Special DU Gathering Planning Thread!

[katinmn]

MN DUer enufalready is pulling up stakes soon. We must send her off to The Great White North in style.
:cry: :pals: :loveya:
I hate it that she's leaving but very excited for her over this new development!

So....what do you say? First weekend in January? Second?

:party: :toast: :party:

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. I'm gone from New Year's Day through January 7,

joining a volunteer group from my church that's going to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and I'll be recovering on January 8th, so I vote for the next weekend.

I also vote for David Fong's or the Local as venues.

[dpbrown]

3. Either Fong's or the Local work - easier parking at Fong's

But I'm flexible.

:party:

[dflprincess]

4. I vote for Fong's

but then I live in Bloomington. Though, it has it's points - easier (and free) parking, union establishment and, if we call ahead with a count, they'll have tables set up for us.

If we decide on the Local let's find out what else is going on downtown that weekend. Remember the problems we had at our last gathering (overpriced parking and no help from the management setting up space for us) because of the event at the Xcel Center.

Either weekend works for me. I suppose we should find out what's best for the guest of honor.

[dodger501]

12. Local is in Mpls, dflprincess

Were you referring to Liffey?

Looks like it is leaning toward Fong's on Saturday the 14th?

[dflprincess]

13. Yup - I didn't make that clear

But there could still be enough going on in Mpls to make getting in and out of downtown a pain in the neck.

[dodger501]

2. I vote for the 14th at The Local

I am photographing a wrestling and a BBall tournament that day so hope it is later (5:00 or later)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Either date, either place would be fine.

Though I lean toward Fong's because of the parking.

[bvar22]

6. I'm in!!!

Either time.
Either place.
:party:

[hermetic]

7. Gosh, I've never been a guest of honor before

:blush: And either place is fine by me, ummmm, if someone will give me a ride.

:pals:

[katinmn]

14. Remember I got lost last time?

Yes, lost going to Bloomington.

Added an extra hour to the trip if I recall.

I admit it is not my strong suit. I'm a horrible driver, especially at night.

I think you should choose a location since the party is in your honor.
Some place easy to drive to.

:)

[Divameow77]

8. I can't make it

I will be in Orlando all that week :-(

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Where is everyone?

Out playing with their Christmas toys? :-)

[DFLforever]

10. Either place is ok with me,

although I have a slight preference for Fongs because of parking.
I strongly prefer Sat to Friday though. Fridays are usually not workable for me.

Cheers and happy new year!
:party: :toast:

[Zookeeper]

11. Out of the dates mentioned, the 14th would be best for me....

especially if we meet in the late afternoon again.

:party:

[GAspnes]

15. Any time, any place

And if you need a chauffeur, Kat, let me know. <snicker>

[katinmn]

19. LOL. Stop making fun of an aging woman

I have never been fond of driving but now my navigation skills have gone to hell.

Maybe you and enufalready and I should carpool. I can make it to her house. :)

[GAspnes]

24. Sure you can find it, Kat?

<grin>

I'd be glad to pick up one, both, or either.

[hermetic]

22. Well, there youn go then Gaspnes

You drive, two hot babes. Or are you just teasing?

[GAspnes]

23. Done deal.

I never tease.

Well, at least not on the first drive.

[DemonFighterLives]

16. Happy New Year!

I just got back in town. We skipped Christmas up North so we did the late Christmas/New year getaway.
I don't know if I've been to The Local, but Fong's is great. Mrs. DemonFighter and myself and Sweet Mary too.
Enufalready, I couldn't find the thread about your plans. What's up?
:yourock:

:dem:

[katinmn]

25. HNY!

Look forward to seeing you. Have not yet found concensus on whether its Fri or Sat.

enuf will have to fill us all in in detail, with pictures. :-)

[DemonFighterLives]

17. kick nt

:dem:

[dflprincess]

18. Time for a

:kick:

[dpbrown]

20. Is a concensus developing around next weekend at Fong's?

I just saw an article in the Strib about Fong's...it's famous


:party:

[indigo32]

21. I'm up for next Fri

next Sat is a problem.
Fongs is good.

[hermetic]

26. OK then

Fongs it is, Saturday night. dpb was right, Fongs was voted one of the top Chinese restaurants in the country.

Gaspnes - your offer is accepted. I will pm you directions, very easy to find actually. And thanks.

There, see how easy that was....

:grouphug: :party: :grouphug:

[dpbrown]

27. Guest of Honor says Fong's, Sat. Jan. 14th...time?

Let's party!


:party::bounce::party:

[hermetic]

28. Shall we start at 5?

As per usual?

[Lydia Leftcoast]

29. I'll be there!

:hi:

[DemonFighterLives]

30. Is 5 the usual?

I must have been late most times. A little later maybe, not that it should matter.
Is there any link to the write up about Fongs?



:toast:

[DemonFighterLives]

31. Uh, I found the story

http://www.startribune.com/462/story/156248.html

[dpbrown]

32. Sure, there's a link

David Fong keeps reaping restaurant honors and customers
After 47 years in business, he has been named a local legend and the eatery has been named one of the top 100 of its kind in the nation.
Donna Halvorsen, Star Tribune

In his 20s, David Fong was looking for a restaurant location in Richfield, but he got lost and ended up in Bloomington. He saw a storefront for rent and started a small Chinese takeout place that would become a popular full-service restaurant in the booming first-ring suburb.
Along the way, Fong became a local icon in 47 years of hospitality and charitable generosity in his adopted community.

And the restaurant with Fong's name is listed among the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in USA for 2005, chosen from 40,889 Chinese restaurants across the country. Fong received the award in October. In November he was among eight "local legends" inducted into the newly established Minnesota Hospitality Hall of Fame along with other longtimers in the restaurant business.

"We're really, really honored," Fong said last week. "I really thank the city of Bloomington and the people of Bloomington for giving us this opportunity."

Bloomington was just a village in 1958 when David Fong opened his takeout at 98th Street and Lyndale Avenue. If he had a crystal ball, he could have foreseen what a good business decision he had made. Bloomington became a city, and its population nearly tripled from 1955 to 1970.

Fong came to this country from China in 1948 as a boy of 14 with his mother and two siblings. His father had come earlier and was running Moy's Cafe in north Minneapolis. David and his wife, Helen, after eight years of takeout, moved four blocks up the street to start a full service restaurant at 94th and Lyndale in 1966. They served American as well as Cantonese-style Chinese food to accommodate sometimes timid palates.

"There weren't a lot of kinds of cuisines at that time," said son Edward Fong, who runs the restaurant now. "Most of (the restaurants) were fancy steak houses, or breakfast and lunch places or supper clubs."

Edward said the business relies on word of mouth and repeat customers: "As people have moved out of Bloomington, they've still come back here to visit us," he said.

David and Helen are proud that the family tradition is being carried on in Savage, where son David Fong Jr. operates D. Fong's, and Prior Lake, where daughter, Cindy Le, operates Fong's.

Three grandchildren work in the Lyndale restaurant when they can. Edward said his children, now in college, haven't decided whether they'll be the third generation at the restaurant. "They certainly have an open door to the business if they decide to," their father said.

Donna Halvorsen • 612-673-1709

©2005 Star Tribune. All rights reserved.
http://www.startribune.com/462/story/156248.html

[DemonFighterLives]

33. Thanks DP

That's a nice story. Mrs. Demonfighter and sweet Mary grew up in young Bloomington and their father used to take them there way back when. When I moved to the cities in 1980, I used to go there quite a bit, but more to the back bar which was hopping back then.
:bounce:

[dflprincess]

34. Count me in

:bounce:

[DemonFighterLives]

35. Kick

:dem: