Constant Reader discussion

Here's where we talk about the Austin Convention this year.

I would like to know who exactly is planning on coming. I want to start making dinner reservations soon. So please let me know if you are coming and if someone is coming with you!

The dates are September 26 - 29, 2013.

Here is the hotel information:

Hooray! I heard back from Extended Stay and I have blocked out ten rooms. The price for the three nights is $304.97 for a single queen and $379.97 is for two queens. I booked five of each. The cancellation policy is also 21 days prior to the date. The phone number is 512-476-1818. Ask for the Constant Reader group and my name: Jane Niemeier.

The address is 507 S. First, Austin.

Please let me know what dinners you will attend: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.

Thanks!

Jane

I will do all three.

I guess it depends a bit on what time dinner will be on Thursday, but I'd like to do all three. My flight doesn't get into Austin until 6:00 p.m., but if it doesn't take too long to get from the airport to the hotel I might be available for dinner at 7:00 or 7:30. Or if the hotel isn't far from the restaurant I could always join you when I get there if you start earlier.

I have just made hotel and flight reservations for Vic and me. I am really psyched! We will do dinner on all 3 nights.

By the way, we're going to rent a car, and you know how much Vic likes to drive around with CRs!

I made my plane reservations today, too. What time does your plane get in, Mary Anne? Maybe we can share a cab.

Charles and I will drive down Thursday and would like to be included for dinner all three nights. So excited to meet everyone attending.

We are arriving in Austin at 12:24 pm on Thursday. Since we're renting a car, you are welcome to ride with us if the timing seems right.

Mary Anne wrote: "We are arriving in Austin at 12:24 pm on Thursday. Since we're renting a car, you are welcome to ride with us if the timing seems right."

I'm getting in at 12:15pm. I'll take you up on your offer!

I am still a wee bit uncertain here -- like an eclair I don't travel well. I am staying with a friend so the hotel is not an issue. I would do all three dinners, as I am after the talking more than the doing. As to events, have we looked into a tour of the Humanities Research Center on the UT campus? One of the conservators showed me around there in 1985 and it was amazing. PS because of my circumstances I will rent a car and bring my GPS, should that make a difference to anyone.

I will start a new thread to talk about events later.

OK, I'm in. I will arrive Thur about 3pm, staying with friends, so I will need the time and place of the Thursday dinner. Count me in also for Fri and Sat dinners. I will have a rental car with my GPS to get around with.

I am looking at restaurants and found two good ones that were recommended by friends: Zax for Thursday and Malaga for Saturday. Do you want to have a Mexican meal or a barbecue meal or a home cookin' meal on Friday?

Here are the names of those who are coming. Please let me know if I need to add more.

Sherry
Lynn
Jane
Map and Vic
Gina and Charles
Charles
Allen

I could go for any of those, Jane. I know that's not much help for you, though!

I'm with Lynn. Anything will be fine. (Not much help either.)

Food on Friday -- prefer 1 home cookin 2 bbq 3 Mexican

Any of the above are good for us.

Since we live in Texas, we can get home cooking, BBQ, or Mexican any time we want. The Mexican cooking in Texas is more of a Tex-mex, which is different from true Mexican cooking. We're happy with anything and excited about meeting you.

Gina wrote: "Since we live in Texas, we can get home cooking, BBQ, or Mexican any time we want. The Mexican cooking in Texas is more of a Tex-mex, which is different from true Mexican cooking. We're happy wit..."

Likewise from this dweller in the Arizona desert. I've been taken for local food up into the hills around Austin. It was really good. Is that what home cooking is?

I think home cooking is different from local. Local uses vegetables grown in the area, cooked simply and usually is healthy. Home cooking is like ham, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and sometimes fried vegetables (okra, etc.). Both are good, but very different, I think.

Gina wrote: "I think home cooking is different from local. Local uses vegetables grown in the area, cooked simply and usually is healthy. Home cooking is like ham, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, and sometimes ..."

Oog. I don't think I can actually eat home cooking and survive.

I just emailed the Austin itinerary to your mailboxes. Be sure and print them!

Thanks, Jane. I'm printing it out as I type. Thanks for the reminder about the sweater. It wouldn't have occurred to me, since it's supposed to be in the 90s.

Thanks, Jane. This reminds me that I still need to call for a reservation on the Ducks trip too!

Speaking of the Duck Tour... has anyone looked at the Groupon offer of $26 for a group of two or $52 for a group of 4? I saw a reference to it on the Duck Tours website and then searched for it on Groupon. I'd be willing to book one if someone wants to share it with me.

Lynn wrote: "Speaking of the Duck Tour... has anyone looked at the Groupon offer of $26 for a group of two or $52 for a group of 4? I saw a reference to it on the Duck Tours website and then searched for it on..."

I'll share. I haven't made any arrangements yet.

Lynn wrote: "Speaking of the Duck Tour... has anyone looked at the Groupon offer of $26 for a group of two or $52 for a group of 4? I saw a reference to it on the Duck Tours website and then searched for it on..."

I'll share, too, if you get another one to make four. If you don't, I'll make it separately.

Lynn, should I make my own reservations?

I'm not sure, Sherry. I sent a message to Allen yesterday to see if he wanted to be part of the Groupon deal, but I haven't heard back from him yet. Nobody else has indicated they want to do it, so if I don't hear from him soon I suppose you should make your own. How much time do you think I should give for Allen to respond?

Did someone post the phone number for the Duck tour? I'm not seeing it now.

It's in a separate thread with Ducks in the title, MAP. Here's a link to their website: http://austinducks.com/. It looks like you can make reservations there too.

Well, I just booked a reservation for two, since I haven't heard back from Allen yet. Charles and I should be all set now. I guess you'll need to book on your own, Sherry.

Lynn, thank you. We can settle the cost at Zax on Thursday?

Sounds fine to me!

Oops... I spoke too soon about no answer from Allen. He just sent an e-mail saying that he's interested in going on the tour and would share a Groupon deal with you, Sherry, if you want to book it. Give me a call if you need info about how to do it.

Sure, Lynn. Do I need to do anything other than pay you when I see you?

Nope - I just booked the tour with the Groupon deal for you and Allen. You can both pay me in Austin. It should be $13 per person.

What a deal!

I know! I was very pleased when I saw the note about Groupon vouchers on the Austin Ducks website and then investigated it on the Groupon site.

I wonder if we could get Gladys to come to our Convention. Janet Mego linked to this on FB, and I know you'll get a kick out of it:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=...

Yeah get Gladys, she sounds like a corker.

Heehee! At least she could join us and still "stay local"... as long as she doesn't get picked up for having a little Listerine :)