# Texas Hill Country Dope Fest! (San Antonio TX, “SATX”) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 31, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915 "2024-01-31T15:18:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/21 "2024-02-01T18:40:44Z")
**UPDATED ANNOUNCEMENT.** \color{blue}{\text {Updates in blue.}} What’s the **Who What When Where** and **Why** for this? ◆ **WHO** — Dopers in \color{blue}{\text {the Texas Hill Country}} + partners / spouses / friends ◆ **WHAT** — Dope Fest Texas Hill Country. Let’s meet IRL! ◆ **WHEN** — Saturday April 6, 2024, at \color{blue}{\text {1030am}} ◆ **WHERE** — \color{blue}{\text {in line at the entrance to: }} \color{blue}{\text { Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, 1287 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels TX }} \color{blue}{\text { 830-625-0684; https://gristmillrestaurant.com }} \color{blue}{\text { mail@gruenetexas.com }} \color{blue}{\text { Gristmill opens @1100 but a crowd is expected. }} \color{blue}{\text { Let’s meet up in line and start getting to know each other,}} \color{blue}{\text { then go in and enjoy lunch.}} ◆ **WHY** — to meet up in real life, in 3D, and get to know some other Dopers who we talk with here; and also so we can fight some ignorance together 😉 Texas Hill Country Dopers, are you interest in meeting up? Let’s have a **Texas Hill Country Dope Fest!** Regarding the **WHEN** — Because of the total eclipse {thread here, ➜ [USA TSE, total solar eclipse: three years away for USA (April 2024) - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](https://bit.ly/3ScQ06I)}, the date and time for this Dope Fest has already been fixed. **FloatyGimpy** and I will be in town for this total eclipse. I’ll be coming from San Francisco and have been planning this trip for over a year, and I’ve been discussing a meetup in San Antonio with **ThelmaLou** for several months. So that’s why the date and time for this Dope Fest is set and inflexible. Apologies to those who would otherwise be interested in meeting but cannot because of the date. Regarding the **WHY** — Have you met any Dopers IRL? Who was it and when? I’ve been to one other Dope Fest, in San Francisco where I live back in June 2023. Here are pictures of us {pics ➜ [Dope Fest San Francisco Bay Area! (May/June 2023) - #123 by Bullitt - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](https://is.gd/3kvAdm)}. We did not have any agenda. We simply gathered and talked and shared some food and drinks together. Oh and we shared our IRL names, too. It was a good time. The shortened link is safe to use, I created it and vouch for it. We hope you can join! \color{blue}{\text {Who’s in?}} ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2024, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/22 "2024-02-01T23:41:43Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > No, this is _ **our** _ problem. If you don’t get a car, I’ll give you a ride to our dope fest and back. Is someone else can get you back to San Antonio that would help me, but if that’s not available then my wife and I would be happy to drive you. If you’re okay with that? That would be very kind of you and I would happily accept and I will pay for the gas for both ways. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2024, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/23 "2024-02-27T05:03:06Z")
A reminder bump for this gathering, on Saturday April 6 in the Texas Hill Country — 6 weeks away. What’s the **Who What When Where** and **Why** for this? ◆ **WHO** — Dopers in the Texas Hill Country + partners / spouses / friends ◆ **WHAT** — Dope Fest Texas Hill Country. Let’s meet IRL! ◆ **WHEN** — Saturday April 6, 2024, at 1030am ◆ **WHERE** — in line at the entrance to: Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, 1287 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels TX 830-625-0684; [https://gristmillrestaurant.com](https://gristmillrestaurant.com) [mail@grueneTexas.com](mailto:mail@grueneTexas.com) Gristmill opens @1100 but a crowd is expected. They do not take reservations. Let’s meet up in line and start getting to know each other, then go in and enjoy lunch. ◆ **WHY** — to meet up in real life, in 3D, and get to know some other Dopers who we talk with here; and also so we can fight some ignorance together 😉 Texas Hill Country Dopers, are you interest in meeting up? Let’s have a **Texas Hill Country Dope Fest!** Regarding the **WHEN** — Because of the total eclipse {thread here ➜ [USA TSE, total solar eclipse: April 2024 (was "three years away for USA" when started) - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](https://bit.ly/3ScQ06I)}, the date and time for this Dope Fest has already been fixed. That’s why the date and time for this Dope Fest is set and inflexible. Apologies to those who would otherwise be interested in meeting but cannot because of the date. We hope you can join. Who’s in? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 9, 2024, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/24 "2024-03-09T10:35:52Z")
The **Texas Hill Country Dope Fest** is just 4 weeks from today! The current plan is here (points to the previous post) ➜ [Texas Hill Country Dope Fest! (San Antonio TX, “SATX”) - #23 by Bullitt - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](https://is.gd/wPXo5O). ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/25 "2024-03-17T10:36:57Z")
The **Texas Hill Country Dope Fest** is in 3 weeks, on Saturday, April 6! The current plan is here ➜ [Texas Hill Country Dope Fest! (San Antonio TX, “SATX”) - #23 by Bullitt - Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share - Straight Dope Message Board](https://is.gd/wPXo5O), and here is a map to our restaurant gathering place ➜ [https://maps.app.goo.gl/y2Yp4DPUYax8x5TT6](https://maps.app.goo.gl/y2Yp4DPUYax8x5TT6). If you’ll be near New Braunfels in Central Texas, we hope you can join us. No need to RSVP. Just show up. [![](https://i.imgur.com/y44huIE.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/y44huIE.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![FloatyGimpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/floatygimpy/32/7750_2.png) [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Post date:** [March 17, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/26 "2024-03-17T13:28:49Z")
