Work has been crazy, our chef left, which left the resort in a bit of a frenzy. That was a week ago, and we are back on track, it is hard because the kitchen staff is standing up and trying to replicate what the chef had put in to place, and I respect all they are doing. Our Chef was a talented man, but he has a Type A personality and does not take can't do, won't do or not possible at this time, well.
He expects the best from everyone and himself, I do understand that, and respect him for his ability, I hope he is happy with his decision and will pursue his own business, which I think is what he needs to do, not everyone can work for other people. My husband can do it if need be, but he prefers to work for himself.
My husband has now signed on at the resort as our new Banquet Manager I think that is his title. I am nervous about him and I working together, both our paychecks tied up in the same company, and the fact after Nov. 1 his job will be gone until next season.
He is trying to get his web business to generate more money for us, I have complete faith in his ability to make his own business a success, but I still get really nervous and scared. Especially, with how the economy looks so bleak, and gas prices keep going up and up. Last weekend, we went to CT for a family function but with gas prices so expensive, I believe that will be our only trip down there this summer.
My summer is going to be tied up at the resort, and when Nov hits I will enjoy the down time, but by January I will wish we were open. This is my first full season here, and my first working a seasonal property.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
This weekend is my nephew's graduation from High School. I think my sister was worried it may never happen, so as my earlier post they are throwing him a huge party on Saturday, June 21. I am so excited to see my family, especially with the price of gasoline these days we may not get back down to CT the rest of the summer.
Work is crazy right now, we had a bit of drama yesterday, but it nice to see everyone pull together to make it a success. We will be fine, it is just the first few days, when things happen you stop think and then react.
I have been thinking alot of why I got into this business and how come I have lasted so long, and what I have seen. It is amazing if people only knew what happens in restaurants, hotels and resorts behind the scenes to make their events, stays a success people would be amazed. I have decided to start writing my book (again) but this time, on a subject, I have been aware of and part of since 1985. Even now, remembering my first day on the job, I realized it was in my blood, I do love the uncertainty and the feeling of elation after a job well done.
I have been in the "weeds" thinking will this night never end, I have had people yell at me, for things I can not control, but in the end it always comes together and it will now. People have to realize none of these businesses ever rely on only
(1) person, and everyone is replaceable.
Work is crazy right now, we had a bit of drama yesterday, but it nice to see everyone pull together to make it a success. We will be fine, it is just the first few days, when things happen you stop think and then react.
I have been thinking alot of why I got into this business and how come I have lasted so long, and what I have seen. It is amazing if people only knew what happens in restaurants, hotels and resorts behind the scenes to make their events, stays a success people would be amazed. I have decided to start writing my book (again) but this time, on a subject, I have been aware of and part of since 1985. Even now, remembering my first day on the job, I realized it was in my blood, I do love the uncertainty and the feeling of elation after a job well done.
I have been in the "weeds" thinking will this night never end, I have had people yell at me, for things I can not control, but in the end it always comes together and it will now. People have to realize none of these businesses ever rely on only
(1) person, and everyone is replaceable.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
I feel very old.. This weekend at the Resort we had a high maintenance wedding with events starting on Friday and going right through until Sunday. I was also Manager on Duty from 4pm on Friday - 11am on Sunday. It was a bit much, luckily the weather did not turn until Sunday, so Saturday was beautiful. The wedding group, behaved themselves, which is a plus.
Actually, when we closed the Pub on Saturday night, it was just the older folks still there talking the younger crowd had gone to bed or at least back to their rooms around 11:30pm. The Kitchen staff and banquets did and amazing job, as the Father of the Bride, said, anything I could control was wonderful, at least 2 of his vendors did not work out, the Florist and the DJ.
The worse part was they had 7 speeches after the bride told me about 4, so it pushed dinner back, which cut into their dance time, she was so cute and apologized to me, I thought that was sweet.
