National Book Festival - Washington DC - September 21-22, 2013

It's almost that time of year again! This year's National Book Festival will be held on the National Mall Saturday, Sept 21 and Sunday, Sept 22.

I'll save the details for closer to the event, but I think we should plan on the usual Saturday meetup at the festival, and Sunday meetup nearby for breakfast.

HERE is the website for the festival.

HERE is the wiki page where you can add yourself to the attendee list, and the meetup details will be posted. (They'll also be posted on this thread, so don't worry, but the wiki is a nice neat place to keep everything)

Only 101 days to go!

Added myself to the wiki!

I'm going to make a concerted effort. Weather will be a factor, as will race schedule. More as we get closer. :)

Added to the wiki!

Me too!

Authors in attendance will include:

Katherine Applegate
Marie Arana
Rick Atkinson
Margaret Atwood
Paolo Bacigalupi
Nicholson Baker
Lynda Barry
Bonnie S. Benwick
A. Scott Berg
Holly Black
Fred Bowen
Taylor Branch
Monica Brown
Christopher Buckley
Fred Chao
Jeff Chu
Lesa Cline-Ransome
Steve Coll
Susan Cooper
Alfredo Corchado
Justin Cronin
Giada De Laurentiis
Don DeLillo
Katherine Erskine
Richard Paul Evans
David Finkel
Brian Floca
Eric Gansworth
Cristina Garcia
Kelly Gildea
Albert Goldbarth
Alyson Hagy
Mark Helprin
Kevin Henkes
Gilbert Hernandez
Jaime Hernandez
Juan Felipe Herrera
Jennifer L. Holm
Matthew Holm
Khaled Hosseini
Kay Bailey Hutchison
Sheila Miyoshi Jager
Oliver Jeffers
Pati Jinich
Adam Johnson
William P. Jones
Cynthia Kadohata
Thomas Keneally
Jamaica Kincaid
Matthew J. Kirby
Jon Klassen
Hoda Kotb
Kirby Larson
Suzy Lee
Grace Lin
Mario Livio
Rafael López
D.J. MacHale
Kenneth W. Mack
William Martin
Ayana Mathis
James McBride
Heather McHugh
Lisa McMann
Terry McMillan
Brad Meltzer
Elizabeth Moon
Wes Moore
Christopher Myers
David Nasaw
Phyllis Reynolds Naylor
Kadir Nelson
Patrick Ness
Joyce Carol Oates
Katherine Paterson
Richard Peck
Benjamin Percy
Matt de la Peña
Tamora Pierce
Daniel Pink
Andrea Davis Pinkney
Brian Pinkney
Matthew Quick
James Ransome
Vaddey Ratner
Veronica Roth
Christel Schmidt
Casey Scieszka
Jon Scieszka
Chad "Corntassel" Smith
Andrew Solomon
Sonya Sones
Walter Stahr
Manil Suri
James L. Swanson
Mark Teague
Evan Thomas
Natasha Trethewey
Steve Vogel
William Wegman
George Weigel
Charles Whelan
Henry Wiencek
Rick Yancey
Dean Young

Ohh, I am almost always out of town when this event happens, but not this year!

Katherine Applegate, Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Patrick Ness have caught my eye so far. Must get a copy of A Monster Calls for autographing...

Almost came to the Washington, DC meetup this weekend, but was a little too overwhelmed with RL.

This sounds great even though there are only a couple of authors I read on the list. Maybe I can increase that number between now and then!

I plan to read Taylor Branch before then. He's been on my TBR for a while now.

For those who aren't familiar with the National Book Festival, here are my personal opinions about the book festival:

- Author talks are awesome even if you have never heard of the author or read any of their books. Some of my favorite talks have been authors I have not read or read but did not like. One of my favorite things to do at the festival is just pick a tent (tents are divided by genre) and sit there ALL DAY. This has the benefit of a) seeing a lot of authors I have or have not read and b) I get good seats. I've never been disappointed by any speaker, but I have been pleasantly surprised.

