Eating at the Greenbrier

Important Guidance About Eating at the Greenbrier

For the Friday Night Dinner on Your Own, Peggy Schultz (the best Executive Director on the Planet) has made a bunch of reservations at the GreenbrierRestaurants.

Main DiningRoom

SamSneads at the Golf Club

The Forum

Prime 44 West

To get an ADTA table, you gotta ask the Greenbrier to put you on the list.  Call in (1-855-729-3778) and ask for ADTA tables at the following restaurants.  If you want to put together a crew, please do, or just sign up and hang with the ADTA.  These reservations are not unlimited, and  should be made by Monday, April 15, after which the ADTA tables will be released.  Once you sign up, there is a 72 hour cancellation policy so if you no-show, it will cost you a $50 fee.  So hustle up, ADTA, hustle up, make your reservations and Get to the Greenbrier.

History, history, history....

A Brief History of the Greenbrier Resort

Did you know the Greenbrier has over 800 rooms, an 1,800 member staff, and that it covers 6,500 acres?  Now you know.  We told you about the bunker and the mint julep, but the Greenbrier has a rich history which we’ll explore a bit in this post.  Sulphur water flowing under the Greenbrier drew visitors who came to “take the water” for its healthy propensities at White Sulphur Springs as early as 1778.  Through the 1830’s, folks summered at the Greenbrier, including five sitting presidents who stayed in what is now the Presidents' Cottage Museum.  Many southern families built cottages on the grounds, which they moved into for the entire summer.  Many of those cottages can be rented today.  The first large hotel, The Grand Hotel, known more famously as the Great White, was built in 1858.

The hotel closed during the Civil War, during which both the north and south armies at times occupied the grounds, using the property either as a hospital or military headquarters.  For you Civil War buffs, two significant battles occurred in the vicinity, the Battleof White Sulphur Springs and the Battle of the Greenbrier River (fought in what is today Bartow in Pocahontas County).  The Hotel reopened after the war,  and benefitted greatly from completion of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, making White Sulphur Springs one of the nation’s classic railroad resorts.  Baltimore Guest House G was Robert E. Lee’s summer retreat.  The C&O Railroad purchased the hotel in 1910, and it again grew into a destination resort, until its operation was again interrupted by war.  Sam Snead began his legendary golfing career at the Greenbrier in the 1930’s.

During the World War II, the United States leased the hotel for seven months after entering the war and used it relocate hundreds of German, Japanese, and Italian diplomats and their families from Washington, D.C. until their exchange for American diplomats overseas could be completed. Then, in September 1942, the U.S. Army purchased estate and converted the hotel into a surgical and rehabilitation hospital, which it renamed Ashford General Hospital.

After the war, the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway reacquired the Greenbrier in 1946, and commissioned a comprehensive interior redecoration by noted designer Dorothy Draper, the classic look that lasts to the present.  The hotel opened in 1948 and Sam Snead returned as its golf pro.  The 1950’s brought “Project Greek Island” or the construction of the West Wing of the hotel with the secret congressional bunker built underneath, which remained secret for over thirty years.

Take a minute and read some more about the Greenbrier history, at the Greenbrier’s web site, here, at Yahoo, here, at the Georgetowner, here, and at Wikipedia, here.  Pictures from Time Magazine, here.  More on the bunker, here.

In 2009, Justice Family Group, LLC, a company owned by Jim Justice, a local entrepreneur,  purchased the hotel.  Since then, the hotel has been renovated with the addition of a Casino for overnight hotel guests, Prime 44 and other new restaurants, and the legendary Old White Golf Course which was lengthened for the Greenbrier Classic. 

The Greenbrier has been host to 26 United States Presidents, starting with James Monroe.  We need to get President Obama to slip over sometime because the last one appears to have been President Eisenhower.  Most significantly, the Greenbrier will soon join the ranks of select resorts and hotels who boast of hosting The ADTA Nation.   

For rich history, Get to the Greenbrier, my friends, Get to the Greenbrier.    

Mt. Everest, CLE and Professor Michael Roberto

Our feature CLE presentation will focus on mountains, but not the Mountain State.  On May 10, 1996, twenty-three people reached the summit of Mt. Everest along the South Col route in Nepal, led by Rob Hall and Scott Fischer, two of the worlds most skilled and experienced high-altitude climbers. Hall, Fischer, and three members of their expedition died as a storm rapidly enveloped the mountain during their descent. Others survived despite many hours wandering in the dark in subzero temperatures.  Jon Krakaeur’s book, Into Thin Air, chronicled the tragedy. 

