Morning Everybody!

There have been some discussions in various places about getting together for a meet & greet lunch. It sounds like everybody is getting cabin fever already - and we still have a few more months to go with this COLD weather!!

So......On Saturday January 25th, at 1:00 pm, we have made reservations at the Tortilla Factory (Mexican Food) in Herndon, VA. Here is the URL to their website which has their address and directions - http://www.thetortillafactory.com. I know for some of you, this is pretty far to travel just for lunch, so come if you can! The food is great, very reasonably priced, and the service is wonderful. Hard to find in this day and age..............

Please email us at home at kaz@tidalwave.net to RSVP if you are coming as we need to let the restaurant know how many people will be attending. We need to have a firm headcount no later than January 20th.

I will be posting this on the on-line forums also.

Hope to see ya there - even if you don't have your MINI yet :smile:



Donna & Mike

 

I hope to be joining youall in va on the 25th :smile: Dennis

 

Excellent Dennis

 

I'll try and make it as well.

 

Update on the Meet & Greet Lunch on 1/25 - (Long but Important)

Hi Everybody!

Okay - I have some updates for you on the Lunch coming up on the 25th. AND - some new info. so be patient cause this might get a little long!

First of all, here is a list of people that are going - because I know some of you have inquiring minds and want to know ahead of time In advance, I apologize if I didn't get your name on the list (that is one of the reasons for posting this), and some of you, I don't have your first names, just an email address - sorry. You can email us direct so I can get your real name on the list - LOL!! I also have not put all the last names cause most of us know who you are :smile: But I have included some last names because there were duplicate first names.....and there are some new folks here also - Yippee!

Mike & Donna, Johnny & Carolyn, Mark & Debby, John & Cheryl + 2 kids, David & Mary Kate, John & Gina + 1 child, Paul & Katie, Andy Perahia, Michael Angier, Bart Buckethal, Lauren, Paddy, Mike (Z3bum), Alan (minimorphosis), Dennis, Maureen Dolan, Alan & Gilli Porter, Dennis & Kathryn, Jeffrey + a friend, Brad (Grinder + a friend), Michael Stevens (oilman930), shenry318, Paul & Cathy, Steve Dellinger, Andy & Candy + 1 child, Jennifer Sterling, Alan Burrows, Giuseppe & Kristen, Kerry McKendry, Michael & Sharon Znilek + 2 kids, and last but not least Jen & Jason. So we now have 53 people coming - is that awesome or what? Our own 2 kids may be coming - we don't know for sure yet. The limit for the room is 70 people so we are reaching that limit very quickly :smile:

The Tortilla Factory is roping off part of the parking lot so we can put all the MINI's together. Also, along with my Mike, there will be another professional photographer taking pictures from the roof of the restaurant - isn't that just so cool???? When you arrive, we are in the room in the very back. Just tell them you are with the MINI Club - they'll point ya in the right direction :smile:

Okay - now that we have gotten this far - thanks for hanging in and reading this - we have another something that we would like to propose. A few months back, Michael Stevens (oilman930) and I were conversing on-line about going ice skating at some point. Well, if anybody is interested in going after the lunch, here are 2 options.

First - The Ashburn Ice House - here is the link - http://www.ashburnice.com. Only problem is they have only one session in the afternoon from 3:45 - 5:45 so I'm not sure this would work. It depends on how long lunch lasts. It is about a 15 minute drive from where we will be having lunch. Check out the web site......

Second - Downtown DC at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden outdoor rink. Here is the link - http://www.nga.gov/home.htm. A couple of options here. There is a parking garage 1 block away because finding parking on the street - forget it! They have plenty of skates to rent - I called to make sure. There is also the subway system that runs which has a couple of stops right around this area. The subway is much cheaper than paying for parking - only thing is - you have to take the subway back to get your car - no biggie!!! Again, check out the web site........This is a beautiful rink :smile:

The prices for both rinks are listed on their web sites. Everything is current - I called and spoke to both places. So is anybody interested? If so, please let me know as soon as possible so that we can put some kind of a game plan together in advance.

Also - just a reminder - because we have such a large group coming, the restaurant will NOT accept anything but CASH - and they will automatically be adding on 15% gratuity....

We are really looking forward to seeing all you MINIacs and meeting some of you for the first time Please feel free to email us if you have ANY questions or need directions or whatever :smile:

See ya soon!!

Donna & Mike

 

OK, OK... so the lunch is only a week away. As I posted 2 weeks ago, I am willing to lead a group over to the "tortilla factory". Since we now have some folks coming in from PA., Baltimore, Annapolis, Columbia, and Olney. I think that the best place to meet so that we can motor over as a group would be South I-95 rest stop just past Route 32. Here is the schedule that I am proposing:

11am - meet at I-95 rest stop
11:15 - Leave rest stop and proceed to Old Georgetown Road & Democracy Blvd. to pick up group coming down from the Hagerstown/Rockville/Poolesville area.
11:45 - Arrive at Old Georgetown Road & Democracy Blvd.
12:00 - Leave on the final leg for the "tortilla factory". We will be taking VA Route 193(Georgetown Pike). Great road.
12:30 - Arrive at the "tortilla factory" for lunch and "photo op" :smile:

I am open to suggestions for places to meet and timing, just let me know. Also, please let me know if you are planning to drive route this with me. I just want to make sure that I won't be leaving anyone OUT IN THE COLD.

