Dibs on floorspace!! I call!!
I reckon I can drive one passenger, and three or four Dopers and all their luggage in the back. Yes, I know I have an extended cab, but it’ll be full of my gear that I’m driving to Jersey when I leave PorkDope. If you are riding with me, bring goggles: I have no bug deflectors for the bed.
Tripler
If you ride with me down there, you’ll have to fineagle a way back home.
I’d like to call dibs on floorspace, yardspace, couch, porch, hayloft, field, barn, driveway, whatever. I’ll sleep where ever you want me to, Chique
Promise? 
Actually, let me clarify. . . well, maybe not. Nevermind.
Okay, let’s see what we’ve got for our so-called definite attendee list:[ul][]lno[]Tripler[]Ethilrist[]porcupine[]The Punkyova[]chique[]Spider Woman[]imthjckaz[]Rysdad[]Beadalin[]rubes[]malkavia[]thinksnow, providing the beer, who will receive an award of “The man who provided the beer whom we like a lot”[]Pucette[]Maeglin[]JoeyHemlock, who will receive an award of “I try my best” if he manages to drag a total of six people from Chicago[]Jessica2[]typo mna[]Canthearya[]Ivar[]Newton Meter[]Mr. Cynical[]miss creant[]Approximately two dozen non-Dopers[/ul]Tentatives:[ul][]Silver Fire[]JavaMaven1[]JustPlainBryan[]Wisest Novel[]Dangerosa[]Mnementh[/ul]Floorspace remains available at casa de lno a.k.a. Pork HQ, and apparently the several hundred acres at chique’s hasn’t filled up yet. And in 90 short minutes I’ll be laying down the deposit for the pig.
Oops. Add easy e and Caldazar to the list of so-called definite attendees.
I’m gonna go ahead and lay claim to space at lno’s. I figure it’ll make for easier recovery from my first attempts at firebreathing.
Just to be clear: the airport code there is MSP, right?
Yes, it’s MSP.
MSP = Most Savory Pork
Just to make it all official-like, I’d like to reserve one small sleeping space at Pork HQ.
eleno, do you have an approximate time for when this palooza is gonna start.
Early afternoon, late afternoon, or when I get there?
Jus wunnerin.
Tentative plans for the palooza will be things kicking off around 11 am or so, games, drinking, drinking, games, abiding by the laws of the location in which we are located, drinking, games, eating, and then the tour de pork at, say, 4 pm. A frenzy of devouring pork for two hours, then back to the games, drinking, drinking, games, abiding by the laws … and so on.
Ideally that’ll give folks a window to trickle in, get lost, try Hare Krishna, find themselves, get to the park, and get ready.
And afterwards, well, I’m sure that SOMETHING will keep going all Saturday night.
Probably involving cows.
lno is a horny dude.
Add absoul and EnderW25 (24?) to the list.
As can be seen in this thread, I will be bringing Cecil the Bear to our happy Porkapalooza. I’m sure he’ll have a great time, but I am hereby officially serving notice that I will have a camera.
Anyone wishing to contribute cheap local trinkets should bring them along, as Cecil is off to MountainDope early Monday morning.
Now I try to be helpful.
Lodging:
Both chique and I have space available for people to stay. People are welcome to stay with me whenever, and for whatever duration of time. Ground rule #1 is no stealin’ my dog. I live approximately 20 miles from the airport, and a cab would be a substantial chunk of change. Go in a group, or I’ll make airport runs to pick people up as they arrive.
If you’d rather stay at a hotel, there are about a million and a half hotels near the airport. Given that I tend not to stay in hotels when I’m here, my mad-hotel-finding-skills are relatively limited. You may want to start looking at what’s listed online and go from there.
Location:
PorkDope will be held at Brookview Community Park in Golden Valley. A link to the park was posted earlier in the thread. Directions on how to get to PorkDope:
From the airport:
Head west on I-494 for approximately ten miles to Highway 169.
Head north on Highway 169 for approximately ten miles to Highway 55.
Head east on Highway 55 for approximately two miles (or, to the second stoplight).
Turn right and head south on Winnetka Avenue. The park is on your right.
If you’re driving in from the east:
You’ll enter the city on I-94. Head west through St Paul and into Minneapolis.
Exit west on I-394 to Highway 169.
Repeat above directions.
If you’re driving in from the south:
You’ll probably enter on I-35.
Take the I-35W split (rather than I-35E) north.
Exit west on I-494 for approximately five miles to Highway 169.
Repeat above directions.
If you’re driving in from the north:
Well, odds are you’ll be part of the chique convoy, but …
Take I-94 south towards the Twin Cities.
Exit south on Highway 169 to Highway 55.
Repeat above directions.
Parking:
I’ve taken an aerial photo from Mapquest and edited it with some more detail. The yellow blotches are parking lots. North is up. Highway 55 runs along the top of the image. The golf course adjoining the park is pretty hard to miss in the image.
Time:
We’ve got our chunk of the park all day on Saturday June 1st. People are welcome to show up whenever. The tentative eating time is 4 pm until about 6 pm. Food will still be available afterwards, but I strongly recommend arriving in time so as not to get cold crappy leftovers.
Menu:
Other than what people bring, of which I have no knowledge, the tentative spread is:[ul][li]Sir Oinks-a-lot[]Rolls, butter, assorted bakery goodness[]Baked beans, and lots of 'em[]Sauerkraut, even though I hate it, but I do admit it complements pork very well[]Potato salad[]Rotelli pasta salad with vinaigrette dressing for those who dare not partake of the pig[]A whole barrel of BBQ sauce (note: barrel may not be barrel-sized)Assorted beverages[/ul]Given the logistical difficulties involved in being unable to roast a pig on city property overnight, and considering roasting it elsewhere and transporting it to the park, I opted for the weenie solution and I’m letting my butcher handle the hard work, including preparation, setup, and serving. Hey, he’s a good butcher. He gets me pork on the cheap.[/li]
Activities:
If you want to golf, the park has details available on fees, tee times, and other assorted goodness. Frisbees, footballs, volleyballs, basketballs, and juggling equipment will be provided. Six tennis courts are available as well as a softball field. But you’re wild and crazy people, and you can make your own fun if necessary. Evening activities are as yet undecided.
Weather:
Oh, I hope to god it doesn’t rain. However, the picnic shelter does have a roof for a reason, and we’re hoping it works as expected. If the roof doesn’t work, then we’ll get wet. And if we get wet, then we’ll make the best of things and play in the mud.
Attendees: Listed above, with the four updates (easy e, Caldazar, absoul, EnderW25). I invite you to bring family and friends, but please give me a headcount so we don’t have people going hungry.
Anything I missed?
Two questions:
Make that three questions.
::knocking on head::
Anyone in there?
Oh man, this is gonna be fun!
