Freezing Saddles Welcome Happy Hour — meet your teammates!

[wheelswings]

Hi everyone,
Here are the details for the initial Freezing Saddles Happy Hour, the event at which we will meet our teammates and celebrate the start of the Freezing Saddles season!

Date: Tuesday, January 10, 2017
(The Freezing Saddles contest starts on Jan. 1st, but holding the happy hour on Jan. 10 gives the coordinators time to create the teams and work through the technical details).
Time: 6 to 8 pm (officially) but we’re welcome to stay ‘til 9:30 or 10 pm.
Location: Bier Baron Tavern, located at 1523 22nd St NW, Washington, DC (between P and Q Streets on the east side of the street)…this is near Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom in DC.
It’s a beautiful, large space with a lot of character. There’s a stage, a screen, a juke box, sound system (we can hook up an iphone), projector, etc….really good amenities.
The space can hold 225 people (standing) and there are 150 seats, so it’s much bigger than we’ve had in prior years. There are loads of tables. We considered many other options, but this one is by far the best.
Cover charge (suggested donation): $10 per person…The first two bucks is for Bier Baron, to cover our facility rental and staffing, and the rest will pay for a buffet of finger food…soft pretzels, quesadillas, hummus with pita and veggies, falafel….
Beer: Bier Baron sells 24 beers on draft, and up ‘til 7 pm there’s a $1 discount on the draft beers (the standard price is $5 to $9 for most types). They also sell 600 types of beer in bottles, and they have sodas and juices as well. There’s a full menu of dinner food for those who wish a heartier meal.
Children: If you’re not able to park your little ones with a friend or a babysitter, feel free to bring them along. This is a bar, so adults will be carded at the door, but kids are welcome until 9 pm.
Bike Parking: We are scouting the neighborhood for bike-parking options. Ideas welcome!!
RSVPs: We are making a list of likely attendees so as to have an approximate head count for food. Please reply on this thread if you’d like to join us (and please indicate the number if you’ll be bringing friends/family). All are welcome.

Looking forward! w&w on behalf of your friendly FS social committee

Topic

[scorchedearth]

@lordofthemark 151455 wrote:

Shoot. I forgot this is TRB. And there is a session I have to attend, from 4 to 6. So I will be at the convention center, in a suit, likely without a helmet, at 6PM on the day of Happy Hour. I still expect to get there, but I may not even manage to CaBi it, but will need to transit over instead.

You won’t be the only one wearing a suit so we can commiserate together.

[Anonymous]

@wheels&wings 151826 wrote:

I’ve cross-checked the Forum- and Strava- RSVP lists one last time. As of right now, we have 114 people signed up for tomorrow’s happy hour.

Anyone else want to come? It’s fine to just show up at the door, but it’s even better if you tell us now so we can get an accurate guess-timate of how much food to order.

Please remember to bring $10 to help cover the finger-food buffet (soft pretzels, cheese quesadillas, falafel sandwiches, hummus, pita, vegetables) and the rental fee/tavern staff.

Thanks.
Looking forward to the festivities. w&w

I’m still not sure if I’m going to make it. I’m giving myself 50/50 odds about now.

[bobco85]

@Nadine 151697 wrote:

Hey Bob (or do you prefer Bobco? ) What time-ish are you planning to leave? I’d be into convoying — except I might slow you down. I got bronchitis NYEve (someone up there is tryna sabotage my FS plans, grrrr) and am still only sleazing, so might not be up to speed yet by then…. I’ll be happy if I’m just back to myself. Also I hafta get snow chains!!! Like yesterday…..

I’ll be coming from 2m west of Ballston, so your commute works fine for me (In case you forgot our zoo lights ride conversation )

Also — Has the bike parking thing been firmed up yet? I’m on the fence about which bike to ride because…. if it’s not secure I’ll ride the old trashy hybrid (and then you REALLY won’t wanna ride with me, lol!)

— Nadine

Hey Nadine, it’s all good (I will have my balaclava on just in case- maybe facemask? Hazard suit? JK!). I will be meeting with Andy on the way, so we can meet in Ballston.

Here is my itinerary for those who want to convoy with me:

5:00 p.m. – meet at Ballston Metro escalator entrance (Fairfax Dr & Stuart St)
5:30 p.m. – meet at Java Shack in Courthouse (Franklin Rd & Wilson Blvd)
6:00-ish p.m. – arrive at Bier Baron

[Judd]

@Amalitza 151831 wrote:

I’m still not sure if I’m going to make it. I’m giving myself 50/50 odds about now.

If you were planning on buying Amy a beer, I will be her designated drinker if she can’t make it.

[Anonymous]

@Judd 151843 wrote:

If you were planning on buying Amy a beer, I will be her designated drinker if she can’t make it.

