The "Inside Scoop" on the Bay Area LDS Mid-Single Adults Conference

This is it!!

2009-09-17T12:03:00.000-07:00

This is it. We are heading in to the home stretch. The conference is this weekend. We are looking forward to meeting all of you this weekend. I am here at work for a few hours before I leave to pick up my dress for Saturday night. Yes I broke down and brought a new dress. ...I couldn't help myself. ....So a final few things to remember:

The registration database is closed. We exceeded our numbers and we will not be accepting registrations or payments at the door. If you do come and try to pay at the door, you will be turned away. Please come and hang out at the beach on Saturday, and join us for the Cocoanut Grove party Saturday night.
The Santa Cruz stake center is very hard to find. Please allow some extra time to find it. Dinner will be served at 7:30pm.
You don't want to miss out on any of the action for the Saturday night party, so please stick to the dress code and arrive promptly. You don't want have to go back to your hotel and change.
The fireside is awesome, so don't leave early......

Catch you tomorrow night.

Tyra

How not to pack....

2009-09-11T13:44:00.000-07:00

So I've started thinking about what to pack for next weekend... I know it's a bit early, but I am leaving Thursday after work...Need to start decorating for Friday, and then I'm planning to spend some time in the hot tub at Seascape. Right now I'm sitting here at my desk at work running through my to do list and starting to mark things off. Yes I actually keep a to do list. I have notebooks full of to do lists. I love the satisfaction of actually scratching off a completed task. Yes I have joined the technology age, I do have a blackberry; however my director did call me out the other day and told me I was behind the time because I didn't have an iPhone. I'm now one of 3 people on my team of 15 who does not have an iPhone (the other two have blackberries so I do feel better) I guess I'll end up with an iPhone eventually.....

So back to my to-do list. My to do list sits on my desk and has all of my many work tasks, (which are long and many and can change on an hourly basis) as well as things like pay the utility bill. I just added packing for singles conference to my to do list. Eventually I'll break it down, and create a packing list. ( I know I'm a dweeb, but I've been in foreign countries and forgotten my tooth brush, and I never ever want to repeat that mistake again). So for your amusement, here is a sample of my packing list. I am really really glad that I am local....I never ever pack this heavy when I fly. I avoid checking whenever possible......It's nice to have my car...Yea!!!! With that said....The ultimate Girl packing list...

Sunscreen SPF 30 (I know I need a tan, but I am extremely fair and sunburn. I get something my sister Heather refers to as cro-magnon head if I sunburn my face. It's very embarrassing.
Hat---The fewer wrinkles the better I have this really cool hat I got in Hawaii a few years back....
Sunglasses
Camera-Don't forget your camera, you're going to want to remember this weekend
2 Swimsuits--One for the beach and one for the Seascape hot tub
Swimsuit cover up
Flat Iron
Hair Pick
Electric Rollers
Shampoo/Conditioner (hotel shampoo will just not work-- girls you know what I mean)
Blow Dryer (multiple girls one condo, need I say more I have all sisters)
Makeup
Jewelry
Shoes---I'm not saying how many I'm packing, it would be way too embarrassing
2 Cocktail Dresses (same as above, I need multiple options----Just because I plan to wear something ahead of time, doesn't actually mean I'll feel like wearing it the day of)
1 Church Dresses At least this is very easy to figure out--I luckily do have an all-time favorite, oh wait, maybe I need a new dress....DRATS back to the drawing board....Am I upping this number to two as well? Ugh I can't decide...
Something to wear for Friday---Under advisement...Shopping excursion planned for this weekend.
Jeans/sweatshirts---Sometimes the beach is cold, it's always best to have layers when on the Northern CA coast--Plus there will be after parties...Maybe I should bring my ski jacket as well.
Beach Blanket, Beach Chair Beach Towel
Reading material for beach on Saturday---I'm reading a Brief History of Time right now, but Stephen Hawking does not seem like beach reading Guess I should bring In style.....
Beach Bag--Gotta have somewhere to put the towel, the drinks, and the In style Magazine
Scriptures-- Can't travel without my scriptures
Oh yes and my tooth brush....Can't forget my tooth brush....

Setting Expectations....

2009-09-11T00:26:00.000-07:00

It's Thursday night/Friday morning at 12:27am. I should not be up. I should be in bed---A girl needs her beauty sleep, but here I am updating the blog. I'm too wired to sleep. We just had a marathon planning session for the mid-singles conference. Everything is coming together....We have planned creative and interesting ways for people to mix and mingle. Now the rest is up to you. Like I've said in the marketing, this is not your average mid-singles conference. We're doing things differently. Expect to be out of your comfort zone. Expect to meet new people, and expect to try to new things.

Now we are asking you to do your part. The conference will be what you make of it. Come with a good attitude and be ready to party. If you come looking to have a good time, you will definitely have a good time. Don't come expecting to meet your eternal companion, but do come expecting to meet a lot new people. The easiest way to meet new people is to make yourself available. My mom always tells me that I'm never available enough. I'm finally figuring out what that means. Don't be standoffish be approachable....

Women---This is especially for you..I've had many of my male friends tell me this----Do not run around in packs. It's much harder to meet a guy that way. A guy will not approach a woman if she is in a large group of females.
Men---If you see a pretty girl, approach her, take the risk....you never know what it could lead to. She may not be the one but I can guarantee she has friends---Hey she may be the one, you never know. Point being, you never know until you try....

