2012 NYC Dinner Thread

[barrysloate]

At post #29 I listed four choices- three different dates or a wait until March. Would it make sense to take a vote, and have everybody pick one date that works best, and then tally the votes?

I just don't want to be the guy who picks it, because I know no matter which one I choose I will be leaving somebody out. That's inevitable.

So what do you all say?

1) February 23
2) February 25
3) February 27
4) Mid-March works better

Then when we have a date, we can try to decide on a restaurant. How does that sound? I will start and pick February 23.

[batsballsbases]

This thread always reminds me of the MASH episode when B.J. tries to get all the parents together to meet. And Joe I think your way low I feel a 400+plusser coming.

[margoaepi]

I will try to make any of them work. Depending on people's preferences, a great place for a group dinner is Francisco's Centro Vasco on 23rd.

[bijoem]

Originally Posted by batsballsbases

This thread always reminds me of the MASH episode when B.J. tries to get all the parents together to meet. And Joe I think your way low I feel a 400+plusser coming.

Al - you may be right!


Barry..... I think you were a bit optimistic with the title of your thread.
Please change it to 2013 NYC Dinner Thread.

[barrysloate]

Josh- it might be beter to pick one, and if your date doesn't win, it will still be assumed that you will be able to attend anyway. Unless of course somebody else wants to suggest a better method.

Or we could form a committee.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by bijoem

Al - you may be right!


Barry..... I think you were a bit optimistic with the title of your thread.
Please change it to 2013 NYC Dinner Thread.

Okay, maybe somebody else should do this. Should I just pick a date? I can, but it doesn't seem fair.

[bijoem]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

Okay, maybe somebody else should do this. Should I just pick a date? I can, but it doesn't seem fair.

yes Barry. you should just pick a date.
whoever can make it will, whoever can't won't.

you'll never get a unanimous decision on the board.


Its easiest if you pick a date and let the chips fall where they may.
Pick the restaurant too!

[barrysloate]

I'm going with Joe's idea.

Let's do the dinner on Thursday, February 23 at 6:30 PM. That's my pick.

As far as where we go, I eat pretty much anything so I will take suggestions. Mid-town Manhattan makes sense but it can be elsewhere. Preferably something moderately priced if such a restaurant exists. Please make your suggestions.

[MVSNYC]

atta boy, Barry!

if you remember, i used to be the one who organized these things...not as easy as it looked, right?

i'm in for Feb 23.

Joe- remember Southern Hospitality? that could work...it's a rather upscale BBQ joint in Hell's Kitchen. great food, reasonably priced, cool atmosphere. this could be a good spot, assuming they can accomodate the amount of people. here's the link, give them a call.

http://southernhospitalitybbq.com/

[bijoem]

Michael -
I thought the Southern Hospitality food was 'okay' - and if I remember.... kind of noisy / loud?

[MVSNYC]

gotcha Joe, guess you're right. here i was thinking we'd be able to lock up the place just one post after we figured out the date...silly me! ...maybe by post 250, we'll have the place nailed down?

other suggestions (some of which we've been to before, but were good):

Morton's
Spark's
Old Homestead
Fresco by Scotto

I also like PJ Clarkes. if we can get a big table there, will be a fun place to have it, i think.

[bijoem]

Sparks to me was the best food / value we had at one of the NY dinners.

I'm not in love with Mortons or Fresco by Scotto.

I haven't had the other two you have mentioned.


The 'okay' food part I mentioned really is not an issue though IMO -
But it would be good if the place chosen is not too noisy so we can have nice dinner conversation.


edit: PJ Clarkes sounds good to me - especially with your endorsement.

[margoaepi]

If its BBQ people want, then Hill Country will be perfect.

[barrysloate]

I missed the dinner at Sparks and as I recall everyone raved, so why don't we consider that? Michael, I nominate you to make the reservation if you don't mind...but of course we first need a head count.

So far it's Barry, Michael, Joe, and Josh. Who else would like to join us?

[margoaepi]

So I just saw that the time for this dinner is 6:30. I think that anything before 8 is unlikely for me given work. I'm happy to come by mid-dinner and have a cocktail with everyone though.

[barrysloate]

Josh- by all means, please come by later and say hello. As I said, no time works for everybody. We're just going to go with it.

[barrysloate]

This already slipped down to page 2, not a good sign for our NYC dinner. Anybody still interested in doing this, on the date I chose? Or should we start over?

[Leon]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

This already slipped down to page 2, not a good sign for our NYC dinner. Anybody still interested in doing this, on the date I chose? Or should we start over?

I think you need to get Jim Crandall (hi Jim) involved on the decision. That should tighten it up a little bit. .....And maybe Peter Nash and all of his aliases can join ya'll, between his court losses?

[MVSNYC]

Barry- stay strong, brother. same date, same time. we just need a head count, then we'll lock up the place and make a reservation, gotta be decisive setting up these things...right now i think it's between Spark's & PJ Clarke's. but if anyone has another idea, let's here it.

Will John M make it up?, is Lichtman coming? how about some of our NJ peeps- Al C, Rob Lifson, Scott Levy, etc...?

