I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16 ['07]
 

It's certainly been a while since we've had a proper LoT Disneyland meet, and what better time than the Holidays to swank up the place even more?

The loose (and I DO mean loose) plan......

• 10:00 - Start the day at our old school breakfast haunt - the River Belle - for Pancakes and Bacon.:cakes:
  
• Explore the Holiday wonders of the Park(s) and experience the glory that is Christmas at Disneyland:gnome:
  
• Have and earlyish dinner and Drinks in DTD (Steakhouse 55? Jazz Kitchen?):cheers:
  
• Back to the park to catch a fantastic spot for Believe.... while sipping hot cocoa or a white chocolate mocha (yum):coffee:
• Maybe swing on over to the ROA for a F! viewing or experience HMH in the spooky December mist :cool:
• Have a nightcap at the Hearthstone Lounge, maybe sit by the fire and enjoy the end of our wonderful day.
  

Dress well :iSm:(hey, we can swank it up a little bit, can't we?) and warm:decap: (unless it is 90 degrees) and be prepared to have a wonderful time.


(And, if we get bored, we can go catch aging punk rockers :na: do their thing when Social Distortion plays HOB.)

As you know on LoT, one day you're in and the next day you're out. ;) So, who's in?

I'm out

:(

That sounds like fun. I'll try to stop by for some of the festivities. That's also the evening of the Naples boat parade.

I miss that parade every year. :(

I like the idea! Although I have a Duck's game at 5, I will be around for most of it and hope to make it back for fireworks!!

Disneyland? Good choice! ;) Sounds like fun, I'll check my calendar when I get home. It has been too long since I played with the Conemonkeys!

I'm in.
Disneyland, eh? I've been there once or twice.
:)

Why did I not know about this??

I am out for the meet. And very bummed that it can't be pushed back another week since it'll probably be a goodbye DL from Erica meet too. But I will be at the game.

I'm in....but Riverbelle Terrace is closed right now, maybe ressies at Cafe Orleans?

I'm in - for at least the daytime portion of the day.

Sunday swankings are near to impossible for me. Saturday swankings are swell!

Well, now you know. ;)

My pal plays in a league and has some deal, so I'm going to my first pro game.

I'm in for a Sunday swanking. Saturdays at Christmastime are too intense. Sundays not much better, but a little bit.

Every little bit helps in the mayhem that is the Happiest Place on Earth during the Happiest Season of All.

It's all downhill from there ;)

I'll be there for some of it, whatever/whenever I am able. Can't vouch for my attire, however.

I know I don't want to miss this, but I will have to play it by ear. Also, Social Distortion!!!

We're in - I added it to my calendar. :)

Social D is getting really close to being the house band at HoB Anaheim...

I do believe we are in, baby. :coffee: Gotta get those APs cooking before then.

looks like it could be a winner for us, too...

Riverbelle Terrace reopens on the 13th so we can definitely have breakfast there.

I was in a panic about RBT until I read Isaac's post. We MUST have BACON. ;) I know CO has bacon, but making ressies for a big group is a PITA.

And a big group at CO may mean that half the group gets their food 20 minutes later than everybody else...

We might be able to pull this off. But the boy is in school for another week, and this is a school night. We may have to wait a week.

Let me know if you want to carpool. I don't have Maddy until Sunday nights but I may be able to kidnap her earlier if you need a kid companion.

First of all....Bite me! ;) We didn't even have our drinks and the other table was waving bacon at us.



I wish I could go. Boy's b-day is the 6th so we will be there on the 8th. With things as tight as they are right now I just can't swing another trip before Christmas.

It was good bacon :)

I keep reading this thread as "I'm Dreaming of a Skank Christmas".
:D
That would be a totally different kind of meet altogether....

I know, it would be like a meet where someone runs into the middle of the street and drops his pants!

Naw, they'd only be a skank if they weren't wearing any underwear at the time...

:D:evil:

No, that meet is a few weeks later.

In either case, I'll come with balls on. :eek:

So glad RBT will be open by then.....great place for breakfast!

We have the lowest-level passes, so we're not sure we can make it yet (as we're blocked out that day.) Sounds like a blast, so I hope we can join!

Okay, change of plans, I'll be in town for the swanking. :D

YAY!

Then this is as good of a reason as any to get one!!!

The 16th is only blacked out for So Cal Select: The Southern California and Deluxe Passports can get in.

Well, and Premium, but that goes without saying (then why did I say it?).

Just so there is no confusion, 12/16 is indeed a Sunday!

Oh, and I am a definite hopeful. I need to see when our family holiday get-together is. I know it is that weekend, but it is undecided whether Saturday or Sunday (though this gives me impetus to push for Saturday).

Yes, indeed, as that is our pass level! (What, you think I'd just assume blackout? Naww, our pocketbooks dictate that we can only go to Disneyland during the week. Unfortunately, our jobs dictate that we can only go to Disneyland during the weekend. Why oh WHY did we waste our money on the So Cal Select!?)

