DC-area G|A meetup

[ialsohaveadream]

Anyone available the 29th-31st? I'll be in town. You guys can pick the place, since it's been a few years since I've been up there.

[MikeD]

I'm down. For all three nights. :hihi:

[Hiro]

Gah, why do you have to do this on a M-W? Bastard.

[ialsohaveadream]

Gah, why do you have to do this on a M-W? Bastard.
Because you guys are cool and all, but not cool enough to sell out a friend's wedding. ;)

[Hiro]

Because you guys are cool and all, but not cool enough to sell out a friend's wedding. ;)
If you were going to be there Saturday and Sunday I'd drive up. :( Can't though because of work.

[kimchicowboy]

doh. my parents are in town until the 31st. if they weren't around, i'd meet up. :(

[IrishSS]

I'll be down the 28th permanently... so I should be good, barring work, for any of those nights.

[LegendKiller]

No good for me, thats a few days before the exam.

[MikeD]

No good for me, thats a few days before the exam.

Come on, man! Put down the books. Hell I've got a full course load too, but I'm making time. You...can...do...it!

[kimchicowboy]

Come on, man! Put down the books. Hell I've got a full course load too, but I'm making time. You...can...do...it!
you would have made a great friend in college. hahaha

[MikeD]

you would have made a great friend in college. hahaha

Hey, bring the parents on out. We had a pretty tame crew last time, right?

[LegendKiller]

Come on, man! Put down the books. Hell I've got a full course load too, but I'm making time. You...can...do...it!


It's a tough decision. I have studied for 6 months for this exam, it'd suck to fail it and then have to study for 6 more months next year. That and I already took 2 days off to go to a funeral of my grandmother-in-law in IL.

I'll have to think about it.

[ialsohaveadream]

If you guys don't mind deciding the place, I'll just hit MikeD or Ben up for the info.

[MikeD]

If you guys don't mind deciding the place, I'll just hit MikeD or Ben up for the info.

If we're gonna be in DC, ask Ben. He knows the area more than I do.

With that said, Ben hasn't said that he'll be coming out. Right now it's me, you, and Irish. That means a sports bar that will be showing both NBA and NHL playoff games. :hihi:

Any other takers? mcs and angl? Exigent? I asked VTGreg, but he recently moved to Charlotte. Anyone else?

[ialsohaveadream]

Ben said he was down assuming that there wasn't an emergency at work.

[tweeteresa]

I didn't realize there's that many people in the DC area. I'll be in the area from the 27th-31st. I'm looking for good places to eat. Any recommendations?

[LegendKiller]

How about we do something in Reston, that way I can get trashed late at night, stumble home, and then easily get up the next morning and study!

[MikeD]

I didn't realize there's that many people in the DC area. I'll be in the area from the 27th-31st. I'm looking for good places to eat. Any recommendations?

You wanna come out to the meetup?

[jstreet]

I didn't realize there's that many people in the DC area. I'll be in the area from the 27th-31st. I'm looking for good places to eat. Any recommendations?What kind of food do you like?

I have a ton of "favorite" places. My top is Peacock Cafe. Very casual, comfortable, anytime-place. Moderately priced, excellent staff, usually very good food, outdoor seating. It's really just a great place whether it's a celebratory dinner, arbitrary need to put away a few bottles of champagne Sunday afternoon (it's my version of prayer), a quick dessert and coffee, etc.

Other than that... Oceannaire Seafood room is great for expense accounts, high style, and big appetites... Afterwords is friendly and one of the few classy late night places, 24-hours Fri/Sat, good brunch too and connected to a bookstore... Sushi-Ko's pretty inaccessible, but great sushi... Tony and Joe's is nice for a waterfront dinner... Clyde's (local chain) is great for a dinner/night out but can get very packed on weekends... Sam and Harry's, such a good filet mignon... Hard Times Cafe = awesome wing night... Lauriol Plaza = best Mexican & best margaritas anywhere, you will leave loaded and full, but sometimes you waited 2.5 hours to get a table there -- but that means you got loaded at the bar downstairs with everyone else already... Harry's Tap Room, another yummy brunch.

I could go on for a long time, lol.


