Let's get together in DC June 14-15

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Sat May 18, 2019 2:20 am

Noah, will put you down for 2 on Saturday.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat May 18, 2019 4:03 am

I like BlackSalt too, but I agree with Jean Fred's minor criticism from last time, that they rushed out our courses too quickly.
We were barely able to match a wine with a course before the next course was brought out.
Just a minor quibble, and I certainly support going to BlackSalt one of the two nights.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sat May 18, 2019 1:20 pm

It's actually a big negative for a fine restaurant to rush courses. But it's something we can talk to them about.

Put me down for Friday as well as Saturday! I will bring my Conseillante vertical one night and the Gruaud vertical another night. Plus a bottle of the 1998 Jadot Couchereaux for Blanquito.

I think for these dinners we should place a big emphasis on effective air conditioning, it is often too hot for red wines in June in DC.

I will check around for good restaurants in my area.

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Sun May 19, 2019 10:57 pm

Marjorie will be in Colorado that weekend so she is out. I have done about half a dozen wine dinners at Dino's in the last year with very positive results (very reasonable corkage charge on Saturday nights with no corkage charge Sunday, Monday, Tuesday). I love Black Salt but it can be difficult on weekends for dinner ($25 per bottle corkage unless someone can negotiate a special deal). I will be out of town most of the next few weeks so I won't be in a position to negotiate with anyone. Just thinking out loud here, but I think Charley Palmer has a smaller side room that can work for 10 or 12 or 14.

Chris Bublitz

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sun May 19, 2019 11:42 pm

I will check some places in my neighborhood...

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Mon May 20, 2019 3:33 am

Thanks Chris and Marcs. Love Dino's and would be happy to return, just thinking about some variety.

I’ll call Blacksalt and Charlie Palmer to gather info.
Marcs, you and I can share notes after you check around.
Chris, got you now for 1. Friday and Saturday?

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Mon May 20, 2019 2:17 pm

We're in for Saturday. Can bring champagne, Bordeaux, Sauternes. Keep in mind, if corkage is allowed, legally you can't leave with your bottles if they've been opened. Is this enforced? Maybe. Bottles you buy off the list can be removed. This is DC law, not sure about VA or MD but I'm assuming we will be in DC.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon May 20, 2019 4:13 pm

Just got off a conference call with the judge.
Looks like the trial will commence on June 24th, which is good, that means I'm free to be in DC for the 14th-15th.
I'm in for Saturday the 15th, and if we have enough of a critical mass in town on that Friday the 14th, you can count me in!

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Mon May 20, 2019 5:17 pm

Yippee-cay-aaaiiii!

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Mon May 20, 2019 7:13 pm

I got the green light from Kim! It would make it much more worthwhile if we can get 2 nights on the books.

David, please add me and Brendan for Friday and Saturday.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Mon May 20, 2019 9:08 pm

If the Blanquito Bros are there on Friday, I am there on Friday.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Mon May 20, 2019 10:09 pm

Should we figure out a fun DC activity for Saturday day?

Should we turn one day into a fundraiser for Jim's nascent Senate campaign?

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Thu May 23, 2019 11:26 pm

A gentle reminder for the question marks (Nic and MichaelP) and anyone else interested to let me know by Monday...

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu May 23, 2019 11:35 pm

And a not so gentle reminder from the BD....

Marcus: The local district attorneys told me this morning they are willing to do a fundraiser because they would like to get rid of me for six years.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Fri May 24, 2019 12:07 am

Jim, we need you in DC 6+ months every year in your capacity as junior senator! We’d have multiple offlines each year for sure.

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri May 24, 2019 12:57 am

We shall see, Patrick....
I'm amazed at the response so far to my nascent candidacy. I never cease to be amazed by how I am so well known throughout the great state of Maine, beyond the parochial borders of my beloved Lewiston....

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Fri May 24, 2019 1:27 am

Hi all.

I'm sorry to announce that I won't run for the U.S. Congress. I'm sorry for all the attention and time I stole to every serious electors that were ready to support me. I'm sure with your intelligence, and high respect of politic affairs, you'll find a better candidate in the great State of Maine.

But to go with that bad news, i confirm that after all the pressure I put on JimHow, not directly on the BWE but offline, I will land to DCA airport on Friday June 14th at 15:30, and leave back early the morning of the June 17th.

In God We Trust.

Nic

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri May 24, 2019 1:39 am

We welcome you to the United States, Nicola. Very well done.
And may God Bless the United States of America....
MichaelP?

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri May 24, 2019 1:40 pm

Nic, I'm not sure what the Constitution says about a Canadian in the Senate, but we seem OK with Russians in the White House! Sounds like you have your priorities in the right order.

Jim, I'll bring my checkbook to DC if you're ready to start taking campaign contributions. I would love to do some communications work for you. Probably Peggy too, if she can get over your Clinton bashing.

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Fri May 24, 2019 2:33 pm

Looks like I will have 3-4 guests. How is the location search proceeding?