Time to upgrade!

Upgrading makes the perfect gift this holiday season...

Well, somebody get with the gifting then.

I may or may not be there.

My mistake, the parade is on Saturday, the 15th. Maybe this is your year.

You buying?

Well as Mr. Boreno put it so well, why not come after the Ducks game?

Depends what time it ends. And how tired we are from Vegas. Drive out Friday after the game, back Sunday before the game. Ahhh. Life as a hockey fan.

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

Not sure yet depends if i have the day off from work or not. Can't keep asking for time off but this is the second sunday i am officially off from work so only time will tell but that is the height of our holiday season rush so not sure. If i do have the day off then yeah CM and i are in i guess but dinner not sure depends funds how funds go or not...and i don't know about dressing up since if it is a cold day i really want to stay warm (fighting another cold sickness and i don't want to be cold all day and night at the park)...this forces me to get all the presents done and mailed out by then too...

It all depends on if I'm working or not. If not....I'm so there!!

I'm up for some holiday swankin'

Hmmm this would require but would also be a good excuse to renew my pass. Hmmm.

That sounds like a great name for a band!

Or a MouseAdventure Team!

RBT is changing to table service, so I don't know if you will need ressies for it. Plus, if it opens only 3 days prior (Zappp said the 13th- I assume that's of Dec.), and gets behind at all you could miss it. Also, does anyone know what the menu will be? Will it change? I hope they still have the pancakes and bacon, that is my fave breakfast there!

Whoa whoa whoa... Riverbelle is going table service?

Hmm... cool, I think.

I don't work the next day so I'll definitely be there.:)

I'm in this for the bacon, totally.

Like one needs any other reason.

Well, it looks like I am out. For some reason, we are moving the paternal side of the family get-together to a Sunday, which this year means the 16th.

Pisser.

Harrumph! :(

I didn't get a harrumph outta that...

Oh wait; I did.

It's time for you to put an end to this patriarchal structure - and go to Disneyland

Well, if you were attending the swanking, it would be Huzzah!

Swank Christmas
 

X-mas Swanking without Gus-Gus and her Pal?!?

that sux.

just inform the paternals that the get-together will be on Main Street!:D

****

I can't think of anything lovelier than going to work after work. Buster McThunderstick and Lickey Rumball are very interested... work schedules permitting (he does not know his work schedule for that sunday yet) we are in the same camp as Blue Erica (i really want to see you!!) ...

we may be there, we may not.:rolleyes:

Sounds intriguing :)
The mom in-law will be in town. May need to see if her and the rest of the family want to make a day of the park.

a hance to meet the mysterious Fej? No! :eek:

Hopefully. Need to see what is already planned and what rest of family is doing.

Hey, no fair! You'd better drag your reclusive ass to the Park when I'm down there, Fej!

Ok, oK. When will you be there?

First week of April. Yes, I know it's Spring Break, but it's the only time we can go this year. Besides, it's always entertaining watching the desperate measures the linecutters take when it's crazy-busy there.:D

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

Wendybeth oh great i will be there on Sunday April 6th after back to back Bon Jovi shows. I'm playing tour guide to some Bon Jovi fans that sunday showing them around the park etc. Matt will be at the park on Saturday since he will have nothing better to do than to go to the park while i have my concert buddy and hotel roomie with me for Saturday. Plus i think he's heading into the park on Friday night while i go to the concert too so...ohhh now i can't wait. Let's see what shape i'll be in on Sunday (probablly no voice and can't hear but oh well) will make things funner. :) Yes i am meeting everyone at the hub too since that is a central enough place lmao...

I think we're caving and upgrading the passes.

cool! :cool:

YAY!

YAY!

I'll know more tonight about Swank Christmas. Based upon how we're playing these days I may just get dropped off at DL and then picked up after the game.

Pass has been renewed. Downgraded to a Deluxe for the first time ever.

I will be in training all weekend. However, that's not *all* day, and the swanking is, so I'll be around for whatever parts work with my schedule.

I will be there after the game, at least for a lil while.

Just my luck... mid shift. I'll be working 11-7 on the day of the swanking. So I assume you'll all be either at the Hearthstone or the Swank Lounge when I join you ;)

What's the Swank Lounge? Can it be Brennan's, cuz I am dying for a beignet. :)

(chants) Brennan's Brennan's Brennan's Brennan's Brennan's Brennan's Brennan's

Aren't those one and the same?

I think of Steakhouse 55's lounge (formerly the Brass Bar) as the swank lounge. Can any location lay claim to a swankier atmosphere?

Really?!? To me its just another hotel lounge. Maybe a little better appointed than most, but just decent overall.

Not trying to be negative, it just didn't leave me with an overwhelming feeling.

However, in retrospect, the Steakhouse 55 lounge has MUCH better acoustics, making for a better atmosphere (I can never conversations in the Hearthstone).

