Northern California - Holiday Dinner

No one has started it, so I will. Anyone want to start arranging for a holiday dinner? Yea, I know, juggling all the parties in December will be madness, but I thought I would throw the topic out there for discussion. I can't do the weekend of 12/8-12/9, as I will be in LA (celebrating the SoCal BF holiday party). And there's also the decision of where to have it. My guess is the east bay would be more central for everyone, but we can debate that on this thread.

It'll be great to see everyone, without their cycling attire ... but by no means will this be a formal affair (unless you really want it to be).

No one has started it, so I will. Anyone want to start arranging for a holiday dinner? Yea, I know, juggling all the parties in December will be madness, but I thought I would throw the topic out there for discussion. I can't do the weekend of 12/8-12/9, as I will be in LA (celebrating the SoCal BF holiday party). And there's also the decision of where to have it. My guess is the east bay would be more central for everyone, but we can debate that on this thread.

It'll be great to see everyone, without their cycling attire ... but by no means will this be a formal affair (unless you really want it to be).

We will try to attend depending on date/place.... the only childcare I have is over near Valley Fair.... :D

We will try to attend depending on date/place.... the only childcare I have is over near Valley Fair.... :D

They serve dinner?:p:p:p

They serve dinner?:p:p:p

not very well :p

Well, there is of course, Santana Row ... just a hop and a skip from Valley Fair.

Dec 7, 8, 15, 16 works for me. Friday the 7th would be good. I should get a green light from the neuro-surgery folks for my back.

I vote for the weekend of 12/15-16.

Well, there is of course, Santana Row ... just a hop and a skip from Valley Fair.

Maggiano's?

Weekend of 12/15 - 12/16 works for me.

If there is good food involved, I'm there.;)

So now that we have interests, where would everyone like to meet? SF? Jack London Square? Berkeley? I'd like to make it somewhere centrally located, so that more people could attend, so any suggestions?

Maybe we should start a poll for date and place?

Maybe we should start a poll for date and place?

sounds good.

I will try to make the dinner either way. But SF or San Jose would be best for me considering I don't drive. Plus, I can't promise I won't show up in tights anyway. j/k.

Just make sure you wear a white dinner jacket over your tights. It should be OK.

I'll go if its in SJ, otherwise I'm out due to childcare (or lack thereof) :o

I'll come if you bring your daughters.

Maggiano's?

There's a Maggiano's out here? Where? I used to go to the one in TX when I lived there. Good shtuff!

There's a Maggiano's out here? Where? I used to go to the one in TX when I lived there. Good shtuff!

At Santana Row. http://www.santanarow.com/dining/?id=54
Only one in Nor Cal. There are 3 in So Cal

At Santana Row. http://www.santanarow.com/dining/?id=54
Only one in Nor Cal. There are 3 in So Cal

Gawd, it's been maybe 3 years or so since I've been to Santana Row. I tripped out on the huge chess game when I first saw that.

I'll have to make a trip down there one day with the wife. :)

Gawd, it's been maybe 3 years or so since I've been to Santana Row. I tripped out on the huge chess game when I first saw that.

I'll have to make a trip down there one day with the wife. :)

Yeah that is a really sweet chess board! Having the regular sized ones nearby is cool too. A break for a nice chess game in the middle of your shopping can be pretty cool.

I've heard about Santana Row, but never been. It sounds kinda cool.
How about a poll for the dinner location? and date?

Current date options:
Dec 15
Dec 16
others?

Current location options:
Maggianos
somewhere in the SouthEast Bay (but still close to childcare)
others?

So now that we have interests, where would everyone like to meet? SF? Jack London Square? Berkeley? I'd like to make it somewhere centrally located, so that more people could attend, so any suggestions?

Blondies pizza in Berkeley. :p
Actually there is really good Chinese restaurant in Berkeley called Great China Restaurant. Food is delicious!

There's a Maggiano's out here? Where? I used to go to the one in TX when I lived there. Good shtuff!

In Santana Row, which is on the corner of Stevens Creek and Winchester. Maggiano's is about halfway down Santana Row, facing Winchester.

I've heard about Santana Row, but never been. It sounds kinda cool.
How about a poll for the dinner location? and date?

Current date options:
Dec 15
Dec 16
others?

Current location options:
Maggianos
somewhere in the SouthEast Bay (but still close to childcare)
others?
So looks like I'll be in NorCal, forshizzle, on 15th and 16th. So I vote 15th. Berkeley GreatChina Restaurant, or SouthEast Bay.

I've never been to Maggiano's, but first time is good as any other. Let's make that our venue. How about the 15th? Anybody else have other restaurant suggestions? I was going to suggest Buco di Beppo in Palo Alto, but I've never been to Maggiano's ... waiting for others to chime in.

I've never been to Maggiano's, but first time is good as any other. Let's make that our venue. How about the 15th? Anybody else have other restaurant suggestions? I was going to suggest Buco di Beppo in Palo Alto, but I've never been to Maggiano's ... waiting for others to chime in.

How strange that I just saw a show " Check Please Bay Area" and the we're reviewing Buco di Beppo in San Francisco, It really sounded great! I didn't know about the Palo Alto location. That might be great cause it's in between Sf And SJ and great for the mid land Bfr's

What about Korean food? I discovered this awesome Korean restaurant in Santa Clara on El Camino. They have eel! :D There is also this great Afgani place few miles north of Palo Alto. They have great kababs.

What about Korean food? I discovered this awesome Korean restaurant in Santa Clara on El Camino. They have eel! :D There is also this great Afgani place few miles north of Palo Alto. They have great kababs.

Which one? There are plenty of Korean places on El Camino ... I'm in that area.

Which one? There are plenty of Korean places on El Camino ... I'm in that area.
It's this one.
Han Sung BBQ
2644 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95051-3041

Mmm, mmm, spicy BBQ pork!

It's this one.
Han Sung BBQ
2644 El Camino Real
Santa Clara, CA 95051-3041

Got my attention!:)

Got my attention!:)

Yess, Give in to BBQ goodness. *Evil laugh. :D

So what's the verdict? Looks like there are 3 popular choices:

Maggiano's in Santana Row, in San Jose
Buca di Beppo in Palo Alto
Han Sung BBQ in Santa Clara

So what's the verdict? Looks like there are 3 popular choices:

Maggiano's in Santana Row, in San Jose
Buca di Beppo in Palo Alto
Han Sung BBQ in Santa Clara

Buca di Beppo in Palo Alto
= Nice halfway point. Also Palo Alto being the starting point for the 2008 Tour of Cal. Kind of befitting for bike centrics as we all are.
My 2 cents
PF

So what's the verdict? Looks like there are 3 popular choices:

Maggiano's in Santana Row, in San Jose
Buca di Beppo in Palo Alto
Han Sung BBQ in Santa Clara

Maybe you should start a poll in a new thread, to see who is interested and choice of location?

Buca di Beppo is also a family portion style of serving, so getting a large group in and fed sufficiently would be easier there.. just my thoughts.