We've tried really hard to create activities that will mix and mingle people. Take advantage of these activities. I know it's hard to leave the safety of a close friend or you wing man or woman, but try it, it may work. You may not meet your eternal companion, but you may meet a lot of new friends, and friends have other friends....You know what I mean.....So look at this conference as way to broaden your horizons, and to extend your circle of friends. Because you can never have too many friends.....

Until Next week....

Tyra

Wrist Bands....Your mini-tracking device.

2009-09-03T21:23:00.000-07:00

Remember those ugly green things that we had for EFY, youth conference, and all those corporate events. You know what I'm talking about wrists bands...Yes we are having them again this year. They will be your ticket in to conference events. Yes I know you hate to wear them, and so do I, but they are the most convenient way to identify conference attendees.

Don't you want to know who's a conference attendee at the boardwalk? Think of it as an ice breaker. Guy to girl or girl to guy---"I see you're wearing a green wrist band, look I'm wearing one too, do you want to ride this ride together" I know it's cheesy, but hey it could work.

You will be given a wrist band Friday night at registration, do not take it if, and do not lose it. (You may be one of those people like me who can slip off the wrist band, don't laugh I've done it before, and I've lost my wrist band....) I almost didn't get on the boat last year because I couldn't find my wrist band.

The wrist band entitles you to the fabulous catered lunch at the Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. This is something you do not want to miss. Chicken, ribs, hmmmmm my mouth is watering just thinking about it. The wrist band also gets you in to the Saturday night red carpet event. This is THE party of the year. You do not want to miss this party. Make sure you keep your wrist band Saturday day, so you can party with us on Saturday night. So don't lose the wrist band playing in the sand or on the big dipper.

Yes you do need to keep the wrist band for Sunday as well. The wrist band entitles you to lunch after church before the fireside. Just think of your wristband as the key to your conference fun.

Tyra

To Wear or not to Wear...Ruminations of a Shopaholic.

2009-08-23T23:15:00.000-07:00

I am heading to New York this week on vacation, and unfortunately it is not fashion week...I am a self proclaimed shopaholic. I agonize over what to wear to each and every event. Sometimes I think about it for days. Dresses are my weakness There is a certain boutique in the Stanford Shopping center that I can't even walk by unless I have a special occasion, it's too tempting for me. The dresses in the window talk to me like they do to Isla Fisher in the movie Confessions of a Shopaholic. I only go near the store when I have a special occasion. Unfortunately church has sometimes qualified as a special occasion.... Hmmm I wonder if the mid-singles conference qualifies as a special occasion... It is Santa Cruz, and the Saturday party is in an amazing ballroom...hmmmm....

Speaking of special occasions, and yes I've decided that the mid-singles conference qualifies as a special occasion, I want to look nice, and put my best foot forward. I try to stay away from every day outfits that look like they've been slept in, old jeans, sweats, and ratty tennis shoes. I dress to impress. I wear my heels, the cutest dress in my closet, or my favorite trendy jeans. I'm also a sucker for trendy jeans... The most important thing I try to do is dress for the occasion...When hiking, I wear my hiking boots, ratty cut offs, and a t-shirt. When going to church, or to the temple, I wear a pretty dress and pearls. The most important thing, is to dress to match the occasion.....

This year at the mid-singles conference you will have multiple opportunities to meet others. You only have one chance to make a first impression, so dress for the occasion and put your best foot forward. With that said, leave your mom jeans, dad jeans, and ratty old t-shirts at home...

Friday night is going to be an awesome luau...Think of that favorite Hawaiian luau that you attended and dress accordingly....Girls, find your favorite summer dress, or outfit and guys find your favorite Hawaiian shirt, or best casual outfit.

Saturday night is going to be an awesome upscale party...fashionable attire is requested...Guys, don't let the girls outclass you, leave your tennis shoes at home, and show us what you've got. (Suits are not required but man I love a man in a suit....) There are a few a men in my ward, and then they know who they are who will look good on the arm of any girl in a cocktail dress.

If you must start planning your outfits now...Maybe I'll find something awesome in New York...I am going to Barneys......

Tyra

Surf, Sun, and Garbage Bags???

2009-08-12T10:35:00.000-07:00

I asked Tyra last week if I could post something about the beach cleanup on Saturday morning of the conference and she said of course. So here it goes ...

Last week we received our assignment from the Saturday cleanup and it looks like we are going to be helping clean Seascape beach by the resort that many of the people are staying at. We're going to part of the 25th Annual International Coastal Cleanup Day organized by Save Our Shores. After finding out more about this event, I'm excited!!

It reminded me of the old mutual service projects, where we cleaned by the rail road tracks or helped an older couple prep their house for painting. You remember the one's that our mother's made us get up and go to and after reluctantly getting to work we actually had fun. So make sure and get up Saturday morning to help clean up the marine area around Santa Cruz.

Mariann

Temple Attendance, a Real Priority

2009-08-10T09:53:00.000-07:00

I returned from my trip to Seattle last night. My friends are now married. Yea Kathryn and Darin!!!!. Kathryn had the best wedding cake that I've ever tasted. If any of you get married in Seattle, I'll get the name of her bakery for you. It was phenomenal, and I've tasted a lot of wedding cakes through the years. My cousins all started getting married at 19, and I have a big Mormon family.

I have visited Seattle a few times before, and did not need to do the typical touristy things. After the obligatory visit to the Nordstrom flagship store, (Why is it that they have way better buyers than we do here in Palo Alto) I headed out to the Seattle temple to do a session.

