Dates and time for Army Tuba Conference exhibits?

[TubaRay]

Sounds fine. Do they serve a nice arugula salad with an amusing white wine?

Do you suppose they will even know what those are?

[Lee Stofer]

I really enjoy coming to Ft. Myer every year and seeing a bunch of my fellow Total Tuba Junkies, but I so look forward to Post Bowling Alley food..(!) (my arteries are tightening, just thinking about it)

For evening fare, Mike Finn, myself, and some other suspects tend to hit the Irish Pub one night of the Conference, and there is a 50's-style diner that serves up plenty of good grub, also. The dining room at the Sheraton National is world-class, if not cheap.

Oh, yes, the exhibit itself! Mike and I will be in our regular corner, expanded a little from years past. Mike will have his ever-expanding line of fine mouthpieces, and be happy to discuss them with you. I will be assisted by Tom Treece, who has been a major driving force in developing the new line of Kanstul Grand Rapids series tubas. I'll write more details in the Sponsors area.

[bigbob]

I'll be sharing a booth with Lee Stofer again this year, in our usual space. First booth on the right just inside the doors. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.

Are you there just Fri&Sat?? What kind of horns is Lee bringing?? any big old CC??.... also what should I bring just mouthpieces or do I bring my tuba??(I hate to dent it up<S>..Thanks for any info.........................bigbob

[pgym]

I'll be sharing a booth with Lee Stofer again this year, in our usual space. First booth on the right just inside the doors. I look forward to seeing old friends and making new ones.

Are you there just Fri&Sat?? What kind of horns is Lee bringing?? any big old CC??.... also what should I bring just mouthpieces or do I bring my tuba??(I hate to dent it up<S>..Thanks for any info.........................bigbob

Exhibits are Fri noon through Sat 5:30.

As a courtesy to vendors and other attendees, if you're planning to try horns, bring your mouthpiece. That not only saves vendors from the hassle of trying to keep track of loaner mouthpieces (which, as you can imagine, can be difficult to do in a room full of tuba/euph enthusiasts), but also from having a loaner mouthpiece "walk off" when someone "forgets" to return it: something which—unfortunately—seems to be an annual occurrence.

if you're planning to try mouthpieces, bring your tuba so you don't tie up a vendor's display horn which other attendees might be interested in buying.

And, of course, if you bring your mouthpiece and tuba, you will have the opportunity to sit in on the formal music reading sessions and ad hoc jam sessions.

[bort]

if you're planning to try mouthpieces, bring your tuba so...

...you can make sure the exact horn/mouthpiece matchup works for you before you buy anything. Why do it any other way if you don't have to?

[sloan]

Sounds fine. Do they serve a nice arugula salad with an amusing white wine?

Do you suppose they will even know what those are?

Greens and Thunderbird?

[sloan]

I really enjoy coming to Ft. Myer every year and seeing a bunch of my fellow Total Tuba Junkies, but I so look forward to Post Bowling Alley food..(!) (my arteries are tightening, just thinking about it)

For evening fare, Mike Finn, myself, and some other suspects tend to hit the Irish Pub one night of the Conference, and there is a 50's-style diner that serves up plenty of good grub, also. The dining room at the Sheraton National is world-class, if not cheap.

Ah...the Silver Diner...

And then, there's the QuarterDeck. I fear we may be in trouble there this year. I see it listed as one of the "local eateries" on the Virginian Suite website (VS seems to be the new Days Inn - is that good, or bad?). Like the Sheraton National, the QuarterDeck is a stone's throw from the base - but a bit further if you're not up to hopping the fence.

The Sheraton National has a first class (quality AND price) breakfast. See you there at O'dark hundred, Lee. It's a pity they don't have a better late-night bistro. I've been there every year for about 10 years - through two renovations. Perhaps this year I'll understand all the approach routes.

It's great fun browsing the conventions booked into the Sheraton National. The new technology is always *very* interesting.

One thing I'm still searching for is a decent dinner joint close to the Middle School for Friday and Saturday nights. It's a real challenge making it from the Open Reading Session to the Grand Concert. I suppose one *might* wait until the after-party to eat, but there are problems with that plan, too.

[bigbob]

If I missed someone, please post but here is the list as of mid-December:

Baltimore Brass
Brelmat
Buffet Crampon
Cimarron Music Press
Custom Music
Dillon
Dillon Miraphone
Doug Elliot
Euphonium.com Windsong Press
Getzen / Willson
GMI
Hickeys
ITEA & TE Press
Lee Stofer Music
Meinl Weston
Miraphone
Roundtree Music
SASI - MM *Tuba* Alexander
USAREC

Sloan is 100% right it doesn't change much each year, but there will be new tubas, euphs., cds and music.