Our main speaker this year is Professor Michael Roberto who will present an innovative discussion entitled “Lessons in Leadership, Team Building and Risk Taking.”  Professor Roberto, author of “Know What You Don't Know: How Great Leaders Prevent Problems Before They Happen,” will lead a discussion of the management lessons that can be gleaned from a case study of the 1996 Mt. Everest Tragedy.

His book, Know What You Don’tKnow, focuses on how leaders can become more effective "problem-finders," and Professor Roberto maintains a blog, Musings about Leadership, Decision Making, and Competitive Strategy, here.   He focuses on management lessons learned from tragedy, from the deaths on Everest to the Columbia disaster.  Professor Roberto's research “focuses on strategic decision-making processes, senior management

teams, and the dynamics of organizational failures.”  Managers can learn from the important events that took place on Mount Everest several years ago. While there has been a focus on the tactical blunders, this research examines “the underlying cognitive, interpersonal, and systemic forces that played a role in the incident.” An analysis of the event suggests “cognitive biases, team beliefs about interpersonal risk taking, and system complexity interacted to create a fatal disaster.”

Mike Roberto is a professor of management at Bryant University in Smithfield, RI, which he joined after six years as a faculty member at Harvard Business School. His research, teaching, and consulting focuses on “strategic decision-making processes and senior management teams.”  Professor Roberto’s presentation will feature interaction through use of a case study that will be distributed for review prior to the meeting.  For more on his background, read his bio at Bryant University, here, his blog, here, and follow him on Twitter here.  Apparently, students can rate Professors these days, here, and Professor Roberto has a 4.0 rating for in all areas (quality, helpful, clarity) except “easiness” where he gets a 1.7.  A quality professor who demands excellence.  Hmmm.  He’ll fit right in with the ADTA.

Our ADTA Nation spouses, friends and guests are also invited and encouraged to attend this innovative course.  You might consider reading “Into Thin Air” before the meeting for background.  Those attending the meeting will also receive some materials to review before the presentation. 

Dave Zizik and crew have put together an innovative program which focuses on issues important to managing a law practice, large or small, in 2013.  We’ll have panel discussions ranging from the “Top Ten Ipad Apps for Lawyers” to “Developing the Next Generation of Lawyers,” and the ethical issues and opportunities related to retirement. 

Just a few more reasons to Get to the Greenbrier, ADTA Nation.  

Faith in Humanity and the ADTA Bunker

Faith in Humanity Restored.  Some idiot who lost his wallet on the way back from a week in trial was called by the lady at the travel plaza who found it.  Do you know how hard it is to get a new West Virginia license?......

Again, enough about me - let’s talk about ADTA Greenbrier.

 We always knew ADTA members would get fired up and get up early for golf or a hospitality suite, but never expected the record early registration for this year’s meeting, hereby declared the “Greenbrier County Crush.”  Since we have booked our block of rooms at the Greenbrier.  While Excellent Director Peggy Schultz works with the Greenbrier on getting additional rooms for our members, we, much like Project Greek Island, have a backup plan to house our folks and it is sweet.

The ADTA now has blocks of rooms at other excellent hotels in nearby Lewisburg, America’s Coolest Small Town.  You’ll be close to the Greenbrier and you won’t be shortchanged the Greenbrier experience (and, frankly, you may even save some change).

We have rooms at the Historic General Lewis Inn, a bucolic bed & breakfast type hotel in downtown Lewisburg.  “The eastern end of the building, including the dining room, the kitchen and a suite of rooms on the first floor, was a brick residence built in the early 1800′s by John Withrow.  The main section and the western wing of the Inn were designed by Walter Martens, a well-known West Virginia architect who also designed the Governor’s Mansion in Charleston.  The Hock family spent many years gathering antiques from Greenbrier and adjoining counties to furnish the Inn.  Spool and canopy beds, chests of drawers, china, glass, old prints and other memorabilia are throughout the Inn.”

 The Hampton Inn and the Fairfield Suites are brand spanking new hotels.  I am staying at the Hampton this week and next and it has big clean rooms, a pool and workout facility and a pretty good free breakfast (which, believe me, you won’t get at the Greenbrier, at least for free…..)  Both are in the Brier Commons development right off I-64, ten miles from the Greenbrier and a short ride into Lewisburg. 

So, if you haven’t signed up, we found you a spot.  More on more rooms at the Greenbrier soon, but meanwhile, make a reservation and Get to the Greenbrier.   

