2013 NHC in Philly! Who's going?

[Denny]

A tip for those who haven't been to the banquet before...there are no reserved tables. The line to get in forms EARLY! If you want a table near the front, or if there's a group of you who want to sit together, plan on being in line at least 2 hours before the banquet. Bring beer to share while you're in line.

 

[nhwrecker]

Hi All,

Never been to Philly before. The area near the host hotel and convention center is referred to as Center City?

My SWMBO is joining me for the convention, and I've got to hurry up and find a "nice" restaurant to take her too late afternoon, early Thursday before the Pro party.

I'm not trying to get two bar stools at Monk's, and I realize I may be screwed, but it's technically not last minute yet, so I'm hoping I can sneak in a reservation somewhere in walking distance, or a decent cab ride anyway.

Anyone have any suggestions for a non-beer restaurant? Not necessarily looking for a well known place, like Ruth's Chris, but more of a high end wine/tapas bar - or a "can't miss martini bar" with awesome food, etc....


Thanks in advance

 

[ehope411]

Hi All,

Never been to Philly before. The area near the host hotel and convention center is referred to as Center City?

My SWMBO is joining me for the convention, and I've got to hurry up and find a "nice" restaurant to take her too late afternoon, early Thursday before the Pro party.

I'm not trying to get two bar stools at Monk's, and I realize I may be screwed, but it's technically not last minute yet, so I'm hoping I can sneak in a reservation somewhere in walking distance, or a decent cab ride anyway.

Anyone have any suggestions for a non-beer restaurant? Not necessarily looking for a well known place, like Ruth's Chris, but more of a high end wine/tapas bar - or a "can't miss martini bar" with awesome food, etc....

Thanks in advance

For tapas, I'd try Amada in Old City or Tinto in Rittenhouse Square. Both by Jose Garces. Both pretty fancy-shmancy, if that's what you're looking for.

Not much for martinis, but you could check out Bleu Martini or Continental Mid-Town. Personally, the vibe at Continental is not for me (never been to Bleu Martini). But then again, neither are martinis.

 

[Coff]

Hi All,

Never been to Philly before. The area near the host hotel and convention center is referred to as Center City?

My SWMBO is joining me for the convention, and I've got to hurry up and find a "nice" restaurant to take her too late afternoon, early Thursday before the Pro party.

I'm not trying to get two bar stools at Monk's, and I realize I may be screwed, but it's technically not last minute yet, so I'm hoping I can sneak in a reservation somewhere in walking distance, or a decent cab ride anyway.

Anyone have any suggestions for a non-beer restaurant? Not necessarily looking for a well known place, like Ruth's Chris, but more of a high end wine/tapas bar - or a "can't miss martini bar" with awesome food, etc....


Thanks in advance

Yea DONT go to Blue Martini, its a douchey joint with blue walls and no food.

The Continental (Midtown or Old City) are good martini bars with good reasonably priced food, good drink, very cool decor. I worked there for 7 years in college

You really cant go wrong if you go to any restaurant that Stephen Starr or Jose Garces (Iron Chef) own.

http://garcesgroup.com/
http://www.starr-restaurant.com/

A good wine bar with good food, imo, a place called Vintage right in Center City. Good wine selection great food, not a big beer selection but always has Allagash White on tap.

 

[remthewanderer]

I'll be there all 3 days with my brew partner in crime.

Quick question, is it feasible to sell my ticket to the Club night on Friday? I'm barely able to make all 3 days of the conference as it is. Between 2 small kids and a wife 6 weeks out from spine surgery I had to call in a ton of favors for babysitters for 3 days. I was thinking if i could sell my Friday night ticket for a reasonable price I could afford to cover the cost of my sitters.

If this is something that is allowed, what is a fair price? I don't want to be a dick.

 

[milldoggy]

Is the Market BYO?

