Roll Call: MMJ - Midnight Ramble - 10/16/10

[Dodobird]

youre not really planning on playing a bag pipe at Levon's house, are you? could be conceived as disrespectful

I will not be playing in his house. But rather in the parking lot as we tailgate outside waiting for the doors to open at 7pm.

And I spoke with the manager of Levon Helm Studios who was kind enough to squeeze me in for two tickets because of a connection I had. I asked her if it would be cool and she was fine with it!

I would never disrespect Levon. I just thought it would be fun to jam in the parking lot for my fellow jacket fans as we anticipate an epic evening of music for MMJ and Levon!!!

You got a problem with that??? LOL JK   :D

[br00ke]

i was in woodstock yesterday .... totally got me even more pumped for the ramble!! be sure to check the temps up there, way cooler than it was here in NYC anyway. warm during the day but quite cold @ night, burrr shiver!!!

also, what with it being peak time for leaf peepers .. woodstock is likely to be more crowded than usual. it was pretty hopping yesterday.

can't wait to see the boys and all of you  :D

[Dodobird]

You're right Brooke. It looks like it is going to be cold and windy next Saturday in Woodstock. It's no fun playing the bagpipes in the cold. It will be a game time decision I guess. Probably will depend on how many drinks I have to warm me up in the parking lot  ;)

Can't wait!

[ynwa]

ooooooh, hat & mittens weather???  it's my favorite kind.  ok, maybe it won't be that cold.  temps run about 7 degrees cooler up there (i've been monitoring the weather in prep for sat.  yes.  i am a dork.).  no worries tho - we will all be doing juuust fiiine.    

br00ke - i'm sure a little bourbon will keep ya feelin toasty.  check your boot  ;)

dodo - probably too cold for a kilt!  and leggings w/ a kilt is just not acceptable.

bold - penny said you guys still don't have a place to crash.  i'm sure you've tried the usual suspects (priceline, hotwire etc) but i just did a quick search: http://kayak.travel.aol.com/r/WbvDFx
there's a couple in a nearby town, kingston (about 8 miles from woodstock), that may be worth looking into.  or if they are all booked, maybe they can offer suggestions for you.  also, maybe try re-calling places to see if there were any cancellations.  let's get this sorted out -i feel nervous for you.  

only a few more days people  :D

[bold992006]

ooooooh, hat & mittens weather???  it's my favorite kind.  ok, maybe it won't be that cold.  temps run about 7 degrees cooler up there (i've been monitoring the weather in prep for sat.  yes.  i am a dork.).  no worries tho - we will all be doing juuust fiiine.    

br00ke - i'm sure a little bourbon will keep ya feelin toasty.  check your boot  ;)

dodo - probably too cold for a kilt!  and leggings w/ a kilt is just not acceptable.

bold - penny said you guys still don't have a place to crash.  i'm sure you've tried the usual suspects (priceline, hotwire etc) but i just did a quick search: http://kayak.travel.aol.com/r/WbvDFx
there's a couple in a nearby town, kingston (about 8 miles from woodstock), that may be worth looking into.  or if they are all booked, maybe they can offer suggestions for you.  also, maybe try re-calling places to see if there were any cancellations.  let's get this sorted out -i feel nervous for you.  

only a few more days people  :D

Thanks...I actually did that yesterday.  Called a bunch of places I already called.  No luck..Apparently nobody is backing out of this stupid Sheep and Wool Festival..lol.

I'll figure it out.

[ynwa]

ooooooh, hat & mittens weather???  it's my favorite kind.  ok, maybe it won't be that cold.  temps run about 7 degrees cooler up there (i've been monitoring the weather in prep for sat.  yes.  i am a dork.).  no worries tho - we will all be doing juuust fiiine.    

br00ke - i'm sure a little bourbon will keep ya feelin toasty.  check your boot  ;)

dodo - probably too cold for a kilt!  and leggings w/ a kilt is just not acceptable.

bold - penny said you guys still don't have a place to crash.  i'm sure you've tried the usual suspects (priceline, hotwire etc) but i just did a quick search: http://kayak.travel.aol.com/r/WbvDFx
there's a couple in a nearby town, kingston (about 8 miles from woodstock), that may be worth looking into.  or if they are all booked, maybe they can offer suggestions for you.  also, maybe try re-calling places to see if there were any cancellations.  let's get this sorted out -i feel nervous for you.  

only a few more days people  :D

Thanks...I actually did that yesterday.  Called a bunch of places I already called.  No luck..Apparently nobody is backing out of this stupid Sheep and Wool Festival..lol.

