Hi everyone,

As we all know we are having the big GTG in mid-March, but a number of people have asked about Slow Bowl. I have a couple of wineries lined up but - the cottage is not available for our weekend (it is being rented for several weeks, though that may fall through).

So, if we do this I need to start looking for another house.

So, if you can post here if you want to come, I'll get an idea if we should go ahead with it (assuming I can find a good house) or if we should skip it until 2011.

Thanks -

Yes, count me in! I missed last year so definitely need some time with Slow Bowlophiles.

My sister and I will be there if you have it.

Nancy

Shannon Regretfully Mike and I won't be able to make it this year. I have family coming from Vermont from the 30th of Jan. for a couple of weeks. See you in SD for sure.

Barb Cabot

We'll be there!

David and I are sending regrets this year; it's a big birthday weekend for us in Sacramento as our son turns 30 and our grandson turns 1.

We will look forward to 2011, and hope to see many of you in San Diego in March 2010.

Ken and I will not be able to come this year--but 2011 sounds good.

Mike and I will probably come, but we can't commit for sure until a little later.

- Roz

I'd plan to attend, BUT would completely understand if the house issue and/or organizing the San Diego Gathering takes precedence, and Slow Bowl is put on hiatus for 2010.

I agree, Colleen. Although we'll be there if it happens, I completely understand if it doesn't work out this year!

Chris doesn't think he'll be able to make it but I would like to try if you have it, but like the others, totally understand if you want to push off a year.

Expressing the same sentiments as the others... I will attend if it happens. But will understand if it is put off for another year.

Shannon, I appreciate your efforts and to even think about coordinating a SlowBowl on top of the San Diego event.

Is Deborah bringing "liquid treats" to San Diego?

Ditto for David and me. We'll be there but understand if it gets put off for a year.

It looks as if Rose and I will not be able to attend Slow Bowl, but look forward to seeing everyone at the San Diego GTG. My husband, Peter, has accepted an invite to another Superbowl Party closer to home, so guess I'll have to attend that to make him happy!!

But, count on Rose and me for 2011, o.k.??

Lou

Thanks, Shannon, for even considering this!

If we were able to attend we would be without our babysitters (ie: my parents) because they head to Arizona at the beginning of February. Sooo, we wouldn't be able to participate as much as in past years.

We too would totally understand if the energy goes to SD this year. If you do hold it, we would try to come down.

We'll be passing on the wonderful Slowbowl this year. We're looking forward to San Diego but with that and then my deciding to head to Bologna in June and a planned week in the Berkshires in October we've blown the trip budget for the year! LOL

We'll be there!

Just San Diego for us this year.
Thanks for your organizing efforts, Shannon!
Charity

OK here is what I am thinking for Slow Bowl. Since we are a lot less people, and to make this easier to plan, I propose the following.

Instead of doing this in Paso, we switch it up.

We can have our wine tasting in the Los Olivos/Santa Maria/Lompoc area.

Then, we can all stay in Los Alamos and eat our Saturday dinner at Full of Life Flatbread.

Don't let this website throw you off. Krista and Steve took me to this restaurant a few weeks ago, and it is extraordinary. They have a huge pizza oven in the dining room. Everything is locally sourced and the food is truly incredible. I am 100% sure that you would all love it.

In the little town of Los Alamos, there is a place called the Skyview Motel. It would be similar to the Melody Ranch - clean, but basic motel rooms. The rates are $55 or $65 depending on the type of room. They have a clubhouse with a basic kitchen. There are a couple of other hotels in Los Alamos and more in Buellton which is not that far away.

We could arrive Friday and have some food and drinks in the clubhouse, then taste on Saturday and go to Full of Life Flatbread. We'd need a couple of people willing to do the driving into Los Olivos for wine tasting.

Of course, this means a little bit more of a distance for everyone in the Bay Area - it will add an extra hour and a half on to your trip.

If this sounds good, I will post some more hotel links and start on the winery reservations.

I think this sounds great! I love the idea of a new area and new wineries. We don't want to fall into a rut.

Do they have wifi at the Skyview? (You can tell I don't have enough to do this morning... )

Chris, I kind of doubt it. But a lot of the places in Buellton would. I can shoot them an email and ask, just in case.

Shannon, I don't think we would be up for a drive that long, especially since we are planning to drive to San Diego. So you can put Mike and me in the "not this year" column.

- Roz

Shannon,
Brilliant idea! Of course this is all in my back yard and Full of Life Flatbread is my favorite restaurant, so naturally I'm all over this idea. Count Steve and I in!

Here's a really good article that describes Full of Life Flatbread:
Food from the Hearth

Shannon, which wineries are you think of?

-Krista

Shannon,

I second Krista with "brilliant idea" even though we still can't come this year.

Bummer, Roz! It's a beautiful drive... if that makes a difference.

For Saturday, I am thinking Cambria and Foxen and maybe Zaca Mesa. Then Sunday, if some of us are still around, it would be really cool if we could go into Lompoc and taste at Palmina... then maybe Alma Rosa and who knows? Super Bowl at Avant? The possibilities... between the two of us, it will be awesome I am sure.

I've always wanted to visit wineries in that area, but have never made it -- sounds like a great time. Count me in!

Sharon

Shannon, as much as I really wanted to attend SlowBowl this year, I am going to bow out this time. I need to leave after school for this and since the distance will be a bit longer, I will arrive at the site real late.

I can't take a day off as I am taking some for San Diego. So sorry that I am going to miss the fun and festivities this time.