I had never done a session at the Seattle temple before. It is very beautiful. The Seattle temple can be very confusing if you have not been there before. As in every temple, there were lovely temple workers who escorted me to all the different areas I needed to go to, from clothing rental, to the women's locker room, and up to the chapel.

At the mid-singles conference we are planning to have a temple session Thursday night at the Oakland temple. If you are from out of town, there are lovely temple workers who will help you get acclimated to your surroundings. Every time I do temple work, whether it is initiatories, or a session, I learn something new about the gospel. Hopefully you'll take some time to do the Lord's work as well.

Tyra

Why Mid-Singles Conferences...

2009-08-05T10:35:00.000-07:00

I've come to realize that planning a mid-singles conference is a full-time job and that for the next six weeks I will have no life....I have not been sleeping more than 4 hours a night, and have been doing mid-singles planning/marketing and such during the day, and after work. I had a great conversation with Matt Campbell last night regarding conferences in general (Go Matt) and he is a huge asset. He really is the king of mid-singles. I really appreciate his advice.

Thank goodness I'll be at a Bellevue Marriott (Go Marriott) this weekend relaxing and attending a wedding of two my best friends in the entire world...Because when you think about it marriage really is the end goal.....We did find time to take a break over the weekend to take out our friend who is getting married.....This is our dessert before we started eating it.....3 girls, 4 spoonfuls each and it still looked like this...

Now for a few stats.....(Thanks Matt)

50% of the singles over the age of 30 are inactive..

45% of the LDS adult population in California is single....

On average there are 25-30 marriages per year and 100 relationships at the Huntington beach conference. Yes this is true, they all call and tell Matt....Go figure....

There are 20 magnet mid-singles wards nationwide---Magnet wards are wards within stakes that have families and mid-singles.

Church activity tends to increase when people are assigned to magnet wards.

So what can the bay area mid-singles conference do for you.....The bay area mid-singles conference can facilitate meeting new people, and reconnecting with old friends who you met at other mid-singles conferences. I know that a lot of mid-singles can feel lonely and isolated if they are stuck in family wards and don't have the opportunity to meet other people in their own situation. Remember you are not alone. There are others out there like you. I feel like I just want to bust out in to a Michael Mclean Song...........

So if you think that a mid-singles conference is not for you---you're wrong...This is means you too Stanford 2nd ward....You know who you are (I can say that because that's my ward)

To Register or Not to Register? that is the Question

2009-07-30T22:25:00.001-07:00

To register or not to register? That is the question on people's minds as the Saturday August 1st price increase looms in a little over 24 hours. I am here to persuade you to register whether it be today or after the August 1st price increase.

The past few posts I've been attempting to woo fence-sitters in to registering by waxing poetic about the activities we have planned for the mid-singles conference. I've blogged about the surf lessons, whale watching, the Friday night luau, and the volleyball tournament. I've also blogged about the fabulous accommodations, hoping those will sway people as well. The accommodations really are wonderful. I'm heading down a day early just so I can enjoy the peace and quiet and fully enjoy the accommodations. The one thing I haven't really blogged about is the opportunity to meet people. Let's face it this is the real reason we come to mid-singles conferences. We are all looking for that special someone.

The biggest complaint we've heard from people who've attended mid-singles conferences is it's hard to meet people. We the planning committee have heard you, and are trying to find methods to get people out of their comfort zones. Most people at singles events tend to spend most of the time with their friends and rarely meet new people. I myself am a very social person and still find myself in a rut and rarely meet new people at large singles events. We are attempting to change this. Hence the tag line---Not your average mid-singles conference.

We will have more intimate ways to communicate one on through speed dating, or mingling games, just not in the traditional way that you've come to expect at singles conferences. There will also be a few surprises. If you do spy that guy or girl that you would like to meet, and you do not get the opportunity, come and find me and I'll facilitate an introduction.

Tyra

Hula Dancing 101

2009-07-28T17:49:00.000-07:00

When I was a beehive, I learned how to hula dance. I don't remember who taught us, or why we learned, but I do remember learning the dance. I can still hear parts of the song in my head.

It's not the islands fair

That are calling to me

It's not the balmy air

Nor the tropical sea

It's just a little brown gal

In a little grass skirt

In a little grass shack In Hawai`i

If pressed, I could probably still do parts of the hula dance but I'm sure it would not be pretty. I would probably have better luck remembering my old high school cheers-now that I was good at.

When I was older I attempted Tahitian dancing at one of the luaus I went to. It was not a pleasant experience. I gained an immense appreciation for the Tahitian dancers in their grass skirts. For the life of me, I could not figure out how they did it. I tried for about 15 minutes and gave up. I'll stick to hula dancing, it's much easier.

As part of the entertainment for the luau we will be having Polynesian dancers. These talented dancers will entertain us, and maybe, just maybe, teach us a few things. Yeah I'll finally get to learn how to Tahitian dance, though I'm not betting on it. I will for sure attempt to repeat my infamous hula dance.

The Pig....

2009-07-28T08:31:00.000-07:00

When I was younger, our big family vacation was a trip to Hawaii every few years. If you read one of my previous posts you'll note that my dad grew up in Hawaii, so it's his favorite place to be. I've had the pleasure of the eating the exquisite pineapple boats at the Polynesian Cultural Center---one of my earliest memories....Has anyone been there recently? Do they still have those? I sure hope so. Those pineapple boats were the highlight of my first trip to Oahu---well-- and my little orange bikini.

