DC Dopefest/Doperally in conjunction with Stewart/Colbert rallies, Oct. 30

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
101

Jim, I would rather meet for an early dinner around 4-ish. I just don’t know what I would do downtown for more than an hour between the rally and the Dopefest. (Especially after a 3-hour event, I would be kind of tired and ready to sit down, not go walk around more…) The whole area is going to be very very crowded, so the museums etc. will be mobbed for the few hours after the rally, I imagine.

On the other hand, I know there are some people who are coming from out-of-town who do want to see the sites, even if it is crowded. So I am flexible about that. If we made the Dopefest at 5pm, that could work too. I have been wanting to see the Portrait Gallery, so I guess I could go there…

So maybe what I am saying is, let’s leave it up to the out-of-towners. They’re the ones traveling, so if they want to do stuff after the rally, I can adapt to that :wink:

102

Hi It’s me again. I just wanted to slightly change/update my last answer. I am really flexible with whatever the out-of-towners want to do… although I think 5-6pm for dinner would be a good middle-ground. Let me know what you think!

103

I’m wondering if there’s something shiny out there distracting folks from this thread. :stuck_out_tongue:

104

Well, I’m still following it, but it honestly isn’t looking like we’re going to get to make it. We still haven’t heard from unemployment or any employment leads, so we’re going to be living on my measly paycheck for awhile. Not too likely we’ll be able to make any trips out of town in the near future. :frowning:

105

I think people just like to wait until the last minute, even Dopers!! :wink:

106

Well, the good news is that Comedy Central is going to broadcast it live.

But I’m rooting for you!

107

If the fun starts at 12, is arriving at 11 too late?? Yeah, probably…

I should get to the metro by 9 I’m thinking…

108

Either Metro stop is only a 10-15 minute walk to the rally location.

But it’s a good question – when should we rally for the rally?

109

I’m not sure what my deal is for the rally. I may be there with some friends or may be by myself. However I will try to migrate over to where the dopers are, if that’s at a particular place. I am still up for RFD, and can do any time after the rally.

110

I’d be a definite maybe for an early dinner, but think being in town after dark, after the rally, on Halloween weekend, is just begging for trouble. Brunch would be a better option, but whatever. Get me out of DC by about 7:30pm and I’m there.

I can’t seem to get a good feel for where folks are staying. Dinner near the mall will be a lot more expensive, and a lot more crowded. If people are staying in the 'burbs that would make finding a good place a lot easier.

If everybody will list where they are staying (geographically, that is, no need to name the hotel in a public forum) and what kind of food they like, with a price range, I’ll be glad to suss out a list of options. . .

I’d also be glad to list some late night suggestions, just won’t be tagging along for that part. . .

Also, maybe we should list whether we think it’s important to be there for the whole rally, or if we might be willing to arrive late/leave early. There’s a good chance that there will be some sort of vigil going on well into the night. These things don’t just disperse at the time listed.

111

Well, I’m not driving half way across the country to only go to part of it, but I’m not gonna stand around singing kumbaya in a candle light vigil afterward either.

I think the Dopers should meet in a specific location at least an hour ahead of time, and maybe earlier if people think we should, so we can gather for a while and stroll over to the rally. I suggested the fountain between the west and east wings of the National Gallery, at 11 AM.

I’m waiting to hear some more comments about whether people want to gather immediately after the rally or be tourists for a while and gather later. There hasn’t been a lot of response to that yet, but what comments there are so far seem to favor an immediate post-rally get together.

I already have late night Saturday plans, but if folk want to use this thread to work something out for a group, that’s ok too.

112

I’ve updated a few people’s status below. Omissions and corrections please.

We need to get some decisions made.

The most important are:

  1. Time and place for Dopers to rally before the rally.

If no one wants to suggest a better place, we will go with my suggestion in post #84, at fountain between the two National Gallery buildings.

I’m thinking 11 AM is a good time, but I’m less sure of this. Do we want to meet earlier, so we can stroll over and get a better place at the rally, or maybe later because it’s like a 5 minute walk?

In the absence of any argument to the contrary over the next couple days, I’m gonna say 11 AM tentatively.

  1. Time/Location for post-rally Dopefest.

Anyone have a problem with RFD? (Link to menu/map in post #30). In China Town, right near Gallery Place Metro, and even within reasonable walking distance directly from the rally site. If no one raises objections, we should go with it.

Time – 4 PM? I seen more comments suggesting earlier rather than later. Anyone have problems with this time?

Speak up folks, if I’m saying anything that’s gonna cause you problems.

Is anyone willing to make up a small “SDMB” placard of some kind so we can rally to it at the fountain?

If anyone wants to hook up for touristy type things over the course of the weekend, feel free to post whatever you want in this thread to facilitate it.

I will be getting a cell phone in the next couple of days for the trip. If your PMs are enabled and your name is on the lists above, I will get my number to you.

And if you are willing to send a cell number to me, please PM me.

The Rally
Reasonably certain yeses (9):
AndyPolley
Bosstone
Boyo Jim
drastic_quench
FairyChatMom +1
nyctea scandiaca
Raza +1
Todderbob +2

Maybes (14):
Antigen
Biggirl + 1
Brown Eyed Girl + Hubby
Chessic Sense
cosmosdan
Edward The Head
ITR champion
Larry Borgia
pendgwen
Scuba_Ben +1
The post-rally Dopefest
Reasonably certain yeses (8):
Bosstone
Boyo Jim
drastic_quench
Larry Borgia
nyctea scandiaca
Todderbob +2
Wendell Wagner

Maybes (15):
AndyPolley
Antigen
Biggirl + 1
Brown Eyed Girl + Hubby
Chessic Sense
cosmosdan
DCnDC
Edward The Head
FairyChatMom +1
ITR champion
pendgwen
Scuba_Ben +1
TruCelt

113

My daughter and I and possibly another friend will probably be departing the Branch Ave Metro station between 8 and 9, depending on when we get moving in the morning. That’ll get us to the mall no later than 9:30 I think. I’ll gladly send my cell number to anyone who PMs me. Well, not just anyone, but you know… :wink:

We won’t be hanging around for any post rally festivities - we’ll have to get straight back home. If things aren’t too crowded and crazy when we get there, I’ll plan to mosey over around 10, but if it’s mobbed, I may just claim my space right away. Much as I love meeting Dopers, this may be my only chance to see Jon Stewart and I’d like to be as close as possible. Old age has not been kind to my eyesight.

114

Well, for the moment I’ll take that as a vote to meet earlier than 11 AM

115

I’m okay with earlier. The closer we can get the better, and you know there’s going to be people camping out overnight (provided the park service will let them, anyway).

116

I don’t think the Park service would allow anyone to pitch a tent, but if some people just sat through the night on the grass I don’t know that anyone would order them away. I’ve been on the Mall at 2-3 in the morning a number of times and never got hassled.

117

The park service will never allow it.

118

I’m driving, finding a parking garage, and hiking I guess. Last time I was in D.C., it was an 8th grade bus tour.

So there’s no set meet up time or rally point yet?

119

We have a rally point (post #84) unless someone comes up with something better.

We are discussing a meeting time. I suggested 11, but a couple of other folks think earlier is better to get a good vantage point for the rally. I’m certainly open to that.

120

Thanks, my scanning does not equal comprehending.

Seems like 10 would be a safe bet.