Event Pavilion for Alna Center - Official Reassembly Thread

[Ed Lecuyer]

We have at least two partners who already have a portable cooking setup. Both have already set up at Alna Center at least once. One is a member, but prefers to cater to members-only events. The other is a commercial kitchen/BBQ outfit. So, at least for now, we don't have the need to add another project onto our plate.

[John Kokas]

I must respectfully disagree.  A BBQ pit can be no more complicated than cinder block and steel mesh grates that can be fabricated in anyone's garage at home using a MIG welder.  Cost is cheap and one does not have to rent or contract out in order to do something.  One can even open it up to groups for their use for a small fee.  When I was a teenager our boat club built a 3ftx40ft BBQ pit this way in one day with 8 people.  4 who prepped the ground and laid the block (I was one of four), 4 who made the mesh racks.  The next day it was fired up for a chicken BBQ that served over 150 people.

[Ed Lecuyer]

My response was not clear; I apologize. 

I was commenting on Graham's idea to build a portable BBQ trailer. I agree that a permanent BBQ pit at AC remains a good idea as we continue to expand our in-house event and private function capabilities.

[Mike Fox]

And if nothing else we can sit around the fire...

[Bob Holmes]

I agree with both John and Mike.  Assuming it would be outside the pavilion (no smoke inside), the issue would be location, and Mike is best positioned to determine that.  Think grills, hot dogs, s'mores and bonfires...

[John Kokas]

Fire rings for the bonfires and smores; But dogs, burgers, chicken, chops, steaks, even pots full of "bugs" need a pit.  Get a little wider with a top cover and you can do a whole side of pork for a pulled pork BBQ, to include ribs.

[Mike Fox]

Needing seating at the Pavilion, Ed has been on the lookout. He sent me a message about the following benches. Being busy, I was not able to stop and talk to the guy right away (which it turns out I knew from a while ago) but had been messaging him. He said he had 18. Unfortunately by the time I stopped 2 days later he had sold 12. That left us with 6, some in need of some work. 4 of the benches are pressure treated. We agreed on a price of $25 each bench. Measuring and figuring, each bench will cost us just under $100 to build new, using PT, which I will build copying one of the benches.



In the background are the parts of more benches I got for a very good deal. I can cut these down to 8 feet (they ate 10 feet now, except the short one in the photos which is 8) and have 5 more benches. What I have here will be seating enough for about 40 people.

[John McNamara]

Do they come with padded kneelers?

[John Kokas]

Only if we need to have Sunday services at the Pavilion.  On the other hand, that could be another marketing opportunity for us.  Church picnics and /or BBQ using chartered "extra" trains.

[Mike Arnold]

Only if we need to have Sunday services at the Pavilion.  On the other hand, that could be another marketing opportunity for us.  Church picnics and /or BBQ using chartered "extra" trains.

I may be Catholic but Easter sunrise service charters would be cool!
Mike

[Mike Fox]

Grass is starting to show..