I'll figure it out.

dang.  now i'm really curious as to what this sheep and wool festival is all about.

fingers crossed that something opens up for ya

[br00ke]

dang.  now i'm really curious as to what this sheep and wool festival is all about.

ya know .. i think i'll just skip the ramble and check out this sheep thing







[size=20]NOT !!![/size]  ;D

[bold992006]

http://www.sheepandwool.com/

there people are serious about their Sheep and Wool.

I'll just ask Levon if we can crash..he will be cool with that right? lol.

[ynwa]

woah - that is some serious stuff!  but look - you can camp there!  and even though it's gonna be chilly, there'll be an abundance of woolen stuffs to keep ya warm.

no sure levon will let you crash @ his place, but ya never know.  maybe sneak it?  remember - it's always easier to ask for forgiveness than permission  ;)

[br00ke]

ummmmm ..... uhhhhhh ..... DAY AFTER TOMORROW  

i plan to grab a couple bottles of wine to share .. could someone bring some extra plastic cups if your already bringing some? i'm staying with a friend in phoenicia and being the urbanite w/o a car .. i'm taking the bus up early to phoenicia (and later getting a ride to woodstock) and i don't want to bring a whole thing of solo cups on the bus if someone could pretty please have an extra?  :)

and just to recap ..

1. ynwa + magic cookie bars (food item for the community table)
2. oistheone
3. br00ke
4. bold992006 +1
5. alexzbik +2
6. wamsankas +?
7. dodobird + 1

for anyone (hopefully everyone  :)) who can make it over to pre-ramble:
Catskills Mountain Pizza Company
51 Mill Hill Rd
Woodstock, NY 12498
(845) 679-7969
@ 4/4:30ish

here's the link w/ info/reviews:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/catskill-mountain-pizza-company-woodstock

they don't take reservations so we'll just have to cross our fingers that we hit it @ a good time.  i'm planning to get there around 4 & will do my best to grab a few tables or seats or whatever.

aaand .. i am told that there are about 8 good choice spots and i think it's the area on the left (upstair) towards the front. apparently the only spot that you can stand / boggie. hopefully we can all tag team that area together.

[ynwa]

ummmmm ..... uhhhhhh ..... DAY AFTER TOMORROW  

i plan to grab a couple bottles of wine to share .. could someone bring some extra plastic cups if your already bringing some? i'm staying with a friend in phoenicia and being the urbanite w/o a car .. i'm taking the bus up early to phoenicia (and later getting a ride to woodstock) and i don't want to bring a whole thing of solo cups on the bus if someone could pretty please have an extra?  :)

and just to recap ..

1. ynwa + magic cookie bars (food item for the community table)
2. oistheone
3. br00ke
4. bold992006 +1
5. alexzbik +2
6. wamsankas +?
7. dodobird + 1

for anyone (hopefully everyone  :)) who can make it over to pre-ramble:
Catskills Mountain Pizza Company
51 Mill Hill Rd
Woodstock, NY 12498
(845) 679-7969
@ 4/4:30ish

here's the link w/ info/reviews:
http://www.yelp.com/biz/catskill-mountain-pizza-company-woodstock

they don't take reservations so we'll just have to cross our fingers that we hit it @ a good time.  i'm planning to get there around 4 & will do my best to grab a few tables or seats or whatever.

aaand .. i am told that there are about 8 good choice spots and i think it's the area on the left (upstair) towards the front. apparently the only spot that you can stand / boggie. hopefully we can all tag team that area together.

i've got the plastic cups all covered  ;)  planning to bring some beers & maybe some sort of hot beverage to share.  *it's going to be chilly and possibly raining.  check the forecast before you head over & dress appropriately!*

re: tag teaming the choice spots upstairs - hell yes.

hands in the middle, team...

[Dodobird]

Loving the game plan!  ;)

I am bringing some beers and water. Will have some solo cups too.

[br00ke]

a friend wanting to give me pointers to maximize our evening ..

It is the upstairs spot on the front left as you look at that picture!!!  standing looking down over the piano keyboard and looking straight across the room at Levon's kit.

So what you need to understand is being early in is your key to that spot and success.  There will be many people who love Levon who want to sit in the front row and not be allowed to stand.  You don't want that.

Do you best to arrive in Levon's driveway no early than 5:40pm - we rolled in around 5:45pm - 5:50pm - what you want to do is try and line in behind cars that may already be in line, we managed to come down the drive way and then pull off to the left in a clearing a little ways before the entrance gate.  you cannot do this at 5:40 - at 5:50 you can get away with it.  

DO NOT GO TO THE GATE straight away - they will turn you back to the end of the line!!  Feel out how close you can get to the gate - without people freaking out - and then wait as the guy walks the drive way and let's you know a confirmed number for your car's entry, at some point he'll walk up to you and say you are car 1 or 3 or whatever.

