After a week of sales, only about two dozen tickets left. If you want to come to the holiday party, it'd probably be a good idea to buy your tickets as soon as you can.

Boy, I wish I could make this. I'll be in the old hometown of Tampa for the first time in quite a while. Brilliant choice of venue, if I do say so myself. I've yet to make it to the OP location but will get the chance soon.

Yay! First time LTH event for Mr. Krasmania and me! Can't wait!

Just bought my tickets +1. I'm excited to be able to join - thanks to those I met at the End of Summer BBQ who advised me to buy my tickets for the Holiday Party quickly!

I just signed up my hubby, Mr. Pie.

Ingrid Durham, a.k.a. Ms. Ingie. Another who didn't add screen name to ticket order.

Would two types of homemade Stollen be acceptable as a grab bag gift?

Ms. Ingie wrote:Would two types of homemade Stollen be acceptable as a grab bag gift?

Yes.

Hellodali just bought our two tickets but also forgot to add in our screen names.

Hi,

There are three seats left.

Regards,

Hey all, I'm new on the board. Saw this event and thought it sounded great. Just bought a ticket, would've bought my girlfriend one but she's not quite as adventurous when it comes to food. Looking forward!

Glad you can join us aagreenb! Look forward to meeting you

Going to miss my first LTH holiday party ever.

A cousin's marriage is being celebrated that night; one of the few events that could keep me from the holiday party.

All y'alls gonna have to find a different gift runner . . . .

Giovanna

Giovanna wrote:Going to miss my first LTH holiday party ever.

A cousin's marriage is being celebrated that night; one of the few events that could keep me from the holiday party.

All y'alls gonna have to find a different gift runner . . . .

Giovanna

It won't be the same without you. Really.

Sold Out.

Giovanna wrote:Going to miss my first LTH holiday party ever.

A cousin's marriage is being celebrated that night; one of the few events that could keep me from the holiday party.

All y'alls gonna have to find a different gift runner . . . .

Giovanna

EvA wrote:

Giovanna wrote:Going to miss my first LTH holiday party ever.

A cousin's marriage is being celebrated that night; one of the few events that could keep me from the holiday party.

All y'alls gonna have to find a different gift runner . . . .

Giovanna

I volunteer to run the gifts..
but I will still miss you


sold out! I better get to work...

irisarbor wrote:

EvA wrote:

Giovanna wrote:Going to miss my first LTH holiday party ever.

A cousin's marriage is being celebrated that night; one of the few events that could keep me from the holiday party.

All y'alls gonna have to find a different gift runner . . . .

Giovanna

I volunteer to run the gifts..
but I will still miss you


sold out! I better get to work...

You're on!

Hello Everyone,

(Super) long time lurker and finally registered as member!
Our Holiday Plans changed and we would like to join you guys for the holiday dinner party. If anyone's plan change and would like to sell 2 tickets, please let me know.

Thanks!
K

If there is a waiting list, please add me for one. Thanks,

Glenn

glennpan wrote:If there is a waiting list, please add me for one. Thanks,

Glenn

Hey Glenn, there's no waiting list as such, but it's good to post here if you want a ticket; that way, if someone has to cancel, they can just come here to find someone to sell their ticket(s) to.

Raffle Gifts

Every year before the holiday party, I get back-channel queries re: gift exchange. People are not sure what gifts to offer, if they really must offer a gift, what would be good or not so good, etc.

The raffle is entirely voluntary, though just about everyone participates, and all you have to do is bring a gift of about $15 value. What would be good? Hard to say, but Josephine's contribution last year, which I won, was dehydrated black fungus and yak jerky, both of which thrilled.

We're eating the fungus in some soup tonight, and we'll use more in the stuffing for our Thanksgiving bird.



Two little boxes (one in pic, above) yield about 5-6 cups of beautifully delicate, slightly elastic, tenderly flavorful and mysteriously dark fungus. We also liked the yak...though Carolyn had no luck offering it up to fellow teachers, but they're civilians, so what the hell did she expect.

