Hurrah, Patrick. Good thinking. Happy to go along with whatever you decide. Whatever makes mingling easiest is good. Wonder if we could get a private room and mostly order appetizers to share, though that doesn't lend itself easily to this separate checks business. Whatever, the comaraderie and conversation is thing. This should be great fun. Very happy to help if there's anything I can do. JmVikmanis

Now that we have a date and time - will everyone who can attend let me know? themayberrys at earthlink dot net

Can some of switch dates so more can attend. Sounds like some will be gone to do something else. There are some others on the east coast where we are who might want to attend too. We'd need a motel or hotel idea.

What do you do during these get togethers.

I'll be transferring from Jersey to Tampa in August.

Give me some more info about your groups and what the common goal is of your organization.

I might be interested in finding a travel group to get involved with

Mark

I dont have a hard clue actually, but I think its generally to have a meal and a few drinks and even look at travel pictures. People also want to meet fellow psoters, I believe. At least thats what others who posted about GTG have said, or so I've been told.

Haven't worked out the specifics yet. The pavilion at Cambier or Lowdermilk Parks isn't so great -- as suspected --no alcohol. What would a Fodorite gathering be without a little vino?

Several restaurants I thought of with party rooms or an area are all closed on Saturday noon. But two people have suggested Beau's at the Holiday Inn. I spoke to the manager and will stop by there later today. They have a room for up to about 40 people, looks out to the pool area, tropical decor. This is a recent take-over of the restaurant there which has gotten some pretty good reviews. They're very open to doing separate checks. Just order drinks, just appetizers, sit and get a sandwich or meal, whatever.

Comments?

Author: Patrick
Date: 01/09/2004, 03:03 pm
Message: OK, new plan. I just stopped and talked to Phil McCabe, owner of the Inn on Fifth and McCabe's Irish Pub. This place is right on the plaza on Fifth Avenue (at the Sugden Theatre). They have a room facing the plaza that holds up to about 25, which also opens up to the outside where they can set tables as well. We can mingle, do drinks, sit for food, whatever, and they'll just do separate checks. Menu ranges from entree salads that are very popular at $8.95 and $9.95, to sandwiches from $ 6.95 to $8.95, fish and chips at $ 9.95, corned beef and cabbage at $8.50, and a range of pastas or individual pizzas. Guinness and other beers on tap, full bar, nice wine selections. Casual atmosphere. Depending on the number of people, they'll keep enough of the terrace area on the plaza open to accomodate us. They remain open all Saturday afternoon so we can meet at 2 and order food whenever.

There is a big free parking garage across the plaza by the theatre. And we'll be right in the middle of Fifth Avenue for those who want to stroll and shop before or after (or get a gelato at Starplace.)

Ah, you can check it out a little more at www.mccabesirishpub.com

Turn your volume down first!

Patrick, it looks like a fun place. Thanks for considering what would work and finding a place that fills the bill. Seems like everyone will feel comfortable with this choice.

Sounds perfect. everyone can do what they want but we'll get plenty of ambiance and opportunity to talk. I'm in for sure. Thanks Patrick and parisonmymind for working this out. I'll post one more message on this board and on the US board about the get together in Naples, so that we might pick up a few who stopped following the Tampa thread(s).

Ooops, I beat you to those two additional posts here and on the US board. I'd hate to think we have some Neapolitans (yep, that's what we're called) or someone from Ft. Myers (are you out there LilMsFoodie?) who might miss the whole thing because they weren't following the Tampa threads.

By the way, I did a little checking hotel wise for those who might want to stay over. You can always call and try to get special rates -- well, isn't that like preaching to the choir? But the Inn on Fifth (thought that would be convenient) shows $250 a night. Ouch! The Holiday Inn on 41 about a half mile or so from Fifth Avenue shows rates of $83.30. The very nice Trianon in Olde Naples shows $ 155. I was surprised that the Comfort Inn and Marina near downtown shows a lowest of $ 125, and the Fairfield Inn, a little further away is $ 149. Welcome to Naples in season! Actually some of those rates go up the next day -- January is a little less for some than Feb through March.