# Florida Dopefest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 17, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226 "2003-04-17T02:17:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/1 "2003-04-17T02:17:18Z")
I’m curious, but would anyone go to a Florida Dopefest/ Minidope? What form might that take? I’m still fairly new here, so I’m not yet up on where the dopefests are usually held. Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/2 "2003-04-17T02:57:46Z")
**Copa** - what part of FL are you in? It’s a big state, after all. FWIW, FL seems to be sparsely populated with Dopers. It seems there’s a few in the Miami area, a few in the Tampa area, a couple more in Orlando, a couple in Tally, one in Jax…you get the idea. I’m in MD, but since my in-laws are in Plant City, I’m down thataway fairly often. I keep on hoping for a well-timed Tampa Dopefest, but a critical Doper mass is hard to come by. ---
**Author:** ![Ringo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/779978/32.png) [@Ringo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ringo)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/3 "2003-04-17T03:04:02Z")
**Unclebabe** , [sub]_cough_ _cough_[/sub], er, excuse me, **Geobill** are in FLA. They fest - get 'em interested. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/4 "2003-04-17T05:16:02Z")
Well, **Copa** – I believe you’re here in Tally (since you belong to **XJETGIRLX** , no?) – so if you’re thinking something in this area, count me in. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/5 "2003-04-17T07:53:03Z")
I am in Florida as well but not near Tallahassee, as i live in Fort Pierce. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/6 "2003-04-17T10:41:34Z")
There had been talk of an OrlanDope earlier this year, but it seemed to fizzle and die. The only Dopers I’ve met in FL were passing thru, and next month, I get to meet **swampbear** as he passes thru. But no one likes this corner of the state, including me. I’d gladly host a JaxDope, but there aren’t enough of us hereabouts… ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/7 "2003-04-17T11:07:11Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > **There had been talk of an OrlanDope earlier this year, but it seemed to fizzle and die. The only Dopers I’ve met in FL were passing thru, and next month, I get to meet swampbear as he passes thru. But no one likes this corner of the state, including me…** Ahem? :dubious: Sincerely, screech- “chopped liver” owl ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/8 "2003-04-17T11:15:28Z")
Oh yes, and I met **screech-owl** at Marineland. Which slipped my mind because I was thinking about who I met in the Jax area, and besides it’s still early in the morning and my caffeine hasn’t kicked in. But I know she’s a good sport and wouldn’t take such a thing as a personal slight. No really!! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![screech-owl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@screech-owl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/screech-owl)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/9 "2003-04-17T11:22:13Z")
😃 screech -“now more like a lean rare roast beef and a half-pound of processed American cheese (yellow, please) food” owl ---
**Author:** ![bayonet1976](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/77aa72/32.png) [@bayonet1976](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bayonet1976)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/10 "2003-04-17T12:36:17Z")
Well, I’m soon to be, almost kicking and screaming, a Jax resident so I’m all for a Florida reunion. ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/11 "2003-04-17T12:40:44Z")
I’d be interested but as someone said, Florida is a big state. Wouldn’t mind traveling as far as Orlando but it seems most dopers here live further away than that. Maybe we could do a DisneyDope? Just a thought. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 12:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/12 "2003-04-17T12:41:32Z")
I’m in central Florida, and I suggested the fizzled and dead Orlandope. It was harder than I thought, trying to find a date that would make everyone happy. Where are you planning on having it? ---
**Author:** ![Shaolinrabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Shaolinrabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shaolinrabbit)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/13 "2003-04-17T13:22:08Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ivylass \* > Where are you planning on having it? Actually, to be honest I’m not, _yet_. Basically I’m fishing for dopers that might like to go. After that I figured we could select a location. Realistically if there’s less than fifteen people going all we’d need is some hotel space somewhere to meet up so we could literally dope anywhere in FL. Tallahassee seemed to far northlefterly for most FL-dopers to get to. Orlando probably isn’t a bad idea, though. At any rate, I’m certainly flexible. As to the date, if it was set a reasonable disctance into the future, could most dopers make it? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/14 "2003-04-17T13:26:19Z")
We might be in Florida again for an extended length of time during the summer, maybe 3-4 weeks. We would be in the St. Pete / Clearwater area, but would be amenable to a swing out Orlando way. Not something to plan around, but keep me in mind if you pull this off. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/15 "2003-04-17T13:33:32Z")
