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

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Wed Jan 10, 2018 1:51 am

Don't worry, there will be wine dinners on Thursday and Friday nights. I'm working on it.

Chris Bublitz

Sdayton · Post by **Sdayton** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:35 pm

We may have a friend with us. She is coming in from Sweden, just not sure what date she will get here. I am hoping she will be here for the DC trip!

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:16 pm

Nice!
I'll add her to the list, just keep us updated.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:16 pm

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed
Chris + Marjorie
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1
marcs
Carlos
Rob & Sue + 1

Total = 20

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:40 pm

I know it is still early, but just want to be sure to be ready:

Any themes for Thursday and Friday?

For Saturday, the 1998 theme is for a blind tasting before, or a general theme for the night (i know we can bring other vintages anyway, but just to try to be aligned)?

Nic

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu Jan 11, 2018 11:42 pm

Usually it is:

Thursday:
Champagne, Bordeaux, Sauternes

Friday:
Anything But Bordeaux

Saturday:
Champagne, Bordeaux, Sauternes, with a theme and/or blind tasting... and obligatory sentimental speeches.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:50 am

Those themes sound about right. Like to be able to do Burgundy (red and white) on Friday night.

I have been encouraging my local DC wine friends to consider participating in on some of our events. Nothing definite yet but I think there will be some that join us.

Thinking about Thursday and Friday nights, where we can go depends on the number of participants. One venue that might work for Friday night has a space that is good for 12 but can be stretched to 13 or 14. It also has a larger space for 18 to 25 (but probably with a substantial minimum). Any thoughts on how many we should plan on for Thursday and Friday night.

Chris Bublitz

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:11 am

Lucie and I arrive IAD at 4 PM on Thursday and are game for anything all three nights.

Thanks, David and Chris, for doing the organization.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:32 am

stefan wrote:Several of us are booked at the Washington Marriott Georgetown.

FYI despite the name and the location near M St, that hotel is not in Georgetown. It's between Dupont and Washington Circles.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:48 am

The Marriott Georgetown is in the West End neighborhood (just East of Georgetown where many nice hotels are located). It is only about 5 blocks along M Street from Georgetown - easy walking distance. About 6 or 8 years ago at a DC BWE Convention, many of us stayed at the Westin in West End. There is also a Fairmont, Park Hyatt, Ritz-Carlton, Hilton Garden, Hyatt Place and Embassy Suites in the neighborhood.

Chris Bublitz

JeanFred · Post by **JeanFred** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:11 am

I'm glad to be on board again for this convention!

I like the idea of Burgundy on Friday night.

Jean Fred

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 3:39 am

Me too!

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 11:39 am

JeanFred and me will be ready for the 3 dinners.

And Bourgogne on Friday is a good idea. When it is anything but Bordeaux, it let's the door open for Right Bank wines...

Nic

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 12:03 pm

I’m assuming we’ll be drinking some 1998 right bankers on Saturday night.

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Fri Jan 12, 2018 11:57 pm

I am in for Friday night but not Thursday night. And Burgundy as a Friday theme works for me!

SF Ed

Carlos Delpin · Post by **Carlos Delpin** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:27 am

I can do Friday and Saturday. Do we want to narrow down the Burgundy by either vintages or villages?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:42 am

I'll be there Thursday, Friday, Saturday, I had the court clerks block off any trials during those dates.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 3:00 am

I have no 1998 Bordeaux but plenty of other wines to bring, Bordeaux and otherwise.

I don't know who is planning the Thursday and Friday dinners but I would be happy to help, as a DC native I know restaurants here pretty well.

Now that Ripple is gone, I really like Blue Duck Tavern. Not so cheap but we could do a dinner of 12-20 for probably around $160-170 a person including wine. That might be steeper than you guys usually go for the Thursday and Friday night dinners, I don't know, but the food is excellent there, one of the best in DC IMO.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:51 am

Blue Duck is a good possibility but a bit expensive. Can be hard to find a balance between cost and quality for a group wine dinner in DC. I sent you a PM. Lets talk.

Chris Bublitz

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 4:28 pm

thanks Chris -- just replied to your PM.

Burgundy is always a fine theme, but could there be some attraction to a grab bag/wild card type evening where people bring a range of interesting wines? I mean, not some random crap wine from Albania, but I have some fun Aussie and Northern Rhone wines I wouldn't mind sharing with the group.

Plenty of Burgundy too though if it comes to that. And I can always bring my wild cards to either Thursday or Friday anyway, I'm sure people won't pour them out

.

SF Ed · Post by **SF Ed** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:31 pm

The history of Friday night BWE dinners is to bring anything but Bordeaux but to try to get some themeing in so it isn't a pure grab bag. I am sure that if we have a Burgundy theme and someone brings some Cote Rotie the world won't come to an end.

SF Ed

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:56 pm

In past years we have had Friday night focus on California cabs, Burgundy, Italian, etc. Usually with more than one theme for the evening. No reason we couldn't have a flight of Northern Rhone in the mix. Sometimes there may be a differences from one table to the next.

Chris Bublitz

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 10:31 pm

MichaelP hates PN and will no doubt opt for a Northern Rhone table. Lucie and I want a Burgundy table.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 11:20 pm

I'll go with whatever you guys decide, thanks for the efforts.

JeanFred · Post by **JeanFred** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 2:12 am

I Still don't know what to bring:
A Richebourg from Chave or
My Hermitage from La Romanée Conti???

Jean-Fred

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Mon Jan 15, 2018 3:06 am

No doubt purchased from Hardy Rodenstock in pristine condition.

Michael-P · Post by **Michael-P** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 8:34 pm

Stefan is correct: Nalan and I will opt for anything but Burg (OK, whites can be good). And Nalan can only make Sat so you're stuck with just me for Thurs and/or Fri. I don't know what my DC hosts are planning that week so I'm not yet sure of what I can do Thurs or Fri yet. I'll check....

Michael-P

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Sat Jan 20, 2018 6:45 pm

I'll join the Rhone table.

Sdayton · Post by **Sdayton** » Sun Jan 21, 2018 9:06 pm

Rob and I want a burgandy table too!

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 5:22 pm

How many people typically show up for the Thursday and Friday dinners?

I am working with Chris to research restaurants and some have a minimum spend for a private room, which could be a good deal if we got a lot of people but not as good if we didn't.

stefan · Post by **stefan** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 5:48 pm

Hard to say; you probably need to take a count. Lucie and I are in for both Thursday and Friday night.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 6:07 pm

OK, so Stefan and Lucie are in for both Thursday and Friday night.

I would assume Chris B. and Jim are in for both as well.

So am I.

That makes five as a base. Who else?

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 8:42 pm

I'm pretty sure Nicola and Jean Frederic said they were coming for both Thursday and Friday as well.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:42 pm

Of course I will be at both Thursday and Friday events. Marjorie will probably be at one of the two - either Thursday or Friday. I expect Rob and Susan Dayton will be there for both nights. SF Ed said he will be there Friday but not Thursday.

Chris Bublitz

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:46 pm

Those who miss out on BWE DC conventions are mad. You are insane.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:53 pm

I expect DavidG will be at Friday night as well.

Maybe we should start a new thread for Thursday and Friday to get a firm count.

Chris Bublitz

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Wed Jan 24, 2018 12:07 am

Effectively, JeanFred and I are there for Thursday and Friday dinners.

Nic

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Wed Jan 24, 2018 2:15 pm

I'll be there Friday (just me). Not Thursday.

Carlos Delpin · Post by **Carlos Delpin** » Wed Jan 24, 2018 2:42 pm

Friday.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Fri Jan 26, 2018 12:01 pm

Hotel reservation made, at a hotel in the surrounding of Charlie Palmer Steak House : The Liaison on Capitol Hill, a 4* for 140$ a night all included. 415 New Jersey Av. NW.

Nic