- It's not the best place to buy books. The book tent is crowded and they don't have the best selection. The books are cover price, minus Barnes & Noble member discount if you have one. However, this has not stopped me from buying a few books in the past, especially giant expensive hardcover graphic novels, because *drool*.

- Free stuff! You get a free tote bag and poster and water bottle as soon as you get there, and all the bookmarks you can handle. Also, there are usually Bookcrossers "releasing" free books at the festival.

- Book Nerds! Really, the festival is just a giant park full of people who go bat-shit-crazy for books. What's not to love??

OMG MARGARET ATWOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS: This weekend will also be the weekend of my niece's first birthday party, which my husband and I will be part of. However, we will work around it to be there as much as possible.

JUSTIN CRONIN?! I might just have to make the one-hour drive to get him to sign my copy of The Passage and The Twelve. Huge fan here. Huge!

I hope you do, Caroline!

12,

I'm glad I saw this! I didn't even know about the festival. All the great authors go to D.C., not to Baltimore. *pout*

:D

Nora, did you say that only books bought at the festival can be signed?

Nope. You don't have to buy anything at the festival. The authors don't know where you bought the books, as the book-buying tent is all the way across the mall from the signing tents. But sometimes authors (particularly the popular ones) will only sign their most recent book (the one they're at the festival to promote).

Oh! Maybe I can buy MaddAddam there! But I'll bring my first edition Atwoods just in case :)

>17 Esquiress: They will DEFINITELY have Maddaddam there. They might even have pre-signed copies. I don't know if I would suggest waiting in line to have books signed by her. The line will likely be extremely long.

It may be worth it to get my British first edition of The Robber Bride signed... we'll have to see :)

A few other notes from a veteran Festival Attendee:

- Be prepared to stand in line for a signing The book signature lines are always long and you usually will be in them for at least an hour prior to the signing if you want a guaranteed signature.

- Wear good shoes, bring water, and an umbrella I usually take a bookbag with the basics in it: Water, umbrella, and paper. Outside of that, make sure you wear comfortable shoes. Signature lines require lots of standing. The genre tents are lots of sitting, but if you get to an author late, it's standing room only. The umbrella becomes useful because it has rained a few years I've gone, but it also helps against the sun.

- Enjoy! You're at a Festival! check your bad mood at the metro station escalator. It's a festival full of books, people in great moods, and you're on the Mall in downtown DC. Take a breath, forget the rest of life for a few hours, and just enjoy.

I am SOOOO hoping to be able to make it!! :)

I wish I could make this lovely meet up. Unfortunately, working in academia equates to the necessity to be on board at the beginning of the semester.

I look forward to many photos posted when this occurs!

Only 89 days left!

I'm trying to work my travel schedule around this so that I can attend the Meetup and the festival this year.

Excellent!

I sure wish I could afford to come to this Meet-Up but I'm afraid that one major one a year is all my $ will accommodate. But like Whisper1, I expect many a picture. You all enjoy yourselves. If you have half as much fun as we did at the Philly Meet-Up, you are in for a blast. But I don't think the food can beat the Philly eats!
hugs,
belva

P.S. Are any of the authors speaking or just signing?

I think all of the authors are speaking—it should be a fun weekend!

We'll miss you though :(. Maybe next year this can be your big one!

>26 rainpebble: All of the authors speak, and I think most of them sign. I always skip the signings because the lines are sooo long and I don't want to miss any of the authors' presentations.

I really hope you can come next year! It is an awesome festival.

Note: for the first time in my memory, the National Book Festival and the Baltimore Book Festival are NOT being held on the same weekend! The Baltimore book festival will be the subsequent weekend, 27-29 September. This is good news for locals who want to hit both festivals, or bad news for visitors who were hoping to attend both in the same weekend.

Oh, that is such aawesome sweet news!

Well, for me that's...

*SWEET*

OHHH! Maybe I could just stay that whole week inbetween and do some visiting with friends! Exciting!

