# Coldie-Spiny-LA-Dope **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 5, 2001, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706 "2001-10-05T23:57:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Tretiak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a88e57/32.png) [@Tretiak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tretiak)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/241 "2001-10-17T21:05:31Z")
I am not one to complain about the choice of restaurant, especially with that big of a group. But I sincerely hope those who are visiting the southland from the various points of the compass take the opportunity to get some more authentic Mexican Food. Maybe Del Taco or Jack in the Box. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/242 "2001-10-17T21:11:22Z")
> [@](#): > > Put me, tentatively, on the list. I’ll plan to eat dinner somewhere else. I can’t go, drat it all, but if I may butt in: I don’t think SHAYNA is saying only 60 people can go _to the restuarant_. She’s saying a maximum of 60 can be in the Cecil Adams, lets-all-sit-together group. Presumably, El Torito is also open for other business, and there is nothing to prevent other people from having dinner there as well. And if, totally by coincidence, you happen to run into 60 or so of your closest friends . . . well, you’ll just have to walk over to say “hi.” Then you can sit at your own table and throw tortilla chip at them. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/243 "2001-10-17T21:18:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* > \*\ ***Stoid** , that’s nice in theory, but in reality this restaurant doesn’t even _take_ reservations on the weekends and did us a HUGE favor by even allowing it in the first place, let alone for such a large group. \*\* I swear to you I am NOT trying to be in any way contentious, and I completely appreciate your hard work and the way you are trying to do this the best and most effective way… But I really, really need to know…how in heavens name can it possibly be construed that they are doing anyone any \* favors \* ? Are they not in the business of selling food and drink? Is it not in their best interests to sell as much food and drink to as many people as possible? In what way does or should it matter to them one bit if the people in question know each other? I am well and truly stumped and lack the imagination to understand how we should be grateful that they are willing to take our money. Someone enlighten me? Weirddave and I agree… they are not going to be saying: “Oy! More people to buy food and drink from us! How much does that suck!” I’m telling you, they are just covering their asses on the reservation thing. If five extra people show up and they actually have the chairs to seat them, what are they gonna do, say “No, you can’t eat here or talk with your friends!” stoid Also, as I said originally and has since been mentioned, good tips go a very long way to making sure everyone loves you. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/244 "2001-10-17T21:21:18Z")
> [@](#): > > I am not one to complain about the choice of restaurant, especially with that big of a group . . . . . . and yet, complain you do. Or at least, snipe about how inauthentic the food is. SHAYNA has worked damn hard to put this together. If you think you can find a better forum for a group of sixty – one that will let you all sit together, treat you well, is both convenient and not too expensive, and has food you personally approve of – I’m sure she’ll be willing to let you handle the arrangements next time. ---
**Author:** ![Mercutio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/51bf81/32.png) [@Mercutio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mercutio)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/245 "2001-10-17T21:23:34Z")
I really really want those who aren’t on the list or are offering to give up their seats to come along and eat. Just ask for a table near the big group of weirdos. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/246 "2001-10-17T21:33:55Z")
**Stoid** , what’s so hard to understand about “please don’t take advantage of the courtesy they’ve extended us **by giving us a reservation in the first place when THEY DON’T TAKE WEEKEND RESERVATIONS as a rule** , let alone for SIXTY PEOPLE?” Listen, I’m not trying to be a bitch here, but you _are_ being contentious - and given the fact that you aren’t even attending, I’m not sure why the flip it matters to you? Do you just LIKE arguing your “point” because you think you’re right? This restaurant is in MY neighborhood. I’M the one who made the reservation so they’re taking MY word for it that when they asked me to limit the party to 60 and I said I would that I’ll stick to that. I’ve hosted a previous dopefest here and I may want to host another one or more in the future. **I don’t want them saying no the next time** I ask for a reservation they don’t ordinarily even take, because the last time I did I took up 10 extra tables than I said I would - tables that would surely turn over faster with “regular” patrons coming and going than they do when large groups are involved! **Jodi** , your idea is a great one and I thank you for sharing it. If anyone else wants to come to El Torito for dinner, by all means, do so. But I’M not going back on my word to the manager, who has been extremely nice to me. **Stoid** , I’m not answering any more of your posts in this thread. You want to argue your point, do it somewhere else. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/247 "2001-10-17T21:41:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jodi \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > I am not one to complain about the choice of restaurant, especially with that big of a group . . . > > . . . and yet, complain you do. Or at least, snipe about how inauthentic the food is. > > SHAYNA has worked damn hard to put this together. If you think you can find a better forum for a group of sixty – one that will let you all sit together, treat you well, is both convenient and not too expensive, and has food you personally approve of – I’m sure she’ll be willing to let you handle the arrangements next time. \*\* **Jodi** , have I said yet, how disappointed I am that you aren’t coming to this thing? ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecccb3/32.png) [@Lord\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Jim)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/248 "2001-10-17T21:54:51Z")
**Jill** , hang in there girl. The amount of appreciation that MOST of us have for your efforts FAR outway the anything that the FEW that feel they have to complain have to say. **Jodi** , you’re great. Sure you can’t come? See y’all soon, Jim ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/249 "2001-10-17T22:24:55Z")
I’m not looking for any response, just answering you: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* > \*\*given the fact that you aren’t even attending, I’m not sure why the flip it matters to you? \*\* Because if I accept what you say as the absolute gospel, then I, and anyone else who was on the fence, ( since I had not made a final decision about whether I was attending or not) now feel as though I have been told that \*\* I am not welcome at the main gathering, period, \*\* and that if I should decide I want to come and meet \* everyone \* , my only option is to stand around outside and say goodbye to people as they are leaving, given that this is the \*\* only \*\* gathering at which virtually everyone will be in attendence. And it seems unreasonable, not of you, but of the restaurant, to simply refuse to accomodate anyone who shows up who exceeds the 60 original. > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* \*\* > tables that would surely turn over faster with “regular” patrons coming and going than they do when large groups are involved! > \*\* See, now that is an actual reason they may not wish to serve us. Which is all I was asking for in the first place, since I could not imagine one. stoid ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/250 "2001-10-17T22:39:05Z")
I didn’t want anyone to forget this part: > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Shayna \* > **FRIDAY EVENING** > > The General Manager for The Ramada & Days Inn hotels has kindly agreed to allow us the use of one of their meeting rooms at The Days Inn in Torrance to gather and hang out for the evening/night. > > She’ll have the room open and available for us as early as 5:00PM and we can stay as late as 12:00 - 1:00AM so long as we aren’t blasting loud music. I’ll bring my portable CD player (though it’s really a piece of crap - sorry), but you guys will have to provide the music, as I don’t really have a collection worth listening to. > > **She is not charging us for the use of the room!** We need to send her flowers or something 🙂 > > There is a liquor store immediately next door to The Ramada and also one across the street. I figured people could pick up the drink/s of their choice and head over to the Days Inn any time after 5:00. > > I’ll order a bunch of pizzas and salad from a little neighborhood pizza place that makes GREAT pizza (WAY better than Pizza Hut, et al) and have it delivered at, say, 7:00PM (?? or should I make it 8:00?). > > They tell me that for ~40-50 people, we should need 10 - 12 large pizzas (12 slices each) & what they call a “tray salad” and it’ll cost us approximately $175.00 - $200.00 (though the guy I talked to said if I call back on Thursday AM, he’ll be there with the store owner and the owner will likely be willing to give us a discount for such a large order). This is actually quite cheap, even without a discount, as it works out to under $5.00/person if we have 40 or more people! I’ll want to collect money from everyone as they arrive at the Days Inn, so **please have cash ready for me** (thank you). > > [The Days Inn](http://www.the.travelodge.com/torrance04160) is located at > 4111 Pacific Coast Hwy. > Torrance, CA 90505 US > Phone: 310-378-8511 > > The estimated travel time from the Ramada is 6 minutes. Just turn right onto PCH from the motel and go approximately 3.3 miles.\*\* ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/251 "2001-10-17T22:56:57Z")
**Moderator’s Notes:** Well, this is a first. I’ve never had to post a reminder in a Dopefest planning thread asking folks to hold their tempers in check. Can y’all do me a favor and chill? I’d appreciate it. You’ll save me some stomach acid; that ulcer is killin’ me. And I have a simple solution for you, Stoid. If you find you do want to get together with these folks, simply e-mail one of them, get a cell number, ask 'em where they might be **after** dinner, and go there. You don’t _hafta_ meet 'em at the restaurant. Sheesh. ---
**Author:** ![porcupine](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ac91a4/32.png) [@porcupine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/porcupine)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2001, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/252 "2001-10-17T23:19:04Z")
**Shayna** , thanks so much for schmoozing the restaurant into accomodating a group of 60 dopers. > [@](#): > > _Originally posted by UncleBill re: Harley-riding_ > I DO draw the line at the fondling. OK, fondling ABOVE the waist is acceptable. But THAT’S ALL. > \*\* Ok, but what about tongue? Is tongue ok? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2001, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706/253 "2001-10-18T00:19:52Z")
OK, another six-pager. I’m gonna close this one, and open a new one. Hopefully the last one. My ego almost got stuck in the door as I walked in tonight. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coldie-spiny-la-dope/85706.md?page=12)