2024 Blog Dinner Tickets On Sale

I am pleased to announce that the 2024 ETC Blog Dinner is a go! Thanks to generous support from CSNTM it will also be much more affordable (hurray!). This year’s event will be Sunday night at 7:00pm at Casa Octavio in San Diego. It’s about a 15-minute walk from the convention center. 

Details

There doesn’t seem to be a NT text criticism session that night, but there is a Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible (S24-344) as well as a Papyrology and Early Christian Backgrounds (S24-236). Both meet 4:30–6:30pm. I may be at one of the Paul sessions (forgive me!), but anyone attending those other sessions can walk over together. The rest of us will just plan to meet at the restaurant. Now the details...

• Cost: $35.00 (includes the appetizer, main course, non-alcoholic drinks, taxes and tip)
• Time: 7:00pm–10:00pm on Sunday, November 24th
• Place: Casa Octavio, 935 J Street San Diego, CA 92101
• Emcee: Dr. Peter M. Head

Caveat

One BIG caveat: the space only allows for about 40 people comfortably, 50 uncomfortably. So I am capping the tickets at 45 people and I am not offering refunds after this Sunday because I can’t risk losing my personal money. Do not wait if you want to come! I cannot promise you a space if you don’t buy your ticket ahead of time—even if you are the emcee.

Update: I’m happy to report that the restaurant has sent word that they can now accommodate a group of 80 and CSNTM is willing to extend their generosity to match. So I have added more available tickets accordingly. The refund does still close 7 days before. 

Buy Tickets

Menu

Thanks

Again, a huge thanks to the folks at CSNTM for making this event affordable. San Diego is pricey and, without their support, it would be twice the price.

2 Free Grad Student Tickets for the Blog Dinner

Being a grad student is tough. Money is often very tight and, if you can manage to get to SBL, there often isn't much in the coffer left for meals. But, thanks to a generous reader of the blog, I have two complimentary tickets to offer to grad students who want to come to the blog dinner at SBL. 

I will give them to the first two grad/PhD students who email me and tell me where they are a student and what they're studying. Many thanks to our donor!

A quick note on the blog dinner

A few of you have asked me about our annual blog dinner at SBL. After reaching out to my cobloggers, the lot has fallen on me to find a place. I’ve reached out to a bunch of restaurants to see which is cheapest (none will be cheap, I fear). But I will update you here if I find a good place. If, by some slim chance, a blog reader knows of a church near the convention center in San Diego that might be willing to host us, do reach out and let me know.

What AI thinks a group of text critics having dinner in downtown San Diego looks like

SBL Blog Dinner Denver 2022

Sun 20 Nov 7:00pm

The leadership of Trinity Church Denver have graciously agreed to host our annual SBL Blog dinner in their basement meeting space. $20 covers pizza, salad and drinks, which will be catered from Fat Sully’s NY Pizza and Walmart delivery. Many of our attendees will walk to the dinner from the NTTC “Methods and Criteria” section, which ends at 6:30pm. The walk takes less than twenty minutes.

Peter Head will provide humor and a brief devotion. Peter Williams will play the piano as we sing a couple of hymns. Attendance is open to anyone interested in the languages and transmission of the biblical texts regardless of your faith.

RSVP through Eventbrite and pay through PayPal.

2021 SBL Blog Dinner @ Hard Rock Cafe

Sunday, 21 November 7:00 pm through 9:00; Cost: $56.89 (ouch!)  

Buy tickets ahead of time through Eventbrite, seating is limited.

Inflation is tearing a hole through restaurant profit margins.  In a prior instance, we saved money at a pizza venue only to learn that their reserved room was half the size which they promised.  Apologies in advance to those will struggle to afford the cost for this higher-end two course meal, which includes drinks, a legendary onion ring tower appetizer and a high-end entrée (ribs, steak, salmon or super-duper burger).  We have two vegetarian alternatives, either a salad or veggie burger.

Please purchase tickets by Wednesday, 17 November.  Seating is limited to 35, although we can upgrade to a larger room if we have a strong early response.  Purchasing your tickets in advance ensures our room reservation and saves loads of time at the restaurant.

Everybody is welcome, not just evangelicals or textual critics.

ETC blog dinner at SBL?

So, here’s the deal on the ETC blog dinner. I’ve been up to my ears in work and have not been able to plan anything for the blog dinner. My cobloggers who would otherwise be able to do it are not coming this year. 

Before I put any effort into organizing something, can I get a sense in the comments of how many readers will be at SBL and would like to come to a dinner? I’m thinking it would need to be Sunday or Monday night. Monday is our usual. So, tell me in the comments if (a) you would come, (b) if you prefer Sunday or Monday night, and (c) if you love or hate Hard Rock Cafe. 

