Texas DU caucus plans for State Convention

[johncoby2]

OK. Here is what I propose.

Thursday night is the kickoff party. We should go.
Our caucus will be held at a bar/restaurant close to the hotel.
now, since I am in Houston, it will be hard for me to find one. So some one help me.

Do you guys want to do anything else? Besides greet, meet, eat, and drink excessively?

[muse]

1. Let's see

1. At a bar (restauarant)
2. Greet
3. Meet
4. Eat
5. Drink Excessively

No, didn't miss anything. Anyone feel differently?

[WestHoustonDem]

2. Just one thing

Caucus chair buys the first round! :toast: :party: :rofl:

[NoPasaran]

3. Motion to adopt the agenda!

Anyone got a second?

[crispini]

4. Sounds good!

Although I think that we should actually give some thought to some things we might want to lobby together around. I think we SHOULD go as a caucus. Really! I bet we could come up with some good stuff to advocate.

Yellowdawg lives over thataway. She should be able to scout locations for us.

[WestHoustonDem]

5. I think the number one thing we need to caucus for is VPAT

The current state platform is pretty good, I wish we didn't have to start over from scratch.

[VelmaD]

11. not VPAT...

VVPB. Voter Verified Paper Ballot. Lather. Rinse. Repeat. :)

[sonias]

6. BlueCollar and Aquarius also live out that way

They even invited us to their house for a party. Maybe we can have a second caucus meeting at their house. Maybe we ought to remind them.

Sonia

[johncoby2]

7. Lets advocate for DU!

Find a DUer in every Senate District then make sure EVERY delegate has a flyer on democratic underground. That would be a start.

Hum. How about a table? $400. We can advocate for DU.

OK. Someone in Fort Worth recommend a bar. Could be in the hotel or somewhere close.

How about right after the Friday speeches? We do dinner. Then drinks. Then.....

[NoPasaran]

8. A table's not a bad idea

I'd be willing to chip in towards that $400.

Who has a laptop? I'm going assume that wherever the convention is will have WiFi---it's one thing to talk about DU, it's another to experience it.

[WestHoustonDem]

10. I'm bringing my laptop. n/t

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

9. Don't we all have T-shirts?

I'll wear mine.

[VelmaD]

12. Nope, but Richardo...

did a template last year for name tage and I bet he'd report it again this year if we asked nice. :)

[Richardo]

35. ;-)

:hi:

Just let me know. They're Skinner-approved!

[sonias]

14. DU t-shirts can be purchased from the DU store

http://www.cafepress.com/du_store

Sonia

[WestHoustonDem]

15. And for variety, Vast Left Wing Conspiracy Tshirts can

be purchased at http://www.cafepress.com/txvlwc

[sonias]

17. Better idea, support our TX DUers

I'll throw in another option too - David Van Os "Fight'em till hell freezes over" Ts.

Three options for the best dressed Texas DUers at the Fort Worth Convention:
1)Vast Left Wing Conspiracy T-shirts
2)DVO - Fight'em till hell freezes over T-shirts
3)DU shirt

Sonia

[WestHoustonDem]

18. Well I've got them all! Or I will when the DU Shirt I just ordered

gets here! :woohoo:

[VelmaD]

13. I'd be willing to chip in a little extra cash...

to get a table. Would be willing to work at a table too as long as it doesn't interfere with going to the Progressive Populist Caucus meeting or anything I have to do if I get elected to one of the committeed again.

[yellowdogintexas]

27. what hotel is being favored by the DU group?

just checking.

[PDittie]

16. Here's some help, JC:

Fort Worth Convention Center website:

http://www.fortworthgov.org/publicevents/convention/index.asp

FWCC location, including map and driving directions:

http://www.fortworthgov.org/publicevents/convention/directions.asp


And a Yahoo map w/restaurant locations within walking distance plotted.


Fort Worth CVB:

http://www.fortworth.com (appears to be down at the time of this posting)

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

19. Where's yellowdogintexas? Chime in please with suggestions!

(I'll PM her.)

Y'all don't laugh, but we had a small DU gathering at Central Market in Fort Worth. It was a summer evening, live music, beer and burgers on the patio. Quite relaxing.

But I'm not suggesting Central Market this time. Downtown Ft. Worth has had quite a renaissance with cool restaurants, bars and nightlife. We need someone who lives over there to make a suggestion.

(Edited to get her DU name right.)

[sonias]

20. I don't know the yellowdogintexas

Please do invite her to help us. I know we have several Fort Worth DUers, and since this little convention is in their neck of the woods, they should step up.

Come on Fort Worth, speak up, speak up wherever you are.

Sonia

[MagickMuffin]

21. Going out on a limb here

but here goes, may I suggest Black Dog Tavern. I've only been there once for a "This is What Democracy Looks Like", event back in October 04.
What can I say, I don't get out much.
But it seemed to be an interesting place. OK, after doing some research the Black Dog has moved and is no longer in the Downtown area.

But the Flying Saucer has been around for a while. And I must admit I have never been there.

http://www.beerknurd.com/

Go to the locations tap and click the Ft Worth link, it will take you to the site for Cow Town, and has a pic of the building, which used to be a brothel at one time in Ft Worth's history.

If you think this would be something you guys would consider let me know!

[sonias]

22. Woo hoo, sounds exciting

And a bit racy too. "Used to be a brothel at one time" I think you can say that about a lot of places in Texas.

