TNL Across America: Los Angeles 2008

You thought I was joking? TNL is staging three big events in 2008. Here's your chance to help make geek history.

We're going to do this in logical steps to keep the discussion focused. The first thing to get out of the way is the date. We're looking at a Saturday night in March for the main event of the L.A. meeting. I'm going to fly out on Friday and leave for home on Sunday. Any of the weekends in March is fine for me, but I'm suggesting March 22. Is there any conflict with anyone else's schedule?

[UPDATE: March 22, 2008, is the date. I will be staying at the Hyatt West Hollywood, 8401 Sunset Blvd., and Josh may or may not be staying at the Standard, down the block. I will be there from March 21 until the morning of March 23.]

Also, post here if you're coming, and let me know if you're planning on bringing anyone, so I can have some idea of the size of the group.

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Attendee List:

B-Ri - 100% - One guest
Calliander - 100% - Zero guests
cigsthecat - 100% - One guest
JBNagis - 100% - Zero guests
Jetman - 100% - Zero guests
Josh - 100% - One guest
KB Blacklion - 100% - One guest
kuro - 100% - Two guests
magnifiedplaid - 100% - One guest
Nick - 100% - Zero guests
Opaque - 100% - Zero guests
Rhydant - 100% - Zero guests
SapphirePhoenix - 100% - Zero guests
Satsuki - 100% - Zero guests
sleeve - 100% - Zero guests(?)
Stormy - 100% - Zero guests
Super-Eggroll - 100% - One guest
Hero - 80% - Zero guests
Atlas - 50%? - Zero guests?

Rhydant and I will for sure be there.

I'll see if I can drag NGEfreak along since that would be interesting and Kuro will probably be down.

id be able to make it, i thought it said may for a second and that was finals week.

I make my own schedule, so I'll work it out. What will be of more concern to me is the location and whether I have any cash.

Please don't make me drive into the city. I hate that fucking place.

I think I got a dentist appointment that night. But then again, almost all of TNL hates me, so why would I come?

The date's not set yet. Or were you just being sarcastic? And, yes, it will be in the city, maybe in seedy Hollywood?

Fuck that place. Let's have it in Seal Beach. Plenty of bars and shit there. Lots of white people, too.

But then how will we get you drunk and in the arms of a tranny hooker?

I've already done that enough times, believe me. Why do you think I want to have the meetup elsewhere?

I found this on the official Seal Beach page:

"Seal Beach is the home of Leisure World, a gated senior citizen community of approximately 7-10,000 persons. The Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station comprises 2/3 of the land within the City."

Old folk and sailors? I guess you do know where all the twisted action is.

Seriously, though, I don't want to be in an area that effectively closes down at 10:00. The more options the better. Josh and I will protect you from the non-whites.

Hehe, I know, I just hate the people in the City and the traffic and the people and the cost to drink there. Barney's FTW because they drain all of the money out of my bank account.

Anyway, let's nail down a date first. I'll note your aversion to the city, but I don't think it's practical to do it that way. Some people will be flying in and will want to make the most of it.

Best things I've done in LA (I'm under 21 btw):

Laugh Factory
Sushi Places (Blowfish, Miyagi's, Wokcano, etc)
Any of the beaches has plenty of actions going on..
Grove

My friend is a bouncer at the House of Blues, so if we find out who's playing ahead of time and you guys want to go, I could probably get everyone in for free.

If you guys are willing to go out of LA, we can go to a casino (Morongo) in Palm Springs (only 18+ casino in the US) and gamble. The OC has lots of attractions, mainly hot blondes. But you guys would probably need to buy some game before heading to that place (and no, I don't mean anything that you can post in the haul thread).

Great. More thinking like that. I'm all for having the meal be sushi.

Is the 22nd actually bad for you?

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Originally Posted by Nick

The date's not set yet. Or were you just being sarcastic? And, yes, it will be in the city, maybe in seedy Hollywood?

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saturday night in seedy hollywood? Thats asking for bukkake fest.

San Francisco, imo

I would totally go to TNL San Fransisco.

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Originally Posted by aren

I think I got a dentist appointment that night. But then again, almost all of TNL hates me, so why would I come?

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:lol:

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Originally Posted by Nick

Great. More thinking like that. I'm all for having the meal be sushi.

Is the 22nd actually bad for you?

