305 replies to this topic

[Chris Hennes]

I can't imagine the potluck being a problem.

Just a note to clarify that, while we may refer to it as a "potluck," it's not a buffet-type potluck, it's a multi-course plated meal lasting several hours (or at least, it has been every year that I've gone). This eases the requirement that the kitchen be able to accommodate all the cooks, since there is downtime between the courses... sometimes a LOT of downtime, depending on the cook

[boagman]

Frankly, I would much rather you not attend the Saturday meal than have a parent not attend because they need (or want (gasp!)) to bring their child.

I accept your terms.

[KatieLoeb]

Great article to get you all geared up for your visit.

10 Reasons to Visit Philadelphia

We'll be hitting at least a few of those highlights on our tour...

[KatieLoeb]

And another recent short on our fine drinking establishments.

Philly After Dark Bars

The first place is where I'm slinging these days, but that's a fairly comprehensive list of the better bars in town.

[white lotus]

Greeting, wl here, sorry to break the zen-like silence but I have an inquiry and/or request. I will be in Philadelphia briefly around Memorial Day weekend with a car that my daughter has been driving across country. We will need a long term place for the car to reside for a few months until the great gathering in August @ which time we will return to retrieve it & continue on our car trip back to the Pacific NW. Any good suggestions as to a good temporary home in the area, hopefully in a secured location with nice people. It would make a great back-up or second vehicle to use for who ever volunteers to look after it. It even has GPS & satellite radio which we would keep activated for the duration...cheers

[KatieLoeb]

Here's your problem. Parking anywhere within the boundaries of Center City is generally timed for 2 hour intervals with either a meter or with a resident sticker for whatever "zone" your address falls within. You'll get a parking ticket EVERY SINGLE DAY until the city "boots" your car and then tows it off and starts charging you storage fees in addition to the ransom you'll have to pay to get it back. Unless someone in the suburbs has a driveway or secure street parking that won't label your car as "abandoned" and have it towed in that municipality, you're better off either leaving it somewhere else or renting a monthly space at a garage somewhere here for the duration. The Philadelphia Parking Authority is the most profitable agency of its type in the world. Other countries send their executives here to see how they do it. There are television programs about it. You do not want to mess with the PPA. You will lose. It's really that simple.

[Holly Moore]

Your simplest option might be long term parking at the Philadelphia Airport or one of the privately run parking lots with valet service around the airport. Easy rail transport to/from the airport. Less expensive than Center City.

[white lotus]

Driving to Philadelphia & flying back for Heartland in August sounded like a good idea @ the time but perhaps it might be best to just continue this car trip on through to the Pacific NW. Thanks for your thoughtful feedback. By the time we get home to Seattle, it may not make much sense for us nor will be have to energy to fly back for the gathering. Dance, Masumi & I were really looking forward to joining you for the festivities. I especially am heart broken @ not being able to see old friends, make or drink tea with you all. I send you love & good thought, cheers wl

[David Ross]

I'm going to have to cancel coming this year. My company is opening three new cities exactly that week and I have to be available to insure the start-up is ready to go. If something changes I'll be back in.

[KatieLoeb]

Boo! So sorry you all won't be able to join us. Was really looking forward to it. Please let us know if plans change. You know you are alway welcome.

On a separate note, I should be getting some info back on hotels very shortly. Will post as soon as I am informed.

[Chris Hennes]

I'm getting ready to book my flights since we're nearing the pricing sweet-spot: any updates?

[NancyH]

I wish that we could join you, but we must be someplace else this weekend. Looking forward to all the photos and eating vicariously!

[KatieLoeb]

Will poke my hotel hookup this week while I'm off for an update. Should have an answer/answers by week's end...

[KatieLoeb]

So far my friend with connections at the Visitor's Bureau has gotten a reply from The Sheraton Society Hill, located in Olde City at 4th and Walnut Streets. They have offered a $159/night rate for a block of 10 rooms. I also did a little poking around on the VisitPhilly website and there are some great deals on there, some including breakfast, valet parking for one vehicle, or tickets to the Franklin Institute to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit which is there through October. Most are slightly higher than the $159 rate the Sheraton Society Hill has offered. A brief look on Orbitz for those dates shows rates as low as $135/night at the Marriott Courtyard right next to City Hall, which is basically Ground Zero for downtown (or Center City as we call it) Philly. Comparable rates of $159/night at the Sofitel and Loew's Philadelphia, both of which are centrally located as well. Downtown Center City is not that big, and at most, all places are a short walk or cab ride.

Don't know what sort of rates you have all gotten in the past. I will keep pushing my friend to get answers this week, but a little snooping around online could yield excellent results if you want to just get on with booking. Please let me know if you have any questions about locations, neighborhoods, particular hotels or any other preferences. I am here to answer any and all queries. I'll start putting together a guide to attractions and such (other than all the glorious food we'll be indulging in) as soon as I'm able.

[Alex]

This evening, Hotwire has what appears to be the Holiday Inn - Historic District, which looks to be about three blocks from the Sheraton Society Hill, for $95 + tax per night, checking in on 8/2 and out on 8/6. It also has what appears to be either the Sheraton City Center (formerly the Wyndham) or the further-away and less-recommended (but near trolley and subway stops) Sheraton University City for $92/night. Of course, you don't get the hotel's name until after you book (non-refundable), but my online source usually is accurate about such things.

[prasantrin]

This evening, Hotwire has what appears to be the Holiday Inn - Historic District, which looks to be about three blocks from the Sheraton Society Hill, for $95 + tax per night, checking in on 8/2 and out on 8/6. It also has what appears to be either the Sheraton City Center (formerly the Wyndham) or the further-away and less-recommended (but near trolley and subway stops) Sheraton University City for $92/night. Of course, you don't get the hotel's name until after you book (non-refundable), but my online source usually is accurate about such things.