One thing we always did was attend a luau whether it was at the Polynesian Cultural Center (yum the pineapple boats) or at the local Marriott. (Yes, you will notice a theme to my travel, and it always includes a Marriott--yeah for Marriott Points!) I seriously think I should write for a Marriott travel magazine, kind of like United Hemisphere--use my liberal arts degree for something fun for a change.

One of the mainstays of every luau I've been to is the pig. At the last luau I went to we were able to watch as the cooks took the pig out of the ground and prepared it for us to eat.

In addition to the pig, there were fabulous side dishes and amazing desserts. The Polynesians definitely know how to put on a feast.

I recommend that everyone attends at least one luau per lifetime, and now is your opportunity. At the mid-singles conference this year the opening social is a luau complete with all the fixings (including the pig of course--no luau would be complete without the pig). You'll have the opportunity to sample the fare that is not readily available outside the islands. This is something you don't want to miss.

Tyra

Summer Days

2009-07-27T13:22:00.000-07:00

For the past few years I've spent at least one Saturday a month (sometimes two) at the beach in Santa Cruz with my friend Tiffany. Her husband is a fanatical beach volleyball player. We typically leave for Santa Cruz around 9:30am, arrive around 10:30am, sit on the beach and watch the volleyball players and chat.

When we go to the beach volley ball tournaments Tiff and I get a tan, and her husband and his friend get some exercise and take out their aggression on a small ball and the other team. The whole experience is rather entertaining.

We usually sit under the umbrella and read our magazines while they discuss the strategies of beach volleyball. Beach volleyball is a highly competitive sport. There are offensive and defensive strategies, jump serves, and other facets of the game I just don't understand. I've been told all of these things many many times....This is part of the reason, we sit under the umbrella and work on our tans....Darn I wish Santa Cruz had a cabana boy. Then I could order a mocktail.....

This year at the mid-singles conference we will be having a beach volleyball tournament during the afternoon. This will be the perfect time to mix and mingle with people on the beach. Guys, this will give you ample opportunity to show off your athletic prowess to a bevy of ogling females. Trust me it works, I've been admiring men playing beach volleyball for years. Though I don't understand many aspects of the game, I appreciate a cute guy playing beach volleyball. Girls--come and watch that cute guy you spied the night before at the luau....Hopefully he'll be out there getting his game on...This is where I plan on spending my Saturday afternoon...Watching cute guys, and getting a tan....Hope to see you there on the beach....

Tyra

Surf's Up

2009-07-26T20:45:00.000-07:00

For as long as I can remember I've had to hear about surfing. From the time my dad was 8 until he was 14 my dad lived on Oahu--two blocks off of Waikiki beach. My dad learned how to surf at Waikiki beach near the sea wall. Back in the 50's Waikiki beach was one of the few places that people surfed. Bonsai Pipeline, was not open to surfing because it was too dangerous.
I remember the time I went to Waikiki beach. My cousin Jennifer and I played along the beach.--both of us in matching orange bikinis. We were too young to surf. My dad did end up attempting to teach the older boys to surf. I don't remember if any of them (the boys) got up that day, but that didn't stop them from trying on future occasions.

When my dad returned back to California he took up surfing in Santa Cruz. He still speaks fondly of his one-of-a kind double-stringed 9ft 6inch Hobie surf board that he purchased in Santa Cruz. The picture at right is my dad and his Hobie surf board. He surfed places like Steamers, 41st street, and Capitola --all places the locals surf today. My dad still has that surf board. He's planning on displaying it somewhere in my parents' house.

One of the additional activities we are offering for Saturday is surf lessons. Hopefully you'll be better than any of my cousins ever got to be. The best they ever got at surfing was using the Hobie as a really big water ski behind the boat.

Accidental Whale Watching

2009-07-24T10:57:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I was on a girls trip with my mom, aunt, and a few friends. One afternoon we took a pleasure cruise out to Berlanga Island. It was a hot June afternoon, and I remember there were a lot of steps. (See picture at left) Though it was only two miles around the island, we drank nearly all of our water before we reached the top. My mom was exhausted, and we were all ready for a break. The view from the top of the island was spectacular. I have to this day have never seen water so clear.

After we made it back to the boat, we sailed around the island, and then began our return to port. On our return to port, the captain of our boat motioned us to look off in to the distance....There about a 1/2 mile from the boat was a large whale and her calf. I had never seen a whale in its natural habitat before, and it was an awe inspiring experience. I just wish I would have gotten the pictures. The picture to the right is the closest I got. Stupid Kodak Camera,--I guess that sport shot does not really capture objects in motion. Either that, or I will just have to admit to myself that I am a horrible photographer. Where is Robert Bradshaw when I need him....

As one of the optional activities for the mid-singles conference, we will be providing you with the opportunity to go whale watching. Trust me, it's an experience you won't want to miss....Maybe you'll get lucky and get a photograph. If only I would have been so lucky.

Tyra

Marianne's, a Local Treasure

2009-07-23T10:23:00.001-07:00

Whenever I exit on to Ocean Street in Santa Cruz, I always say to whoever is in the car with me "We have to stop at Marianne's." We don't always stop at Marianne's on our way to or from the beach, but every time we do I'm happy.