Norabelle, that is really good news. (Maybe a pipe dream, but it would be nice if they're on separate weekends from now on; that could help with attendance at the Baltimore one!)

Okay, bus tickets purchased! I've been checking the Megabus site regularly for these tickets to go on sale, so I managed to get a $1 ticket in one direction (but $25 in the other direction--still much cheaper than the train, though).

Anyone else who wants to travel by Megabus should look into purchasing tickets now too.

I'll be arriving at 6:10 on the Friday (at least in theory--there will probably be traffic) and leaving at 5:30 on Sunday.

Woohooooo! Only 71 days left!

Thanks for the heads up Zoe! Tickets purchased as well!

How about planning a salmon* dinner with chocolate cake** for dessert? ;)

*The salmon would be dead, of course!
** In honor of Nora's 6th Thingaversary

>36 leahbird: Yay, I'm glad!

>37 SqueakyChu: Hehe, I love the idea. But I think we should replace the salmon with something brown :D. (Especially since I'm allergic to salmon!)

The chocolate cake is brown. We need to think of something to eat that's the color of dead salmon (but is not salmon). :/

I'll eat all of Zoe's salmon. Don't worry.

Hehe, problem solved!

Wait. I've been here longer than Nora? Why does it not feel that way?
(Yeah, my thingaversary is the weekend after the festival. :) )

I've booked my flights!

Hooorayy!! I've still got room for more people at my apartment. Leah, are you staying with me?

OHH! That would be lovely! I didn't realize you were hosting people. You can PM me the details about it if you want. I'm guessing I should just roll up with an air mattress? Fun!

>45 leahbird: Yup. I have a full-size bed and a queen-size air mattress, so it all depends on how people feel about sharing beds. I also need to check the air mattress for holes as a certain furry someone has been sneaking into the closet where I keep it.

I also have a (nice) sleeping bag. Either way you'll definitely need to bring a pillow though.

ETA: Should also mention I live two (very safe) blocks from a Metro station which is two stops north of the airport and two stops south of the book festival.

Oh, what fun! :) I'm OK with sharing, and my pillow will be my personal item (especially since the flight down leaves at 6:20 AM... blech! But it was that or not arriving 'til close to noon on Saturday...). Nora, I'll send you a PM with more details.

Ooh, party at Nora's! I think I'm also planning to stay with you on the Friday, and with Madeline on the Saturday? Sharing is fine with me. I'll have to think about a pillow etc.

>48 _Zoe_: Yep you're staying with me Friday and Mary isn't coming in until Saturday morning so you guys won't overlap.

They'd better overlap at the festival though! ;)

I just got an Amtrak email saying they're having a 3-day sale on tickets between New York and DC, for travel dates that include the relevant weekend.

I'm happy with my cheaper Megabus, but if anyone prefers more comfortable options, this might be worth looking into.

I love riding Amtrak when I can. Fortunately, I'll just take Metro to the festival.

The schedule for the book festival has been posted! http://www.loc.gov/bookfest/schedule/

Would everyone be okay with meeting up somewhere off to the side (probably the Hirschorn Sculpture Garden, where we met the past 2 years) at 1pm Saturday?

Madeline, what time is your Bookcrossing meetup? It seems to work really well when we do the two meetups together.

I'm good with that.

Oooo! I have to go Sunday this year... Again. Hope I don't miss it like I did last year.
1 pm on Saturday will be good.

I will probably be alone this year.
Long story.

I might be standing in line for the Margaret Atwood signing from 12:30 to 1:30 since she's the only signature I'm interested in getting, but I can meet you guys where ever after that.

>56 leahbird: ahhh I missed that one. What about 2pm? Does that work for everyone instead?

2PM looks like it works for me. But if 1PM works better for everyone, don't worry about me, I can be a straggler if I need to be.

I think 2pm should work for most people. But we'll end up having additional meetups for dinner Saturday and brunch on Sunday, so it'll all work out.