Just to clarify, Shannon, was that extra 1.5 hours each way or round trip?

Oh, I so want to go to Palmina! I bought two bottles in a wine shop in Santa Barbara years ago, and sent them to my cousin, Palmina (little Palma) in NY. We were both (and another first cousin in NJ) named after our grandmother, Palma, who went by Palmina. I understand the wine is very good too.

I guess it depends you where you are coming from... it could just be one hour extra from Paso, but I think 1.5 is a bit more realistic. I hope you and Frank will still come, Chris, but I know it is definitely a little farther than Paso.

Oh, we'll be there. I was just curious. I just checked google and it's 77.4 miles from Paso to Los Alamos.

According to Google maps, for us (coming from Napa) it is 4 hours to Paso, but 5 hr 21 mins to Los Alamos. A 4 hour drive for a weekend trip is about as much as we care to undertake.

We are planning to split our drive to and from San Diego into two days each way. So after Slow Bowl, tell us about the best places you found in the Los Alamos area, and maybe we can check out a few on that trip.

- Roz

quote:

Originally posted by Palma:
Oh, I so want to go to Palmina! I bought two bottles in a wine shop in Santa Barbara years ago, and sent them to my cousin, Palmina (little Palma) in NY. We were both (and another first cousin in NJ) named after our grandmother, Palma, who went by Palmina. I understand the wine is very good too.

Palma, I thought you had been there before - wow, you definitely need to visit them. The winery was named after the owner/winemaker's Italian "aunt" who went by the name Paula, but her real name was Palmina. (more details in this article: Benvenuto al Tavola) Shannon, how many people do you think we'll have total? Maybe we can arrange a special tasting with Steve and Crystal at Palmina...

Also, if we are going to be anywhere near Los Olivos, there will be a new Olive Oil tasting room opening up soon.

-Krista

I also think Shannon's idea for a change up is great, and would have loved to visit Krista's stomping ground. But, I'm sorry to say that we won't be making it to SlowBow this year. We are planning an extended visit to FL at my brother's in the Bonita area.

Just hope nobody at the house in Paso finds the jar Shannon & I hid until next time we go back.

For those who do get to go, have a wonderful time. I'll be watching for reports.

quote:

Originally posted by Deborah:
Just hope nobody at the house in Paso finds the jar Shannon & I hid until next time we go back.

LOL Deborah, I have been thinking about that jar.

It looks like we'll have a pretty small group but that's fine since we will have the big gathering just a few weeks later and I should probably save my energy for that. I won't wait though, to book the cottage well in advance for the 2011 Slow Bowl.

Hi there, we were wondering about this years SB, we plan on attending and totally understand the need for a move of venue for this year.

We plan on attending - even w/ the longer drive, but we may go to Colo. Spr. that weekend if Rachel doesn't qualify for Olympics. won't know about that til Nationals in mid January. So, if you keep us as a possible ...

Thanks Shannon for coming through with this event, with such a lot of work for the GTG SD I wondered if you would cancel this Febs. Slowbowl. Wendy and Rob

Just being lazy and dense here - into which airport would I fly for the new venue? Last time, we flew into San Francisco and drove to Paso.

Hi Kim, i would fly into LAX. We would like to join in SB but would not know till closer to the date. thanks

Kim,
I would fly into Santa Barbara. There are at least four main airlines that use the SB airport: e.g. United, USAir, Continental, and ??

If you fly into Burbank, you can take the train from near the airport to Santa Barbara or on up to San Luis Obispo.

Charity

Isn't flying into Santa Barbara way more expensive?

Kim,

The less expensive fares will be into LAX as Stephanie said, and closer to Santa Ynez/Los Alamos than SFO. Not to mention more direct, probably non-stop for you.

If you decide to come and need a place for a night before or after, there are extra bedrooms here at Casa Battin. We can't make it to SlowBowl, but we are not flying to Sacramento until Friday afternoon, tho we will be up there until Monday. Anyway, the door is open should you need it.

Thanks all. Okay - I think it will probably be LAX; I think to go into SB, I'd need to connect which I hate to do during the winter when weather can really hose things up.

Kim, I had a look on orbitz last night and fares were not that much more ($75) to fly into and out of Santa Barbara. But other times I have looked it has been a lot more. So, keep it in mind.

You just need to do your homework--searches--to find your best fares.

Remember, when you arrive in LAX, you still need to find and fund a way to get to your final destination, which isn't LA.

Charity

quote:

Originally posted by Shannon:
Then, we can all stay in Los Alamos and eat our Saturday dinner at Full of Life Flatbread.

A good review of Full of Life Flatbread popped up today on http://twitter.com/hitthedish

quote:

California foodies - this is one AMAZING spot in the central coast. Check it out, it is worth the drive! http://www.hitthedish.com/rest...ll-of-life-flatbread

OK, I have made my room reservation at the Skyview Motel. What else do you want me to do, Shannon?

My sister probably won't be with me. She doesn't want to drive another hour and a half down to Los Alamos. So, I will be meeting up with her in Paso a couple of days before that to do our Christmas celebration (a little late), and then I will come back to Los Alamos for the weekend.

Nancy

You know what, I will start another thread with the details tonight; then all of us that are coming can sign up there.

I am heading to Egypt Feb 11, so will not make it to Slow Bowl this year. Hope the new locale is a winner! Drink wine for me! Darci

Locking this thread - if you are coming to the Slow Bowl we will continue here.