UPDATED II: Where we'll be on Friday night

UPDATED: ARRGGGH: Perhaps somewhere in this lengthy post I should have seen fit to mention that the cost is $20 per person, collected at the door...hence the no-host description above. Sorry! Carry on.

Out of Lisa, Jory and me, I'm the one with the South Bay cred, so when it came time to plan Friday night's no-host BlogHer dinner, I knew I wanted to bring us all together some place off the beaten path...casual, informal, unpretentious. Somewhere conducive to conversations...and maybe even to raucousness. Somewhere affordable, given the no-host nature of the evening.

More than half of our attendees are from outside the Silicon Valley, but I wanted to give them a different kind of Silicon Valley experience.

So with Maria's help I think we've secured just the place. And even lined up some entertainment!

Read on for more (words and pictures)...

Welcome to the last small town in Silicon Valley, Alviso, CA.

Right up against the bay on the southwest side, Alviso is the town that time looks like it forgot. Just over the rise (and Highway 237) you'll find high tech galore: TiVo, Foundry Networks, the original 3COM campus and more. But in Alviso things are a bit more rustic. Sure, sometimes Alviso has been the butt of jokes from local comedians...let's just say the tip of the bay is pretty marshy and, um, occasionally pungent. But at lunchtime, especially on Fridays, engineers from around the Santa Clara and North San Jose pour over that rise to go to one of several restaurants with big portions, low prices and a fine selection of beers.

While Maria Elena's might be the more well-known of Alviso's restaurants, my favorite has always been Andiamo Cafe. [Note: their site seems to be down, in keeping with Alviso's low-tech image I guess.]

Andiamo's owner has devised a menu with two sides: one Mexican, one Italian. I know, I know...it's an odd combo, but it truly delivers something for everyone.

Andiamo just remodeled an add-on room connected to an outdoor patio, and that's where we'll be:

Anyway, we'll have transportation from the TechMart, a full menu (from both sides of the menu), unlimited soft drinks, a no-host bar...with beer, wine and wine margaritas (they swear they're good.)

And we've even lined up a little ice-breaking entertainment from a local techie turned comedienne/performance artist, Heather Gold.

Sure, we could take you where the deals are brokered, where the back rooms get smoky, or where backs get scratched. Instead we thought we'd take you where the regular working stiffs of Silicon Valley go to take a long lunch on Fridays.

Comments

[jenB]

this looks great! thanks for all your hard work.

xo

[Jenn]

That doesn't mean I won't get my back scratched, does it? I mean, after a long plane ride, who doesn't want their back scratched? ;-)

[Ken Kato]

Sounds great, Elisa.

When and how do we score a ride from the TechMart?

[Elisa Camahort]

Hey Ken et al: On Monday we're sending out a pre-conference email to all registered attendees that will include all such logistical information.

We'll re-send a few days before the conference as a reminder, and for newer registrants.

[Lisa Stone]

Doesn't this look *great*? Two more quick things on getting there:
(1) Yes, per Elisa's note, you will have a BlogHer option to/from Friday dinner if you don't have a car.
(2) If you do have a car or want to take a cab from near the TechMart, here's a driving map that shows the restaurant is just 1.7 miles or three minutes away.

Jenn, jenB, Ken, can't wait to meet you.

[jenB]

i will stractch jenn's back if she rubs my left shoulder where i carry the baby as well as laundry and the world. ha, get it? ok, i am going to bed. YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME.

[GraceD]

Alviso! Ooo-la-la!

For us native born SF Bay Area peeps, there'll be some 'splainin' to do - "Hey! It's okay! Alviso is no longer the ARMPIT of the Bay! TIVO's there!"

For others, we can pass it off as our Poor Folk Martha's Vineyard. Or something.

Otherwise, fabu choice. And thanks for not choosing a spot in Downtown Shallow Alto.

[Elisa Camahort]

You get me Grace; you really get me :)

[Jenny]

Ooh, I'll be the guinea pig to try the wine margaritas! And perhaps lead the table dancing a bit later on ;)

[JD Lasica]

Hey, this is the lunch place I picked at random after I interviewed the execs at TiVo for my book. Good food -- good choice!

[Elisa Camahort]

Phew. I feel so validated. Most people have been looking at me like I'm c-raz-y.

[spacebaby]

where and what time are we supposed to meet before going to the restaurant?

[Elisa Camahort]

Hi: Attendees were meant to get a "housekeeping" email from Jory on the 11th that gave logistical info such as that.

Did you not receive that spacebaby? Want to make sure we have your proper email for another logistical email that we'll send next week, so please email Jory if you didn't get her email last week.

[Meghan]

Hello,

Thanks for putting the dinner together! I don't think I received any e mails regarding the housekeeping / logistics, but if it's printed here I will figure it out. My momma didn't raise no fool! And I will be right behind mizzJenny dancing on the tables. She told me how tall she is so you I will have no trouble seeing over her head!

[anina.net]

looks so great. mexican is my favorite!

[Scott Rafer]

If anyone needs a ride down from SF, email me -- blogher [a]t rafer dot net.

[susan mernit]

i love alviso! fun!

[Tish G]

I wonder how many of us are going to be at the dinner?

and if I need to bring my hat--I might look too nondescript without it :-)

[Elisa Camahort]

There will be 150 at dinner!

[Tish G]

yikes! that's enough for a good sized wedding reception!

[kgs]

I'm feeling a bit run-down today so I'm not going to make dinner... wanted to let you folks know so if you had a waiting list someone else could go. See you manana!

[Ross Mayfield]

What time?

[Marc Canter]

do we have ot RSVP

I'm in + wife, 2 kids and a Nanny

[Ross Mayfield]

Rumor is around 6:30