Yup. 2 pm on Saturday still works. I don't do the signing lines. :)

>60 gilroy: Me neither! I did it my first year and it was a nightmare.

> 53

We've always met at 2pm. I'm leaving the planning this year for (BookCrossers 6of8, melydia, or KateKintail). I'll verify the time with you when the meet-up is posted on the BookCrossing listserv - just to be sure.

By the way, since we now have a much larger group of both BookCrossers and LTers, there's no reason we can't use our own area (which is a bit off the beaten track) as a "drop-in area" from something like 1-3pm (keeping 2pm as the official meet-up time). In that way, no one has to miss a very special author talk ...and at least a few people will be hanging out there. It's a nice area to sit and have lunch.

I also highly recommend that, prior to attending the National Book Festival, everyone register as a member of BookCrossing. It's free and there are no strings. Register one book and plan on either wild releasing it or giving it to a fellow LTer. A wishlisted book for a fellow LTer would be great!

In addition, since I now have a Little Free Library at my own house in Rockville, Maryland, I'd be delighted to put your BookCrossing-registered book into my Little Free Library. Zoe and Katherine can do this themselves! :)

Well, I’ve decided to make a mini-vacation out of this trip. I want to fit in a visit with my niece who lives in DC, and after a package tour to Europe with another niece I have a pent-up wish to meander around cities and rivers. So I made a hotel reservation in Rosslyn, a block from the Metro, arrive Thursday afternoon and depart Sunday afternoon. LibraryThing and book festival events should be easily accessible, and the rest of the time is flexible far various possibilities, depending on weather and whim of the moment. So... if anyone needs a place to stay, my hotel room has a sofa-bed and mini-kitchen (and no obligation to stick to my schedule). And if anyone else wants to take a long walk on Friday, perhaps through Alexandria and the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve, eased by public transportation as needed, I wouldn’t mind the company. I'm up for LibraryThing events from Saturday morning until Sunday mid afternoon, and re book festival events I would happily settle in the contemporary life section for the duration.

Madeline, since I can deposit stuff in my hotel room and don't have to schlep everything around on Saturday, I'll bring something for your Little Free Library.

>64 qebo: That sounds lovely, Katherine! If you are looking for a nice walk I recommend walking across the Key Bridge from Rosslyn to Georgetown. Georgetown is really interesting (especially the waterfront) but its two biggest faults are lack of public transit and lack of parking space. You're in the perfect spot to explore it!

Also let me know if you need any help navigating Alexandria.

65: Yes, that's on my radar! Glad you're recommending it; can't always be so sure from the internet. I was teetering between Rosslyn and Crystal City as a base, and pedestrian access to the Key Bridge grabbed me. Also Theodore Roosevelt Island. I should have enough daylight after arrival on Thursday for exploration, along with the entire day Friday.

That sounds very nice! Unfortunately I won't be getting in until Friday evening, or else I'd love to go walking with you.

On an unrelated note, has anyone seen the exhibition of Little Golden Books at the Smithsonian? It sounds interesting, not that I'd expect us to have any extra time that weekend....

Hmmm. I'm at a conference downtown this week that ends at 6 each day, maybe I'll check it out.

I'll have to use my extra hours on Friday to check that out!

>67 _Zoe_: We can totally hit that up. We'll be able to find some time, I'm sure.

It looks like my trip to DC for the frist day of the festival will be later than I originally thought. I'm running a 5K that day and will definitely need a shower before I head to DC. :)

Just to reiterate, we'll be having the following meetups at the Book Festival next weekend:

Saturday, 2pm in the Hirschorn Sculpture Garden
Saturday, 6:30ish, dinner somewhere close to the mall (in previous years we have gone to Teaism, but anything is fine with me.
Sunday, 10:30am, brunch somewhere close to the mall

If anyone wants to exchange cell phone numbers for coordination purposes, go ahead and PM me. I can't wait to see you guys!!

Are we having game night Saturday?

