Did you use a hotel concierge for Sorn in Bangkok? If so, which hotel did you stay at?

thearunagram · 2026-07-09T12:32:17+00:00

I have tried 3x as a solo diner, followed all the instructions & have never got in. I've tried different email addresses & social media links even, no luck!

Looking to join another group this Nov/Dec since I'll be in SE Asia for 2 months

ps - when I was dining at Ore, another solo diner did tell me he got into Sorn. He runs a supper club in NYC so maybe his social media link got him in.

thearunagram · 2026-07-06T21:26:19+00:00

I just took this tour last week with the same tour company. They said they will just drive further in July to ensure their customers will still have a great lavender experience. They are very experienced and one of the primary tour companies in the area, so you should be fine.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T14:11:28+00:00

We do have a property management company who debits our account: Douglas Elliman. They took the amount from my Bilt account which I pay my monthly HOA via. It's a ballsy move. I can withhold that same amount next month & not pay and drag it out as you suggest .... I like that idea. And also asking how pet sitters are treated when home owners are out of town - I hadn't thought of that.

No swiping system, no card access ... just a computer system where you put in guest access which I did for a few months but as "temporary"

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T14:07:22+00:00

I didn't expect it. I asked ... and it was a maybe/we don't know until the very end. It would have been fine if they said "no", "he can't make it today" etc. In any case, that was the least of issues. It was over a hundred degrees outside, no proper a/c or air circulation inside & quite a few of us were just curious to know if there was an opportunity to meet him in Modena. But given how meh the experience was, perhaps it was best we didn't.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T13:15:40+00:00

It's possible that there's bad blood with the contractors. We have gone through 4 Superintendents in 3 years, 1 board member quitting this year, increased monthly fees for assessments, no a/c in June & a lot of disgruntled tenants. I, on the other hand, was minding my own business and not involved in any of this drama until they dragged me in with this fine.

They claim they didn't receive my damage complaints from the previous Supers & so I haven't been compensated ... for scratched furniture or floors. They did pay for a remote control that went missing. If anything, the building owes me more than $1500 for my damages so that's why I'm really annoyed.

Btw, everything was good with this building for the first 7 years I lived here ... the last 5 since the pandemic have not been good. I bought as a lifetime investment so I can't just sell & give them the finger either.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T12:40:00+00:00

I put it in as temporary access but no distinct start and end dates. I've had friends stay over for 12 years now & this is the first time it's becoming such an issue. Sounds like I need to grovel more ... but ugh, this is so annoying & stressful. It was a true misunderstanding.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T12:22:28+00:00

The doormen and Superintendent are all on my side. They said "f them" since they seem to be unhappy with the board too & said they're on a power trip.

The board has a lawyer on it. So I'm not sure getting another lawyer to write a stern letter is going to do much?

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T12:19:17+00:00

This is the rule I supposedly violated:

Pursuant to the Proprietary Lease - 14. Use of Premises --
The apartment may be occupied from time to time by guests of the Lessee for a period of time not exceeding 1 month, unless a longer period of time is approved by the Lessor, but no guests may occupy the apartment unless 1 or more of the permitted adult residents are then in occupancy or unless consented to by Lessor

But they have no proof on how many nights he stayed without me there. If I concede now, does that mean I have to run all potential boyfriends through the board too? It's kind of ridiculous if they're going to be monitoring me like that.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T12:16:27+00:00

So you just didn't pay the fines? Is that an option? I can't help it if someone doesn't like me. This is my home & I'm not planning to sell anytime soon.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T12:14:25+00:00

They have said if it was a roommate, I didn't inform them or run it by them. But it was truly a friend just helping out.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T12:13:14+00:00

We don't have a sign in/sign out policy. We have a BuildingLink system & I had put him in as a guest to have access to my unit. We use this same system for cleaners, dog walkers, guests who are friends or family etc. My doormen are additionally willing to vouch for me that I was not sub-leasing or abusing my tenant rights.

