Well apparently the vast majority prefers Carrabba's offer to the Waverly's. And who can blame them, save that extra $20 for the Dealer's Room
So here are the final plans for the AMV dinner at AWA.Again, please keep in mind that this is not an official AWA event. Also keep in mind that RSVP to attend is still in effect. If you would like to attend and have not already please email me your name, studio name, and whether you will have a guest with you or not at red_wolf@mac.com. Remember size is an issue so please limit any guest inclusions to significant others or a single friend you brought to AWA who you do not want to leave by their lonesome. This dinner is designed for AMV creators, after all.
Meeting - Thursday, 8:30 PM at the top of the escalators
We will all meet in the Renaissance Waverly Hotel (main AWA hotel) Thursday, September 25 at 8:30 PM. Everyone should gather on the second level of the main area of the hotel. This will be where the Artist Alley will be. Try to gather between the two escalators without annoying AWA or hotel staff as both will be busy getting ready for the con. Myself and a few others will be in an AWA staff meeting scheduled for 8:00 PM. We should be out of there by 8:30 PM but if we run a little late please bear with us. When the staff meeting is over I'll start rounding everyone up.
Note: AWA registration will open at 6:00 PM that night. I suggest that if you arrive at the hotel early that you check into your room and pick up your AWA registration before we meet. Registration will be closed by the time we come back and this year has had a record number of AWA pre-registration so you can bet the lines will be long Friday if you wait. You also don't want to be hauling your luggage to and from the restaurant.
The Walk - Leaving by 8:50 PM, 10 minute walk to the restaurant
Once we have gathered the plan is to head out by 8:50 PM. We will take about a 10 minute walk from the hotel to the restaurant. Wear comfortable shoes and if you have a small flashlight handy bring it along since I'm not sure how dark the walk back will be (shouldn't be too dark and who's going to jump a group of 40+ Otaku).
The Restaurant
We have a reservation for 9:00 PM at Carrabba's Italian Grill. We won't know how many local patrons will be there until we arrive so seating could be all at once or it could be sporadic for a few minutes. In any case we will all be seated in the same area and everyone will eat. We will be seated in the back of the restaurant (because I'm ashamed of you all) in a series of booths which will be back-to-back and side-by-side. An additional chair can be added to each booth as needed. By 10:00 PM we are bound to have the place to ourselves. The doors close at 10:00 PM but the manager has assured me there won't be a problem with us staying as last as 11:00 PM.
Carrabba's will split checks. They only ask that multiple people on the same check be seated in the same booth. This should be obvious but each person is responsible for their own bill. I understand that there may be a few people not interested in a full dinner for one reason or another but I do ask that you order something. This restaurant is going a bit out of their way to accommodate us, including staying open a good hour later than normal. There will be a 15% gratuity (required for groups over 8 ) added to each check. The local sales tax is 5%. FYI all Georgia restaurants are required by law to card for alcohol so bring your IDs if you're over 21 and prepare to enjoy the greatness that is southern iced tea if you're not
A detailed menu of what Carrabba's has to offer, including their wine list, can be found at http://www.carrabbas.com/menu.asp The online menu doesn't list prices so I have listed items and prices on a PDF you can download at http://homepage.mac.com/red_wolf/menu.pdf
After Dinner - VAT
Once dinner is done we'll head back to the hotel and the group can disperse from there. Depending on how much wine you've had I'm sure many of you will still be wide awake. I have been told that the VAT should be up and running by the time we get back so everyone is welcomed to mosey on over there for some late night socializing and AMVs. Otherwise the hotel is nice and spacious so I'm sure smaller groups who just want to hang out will find plenty of good spots. Be sure to remember people you've met at the dinner, you'll be running into them in the VAT constantly throughout the con.
Final Notes
Below is the list of people I have signed up for dinner. If you're not on the list but should be email me. If you're not on the list but want to be email me. I have also sent a test email to those on the list so if you didn't get the test email let me know so you can get any last minute changes on dinner via email.
Once again my email address is red_wolf@mac.com.
Paul Quinnell/Red Wolf Studio
Danny Wilson
James Scharmack/Hitori Studios
Jason Scheiner/thefinalact.net
Tim Park/Doki Doki Productions
Trent Chau/sexieukyou
Phil Conrad/Mr. Pilkington
Vlad G Pohnert
Christy Doles/ladydx
Erich Doles
Ian Roberts/AbsoluteDestiny
Lee Sheng/BogoSort
Daniel Chang/Ninja Gaijin
Nic Neidenbach/Studio Hybrid
Kris Hatfield/SQ
Nicole Barrs
Chris Roesch/Existentialism Studios
Carlos F. Corral/MindWarp Entertainment
Chris Stewart
Daric Scott Jackson/Kimagure Orange Julius
Alice Jackson
Ron "FurryCurry" McClellan/Last Pole Studio
David McKeen + 1
Jeremy Soria/BrakusJS Productions
Steve Kowalik/Daigo Jigen Productions
Eric Powell/Daigo Jigen Productions
Thad Ward
Mike Barranti/Studio KZ
Marco Tagliaferri/Turboneko Studio
Maria Cristina Battaglia/Turboneko Studio
William Milberry/Aluminum Studios
Nicole Barrs
Bob Babcock/Ashyukun
Mrs. Babcock
Mike LaBrie/VegettoEX
Meredith Cantoni/Meri
If you have any questions or suggestions please feel free to shoot me an email. Otherwise come hungry for good food and good company and I'll see you all at AWA!
[MOD467: I'll make this a sticky until after AWA is over.
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