NOTE: Please see updates and more info at the bottom of this post.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Quite a few people have been writing to ask me why we don't do the annual 3QD Ball anymore. Well, the main reason is that I moved from New York City to a slightly smaller city in the Italian Alps a couple of years ago, so I wasn't around to arrange it. But given the interest, I have decided to revive our annual party right here in Brixen. And this year, it will be part of a grand two-day event, jointly hosted by 3 Quarks Daily and the well-known Südtirolean artist Hartwig Thaler. The detailed plans are yet to be completely finalized, but I am giving early notice here so that people who want to come can book cheap flights soon. The dates are now carved in stone. Here's what's on the program:
Thursday, August 26, Evening: Welcoming drinks in beautiful outdoor cafe. Guests get settled in their hotels.
- Friday, August 27, Morning: Two hour hike through the mountains, led by my friend Greg Segraves and me. It is not difficult terrain, and can be done in sneakers or other comfortable walking shoes.
- Friday Afternoon: Time for you to walk around in this 1100 year-old city, look at shops, etc.
- Friday Evening: Art show/Performance arranged by Hartwig Thaler.
- Saturday, August 28, Morning: We go to the Aquarena, the most beautiful and amazing complex of swimming pools and saunas in all of Italy.
- Saturday Evening: 3QD Ball. This means drinks/dancing. There will be a live band and a DJ. Chief event planner for the ball is Margit Oberrauch.
I myself will be traveling outside of Italy until only just before the event, and am busy immediately afterwards, so will not be available to meet with anyone outside of the times for the event.
I'll be providing more details as they become available. I will also make a list of hotels available soon, ranging from about 30 to 90 Euros per night per person.
In future you can check for updates on this post by clicking the 3QD Ball icon in the right-hand column, just above the “recent comments” section.
Yours,
Abbas
P.S. I took the photo at the top not far from where I live a while ago. It really is quite beautiful around here! And the photo of Hartwig and me is from the opening ceremony of Hartwig's 56 foot X 52 foot sculpture, Flügel der Versöhnung. The 3QD sign for our last ball (3rd photo) was made by Alta Price.
UPDATE, June 21, 2010:
RSVP in the comments area of this post as soon as possible.
Here are some hotels you can stay at in Brixen (you can also search for more on the web):
Jugendherberge Brixen ( $ : Not just for the young. Very clean, private rooms and the cheapest beds in town)
Pensin Garni Traube ($$: Newly renovated to resemble a boutique style hotel)
Pension Mayerhofer ( $$: A favorite of ours! Good old fashioned rooms and very nice owners. Ask for a room with a balcony or with access to the garden)
Hotel Tallero ( $$: Next door to it you will find the best chocolate croissants in the city)
Hotel Dominik ($$$: Quiet and spacious)
Hotel Grüner Baum ( $$$: Who doesn't a like Best Western franchise?)
Hotel Goldene Krone ($$$$: Here you will get a bed and a massage)
Hotel Elefant ( $$$$: A very old, classy hotel. Its heydays are long gone, but Agatha Christie would approve)
Hotel Goldener Adler ($$$$: The new classy hotel in town)
The closest cities to fly into are:
- Innsbruck — only an hour and a half away by train, but not many international flights come here.
- Munich — three and a half hours by direct train
- Milan — four hours by train, must switch trains in Verona
The Italian name of Brixen is Bressanone. Use this when searching for trains. Here is a website: http://www.raileurope-world.com/
Payment for tickets to the ball and other events must be made at least 10 days or more before the ball. Use the “Make a Donation” button in the right-hand column to pay by credit card. If you wait until you arrive here to pay, you will have to pay $150 per person. I am sorry, but this is the only way that I can know how many people are coming ahead of time. And no one gets in free. Even I will pay!
I am very much looking forward to seeing you and showing you around this stunningly beautiful place. See you in August!