11th Annual London Presidents (US) Weekend Do: February 15-18, 2013
Oct 24, 2012, 11:32 am
#1
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11th Annual London Presidents (US) Weekend Do: February 15-18, 2013
11th Annual London Presidents (US) Weekend Do: February 15-18, 2013
History
Feb '03 was the first-ever FT event I attended. I was going to London for my "Annual Birthday/Presidents Weekend GetAway" (Prez Weekend is 3-day bank holiday in America), and noticed that there was a London Do that weekend organized by wingnut. Having really only discovered/started reading FT threads the month before, I was quite excited about meeting some other people who travelled.
I remember arriving at Wagamama's a bit nervous about meeting other FTers, and the hostess saying - 'oh you're with the group that doesn't know each other'. LOL... Not quite so nervous after that. I had the pleasure that night of meeting wingnut, sweetwillie & mrssweetwillie (aka judi), l'etiole, techgirl, lala, amongst others, and a tradition was born.
It's also a nice weekend to start racking up re-qualification of status on airlines/hotels & take advantage of cheaper winter airfares.
BTW - it's my birthday during this Do, so feel free to give me birthday gifts of GPUs, RPUs, bottles of wine, champagne, etc
Date: February 15-18, 2013
Location: London England
Happenings:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15th
Day free for shopping, museums, sleeping, etc, for those who are in town. Those flying to the UK that night will eat, drink & be merry on the planes.
Those who arrive in London and/or are London-based we'll meet up for drinkies and/or meal on Friday evening, in the Soho area, place TBD. Last year we met at my private club. Previous years' we've met at restaurants/bars that have been the location of FT events.
poptarts is organizing the following for those who wish to join her on Friday.
Friday 2/15, time: 12:00pm
First stop: Borough Market – a must-visit for foodies. Its traders and artisan producers sell everything from homemade cakes and pork pies to veggie burgers and continental cheeses. Many stalls offer tasters so you can try before you buy. The market is open from 12PM-6PM on Fridays. http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/, London Bridge Tube Station
Second stop: Paul A. Young fine chocolates for brownies http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/09...nie-in-london/ 143 Wardour Street Soho London W1F 8WA
Time for Friday drinkies: 5:00pm-8:00pm
* The Groucho Club, 45 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB. The nearest tube stops are Leicester Square & Tottenham Court Road. Note: This is a private club. Your name must be on the list I will provide reception or you will not be allowed into the club. We will be in the upstairs bar area. We won't have the club room like we did last year because it's booked for an event. I'm going to get to the Groucho a bit early to grab some seats upstairs either in the main bar area or the other one that's slight off it up 2 steps.
Options for those who want to grab a bite to eat/dinner post-drinkies & continue talking miles/points:
Some 'FT-recommended' options for Friday that are in Soho. Marsala Zone (Indian); Pizza Express (no they don't just serve pizza & they actually have decent wine); Cote (French), Busabi eathai (Thai; similar to Waga's) & Y Ming (Chinese). The hummus place that FTers like (Pea/Pod; something like that is one block away). Also, arsey00 lives in Soho & can probably make a recommendation.
If folk want to continue drinking/gabbing post-drinkies or restaurants, there are plenty of pubs & bars in the area. The only part I am organizing is the drinkies location at 5:00pm.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th
Day open to sleep in, go to museums, shopping, restaurants, matinee theatre, London walks, etc.*
* If someone decides to organize something for during the day such as walking tours, museum visiting, please post in the thread and I'll update this section to reflect it.
poptarts is organizing the following 2 events for Saturday for those who want to join her:
Saturday, 2/16
First stop: 10:00 am, Foodies' London Walk http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Ho...S/default.aspx no reservation needed, just show up. £9 from Monument Tube, the Fish Street Hill exit
Second stop: The “Gherkin” building at 30 St Mary Axe in the financial district
4:00pm-6:15pm, Ye Grapes Pub, Shepherd's Market. It's a 5-minute walk from the Green Park & Hyde Park tube stops on the Picadilly line. SkiAdcock will try to get the area we always sit in reserved for us if she can.
6:30pm, Dinner - Wagamama, Located at 10a lexington st, London, W1F 0LD, in Soho. Reservations under the name "Flyertalk". The nearest tube stops are Picadilly Circus & Oxford Circus, then a 5-minute walk. Menu: http://www.wagamama.com/~/media/Waga...-main-menu.pdf
After dinner on Saturday - pubs, clubs, casinos, or back to hotels to drink and/or sleep; to each their own. In the 10 years previous, people did their own thing. Some as a group or individuals went to a pub, some went for coffee, some went back to their hotels, some went clubbing.
A gentle reminder: I am organizing the drinkies on Friday, the drinkies on Sat, the main dinner on Saturday - that's all. Events/activities during the day before drinkies on Fri & Sat or in the evening post-drinkies pm Fri & main dinner on Sat are up to individual FTers.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17th
Day open to sleep in, go to brunch, museums, shopping, restaurants, matinee theatre if any are open, London walks.
