Last Update 11-14

THE Date: November 14-16, with tasting on Saturday, the 15th. Unlimited fun and frivolity will ensue Friday pm until Sunday pm.

OK, here is the updated "Living, Breathing Document". Remember it can change; it is not set in stone. Just post your correction and it will be updated.

THEME: Lesser Known Varietals
DATE: 11/15
TIME: 6 p.m.
LOCATION: sanity's home

ATTENDEES LIST (so far):

• Aces219 Saperavi
  
• Andyduncan Romorantin, Pineau d'Aunis, Lagrein
  
• Pencilthief & KitDeLuca see above
  
• chefjess
  
• Cheron 2006 Pleasantview Vineyards Honeywood
  
• Ddeuddeg and bahwm A Dr. Konstantin Frank Rkatsiteli, Baco Noir from Henry of Pelham in Southern Ontario, Canada, and Seyval Blanc from Honeymoon Trail Wine Company
  
• Java N.V. Sant Sadurní d'Anoia Cava vega barcelona brut reserva It's comprised of 30% Macebeo, 35% Xarello, and 35% Parellada, all on the wine century club list. 2006 Bodegas Adria Bierzo The Pilgrimage That one is 100% Mencía.
  
• Nallie Ranch Bernardo 2000 Carignane and the Niagra
  
• Sanity 2004 Apainum Fiano Di Avellino and the KR Dessert wines AND A swiss wine from JOATMON
  
• Sparky 2006 Concha y Toro Carménère, a very tasty red wine from Chile. Inexpensive, but very good.
  2006 Banfi Brachetto d'Acqui Rosa Regale, which is a sparkling Rosé from Piedmont using the Brachetto varietal. AND Loweel's surprise bottle!
  
• tenuki 2003 Salice Salentino Rosso Riserva 85% Negroamaro, 15% Malvasia Nera
  2003 Quinta da Garrida Touriga Nacional Reserva100% Touriga Nacional
  
• Wineaux friends of sanity's

• WD and Winefarm
  
• Bunnymasseuse
  
• Kkv123
  
• Kyrka plus 1
  
• Lucidgirl & Vchewjr
  

• Bhodilee
  
• HAK
  
• Imagine4vr
  
• TMR
  
• T the C
  
• smlauren
  
• Tripgrad
  
• MadWine
  
• everyone who misses this one

sanity wrote:
Hotel/Casinos near my home (all within 1-4 miles):
2 miles JW Marriot Hotel/Rampart Casino
2 miles Suncoast Hotel and Casino
4 miles Red Rock Hotel and Casino
hotels/motels
2 miles Hampton Inn.
La Quinta, Best Western, Holiday Inn Express, etc. are all also with in 4 miles.

Imagine4vr wrote:....snipped....
I would much prefer to stay where everyone else is, but I think cost wise it's cheaper for me to stay on the strip. I have a room at the Rio for 4 nights for $220 plus tax. I can get 2 queen beds and there is a couch in the room if anyone wants to share cheap.

sanity wrote:There are many homes and condos for rent by the weekend, not only just off-Strip, but other areas, too. If several of you joined together for lodging, that would make it more affordable. Better than sharing a hotel room. Also, the timeshares here rent out units by the weekend, too, some of them very reasonable for the accommodations.

sanity wrote:OK, while the dates are being finalized (by tonight), is there anything special you would like to do in your spare time? Besides gamble?
I'll be happy to co-ordinate some extra curricular activity. Hiking, anyone? (Red Rock Canyon or Mt. Charleston and Lee Canyon) or the Springs Preserve?
Shopping, dining, boating on Lake Las Vegas?
A tour of way-out-there-museums and ghost towns?
How about a visit to a winery? The wines are so-so, the Peak white is enjoyable, the restaurant is very pleasant. Another thing to do out there is visit the brothels.
Or the Amargosa Opera House. Amazing.
The list goes on, actually quite a bit to do here in our desert valley.

tripgrad wrote:Ethel M Chocolate Factory & Botanical Cactus Gardens

sanity wrote:The 1st three hotel/casinos I mentioned are quite nice, all have lots of blackjack and other table games,plus poker rooms, sports books, etc. Suncoast has the 5th wheel-retiree-bingo crowd, Rampart has a more genteel atmosphere, jazz/ pop entertainment, an older "yuppie" type crowd. Red Rock is definitely the most hip, and fun.

