# Is there a SoCal Dopefest in the works? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 25, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515 "2004-08-25T23:27:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/41 "2004-08-29T04:05:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Do we have to wear carnations so we can recognise each other? Nametags? Funny hats? Wait a minute. You mean no one taught you guys the **secret sign and handshake**? You have to have those to get into a Dopefest. You were supposed to get those upon registration. Guess somebody’s fallen off the welcome wagon again… :smack: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/42 "2004-08-29T05:35:00Z")
Oh, I know the secret handshake. But when entering a crowded restaurant, you can’t go up to just anybody and give **The Handshake**. Firstly, it would let the Great Unwashed know of our existance. Secondly, it might disturb the waitstaff, and they would spit in our food. Thirdly, i get tired after doing more than 5 or 6 **Secret Handshakes**. Those toe-loops and Salkows wear my ass out! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pepperlandgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@pepperlandgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pepperlandgirl)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/43 "2004-08-29T06:24:20Z")
I just saw this thread now, but I think me and the spouse could make it 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stranger\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@The\_Stranger\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stranger_1)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/44 "2004-08-29T15:11:10Z")
Mission Viejo. October 9th. Sounds good to me. I’m in. (and I’m gonna be blasphemous and bring my non-doper (so far at least) girlfriend) ---
**Author:** ![beckwall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b487fb/32.png) [@beckwall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beckwall)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/45 "2004-08-29T15:26:55Z")
Excellent! And all non-Dopers are invited as well. I don’t know the secret handshake, I thought we’d all just wear T-shirts that say **Doper** on the front. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/46 "2004-08-29T15:54:40Z")
Because walking into a restaurant and asking “Hey, where are all the Dopers?” won’t get you looked at funny. (Well, any more than usual!) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/47 "2004-08-29T16:41:22Z")
> [@Rico](#): > > Wait a minute. > > You mean no one taught you guys the **secret sign and handshake**? > > You have to have those to get into a Dopefest. > > You were supposed to get those upon registration. Guess somebody’s fallen off the welcome wagon again… > > :smack: > > 😃 Well you could look for **Shanna** the pretty one. Oh wait she hasn’t signed up. :smack: Or you could look for me, the short fat one. Oh wait I’ve lost a bunch of weight. :smack: You you could look for **Scout122** the marathoner. Oh wait she can’t make 10/9. \* :smack: Guess you will be walking around giving the secret handshake. 😃 - All of those in favor of getting **Scout1222** to show up anyway and then plying her with food and strong drink as prep for her marathon the next day raise their hands. ::: ducks and runs::: ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2004, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/48 "2004-08-29T18:32:55Z")
You know, there are some things I miss about SoCal. Well, I guess I’ll just sit up here and eat crab. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/49 "2004-08-30T00:19:01Z")
Now just hold on a minute here. Scheduling a dopefest when **Scout** _can’t_ make it is just wrong. Not that you will care what I have to say about it now that you’ve made the plans, but I just had to put in my 2 cents. **Shayna & Spiny Norman** better come. It just won’t be a _real_ dopefest if we don’t have **Scout** & them! :rolleyes: :eek: :rolleyes: :eek: I mean. we already have to do without **Johnny L.A.** What more can you expect from us??? Carry on. As \*\* Rico\*\* has already committed us, we’ll be there. Can’t miss a fest — even if it’s not a true dopefest. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/50 "2004-08-30T01:09:36Z")
> [@beckwall](#): > > **Astroboy14** , I got all excited when I saw your name…but sounds like you can’t be there. Are you at least gonna make some big dollars working all those weekend hours??? No, or at least I hope not! I just want the regular-sized dollars… and lots of 'em! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/51 "2004-08-30T03:56:10Z")
Well, crud. [sub]But it is nice to see that I have my very own cheering section. ;)[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![The\_Stranger\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/87869e/32.png) [@The\_Stranger\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Stranger_1)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/52 "2004-08-30T05:47:02Z")
