Pre-Dig Gig, Rehash Bash and other Cooler events

Other events? huh?

Hi all, I hope you are well. I'm wondering - does anyone have the dates for the hunt/PDG for 2011?

Thanks

Hi LB!!! The carnival runs from 1/27-2/6. They haven't announced the dates of the hunt yet though.

Thanks. I guess, for now, I should assume it is the weekend before.

That would be a good guess

Speaking of the PreDig, I thought I would stir up some trouble as it's been something I've been thinking about. I know people here hate change, but I'm going to throw it out there anyway.

One thing that's always bothered me about the PreDig is we always encourage all hunters to come, not just those from the Cooler. Yet the crowded bar basement as a venue really isn't conducive to meeting people unless you're a social butterly by nature. I even find it awkward at times and I'm one of us. It's not so much that I think the format is wrong per se, but I think it needs more. There are no introductions, there are no announcements, there's no formal program at all. For most of us in the Cooler that might not be a big deal, but for a new person walking into a room of strangers, that sort of structure is what they cling to to ease into the group.

It also sort of bothers me that the event has become anticlimatic with the clue coming out earlier in the day now.

So what I would like to propose is expanding the event. I can see having the event start with a lunch. Maybe we encourage the previous year's finder to tell their story at this lunch and this could also be where the clue is first read.

Then in the afternoon we could do something like a treasure hunter speed dating. We could people into small groups, have them introduce themselves and share whatever hunting stories they wish to share, and then after 15 minutes we rotate people around and everyone sits with a different group to do the same thing. That way both old and new hunters could get to know each other better. That would take a couple of hours.

After that, for fun, we could do a treasure hunt themed game show or two.

Maybe after that we could do the park pool picks. People can watch the picks or socialize for a bit.

If we make this a Winter Carnival event, someone from that organization might want to come by and make some sort of presentation.

By then we should be getting on towards 7pm. At that point people can order dinner, socialize, and Lil Man can do his DJ thing. Basically the same thing we do now, only by this time people should all know each other better, have had a chance to tell their stories, the park pool will be out of the way, and people can feel free to get on with the drinking and dancing and such.

Granted this isn't something that's going to work well at Obbs or Yarusso's. We'd probably need a bigger place like Joseph's Grill maybe (which is also closer to downtown and has fantastic food). But I think it could be a lot of fun, and it would be fun for everyone involved. And if you disagree, you can still just show up at 7 or later and probably not notice the difference.

Actually Allison, I think something like that would be fun. The part of the pre-dig of early years is what is missing with the larger crowds and it has bothered me that there are so many now attending that you can't meet...and if you do, the noise makes any conversation difficult.

I don't know if a noon to midnight thing would work for very many folks, but maybe a 3 or 4pm start time could work.

I like the earlyer start, and the idea of meeting and talking to people sounds good I didnt get a chance to talk to half the people i wanted to last year.

thats a great Idea

I am in FULL SUPPORT Of all of the Ideas LISTED!! one of the Biggest ones is getting to a BIGGER PLACE!! I Know Obbs and Yarusso's Have been the greatest to US any time we ask for anything!! And i still think that maybe what we need to do it split up our Support to both places by making a Maybe Ever other day to one or the other or for that mater one week at one and the Next at the other! I dont know!

One of the Biggest things about the Pre-dig is I am not going if it is in the Basement of Obbs this year! because Emily and I cant deal with that Many people in a Tight space! again! there is Just NO WAY!!

So on that note Lets Start to CHANGE it NOW if we are going to! so word can get out to the Masses about the Change!

In terms of a bigger space, I still think Joseph's is a good option. They are close to downtown, have free parking, a large room, and all we have to do to get it is spend at least $500 total in food and drink.

I looked at Degidio's but they are already booked up in January.

Mancini's is good for groups, but they tend to want everyone to eat at $20+ a pop so that would be expensive.