Golf courses with 1-4 miles of the hotel/casinos mentioned above:
Summerlin Golf
TPC- Canyons
Angel Park

Red Rock Hotel/Casino is about 5 minutes from some great hikes. Maybe we could sneak one in before the tasting aces, nallie?

sanity wrote:Tix4tonite has great deals on tickets. So should your concierge.

javadrinker wrote:Here's another site that has discount Vegas show tickets. You might need to sign up to see the page but it's a good site for discount tix at major areas so it's worth it (Sparky, Lucid, Chewie, and I are going to see Wicked next month for half off through them).

Shameless plug alert!!!!: Use this link if you sign up...I get $1 credited to my account.

sanity wrote:My zip is 89128. Northwest part of the valley. I'm 9 miles from downtown (the Golden Nugget, newly remodeled, younger crowd) and 12-15 miles from the strip. We can always do a field trip to the strip if you all decide to stay by me!

nallie, Red Rock Canyon is 15 minutes away, and several hikes are easy and fairly short, 1-2 hours. Here is a list of hikes rated by difficulty. I've done about half. Elevation goes from app 3500' to about 4800' depending on the hike. #'s 3,8 and 9, along with the 13 mile scenic loop drive would take about 3 hours, max. Another idea, is to tour the Springs Preserve, with walking trails, many exhibits, beautiful desert gardens and more. Short answer, yes, bring the boots!

Imagine4vr wrote:I love Red Rock Canyon, it is just beautiful there. A childrens trail sounds right up my alley! LOL And like madwine, I'm happy planting my azz on a chair at a blackjack or 3 card poker table all afternoon.....snipped....

MarkDaSpark wrote:....snipped....
By the by, Loweeel recommended this site (for air, hotel, & rental car), and I have had excellent results using it as well: http://www.sidestep.com
....snipped....

Whatever the dates, I suggest you look at Allegiant Air for flights and possibly hotel packages. I've been flying with them for 10 years, and they have great rates and non-stop flights. No frills, they make Southwest look luxurious. disclaimer: I do not own stock, nor do I know anyone that works for the company.

sanity wrote:OK, here's the place to post your date requests, ideas, etc.

Dates being bandied about:

Oct. 3-5
Nov. 1-3
Nov. 7-9

Everyone, please chime in!

November!

sanity wrote:OK, here's the place to post your date requests, ideas, etc.

Dates being bandied about:

Oct. 3-5
Nov. 1-3
Nov. 7-9

Everyone, please chime in!

November please

A few other ideas:

If I host, I will list hotel / casinos and motels nearby. Suncoast, Rampart are 1 mile away, Red Rock Hotel/casino about 4 miles, Hampton Inn and similar 2 miles away, to name just a few. Enough good restaurants, entertainment, golf courses and other activities so you wouldn't miss the strip (or the prices). I'll post more in detail later.

If you would all prefer to stay on the strip, a tasting can be held at a restaurant/winebar and party there or somewhere else afterwards.

For transportation, mr. sanity uses a car service (limo) 2-4 times weeks, for about $50 from our house to the strip, less from a nearby hotel. Or a small bus is another option.

Trent: They're gonna give daddy the Rainman suite, you dig that?
Mike: Do you think we'll get there by midnight?
Trent: Baby, we're going to be up five hundy by midnight!
Mike: Yeeeeaaaaahhhhhh!
Trent: Vegas baby! Vegas!
Mike: Vegas!

sanity wrote:A few other ideas:

If I host, I will list hotel / casinos and motels nearby. Suncoast, Rampart are 1 mile away, Red Rock Hotel/casino about 4 miles, Hampton Inn and similar 2 miles away, to name just a few. Enough good restaurants, entertainment, golf courses and other activities so you wouldn't miss the strip (or the prices). I'll post more in detail later.