Ben said he was down assuming that there wasn't an emergency at work.He speaks the truth. We're in the middle of two large projects and occasionally disaster occurs, but it's been smooth sailing so far.


If we're gonna be in DC, ask Ben. He knows the area more than I do.Brickskellar worked well last time, didn't it? The most kinds of beer of anywhere in the world for the malt-lovers, and enough liquor to float my boat. If people want a new locale though, that's cool.

Let's try to avoid the sports bar if possible, though my biggest concern is the bars that don't serve liquor... cruel, uncouth places of ill-repute.

[kimchicowboy]

My top is Peacock Cafe. Very casual, comfortable, anytime-place. Moderately priced, excellent staff, usually very good food, outdoor seating. It's really just a great place whether it's a celebratory dinner, arbitrary need to put away a few bottles of champagne Sunday afternoon (it's my version of prayer), a quick dessert and coffee, etc.

glad to hear you like the peacock cafe. it's one of my clients. however, i don't have hook-ups yet. boo.

[jstreet]

glad to hear you like the peacock cafe. it's one of my clients. however, i don't have hook-ups yet. boo.What do you do, web design? Or are you the mafia? I tend to fall in love with the places run by the mafia... see Kartabar and Viva when in Providence, all.

[mcs328]

No promises...busy with wedding craziness. Maybe Memorial Day.

[MikeD]

Or are you the mafia?

:heh:

Kimchi's crew coming thru!

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y147/paulinec7/9.jpg

[guiseppewv]

I didn't realize there's that many people in the DC area. I'll be in the area from the 27th-31st. I'm looking for good places to eat. Any recommendations?

What kind of food are you looking for? Italian, Sushi, Mexican, Spanish, etc....

[Markel]

:heh:

Kimchi's crew coming thru!

Man, I'm glad that guy in front doesn't have any chest hair! :heh:

[tweeteresa]

sorry, i don't think i can make it to the meet-up. my schedule is already pretty much set. the only thing i'm still unsure of are places to eat. but have fun! :)

thanks ben for that list...i'll make note of them. as for what kinds of food -- anything really. i love eating and trying out different places/different cuisines so i have no preference really.

one more request: a really scrumptious dessert place. :drool:

[guiseppewv]

sorry, i don't think i can make it to the meet-up. my schedule is already pretty much set. the only thing i'm still unsure of are places to eat. but have fun! :)

thanks ben for that list...i'll make note of them. as for what kinds of food -- anything really. i love eating and trying out different places/different cuisines so i have no preference really.

one more request: a really scrumptious dessert place. :drool:

Vaccaro's is the place to go for good dessert. 2000 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, DC or there is a location in Union Station. (http://www.vaccarospastry.com/) Their desserts are pretty awesome.

Some other places with great desserts and great food in DC:
www.tenpenh.com
www.dino-dc.com - not traditional italian but very good.
www.ceibarestaurant.com

www.sushi taro.com - never had dessert here but their sushi was great. :)

edit: remove the space inbetween the i and the t in the last link. The automated G|A censor is censoring the link because it thinks the word is sh!t.

[kimchicowboy]

thomas sweets in georgetown is also supposed to be good. at the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and P St.

[jstreet]

thomas sweets in georgetown is also supposed to be good. at the corner of Wisconsin Ave. and P St.Thomas Sweet & Max's further up Wisconsin are my fav ice cream places.

[MikeD]

Ben, can you line up a spot? Let's do something other than Bricks (though it was good). Can't speak for Irish, but I'd like to try something new.

Any suggestions? I think just about any place in DC would be fine.

[IrishSS]

Bricks isn't a bad place, but it can be overdone if you go there too often I guess. I was just there a couple of weeks ago... the entertaining atmosphere just isn't there for me, aside from the copious amounts of beer available.

My only suggestion would be Old Glory in Georgetown, but it's not easily metro-accesible and doesn't cater to large parties very well. Most of the seating is booth (4-6 people) and small tables.

Can't really think of any other places of the top of my head at this moment...

Did we pick a date yet?

[MikeD]

Did we pick a date yet?

How does Monday sound? Tue/Wed are also fine, though Tue would have to be after 9P for me.