I’m looking forward to it! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/27 "2024-03-18T02:01:42Z")
Local Notes: the address of the Grist Mill for GPS and Google Maps is **1287 Gruene Rd, New Braunfels, TX 78130.** Greune Hall is right next door. On a normal Saturday, the Grist Mill is packed to the rafters (not that it has rafters). We may not be able to get in at all. There is a wait list. So someone save it on your phone and get us on a Waiting List as soon as you arrive. We will need an approximate head count by then. [BTW, how are we going to recognize each other? One time when I met a group of internet friends for the first time, we identified ourselves by carrying large bags of M&Ms.] Here are a couple of maps, macro and micro. IH-35 is the road from San Antonio. Note that IH-10 (which goes to California) also goes through San Antonio. Drive time on an ordinary day from the outskirts of San Antonio (Loop 410 & IH-35) to the Grist Mill is about 35 minutes. On that day, who even knows… [![](https://i.imgur.com/8h9WnGU.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/8h9WnGU.jpeg) [![](https://i.imgur.com/yhn9hE2.jpeg) ](https://i.imgur.com/yhn9hE2.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/28 "2024-03-18T02:30:52Z")
I live in Austin; I might be able to do this…unless my new job requires me to work on a weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/29 "2024-03-18T03:53:02Z")
We hope you can make it! I had called the place some time back. They do not take reservations and yes, they expect to be busy. Since we plan to meet at 1030 and the place doesn’t open until 1100 (and I will commit to being there at 1030), anyone else arriving can meet me in line. Thanks for the info, **ThelmaLou**. I don’t foresee difficulty in finding each other. One example, we can say out loud, “Dope Fest?”, and that should grab our attention. It’s usually easy to spot people who are looking for others that haven’t met before. Let’s post updates in this thread, like, Bullitt is here in line and I’m wearing a blue button-down short sleeve shirt and green shorts, and my wife is in a black t-shirt. Once we’re admitted in, we’ll figure out how big a table we need based on peoples’ inputs here. Like, **Velocity** is a tentative and **ThelmaLou** and **FloatyGimpy** plan to be there, so with my wife and me we’ll plan to get a table for 6 at this point. As others chime in here in the thread, we’ll revise that number as needed. We are Dopers! We’ll figure it out. It will work out. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/30 "2024-03-18T13:54:48Z")
2 more: JohnT and Inna… ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/31 "2024-03-18T14:21:30Z")
I would love to be able to come but unfortunately have other commitments that day. I hope it’s a beautiful spring Hill Country weekend for y’all! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/32 "2024-03-18T16:18:42Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Once we’re admitted in, we’ll figure out how big a table we need based on peoples’ inputs here. Doesn’t work exactly that way. You put your party on the wait list on the Grist Mill website when you get in line. At that time, you need to know how many there are in your party (roughly, i.e., are there two, 10, 20?). So @Bullitt, if you’re the first one in line, you’ll need to know generally how many of us to expect. Don’t y’all (addressing everyone) use wait/waiting lists on Yelp for busy restaurants at busy times? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/33 "2024-03-18T18:25:52Z")
Thanks for the info. Okay, so when I get in line I’ll put us on the wait list. Or, somebody please do that, whoever’s first there. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/34 "2024-03-18T20:41:07Z")
> [@JohnT](#): > > 2 more: JohnT and Inna… Great! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/35 "2024-03-18T20:41:59Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I would love to be able to come but unfortunately have other commitments that day. I hope it’s a beautiful spring Hill Country weekend for y’all! I’ll raise a Shiner Bock toast in your honor. ETA — and also to @JaneDoe42 who won’t arrive to the hill country in time. A toast! ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2024, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/36 "2024-03-18T21:55:19Z")
One of the nice things about the Texas Hill Country is you’ll have no shortage of regional craft beers to choose from. It’s a legacy of our historical populations of Germans, Czechs and hippies. I’m partial to Real Ale Brewery in Blanco myself. Prost! ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2024, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/37 "2024-03-19T12:03:21Z")
> [@flurb](#): > > I would love to be able to come but unfortunately have other commitments that day. I hope it’s a beautiful spring Hill Country weekend for y’all! Sorry that we will miss you! But we may try your beer from Blanco. Alright, by my count so far we have 6 attending: @ThelmaLou @FloatyGimpy @JohnT and **Inna** **Bullitt** & **Mrs. Bullitt** (not on SDMB) Did I miss anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/38 "2024-03-24T12:37:06Z")
2 weeks away… Hmmm… I might bring my black Stetson cowboy hat. I don’t have too many opportunities to wear it. If I was wearing that while standing in line it would make it easier for us Dopers to gather. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2024, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/39 "2024-03-24T13:36:58Z")
By all means, wear the hat. Completely appropriate. I’ll wear an orange canvas hat like this one: [![](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61uOdt57QcS._AC_SX679_.jpg) ](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61uOdt57QcS._AC_SX679_.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2024, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915/40 "2024-03-25T00:16:26Z")
Nice. Hats it’ll be! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/texas-hill-country-dope-fest-san-antonio-tx-satx/996915.md?page=3)