've attended several, and I'm going to be brutally honest about my experiences.
I would imagine at their very best they would be an exceptional meal, a well done ritual, and a riviting professional speaker who was exceptionally prepared, and highly qualified. This is a very tall mountain to climb, and would be at least $200 per plate, and…
've attended several, and I'm going to be brutally honest about my experiences.
I would imagine at their very best they would be an exceptional meal, a well done ritual, and a riviting professional speaker who was exceptionally prepared, and highly qualified. This is a very tall mountain to climb, and would be at least $200 per plate, and more likely closer to $300 plus. I deleted my previous post because I forgot the include the cost of wine in my per plate estimate)
Ya get what ya pays for, and in my experience these venues fall far short of that hoped for event. The food is either institutional, low budget or both, meaning lots of string beans so tough they are inedible, and meats that are cooked to the point of unconditional surrender, or soupy cassaroles. Bread from the local grocer, meaning at least a day old, and salad packs that should have been left at the produce supply. The good news is that it's hard to screw up the mashed potatoes, and the disserts are usually good...or maybe it's just hunger from not being able to eat the main course. The bottom line is a meal I would never accept in any restaurant.
The speaker is someone we know and have affection for, so if mixed with good humor certainly something, while not particularly enlightening, is enjoyable because of the person.
But there are toasts. Lots of toasts! About every five minutes ( or less ) it's time to raise the decorative shot glass which is next to a full bottle at every plate. That bottle will be empty by the time dinner is over.
In the end, this is a drinking club, and I've met Masons who love to drink. So, for those who enjoy that experience....go enjoy. For myself, I'm too much a family man to participate.
've attended several, and I'm going to be brutally honest about my experiences.
I would imagine at their very best they would be an exceptional meal, a well done ritual, and a riviting professional speaker who was exceptionally prepared, and highly qualified. This is a very tall mountain to climb, and would be at least $200 per plate, and more likely closer to $300 plus. I deleted my previous post because I forgot the include the cost of wine in my per plate estimate)
Ya get what ya pays for, and in my experience these venues fall far short of that hoped for event. The food is either institutional, low budget or both, meaning lots of string beans so tough they are inedible, and meats that are cooked to the point of unconditional surrender, or soupy cassaroles. Bread from the local grocer, meaning at least a day old, and salad packs that should have been left at the produce supply. The good news is that it's hard to screw up the mashed potatoes, and the disserts are usually good...or maybe it's just hunger from not being able to eat the main course. The bottom line is a meal I would never accept in any restaurant.
The speaker is someone we know and have affection for, so if mixed with good humor certainly something, while not particularly enlightening, is enjoyable because of the person.
But there are toasts. Lots of toasts! About every five minutes ( or less ) it's time to raise the decorative shot glass which is next to a full bottle at every plate. That bottle will be empty by the time dinner is over.
In the end, this is a drinking club, and I've met Masons who love to drink. So, for those who enjoy that experience....go enjoy. For myself, I'm too much a family man to participate.