JUST DON'T TOUCH THE MENU SIGN!!!

I'm afraid that I'll be Blacked Out that day as well.

....and I have to wash my hair, sooooo........

Have a Sidecar or two for Me and the Stoat. :cheers:

How early are people planning on showing up? We're good through lunch - but we've got to split around 3-ish...

Are there LoT meets on Sundays as well?

I should probably be there around 9ish but need to leave around 3ish as well.

Just to let you know...LoT has meets when the feeling to get together hits a few people and the rest just show up if they can. No set day or time.

Heheh, there hasn't been a LoT Sunday meet since .... um, has there ever been one?

I think the last time this group had any kind of regular Sunday Park meets was in MousePad days or yore, or perhaps Fab days. But LoT time? Don't think so. They are now by special arrangement only.

This is one of those special arrangements. I'm not at all sure I'll be making it.



Oh, and Morrigoon was, I believe, referring to the Steakhouse 55/Granville's Bar as the Swank Lounge, not the Hearthstone. The Hearthstone is adjacent to the AP Lounge (Grand Cal Lobby), so perhaps that's where the confusion came in.

Sure there was. It was that one Sunday when, you know... we met. At the park.

Well, as it turns out, my little pass expires on the 14th! I might go to the park between now and then, but I may have to see if I can procure some non-expired pass to gain admittance.

With my side mirror smashed and such, and the cost of replacing said mirror coming out of an already lean wallet, I will have to take my chances that I'll be in the good graces of my grandma. Thinking of which, she's actually in a pretty good mood tonight... Maybe tonight will be my lucky night!

That sounds reasonable.

I'm out.
There's a karate tournament that day, and we were informed last night its mandatory.

Sorry, Katie Sue, next time.


On the upside, I wont feel bad about going twice during the holiday season.

I don't know if I want to go- Rose has to work that day :(

You know, we won't be there until at least 8:30. You don't have to leave so early to hide from me :evil: :p

I have no idea what time we're getting there, but guess who is going to be staying in the Disneyland Kennels that day?

I'll be there for Breakfast...Mrs. Nesbitt will meet up an hour or so later and we'll stay....till we fell like leaving, probably around 5PM or so. Wolfette is gone as long as we wish, so you just never know!

Me?

LOL! Damn! I'm going to have to pony up and extra $20 for you, too!

Two envelopes in the mail today with Disney Benefits Center on them... alas, neither contained a sign-in pass. Erica, I'll let you know if I get one in time.

Incidentally, I'm closing the night before - til 1:30am. So don't count on me for breakfast. I'll see you guys after 7.

Ya mean the AP won't work? ;) At least it would give me uninterrupted playtime with Thurston! But, I think I will stick with the swankers.

Actually, my grandma has an extra one, so save yours! (I forgot to post this...)

Thank you so much for thinking of me, though!

So this means you're coming, right? Yay!

Thanks for the thanks card, but it was not necessary!

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

I have to work on Sunday 1:30pm-6pm so i'm out. Plus money issue anyways. Saw my new spiffy camera last night at Fry's. Have fun everyone.

Save it for what? If I actually get one for 2007 there will be about as many sign-ins as there are days left in the month. Churn and burn, baby!

(Rumor has it the sign-in card comes 2 weeks after starting, so I hope to get it this week)

Poor Chris...

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

ok definitely not going unfortunately work is the main reason but now i have to save more for another concert ok CM if you see this post (ducking to avoid objects thrown at me) will fill you in later on tonight....please don't make me sleep out in the doghouse tonight...

Morri - if you get the mailed passes that my grandma gets, there should be two and they should be good until December XX, 2009, unless new employees get something different. My grandma is going to give me one of hers that expires in 2008. If yours do expire sometime sooner, I'd use it so it doesn't go to waste, if you'd want.

:)

I'm not talking about the tickets... I'm talking about the sign-ins. Separate item. Sign-ins are tied to the year they're issued and require my presence to get you in the gate. The tickets are gold, I'll have to hang on to those in case I quit and want to go to Florida ;)

Aaaaaahhhhhhhh.... Somehow, I wasn't *getting it* earlier... hehe. Yes, now I know what you're talking about. Let me know what ends up happening. If you go on Sunday, what time might you be going at (so I can get there at the same time)?

Well, looks like it will be only an evening event for me. The Hockey game starts at 5 but my pal Gwyren is playing at noon.

Any plans for dinner and fireworks? :(

Unless you leave early you probably won't get to the actual park until close to 8/8:30.

I'll be there late in the afternoon, post farmer's marketeering. If anyone needs to put in an order, let me know so I can set it aside.

If I get the sign in pass, I'll get there around, let's say 10-ish, in order to sign you in and then go change for my 11am shift. If I don't get the sign-in pass, I won't be getting there any earlier than necessary for my shift (because my Saturday night one ends at 1:30am).

