AFF Gathering #3, Sydney, October 23-25, 2009

[QF WP]

Lookin at the EDD for mini-LW#2 (6 November), I'd think that I'll be a no-show for this event (so Bronze it is). I'm sure that it will be about the time of the birth, actually (based on my thinking that Mrs LW won't go full term, akin to mini-LW#1).

Maybe they'll be a celebratory drink by all participants toasting the (impending) birth (like you'll need much reason for another drink)

 

[Alanslegal]

[/list]Paging the SYD locals for suggestions - Febs and Alanslegal especially I'm looking at you.

Got the pager all Ok, QF009

The only issue re: Sat night is I may not be at the dinner (as its dads bday that night). But if I had to put my $0.02 in for post-sat-dinner drinks, I'd suggest one of the lovely bars along coughle Bay or King Street Wharf ..... the Helm Bar is nice place to just chill, unwind for night.

 

[munitalP]

Some email correspondence...

Mr...

Absolutely, there are always options and daily specials for the people with dietary requirements.

So long as you let us know so we can edit it into the reservation details it will be fine.

Have a great day and I look forward to your response.


Kind Regards

Amarni Huett
Lowenbrau Sales Manager
Lowenbrau Keller & Uberbar
Cnr Argyle & Playfair Streets
The Rocks NSW 2000
___________________________________
* Email: [email protected]
( Main line: 02 9247 7785
0 Fax: 02 9241 1613

- Winner Best Metropolitan Beer Cafe 2008
Restaurant and Catering Awards

- Winner Best Metropolitan Entertainment Restaurant 2008
Restaurant and Catering Awards


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 August 2009 1:58 PM
To: Amarni Huett
Cc: Oz_mark
Subject: RE: lowenbrau.com.au: Contact Form

We have some vege guests coming - is there an option for these non meat eating folk?


Mr........

It would seem most can be catered for at this venue...

 

[Keith009]

Got the pager all Ok, QF009

The only issue re: Sat night is I may not be at the dinner (as its dads bday that night). But if I had to put my $0.02 in for post-sat-dinner drinks, I'd suggest one of the lovely bars along coughle Bay or King Street Wharf ..... the Helm Bar is nice place to just chill, unwind for night.

That looks nice. Do they serve reasonably priced beer too? The website only lists coughtails and wine, and we do need to cater to the beer drinkers amongst us also.

edit: never mind I've just answered my own Q.

We’ve got it all at the Helm Bar.
Opening out over the waters of Darling Harbour’s coughle Bay, this is the ultimate in comfort, style and ambience.
Whether it’s classic Australian wines, a spectacular coughtail, your choice of Aussie or international beers or a delectable choice of dishes, we can satisfy your expectations.
Stand at the bar, take a seat close to the water or maybe relax on the high stools at the northern end.
All just a few minutes stroll from the heart of the city.

 

[kpc]

Don't want to cause any more stress ulcers to our organisers:
Trendy eatery fined by health inspectors | National Breaking News | News.com.au
...but we are only going for drinks, right?:shock:

 

[munitalP]

Don't want to cause any more stress ulcers to our organisers:
Trendy eatery fined by health inspectors | National Breaking News | News.com.au
...but we are only going for drinks, right?:shock:

I hope their beers colder than their stored meat....


Mr!

:shock:

 

[Febs]

[/list]
Paging the SYD locals for suggestions - Febs and Alanslegal especially I'm looking at you.

Depends on what we're after

Classy (and pricey)
- Hemmesphere (George St)
- Blu-Horizon (in Shangri-La, Rocks)
- Ivy Lounge/Den (George St)
- Ivy Pool Club (George St)
(These two would need a guestlist)

Relaxed, nice, still classy
- Argyle
- Hugo's
- The Loft (coughle Bay Wharf)
- Gin Garden (Establishment, George St)

Touristy, but decent:
- Bungalow-8 (coughle Bay)
- Cargo Bar / Lounge (coughle Bay)
- Helm Bar (coughle Bay)
- Cruise Bar (Circular Quay)
- Opera Bar

Hip/Funky
- Ruby Rabbit (De Nom could be added to the "Classy" category above )
- Kit&Kaboodle

Ivy and Kit&Kaboodle I should be able to organise guestlists for, but they're places with dress codes (pretty much "don't look like a dag") and they're not the cheapest places in town. Plus, they get very busy as it gets later on a Saturday night. Probably not ideal.

