STRATCON BANQUET PLANS

A true convention of such advanced minds as will be there requires a proper banquet. I looked into $10 a plate rubber chicken. (I know the caterer who serves all of the political dinners in town.) But Leanna and I decided, no, that won't do. Not at all! (Steve Petrick recommended we eat MREs in muddy foxholes but that seemed problematic as we don't get enough rain during June to actually produce mud.)

How about all-you-can-eat barbeque? Some evening (probably Thursday but can someone make a case for another day? not Friday/Saturday they are too busy) or maybe even Lunch (if you want to play F&E on grotesquely full stomachs all afternoon) we will gather at Dyer's BBQ. Dinner will be paid by Leanna and myself as our appreciation for your work on the Warbook. Dinner will be family style which means we sit at a big table and a team of beautiful waitresses bring bowls of beef*, ribs, pork**, beans, cole slaw, potato salad, onion rings, and Texas Toast. Pass the bowls around and eat as much as you want! The beautiful ladies will bring more! And more! And even more! Leanna and I will pay for tea or soda; if you want "adult beverages" there is a cash bar where you can buy whatever you want.

We will need to give Dyer's a specific time for your arrival and you will all need to arrive ON TIME. I know that could be an issue for gamers in mid-game but heck, for free food you can make it happen just one night!

BEEF*: This will include sliced brisket and chuck meat.

PORK**: You can collectively pick one of the following: Roast pork, pulled pork, ham, sausage.

Personal note: I used to go there and eat plate after plate until they offered me my money back and coupons for free future meals and a takeout bucket if I would just agree to leave before they had to file bankruptcy. Well, shucks, surgery means I can barely eat half a plate. But if you keep talking for a while I might get down a second half of a plate.

By Mike Curtis (Nashvillen) on Monday, June 07, 2021 - 08:00 pm: Edit

No need for a Plan B for me. The position I have been appointed to will be a non voting position and the only business they will have on the 23rd of June will be voting issues, nothing advisory.

I can miss that meeting. So, back to F10 for me!

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Tuesday, June 08, 2021 - 12:39 pm: Edit

For those who are bringing family or friends who don't play F&E, check this out: https://familydestinationsguide.com/best-things-to-do-in-amarillo-tx/

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, June 08, 2021 - 03:16 pm: Edit

The Cadillac Ranch is interesting but will only take a few minutes.
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The one mile of Route 66 between Western and Georgia is full of antique stores and cafes.
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Palo Duro Canyon is second only to Grand Canyon but a distant second. You can just drive through it (takes about two hours from Amarillo hotel and back) or you can picnic and hike.
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Quarter Horse: if you are into racehorses this is Mecca. If you are not, look at the big statue as you drive by on I40. (A quarter horse is the fastest horse in a quarter mile race.)
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Amarillo: A quaint small zoo, worth a couple of hours.
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Historical Museum: Twenty minute drive south, then you can spend an hour or a day. They do at least have dinosaurs.
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Botanical Gardens: beautiful and peaceful. They are right next to Medi-Park, a mile long park with two lakes and two one-mile walking trails. The park has ducks.
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Art Museum: I cannot say much; I never went there.
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Air & Space Museum: Definitely worth going for warbird fans.
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Traveland RV Museum: I have never been there.
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Wonderland Amusement Park: underwhelming for those who have been to Six Flags or Disney, but if you really want to do every park in America you'll want to do this one.
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Cowgirls and Cowboys in the West: excellent horseback opportunity. It's right next to Palo Duro Canyon and you can do it all at once.
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Don Harrington Discovery Center: typical community science museum, worth an hour or two, more for kids than adults.
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Bill’s Backyard Classics: Not a car guy so I never went. If they had tanks I would have.
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The Big Texan Steak Ranch: Go for a fun overpriced steak dinner. DO NOT try the 72 ounce challenge. You will NOT succeed. (I have been smart enough to avoid it, but I know someone who ate two of them in 20 minutes. He was a siberian tiger but let's not get bogged in details.
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Amarillo Symphony: If you're into it, you will want to see if they have a show that week. At least you can admire the ugliest building in Amarillo which was foisted on the taxpayers by a city commission that swore it wouldn't cost them a dime but instead cost millions.
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Amarillo Little Theatre: If they have a play that week it's worth going.
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And one not on the list
AMARILLO VENOM ARENA FOOTBALL
Watching grown men play football on a file that is 15x50 yards with padded walls all around is actually a lot of silly fun.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, June 08, 2021 - 03:22 pm: Edit