I think game night is going to be Friday night. Or both nights!

Cool!

Expecting lots of pictures for us non attendees to grumble/whine briefly but mostly ooh & ahh over!

Saturday at 2 p.m. Veronica Roth is having a book signing and I kinda sorta promised a friend I'd try to get her autograph, so I may try to join up with the first meetup late. :)

My schedule is very much up in the air right now. If I am in town, I'll at least try to make the 6:30 meet up.

http://www.wearefoundingfarmers.com/

Suggestion for Sunday brunch--Founding Farmers. It's a little far to walk from the Mall unless you're a real eager walker (I would walk it) but we could Metro between. I haven't eaten there but have been hoping for a reason to.

http://busboysandpoets.com/menu/brunch

Or the Mount Vernon location of Busboys and Poets (5th and K, NW). Closer to the Mall but still several blocks. Also has Metro option. Another one I haven't eaten at but have been hoping for a reason to visit.

I really like Bus Boys and Poets. I also have been wanting to try Founding Farmers, but it is pretty pricy. I think we usually try to pick something moderately priced? That being said, if other folks are in for Founding Fathers, I'd be in. If I am in town. SIGH. Still.

>80 WildMaggie: We went to Busboys & Poets for our spring meet up a couple years ago and it was really fun!

Those are both great restaurants, my only hesitation would be that we'd need to get there earlier to compensate for the extra time it will take to get to the festival, and also we'll need a reservation and thus a head-count. But all of that is fine with me if it's fine with everyone else.

An alternative would be that we could go to one of those places for dinner on Saturday.

http://www.perrysadamsmorgan.com/brunch/sunday/

If folks who are doing Saturday want to go to these more conventional venue for dinner, perhaps something a bit more out of the ordinary for Sunday brunch?

I think that getting seats might be an issue because of the time we've chosen:
"Seating is always offered on a first come, first served basis and we suggest that guests arrive between 9-930am, especially if you have a larger group- in fact the larger the group, the earlier you want to come as we have limited large tables and many interested large parties.
If you cannot arrive that early, guests tend to start getting up around 1130am and we seat as tables become available – please note that there are no set seatings or set show times — the show runs continuously until 245/3pm, you will never miss it.
You may leave your name with the hostess and return at the suggested time, or sit at the bar if there is seating available. "

*sigh* at this point, budget in mind, I might be having water while hanging out.
But what am I going to do?!?! My Thingaversary is within a week of the festival so I gotta get 9 books! :)

Yes, GentleReader, there are obstacles. But it would likely be a memorable brunch.

Other venue suggestions?

85> Books are a must, water is important, food - can wait

86> True

I don't know exactly where the tents will be, so distances are from the Metro station recommended on the web site - Federal Center

Old Ebbitt Grill, pricey
0.35 mi
4.5 out of 5 stars (based on 77 reviews)
www.ebbitt.com
675 15th St Nw, Washington, DC
Between F St NW and G St NW
Phone: (202) 347-4801

Georgia Brown's - more special (South Carolina Low-Country cuisine), further away, though
0.58 mi
4.5 out of 5 stars (based on 57 reviews)
www.gbrowns.com
950 15th St Nw, Washington, DC
Between I St NW/Vermont Ave NW and K St NW
Phone: (202) 393-4499
.

>83 WildMaggie: I am more interested in a place where I can have good conversation with LTers than seeing a show. While I don't have much budgetary restriction I would like to stick closer to the National Mall whenever possible.
I do know that a few people are traveling from out of town and I'm guessing they would appreciate more affordable meal options.

>85 gilroy: Nine books?!? That's what you get for hanging around here so long ;-)

>87 MDGentleReader: The festival is between 7th and 14th NW. Smithsonian Metro station is right in the middle, and either L'Enfant Plaza or National Archives/Navy Memorial stations are 2 blocks away. I'm not sure why they suggest Federal Center SW. It is definitely walkable (5 blocks) but if I'm already on the blue/orange line I'd just get off at Smithsonian or L'Enfant.