I can’t promise I can do it, but if there’s enough interest I will be more willing to try :)

In lieu of our beloved blog dinner

I was just reminded that today is the day we should be celebrating the highlight of our year here at the ETC blog: the annual dinner. Alas, that will not be happening. We do hope all our readers are well despite the many losses, big and small, that this year has brought with it.

I remember my first blog dinner and being surprised by two things. The first was how big it was. There were well over 30 people in attendance, I think. I’m sure it has only grown since then. The second was how fun it was. I was just a student at the time but I was welcomed into the group straightaway. It’s truly one of the great things about our discipline, how collegial it is, and that is on full display at the dinner.

In lieu of this annual tradition, perhaps our readers could leave a happy note in the comments about (a) something good you read on TC this year; (b) a good joke at the expense of one of our contributors; or (c) a good meal you plan to have tonight instead of our usual fare of burgers at Hard Rock Cafe.

ETC Blog Dinner at SBL

Now that cancel-culture has hit SBL and it has cancelled itself; we are going to have to think creatively about our annual blog dinner.

ETC Blog Dinner SBL 2019

Dark days in San Diego for the ETC blog!!! The Hard Rock Café in San Diego has closed somehow in relation to the opening of the Hard Rock Hotel. I, however, am pleased to announce that our blog will host a dinner at BASIC Bar/Pizza.  We will have our own room, a pizza buffet, salad, copious pitchers of soda and of course the normal ruckus of festivities—all for the bargain price of $21 (inclusive of tip and tax). It’s important that as many people as possible pay in advance, since we have to arrange the buffet in anticipation of our guests. We need a significant number to reserve the space, so please RSVP now!

PURCHASE YOUR $21 TICKET NOW

Buy Tickets

Monday, 25 November 2019 at 7:30pm

Basic Pizza | 410 10th Ave | San Diego, CA 92101

Blog dinner photos

We had another great ETC blog dinner this year at SBL with about 50 in attendance. There were a number of new faces this year which was great to see. Tommy and I both felt that this was the best venue we could remember. Thanks to the staff at Hard Rock Cafe Denver for that. Although we missed Pete Williams or Pete Head for the annual speech, Tommy did a stellar job. He even instituted a new tradition: the blog dinner quiz! The winners answered all 9 questions about the blog’s history correctly. Well done!

Thanks to all who attended. See you all next year in San Diego!

Blog Dinner: Get Tickets Now!

If you’re planning to come to the blog dinner this coming Monday night, now is the time to get tickets. The restaurant is going to ask me for a final headcount tomorrow and if you haven’t purchased your ticket, I can’t guarantee a spot. So, please get your tickets now if you’re planning to come. Ticket sales are over.

2018 SBL Denver Blog Dinner

The day we’ve all been waiting for has arrived: the 2018 ETC blog dinner is on! Christian Askeland has faithfully served as our blog maitre d’ for many years now, but this year he was overworked (Mike Holmes, if you’re reading this, give the guy a break!). Since I seem to have too much time for blogging, the responsibilities fell to me.

Hard Rock Cafe, Denver

The dinner will be Monday, November 19 at 7:30pm at the Denver Hard Rock Cafe. I’ve reserved 50 spots in the main dining room where we will order from the group menu. Since the restaurant won’t split tickets, I’m asking people to pay ahead like last year to expedite things. Tickets are $31 per plate. This includes entree, salad, cookie, and soft drink as well as tax, gratuity, and fees. Alcohol will be on your own. I’ve listed the menu options below.


Ticket sales are closed

As a special treat this year, our other blog editor, Tommy Wasserman, will be delivering the annual speech in Pete Head’s stead. As always, everyone is invited. You don’t need to be an evangelical, a text critic, or a good-humored Swede.

Menu options

2017 SBL Boston Blog Dinner

Your SBL Boston 2017 experience will not be complete without the annual ETC blog dinner, which will take place at 7:30pm Mon 20 Nov at the Hard Rock Café.  Please purchase your ticket online ASAP.  Pre-purchase guarantees group seating, a special rate ($28.11) and protects the organizer (me!) from losing a deposit.  Everyone is invited.  You need not be an evangelical, a text critic or as dashing as Peter Williams to attend.

SBL 2016 San Antonio ETC Blog Dinner

That's right folks.  It's that time again.  Peter Williams has begun writing his speech.  We have a reservation at the Hard Rock.  The biggest event of the text-critical year approaches -- the ETC Blog dinner at SBL.  Everyone's invited (not just evangelicals, not just textual critics), everyone's excited.

