Philadelphia GTG?

[gymiller]

I would be willing to host a GTG at our club. Lot's of parking and good food at the pub.

We could also venture to a German beer garden in the Philadelphia area.

It would be great to connect to local owners!

Best,
Gene

[Victor R]

Hi Gene,

Interestingly, johnt26 had mentioned this to me also not that long ago. I'd be up for this as well, but I am not available until May as I will be out of the country until then.

The location is always a challenge; good that you have some ideas. Lets see what other responses we get.

Victor

[gymiller]

Hi Gene,

Interestingly, johnt26 had mentioned this to me also not that long ago. I'd be up for this as well, but I am not available until May as I will be out of the country until then.

The location is always a challenge; good that you have some ideas. Lets see what other responses we get.

Victor

May works for me!

[Paldi]

May is fine for me! I'm in Malvern, just south of Phoenixville about 8 miles.

[johnt26]

I'm in, we could put out some PMs to other local Phans too.

[gymiller]

Good to see interest!

How about Saturday, May 5th or 19th?

[Victor R]

I can do the 19th but not the 5th.

Victor

[steveskinr]

I was walking around Longwood Gardens today with my wife and thought it could be a really good place for a Phaeton get together. And I come home to this thread.

That would be a bit more of a potential draw for people who were travelling further, and were looking to round out a weekend with their wife.

Count me in so long as I am not in some far flung nether region of the world.

The orchids and tulips were magnificent today. But when are the orchids not magnificent.

[gymiller]

OK, let's shoot for May 19th.

Ideas for venue thus far:

• Longwood Gardens

• German beer garden

• Golf club in Upper Providence

Any more ideas?

Gene

[Victor R]

I am going to be off the net for a while, so I'll chime in now.

I would personally prefer not do do Longwood Gardens - at least not this year. I am a big gardener and love Longwood Gardens - don't get me wrong - but mixing the GTG and a visit there is logistically challenging for me, especially since I am coming from further north than most of the other Phans. I also think this would dilute the GTG experience as well as the Garden experience, not leaving time enough for either.

The beer garden sounds great - always up for good brews - but that would require me to bring a designated driver, and "the boss" is not the biggest fan of GTG's. Hence, a problem...

Last year, we did a Cracker Barrel - GTG on the parking lot, then a brunch where we had good conversation/camaraderie before ending with some more GTG time.

I think that experience would best be repeated if we met at the club.

Victor

[gymiller]

Everyone ok with May 19th at the golf club?

Let's say we start at 930am?

Gene

[Paldi]

I don't know about the 19th for me. I'm planning to set sail on the tall sailing ship Gazela on an Op-Sail from Philly to NYC. It casts off on the 22nd but rumor has it they want the crew to report on the 19th to get settled in and get her ready and under sail. I'll let you all know!

[gymiller]

I don't know about the 19th for me. I'm planning to set sail on the tall sailing ship Gazela on an Op-Sail from Philly to NYC. It casts off on the 22nd but rumor has it they want the crew to report on the 19th to get settled in and get her ready and under sail. I'll let you all know!

Sounds like fun! We'll save you a spot if you can make it!

[gymiller]

Can I get a show of hand for the people who can make it please?

Also, does a 10am start time work for everyone?

Based on the conversations above, it looks the following owners can make it:

> Gene
> Victor
> John
> Steve

Maybe:

> Paldi

Are there any other known members in the area we can contact personally?

Thanks!

[Victor R]

Hello,

I just got back from a "bucket list" trip to Japan, hence my silence on the board.

I am planning to be there. Last year we had five cars and 7 people, counting Steve's son Isaac and Ray, a non-owner, who wanted to come to check out Phaetons. John, Steve and I made up three of the five drivers. Johnny K came from a long way to be there; Eric was the final one. I had pointed this thread out to Eric before but he has not chimed in as of now.

Last year's number seemed about right. Let's hope Paldi can make it. When I bought my chromed rims from KCmover, he described Paldi as a legend on the board to me...

Victor

[gymiller]

Hello,

I just got back from a "bucket list" trip to Japan, hence my silence on the board.