Anywhere downtown would possibly cost for parking.

El Toro on Plato also has some large rooms, free parking, and it doesn't cost much to get them, but we'd be limited to Mexican food.

McGovern's...been there, done that, doesn't really work all that well. Though at least there are no Saturday home games for the Wild this January.

Gabe's has a private room, but it only holds about 50 people.

I might be able to arrange something with the Best Western in Bandana Square.

Those are some of our options off the top of my head.

I am not going to get in to it any more then I have because I always seem to Piss people off and make wakes and no one likes the Fact I speak up and let it be Knowing that I Dont like being excuse me for saying it A-hole to Elbow in a room! with a few people I CANT stand! and they cant Stand me!

but it has been brought up more then Once by me and Tons of people seem to think the SAME but Again this is going to piss a few off!! VARY FEW PEOPLE THAT I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT IT WANT TO SPEAK UP AND USE THERE VOICE!!

I dont know WHY???

but thats about it for me! If a Bigger place is found I will go but For My health I will not be going to Obbs for a Predig!

Perhaps people should wear name tags so everyone can learn people's names easier and feel better socializing. I cannot remember if this has already been done.

I am also in agreement that we need a larger space if it is available and makes sense financially for everyone.

I think the park pool picks is the "main event" outside of the social aspect and would like to see that happen earlier instead of later if possible but it makes no difference to me personally.

The idea for the previous finder to share a story sounds good but unless a Cooler finds it every year this may not apply most of the time... I guess we will need a Cooler to find it every year!!

Can we air 'No Time for Cold Feet' in the background - kind of like what they do with the 'Godfather' movies at Yarusso's?

Name tags should be mandatory - and someone with good penmanship should have all the Sharpies.

Another idea I tossed out a couple years ago was expanding the Park Pool to include a date and object it was hidden inside besides the park name. That gives more opportunities for more guesses - and doesn't limit higher pool numbers to some rec area parking lot.

If you wanted to do a late afternoon/early evening gig I can mostly likely get you Dean's Tavern. Food is good and reasonable, drinks are cheaper than downtown, there is a stage so if you wanted to do some sort of program you could. There is a heated patio off the side for smokers or anyone needing air.

The Con to this would be at 7pm the Royal Guard will most likely have their annual Kick-off to carnival party - in which everyone would be welcome to stay if they wanted and if Lil'Man wants to DJ I can look into working a that he be the guy for the Royal Guard Party too...

Having it at a time like this also will allow families to come if they wish.. we do have some younger hunters out there too.

Just let me know what you decide to do - whatever is decided - you need to get on the books NOW for any establishment - with all the events for the 125th Carnival everything is booking up fast!!

booo! royal guard. hiss boo hiss.

now that that's out of the way. i know camo terry had talked to freddy about the pdg at yarusso's and apparently (bear in mind this is second hand information and i heard it about 8 months ago) he's willing to give us run of the place for the pdg.

some of us still have our pre=printed name tags from years gone by :smile:

I have tons of pics (as I know you do too) that could be put on DVD and played on a dvd player...been wanting to do that for a few years now.

How about that "BOP" place right on Wabasha?

I don't know that it makes sense to share the event with another group or be somewhere we'd have to vacate just as the event really gets going.

Having Yarusso's to ourselves might work but the space is pretty divided up which makes it hard to focus everyone's attention on anything.

Rarher than just tossing a bunch of possibilities back and forth on the board, maybe it would make more sense to have a committee of a few volunteers look at all of the options and suggestions and then come back with what they think is the best option and see if the group in general is in favor of it.

the divided up part of yarusso's does have a nice advantage; if we have a dj around, the music can be in one area, while other areas provide a quieter atomosphere for conversing, one thing that all the activity in a single room like the basement at obb's makes difficult. as far as a place like joseph's, i've been there all of once, so i'm not familiar enough with it to put it in terms of what i just said. i plead ignorance on that one :smile:

I am having a lunch Event at Yarusso's Friday. I'll ask to talk to Freddy.

