Wow. I hope to be posting #200. That's right, 200 postings about dinner arrangements in San Fran. This IS going to be fun!

valerie: Are you certain you want to join this mad, mad crowd? :)

iamq: I have permission from Shanghainse to dance on the table. Why don't you join me, after you have had gullet-fulls of vodka? We could do the Cossack dance together with Faina as instructor.

Mels: we have to get together on the wine! Besides the bastardo, which we have to discount because it may have turned to vinegar by now - are we going to have champagne or white wine? Please not everyone chipping in at the same time over which wine to select \:D/

So what's the head count? When was your last San Francisco GTG by the way?

Thanks for setting this up Shanghainese!

iamq: I'd never do that to you! I have the duty to maintain civil order so we don't get declared "personea non gratea" from the restaurant.

Katie: Are you coming?! I believe you'll be number 15, I'm starting a separate post for RSVP/head count middle of next week.

As far as GTGs go, different Fodorites organize different events, some large some small, my last one in SF was with easytraveler 3/31 on a mission to find the best xiao long bao in SF. She posted a TR which lead to this GTG.

I know some of the attendees prefer white wine over red. I love champagne, but will go for anything as I don't really drink. Just to keep IAMQ company :))

Katie: we don't have regular get-togethers, they can be anything from 2 Fodorites spending a day together to a big meeting like this one, when an out-of-towner is visiting.

Hmmm... how many out-of-towners are visiting? Melissa, Paula. Most of others are not really locals. To think of it, I'll be the only one living in the city? Heeeeeeeeeellllllllpppppppppppppp :))

"Invasion of the Out-Of-towners"

ranks right up there with

"Invasion of the Killer Tomatoes"

as one of the all time great movies! :)

Katie: You'll have to come!

If you're monitoring all these crazy threads on Fodors, you must be in as crazed a mood as we are at the end of a day!

Crazed? Hmm... ginger green tea does a nice job of helping me get through my day.
~o)

I've been around for awhile and the GTGs and mini-GTGs always interest me. Taking the virtual life offline! It just sounds neat and reminds me (not that I need reminding but!) that behind all of these screen names are real people. LOL.. I make it sound so dramatic--but you know what I mean right?

Real people? REAL??

ET, are you for real? :))

Katie, if you want to "see" some of us, there are pictures from the earlier GTGs on WorldIsRound... now, who has the links?

some links are in this thread

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34454369

I keep looking :)

here is the GTG in Yountville:


http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34963858

OK, I'm exhausted. Can't even spell :) Need to work some to relax!

"Real people1 REAL??

ET: are you for real?"

Huh? Someone hit me over the head with something, but

Where does it discuss "real" ?

and WHADDA I SAY?! :((

Speaking of meeting "real" people....mcnyc just came through Honolulu on a cruise ship. On the day her boat arrived, I waited at our guest services kiosk in case she happened to come by to ask for me. Well, at about 330 in the afternoon, a gal came to the kiosk and asked for coupons and was looking for maps and stuff. We gave her what we had. Our eyes locked, but I wasn't sure if I should ask if she knew M___ C___ on the ship.

Well, it turns out, a few emails later, it was HER! And she said that when she saw me, she thought of asking if I was Melissa. We're both kicking ourselves for not asking the other if we were a fodorite. You KNOW a fodorite when you see them.

Katie, is it possible to get Fodor luggage tags for this? Or are we luggage tagged-out?

I can certainly look into it.

Shanghainese... could you please email me at [email protected] when you have a chance so I'll have a contact--could you include a rough number's estimate too?

Sounds like a good time. I was in San Francisco that same week last year and it was gorgeous. The same weekend I went up to Yosemite and it snowed. I'm not joking--just one of the many reasons I love Northern California--crazy weather!

Katie:

Sent you an e-mail. Are you coming?

I just checked weather.com but I wanted to get a more accurate reading from you: What's the weather like in SF right now....what should I expect to pack?

62 right now but it was 78 on Mon. Pack layers, short/long sleeve Ts, a twin set, sweater, cardigan and jacket. Jeans, khakis & black slacks.

In the morning, around 8 am, standing on a bus stop, I felt sorry I didn't have a windbreaker. Now, at lunch, unbuttoned my cardigan. Not exactly t-shirt weather, but close.

Layers, layers :)

I have added "frog sushi" to my short list of "things I won't eat." Seriously, there are a few things I won't eat!

http://tinyurl.com/olxje

Oh, this is that bold (or should I say bald :)) ) man from the Travel Channel, he goes to different coutries and eats all that's offered, live or dead, cooked or raw. Eeeewww...

OMG, I think I'm going to puke! :& b(

I'm getting nervous about eating with you, Melissa! I think it's time to check out the menu for our LA GTG. McDonald's is sounding mighty fine. Last I heard there were no frogs served there, lol!

Do they allow any outside food at McD? :))

now, now! Raw frog is one of the things I *won't* eat. Organ meats are OK, but not while they're still pumping.
;)

This is beginning to sound more and more like one of those "Survivors Goes to Exotic Island and Have to Find Their Own Food" episodes! <):)

I'm having steak tonight, don't know about the rest of you...

Katie-

I wish you had been at the Pasadena GTG- We were as real as it gets, and you would have been amazed at what this forum has spawned. Fodors should be proud!

Well, okay, some of us might be a little hard to be proud of, but overall it was truly awesome to realize that the 30 or so Fodorites at that gathering had all started as imaginary friends!

PS: If you have a Pasadena book in the works, make sure you hire Guenmai to write it!

Might there someday be a Fodor's sponsored GTG? perhaps some of the businesses that have been consistently recommended as "favorites" here might even help put it on....Kimpton's 5th Avenue Suites(now Monaco Hotel) in Portland Oregon comes to mind, as well as SJ International Jewelry in Bangkok!

Lcuy... I have thought of what a Fodor's sponsored GTG might look like. Everybody's homegrown versions seem to be so much fun (judging by the photos). I'll definitely file that in my brain though!

Glad to hear that the Pasadena GTG was such a success. I apologize if we didn't get any Fodor's fun items your way for that event. Do you guys have photos up?

Kathie, Myspace has their own versions of "sponsored GTGs" in various cities. I think it might work for Fodors, except not at a nightclub! Let's chat if I see you at this GTG; otherwise I'll email you when I get home from this fab trip.

"except not at a nightclub" - Melissa, we'll discuss it with you next week! [-X

Please check it -- just started a new post for RSVPs, sooo excited to see you all!!

Oh how I wish we could be there to celebrate our 15 years together.

Alas. life is bigger than us right now and we have life to tend to.

Oh but the chance to sample the wild side of Shanghai House with wonderful people. You will be in our hearts and mind!

What fun!!!!!!!

Hi! I just found this thread (addicted to Europe section). Is it too late to include me? Thanks.

Never too late! RSVP here for the best convenience:

http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=34999475