(In-person) East Bay (SF area) Travel Group Meeting - Sat, June 12, 2021

have a jolly good time!!

We can arrange a ride for anyone from Orinda Bart (if we meet at/near Geppetto's, 0.7 miles from station) or from Concord Bart (2 miles from station.)

Oh Nigel, we shall miss you! But look forward to your company again at our next online meetings, which will continue because we're fortunate to have met new travelers from around the world as a result of the lockdowns!

Count us in! (Any other year on that day we would have been heading to family camp in the Sierras.)

Not sure anyone really wants to hear about our road trips to Sparks, Nevada to see DD's new house -- but we are hoping for another Christmas markets trip in November.
Lauri and Ed

I will be there!

Count me in too!

Yay, mln, so glad you'll be able to drop in while you're here! No need to haul a chair - I'll reserve one of mine for you!

Thank you!

I went to Geppetto's today. Had a nice lunch and visited with one of our fellow travelers. Cafe owner Jenny was so happy to see us and she asked about everyone and was eager to offer options as she hopes to see us all again soon!

We have 3 options at Geppetto's:

1) Front patio - just like "before" with their tables; I go early in hopes of getting enough seating. I never know if someone else might already be there and we have to share (until they leave); that's just the nature of their venue. But we usually did pretty well.

2) Inside - Jenny can reserve an area for us, probably left of their counter, but perhaps in the "back" room; the other group that comes on Saturday mornings would also be inside and any other customers might sit inside at other available tables, without masks while they are eating/drinking.

3) Out back - Jenny has 2 parking spaces out the back door of the cafe; she offered to move her cars and arrange as many of her indoor tables as we need. It is fully covered, shaded during our timeframe, and we'd have it all to ourselves. It's blacktop and rather "industrial," so it is quite functional, but no "atmosphere." The advantage is that it's "guaranteed" outdoor space, exclusively ours.

Any of the Geppetto's options are a central location with access to food and drinks, and Jenny's hospitality!

4) At my house (roughly near Concord Bart): I have a covered, shaded patio that can seat 6 at social distances, 8-10 if we're closer, and a smaller shaded area that can seat 3 or 4. In the grassy area, sunny at that time of day, we can all spread out in our folding chairs in one big "circle" or in smaller clusters. Food and drink would be BYO and I've got some lawn chairs but would ask locals to bring a portable chair if you have one.

Please let me know your preference, on this thread or via pm if you prefer. You cannot hurt my feelings, please say what you are comfortable with. I will confirm our location this coming week. I realize that it may not suit everyone, but I'll make the best choice I can for the group.

Whatever we decide for June, our eventual goal will be to return to Geppetto's.

Looking at my patio, it can fit all of us - at least 12 or 14 - even distanced. It's twice the width of Geppetto's patio and maybe a little longer. I'd suggest that over the grass.

Only part of the patio is covered... so some would be in sun and others in shade.

I just measured the 7 "squares" on my patio. Each is 7'6" by 8'6". So 2 people per square is 14. And there's a little half square, so 15!

I will miss you guys and hope to zoom in someday soon!

All options sound fine -- but preference for Gepetto's (10 minutes from home!) and the "functional" shaded carport space outside.

diveloonie, we will miss you too! And I expect we will regularly rotate zoom and in-person meetings!

Laura B, yes Geppetto's is more centrally located. And we'd be supporting a local, small business: very Rick Steves! Thanks for the input and to those who have sent me messages.

Looking forward to seeing the group in person!

I’m up for whatever alternative is chosen. Geppetto’s does sound simplest, though, so I wlll vote for that.

Anne, you're right that Geppetto's would be simple in that we can order food and drinks. And it is the most central for our regular participants. Thanks for the vote!

If you haven't already, please RSVP by this Wednesday, June 2 so that I can finalize a location that will fit our group.

Based on input so far, we will not be indoors at Geppetto's.

