Pittsburgh Micro-Dopefest

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

In a recent thread, there was talk of a few SDMB posters going swing dancing. However, before then, we would like to get together and meet. To that end, there is this thread, dedicated to getting a few of the Steel City finest together.

I am the type that will get together on a moment’s notice for a party, even if I’m throwing it myself. I realize that most people aren’t like this, so I have thrown out the idea of putting this together for tonight. How does this Saturday, the 26th sound for a get together? If not, maybe next weekend?

As for where, I have a few suggestions and I ask for other suggestions if you have them.

Suggestion 1) The Waterfront
The Waterfront has D&B, Loews and Barns and Nobels, everything you could ever need to do. Dave and Busters is a great place to meet and just hang out, as they’ve got games, nice atmosphere and decent food if you’re hungry. If games aren’t your thing, you can always catch a book at B&N or a movie at Loews. I would recommend everyone meeting at D&B, since it’s easy to find people there. Only problem is you need to either be 21 or with someone 25 or older to get into D&B.

Suggestion 2) North Park
Or South Park. I just happen to live in the north, so I’m familliar with it. Along with random picnicing and large grassy areas for frisbee, you’ve got Wildwood for goofy golf and go-carts. Not many busses go out this way, but there is also no age restrictions.

Suggestion 3) Moonflite
A coffee shop near the airport, in Moon. I suggest this because they’ve got comfortable rooms to hang out in. On Fridays and Saturdays, live bands play. It’s a college kid hangout, but a few of my friends work there, and it’s a comfy atmosphere.

My current vote is for Saturday afternoon/evening starting at D&B at the Waterfront. I can ride a person or two, if you do not have a ride yourself, especially if you are in the north of Pittsburgh.

Currently I will be going, Guinastasia has mentioned to me that she would be interested in attending a PghFest and Six-O who was recently banned for stupidity will quite possibly show.

If you’re interested in getting together this weekend or next, check in and let me know where you’d like to go.

2

I’d like to meet some other local Dopers; I have been talking withSiege about meeting sometime. Option One seems to be the best for me, since I’m older and I come from the Far East (Indiana County.)

I’d like to suggest an alternative- SteelerDope at Latrobe. Yes, meeting together at St. Vincent’s and watching some practice, then maybe hitting one of the local restaurants (my favorite is the Super Panda just down Rt. 30 in Greensburg.)

Saturday, the 26th, is my 5th wedding anniversary, and the 27th is our family reunion- can’t miss it because we are in charge- heck, if anyone wants to come to that, it’s at Parker Dam north of Dubois. WQe have a lot of good food, swimming, games, and an auction. Just email me and let me know how many are coming and I’ll give directions to the pavilion.

I’d also suggest the Zoo and Aquarium, Carnegie Science Center, or even PNC Park for a Pirates game. For a completely different experience, I’d suggest meeting on the Strip to sample all the fine foods and beverages there.

One last idea- you could come to my house and we could have a LAN party. There is not much nightlife out here but the life we create, and all the neighbors are relatives.

3

Glad to see you’re up for a get together, Steelerphan. I don’t think a SDMB gathering would work too well for a 5th wedding anniversary. You can always give it a try, though.

I am usually up for LAN parties, however, it doesn’t seem like something everyone would want to do. The Zoo or Aquarium sound like good plans, though. Would next Saturday be better, or one of the next two fridays? What about everyone else in the Pittsburgh area? Where and when would you like to get together?

4

I should have been more clear- I’m busy and can’t come to anything on the 26th. The party on the 27th is open for everyone who wants to spend the day in a state park. It’s a nice one.

Let’s see what we can make of a LAN party in the future, if you’re interested.

Also, I’ll wait and see what is more convenient for more people to get together. I’m game- I can come to PGH for any weekday event since my wife works on the edge of the city. Evenings and weekends are tougher, require more planning.

Pennsic is coming up in Grove City- I may attend for the first time. Maybe one of the SCA regulars can fill us in on how to get together.

Keep plugging!

5

I’ve tried to start Pittsburgh Dopefests myself a couple of times, and failed completely. Saturday night’s out for me, but I should be able to make it Sunday. As for location, name it, and I’ll find it. By the way, if any Burgh Dopers are interested, Western Pennsylvania’s Mensa Regional Gathering will be Labor Day weekend. Since an RG is the closest thing I know to a live version of the SDMB and vice versa, and I’m running programs for the thing, I’ll vouch for any Dopers who want to turn up. We’re talking large quantities of chocolate, puns which would make Polycarp groan, enough food to feed an Army of Steeler fans, and hugs which would make iampunha melt (they make me purr!).

CJ

6

Weekday events are out for me, Steelerphan as I have to support my habits, somehow, and currently, work is doing that. I have 3 day weekends though, so I’m free Friday-Sunday every week to do pretty much anything.

Siege, I have no problems throwing a party without anyone showing up. It’s happened before, I’m sure it will happen again. I’ve already guarenteed one banned poster already, however, so there’ll be at least two of us for anything. The problem with Sundays is that everything is generally closed after 6pm. I’m generally eating breakfast around then, so Friday or Saturday afternoons and evenings are better for me.

The Mensa gathering sounds amusing, you may want to offer that a thread of it’s own, as I think there are quite a few Mensa members on the board.

7

i’d love to meet, either Sat or Sun. Surely there’s more than 5 Dopers in da Burgh though?

8

You’d think there’d be more than 5. I know of at least two others that havn’t stopped in yet. Hopefully they’ll stop by and at least say hi.