Marianne's is a local Santa Cruz treasure famous for its ice cream. You never know what you'll get at Marianne's. My personal favorite is bubblegum, but I've always been a sucker for bubblegum ice cream. For those ice cream fanatics in the San Francisco Bay Area, the ice cream at Marianne's reminds me of the ice cream at Rick's in Palo Alto--rich creamy, and oh so diet busting. You can get thick milk shakes, authentic sundaes, and just about every ice cream treat you can possibly imagine. No trip to Santa Cruz is complete without a trip to Marianne's.

There is always a line at Marianne's and virtually no parking, so be prepared to wait between 10-15 minutes for your ice cream; but I guarantee it's definitely worth it. I recommend carving out some time on Saturday after you made a new friend at the beach bbq, and before you want to impress that special someone later that night at the Cocoanut Grove. Heck maybe you want some alone time with that special someone...You could always share an ice cream soda together at Marianne's.

I'll probably be at Marianne's on Thursday sometime before I check in to Seascape.....Gotta get my ice cream in sometime.....

Tyra

What Makes a Good Mocktail?

2009-07-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

I am an aficionado of mocktails. Wherever I go I ask the bartender to make me his best "Virgin" drink. I do this whenever I go on vacation and almost every time I go out to dinner with friends.

My all-time favorite mocktail experience was in Grand Cayman with my sister Brittany. We would wave down the cabana boys (thank you dad for family vacations and Marriott Points) and order these outlandish blended drinks complete with pink and blue umbrellas. I've never had the same experience again, though I've tried at many a Marriott, and it's never been quite the same....They are missing the Cabana's boys....Blast that Kona Hawaii Marriott. You would think in Hawaii of all places they would have Cabana boys....NOT.

When we began tossing around ideas for what to do for the mid-singles conference, we hit on the idea of having a tiki hut complete with mocktails for Friday night as part of the Luau. Being an avid fan of mocktails myself, I'm all for the idea. In the picture below, I'm actually one of the bartenders at the Hot August Nights party our ward puts on every year.

I personally enjoy coming up with new concoctions for mixed drinks. Considering I've had mocktails from all over the western hemisphere, I consider myself somewhat of an expert. My favorite "mocktail" consists of:

Club soda
Grenadine
Orange Juice
Lime
Ice

Go ahead and try it sometime. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. If you find me at the mid-singles conference on Friday night, maybe I'll make a special one for you.

Tyra

Santa Cruz 2009 Where to Stay

2009-07-20T16:58:00.000-07:00

Over the 4th of July I had the opportunity to hang out at Seascape resort with some friends. This is one of the locations we are staying at for the mid-singles conference....Krista and I are putting together a beach retreat at Seascape for the weekend. No, this is not Krista in the picture with me, but yes, this is 4th of July at Seascape. In the picture with me is my friend Kathryn who as of August 8th will no longer be single (sorry guys).

Anyway I digress....Seascape is an amazing location for us to stay. It's 15 minutes south of Santa Cruz so for those of you without cars, this may be a bit of a stretch....Don't worry, we have an equally fabulous option for you, but I'll get to that in a minute. So back to Seascape---Seascape is right on the beach (see picture above) or should I say our own semi-private beach....There are multiple pools, hot tubs, and a spa on the resort property. Each condo has a kitchen--If you have to have that special smoothy in the morning that only you can make--no problem--need a midnight snack... no worries, it's taken care of.

We have our own block of rooms booked out at Seascape for at an out of site discounted rate. Act now so you can join the party...Believe me, it's going to be a party......

I'm sure those of you without a car, think I've forgotten all about you. I promise I have not.....We have also booked out rooms at the Dream Inn. The Dream Inn is located adjacent to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk where all the action is happening. During the earlier planning phases, I actually had the opportunity to take a tour of the Dream Inn, and it's awesome. The rooms have all been recently redone and have super-soft bedding. The Dream Inn also has a pool, hot tub, and brand new restaurant which opened about a month ago. The view from the top tower is gorgeous. All rooms at the Dream Inn have an ocean view, and a large private balcony. You can wake up and listen to the waves roll in every morning. Just think of how relaxing that would be.

Tyra

Bay Area Mid-singles Conference 2009

2009-07-20T13:27:00.000-07:00

We are well in to the preparations for the bay area mid-singles conference for 2009. This year's conference is going to be different from any other mid-singles conference that you have ever attended. We are shaking it up a bit. We decided to change our location to beautiful Santa Cruz California.

Santa Cruz is a picturesque beach city located a little over an hour south of San Francisco. Prior to his 24 fame, Kiefer Sutherland filmed a vampire movie called The Lost Boys. It is a campy vampire farce. I remember watching this movie on TV and thinking it was totally hilarious because of the crazy stuff Corey Haim and Corey Feldman did to hunt vampires. This movie was actually filmed on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk (aka the boardwalk) and in surrounding locations.

Whenever I'm at the boardwalk, I try to remember which spots appear in the movie. I think about the characters walking up and down the boardwalk passing the carousel, the food stalls, and the famous Big Dipper, one of the oldest wooden roller coasters in the country. If you decide to be adventurous, you can act out scenes from the movie on Saturday. I just don't recommend taking motor cycles off the main staircase by the arcade...

The movie is very funny for me personally. The villain, Edward Herrmann, (he is also Rory Gilmore's grandpa) has a strong resemblance to my dad. I recommend watching The Lost Boys (edited with clean flicks of course) before you join us in Santa Cruz and when you get here, you can match the locations to the movie. Start planning your The Lost Boys parties today, so you'll be prepared for the conference...You never know, we may have a name that The Lost Boys location....competition on Saturday.