I am planning to be there. Last year we had five cars and 7 people, counting Steve's son Isaac and Ray, a non-owner, who wanted to come to check out Phaetons. John, Steve and I made up three of the five drivers. Johnny K came from a long way to be there; Eric was the final one. I had pointed this thread out to Eric before but he has not chimed in as of now.

Last year's number seemed about right. Let's hope Paldi can make it. When I bought my chromed rims from KCmover, he described Paldi as a legend on the board to me...

Victor

Thanks Victor for your perspective from last year. I am looking forward to meeting you and other owners!

Right! So we are good to go for Saturday, May 19th at 10am. Location will be the Rivercrest Golf Club in Phoenixville, PA.

I'll have a laptop and VAG-COM at the ready.

map: http://bit.ly/J2pS5o

Afterwards, we can head down to Phoenixville town center for a nice lunch.

If you need help finding our spot or if you are arriving a little later and want to know where we are, please PM me and I'll send you my mobile number.

Thanks!
Gene

[gymiller]

Hi! Just wanted to bump up the thread for our GTG next weekend!

[Victor R]

One can hear the crickets chirpin' through the silence on this thread. (Actually, the board as a whole has been quite quiet...)

I am still in. Are others as well?

Victor

[gymiller]

I am in! Please let me know if anyone has any directions questions.

[johnt26]

Hi Guys,

Sorry I've been crazy busy and haven't checked on in awhile.

I may be able to make it but not sure yet, keep me posted if it's a go!

JT

[keithwbloom]

May is fine for me! I'm in Malvern, just south of Phoenixville about 8 miles.

Not the thread for it, but since I am here anyway... I love your grille and wheels! I feel one step closer to becoming an official VIN-card carrying Phan with those as options...

[Victor R]

The weather forecast is looking good.

I'm getting stoked!

It looks like we should have critical mass...

Victor

[gymiller]

2 days to go! Can't wait! I need to wash my car!

[gymiller]

Thanks to John and Victor for reaching out to others to see if they could make it. It looks like that we are only going to have three on Saturday, so let's move the date back 30 days to see if we can get more participants!

Would you let me know if the following dates work for you?

Saturday, June 23rd
Saturday, June 30th

Best,
Gene

[Victor R]

Gene,

Part of the problem may be that the chosen date was too close to the Conn GTG led by MichaelGa.

Trying for it again later in June may have the same issues.

Perhaps the fall sometime?

Victor

[steveskinr]

My schedule indicates a 50% probability of making it on the 23rd and 90% for the 30th.

Subject to the vagaries of a fly by night organization.

[Zaphh]

Hi everyone,

On a slightly different topic, I will be in Philadelphia from July 7th to 11th for the GECCO conference: http://www.sigevo.org/gecco-2012/

Any advices on where to (or not to) book a hotel there (didn't do this yet, so I guess I need to hurry now) and any possibility to share a local beer with a fellow Phaetonist ? (are there such things as local beers in Philadelphia ? ;-)

P.

[Victor R]

Hello Zaphh,

The hotel listed for the conference, the Doubletree by Hilton in Center City is very nice; you won't go wrong there. Personally, I would book there if that is where the conference is being held. The conference room rate is quite good, too.

There are other hotels close by, within a block or two walking distance: the Ritz-Carlton or the Hyatt, which are both very nice but much more pricey. It all depends what you are looking for.

If you are looking to save a few bucks over the Doubletree rates, PM me and I can offer suggestions, but these will be farther away...

If it were me, though, I'd go for the Doubletree, for the combination of convenience and value.

As far as the question of beers in Philadelphia is concerned, as we say in the US: "Is the Pope catholic? Do bears 'defecate' in the woods?" Philadelphia has become an international beer hub, and the late beer writer, Michael Jackson, would come for what has become known as Philly Beer Fest every year for 15 years before he passed away. He stated many times that Philadelphia was his favorite beer city and noted how much he looked forward to that week in March every year.

Beer is a much longer standing and even more favorite passion of mine than the Phaeton is (regrettably, the two don't mix ) As your conference spans a weekend, I'd love to meet you in Philadelphia and we could paint the town red. PM me.

Victor

[steveskinr]

I might be able to catch up with you during the later part of your stay.

It will depend on my flight schedule.

Send me a private message and I will give you my details and try to find out what times of the various days you will have available.