I thought the restaurant had several features that made the GTG "work" so well.

1. We sat at 3 large round tables - each table accommodating about 10 people. This made dinner conversation quite easy - you could converse with everyone at the table. At the earlier GTG in North Beach, we sat at banquet tables. I was only able to engage in conversation with about 5 people.

2. The restaurant was huge and quite empty. This made it easy to wander around & get to meet all the people before dinner. We were also able to act crazy without disturbing others. At group picture time, we took pics at several venues - again without bothering anyone.

3. The food & service was very good. Our table ordered everything "mild", and that was the way they prepared it. We could argue whether the food was better at the earlier restaurant in North Beach, but at Hunan our table ordered 2 or 3 orders of the appetizer that everyone seemed to recommend, then 3-4 different entres, and rice. It was put on the lazy susan in the center of the round table and we all shared. When it was time to pay the bill, we just divided the total by the number of people sitting at the table (about 6 at our table) and that was it. It was $17 each. If anyone wanted wine, beer, etc, they ordered it from the bar. As I remember from North Beach, we all had to remember what we specifically ordered and then chip in that much. When Shanghainese (I think) collected the $$$ and then put the bill on her Credit Card so she could get the miles (nice maneuver - so that's how you paid for your trip to China this week) I think she was short about $20 or so - so we had to chip in again.

On the next GTG, I think we should try to find a place that offers the same features.

Stu Dudley

This is the list of participants, sorry

Abranz
Cat(Mrs)
Framboise
Giovanna and Mr Gio
Kal Kahuna
LindaL
LoveItaly
Ncounty
Patrick and Lee
Paula
P_M
Ronda and Dan
Shanghainese
Stu Dudley
ThereYet
ToedToes

And if you wonder who is who... on the ToedToes picture of the whole group with Abranz sitting holding Fodor's folder, Framboise is holding the bread lobster, Ronda, Loveitaly, Shanghainese.

Standing left to right: Mr and Mrs Giovanna, Mr Ronda, Cat, Kal, Faina, LindaL, Lee, P_M, Patrick, Paula, Stu_Dudley, ThereYet.

"On the next GTG, I think we should try to find a place that offers the same features." - yes, yes, and yes!!

Thanks faina, but what does the bushman do that he frightens some????

He camoflauges (sp?) himself with branches from a bush then jumps out at you as you walk past. :-O

By the way, we all were really lucky with the weather, the next weekend will be cool and rainy.

Just chiming in to say what a wonderful time I had!

Faina, thank you for putting this all together!!! Please let me know when You might be down in the Los Angeles area so we can reciprocate!

Thereyet, thank you for picking such a perfect place for a GTG! It really worked so well, we could all move around and talk and just have a great time. Ohyeah, and the food was fantastic. Loved the peanut sauce, though I had a hard time just putting it on the delicious meat pies!

Ncounty, thanks for sharing the room and getting up early and exploring! I can hardly wait to get back!

And I definitely have someone's sunglasses, but I don't know whose. If anyone is missing a pair, email me at my screen name and I'll mail them to you.

Also, is there anyone who is conveniently close to the Columbus hotel (great hotel, btw, thank you Neo, for suggesting it!)? I left something there and they will hold them but won't mail them to me.

And as soon as I figure out how to post pictures, I have a few, but not nearly as many as I would like. Too busy talking, I guess!

Hello to all my new friends! What a lovely evening spent with such lovely people.

A big thank you to Faina and Thereyet for organizing this successful GTG. What a beautiful debut for a real newbie - I have GraceJoan in the France thread to thank for that.

Also a big thank you to Toedtoes for the lovely pictures. I love the ones takenin the bay cruise. San Francisco is especially beautiful that afternoon with the warm weather and hardly any wind which is quite unusual! So good to treat our out-of-towner friends to some lovely weather.

And to Katie, our editor - The blue luggage tag will be a nice addition to my burgundy bag - the orange tote will help my family not to lose me anymore, anywhere........ The new guidebook on Peru will be enjoyed until they can find something to help with the altitude problem, it will be used on the couch but will be thoroughly enjoyed nonetheless.

Yes, NorthCounty, where were you hiding when the pictures were taken. Someone moved when I was taking yours so it turned out too fuzzy!

I loved meeting you all:

Abranz
Cat(Mrs)
Faina
Giovanna and Mr Gio
Kal Kahuna
LindaL
LoveItaly
Ncounty
Patrick and Lee
Paula
P_M
Ronda and Dan
Shanghainese
Stu Dudley
ThereYet
ToedToes

Did I miss anyone? Three lashes for me if I did!!!

Framboise

Just wanted to add to everyone else's posts about the wonderful GTG.

Faina-Thank you for putting this together and thereyet for picking the restaurant. The food was good and not even that spicy. I really liked that we could move around and talk with everyone. The price was right and the company excellent. We definitely need to find someplace like this for future GTG's. So much better than sitting at a long table where you can only talk to a couple of people.

It was great to see everyone I had meet previously and of course to meet new Fodorites. Toedtoes, thanks for posting the pictures so quickly. I took quite a few and I will try to get them on-line soon.

I really had a wonderful weekend from the boatride around the Bay to walking around The Ferry Building's Farmers Market with P_M and Faina.

P-M, I am sorry it was so foggy on Sunday but I am glad you got to see the Golden Gate Bridge so clearly on our cruise.

Patrick and Lee-Glad that you ended up with good seats all the way home even though you had to deal with a big delay.

Kal-We missed you at breakfast-couldn't find the restaurant, yeah, right!!

Shanghainese-Hope you enjoy your trip to China. LindaL-Thanks for the ride to Faina's.

Thanks also to everyone's advice about using BART from Oakland Airport. It was easy and I had no problems. Thereyet-I walked off BART at the Coliseum Stop and went straight onto the Air Bart bus. So no problems even though it was evening and yes there were lots of people around.

I know that this is one So. Cal Fodorite who will be attending the next SF GTG whenever that might be.

Oh yes and when the Bushman jumped out at us, I think I yelled the loudest. Then we wanted a tip from us. I looked at him like he was crazy. LoveItaly-I am with you at the Bushman-really don't think he's funny. More annoying than anything!

Paula, I'm glad you made it through BART ok on Saturday night. I am really glad you were there with me at the airport when we arrived or I might not have made it!

cat-Sounds like you had an easy time getting back to the airport. Now that we know how convenient BART is, I have no problem using it.

I was a little worried about it being evening but I didn't have to wait at all for the bus and there were people everywhere. It might be a little different if it was 11 pm but fine at 7pm.

I had lots of fun with you and ncounty. Thanks for letting me use your room to change.

What was the boat tour you all took out in San Francisco Bay?

Red and White cruises from Pier 39 1/2, the one hour bay cruise.

Does that go outside the Golden Gate bridge?
You all had perfect weather to be out on the water.

Yes, just under and beyond the bridge then returns and circles around Alcatraz.

Thank you Patrick

Actually, I believe it's Pier 43-1/2.

Duh. Yes, you're right. I had 39 1/2 in my head because that's where the Amtrak shuttle dropped us. Andrew, it's right behind the big Boudin Sourdough building.

>> I left something there and they will hold them but won't mail them to me.<<

Cat

I may go into The City tomorrow for lunch at Tadich. Give me the details & I'll try to pick up whatever you left behind.

E-mail me at [email protected]

Stu Dudley