For a large group I'd recommend any of the "Touristy but decent" places above, or Argyle, as they're going to be the easiest for all of us to get into.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[anat0l]

Don't want to cause any more stress ulcers to our organisers:
Trendy eatery fined by health inspectors | National Breaking News | News.com.au
...but we are only going for drinks, right?:shock:

Well that fills me with confidence....

 

[straitman]

one person starts coughing about something then a whole band wagon joins in....

I throw my hands up in defeat

This is a joke - oz-mark has put effort into this, I have put effort into this and there's not a single gram of appreciation to the efforts so far. I spent hours yesterday on the phone and sending emails back and forth - I'm about to say stuff it and let one of the "others" who are so full of good ideas take over...

As for the last post - you could have had your say a month ago, in fact, a week ago even up to 2 days ago -

Originally Posted by QF009
Of course, it'd help v greatly if people came up with suggestions for alternative venues if they have strong objections to the ones already suggested.


I agree 100% QF009


:evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:

munitalP,

Sorry but this post is a joke! :evil:

You asked people for ideas and now with only 2 3/4 months to go don't want any more suggestions.

 

[oz_mark]

Touristy, but decent:
- Bungalow-8 (coughle Bay)
- Cargo Bar / Lounge (coughle Bay)
- Helm Bar (coughle Bay)
- Cruise Bar (Circular Quay)
- Opera Bar

I am thinking a minor shuffle based on this.

I suggest since we are in the area, that we move the Opera Bar drinks to Saturday night.

On Friday night we choose one of the Darling Harbour bars and find somewhere to eat in the area.

 

[munitalP]

munitalP,

Sorry but this post is a joke! :evil:

You asked people for ideas and now with only 2 3/4 months to go don't want any more suggestions.

Sorry mate, I don't agree,

The suggestions from others has been dead for a long time - now, once plans are being made and a general feeling of consensous is established, people want to change things - as far as interactive members of our community are concerned such as notzac, QF, JK, yourself are concerned - I take it as constructive - a total newbie "drops in" and starts bagging the choices - well it pisses me off to no end and if he was looking for a reaction - he got one...

Im sorry if you don't like my stance, its not easy to please all as has recently pointed out by others...

Also with events happening in Sydney throughout October - we do need to act now to get what we want...

munitalP

:-|

 

[munitalP]

Depends on what we're after

Classy (and pricey)
- Hemmesphere (George St) -
- Blu-Horizon (in Shangri-La, Rocks) Been there - awesome but $$$ 10/10 Mr! scale
- Ivy Lounge/Den (George St)
- Ivy Pool Club (George St)
(These two would need a guestlist)

Relaxed, nice, still classy
- Argyle
- Hugo's
- The Loft (coughle Bay Wharf) - very nice... a few of us after a couple of conference dinners have ended up there... again 10/10 Mr! scale
- Gin Garden (Establishment, George St)

Touristy, but decent:
- Bungalow-8 (coughle Bay)
- Cargo Bar / Lounge (coughle Bay)
- Helm Bar (coughle Bay)
- Cruise Bar (Circular Quay)
- Opera Bar

Hip/Funky
- Ruby Rabbit (De Nom could be added to the "Classy" category above )
- Kit&Kaboodle

Ivy and Kit&Kaboodle I should be able to organise guestlists for, but they're places with dress codes (pretty much "don't look like a dag") and they're not the cheapest places in town. Plus, they get very busy as it gets later on a Saturday night. Probably not ideal.

For a large group I'd recommend any of the "Touristy but decent" places above, or Argyle, as they're going to be the easiest for all of us to get into.

Cheers,
- Febs.

comments in red


Mr!

 

[tuapekastar]

I was thinking maybe BNE or PER instead of SYD for the weekend?

Noooo, only joking!!!

Organisers have a tough task, their efforts are much appreciated, and I aint going to make it any tougher!

I will say that on the bar preferences, it's nice to have a place where you can hear and be heard without having to scream into each other's ear or try and lipread (what's the point of meeting if you can't converse)! But I'll happily go with the flow.

Originally Posted by munitalP
I throw my hands up in defeat

Now what's it to be Mr! De hands or de feat?

 

[straitman]

Sorry mate, I don't agree,

The suggestions from others has been dead for a long time - now, once plans are being made and a general feeling of consensous is established, people want to change things - as far as interactive members of our community are concerned such as notzac, QF, JK, yourself are concerned - I take it as constructive - a total newbie "drops in" and starts bagging the choices - well it pisses me off to no end and if he was looking for a reaction - he got one...

