***BWE 2018 Convention DC: Sat 3/24 Charlie Palmer***

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JimHow
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***BWE 2018 Convention DC: Sat 3/24 Charlie Palmer***

Post by JimHow »

FINAL UPDATE:
Start time Saturday has been moved up to 6:00 PM
Location is Charlie Palmer Steak, 101 Constitution Ave NW


STREETS WILL BE CLOSED FOR ABOUT 6 BLOCKS AROUND THE RESTAURANT UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING FOR THE ANTI-GUN MARCH
It's possible they will still be closed at the start of our event, but will likely be open when we are finished.
This means you may have to walk the last few blocks if you take a cab or Uber.
Metro will be running but trains may be jammed. They are expecting 400,000 to 500,000.
The nearest Metro stop is Union Station, an easy half-mile walk.

Those who are interested in marching can find details here:
https://event.marchforourlives.com/even ... akid=&zip=
I understand that famed attorney and beloved philanthropist Jimmy BH How will be in town should you get arrested.

The Schedule
6:00 - 7:00 PM: Hors d'oeuvres and Champagne
7:00 - ?:?? PM: Seated dinner - appetizer, main, cheese, dessert

Final List of Attendees:
JimHow + 1
Stefan (Bill) + Lucie (Jan)
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + Peggy
Rob & Sue
Peter (CabFan) and Julia
Jace and Liz Glowa (Chris' DC buds)
Bill and Lynette Cooke (MIchaelP's NYC buds)
Chris + Marjorie
Nicolas + Frederic
Marcus
Bob and Barb (DavidG's Baltimore buds)

Total = 26

====================

We are in our alternating year schedule of having the BWE annual convention in Washington, DC, in spring 2018.
The usual routine is that we first select a BWE base hotel.
We do a Thursday night dinner for early arrivals. This is usually comprised of Champagne, Bordeaux, and Sauternes.
On Friday night we usually do "Anything But Bordeaux." This can involve Rhone, Burgundy, Spain, Italy, Cali, etc.
And then on Saturday night we do the major Charlie Palmer "convention dinner" event, which is primarily Bordeaux, Bordeaux, Bordeaux.
Because... We are Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts....
In the off hours we visit museums, MacArthur's, hike around Washington monuments, have lunches in Georgetown, oysters near the White House, etc., etc.

It would appear the dates that match up most closely to our normal routine are: March 22-25.

[SECTION DELETED]

If you have never been to one of these weekends, you are missing out, big time.
Just go ahead and book a long weekend with the greatest people in the world! You only live once.
You are being given plenty of notice. Who knows how many more of these we will be doing.

Sincerely,
Your BD

==============================+
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dstgolf
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Re: DC '18

Post by dstgolf »

Jim

That is the Easter long weekend in 2018 which may pose a problem. It does for me. The weekend before works for us.

Danny
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

Agreed, Danny. How do the following dates look for everyone?

Thursday, March 22, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Sunday, March 25, 2018
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stefan
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Re: DC '18

Post by stefan »

Those latter dates work for us, Jim.
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AKR
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Re: DC '18

Post by AKR »

can't make it but looks like a good time
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Michael-P
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Re: DC '18

Post by Michael-P »

OK for Nalan and I

Michael-P
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

Ok I'm going to take the dates out of the first message so that there is no confusion.
If Charlie Palmer is available on Saturday March 24th I say we go with that weekend!
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marcs
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Re: DC '18

Post by marcs »

I live in DC and I AM PSYCHED WILL DEFINITELY BE THERE

Hopefully JimHow brings magical pricing mojo again and MacArthurs inexplicably sells an entire vintage of Super Seconds for $25-30 a bottle.

Hey, I can dream.

I know I will get no where with this, but you can do better restaurant-wise in DC than Charlie Palmers...true that it's difficult for this number of people tho
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stefan
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Re: DC '18

Post by stefan »

>>
you can do better restaurant-wise in DC than Charlie Palmers.
>>

Sure, but for a large group? The quality of high end restaurants typically drops a lot when they serve a large group.
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

Boy, we've been to Charlie Palmer I think 5 times now and we have been treated extremely well each time we've gone there.
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Blanquito
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Re: DC '18

Post by Blanquito »

Overall, I'm a fan of CP. My steak last year was excellent and the space can't be beat.
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marcs
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Re: DC '18

Post by marcs »

you're right that it's hard to find restaurants that consistently get it right for a really large group.

I'm happy to help out with finding a place for Thursday or Friday night though, once we figure out how many people will be there.
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Winona Chief
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Re: DC '18

Post by Winona Chief »

Big problem is having a big group on a Saturday night - hard to do at most places on a Saturday night. Very difficult to get a big space for 6 to 8 hours Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights are better for doing nicer restaurants, especially if the numbers are a little smaller. Most of the wine dinners I participate in are 5 to 12 people on a week night (Mon-Thurs) so getting in the "better" restaurants is less of a problem.