[IrishSS]

How does Monday sound? Tue/Wed are also fine, though Tue would have to be after 9P for me.

Of those 3, Wednesday is probably the best for me. I can make it any day though..

[jstreet]

Hmm, McFadden's (http://www.mcfaddensdc.com) maybe? I was there recently. It's very Metro-accessible, one block up from Foggy Bottom (blue/orange). They have a lot of booths and round tables, but also bigger tables.

Tuesdays are dollar beer nights, which is a mixed bag. The dollar beer used to be Yuengling, but now it's High Life (blech). And it gets INSANE later at night, but all the GW students are gone now, so it might be quieter... can't say for sure.

I've not been on any other night, but I'm betting they are quieter because there are different specials, neither night is described as a "College Night" (labelling is everything) and again, GW kids are out.

Specials (according to the website):


Monday May 26:
Monday Movie Night!
Every Monday Night
BYOC (Bring Your Own Cup...32oz max.)...$10 ALL YOU CAN DRINK Miller Lite drafts...8pm-11pm...$.20 Wings...7pm-11pm.

Tuesday May 30, 2006
Throwback Tuesdays!!!
Every Tuesday Night!
$1 High Life and PBR drafts...$1 Natty Light & Beast Cans...$5 Jager Bombs...9pm-close.

Wednesday May 31, 2006
Half Price Wednesdays!
Every Wednesday Night!
1/2 price domestic drafts...7pm-close...1/2 price burgers!...4pm-11pm...$5 Jack Daniels Pints...ALL NIGHT!!!


If Red Line is more palatable, there's Front Page (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=795994&lat=38.9085000&lon=-77.0445000&displaySearchTerm=front%20page&displaySearchLocation=&nm=0&categories=Bars%20&%20Clubs) in Dupont... I have a few vague memories of being there, I think they have sit-down eating and also two bars. I remember it being kind of on the loud side? Someone else may be able to elaborate better.

If people like pool, near Front Page is Buffalo Billiards (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=792534&lat=38.9082000&lon=-77.0436000&displaySearchTerm=buffalo billiards&displaySearchLocation=&categories=Bars & Clubs), a cavernous downstairs bar with a ton of pool tables. I am ****ty at pool, but, like speaking Spanish, do marginally better or believe I do when liquored up.

Biddy Mulligan's (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=800383&lat=38.9103000&lon=-77.0430000&displaySearchTerm=Biddy%20Mulligan&displaySearchLocation=&categories=Bars%20&%20Clubs) is also nearby - I've been a few times, Irish bar

Cafe Japone (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1093353&lat=38.9096000&lon=-77.0459000&displaySearchTerm=japone&displaySearchLocation=&categories=Bars%20&%20Clubs) is around... not sure what they do in terms of beer, but they have a lot of liquor, the downstairs looks like a coral reef with 80s flair and upstairs is tiny, cramped, and karaeoke (sp) filled.

I vaguely remember the Big Hunt (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=792554), but it seemed fun. I think there are something like five different bars.

Rumors (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=792598&lat=38.9055000&lon=-77.0436000&displaySearchTerm=rumors&displaySearchLocation=&categories=Bars%20&%20Clubs) isn't really a Dupont bar... it's probably just as close to Foggy Bottom as Dupont... I used to go there with a friend for happy hour when she worked nearby. Has a boat inside, which is odd... some outdoor seating, generally wasn't too too loud.

Just in case anyone is feeling homo-wary, the above Dupont bars are not gay bars ;) I can't promise there won't be any on the sidewalks though (Irish, I'll protect ya ;p)

Haven't been out much in Chinatown or Capitol Hill - there is a brand new HUUUUUUUGE Clyde's (http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn?node=cityguide/profile&id=1118486&lat=38.8991000&lon=-77.0218000&displaySearchTerm=clyde's&displaySearchLocation=&categories=Restaurants) in Chinatown that's very nice. Only been there for dinner but the website confirmed they have bars (three). This could be fun.

Think it over, fellow alchies.

[kimchicowboy]

i might be able to make it wednesday night.

mcfadden's cool. been there a few times. and metro accessible.

frontpage gets loud and crowded. the last time i was there, my friends and i were hanging by the front door. hahah

[IrishSS]

They all sound good to me!