I dont usually eat at the PDG...

I like to show up casually late (hopefully missing the group picture), and then get my drink on.

If we're at Yarusso's that might change.

I guess I meant POP!, but looks like that may go as well.
http://heavytable.com/is-pop-restaurants-fate-sealed/

I don't like Yarusso's or Obbs. But I'm kinda out of the loop this year for planning.

I don't like the idea of being with the Guards at all.

JMO

I like the idea of a committee to look at places, then make a decision (with input from Crew, if possible). Joseph's sure could be a contender - it has the size, the parking, good food, and proximity to downtown.

Having said that, it is hard to know if I will be there for the pre-dig, so not sure if my opinion would have much weight.

Great ideas, everyone! Allison, thanks for bringing this up.

Do we need to form a committee to pick the planning committee? A someone who lives outside the 'beltway' I really don't know a lot of places - would any of the joints on Grand Avenue be considered, or are they too far away or too expensive?

its not on grand - same general area, but we've done stuff at Ferns on Selby before..... I dunno about that for the pdg though.

My vote would be for Obbs or Yarussos for the PDG, and Yarussos for our nightly hangout. Considering everything those places have done for us, it would be a slap in the face for us to ditch them this year. I think in general it would be a good idea to stay with the same place(s) every year so we can develop a good business relationship with the owner.

Well said bfg. I know Annette is already looking forward to the hunt next year, and quite frankly with the split rooms and lack of stairs that's my preference for the pdg.

I too like the split rooms at Yarusso's. It provides a chance of finding a corner one can have some conversation.

Y's is planning a hunt within the hunt for us.

They are going to do some other awards as well...

more on that to follow....was told they would be talking to ares next week....

Cooler!

If we really had Yarusso's to ourselves, I think that would work because I'm sure we could fill the place. The presentational stuff will be earlier in the day when the crowd will be a bit smaller I'm guessing, so it might be ok that the place is divided up, assuming everyone can fit in the one room at that time. Later in the evening it could be nice to be divided up. It doesn't sound like many would be opposed to Yarusso's as long as we have the entire place. So I would say unless someone raises a dealbreaking objection, we go with that plan for now. In the meantime, things to do...

Talk to Yarusso's and confirm that they will close the place just for us. Who said they were talking to them anyway? Ares?

Talk to the Winter Carnival and see if they want to get involved in this officially, what would that entail? Can Kat do this as she may know the answer already anyway?

So we can start the event maybe at 3pm? I don't think it should be any later. Maybe this can work as the schedule:

3pm- Opening ceremony and reading of the first clue.

3:15 to 4:30- Treasure Hunt Themed Game Shows (I can work on the games if someone wants to get together some prizes)

4:30 to 6:00- Treasure Hunt Round Table (speed dating type event where hunters trade introductions and stories for 15 minutes and then rotate to another small group).

6:00 to 7:00- Park Pick Pool

7:00 to 7:30?-Winter Carnival Presentation and if possible introduction of last year's winner.

7:30 to Closing- Music, Dancing, Eating, and Socializing

Kitch and I were approached by a woman during lunch with all kinds of exciting ideas. Not sure who she was, but she was mingling with customers, etc. Nothing came up about the PDG.

I agree that it has to be "us" only, but how will that be determined at the door?

I agree that it has to be "us" only, but how will that be determined at the door?

They have to know the password, which is, "You Dig?"

What kind of involvement do you need of the Winter Carnival?

It will be important to get on the schedule NOW.. we have another cabinet meeting this coming Wednesday and will be putting the final touches on the schedule that will be on all the publications (like the button book). Events can still be added after this, but would only be on the website and not on any printed material.

You mentioned a tentative Carnival presentation at 7 - depending on what you are thinking and who you are asking for will be the key - remember I did mention that this date is also the same date as the Royal Guard kick-off event which starts at 7pm.