Tyra

Alcatraz Tour: Mon, Sept 15th 10:30am

2008-08-28T22:51:00.000-07:00

"Beauty. History. Infamy."

This is an *optional* additional excusion and each guest is responsible for booking their own tickets. Reservations for a tour at Alcatraz, including round-trip ferry service are $26/ea and the official ticket seller is: http://www.alcatrazcruises.com/ You can also do a Google-search for "alcatraz tickets" to find other ticket resellers (might be a higher rate). Don't procrastinate: tickets sell quickly and may not be available at the last minute.

More info on "The Rock":

"Alcatraz and history go hand in hand. Once home to some of America's most notorious criminals, the federal penitentiary that operated here from 1934 to 1963 brought a dark mystique to the Rock. The presence of infamous inmates like Al "Scarface" Capone, and the "Birdman" Robert Stroud helped to establish the island's notoriety. To this day, Alcatraz is best known as one of the world's most legendary prisons.

"Many people, though, are unaware of the wealth of other stories to be learned on the island. Alcatraz is now home to rare flowers and plants, marine wildlife, and thousands of roosting and nesting sea birds. Civil War-era buildings dotting the island give insight into the 19th century when the island served as both a harbor defense fort and a military prison. You can also see visible reminders of the American Indian Occupation that started in 1969 after the prison closed, highlighting an important milestone in the American Indian rights movement.

"Come experience the beauty, history and infamy of Alcatraz on the San Francisco Bay. You'll be astounded by what you learn and see."

BYU-UCLA Football Game Broadcast on 9/13

2008-08-28T16:52:00.000-07:00

Gentlemen:

We've heard your concerns about the BYU v. UCLA "big game" conflict with the MSA Conference & found a great local sports bar that will broadcast the game:

http://sanfrancisco.citysearch.com/profile/11536954/san_francisco_ca/knuckles_historic_sports_bar_grill.html

I’m sure if we get enough of you guys, they’ll play the BYU/UCLA game. Kick-off is approximately 12:30 local time, which means you’ll only miss the Crissy Field games & hot babes there, but you’ll still make group breakfast, group dinners, Ghirardelli Square, & the boat cruise.

Did I mention this place has *28 TVs* including a 120” screen and a bunch of 60” screens??? And that it’s near all of the hotels in Fisherman’s Wharf/Crissy Field area that is the conference epi-center? Plus it’s not dark & sleezy –but I can find ya’ such a place if that’s what you really want –lol.

This should quell the concerns of the boys with conlicting priorities ;-)

See you soon!
Amy

Initial Schedule for the Conference

2008-08-08T14:37:00.000-07:00

Please keep checking back for the finalized schedule, but here's the initial timing for now:

When What/Where Cost
Thursday, September 11th
8-10pm Pre-event trip to nearby Oakland's Temple Hill for endowment and baptism sessions (watch the blog and group email list for more info) N/A
10:30-11:30pm Ice cream social at local favorite Fenton's Ice Cream Parlor. Bring cash for what you order

Friday, September 12th
6-8pm Random group dinners at tasty diners and cafes within blocks of the kick-off party (watch blog & group email list for more info) Bring cash for what you order
7-Midnight Registration and kick-off party on the top floor of the amazing Metreon Center in San Francisco, where we have the entire "City View" party venue to ourselves including the spectacularly scenic 10,000sf terrace over-looking the city skyline and Yerba Buena Gardens. Club-inspired DJ dancing & light show, speed-dating, "Sugar Rush" dessert & beverage stations, city-view lounges, games, activities, and more will be provided. Included in base ticket (currently $99 per person)
Midnight-1:30am Optional private tour of San Francisco's most scenic venues aboard 70 passenger double-decker party busses $20 per person on top of the base ticket
Midnight-whenever Optional late-night dining or club dancing (unofficial). Watch the blog for more info. Bring cash for what you order

Saturday, September 13th
Breakfast on your own or w/new friends you met the night before! Bring cash for what you order
10-10:30am Morning devotional at scenic Crissy Field along the SF Bay's waterfront Included in the base ticket
10:30-11:30am Fun & easy community service project benefitting the "Blankets for Kids" charity at Crissy Field Included in the base ticket
11am-3:30pm Games, hikes, volleyball tournaments, mixing/mingling and more at Crissy Field Included in the base ticket
Noon Catered lunch for all registered attendees Included in the base ticket
3:30-5pm Free time to clean-up/get ready for the night's festivities N/A
5-6:30pm Random group dinners around Fisherman's Wharf (pick up info at Crissy Field) Bring cash for what you order
6:30-7:15pm Ice cream sundaes at historic Ghirardelli Square Included in the base ticket
7:30pm Boarding-time for boat cruise at Pier 41 (validated parking available only at the Pier 39 Garage) Included in the base ticket
8:30-11:30pm Boat cruise around SF Bay (inc the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, AT&T Park, and more!), with DJ'd dancing, two other decks for sight-seeing and mingling, plus a hosted non-alcoholic bar for the entire cruise Included in the base ticket
11pm-whenever Optional late-night dining or club dancing (unofficial) Watch the blog for more info. Bring cash for what you order