No they have a beer gatden

 

[claphamsa]

got a case of lambic and a case of meade... well figure **** out later! WOOOOO

 

[Yooper]

Boy, have I got a headache this morning! I stayed up way too late chatting with some people I haven't seen in a long time.

I'm off shortly for the DFH tours.

I was out walking around last evening when my phone was vibrating every time I was somewhere I couldn't talk (a loud bar, the bathroom) so I called Bob to tell him a friend was calling and hanging up over and over. He called her, and she didn't want to leave the news as a message on my voicemail but one of my friends died yesterday.

It was such a sudden shock. I don't know when the arrangements will be or anything at this point. It's weird how you can be obliviously eating cheesesteak and drinking beer, without knowing that something big happened in your life. So I really didn't sleep well at all, and I keep thinking about my dear friend Tom.

Anyway, my eyes are bloodshot from crying and I'm tired. Still, Tom would have wanted me to remember the good person he was and the great things he had done with his life to save the environment and wilderness. He wouldn't want me to mourn heavily and be sad.

I'm going to drink my first beer today in a toast to Tom.

 

[machfive55]

BTW...is the banquet a dress-up event or casual or pants optional?

 

[Yooper]

I'll be there all 3 days with my brew partner in crime.

Quick question, is it feasible to sell my ticket to the Club night on Friday? I'm barely able to make all 3 days of the conference as it is. Between 2 small kids and a wife 6 weeks out from spine surgery I had to call in a ton of favors for babysitters for 3 days. I was thinking if i could sell my Friday night ticket for a reasonable price I could afford to cover the cost of my sitters.

If this is something that is allowed, what is a fair price? I don't want to be a dick.

No, in order to go to club night you have to have a "package" for the event. They aren't separate, as least as far as I know.

 

[Yooper]

BTW...is the banquet a dress-up event or casual or pants optional?

Yes. I've seen all of the above.

 

[MDVDuber]

Newbie needs help with what He's actually attending. So I thought I signed up for the FULL Conference - I was wait listed but then offered a purchase of the "full" conference. What my receipt says is:
Friday and Saturday Only
Full Conference
Banquet

But the notices I've been receiving from AHA indicate that I can attend Pro Brewers Night - but not the Thursday Conferences??? Just confused - thanks in advance for the help.
And see you all there!

 

[nhwrecker]

Newbie needs help with what He's actually attending. So I thought I signed up for the FULL Conference - I was wait listed but then offered a purchase of the "full" conference. What my receipt says is:
Friday and Saturday Only
Full Conference
Banquet

But the notices I've been receiving from AHA indicate that I can attend Pro Brewers Night - but not the Thursday Conferences??? Just confused - thanks in advance for the help.
And see you all there!

sounds like you got the same package as me, which actually starts Thursday night. Here's the website and text.

http://www.ahaconference.org/conference/register/

Full Conference…Almost – No Thursday Seminars
The same conference fun as the Full Conference package, except no seminars on Thursday afternoon . Thursday afternoon seminars are repeated on Friday or Saturday.

Includes:
Friday & Saturday Seminars
Homebrew Expo
Liberty Well Social Club
Welcome Toast
Keynote Address
Pro-Brewers Night
Club Night
$195 Sold Out
Thursday seminars are repeated on Friday or Saturday.


And thanks to the rest of you for suggestions on where to go with the SWMBO

 

[MDVDuber]

Thanks - but when I track the charges to my credit card I initially was charged $195, then an additional $205, then finally refunded $195.

Guess I'll sort it out when I get there.....

 

[hamburgeler]

Does anybody know the policy on backpacks? I'll be taking the train in and out and would like to bring some homebrews with me. Thanks.

 

[remthewanderer]

Does anybody know the policy on backpacks? I'll be taking the train in and out and would like to bring some homebrews with me. Thanks.

That is an amazing question. As a first timer myself I was planning on taking PATCO in from South NJ. I've seen pictures from years past of the vendors in the expo area giving out lots of SWAG. I want to be able to carry it all in my own backpack.