* If someone would like to organize something for those still in town, please post on the thread & I'll update this section. Could be a meal (lunch or dinner), drinks, museum, London walk, etc. I know in the past folk have gone to a wine bar that KathyWdrf organized.
poptarts is planning on this on Sunday for those who wish to join her:
Sunday, 2/17
Spa day at Chuan Spa located inside the Langham Hotel http://london.langhamhotels.co.uk/fi...ndon_hotel.htm
thegrailer and some others are considering a day trip to Oxford for those who are interested.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18th (My birthday!!
)
For those still in London, day open to sleep in, go to museums, shopping, restaurants, pubs, bars, afternoon tea, etc. Possibly meet up for lunch, drinks, and/or dinner. Those departing that day will eat, drink & be merry on their return flights.
Attending:
* SkiAdcock; Grosvenor House; (birthday girl!); arr Feb 8th; dep Feb 19th
* spaceman; arr Feb 14th; dep Feb 18th; Green Park Hilton
* GregWTravels; staying at Burj al GregWTravels in scenic Clapham Junction
* rcs85551
* thegrailer + 1; The Mayfair
* ClaudiSTR
* Microwave
* caspritz78; Novotel Tower Bridge
* Arsey00; Fri night only
* poptarts; arr 2/14 on AA; dep 2/18; Comfort Inn Hyde Park 2/14-16; Langham 2/17
* skye1
* BudgetTravelGirl; arr 2/15; depart 2/19; Hyatt Churchill
* smat; arr 2/15 UA from SFO; Hilton TBD
* rofra; Sat only
* GrjApp; arrive Thurs or Fri; dep Mon
* zcat18; arrive Sat 11:05 UA938; Radisson Blu on Grafton
* ac777 (definite maybe); LeMeridien Picadilly Fri/Sat
* lotusdog; Marriott Maida Vale
Maybe:
* newbierunner
* rwoman
* freqflyercoll
* TuxTraveller
* thomas199023
* CO FF + 2
Will update the thread as people respond & as the weekend gets closer.
Cheers.
History
Feb '03 was the first-ever FT event I attended. I was going to London for my "Annual Birthday/Presidents Weekend GetAway" (Prez Weekend is 3-day bank holiday in America), and noticed that there was a London Do that weekend organized by wingnut. Having really only discovered/started reading FT threads the month before, I was quite excited about meeting some other people who travelled.
I remember arriving at Wagamama's a bit nervous about meeting other FTers, and the hostess saying - 'oh you're with the group that doesn't know each other'. LOL... Not quite so nervous after that. I had the pleasure that night of meeting wingnut, sweetwillie & mrssweetwillie (aka judi), l'etiole, techgirl, lala, amongst others, and a tradition was born.
It's also a nice weekend to start racking up re-qualification of status on airlines/hotels & take advantage of cheaper winter airfares.
BTW - it's my birthday during this Do, so feel free to give me birthday gifts of GPUs, RPUs, bottles of wine, champagne, etc
Date: February 15-18, 2013
Location: London England
Happenings:
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15th
Day free for shopping, museums, sleeping, etc, for those who are in town. Those flying to the UK that night will eat, drink & be merry on the planes.
Those who arrive in London and/or are London-based we'll meet up for drinkies and/or meal on Friday evening, in the Soho area, place TBD. Last year we met at my private club. Previous years' we've met at restaurants/bars that have been the location of FT events.
poptarts is organizing the following for those who wish to join her on Friday.
Friday 2/15, time: 12:00pm
First stop: Borough Market – a must-visit for foodies. Its traders and artisan producers sell everything from homemade cakes and pork pies to veggie burgers and continental cheeses. Many stalls offer tasters so you can try before you buy. The market is open from 12PM-6PM on Fridays. http://www.boroughmarket.org.uk/, London Bridge Tube Station
Second stop: Paul A. Young fine chocolates for brownies http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2011/09...nie-in-london/ 143 Wardour Street Soho London W1F 8WA
Time for Friday drinkies: 5:00pm-8:00pm
* The Groucho Club, 45 Dean Street, London, W1D 4QB. The nearest tube stops are Leicester Square & Tottenham Court Road. Note: This is a private club. Your name must be on the list I will provide reception or you will not be allowed into the club. We will be in the upstairs bar area. We won't have the club room like we did last year because it's booked for an event. I'm going to get to the Groucho a bit early to grab some seats upstairs either in the main bar area or the other one that's slight off it up 2 steps.
Options for those who want to grab a bite to eat/dinner post-drinkies & continue talking miles/points:
Some 'FT-recommended' options for Friday that are in Soho. Marsala Zone (Indian); Pizza Express (no they don't just serve pizza & they actually have decent wine); Cote (French), Busabi eathai (Thai; similar to Waga's) & Y Ming (Chinese). The hummus place that FTers like (Pea/Pod; something like that is one block away). Also, arsey00 lives in Soho & can probably make a recommendation.