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lol, I was being sarcastic about the dentist thing. It's hard for me to know that far advance if I got something important that night, but I most probably won't.

Only downside with sushi is, if we go to a good place, it can get pricey.

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Originally Posted by Calliander

I would totally go to TNL San Fransisco.

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Yeah, you also picked the naval base. We get it.

We're celebrating Gamefan and GameGO, not IGN (not meant disrespectfully, just as a statement of fact), so it's going to be L.A. It's also probably going to draw more people if held in L.A.

Drive down for the weekend, Mark.

I'm good for LA. I feel like I've known you guys for years, but never met any one of you. Can't afford a trip to New York, so the LA meeting would definitely work better for me.

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Originally Posted by Nick

Drive down for the weekend, Mark.

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I'd like to, but I can't commit that far out.

I am going to save up and see if I can pull a Josh and get to all three meetings.

NY and Chicago are easy enough, LA will be a tough one.

I'll try to make it. I'll be 21 by the time this rolls around, so I can drink to break my ice. I should probably post more from now until then though, cause there will probably be a shit load of inside talk that I've missed out on in my absence.

I'm down. Barney's Beanery would be glory. Pitchers of Shiner Bach for me please.
Sams Hausbrau for some beer and tables dances.Although navigating through downtown L.A. is not fun.
House of Blues would be all good.
Either way im there.

Barney's serves stuff from Stone Brewery. Three pints and I'm out; I'll be challenging Criticom to car bombs like he was a seasoned drinker.

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Originally Posted by Mzo

I am going to save up and see if I can pull a Josh and get to all three meetings.

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Who are you again?

Wow, Im actually, finally close enough to get down on a TNL meet and greet drunk fest. Count me in for L.A. or anywhere in California.

Have it in the city pls. I'm flying in, and I'm not going to rent a car. I also don't care for white people, and no I'm not kidding.

I'm bringing my girl too. Don't make her feel weird you fucks.

I will save up and try to make it to this, I will be 21 so there will be good times to be had.

Work has been wanting me to test out this flight software that keeps an eye on pricing, good time to use it.

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Originally Posted by Josh

I'm bringing my girl too.

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I won't be doing this to the NY one because I don't know who is going to be there.

A bunch of TNLers have already met my g/f (and a few gave her props for making me a one-woman man, wtf) but I've met the NY TNLers so often they're just friends at this point and I feel comfortable around them. I can't say the same for anyone else I haven't met on TNL.

I said it in the other thread, but if I'm traveling, I'm doing so with her. She's from California anyway, it would be stupid not to go with her. We can go visit her mom and shit.

She wants to meet you people anyway, and I want her to know my friends... and you fags are my friends, even if most of us have not met.

Let's switch LA to Vegas.

I just went there. Pass.

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Originally Posted by Josh

She wants to meet you people anyway . . .

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Memberships are open, you know. Anyone can post here (except Marwan and some spammers).

She reads TNL with me sometime. Thats probably as close as we're gonna get.

The L.A. traffic and craziness ensuing in said area after a late night is worth braving for TNL.

If my girlfriend signed up for TNL I would ban her. This is my domain.

Hollywood > LBC and OC. People aren't flying out here to go hang out in Seal Beach. I suggest an all you can eat korean BBQ place, but I also love Sushi. For Bars in LA I like Saint Nick's on 3rd, or the Red Lion in Silver Lake. Although if people are really interested in doing the Hollywood thing we could go somewhere more clubby (but also more expensive). The Standard would be an awesome place to go but it's like $12 drinks and I heard it sucks to get in there on the weekend.

I could probably let some people crash at my place, or pick people up from the airport or whatever.

No clubs.

We're going to drink and eat and be merry, not dance.

Stormy's suggestions sound great! I'm all for Korean BBQ/sushi and the Red Lion, though I'll probably get lost. I'll have to tailgate someone =P.

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Originally Posted by Calliander

I'll be challenging Criticom to car bombs like he was a seasoned drinker.

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I'm actually planning to set up a car bomb to take everyone on TNL out, to cleanse the earth for the good of humanity (omgterroristbrother). But in all honesty, I hardly drink as it is now, and if I go by myself I'd be driving so I don't plan on getting wasted. Drinking in moderation FTW.

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Originally Posted by stormy

Hollywood > LBC and OC. People aren't flying out here to go hang out in Seal Beach.