Get your check in at the gate - after the bracelet is on and the woman says it's ok - get someone out of the car and into the line at the barn door.

Park - bring a trash bag, cooler, ice, plastic cups to make drinks and something to throw on the potluck table if you want.

Once they open doors - go up into the barn and then take a left, towards the back of the room - you will go upstairs - across the room to that rail and lock it down.  Be closer to the front end of the stage on that rail so you can see the guitar players pick if you'd like - vs against the back wall. 8 people can fit across that rail - 4 on the other rail facing.

do not put drinks or over the rail or security will flip - there is a nice deck outside the door where you will be - you can sneak in and out that way.

the shortest bathroom line will almost always be in the kitchen.

and ..

You'll be outside with everyone for an hour while in line... once you are established folks can switch off going back and forth to the car for drinks and stuff - you kinda do that all night anyway.

you do need to at least have one of two people holding your spot, yes and it's so worth it.  not much going on outside besides the fire pit and cig smoking... and drink making.  the barn is so amazing and everyone's so excited once you get in you are in and stoked about it.

at break between MMJ and levon everyone makes a break and goes and hangs outside with stuff left on chairs if i remember right.

[bold992006]

That is a good spot...Also when I was there the people right behind the band overlooking looked like that had a nice view.  My friend also went a few weeks ago and got a spot right next to the horn section and said it was great.

[ynwa]

woah - that's some serious intel, br00ke & bold!  it kinda feels like we are part of a secret ops mission or something  8-)

so exciting!!!

[br00ke]

so stoked for this that i actually dreamed about it last night .... in the dream levon had some other engagement and we were gonna have michael franti instead and i was really disappointed  ;D

[Penny Lane]

so stoked for this that i actually dreamed about it last night .... in the dream levon had some other engagement and we were gonna have michael franti instead and i was really disappointed  ;D

i had a dream last night that Jim got married.

[br00ke]

i had a dream last night that Jim got married.

and by dream you meant nightmare?!!!

[Dodobird]

a friend wanting to give me pointers to maximize our evening ..

It is the upstairs spot on the front left as you look at that picture!!!  standing looking down over the piano keyboard and looking straight across the room at Levon's kit.

So what you need to understand is being early in is your key to that spot and success.  There will be many people who love Levon who want to sit in the front row and not be allowed to stand.  You don't want that.

Do you best to arrive in Levon's driveway no early than 5:40pm - we rolled in around 5:45pm - 5:50pm - what you want to do is try and line in behind cars that may already be in line, we managed to come down the drive way and then pull off to the left in a clearing a little ways before the entrance gate.  you cannot do this at 5:40 - at 5:50 you can get away with it.  

DO NOT GO TO THE GATE straight away - they will turn you back to the end of the line!!  Feel out how close you can get to the gate - without people freaking out - and then wait as the guy walks the drive way and let's you know a confirmed number for your car's entry, at some point he'll walk up to you and say you are car 1 or 3 or whatever.

Get your check in at the gate - after the bracelet is on and the woman says it's ok - get someone out of the car and into the line at the barn door.

Park - bring a trash bag, cooler, ice, plastic cups to make drinks and something to throw on the potluck table if you want.

Once they open doors - go up into the barn and then take a left, towards the back of the room - you will go upstairs - across the room to that rail and lock it down.  Be closer to the front end of the stage on that rail so you can see the guitar players pick if you'd like - vs against the back wall. 8 people can fit across that rail - 4 on the other rail facing.

do not put drinks or over the rail or security will flip - there is a nice deck outside the door where you will be - you can sneak in and out that way.

the shortest bathroom line will almost always be in the kitchen.

and ..

You'll be outside with everyone for an hour while in line... once you are established folks can switch off going back and forth to the car for drinks and stuff - you kinda do that all night anyway.

you do need to at least have one of two people holding your spot, yes and it's so worth it.  not much going on outside besides the fire pit and cig smoking... and drink making.  the barn is so amazing and everyone's so excited once you get in you are in and stoked about it.

at break between MMJ and levon everyone makes a break and goes and hangs outside with stuff left on chairs if i remember right.

Wow! That is some serious advice on how to enjoy The Ramble! That just got me so excited!  :D

This is gonna be an epic evening with MMJ and Levon!  :)

[br00ke]

parking may be a bitch in woodstock (for the pizza spot meet up) .. there is $5 parking off of rock city road if your having trouble finding something. BUT .. just down the street from catskill pizza on mill hill is a sunflower natural foods market that is sorta like a shopping center. if you can get away with parking there and just walk over, that might be the easiest.