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Charmy's August 2012 "New" SANTA CLARA Coin Show Report w/Pics!

ThePennyLadyThePennyLady Posts: 4,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
I was very excited when I found out there would be a new Santa Clara show as I really enjoy doing shows in the Northern California area. I have several customers in the area, it’s usually an easy 6-hour drive, not to mention there are great restaurants and one of the best casinos in the country!
Thursday – I drove up Thursday morning since set up wasn’t until 1pm. It’s about a 6-hour drive, and pretty boring so I listened to a very interesting book on tape (a biography on Wyatt Earp) which really helps make the time go by quicker. However, do enjoy going through the Pacheco Pass (Highway 152) through Gilroy to Highway 101. It’s a very pretty drive, and when I get to Gilroy, I always take a deep breath so I can inhale the wonderful garlic aroma! The fresh roadside flower and vegetable stands are a favorite of mine too.

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Once I arrived at the show, I began the usual tedious process of setting up my booth, but it was very nice to have a lot of space, and the convention room was nice and air conditioned! After I was finished setting up, I was able to walk around and see if I could fill some want lists. Then it was time to meet with my good NoCal wine-loving buddies for dinner! Since the Hyatt (which is attached to the convention center) has a wonderful Italian restaurant, we decided to meet there for dinner.

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Of course they had brought some amazing wine for dinner!

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After dinner, of course, I headed over to Bay 101 to play some cards with another dealer buddy. I was doing pretty well until he switched over to my table. Then, frustratingly, I saw my nice stack of chips slowly move over to my dealer friend as his chip stack just kept growing and growing! It seemed like he couldn’t lose, no matter what kind of garbage cards he played! He got me really good when I had pocket Aces which were capped pre-flop, and he stayed in with 8-5 and got a straight on the river! Damn! Oh well, when someone is getting really lucky like that, that means someone else is NOT! This is a pretty dolphin fountain on display in front of Bay 101.

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Friday – I arrived at the show early to make sure I had everything set up. All the dealers were all set up and ready for this new show to open!

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I went into the reception area just before the doors opened and saw a nice crowd eager to be let in!

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Just before the show opened, Scott had set up a large flag on his table and had the national anthem play on the p.a. system – this was a really nice way to start the show!
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As usual, it was great to see several forum members who stopped by (both days) to say hi!

Ray/RMPsRPMs
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Dan/OriginalDan
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Sy/Skyman
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Brian/Camlov2
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Lance/Lkeigwin
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Jim/JBN
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Dennis/Dennis88
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That’s Scott Griffin in the middle (didn’t know the names of the other two guys)
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It’s a little hard to tell from the photos because the aisles were so spacious, but we had good crowds both Friday and Saturday


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Here are some of the dealers – This is John (on the right) and his new helper from Grass Valley Coins

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And these are my very good dealer friends (who are huge wine enthusiasts) Gerry Carsman and Joe Wargo from the Sacramento area
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And of course, li lol me!
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After the show on Friday, since we enjoyed our dinner at Tusca’s so much, we decided to go back there. There is a waiter there (Moe) who is really great and is also a waiter at Spencer’s Steakhouse at the Doubletree in San Jose where the San Jose show is held, so we specifically ask to be seated in his area. He takes good care of us and doesn’t even charge us corkage fees for our wine!

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Here are some of the dishes we had – this is a really tasty salad (see, I do have healthy foods too!)
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The salads are garnished with these really interesting watermelon radishes
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And this is my dinner group (Alan Kreuzer, Joe Wargo and his wife Sarah, Gerry Carsman and his wife Linda, and me - notice all the wine is right in front of me!)

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I have to say that Scott Griffin did a fantastic job with this new show and deserves a lot of kudos for his hard work! He did a ton of advertising, he made sure all the dealers had what they needed, all the tables were occupied, the convention room was well organized and spacious, from what I could tell registration was quick and smooth, he made announcements on the p.a. system throughout the day so everyone knew what was going on, when the snack bar was opened and closed, when the drawings would be held, etc.

In talking to several dealers, they all said they had a very good show, better than expected for a “new” show. Also, all the collectors I spoke with said they were very happy to have a show back at the Santa Clara Convention Center. So, from all accounts, it was a very successful show!
Charmy HarkerThe Penny Lady®

Comments

  • 19Lyds19Lyds Posts: 26,470 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>You use a blackberry, don't you? Those look like blackberry quality photo's. >>

    All I'm getting are red X's which is unusual.

