About 30 minutes tops on the subway and then a short walk from there. The margaritas alone are worth it

Done..sure hope you can make it. We will miss you if you don't...

Wow, You're going to make dinner for all of us? Sign me up.

Actually I see the dinner is now at a Mexican place. Sign me up for that. See you all in DC.

Are we sure we want to do a 6PM dinner at Lauriol Plaza? I agree with others that it's a great place, but it's pretty inconvenient from where the seminar is being held. The drinks there are good & they can handle a group of our size, but before we commit there, we should confirm that they'd be willing to take reservations - especially on a Saturday night in summer time - in the past, we've been told various things by their management. Just a thought...

Depending on when the MR seminar get's out, 6PM may be a little too early for Lauriol Plaza since it will take at least 30 minutes via Metro to get there from the library - and that's assuming that we all don't just sit around & shoot the shiznit after the seminar & we're motivated to leave in a timely manner. I'm thinking that 6.30 may be better - but that's jut me. I personally will be driving & will be willing to give some folks a ride (although I drive a pick-up truck & it's a little tight).

I think it may be a better idea to do something closer to Ballston - but as always, majority rules & I'll be wherever I need to be.

Sorry.

Bhatnasx - Thanks for your reply. Since I am from out of town, I quickly read everyone's suggestions, visited websites for restaurants people suggested, and picked a location. After I saw "margaritas" and "patio", I was hooked. I should have read the replies more closely.

I did more research and came across this Greek restaurant. Since they've been in business since 1972. I figure they must be doing something right...

http://www.aegeantaverna.com

It got a good review (editor's pick) and the menu looks delicious:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp...pe=restaurants

I think it is a 5 minute walk (or a quick metro ride) from the library. They have complimentary parking, a Greek band that starts at 7 pm, and let me reserve a private room for upto 60 for free. (Now MileageAddict is going to have to make it!)

The owner suggested we select a price-fixed menu because it's a win-win (easaier for them to plan and 20% discount for us). I am recommending this menu because it has a selction for everyone - chicken, beef, veggie. Hope I can sweet-talk him into adding "Bakalava" as one of our dessert choices .

http://www.aegeantaverna.com/2282.pdf

What do you think? Should we go for it?

I agree that 6 PM seems kind of early for dinner, especially if it's not that close to the seminar location. Seems like at the very least, there should be some "buffer time" to allow for "shooting the shiznit" as bhatnasx so eloquently put it.

I'm interested in going, but don't particularly care for "loud" places. I like to be able to carry on a conversation without shouting. But maybe that's just because I'm an old fogey, and younger folks just love to shout and don't really care if they are able to hear themselves or each other.

Oops..forgot to mention that I changed our reservation to "between 6 and 6:30 pm".

VJ indiated the MR seminar will end around 5 pm - so assumed one hour would be plenty of time. For those who arrive early, the room will be ready...if you arrive closer to 6:30, we will be waiting. The band starts at 7 pm and he said he will open the windows (if we wish).

Sorry, it looks like you and I were posting simultaneously, so I didn't see your update on the venue, etc. until after I posted.

The Greek place looks great! I don't eat Greek food or listen to Greek music that often (but enjoy both), so (to me at least) it would be a nice change of pace. And I see it's only a mile from the seminar location as well. ^

The fixed-price menu looks good too.

I'm going to try to make it either restaraunt ole or oopah or is it more correct to say yellow rose, or oopah

Count me in for the class and dinner. I may bring my SO as well but he is not really into the FT stuff. Actually, he thinks I am loopy ...

Aegean Taverna is, I think, and iDine... (but with the way restaurants seem to pop in and out lately, I make no warranties that it will be when folks get there!)

It is on iDine but they only give rewards M-T according the iDine website.

Hi all! I am relatively new to FT and am so excited that I am going to be able to attend the mileage run seminar, and the dinner afterwards as well - I was supposed to be down in TN for work that weekend, but the case was dismissed last week. As a local, I'm happy to help out in any way possible - I've never eaten at Aegean Taverna, but I have heard good things. Look forward to meeting you all in person!

I'm in for the MR Seminar and dinner afterwards. Location doesn't matter, as long as I can easily get to the Metro, so that I can catch the bus/shuttle for my 10:20pm flight back to BOS...