Palma,

Thank you for the news and our prayers will be with them both!!

Don't worry... we'll have more GTG's... this is the first of many to come!!

Keep us posted please!!!!

Palma, our best wishes to Bill and Ida! Courage and hope!

Hi all,

We were really looking forward to meeting everyone.Hopefully next week we'll be in Gainesville getting this taken care of . Me I'm freaked out. Pretty scarey. You never know what life has in store for you...so just enjoy life.

Ida

Ida,

Things will be fine and I know it's scary but keep you thoughts positive.

My daughter was diagnosed this past August with MS (age 28 with 3 kids) and has an outstanding outlook on things though life has not been kind to her in recent years. Just think positive!!

Besides, you are only missing the first GTG and this is the first of many more to come for us!!

Wow! A week from today!

What time is our dinner reso?
Are we meeting anywhere before?

jan

Ida,

Keeping you and Bill in my prayers.

Ginger

Dinner is at 7 PM.

As for meeting before, my option at the new Italian gourmet shop will not pan out due to delays in construction, so I have to find an alternate spot.

We have a small place, on Park Avenue in Winter Park, called Palmano's Piazza. It's a coffee/wine bar that Judith & I frequent when we go to farmers market. It might be an option for us to meet at say 4-5 for a vino or cafe.

Palmano's would be reasonable versus some of the other higher end wine bars on the avenue.

We can also just meet in Central Park which is by our train station and is the central open ground area of Winter Park but good seating close by would be better I think.

Thoughts group?

Bill and I are laying low waiting for the appt at Shands. We are so sad we're not in Las Vegas with Palma and Brad and upset we'll miss Rocco's. Sure would rather be with you all. Thanks for the nice words. I'm really trying to be calm and emotionless for Bill's sake as I think he is very scared and can tell when I'm worried.

Ciao.... Ida

Ida,

I'm sorry that we won't have a chance to meet you at the G-T-G, but our thoughts and prayers will be with you and Bill. Give Bill our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Cracker

Doug,

Sonnet will be driving down from Gainesville to join us. Please add her to the list.

Ginger

quote:

but good seating close by would be better I think.

Thoughts group?

I agree. Some place that also has a roof, just in case we experience some "Florida Dew."

a presto......pat

Agree with Pat. We need a roof.

Actually the winebar sounds good to me. I probably will be ready for coffee at that point, after driving down.

Isn't Park Ave the nice shopping street in Winter Park?

jan

Yes, Park Ave is the nice shopping area of Winter Park and Palmano's does not have a roof but has lots of canvas tenting above to give the coverage we will want. Aside from that their is a portico around the whole edge of the place so we can always stay under cover.

What time would you all like to meet there?
4?
5?

Let me know and I'll let them know we are coming!!

Ciao!

Doug let me know how it all went, i am leaving ST. going over to VT.
Have a great GTG in the Sunshine STate.

I would vote for closer to 5:00. I don't remember, but I think our hotel check-in time might not be until 3:00, so that would give us a little more time to get there, get checked in and freshened up.

Doug - is Rocco's close to Palmano's (i.e., can we walk from Palmano's to Rocco's or will we need to drive?)

Gail

Fiveish is good for us.

Palmano's is not close enough to walk to Rocco's as they are in two separate locations in Winter Park. Palmano's is on the avenue and Rocco's is on 17-92.

I'll set it up for us to meet at Palmano's at 5 PM in the Piazza... look for a ST Baseball cap on the table.. that'll be me!!

We are confirmed at Rocco's for 7.. 24 people; 4 tables of 6 in our own room.

See you all Saturday!!

Great!

We are looking forward to meeting everyone. See you at Palmano's on Saturday afternoon!

A presto,
Gail and Howard

Went in to Rocco's yesterday to get a menu. I asked Rocco to fix a favorite of mine-alici (anchovies{fresh}that are made using EVO and acid(lemon juice or vinegar) red pepper and maybe a little parsley. I used to prepare this when we lived in Pozzuoli.
Also invited a friend who will be (is) new to the board, Joe Caruso to join us. A true slow traveler.

We have room for more so it's not a problem and Rocco will make about anything we ask.

One of my favorites is orrechiette with rapini and sausage. As Rocco hails from Emilia Romagna, he has various cooking styles to use.

I know we will all have a great meal and a great time!

We are staying at Homewood Suites. Anyone else?

jan

Thanks for all of the planning Doug. We'll see you on Sat.

We are staying at the Marriott Courtyard.

Mary Pace

Okay, I guess I better do directions and locations

To Palmano's from the hotel area....
Take I-4 WEST to the Fairbanks Ave exit. At the exit turn left and head East towards Winter Park.
You will cross a major intersection (17-92 / Orlando Ave... there is a Popeyes and Walgreens under construction on the corner). (BTW... Roccos is on 17-92, about 100 yards north on the right from the intersection)

Continue on Fairbanks until you come to Park Ave (Rollins College will be on your right and it is the next left past New York Ave). Turn left on Park Ave. At your first light (Lyman) find a place to park as Palmano's is on the left, set off the ave through a portico one store in from the corner. If parking on Park Ave is tough, head over to New York which is one block off. There is also a multi deck lot if you turn right on Lyman at the light.

I will call Palmano's tomorrow to let them all know they can expect about 20 rowdy slow travelers who will take over the place for about 90 minutes!

To Rocco's... we would head back up to Fairbanks and turn right. When we get to 17-92 we turn right and just past the Burger King, is a group of stores with Rocco's sign out front. Turn in the driveway and parking is in the back.

See you all at the passegiata around 5 at Palmano's... in the piazza!!!

Save travels to you all and we'll see you then!!

Ciao,

Thanks for the directions.

I have tried to program all into my GPS. I think I g