Pre/Post-Ozfest 2014 meet-ups
 

Post in the wiki if you'd like to meet up with any OzFesters.

May I suggest The Waiting Room at the Crown Casino Complex for Monday, 26 May?

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-waiting-room-southbank

The Waiting Room looks fantastic - and especially because it offers Mexican fare!

Awww, I wish I could bring you some Mexican food from California.

I didn't see anything Mexican, except for the condiment words "salsa" and "chipotle". http://www.crownmelbourne.com.au/......m%20Bar%20Menu[1].pdf

If our schedules mesh anytime on the 27th, let's have a quick bite at an actual Mexican restaurant. Might even be able to talk Noelene into coming in from the suburbs. http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc...#sortby=rating

Australia is slowly warming up to Mexican food, but it certainly isn't CA or TX.

Mamasita is a good city option, although their "no reservations" style of service is a PITA (you can expect long waits, but they often take your number so you can visit a nearby bar). They do have 1 large table, which can be reserved in advance if we have the right number of people.

Touche Hombre is a good night out (and takes reservations), but their drinks (cocktail jugs) add up very quickly.

A friend of mine owns La Tortilleria out in Kensington which would be another option, although less conveniently located.

Of the chain restaurants I think Amigos is okay, but a little expensive for what you get (my last meal was $150 for 2 people). Guzman Y Gomez is essentially fast food, but the quality is good. I often do Guzman for a quick burrito for lunch (about $11).

I read about the Mexican food on the Yelp reviews, but they were from 2012 so it seems they've dropped the tacos, etc. from the current menu. It still looks fantastic though and what an enormous drinks menu! Anyone for a single malt Macallan 1946 at $495/30 ml?

Thanks very much for your MEL Mexican food insight. I wouldn't mind taking a trip outside the CBD.

My plans have changed, so I'll be free 26th and 27th 6:45-ish if not earlier.

Ack, that's pissing 500 bucks down the toilet.

The Waiting Room looks swanky and has live music to boot.

penegal, would you mind posting on AFF to see if anyone over there is available on the 26th? Very much appreciated.

Done. I shall also PM the usual suspects...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer.c...eat-60122.html

I will be travelling next week, returning to Melbourne on Thursday evening (22nd), so I may be able to do dinner that evening, but more likely I will meet you all at the airport on the morning of the 23rd.

I can guest 2 into any of the QF lounges.

I'll be about SYD and intend to enjoy a couple of cool Beverages at the HI Old Sydney on thursday the 22nd if anyone is interested?

I intend to be about 1900 - 1930 onwards

penegal, thanks again for being the gracious FT-AFF go-between.

Do you have thoughts on The Waiting Room, or going to Crown in general? I'm not a gambler, but I'd like to see it and it's not somewhere I'd go on my own. But I trust your opinion.

I have never eaten at The Waiting Room, so can't vouch for its quality, but I have walked past many times. I am happy to "go with the flow" regarding venues. There are plenty of places in and around the casino complex.

The Crown Casino complex is huge. It is not my favourite place, but it is worth a visit to say you have been there. Crown is the largest casino in (Melbourne / Australia). The main gaming floor is rather large. It is a good walk from end to end. The "real" VIP tables are tucked away on a different floor away from prying eyes. There are many restaurants & bars, several nightclubs, numerous function spaces, a cinema, a bowling alley, a gaming arcade and more. The "gas brigades" (fire towers) along the river promenade are a crowd pleaser. (Link). Search for "Crown Fire Towers" for some good YouTube videos.

If the weather is good, the areas along the river are lovely in the early evening (Southbank promenade / Crown Casino promenade / South Wharf).



My friend plays an acoustic set at one of the bars on the gaming floor on Monday nights from 6-9, if anyone wants to hear some tunes.

I'm looking forward to this, wherever it ends up being ... but one question about the Waiting Room. Its Web page stresses elegance, luxury and all that. I, and I suspect others, will be traveling with one carry-on and a wardrobe optimized for Alice Springs and airplanes. In other words, not exactly elegant. Will we be seriously out of place there?

Good point, Efrem.

