Ah, Glen your (well, UA's really, since they 'gave' you the extra day in Reston) timing couldnt be worse. Can't make tonight. Enjoy a few for me though! ^

You're either brave or foolhardy -- asking a Virginian how long it's going to take to drive from Maryland! I've held off answering in the hope that someone from MD who knows more would respond. Doesn't look like that's going to happen.

Thus, take my comments with some skepticism. Without traffic, it'd probably take about 45 minutes to drive to Clarendon from Germantown. I honestly don't know enough about traffic on I-270 to even guess what it'll be like during the afternoon rush on a Tuesday. I know the I-270 split (where part goes east and part goes south) can get bad because you lose lanes. You'll get on the Beltway to cross into Virginia. It will be very crowded, but should be moving (maybe about 30-40 mph?). You'll be mostly driving against traffic on the GW Parkway, so may be able to drive 45+ mph. Still, it's only 2-lane and if there's a problem, it can come to a complete stop. Once you exit the Parkway, the surface streets will be slow, but should move.

If I were driving from Germantown, I'd plan for at least 1 hour 15 minutes, but who knows how far off the mark I'd be. Still, hope you can make it Tuesday the 6th.

thanks ^ and gonna try (and i've even packed extra tootsie-pops )

Ugh ... didn't check my e-mail for two days and see what happens. I actually was at Reston Town Center Sunday afternoon, walked past Clyde's and saw the nice happy hour menu.

I think you guys actually got together on Monday, but Post #389 actually says Tuesday. So, I think I will head there tonight anyway. If you are all there great, if not and you had a good time last night maybe you will come back , otherwise I will try to have a good time alone.

I'm still planning and seeing some of the DC crew next week at dinner.

Oz - Am I up to 55 posts already I actually think the last time I saw you was in DC at a restaurant on the water near DCA several years ago.

I'll be at Boulevard Woodgrill on Tuesday the 6th.

Unfortunately this is not possible from the "southbound" GW Pkwy. You need to continue to the exit to US-50, and keep on that to the 10th St exit. Turn right at Fillmore, and you're in Clarendon.

None of the above is sign-posted very well - it's best to look at a map beforehand or to use GPS.

gvdIAD, count me in for dinner. (Btw, why IAD in your handle?)

A trick here is to stay in the HOV lane - there are no HOV restrictions in the afternoon going south. It will be a little strange, but stay in the left-most lane possible at all times (i.e., as soon as there's another lane on the left, get in it). That left-most lane will by-pass a lot of the traffic caused by the split. But make sure you end up going toward Virginia/Tyson's Corner, and not Silver Spring - which you achieve by staying to the left (the normal lanes toward VA veer off to the right.)

I should be able to make this.

See, this is why you don't ask a Virginian to give directions from Maryland! (You qualify as an honorary Marylander since you work there, flugvergnugen.) (fwiw: the "IAD" in my FT Handle reflects the fact that I fly into and out of IAD twice as often as DCA, even though I live much closer to DCA.)

Let me add info on drive from Germantown to Clarendon VA:

I drive from Rockville to Clarendon everyday after work.

Time can vary from 30 minutes to 1 hour (or more). And it depends on the day of the week. Normally with traffic moving - it is 30 minutes. Add another 15 minutes if coming from Germantown - plus any extra time you need to get to I-270. Yesterday (Tuesday) the drive time was 1 hour from Rockville to Clarendon - due to major Beltway delays. In these cases - I exit and use Seven Locks Road from Democracy Blvd - and proceed all the way down to MacArthur Blvd and re-enter the Beltway at the American Legion Bridge at Cabin John.

From Germantown on a Tuesday - I would allow 1 Hour and 15 minutes. Rarely longer (but hard to predict).

Parking - you can not park in the residential neighborhood. Meters open at 6pm in Arlington and there is free parking at Arlington County Building at night and is/used to be at the Hud building at Highland and Wilson - off Highland, just north of Wilson. Of course there is pay parking at the Market Common Center.

As pointed out - you need to drive all the way down GW parkway - go under Key Bridge (do not exit at Key Bridge) - but take next exit and go 50 West. Be careful you go right after the exit or you will wind up on Roosevelt Bridge and be headed into DC.

Go Right on 10th, then sharp Right on Fillmore and that will take you right over to Wilson at the Wood Grill. If you miss the sharp right on Fillmore - you will go right onto Washington Blvd - then cut over Garfield or Highland then right on Clarendon Blvd - past Whole Foods, then next left and backtrack (left again) on Wilson.

thanks for all the "directions info" but i'm going to have to bail but it's for a good reason......

i have a job interview that afternoon. one of the folks i met with at a job fair last week want's to meet with me "in depth" before i head back to sfo so my apologies but please fill out you skykits (oops, i meant tootsie-pop iou's) for redemption at a later time

Good luck with the interview !!

You'll be missed, but it's definitely a good reason. Let us know when you're in town next and we can try again.

I'll see everyone else tomorrow night.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry9530/4.7.0.148 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/105)

Count me in.

Does anyone attending the Do on Oct 6 in Clarendon live out Manassas way? I'll be getting back from Brazil that morning and I go straight into work in DC, then normally take the VRE to Manassas where I stay while "in town." Don't have 2 wheel or 4 wheel transportation, just 2 feet. . If any of the attendees are able to give me a lift to Manassas afterward, I could attend.