Bradford High School

Bryanna Jurvis Royal

What do people think about not having a formal thing on Saturday at all. We could to the Friday Night deal at Tarbenders, a picnic on Saturday that could go all day - with brats and hot dogs, alcohol (BYOB), volleyball, softball, etc, and then just plan on meeting up somewhere Saturday night - either Tarbenders again or else another bar in Kenosha? This would really keep the cost down and leaves it open for multiple opportunities to get together with people.

What are people's thoughts on this?

Mackenzie Halverson Szimanski

I agree with Brianna. That sounds like a good idea.

Stephanie Dewey Juga

the only problem with that is that there is not alot of parking at the bar! where would everyone park?

James Defazio

Stephanie has a perfect point! As we are 10 years out of high school, we should think 10 years older. Having a get-together at somone's fav bar, will offend someone else who has a fav bar. . . NO bar in Kenowhere can accomadate a large quantity of peeps, and this gives way to easy of an oppertunity to start up those clicks again. I still love the informal thing, and I checked into the YMCA idea ( no alcohol)- oops. Pets park seems the best ( if alcohol will be there). The summer for this is great, but the formal should not wait till fall or winter- that's starting to invade on COLD, weddings, anneversaries,and of coarse class of 99 should be starting to make plans then - LIKE WE SHOULD HAVE. Someone should give this hint to them.

Marcus Bouterse

Well first off IMO ppl are making far too big a deal of this. In my minds a reunion (be it 10yr or 50yr) should be very laid back and easy going. it should be set up so that EVERYONE would have a chance to attend if they feel the need. meaning- #1 keeping the cost down #2 making both sides happy by having a event for only adults as well as an event giving an opportunity for ppl to bring their children. It is completely impossible to make everyone 100% happy with what they conjure in their head as "their" ideal re-union. I completely understand that everyone has different views and are at different stages in their life. But, this should simply be for people to catch up with lost friends/classmates, have some enjoyable moments, and show some pride in the high school they graduated in.

By setting this up a few months b4 the event, in my mind, gave a better view for people to adjust their schedules if they wanted to attend. I barely know what i have planned for next week, let alone if someone asked me what I am doing in a year or more ahead so i can attend some re-union. Public parks (Pets, Silver Lake, et) are always available. And for reception halls, to hold a spot would require a down payment. So... until any of us knew a final head count attending, making a concrete decision would be almost impossible because who would make a commitment, let alone pay for, something without knowing if it would be a bust or not.

As for the bar (meet and greet). like was said, there isnt any bar in Kenosha that i know of to accomodate parking for our entire class if they chose to come. I do completely agree with what Courtney B. said previously, that we should try and support business owners from our graduating class. That is why Tarbenders was being thought as best choice. Now, I honestly dont expect everyone to stay at the same place all nite -and/or- ppl to not grp in little clicks and do their own thing. Its just a reality. If anything this website alone has given a means for ppl to contact classmates once lost. The re-union will simply give everyone another option for ppl to catch up.

Amber Kossow Whiteley

I like Brianna's idea. I think a bar for Saturday night will work out just fine. You have to keep in mind, not everyone is going to show up, let alone all at the same time. I went to my fiance's class reunion last year. It was held at a very small bar and it worked out just fine.

Monica Anaya

i agree with marcus and bryanna. i think we are making it more difficult then need be. labor day weekend sounds like it's out. many people have prior engagements. pick a date in late august (i think that's when you said we had the best response), do the icebreaker on friday night and the other event on saturday during the day at the park. we can cook out and have a few drinks, play vball, mingle, etc. anyone that attends either day can discuss what they want to do on saturday night. someone will be doing something but i'm sure many people wont be able to dedicate a full weekend to these events anyway so it's not going to be a turnout of 300 like we're thinking OR like some other people said... not everyone is going to want to go to the same place so i'm sure there are going to be enough options for everyone. not everyone is going to be happy but i think these two choices should accomidate MOST people.

Christa Burden

Bryanna I just check with the Moose to rent the hall inside it holds about 350 and it's $200 to rent the hall and then there is a $100 clean up fee and if we clean up that $100 will be returned. They also have the Pivillon outside which is $75 to rent, and there is a bar out there and if we had a band or a DJ they could only play till 10pm. There are aslo people there that do food for a good price for Buffet style. Let me know if you are intrested. My phone number in case you have any questions is 262-764-1633.

Lisa Bradley Reyes

Maybe there should be one of the those surveys on here to see how many people want to do the formal thing one night, to see what everyone thinks, cause not everyone is posting their thoughts on here about it. Some are for it and some aren't. I did check into the Dog track thing if it goes that route, I really don't care either way on it, my sister works there so she looked into it for me. The VIP room only has room for 120 for the dinner, and for the afterwards reception it can hold 180, more if we use the area by the pool tables. The room is free if we spend more than $800.00 on food and beverages. I have a catering book from there if anyone needs to see it with pricing. The Moose lodge sounds like fun if it's available. I really think hanging out at the bar one night would be fun, then a picnic, then the formal thing. Just so there is a little bit of everything for everyone. The picnic thing might be hard to put together with all the stuff that we would need to get, and how would we get everyones money. The formal thing would be easiest I think and probably the most cost effective. Then we could all go to a bar afterwards and hang out. I'll also be more available and pretty flexible into the first week of May if you need any help planning things. Just let me know.

Christa Burden

I can look into the moose lodge and see if it will be open. Just let me know what dates you guys are looking at and if you want I can see if it will be open. Just let me know if you want to go with that route.

Michael Baron

Let's all meet in InfraRed.