I've been to most of the Dupont ones, so Mcfaddens is sounding pretty good at this point.

[MikeD]

McFadden's sounds good here too. Thanks Ben.

So...tomorrow night? Wednesday? Both?

[IrishSS]

McFadden's sounds good here too. Thanks Ben.

So...tomorrow night? Wednesday? Both?

If anybody wants to hook up tomorrow night I'm game...

Are we officially declaring Wednesday as "the night"?

[jstreet]

Wednesday does seem to be the night most are able to do - if that works for people I'm in.

And pleased you guys picked McFadden's, it's one block from my office :heh:

[LegendKiller]

You guys are making it awefully tempting. I can get on the metro at west falls church and be there in 30...hmmm...

[IrishSS]

You guys are making it awefully tempting. I can get on the metro at west falls church and be there in 30...hmmm...

Good. See ya Wednesday then. :winkie:

[jstreet]

You guys are making it awefully tempting. I can get on the metro at west falls church and be there in 30...hmmm...WFC to FB? Less than 20 minutes! ;)

[MikeD]

I'm in for Wednesday. I'm probably looking at anytime after 6:30P - 7:00P.

[jstreet]

That's good to me. I'll be at work until at least 6/6:30.

[MikeD]

NM on my original time. Daughter has a softball game that should be wrapping up around 7:30P. That puts me in DC around 8:30P.

[jstreet]

NM on my original time. Daughter has a softball game that should be wrapping up around 7:30P. That puts me in DC around 8:30P.Clearly, you have your priorities in the wrong order. I'm sure what you meant is that you're going to go get hammered with a bunch of randoms and THEN stumble over to the softball game. As long as you don't drive your car onto the field, you're in the clear.

I kid ;)

[MikeD]

Clearly, you have your priorities in the wrong order. I'm sure what you meant is that you're going to go get hammered with a bunch of randoms and THEN stumble over to the softball game. As long as you don't drive your car onto the field, you're in the clear.

I kid ;)

Hey, if I wasn't coaching (and if the game didn't involve 9-10 year olds) then yeah, you'd have a point. ;)

I'm hoping that by the time I get there you will all be drunk off your @sses, and I can convince someone to buy my beer for me. All night. You've been warned.

[ialsohaveadream]

I hope these plans don't change, because I'm planning on McFadden's on Wednesday around 8:30ish now. Ben and Mike, you've got my cell #. This'll be the only time I can get online, so PMs won't work. See you guys soon!

[IrishSS]

7:30ish+ works for me... I don't anticipate getting off work till after 5:30... gives me time to get home, cleaned up and drive up to the metro.

[guiseppewv]

I cannot make it. :( I have a golf league that I am in and we play every Wednesday evening. Have fun!!!!

[MikeD]

It's all good bro. We'll throw a few back for you...:)

[kimchicowboy]

i'm in for a beer or two. i get off work around 7PM on wednesdays.

see y'all there.

[IrishSS]

I'm still shooting to get there around 7:30, but I may be close to 8:00 depending on work. Don't go running off before we get there Kimchi!

[LegendKiller]

I am not going to be able to make it, I am getting too worried about the exam, I need all of the time I can get to finish up studying before Saturday. Sorry guys, looks like next time.

[jstreet]

Oops, I forgot I have a haircut at 7 in the gtown. I'll be there 8ish :)

[kimchicowboy]

ok. 8-ish. who's in?

me
irish
ben
mike
IAHAD
anyone else?

[MikeD]

I'm in. Look for me around 8:30ish.

Ben, what's the parking like around this place? Should I take a shot, or hit the Metro?


I am not going to be able to make it, I am getting too worried about the exam, I need all of the time I can get to finish up studying before Saturday. Sorry guys, looks like next time.

*nods*

Good luck with the exam, understand where you're coming from.

[jstreet]

I'm in. Look for me around 8:30ish.

Ben, what's the parking like around this place? Should I take a shot, or hit the Metro?You know, I truly have no idea. Part of me says it should be fine because work will have let out, and part of me says everyone then comes home and parks on the street. I keep hearing stories about there being more cars in DC than spots. There is much street parking in the Foggy Bottom area but also a lot of residents, so Metro might be the safest option, but I bet you could find a spot.