Where:
Hard Rock Café, San Antonio
When:
7:15pm, Sunday 20 November

Although we will not have our own room, we will have our own section and a special price on meals.  For $22, the meal includes a drink, a main course, a dessert, tax and tip.   Here's the clincher... You have to pay in advance this year by clicking on the link below.  The deadline for online payment is 13 November.  If you are scared of online payments or simply just a procrastinator, then you can simply show up, but you are not guaranteed immediate seating and you probably will not get the group deal.

[Reservations are now closed.  Thanks to the fifty people who reserved beforehand.  If you have not reserved, please feel free to join us, as there should be abundant room for additional attendees.  You might have to wait for seating and probably will not get the group rate.]

SBL Blog Dinner 2015, Atlanta

This year’s annual blog dinner will be held at Pitty Pat’s Porch, an excellent Atlanta establishment whose ambiance and cuisine hearkens back to the classic novel and motion picture Gone with the Wind.  All who are interested in biblical textual criticism are welcome to join.  The reservation is for 7:30pm on Sunday night (22 Nov), which follows the Novum Testamentum Graecum session.

We have requested the group menu in order to expedite service, to insure competitive pricing and to secure private seating.  The two main meal options are fried chicken or BBQ ribs, with an extensive sideboard replete with copious traditional southern cuisine.  There is also a vegetarian option involving grilled vegetables.  The meal costs $38.40 all inclusive (drinks, meal, dessert, tax and gratuity) or $21.76 if you are a student.  Please RSVP via email or (preferred) by commenting to this post.

SBL ETC Blog Dinner

When:
Sunday, 23 Nov, 7pm

Where:
The Hard Rock Cafe

Group Menu Price:
$22

For those of you attending SBL and interested in textual criticism, the annual blog dinner will take place after the NTTC session on Sunday night "Nestle-Aland 28th Revised Edition" (4:00-6:30pm, Hilton Bayfront, Sapphire Ballroom L).  After the session finishes, we will walk together to the Hard Rock, where we have reserved the "Surf Shack" room.  The $22 group menu choice is required for the room reservation, and includes a beverage, entrée, dessert, tax and gratuity.  If you wish to join us, please RSVP in the comments below or send me an email.  The invitation is open to all who are interested in textual criticism, and who are desirous to hear Peter Head's customary year-in-review speech.

Greetings from the SBL

I am sitting in the lobby of Mariott Marquise, the enormous 30-floor hotel where I am staying at. I have just returned from a very nice ETC blogdinner with some twenty friends, where Peter Head, by the way, held a marvellous speech nearly as good as his presentation delivered earlier today. Peter had checked some blog statistics, and it turned out we had had over a million visitors.

A funny remark about Peter's presentation and what followed. There had been some word exchange between the other presenters Jan Krans and Silvia Castelli concerning some issue in Peter's paper relating to Bengel and Wettstein. Wayne Kannaday then introduced Jan Krans's presentation, which immediately followed Pete's, as "The Folly of Peter Head," and then corrected himself, "The Folly of Conjecture? Baljon’s Novum Testamentum Graece of 1898."

I will return with some more words about this year's SBL conference. Let me give you one piece of news: this week the new UBS committee has its first meeting here in San Fransisco.

SBL New Orleans 2009 ETC Blog Dinner

My batteries are reloaded :-). I have just been to the annual ETC blog dinner, and we apparently broke a new record with some 35 participants, the large majority of which are currently involved in TC, including friends from Birmingham and Münster and others that joined in. Unfortunately, we couldn't all sit at the same table, and Peter Head cancelled the speech he had prepared on the napkin in the last minute (with all the annual awards and everything...).

In any case, this dinner was just after the TC section, in which six of us had presented papers, so at least I had that nice feeling of relief - my paper on "Text-types and Criteria for Evaluating Readings in New Testament Textual Criticism" went very well – and enjoyed myself very much for the whole evening.

From the menu I had a Chicken Gumbo, actually I don't remember the full name of it, but it was delicious, and for desert some vanilla ice cream. New Orleans is known for its spicy seafood, and I have had the chance to taste that too. I am very content with the food, except the breakfasts which have not been exactly what I am used to.


When I sum up, this meeting has been terrific, not least for getting the opportunity to meet all friends (and particularly the manuscript geeks out there). Bill Warren and Steven Whately here from New Orleans have been particularly gracious to me in all kinds of ways. In fact, Steven picked me up at the airport way past midnight when I arrived, and will bring me there again tomorrow early in the morning. So the ETC blog award 2009 for brotherly service at least goes to Bill and Steven.

There is so much to blog about from this meeting. As usual I have been crazy enough to take extensive notes of many papers (some I just couldn't keep up with), and this will probably make for another SBL marathon series that will last for a long time (perhaps until the next meeting). I hope my co-bloggers are not turning lazy when they see me at the computer – I hope some of them will contribute on the topic SBL New Orleans 2009 so that we can share with all our readers our experiences during these days.

That's all for now, more to come.