I should also note that I have no idea what the block-outs are for that pass.

We plan on being there for morning RBT bacon, and staying until late afternoon. Then, we'll return after dinner for the Hearthstone. :)

See, NOBODY remembers me.... Boo hoo. I guess all those people meeting me on Sunday must have been an April Fools joke. it WAS april first, remember?

But your meet was more of a several day progressive thing - it doesn't count as a "Sunday" meet.

And that was a MiceChat meet on Sunday, that we swankers horned in on.


For US, it was - like I said - a special arrangement meet. (And I daresay the most special arrangement of the year)

It would help if I'd read itineraries more carefully.

I may make an effort to come in at the beginning for RBT. Can't stay long, of course, but I'll try. Erica, if I do get sign ins and you need to be signed in, obviously we'll shoot for earlier so you can be on time.

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

Well thanks to my lovely bosses last night i am free for Sunday now lmao...i was asked to work Sat and i worked it out to work Sat but have Sun off lmao...too many ppl working on Sun as it is and Sun is slower than Sat so....and have an earlier shift on Sat so yay...guess CM and i will be going and will meet up for RBT for breakfast...if dinner is at Jazz Kitchen then maybe we'll join ya otherwise not sure ....but breakfast yes....i have to do something for him with all this Bon Jovi stuff lmao....

Soooo, 10:00 at the RBT. Anyone know if it is reservations only? Do I need to make a ressie? How many for breakfast?

I'm in for breakfasat. No idea about ressies though.

Maybe time for a multi-choice poll for each scheduled activity?

I'll check if there are ressie requirements.

I'm in for breakfast if NA and € are!

copycat!

Ressies? At RBT??!? Huh?

It's my understanding that this was NOT the long-planned re-model to a 2-story restaurant, but rather just a standard refurb of the ground-level buffeteria. Um, you can't have reservations for a buffeteria.

I'm thinking iSm is right on this one. There is no news of major changes anywhere.

Probably so, I'd asked around about the "rumors" of a switch to table service and no one had heard anything

I will raise a toast of bacon to y'all from [hopefully] the Bob's Big Boy buffet in Baker.

According to Cindy at Disney Dinining River Belle is a walk up first come first serve resturant requiring no reservations.

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

Well if ressies are needed put CM and i both down. :) We're in for breakfast.

Good. I don't read those "Disney" type boards any longer so I am generally clueless. (But, I have a LOT less drama in my life!)

No worries, I don't have to be there early for RBT or anything. I actually never used to do the breakfast meets, so there's no meaning in it for me, other than just to see people. :) Whatever works best for your schedule if you happen to get your sign-ins.

If I didnt have a pyro shoot.. I would SOO be there... :-)

^^^ OMG, was that skinnylycan busting in after a 4-month absense with the tease news that we won't be seeing him?!?!


HAHAHAHAHA.






oh.



:iSm:

The 16th is, like, Sunday. Wow time flies.
:)

*excited*

Bacon.

:cakes: :coffee: and bacon!

e pluribis unum

BACON!!

DUCK SEASON!

WABBIT SEASON



apologies to Munchikin

I know where we can get us sum wabbit at Disney.

Are we still talking about breakfast? I never made a breakfast meet before :p but I'm planning to be there.

Erica: Still no sign of the sign-in pass :(

why yes yes it was.. :-P

I know absense.. but I didnt mean it.. :-)

if anyone wants to come to the park on monday or Tuesday I will be working F! :-) I am getting trained on something new... YAY!

All good, Morrigoon; I already have my grubby little hands on a day pass. I really appreciate your thinking of me with your newfound perks.

I disapprove. DUCK SEASON!

Yay! You'll get to stand in line at the Riverbelle listen to the Twain's whistle while you eat bacon in the glorious Disney morning.

*grumble grumble grumble*

Ya know... It's mornings like this when the rain is pouring down and you can't do the painting you planned to do, or take a chainsaw to that brush the utility company was supposed to clear but hasn't, or replace that window with the spotty sill and you get that vivid memory of telling yourself "No, fool... you don't need to be going to Disneyland when you've got so much work to do here" that really piss me off.

*rabble rabble rabble*

But I DO have ism's whopping double disk set of Disney soundscapes to brighten a cold wet day. And memories of entering my favorite attraction with a murder of crows flapping and cawing overhead. Yo-ho yo-ho It's sinking boats for me! Me and Lisa did the goat trick. Westward Hoooo - oh hahahaha. Trying to keep up with Sac and his kids on an ankle that was screaming at me. Meeting Teresa by sheer chance. Remember... before it was fifty ONE! On and on and on

Have a great time everybody!

Depending on how the day goes, we MAY come join at the end of the day (the RAC is with us). We have lunch at 1:00 in Thousand Oaks followed by dessert at my sisters house (cuz one always leaves Buca de Beppo's hungry :rolleyes: ). If enough time and energy is left and if people are still there, we will stop by.