Even if I’m there, it’ll be with a car, which I suppose I’ll then have to drive home. So I may need a designated drinker either way.

I’m sure you’re just as upset by this situation as I am, but it is thoughtful of you to help out like that.

[Judd]

@Amalitza 151849 wrote:

Even if I’m there, it’ll be with a car, which I suppose I’ll then have to drive home. So I may need a designated drinker either way.

I’m sure you’re just as upset by this situation as I am, but it is thoughtful of you to help out like that.

In the spirit of Freezing Saddles, I will make great sacrifice and drink all of the Amy beer. Actually, unless an absolute miracle happens I will likely have to drive too. Which means that I’ll have to find a designated “Put your bike in my bike rack, then drive me home and then bike to your house from my house” person.

[TimV]

I’ll be there tonight.

[Kitty]

@wheels&wings 151826 wrote:

I’ve cross-checked the Forum- and Strava- RSVP lists one last time. As of right now, we have 114 people signed up for tomorrow’s happy hour.

Anyone else want to come? It’s fine to just show up at the door, but it’s even better if you tell us now so we can get an accurate guess-timate of how much food to order.

Please remember to bring $10 to help cover the finger-food buffet (soft pretzels, cheese quesadillas, falafel sandwiches, hummus, pita, vegetables) and the rental fee/tavern staff.

Thanks.
Looking forward to the festivities. w&w

I’m going to do my best to leave the office early tonight (I’m usually there past 6pm) so I can help with set-up!

[AFHokie]

@Amalitza 151849 wrote:

Even if I’m there, it’ll be with a car, which I suppose I’ll then have to drive home. So I may need a designated drinker either way.

I’m sure you’re just as upset by this situation as I am, but it is thoughtful of you to help out like that.

Did somebody say they needed a designated drinker?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930AZ using Tapatalk

[consularrider]

Y’all have fun tonight!

[reji]

@bobco85 151833 wrote:

Hey Nadine, it’s all good (I will have my balaclava on just in case- maybe facemask? Hazard suit? JK!). I will be meeting with Andy on the way, so we can meet in Ballston.

Here is my itinerary for those who want to convoy with me:

5:00 p.m. – meet at Ballston Metro escalator entrance (Fairfax Dr & Stuart St)
5:30 p.m. – meet at Java Shack in Courthouse (Franklin Rd & Wilson Blvd)
6:00-ish p.m. – arrive at Bier Baron

If you’re still convoying, I’ll meet you @5:00. Looking forward to BAFS2017HH!

Robyne

[lordofthemark]

I may be the only one in a suit who actually heard bikes mentioned at my work related activity, and who got to pick up DDOT swag. Zagster is exhibiting here, but no swag (best swag was the woolen winter hat from AASHTO). I find my life to be filled with irony.

[Vicegrip]

@bobco85 151833 wrote:

Hey Nadine, it’s all good (I will have my balaclava on just in case- maybe facemask? Hazard suit? JK!). I will be meeting with Andy on the way, so we can meet in Ballston.

Here is my itinerary for those who want to convoy with me:

5:00 p.m. – meet at Ballston Metro escalator entrance (Fairfax Dr & Stuart St)
5:30 p.m. – meet at Java Shack in Courthouse (Franklin Rd & Wilson Blvd)
6:00-ish p.m. – arrive at Bier Baron

Got room for one more? Will try and be at the metro at 5:00 be on the black caddX tonight.

@reji 151905 wrote:

If you’re still convoying, I’ll meet you @5:00. Looking forward to BAFS2017HH!

Robyne

Am wondering if it is OK to present* your golden ingot to you when I see you rather than at the event……

*Unload that heavy thing from my pack.

[Teresa A]

@wheels&wings 151826 wrote:

I’ve cross-checked the Forum- and Strava- RSVP lists one last time. As of right now, we have 114 people signed up for tomorrow’s happy hour.

Anyone else want to come? It’s fine to just show up at the door, but it’s even better if you tell us now so we can get an accurate guess-timate of how much food to order.

Please remember to bring $10 to help cover the finger-food buffet (soft pretzels, cheese quesadillas, falafel sandwiches, hummus, pita, vegetables) and the rental fee/tavern staff.

Thanks.
Looking forward to the festivities. w&w

I have a scheduling conflict but will try to get there by the time they kick us out! Please save some vodka for me.

[bobco85]

@reji 151905 wrote:

If you’re still convoying, I’ll meet you @5:00. Looking forward to BAFS2017HH!

Robyne

@Vicegrip 151931 wrote:

Got room for one more? Will try and be at the metro at 5:00 be on the black caddX tonight.

Yes, I’ll be there. The more, the merrier! See you there!

[Author]

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