Northern California X - May 6

[lbpesq]

Gary, the gathering is in Canyon, CA.  For lodging you will want to look in Emeryville, Oakland (near Jack London Square is nice), or Berkeley to the west and Walnut Creek to the east.

Bill, tgo

[mica]

Hey! Just like I suggested in the email you should rely on Bill's recommendations for lodging. It's like magic.

[StephenR]

Gary, my wife and I got married in Alaska two years ago and later had a wedding party for all of our friends here in Oakland. I found the list of potential hotels in the area we sent to our guests. Hope it is helps narrow your search and look forward to meeting you at the gathering! I left in the references to Leona Lodge since if you stay in Oakland you will be driving past there on the way over the hills to the gathering. Lodge is located at the base of the Oakland hills just off HWY 13. It should take you about another 15 minutes or so to get to the gathering from that area of HWY 13.

EXECUTIVE INN & SUITES, OAKLAND
Very good quality; highish price; location pleasant (ask for room facing the water); 10-minute drive to Leona Lodge, but not convenient to anything else, especially without a car.

http://executiveinnoakland.com/

WATERFRONT HOTEL, JACK LONDON SQUARE, OAKLAND
Very good quality; walkable to shops and restaurants in Jack London Square, downtown Oakland, and Oakland Chinatown; ferry terminal for travel to San Francisco is one block away; ask for room facing the water to avoid possible train noise from nearby Amtrak station; 15-minute drive to Leona Lodge.

http://www.jdvhotels.com/hotels/california/san-francisco-hotels/waterfront-   hotel/

AIRPORT HILTON, OAKLAND
Best price; quality respectable (typical airport business hotel); location not convenient to anywhere but Oakland Airport; walkable to fast food restaurants; 5 minutes from Coliseum BART station, where you can park for $1.00 and travel by train to San Francisco; 10-minute drive to Leona Lodge.

http://www3.hilton.com/en/hotels/california/hilton-oakland-airport-OAKHIHH/index.html

OAKLAND MARRIOTT CITY CENTER, OAKLAND
Good quality; only paid parking nearby, but hotel offers parking-included room options; ask for a room that doesn’t face Broadway; 2 blocks from Oakland Chinatown; walking distance to shops, restaurants and 12th Street BART for travel to San Francisco; 15-minute drive to Leona Lodge.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/oakdt-oakland-marriott-city-center/

COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT, EMERYVILLE
Good quality; high price; walking distance to Emeryville shops and restaurants; good location for travel to San Francisco via free shuttle to MacArthur BART station; possible noise from trains at nearby Amtrak station; 15-minute drive to Leona Lodge.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/oakmv-courtyard-oakland-emeryville/

[garyhead]

Thanks for all the Info! 

I'll be looking for lodging where I can park the Van Right outside the Room.  Looking around the University where I see some good reviews.  Traveling with 5 Alembics & an ELF Bass rig......I will not be wandering too far from the gear this trip.  I spend up to 3 months a year on the road.....mostly on a Harley tho......Got a pretty good idea now Where to stay.....Where it is located.....What day it's on......just......What time is it?  Load in? How long it lasts?  Thanks for the info on the road closures too....My first choice for lodging was Walnut Creek.

Looking at stopping by the Shop to have the Classico looked at.......some cosmetic repair estimates.... either the Friday before...or the Monday after......one of the reasons why I chose Gathering X this year......I prefer NOT to ship a Classico.....even if it means driving for days myself......the thought of filing a damage claim for a trashed or missing Classico is too much to bear!    Maybe Mica can tell me which day is better to have someone look at a possible veneer repair / replacement for the headstock?  An interesting story.....and the damage happened before I owned it.....I might just leave it as it was part of the reason why it was sold to me at such a SWEET price all those years ago......

Gary

[sonicus]

Gary , I hope that you have a wonderful and safe trip and I look forward to meeting you . Just as a precaution I personally do not leave my instruments or equipment unattended in a vehicle / van . etc ....

[bobo]

Hi, Gary- In follow up to Sonicus' comment about never leaving musical gear unattended in a vehicle.... I CONCUR!  Break-in's of autos and vans in the Berkeley/Oakland/Emeryville/Rock Ridge/Claremont areas are at epidemic all-time high. Please do NOT under any circumstances leave your gear unattended in your van, even for 5 minutes for a quick pit stop. Especially in the University area. Don't believe the hotel/motel reviews. I am one of the most paranoid/careful dudes around in terms of my gear, and even my car was smashed windowed and $3K+ worth of (uninsured) photo gear stolen from my trunk, in broad daylight, and I was only about 60 feet away from my car on a photo shoot as it happened about two weeks ago. Times are tough. Folks are desperate. A van = something possibly valuable inside it... maybe tools... or better, but most inviting to criminal and/or desperate minds.  I don't think I'll be able to attend the May 6th Gathering due to previous committment, but I'd be willing to safely "host" your gear in my home here in Oakland for a night or three while you're visiting the area. I'm near Lake Merritt in Oakland, just a hop, skip and a jump up to The Ranch from here. If you do stay at the hotel, PLEASE move all your gear into your room overnight... and literally don't let it out of your sight, Brother.

[garyhead]

Yes.  One of the drawbacks of this trip will be the 24/7 alert aspect of transporting instruments.  It can be exhausting.  Other than the Gathering and a possible trip to Alembic, no other activities are planned.  When traveling, Subway is my main food source....I do not require fine dining.  I will be returning to the area Later in May and again in June so the destination is not a Bucket List area.  The Gathering IS a Bucket List Event!  Please don't expect "music store chops. ". I've been away from performing now for some time and am contemplating a return. I thought I'd provide an opportunity for fellow bassists to give the Classico a shot through an ELF system......it really is an earth-moving experience especially with a bow.

[lbpesq]

David, we're neighbors!  My office is on Grand, near Fairyland.  Been there 25 years.

Gary, the group of people who attend are as amazing as the instruments themselves.  Abilities cover the spectrum from non-musicians, through semi-competent amatuers, like me, up to some amazing musicians and stone cold pros and everything in between.  But we all share a love of music and all things Alembic.  The afternoon usually turns into a rotating jam - a lot of fun for me as this event is the opposite of most situations where there are ten guitarists for each bass player.  Here I get to be the rarity.  As brother Jimmy would say, HA!   You're going to see some amazing basses and guitars, Mica, Bill, and Ron always bring down some sweet new instruments.  And your Classico will certainly be a hit!  Also, let me know if you need any guitar stands.  I've got a bunch of extras.  Everyone puts there basses and guitars on stands in a group when they're not being played.

Bill tgo

[mica]

Group email sent out - Gonna be fun!

[edwin]

I'm so sorry to miss this. Have fun, everyone!

[sonicus]

Hello Mica and everyone . next week will be a busy week however I look forward to make it to the Gathering

[xlrogue6]

No gathering for me this year, financial recovery from April must take precedence.

[HyAlembicK]

I'll be there!

[rv_bass]

Wish I could make it, it's on my list of things to do, have fun!

[hieronymous]

I live kind of near Canyon - yesterday, while driving around up on Skyline, I noticed that the entrance to Pinehurst has a CLOSED sign - the small print says it is closed on the Moraga side, but wanted to let everyone know, YOU CAN GO DOWN PINEHURST to the ranch - we made a side trip and checked. So don't let that closed sign freak you out!

Still hoping to swing by for a few minutes - I'm afraid I probably won't be able to bring any instruments - but hope to see some of you!