Aw, kevy's coming to my town?

Yeah, and you're not gonna be there!

My friend's friend has a book called "Disapproving Rabbits".

Awww.... think of me when you're there! Hopefully you will come to the park. :)

I won't be there either!

still a chance I may make it with others in tow

We'll probably get in a few rides, and a little bit of screaming before heading to Riverbelle.

DRESS WARM for evening... I'm not kidding! It was freezing tonight.

Rose is walking the doggies, then we'll be on our way...

I don't recall ever eating breakfast at River Belle, so this'll be fun.

I'm heading out now. See you all there!

See ya real soon. Ya hear?

We may be a bit late - are you surprised? But, Chris is showering now, I'm next then we're on our way. See you all at River Belle.

If I can get my butt outta here, I might be able to swing by RBT to say hi.

I'll be there, eventually, RBT, in need of bacon and more coffee I imagine

Git your motor running
head up the 5 freeway
Looking for adventure
But not of the DCA varie-tay

I've heard that the opening has been pushed out to Dec. 18. Hopefully it will be open today, but if not have a great time anyway. :coffee:

Your 'freezing' is our heat wave.;)

Have fun, everyone! Talk about me for at least two seconds, so I can feel like I'm there in some capacity. I'm really missing DL and you all right now- can't wait until spring!

Ditto! Take lot's of pictures. :cool:

Riverbelle was still closed. Open for cast members only - they taunted us with bacony goodness.

Here are a few photos:

I didn't get a chance to meet you...or did I? If not, I'm the one in the Black Glittery Kitty type sweater....(shakes hands, just in case).

I think we sort of did - I had on a jeans jacket, black pants.

Nice to meet ya!

If you haven't heard by now, we were beyond exhausted and never made it to the park. Hope everyone had a great time!

I really wanted to make it to the park today too but I've been feeling awful all weekend -- I went and saw that movie Juno on Friday (sooooo good) but then starting Saturday morning I've basically done nothing but sleep... pfft. I'm still not feeling well and there's no way I can miss work tomorrow. Fun pics tho!!! Sorry I couldn't make it -- I'll see y'all in a few weeks, m'kay?

Oh, sorry you're feeling bad, Cherny. I would say that the reason I went was entirely to see you, but I'd be lying.


It would be truthful to say that's part of the reason, tho. And I missed ya. Hope you feel better.


RiverBell Frelling Terrace was closed to paying customers, but bacon served up to cast members -- - just to taunt us. Cafe Orleans stopped seating for breakfast at 10 am. Storyteller's serves breakfast till 11:30 and told us to head on over, they could seat all 15 of us.


They lied.


We ended up at Whitewater Snacks. Fun time, but quite the decent from the bacon breakfast we'd been envisioning.



Learning our Always-Miss-Fireworks lesson, we started our huge Table-for-20 Jazz Kitchen dinner at 6pm. (40 if you count the MiceChatters seated across the room, hahahaha.)

But no, we didn't get out of there till 9:23pm.




NO MORE MEALS AT THE DISNEYLAND RESORT!!!



Other than that, I had a great time. Even at the meals I will vote for skipping from now on.


We did nothing but eat all day. I seem to remember corn dogs and cone shop between Whitewater and Jazz Kitchen. Did we do anything else??? HeeHee.

Pictures:




















I think this one sums up the evening pretty well:

What little time I had to swank was such fun. :cheers:

Fantastic day, even with the Breakfast Fiasco. As I droned on about at the Jazz Kitchen table, I love all of you! :) Our pics to follow.

Wow! What a wonderful day that was. Breakfast burgers (am I crazy or are they not as good as they used to be) followed by the awesome Toy Story Zoetrope which was phenomenal. A quick nearly elevator filling ride on ToT (who where those two other people) that led to screamy goodness. Then off to the real park for the bathroom and locker rides. Always exciting. Another FP run for Space by iSm.

There was some Haunted action, thundery delight and great people watching. Even better, watching (and filming) people watch TheaterTech in his fantastic ensemble that had him looking down upon Maleficent.

Watching the castle transform in a snowy delight then a rush to the Jazz Kitchen where it happened to be a certain MonorailMan's big birthday and all were in attendance, even he whose name is only whispered and gestured.

A sprint by iSm and I (capturing Bornieo in tow locked arm in arm on the way) to make it into the park for the beginning of the fireworks. The LoT others meandered in eventually for a delightfully sudsy conclusion.

A ride on space followed by light watching where the rainbow glasses were clearly trumped afterwards by Jew and Snowflake lenses (particularly spectacular during fireworks). A group photo, farewellagains and a quick departure. Or not.

A sudden change of plans (spontaneity rocks) left Eliza, He Who No Longer Posts, and me in an empty Christmasy Disneyland to enjoy for ourselves for a bit longer. This was perhaps the most magical part of the day. I always love walking around DL when it is empty, and since the 50th, those opportunities seem increasingly rare. But with the Christmas decorations, a chill in the air and the wonderful company and passionate insider stories shared while walking about and taking it all in. Well it was a delightful cocktail indeed.