Running around, and trying to be there for everyone is exhausting, my husband and I finished breakfast came home slept until 4pm, went to dinner and then to see the movie "Sex and the City", so my next movie is going to be Indiana Jones. Did anyone notice that MUMMY 3 is coming out 8-1-08 I can not wait..I loved having date night with my husband after a long weekend at work. This weekend we are going to CT for my nephew Michael's high school graduation and my husband is doing the cooking. We catered my neice Lauren's graduation party 3 years ago, so it is kind of a tradition now. My next wedding at work is not until July 4th weekend YEAH!!!
Actually, when we closed the Pub on Saturday night, it was just the older folks still there talking the younger crowd had gone to bed or at least back to their rooms around 11:30pm. The Kitchen staff and banquets did and amazing job, as the Father of the Bride, said, anything I could control was wonderful, at least 2 of his vendors did not work out, the Florist and the DJ.
The worse part was they had 7 speeches after the bride told me about 4, so it pushed dinner back, which cut into their dance time, she was so cute and apologized to me, I thought that was sweet.
Running around, and trying to be there for everyone is exhausting, my husband and I finished breakfast came home slept until 4pm, went to dinner and then to see the movie "Sex and the City", so my next movie is going to be Indiana Jones. Did anyone notice that MUMMY 3 is coming out 8-1-08 I can not wait..I loved having date night with my husband after a long weekend at work. This weekend we are going to CT for my nephew Michael's high school graduation and my husband is doing the cooking. We catered my neice Lauren's graduation party 3 years ago, so it is kind of a tradition now. My next wedding at work is not until July 4th weekend YEAH!!!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The article below is from the New London Day - When I was a little girl growing up in Norwich, my grandparents would tell me how beautiful the Wauregan was, and the parties and of course, New years Eve. I am so glad to see it brought back to its former self in a modern sense.
I used to imagine, and old New Years Eve party at the Wauregan, with Cary Grant types in tuxedos and women in long flowing gowns. Party hats and all the fun.. Sometimes, I think I was born too late, people do not dress up anymore, which I find sad.
'Norwich — It was a return to glory for the Wauregan Hotel ballroom Monday night, as about 170 people from throughout the state gathered there to celebrate the revitalization of Main Streets everywhere and the Wauregan's role in that process.
The Connecticut Main Street Center bestowed the Award of Excellence for best adaptive reuse of a historic building to developer Becker and Becker Associates, the city's preferred developer who conducted the $20 million renovation of the Wauregan into 70 affordable housing apartments and five commercial spaces. The city of Norwich and Rose City Renaissance, the Norwich Main Street program, shared in the award as supporters of the project.
“You've got residential, a ballroom and retail,” said John Simone, president and chief executive officer of the Connecticut Main Street Center. “This is as good an example as you can get.”
Simone said his group knew since before the restored Wauregan opened that he wanted to hold the annual banquet meeting in the historic ballroom. He said it gave the agency the chance to “tell the story” again of the Wauregan's rebirth from decline to condemnation to decay and nearly demolition.
The city in 1999 had wanted to tear down the building, after receiving inspection reports that the decaying, leaking and partially collapsed brick structure could not be saved. But the Connecticut Historical Commission refused and forced the city to advertise for developers. Becker and Becker Associates submitted the winning bid, and financed the project — after more struggles and near defeat by the CHFA — through a combination of federal low-income housing tax credits and historic preservation tax credits.
The city contributed the building and an $800,000 no-interest loan to the project.
The Wauregan reopened in 2006, with 70 apartments and the project was completed in 2007 with the opening of the restored ballroom, available for public rental. Currently, 97 percent of the apartments are occupied.
At street level, the Wauregan houses the Wauregan Laundromat, Morning Glories flower shop, the Wauregan Café and coming soon a Spanish restaurant. One remaining 500-square foot space remains available, said John Renner, senior development manager for Becker and Becker.
Renner said he was “very happy” that Connecticut Main Street honored adaptive reuse of historic buildings.
