Baltimore/DC Area Meetup 2012

[Archonic Energy]

Originally Posted by The Succubus

He's a Swede. That means he's immune to cold damage but takes critical hits from moose while driving.

The moose is on the road, by the way.. Not in the car driving...

[TheWombatOfDoom]

I'm still bummed I can't go to this due to being a groomsman in a wedding. I live in Philadelphia! That's just a skip and a jump away!

[KuReshtin]

Originally Posted by TheWombatOfDoom

I'm still bummed I can't go to this due to being a groomsman in a wedding. I live in Philadelphia! That's just a skip and a jump away!

So you could Skip the wedding and Jump to the meetup instead.

[mangosta71]

Okay, so at this point I have one guest confirmed as attending, two others that have about a 50-50 chance (both or neither), and another that's not likely.

[Philistine]

Originally Posted by TheWombatOfDoom

I'm still bummed I can't go to this due to being a groomsman in a wedding. I live in Philadelphia! That's just a skip and a jump away!

Tell your friend he has to get married at the MD Renfest.

[TheWombatOfDoom]

Originally Posted by Philistine

Tell your friend he has to get married at the MD Renfest.

HAhaha. If it wasn't in Eerie, PA, I'd be likely to attempt. But that would be selfish. Awesome! But selfish. Next time (hopefully sooner than next year?).

Maybe I should throw a Philadelphia event sometime in the future...

[Diva De]

Our drive is pretty much straight up I95. Anyone know of any major delays, construction, toll roads, etc we should know about?

Also, I AM SO FREAKIN EXCITED!

Also also, if you are attending and want me to text you with periodic updates/locations, etc, please message me with your number. I have a new phone, so this SHOULD work out better than it did at the JC meet-up.

[Philistine]

Could a local provide a sanity check on my plan, please? If we get off a plane at National at 9:30AM Friday, is it reasonable to assume that the Metro can get me to the Smithsonian no later than 11:30 to meet someone for lunch? And after that, to "the Baltimore area" (close enough to be picked up at a station) by 2 or 2:30 to join the expedition to the Poe sites? Or even directly to the Poe house, to catch up with everyone else there?

[mangosta71]

I can confirm that getting from Reagan to the Smithsonian via Metro in that time frame is easily doable. As for the other, as I recall the end of the green line doesn't reach Columbia, and Baltimore is farther than that though I'm unsure as to the length of the drive. This means that we'll be trying to get from DC to Baltimore during the lunch rush hour. Hopefully there won't be as much traffic at that time as there is at the end of the day...

In light of this plan, I can now confirm that I will not be in costume for Saturday as that would require a second bag, and I refuse to lug a second bag around downtown DC for a couple hours when I can (and will) fit everything I otherwise need for the weekend into a backpack.

[IsaacTheHungry]

Originally Posted by Diva De

Our drive is pretty much straight up I95. Anyone know of any major delays, construction, toll roads, etc we should know about?

For those of you, like me, who like to drive a bit over the speed limit on the interstate; they upped the speed limit in VA to 70 in parts but did not increase the speed that counts as reckless driving. Going 81 in a 70 zone is reckless driving which requires a court appearance. So even if the traffic is going like 75 or faster, don't go over 80

[Alarra]

Originally Posted by Philistine

Could a local provide a sanity check on my plan, please? If we get off a plane at National at 9:30AM Friday, is it reasonable to assume that the Metro can get me to the Smithsonian no later than 11:30 to meet someone for lunch? And after that, to "the Baltimore area" (close enough to be picked up at a station) by 2 or 2:30 to join the expedition to the Poe sites? Or even directly to the Poe house, to catch up with everyone else there?

Reagan to Smithsonian....easily, with time to spare. Smithsonian to the furthest north green line stop (closest to Baltimore) will take about 45 mins, then it's about 30-45 mins to our house, or Baltimore in general. Another option (and by far the quickest) is to take a marc train from DC into BWI (10 mins from our house), which only takes about 30 mins (and is $6). The train could also be taken further north into Baltimore.

Originally Posted by mangosta71

In light of this plan, I can now confirm that I will not be in costume for Saturday as that would require a second bag, and I refuse to lug a second bag around downtown DC for a couple hours when I can (and will) fit everything I otherwise need for the weekend into a backpack.

Well, we have some costumey stuff. =) You'll have to look through it.

[MonkeyBusiness]

@Mango: what everyone else says is true. You'll have plenty time. Wish I could help you get from DC to B-more, but my vehicle only seats 2.

@ Diva: Springfield VA (just south of 495) can be a pain, but there's no good way around it. You can go either way around 495, obviously, but going south/outbound/toward Alexandria will allow you too avoid the dreaded construction at Tyson's Corner. That is terrible at any time of day.

.

[Skami Pilno]

Originally Posted by Alarra

Another option (and by far the quickest) is to take a marc train from DC into BWI (10 mins from our house), which only takes about 30 mins (and is $6). The train could also be taken further north into Baltimore.

My public transit skill just went up another level. Thank you for the information. It is truly awesome to know that I can go from the DC metro to the Light Rail so easily. Granted it's pretty much only usable on the weekends with their operating hours.... but it's very nice to know.