    I'm getting them now.
    I decided to change calling the bathroom the John and renamed it the Jim. I feel so much better saying I went to the Jim this morning.



    The name is LEE!
  • blu62vetteblu62vette Posts: 11,900 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Glad to see the show do well. I hope to make it next time.
    http://www.bluccphotos.com" target="new">BluCC Photos Shows for onsite imaging: Nov Baltimore, FUN, Long Beach http://www.facebook.com/bluccphotos" target="new">BluCC on Facebook
  • WTCGWTCG Posts: 8,940 ✭✭✭
    Thought you weren't doing wine on this trip...
    Follow me on Twitter @wtcgroup
    Authorized dealer for PCGS, PCGS Currency, NGC, NCS, PMG, CAC. Member of the PNG, ANA. Member dealer of CoinPlex and CCE/FACTS as "CH5"
  • ThePennyLadyThePennyLady Posts: 4,439 ✭✭✭✭✭
    some of the dinner photos were taken by one of the other dealers since I forgot to charge my Blackberry. But the quality (or lack thereof) of my photos depends on the lighting and whether I use flash or not. Notice the photos of the food are pretty good, but when I stand back and take pictures from a distance, they aren't so good. And when I take photos from a moving car, they actually turn out really well! Go figure!
    Charmy HarkerThe Penny Lady®
  • ThePennyLadyThePennyLady Posts: 4,439 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thought you weren't doing wine on this trip... >>



    Because I over-indulged in all the great food in Philly, I decided to cut back on alcohol and rich food for a while - and I even purposely didn't even bring any of my own wine to the show. However, once my buddies brought out their exceedingly wonderful bottles of fantastic wine, my resolve completely dissolved and I gave in! However, it is much easier when I'm home, so I am trying again to be good!
    Charmy HarkerThe Penny Lady®
  • OriginalDanOriginalDan Posts: 3,713 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks as always for the report and pics. It was very nice to meet you!
  • goldengolden Posts: 9,017 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great report as always.
  • mozinmozin Posts: 8,755 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for your report. I always enjoy it. Been more than ten years since I attended the Santa Clara Show.
    I collect Capped Bust series by variety in PCGS AU/MS grades.
  • gonzergonzer Posts: 2,986 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks Charmy, although I'd have to admit those watermelon radishes look like something Andrew Zimmern'd have trouble with.
  • RebelRonRebelRon Posts: 544 ✭✭
    I always enjoy your' Show Threads Charmy!
    Sorry I didn't make it!
  • etexmikeetexmike Posts: 6,794 ✭✭✭
    Thanks for the show report and all the usual pics Charmy.

    Always a fun read.


    Mike
  • mustanggtmustanggt Posts: 2,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Very happy to hear the show went well. Thanks for the informative report as always...
  • CoinosaurusCoinosaurus Posts: 9,614 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Putting wine in the show report is always a good sign.
  • curlycurly Posts: 2,880
    Good job, Charmy.
    Every man is a self made man.
  • ChrisRxChrisRx Posts: 5,619 ✭✭✭✭
    We were there for a very short time on Sunday.

    Very short because of how much I have been spending on vacations, bathroom remodel, etc etc (you get the point...)

    But we went to get some lobster and king crab legs after image
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  • EagleEyeEagleEye Posts: 7,676 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the report. I think the National Anthem at the beginning of the show is a great idea. Scott deserves alot of credit. I may start going again.

    Rick Snow, Eagle Eye Rare Coins, Inc.Check out my new web site:
  • 123cents123cents Posts: 7,178 ✭✭✭
    Great report and great photos! Thanks Charmy!
    image
  • HighReliefHighRelief Posts: 3,654 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Thanks for the great coin show report Charmy. You always make them fun and informative image
  • rmpsrpmsrmpsrpms Posts: 1,817 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Great to meet you Charmy, and glad the show is back! It seemed busy and hopefully very successful for the dealers...as a collector who lives close to the show I want it to continue!
    PM me for coin photography equipment, or visit my website:

    http://macrocoins.com
  • DorkGirlDorkGirl Posts: 9,994 ✭✭✭
    Thanks!
    Becky
  • TwoKopeikiTwoKopeiki Posts: 9,528 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Charmy, you should really consider getting an iPhone if you're fond of phone pictures image

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