I will choose one of the outdoor options - either my back yard or an outdoor option at Geppetto's. I can handle more people on my back patio than at Geppetto's, where we'd be seated around tables, closer together.

If your attendance depends on location (Orinda vs Concord) please let me know.

I plan to attend, either outdoor option is fine but probably Geppetto’s is easier.

I have 7 confirmed and 3 tentative. If that's all for this meeting, then we would easily fit at Geppetto's.

Last call for RSVPs - I know it's early this meeting but I need to know if I need to tidy up my yard and house :-)

Sorry for not spotting this earlier -- I'm more inclined to Geppetto's in any layout since it's both easier to get to and less imposing on our organizer (I think we're all fully vaccinated so I'm not worried about sharing a table, esp. outdoors. I might not want to be tete a tete like a Parisian terrasse for a gouter, but hanging out together is fine)

Another plus for the cafe is that if you are signed up with any of the Chase dining rewards programs Geppetto's is now in the program -- I can get United points/miles!

Also, if there's decent wifi there I could put a MacBook on the table and Nigel and others remote could look in and chime in too just like we've been doing over zoom -- the view of several people around the patio won't be great, but it won't be too bad either.

Based on the weather forecast for June 12th (89 in Concord, 76 in Orinda) we're going with an outdoor option at Geppetto's in Orinda!

If everyone who is "signed up" or "tentative" shows up, we are at at capacity for the space. Feel free to add your name to the waitlist in case someone drops. (Sound familiar?)

avirosemail feel free to bring your MacBook and we can see if anyone wants to give it a try logging in. Even if only for a short time. Also, I'm more than willing to let you buy me lunch so that you can get dining miles :-)

For anyone who is looking for a drive vacation, I'll share my Boise stay and the fabulous hotel on the river! I hope we'll hear from 1 or 2 of our Oregon travelers. And of course we'll talk about tour bookings - who is signed up for where and when? (Hopefully, by then, everyone will be confirmed.)

Note also that there is a 2pm showing of the nursing home comedy "Queen Bees" at the Orinda Theatre.
Maybe there's other doings going on too?

There's a farmer's market on Saturdays walking distance from Geppetto's.

ETA: Website for Orinda Village Farmer's Market which is on the way between Orinda Bart and Geppetto's. The website page allows you to choose your date and see the vendors expected to be there. On June 12th, they list such vendors as East Bay Bakery, Achadinha Cheese, Epic Ales, La Crepe a Moi, Peter's Gold Honey and more!

Hours are 9am-1pm every Saturday. It's usually closed by the time our group meeting ends, so best to go before. I bet Jenny would put any purchases in her fridge while we're at the cafe.

A few comments/reminders for our long-awaited in-person meeting at Geppetto's on June 12th:

1. You can review the Geppetto's menu in advance; they have coffee, pastries, sandwiches, soup and salads; please try to support this small, Rick Steves style business! They also have gift cards (Laura B, I'll bring yours, thanks for supporting them last year!)

2. Reminder that there is NO outside food/drink, as a courtesy to Geppetto's and their business - this has been a hard year for them, like many!

3. I'll confirm with Jenny based on our final headcount whether we'll sit on their patio or in their back parking area

4. Regardless of location, please bring your mask so that you can step inside to order food/drink

5. Bring your "free drink" cards if you still have them; I've got a free drink coming from last year!

6. The cafe does have a restroom, immediately inside their back door

Our official meeting is from 11am - 1pm (Pacific.) The cafe closes around 3pm for those who wish to stay longer, though we'll have to let them begin clean-up between 2 and 3pm.

The chicken, brie and pesto sandwich was outstanding as I remember it. Going to run through my gift card in only few meetings!

Looking forward to Sat. and seeing everyone. Thank you Catherine for all of your care and planning!

I’m going to be late but I’ll be there. BART is being itself, only more so.

We're here on back of the café!

Great meeting, everyone -- so nice to see people in 3D rather than on the screen!!