In the last 17 years or so, I’ve attended perhaps 3 or 4 command holiday parties. The primary reason that I haven’t attended many is because it’s the concept that you work around these people nearly 24/7 and going to a party where your 7 or 8 bosses are going to be isn’t the greatest idea to me. Now in the last few years, I’ve been suckered into the idea that I might win one of the “fantastic” prizes, and that $20 isn’t a terrible price for dinner and a (potentially) big screen tv. I haven’t won anything yet, and my latest experience might be the last.
This year’s extravaganza was to be held at the Hard Rock Hotel in Downtown San Diego. While not typically a fan of events held downtown, there wasn’t much of a choice, mostly because of the aforementioned desire to win consumer electronics. After arranging for a babysitter and getting dressed for the event, we made our way towards the chaos known to many as the Gaslamp Quarter. After having already driven around La Mesa / El Cajon to pick up a friend I planned the route. Not wanting to get caught up in traffic I foolishly chose to take the 163 into downtown. Of course I wasn’t aware of the fact that it was opening night for December Nights at Balboa Park, compounding the already bad traffic on a Friday night at dinnertime.
Finally arriving downtown, the line for valet parking was not moving, so I darted into a nearby parking structure. Making our way to the Hotel, we had to walk nearly around the block before we could get to the party. Maybe a sign or two directing the 400+ guests would have been a good idea. Once we passed an ID check, got cute little wristbands to prove we could drink, we ascended stairs to the area where the social hour was being held. Once there, we met up with some co-workers and got the run down on the place, namely where the drinks were coming from and where the facilities could be found. At the least busiest bar, we ordered a rum and coke for me and a Diet Coke for my wife. The bartender told us that while they were supposed to take half a drink ticket for the non-alcoholic drinks, but he was going to give them away for free. Next round we found out that drinks were $8, bottled beer was $7 and that plain ol’ Diet Coke? $5. That’s right, $5 for a glass of Diet Coke, perhaps 4 or 5 oz of it at that.
The original schedule of events was for a social hour to go from 6pm-7pm and dinner from 7pm-8pm. Afterwards they were going to give away the prizes. Well, at least they had a schedule. We were ushered downstairs for dinner around 7:30. The seating was open and we picked a table out for our group. Remember what I said about partying with your 7 or 8 bosses? Well, somehow I picked the table next to the top 3 of them. Anyway, next we tried to get some more drinks. Back outside to the hall where there were 5 or 6 spots serving drinks. After waiting in line for about 10 minutes, the lines started to fall apart. They had stopped serving drinks, and the excuse they used was that there were announcements coming and they wanted service stopped for 10 minutes or so. Well that 10 minutes stretched into 20 and there was still no service. Does it strike anyway else as odd that the bars, who are already charging $5 for a Diet Coke and making money hand over fist, would suddenly dry up?
Dinner was finally served. There were only two choices on the menu, spare ribs and chicken. We both chose chicken because neither one of us are fans of ribs. The chicken was a little sculpted piece with a random bone jutting out of it, nestled on perhaps 2-3 tablespoons of mashed potatoes and odd little carrots. Definitely not what I was expecting. After a seemingly endless comedy of errors and schedule alterations, they finally made with the announcements and prize giveaways. A record number of prizes and what did we win? Not a damn thing! Given the late hour, we needed to rush out and get home so we could release the babysitter from her duties of the night. I think after the evening that we had I’m likely going to think twice before I venture out again to a Navy sponsored party. For the supposed amount of money spent on this “extravaganza”, listed in the neighborhood of $100k, I was expecting a little more polish on the evening or at a minimum maybe an evening that I would have enjoyed at least a little.