Should someone be able to sell a reservation for a restaurant besides the restaurant?

I think this is just wrong for someone to act like they have the ability to "auction" or "sell" tables at restaurants without working with the restaurant. Having been a concierge, I know that there are times when you can have a restaurant hold a table or two for you but to sell them...I can't agree with that. I never was a fan of OpenTable or other websites that tried to do the job of a concierge or a person calling the restaurant themselves but after reading this article, I really don't enjoy this process.
~Corey Webbspun


By SARAH KERSHAW
Published: March 12, 2008

IT is hard to imagine Joseph Bastianich, who owns a dozen restaurants with Mario Batali and controls some of the most coveted tables in the country, being flustered by a reservation for two at Babbo for 6:15 on a Friday night.

But Mr. Bastianich was furious: someone was offering that table at TableXchange, a Web site on which diners can buy and sell reservations, hot commodities in a town where getting a table at the most popular restaurants has become an extreme sport.

The price was $25. The table was gone within an hour.

“We’re selling dinner; we don’t sell the opportunity to have dinner,” Mr. Bastianich said. “It goes against the grain of everything we do.”
~~~
Read the entire article in the New York Times.

Update on Nashville Audio Tour

I have the Nashville audio tour recorded and now I am working to get it uploaded and available for purchase. I will have more information by the end of this week.

An On-Line Show from Webbspun Ideas

I'm in the process of creating an online show that will be all about the things I love. I want it to also be a celebration of my wonderful city of Nashville but I also want it to be much more then that. It will have some live music, we'll talk about travel, architecture, food and all things culinary. They folks that come down to Past Perfect when we are shooting will find some drink specials as well as food for those "in the audience."

We'll talk about what people think about when they hear someone mention "Nashville" and what is right in what they think of us here or what is just a myth. It will be a learning process for me but I look forward to the adventure and the challenge. Shooting will be starting at the end of October in various parts of Nashville with the actual "set" shots being filmed in mid-November.

I hope you stay with me and learn, laugh and enjoy as much as I will.

Treat, Party of 4 by Sam Davidson

I agree with his point and I have been cutting back on my "eating out" but I can't say that I am ready to make it a "special" event or night only experience. I love getting out there enjoying, eating, drinking, socializing and keeping my local economy and my local businesses running. Cheers to Sam and I hope it works overall.
~C.S. Webbspun

Read below to see what Sam had to say:

Eat out with purpose.

We all like it when someone else cooks our food for us and washes the dishes as well. Such is the advantage of going out to eat. As good as it is, what if we treated restaurants like, well, treats?

By saving our dining out experiences for special occasions and other memorable gatherings, we'll save gas and emissions by not traveling, food that we order but don't eat, and some money, (maybe the best part!) We're not saying you should only eat beans in a can at home, but a week of dining in could really make a difference

I meant to put this link on earlier. My apologies Sam. Please visit Cool People Care to learn more and find some good things to read.

Pictures of the NashTrash Tours "Big Pink Bus"

The infamous "big pink bus"



Scenes from inside the bus. The camera battery died after this picture but we have one with the "Jugg Sisters' that I will be able to post soon. Stick around you'll wanna see that one cuz I couldn't get them off of me. It was like I was made of velcro or something.

Alright, Alright...I'm not Gone for the Entire Weekend

I mean't well but I just couldn't leave some things until the first of the week....

Out of the Office for the Weekend

Okay, thank you my faithful denizens for visiting yet again. Please understand that I am out researching this weekend to bring you all more information in the future. I'm also playing and working with the horses and watching the clouds build up and hoping that our much needed rain is coming today.

I will be back Monday so stop back in soon and next week's special is bring a friend to my blog at no extra charge.

Your purveyor of Webbspunship,

C.S. Webbspun

Some Tiki Reading Material

Passing time reading Tiki Magazine

Lynyrd Skynyrd Stopped In

Some of the guys from Lynyrd Skynyrd stayed at our hotel for a few days this week before jumping on their busses Wednesday night and leaving town. They had to get Tulsa and their tour goes through the end of October and then they will be back in the studio. Most of them are working on side/solo projects and so it won't be all fun and games. They were very laid back and very nice to everyone.


Tour info:

8/31/07
Buffalo Run Casino
Miami, OK

9/1/07
Tunica Event Center
Robinsonville, MS

9/2/07
Fort Leonardwood Army Base
Waynesville, MO

9/3/07
Star Plaza Theatre
Merrillville, IN

9/6/07
Hard Rock Casino
Biloxi, MS

9/7/07
