It was the fifth consecutive year that BCN forumites got together for dinner two nights in a row. It's always so much fun to see everyone who comes! It's also hard to catch multiple people in good shots. My one very good shot here is of Russ Nobbs (aka Uncle Russ, of Rings and Things, Spokane, WA, and of John Picard. These are two sparkling stars in my bead world, I'm proud to say!

Marisco's has very soft mood lighting. It just wasn't working very well for bead viewing! We were passing items around with our little lighted loupes, struggling. We asked the restaurant manager if he could help. He returned with this shop light and hung it from the decorative net above one of the tables. It struck me as funny, and it did help! While past years have been very busy at this restaurant, and we have had to wait for some time to get this nice semi-private room, this year it was not the case. Basket Bob and Walter Chavez were first to arrive, a bit early, and secured the room with ease. Management had the time to notice that we have now been doing this "for years"!