I vote for the 7-9 option. Not only is it a more sensible dinner
hour, but it would allow late arrivals to work on their setup after 9:00.
Why not keep the exhibit rooms open to all that need the set up time, all evening. (Until??)... AND we all come and go to the diner when we're hungry, not so formal? As long as one person is keeping watch at the fort. There would most likely always be at least 10-15 of us at the Princess Diner from 6 till 11 I am sure.
Update ..... Jeff Brace volunteered to skip the diner and stay at the show all of Friday night. This means we won't have to close for a couple of prime set-up hours that night. There are some exhibitors who aren't in our group, so (as always) there will be a logistics message sent to all exhibitors a few days before the show. The message will include all set-up details, an exhibit layout map, etc.