If folk want to continue drinking/gabbing post-drinkies or restaurants, there are plenty of pubs & bars in the area. The only part I am organizing is the drinkies location at 5:00pm.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16th
Day open to sleep in, go to museums, shopping, restaurants, matinee theatre, London walks, etc.*
* If someone decides to organize something for during the day such as walking tours, museum visiting, please post in the thread and I'll update this section to reflect it.
poptarts is organizing the following 2 events for Saturday for those who want to join her:
Saturday, 2/16
First stop: 10:00 am, Foodies' London Walk http://www.walks.com/London_Walks_Ho...S/default.aspx no reservation needed, just show up. £9 from Monument Tube, the Fish Street Hill exit
Second stop: The “Gherkin” building at 30 St Mary Axe in the financial district
4:00pm-6:15pm, Ye Grapes Pub, Shepherd's Market. It's a 5-minute walk from the Green Park & Hyde Park tube stops on the Picadilly line. SkiAdcock will try to get the area we always sit in reserved for us if she can.
6:30pm, Dinner - Wagamama, Located at 10a lexington st, London, W1F 0LD, in Soho. Reservations under the name "Flyertalk". The nearest tube stops are Picadilly Circus & Oxford Circus, then a 5-minute walk. Menu: http://www.wagamama.com/~/media/Waga...-main-menu.pdf
After dinner on Saturday - pubs, clubs, casinos, or back to hotels to drink and/or sleep; to each their own. In the 10 years previous, people did their own thing. Some as a group or individuals went to a pub, some went for coffee, some went back to their hotels, some went clubbing.
A gentle reminder: I am organizing the drinkies on Friday, the drinkies on Sat, the main dinner on Saturday - that's all. Events/activities during the day before drinkies on Fri & Sat or in the evening post-drinkies pm Fri & main dinner on Sat are up to individual FTers.
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 17th
Day open to sleep in, go to brunch, museums, shopping, restaurants, matinee theatre if any are open, London walks.
* If someone would like to organize something for those still in town, please post on the thread & I'll update this section. Could be a meal (lunch or dinner), drinks, museum, London walk, etc. I know in the past folk have gone to a wine bar that KathyWdrf organized.
poptarts is planning on this on Sunday for those who wish to join her:
Sunday, 2/17
Spa day at Chuan Spa located inside the Langham Hotel http://london.langhamhotels.co.uk/fi...ndon_hotel.htm
thegrailer and some others are considering a day trip to Oxford for those who are interested.
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 18th (My birthday!!
)For those still in London, day open to sleep in, go to museums, shopping, restaurants, pubs, bars, afternoon tea, etc. Possibly meet up for lunch, drinks, and/or dinner. Those departing that day will eat, drink & be merry on their return flights.
Attending:
* SkiAdcock; Grosvenor House; (birthday girl!); arr Feb 8th; dep Feb 19th
* spaceman; arr Feb 14th; dep Feb 18th; Green Park Hilton
* GregWTravels; staying at Burj al GregWTravels in scenic Clapham Junction
* rcs85551
* thegrailer + 1; The Mayfair
* ClaudiSTR
* Microwave
* caspritz78; Novotel Tower Bridge
* Arsey00; Fri night only
* poptarts; arr 2/14 on AA; dep 2/18; Comfort Inn Hyde Park 2/14-16; Langham 2/17
* skye1
* BudgetTravelGirl; arr 2/15; depart 2/19; Hyatt Churchill
* smat; arr 2/15 UA from SFO; Hilton TBD
* rofra; Sat only
* GrjApp; arrive Thurs or Fri; dep Mon
* zcat18; arrive Sat 11:05 UA938; Radisson Blu on Grafton
* ac777 (definite maybe); LeMeridien Picadilly Fri/Sat
* lotusdog; Marriott Maida Vale
Maybe:
* newbierunner
* rwoman
* freqflyercoll
* TuxTraveller
* thomas199023
* CO FF + 2
Will update the thread as people respond & as the weekend gets closer.
Cheers.
Last edited by SkiAdcock; Feb 13, 2013 at 8:28 am
Oct 24, 2012, 12:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Always a fun weekend - many a good pub crawl - and I enjoyed meeting you at that event back in '03. Sadly I'll miss it by a week - maybe the next year!
Oct 24, 2012, 12:37 pm
#3
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It was fun meeting you in '03, and at another London Do a few years later when you came w/ friends.
Cheers.
Oct 24, 2012, 7:23 pm
#5
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Oct 24, 2012, 8:38 pm
#7
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Oct 26, 2012, 6:04 am
#9
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Sorry we'll miss. Are you going to be in London the weekend before or the weekend after? I'll be in the weekend before for BAFTA Awards, so if you're in the weekend before we can possibly meet up for drinkies then.
It was fun meeting you in '03, and at another London Do a few years later when you came w/ friends.
Cheers.
It was fun meeting you in '03, and at another London Do a few years later when you came w/ friends.
Cheers.
Oct 26, 2012, 10:10 am
#10
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Oct 27, 2012, 12:26 pm
#11
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Assuming nothing comes up between now and then, I would be up for at least some of the events. Definitely the drinks.
I shall be staying at the Burj al GregWTravels in scenic Clapham Junction. Very exclusive.
I shall be staying at the Burj al GregWTravels in scenic Clapham Junction. Very exclusive.
Oct 27, 2012, 5:57 pm
#12
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Nov 6, 2012, 7:12 pm
#15
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