If anyone is looking for a hotel, I just did my yearly priceline.com and got the Sheraton for $61.00 per night. Nice hotel and only a few minutes away. Not a bad breakfast either!

......................Could you tell me how to get one of these rooms for a couple of days I don't know what to do when I get to price line... I think the Sheraton is in Arlington? Sorry I'm not to computer literate.. any help would be greatly appreciated................bigbob

[BVD Press]

Hop on Priceline, sign in and do "Name your own Price". You might not get the same deal, but it is worth a shot. Priceline can be scary the first time, but I have been using it successfully for 5+ years now and have never had a bad experience.

JUst let me know if you have any more questions,

Bryan

[pgym]

If anyone is looking for a hotel, I just did my yearly priceline.com and got the Sheraton for $61.00 per night. Nice hotel and only a few minutes away. Not a bad breakfast either!

Thanks for the tip.

Just booked my room for less than I had planned to bid.

I'll buy you lunch ... at the bowling alley.

[BVD Press]

Sign me up the greasy burger and greasy fries!

[TubaRay]

Sign me up the greasy burger and greasy fries!

You seem to be implying they have burgers or fries which are not greasy. They have never served those to me.

[BVD Press]

Or arugula, but one can dream...Looking forward to a few weeks from now catching up with friends!!

[TubaRay]

Or arugula, but one can dream...Looking forward to a few weeks from now catching up with friends!!

Same for me.

[Rick Denney]

Or arugula

Arugula is the disease you get eating at the bowling alley. The formal name is Arugulasclerosis, or hardening of the arugulas.

And there is plenty of amusement if you order any wine at all. The amusement is free, but the wine will taste like beer or diet coke.

Rick "stocking up on Tums" Denney

[bigbob]

When your at the conference Where do you go??What are the best things to see.. is Kenmore school on the base and where do the exibitors set up?? Is the Sheraton national the closest place to the conference??Can I walk?/(got a bad back you know) Is everything on the Fort Meyers grounds??This of course will be my first time any help would be greatly appreciated !!! sincerly...................bigbob

[Dean E]

. . . . One thing I'm still searching for is a decent dinner joint close to the Middle School for Friday and Saturday nights. It's a real challenge making it from the Open Reading Session to the Grand Concert. I suppose one *might* wait until the after-party to eat, but there are problems with that plan, too.

I recommend driving to the Seven Corners Shopping Center, in Arlington, VA, 2 miles west of the school on Arlington Blvd/Rt 50.

I have eaten there at a nice Chinese family restaurant in the lower parking lot near Starbucks. Service was well organized and fast, and the bill was reasonable.

There are several other restaurant options in that shopping center also, including the Sunflower vegetarian restaurant and the Dogfish Head Alehouse.

See you there, Sloan.

[Rick Denney]

When your at the conference Where do you go??What are the best things to see.. is Kenmore school on the base and where do the exibitors set up?? Is the Sheraton national the closest place to the conference??Can I walk?/(got a bad back you know) Is everything on the Fort Meyers grounds??This of course will be my first time any help would be greatly appreciated !!! sincerly...................bigbob

All official information is here:

http://www.usarmyband.com/tuba/tubaeuph ... rence.html

Most events are at Brucker Hall or at the Community Center, both of which are on the ground at Fort Myer. You can drive on the base, but you will have to be inspected on each entry (we all go through this). These two venues are about two blocks from each other, with the parking area across the street from both. The bowling alley is adjacent to the Community Center.

The Kenmore School is in western Arlington at U.S. 50 and Carlin Springs Road, maybe three miles west of Fort Myer.

I commute, so others will have to answer about the hotels, but there is only one hotel within walking distance and even that is a long haul for the hindered. That's the Day's Inn and it's probably full. Thus, you'll need a car, or someone to ride around with. They have had shuttle buses in the past for some things but I have always had my own car so I don't know what they are doing with that.

As far as the best things to see, you'll have to decide that for yourself. Most people pick the recitals and clinics of the most value to them, and spend the rest of the time in the exhibits or waiting in line at the bowling alley. It's all up to you--everything is free. You will not want to miss the major nightly concerts, of course, or the reading sessions (if you bring a tuba).

Rick "usually wishing to be in two places at once" Denney

[sloan]

Dogfish Head Alehouse.

Been there, done that.

Two years ago was the "Battle of the GPS devices" - there was considerable disagreement about the
precise location of this very adequate restaurant. We all found it...eventually.

[Bill Troiano]

Dogfish Head 90 min. IPA is one of my favorite beers. It is 9% alcohol. Gotta find this place while I'm in Arlington. Don't drink more than one World Wide Stout if you want to see the concert (21%).