Ok, there have been many rumblings on another US owners meet, but nothing concrete. Before this thread sinks, I hope some more details will be fleshed out so we can get this rolling.

Ok, so far we know it will most likely be in N. California again, possibly at the same place at last years event.

And thats about it...

I posted a poll on Riocar.org to try and narrow down a timeframe. Keep in mind it will need to be somewhat far away to allow for travel arrangements to be made for those wishing to come from far away.

Lets get this going...

We had Sinbad at the Apple party during Macworld and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith pass by our booth. Who are you going to have at this meet?

I'd love to go to CA again. Doubt I'll be able to hook anything up through work for a long while though. I'd show up in a heartbeat if it was easily driveable (even if like 8-10 hours away at high speed ) It would be cool to drive all the way to CA as well, but then I'd want to pace that over a week or two.)

Bruno

Ok, I'll help. What can I do? When we pick a date, I can go down to Woodside and arrange the same kind of deal with the owners...

What else can I do?

- Jon

I suggest we have one in southern Louisiana.

I'm from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, we can all crash at my Mom's place!

seriously... i'd wager this meet would be twice to three times the size of the last. Is Woodside gonna be big enough? I hope so, the drive up there was good times. I too can offer my help as i'm in the area. Lemme know what i can do to help Jon or anything else.

No kidding? I'm in Lafayette.

Size is something I am worried about as well, the place we went to at Woodside didn't seem big enough to hold more then the attendance last year. Once we set a date, we should be able to start getting an accurate head count.

If anyone in that area wants to check for other possible locations, that would be great.

Heh. I'm in San Francisco now... had to get the hell out of the south.... it's to F'n hot. I used to drive to Lafayette to hit up the little skate park there. Deep South reprhazeeeent. Dog.

Anyhoo... I'll keep my brain open for a bigger place than Woodside. Anyone have any ideas?

Hm. Ok, let's see. There's a lot of large restaurant type places in SF... We could get the room upstairs at "The Thirsty Bear" for example...

- Jon

Why not have a USA/Europe meet on a barge smack dab in the middle of the atlantic?

The Thirsty Bear is a pretty kick ass place. There wouldn't really be a good place to do the "check out my car" type thing though, unless you wanna do that in a parking garage. Hrm... I'll ask around... i know one guy would would know where to have something like this...

Okay, here's a few suggestions i got so far:

Mountain View at a place called Tied House. They've got a HUGE parking lot
in the back and very close nearby overflow parking in a structure. It's also
near Cal train--just a quick 10 minute walk.

Gordon Biersch in San Jose. There's a big pay parking lot across the street.

Santa Clara Convention Center parking structure is shared with a Hotel. It's
either the Marriot or the Hilton. Park on the top lot, hang out there and
the hotel bar.

San Francisco Fifth and Mission structure has a GREAT top floor that isn't
crowded until late on Saturday. An alternate to that is the Moscone Garage
on 3rd. It's NEVER packed on Saturday. Close to lots of restraunts and bars
that could be taken over.

Fault Line in Sunnyvale. Big parking, big place.

Ricky's Marriot on Palo Alto does events

More to come i'm sure...

How about taking over downtown Palo Alto and then Sake Bombs at Miyakis?

Ricky's Mariott is a pain to get to during weekdays, and is *really* spread out. It's ok for events, not great.

The SC Convention Center shares an enormous lot and garage with the Westin Hotel (there's a Hilton across the street, too). It's wonderful, and about 5 blocks from my home. It's also across the street from Paramount's Great America amusement park. There's a great (but spendy) restaurant in the hotel, and also a very nice bar.

Tied House or Gordon Biersch are fine places to eat/meet, but parking may be sparse depending on the day/time.



If you like sushi/Japanese, there's a wonderful place called Kobe in the Mervyn's Plaza shopping center in Santa Clara on El Camino Real. The same shopping center also has a Chinese place called Chop Stix. Both can accomodate large groups, and there's a big parking lot (shared) in front of both. There's also a Baskin-Robbins next to both for dessert.

If we did it in San Francisco, someplace near the waterfront would be cool, then we could descend upon Cobb's afterwards.

Ooo, upcoming at Cobb's over the next two months are Bobcat Goldthwait and Rick Overton, two of my favorites...

What about us folks in the mid west? I'm in Chicago and I'm not gonna drive out to CA for a meet... sorry guys, meeting y'all isn't worth that far of a drive

Yeah why does everything always have to happen on the west coast. How about giving us owners on the east coast a chance for a meet and switch off every other year. That would be the fair thing to do. I can't afford the drive or to fly that far but would love to attend a meet. Maybe take a poll on how many would attend if it was here or there.

Count me in! Maryland is the perfect place. I'll even supply the hamburgers....or veggie burgers for the herbivoires (sp?)amongst us.

Err.. why don't you just have your own meet? I don't see any reason to alternate since there is likely to be little overlap in attendees.

The first meet was in the bay area because there is a higher concentration of empeg owners there than in any other single region in the world.

Rob

Though we've discussed my feelings about Cobb's "Cajun" food (i think that was on this board wasn't it?)... Bobcat... I'm there.

For the record... Another Louisianian here. New Orleans, to be exact.

Mason

Bobcat... I'm there.

But it's real soon, the week of Valentine's Day.

Well if there was a Bay Area meet count me in for sure. Don't forget Loren, those places in San Jose (my hometown) have free parking lots after 6pm and all day on weekends. But the thing is parking is limited, so I don't think we all could have our cars together and on display. San Francisco will be no better with parking, there is no way we could all park in the same place without paying a ridiculous fee. I will try to think of a good place, perhaps Palo Alto would be a good spot.

Thats it, we are having the meet in Kansas!

If someone wants to organize one on the east coast, thats fine. I'm just trying to organise the west coast one since it's the one I will most likely be able to attend.

"I'm from Baton Rouge, Louisiana"

no way! I'm in Baton Rouge too! (well, actually I'm in Denham right now, but that's just cause I work there )

Count me in! Maryland is the perfect place

I too would have to agree since I'm located in Maryland.

Unfortunately, I don't think a location will ever exist that is agreeable to everyone. Maybe have a West and an East meet or something...

BleachLPB

Well who wants to decide where to hold an east coast meet and who wants to be in charge of it? Will any of the empeg guys come if we hold one? And give us neat empeg goodies? Like bumper stickers and t-shirts and such?

Thats it, we are having the meet in Kansas!

Living in KS, that would be ideal for me!

That makes four southern Lousianians......

Maryland sounds great to me... Real near DC but far enough away to get a decently priced hotel room..