If you would all prefer to stay on the strip, a tasting can be held at a restaurant/winebar and party there or somewhere else afterwards.

For transportation, mr. sanity uses a car service (limo) 2-4 times weeks, for about $50 from our house to the strip, less from a nearby hotel. Or a small bus is another option.

I have no need of the glitz and glamour so off the strip would be fine with me. Now DW on the other hand, I dunno bout.

bhodilee wrote:I have no need of the glitz and glamour so off the strip would be fine with me. Now DW on the other hand, I dunno bout.

It's an easy drive, 15-20 minutes, max. Lot's of fun, free stuff to do, also. When we take friends, we sometimes use the monorail, depending upon which places are being visited.

Oct 3-5, I need a Vegas trip

bhodilee wrote:I have no need of the glitz and glamour so off the strip would be fine with me. Now DW on the other hand, I dunno bout.

Sounds like The Dating Game host isn't ready for the Newlyweds game yet.

My vote is for Oct. too. Sanity, have you tallied up the votes thus far?

Got your PM. All is good!!

well, if its the first date in nov, I can make it ($300 plane ticket, whose got a place to crash?) but it sounds like the winds are blowing towards oct.

madwine wrote:My vote is for Oct. too. Sanity, have you tallied up the votes thus far?

Got your PM. All is good!!

Thanks madwine!

I've received several PM's re dates. The count is even so far between Oct, Nov, and early 2009, Feb. or March. It does give those who have to buy airfare time to plan. I won't say time to save, since isn't early Feb. when the xmas credit card bills arrive?

Whatever the dates, I suggest you look at Allegiant Air for flights and possibly hotel packages. I've been flying with them for 10 years, and they have great rates and non-stop flights. No frills, they make Southwest look luxurious. disclaimer: I do not own stock, nor do I know anyone that works for the company.

Keep those ideas coming in, but remember the wooters who must book airfare need time to take care of business.

nematic wrote:well, if its the first date in nov, I can make it ($300 plane ticket, whose got a place to crash?) but it sounds like the winds are blowing towards oct.

There are many homes and condos for rent by the weekend, not only just off-Strip, but other areas, too. If several of you joined together for lodging, that would make it more affordable. Better than sharing a hotel room. Also, the timeshares here rent out units by the weekend, too, some of them very reasonable for the accommodations.

sanity wrote:The count is even so far between Oct, Nov, and early 2009, Feb. or March.

Well, what's stopping both? Those are far enough apart that you could hold the one in Oct/Nov, and then have another one in '09

For me, personally, I've just been running some numbers through travelocity for date/price comparisons, and October is going to be totally out for me. Especially that weekend, since that's one being tossed about for NoVA/DC #7 which I'm already committed to. November is definitely doable as far as cost goes, and for schedule, the second weekend is best. But either is fine.

Feb/March so far are looking to be more expensive, but I'd be restarting my vacation days, so it'll be easier to get time off for an extended weekend, rather than a squishy 2-day thing. Plus, time to save money up. So, my $0.02.

sanity wrote:OK, here's the place to post your date requests, ideas, etc.

Dates being bandied about:

Oct. 3-5
Nov. 1-3
Nov. 7-9

Everyone, please chime in!

The two dates in November are fine with me. Oct is out with that date, as I will be in Seattle for a conference.

cheron98 wrote:Well, what's stopping both? Those are far enough apart that you could hold the one in Oct/Nov, and then have another one in '09

For me, personally, I've just been running some numbers through travelocity for date/price comparisons, and October is going to be totally out for me. Especially that weekend, since that's one being tossed about for NoVA/DC #7 which I'm already committed to. November is definitely doable as far as cost goes, and for schedule, the second weekend is best. But either is fine.

