Got a ride to the airport.
Got a sitter for Sunday.
Still need a ride home from the airport Sunday night.
Detroit Metro to Flint. My flight arrives in Detroit at 9:51 pm.
Can anyone assist? Dear Goddess, you have no idea how grateful I’d be.
Ok. My train to New York will arrive at Grand Central Terminal (which is apparently its name, although it’s Grand Central STATION to me) at 12:15. I COULD leave an hour earlier and catch a train that would get me there at 11:15 if nobody wants to miss dim sum to meet me at the station.
In the afternoon, I would be very interested in forming a Generic Sightseeing Group to look at the sights and maybe pop into some stores on Fifth Avenue while we’re there. I have been given by Gunslinger the task of filling my digital camera with architectural photographs, so I want to look at pretty buildings and also see the touristy things. Anybody with me? Anybody? Bueller?*
[sub]* I make that reference all the time and I have never seen that movie. I’m such a loser.[/sub]
Hey chikki, I’d be interested in doing generic touristy-type things on Saturday after dim sum. I’ve never been to NYC and I really really really really want to see the Empire State Building and maybe the Chrysler Building.
Fifth Avenue would be cool too. I’ll bring my white spats and Arrow collars. ;^)
I’m in dire need of someone who can get me from Penn Station to Dim Sum at Ping’s Saturday morning, as well as someone who can get me from the America back to Penn Station and on the correct train home that night. In between I hope to be with several people in a hunt for a good used book store, so I should be pretty safe then.
My current plan is to ride NJ Transit 7822 from Metropark to Penn Station, leaving at 10:15 a.m. and arriving at 10:53 a.m. I’m perfectly willing to pay cab fare for two from there to Ping’s–I just don’t want to be alone.
Thanks.
It will probably take 20-30 minutes from the alleged train arrival time to get to Chinatown, from GCT via subway. So it might be worth getting the 11:15 rather than the 12:15.
Also, I’m coming via Metro North from Connecticut into GCT at around that time, so I can give you an escort. I can’t imagine we’re the only ones, either.
P.S. It’s a terminal because all the trains terminate there. No thru service.
And I know Billdo said no extraneous stuff in this thread, but I just have to point out that SmackFu is probably my favorite username on the SDMB. 
That is all. Carry on.
The main trouble with me arriving at 11 rather than 12 is that it takes me two hours to get to the train station from which I will be departing; once aboard, it’s another hour and a half on train. And I am lazy, and do not like to wake up and drive in the early morning…
Um. Hi. Now that it’s 2003 I’m trying to undo the whole fall-off-the-face-of-the-Earth thing I pulled in June? And I figure that showing up at the Fest would be an excellent start.
For now I can say that I won’t be at the Thursday stuff and I’ll definitely be at No Idea. I’ll know about Friday and the earlier Saturday stuff within the next 24 hours.
I’m really looking forward to seeing you guys. And by the way: I assume that kilts are still considered de rigeur?
Ok, so my plan is this:
I will be leaving central Va on friday morning, and arriving in New Brunswick NJ around 2:30 PM. I will take a 3:30 train to Penn station where I should be ariving at 4:30 PM. I will then proceed to walk 4 or so blocks to the Red Roof Inn, where I will collapse onto my king size bed for a while until it is time to figure out how I should get to the meeting area at 7PM.
Much partying should commence.
After the dinner on saturday night, I will head back to the station, try to figure out my way back to NJ, and then home.
So…NY dopers, is this a good plan, or is there a better way?
I believe the proper term is “dorkitude.”
Or is it “dorkidity”?
In case you’re still confirming headcount for tonight, Lynne’s not coming to the Korean dinner. She will be coming to Sunday brunch, though.
MEGADOPEFEST PAGE 4 UPDATE
Well, starting this afternoon, people will be arriving for the pre-dopefest activities. Can’t wait to see you all. We now have a reservation for the Korean dinner for 20 under the name Cecil Adams. Everything else seems to be on track, except I’m wondering how the heck I’m going to fit 40+ people into my apartment.
For all those planning to attend (or who are listed as attending but will not), please post in this thread confirming that you will be there (or won’t or are still not sure). Also, please mention whether you plan to come to the Thursday Korean Dinner and/or the Billdo Bagel Brunch so that we may make reservations and send directions.
Also, in order to keep this thread to a manageable length, we would appreciate it if you could keep posts in this thread to comments and questions about the Dopefest, the attendees, and arrangements. Also, we will be posting additional details about events, parking, transportation lodging and other items of interest. If you want to start a pre-Dopefest flirting or woo-hoo I’m going to New York thread, for pre-Dopefest chatter, feel free.
Thursday, January 2: The Pre-Dopefest Korean Dinner
For those in the City a bit early, we will be having dinner at Kum Gang San, 49 West 32nd Street., just east of Sixth Ave. at 7:00 p.m. 1/2/3/9, to 34th St/Penn Sta, B/D/F/V or N/R/Q/W to 34th St Herald Square. Parking Map
We have a reservation for 20 at Kum Gang San under the name Cecil Adams.
