Those of you staying at the Edgefield should anticipate a challenging parking situation when returning from the Welcome Dinner Friday night as popular music artist Sheryl Crow will be playing a sold-out show at the McMenamin’s Edgefield that evening. The concert will start at 6:30 and end by 10:00.

The Welcome Dinner commences down the road (in Blue Lake Park) at 4:00, an hour before the Edgefield will open its gates to concert traffic. So, the schedule for the Welcome Dinner will allow Edgefield guests to dodge Crow fans for the first half of the evening. However, we all must vacate Blue Lake Park at sunset around 8:00. So, Edgefield guests, be aware of the concert-in-progress if you plan to return directly from the Welcome Dinner to where you’re staying.

Our Edgefield contact offers the following tips:

• If you’re checking into the Edgefield on Friday, try to arrive as close to check-in time (3:00) as possible to avoid the concert crowd.

• The hotel staff will try to reserve parking for hotel guests on the pavement, but late in the evening there may not be any parking spaces left.

• Before and after the show, Edgefield restaurants and bars will get really busy, but during the show they will be relatively empty. That makes service areas good places to avoid the crowd during the concert.

• While the concert is in progress, you can grab a beverage of choice, sit by the Edgefield Ampitheater, and listen to the show. You can’t see the stage from outside the gate, but you can hear it great.

Some of you have asked this question, and a number of you have already revealed what you plan to wear to the Main Event. Truly, we all have different standards for what fashions feel comfortable. Neither the bride nor the groom will be sporting formal dress because neither of us are comfortable that way. Some of you will come in jeans, and we will be just as happy to see you there. Others of you will wear men’s jackets or semi-formal dresses, and we will be just as happy. You cannot go wrong. Suit yourself and dress how you please. We only care that you feel good while you’re there.

Cheers,

I & K

For those of you who have not met her, McKenna Wilson is my precocious niece—the daughter of my sister, Dianna. McKenna will be turning 14 on the day of the brunch. Her interests include gymnastics, interior design, friends, Latin, dessert, architecture, dance, and world cultures. Her favorite animal is the sloth.

When you see her, be sure to wish her a hardy “Happy Birthday!”

~Irene

Our block at the Sheraton has expired. The rooms at the Edgefield are taken.

If you are still in need of accommodations, check out these area hotels.

• Best Western Inn & Suits (503) 491-9700
• Quality Inn & Suites (503) 492-4000
• 181st & Halsey (800) 527-1123
• Hampton Inn (503) 669-7000
• 181st & Sandy (866) 288-6800
• Comfort Inn & Suites Columbia Gorge (800) 824-6824