Conversation Dinner – March 17th

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Join us for the next Conversation Dinner.

Conversation is the key to making new connections, hearing new thoughts, seeing the world through another’s eyes. And that’s just what these dinners are for.

Read more about the dinners on the “About” page (click on the “about” tab above). Here’s what someone said about the last dinner:

“I was hesitant , but I very much enjoyed the heartfelt connection and genuine view into someone else’s world. It opened my eyes to myself a lot, too.” – HG

RMTThe next dinner will be at 6:30 PM, Saturday, March 17th, at Riverwest Acupuncture, 3314 SW Kelly Avenue. As always, we’ll have vegetarian, gluten and nut-free options for dinner.

RSVP soon – the previous dinner sold out.

Your payment reserves your spot. Use the PayPal button below or send a check made out to Tom Carter to Tom Carter, c/o Mary McGill, 2929 SW Multnomah Blvd., Room 104, Portland, OR 97219. If you pay by check, it’s a good idea to let me know by replying to this post (leave your reply in the comment field below).

I’ll soon be posting the menu. You can let me know your food preferences (vegan, gluten free, nut allergy, etc.) now or later by leaving me a comment.

 

3rd Conversation Dinner is Fully Booked

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If you want to be on a wait list in case of cancellation, please leave a comment to this post below and include your phone number. I’ll call you if someone cancels.

And I’m planning more dinners. Keep in touch by giving me your email (in a comment to this post) or by signing up for the RSS feed on this page. I also post information on my Facebook profile and the Conversation Dinners PDX Facebook page. You can Friend me or become a fan of the page.

Thanks for your interest.

Dinner menu for 3rd Conversation Dinner

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We have our menu for dinner on January 21st. RSVP by end of day on Tuesday, January 17th in order to be sure your spot is reserved. For only $17.00 per person, dinner will be:

Artisan Rolls & Butter

Spring Green Salad w/ dried cranberries, toasted slivered almonds & feta cheese (on the side) with Balsamic Vinaigrette & Ranch Dressings

 Vegan Curry Vegetable Risotto (gluten free), Served w/ sliced gilled seasoned chicken on the side (for the meat lovers)

Fresh Seasonal Fruit & House-made Shortbread

Beer, Wine, and non-alcoholic beverages

Your reservation is confirmed by your payment – you can use the PayPal button below or send a check to the address in the post below this one.  If sending a check, please tell me by leaving a comment here on this website (click on “Leave a Reply” below).

 

3rd Conversation Dinner, January 21st

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Let’s talk.
Join us for our third Conversation Dinner. People loved the last two!
Our Theme – Friendship

What is a Conversation Dinner?
Offering a platform for creating real connections, the Conversation Dinners inspire people to express what’s truly important to them, as well as discover what’s truly important to others. It’s about meeting new people. And it’s about breaking through the usual small talk to take the chance to say – and hear – new and interesting things. If you’ve been thinking about coming to a Conversation Dinner – jump in!

What Will Happen?
We will provide a wonderful meal including beverages and desserts – and vegetarian, gluten-free options, too. We pair you with someone you don’t already know and give you a Menu of Conversation – questions that will help lead you through an evening of enjoyable conversation following the theme of Friendship. The questions from the Menu of Conversation will help you to explore what you think and feel about friendships, what you want from them, what you bring to them, and more.

Date: Saturday, January 21st
Time: 6:30 PM
Place: Riverwest Acupuncture
Cost: $17.00 – including dinner, beverages, and dessert

RSVP by end of day, Tuesday, January 17th.

Here are some sample questions from the Menus of Conversation from our last two dinners:

  •  “What seems to be coming into your life these days? Out of your life?”
  • “When have you ever broken the rules?”
  • “What kinds or categories of friends do you have?”
  • “When did you ever have to stand up on your own?

RSVP and pay using the PayPal button on this page. Or send me a check made out to Tom Carter and mailed to me c/o Mary McGill, 2929 SW Multnomah Blvd., #104, Portland, OR 97219. For more info, leave your question in the Comments form below, or phone me at 503-757-6800.

 

 


“It was new, novel, and comfortable…”

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Twenty people – ten conversations – two hours – a great meal. The meal includes a menu of conversation topics that help break the ice and make for a better conversation.

“I rarely converse with anyone for longer than 10 minutes, let alone someone I don’t know! It makes me think: how much don’t I know about people I see every day?” – C.L.

Of course, everyone who comes is looking for a good conversation, so with the format of the meal, it’s easy to really get to know someone you’ve only just met.

“It was new, novel, and comfortable because of having enough of an outline to follow.” J.F.

This series of dinners is being held at the Riverwest Acupuncture clinic, who have generously shared their comfortable and welcoming space with us.They share the goal of supporting a stronger community.

Come join us at our next Conversation Dinner.

 

Past Conversation Dinner – Saturday, November 19th

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Do you ever wonder how to make a deeper connection with another person? Conversation is probably the best way, yet all too often our conversations revolve around the same old chitchat and shoptalk.