Let's Go ADTA! Get to the Greenbrier, No. 10

ADTA Nation:

At West Virginia University football games, the most raucous cheer (other than cheers about Pitt) happens where one side of the stadium yells “Let’s Go” and the other responds “Mountaineers!”  Check it out against LSU, here (bring it, Matt Bailey, we was robbed…..) 

Let Go ADTA!  ExecD Peggy Schultz advises that all available junior suites at the Greenbrier are taken.  Grab that registration off of the corner of your desk (we know where it is, and if it’s not there, get it here), fill it out, and get it in.

Some stuff about the Greenbrier you might not know.  The Mint Julep has been around the Greenbrier for a bit.  “The oldest account book at The Greenbrier dates from 1816 and reveals that guests ordered "julips" at a cost of 25 cents per drink.”  According to CocktailTimes, the mint julep originated in the Virginias, and “first appeared in print in 1803 described as a "dram of spirituous liquor that has mint in it, taken by Virginians in the morning."  Maybe we’ll ask the Kentucky ADTA contingent to weigh in, as the Derby borrowed the Julep and made it famous.  Want to try one before you come?  Get the Greenbrier recipe here.  (Heck, make the official Kentucky Derby recipe and see which is better….).  I’ll be sipping one at the lobby bar.  Julia prefers the “ItalianSidecar” which they light on fire…...

Still hesitating?  Want more  Greenbrier?  Go here for Southern Living’s take.  The Greenbrier is on Facebook, here.  More pictures and info about golf, here.  Mountain biking, jogging, hiking and other outdoor stuff, here.  Spa? 

Want more ADTA?  We are on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. 

Keep in touch, ADTA Nation, and we’ll see you at the Greenbrier.

Get to the Greenbrier, No. 9. More Eats and Some Mystery....

We told you all about the restaurants at the Greenbrier in “Let’s Eat,” Get to the Greenbrier, No. 5 (1/24/2013).  As they say on the Ginsu Knife Commercials, “but wait, there’s more!”  For more Eats, venture across Route 60 to Lewisburg – you do remember America’sCoolest Small Town, don’t you?  If not, read about it in The Denver Post, here.

Check out The Merchants of Downtown Lewisburg for a list of restaurants, but let’s talk.  You’ll find me taking an expedition to The Irish Pub onWashington Street for a Guinness or three.  If you want a casual meal (a break from elegant dining at the Greenbrier), Julie and I like Del Sol for its wood fired pizzas and salads (they feature latin cuisine).  Food& Friends, a longtime Lewisburg establishment, is featured on the FoodNetwork for its steaks.  We like F&F’s wide menu and lean towards their Turkey Reuben, if you must know.  The Stardust Café and Stella’s also offer great food in a somewhat more refined atmosphere. 

The 2013 ADTA Annual meeting brochure doesn’t tell the whole story of what we have in store for The ADTA’s first foray into West Virginia.  For one thing, for national security reasons, you’ll have to figure out Project Orange on your own.  If we said more…..

We also may have some surprises on the music front.  For a hint, read Passing the Music down by West Virginian (and former Jackson Kelly lawyer) Sarah Sullivan, here. 

I’ll be in trial in Lewisburg next week, and will report on more stuff when I get back.  Don’t forget.  Get to the Greenbrier.

Get to the Greenbrier, No. 8: The Bunker Tour

Our feature event at ADTA Greenbrier 2013 is a private tour of the U.S. Government Relocation Facility, now simply known as “the Bunker.”  Authorized during the Eisenhower administration, at the height of the Cold War, “Project Greek Island” was the secret construction of a facility beneath the West Virginia Wing, an addition to the Greenbrier, from 1959 to 1962.  The facility was designed as a haven for Congress in the event of nuclear attack, complete with chambers for the Senate and House and a massive hall for joint sessions. Once completed, the facility was maintained by a government employees working undercover as Forsythe Associates, ostensibly a company hired for audio/visual support services.  Read articles and information about the Bunker, here and here.

The facility remained top secret until it was exposed – some say controversially – in a Washington Post article in 1992 (read it here).  Shortly thereafter, the government decommissioned the bunker.  The Greenbrier leased part of the facility to a data storage company, and the remainder was preserved and opened for public tours.

We’ll have a private ADTA only tour on Friday afternoon, after which we’ll hit the hospitality suite and then proceed to dinner “on our own.”

So, Get To The Greenbrier, ADTA Nation and go on the Secret Bunker Tour.  Next up, Golf Chair Vic Flanagan on ADTA Nation Golf at the Greenbrier…..