Yesterday, I took a quick spin through UrbanSpoon and Chowhound to see if I could find anything in the moderately priced range around Southbank (now I want to see the BIG fire!) and didn't find anything. Problem is with these sites is there isn't much info and what is there is quite dated. Ahhh, Tripadvisor just popped into my head. Will search there.

Anyway, I hope to confer with penegal about the best options for both the FT and AFF crowds.

I feel kinda silly planning what you folks will be eating since I may be late, so if anyone wants to take over and save me from my controlling tendencies, feel free. But I'm happy to do it too.

I may be available on the 21st if there's something on.

Went to visit falconea on Friday and took a walk through Carlton Gardens.

Melbourne really is beautiful this time of year :)


http://i.imgur.com/LqsWMI5.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Zrvof6v.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/Vzni82n.jpg

So Malaysian Chinese is tonight in SYD. Since only redtigerii and I are going, that will give us some flexibility. I chose that particular place because it's close to my hotel, it's cheap and we've got a 7:30 flight in the morning. The restaurant closes pretty early too. Anyway, I've been invited to Cronulla today. Good opportunity to see something outside of Sydney.

I'm probably free for something on 22/5, and on 26/5 (though later in the evening - probably around 22:00) and maybe 27/5. Will just see what eventuates and whether I can make it (unlikely to make all dates).

*bump*

I am with boxo in ASP, so should be able to confirm a location for Monday dinner soon.

Umm.

Yeah.

Finally. Tonight's meeting place.

Blue Train http://www.bluetrain.com.au/
Southbank
Map https://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=q&...alia,Australia
6 pm

Is that time correct? I thought we discussed 6:30 last night at Uluru. Either works for me, but we should settle on which. (If I don't see a follow-up post here, I'll assume it's now at 6.)

I will try to be there by 6:15pm.

No reservations for groups less than 10, so we just show up and ask for a table for X people. It may take them a few minutes to arrange a table, during which time we can congregate in the bar.

I can now move from copper to platinum for Blue Train. Can someone with more than 90 posts please adjust the wiki? Ta.

See you about 6ish.

Okay. I'm definitely in. Probably be there about 6ish.

Sorry, I don't recall 6:30 pm, but that means nothing other than bad memory and/or lack of sleep while DO-ing.

I've checked in at the Radisson and will make my way to Southbank in about an hour. Whomever arrives first, please put in for a party of 8 under Flyertalk. See you all soon.

Due to the late arrival of inbound flights a few people may arrive closer to the 6:30 mark... myself included.



Attendees:
Efrem
chchkiwi
penegal
boxo
JessicaTam
TomVexille
blackcat20 (AFF)
samiam (AFF)


Copper
Tom911


Apologies:
serfty
tuapekastar
Mwenenzi
boomy (AFF)


.

The trip to ASP did not help the bug I have one little bit. I have an unexpected rest from my regular Monday commitment, so have decided I should stay in and try and get myself a little better. I'm probably doubtful for tomorrow as well, but we'll see.

I have arrived and am propping up the bar. I shall put in a request for our usual table! ;)

Sorry to hear you are unwell tuapekastar. Get better soon :)

I am en route via train

Sorry guys but I'm in the same boat as tuapeckastar. Have been coughing ever since getting off the airport bus and had better concentrate on restoring the health. I was so looking forward to going bur afraid it's a very early night for me.

Have fun!
Glemys

Is the bar going to survive? ;)

Don't worry, I am well practiced. ;)

Get better soon chchkiwi.

Awww, chchkiwi, we missed you. Hope you're feeling much, much better tomorrow.

Thanks to everyone for going out tonight. ^

FYI, the circle tram stops at 6 pm Sun-Thu and 9 pm Fri & Sat. I got as far as Flinders St Station to William before I finally hailed a taxi.

Look forward to seeing some of you tomorrow.

PS - I hope tuapekastar gets well soon too... preferably by Thursday please.

What's on for tomorrow?

A sleep in for some.

That's no joke. I'm torn between getting a good 6-8 hours sleep, but my time in MEL is limited this year. #firstworldproblem