Shibb, if you’re going, can I catch a ride?
I’m gonna need directions. Or at least a location.
Okay. Vote from the following for the location of the primary meet-up (or add your own write-in candidate):
Winter Park Village, restaurant TBD
Downtown (Wall Street-ish), restaurant TBD
Attractions area (Crossroads off Buena Vista Drive), restaurant TBD
UCF area (Waterford Lakes Town Center), restaurant TBD
Which of these is the least crowded? Or at least, which is easier to get to from I-4?
During early evening on a Saturday, all four will be crowded. Easiest to get to from I-4 would be the attractions area or downtown, which are both essentially on I-4.
Waterford would be really easy too; just hop onto the East-West Expressway (408, toll) from I-4 and it will take you directly to the Waterford Lakes Town Center.
Winter Park would be the trickiest - three turns instead of one or two.
All really easy, though.
Winter Park or Waterford would offer the best selection of restaurants/ bars/whatever.
Downtown would have the best selection of bars, but is the most hassle to park in and such - and they’ll probably all be loud.
Downtown would be a bear…I vote for Winter Park, if the parking is acceptable?
Parking at Winter Park Village is pretty easy most of the time. Definitely a lot easier than downtown.
So far that’s 1 vote. C’mon, people, it’s your Fest. I’m totally going to take credit if it rocks but I need to have someone to blame if it somehow manages to suck 
I’d vote for Winter Park or downtown, although I’m a maybe so I only count for half a vote. (Maybe 1/2 a vote each, yeah, that’s the ticket.)
You’re no help at all.
:smack:
Winter Park >>> Downtown. If you all can’t decide, just go to the same place I picked last time, Bosphorus, for Persian food.
If I had to pick one of the four I’d pick downtown, since I haven’t eaten there in more than a decade (I do see bands at the Social occasionally,) but isn’t Winter Park at most two turns rather than three (one to get on Fairbanks which turns into Aloma, then a left onto Park Avenue if that’s where we’re eating?)
Yeah, pretty much. As I said, it’s pretty convenient to I-4, just slightly more complex than the other two.
So far we have one vote for downtown (Ludo) and one for Winter Park (ivy).
Winter Park was a very nice spot last time. It is farther, but a much nicer view of the Orlando area than I was accustomed to. Also wouldn’t quibble with downtown, but I try to avoid the “attractions” area when my kids aren’t along. Don’t know jack about the UCF area.
I personally don’t like the Waterford Lakes area as I lived there for 5+ years and due to that it’s even more bland than when I first lived there. I’d even prefer the Attractions area since it is so touristy it has its own character of ultimate blandness. But that said Waterford Lakes doesn’t have a bad selection of eateries if you had to pick a strip mall.
Put me down for no downtown. I hate parking there the few times I’ve been in that area.
Also, by brother probably won’t be going, but I’ll see if I can get Flanderchick to come along if she’s not working.
If part of the agenda is coming to see my band (which would be really nice of you all) The Ritz Carlton is on the south end of town near the attractions… about a 25 minute drive from Winter Park. Downtown is closer. Just FYI
To answer your question RNATB (hope you don’t mind my abbreviating) we’re a jazz quartet so, yes, yelling out Free Bird won’t really do you any good, we’ll just look at you like “why the hell would you request Free Bird from a jazz band?”. Kind of like going to a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert and asking if they know any 50 Cent.
Another FYI - There’s no self-parking at the Ritz, you’ll have to valet park and it costs about $12 but…if you ask your server in the lobby lounge she’ll validate your ticket and then all you’ll need is a couple of bucks for a tip.
I was totally kidding. I don’t even like Free Bird.
I’m coming to see your band either way, I think.
I think I’m also going to vote for Winter Park, because… well, because it’s closer to my house. But also because it has more character than the other places.
But we would be allowed to wave our lighters and sing along with the band, right? Right?
You should try a jazz version of Free Bird sometime, just for fun. I bet no one else has ever done it. At least I hope not. “Play it pretty for Ocala!”
Sort-of-related: The Bithlo Mullet Revival did a brilliant ska version of it but they appear to have broken up now so I can’t linky.
My band shared a radio interview with Bithlo Mullet Revival some years ago. Those are the funniest mofo’s I’ve met in a while. Great band name, too.