Im sorry if you don't like my stance, its not easy to please all as has recently pointed out by others...

Also with events happening in Sydney throughout October - we do need to act now to get what we want...

munitalP

:-|

No worries. We are big enough to agree to disagree.

If the issue is time of year, how busy Sydney is and how hard accom and booking are going to be then maybe (don't shoot me please) another weekend would be more appropriate :!:

The essence of a weekend like this is to attract the most (within reason) people to the venue and the best cost (within reason) so that all are able to mingle to the maximum. Too many high price and highfalutin venues and sessions and you loose people on mass.

Having been there and done that, literally, I encourage what you are doing and understand it to be a thankless task by some people. See Oz Fest 6 2009. This took 12 months, 1215 post and 39,511 views to organise but we all had a great time.

 

[Hvr]

Organisers have a tough task, their efforts are much appreciated, and I aint going to make it any tougher!

I will say that on the bar preferences, it's nice to have a place where you can hear and be heard without having to scream into each other's ear or try and lipread (what's the point of meeting if you can't converse)! But I'll happily go with the flow.

Well said and agreed. I don't know enough about Sydney to actually suggest places so will go with the flow. I may not love everywhere we go and may never visit them again but surely the purpose of travelling as we all do is to see new places and have new experiences?

That said I have organised events before and am fully aware of how much behind the scenes work is required to ensure that something like this runs smoothly. Look forward to thanking the organisers personally.

As noted above, a place where it is possible to talk will be very welcome.

Look forward to putting faces to names.

A final thought, am I going to be the only teetotaller at this do?

 

[straitman]

Well said and agreed. I don't know enough about Sydney to actually suggest places so will go with the flow. I may not love everywhere we go and may never visit them again but surely the purpose of travelling as we all do is to see new places and have new experiences?

That said I have organised events before and am fully aware of how much behind the scenes work is required to ensure that something like this runs smoothly. Look forward to thanking the organisers personally.

As noted above, a place where it is possible to talk will be very welcome.

Look forward to putting faces to names.

A final thought, am I going to be the only teetotaller at this do?

Probably, but AFF and FT people are quite generous and will still talk to you. It is just that you may not understand them very well later in the evening :!:

 

[Keith009]

Probably, but AFF and FT people are quite generous and will still talk to you. It is just that you may not understand them very well later in the evening :!:

Quite!

 

[JohnK]

one person starts coughing about something then a whole band wagon joins in....

coughing? I gave my reasons for not wanting to attend. I base a lot of my decisions on my personal opinion and the choice of venues and if I do not like it then I miss out.

This is a joke - oz-mark has put effort into this, I have put effort into this and there's not a single gram of appreciation to the efforts so far. I spent hours yesterday on the phone and sending emails back and forth - I'm about to say stuff it and let one of the "others" who are so full of good ideas take over...

The organisers have done a very good job. It is never easy and it is a thankless task.

If I was going to be critical in any way the last couple of "AFF" events organised/planned are going over the top. Some of the more vocal AFFers influencing the organisers crave the trendy, expensive places. If these are the sort of venues you want for the gatherings then so be it.

Some of us are simple people with simpe tastes and not all have an endless supply of money to throw away....

 

[oz_mark]

Shuffling the Jigsaw

OK, based on various bits of feedback, thought I'd change a few things around.

Originally Posted by draft activities
Friday Night
Welcome Drinks and Dinner

coughle Bay area (maybe Helm Bar)


Saturday A.M
Sydney Airport Tarmac Tour

Saturday Lunch
Din Tai Fung


Saturday Industry Dinner
Loewnbrau (Löwenbräu Keller)
or
Bavarian (Bavarian Bier Cafe )
or
seafood restaurant in Brighton Le-Sands.


After dinner drinks
Opera Bar (Opera Bar - Home)


Sunday Lunch
Harbour Cruise and Lunch

<puts armour plated suit on>

shoot away

 

[serfty]

Organisation is tough - been there done that.

I am more interested in the social part and discussion on frequent travel as distinct from what I eat.

We're happy to work with the cards dealt and will endeavor to make the best of it. For example, we tend to try to avoid set menus. Note, the least expensive of the menu options in post #151 is $46 pp; with drinks that's gunna ping the wallet. When we go out we normally spend little more than that on food in total, then again we don't normally dine at the rocks, so be it. (however the web site does not show any individual prices)

In any case, we will not be doing 'After dinner drinks' on Saturday.