That said, I'll probably still be driving up on Friday. Also, I just drove I95 last week and there were no noticeable slowdowns. (I took 95 to avoid the Balt-Wash, which is a better drive IMO after about 8PM when there are few cars on it, but not before when it's a parking lot)

[Mauve Shirt]

Blah. Well I can't hang out with y'all on Sunday and I just learned I have to work a full day Friday. But I will show up Friday night and of course attend all Saturday activities.

[pendell]

Okay. Susan and I will be dropping in at the La Quinta Inn sometime around 6 and 7 PM tomorrow in the room where the continental breakfast is served. That is where you folks will be after the Poe tourism is done?

If I have not seen inthread or otherwise received an acknowledgement by tomorrow 8 AM, I'll be dialing Zeb.

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[Zeb The Troll]

That is the current plan, and that is the correct LaQuinta.

About taking the MARC to BWI on the weekends, the Penn Line is M-F only, sadly.

[mangosta71]

I thought that Mark Twain was merely an author. I had no idea he had given his name to a noble beast of magical transportation.

Anyway, looking at the maps, it appears that upon arrival at the airport, we can get directly onto the blue Metro line and take it to Smithsonian station to meet up with his friend for lunch, then get directly on the orange line to New Carrollton, and take the MARC train from there. I assume from the indications here that we will egress at the BWI Marshall station. How often do MARC trains run?

[Zeb The Troll]

Originally Posted by mangosta71

Anyway, looking at the maps, it appears that upon arrival at the airport, we can get directly onto the blue Metro line and take it to Smithsonian station to meet up with his friend for lunch, then get directly on the orange line to New Carrollton, and take the MARC train from there. I assume from the indications here that we will egress at the BWI Marshall station. How often do MARC trains run?

Penn Line Northbound Schedule

You can also embark at Union Station in downtown DC if that'd be easier for you.

[mangosta71]

If we meet his friend for lunch at 11:30, assume about an hour for that, we should be able to make the 1:20 train from Union Station, which will put us at the BWI station at 1:57. Whether we board at US or NC remains to be determined, but doesn't really matter as we have the same ETA either way.

So I guess that's what our plan will be, and one of us can call someone if we need to alter things.

[IsaacTheHungry]

doctor has given me a stamp of approval so i am coming, i just need to figure out my schedule

Now I am planning on commuting back and forth from northern VA, I have no interest in Poe stuff and i don't like drinking games or being around major drinking. so knowing this, when should i be there and when do i not want to be there?

[Zeb The Troll]

Originally Posted by IsaacTheHungry

doctor has given me a stamp of approval so i am coming, i just need to figure out my schedule

Now I am planning on commuting back and forth from northern VA, I have no interest in Poe stuff and i don't like drinking games or being around major drinking. so knowing this, when should i be there and when do i not want to be there?

Come to the previously linked LaQuinta around 7'ish, I'd say, and look for us in the breakfast room.

Also, just to clarify again, the purpose of the "Beer University" game (which will be happening Saturday night and will not be the only thing going on) is NOT to get totally snot-faced and see who throws up in someone else's shoes first. It is to help those who have an interest in a deeper understanding of the various beer styles get a sample of what craft beer fans are talking about in a way that's more entertaining than a seminar or a tasting. We'll be drinking out of 4 ounce glasses similar to the ones that brewpubs use to give samples, not pint glasses. So, while it's a game that will involve drinking, I wouldn't really call it "a drinking game". We're not hosting a frat party or anything.

Also, for further mind easing, getting lousy drunk does not usually happen at our meetups (here in MD or the ones in JC), and a number of the attendees don't even drink and still manage to have a good enough time to want to keep coming back.

[IsaacTheHungry]

I have dug around and I have more games than I thought, here is the list of games I am bringing:

The Game of Life - because I ran across it and said why not

MONOPOLY, Garfield Collector’s edition

Risk

Settlers of Catan

Seafarers of Catan

Battle Cry – a fun two player civil war battle game

The Good, the Bad, and the Munchkin

Star Munchkin

Munchkin Impossible – I am sensing a pattern

Super Munchkin

Munchkin Bites – How many of these do I have?

Munchkin – the original


EDIT: hmm, it might not be worth driving home friday night. Anyone need a roomate friday night? i will pay half even if i just get the foldout couch/bed

[Philistine]

Heading for the airport now. See everyone soonish!

[Skami Pilno]

I'll arrive at the inn around 7-8 PM. Looking forward to meeting y'all.

[Diva De]

So guess what closed down last week due to lack of funding? The Poe House.

Apparently the city cut its funding, and so they closed. They hope to re-open next year under new management, being run by a non-profit. So...we can still go look at the outside of the house? And the graveyard a few blocks away?

But mostly I am just heartbroken. All the sad.

Anyone have anything they wanna do in DC instead, this afternoon?

[pendell]

Be advised, the temperature is expected to drop below 0C/30F and may bottom around -6C/20F. Suggest dressing accordingly and be prepared for cold damage. Or polymorphing into a polar bear, but that tends to upset the city police.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[IsaacTheHungry]

Hitting the old ski/snow stuff now. for those who are travaling lite and don't have much in the way of heavy coats, hats, and scarfs; i will bring a pile of extras. Just in case

[Mauve Shirt]

I'm home from work, where should I be???

[pendell]

Here, I think . In the room where the "continental breakfast is served". That's where I'm going, anyway.

Respectfully,

Brian P.

[pendell]

I'm at the inn. Where is everybody? I'm in the lobby. The breakfast room is dark.