______________________________________________

I have enjoyed the Au Bon Pain that we have gone to in previous years (6th & Indiana NW) because it is affordable and so close to the Mall and the pay-before-you-eat style is good when you don't know how many people are coming or when they will get there.

If we'd like to go somewhere else, I suggest:

PAUL (French bakery/cafe) at 9th & Pennsylvania NW
http://www.paul-usa.com/shop/en-US/Shop/PAUL-Penn-Quarter_311

Cosi (coffee/breakfast/sandwiches) at 10th & Pennsylvania OR 6th and Pennsylvania

Teaism (bakery/breakfast/tea) at 8th & D NW
https://www.teaism.com/restaurant-details-40.html

Lincoln's Waffle Shop at 10th and E NW
http://www.lincolnswaffleshop.com/

Le Pain Quotidien (Belgian bakery/cafe) at 10th and F NW
http://www.lepainquotidien.us/#/en_US/locations/washington_dc/carroll_square

Le Pain Quotidien usually has that really big table if we have a big group. Teaism sounds cool. Au Bon Pain might be simplest, though.

Ignore my previous suggestiions - they are too far away....

I personally like the idea of Lincoln's Waffle Shop as a local place rather than a chain, but I'd be fine with anything.

Except maybe not Paul, because their menu is incredibly annoying (mouse over pictures for descriptions, click for more info, no prices listed??) and it looks like it might be too expensive.

>90 _Zoe_: PAUL is an international chain and their menu varies from place to place, which is why it's so annoying. The trick is to click "Cut the line order here" as if you were going to place a to-go order. It's a little more expensive but not too bad. Some examples are:
3-egg omelet $9
souffle with a side of greens $9
various sandwiches $6.50 to $8.75
waffle with Nutella $5
croissant $2.50
etc.

>91 norabelle414: Okay, those prices seem fine. I'd still vote for the local place over a chain, but it's not really a strong preference.

I'm leaving for DC tomorrow morning, equipped with modern electronic devices so I can check in re schedules and locations, but typing on a touchscreen so won't be commenting much. I'm in for dinner and brunch, don't care where.

Madeline, I'll have a book that I registered in BookCrossing for your Little Free Library.

Checking in to see what people are saying.

I'll be happy to take that book off your hands, qebo. I'm not getting any journal entries from my LFL books -even though all of them are BC-registered. *sigh*

Here's a blog post about the new Little Free Library in Alexandria that my husband built and put up for petrini1 this past Sunday. You said you might visit it.

94: I've marked it on a map. Expect to be passing through Alexandria. Where exactly I get depends on whim of the moment and energy level and such. Sometimes I set off as if I'm still 35, and discover that I'm not.

mrsdrneutron and I are heading down to DC for the day Saturday, so we'll make the meetup at 2. But it looks like we won't make dinner Saturday evening. Looking forward to seeing everybody!

I'm looking at a long day Saturday. After the meet up I might even head to Arlington National Cemetary to watch the changing of the guard at the Tomb of the Unknown.

The weather this weekend:

Saturday - High: 80 - Low: 67 - Isolated Thunderstorms - 30% chance of rain
Sunday - High: 75 - Low: 61 - Showers - 40% chance of rain

Metro this weekend:

Red Line - reduced trains between Shady Grove and Glenmont. 24 minutes between trains between those two stations
Orange lines - reduced trains throughout. 24 minutes between trains.

The drag brunch was more of a tongue-in-cheek suggestion. Seriously, I'm fine with any of the brunch places suggested. Close to the Mall would be nice.

Just found out that our other obligation will be rescheduled, so we're back on for Saturday evening dinner!

Lincoln's Waffle Shop gets 4 starts and a Certificate of Excellence 2013 on TripAdvisor. Sounds good to me.

Technically, Lincoln's Waffle Shop is a tourist trap. But I am all for being trapped near the Mall with yummy waffles.

