# First Annual Great Lakes Doperfest! (I think) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 28, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383 "2003-01-28T01:29:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/1 "2003-01-28T01:29:25Z")
I started [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=153125) a while ago about Mentor, OH area dopers and several dopers mentioned they would like to see a Great Lakes Dopefest. Well, lets make one! I would like to wait until its a little bit warmer so it can be outside. I also think the best bet would be to go to a public place such as a Coffee House, campground, etc, somewhere that is free or somewhere that a 3rd party would charge general admission independent of the dopefest. There are some very nice camp grounds in the area BTW. Another Idea is to have it at Cedar Point, THE BEST theme park in the world, but it doesn’t open until after memorial day, and the admission charge is ridiculous ($50 or more?). I would like to see this at a campground for a weekend though. Questions: Who wants to go? Where will it be? What do we need to do/sign/clear with the SDMB admin/Cecil? What should we have there? Who wants to help organize it? Potluck Dinner/Beer-luck anyone? Can a Mod please stop in here to answer some questions? Comments and Count-Me-Ins please. ---
**Author:** ![Dragwyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dragwyr/32/2855_2.png) [@Dragwyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dragwyr)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2003, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/2 "2003-01-28T01:38:14Z")
I’d definately be interested if it were within 1 hour of Kalamazoo, MI. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/3 "2003-01-30T14:41:21Z")
I don’t know if it is, I’ll mapquest it when I have time. ---
**Author:** ![vanilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/f19dbf/32.png) [@vanilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vanilla)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/4 "2003-01-30T14:52:51Z")
Euclidian here. Id like to see it, preferably nearby as I have no ride. Outside would be nice, but that rules out soon, as our weather hasn’t stabilized yet. A metropark area? Potluck sounds great! ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/5 "2003-01-30T15:45:58Z")
> [@](#): > > What do we need to do/sign/clear with the SDMB admin/Cecil Start a thread in MPSIMS that says “I wanna have a fest!” Seriously. The gazillion fests that have occurred start just that way. We don’t need clearance, because they’re simply for us, on our own time. There’s a sticky at the top of MPSIMS that states just that. I live in Michigan, so a Great Lakes fest is intriguing to me, but I’m not sure whether or not I can attend. But that’s because my Fest calendar is pretty well full-up already. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2003, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/6 "2003-01-30T19:43:36Z")
Kalamazoo, MI, is 4 hours away, but I think the drive would be worth it if its an all weekend thing. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/7 "2003-01-31T06:49:00Z")
Where, exactly, shall this be? ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/8 "2003-01-31T14:30:06Z")
I don’t know… Any suggestions? I know of a couple good campgrounds in the area, Im trying to remember the names. ---
**Author:** ![belladonna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9fc29f/32.png) [@belladonna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/belladonna)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/9 "2003-01-31T14:58:54Z")
I’m in Toledo here. Depending on the timing, I’d definitely like to go and I’d be willing to drive a bit, but probably couldn’t do anything overnight. A nice park for a BBQ sounds fun–but it is pretty weather-dependant so maybe we should have a back-up plan? ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/10 "2003-01-31T17:04:55Z")
If **Shibb** can be interested in crossing the stae for a DopeFest, then by gum, so can I. (But this is just a tentitive “maybe” right now.) -Rue. (waffler) ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/11 "2003-01-31T17:12:57Z")
Weather dependency is not too much of a problem. That is, if I’m able to attend. I own a good-sized (10’X20’) heavy-duty (1" conduit frame) easily portable canopy. ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/12 "2003-01-31T17:17:50Z")
OK, I was going to be all low-key and e-mail you this **BioHazard**. But no e-mail active, so here you go… You said “campground” and you said “Cedar Point” so, in that area there are a couple [State Parks](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/default.htm). One of them is [Kellys Island](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parks/lakeerie.htm). (It’s up in the Port Clinton area and there are other parks right there too. And a couple of the other ones are islands too. But I’m just going to go on about this one.) Look, look! A [Group Camping Area](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parkmaps/lakeerieislandscamp.gif)! Hmmm… And [Glacial Grooves](http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/parks/parkmaps/lakeerieislands.gif). How can you say no to Glacial Grooves? On an island? Gee, for not committing to anything, I’m just Mr. Ideaman. That’s so like me. ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/13 "2003-01-31T17:32:07Z")
Sounds pretty good, Rue. Well have to decide on that location or another based on where everyone is coming from. As for the time, how about in April (my birthday is in april) or would it be better to wait until may for better weather? Need Input. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/14 "2003-01-31T17:37:13Z")
I nominate ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN. Why Ann Arbor? It’s nice. It’s not too far from Cedar Point. There are a lot of bars. (Which are an absolute necessity for a Dopefest.) And…I live here! Come on! Everyone wants to come to Ann Arbor, right? ---
**Author:** ![bettyspaghetti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@bettyspaghetti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettyspaghetti)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/15 "2003-01-31T18:44:34Z")
yeah a Great lakes deep sea fishing fest! Yah? Lessee I may be swinging thru NE Ohio in mid spring from Grand Rapids - So maybe… ---
**Author:** ![ResIpsaLoquitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@ResIpsaLoquitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ResIpsaLoquitor)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/16 "2003-01-31T19:07:19Z")
Ann Arbor is also home to myself, CrankyAsAnOldMan, TalkingHead (he’s still out there, folks), HelloAgain, and Persephone, Brynda, MrBlue92 and several others are nearby. And gas is EXPENSIVE in Michigan…so, hey, we always welcome an ArborDope for that reason. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bettyspaghetti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@bettyspaghetti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bettyspaghetti)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/17 "2003-01-31T19:59:16Z")
Come to the peninsula come to the peninsula! Hell lets have it at my house! ---
**Author:** ![BioHazard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3bc359/32.png) [@BioHazard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BioHazard)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/18 "2003-01-31T21:32:39Z")
BTW: My ex-gf’s uncle lives in peninsula. ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/19 "2003-01-31T21:40:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Kyla \* > \*\*Why Ann Arbor? > > It’s nice. It’s not too far from Cedar Point. There are a lot of bars.\*\* Not that I have a problem with an Ann Arbor Dopefest (Royal Oak’s just a hop-skip no jump away) :D, but it’s pretty far from Cedar Point. ---
**Author:** ![Persephone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@Persephone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Persephone)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2003, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383/20 "2003-01-31T23:34:12Z")
Darn. Kyla beat me to it. I was going to make a suggestion about a Michigan MegaFest, but I was going to wait until sometime later this spring. I was kinda hoping we could do something like that later in the summer, a comfortable distance between ChiDope & the NYC fest. However, I totally suck at planning things like this. So, I’ll drop it for now, and keep an eye on this thread instead. 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/first-annual-great-lakes-doperfest-i-think/151383.md?page=2)