[mcs328]

So everyone is going to McFaddens? Have fun everyone without us. They have half off domestic beer and burgers according to their website. And they are listed on restaurants.com so you can get a $25 dining cert for $10.

[MikeD]

they are listed on restaurants.com so you can get a $25 dining cert for $10.

Actually, $4 if you use the Apex and hit up the coupon code! Woooo...

[kimchicowboy]

my coworker might show up. he bought his dell and stuff from G|A before he knew i was a regular G|A-er.

[jstreet]

Back from my haircut. Going to tie up some loose ends at work and then head there, I'm planning on 8:30. I've got a blue/brown striped shirt, khaki shorts, sneakers, one hour of sleep, and a thirst for some scotch.

[IrishSS]

Just want to thank you guys for another great evening... More people should show up to these meets... we really have a good time!

BTW Ben, I did end up with the short blonde's phone number... =) And had we had more time, IAHAD and I seemed to have a damned good chance with the two super hot blondes sitting at the table behind us... but alas, the stupid metro only runs till midnight!!!

[MikeD]

Yeah, good time (again). Glad to see we could pull one off w/o Cheapie being in the house. :)

Ben, good call on the bar. Pretty good place. And it was good seeing Irish and KimChi again. I said I'd roll just about any night you guys want to catch up, and I'll stand by that. DC, Arlington, wherever.

IAHAD? Heh, he's a cool dude. Even brought along a famous baseball player for the ride. And I don't want to steal his thunder, but let's just say he got some decent blog material in toward the end of the night. :hihi:

[IrishSS]

IAHAD? Heh, he's a cool dude. Even brought along a famous baseball player for the ride. And I don't want to steal his thunder, but let's just say he got some decent blog material in toward the end of the night. :hihi:


I didn't catch much of the conversation, but was that lady completely crazy?

[MikeD]

I didn't catch much of the conversation, but was that lady completely crazy?

Yeah, but in a funny way. At first I thought she was picking up Ben. Then when her girl showed up, and brought another...but all for nothing.

Besides, you guys did fine with the blondes. They were both smokin'.

So which one of you guys tapped the waitress at the end of the night? C'mon, come clean! ;)

[kimchicowboy]

aw man. looks like i missed out on some action after i left. i was pretty dang tired, though.

good to see you guys (mike, ben, irish) again. and IAHAD is super cool too. we should get together for a bbq or something over the summer. :)

[jstreet]

I didn't catch much of the conversation, but was that lady completely crazy?In a word, yes :D

Congrats on the numbers, too - it's funny that you encountered the game-killing function of Metro so soon after moving here. Oh, public transit.

I had a lot of fun too. After I got home, I checked my email and went to bed no later than probably one -- when I woke up this morning, Eric said "You came to bed late last night, what were you doing?" I said it wasn't too late, and he said "No, you walked in and flopped down on the bed at 3:40am. You almost knocked me off onto the ground and woke me up enough to look over at the clock".

I have absolutely no memory of that, perhaps I was a little more intoxicated than I thought, or maybe I just sleepwalked (sleptwalked?) for the first time. Weird!

[Yossarian]

and no one took pictures. *sigh*

[MikeD]

You saw the advance shot. We were charging for anything extra.

[IrishSS]

I had thought about bringing the camera, but since it was a small gathering and 4/5 of us had already done the picture thing already, I figured it wasn't necessary.

Cameras should be reserved for G|A? gatherings 8 people and above. :thumbup:

[Yossarian]

i don't want pictures of you guys, i want pics of da womens!

[MikeD]

Speaking of meets and pics, when is the West Coast crew gonna get together? You guys gotta stop slacking...you had one with one group pic and that was it. Boooooo...

[esme]

:agree:

[Houdini]

Sounds like you guys had a lot of fun. When's the Gulf Coast G|A meeting? Or am I one of the few that live along the big hurricane magnet? NOLA is a pretty cool place....