Sunday, September 14th
Breakfast on your own Bring cash for what you order
11am Shuttle bus service from Aquatic Park (corner of Jefferson & Hyde between Fisherman’s Wharf & Ghirardelli Square) to Oakland's Temple Hill (optional; watch blog & email list for more information) $13 each way in addition to the base ticket
All day: 30min long tours available at the Temple Hill Visitor's Center of a fantastic new art exhibit focused on the life of the Savior Included in the base ticket
Noon Catered picnic lunch (optional) $10 pp in addition to the base ticket
1-3pm Sacrament Meeting in the Temple Hill Inter-Stake Center Auditorium with Elder John C. Dalton, IV speaking -attendance may be limited to first 1,000 conference registrants due to high demand & limited available seating Included in the base ticket
3:30-5pm Dessert Party & mingling Included in the base ticket
5-6pm Conference Closing Fireside in the Inter-Stake Center Chapel Included in the base ticket
4:30 & 6:30pm Shuttle bus service from Oakland's Temple Hill to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf area (optional) $13 each way in addition to the base ticket

Monday, September 15th
Breakfast on your own Bring cash for what you order
10am-ish (TBD) Alcatraz Tour (optional) –round trip ferry ride to/from Alcatraz and a narrated group tour of the infamous “Rock”. Watch the blog and email list for more info. Approx. $28/ea –bring cash

Fun Facts: Where are People Coming From???

2008-08-04T12:04:00.000-07:00

The San Francisco Mid-Singles Conference is open to attendees from all around the world. Last year, the 800 registrants represented nearly two dozen states plus a half dozen countries. Here are the stats for this year (as of 8/4):

Cities inside California:
Alameda, Antioch, Brisbane, Castro Valley, Citrus Heights, Colma, Concord, Corona, Culver City, Cypress, Danville, Discovery Bay, Dublin, East Palo Alto, El Sobrante, Elk Grove, Emeryville, Fairfield, Folsom, Fremont, Fresno, Gold River, Hayward, Hercules, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Kingsburg, Lafayette, Laguna Niguel, Lancaster, Livermore, Los Altos, Los Angeles, Los Olivos, Martinez, Menlo Park, Merced, Monterey, Mountain View, Napa, Newhall, Newport Beach, Oakland, Orangevale, Pacific Grove, Palo Alto, Pasadena, Placentia, Porterville, Prunedale, Rancho Cordova, Rancho Santa Margarita, Redlands, Richmond, Rio Linda, Rocklin, Roseville, Sacramento, San Bruno, San Clemente, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, San Lorenzo, San Luis Obispo, San Marino, San Ramon, Santa Clara, Santa Clarita, Santa Rosa, Saratoga, Simi Valley, South San Francisco, Stevenson Ranch, Stockton, Sunnyvale, Thousand Oaks, Tracy, Turlock, Visalia, Walnut Creek, Yorba Linda

Areas outside California:
*Arizona: Gilbert, Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe
*Georgia: Duluth
*Hawaii: Wailea
*Idaho: Pocatello
*Nevada: Henderson, Las Vegas, Reno, Sparks
*New Jersey: Whippany
*New Mexico: Santa Fe
*New York: Jamaica, New York City
*Oregon: Beaverton, Corvallis, Hillsboro, Lake Oswego, Philomath, Portland, West Linn
*Pennsylvania: Enola
*Texas: Austin, Garland, Houston, Plano
*Utah: Cedar City, Draper, Highland, Logan, Murray, Ogden, Orem, Park City, Pleasant Grove, Provo, Salt Lake City, West Jordan
*Virginia: Arlington
*Washington: Auburn, Everett, Kennewick, Kirkland, Seattle, Vancouver
*Washington, D.C.
*West Virginia: Wheeling

International:

Australia: Brisbane

Canada: St. Albert
Russia: Moscow

Where to stay & how to connect with room-share options

2008-07-18T16:45:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked about housing options during our conference weekend; here is some helpful information:

A big list of hotels near Fisherman's Wharf (fun area with best assortment of affordable hotel rooms to share, close to public transportation, & walking distance to events on Saturday) is provided below, including their contact info. There are links to hotel room discounters/consolidators, too.

If you'd like to get on a list for those looking to share hotel rooms, please email sfmidsingles@gmail.com and put "Housing" in the subject line. We'll email out a separate message every few days with updates so that you can connect with others looking for a hotel/room-share.

Church member-housing is not available since so few of us live in SF and most have tiny, out-of-the-way places.

Online room discounters/consolidators:
http://www.kayak.com/
http://www.hotels.com/
http://www.expedia.com/
http://www.all-hotels.com/
http://www.priceline.com/
http://www.hotwire.com/
http://www.orbitz.com/

Online hotel coupons:
Travel Coupon Guide: http://www.hotelcoupons.com/
Room$aver http://www.roomsaver.com/

Tourist-class hotels near Fisherman’s Wharf (minimal amenities, cheapest rates):
Best Inn Van Ness Motel, Fisherman’s Wharf (AAA approved), 2850 Van Ness Avenue: 415-776-3220
Castle Inn (AAA approved), 1565 Broadway @ Van Ness: 1-800-822-7853
Economy Inn, 1 Richardson Avenue @ Lombard Street: 415-922-0810
Mithila Hotel 972 Sutter Street: 1-866-MITHILA
Royal Pacific Motor Inn: http://www.royalpacificmotorinn.com/
Ramada 1940 Lombard Street: 415-775-8116
Presidio Travelodge 2755 Lombard Street: 415-931-8581
Greenwich Inn 3201 Steiner Street: 415-921-5162
Surf Motel 2265 Lombard Street @ Steiner: 415-922-1950
Broadway Manor Inn 2201 Van Ness @ Broadway: http://www.broadwaymanor.com/ 800-727-6239
Americas Best Value Inn 2322 Lombard Street http://www.sfamericasbestvalueinn.com/ 415-921-4980
The Wharf Inn 2601 Mason Street: 877-786-4730
EconoLodge 2505 Lombard Street 415-921-2505
Best Inn Presidio 2707 Lombard Street 415-567-2425
Marina Inn 3110 Octavia Street 800-274-1420
Buena Vista Motor Inn (AAA approved) 1599 Lombard Street 415-923-9600
Travelodge Golden Gate 2230 Lombard Street @ Steiner 415-922-3900

