Urban Eating League inaugural event

[Morgan Fitzgibbons]

Hey Local Food team,

This is a follow-up email from the meeting we had during Thursday's Wigg Party Party where we discussed our next project as a group. The working title is the Urban Eating League, but we are open to other names for it. Here's the gist:

We're going to put on a progressive dinner of sorts. The only difference is that it won't be one dinner party moving to different venues - it'll be teams of eaters rotating to different venues so that each venue will have full capacity at all times. After all the teams have been to each venue, we'll meet back at the Sunshine Castle for dessert, an awards ceremony, and partying. We decided to stage the event on Sunday February 13th.

We decided that we should start small in our inaugural run. We're going to find 3 host sites to serve the main course. We'll have 6 teams of eaters, 3 people to a team. That's 18 eaters and 3 host teams of various sizes. The eaters will all pay a fee to enter - we decided on $10-15 sliding scale. That'll give us $180-270 to buy the food and get any prizes we want to give out for the awards.

All the host teams will go with Rose to the Divisadero Farmers' Market the morning of and buy produce. We'll also have the menus submitted ahead of time so that we can pick up any other bulk items like grains, etc at Rainbow. We'd like at least 80% of the food to be local.

We need to find 3 host sites, hopefully in close proximity to each other. Rose and Lindsey have already offered their place. We thought the Palace of Touch could be another spot. That means we need to find at least one more in the neighborhood to join in (somewhere near North of the Panhandle).

Other things we need to decide:

1. The name of the event
2. Awards (we were thinking most of the awards could be made up by the teams giving them out - something silly, hopefully. But awards like "best dish" "best overall host" "best guests (team of eaters)" etc. would be good staples)
3. Sponsorship/Prizes (there is talk of getting the event sponsored by a company (eatdrinkbetter.com is a candidate), but barring this I think we should get local merchants to donate gift certificates or something as prizes to give away to the winners).
4. Escorts (we'll need people to make sure all the groups are going to the right place at the right times)

We're going to have a PR team working on some things like event promotion, etc. If you are interested in helping with that please let me know. We're also eager to get some other fun add-ins like a scavenger hunt during the event (the items in the scavenger hunt will likely be based on the food and the host sites - something to get people to learn about the food, etc).

There will be a meeting in January to go over the details and get everything locked in. I've made a doodle poll so that we can find a time that works best for the most people. Please indicate your availability here: http://doodle.com/kdh8rw49brbxwxzv

Looking forward to adding another awesome notch to the Wigg Party belt!

Morgan

[Johnny]

Morgan,

     I'm so pleased to hear from you, and terribly sorry I've fallen away from events at the Sunshine Castle.  My loss, for sure.

     By way of an excuse, Kolin and I bought an old dog of a house in Sonoma County and I've been up there renovating the place.  "Apocalypse II" just in case we can't get to Hawaii when our last can of tuna is used up.  ;-)  The renovation work will continue for some months...  Half acre of land.  Fruit trees.  Eventually veggies and small livestock.  And it's one block from the county-wide bike trail.  You can bike to the village of Graton (grocery store, post office, fire station, restaurants) in five minutes and downtown Sebastopol in half an hour.  The trail goes all the way to Santa Rosa.

     Count me in on the Urban Eating League.  I'd offer our place here on 17th Street as a venue, but we're in the wrong part of town.  I can certainly provide food and material support.  Since I'm spending most of my time in the country (60 miles from the city, so "local") I could bring in plenty of stuff straight from the farms.  February is a bit dull food-wise, but there's always something on offer.

     Let me know.

         - Johnny

[Rose Johnson]

i think ted and alex are interested in hosting. they are on baker at mcallister. i bet katie sterbal might be into the idea if we need another spot.


johnny, i will see you when my last can of garbanzo beans are out. sign me up.

rose

[Booka]

Hello Locavores!

I want to help in whatever ways I can, count me in.

Also my place in Potrero Hill is up for grabs for next round.

Morgan, I'll def be at the next W.P.P to discuss and plan.

xox,
b

On Dec 13, 6:16 pm, Rose Johnson <johnson.r...@gmail.com> wrote:
> i think ted and alex are interested in hosting. they are on baker at
> mcallister. i bet katie sterbal might be into the idea if we need another
> spot.
>
> johnny, i will see you when my last can of garbanzo beans are out. sign me
> up.
>
> rose
>

> >> We're going to put on a progressive dinner<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_dinner>of sorts. The only difference is that it won't be one dinner party moving to

> >> different venues - it'll be teams of eaters rotating to different venues so
> >> that each venue will have full capacity at all times. After all the teams
> >> have been to each venue, we'll meet back at the Sunshine Castle for dessert,
> >> an awards ceremony, and partying. We decided to stage the event on Sunday
> >> February 13th.
>
> >> We decided that we should start small in our inaugural run. We're going to
> >> find 3 host sites to serve the main course. We'll have 6 teams of eaters, 3
> >> people to a team. That's 18 eaters and 3 host teams of various sizes. The
> >> eaters will all pay a fee to enter - we decided on $10-15 sliding scale.
> >> That'll give us $180-270 to buy the food and get any prizes we want to give
> >> out for the awards.
>
> >> All the host teams will go with Rose to the Divisadero Farmers' Market the
> >> morning of and buy produce. We'll also have the menus submitted ahead of
> >> time so that we can pick up any other bulk items like grains, etc at
> >> Rainbow. We'd like at least 80% of the food to be local.
>
> >> We need to find 3 host sites, hopefully in close proximity to each other.
> >> Rose and Lindsey have already offered their place. We thought the Palace of
> >> Touch could be another spot. That means we need to find at least one more in
> >> the neighborhood to join in (somewhere near North of the Panhandle).
>
> >> Other things we need to decide:
>

