Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

Is Charlie Palmer confirmed for Saturday night? Lucie and I are committed, but I won't buy air tickets until we are sure the convention is on.

I cannot make the Convention in 2018.

Jim,

Paula and I are interested, but still trying to figure out if we can make it work. I'll provide an update as soon as we know if we are in or out. But I also appreciate the need to make decisions in the near term.

Unfortunately I cannot attend this year. Work commitments.

Ok looks like we have "maybe" 14 attendees.
Would be kind of sad to cancel, this would be the first time in 18 years.
Seems like Mr. Vino has disappeared on us, DavidG is excused due to health problems, and Tom/Gail are no longer in the area.
Too bad, I think these DC events have been pretty special.

Anyway, here is where we are at in our quest for 30 attendees:

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed + Lisa
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)

So, we are a bit short.
Mr. Vino, SDR, HMS, Omar, DavidG, Tom, haven't heard from Rob/Sue in a while, others....
Last chance....
If you 12 (including significant others) joined in, we would be close to our goal.

Jim,

I've tried again to revisit time off and none of my partners are able to switch with me because of firm commitments to allow us to attend this year. It would have been great and I always look forward to these BWE events however sad to say that this year it's not going to be possible. Hopefully you will get enough responders to make this annual event another success.

SDR here - count me in for two.

I hope we can do it even if we have fewer than 30, maybe smaller venues if necessary.

Also, I know a couple of locals who might be interested but far from certain.

Stu

Ok excellent that gets us up to a possible 16...

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed + Lisa
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)
Stuart + Kathy

I’m in.

The group may be too small for our usual room at Charlie Palmer. I can call to see what their policy is. Last I checked it was just a minimum food/beverage. If it’s not too much given our size I can make the arrangements there. If Charlie Palmer won’t work I can try to get some other leads. I don’t live that close to DC to know the dining scene but Chris may have some suggestions.

Excellent! Sounds like a plan David. I'll bet we can get 24ish at least.
I continue to prefer Charlie Palmer, if it works out great if it doesn't we'll work on something else.

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed + Lisa
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1

Total = 18

What dates are we looking at? March 24?

That's correct, David.

Thursday, March 22, 2018
Friday, March 23, 2018
Saturday, March 24, 2018
Sunday, March 25, 2018

I think we can come up with 24. Earlier in this thread, marcs expressed an interest. Plus need to find out if Rob & Susan and Jay and Peggy are able to join in. If necessary, I can contact some local wine people.

Chris Bublitz

That's right, I forgot to put marcs down.

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed + Lisa
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1
marcs

Total = 19

Don't be too happy yet, but MC and Jean-Frédéric's wife were interested to come. We'll work hard on that.

Nic

Get them there!
For now I'll add them to the list.

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic + 2
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed + Lisa
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1
marcs

Total = 21

I am definitely in but Lisa isn't, so I think we are at 20.

Let's get this set!

SF Ed

Ok!

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic + 2
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1
marcs

Total = 20

Assuming that Puerto Rico still exists by March 2018 I would love to attend.

Carlos, it would be a delight to have you!

The Alcove Room at Charlie Palmer Steak is available Saturday March 24.
Food and beverage minimum is $3500 to reserve the room for the evening. I don't think we'll have trouble meeting that with even as few as 20 people.

Their sommelier is no longer with them but the events manager remembered us.
They are again OK with a per-person corkage rather than their usual per-bottle.

They are sending me a contract by email. I'll be in touch with further details as they are available.

Awesome David thanks!
Hope to see you there Carlos!

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic + 2
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1
marcs
Carlos

Total = 21

Ok gang, so the rubber has hit the road.
David needs to make a substantial downpayment.
The per-person numbers are manageable if we have at least 20ish attendees, preferably closer to 25-30.
I'm not saying you have to sign up immediately but I'm just saying this is not without some level of risk and commitment to the organizers.
So we'll go ahead and reserve the Charlie Palmer room, but we really need to have at least 20 people there, preferably, again, more.
Can't wait!!!

Hi All,

Rob and I will definitely be there. Please let me know the money we need to send and where to send it. We will be there Thursdsay to Sunday.

Best,

Susan

Excellent Susan!!!

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic + 2
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed
Chris + Marjorie
Jon + Paula Northway (maybe)
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1
marcs
Carlos
Rob & Sue

Total = 23

By the way, the hotels are already booking up. Washington Marriott Georgetown has availability, 3 nights. 546.00

Looking forward to seeing the gang again. It’s been too long.

I have refundable rooms booked at the Marriott Georgetown at 1221 22d St NW (closer to DuPont Circle than Gtown) and at the Hampton Inn Convention Center at 901 6th St NW. Hampton Inn is walking distance to Union Station and Charlie Palmer.

Very well done indeed.

We are also booked at Marriott Georgetown. If you need help with setting up any venues on Friday, please let me know. Since I am retired, I can make some calls. We had that French Restaurant in Georgetown that was really fun.... Just let me know if you need help.

Our larger room is 611.88 incl. tax refundable senior rate for three nights at the Marriott Georgetown.

Susan, if you or Chris could take over the Friday arrangements that would be great. I suspect Chris knows the venues best.

I went for the same deal as stefan at the Marriott Georgetown. As noted, not really Georgetown more like DC West End neighborhood. A "neighborhood" that is mostly nice hotels but conveniently located within walking distance of Dupont Circle, Georgetown and Foggy Bottom.

Chris Bublitz

I'm getting excited for DC '18!
I liked that Friday night French restaurant we went to two DC conventions ago, wasn't the owner from Paris?

Do you remember the name of that place Jim? I liked it too. I think Jay found it. We went back for lunch once or twice. Was it Maxime Bistro Francais?
http://www.maximedc.com

Some of you also scored some nice wine at a lunch at Bistrot du Coin one year. I haven’t been there, don’t know their capacity, but would that be a candidate for Friday night?
http://www.bistrotducoin.com

I think Jay found the place at the last DC convention.
It was the one TWO conventions ago that I liked and is the one to which I think Sue is referring.
You were there David. It was the night Jacques and Jill came in late.

I know it was 2 DCs ago and that Jay found it, that’s why I’m having trouble remembering the place. (I had to drop out of the last DC convention as Peggy was having her total hip replacement.)

Anyway, if it’s not the Maxime Bistro Francais linked above (the website pics look like the place I remember), I can contact Jay and see if he remembers.

It was the place where we went the next two mornings for brunch and had the '97 Ducru each time.

There is a picture from that BWE DC '14 Friday night dinner in this thread....

http://www.bordeauxwineenthusiasts.com/ ... f=4&t=5115

Yes I remember. I found the old thread here:
http://www.bordeauxwineenthusiasts.com/ ... 184#p37513

It was Bistro Francais at 3124 M St NW. Unfortunately closed last year:
https://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/foo ... next-month

Jim,

I am going to suggest that you not include Paula and me in your headcount for DC '18. If we can arrange things to make it we definitely want to do that, but we are unable to commit at this point. I would put the probability at a bit <50% at this point.

Ok will do, Jon, but in my capacity as kind and benevolent dictator I order the two of you to attend.

JimHow + 1
Stefan + Lucie
Nicola + Frederic + 2
MichaelP + Nalan
SF Ed
Chris + Marjorie
Stuart + Kathy
DavidG + 1
marcs
Carlos
Rob & Sue

Total = 21