Full service hotels in Fisherman’s Wharf neighborhood:
Sheraton at Fisherman’s Wharf: www.sheraton.com/fishermanswharf
Radison Fisherman’s Wharf www.radison.com/sanfranciscoca_wharf
The Wharf Inn http://www.wharfinn.com/
Best Western Tuscan Inn: http://book.bestwestern.com/bestwestern/productInfo.do?propertyCode=05554
Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf http://www.fishermanswharf.hyatt.com/
Hilton at Fisherman’s Wharf: http://www1.hilton.com/en_US/hi/hotel/SFOFWHF-Hilton-San-Francisco-Fisherman-s-Wharf-California/index.do
Holiday Inn Express http://www.hiexpress.com/
Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf http://www.hifishermanswharf.com/
Marriott Fisherman’s Wharf http://www.marriott.com/
North FW Travelodge http://www.travelodge.com/
Courtyard by Marriott: http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/sfocf-courtyard-san-francisco-fishermans-wharf/
The Argonaut Hotel: http://www.argonauthotel.com/
The Suites at Fisherman’s Wharf: http://www.shellhospitality.com/

Also try:
Fisherman’s Wharf Merchants Association: Lodging: http://www.fishermanswharf.org/Lodging.htm or call 1-800-655-8076 I think this is the single best hotel resource for the FW area

Why No "A La Carte" Pricing?

2008-07-15T11:13:00.000-07:00

It's a fair question: why can't I just register for certain events or certain days, rather than pay for the whole thing?

Answer: Due to the complexities of arranging such a giant event for a huge number of people with very limited resources (the joys of volunteer work), we simply can't offer or manage a la carte reservations for certain activities or days. If we had a professional event company running the show with complex software programs to manage registration, that might be possible (but you'd also be paying *a lot* more for their services). Alas, we're simply a bunch of volunteers with busy day-jobs who are enthusiastically dedicated to creating a really fun event for other mid-singles.

Hugely Reduced Ticket Price (vs. '07) -Why???

2008-07-03T22:36:00.000-07:00

The "early bird" discount rate for basic tickets this year is only $85 through August 1st (gotta complete the 2-stage registration process including showing us the $ to lock this in. Rates go up Aug 2nd and closes on Sept 9th). Last year it was $130 -so, why the big difference?

A. We were able to reserve the Interstake Center on Temple Hill for our Sunday events instead of having to pay big bucks for a huge venue and all of the rentals/set-up.

B. Optional activities/services: you now have the option of adding-on some things to your basic ticket such as:

1.5 hour guided city tour on double-decker busses on Fri night for $20

catered picnic lunch on Temple Hill on Sunday for $10

bus service to/from Temple Hill for $10/ea way

The Kick-Off Par-tay!

2008-07-03T22:05:00.000-07:00

We're incredibly excited to have landed an insanely cool venue for the opening night party: City View at Metreon Center in the hip SOMA area of downtown San Francisco.

About the Conference Kick-Off Party:
This 20,000' space is fronted by an entire wall of 2 story-high windows overlooking the stunning SF skyline and beautiful Yerba Buena Gardens (the perfect spot to go for a walk or cozy-up on a bench with friends old or new!). Check-in for registrants will be here (you must register/pay in advance) and then the party begins...

Inside our DJ will be spinning club-style dance tunes at one end, we'll have the ever-popular speed-dating in another area, "Sugar Rush Bars" set-up in several areas where you can boost your energy with a sweet selection of beverages & candies, an "open-mic stage" for you to show off your musical talents (please sign up in advance by emailing sfmidsingles@gmail.com), cool lounges throughout, and more!

Then there's the 10,000' cityview terrace where we'll have comfy lounging areas set-up with an assortment of fun activities to help you break the ice with new friends or reconnect with old ones.

About the Venue:

We have the entire top-floor event space to ourselves

Downstairs there is a big assortement of cafes, the Sony Playstation and Sony Style stores, a cool high-tech arcade mixed with old-school games, a sleek billiards hall, and more. For more info: http://westfield.com/metreon/index.html

It's super-easy to get to from public or private transportation: http://westfield.com/metreon/gettinghere/index.html

Inaugural Address

2008-06-29T21:46:00.000-07:00

Hello! Welcome to the official blog for the San Francisco LDS Mid-Singles program.

Ours is a group of dedicated volunteers who have worked hard to put together a really fun weekend where mid-singles (27-45 years old) can get together to play and serve together in a fantastic city.

This blog will provide updates on the conference planning happenings, answer your questions & ask other questions of you, and provide the latest and greatest info that we have. We hope that it will be an informative and interactive forum and we welcome your input.

We look forward to hearing from you and to seeing you in September!

Cheers,

The SF MSA Conference Committee