And The Winnah Is...

Last week I announced a rec.aviation contest to "Name Our New Aviation Theme
Suite" at our aviation themed hotel, the Alexis Park Inn & Suites, in Iowa
City, IA, with the winner earning a free night in "their" suite. To my
amazement, we received over 100 suggested names!

After a great deal of deliberation, and carefully considering all 112
entries, my wife, Mary, whittled this most excellent list down to the
following "Top Five" names:

#5. The Air Mail Suite -- Yes, we REALLY want to do this one, thanks to Iowa
City's connection to the early air mail flights, but we just can't figure
out how to make it sound less boring. Sent in by Dave S.

#4. The Soaring Suite -- A perfect name for a future suite. This one WILL
be used, but not on this one. Sent in by Jer Eberhard.

#3. The Concorde Suite -- Another terrific name that brings to mind all
sorts of cool things, from the 1960s through the 2000s, from Paris, London,
Oshkosh -- you name it. Somewhere down the road, this one will be done.
Sent in by Matt Whiting.

#2. The Top Gun Suite -- I *told* you Mary went all weak-kneed during that
beach volleyball scene. This name also lends itself to making it into a
"Tom Cruise" suite, which would very much appeal to the chicks -- and Cruise
*is* a pilot. Suggested by Richard Riley.

#1 -- The WINNER! The Hawk Suite -- This name combines EVERYTHING we want
in a name, thanks to our location -- and I'm amazed (and ashamed) that we
never thought of it. EVERYTHING in this football-crazy town is "The Hawks".
Sent in by Montblack -- the Grand Prize winner!

The U of I football team are "the Hawkeyes", my son's high school team is
"the Little Hawks", and virtually every jacket, banner, blanket, sweater and
sticker has the hawk logo on it. Literally everything in this town will
serve as a free advertisement for this suite!

And so many aircraft have been called "Hawk" that artwork and memorabilia
will be a snap. Everything from Cessna Skyhawks, to A-4 Skyhawks, to a
dozen other aircraft, from the 1920s on up will be represented. And we can
add all the crazy football and sports memorabilia that will really appeal to
the local crowd, giving it an appeal outside of aviation. This will be THE
most popular suite in the hotel, amongst the locals, guaranteed.

The response to this contest was amazing -- we both want to thank everyone
for entering! Montblack will receive a free night's stay in the "Hawk
Suite" when we get it done, but I'd also like to offer Dave, Jer, Matt, and
Richard a 50% discount on any suite if (when?) they ever come to visit us.
Great suggestions, guys, and I'll bet we will use them all, someday!

Blue skies!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"