GoodKarmaGuy

3/3 UPDATE: If you are just now reading this, there is still time to add your name to the party. Don't be shy... we are nice people and all are welcome!

IF IT IS CLOSE TO THE EVENT PM ME and I will call you or you can call me or somebody can call somebody. Something like that. We will work out payment for dinners, etc.

All details have been smoothed out:

Q: WHERE THE HECK IS lisamcgu?

A: On her way to Palm Springs via a few fancy spa treatments.

Q: And what can we do to get dhammer53 to do a MR that weekend?

A: Ummm... whatever it is, we did it!

Q: Does anyone think Seeya can be talked into attending since PucciGalore and He That Stays Indoors(or something like that... secretly we call him He That Sounds Handsome as Heck) aren't coming.

A: Sadly, it doesn't appear so but as of this writing, but we have not given up hope.

Q: Can someone convince DEK and bf that PSP can compare to fall foliage?

A: We have convinced on the "does it compare" question. Will they visit? Hmmm... Stay tuned.

Q: Where are missydarlin and sissy??

A: Seattle. So far.
<fingers crossed>

Q: Will umguy take off his shirt at the bar-hopping on Friday night?

A: Probably not.

Q: And how many people can fit in the jacuzzi at InnExile?

A: Unfortunately, our size-checker had to go to Costa Rica. Jacuzzi size-checker, of course.

Sooooooooo.... finished details:

We have updated the attendees and finalized the timeline and costs for the events.

You will also see menus and those costs, and information on what needs to be paid ahead of time and how to do that. As well, we have copied the original first post of the invite thread here. This comes from the original, earlier announcement thread. For reviews and comments on hotels and inns read that thread. (The second post of that thread has definitive reviews followed by postings, reviews and comments by some FlyerTalkers)

Enjoy! See ya there!

<<<Singing…>>>

They loaded up the miles and they flew to Gayla II...

In Palm Springs...

California, that is...

Swimming pools, movie stars.


You can also read a little less "gay" post re this Gayla Do in the Community Forum. Do not worry, as it is just as charming and has just as many innuendoes as this one!

Ok, the bad news is that if you don’t know what tune to sing the above song to, you need to turn in your card. If you need to ask WHAT card, then PM me to save the probable embarrasment. The good news is that you don’t need said card to attend the gayla.

Swimming pools and movie stars are the very least of it!

You arrive into a teensy little airport that has a TENT over the departure gates.

Of course, it is a fab, peaked, oasis-style, teflon tent soaring 4 stories.

You jostle shoulders with ancient, ancient queens in bermuda shorts and starched, short-sleeve button downs who are directing their 50-something boy toys to grab the luggage. "Just DO it!", they are snapping, as the bags slam into you.

Of course, the bag is Louis Vuitton.

You quickly roll out to the teeny rental lot, keys in hand as the ancient ones are crabbing to the toys while in the the car counter lines.

Of course, you knew to get the car keys while you were waiting for the luggage, you are a FlyerTalker!

You turn onto Cielo Avenue (or is it Dinah Shore Parkway?) to head for the Inn of your choice down a broad boulevard lined with palm trees and huge-... boulders.

Of course, this is Palm Springs..there are ONLY huge, wide boulevards.

Now, do you take Frank Sinatra Drive or Red Skelton Way? Neither, OF COURSE, as you are staying in fabulous, naked, Warm Sands or perhaps the "headquarters" hotel in Cathedral City.

Of course, you read the hotels reviews in the third posting of this thread and know that "naked" is just a word. (Hint: HAHAHAHA!)

You unpack your mileage run bag... call the cells of a few FTers to find out where the heck they are.

Of course, Viajero Joven is coming via whereever CO is flying (wasn't last year Peru??), umguy must come through DBV as he is on a RTW, jockdAAddy and ILuvParis are just now somewhere in between ORD-DFW-SEA where they claim they are 'abducting' missydarlin and sissydarlin because while your do is not a do without j-dAAddy and ILP(and by some quirk of fate these two got left out of the "What Really Happened in Palm Springs Review" ) , nothing beats an evening with the Seattle girls. You settle onto the veranda along the pool at your Inn, naked or not, watching the boyz, naked or not, as the sun settles over the mountains soaring directly over you.

And you think:

Ahhh... Palm Springs!

But hold onto your sky-blue pill-box stew hats ‘cause your tour daddy.... errr... director... has arranged another absolutely fabulous weekend in Palm Springs. With his faithful sidekick and treasurer, peteropny and his ever present critics... errr... helpers...

<<<waving to helpers in ORD and FLL and LAX and...>>>

he has ramped up this weekend to compete with Halloween in Barcelona and such things like ones named Chicago Chocolate Do at the Peninsula. Though he has accepted that competing would be ludicrous (BCN had a WEBSITE for God’s sake!… who could compete with The Peninsula, much less The Pen AND chocolate! ) and knowing that it will be hard to top (don’t say it) The Palm Springs Gayla 2004, what with Palm Springs mansions, bizarro drag queen entertainment, and the now infamous continually referred to pilots-in-the-jacuzzi, every effort is being made to make this a weekend that will go down in the annals of FlyerTalk.

