Genetech Holiday Party 20007

Last Saturday I attended the holiday party for Genentech. It was held at AT&T ballpark. Yes, Genentech took over the whole baseball park.

First off, let me say that I hate calling it AT&T Park. Though PacBell no longer exists as a company, the former ballpark name PacBell Park rings more true when spoken aloud.

Last year’s holiday party was held at the Marriott in San Francisco. It was a more formal affair, dressing up for dinner and dancing. The party was great, but very crowded even though the party took up all the ballrooms and most of all the other nooks in hotel. I’m guessing the venue change had partially to do with that situation plus the Marriott is going through a slight renovation at this time, so it may have not been available for this shindig.

This affair had been built around two ideas: do you want to dine and dance or did you want to dine and get down-and-dirty in the snow. Yep, snow. We chose the latter, which meant dressing more for a trip to Tahoe then a trip to a ball.

We met up with Farrah’s co worker one her co workers (plus her boyfriend). It was my first time meeting both of them and we hung out most of the night together. Farrah co worker brought her ice skates as we heard there was going to be an ice skating rink somewhere in the ballpark.

We both entered ballpark at 7:00pm sharp. Once we got to inside we headed up toward the ballpark. We looked out onto the field to see what was in store. So much could be done:

• Near the middle of the baseball diamond there was the ice rink.
• In left field a hill of snow was available to sled down.
• In each dug out you could stand in line to have a whack at the batting cages.
• There was a dance floor and band set up in center field. The band played 70’s disco and soul music.
• In the field and club level, a dining area and music was set up. Jazz and an 80’s coverband where at the club level, a DJ in the field level area.
• Fireworks lit up the sky a little after 9:00pm
• There was food throughout the ballpark. A big favorite was smores which was available int he Promenade level.

Farrah and I watch as her co worker and her boyfriend ice skate for some time. We met up with Sarah and her date, who also ice skated. We danced and ate the night away, spending all of the five hours in the ballpark.

It was a very very good holiday party.

I’ll post some photos when I get a chance.