Quite the nightcap to a fantastic day.

Damn - seems all the hosted pictures are blocked from work - will have to check in later.

Coffee is a miracle drug this morning. Donna and I are both pretty zonked. But, man did I sleep well.

Such a fantastic day! I was tired to begin with (hence the constant rounds of the Hokey Pokey and other Children's classics). I don't think I'll need to eat again for another 2 days!

I think the most amazing this was how many wonderful people are a part of this group! I loved every minute of every person who spent time with us. We are truely blessed.

Don't forget the Partridge Family sing-a-long!

Sausage!!!

(Don't blame me - I'm not the one who yelled that. ;) )

In all fairness - there was a (very necessary and awesome) side trip group that did not arrive at the Jazz Kitchen at 6pm, so we did not start ordering until much later. If we actually go for a 6pm reservation, we will be fine for fireworks.

Eh, fireworks are every night. a 3 1/2 dinner with wonderful friends doesn't.

Thank God. 3 1/2 dinners every night would kill me.

Pass the turducken.

I agree. What a great evening. And such a fun day.:cool:

Wish I coulda been there for the whole day but it was great to see y'all last night at dinner!

I did not have my cell charged and I decided (stupidly) not to bring my camera (last trip over 3 days I took 130 photos, why schlep it? Idiot) and had an absolutely fantastic time. And that only says half of it.

Lisa & Chris, as always were hosts with the most and it was beyond fun to meets the new (to me) additions to the swank household. I'm in love with Kaliope, she is super sweet and adorable. Aleister was elusive until this morning. Thurston is totally adorable and a wild little man. But you all know that.

It was so great to see everyone and meet Alphabstergirl and Wolfy for the first time.

So many great things happened, and a grilled cheese sandwich with apple slices is a surprisingly energizing breakfast. I did wish I had a charged cell so I could call the group on the opposite side of the table. My first ToT experience was fabulous and I screamed with joy. I also learned I have no artistic talent, my Donald was Cubist DoN@Ld. The Zoetrope was fantastic and I want one just like it for my living room.

I got two wishes, too. First was to spend some time with ML who I had not seen for almost 2 years! That was awesome. NA and ML cooked up the next surprise and I got my million dream that I got to share with BlueErica and Gemini Cricket, and ML, a ride on the Lillie Belle. Although I did miss the castle (I only heard, "I hope it snows") before I was ordered to go meet NA at the lockers. I thought, oh boy, here I am NA's sherpa and I miss the castle. :mad: only to find out that I was in for a big and very cool surprise. Forget Charlie Bucket's golden ticket, I got a Lillie Belle ticket to commemorate this little dream.:D

It made us late for dinner, and it was worth it (to me) sorry to everyone else who waited on us before ordering. Dinner was yummy, the company was great. And the love note from the other side of the LoT table was extremely touching, I wept.

It's great to see a gathering like this of so many diverse people with no real plan spend a whole day together and have a terrific time. Next time, I will have a corn dog, those looked fantastic!

Spaced Out Mountain was a fabulous experience. iSm is the king of funky eyewear and it's all about increasing the visual experience.

I short, I had a lovely trip and can't wait to come on down again soon!

Oh and never get the drunken chicken at Jazz Kitchen. Even though I was drunken, the flavour was noticeably absent from this dish. Other swankers were very kind and generous in sharing their better choices with me so I had something palatable to devour. And the sausage grits are f'ing amazing.

NM, I ordered 3 side dishes for my entree, one of which was the andouille sausage grits and, I concur, they were amazing. The dirty rice is also yummers and the green beans were absent any bacony goodness, but lots of pecan goodness.

Disneyphile swore by the drunken chicken.

Yes, I had a bite o' grits.... fan-effing-tastic.

Do not get their tomato and crawfish bisque; no matter how appetizing it might sound at the moment, it's basically a runny canned tomato sauce. The onion soup, however... delicious. Gumbo was decent, too.

If I could do it all over again, I would have had the onion soup and the grits. I would have been in heaven. Then again, three glasses of cab helped me out.

Who knew one bread pudding could feed 20?

I actually love the drunken chicken.

Do they actually have turducken there? What was the stuffing?

Heh, and GD and I loved the bisque. Each to his own....and I'm sure some dishes arrived hotter than others.
Aww, you're too sweet! The response was lovely as well. I kept the note, as I always do. :)

I was so-so on the bisque, but the Creole Onion saw a pleasantly surprising return to it's days of bayou greatness, and the Gumbo is always fantastic.

When all is said and done, it's the 3-and-1/2-hour dinners with friends that I cherish among all wonderful things on earch ... so with an 85% food success rate (pretty low for the Jazz Kitchen) and a 106% friends pleasure rate, I consider the dining experience of Swank Christmas to be one of the best Gifts of the Season.