**scout** I say you come despite your pre-race jitters. I will find you a comfortable chair to sit in, (rest those feet for the race you know…) I will also make sure that you have a bottle of water to drink… ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/53 "2004-08-30T06:02:51Z")
I want to come! I would love to meet you guys! Plus, my girlfriend and I of many years are breaking up ☹ and I feel like a) I could use some entertaining distraction and b) my social skills could use some airing out! **Beckwall** , I tried to send you a message but it says in your profile that you don’t accept email. Mine’s not listed, either (work issue) so I’m not sure what to do besides check back. Count me in as sad not to have a chance to meet **Scout** and **Johnny L.A.**. I could whine if that would make a difference. How about pouting? How _do_ we find each other? (To hostess): “I’m looking for a large group of, uh, smart people…” ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/54 "2004-08-30T06:39:44Z")
> [@jellyblue](#): > > How _do_ we find each other? (To hostess): “I’m looking for a large group of, uh, smart people…” Normally we have a sign saying “SDMB” or something like that so others can find us. Or simply ask for the Cecil Adams party…an inside joke that we’ve used in the past. It’ll be nice to meet you, **jellyblue**. **Scout** is running a marathon the next day, and **Johnny L.A.** now lives 1200 miles away. They have both been Dopefest staples that will be missed. Besides, you can’t miss me. I’m a 6’ 6" bearded goofy lookin’ dude. ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/55 "2004-08-30T14:55:24Z")
I finally got around to firing up the work 'puter and checked my schedule. I am back from Toronto on the 8th, so I’m in. I’m with **cadolphin** that it would be nice if we could change the date so **Scout** could be there. Oh and Scout, if you want to come not only would we give you a bottle of water, we would find you a chair to rest your feet on. ---
**Author:** ![scout1222](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/34f0e0/32.png) [@scout1222](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scout1222)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/56 "2004-08-30T22:01:42Z")
If it turns out this goes through on 10/9, I will consider it. I mean shit, I’m going to be so close (if it’s in Huntington Beach, that is) that I’d kick myself if I didn’t. You just can’t keep me out too late or force any alcohol on me if I do show up. If you do pick 10/9, count me in for the time being as a “maybe” - I’ll see how things are going closer to race day. ---
**Author:** ![cadolphin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c37758/32.png) [@cadolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cadolphin)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/57 "2004-08-30T22:51:08Z")
Then we must move it to Huntington Beach! It just wouldn’t be right to not have **scout** there. If my hubby hadn’t already committed us, I’d be saying “no **scout** , no **cadolphin** ”. Kathy ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2004, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/58 "2004-08-30T22:54:12Z")
> [@cadolphin](#): > > Then we must move it to Huntington Beach! It just wouldn’t be right to not have **scout** there. If my hubby hadn’t already committed us, I’d be saying “no **scout** , no **cadolphin** ”. > > Kathy “no **scout** , no **cadolphin** ” Altogether now! “no **scout** , no **cadolphin** ” ---
**Author:** ![jellyblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e480ec/32.png) [@jellyblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jellyblue)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/59 "2004-08-31T03:25:13Z")
How much further north is Huntington Beach than Laguna Hills? I went up to San Marino 2 weeks ago (to go to the Huntington library/museum/botanical gardens) and it took so damn long (on a Saturday!) to get there…Maybe someone down here can break out a trebuchet and _catapult_ me to HB 😛 . Thanks for the info, Rico 🙂 . ---
**Author:** ![Rico](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rico/32/3582_2.png) [@Rico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rico)\ **Post date:** [August 31, 2004, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515/60 "2004-08-31T04:19:29Z")
According to [Mapquest](http://www.mapquest.com/directions/main.adp?go=1&do=nw&mo=ma&un=m&2tabval=address&1n=Orange&cl=EN&ct=NA&1v=CITY&2n=Orange&1tabval=address&2v=CITY&did=1093925771&1y=US&1a=&1c=Laguna+Hills&1s=CA&1z=&1ah=&2y=US&2a=&2c=Huntington+Beach&2s=CA&2z=&2ah=&idx=0&id=4133fba7-002c0-0093f-400c2548&aid=4133fba7-002c1-0093f-400c2548), Huntington Beach is 23.4 miles north of Laguna Hills. The Huntington Library in San Marino has nothing to do with Huntington Beach. Huntington Beach is a cool little beach community, known worldwide as “Surf City,” and is located between Newport Beach, Fountain Valley, Westminister, and Seal Beach. Not far at all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-socal-dopefest-in-the-works/261515.md?page=4)