Discussion: PAX- Seattle Aug 29-31st

mmmm...foood goood....

Actually, 50-70? Big crowd. Isn't that more than what we had at Indy M&G?

obligatory *first*

We had just under 50 at Indy, so I'm thinking we could do earlier dinner and then we are free to roam about the cabin.

Ex

Sounds good for the most part, though I'm not familiar with their menu and pricing. It may be out of price range for some considering what others have said and forcing a limited menu seems a bit restrictive (the minimum gratuity makes sense as long as they mean the real minimum of 10-15% and not what some do and do a 25%). Unfortuately I don't know downtown Seattle very well so don't really have any options to offer.

Personally I think the Cheesecake factory has better food. However they can only seat parties of up to 25.

The Exhibit Hall closes at 7:00pm on Friday.

The RBB is about a 5 minute walk from the convention center (West 2 blocks and then South 1 to 2 blocks).

The folks working the convention probably want a short break for an attitude adjustment (bio break, smoke, don't-ask-don't-tell, etc.).

I'd say 7:15 - 7:30pm as a start time would work. People who go directly there after the Exhibit Hall closes could either hang out in the bar or the general restauraunt area before seating in whichever room they have for us.

- B.

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I heard back from Rock Bottom Brewery, this is what they had to say:

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I am glad you have found interest in Rock Bottom for your dinner event. I have several possibilities for your event but need to clarify some details first. The spaces I have available are dependent on the time you want to start dinner. If you want to start any time before 800pm I do have my private room available that can hold a maximum of 50 people for a dinner. If you can start after 8pm I have a wonderful space in my upper dining room surrounded by bay windows and capable of seating up to 70. We would need to choose a limited menu for your group and all checks would include tax and a minimum gratuity. I have attached my banquet package for you to look through the various menu options. If you have any other questions please let me know.

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Any thoughts?

Ex

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I wish I remembered how many we had at the Elephant and Castle last year. I want to say that it was probably 50 or less, but honestly, I'm horrible at estimating these things. Is there anyone at NCSoft who kept track?

Limited menu sounds fine, but I'd doublecheck and make sure that they're sensitive to people's dietary differences, etc... I know, this is Seattle, which tends to be open to variety, but I'd hate to find out that there weren't any decent vegetarian, or low fat, or whatever, choices on the limited menu.

I prefer the Elephant and Castle to the Rock Bottom, but both places are probably fine, if pretty generic.

We should make Camper pay since he likes to play the market with his billions of influence.

If you are open to the idea of a very inexpensive, more NON corporate and totally Seattle experience, I would vote for Shorty's !!!!!!! About a 15 minute or less, lovely and short walk, north - through downtown to Belltown, or a $5 cab ride from the convention center, Its easy to reserve the intimate back "Trophy Room" / bar, as i did for my last BD partay. seats about 25 and plenty of room for mingling thru to the game area - (check pix on site) I'm there alot , they have awesome Classic games, Pinball, beer and hot/vegi-dogs, plus - they rule and are independently owned and operated.

Located right next door is the awesome Buddha Belltown for more eating options and space.

Otherwise , for an optionally larger, but also interesting event, possibly check out the restaurant above the EMP / Sci Fi museum and get people to walk 3 blocks to westlake center and ride the Monorail from PAX.

Hmmmm, interesting, I walk though the convention area downtown (live-n-work nearby) almost daily, and I dont go to ANY of those places listed, save the rare Gameworks visit,,,, like ever.

PS
That horrendous Cheesecake Factory's drinks are like 15$ I heard.

[ QUOTE ]
I heard back from Rock Bottom Brewery, this is what they had to say:

[ QUOTE ]
I am glad you have found interest in Rock Bottom for your dinner event. I have several possibilities for your event but need to clarify some details first. The spaces I have available are dependent on the time you want to start dinner. If you want to start any time before 800pm I do have my private room available that can hold a maximum of 50 people for a dinner. If you can start after 8pm I have a wonderful space in my upper dining room surrounded by bay windows and capable of seating up to 70. We would need to choose a limited menu for your group and all checks would include tax and a minimum gratuity. I have attached my banquet package for you to look through the various menu options. If you have any other questions please let me know.

[/ QUOTE ]

Any thoughts?

Ex

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Sorry, got accidentally logged out about a week ago and completely forgot my password.

For those people asking what food is available, here's the corporate site, with menu attached: Rock Bottom Brewery. There aren't prices listed, but if I'm remembering correctly, burgers are around $15 - 17 in Seattle and Bellevue. They really don't have alternative choices - RB is not a "Seattle area restaurant", it's a chain based around beer and beer food.

