BRU Pub Crawl Mini-DO: MLK Weekend 2009
 

There has been much interest brewing (no pun intended) in The Penalty Box for a Belgium Pub Crawl over MLK weekend in January 2009.

Dates: January 17 and/or 18, 2009
Location: Various pubs in Brussels (17th) and/or Bruges (18th)

While few other specifics have been discussed, I wanted to start this thread to begin to collect ideas on the logistics of such an event. I have started to identify some of the more attractive establishments in both cities and will post more information on my findings in the coming weeks. If you have some input, feel free to post it in this thread.

I will reserve the next few posts for future updates and an attendee list with information on individuals flight information and hotel selections.

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12/29 UPDATE:

In an attempt to bring some sort of organization to this Do, I am proposing the following schedule:

Saturday, 1/17 (Brussels)

18:30 - Meet at ___TBD___ for dinner
Everyone will be on their own for dinner but I will try and make a reservation for ~10. If that is not possible, we may need to split up and get a few tables. If you'd prefer to do dinner on your own somewhere else, feel free to meet up with the group later in the evening.

~20:30 - Begin pub crawl at Poechenellekelder (review). This bar is across from Manikin Pis, so it's in a bit of a touristy area. I figured this would make it easy for everyone to find.

Delirium Cafe (review) sounds worthy of being destination #2 of the evening. The upstairs sounds like a nice environment for a mix of drinking and socializing.

Directions from Poechenellekelder to Delirium.

A La Mort Subite appears to be another good pub.

If you'd like a quick education on some popular Belgian beers, this blog seems to have a good mix of reviews.


Sunday, 1/18 (Bruges)

A handful of people have expressed an interest in a day trip to Bruges on Sunday. I will probably take the train around 10:00 so that I have a pretty full day in Bruges if needed. More information on trains can be found here (tickets are 8 EUR round trip (when purchased online - thanks sbm12!) for a 2nd class ticket). We can meet at the Bruxelles-Central train station or keep an eye out for other FTers once in Bruges.

Definitely Attending (13):
Anglo Large Clawed Otter
BuddyPass
CO 1E
colpuck
cova (+1)
fozz
Hartmann
J.Edward
notabob
rolov
sbm12
sdm1130

Expressed Interest:
belynch
crnk (+1 or 2)
gbryan84
GenevaFlyer
groovygrendel (+1?)
MBM3
Scott6067
shell nyc
vsevolod4

Travel Arrangements:

sdm1130
1/15: CO56 EWR-CDG
1/19: CO61 BRU-EWR
hotel: Brussels Marriott

notabob
1/14: CO60 to BRU
1/18: train to AMS
hotel: Hilton Brussels City

rolov
1/16: arriving in BRU by train
1/18: 10:00a LH flight to FRA
hotel: Four Points Brussels

fozz
1/16 EWR-MUC LH#413 8:30pm - 10:20am
1/17 MUC-BRU LH#4604 11:00am - 12:25pm
1/18 BRU-IAD UA# 951 12:10pm - 2:48pm
1/18 IAH-EWR UA#7972 5:10pm -6:47pm

Anglo Large Clawed Otter
1/16 IAH-AMS CO 46
1/19 BRU-EWR CO 61
1/19 EWR-CLE CO 325
1/19 CLE-IAH CO 1645

Hartmann
1/15 - IAH-EWR - CO152
1/15 - EWR-CDG - CO56
1/19 - BRU-EWR - CO61
1/19 - EWR-CLE - CO325
1/19 - CLE-IAH - CO1645
hotel: Brussels Marriott

sbm12
1/15: EWR-(CO)-LHR
1/16: LCY-(VG)-LUX
1/19: BRU-(CO)-EWR

J.Edward
1/16: IAH-(UA)-ORD-(UA)-LHR-(BD)-BRU (arrive BRU at 10:40am on Saturday 1/17)
1/18: BRU-(BD)-LHR-(UA)-ORD-(UA)-IAH (depart BRU at 12:00)
hotel: Conrad

cova + 1
1/14: DCA-EWR CO1208
1/14: EWR-BRU CO60
1/19: BRU-EWR CO61
1/19: EWR-DCA CO3345
Hotel: Brussels Marriott (4 nights)

colpuck
1/15: ATL-ORD-LHR (UA 417, 928)
1/16: LHR-BRU (BD 151)
1/19: BRU-LHR-ORD-ATL (BD 140, UA 949, 966)

I will have just returned from Europe at that point, wish you the best and enjoy the time :) Had this been planned 2 months back I may have been able to extend my stay and been there via train.

I'm definitely interested. What better place to celebrate my birthday? :)

Please list me as a maybe.

I'm in and on my way to buy tix now (reward seats are plentiful from EWR right now; only 50K points + $57 in taxes for a Y seat). I plan on flying Thursday/Monday. My +1 is still questionable, but I should be able to convince her with good beer.

Bruges should also be considered as an option for a day trip at some point during the weekend; I believe they have a brouerij or two there as well.

For any Starwood Guys: Le Meridien Brussels is right across from the Central Train Station. It is located near the famous square and the little streets, and near the Manequin Fountain . It was nice and the rates were pretty good when i went last year.
The other Train Station , Brussels Midi is where the TGV from Paris drops you off.

Sold.

I'm interested too. We'll have to see how the next few months look and such with my new work schedule. If I do make it, I'll probably be +1 or +2 if I can get my brother to join too...

Does that mean I should move you to the definite list? :)

The more the merrier. I'll add you and your possible guests to the interested list.

Beer in Belgium, an I'm only on the "Expressed Interest" list? :rolleyes:

Unless Danica McKellar volunteers to spend that weekend personally serving me beer in Munich...naked, I'm there!

Wonder Years, indeed...

My sincere apologies! I have corrected the list. :)

No worries, I would have crashed the party regardless. :D

Yes. I got tickets this afternoon. :p