Well, yes, I was intitally reluctant because of that. But, I am totally for supporting a local business versus a chain and also for experiencing a local place. Not, however, if the food is bad, if I can help it.

And trapped with good company, too.

I'm willing to admit, I've yet to find a person who comes to the LT meetups that aren't good people...

*knocks on lots of wood*

So have we settled on Lincoln's Waffles for Sunday brunch?

I think so. Unless anyone disagrees let's meet there at 10:30am on Sunday.

Now it looks like it will be rain free all day Sunday and on Saturday until about 4pm. Woo Hoo!

I hope everyone is having a great time!

Oh, we did! Even with the rain. :)

Okay folks, I have a few videos I'm working on but they won't be uploaded before Wednesday. :(

Tonight I have a writing workshop with the Maryland Writers Association and tomorrow I have class. So lots to do before I get back to the videos.

It was fun seeing everyone this weekend! We need to do these more often.

Event Report:

- Introduced mrsdrneutron to the wonders of the commuter croissant sandwich at Corner Bakery on the way to the Shady Grove Metro station.

- Saw four author talks (Justin Cronin, Paolo Bacigalupi, Jennifer Holm with Matthew Holm, Taylor Branch, and Charles Wheelan). All very good.

- Picked up four books (Divergent, Insurgent, The Accursed, and Babymouse, Queen of the World!). Tried to see Veronica Roth too, but the tent was packed with fans and couldn't even get close!

- Had a short meet-n-greet at the Hirschorn Sculpture Garden, then dinner at Chinatown Express with folks. Zoe has pictures, I think.

All in all, a very good day!

I got to DC on Thursday afternoon so I could spend Friday walking around. I took the Metro to Alexandria and wandered out to the Little Free Library of petrini1, and in to downtown.


Then I got on the Mount Vernon Trail and walked to the Dyke Marsh Wildlife Preserve. At which point I had to decide whether to retrace my steps back to civilization, cut over to a shopping center for the bus back to the Metro, or continue on to Mount Vernon. Figured I could get to Mount Vernon in time to catch the bus back the Metro and meet my niece for dinner, so that’s what I did. Alas, no time to wander around Mount Vernon itself, also my feet were sore, but now I know what the deal is. Assessment: after a few miles, the scenery is repetitive, and it is rather a long walk. The trail is a paved bike path, and perhaps a better option would’ve been to rent a bike from Capital Bikeshare; I saw bike racks and people riding the bikes all over the place. The bus from Mt Vernon to Huntington Station is straightforward and runs every half hour. Links in case anyone who stumbles upon this wants to check it out.

On Saturday immediately before the official meetup, I went to the butterfly pavilion at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History.

I saw only three full presentations:
James McBride talking about The Good Lord Bird (no photo)
Thomas Keneally talking about The Daughters of Mars (no photo)
Mario Livio talking about Brilliant Blunders


Zoe has more people photos. All I have is Sunday morning brunch at Lincoln’s Waffle Shop.
L-R: _Zoe_, qebo, bell7, norabelle414, SqueakyChu.


Books? I exited the meetup with a score of –2! Offloaded 2 books: one to the Little Free Library in Alexandria, one to SqueakyChu for her Little Free Library in Rockville.

At the train station, no longer concerned about baggage weight, I bought Empire of the Summer Moon by S. C. Gwynne, and resisted several other books.

Yes, I'll upload some photos eventually....

It was a great meetup, and I'm already looking forward to the next one!

At brunch on Sunday, we had: _Zoe_, WildMaggie and husband, bell7, Norabelle414, SqueakyChu and her friend Barbara, Alice (don't know LT name, sorry), MDGentleReader and johnkerr.

I went to talks by: A Scott Berg, Grace Lin, Katherine Paterson, Susan Cooper, D J MacHale, Tamora Pierce and Fred Chao.