Sonia

[robbzipp]

23. I like it

The Flying Saucer in Houston is pretty cool and I would like to check the one in Fort Worth out. How far is it from where the convention will be held?

[MagickMuffin]

24. check out this cool map!

It's within walking distance of the Convention Center, just a few blocks north. You guys could really get hammered and not have to worry about driving:evilgrin:

Caddy corner to the Bass Hall, so when you guys leave you will be guided by angels.

Flying Saucer 4th and Commerce. Just a few blocks north


http://www.fortworth.com/11maps/images/DowntownMap.pdf

[yellowdogintexas]

28. quite close, actually. Downtown Fort Worth is great fun

and very user friendly!

There is a HUMONGO Barnes & Noble downtown too. and two large movie houses, live theatre, comedy clubs, etc.

[sonias]

31. And the Flying Saucer has WiFi

http://metrofreefi.com/free-wifi-Fort+Worth-TX-USA.htm
:woohoo:

Sonia

[NoPasaran]

37. Most important question

Do they have a BACK ROOM?
:evilgrin:

[yellowdogintexas]

26. y'all asked, so here goes. In Down Town FW:

Chili's
Bennegan's
LaMadeline
Mi Cocina
Flying Saucer
Pour House (we had our debate watching parties there)
PF Chang's
Daddy jack's seafood
a couple of steak places
fizzi's (wine and chees bar)
The 8.0
Billy Miner's Saloon
one of those Brazilian meat on a sword places.
a Sushi/Japanese place
Corner Bakery
Reata!!!!
A Mexican Inn that is only open for lunch on weekdays

Both Pour House and Flying Saucer are great casual food/drink places.
I think there is still a Subway, a Tommy's Hamburgers, and some other small places, plus the Worthington and Radisson have good food.



Nearby but not close enough to walk:
North Henderson street has a small food strip:
The Parthenon (Greek and awesome)
Mexican Inn
Joe's and Nona's, excellent Italian
a barbecue place, the name escapes me.
These are clustered between Belknap Street and the Bridge going North from downtown FW

Cultural District...head out 7th Street to the West
Mi Familia
Sardines
Shrimpers
JJ's Oyster Bar
Dos Gringos
the cafe Moderne and the Kimball cafe in the museums
TaiPan

Angelo's Barbecue on White Settlement (very near downtown)

The Hospital District.. again requires transportation but worth the trip:
King Tut
Scampi's
a Thai Place
Palermo's
Benito's
another Mexican Inn
a Joe's Pizza/Pasta
Esperanza's

and of course the Stockyards/Northside area which is wall to wall Mexican/cowboy cuisine/burger and barbecue joints ...Joe T Garcia's famous patio and huge sprawling complex..tops the list for fun places to gather, but food is better up by Billy Bobs at Los Vaqueros, in my opinion. But Joe T's has good Margaritas.

OK That is the food junkie list which comes to mind quickly. I hear there are a few other places opening up soon, in the Bass Hall area, and once I know more will advise.

And Central Market starts their Burgers n Bock Saturday night live music and cookout on the patio on March 18

[sonias]

29. Thanks for all this research yellowdogintexas

We have to bookmark this thread.

Sonia

[yellowdogintexas]

33. You're welcome. These are places I know and/or love.

I LOVE downtown Fort Worth! The research comes in the new stuff about to open, (and I KNOW there are a couple of new spots opening near the Bass Hall) and the places I haven't been to or seen. Goody opportunites to try them out and report back.

I do recommend Fizzi's for a quieter wine/cheese light meal kind of place. You get samples of wines and cheeses from various places.

Some friends of mine meet on the first Sunday night of each month at Flying Saucer for "Bob's Beer Nuts"...this is how they bide their time while their kids are at MYF at our church on the other side of downtown. I have joined them, and it is a good place for the caucus meeting. There is a back room, which will have the open air wall by that time of year. The Beer Nuts meet under the stairs, where there is a long narrow space ..doesn't it sound like a good place for plotting and planning.

Iwill add to this thread if I come up with more info/stuff.

Folks from out of this area who have time to explore may want to check out the museum district for certain. And we have a mighty fine zoo.

What are the convention dates again?

[PDittie]

32. We'll defintely be going over to

the Pour House and Joe T.'s but y.d.i.t. is right; there's better Mexican food elsewhere.

The Flying Saucer sounds like a good rendevouz, and if anybody wants a good steak that Del Frisco's is probably the best (and most expensive) option.

Anybody here like sushi?

[TexasThoughtCriminal]

36. MMMmmm, Sushi!

I can't say that I've ever had sushi in Texas as good as in Tokyo (imagine that!), but I know there are sushi places in F.W.

[crispini]

38. LOVE Sushi!

Have you been to Sushi Sake up here in Richardson? It's positively delish. I haven't had a sushi place top it yet.

[crispini]

39. LOVE Sushi!

Have you been to Sushi Sake up here in Richardson? It's positively delish. I haven't had a sushi place top it yet.

[Melissa G]

25. I might go if i get sent as a delegate...

There are some newbies in my precinct who reaally want to go.

i guess I can try to get there on the at large route...Any DUers on the selection team?

[sonias]

30. Hope you do get to go Melissa

I'm sure we'll find the delegate selection team and we'll know a lot of those people we can put in a good word for us.

Sonia

[CoolOnion]

34. I like the idea of going as a caucus...

...and promoting one item, like Voter Verified Paper Ballot. We could hand out fliers, get signatures, or whatever we need to do to get our item on the platform.