Dinner will be at Bill Johnson's Big Apple restaurant at 950 E. Main St, Mesa. Specialties include: lots of BBQ, along with salads, shrimp, salmon, pork chops, several chicken dishes, steaks of all sorts, ribs, burgers, sandwiches, and similar items. There are always a few "Specials of the Day" as well. Prices vary from about $8 for sandwiches up to about $15 or $16 for steaks. There is one 16-ounce T-bone steak on the menu for $18, in case you are really hungry.

The restaurant's web site is available at http://billjohnsons.com and the menu may be found at http://billjohnsons.com/menus.

HOWEVER, you do need to make an online reservation for this dinner and attendance is limited. If you would like to attend, please follow these instructions closely.

The list of invitees is "limited" to any of the following:

   1. All subscribers to the Plus Edition newsletter
   2. All subscribers to the Standard Edition newsletter
   3. Those who read the newsletter online sometimes
   4. Those who know someone who reads the newsletter sometimes
   5. Those who have heard of the newsletter
   6. Any invited guests of anyone listed above

OK, are we clear on the acceptable attendees?

Dinner will be "Dutch Treat." You pay for your own food and drinks. It is easier for the restaurant if they create one bill so please bring cash. It will be difficult, although not impossible, to pay by credit card.

We have a reservation for 7 PM. We will meet at the restaurant.

According to Google Maps, this location is a five minute drive from the Convention Center. The restaurant is right on Main Street, so it shouldn't be too hard to find. You can see for yourself at Google Maps at http://goo.gl/maps/BDI1

I will have a rental car and I am hoping that a few other attendees will also have automobiles so we should be able to transport anyone without automobiles both to and from the dinner. Please let me know in advance if you need a ride so that we can be prepared.

We are guaranteed 35 seats. No more. The reservations clerk I talked with said that if we wanted more, to call ahead an hour or two before dinner and to check if they are heavily booked that evening or not. She guaranteed 35 seats but would not guarantee any more. She said she MIGHT have more seats available at the last minute. No guarantees. First come, first served.

Next, I have created an online reservation system, similar to the last such EOGN dinner. That system worked well so I'd like to repeat it. If you don't have a reservation from the online reservation system, you won't be guaranteed a seat. We will accept people on a "wait list" but there are no guarantees after the first 35 people make their reservations.

Items to know:

You absolutely MUST have a reservation in advance. No exceptions. In fact, you will make the reservation online and then print your own ticket(s) on your printer and bring the ticket(s) with you. If you don't have a printer available, please let me know, and I will print your ticket for you several days in advance. Either way, you must have a ticket. I know this sounds harsh, but we really must avoid a repeat of the disaster we had one year.

If you are bringing a spouse or other invited guest, make sure you make a reservation for everyone in your party. It will be embarrassing to tell your spouse that you are going out to dinner with others while your spouse is left alone because "you forgot!" If there are two of you, you need two tickets.

If we do receive more than 35 requests for reservations, there will be a "wait list" created automatically by the reservations software. Names will be added to the wait list in the order they are received. Anyone on the wait list may or may not be seated, at the discretion of the restaurant manager. The restaurant has other patrons that evening as well and can only confirm 35 people at this time. I will know if there are extra seats available by 4 PM Saturday; so, if you are on the wait list, see me at the end of the conference (4 PM) to learn if there is room for you and your guest(s).

I'll see you at dinner. Bring your appetite!