This is an official thread for the dopefest (which started here, originally)
The plan seems to be to meet at: The Distillery
300 Paddy Creek Circle, Rochester
Sunday, August 19
4:00 pm
Some have said they’ll try to make it while others only expressed some interest in going. I’d like to try to get people into either a “confirmed” and “maybe” list, though.
So far, from what I’ve read…
People saying they’ll go: Idle Thoughts
Little Nemo
Samclem
Nzinga, Seated
LaurenIpsum
elmwood
Maybes: aruvqan
delphica
If any of this is wrong or if plans have changed, let me know.
And, obviously, if anyone new wants to come, let me know.
I PM’ed a bunch of local posters. (But not Exapno Mapcase, who has no contact information in his profile. Anyone who knows his email address should write him.)
I will do my best to be there =) Hubby won’t be able to make it now he is employed as we normally head back home to Connecticut around noon, but I shouldn’t have any issues doing a weekend all by myself sob
I was in Rochester today and I decided to have lunch at the Distillery. I figured I should post driving tips for those who haven’t been there.
It’s on 104 (which is Ridge Road in this area). It’s just east of the 390 intersection.
If you’re coming from the west, you’ll see the 390 intersection, then you’ll see the Distillery on the right. Then you’ll panic because there’s no place to turn in.
You have to keep driving past the Applebee’s and Olive Garden until you get to the light. It’s right next to the big overpass bridge. You turn right on to Hoover and then drive around the back of the restaurants to get to the Distillery.
If you’re coming in from 390, get off at Exit 24a. Then follow the above directions.
If you’re coming from the east, the Distillery is west of Mount Read Blvd. Keep an eye out for the Red Lobster and Holiday Inn on your left and the big overpass I mentioned above. Turn left at the light on to Hoover and follow the directions I gave above.
Pay attention on Hoover Drive. It’s a two way street when you turn on it - but only for the first block. Then it turns into a one-way street - going the opposite way. So don’t drive too far (if you get to the school or have a head-on collision, you’ve gone too far). Just watch for the driveway that’ll be on your right. It’s got a sign for the hotels. Annoyingly, it doesn’t have signs for the restaurants. Just keep driving. The Distillery is the last one.
See? It’s already an adventure and we haven’t even ordered any drinks yet.
Still confirming. I’m probably going to get a room, because I’m bringing the dogs along (not into the Dopefest itself, of course!), and heading on to Buffalo and Cleveland on Monday.
And I have to back out I just wiped out my knee sliding on some mud in the yard, it is roughly the size of a volleyball right now and still growing. Ortho has an appointment for me tomorrow with the MRI dudes. Just what I need [I think I heard/felt something snap. I fear for my patellar tendon, it is particularly crappy after being abused so many times when I was younger on that knee :(]
I don’t think it will be sorted out in time to drive 400 miles next weekend to hang out, and mrAru wouldn’t be able to drive me, his job is doing mandatory overtime on some prototypes this weekend.
Easy, though long.
Start by rinsing and picking through a bag or two of great northern beans, make sure you get any pebbles or yucky looking beans.
In a large heavy pot put them to soak in hot water for about 4 hours. Drain and rinse, then with the washed beans in the pot add a softball sized white onion with 4 to 6 whole cloves spiked into it. This just makes it easy to get the cloves out. Toss in 4 large carrots washed, ends and yucky bits trimmed, 6 to 8 ribs of celery and a bouquet garni of a dozen black peppercorns crushed, 4 or 5 sprigs each of parsley, thyme and tarragon, and a very small sprig of rosemary tied into a gauze bundle. Put in water to about an inch and a half over the level of the beans and aromatics. Bring to a gentle simmer and simmer 3 or 4 hours, the beans should have a bit of resistance left when you bite into one. Take off the heat and let cool down. You will be tossing the bouquet garni and veggies. [while cooking it is ok to use chicken stock instead of water if you like, and remember to peek in to stir and top off with water to keep the beans fairly liquidy so they don’t burn.]
While the beans are cooling off, line a really heavy casserole like a la creuset enameled dutch oven with thick cut strips of bacon. Cut up your choice of meat, I like leftover roast beef, leftover duck and leftover lamb. Medium small cubes, half inch work best. Layer beans/meat/beans/meat/beans in the casserole. Add cooking liquid to just to the top of the beans. Top with about 1 inch of breadcrumbs. I prefer 4seasons italian seasoned crumbs. Here you have a choice, dot with butter and discs of keilbasa, or arrange confit of duck or chicken leg with discs of some suitable sausage [andouille, or keilbasa work for me, breakfast links not so much!] though I have used fresh not confitted chicken thighs and keilbasa just fine. Cover tightly.
Pop into a low 250 to 300 degree fahrenheit oven and ignore for about 2 hours. Open and poke to see if there is any liquid or if it has all been absorbed yet. Gently sneak some in if it looks dry, cover again and ignore for a couple hours. Lather, rinse and repeat for a total of 6 to 8 hours. At the end, you should have melty yummy beans with tender shreds of various meats topped with extra solid larger pieces of meat and sausage.
Hmm…checking the actual website, it gives a different address then the one in the OP.
oP says Paddy Creek Circle and the website says something like Mt Hope Ave. which should I go to (or are they pretty much the same place)?
I’m probably going to get a room, because I’m bringing the dogs along (not into the Dopefest itself, of course!), and heading on to Buffalo and Cleveland on Monday.
I just wiped out my knee sliding on some mud in the yard, it is roughly the size of a volleyball right now and still growing. Ortho has an appointment for me tomorrow with the MRI dudes. Just what I need [I think I heard/felt something snap. I fear for my patellar tendon, it is particularly crappy after being abused so many times when I was younger on that knee :(]