But the dates of the gathering are 8/9-8/12, no?

[KatieLoeb]

Yes. The dates are 8/9-8/12. I should have more info later in the week. The more centrally located, the more expensive the hotel, as is usually the case. However, the rates I quoted above are pretty good for high tourist season.

[Chris Hennes]

How are we looking for a location for the Saturday feast?

[rlibkind]

Reading Terminal Market will let us have the new multipurpose room from Saturday afternoon into the evening after market closes for $100-$200, basically their additional costs for security, maintenance. This does not include the new adjacent kitchen, which is owned/managed by one of the vendors; I hope to firm up costs with her by next weekend and will report back.

[KatieLoeb]

Bob, that's great!! Having just recently seen the new Rick Nichols Room, it is GORGEOUS and I'm excited that we're getting to "christen" the room for such an auspicious event. Please let us know as soon as you find out what's happening.

[Alex]

This evening, Hotwire has what appears to be the Holiday Inn - Historic District, which looks to be about three blocks from the Sheraton Society Hill, for $95 + tax per night, checking in on 8/2 and out on 8/6. It also has what appears to be either the Sheraton City Center (formerly the Wyndham) or the further-away and less-recommended (but near trolley and subway stops) Sheraton University City for $92/night. Of course, you don't get the hotel's name until after you book (non-refundable), but my online source usually is accurate about such things.

But the dates of the gathering are 8/9-8/12, no?

Sorry, my brain freeze. The rates are indeed for checking in on the 9th and out on the 12th.

[KatieLoeb]

Wow. That's a pretty good deal! Hotwire is an excellent resource as well. I actually just used it recently to book my hotel for my upcoming trip to New Orleans and got an excellent price too. Pretty much any hotels that are listed in the Convention Center area or Historic District will all be quite close by. On the other side of City Hall, the Rittenhouse Square area is also close by, but that tends to be the much nicer (read: more expensive) four star hotels. If anyone has questions about a specific hotel or area please let us know. I'm sure either I or one of the other PhilleGulleteers can jump in and answer for you.

[Chris Hennes]

Do you have a tentative itinerary worked out so people can see the locations of the various places we are going?

[KatieLoeb]

Tentatively here's what I've come up with so far:

Thursday evening: Perhaps a cocktail and snacks crawl? Not sure about this one since my original plan is no longer viable.
Friday morning/early afternoon - tour of Italian Market and sandwiches for lunch at Paesano's, 9th Street between Washington and Christian Streets
Friday evening - Dinner at Zahav - 2nd & Walnut Streets
Saturday morning/early afternoon - tour of Reading Terminal market, lunch, shopping for potluck 12th & Filbert Streets
Saturday evening - Potluck at Reading Terminal Market Rick Nichols Room 12th & Filbert Streets
Sunday morning/early afternoon Szechuan brunch, Han Dynasty 108 Chestnut Street

I'll see if I can create a map on Google that's more specific and includes some of the other historical and cultural sites so folks can get oriented.

[prasantrin]

There hasn't been any mention of costs/payment details.

Which of the events will be "pay as you go" and which will require advance payment?

For those which require advance payment, how much and when is payment due, and how should it be paid? (paypal, etc.)

Has an event sign-up gone around already and I missed it?

[Kerry Beal]

Another question - when do we start signup for what we will cook on Saturday? FG - you coming and expediting this year?

[Holly Moore]

Katie, thinking Vedge might make for an interesting Thursday night if they can accomondate this size group. Also thinking it wierd that I, of all people, would come up with Vedge.

Edited to add, Vedge is BYOBacon

Edited by Holly Moore, 07 July 2012 - 01:25 PM.

[ScottyBoy]

Have any of these Gatherings happend on the west coast? I'd like to put names to faces sometime.

[FrogPrincesse]

Have any of these Gatherings happend on the west coast? I'd like to put names to faces sometime.

I don't think so, at least not recently.

A west coast gathering sounds like a GREAT idea. Are you volunteering to organize it? ;-)

Edited by FrogPrincesse, 07 July 2012 - 05:30 PM.

[KatieLoeb]

Holly:

Vedge might indeed be an interesting idea for Thursday. I'm not sure Kate and Rich will be down with the BYO Bacon, however. I had dinner there in May with out of town relatives who were blown away by how innovative and delicious the vegan menu was. I might add that the cocktails were quite impressive also. I had something the bartender was working on that had muddled raw asparagus, fennel, aquavit and some other stuff in it. Needless to say I approached this with much trepidation, but the raw vegetables were not too herbaceous or nasty at all. Quite delicious in fact. I left extremely impressed with the place. Problem might be the size of our group and the cost however. Reservations are brutal to get there, even with quite a bit of advanced notice. If we were going on a Tuesday or Sunday night we might have better luck, but a Thursday night they are likely booked fairly far in advance. Although Vedge is certainly one of the more unique restaurants we have to offer, I also am not certain if a vegan restaurant would be everyone's first choice, given all the omnivorous options we have here. Let me know what you all think...

As for costs, I'm still working that out. I should be able to have costs for the dinner at Zahav fairly soon. I'm hoping to keep that in the $35-50/person range for a family style feast of their specialties. I'll discuss the menu with Chef Michael Solomonov as soon as I'm able. The brunch at Han Dynasty should be $25/person. Both restaurants have a bar that would be pay as you go for those that are indulging. I'm hoping to get some sponsorship from my local wine and liquor reps for the potluck, and I'll take care of cocktails and wine for that night. As hostess for this weekend, it only seems fitting that I do what I do best for the potluck, and leave the cooking to the rest of you.

I will likely set up a PayPal account, or use my own for the pay in advance events. Can someone explain to me how this has been handled most efficiently in the past??