Lee, I think that you, me, Theo & Debet are in the same boat. Possibly DX as well. (Are Theo & DX coming down together? not sure) Perhaps we 4 can work something out.

Patrick & I have space for one perrson Thursday night, if that helps.

National Zoo info. I was looking to see if we could get a a tram and a mike for billytea, seriously. I expect I'll be hanging at the back of the crowd that will accompany him, and if there isn't some accomodation for a small throng ( I really do think that everyone will want to go), then those of us at the back won't be able to hear a word he says, which, NSM fun.

Anyway, here's info:

National Zoo – main page [link]

Times, hours, exhibits: [link]

Zoo stop and Zoo Adventure Tours: [link]

VIP zoo tour info: [link]

Please Note! From April 1 through June 15, a very large number of school buses full of children arrive at the Zoo between 10:00am and noon. For a more enjoyable, quieter experience, we recommend that you bring your group early in the day, between 8:00am and 10:00am, or later in the afternoon after 2:00pm. The animals are generally more active at these times too, and lines to see the giant pandas are most likely to be shorter. For tour bus groups, we offer special programs early and late in the day.

I was looking to see if we could get a a tram and a mike for billytea, seriously.

And I was seriously saying emphatically no.

Bummer! What's your idea of the day at the zoo?

Bummer! What's your idea of the day at the zoo?

I would like to see the zoo. But for myself, I had doubts about the F2F being the right time for it in the first place. If people are going, then I will certainly be in that party too, but I'm deeply uncomfortable with the idea of being in any way the primary attraction. Hanging out with people an' doing stuff: good. Becoming a tour guide: bad.

t loving billytea

Okay. I expect a zoo trip will be in the offing at any rate there's info.

I just got a reply about the food and bev question, and whether or not the bartender comes out of it:

As far as needing a bartender for your cash bar, no problem. The bartender is not included in the F&B minimum. Only perishables go towards food & minimum.

Insent info to DCLocalistas, and I'll send to Jon in a sec.

I just want to go the zoo because one of my friends who recently moved to DC claims there is no way in. She said she circled the block and couldn't find the entrance.

Granted, this is the same woman who made me walk twenty blocks one visit because she was convinced the museum we were looking for was "just up ahead".

Also? I like the pwetties at the zoo.

one of my friends who recently moved to DC claims there is no way in. She said she circled the block and couldn't find the entrance.

She is on crack -- there are big gates at the entrance.

I have no idea how you get a car in, though.