Silver Star Casino
Choctaw, MS

9/9/07
Loudon Music Fest
Ashburn, VA

9/11/07
York County Fair
York, PA

9/13/07
Blossom Music Center
Cuyahoga Falls, OH

9/14/07
Post-Gazette Pavilion
Burgettestown, PA

9/15/07
PNC Bank Arts Center
Holmdel, NJ

10/4/07 & 10/5/07
Harrah's Cherokee Pavilion
Cherokee, NC

10/6/07
Carolina Entertainment Complex
Marion, SC

10/12/07
Nokia Theater
Grand Prairie, TX

10/13/07
Texas World SpeedwayBig State Fest
College Station, TX

Back Under the Original Management

Due to pressure from our sponsors and such, Webbspun Ideas has handed the reins back to me... There was fallout, hints and allegations and because of that we will, from this day forth, only discuss food, travel, architecture, music, Nashville and things along those lines. The culture war and things things involving the changing of our country will no longer be discussed here.

Keep in touch and be well. Stay tuned for more fun talk coming up.....

The original purveyor of Webbspunship,
C.S. Webbspun

Lunch Today in Tokyo

Today we had lunch at Tokyo Japanese Steak House in Smyrna and it was delicious and the interior was a nice change of pace on a hot, dry day outside. The service was very prompt, efficient and pleasant and the food was delicious and the portions were just right.

If you are ever in the Smyrna area and wanting some good Japanese food, take the time to visit these folks and I'm sure you will enjoy the experience as well.

For starters
Miso Soup

Main Course- Sushi
Spider Roll
(Fried soft shell crab w/ cucumber, lettuce, mayo, sesame seeds and inside out*)

Spicy Tuna Roll

Japanese Bagel Roll
(Salmon, avocado, cream cheese, sesame seeds and inside out*)

Drinks
Beer; Kirin and Bud Light

Tokyo Japanese Steak House
701 President PL #100
Smyrna, Tn 37167
615-459-6988

Walking in Nashville One Summer Night

This past Tuesday evening, we were downtown for a brief meeting at Past Perfect. Afterwards we walked around for a bit and we took a few minutes to admire the Ryman, our grand dame, which is silent and stood with pride and dignity over the honky-tonks which were all noisy, busy and much like children running around the feet of their grandmother. We soaked up the night air and thought of the history of Nashville and how things have been so good here.

We were recently looking at some old and new pictures of the Parthenon and there were people in each of the pictures. We thought of how that wonderful building has stood the test of time while people have come and gone. It seems like the people are so insignificant, in comparison, while these proud buildings watch us run around like we are the ones who are so important.



Let us not forget their are people who will be around after we are all gone, so think of how our city is led. Let's be careful with the images that we put out there for the world to see us in certain ways. Let's be the types of people who care for each other and lead this city, this state and this country forward and into further greatness. Don't let a "quick buck" or instant gratification stand in the way of doing what is best in the long term.

Take care everyone, thanks for stopping in and let's keep Nashville as wonderful and magical as it has always been.

"Paid it Forward" Tuesday

We had paid for parking until 6am and since we wouldn't be using it I went over to give it to a guy who was getting ready to buy a parking ticket. When I first said "excuse me sir", he turned with a look that clearly gave away the fact that he was expecting someone to ask for money. Instead I told him that we would not be using the rest of our parking ticket and he could have it for free. He was pleasantly surprised and thanked me as he started to walk back to his truck.

After a few steps he turns and asks me if I am from "out of town" and I told him nope, I'm a Nashvillian. He smiled and said, "yeah, I thought so...you don't get this kind of stuff from anybody else." We both laughed, wished each other a goodnight and went our separate ways.

Past Perfect
122 3rd Ave S
(615) 736-7727

A Hobo goes to Jamaica

This is the start of the band Railroad Earth's journey to Jam in Jamaica tour which took place from 3-26-06 to 4-2-06. Part of an upcoming documentary.

T is for Travel Thursday

Today is Travel and Thirsty Thursday...So I will be keeping most of my posts within the confines of travel and things to quench your thirst.

~C.S. Webbspun

My Old Friends

This is for you all.......my old friends.

The Nashville Experience

This walking tour takes you out to really see what makes Nashville, "NASHVILLE."

We will taste local foods, hear live music, admire beautiful architecture and see historical places. With this tour I want to show you the uniqueness of my city and show you all the things that will make you fall in love with it and understand what makes this city such a desirable place to visit and live.

Some of the culinary options include bar-b-que, sushi, pizza, a hot brown sandwich, sweet potato fries, chocolates, pralines and more.

4 hour minimum


$50.00 per hour, up to 5 people

Email me at corey@webbspunideas.com to set up a tour or for more information.

Lately, I've Been Feelin' Groovy

It feels good and I hope it lasts for a long time.

Taste of Europe-review

Tomorrow at Webbspun Ideas

Reflection of the Picture Taker