DINE AROUNDS

One of the best parts of attending ASCLD is connecting with colleagues - and dinner is the perfect time to do just that. While there are several great restaurants located at Amway Grand Plaza, not all of them are open every night (especially on Sunday). We also know that if you're attending ASCLD for the first time, you may not yet have a built-in group to grab dinner with.

To solve both of these challenges, we're introducing Dine Arounds.

What are dine arounds?

Dine Arounds are pre-scheduled dinner reservations at a variety of restaurants around Grand Rapids. We'll offer a mix of cuisines, price points, and reservation times so that each evening you'll have a guaranteed place to eat - and a friendly group to eat with.

Each reservation will typically be for 4-6 people and will be led by a Table Captain, who helps coordinate the group and ensures everyone gets to the restaurant smoothly.

How it works

ASCLD will host a Dine Around bulletine board near the event registration desk onsite
Each dinner will have a sign-up sheet listing:
- Restaurant name
- Reservation time
- Table Captain's name
To participate, simply sign up onsite for the dinner you'd like to attend
That's it! Each attendee is responsible for paying for their own meal

Why we strongly recommend signing up - especially on Sunday

Sunday night dining options at the hotel are very limited, and published hours don't always reflect reality. Based on firsthand experience from the ASCLD team:

Ruth's Chris Steak House is only open Monday - Saturday
MDRD is only open Tuesday - Saturday
The Kitchen by Wolfgang Puck advertises nightly hours, but availability has been hit-or-miss during ASCLD planning visits
The Kitchen Counter is open for lunch only (no dinner)
Lumber Baron Bar serves drinks and desserts only and is open Tuesday - Saturday
Rendezvous also advertises nightly hours, but has not consistently been open during planning visits

Signing up for a Dine Around ensures you have a confirmed reservation and a guaranteed place to eat, particularly on Sunday night.

A quick courtesy note

Please do not sign up for multiple Dine Arounds on the same night. We want to give as many attendees as possible the opportunity to participate.

Interested in being a Table Captain?

We'd love your help! If you'd like to serve as a Table Captain:

Email nikki@bibberoevents.com and she'll help you select a date, time, and restaurant
Table Captains simply help "corral" the group and get everyone to dinner - no extra work required

Vendor-hosted Dine Arounds

Vendors are also welcome to serve as Table Captains. There is no fee charged by ASCLD to host a Dine Around. If you choose to go this route, we encourage vendors to cover the cost of dinner for the group as a generous way to connect with attendees. To get started, email nikki@bibberoevents.com for details.

Dine Arounds are designed to make evenings at ASCLD easier, more social, and more fun - whether you're new to the Symposium or a longtime attendee.