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Yeah, plus, Hollywood is more compacted, so if we finish eating or drinking at one place, it'll be easier to walk to the next. I don't want to have to park my car more than once.

Ugh, please not the Red Lion. Stone took me there once and it was like a nightmare menu of food I never want to eat. I would go there for the drinking but the place just smelled terrible because of all the shitty food everyone was ordering. Yuck.

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Originally Posted by Criticom

Yeah, plus, Hollywood is more compacted, so if we finish eating or drinking at one place, it'll be easier to walk to the next. I don't want to have to park my car more than once.

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There you go. City life for me.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

If my girlfriend signed up for TNL I would ban her. This is my domain.

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Didn't you already ban her once? Nicole would be scared off of these boards shortly, anyway.

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Originally Posted by Josh

I'm bringing my girl too. Don't make her feel weird you fucks.

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Aw, I cant stare at her tits and wear my furry costume while visibly pitching a tent in my pants down below? Thats no fun.

And,yeah, bars are good but no clubs please. Id like to be able to bullshit with TNL people without having to yell over techno/phatfarm rap music.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Calliander

Ugh, please not the Red Lion. Stone took me there once and it was like a nightmare menu of food I never want to eat. I would go there for the drinking but the place just smelled terrible because of all the shitty food everyone was ordering. Yuck.

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Yeah, not many people are big fans of German food. We'd have to go somewhere else to eat. I think it would be a good place to go for drinks because they have the really large patio out back that could fit many TNL'ers comfortably. German beer is good too.

It isn't in Hollywood proper either, which might be another strike against it.

Yeah, The Red Lion's food was kind of...ugh. I think I got the bratwurst with sauerkraut on it (to try out authentic German food) and I really couldn't eat it.
I third the motion to not to have to park my car more than once. Also, we could carpool it from restaurant to bar once we get into the city.

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Originally Posted by burgundy

Let's switch LA to Vegas.

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I'm seconding this one. There's more shit to do in Vegas, and I can make it to Vegas a hell of a lot easier than LA and I'm vital to this gathering.

Vegas is boring. for me anyway... I've been there an average of once a year for the past 20 years. Its also really expensive, and it as nothing to do with the "TNL history" of whatever.

Also: do not make me go to a club or I won't be coming to this shit. No Hooters either... we did that once already. Wherever we go to eat is fine by me as long as they have vegetarian items available. A house salad is not a vegetarian item

We don't have to to some fancy "hip" bar afterwards either. Somewhere where we can pick up some reasonably priced drinks, chat about shit, or just stare blankly at each other.

HEY WE COULD ALL GO TO AN INTERNET CAFE AND POST 2GETHER!

If you're going to be a little picky bitch about where we go, stay the fuck home.

I will spend way too much money if this is in Vegas. A drunk Jetman with Poker/Blackjack tables in sight = a dirt poor Jetman the next morning.

My vote stays with downtown L.A./ Hollywood.

It's okay to break off into groups. We will have a main event Saturday night and we can split up according to interests at other times. The point is to have fun.

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

If you're going to be a little picky bitch about where we go, stay the fuck home.

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MAN PANTS ALERT.

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Originally Posted by Nick

It's okay to break off into groups. We will have a main event Saturday night and we can split up according to interests at other times. The point is to have fun.

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As long as we get some alone time. I want to be able to see some sights with you, touch some parking meters, talk.

Your mom wears man pants.

If I could get the money, I would so do this. Oh, and only if B-Ri will let me stay at his place so I can piss him off in person.

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Originally Posted by Razor Ramon

If you're going to be a little picky bitch about where we go, stay the fuck home.

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I'm not going to a club, and there is no party without me.

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Originally Posted by ElCapitan

If I could get the money, I would so do this. Oh, and only if B-Ri will let me stay at his place so I can piss him off in person.

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"i wanna play warhawk"
"no i wanna play gaylo"
"zomg"
"zomg x2"

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Originally Posted by burgundy

I'm not going to a club, and there is no party without me.

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You'd dance. I know you would.

Well, there's a slim possiibility that I could be living and working near LA or the Bay Area around that time next year, but I'm not confirmed by any means. However, a place that seems like it'd be worth checking out might be that Irish Bar Molly Malone's, anyone ever been there? From all descriptions it sounds like a seedy rathole which is just about the kind of place I could imagine meeting a load of TNLers at.


edit: i like how i capitalized irish bar for some reason, wtf

If you're still in Houston, you could also grab Tracer and Aurora and BonusKun and head up to the Chicago meeting.