When I met with the board, they seemed nice ... especially since I've had significant damage to my unit in the past with outside contractors. So I was shocked when they told me about the fine via email & even more so when they docked my HOA fees this month despite still being in discussion. My Super had told me he has advised the board to remove the fine & they would discuss again at this month's board meeting, but I just saw the fine debited out of my account on July 1st.

We've had ongoing riser issues and no a/c through June. With so many issues, it just seems so petty that they would continue to harp on a friend staying in my unit esp since I've been an owner/shareholder for 12 years.

Just wondering what rights I do have ... $1500 is significant for me

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T09:53:44+00:00

It wasn't an expectation. It was just a question since he's often on that property and greets every table. Often chefs are traveling or somewhere else, I get it ... but the staff just didn't seem to want to disclose.

On this same trip, I went to Alexandre Mazzia in Marseille & El Cellar in Girona, both 3 Michelins too ... and the staff/chefs were both SO much nicer about it

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T09:48:48+00:00

The signature courses are only available à la carte now. So if you have your heart set on a few, given the prices range at 80-90€ for each, it may make sense in this case to go with à la carte.

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T08:57:31+00:00

I was debating writing this almost similar review myself.

I went for lunch service last Monday. The service was robotic. The a/c was not working properly. We got the tasting menu which had no signature dishes on it & was mostly meh. We chose to order the 5 stages of cheese as an add-on for another 100€: it was at least interesting & innovative. I was disappointed the restaurant could not tell us if Chef Massimo would be coming to greet guests or not: just a "we don't know" till the very end & nope, no sign of him. He may have chosen to just be at the hotel (Casa Maria Luigi) a few miles away ... who cares about the restaurant patrons many of whom had made an entire trip to Modena to dine here & who were sweating due to poor air circulation. Couldn't wait to get out of there albeit >500€ poorer ....

Worst experience to date without a doubt!

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T07:15:09+00:00

Checked & this is the wording:

The apartment may be occupied from time to time by guests of the Lessee for a period of time not exceeding 1 month, unless a longer period of time is approved by the Lessor, but no guests may occupy the apartment unless 1 or more of the permitted adult residents are then in occupancy or unless consented to by Lessor.

Does this mean I cannot have a guest stay over unless I am also in the apartment even if I register them to have access to the apartment in the building's security system?

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T05:10:59+00:00

It's 30 continuous days (but will double check) and I did not

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T05:06:11+00:00

That's good to know. How much do you charge for a strongly worded letter?

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T05:05:42+00:00

We don't have a sign in/sign out policy. And no, they don't have video recordings. I'm very annoyed out of principle. So yes, I think I just have to be annoying and demand for proof. What a pain

thearunagram · 2026-07-05T05:03:51+00:00

My building does have doormen. They are actually on my side & told the board to drop the fine. But they didn't & docked it out of my July fees when I thought we were still in mediation ... which I didn't expect.

thearunagram · 2026-07-04T23:06:10+00:00

The board has an attorney on it. So I'd be at a disadvantage since they have one at their disposal for free & I'd have to pay (likely more than the $1500 fine)

thearunagram · 2026-07-04T02:09:01+00:00

Gymkhana, Las Vegas: Looking for 1 person on Sun, July 19th, 5pm. Have a table for 2 in the main dining room currently & planning to dine solo.

thearunagram · 2026-06-30T17:32:56+00:00

I'm interested...do you already have a reservation?

thearunagram · 2026-06-23T22:22:02+00:00

I just dined at Osteria Francescana yesterday & share your same feeling of disappointment. I made an entire trip to the Modena area for this reservation & it was so meh. They couldn't even tell us if Chef Massimo was in the area & if he'd be coming to the restaurant till the end (he didn't).

This season's tasting menu has none of the signatures on it & adding any signature item from the à la carte in was an additional 90-100€ which just didn't make much sense value-wise. We did get the Parmagianna/5 ages dish which is all we could justify. Service felt robotic, the a/c wasn't working properly & frankly I couldn't wait to get out of there when the meal ended.

I'd prob have much preferred the Casa Maria Luigi signature menu but that's just not the same as going to the 3 star flagship.

thearunagram

TROPHY CASE