If we're looking at 50 or less, then you might want to ask if he's considering putting us in the Boardroom, or if he'd consider the Pool room. The Boardroom is banquet type seating, the Pool Room is around pool tables (I know how much you all hate pool, but it's a sacrifice I'm sure you'd be willing to make for seating flexibility).

As far as the timing, if y'all are going to be in the Exhibition Hall, showing until 7 and then closing down for half-or-45, I agree with the poster above - start it at 8 so you can at least get a chance to get some air and breathing time before you have to face everyone again. Or deputize someone to get everyone into the room early, and let people get drinks while you come over, whichever you're more comfortable with.

As far as the "not right there" suggestions made a post or two above this, while those of us who are not going to PAX really probably don't care where the M&G is held (and are likely of the opinion that the further from downtown the better), those who are at the M&G have already paid for parking, or are stuck at hotels, and trying to figure out how to get to someplace else is probably an unneeded hassle. Otherwise, the first place I'd have suggested would have been F.X. MCRory's, which is not very far away. But again, it's not easy to get there from the convention center, so that's not happening.

I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

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I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

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Neato! I hope everything works out for ya. Any idea who else is heading up, or is that a surprise/up in the air?

PS: Get some sleep.
PPS: Yeah I know. Pot, kettle, etc. :P

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I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

Would great to see ya BaBs.

OMG i'll be there!

Sweetness, BaBs. I should know soon if I get to be the NCsoft whipping boy again this year.

♦ Founding Member, Forum Host of the Pinnacle RP Congress ♦ The Joke is: 435 Alts and Counting!) ♦
♦ Penny Arcade Expo (PAX Prime) Enforcer (2005-present) - NCSoft Gold Assistant (2007-2008) ♦ Child's Play! ♦

Cool.

We'll see if I can manage to bake cookies.

[ QUOTE ]
I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

Does that imply there actually will be one?

Got my 3 day pass in the mail today.

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I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should definitely come to PAX. We're gracious and nice in person, I swear. And if anyone tries to harass you about "nerfs" I'll hit them with my stick!

Yeah BaBs, even us transplants are nice (okay so that's 80% of Seattle but still :P)

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should definitely come to PAX. We're gracious and nice in person, I swear. And if anyone tries to harass you about "nerfs" I'll hit them with my stick!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a trap!

Put the stick down, I was kidding!

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should definitely come to PAX. We're gracious and nice in person, I swear. And if anyone tries to harass you about "nerfs" I'll hit them with my stick!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a trap!

Put the stick down, I was kidding!

[/ QUOTE ]

Alright but I'll be annoyed if BaB comes all the way out to Seattle to hang out with us, and someone wastes all his time whining about the hover animation or something.

See for the typically Seattle experience, we should waste his time with, I don't know, maybe discussions of microbrews, and our pets, and a ton of geeky stuff.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should definitely come to PAX. We're gracious and nice in person, I swear. And if anyone tries to harass you about "nerfs" I'll hit them with my stick!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a trap!

Put the stick down, I was kidding!

[/ QUOTE ]

Alright but I'll be annoyed if BaB comes all the way out to Seattle to hang out with us, and someone wastes all his time whining about the hover animation or something.

See for the typically Seattle experience, we should waste his time with, I don't know, maybe discussions of microbrews, and our pets, and a ton of geeky stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Like the importance of layering. Or perhaps the "correct" ratio of milk to espresso in a skinny grande double almond mocha with chocolate whip.

- B.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I may be heading up for this one, depending on the timing of some things going on right now.

[/ QUOTE ]

You should definitely come to PAX. We're gracious and nice in person, I swear. And if anyone tries to harass you about "nerfs" I'll hit them with my stick!

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a trap!

Put the stick down, I was kidding!

[/ QUOTE ]

Alright but I'll be annoyed if BaB comes all the way out to Seattle to hang out with us, and someone wastes all his time whining about the hover animation or something.

See for the typically Seattle experience, we should waste his time with, I don't know, maybe discussions of microbrews, and our pets, and a ton of geeky stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Like the importance of layering. Or perhaps the "correct" ratio of milk to espresso in a skinny grande double almond mocha with chocolate whip.

- B.

[/ QUOTE ]

Mmm coffee... I hope BaBs likes coffee. He's sure to get a ton of opinions on the best coffee spots in Seattle (not Starbucks). Although they have great coffee in the Bay area too, though I'm not sure about San Jose in particular.

Coffee is overrated. I rarely drink the stuff, or anything caffeinated for that matter...