We could just meet in West Hollywood off of Sunset. Lots to do for everybody within walking distance of hotels. House of Blues is decent for food, beer, and live music. Kind of pricey, though. Lots of crazy divebars in that area and places like The Whiskey where you can stand around drinking beer and listen to half-way decent coverbands like the Atomic Punks. Probably not the best place to be if we all want to sit around and talk, but it would be a cool place to go afterwards.

Or we can do the Chinatown/Little Tokyo thing and hang at Hop Louie's or something. Whatever works out for everyone.

Anybody know if there's still any big arcade/bars around? Somewhere we can drink, shoot pool, play Street Fighter, whatever? Is Golfland still open?

I will start trying to save, getting time off of work won't be a problem.

San Diego > LA

Drinking down here is somewhat cheaper, and the air is nicer. Tons of bars in the Gas Lamp Quater and Pacific Beach (Garnet Ave. is lined with pubs and restaraunts, and the parking is ridiculous), and there are plenty of things to do down here.

Also: Dave And Busters might be a viable option.

I love how people keep trying to change the city.

Okay, so we got L.A. and we got March 22. Going once . . . going twice . . .

Dave and Busters sounds cool. Though, I think that all I'd do if I went there is play that damn horse racing game or DDR.
About L.A., Falcon on Sunset Boulevard is kind of expensive but they seem to have a great menu: http://www.falconslair.com/html/main.html. I'm kind of hungry right now, so that's impeding my suggestions. And the House of Blues is on the same stretch (Ahem. 1.26 miles by Mapquest definition).

more likely than not I can make an effort to get to LA. It would help if course if I could crash at someone's house where I won't get raped. Or hotel. whatever. It will work itself out somehow.

you sure ask for a hell of a lot

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Originally Posted by Satsuki

It would help if course if I could crash at someone's house where I won't get raped.

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:lol:

The GameGO meetup was at Universal Studios Citywalk in Hollywood. If you wanted to get all nostalgic and shit.

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Originally Posted by Nick

If you're still in Houston, you could also grab Tracer and Aurora and BonusKun and head up to the Chicago meeting.

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I didnt know BonusKun was from around here, I know Lhadhatt and Darquebishop live in Houston as well though. Aurora? lol that'd be interesting to say the least. I'll let Tracer know about this stuff next time I talk to him, I dont think he comes around the forums so much anymore.

LA March 22nd. I'm buying tickets. If this date changes Nick owes me moneys.

Deal. I can't but tickets until next month. We should decide on an official hotel.

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Originally Posted by SapphirePhoenix

Dave and Busters sounds cool. Though, I think that all I'd do if I went there is play that damn horse racing game or DDR.
About L.A., Falcon on Sunset Boulevard is kind of expensive but they seem to have a great menu: http://www.falconslair.com/html/main.html. I'm kind of hungry right now, so that's impeding my suggestions. And the House of Blues is on the same stretch (Ahem. 1.26 miles by Mapquest definition).

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I don't recommend anything on Sunset strip on a Saturday night. There is no parking, and every place is packed and expensive. It's mostly clubs on there too isn't it? I don't go that often so I may be wrong.

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Originally Posted by Satsuki

more likely than not I can make an effort to get to LA. It would help if course if I could crash at someone's house where I won't get raped. Or hotel. whatever. It will work itself out somehow.

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You can stay with me if you read me a bedtime story and cover my eyes with your boobs until I fall asleep. I get insomnia in hotels.

Rebecca told me about a cheap hotel with interesting rooms that I can't remember the name of. I'll post it later, and we can consider that?

Yeah, as long as it's close to a lot of activities and not in a neighborhood overrun with gangs or sticky parking meters.

Its called "The Standard"

any locals want to report on the whiteness of the area so these pussies can feel safe?

All those poor motherfuckers be eyin' my chains 'n' shit. I just want to be in a 'hood where I don' need to be busting caps ev'ry few steps.

The Standard is right downtown, with an awesome bar on the roof that sells $12 drinks. I highly doubt the rooms are cheap.

edit - there is also one in hollywood on Sunset strip. Looks like $200 a night

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Originally Posted by Josh

LA March 22nd. I'm buying tickets. If this date changes Nick owes me moneys.

