Big Show Wednesday Dinner Who, What, Where, When?

[953 nut 59,182]

 

 

It has become customary for many of us to gather for good eats and some good old conversation with fellow Horse-A Holics the Wednesday prior to the Big Show.

I will attempt to organize this little gathering (sort ‘a like heading cats) and we need to know who will be attending, what you would like to do, and where you want to eat.

Everyone is welcome, bring your family members who may be traveling with you, the more the merrier.

 

WHO:       If you plan to partake of this pre-show experience please respond to this thread prior to June 11, 2025.

 

John @wallfish suggested a catering service and gathering at the picnic tables behind the Quality Inn, 1435 Doron Drive, Chambersburg, PA. There is also a good Pizza Palace nearby that I have ordered from previously or we could do DoorDash or UberEATS. This would be the easy because we would each place and pay for our own orders. This would work well if the weather is good which it usefully is, do you feel lucky?

 

CM Pig Out Catering              https://www.cmpigoutcatering.com/menu.html

 

Little Vince’s Pizza                  https://www.littlevincespizza.com/order

 

There are three restaurants nearby that I’ve eaten at that could accommodate a group of twenty or so without any problem if we notify them in advance. Rather than setting up a long table I would suggest we have tables for four to six people in one area so we can table hop.

Please keep in mind that we will be occupying these tables longer than most patrons so a generous tip for our servers would be welcomed.

WHEN:         Wednesday June 18, 2025           Is 6:00 PM good?      6:30 PM?       7:00 PM?

 

WHAT           Order delivered food?          Go to a restaurant?

 

WHERE       The picnic tables or one of the three restaurants are listed below with links to their menus.

 

https://order.toasttab.com/online/italian-village

ITALIAN VILLAGE                                      2.8   miles

5267 Philadelphia Ave,   ( US-11)

Chambersburg, PA

 

https://order.toasttab.com/online/hickory-ridge-restaurant-chambersburg#!/

Hickory Ridge, Chambersburg                    4.1    miles

3875 Philadelphia Avenue   {US-11}

Chambersburg, PA

 

https://hosss.com/menu/

Hoss’s Steak and Seafood                        5   miles

20 Falling Spring Rd.

Chambersburg, PA

 Just east of I-81 on US-30, near Sleep Inn motel.

 

Please respond to this post by June 11 and I will do my best to make the arrangements.

[squonk 43,318]

Last year's weather was dry on Wed ( HOT! ) But more often than not we've had some pretty good gully washers/thunder boomers on Wed night. I'm thinking "planning on" a picnic style get together, may not be the best idea. Obviously if the weather is nice, if folks want to order out and have it delivered that's fine. If some of us want to go out we can. 

 

My vote is for the Italian village on Wed with Hickory Ridge the 2nd option. ( where I don't go on Wed. I'll go on Fri.)  

 

( The picnic tables at the hotel aren't the best and don't forget the nearby dumpster!  )

Edited May 28 by squonk

[Pullstart 65,681]

Rylee and I will be there!  Being loaded down, we’ll either be looking for a ride, or vote for catering.  We can find food to eat, we aren’t that picky on what kind.

[rjg854 12,014]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

Last year's weather was dry on Wed ( HOT! ) But more often than not we've had some pretty good gully washers/thunder boomers on Wed night. I'm thinking "planning on" a picnic style get together, may not be the best idea. Obviously if the weather is nice, if folks want to order out and have it delivered that's fine. If some of us want to go out we can. 

 

My vote is for the Italian village on Wed with Hickory Ridge the 2nd option. ( where I don't go on Wed. I'll go on Fri.)  

 

( The picnic tables at the hotel aren't the best and don't forget the nearby dumpster!  )

I go where the truck goes,  cause we travel together 

[clueless 3,181]

I'm in where ever the rest want, (newbie). I can do like my mama use to do, bring alone a couple of jars of peanut butter, jelly and a couple loaves of bread. 

[Handy Don 13,675]

I’m planning to be there for dinner. 

6:00 is good, to allow for a longer evening. 

I prefer a restaurant (any of the three is fine) for dry (if raining) or A/C (if hot), but I'll go with the majority without complaint!

I’ll have an extra seat or two in the car. 

Thanks for being the focal point, @squonk!

[squonk 43,318]

If folks stay behind at the motel whilst others are out at a restaurant,  be sure to keep the phones handy to document any car wash rage incidents,  and interactions with local law enforcement!

[wallfish 17,838]

22 hours ago, squonk said:

 

( The picnic tables at the hotel aren't the best and don't forget the nearby dumpster! 