I fully intended to go Saturday and at least see Taylor Branch and Phyliss Reynolds Naylor, but I didn't even get dressed until almost 8pm - it had been an exceptionally long week. The good news is that all talks will eventually be posted on the NBF web site. I plan to catch Lynda Barry's talk.

Lovely people, lovely day.

Thanks, Nora for organizing the Meetup!

114: And me. FYI, I now have an activation code for Ingress...

What a nice photo!!!

Sorry, I thought I had you in there. Oops. Hmm. Now my count is off, am I missing someone else?

At brunch on Sunday, we had: _Zoe_, WildMaggie and husband, bell7, Norabelle414, SqueakyChu and her friend Barbara, qebo, Alice (don't know LT name, sorry), MDGentleReader and johnkerr.

Enlightenment or Resistance?

Sooo wish I had made Sunday brunch, but budget conspired against me. :( Didn't help that I had things to get done at the house before I could go either. (And it's my house! lol)

Did you make it to any of the talks on Sunday?

117: I have to go through training before I make a decision. I am leaning toward Resistance (sorry), because I don't trust other people's version of Enlightenment.

John's joining the Enlightenment was totally random. Of course, now he needs to support his team. (I'm inclined to agree with you about the definition of Enlightenment).

Enjoy! John has met plenty of nice folks and gotten lots of exercise since he started playing Ingress. SqeakyChu's son is also a member of the Enlightenment team.

#119: Yes! Got to hear Joyce Carol Oates, Elizabeth Moon, and Tamora Pierce. (Plus a little of Terry McMillian.)

I now have an activation code for Ingress...

So you have to visit my Little Free Library now because it's a portal! :)

Join Enlightenment, qebo. We want to keep my portal green!!

This is Abraham Lincoln and qebo at Lincoln's Waffles.

This is bell7 and _Zoe_ taking a picture of me while I'm taking a picture of her (as qebo did in the previous picture)!

This is MDGentleReader and johnkerr (holding hands!). :)

Left to right: bell7, _Zoe_, qebo, MDGentleReader, johnkerr, Barbara, Norabelle414, Alice.

We're waiting for our waffles and other assorted brunch stuff. I'm taking the picture.

Heh! A BookCrossing "catch" for a book I wild released at this year's National Book Festival this year...

http://www.bookcrossing.com/journal/12033611

129: Cool!

>129 SqueakyChu: That's great!

Must be a furloghed government worker trying to find something to do... :)

No, gilroy...I'm pretty sure that book was found way before the furlough and just journaled yesterday.

Was trying for a bad joke. Text didn't translate it well.

I did laugh...but then I had to reply! :)

Are you planning on joining us for the Baltimore meet-up in November?

I'll have to see what weekend and such.
November is a busy month for me.

Birthday, NaNoWriMo, family visits, Turkey day.
Plus almost every weekend has a movie I want to see coming out! :)

Madeline is right. The book was surely found before the shut down, probably on their way to work, but now that they are sitting at home furloughed and without paycheck they have enough free time to update the book's journal. ;)

:)

HUGE changes coming to the National Book Festival this year:

1) It will no longer be held on the National Mall, but rather indoors at the Washington Convention Center.
2) The festival hours will be extended to 10PM
3) The festival will include film screenings and an increased focus on preserving classic films
4) It will be held 30 August 2014, as opposed to the usual late-September
5) Reduction from a two-day festival back to one day.

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2014/14-007.html

Phew! At least the event will remain free.

Thoughts:
1. It will be a long exhausting event to be held on one day.
2. Labor Day weekend is not the most comfortable or cheapest weekend to book travel.
3. Unless the films are close captioned, I won't be able to participate in this part of the event.
4. I actually came to prefer the two-day event, although think the authors probably prefer to present on a day with the largest crowd. A one-day event will eliminate that issue.
5. There are so many competing activities that are scheduled on Labor Day weekend.

:(

Aw, NO. They are going to ruin it... I valued all the extra walking I did...

SPRING MEET-UP THREAD POSTED!!!

http://www.librarything.com/topic/167560