Now, a word about the gossip and titillating stories from the Gayla 2004.

HA!

That’s the word.

This is a PG related event and, again, all Flyertalkers, friends and families are welcome. Y’all come.

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Below is an itinerary with the details to be fleshed out (so to speak). As details are added, this first post will be updated. As well, please feel free to add your rsvp in a post and your tour director will add it to the list of definite and possible attendees. Names will also be updated as we go.

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PAID DEFINITES: WHO IS COMING / WHERE THEY ARE STAYING :

dfwoods
Foady/ Westin Mission Hills
GoodKarmaGuy+2/ The Villas (the "+2" are locals )
ILuvParis/ The InnDulge
jockdAAddy/ The InnDulge
izzik/ Vagabond Inn
KenCT/ Marriott Courtyard PSP
kudzu +2
lisamcgu/ The Pepper Tree Inn
olafman+1/ InnExile
peteropny +1/ The Santiago (*Note that I had this one wrong - now fixed)
rbernheim+2
Steady-EDI/ Palm Springs Hilton on Fri, The Hacienda on Sat
umguy/ We Are Betting The Westin Mission Hills
dhammer53
sftrvlr/ Caliente Tropicana Resort (Ohhhhhh Luuuuuuucy!)
StSebastian/ The Villas
bluesincenew/ The Villas
Aluminumtubing/ Warm Sands Villa
Viajero Joven/ The Villas
kyushuman/ The Villas
missydarlin/ The Villas
PremExecSNA+1
Wireless/ We Are Betting The Villas
CDF/ Tortuga Del Sol
boifromtroy/ All Worlds

==========

Please be courteous of some member’s anonymity. As well, if you would prefer not to be named on the list, please just email or PM me so that I can add you to the count. This worked well last year for a few members. If you do not say otherwise I will add your name(s) to the list.

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The “host” hotel, The Villas, is well known and appreciated as the location of Gayla I 2004’s Saturday Dinner. They have some GREAT rates. I am staying there and as of 1/12/05 there ARE 12 rooms left! I am paying Thu/$79, Fri/$99, Sat/$99 and Sun 1/2 price of $40!! (Apparently, if you stay 4 nights, the 4th is half off). The Villas has a Cathedral City address so is within stumbling range of Sidewinders and The Barracks. The place has been almost completely renovated and is stunning with a gorgeous pool, restaurant and bar. All the rooms are clustered in bungalows. They used to be, and I believe, WILL BE the new chi-chi place in the Palm Springs area. The restaurant area is still under going renovations. This is why our dinner and brunch will not be there.



ITINERARY – DETAILS ARE BELOW THE SCHEDULE - please note that usually only Friday and/or Saturday evening events are “de rigeur”. But last year, virtually everyone who had not flown out came to Sunday breakfast and everyone who had arrived by Friday evening came to Friday Meet 'n' Greet. Very, very fun..


8pm Friday Evening – Martini Party Near the Pool (could that BE more gay sounding? ) at The Villas(our host hotel). OK let's make it more gay: Think lanterns, ice-cold martinis in chilled glasses, frozen espresso drinks, hors d'ouvres and Billy Holiday CD's under the moonlight, in a tropical garden, near the pool . How is that? $10/pp for folks who will only drink 1 alcoholic drink or less. $20/pp for unlimited drinks. All inc.

630pm Saturday Evening – Cocktail Hour and Dinner at the Uptown Grill (Used to be called the Left Bank). 3 Course dinner and two glasses of included for $40/pp all inc.

11am Sunday Morning – Sunday Brunch at the fabulously hot, hot, hot, newly renovated Desert Palms Inn. Seperate checks. Coffe and Bloodies at 11am... we order at 1130am.

1pm-ish Sunday Morning - Advanced Mileage Workshop immediatly following brunch. Maybe poolside. Handouts available but bring your laptop as the place (and the pool) are wireless.

7pm Sunday Early Evening – Beer Bust at The Barracks. Late dinner to follow.

Directions are all on the websites. Breakfast, The Barracks and Sunday dinner on the town will all be pay on your own, The Martini Party is pay-at-the-garden-gate and Saturday Dinner must be paid for in advance.

THE MARTINI PARTY Appletinis, Gin Martinis, Vodka Martinis, Cosmopolitans, Dirty Martinis, Fuzzy Martinis, Texas Martinis and Chocolate Martinis. Some food, coffe drinks and food of course. All inc. $10/pp for those of you who will only drink ONE alcoholic drink or less. $20/pp for open bar. PAY AT THE DOOR, PLEASE.There will be designated drivers available and also designated pullers-out-of-the-pool but there will NOT be any getters-you-out-of-the-fight-with-that-big-str8-guy-in-Bungalow-#3!PLEASE RSVP by posting here, PM or email.


