Wow... 4th one already?? It all started with a roller coaster named Behemoth and now it has become an annual tradition to get together, booze up and do things other than play WoW together. :)

See this thread for hotel info.

Attendees:
Bren & Jenny - residents
Fox & Sapph - Wed 10am to Mon 3pm (SFO)
Rastus - Wed 2pm to Mon 1pm (SFO)
Frenial - Wed 3pm to Mon 8pm (SFO)
Amonsul - Wed 3pm to Sun midnight (SFO)
Kethi & The Man - Wed pm to Mon pm (SJ)
Dalwin & Perseous - Thurs 1pm to Sun 12pm (SFO)
Syllenas - Thurs 3pm to 9:30p Mon (SFO)
Elhayme - Thurs 3pm to Mon? (driving)
Beam & Stranger; Raeb & Schmooo (live in the area)

Schedule:

Thursday August 4 - Daytime in Wine Country
Wine Country PM has been sent to those that expressed interest. If you would like to be included in the plans, please speak with Bren.

Thursday August 4 - Night
The first "official" event will be Thursday night. We'll be hanging out at Bren's place and either ordering in or cooking up something easy. Make sure you stock up on booze when you arrive to town!
Meeting place will be Happy Hour at The Punchdown Wine Bar, across from Bren's place.

Friday August 5 - San Fran
Hop-on Hop-off tour in San Francisco (will choose the one with the best deal that day)
Night Tour of Alcaztraz - YOU MUST BUY YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE - (6:10 or 6:45)
Dinner in San Fran @ The Hillstone - reservation made for 9:30pm

Saturday August 6 - SF/Oakland
Trampoline Park - 1pm reservation confirmed for 15 people - everyone owes Sapph $16
Tastings of the world's best vodka - 5pm reservation (pizza to be ordered at the tasting)
Karaoke (wouldn't be a VS Fest without it!) @ Cato's Ale House

Sunday August 7 - Oakland/SF
Brunch TBD
Jack London Square/Farmer's Market - Oakland
Supperclub (7pm) - $45 for 3-course meal; reservation confirmed for 12 people

Other Suggestions/Requests:
See/touch a freaking big ass redwood.
Dinner at Little Joe's. Amazing Italian food, a few blocks from Chinatown. And after dinner, you can walk off all that garlic by heading up the hill to Coit Tower (one of the most amazing Bay Area views).
Also, there's nothing quite like riding bikes (rentals) from the Presidio over the Golden Gate Bridge and back. Unbelievably awesome views.

Airport Info:There are three airports in the area: San Jose, Oakland, and SFO.

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system (BART) is our light rail/subway system.

BART links SFO directly to the downtown area where we will be staying. Fare is about $8. A Taxi will cost you about $30-40.

Oakland and San Jose you will have to take a cab and that will run you $60-$100. Alternatively, if the times work out I may be able to pick some of you up from Oakland (less likely for me to able to pick you up from SJ).

The vast majority of flights come into SFO. You'll be lucky to find a good flight into Oakland or San Jose- that being said, if the fare savings are great enough over SFO, accounting for the taxi cost, then go for it.

Depending on the time of day, travel times from airports to downtown SF are:
SFO- 20 min
OAK- 20-40 min
SJ- 60-90 min+

Yes, SFO is an old and overcrowded airport, but I still recommend it.
So, one more thing to add about Oakland Airport, on their website here, they tell you that you still have an option to use the BART. There is a shuttle that goes to and from the airport to the Coliseum stadium. At the Coliseum, you can hop on the Bart. The shuttle runs from 5am to midnight M-F or 8am to midnight on Sundays.

$3 for shuttle
$3.80 for Bart (from the Coliseum to Montgomery in downtown SF)

I am an Oakland airport fan. And yes, I am arguing with my boyfriend. I know.

Finally giving some love to the West Coasters- hope to see some new faces this year!

And I can't wait to be drunk with some old friends in a new place. This is gonna be awesome.

I'm blocking out the whole month. Or is that blacking out?

I do have a preference for earlier rather than later in the month, as it's easier for me to get away then. And I might be going to DragonCon Labor Day weekend.

I'll totally go to San Fiasco.

Dibbs on Bren's couch!

There are direct flights from Edmonton to San Francisco.
I am in favour of this destination, and plan in general.

Unfortunately, end-August is a pretty bad time for us.

School will be starting back up (usually the last week in August) and Dragon*Con is Labor-Day weekend (September 2nd) so if the food festival is the same weekend as last year then it would mean back-to-back travel.

I know I'm not the only one with either or both of the above concerns, so I thought I'd mention it in case you were still thinking about alternative options as a time-frame.

I doubt that I'd be able to make this trip. :( Twistle's been off work while he's doing chemo so our income is very low. We won't be able to afford it. Ah well, Maybe next year.

I don't know what I'm going to be doing in August. I'm trying to find a job.

Find job in CA? Move there? Win?

I doubt that I'd be able to make this trip. :( Twistle's been off work while he's doing chemo so our income is very low. We won't be able to afford it. Ah well, Maybe next year.
I'm thinking of hosting it in Toronto again next year so that should be more reasonable for you guys!

I don't know what I'm going to be doing in August. I'm trying to find a job.

Find job in CA? Move there? Win?


First of all, I love your new avatar.

Secondly, what do you do?

I have a BS in Commerce and Business Adminstration. Major in finance, minor in economics. I have a strong résumé and wonderful references. Transcript available on request. Help a caucasian out.

I have a BS in Commerce and Business Adminstration. Major in finance, minor in economics. I have a strong résumé and wonderful references. Transcript available on request. Help a caucasian out.

I've only been in the Houston TX area since July but this area seems to be doing well over-all and the city is growing. I would recommend you do some web searches. I hear Dallas has similar economic growth. I'm in the medical field, but I will keep my ears peeled.

The man and I should be in on this one! Barring any overseas travel using up all our vacation time of course... The almost-in-laws live just south in San Jose, so its a bonus parents time too. Yay, excitement!

Gonna work to make this one. Still a ways out to be able to tell, but hopefully I can cut some costs down before that.

Got the dates for Eat Real Festival: September 23-25. Does that work better for people or worse? If you are really interested in coming to VS Fest this year but you have timing issues, please let me know so we can figure out what works best for everyone... and then we can get this show on the road!!

relevant fact:
i was born in oakland and most of my mother's family still lives in SF

relevant fact:
i was born in oakland and most of my mother's family still lives in SF
So this means you'll be joining us this time? :D

September 23-25.

Yeah, September is bad... probably.

I mean, in all honesty, I may be unemployed at that point, so I may have lots of free time and no money... This summer holds all sorts of possibilities...

I am good with whatever. Tickets from Memphis to SF are dirt cheap right now. Let's make a decision and pull the trigger on this!

I have a slight preference for early August. Eat Real looks like fun, but I have no doubt that we'll find plenty to do in San Fran without it!

Go vote HERE.

Seems I saw a 1 day Alcatraz, redwoods, bridge thingy all in one for about 100 bucks back several months ago. Of course mostly y'all want to eat (Agnes) and drink (Fox, looking like a fool with his pants on the ground.) :)

it all depends on whether or not the memphis city school system actually chooses to pay me for the work i've done/am doing for them. right now it's not looking great.

Haha, I love Amonsul calling me out for my Eating Like Crazy on Vacation trait.

Unfortch, I doubt I'll be making this one. I am hoping to get a new job this year and taking a vacation as soon as I get hired is not my plan.

I'm thinking of hosting it in Toronto again next year so that should be more reasonable for you guys!

That would be wonderful Sapph! I'll bring cookies!! :D