The main event is the Saturday night party nicknamed "The Prom."
I'd like to mention that this isn't always the main event. If you are a party person (and many Buffistas are), the Prom is the centerpiece of the weekend. If you are a shy person who freezes up in crowds (and many Buffistas are), the centerpiece of the weekend is all the small outings. I had a lot more fun at Malibu with a Buffista subset than I did at the LA Prom; this is not because the LA Prom wasn't splendiferous, but is because I'm happier in small groups.
In the two official proms I've attended (Chicago and LA), there was lots to do for shy people too; the party is mobile and frequently subdivides.
Brenda, are we talking about the same first class? The business class is the one I found to be similar to the coach except for nicer seats and outlets. The only time I went first class, I felt like I was on a completely different train than I'd ever seen before.
In the two official proms I've attended (Chicago and LA), there was lots to do for shy people too; the party is mobile and frequently subdivides.
This was true in DC, as well. There was even a knitting/crocheting corner.
I'm with Kristin,
First Class on Amtrak is a whole 'nuther train. Much with the comfy and actually good food.
Brenda, are we talking about the same first class? The business class is the one I found to be similar to the coach except for nicer seats and outlets.
Yeah, I think you must be right. The other sounds even better.
Business class gets the nice seats and power. First class gives you food and booze service that looks like it's complimentary, and you get hot towel service.
Oo, yeah. I had forgotten the hot towels. That was GREAT. It was like being in a time warp back to a time when flying somewhere was an event and the airlines pampered you.
Okay, I need to ride in Acela first class now. (The last Amtrak train I took was a "Holiday Special" that turned out to be a NJ Transit train that they'd hauled down to DC to handle the extra Thanksgiving traffic. No cafe car, very few bathrooms. It completely sucked in every way.)
I'd like to mention that this isn't always the main event. If you are a party person (and many Buffistas are), the Prom is the centerpiece of the weekend. If you are a shy person who freezes up in crowds (and many Buffistas are), the centerpiece of the weekend is all the small outings.
True. I meant "main" only in the sense that it's the one thing that's been at every F2F, and (so far) the only event which everyone can reasonably be expected to attend.
It's no lap of luxury, but the smaller number of stops alone can make a big difference,
Really? I've usually found that the Acela is just barely faster than the Northeast Regional or Metroliner -- maybe shaving half an hour off the DC-NY route. It only makes one or two fewer stops.
Question for the eastern folks. Is it going to be pretty simple to take a train from the Raleigh/Durham area to DC?
