# Idle Thoughts/Hal Briston East State Tour: DC Dopefest, Saturday, December 17th. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 18, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981 "2016-10-18T20:51:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/1 "2016-10-18T20:51:33Z")
**Hal Briston** and I will be in Washington DC on this day, in the afternoon/evening sometime. If anyone would like to meet, let me know, we might be able to get together for an hour, two, or three for a bite to eat or something along that nature. Proposed places to meet: [Ray’s Hellburger](http://www.rayshellburger.com/ray-s-hell-burger.html) From [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=807144), quite a few people have seemed to express interest so far: **Skywatcher MsRobyn Edward the Head FairyChatMom RTFirefly iiandyiiii Snooooopy 2gigch1 Annie-Xmas Count Blucher** Maybes: **Furryman Bobkitty** ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/2 "2016-10-18T20:59:39Z")
I’m definitely interested - might even be able to persuade my spousal unit to come along. We’ll see how this looks closer to the date. Yay! ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/3 "2016-10-18T21:09:50Z")
Awesome! Barring something weird, I will expect to be there. I suggest somewhere Metro accessible, and if we have a large enough group, a reservation and maybe even a private room. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/4 "2016-10-18T21:16:34Z")
If I may, there’s a great burger place called Ray’s Hellburger (shakes, beer, and wine) that’s pretty roomy inside, in Arlington, a few blocks from a metro station and 5 minutes by train from DC. [http://www.rayshellburger.com/ray-s-hell-burger.html](http://www.rayshellburger.com/ray-s-hell-burger.html) ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/5 "2016-10-18T21:24:32Z")
Don’t forget to take nudes of each other. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/6 "2016-10-18T21:26:58Z")
I’m in, and I second (or whatever) the desire to be close to the Metro. I hate driving in DC and avoid it wherever possible. Depending on the final plans, I might even make a sightseeing day out of it. We’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/7 "2016-10-18T21:54:23Z")
Metro - yes! ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/8 "2016-10-18T22:09:59Z")
I don’t think I’ll be in town. ---
**Author:** ![bobkitty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c67d28/32.png) [@bobkitty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobkitty)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/9 "2016-10-18T22:52:25Z")
Put me down as a maybe, please. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2016, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/10 "2016-10-18T23:30:37Z")
I have edited the OP to include some more details. I put the proposed Ray’s burger place in there. Others can feel free to nominate or suggest other places if they know the area well and then maybe we can vote on it or just say if you’re fine with a place. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/11 "2016-10-19T00:13:25Z")
Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/12 "2016-10-19T01:11:41Z")
I should be there. Wherever there ends up being. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/13 "2016-10-19T01:50:35Z")
It’s likely I’d be able to make it. Don’t know about Ms. P or our 16 year old son. Older S probably won’t be finished with finals yet. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/14 "2016-10-19T15:48:35Z")
That’s a good, driveable location for me, and actually a better option than parking at the Branch Ave Metro and riding from there. I’m good with Ray’s. ---
**Author:** ![The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_wind_of_my_soul)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/15 "2016-10-19T17:22:12Z")
If **FairyChatMom** is right and it’s driveable (and parkable), then I’d like to come. I live a bit outside of the Metro area and would like to drive there. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/16 "2016-10-19T17:55:13Z")
> [@The\_wind\_of\_my\_soul](#): > > If **FairyChatMom** is right and it’s driveable (and parkable), then I’d like to come. I live a bit outside of the Metro area and would like to drive there. There’s an entrance to underground 2-hour parking right next door. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/17 "2016-10-19T17:58:32Z")
I haven’t guaranteed that Ray’s takes reservations for large groups, but I will ask them this week. If they don’t, we could still probably do it as long as it’s not at peak time (so Saturday afternoon would probably be fine, Saturday evening might be too crowded to get a big table). ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/18 "2016-10-19T18:19:56Z")
If getting a table turns out to be a problem, I’ve found a place nearby that looks interesting. [Heavy Seas Alehouse](http://heavyseasalehouse.com/arlington.html) ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/19 "2016-10-19T18:22:33Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > If getting a table turns out to be a problem, I’ve found a place nearby that looks interesting. > > [Heavy Seas Alehouse](http://heavyseasalehouse.com/arlington.html) I haven’t been there but I’ve heard good things, and it’s in the same area (almost the same block!), so that’s probably a good choice too. I’ll call Ray’s this week. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2016, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981/20 "2016-10-19T19:01:33Z")
I’m in, and Ray’s is fine. 🙂 The point about the crowds/reserving a large table is a good one, plus an afternoon thing would work better for me than an evening thing. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/idle-thoughts-hal-briston-east-state-tour-dc-dopefest-saturday-december-17th/768981.md?page=2)