Merry Christmas, Swankers. :cheers:


:iSm:

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

yesterday was fun. I had a breakfast burrito this morning since i MISSED out on breakfast yesterday lmao...just had to put that in there...and Matt had to be taken to work by me this morning thus my lack of being able to sleep extra I was really cranky at work today not that i could leisure around either. But it was fun. Except for the 3 and 1/2 hour dinner at Jazz Kitchen. Sorry but i don't do long dinners never have. I have a very limited attention span. But was fun to be at the park with such a large group of ppl. Drawing or attempting to draw Donald Duck was fun. (I have no artistic ability whatsoever) mine came out semi decent. I wanna go back in hopes to dry Remey or Emele from Ratatouille (my fav movie). Ok it's off to eat dinner and shower and get into bed for a long night's sleep.

One of my favorite micro-memory-shots from yesterday was on TOT. MMG was wearing a Stitch Santa hat and, on the drops of TOT the tip of the hat became air lifted and it became a pointy Santa hat. I'm easily amused.

I forgot, it was great to meet DredPirateRoberts and a few of his motley crew, arrrrrrrr

Good times.

Wish I wasn't the only one who bothered to dress up.

I'm not a fan of wearing a tie. :rolleyes:

I dressed up too! :D

But you looked so dashing

We were supposed to have dressed up?

original post:

I said "well" not necessarily "up". I matched.

I wanted to impress you mother ;)

Here are a few of my favorite Pics:



Good Morning Not Araid


Frodo Potter & Pickle


Approaching the Castle


Snowflake & Mickey Lumbo


We Miss You Lash & Stoat!


Preparing for the Loop


Imagine your Aussies Here


A swanky bunch indeed


The Joy of Spoons - Part 1


The Joy of Spoons - Part 2


Art & Photoraphy


Pudding No More

I'm Dreaming of a Swank Christmas - 12/16
 

lol about my Stitch Santa hat on TOT lmao...

I hate dressing up i hate it especially in cold weather going to an amusement park i'd rather be comfortable over fashion lmao...

My pics:

I LOVE this picture of NA!

Me too. She looks so innocent. Pictures lie.

:D

By the way, I didn't care for the onion soup at Jazz. It's the first soup there that I didn't go for. The Bisque was great.

I had a fun, fun night. Dinner was absolutely wonderful. And I had a great lapdance from iSm.

Oh and the best ride on Big Thunder ever. The train didn't line up right at the station, so everyone got confused on where to sit. If (I think it was GD) if GD had stepped forward from the gate he would have been between cars... And then, the train came to a halt at the top of the first lift... No goat... Not to mention the non-stop screaming our entire car did.
Good times.
:)

I woke up this morning singing "I Want to Kiss You All Over" and now I'm VERY mad at Matt.

Look at how many of you were there! And I missed it!
I dont know that I have ever been at a meet the Commadore was at! And Eliza was there too!
and and and.....

Wish I was there.

Interesting, I wonder if we had different batches. I found the crawfish bisque to be the tastiest of the three. Odd indeed as I really don't like tomato based soups generally speaking. I thought the onion was good, but I've definitely had better (but as my all-time favorite soup I'm rather picky about french onion) and the gumbo I found to be quite good but perhaps not stellar.

Really? Did you get it that night? It was massively disappointing. It sounded great on the menu but it was dry, cold and absent of flavor. It was basically a big flat piece of grilled chicken. Not much to it.

Try doing it every day. It sucks.

I think the each end of the table got different batches of EVERYTHING. ;)

Or maybe I just got the dregs. And not the dregs with the good bits of crawfish. It was just pureed tomato, which I would have been happier with, had I not had the expectation of any sort of fish.

I wanted it to be so good because I don't think I've ever not liked a bisque. I may have just had my hopes up and my tastebuds spoiled after years of my grandma's fantastic soups. Though the onion soup at Jazz Kitchen seemed a bit different than others I've had, as in it was almost creamy, I thought the difference was delightful. I was considering getting just that soup as opposed to the sampler, but couldn't make up my mind between the bisque and the onion soup.

In retrospect, I should have paid attention to my "safe" instinct and gotten the onion soup, only to hear about how great the bisque was for everyone else. Sometimes not knowing is better. :)

Please note that CREOLE Onion Soup is vastly different than French Onion Soup. Do not go to J.K. expecting the latter.

Creole Onion became my fave ... but has suffered a lapse in quality of late. My particular teacup batch on Sunday was a good one, and I was pleased.

The Gumbo has never varied in good quality, and is the Jazz Kitchen stalwart.


If the soup du jour is ever again Cheddar Bacon Potato Bisque (or whatever it's called), I will be having a tureen of it!



Too bad some of the food was from different batches, and some was downright cold, some of it even tasteless. Simultaneous dinner for 20 seems to have stretched the Jazz Kitchen limits. Dinner there for less than 15 has always been universally yummy.