Feb/March so far are looking to be more expensive, but I'd be restarting my vacation days, so it'll be easier to get time off for an extended weekend, rather than a squishy 2-day thing. Plus, time to save money up. So, my $0.02.

FYI,

I believe that the Dark & Delicious Love Fest (Petite Sirah main event) is being held at Concannon sometime in Febrary/March. PSith Master Loweeel and the Zinfidel (TMR, aka V^2) will be out California way then. We might be able to persuade them to drop down and visit a tasting as well. Will try to find out date(s) for the D&D fest.

cheron98 wrote:Well, what's stopping both? Those are far enough apart that you could hold the one in Oct/Nov, and then have another one in '09

For me, personally, I've just been running some numbers through travelocity for date/price comparisons, and October is going to be totally out for me. Especially that weekend, since that's one being tossed about for NoVA/DC #7 which I'm already committed to. November is definitely doable as far as cost goes, and for schedule, the second weekend is best. But either is fine.

Feb/March so far are looking to be more expensive, but I'd be restarting my vacation days, so it'll be easier to get time off for an extended weekend, rather than a squishy 2-day thing. Plus, time to save money up. So, my $0.02.

Delete. Duplicate post

Oct. 3-5 = very doable
Oct. 31-Nov. 2 = tough but can work
Nov. 7-9 = unable to attend

Thanks, Sanity, for grabbing the bull by the horns!! (fyi - my goal is to eventually use every cliche available to mankind in a note of gratitude to you.)

MarkDaSpark wrote:FYI,

I believe that the Dark & Delicious Love Fest (Petite Sirah main event) is being held at Concannon sometime in Febrary/March. PSith Master Loweeel and the Zinfidel (TMR, aka V^2) will be out California way then. We might be able to persuade them to drop down and visit a tasting as well. Will try to find out date(s) for the D&D fest.

oh right i was gonna try and make that, too... this country needs to shrink...

Well at first thought I was going to vote for the early Oct date, but then I remembered something. Java is getting old...he turns the big 4 & 0 at the end of October. I had pretty much decided that if I'm going to go ahead and actually have that birthday count, I might as well do it while drunk and losing money. That would be the 30th of October. So if I do that, and then stick around for Halloween, and then stick around even longer for a gathering with my favorite non-homicidal internet wine geeks...welll, this could all be quite a fun few days. My vote is Nov 1-3. Hell, I think I'll be there even if we don't do this thing.

javadrinker wrote:Well at first thought I was going to vote for the early Oct date, but then I remembered something. Java is getting old...he turns the big 4 & 0 at the end of October. I had pretty much decided that if I'm going to go ahead and actually have that birthday count, I might as well do it while drunk and losing money. That would be the 30th of October. So if I do that, and then stick around for Halloween, and then stick around even longer for a gathering with my favorite non-homicidal internet wine geeks...welll, this could all be quite a fun few days. My vote is Nov 1-3. Hell, I think I'll be there even if we don't do this thing.

I HAVE to go to Hawaii the 4th to the 11th of November. Business trip type thing (well for Jon) and my big 4 & 0 is during that time as well. And at the same time the big boy turns 11!!! But Ya'll have fun if you put it in Nov. Because I'll be sitting in the cafe drinking coffee or on the beach w/ a soda!!

javadrinker wrote:Well at first thought I was going to vote for the early Oct date, but then I remembered something. Java is getting old...he turns the big 4 & 0 at the end of October. I had pretty much decided that if I'm going to go ahead and actually have that birthday count, I might as well do it while drunk and losing money. That would be the 30th of October. So if I do that, and then stick around for Halloween, and then stick around even longer for a gathering with my favorite non-homicidal internet wine geeks...welll, this could all bequite a fun few days. My vote is Nov 1-3. Hell, I think I'll be there even if we don't do this thing.

madwine wrote:I HAVE to go to Hawaii the 4th to the 11th of November. Business trip type thing (well for Jon) and my big 4 & 0 is during that time as well. And at the same time the big boy turns 11!!! But Ya'll have fun if you put it in Nov. Because I'll be sitting in the cafe drinking coffee or on the beach w/ a soda!!

