What exactly do people do at a “dopefest”? Talk about their favorite columns? Ask and answer a lot of questions?
At Gettysdope I last summer we had people from 6 states who all contributed to a pot luck supper. In addition to great food, people played games, juggled, flew kites, played in mud, played musical instruments, talked about anything and everything, and generally had a helluva time just hanging out and getting to know one another better. Gettysdope II is 23 July-thread in MPSIMS. Be there or be . 
What’s been the best attended Dopefest? I think we had nearly 60 at the Sept 2001 fest in Los Angeles.
I’m pretty sure Kytheria and I could host a helluva convention in Toronto…pick a weekend in the fall…wouldnt’ it be fun?
At the NYC Megafest of, um, Chumley’s (I don’t remember what year, I remember which bar) we stopped counting at 165, I believe.
Talk about everyone who isn’t there. And get drunk.
You forgot about all the dope, Kyla.
165, biggirl? Holy moley, that’s a lot of Dopers.
Yeah, well we’ve only had the police called on us once that I can recall (this was at the aforementioned LA Dopefest in 2001). Although it’s possible we’ve been banned from the Madonna Inn in San Luis Obispo, CA (it was awhile ago now, maybe they’ve forgotten us by now!). And I heard we’ve been disinvited from some bar in New York, too, although I wasn’t there so I take none of the blame for that.
I was at the New York MegaDopefest in January 2003, though. We took over an entire (large) restaurant. It was awesome fun, but kind of intimidating. I wish I had gotten to meet more people.
Just the thought of a Dope Convention gives me a :: swoon ::. I can’t even imagine an international MegaDopeFest.
I haven’t even been able to make any of the IndyFests and that’s only a 2 hour drive. Since Chicago is the “mother city”, wouldn’t it be the most appropriate venue?
DopeToberFest 2001 (obviously in October 2001 – and yes, there was a jack-o-lantern) in Redondo Beach (basically L.A.) had about 70 of us there. IIRC, that’s where Coldfire and Heloise met. Coldie came over from The Netherlands. Francesca (does she still post?) came over from England. I don’t remember if there were any other International Dopers there, but there may have been. Other Dopers came from all across the country.
DRINK! At most of the DopeFests I’ve attended, there has been some amount of drinking. The most seemed to be at DopeToberFest 2001, and it continued after the ‘official’ party broke up. But for the most part, the drinking was responsible. People who were driving behaved themselves, and the others who got destroyed drank at the after-party at the hotel and crashed there.
Basically a DopeFest is a ‘meet-and-greet’, where faces are put to screen names. We introduce ourselves to Dopers we haven’t met, and chat with ones we have. Talk about the columns and threads occurs of course; but most of the talking seems to be the kind you’ll see at any party. Hobbies and interests, current events, how good the food is, etc. Some rather immature Dopers play with their food, and do things like making pirate ships out of toothpicks and French fries. (And once, though not at a DopeFest but at a gathering of three Dopers who became real life friends, the ship was made from a section of pineapple and some skewers.)
And there is romance. I’ve mentioned Coldie and Heloise. Shayna and Spiny Norman met at a DopeFest. Other marriages have resulted from such gatherings as well.
I could have sworn that was the last weekend of September instead of October. Well I did partake of an alcoholic beverage or… two :rolleyes: which may have fogged my memory. I do remember Los Angeles’ finest paying us a visit at the hotel courtyard. Xxxxxxx* approached them first to explain… wearing a bathrobe and with a drink hin his hand.
*Names omitted to protect the innocent.
I’ve been to KC Dopefests that had around 20 in attendance, never been to a really big one.
But Kansas City would be a good place for a big Fest. Lots of hotels, an international airport, plenty to see and do.
I live in Topeka, not so far from KC. Folks could always make a quick sidetrip to Topeka, and go Phelps watching! We could take pictures, and point and laugh at them!
People usually have a good time in Las Vegas, and seldom is there any arm twisiting necessary to get someone to come here. Plus it seems everyone can find a non-stop or direct flight to the city no matter what city/country.
Buffets, free drinks, cheap thrills, roller coasters, strip clubs, 24 hour bars, Siegfried san Roy, Hoover Dam, milllion dollar jackpots, 99 cent shrimp cocktails, Chippendales, Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, sun sun sun, pools pools pools, Hard Rock, Palms, Bellagio, Wynn, Motel 6, Hofbrau Haus, Elvis, Elton, Barry, Celine, Cirque, more buffets and more free drinks again…
Maybe a Mega Dope Fest in Las Vegas…planned at least a year in advance, and searching for a “slow” month with few conventions, thus cheaper rooms and flights.
Just an idea. There are also a few local Dopers here in Las Vegas to help organize and give suggestions for the trip.
I propose the SuperMegaUltraDoperThonaFest should be held in Seoul, South Korea.
… if not, is anyone up for a smaller, normal Dopefest there???
Natto Guy is in Hokkaido too, but he is miles away from me. Anyway, I think I prefer to keep my anonymity - it’s a thing rare and prized here.
Last year when I moved to my husband’s hometown (population 70,000) I got in a taxi and realised I couldn’t remember our new address. “Oh, that’s OK” said the taxi guy, “I know where you live” and too me there. EEEK.