And today, our connections are more important than ever. Standing at the beginning of a new world, we are faced with an ever-expanding realm of new ideas, new technologies, new purposes, and new meanings.  The change ahead calls for deeper understanding—and the Conversation Dinners are meant to inspire just that.

What is a Conversation Dinner?

We bring together a group of people for a simple meal. Each person is paired with someone they’ve never met, or know only slightly. Each pair receives a “Menu of Conversation” with about 25 topics of conversation. The topics are about you – what you have experienced, what you think, what you feel. You do not need to know what’s in the news.

The host introduces the event, gives guidelines for the conversations, and then the dinner begins. Over the course of the evening, the diners take turns selecting topics from the Menu of Conversation for discussion—and talking and listening to each other. There’s time at the end to mingle and meet others, too.

When:         Saturday, November 19, 2011, 6:30 to 9:30 PM. Doors open about 6:15.

Where:         Riverwest Acupuncture, 3314 SW Kelly Ave., Portland, OR, 97239

Who:             You. Maybe your family, a friend, or partner, too.

Menu:             Choice of Fig-Stuffed Pork Loin or Fig-Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms. With herbed risotto, rolls, salad, dessert, and beverage. Let me know about any dietary restrictions that this menu doesn’t address, and we’ll do our best to accommodate them.

Payment:     $17.00 per person, including meal and beverages (wine, beer, or soft drinks). You may pay using the PayPal button at the bottom of this posting or by sending me a check. Please make checks out to Tom Carter, and send them to Mary McGill, 2929 SW Multnomah Blvd., Room 102, Portland, OR, 97219.

RSVP no later than Tuesday, November 15th:      There are only 28 seats, and your payment will reserve yours. If you want to let me know you’re coming, you can simply comment on this blog or call me at 503-757-6800. I will respond by email to confirm (I do not show my email on this blog to avoid having it captured by spammers). To leave a comment on the blog, either click on “Leave a Reply” at the bottom of the posting, or on the “conversation balloon” at the top.

Past dinner Good conversation, good connections

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“With our fast paced lives and hundreds of ‘digital’ friends, it’s such a gem to connect face to face and heart to heart. I highly recommend this experience!” – A.V.

We had so much fun at the first Conversation Dinner that everyone wants to do it again! But it’s about more than fun.

These dinners are about making real connections with people, really hearing what they have to say and really being listened to. After all, we develop mutual trust by revealing something of who we are. And by that measure, the first Conversation Dinner was a success. Here’s what people had to say:

“We live in a time where most conversation is short with not much depth, especially when talking with someone you don’t know very well.  At the Conversation Dinner, I talked for over an hour with someone I didn’t know before about our lives and our thoughts.  It was very invigorating and inspiring.  What kind of world would it be if this kind of thing happened more often?  I’m looking forward to the next Conversation Dinner.”  – J.R.

“Because of the way the dinner was arranged, I felt a deep connection that left me inspired”.  – M.M.

Everyone received a menu of questions and had permission to take turns asking them of each other.

“I didn’t exactly know what to expect, and was sincerely hoping that the conversation topics didn’t require one to really be up on their current events. There were about 25 questions to choose from and anyone, could answer any question.   My dinner partner and I made it through about 3 – 4 questions in 2 hours.  It was delightful and I am looking forward to the next one.” – B.W.

Conversation is really good for us. It can help us strengthen our community, increase mutual respect, and even inspire new ideas. You are invited to the next Conversation Dinner. Details coming soon.

Past Conversation Dinner – October 1, 2011

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Today we stand on the brink of big change. At the edge of a new world, we are faced with an ever-expanding cast of new ideas, new technologies, new purposes, and new meanings. Yet all too often our conversations revolve around the same old chitchat and shoptalk. The change ahead calls for deeper understanding—and the Conversation Dinners were meant to inspire just that.

What is a Conversation Dinner?

We bring together a group of people for a simple dinner. Each person is paired with someone they’ve never met, or know only slightly. Each pair receives a “Menu of Conversation” with about 25 topics of conversation. The host introduces the event, gives guidelines for the conversations, and then dinner begins.

Over the course of the evening, the diners take turns selecting topics from the Menu of Conversation for discussion—and talking and listening to each other. There’s time at the end to mingle and meet others, too.

When:         Saturday, October 1, 2011, 7 to 9:30 PM. Doors open about 6:45.

Where:         Riverwest Acupuncture, 3314 SW Kelly Ave., Portland, OR, 97239

Who:             You. Maybe your family, a friend, or partner, too.

Menu:             To be announced. Will include vegetarian food.

RSVP:       Just comment on this blog and tell us how many are coming. Space is limited, so RSVP early. To comment on the blog, click on “Leave a Comment” near the bottom of the page. I will respond by email to confirm. Let me know about any dietary restrictions. We’ll do our best to accommodate them.

Payment:     $16.00 per person, including meal and beverage. Use the PayPal button or send us a check.  Make your check to Tom Carter, and mail it c/o Mary McGill, 2929 SW Multnomah Blvd., Room 102, Portland, OR 97219.