Dear java, I just had my BD yesterday, and let me tell you, 40 is no where near old. Why, I'm old enough to be your....well, your very much older sister, anyway.

And I know you wouldn't dare think of madwine as old, would ya?

I've received a few more PM's, and looks like Nov. is pulling ahead. What about Nov 15-16? We could celebrate both your birthdays. What a par, er, I mean tasting that would be!

javadrinker wrote:Well at first thought I was going to vote for the early Oct date, but then I remembered something. Java is getting old...he turns the big 4 & 0 at the end of October. I had pretty much decided that if I'm going to go ahead and actually have that birthday count, I might as well do it while drunk and losing money. That would be the 30th of October. So if I do that, and then stick around for Halloween, and then stick around even longer for a gathering with my favorite non-homicidal internet wine geeks...welll, this could all be quite a fun few days. My vote is Nov 1-3. Hell, I think I'll be there even if we don't do this thing.

So I'm not invited

bhodilee wrote:So I'm not invited

Yes, you are definitely invited!! We wantz our bowtie!!!!

sanity wrote:Dear java, I just had my BD yesterday, and let me tell you, 40 is no where near old. Why, I'm old enough to be your....well, your very much older sister, anyway.

And I know you wouldn't dare think of madwine as old, would ya?

I've received a few more PM's, and looks like Nov. is pulling ahead. What about Nov 15-16? We could celebrate both your birthdays. What a par, er, I mean tasting that would be!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! Why didn't we know this at the tasting?! We would have karaoked the appropriate anthem!!

I'm sorry to report I can't make Nov. 15-16 either, daughter thing. I'm all for Java's birthday weekend, though. How cool (in a scary, scary way) must Vegas be on Halloween?

When you are tallying votes, can you maybe weight them based on the likelihood the person will attend if his or her schedule is accommodated? Otherwise, we may end up pushing this thing out until 2010...

Thanks again for all your hard work at what appears to be a somewhat thankless job.

nallie wrote:....snipped....
I'm sorry to report I can't make Nov. 15-16 either, daughter thing. I'm all for Java's birthday weekend, though. How cool (in a scary, scary way) must Vegas be on Halloween?

When you are tallying votes, can you maybe weight them based on the likelihood the person will attend if his or her schedule is accommodated? Otherwise, we may end up pushing this thing out until 2010
....snipped....

Vegas is a very crazy place Halloween weekend. The times when Halloween falls mid-week are the worst, because everyone parties straight through.

We can always plan a mini tasting with a small(er) group
Oct./Nov. and a large(er) tasting later to allow people time to accommodate schedules, finances, etc. Any of the dates are fine with me. I'm happy to check out lodging, transpo etc., once basic plans are firmed up.

sanity wrote:Vegas is a very crazy place Halloween weekend. The times when Halloween falls mid-week are the worst, because everyone parties straight through.

We can always plan a mini tasting with a small(er) group
Oct./Nov. and a large(er) tasting later to allow people time to accommodate schedules, finances, etc. Any of the dates are fine with me. I'm happy to check out lodging, transpo etc., once basic plans are firmed up.

Also something to remember/consider: Daylight Savings ends on Nov. 2nd this year. (Fall Back) So we lose an hour at 2am on the 2nd.

MarkDaSpark wrote:Also something to remember/consider: Daylight Savings ends on Nov. 2nd this year. (Fall Back) So we lose an hour at 2am on the 2nd.

that's a funny way of looking at it: i always thought that having the clock turn from 2 AM to 1 AM in the blink of an eye meant that i had just GAINED an hour (cuz that is what happens when DST ends).

EDIT: and, not that anybody asked me, but i'd love to join you if possible. early October doesn't work for me, but Halloween & November might. FWIW.

themostrighteous wrote:that's a funny way of looking at it: i always thought that having the clock turn from 2 AM to 1 AM in the blink of an eye meant that i had just GAINED an hour (cuz that is what happens when DST ends).