Anybody got a problem with Thursday for the banquet? I will book it tomorrow if nobody says anything. What time shall I say you will be there? 6? 7? 8? (Chuck, poll the gang and let me know.)

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Wednesday, June 09, 2021 - 05:24 am: Edit

Thursday 6PM should work.

By Lawrence Bergen (Lar) on Wednesday, June 09, 2021 - 09:13 am: Edit

As I am a travel enthusiast (since the kids are grown) I would like to visit a few of these locations. Maybe while y'all are sleeping in or a random lunch.

Lets see for Time Zone folks...When a Texan says see ya at 8...You arrive at 8 but it feels for
- The East coaster (including Michigan/Ohio and most of Indiana) like 9.
- Those Chicago-landers and Missourians will arrive on time.
- The Mountain folk like 7
- The West Coaster like 6

Thank goodness I am a morning person up at 5 everyday and working by 6. (Now where's my coffee? Haha)

By Paul Howard (Raven) on Thursday, June 10, 2021 - 06:21 am: Edit

"Personal note: I used to go there and eat plate after plate until they offered me my money back and coupons for free future meals and a takeout bucket if I would just agree to leave before they had to file bankruptcy. Well, shucks, surgery means I can barely eat half a plate. But if you keep talking for a while I might get down a second half of a plate. "

Why - just why did I get an image of Homer Simpson in the various eating episodes of the Simpsons, after reading that?

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 12:23 pm: Edit

I've decided that I shall NOT be going down to visit Amarillo next week. Just too much to do here, and I really don't feel I'm up to another 10+ (x2) hour drive so soon after returning from my six-week class at Little Rock.


Garth L. Getgen

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 12:46 pm: Edit

We are all disappointed. I had looked forward to seeing you.

By Garth L. Getgen (Sgt_G) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 12:53 pm: Edit

Work might be sending me to Colorado later this year. If so, I'll see about taking leave-in-route on the way back and detour down to see you all.


Garth L. Getgen

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 05:58 pm: Edit

If you guys don't pick the fourth meat by tomorrow it will be ham. The choices are pork roast, pulled pork, pork sausage, or ham.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 06:27 pm: Edit

What are the other 3?

By Jean Sexton Beddow (Jsexton) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 08:05 pm: Edit

The ones that are definitely on the menu are sliced brisket, chunks of beef, and pork ribs.

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 08:31 pm: Edit

Port roast or pulled pork is my call.

By Jason E. Schaff (Jschaff297061) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 09:48 pm: Edit

One vote for pulled pork.

By Chuck Strong (Raider) on Tuesday, June 15, 2021 - 11:06 pm: Edit

Ribs - YES!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 06:49 am: Edit

Ribs was one of the first three. I need the other one.

By Mike Curtis (Nashvillen) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 10:12 am: Edit

Pulled pork here.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 11:12 am: Edit

Pulled pork it shall be.

By Alex Chobot (Alendrel) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 01:21 pm: Edit

I want to come just for the food!

By Lawrence Bergen (Lar) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 03:30 pm: Edit

Noooo! Not ham...anything but ham.

Unless you are serving Hydran eggs.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 06:44 pm: Edit

Lar, they voted for pulled pork.

Menu is
Chunks of beef
slices of beef brisket
pulled pork
pork ribs
onion rings
potato salad
cole slaw
toast
chunks of onions
pickles
apricots
brown beans
gallons of BBQ sauce

By Ryan Opel (Ryan) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 07:35 pm: Edit

Yum

By Jason E. Schaff (Jschaff297061) on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - 08:51 pm: Edit

Meat coma, here we come!