 

Hi Everybody! Yes - it's me again :smile:

A few more updates and hopefully this is the last one - LOL!!! Good News
and Bad News.........

Complete list of attendees:

Mike & Donna + 1 child, Johnny & Carolyn, Mark & Debby, John & Cheryl + 2
kids, David & Mary Kate, John DaCrema, Paul & Katie, Andy Perahia,
Michael Angier & Amber, Bart Buckethal, Lauren, Paddy, Mike (Z3bum), Alan
(minimorphosis), Dennis, Maureen Dolan, Alan & Gilli Porter + 2 kids, Dennis
& Kathryn, Jeffrey + a friend, Brad (Grinder + a friend), Michael Stevens
(oilman930), shenry318, Paul & Cathy, Steve Dellinger, Andy & Candy + 1
child, Jennifer Sterling, Alan Burrows, Giuseppe & Kristen, Kerry McKendry,
Michael & Sharon Znilek + 2 kids, Jen & Jason, Michael & Patricia
Babischkin, Laura Jane + a friend, Dave & Patty Natoli, Roger & Peggy Rapp,
Steven & Florence Schlossman, Tom & Michele F., Rich & Lovanne Keller,
Randall Morin, and the Manager from Sterling MINI, Christal Waddy.

Okay - the good news is the we have the full capacity for seating - 70
people!! WOWEE - I never dreamed we would get this many people together for
lunch!! The bad news is - I have placed some people on a "Wait List" or
given them the option to show up - but they will have to eat in another
room. I talked to the Manager at Tortilla - whom we know very well - and we
just can't squeeze any more people in the room - fire code violation, etc.
etc.

So what I am asking is - if by some chance, you ARE NOT able to come -
something comes up - whatever - please email me ASAP so someone else can
take your slot. Gosh - I hate turning anybody away but have no choice.....

We will be providing sticky name tags for everybody to fill out so some of
us old farts don't have to try and remember who's who - LOL!! Also, since
this is the first official get together of 2003, Paul Howell suggested a
sign in sheet - so we will ask you to fill that out also!! This will be
the start of keeping some type of log for the future of a club............

Okay - last thing - about the final bill. We thought it would be easiest to
just divide the total check by the amount of people. I hope nobody has any
objections to that. Those of you who want to have a beer or drink, etc.
with lunch, will be asked to pay cash or credit separately from the food
bill. That way, nobody feels slighted in case we have a few lushes amongst
us - LOL!!! The wait staff is already aware that this should be the set-up.

So once again, thanks for reading all of this and we will see everybody on
the 25th!!! :smile:

Donna & Mike

PS - And a BIG THANKS to Paddy for getting a caravan together from the other
side of the pond :smile:

 

Yes - It is I again - this is the LAST message - I promise :smile:

First of all, we picked up our own Scooter from the body shop just last
night after being in our accident on Christmas Eve - Yippee! We were
keeping our fingers crossed that she would be ready And guess what -
they washed her, waxed her, cleaned her all inside and she looks good as
new - hehehe - we didn't have to get out in this CRAPPY COLD WEATHER to
shine her up.........

Second - Reminder - Bring Cash!

Third - Reminder - Please make sure you are in the restaurant by 1:00. No
dillying in the parking lot as we have things we need to take care of right
away. Playtime is after lunch.........:smile:

Fourth - We are providing sign-in sheets. Please make sure you fill them
out completely as we will be giving away some cool things based on the
information you provide

Fifth - you won't have any trouble recognizing where to park - I'm sure we
will get there early as we have things to take care of. There will also be
some orange cones to help guide you.

Sixth - SEE YA THERE - Drive careful everybody...........

Now I need a drink...........

Donna

 

got it in August and lovin it , I may be a little late though- gotta work for a while

 

sorry bout that- it is an S ,electric blue with black roof :smile: :smile: :smile:

 

so.... how'd it go??

 

yes do tell. Anyone have some pictures yet?

 

Great gathering. There were a lot of MINI's there, Donna and Mike did a great job getting the event put together. It was a big tease for those of us who are still waiting for our cars.

Crystal from MINI of Sterling was there. She announced that they were now the nr 3 volume MINI dealer in the nation. She said that she also expected the convertible and RS models to be announced at the dealer's conference in April.

 

I am going to try to get my pics up tonight when I get home....thanks again to Donna & Mike and everyone that made this event so much fun!

And a special thanks to Paddy and Paul.....for sponsoring L.Mini in her time of monetary need.