# Has there ever been an Albany Dopefest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 15, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990 "2004-12-15T16:57:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/1 "2004-12-15T16:57:28Z")
Just wondering, you know, cause NYC and Syracuse are both kind of far. Not to mention I don’t think I could find something in either place - my directional sense leaves much to be desired. Are there any Capital region Dopers other than myself and **Exgineer**? Would we want to plan one? ---
**Author:** ![sj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/65b543/32.png) [@sj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sj2)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/2 "2004-12-15T17:30:12Z")
I usta be a Cap-Region-er…but I live in Seattle now. Man, do I miss Hot Dog Charlies. And Spiaks. And FISH FRIES! Could you go have one for me? Extra tartar please. I prefer to order an extra hotdog roll so my ends make a whole otha fry. Sigh. I’ll hang out with you when I visit my parents in good ol’ Cohoes. If we go for fish fries that is 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/3 "2004-12-15T18:32:01Z")
I also used to be one. I went to RPI for 4 years. **racinchiki** grew up in the Capital Region, I’m pretty sure. Hot Dog Charlies? Bah! Famous Lunch all the way, man! Get 'em with meat sauce and onions, it’s like mini-chili dogs. I don’t live too far away right now, I’m in Saranac Lake (‘bout 2.5 hours away. Just head south on the ol’ Northway,) ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/4 "2004-12-15T18:48:01Z")
I proposed having one once, and if I recall correctly it garnered a pretty decent response. Unfortunately it never came off.\* I think there are seven or eight or so regular posters who live in and around Albany, so it seems like it might be possible. \*A couple of weeks went by and I just plain forgot about it. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/5 "2004-12-15T19:38:32Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > I proposed having one once, and if I recall correctly it garnered a pretty decent response. Unfortunately it never came off.\* > > I think there are seven or eight or so regular posters who live in and around Albany, so it seems like it might be possible. > > \*A couple of weeks went by and I just plain forgot about it. Well, what if you and I planned one? Could we do that? I would be bashful to do it myself, but together I’d feel braver. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/6 "2004-12-15T20:37:42Z")
> [@](#): > > I usta be a Cap-Region-er…but I live in Seattle now. Man, do I miss Hot Dog Charlies. And Spiaks. And FISH FRIES! I lived in Albany for a year and a half. The only thing I miss about it is its proximity to Quebec and Vermont. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/7 "2004-12-15T20:37:59Z")
There’s been talk, but it’s never happened. I’m all for you and **Exgineer** organizing one! **RealityChuck** is in the area. Then there’s this doper [Elenia28](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=291595) that seems to have disappeared. As for other Dopefests, I’ve made it up to Montreal a couple of times, so keep that in mind for the future. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2004, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/8 "2004-12-15T21:01:01Z")
Well if \*\*Exgineer \*\* is agreeable, I’d love to plan one. Perhaps in the New Year, when everyone wants to get away from their families and see friends. **Exgineer**! Yoohoo! Whaddya say? And **JeffB** , don’t know if you were perhaps whooshing me, but check out the sig. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/9 "2004-12-16T05:09:28Z")
I live about 90 mins from Albany, so I would attend if the date was right. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/10 "2004-12-16T13:31:52Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > And **JeffB** , don’t know if you were perhaps whooshing me, but check out the sig. Well, I was trying, apparently not very successfully, to show my amazing wit (hence the link to your announcement thread). Maybe my sig would be appropriate here. ---
**Author:** ![JeffB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeffb/32/188_2.png) [@JeffB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JeffB)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/11 "2004-12-16T13:32:57Z")
And it would be more appropriate if I actually included my sig. Stupid Preview turning off my sig. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/12 "2004-12-16T13:46:56Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Well if \*\*Exgineer \*\* is agreeable, I’d love to plan one. Perhaps in the New Year, when everyone wants to get away from their families and see friends. > > **Exgineer**! Yoohoo! Whaddya say? Given my performance the last time I’m not entirely sure I’m the right man for the job, but I’d be willing to give it a shot. I think that if we’re to approach this logically we’d need a firm roster of people interested in attending, and from there we could determine a mutually convenient venue and date. Heck, I might even attend myself, so long as I’m not required to get up before noon on a Saturday or actually leave my house or anything crazy like that. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/13 "2004-12-16T14:30:10Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > . > > Heck, I might even attend myself, so long as I’m not required to get up before noon on a Saturday or actually leave my house or anything crazy like that. :dubious: You’re not sure if you can even attend? 😉 Given the end of your sentence, would you care to host it? If we can get a venue, then I’ll start trying to hunt down local Dopers and fix a date. If not, what I really want out of you anyway is a venue, as I am not very hip to the good places in and around Albany. ---
**Author:** ![Exgineer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a88e4f/32.png) [@Exgineer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exgineer)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/14 "2004-12-16T14:55:26Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Given the end of your sentence, would you care to host it? If we can get a venue, then I’ll start trying to hunt down local Dopers and fix a date. If not, what I really want out of you anyway is a venue, as I am not very hip to the good places in and around Albany. I was just making a dumb joke there. Can you give me a general idea of what sort of venue you’re talking about? Bar, dance club, museum, skating rink or Washington Park? If it’s one of the first two I’m going to have as much trouble as you are. Even though there’s a bar every half a block in this burg I’m familiar with exactly one of them, because it’s walking distance from work and I meet friends there after work occasionally. It’s not “hip” by any stretch of the imagination. Think old guys in suits. I think you have the right approach, though. Pick a spot and a date and see who’s available. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/15 "2004-12-16T16:06:37Z")
> [@Exgineer](#): > > I was just making a dumb joke there. I know, and I was teasing back but it didn’t go off that well, either. > [@Exgineer](#): > > Can you give me a general idea of what sort of venue you’re talking about? Bar, dance club, museum, skating rink or Washington Park? If it’s one of the first two I’m going to have as much trouble as you are. Even though there’s a bar every half a block in this burg I’m familiar with exactly one of them, because it’s walking distance from work and I meet friends there after work occasionally. > > It’s not “hip” by any stretch of the imagination. Think old guys in suits. > > I think you have the right approach, though. Pick a spot and a date and see who’s available. Well, Bars maybe for after. The museum sounds really nice, and then maybe a local bar/restaurant afterwards? Pump Station, or Jillian’s? Does this sound too nerdy? I know a lot of local Albany people don’t go to the museum, and it would give us something to do! And if you think I’m freezing my little butt in January in Washington Park you have got to be kidding me. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/16 "2004-12-16T16:08:39Z")
Oh, and Exgineer, let me know a couple of Saturdays in January that are good for you. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/17 "2004-12-16T20:18:16Z")
Ooooh, oooh, oooh! I’m in the area too and was hoping someone would have one here. (I’m too lazy to organize one myself 😛 ) Keep me posted on the details. Yay, Capital Region dopers! 😃 And hi to \*\*bouv \*\*and any and all other fellow RPI alums out there. ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/18 "2004-12-16T20:19:21Z")
btw, if\*\* NuttyBunny\*\*'s still around, I think she was from Troy. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/19 "2004-12-16T20:24:01Z")
I’m from the area. Keep me posted. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2004, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990/20 "2004-12-16T20:39:47Z")
Ok, I wrote down everyone’s usernames except for ruadh, who I don’t think wants to come visit. We will plan something for mid- to late January, I hope. I’ll start a new thread shortly. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-there-ever-been-an-albany-dopefest/279990.md?page=2)