David Hammond wrote:Raffle Gifts
Two little boxes (one in pic, above) yield about 5-6 cups of beautifully delicate, slightly elastic, tenderly flavorful and mysteriously dark fungus. We also liked the yak...though Carolyn had no luck offering it up to fellow teachers, but they're civilians, so what the hell did she expect.

Glad you are enjoying the fungus, David. And I promise that this year, my gift choices will be new -yet not intimidating- to Carolyn's colleagues, should we be paired in the gift exchange a second time. We were on the receiving end of terrific gifts two years in a row from leek and husband. The first year, a vintage raclette set (tabletop party cookware) and hard-to-find cookbooks, and the second, some leek-made preserved lemons (the best I've tasted) and a coffee-table-worthy bible of modern Moroccan cooking- signed by Chef Mourad Lahlou no less! So much fun to be had with this exchange!

Josephine wrote:

David Hammond wrote:Raffle Gifts
Two little boxes (one in pic, above) yield about 5-6 cups of beautifully delicate, slightly elastic, tenderly flavorful and mysteriously dark fungus. We also liked the yak...though Carolyn had no luck offering it up to fellow teachers, but they're civilians, so what the hell did she expect.

Glad you are enjoying the fungus, David. And I promise that this year, my gift choices will be new -yet not intimidating- to Carolyn's colleagues, should we be paired in the gift exchange a second time. We were on the receiving end of terrific gifts two years in a row from leek and husband. The first year, a vintage raclette set (tabletop party cookware) and hard-to-find cookbooks, and the second, some leek-made preserved lemons (the best I've tasted) and a coffee-table-worthy bible of modern Moroccan cooking- signed by Chef Mourad Lahlou no less! So much fun to be had with this exchange!

I was remiss in not mentioning that the year before last, we received a Mr. Leek-made glass vase, which has been proudly displayed in our living room ever since. And we've received a lot of cool stuff over the past, what'sitbeen?, eight, nine years?

Josephine, thanks for mentioning what you received, as I'm hoping it gives others ideas about what they might offer. These exchange gifts don't have to be fancy, but it helps a lot if they're thoughtful...and food-related.

PS. I'd gladly win another bag of yak jerky.

Sorry, I have never done this before, can someone please go over the gift exchange and the gift raffle? So everyone who wishes to participate brings a gift, around $15, food-related - and then what happens? We get paired up and we exchange presents? Is the raffle a separate thing? Thank you!

nukegirl wrote:Sorry, I have never done this before, can someone please go over the gift exchange and the gift raffle? So everyone who wishes to participate brings a gift, around $15, food-related - and then what happens? We get paired up and we exchange presents? Is the raffle a separate thing? Thank you!

Helen, sure, thanks for asking: you bring a food-related gift of around $15; you get a ticket; we draw gifts randomly; when we randomly draw a number, a gift is won. If you brought a gift, you will go home with a gift.

We're using "gift exchange" and "raffle" interchangeably.

I can't remember how the drinks are done. Is it BYOB or will there be liquid refreshments included or available? What about ice?

Last year I received a gift box of 3 wonderful olive oils and a balsamic vinegar.
I was delighted!
Here was my contribution...

toria wrote:I can't remember how the drinks are done. Is it BYOB or will there be liquid refreshments included or available? What about ice?

BYOBooze. Ice will be available and you can buy soft drinks from Katy's.

In the words of that inimitable American poet (albeit in a somewhat [ ] different context): "Ice is nice and will suffice."

Some good news about parking. The Holley Court parking garage (about a half-block from Katy's, which is near the corner of Lake and Marion) is offering free parking every Saturday (and Sunday, if the party goes that late) throughout December. Here's a map:

http://www.downtownoakpark.net/parking.html

The entrance is on Marion.

I spoke with the attendant today, and she told me that if you park in Holley Court, you will need to get a ticket and, when you leave, run the tickets through the readers (located near most doors) to get it validated so that you can use it to leave the facility.

For those who would rather not drive at all (and bravo to you!), Katy's is near the Green Line stop at Harlem (end of the line).