over a span of about
three minutes, and it was absolutely accurate. They didn't even break a
sweat. It can be done.

> I do agree with Annie though that I may want the option of
> circulating with a bevvie instead of sitting and eating.

I like making the rounds.

> If Cami's meeting with the Yardhouse management relates that we have
> to pay even if we don't dine then let's think about the German place

I like Hofbrauhaus but let's try to be in the back room, the front room
is just too loud.

> (Bonito Michochan) on Decatur and they did split checks for 40,

I am fine with Bonito Michoacan, I've eaten at their sister place on
East Desert Inn. I'd be willing to try this Sergio's Italian Gardens.
But would this be hard for most people to travel to? Of course for me,
there's Uber/Lyft.
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Venue comments:

Sandy writes:

Sandy is in Vegas now

I have enjoyed PF Changs and Bahama Breeze fun times.

Sounds like The Yard House might be nice addition to the Venue.
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Administrivia:

This is the Diva Las Vegas 2016 organizational list.

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Diva Las Vegas 2016
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Received on Fri Jan 29 2016 - 06:57:05 CST