Just let me know what you need and I will see what I can do.

AW - I don't think anyone is going to want to stay there for that long. We have two events (PDG and Rehash Bash) for a reason. The PDG has always been more adult/party oriented, and the Rehash has always been more family oriented. A few more things on the agenda might be nice, but I don't think anyone is going to want to come at 3 in the afternoon. The fact that the PDG is at night is one of the things that makes it special (at least for me). I do like the idea of some kind of game, maybe in the vein of one of your 24 hours hunts. Not to that scale obviously, but maybe some puzzle or game thing where we would split into teams. We could put new people with veterans, so no one would feel left out.

I have read most of the posts so far .... what I like about Yarusso's is that it is "full run" of the place. I don't even mind the separate rooms on either side of the bar (like McG's had)However, it is still a bit smaller than I would want. DeGidio's woulda been pretty much perfect. They have the big screen, the microphone and stage area and bar area. :frown:

This last summer I went to Yarusso's for an early dinner, couldn't get in because of a huge motorcycle benefit.

About Joes: I would be amazed if they allowed a dj there AND full run of the dining area.

I like No Time For Cold Feet and/or a slide show of photos going in the background. Yarusso's has a couple tv's - Obbs has the big screen.

can't recall of Deans has a big screen, they do have the nice stage, however, it is smaller than or compromible to Yarusso's.

We did do name tags in the past. I think that should be implemented again too.

I like the game playing ideas AW has. I also want ClueMaster back! for the last couple of years he has definatly donated his time to the ppp. He loves to do it, I think moving it to daytime with a deadline.

? what is BOP?

<edit> oh POP - however, i still don't know what this place is :frown:

wish I could give this a thumbs up - :smile:

I agree that it has to be "us" only, but how will that be determined at the door?

Don't think we need a password. Whoever shows up great. Others will feel out of place and leave if we take over the whole place. That will leave just the people that wanna be there.

I wouldn't want to turn anyone away because they didn't know our password. We want new people there as well and they may not know a lot about us or our "You dig?" sayings.

Was it Annette? I know in planning the lunch for sue's stedad's funeral we spent a lot of time chatting with her and she's really excited about the prospect with exciting ideas.

think the "us only" thing is more in reference to not sharing the event with something else scheduled with another carnival event.

I've had a DJ at Joseph's before. I don't know that we would need full run of the dining area. Their private room should be big enough, though maybe you're not familiar with it.

I think Yarusso's might be big enough if we had the whole place. We wouldn't need a password, but we could have a sign outside saying it was closed for a private event.

We'll never know if people want to come earlier unless we try. It may not be the same people that stay late. The other alternative is to change the the entire event and have this stuff going on during the regular event hours, but I see that being even more unpopular with a lot more cat herding involved. I think some of these activities I'm proposing will in fact only work when there are in fact fewer people there. Based on my event experience, I would also say that the new people are probably more likely to show up in the early hours.

Maybe I misunderstood. I thought it was the Winter Carnival that wanted to be involved with us. So what I was proposing was giving them a slot where they could do whatever it was they had in mind. If that's not the case, then I'm not that worried about whether they participate or not.

I go to Josephs a lot but don't know about a backroom...

I was kidding about a "password" myself...thought Eags was cute with 'you dig'. :smile:

There was a giant banner on the front of Yarussos when the bike rally was going on.

I think I've seen another note taped to the door there during some other event...may have even been a Cooler one.

No, I know Annette, and she always (3 or 4 times now) greets us when geocachers show up for lunch. Maybe a wife?

The carnival office wants to help in all aspects of the winter carnival to help promote...

Maybe I miss understood, but I thought the pre-dig was a celebration kick-off to the carnival hunt. But what I am hearing and seeing the past couple of years is a private party that if your not part of the inner crowd you get left out.

So like I said before if you want the carnival's office help in anyway just let me know.