Since Dave and Busters costs money, maybe North Park would be the best bet, since everyone can go without worrying about having to pay. If anyone needs a ride, I’m sure arrangements can be made. I can provide a hacky sack and one or two guitar players. Maybe even a frisbee, but that might be pushing it.

How does saturday afternoon/evening sound, around 5 or 6 pm at the boat house lawn? If not this saturday, then next saturday?

9

So what’s the plan?
I’ve managed to drag mrblue down here for that weekend and we could probably make something.

And Siege, if my abuse of the English language hasn’t booted me, the RG sounds fun.

10

North Park sounds like fun! We could do a pot luck, so it won’t be expensive.

Next Saturday would probably be better-gives everyone more notice.

11

Next Saturday works for us.

I can bring a frisbee. A potluck sounds good; I guess we just have to get a couple picnic tables. I can also bring a couple of games for those of us who can’t run around as much as we used to- yahtzee, bingo, cards w/poker chips.

I’d suggest meeting earlier than 5 or 6, since parks usually close at dusk.

12

North park is open late, until 10pm or so. Besides, there’s still sunlight until at least 8:30 - 9pm. However, if you want to meet earlier, sounds good to me. 3ish? I work late, I’m hard pressed to wake up much before then, but I will if need be.

So, next saturday, August 2nd, 3ish at the boat house? Everyone bring something interesting to play with and something edible. Oh, and yourself. Can’t forget that.

Also, let everyone in the thread know what you’re planning to bring, so we can make sure there are at least some drinks and the like. Nothing worse than having 8 people all bringing franks and beans and nothing to wash them down with. I will bring drinks/cups if no one else wants to, otherwise, I’ll provide a dessert.

13

I’m in. I’ll bring good English sausage rolls, and maybe some sort of dessert.

CJ

14

Maybe I’ll see what I can look up-I have some recipes I’ve been wanting to try, and my dad can probably help me with something.

15

It’s amazing, we’ve got one of the highest posts to view ratios ever. Maybe there really are only 7 people from pittsburgh on the entire board.

Hopefully if we keep the thread alive at least until next week, we’ll get a few more for the picnic at North Park.

As for rides, make sure you post in here if you don’t have a way there. I’m sure something can be worked out. Also, if you can’t make anything, don’t worry about it too much, just come along and have a good time with the rest of us.

16

I’ll bring beer, If Amstel light’s ok…
Now, I’ve been here 3+ years but… where’s North Park?
I’d be coming from Robinson.
Anything else I should bring?

17

Guys-we’d better make sure there’s a pavillion or table available-just in case, since the park rents them out.

Other than that, I don’t think it’ll be a problem.

18

There are always tables available at the boathouse, but I’ll take a drive out there this weekend sometime, just to make sure I’m not imaging things.

I’m not sure what their policy is on alchohol, I’ll find that out too. I mean, as I understand it, Amstel Light is hardly alchoholic to begin with, so it shouldn’t be a big deal.

To get there from Robinson:
[ul]
[li]376 East/60 towards Pittsburgh (376 and 60 are the same road at that point, or change names somewhere, or something)[/li][li]Turns into 279 North (somewhere near the Ft. Pitt Tunnels)[/li][li]Take the 51 North detour/exit, right before Ft. Pitt Tunnel[/li][li]Go to the West End Circle (is it still a circle?) and go straight over the west end bridge[/li][li]Continue onto 279 North[/li][li]Take the Camp Horne road Exit (no idea what number)[/li][li]Go right through the exit, you’re now on some road who’s name I don’t know - Follow this road for around 1.5 miles[/li][li]Bear left at the 3 way Y (there is a gas station and Bruester’s Icecream here)[/li][li]Make a Right at the next Light (Sir Pizza on the corner)[/li][li]Make a Left at the next Light (you are now on Rt 19 North)[/li][li]Continue on 19 North for approx. 2 miles, there will be signs to North Park, it will be a right hand turn[/li][li]Once you are in the park and passing groves, make a Left a the next light[/li][li]Make a left at the next road (end of the bridge, about 500 ft from the light)[/li][li]Continue for less than a mile, the entrance to the boat house will be on your left[/li][/ul]
Yee god, that’s ugly. You can also get off 279 North at McKnight Road and follow that to the signs to North Park, and pick up the directions at “passing groves…” but you’ll have more traffic to contend with that way.

As for the boat house, you can’t miss it; it’s a giant parking lot. The only parking lot near against the lake, that I know of. If you need better directions, I’m sure someone else can do it better than me.

19

Note: Looking at the first 2 steps, I realize that I have named the roads as I see them, going north to south. They are named differently coming the other way. Basically, hop onto 60 towards Pittsburgh from Robinson, you’ll eventually run into the Fort Pitt Tunnel. Just make sure you take that 51N/West End exit instead of the tunnel itself.

When I go to Robinson, I get onto 376W, which turns into 279 South, which is then 22/30 and then becomes 60. This is why Mapquest servers hate Pittsburgh.

20

My wife is up for it, I look forward to meeting everyone and introducing them to Mrs. Steelerphan, one of the most hardcore Steeler fans in existence.

Do we need to reserve a place? How much money is needed, and who can contact the park and make the reservations? I see HideoHo is scouting ahead; let me know if I can help.

Does anyone know a shortcut from around New Kensington or Harmarville to North Park? I’ll probably come down 28 from Kittanning; but I want to avoid downtown. I can turn on Route 8 at Etna to Allison Park, how does that hook up with North Park?