As much as Simone looked forward to Monday's event, so did Renner, who watched the restoration from ripped up floors and scraped walls to the finishing touches.
“I've never been to an event here,” Renner said.
Rose City Renaissance, the city's Main Street program, nominated the Wauregan for the Award of Excellence. Board President Les King said he was not surprised the project won the award.
“This is a big project for all of the state of Connecticut,” King said.
The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation also gave the Wauregan an award and a grant. Helen Higgins, executive director of the Connecticut Trust, said she was thrilled that the Wauregan received the award.
“It's fabulous,” she said. “The more awards the better.”
The Wauregan's award was one of several handed out by the Connecticut Main Street Center Monday. State Sen. Donald Williams, DBrooklyn, president pro tem of the state Senate, and state Sen. Andrew Roraback, R-Goshen, were the inaugural recipients of the Jack Shannahan Prize for Public Service, named after the former state historic preservation officer. Williams and Roraback were credited for the 2005 Community Investment Act, which funded historic and farm preservation and open space. The law provided grant funding to assist revitalization of historic commercial districts.
Norwich native Linda Osten, who died of cancer in December at age 49, received the Connecticut Light & Power Co. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Main Street Revitalization. Osten, whose family ran Patio's Restaurant in Norwich for many years, was recognized for her work in revitalization of downtown Hartford. Osten was a community planner for the Capital Region Council of Governments.
Several members of Osten's family attended the awards ceremony. Her sister, Cathy Osten, first selectwoman of Sprague, accepted the award on behalf of her sister.
“We all miss my sister very much,” Cathy Osten said. “She did a lot for the city of Hartford and for all of Connecticut.”
I used to imagine, and old New Years Eve party at the Wauregan, with Cary Grant types in tuxedos and women in long flowing gowns. Party hats and all the fun.. Sometimes, I think I was born too late, people do not dress up anymore, which I find sad.
'Norwich — It was a return to glory for the Wauregan Hotel ballroom Monday night, as about 170 people from throughout the state gathered there to celebrate the revitalization of Main Streets everywhere and the Wauregan's role in that process.
The Connecticut Main Street Center bestowed the Award of Excellence for best adaptive reuse of a historic building to developer Becker and Becker Associates, the city's preferred developer who conducted the $20 million renovation of the Wauregan into 70 affordable housing apartments and five commercial spaces. The city of Norwich and Rose City Renaissance, the Norwich Main Street program, shared in the award as supporters of the project.
“You've got residential, a ballroom and retail,” said John Simone, president and chief executive officer of the Connecticut Main Street Center. “This is as good an example as you can get.”
Simone said his group knew since before the restored Wauregan opened that he wanted to hold the annual banquet meeting in the historic ballroom. He said it gave the agency the chance to “tell the story” again of the Wauregan's rebirth from decline to condemnation to decay and nearly demolition.
The city in 1999 had wanted to tear down the building, after receiving inspection reports that the decaying, leaking and partially collapsed brick structure could not be saved. But the Connecticut Historical Commission refused and forced the city to advertise for developers. Becker and Becker Associates submitted the winning bid, and financed the project — after more struggles and near defeat by the CHFA — through a combination of federal low-income housing tax credits and historic preservation tax credits.
The city contributed the building and an $800,000 no-interest loan to the project.
The Wauregan reopened in 2006, with 70 apartments and the project was completed in 2007 with the opening of the restored ballroom, available for public rental. Currently, 97 percent of the apartments are occupied.
At street level, the Wauregan houses the Wauregan Laundromat, Morning Glories flower shop, the Wauregan Café and coming soon a Spanish restaurant. One remaining 500-square foot space remains available, said John Renner, senior development manager for Becker and Becker.
Renner said he was “very happy” that Connecticut Main Street honored adaptive reuse of historic buildings.
As much as Simone looked forward to Monday's event, so did Renner, who watched the restoration from ripped up floors and scraped walls to the finishing touches.
“I've never been to an event here,” Renner said.