Friday, January 3: The Welcome to Dopefest Gathering
After an extensive search, we have identified a Friday Night base of operations. From 7:00 p.m. until at least 11ish, we will have New York dopers there to greet all visitors at The Bleecker Street Bar, 58 Bleecker Street, between Broadway & Lafayette Street. 4/5/6 to Bleecker Street, F/V to Broadway/Lafayette, N/R to Prince St. The Bleecker Street Bar is handicapped accessible, with a no-step entrance in the back. Dopers under 21 planning to attend, please e-mail me. We should have a sign saying “Friends of Cecil A.” or something to that effect. Parking Map
Around the Bleecker Street Bar are tons of places to eat and other forms of entertainment. We plan to sponsor a group to go dancing, leaving from the Bleecker Street Bar at 11:00 p.m.
Saturday, January 4: Daytime Cultural Events
During the day on Saturday, January 4, we will be sponsoring several events:
[ul][li]The Dim Sum Lunch in Chinatown will meet at Noon at Ping’s, 22 Mott Street (between Mosco and Worth streets). Take the N/R/Q/W or 6 to Canal Street, walk east on Canal and south on Mott. Parking Map After the lunch, OxyMoron will be leading an Art of the New York City Subways tour. People will also branch out for a free-form exploration of downtown New York bookshops. We’ll try to scare up a tour guide for that.[/li][li]The American Museum of Natural History. UncleBill and GeoBabe will be coordinating this event. Meet at the lobby of the Hotel Olcott, 27 West 72nd Street at Noon. We’ll be going out to brunch beforehand, meeting at the hotel at 10:30. Take the 1/2/3 or C train to 72nd Street. Parking Map[/li][/ul]
Unfortunately, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan trip appears to be suffering from a lack of interest. For those with kids, the Natural History Museum is great, too.
Saturday, January 4: The MegaDopefest Dinner
The MegaDopefest Dinner will return to America Restaurant on Saturday, January 4, 2003 at 6:30 p.m.
America, 9 East 18th Street
New York, NY 10003, (212) 505-2110. 18th Street between Broadway and Fifth. 4/5/6, N/R/Q/W or L trains to 14th Street/Union Square.
[Official link with menus](http://www.arkrestaurants.com/section_home.cfm?section_id=1&location_id=1&restauran t_id=1) Parking Map
Reservation for “Cecil Adams” party. According to the restaurant, it is handicapped accessible.
Following the Dinner, we will adjourn around the corner to the No Idea Bar. 30 East 20th Street between Park and Broadway, Official Link, where we have the back room reserved. No Idea is handicapped accessible. Dopers under 21 planning to attend, please e-mail me.
Sunday, January 5: Billdo’s Bagel Brunch
On Sunday, January 5, from 11:00 to 2:00, we will see how many people we can stuff into a one-bedroom apartment on the Upper West Side of Manhattan at Billdo’s Bagel Brunch. There will be bagels with all the trimmings and plentiful coffee and juice. My apartment is hung-over accessible (and we can get a ramp for the few steps in the lobby, if necessary). If you’re planning to attend, please post here so I may send you directions and have sufficient food. (If your e-mail isn’t listed, please e-mail me.) Parking Map
Travel Arrangements:
For those flying in, we recommend you use LaGuardia, Kennedy or Newark airports. Airport information, including ground and public transportation options, is available here.
Intercity rail service is available through Amtrak to New York’s Penn Station. Commuter rail service is available through Long Island Rail Road, Metro-North and New Jersey Transit. Bus service is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
People have mentioned they’re staying at the Hotel Olcott, 27 West 72nd Street, (212) 877-4200; Hotel Wolcott, 4 West 31st Street, (212) 268-2900; and Red Roof Inn Manhattan, 6 West 32nd Street, (212) 643-7100.
Once in the City, you can get around by New York City Transit buses and subways.
Folks, please remember that is New York City, with big city prices here. If you come into the City with just a few bucks in your wallet, it won’t stretch far, much less through a whole weekend. Also, we have an 8-1/4% sales tax and tipping is an important additional cost on the price of food and drinks here. America will include a 18% gratuity on the bill, and that’s about the standard percentage tip here. We’ve had problems with some that didn’t realize this before, and we don’t want to have similar problems this year.
Parking maps linked to above.
Current List of Expected Attendees:
Please post here to confirm whether you will be attending, will not be attending, or still aren’t sure. We have confirmations from those listed in italics, and a ‘k’ means we’re expecting you for the Thursday Korean dinner and a ‘b’ means we’re expecting you for the Sunday brunch.
