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anyone else?

Have a wonderful time! Wish I could be there! We'll be expecting a full report soon, with photos.

Count me in. I will be bringing Art Hussey so that makes 2 more. Really looking forward to meeting everyone. Karen, I have e-mailed a RSVP to your home. Thanks so much for providing your home. Nancy

Next weekend, all!

Where did you decide to hold it?

At Karen (kmoncrief)'s house in La Jolla. Are you in the area? If so, email Karen at [email protected] and she can give you directions.

Thanks, Jocelyn, but I'm going to have to pass. I am in L.A., but can't make it to La Jolla. I hope you all have a fantastic time and report on all the fun!

I will not be able to make it after all. We are taking the MIL to L.A. for the weekend. Have a Wonderful time!

Art and Nancy!

Have a great time! You left coasters know how to do IT!

Wow, this sounds like a fun *soiree*! I'd love to attend but 1) I don't live in L.A. anymore, and 2) I'll be in Paris this Saturday. But y'all have a great time!

BTW, I must say I'm quite surprised and also impressed by the hostess's generosity toward online strangers. I must not get out of the house much (wait...I think I do...), but I've never heard of this before!

We have had several GTG's in So Cal. I have hosted 4 of them at my home in the past3 years. I've not had any problems and they have always been fun.

I noticed that no one has reported on the party last night so I'll start...I'm not a good candidate to write a full GTG report as I left while the night was still young--hopefully someone else will fill in the blanks.

First and foremost, thanks to Karen and Gary for opening their beautiful home to a bunch of strangers! What a great venue for this event.

There were about 20-25 people there by my guesstimate. Everyone brought delicious food and great wine (a generous soul even brought an Amarone--thanks to whoever that was!).

It was such a treat to meet Karen (kmoncrief), maitaitom (and Tracy), Joy, Art, Treesa, Irit, and so many others that I've been chatting with here as well as friends of Karen's.

Art brought several photo albums that many fellow travelers enjoyed. Art has so many great experiences to share and I look forward to hearing about his upcoming trips.

Calamari, we missed you! I hope you had a good time in LA but we sure wish you and your MIL could have joined us.

I didn't see anyone taking pictures, sorry.

I second Jocelyn P's comments. Thanks to Karen-- you and Gary's hospitality was so appreciated. Your home is beautiful. Enjoyed meeting all your San Diego area friends and exchanging travel tips. A great GTG. Sounds like you have a fantastic trip planned for this spring. FYI Fodorites-- Maitaitom is just as humorous in person. Diane.

ttt

The SoCals have always been camera-shy :)

I would be more than happy to post any that were taken on the fodorite page -- just send them to me at [email protected]

And I wasn't able to go. And I had planned to take my camera.

Jocelyn, would you email me directly, please? [email protected]. I'm registering my daughter with the regional center and I wondered if you might have any input.

Thanks to all of you who came! It was fun to meet and place faces with names.

message to singlegazz!!! Yes you must get out more often! I met Gary my husband on Matchmaker.com so inviting online Fodorites seemed so natural!

Looking forward to hearing about your trip Jocelyn,and thanks Tom for the info,very funny.I am copying it for the 'Sienna Seven',actually we did become eight but havent changed it!
Let us know when you guys are down this way again...

Thanks again to all for coming...Karen

By the way, Karen, the Venice restaurant we'd talked about is Cantinone Storico. If you run a search here you'll find directions.

Thanks again!

Karen and Gary: Thank you for having us over. It was a lovely evening. I think we should change our name to "Foodorites" instead. Can you guys believe the tiramisu provided by Maitaitom and Tracy? Thanks again to Karen, Gary, Karen's lovely daughter, Karen's delightful Mum. Loved chatting with Art, Diane, Nancy, Laurie, Jocelyn, Maitaitom and Tracy. I really wanted to chat with everybody but somehow the evening went by so fast... Next time we should have one of those "progressive" type of affairs, where you change seats and have a chance to mingle and meet everyone.

Thanks Karen for a great evening of Fodor-talk. It was fun meeting some of the "gang". By the way, the food was great, but I searched and could not find any Calamari.

Jocelyn, glad you liked the Amarone. It has become one of my favorite vinos since our visit to Italy last Fall. Hope you and your husband have a good move and enjoy living on Tulsa Time.

Diane, thanks for the comment. I think I'm funnier to people after they get a little "wined up."

About those pictures. You'd think as the "beautiful people" of So. Cal, we would relish the spotlight. Well, there is always a possibility of a GTG next year. Lights. Camera. Action.

Karen, I hope you and The Siena "Seven" have a wonderful time in Italia and drink plenty of Chianti. I'll see you guys on one of my Padre or Aztec trips to SD. Thanks again for the great time and hospitality, and I hope to see more Fodorites at a future event.
((H))

" Can you guys believe the tiramisu provided by Maitaitom and Tracy?"

Thanks Treesa. It was fun to meet you. The big thank you for the Tiramisu should go to Porto's Bakery in Glendale who make the best cakes and bread. I have never bought anything there that has been disappointing. If you live in the area and don't mind waiting in a long line (it is always packed), it's a fantastic place to pick up a dessert for a dinner party.
((H))

Hey, people, where are your pictures? We posted ours from SF get-together, now it's your turn!

sorry!!! No one had a camera! Next time....

Hi I am fairly new to this site and would like information on what these get togethers are about. I live in the San Fernando Valley.

Sounds like a great time! I am so sorry I missed it! L.A. was not worth missing the party for, but it was not up to me. My MIL just left after three great weeks! We miss her already, but she will be back next year. Perhaps in time for the next So. Cal Foders soiree. I thought Maitai was not going to make it! Anyone thinking of planning another So. Cal event soon?

Thanks so much Karen and Gary for hosting the GTG. I enjoyed seeing old faces and meeting new ones. Thanks also Gary for helping with my chair.

Didn't anyone bring a camera??

I was going to take my camera...had it all laid out...but, at the last minute, I wasn't able to go

I am sorry I had to miss the soiree too, I had to work at the last minute.

What were some of the highlites?

I gave a quick synopsis about 20 posts up on this thread; other attendees please feel free to expand!