[barrysloate]

Leon- where is Jim C.? He apparently disappeared again.

Michael- I suspect not all those people are going to attend. I'm not going to push it anymore- we need anybody who wants to join us post in this thread and say that he will attend. We need a head count to make a reservation. Hey, no guarantee this will happen beyond our usual gang.

[calvindog]

Mike, I owe you an email; I've had a crazy couple weeks but am free now.

I can't make the dinner on that date but should be free the end of Feb or this week for a dinner.

[wonkaticket]

I can make that...or another most likely if we change....

Cheers,

John

[Michael Peich]

I'll be there on Feb. 23. Thanks, Barry, for putting this together.

Wonka--Call me about going up together.

Cheers, Mike

[barrysloate]

We've slipped to page 2 so I thought I'd give it a bump.

Since I picked the Feb 23 date, we have six confirmed;

Barry S.
Michael S.
Joe D.
John M.
Robert S.
Michael P.

And Josh said he would try to show up after dinner for a drink. Anybody else want to join us? We need a head count to make a reservation.

We still don't have a restaurant but I am going to let someone else pick it. As far as the noise level, I find it almost impossible to hear anybody except the people sitting right next to me. If someone is at the other end of the table, they might as well be in a different restaurant. When it gets too big you have to accept that the noise will win out.

Anyway, this has not been generating much interest. If it slips to page 2 again, I am going to let it slide. So what does everybody say?

[MVSNYC]

maybe we make a reservation for 8 or 10 (for now), just to have something held, then we can add/subtract/change later.

Spark's
PJ Clarke's
?
also- Quality Meats is very good http://qualitymeatsnyc.com/#

Lavo is a fun scene, altho a little pricey http://lavony.com/indextemp.aspx

[barrysloate]

How about a reservation for 8 at either PJ Clarke's or Sparks?

[MVSNYC]

ok, we have a res for 2/23 Thu, 6:30pm at Spark's Steakhouse, for 8 people. (PJ Clarke's doesn't take reservations).

Barry- you're in charge of the head-count. if it changes, let me know and i'll adjust the res. as it gets closer we should just verify that everyone can make it.

http://www.sparkssteakhouse.com/#13287324809341&true

[barrysloate]

Thanks Michael for doing that. I assume we would be fine with between 7-9 people, and if it is more or less then we may need to make a change.

So we have six people confirmed and room for a few more. Everyone is welcome. Please post on this thread if you want to join us.

[judsonhamlin]

Would love to join you guys, but I am starting a trial that week. Damned work...

[VintageBall]

For those who can't make Feb 23rd, let's keep 'em coming and do a few a year, the way we used to.

These dinners are a great excuse to actually leave work at a decent time and you get to talk cards, to-boot!

Judson -- let that trial slide, some to dinner instead...

Robert S

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by judsonhamlin

Would love to join you guys, but I am starting a trial that week. Damned work...

You still have to eat.

[judsonhamlin]

This whole work thing can be really inconvenient sometimes. Next time, though. Have some creamed spinach for me.

[bijoem]

one week to go.

its great to get the NYC dinners back on track.
Looking forward to the conversations (and the steak).

[barrysloate]

So far there are just six of us, and we have a reservation for eight. Anyone expect to be hungry that night?

[ibuysportsephemera]

I would have loved to meet you guys, but I will be away on business. Enjoy...maybe I can make the next one.

Jeff

[barrysloate]

Hey guys- this Thursday February 23 is the night of our Net54 dinner. We will be meeting at:

Spark's Steakhouse
210 East 46th Street
NYC
Reservation: 6:30 PM

So far we have six confirmed: Michael S., Joe, Barry, John, Robert, and Michael P. Any additions or subtractions to that number?

Michael- should we still hold a table for eight, or should we tell them six?

Look forward to reuniting with everyone, and there is still room for a few more but please let us know ASAP.

[MVSNYC]

hi barry- let's keep it at 8 for now...if come wed we're still only 6, we'll change the res.

[Rob D.]

nm

[Bicem]

Originally Posted by Rob D.

nm

Bruce joke?

[barrysloate]

I just got an email from Keith Thompson, and he would like to join us. So we now have a head count of seven, assuming everyone else is in.

[VintageBall]

I'm still in...

Robert S

[Michael Peich]

Hi Barry,

I'm in and looking forward to tomorrow evening, although I don't relish the drive back to PA.

Cheers, Mike

[barrysloate]

Look forward to meeting you Michael. No, I wouldn't relish the drive into NY or back to PA....you are a trouper. Are you coming down with John?

[Michael Peich]

Barry--I just talked with John and we'll be there in the Wonka-mobile. See you tomorrow.

Cheers, Mike

[barrysloate]

A Wonka-mobile....cool

[Jaybird]

[MVSNYC]

i will call Spark's tonight. just to confirm we are officially at 7 people? if that's the case, i'll adjust the res to 7 (down from 8).

[margoaepi]

So I likely will be stuck at work, but in the off chance that I can make it up there for a drink, what name will the reservation be under?

[MVSNYC]

Sarno

[barrysloate]

I plan to get there a little early- around 6:00 or 6:15, hope I won't be the only one. See everyone tonight!