Packing their bags (94 - 73 confirmed - 15 k - 46b): Acrylic Vessel kb, Alphagene, Ace of Swords, andygirl b, Banger, beerchick k, biggirl k, Billdo kb, Bluesman, bouv b, Canby b, Ceejaytee (with Mr. Tee & BabyTee), Colibri, Cosmopolitan, Daerlyn, dalovindj, DAVEW0071 k, delphica, Demo b, Dewey Cheatem Undhow, DynoSaur, Elenfair b, Eonwe b, Eutychus b, friedo, *Geobabe * b, GingerOfTheNorth b, Gorgon Heap kb, GrandfatherTrout, Green Bean (and the Bean Sprout) b, Hamadryad b, hampster b, Houseman, Jack Batty b, JerseyDiamond, Jessica2 b, Joe_Cool, JoeyHemlock kb, JohnBckWLD, Kaf, Kyla, LaurAnge b, LindyHopper kb, lisabethnyc, lno b, LolaCocaCola, Lucretia, LynnHazel b, Maeglin (& guest), manhattan, MannyL b, matt_mcl b, Morgyn, Morrison, Mnementh b, mrblue92 (& guest), Nacho4Sara, Overengineer b, OxyMoron b, Persephone kb, psuedotriton ruber ruber b, psycat90 b, Pucette kb, racinchikki (& friend Vinnie), ResIpsaLoquitor, Ringo b, RTFirefly b, scott evil b, SmackFu, slowhand53, Soda kb, Spit, SuaSponte b, Sue Duhnym (& hubby Dunhym), typo mna b, TruePisces b, Ukulele Ike, UncleBill b, Verrain b, vix kb, waterj2 b, Weirddave b, whatmove kb, Wisest Novel b, Wonko the Sane, Zappo b, zoltarb k
Checking whether they have requisite bags (17): BluesKids, CrazyCatLady, DoctorJ, Ell, Jadis, JavaMaven1, JustPlainBryan, MandaJO (& Mr. JO), monstro, Queen Of Hearts, poopy- head, pravnik, samclem, Sophie, ultress, zette
Bagging it (28): Acrylic Gorgon Heapette, Airman Doors, Arden Ranger, Anahita, bristlesage, Cajun Man, CasperQ, DrMatrix, Eve, fizzestothetop, Francesca, Hastur, Honey, iampunha, imthjckaz, Miss Creant, Mr. Cynical, MsRobyn (& BabyDoors), New & Improved Scott, Rasa, Rebound Guy, Sakura, Scotticher, Skerri, SparrowHawk, Spider Woman, thinksnow, Tripler
Special Thanks to the volunteers on the New York Dopefest Planning Committee: canby, Cosmopolitan, delphica, Green Bean, Geobabe, vix, manhattan, OxyMoron, UncleBill, Pucette, TruePisces, and everyone else that helped.
Billdo: just wanted to confirm the time for the dim sum since the update has no time listed: are we meeting at 1:00 at Ping’s? Thanks.
Actually, the meeting time for Dim Sum is noon.
(I cleverly disguised it as a word rather than a number to distract the unsuspecting.)
Due to the ever changing situation that my job is right now, Lucretia and I have about a 60% chance of being there. If we do make it, we will be staying at Fort Hamilton billeting, and we will be participating in the Museum of Natural History outing, the Mega-Dopefest dinner, and the Sunday morning bagel brunch.
Alas, we really won’t know for sure if we can make it until Friday afternoon, so if we don’t get there, all you crazy kids have fun!
I’m coming.
Billdo–very sneaky. I curse my reading skills and wonder if editing is really the right profession for me.
Hurm. Ok, we’ll be heading down for the city in about 3 1/2 hours, and we’ll see y’all at the Korean place at 7.
Whoo-Hoo!
Didn’t post till now because my rehearsal schedule was just released. My ability to attend any of this was all up in the air. The scheduling fairies granted my wishes (some of 'em anyway). Fortune does smile as it turns out:
I will not be able to make the Korean Dinner tonight unless you guys want to move it to 10:30pm (didn’t think so). I am occupied Friday until about 8:30pm, but the theater where I rehearse is right near the Bleecker St. Bar, so I should be there close to 9. Count me in to shake my booty should such a party be formed that evening. I was going to have to miss America, but they just cancelled my Saturday obligations this morning (yay!), so I’ll be at the Saturday dinner if there is still room and at No Idea either way. I must politely decline all invitations to be awake before 1:00 for any brunch type of activity. Homey don’t play that when he’s hung over.
Thanks to Billdo (and all others who helped) for all the spearheading here. Long live the "Type A"s!!! I have done nothing to assist and yet plan to reap the finer benefits of your labor. Your efforts are much appreciated.
Tomorrow evening then . . .
DaLovin’ Dj
Let me seek here the counsel of my fellow Dopers.
I’ve had my plane ride and hotel reservations setup for a couple of weeks, and I’ve got a vacation day scheduled for tomorrow. A few weeks ago I developed a sinus infection, and I got some antibiotics from my doctor and soon began to feel much better. But it never went completely away.
A few days ago, it reared up again, and last night it moved into my lungs. Basically, I’m sick.
I can’t help but wonder about the advisability of going for an airplane ride with a sinus/bronchial infection. And for that matter, plunging into a crowd. What do y’all think?