Carrie Wynne Gray

Bahaha, Mike that's an awesome idea - we can eat Subway sandwiches and Otis Spunkmeyer cookies and hang out in the commons area. Yessssss. ;)

Timothy Fulmer

I had a really good idea, but if animal rights are a concern I suppose Dale's Animal Abuse Bar and Grill is out. Then I was thinking that maybe it would be lame to push this back a couple of years, but has anyone considered that by then we could probally do this badboy in space! Yeah and another thing, screw everyone that can't afford space.

Josef Eisenbraun

what about the brat stop, It is big enough, has enough parking, right next to the hotel, buy your own beer, people could come if they wanted to or not, although I like the idea of having A game of baseball or softball or something like that, I am sure us old ****ers could use the excercise, and again, show up if you want, byob. But for the it brings into question about the food, I am all for that, but what about the people who don't eat meat, or veggies, i am sure there are some cheerleaders out there that still drink a water shake for dinner, as for the kids, I have one, but it would not really be the place, swearing, and booze, ignorant people, yeah, Even if it was available, i still would not subject my daughter to that, and if you are one that drinks in front of your kids, forget the reunion, try AA

Angela Juliana

I personally don't think Labor Day weekend would be a good idea...it seems that many of us already have that weekend booked. The Boathouse has a private room and catering available. This might be an option for at least the ice breaker, if not the main re-union event itself. I attended my fiance's reunion last summer and they used the Boathouse and it went over very well. It was St. Joe's so naturally a MUCH smaller class size than ours, but it might work well for our ice breaker. I know the manager of the Boathouse so let me know and I can look into this a bit more, if anyone would like.

James Defazio

Brat stop seems cool. Its semi-formal, grat food, alcohol if wanted, we could have a buffet or people can just eat/pay what we order- thus cutting costs. Baseball still sounds that everyone actually agrees on. Did we fig where yet? P.S. If it takes as long as doing this on the moon, I guess spaceball can be popular again. Anyone got "Liquid Swarts"?

Vanessa Guridy

Hey everyone! Thanks for taking care of all this planning. It seems like a lot of work and we all appreciate it! That said, though I'm sure everyone is excited to get together, it seems like there are a lot of events being planned. Maybe if we have fewer events it will increase the chances of more people going?

Courtney Bjorn

is it really necessary to have 2 meals saturday? picnic in the afternoon with family sounds awesome, finding a place to drink afterwards sounds perfect! I'm sure their are at least 20 establishments in town(not far driving) that would be happy to have our business, not charge us for hall rental, (and either have appetizers, or let us bring our own in if food is necessary). And probably be happy to give us a deal on tap beer and rails.
I honestly DO love the idea of a sitdown, dj thing. but every year, different customers come in every weekend after some reunion(10year, 20year, etc.)and complain. they didn't like the food, it was too far, too expensive. you can't win. I do want to see people though, and I want to have fun! and I would be happy to wait til oct./sept.....and being its quite far away, maybe for fun, not as our REUNION, would some of you like to do a downtown pub crawl??? maybe on a sunday? start early? 5-6ish? a month from now? everyone seems so excited to see each other? lots to pick from? kaisers, interludes(maybe),lazy bird, wine knot, cooler near the lake, fecs, brat stop too, captain mikes, harborside, paddios, port, boat house, pazzo, schmidies, sids, puzzle house, sos, cheers, stone face, petes, I know I'm forgetting some. but lets go out and have fun! all we have to do is call a week ahead, and make sure they are open, and are staffed. lots of parking, no cover charge, and most bars have safe ride which means free cab ride home if you need it. we can have you home by 8pm so you can make it to work the next day!somewhere out there, is a bloody mary, or martini with your name on it! lets pick 5-6 bars.

Michael Baron

If we play baseball, is it just one game with about 200 people? If so, I'm batting lead-off, and playing left center center center field

Mike Perkins

a few people seem to be concerned about parking if there was a meet and greet at my bar (tarbender's) THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH PARKING!! we've had parties outside with up to 500 people - i'm sure we can fit 300 and that's if everyone goes. We have a parking lot that holds about 40 cars so that's 80 people (at least) and about 3 acres of land out back that'll hold tons more cars plus you can park up and down one side of washington road. For those that don't know we do have a volleyball court, horseshoe pits, a full outside bar and an enclosed circus size tented area and about 50 picnic tables outside.....trust me we can accomidate a meet and greet

Kristin Negri Beres

I'm totally ok with skipping going to a "real" hall and just doing Tarbenders Saturday night after the picnic. Mike, do you think we could basically have it as a private party? Maybe just order pizzas?

Mike Perkins

i don't see a problem with that at all....like i said there is plenty of space outside and plenty of picnic tables for everyone plus like i said there is a bar outside and yes it would be totally private - just for us. And i said before i am a dj and have access to all the equipment and am willing to dj for the event. If the planning committee likes the idea someone needs to get ahold of me and lock in a day so i make sure we don't already have something booked then we can lock in the date.

Kristine Palmas

Mike is right. Tarbenders has a lot of land/room, so it would be able to hold a nice size event. This sounds like the best option so far.

James Defazio

WOW! I have been busy for a week and looks like progress! Hello peeps new to the chat room! I can't wait till something is finalized! I like the Tarbender's idea. Any word on the formal thing?

Josef Eisenbraun

I dont think i have heard of Tarbenders, but then again there are so many bars in the city, and only so much one can drink in a night. Parking in a field, I have 4x4, not worried there, sounds like a plan, how are your prices mike?
pizza? yeah baby, how about some ribs and wings? oh waite, we need a starch too, fries and chips, now we are talking...