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Go southwest yo! Steph and I just flew to LAX from BWI last march for like $180 a head nonstop.

Which one(s) are you coming to, Chuxie?

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Originally Posted by Nick

All those poor motherfuckers be eyin' my chains 'n' shit. I just want to be in a 'hood where I don' need to be busting caps ev'ry few steps.

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I know you roll deep, son. I was talking about those other bitches.

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Originally Posted by stormy

The Standard is right downtown, with an awesome bar on the roof that sells $12 drinks. I highly doubt the rooms are cheap.

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I hear they're pretty awesome though. I'm about positive thats where I'm staying, unless someone comes up with some other cool place.

I can stay in a holiday inn anywhere... I want somewhere with some character.

I'm looking up room avaliable for The Standard right now, I'll post that shit as soon as it's done.

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We're sorry but there is no availability for March 21 - 23, 2008.

Due to limited availability these dates are not available online.
Please contact the hotel directly at 213.892.8080 or send an email to nfintzi@standardhotel.com

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Originally Posted by Nick

Which one(s) are you coming to, Chuxie?

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I've been to LA, I've been to NYC. Haven't been to Chicago yet so that's looking to be the #1 seed.

Keep your seed away from my city. We already have rivers of urine downtown.

I stayed at the Renaissance Hollywood, which was nice. It's pretty big, too, so we might be able to get as many rooms as we need, and there is that Comfort Inn a couple of blocks away that a lot of us stayed at in 2002 that can be an option for those on tighter budgets. That combination of two hotels should work.

Make sure everyone is getting rooms at the same Standard. I've only been to downtown LA but you probably want Sunset in Hollywood.

Josh if you are staying around till Monday night Metal Skool is entirely worth your while http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metal_Skool

Another tip. Burbank airport is way closer to everything than LAX. See if you can fly in there for the same $. Even if it's a little more it's worth it.

I came back in here to say stormy was probably thinking of the wrong Standard, but I see he figured it out. Also, I just checked and the Renaissance is about 50% more expensive than the Standard (it's $330 a night!) so nevermind that. I'm not spending that much to hang out with 99% men all night.

One thing I like about The Standard, in the lobby they (at least sometimes) have a girl in a bikini encased in glass. She just does regular stuff (like use her laptop) and generally ignores you. It's pretty rad. Apparently sometimes they have a dude, but I haven't seen that.

The Red Lion is awesome, but it does get pretty crazy in there. The hipster-faggish Cha Cha is also right across the street from it.

Does NY have more tnler's than MD/VA? Not that I would want to have another get together in MD/VA, im just curious.

burg counts as the MD area since hes alumni.

-Josh, myself, Korly, Chux, Mykozo, Hub, Type Ryan, Rich (half the time), Masaka, and Atlas IIRC. We could have one hell of a road trip to NY/Chicago. Chux you should also come with us to NY, since its not that long of a trip.

If any east coasters don't come to the NY get together you're gay. and lazy.

cigs, you live in Burbank? I'm your neighbor.

Southwest is such a shitty airline. My girl and a friend of ours went to L.A. on Southwest and they canceled their return flight home about two hours after they landed in California and couldn't get them on another flight for five days.

What the fuck is that all about?

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Originally Posted by Destin

Does NY have more tnler's than MD/VA? Not that I would want to have another get together in MD/VA, im just curious.

burg counts as the MD area since hes alumni.

-Josh, myself, Korly, Chux, Mykozo, Hub, Type Ryan, Rich (half the time), Masaka, and Atlas IIRC. We could have one hell of a road trip to NY/Chicago. Chux you should also come with us to NY, since its not that long of a trip.

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Originally Posted by Josh

If any east coasters don't come to the NY get together you're gay. and lazy.

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Wow. I need to catch up on my thread reading while at work.

I'd be down for a road trip - the question is - who's driving? Josh, MyKozo, and myself tend to be on the aggressive side, so unless you don't want a lesson on real driving, I'd suggest other means (or drivers for that matter).

I drive a scion. My back seats are still covered in vomit. I can take some people's luggage, but no actual people.

I have a dying altima and fear any long distance trips in that car. Hmmm... depending on how many people are going, should we pitch in for a rental? with the Insurance imo

If we get insurance, then we could just CvC the car.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Josh

I drive a scion. My back seats are still covered in vomit. I can take some people's luggage, but no actual people.

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TC, XA, XB, or XD?