[ialsohaveadream]

BTW Ben, I did end up with the short blonde's phone number... =) And had we had more time, IAHAD and I seemed to have a damned good chance with the two super hot blondes sitting at the table behind us... but alas, the stupid metro only runs till midnight!!!
She even did that whole "I'm gonna touch your arm while I laugh at your joke" thing. Freakin metro.

And even better, if it hadn't worked out with them, we could've moved over to the bar. I would've gone for the bartender, and you could've talked up the short girl (and yes, just to confirm, Irish DID get her number).

As for the waitress...even after all those drinks, she wasn't a 7.


IAHAD? Heh, he's a cool dude. Even brought along a famous baseball player for the ride. And I don't want to steal his thunder, but let's just say he got some decent blog material in toward the end of the night. :hihi:
I wouldn't exactly call him "famous".

But as for the blog material...definitely. That lady was a solid B+ on the whacko scale. Plus, I think she was hitting on Ben there for a while.

[Houdini]

But as for the blog material...definitely. That lady was a solid B+ on the whacko scale.

Sounds like most of my ex-girlfriends. I don't know why/how I seem to attract them. :shrug:

H

[IrishSS]

She even did that whole "I'm gonna touch your arm while I laugh at your joke" thing. Freakin metro.

And even better, if it hadn't worked out with them, we could've moved over to the bar. I would've gone for the bartender, and you could've talked up the short girl (and yes, just to confirm, Irish DID get her number).


Ya, I saw that... it was so blatently obvious I had to laugh. She was definitely worth a cab ride... and if you had bought her one, maybe two more drinks, she would have taken that ride with (on?) you.

BTW, the whole splitting the cab thing would have been great, except that I dont think I could have gotten a cab to take me all the way back to Franconia/Springfield... Ben, you ever tried a ride that long? Know if they'll do it? Do they just stay in the DC area or will they take you all the way to NoVa?

[jstreet]

Ben, you ever tried a ride that long? Know if they'll do it? Do they just stay in the DC area or will they take you all the way to NoVa?They're legally required to but it's much like if you're not 21 you're not supposed to drink.

When Eric lived in the NE quadrant of DC I had cabs that wouldn't take me there, I've had cabs refuse to take me to BWI, I've had cabs refuse to take me to Courthouse which is literally a 2 minute drive from DC; it's walkable in 30 min.

Mention the police and their mind always changes, i.e. "If you can't drive me to _________, please drive me to the police station and we will discuss why you cannot drive me to _________". They usually will swear in (insert foreign language here) and then go.

Edit: and KNOW YOUR FARE (http://citizenatlas.dc.gov/atlasapps/taxifare.aspx) or they will scam the hell out of you - I had some guy try to tell me it was $30 from Union Station to VA one time, pieces of ****...

[LegendKiller]

They're legally required to but it's much like if you're not 21 you're not supposed to drink.

When Eric lived in the NE quadrant of DC I had cabs that wouldn't take me there, I've had cabs refuse to take me to BWI, I've had cabs refuse to take me to Courthouse which is literally a 2 minute drive from DC; it's walkable in 30 min.

Mention the police and their mind always changes, i.e. "If you can't drive me to _________, please drive me to the police station and we will discuss why you cannot drive me to _________". They usually will swear in (insert foreign language here) and then go.

Edit: and KNOW YOUR FARE (http://citizenatlas.dc.gov/atlasapps/taxifare.aspx) or they will scam the hell out of you - I had some guy try to tell me it was $30 from Union Station to VA one time, pieces of ****...


Great tip!

Tomorrow after the exam we are going to go downtown and stay at the Mandarin Oriental for our 6mo/test is done celebration. Any good bars around there?

[jstreet]

Great tip!

Tomorrow after the exam we are going to go downtown and stay at the Mandarin Oriental for our 6mo/test is done celebration. Any good bars around there?Daaamn, sweet digs, my friend ;)

As for bars, I have absolutely no idea - haven't been to that area. The Map O' Booze (http://www.bardc.com/?page=gmap) shows just one -- inside the hotel :) One review notes the "sweeping views of the Potomac". If you go, let me know if it's worth checking out, and GOOD LUCK ON THE EXAM!

[MikeD]

and GOOD LUCK ON THE EXAM!

:stupid:

err, I mean :agree:

Good luck bud. Hope things go well for you...