No real science here. Just some thoughts from someone who doesn't spend a lot of time on the town downtown. My main concern is something within reasonable walking distance, which I think rules out anything not in the downtown Minneapolis area. Maybe Warehouse District. I'm worried about numbers, especially on the budget front. I'm thinking perhaps planning for 100-150? Or might that be too much?
The list:
1) Brit's Pub: Got 2008 rate card. They aren't taking reservations for 2009 until October.
2) Gluek's
3) New Hell's Kitchen: Moving into the old Rossi's space and won't open until mid-October.
4) Mill City Museum: Catering by D'Amico's, which handles the reservations
5) The Dakota
6) Kieran's
7) The Newsroom
8) The Monte Carlo
9) Manhattan's
10) Palomino
11) Cafe Havana: It closed for regular business this summer, but it was supposedly still doing private parties. It was run by the people who run the Monte Carlo.
12) Barrio's: New tequila bar
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I'd say 150 is a realistic number. You're right, too, that it should be someplace within walking distance of the hotel. And the goal would be to hold costs to $25/per person. ... Let me know if you have questions or want to run anything by me!
A tequila bar? Is that a good idea? ;-)
That is a really good list, though.
Sadly, the Mill City Museum isn't within easy walking distance of the hotel. That place captures Minneapolis history in a fun way. Oh, well.
A visit to the Newsroom's Web site reveals it has a number of rooms to rent. It's also a quick walk from the hotel. Hell's Kitchen looks promising, too. ... There are lots of interesting places downtown, though I'd recommend staying as close the the Hilton as possible. We wouldn't want people getting caught in bad weather or feeling uncomfortable walking several blocks in an unfamiliar city.
From Jim Thomsen:
Also welcome are suggestions for a Wednesday night early-bird dinner for newcomers to get to know one another. I've sort of taken over this unofficial function. In Denver, I took about 35 people out to dinner — a mix of two-thirds newbies and a third conference vets — to a local brewpub-type place, and I think it came off very well.
So this year, I'd be looking to repeat that success. Criteria would be:
— Separate seating area for up to 40 people.
— Within 4-block walk of hotel.
— Something local and authentic, as opposed to a faceless chain-restaurant experience.
Any nominees spring to mind?
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