End of another week, and the work is just getting started

Meetings, and not empty sessions of yapping at all, and writing some good letters, gathering information on properties and managing to finally find my way to Owl's Eye Vineyard, our local winery that is surprisingly fine. . . What a week. We even got what will likely be a close to final draft of the Uptown Shelby budget done, and our in-house storage areas are in the neatest shape in perhaps 28 years.

But last night as we were sitting at dinner to discuss Uptown Shelby's readiness for the opening of the Don Gibson Theatre, I had a moment of panic. We were sitting in a local restaurant that was about 85% full. I suspect three or four more restaurants were about 75% or more full. Three other smaller eateries that specialize in breakfast or lunch were closed. If there had been a performance by a popular band at Gibson that night, where would we seat 200-300 extra guests who might want to eat before or after the concert?

We were being guided through the thought process by Frank Jernigan, who directs group travel sales and marketing support for the NC Commerce Department's Division of Tourism. This morning we were joined by Frankie McWhorter, a Division of Tourism Development Officer based in Rutherfordton. At least we've got great advice and connections with other people involved in similar tasks.