SATURDAY DINNER is $40 all inc. That includes 3 courses (salad, entree, dessert)and 2 drinks each. Of course, I will suprise you again with a little amuse bouche. The drinks can be cocktails during the cocktail hour before dinner or glasses of wine during dinner. PLEASE PAYPAL OR MAIL THIS 2 WEEKS IN ADVANCE.You can 1) Paypal $41.46 (includes Paypal fees) to [email protected] or 2) PM him (our faithful treasurer returning for his second performance...uh...I mean 'term'), peteropny, for his address and just mail him a $40 check. IF YOU ARE A LATE ADDITION, then PM me ASAP... we will work something out. After you send payment, please pick an entree from below and PM or email me with your choice (we can probably squeeze a vegan or vegetarian out of them... let me know).

ALMOND CHICKEN- Boneless breast of chicken with almonds, sauteed and finished with a light maple brandy sauce and topped with fruit relish.

UPTOWN SOLE- A favorite simple presentation, breaded sole with a tomato basil sauce.

STUFFED PORK LOIN "FORRESTIER"- Stuffed with sauteed mushroom mousse, topped with a port wine mushroom sauce and cranberry relish.

Go on your diets NOW because this food is delish! I have tried it!

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Some Local and Travel Info follows:
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AIRPORTS

Local airport: PSP. This airport is really, really cute and worth flying into if it is not a lot more money. And no, you will not need a car if you are only there a couple days. Hotels have free parking and there are some awesome daytrips.NOTE that the car rental desks here close early: 9/10pm!

Alternative Airports: LAX (2-3 hour drive depending on traffic), SNA, BUR, ONT( @ 2hour drives +- depending on traffic)

Some creative routing may be beneficial. For example, last year AS for $108 SFO-PSP was found. While that may not work for the Gayla(who knows, though!) it does seem that a low fare to SFO, ONT, LAX or LAS may be combined with a low fare to PSP.

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SIDETRIPS: Many available! Also several special events that cannot be had elsewhere.


If you can get in on Thurs nite - Palm Springs has a street fair downtown- they close down the main street to traffic and there are booths up and down the street . I had the most marvelous roasted corn - yum makes me want to come back .
Thanks to jan_az

The Palm Spring Follies are supposed to be fabulous. The ladies are all retired show girls, some from Broadway, others from Radio City Music Hall, and so on. I've see a video and they are terrific. The run is usually from November through May 30. Thanks to SanDiego1K


Joshua Tree National Park is a few miles away and is a beautiful drive with hiking and walking available.

There is a big Casino in downtown PSP.

Palm Springs even has an Air Museum.

This will be a very fun weekend... HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

wharvey

< deleted >

GoodKarmaGuy

never mind

wharvey

I did not mean to offend... my apologies.

William

GoodKarmaGuy

Thank you for that.

Trust me on these things.

KenCT

Don't know what that was about, but I hope no animals or small children were harmed.

Thought that others would like to know that after the fall "do" in PHL, I learned that Citibank considers Paypal payments to be cash advances. They charged a $5 transaction fee and a .75 periodic rate, increasing the total cost of the meal by 12%

This time around, I think I'll send a good old-fashioned paper check to peteropny.

I'll be at the Courtyard in PSP a couple of days early and will have a car. If anyone would like to go to Joshua Tree or needs a ride to any of the events, send me a private email.

catwood

I regret I will not be coming this year..I will be in San Jose, Costa Rica. I'd ask to see pictures, but then again that might not be a good idea.

jockdAAddy

With Peteropny involved it is inconceivable, inconceivable I say, that there will NOT be an outlet shopping sidetrip. Obviously some sort of grievous oversight has occurred.

PS... Did I spell all that correctly???

FlyBalletGuy

Ken -

re: Paypal, no cc company I have used (generally Chase or Amex) has done this.

If you want to use Paypal as a transfer from your checking account, that can also be done, and costs nothing (but then again, you*could* just write a check!)

My apologies, as much as I enjoyed the PHL do, I can't make this one. I'm watching Sylphs in Boston that weekend.

StSebastian

We're still debating whether to attend, but I wanted to add that I work with PayPal on a daily basis and haven't ever heard of a credit card charge through them being run as a cash advance. Just in case they're reporting the type of transfer to the credit card company now, file all of your payments to someone as "Goods - non auction" instead of "Quasi-Cash".

GoodKarmaGuy

St Sebastrian, pleased come!

catwood, you are ON MY LIST !

Everyone, it looks like the martini party will be $20/pp all inc... what think you? That would be an open bar around a beautiful pool like from 830pm-1030pm. I need some guidance on this but will reserve final say. Also, "I think it is an OK price but I am not coming to it" is not a helpful response.

ILuvParis

Joe, I don't think $20 is too much for an open martini bar. Would people pay in advance of the do? What about the possibility of there being an id tag of some sort that would distinguish a martini drinker from the non-drinker who could then attend, pay a lesser amount and consume soft drinks? It would be a shame to have people who aren't interested in martinis not be there because of the cost and then have us miss out on each other's company.

Foady

Not to identify myself as a lush/snob or anything, but which martinis will be on the menu and will the alcohol be top shelf?

KenCT

That's always the issue with "open bar" sorts of things. The non-drinkers end up subsidizing the rest of us. I'm used to paying $8 for a martini, so this would be a real deal.

A third option would be to charge, say, $10 to cover soft drinks and snacks, then do a cash bar.

ILuvParis

Don't worry, a lush wouldn't ask that question.