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Fri May 24, 2019 3:15 pm

Jay, does that +3-4 include Peggy or is she an additional +1?
I will start making calls on Tuesday, after I have a final head count.

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Fri May 24, 2019 3:36 pm

DavidG wrote:Jay, does that +3-4 include Peggy or is she an additional +1?
I will start making calls on Tuesday, after I have a final head count.

Does not include PW so the two of us and 3-4 guests.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Fri May 24, 2019 6:23 pm

So Jay you will be adding 5-6 people to both Friday and Saturday nights? Or just one night? That changes options significantly so just be clear about which night and how many people. thx

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Fri May 24, 2019 9:15 pm

marcs wrote:So Jay you will be adding 5-6 people to both Friday and Saturday nights? Or just one night? That changes options significantly so just be clear about which night and how many people. thx

Saturday only

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Sat May 25, 2019 8:44 pm

OK, I have added the following updates to the OP:
Nic for 1 on Friday and Saturday.
The Vinos for 5 or 6 on Saturday only.

Still waiting to hear from MichaelP.

I will assume 6 for the Vinos and MichaelP is a yes unless I hear differently before making calls Tuesday for the Saturday venue. Looks like 6 for Friday and 16 for Saturday.

Marcs, can you take over arrangements for Friday?

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Sat May 25, 2019 9:02 pm

Yeah, I got Friday, thanks

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Wed May 29, 2019 2:06 pm

I will try and firm my number today but it will be at least 5. As far as venue, I think centrally located and not seafood based would be best, IMO.

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Thu May 30, 2019 12:02 pm

I can confirm for 6 Saturday.

Blanquito · Post by **Blanquito** » Thu May 30, 2019 1:58 pm

I have to bow out due to familial obligations. I really wanted to make it work. I haven’t heard from Brendan who’s traveling but you can probably assume he’ll bail out as well.

marcs · Post by **marcs** » Thu May 30, 2019 3:32 pm

Blanquito wrote:I have to bow out due to familial obligations. I really wanted to make it work. I haven’t heard from Brendan who’s traveling but you can probably assume he’ll bail out as well.

so sad

only met you once like three years ago now, was really looking forward to seeing you, but I guess since I didn't go to Denver in March I would be a hypocrite to complain

Comte Flaneur · Post by **Comte Flaneur** » Thu May 30, 2019 7:08 pm

I would I could join this BWE mini convention too, but I have an old friend’s wedding to attend.

Folks just as a word of warning. About the time you are having your gathering Mike Pence is due to make a speech, I understand in DC, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square uprising.

So it might be the start of a World War Three, judging by his speech last year on China at the Hudson Institute.

DavidG · Post by **DavidG** » Thu May 30, 2019 7:58 pm

Thanks Jay. Sorry to miss you Patrick. Same thing happened to me for Denver.

Ian, I can't think of a better thing to be doing than drinking some fine Northern Medocs with my BWE buds if the world is ending.

I'm getting estimates for a private room and hope to have a Saturday venue by the end of the week.

It will be a limited or set menu. If anyone has food allergies or intolerances please post them.

Jay Winton · Post by **Jay Winton** » Thu May 30, 2019 8:45 pm

No nuts except pinenuts and I hate raisins (failed grapes).

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Thu May 30, 2019 8:56 pm

No pistachios or dandelions, thanks David.

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Thu May 30, 2019 9:54 pm

Hi guys.

No food limit, I eat anything.

Sorry to read that Blanquito. I was happy that you and Brandon were coming, but our next tasting together is just reported to a later time in the future.

Two spots open? Who's our last minutes addition?

Any themes for Friday or Saturday? Not that I'm really expecting something with too much rules.

Nic

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Thu May 30, 2019 10:34 pm

I'm in Colorado right now but I will be back in DC for this.

I can't have shrimp and I don't like snails. I will definitely be at the Saturday night dinner.

Still working on it but I'm still a possible for Friday night.

Chris Bublitz

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Fri May 31, 2019 11:55 pm

Very disappointed that the Brothers Blanquito won't join us but I look forward to seeing everyone!
Can't seem to settle this manslaughter case but the trial isn't starting until June 24th so that gives me a whole week to recover.
The judge wanted to schedule a hearing on some pretrial motions for that Friday the 14th and I had to tell him, um, no...

Nicklasss · Post by **Nicklasss** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 2:28 am

I can see that we're only 3 right now for the Friday dinner. Hope winona chief can make it. If not, we'll get more introspective with each other, to the point we won't like each other anymore at the end of the dinner, and after being a star, BWE will explode into a supernova that will liberate the time Jim need to run congress.

At 3, i guess we should do a dinner on the banned BWE WOTY: 2005 Bourgognes!

Nic

Winona Chief · Post by **Winona Chief** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 12:08 pm

All right, Nic, I will participate in the Friday night dinner. Looking forward to seeing everyone June 14,15.

Chris Bublitz

JimHow · Post by **JimHow** » Sat Jun 01, 2019 12:15 pm

Excellent! Looking forward to the weekend in DC.