Rose City Renaissance, the city's Main Street program, nominated the Wauregan for the Award of Excellence. Board President Les King said he was not surprised the project won the award.
“This is a big project for all of the state of Connecticut,” King said.
The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation also gave the Wauregan an award and a grant. Helen Higgins, executive director of the Connecticut Trust, said she was thrilled that the Wauregan received the award.
“It's fabulous,” she said. “The more awards the better.”
The Wauregan's award was one of several handed out by the Connecticut Main Street Center Monday. State Sen. Donald Williams, DBrooklyn, president pro tem of the state Senate, and state Sen. Andrew Roraback, R-Goshen, were the inaugural recipients of the Jack Shannahan Prize for Public Service, named after the former state historic preservation officer. Williams and Roraback were credited for the 2005 Community Investment Act, which funded historic and farm preservation and open space. The law provided grant funding to assist revitalization of historic commercial districts.
Norwich native Linda Osten, who died of cancer in December at age 49, received the Connecticut Light & Power Co. Award for Outstanding Contributions to Main Street Revitalization. Osten, whose family ran Patio's Restaurant in Norwich for many years, was recognized for her work in revitalization of downtown Hartford. Osten was a community planner for the Capital Region Council of Governments.
Several members of Osten's family attended the awards ceremony. Her sister, Cathy Osten, first selectwoman of Sprague, accepted the award on behalf of her sister.
“We all miss my sister very much,” Cathy Osten said. “She did a lot for the city of Hartford and for all of Connecticut.”
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
I am sick as a dog.. I went home early last Saturday, and my lips have blown up. When I get stressed my lips look like a bad version of Mick Jagger lips, except mine bleed always attractive.
My first wedding of the season is this Saturday, I am trying not to be worried, that we do not have a fully staffed Banquet Department, luckily it is a small wedding, but still a wedding, we will see how it flows. As long as the client does not realize anything is wrong, that is when a wedding is a success for myself.
My chef has informed me he and his wife have gone through the BEO's and are still having issues with them, I want them to bring them to my attention so we are all on the same page. I am a perfectionist about by BEO's, so if something does not work for them, let me know and I will change that for them. There seems to be a bit of tension between the chef and my associate in the sales department. I have told them both to talk to each other, and not put me in the middle.
Our chef is so passionate about the food and making the resort a success, he may come off abrupt sometimes, but we need to be able to explain our BEO's and it must be simple for them to read and comprehend. He really does not have time to hunt us down and ask questions, so we have to be clear and concise on the BEO's and maybe things are falling through the cracks, but we have to work as a team to make it a success, I do not like being in the middle and think our director and gm, should get involved and talk to them both.
My assistant is back today, and I am so excited to go through everything with her, hopefully, I can book more with this new system..
I will let you know what is going on after the first wedding. I hope it is a sunny day..
My first wedding of the season is this Saturday, I am trying not to be worried, that we do not have a fully staffed Banquet Department, luckily it is a small wedding, but still a wedding, we will see how it flows. As long as the client does not realize anything is wrong, that is when a wedding is a success for myself.
My chef has informed me he and his wife have gone through the BEO's and are still having issues with them, I want them to bring them to my attention so we are all on the same page. I am a perfectionist about by BEO's, so if something does not work for them, let me know and I will change that for them. There seems to be a bit of tension between the chef and my associate in the sales department. I have told them both to talk to each other, and not put me in the middle.
Our chef is so passionate about the food and making the resort a success, he may come off abrupt sometimes, but we need to be able to explain our BEO's and it must be simple for them to read and comprehend. He really does not have time to hunt us down and ask questions, so we have to be clear and concise on the BEO's and maybe things are falling through the cracks, but we have to work as a team to make it a success, I do not like being in the middle and think our director and gm, should get involved and talk to them both.
My assistant is back today, and I am so excited to go through everything with her, hopefully, I can book more with this new system..
I will let you know what is going on after the first wedding. I hope it is a sunny day..
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