If it's any consolation, I have it on good authority that dishes at the micechat table were ice cold, and were old laced with arsenic. ;)

Now, now. I don't wish them any ill will that is not created by their own actions.

I do wish everyone some Creole Onion Soup, however.

YUM!

Man, I wish I would have been at the Jazz Kitchen for dinner. And I thought there was hostility and brawling at the hockey game! ;) :p heheheh

Lessons from a trainer
 

Lesson One:

Don't bite.:eek:


Frodo Potter & Pickle

:rolleyes: well perhaps you should re-take the assessment.

extra points if you know the correct number of LoTTers in this pic.:snap:

I spot 10 not counting Lotletts.

There are 11

Ditto

11 and 3 lil pirates

I'm going with 10 also, but then I didn't meet everyone that day, and some LoTters came and went throughout the day.

I love all of these.

Missed Lash & Stoat, too, but was happy to have the vegemite stand in for them!

Great shot of CP!

and, it's true, that tiny little pudding fed 20+

'Cause 20 were already well fed.


When will I learn I can survive Jazz Kitchen on appetizer and soup?


But, whoa, they tricksied me with the backwards drink switcheroo. First Louisiana Lemonade potent as a bayou swamp, and the second one just the lemonade m'aam.



Also, omg, I feel soooo terrible about this ... when adding up the check, I forgot to pay for MonorailMan's wine that I sent over to his table for his 21st birthday. Ooops, arrgggh, I think our long-suffering waitress treated Hastin to a drink. Yikes.

:( :cheers:

Correction, there may be as many 12 swankers in that photo (IS that Steve's profile?).

I see 11 now.

Now I'm pretty sure it's not Steve, so back down to 11.

11

Okay, here's who I see

I see dead people

It was MMG that I was missing.

That would be choup - but I think they just called it Cheddar Bacon Soup of the Gods at Jazz Kitchen :D

Got our photos up here. It kinda runs through the day twice as the first bunch are my photos, the second CP's.

You know those Disney types, they're always so animated...

He's alive!!!!!!!!!

Techie 7!!!! Thanks for the pictures everyone. I'm so jealous.:mad:

Thanks for sharing all of your photos everyone. :) Wish I could have been there, especially because of the presence of HWNLP!

mystery doily returns
 

it appears the CM's spot the mystery doily...

could this explain the train stopping short in the station -- or the stop in the uplift, "your chain will be ready momentarily"?

Great moment.

We're just settling in at Jazz Kitchen and my chair vibrates. Huh? Oh, it's my phone. I look at the screen...and a certain name comes up on the screen. My eyes bug out, and instead of "hello", I answered with his name, as in "Techie7?"

He responds in song -
"Have yourself a swanky little Christmas..."

After much laughter I was able to communicate our position, and he said he'd catch us later. On hanging up, NA asked who that was. "Techie7!"

"WHAT?" If you didn't see NA's face, you really missed out. Her pretend son, calling ME? I echoed her shock, letting her know that I had no idea why he'd called me first. She looked about ready to kill both him and me, but then she checked her phone and realized she had a missed call. Heehee.

When He Who No Longer Posts did show up, it was quite magical, as you can see. :D

These photos happened simultaneously. I did not use a flash, but € did, and you can see his flash in my photo.

I counted 12, but those ones in back were hard to see so I may have mistaken someone for someone.

GD: "I think I'm going to sneeze."
Eliza: "GC just hit me in the mouth with his head!"
blueerica: "Whoa. No pictures, please. "
GC: "I'm going to zap someone with my lazer beam eyes. Zzzt."
Snowflake: "I'm in a green meadow and Valentino and I are doing Jello shots..."
Lindyhop: "I think I left the iron on."

:D

Yup, I think the terrible pics are just as entertaining ;)

Great pictures, GC- and everyone really looks wonderful. (I really like Eliza's haircut, btw). :cheers:

Heh - I'll reserve mine for a special occasion...

There are 12 LoTers and that doesn't i include ISM

I think you can access the pic and zoom here
(I'm experimenting with Picasa)

Oh, so that GC in the back there!

These are lovely photographs, GD and CP.

I am, however, a bit miffed that no one has ever bothered to point out that I have a double chin when I look down or laugh, so I will no longer be doing either of those things.

:p Like you could ever have a double chin, Skinny Thing. And no, you're not getting mojo from me for that post. :p :p :p

Dammit, looking for the pic of GC and me on the Lilly Belle, can't find it, but damnation, this was a fun day! Fun to revisit!

It has been nearly a year, I need to get me down to LA soon!

Ok... What's with all the GC avatars?

At the suggestion of Bornieo, a nice way to wish Brad happy trails and come back soon, dammit.

Thanks to whoever added the "['07]" to this potentially confusing thread revival title.


But it makes me wonder .... can't we have a Swank Christmas Meet sometime this season in '08???