Maybe see if we can rent the "breakfast room" in the hotel for the evening?????? Just to eat but hangout outside with the cocktails. Those are usually big empty spaces anyway except for breakfast time

I'm good for either way too, restaurant or delivered or pizza or ... I'm not picky, just hungry LOL

Italian village is always good food. Just small to accommodate a lot of people.

 

And just throwing this out there too, there's Norlo Park in Fayetteville not too far south of the hotel that rents big pavilions with plenty of roof space and picnic tables. It's only $75 for a day and I'll buy the pavilion if that's the consensus and we're allowed to be there. But, we would need to find out the hours or how late we can stay out there. ? 6:00-11:00 ish would be nice. We could have a pre-show tailgate show

 https://www.guilfordtwp.us/Pavilion2

3050 Lincoln Way 

E Fayetteville, PA 17222

 

 

There is a way to add a vote thingy to the thread but I don't know how to do it. Maybe use that to get an idea and also a head count

[stevebo-(Moderator) 8,453]

I will be in attendance and an open to whatever everyone decides. Brennanbo and a friend may be arriving around the time we go to dinner so not sure he will attend unless we go later. I like the idea of if “renting” the room just in case it is raining and eat at hotel. 

[953 nut 59,182]

12 hours ago, wallfish said:

see if we can rent the "breakfast room" in the hotel for the evening??????         

12 hours ago, wallfish said:

Norlo Park in Fayetteville not too far south of the hotel that rents big pavilions with plenty of roof space and picnic tables. It's only $75 for a day and I'll buy the pavilion if that's the consensus and we're allowed to be there. But, we would need to find out the hours or how late we can stay out there.

 

I will check on both of these tomorrow and post the information.

[wallfish 17,838]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

I will check on both of these tomorrow and post the information.

Thanks Dick ! I just don't have the time during the day

[fast88pu 3,359]

Count me in for 3, also not picky on what to eat

[Horse Newbie 7,322]

I will be there, with my brother who is making the trip with me and attending all the festive events.

Not picky about where, what we eat…

[whtractors24 3,323]

Count me in for 1 . 

[Pullhosen’s Pony Express 71]

On 5/28/2025 at 7:25 AM, Pullstart said:

Rylee and I will be there!  Being loaded down, we’ll either be looking for a ride, or vote for catering.  We can find food to eat, we aren’t that picky on what kind.

+ 1 or 2 more for us!  We won’t know for sure if Mrs. P. can join until Tuesday afternoon before we leave.  Rylee will be bringing her squeeze Brenen.

[953 nut 59,182]

On 5/29/2025 at 6:24 AM, wallfish said:

Maybe see if we can rent the "breakfast room" in the hotel for the evening?????? Just to eat but hangout outside with the cocktails. Those are usually big empty spaces anyway except for breakfast time

The Quality Inn will let us use the Breakfast Room if we decide to go that route.

So far we are up to about 20 people. @squonk, @Pullstart +2, @rjg854, @clueless, @Handy Don, @wallfish, @stevebo+2, @fast88pu+2,  @Horse Newbie +1, and @whtractors24 have responded so far.

As we get closer to the show we can make a final decision about the location. Seem that most of us are just looking forward to getting together.  

[squonk 43,318]

It's like herding cats!  

 

We had 20 at the Italian Village in 2018

 

 

 

 

and 21 in 2019

 

[Pullhosen’s Pony Express 71]

Lotsa’ great people in those pictures!  I’m so glad I was able to join y’all!

[953 nut 59,182]

I'm thinking that if we decide to go to a restaurant it will be better to have a group of  individual tables rather than one big table. That will allow us to table hop and have a lot more of a mete and greet.

What are your thoughts on this? 

[squonk 43,318]

You would have to make reservations and let the restaurant know you don't want the tables together.

[953 nut 59,182]

I would need to make reservations either way, just looking for opinions on the informal setting as opposed to the formal seating arrangement in the pictures above. 

[wallfish 17,838]

39 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

I'm thinking that if we decide to go to a restaurant it will be better to have a group of  individual tables rather than one big table. That will allow us to table hop and have a lot more of a mete and greet.

What are your thoughts on this? 

That's kinda why I suggested catered food. If we can commandeer that breakfast room at the hotel it would be more party like and lots more mingling.

 

 

[Easton Rich 601]

One of these days I’ll come. It’s a 15-17hr trip for us. When I do I’ll bring them all running or not!

[evanloock 230]

I should be up there Wednesday afternoon.  I would like to attend.

 

[adsm08 2,950]

One of these years I need to plan far enough ahead and just host dinner at my place, assuming ya'll don't mind going that far out of your way.