> >>    1. The name of the event
> >>    2. Awards (we were thinking most of the awards could be made up by the

> >>    teams giving them out - something silly, hopefully. But awards like "best
> >>    dish" "best overall host" "best guests (team of eaters)" etc. would be good
> >>    staples)

> >>    3. Sponsorship/Prizes (there is talk of getting the event sponsored by

> >>    a company (eatdrinkbetter.com is a candidate), but barring this I
> >>    think we should get local merchants to donate gift certificates or something
> >>    as prizes to give away to the winners).

> >>    4. Escorts (we'll need people to make sure all the groups are going to

[Jeanie Kirk]

hey fyi all dude(tte)s:

 

i got the a-ok from ted/alex that they can be a host spot for our radical delish food party.

--
Jeanie Kirk 

617.650.4393
www.flickr.com/photos/jeaniekirk

[Morgan Fitzgibbons]

Hey Team,

I wanted to remind everyone that we tentatively agreed to meet on Thursday January 20th to figure out the next steps regarding our upcoming Urban Eating League event. I was hoping we could make this happen at 6 pm on that day, as there is a NOPNA meeting at 7:30 that evening that we would like Wigg Partiers to attend (we fear they may end up standing in the way of the Masonic Avenue redesign). So January 20th at 6 pm at the Sunshine Castle (1571 Fulton St.)? If this does not work for you please let your voice be heard.

Also to recap, it looks like we have 3 tentative venues at this point (Rose and Lindsey's place, the Palace, and Ted and Alex's place). Still need to finalize a name, figure out promotional work and hammer out some detailed logistics.

Looking forward to taking the next steps!

Morgan

[Rose Johnson]

see you all there!

[Jeanie Kirk]

Hey all,

Unfortunately something has come up and I have to miss tonight's meeting.

Is someone responsible for taking notes? Crappy of me to miss I know, but if you could keep me/us abreast of the discussion, I'll definitely respond virtually.

Rose - since we'd discussed working together a lot for this feel free to email or call me directly: jeani...@gmail.com, cell: 617.650.4393.

Sorry friends - keep me in the loop,
Jeanie

[shannon skillern]

Hi all,

Also down for the count tonight, as I am taking a class at city college and lost much of my weeknight availability.  Would love to see notes via email as well if someone doesn't mind facilitating that?

Keep me posted!

Hugs,
shannon

--
. . . .

shannon skillern 

 : // shannon...@gmail.com
 : // 415.680.6325

[Johnny]

Morgan,

     I'm in!  Can I bring anything tonight?  Beer?

          - Johnny

[chetan sen]

Sorry I missed this important meeting!  Must find out what happened.

Apologies,

Raja

[Johnny]

Raja,

     I volunteered us both to provide desserts for the progressive dinner on Sunday, February 13th.  I have plenty of apples and cherries in the freezer from last summer.  We'll need a few vegan and gluten free items.  Are you up for this with me?

[chetan sen]

I will try my best to help.  I will be having guests for a few days, so I'll  want to give them the option of helping or even sharing in the dessert festivities, should this be cool Wigg-wise.

Maybe we can make sorbet.

Raja

[Johnny]

Raja,

     Sorbet sounds cool.  I know I've got both strawberry and blackberry puree in the freezer from last summer in addition to the apples and cherries.  Sorbet, ice cream, and pies.  That should do it.  We could do most of the work in advance.  Mi cosina es tu cosina. 

[Maya Bachman]

So sad to say that I too must miss tonight's meeting. I super duper still want to be involved and am willing to contribute desserts, drinks, etc. Looking forward to hearing an update from the group on any new developments. =-) Maya --- On Thu, 1/20/11, Johnny <jdsf...@gmail.com> wrote:

[Lindsey Whited]

Raja,

I got the gluten free vegan desserts covered. I will most likely be brining some almond quinoa muffins and some other item, possibly chocolate cream pie, still deciding.

-Lindsey

[Johnny]

Lindsey,

     Let me know what bulk ingredients you need.  I've got plenty.

            - Johnny

[Lindsey Whited]

Johnny,

What is this madness of bulk you have?? Do you have have gluten free flour?

-L

[Johnny]

Lindsey,

     Soy flour, garbanzo flour, rice flour, xanthan, amaranth, potato flour, quinoa (red and white)...  What do you need?

     For the record, the photo doesn't show half my pantry madness. 

      - Johnny

[chetan sen]

He's not kidding, Lindsey.

[Johnny]

Hey there,

     I got Eatwell Farms CSA to donate a veggie box for the progressive dinner.  It can be given as a prise or used in the meal.  Let me know who/when/where/how to deliver it.

     - Johnny