Calamari

BTW - the MIL does not speak any English. I am counting on everyone who does not already speak Italian to learn at least a couple of phrases...this should be funny. She has a terrific sense of humor!

joy

The 28th is fine for me. There'll be two of us.
Joy

Jocelyn_P

"We had a blast, but Marilyn did a lot of work to make it happen."

Easytraveler, I appreciate your input, but I'm just not willing to go the extra mile. If someone else would like to talk to Marilyn and find out ways to maximize the number of attendees, please go ahead. Or if an LA/OC Fodorite wants to arrange another GTG up north and put more planning into it, that's great. I will follow the thread and make arrangements at the restaurant, but life has been rather unpredictable for us lately and I'd hate to take on a project and not be able to follow through. The 28th seems to be working out well anyways. As far as the venue goes, we're all never going to be able to agree. Jake's has good food in a pretty setting--all you really need, right? Calamari, I look forward to meeting you and your MIL! I'll brush up on my meager Italian. kmoncrief? Treesa? Who else can make it?

kmoncrief

Gary and I will be there,I think we can mangage a phrase or two!..see you then...

Karen

Treesa

Jocelyn:
Count me in. Alan will probably tag along so it'll be two of us. The 28th is fine. Jake's fine unless Calamari prefers Il Fornaio or Sbicca's? There's also a lovely Italian restaurant in Cardiff called Positano. Had a nice dinner there a couple of weeks ago. I speak a little bit of "tourist" Italian and I'll brush up on my vocabulary prior to meeting the MIL. It'll be fun...

maitaitom

Tom and Tracy are a yes. How are the mai tais at this restaurant?

Jocelyn_P

Tom, I assume the mai tais are pretty darned good considering they serve a lot of Hawaiian/Pacific Rim inspired food. But, this was Calamari's idea, and with the Italian MIL it might be more fun to go Italian. I'm not very familiar with the restaurants up in North County...Treesa had some suggestions...up to you, Calamari. If we're going to change, though, let's do it quickly and stick with it to avoid further confusion.

maitaitom

I am easily changeable to Chianti and Brunello from mai tais. Italian sounds great. Stay tuned.

Marilyn

Did somebody call my name? Contrary to popular belief, I actually do have a life outside fodors!

Anyway, easytraveler is very kind, but in truth, asking for input on the date was NOT a good idea! After a million emails, there wasn't a strong consensus anyway. Also, a lot of the organizational work stemmed from the potluck structure -- I wanted to have a well-balanced menu.

So just picking a date and a restaurant will save you a lot of trouble. I think what you want to do now is create a new post (without question marks) announcing the GTG time and place, and then keep it topped. You might want to post it on some of the other boards as well, especially US.

Have a great time, and remember, we want to see photos!!

SeaUrchin

I think Jakes sounds good, mai tais might be good for MIL and it is the furtherest north for the people from LA, isn't it?

Art

When I hosted the first 4 So Cal GTG's I used "EVITE" to organize it. That way you can keep in touch with everyone.

On Another issue, if anyone is coming through Long Beach and is willing to put a wheel chair in and out of the car trunk and the restaurant is wheel chair accessible, I would like to join you all.

I also have a email list of all who have attended earlier GTG's.

Jocelyn_P

Okay, I just called Jake's and they only accept parties of 10 or less. So Jake's is out. North County people, what good restaurants up there have party rooms? I know the Il Fornaio (sorry mai tai) in Coronado does--how about Del Mar? We need to make sure the party room is wheelchair accessible. We could even go a little farther north. I know there are some good Italian places in Encinitas, but all the ones I've been to seem pretty small. I see from their website that Sbicca's can accomodate large parties, but it's American food.

Art, I would love that list of email addresses. My email is [email protected]
I will also check out evite.

Marilyn, thank you so much for your input. Once we decide on a restaurant I'll post a new message. Can you come down?

Who's coming through Long Beach?

Jocelyn_P

I answered my own question (amazing what a little research does!): Il Fornaio Del Mar does have party rooms, for 10, 40, or 100. So that's an option, no matter how big this party gets. What else should I look into?

Marilyn

Thanks for the invitation, Jocelyn! I would really love to meet you all, but it's unlikely that I will find myself in southern Ca in the immediate future.

On the other hand, we are likely to make some additional trips down during this year, so maybe fate will work in our favor.

maitaitom

Here is a place I called. It can take 20, 30, 40 even 50. I have no idea if it is good, but it is in So. Orange County, making it easy on most. If you know about it, what do you think?
Ti Amo
Address: 31727 S. Coast Hwy.,
Laguna Beach, CA, USA
Phone: 949/499-5350
Price range: $12 to $22
Cuisine: Italian
Review from Fodor's I think:
A romantic setting and creative Mediterranean cuisine have earned this place acclaim. Try the seared ahi with a sesame-seed crust. All the nooks and crannies are charming, candlelit, and private, but to maximize romance, request a table in the enclosed garden in back. AE, D, DC, MC, V.

Jocelyn_P

Maitai,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I'm afraid if it's up in OC I'm out. We can still do two GTGs--one in SD and one in LA or OC.

maitaitom

Are you sure you people really travel? All these places are within 90 minutes of most everywhere we live in So. California.

OK. This is my final attempt. In Carlsbad (only 90 minutes from Pasadena), we had dinner with friends at a nice French restaurant (I am an equal opportunity diner as you can see).

It is called Le Passage in downtown Carlsbad.

This is from their website:
Located in the Heart of Carlsbad Village, Le Passage evokes images of Parisian Streets.
Quaint and unpretentious, the restaurant has a small dining room that resembles a tinsel town set where Parisian lovers might come in from the rain. It is all faux, rustic with stone floors and the prerequisite accordion and Edith Piaf music playing in the background. Le Passage's most interesting architectural feature, though, is the yawning space through which all the kitchen activity can be observed. The menu features lighter fare and innovative French cuisine inspired by the restaurant's proximity to the surrounding beach communities.

Another feature of Le Passage is the beautiful tree shaded garden patio. Together this makes Le Passage the perfect setting for a romantic dinner, birthday celebration, wedding reception or even a corporate lunch.

Le Passage
2961 State Street
Carlsbad, CA 92008
Tel: (760) 729-7097

The patio was nice, the food was terrific and the service courteous. They are not open tonight, so I don't know their limit, but I would guess we could get a group of 30 on the patio. This is it for me and my restaurant search. Calamari or Jocelyn, it is in your capable hands now.

rialtogrl

Can't make it on the 28th, but if anyone wants to meet in San Diego for a drink sometime (little Italy, downtown, whereever) to talk about traveling, email me at [email protected].

I'll watch for the next biggie!

Jocelyn_P

maitai,

Sorry if I'm being a stick-in-the-mud; lots of events here at home prohibit me from straying too far until my husband is done with his current job. Day of freedom = April 9. Then it's party time!

Le Passage sounds great. I will call them tomorrow to confirm space availability, and if it's a go, unless I hear otherwise I'm making an executive decision and starting a new post with Le Passage as our designated meeting place. Thanks mai tai!

Budman

Please, you've set a date & changed it. OK. New date 28 Feb.

Now, finalize the place. Il Fornaio Del Mar. OK.

Those of you who can't make it -- maybe next time. You will be missed. Sorry.

Those of you who can make it -- It's Party Time!!!!

Now, R.S.V.P.