Well guys, the February offline was lots of fun if small, great wine, good food, and great company. Now it is time to see what to plan for March.

I think it is TJ's turn, though I don't mind setting these things up. I think he said that Jaimetown and JohnnyB are trying to get something worked out for post MacArthur Beverages' Barrel Tasting so we may want to make that our March offline. If it is a weekend, we can bet on a larger turnout since there are folks from out of town planning to come for the Barrel Tasting. In fact we could make this an event like Equinox was last year if we want.

Suggestions? I know that everyone has said they want to try Palena and I certainly wouldn't be adverse to doing Gabriel again considering the wonderful way that they treated us when we had the January offline there.

If it's on the weekend and not the first two, I'll make every effort to come up. The DC Cru seems like a cool bunch, and I'd like to stretch out my cultural legs a bit (because, if you haven't heard me say it before, I live in HICKTOWN!).

Hmm. I was originally planning on securing a spot at the Laboratorio, but I was planning now to instead hold off on that idea until truffle season in the fall.

As for this month, I am still a big question mark.

I think Jaimetown and JohnnyB were trying to do the dinner after the MacArthur thing, like DW said, but that they might be trying to time it so mjneal can attend, too. Not sure if such a late start will be kewl with everyone if that is what is planned, just tossing out what they've been kicking around in that thread for over here so it can be digested.

If a Saturday or Friday thing is desired, we better act fast, as trying to plan this sort of stuff for one of those days for a (possibly large) group can take some time and planning.

I'm gonna see what I can do to attend whatever is planned, too. I gotta try, right?

TJ... Shouldn't the question mark be for the year, not just the month!?

I resemble that. But it's a dollars and cents thing and I've got some stuff to do around the house and well, that takes precedence unfortunately.

Maybe if we did some home-hosted things I could jump in again much sooner. Just an idea.

I will do a restaurant DC Crü thing again, soon. One of these days.

TJ, always looking for that free lunch I understand that you had to go to Atlanta to find one, but you did find one!


I actually am thinking of doing a home based March dinner...I'll have to see if I can pull it off from a schedule standpoint.

I'm out of the country 3/13-20, if that's a consideration. I'll have some info on the wine tasting/ auction at the GErman Embassy on April 17, and will post it in a few days. We've got some great items, home to use in Cambria,CA which is close to Hearst Castle and the So. Cal wine country including Paso Robles, a private tour for 4 at the Mondavi winery with lunch at the winery and then a private tour of OPUS One, German wines, some CA and NY gold medal winners and wine dinners from Ortanique, Signatures , Mattise etc.-- ONly 200 tickets available --

Hey Boys...

I'm out in sunny So Cal...awaiting my trip to Santa Barbara tomorrow morning and then on to the wineries...

I'm game for a date in March. No overnight travel that's currently scheduled, so my attendance shouldn't be a problem.

Fella's March is looking sketchy but I'll try to swing something. I'm gone to Breckenridge for a week or so in the middle of the month and then I'm going to war with contracting officers at the end of the month (don't ask) so It's gonna be one of those last minute things but if palena is involved I'm very interested or and I'm just making a suggestion if we have enough people Ortanique. They have an upstairs room that looks out over the restaurant and we could be sequestered there. awesome food and very wine friendly. Pinot's, Shiraz, Zin, Cab etc all work really well with the menu. I really just don't have time to set it up.

T-rep you lucky dog have fun in Cali!

If we decide on a date and restaurant, I have no problem making the reservation. I'd love to try Palena or Ortanique as I have not been to either. However, if there are other suggestions, I'm amenable. As for dates, I may have a problem with the week of the 22nd as Karen will probably be on travel that week. But otherwise any day works.

Chime in Cru so we can see if we can get something together (and get our post counts up.)

din -- Palena sounds good to me , but I'm out 13-20th and I have a nice Sonoma Coast Pinot to try out, Also, the Rotary event(April 17 at the German Embassy) will have a dinner at Ortanique up for bid as well as house on the Central CA Coast for 3 days, 35 miles from Hearst CAstle, and close to Siduri Winery,where Adam Lee makes his stuff. Aslo, private tour of Modavi for 4 and lunch at the winery for 4 then private tour of OPUS One-- Lots of other stuff I'll post as soon as I have time.

Perhaps we could plan something for the weekend of the March 27th when the McArthur thingie is going on. There will be lots of out of towners here then who might want to join us. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, or planned to the last detail, just a get together of fellow cork dorks as someplace that can accomodate a large group.

It is now possible for me to attend something in EITHER March OR April, but not both.

If the March thing takes place on Saturday, March 27th, then I am out this month as I am previously engaged. If it is a different day, I could make it depending on the day.

April is a bit more open for me as it hasn't been filled up yet, especially weeknights.

GREAT DAY IN THE MORNING, TJ IS READY TO HANG ONCE AGAIN WITH THE DC Crü!!

(note: I won't be able to attend monthly things, but every 3 months is possible, I think)

With all respect to Tom we should try for the 27th as there are those who would like to combine this with the McArthur's barrel tasting. I seem to recall there was at least one vintner from Napa who said he would participate if we had the dinner on the 27th , late enough to accomodate his pouring schedule.

Just my thoughts-- and I'll be back from fishing in Mexico

Who's Tom?

I am cool with missing the March event, that means April will be ready to go for me.

Excuse me Thomas -- or TJ or do you want the whole ball of wax?

Thomas is me, TJ is kewl, Tom is ??

Hand it to my Old World German father for ingraining Thomas as my name.

It's all kewl.

After looking forward to the McArthur gathering for months, I find I have to go to Richmond that weekend to watch my niece dance (she's with the Richmond Ballet) and for a suprise party for my mother's 80th B'day. So I am not going to be able to attend anything that weekend. The prior weekend I have to go to Phila for a Bar Mitzvah. So I guess I'm out for March too. Let's make sure to do something in April though.

Sooooooo...is the March event on the 27th following the MacArthur event? If it's on that Saturday night, I'm pretty sure that I won't be able to attend as the parents are passing through town on their way to Florida. So where do things stand?