EDIT: and, not that anybody asked me, but i'd love to join you if possible. early October doesn't work for me, but Halloween & November might. FWIW.

Everybody's invited! This is the invitation!! It would be downright righteous if you and Bow and Nurse Laura and Cheron and Imagine4 and SM and Nematic and TK and the whole dang wine.woot.kitand caboodle could be there!

themostrighteous wrote:that's a funny way of looking at it: i always thought that having the clock turn from 2 AM to 1 AM in the blink of an eye meant that i had just GAINED an hour (cuz that is what happens when DST ends).

EDIT: and, not that anybody asked me, but i'd love to join you if possible. early October doesn't work for me, but Halloween & November might. FWIW.

DOH! That be correct! We gain the hour back we lost from Springing Forward!

nallie wrote:Everybody's invited! This is the invitation!! It would be downright righteous if you and Bow and Nurse Laura and Cheron and Imagine4 and SM and Nematic and TK and the whole dang wine.woot.kitand caboodle could be there!

ROAD TRIP!!!! Hah, I wonder how well that might work, actually, if we get a bunch of the Chicagoans going + me. I almost feel like a Chicagoan at this point... Almost.

On second thought, probably not so well for a "short" weekend, since it's so dang far...

MarkDaSpark wrote:DOH! That be correct! We gain the hour back we lost from Springing Forward!

Which would make it the logical choice, since we get a WHOLE EXTRA HOUR of debauchery! er... civilized discussion...

themostrighteous wrote:....snipped....

EDIT: and, not that anybody asked me, but I'd love to join you if possible. early October doesn't work for me, but Halloween & November might. FWIW.

nallie wrote:Everybody's invited! This is the invitation!! It would be downright righteous if you and Bow and Nurse Laura and Cheron and Imagine4 and SM and Nematic and TK and the whole dang wine.woot.kit and caboodle could be there!

What she said!

cheron98 wrote:Which would make it the logical choice, since we get a WHOLE EXTRA HOUR of debauchery! er... civilized discussion...

Wait a minute! That's my line!!!

MarkDaSpark wrote:Wait a minute! That's my line!!!

You were too slow!

cheron98 wrote:Which would make it the logical choice, since we get a WHOLE EXTRA HOUR of debauchery! er... civilized discussion...

which seals it for me.

sanity wrote:What she said!

why thank you both (sanity & nallie)! wasn't looking for a formal invite. just recognizing that you SoCals are the "hosts" for this one 'sall. i REALLY hope you plan this & that i can join you. fur realz.

themostrighteous wrote:why thank you both (sanity & nallie)! wasn't looking for a formal invite. just recognizing that you SoCals are the "hosts" for this one 'sall. i REALLY hope you plan this & that i can join you. fur realz.

Since when has who the "host" is stopped us from running over and crashing the party? I mean, lookit what NoVA/DC #6 turned into!

cheron98 wrote:Since when has who the "host" is stopped us from running over and crashing the party? I mean, lookit what NoVA/DC #6 turned into!

my point was merely that SoCal'ers will comprise the majority of prospective attendees & will therefore be the ones who decide WHEN this is happening by virtue of their numbers. the sooner that they do so the sooner that you & i & others can make prospective travel plans & the cheaper those arrangement will be. 'sall.

themostrighteous wrote:my point was merely that SoCal'ers will comprise the majority of prospective attendees & will therefore be the ones who decide WHEN this is happening by virtue of their numbers. the sooner that they do so the sooner that you & i & others can make prospective travel plans & the cheaper those arrangement will be. 'sall.

Yes, but we are gracious hosts, and want to have wine.wooters from all over drop in. So we will take into account your availabilities as well. We had #3 on a Friday night, since that was the only night Loweeel was in town.

Let Sanity know your availablity as well.

Plus, we wantz our bowtie!!!! Bowtie! Bowtie!