 

[DLink]

That is an amazing question. As a first timer myself I was planning on taking PATCO in from South NJ. I've seen pictures from years past of the vendors in the expo area giving out lots of SWAG. I want to be able to carry it all in my own backpack.

I'm also a local/first timer not staying at the hotel. Does anyone know if backpacks are allowed? For all the reasons stated earlier I'd really like to have one.

 

[brewguyver]

Those of you who got in early were smart - Mother Nature really wants us to earn out homebrew! I got lucky with a stand-by through DC - only one more flight to go!

 

[Yooper]

I'm also a local/first timer not staying at the hotel. Does anyone know if backpacks are allowed? For all the reasons stated earlier I'd really like to have one.

We've always had them in the past, among other things. I've been carrying a backpack around, but we haven't had a "big" event yet at the conference center. At the BNA8 party tonight, there were lots of backpacks and bags and stuff.

 

[hamburgeler]

Excellent! I figured it wouldn't be an issue, just waned to be sure.

 

[Coff]

I'm a newb at NHC as well but a buddy who is a Vet said backpacks are good, it's very laid back.

 

[DLink]

Thanks guys!

 

[TNGabe]

If you're into obscene sandwiches, take the subway to paseano's. holy mother.

 

[njale]

anyone know if anyone is doing any live webcams of any of nhc?

 

[Yooper]

anyone know if anyone is doing any live webcams of any of nhc?

Not that I know of. I know the homebrew competition results will be done with webcams by the AHA.

We don't have any good internet (I'm too cheap to pay for the hotel's and I don't have a smart phone) so I'm using my mifi.

My camera died tonight, but I had a great time with several HBTers and just left a party in a fellow HBTers room.

ProBrewers Night was fun, but so was hanging with some old friends I haven't seen in a long, long time. I think the last time I saw FireBrewer was 2007(?) and some others in 2008.

We're going to plan a lunch get-together tomorrow so text me (or PM if you don't have my number!) to hear the plan. I think we'll be heading to Reading Terminal Market around noon, with about 3000 other people. So text me to see who's where!

Getting these guys together is like herding cats, but we've got a pretty great bunch so far!

 

[temple240]

Just a heads up, reading terminal is an absolute mad house around lunch time and on weekends.

 

[Yooper]

Just a heads up, reading terminal is an absolute mad house around lunch time and on weekends.

Oh, yes, and it'll be extra specially crazy with 3500 people from this conference trying to get lunch too.

Last night was a blast. Here's the funniest thing that happened to me, I think. I'm standing there just chatting with John Palmer and a few HBTers come up. We decide on a group photo. Soper says to Palmer, "Picture?" He says "sure" and puts his arm around me to pose.

Soper hands him the camera and says, "No I wanted to know if you would take a picture of US". Palmer reached for the camera and said "Ok". Soper then said, "I'm just kidding", and gave his camera to someone and we posed with Palmer.

I don't know if that "translates" as funny when I type it out, but believe me it was hysterically funny. These guys are posing and smiling all night while people pose with them.

Second to the funniest- a keg "blew up" at Lagunitas. It was a beer shower, straight up into the air, of epic proportions. Floor is still sticky.

 

[TNGabe]

The lagaunitas fountain was great. Pro night was loud and I'm sure that's why I have a slight headache this morning...

Got to talk to Al from ECY for a while last night which was beyond cool

 

[Yooper]

The lagaunitas fountain was great. Pro night was loud and I'm sure that's why I have a slight headache this morning...

Got to talk to Al from ECY for a while last night which was beyond cool

We must be coming down with something, as I have a headache too.

I went to bed at 3:15 AM. Not bad for an old fart like me. I'm supposed to wake up Soper for lunch.

 

[Larzean]

So I know I'm way early, but when do they announce the dates and location for the next one? Hope you all have fun