By the way, I was at a small group wine dinner at Charlie Palmer a little over two weeks ago. We were treated very well and the food was good.

Chris Bublitz
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tim
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Re: DC '18

Post by tim »

I doubt I can go this year, but add me to the list of people who thinks Charlie Palmer is a great venue. I can't say I ever remembered any of the food we had, but the food isn't what makes a BWE convention memorable. It is the people and the wine. And the restaurant does a great job with food that compliments the wine well but isn't overkill.
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SF Ed
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Re: DC '18

Post by SF Ed »

The March 22nd-25th dates work for me. Have folks stepped up to start the actual planning?

SF Ed
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

Not yet, I emailed Charlie Palmer to check on availability but it bounced back to me.
I'll try again.
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Winona Chief
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Re: DC '18

Post by Winona Chief »

I can work something out for the Thursday night dinner. I won't need to make arrangements until about 6 or 7 weeks before. Charlie Palmer needs to be done several months in advance.

Chris Bublitz
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Gerry M.
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Re: DC '18

Post by Gerry M. »

I'd love to go this time around but not sure if I can take the time. My youngest daughter is graduating from school in the spring and she's asking to continue a tradition of taking a family trip to celebrate and her preferred destination is Italy.
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Re: DC '18

Post by Nicklasss »

Again, I'm looking to attend with JF. After all, Washington DC is my second home. I know, everybody would prefer Marie-Claude but can someone post something about the exceptionnal shopping opportunity in the US capital, to help me?

Nic
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

I hope we can get someone to organize it Nicola!
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DavidG
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Re: DC '18

Post by DavidG »

I would volunteer but am having a multilevel c-spine fusion this month and will be otherwise occupied for a while.Tom is no longer in DC, but we should have enough local talent to step up. That said, this could be done by email and phone from anywhere in the US.

Whoever picks up the ball, if you decide on Charlie Palmer ask for the Alcove room and ask them to have the sommelier Nadine Brown to sign off if you get pushback on $5/person corkage. They’ve been ok with that in the past. And order rental glasses. CP doesn’t have enough for multiple stems/person.
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

Thanks David, and take it slow!
Sounds like a major surgery.
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stefan
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Re: DC '18

Post by stefan »

Best wishes, David. How many levels will yours be?
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JCNorthway
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Re: DC '18

Post by JCNorthway »

Sounds like serious stuff, David. Hope all goes swimmingly.
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DavidG
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Re: DC '18

Post by DavidG »

Thanks guys.

Stefan, at least 3 levels. C3-C6 for sure. Possibly down to C7 or T1 depending on how well the bone holds the screws. Posterior approach which is painful longer but should give a more solid fusion and less mucking around the swallowing nerves.
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Blanquito
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Re: DC '18

Post by Blanquito »

Good luck for a safe and successful procedure, David.
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jal
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Re: DC '18

Post by jal »

Good luck David, wishing you a quick and painless recovery.
Best

Jacques
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dstgolf
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Re: DC '18

Post by dstgolf »

Hope all goes well David and good luck.
Danny
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Tom In DC
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Re: DC '18

Post by Tom In DC »

So sorry to hear about this, David. Gail and I know from experience that you can count on your Hopkins colleagues to take great care of you.
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stefan
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Re: DC '18

Post by stefan »

I hope it goes well, David, and that you don't need more than three levels.
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Nicklasss
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Re: DC '18

Post by Nicklasss »

David, I hope everything's will be fine, with all the cares. And wish you a rapid recovery.

Nic
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Re: DC '18

Post by SF Ed »

Super sorry to hear that, David. I have way too much experience with spine surgeries, and that is much bigger than any of mine.

Hopefully you will have some good evenings in the future like the one you and sdr had at my place in 2003 where I went off pain meds just to be able to drink some top Bordeaux (like 1964 Cheval Blanc) with you.

Best wishes for a speedy and comfortable recovery.

SF Ed
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Re: DC '18

Post by Michael-P »

If CP is not confirmed, does that mean we may change cities and dates?
Just want to buy plane tickets to wherever it is, whenever it is.
Michael-P
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

I'd really like to do CP in DC on the weekend discussed MichaelP.
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Comte Flaneur
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Re: DC '18

Post by Comte Flaneur »

Wishing a successful procedure and a speedy recovery David.
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sdr
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Re: DC '18

Post by sdr »

Best wishes, David.

It sucks to be on the wrong side of the knife.

Stu
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

Keep us posted DavidG.
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DavidG
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Re: DC '18

Post by DavidG »

Thanks for all the good wishes everyone.
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

Is this a go or a no go? I only count 8 committed.
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JimHow
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Re: DC '18

Post by JimHow »

As we have said before, it is important to determine who is committed as soon as possible, as we have a number of people coming from far away.
If we only have 8 committed, I vote that we cancel the 2018 convention.
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