My experience with this board as well as other social situations:[ul]Pick a date Pick a place Let everyone know Those who can come will, those who can’t won’t[/ul]You can’t please everyone. It’s very unlikely that you can pick the perfect date or venue. So suggest a date, time, place and those who want to, will. My own personal opinion - I would prefer a picnic type of setup rather than a restaurant or bar. It’d be easier to socialize, and everyone could bring their own refreshments - no need to find a place that everyone would like. I’ve been to two restaurant gatherings and one at a private home. The cookout at the home was a lot nicer - mingling and conversation wasn’t overpowered by a long table or loud music. A park with toilet facilities, tables, and a parking lot would be a great venue, IMHO. And if anyone wants to venture to the Jax area, I know a great place to gather. But no one wants to come here, so that’s that. ---
**Author:** ![g8rguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/7cd45c/32.png) [@g8rguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/g8rguy)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/16 "2003-04-17T15:59:26Z")
I’m in Gainesville, and can get as far as Jacksonville, or Orlando, or Tampa in a pinch, so if we choose any of those areas, let me know. Except that as I mentioned the last time we had this idea, I’ll be out of the country from mid-June through mid-August. But that’s fine, as I think **FCM** ’s idea of an outdoor gathering is a good one, and you’re **not** getting me to spend more time than I have to outside in July. ---
**Author:** ![Sassafras](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@Sassafras](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassafras)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/17 "2003-04-17T16:24:42Z")
I am in Central Florida, and so is BitterBetty. Orlando or Jax is pretty equal distance for us. ---
**Author:** ![swampbear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/swampbear/32/467_2.png) [@swampbear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/swampbear)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/18 "2003-04-17T16:50:05Z")
I’d climb out of the south Jawja swamps to attend a dopefest in Tallahassee, Jax, or Orlando. For me it’s a little over two hours to Tallahassee, a little over three to Jax and around 5 hours to Orlando. Sounds like a fun weekend trip. ---
**Author:** ![z28in813](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a587f6/32.png) [@z28in813](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/z28in813)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/19 "2003-04-17T17:32:55Z")
I am game for anywhere in Florida, I am over in Tampa, so getting anywhere in the state is basically less than five hours so it is no big deal. An orlando Dopefest would be cool because Orlando is in the center of the state, just what everyone is up for. If someone wants help organizing let me know I can work the logistics of a gathering if there is enough interest. Gary ---
**Author:** ![XJETGIRLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9fc29f/32.png) [@XJETGIRLX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XJETGIRLX)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226/20 "2003-04-17T17:38:34Z")
Okay, I have to talk to **Copa** about this before I can say for sure, but I’ll agree to plan and organize the whole shebang, as long as we can agree to something fairly devoid of great monetary expenditure (read: we be po’) I’ve had experience planning our seven city interview tour with 100+ attendees and 300+ candidates, this should be a piece of cake 😉 I think it would be a great idea to do a Jaxdope and an Orlandope (or Orlando-ish) and have them a few weeks apart. That way most of us should be able to make it to one or the other. From what I can tell, somewhere between late July and early Sept. would work for most people. If you’re interested, go ahead and e-mail me with your name, which location you’d be more likely to attend, and what restrictions you have as far as date/time goes. My e-mail address is in my profile. I’ll also need a contact in each area, someone to scout out locations, or someone who knows the area that can help me set things up remotely, if need be. If anyone’s got any ideas, questions, whatever, or if someone else wants to help plan, let me know. Hopefully we can at least get a handful of dopers together for a good time :😁: [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/florida-dopefest/169226.md?page=2)