Coming up on February 24 is one of the great events held in Santa Clara.
What used to be known as “The Old Bag Lunch” was recast a few years ago as “The Classy Bag Affair.”
Apparently the “Old Bag Lunch” name had such appeal, that a firm on the East Coast copywrited the name and wanted $5,000 for its use.
The Santa Clara Soroptimist’s Club, sponsors of the lunch, are a non-profit and that amount of money for a name didn’t pass the smell test for fiscal responsibility.
So, the Classy Bag Affair was born and has become the toast of the town when it comes to fun ventures for the lucky 200 women who are able to secure a ticket.
More than forty name-brand purses will be auctioned to the highest bidders and each one filled with exciting prizes. There are trips that range from a wine country tasting experience to a week in Hawaii.
Courtesy of the San Francisco 49ers, a football package purse offers a choice of any home game next year, two fifty yard line club seats, access to the field prior to kickoff, and two tickets to Michael Mina’s Tailgate Party.
For many years this event was held at David’s Banquet Facility across from the stadium. About this time last year, a City Council person and club member, mentioned to a few of the Members that they could not hold the event at David’s in 2018 because it would be closed.
This caused the Classy Bag Committee to immediately begin a new location search. They were successful in making arrangements with the Marriott Hotel and that is where the event will take place on February 24.
Now there is a back story here.
The City has wanted to close down David’s Restaurant and Banquet Facility for a long time. His property sits in the middle of main street for the new Related Development, “City Place”.
David’s Restaurant lease was not renewed in 2017 and he was forced to close. However, he has 16 years left on his lease with the City for the David’s Banquet Facility where the Classy Bag Affair has always been held.
Since the closure of his resturant was a “closed session” discussion by our Council, the Council Member who leaked this information, was in breach of Council confidentiality.
As it turned out, David’s Banquet Facility did not close and is still open and holding events.
So there is a double problem now for the City Council.
One, they have to negotiate a “buy-out” of David’s lease for the Banquet Facility to facilitate the development of City Place. Two, they now have the added cost of loss of business attributed to the confidentiality breach by one of their own.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have a Council who were business friendly, and worked with our established business community? David moved out to the golf course on Tasman when most of the area was dirt lots. He deserves a little better treatment for his years of pioneering.
The “Classy Bag Affair” will go on at the Marriott. Remaining tickets can be purchased from Elizabeth Reeves at 408-859-7430.
