San Juan Capistrano Swanking - Sunday, July 13th
 

I am planning a swanking to San Juan Capistrano. My friend David lives right downtown near the Mission and has offered to open his beautiful house to us for a Margarita Party before or after our journey. There are lots of things to see and do in SJC and I'm sure David will add some of his favorite delights to our agenda.

Now, all we need to do is pick a date. Possible options are listed in the poll. Please choose which dates sound good to you (if you are interested in attending)

This sounds like so much fun.....I'm pretty sure I can do any of the above dates, so just count me in!

Ditto - this is has been on my to do list forever.

Hmmm, I can't take any time from work, technically until July 21st, but if you end up picking the 19th and I can get a flight down. I'm a definite maybe!

Ooh! I've long thought we should do this! And just to tempt anyone who's never been:

There is a pretty decent Mexican restaurant in SJC called El Adobe. Richard and Pat Nixon used to dine there frequently and their special chairs are still at what was their favorite table. Susan and I got to have dinner one night at that table. Aren't you impressed?

Bill and I were just there!

Sounds like fun!!! I voted.

Can I also invite Ricky and Lu (they live in Oceanside)?

What about Fred & Ethel? The live in the apartment next door.

I am!

Awesome.

I'd love to see Rick & Lu...I'm sure everyone either knows them or will get to know them quickly. They are great guys!

I heart them, too. Why aren't they swankers?!?!?!

Absolutely invite Rick and Lu!

My god! A swanking that is literally less than a mile from our home. Pass the smelling salts. ;)

You all are the ones doing the traveling so you should set the date. But there is an extremely good chance that we will be able to participate. And I can provide any info on the area that you may need.

Oh, and while Nixon may have dined at El Adobe, their favorite Mexican place, which still has entrees named after them on the menu, is about 2 miles away at a place called Olamendi's. Outstanding food. There is also a very swanky little bar called the Wind and Sea in Dana Point Harbor, which is only a few blocks away. They offer a Mai Tai that has a similar effect to a horse tranquilizer. $4 each during happy hour but there is a three drink limit due to their potency.

Anyway, if anyone has any questions, feel free to ask.

Thanks, MBC. I may talk to you more about the options after we set a date and I finalize things with David. He's got a good sense of what is fun to do in the area as well. He doesn't post here, but he's a pretty swanky guy - very interested in art and is an architect IRL.

Oh, of course. And, truth be told, I'm not as swanky as some might believe (Gasp!). :D

Still, I have lived in the area for the better part of 20 years so if there is anything I can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask.

San Juan Capistrano Swanking - Choose prefered date(s)
 

Not sure since i work most weekends and gas prices the way they are. We're one of the few who live very far away. If we could carpool with someone. I've already asked for a few days off in July and August so not sure i can ask for anymore sorry if CM gets a ride with someone he can go.

I call BS! Jazz musician, creative spirit, all-around-cool-guy... that's as swanky as they come.

I'll have to figure out our calendar and get back to the thread later, btw.

None Of Them !!!

Bah, Humbug.

No one is telling you that you can't attend. :p

I voted for either Sunday. It sounds like fun.:)

OK, We're going to go with Sunday, July 13. Mark your calendars and we'll get the details worked out soon.

Calendar marked!

Oh bummer. It's unlikely that I will be able to make it because it's my friends bday. But I totally forgot to vote. My fault.

Will be following, just in case.

YEAH! We successfully snubbed BTD.



Wait... was that my outside voice?

Welcome to the club BTD!!!

Ooh! So jealous! This swanking sounds like fun. As all of them do... bah!

I am going to start working Saturdays again soon, so I'm glad this is a Sunday! I've never done a mission tour before....unless the Alamo counts. Did you know there's no basement at the Alamo?

:p

I didn't vote, so you had no way of knowing ;)

I also didn't say for sure. I said most likely.

Thank you!

Yes, yes I did.

I think.

Where is my bike, anyway?

We might be able to go. Would anyone like to carpool with us?

Yes I did. We toured the Alamo a couple of years ago when in Texas.

WOW! A joke even I get!

Huh?

While there may not be a "basement," I did discover a "well" indicating there is some sort of "subterranean " space underneath the Alamo:

So you've been to that restaurant also?

Thinking of taking AmTrak to San Juan...anyone else?

I think I might take a Swallow. But should I go for African or European?

(I'm so happy I could make this joke in a NA-started thread)

Dear Not Afraid,

Where is Pastrami-Sans-Jalapeno anyway?

Is it near anywhere that Bear and I will be so as we could go see even a bit of its whitewashed broken adobiness (tm)?

Or should we not try to cram the Pastrami-Sans-Jalapeno into our already tight agenda?

Please advise - enquiring minds want to know...

Love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX.

The Pastrami -Sans-Jalapeno is not very far South of Disneyland (35 miles?) and would make for an easy day trip for you from Anaheim. There ARE other things to see in So Cal besides Disneyland. ;)

Bear - Bear !!!

Ms. Not said we can get to the whitewashed adobiness (tm) place and that she would buy us a Margarita and a pinata shaped like that lady you don't like at your work !!!

Love and hugs,

The Stoat XXX.

Besides being not too far south of DL, it is also not too far north of the giant boobies with the red flashing nipples.

Broken link.

I fail.

One who tries does not fail. Failure comes in not trying.

There is no try: only do or not do

Was that Yoda or Mr. Miyagi? ;)

It was Bob. Bob the philosopher.

Is there a difference?

Between them, no. But they are no Bob the Philospher.

I have this urge to visit a swamp then wax my car.

Oh no... this means I gotta do something else besides Disneyland..... :rolleyes:



...I can't resist when he gets excited about something....

....I think I'll go start another thread.... :evil:

Is this swanking still happening?

Turns out we can't go. Work party that I don't want to attend but absolutely must attend. Grrrr.

I won't be able to make it.

Have fun y'all!

I have to wait and see what the Mouse has planned for me....not sure yet.

Still happening. Details to follow. Sorry for the delay - I haven't been on line in 5 days.

We're out, too, but have fun!

I'm still in!

We might be able to. Depends on how tired we are from the Labyrinth Masquerade the night before.

Probably there. Unless I die or something.

OK guys. We've got a schedule together:

11-12:30 pm Sarducci's restaurant in the train depot.

12:30-1:30 pm Los Rios Street (the oldest neighborhood in California) and petting zoo around the corner. There are some little house museums and boutiques, but it's not a very long street

1:30-2:30 The Antiques Barn and walk along Camino Capistrano downtown, there are a couple of shops, but again only a couple of blocks long.

2:30-4:30 The Mission. Probably best to split up to see the Mission then meet at the gate at

4:30 Where we'll head to the Casa De David E's for a BBQ.

How does that sound?

Sounds wonderful....I hope the Mouse let's me attend!

Since I'm doing Traditions on the 11th, it's not a very good possibility, or so I've heard.

I am skeptical of imaginary people.

Is this David E, David G, or David Q?

Only 2 hours to see the whole mission?

And only 1 hour in the Antique Barn??? :eek:

That's about 55 more minutes than I will need!

They way they've been scheduling lately, you may be alright.

Fingers crossed...I'd really like to do this swanking!

From David E
 

I am looking forward to meeting everyone in SJC. I have finally posted a little bio on my welcome thread (Lounge Lizard/Welcome David E). Thanks for all the welcomes from everyone that doesn't know me! (Thanks Lisa for posting the schedule info I refer to in the welcome thread as well).

About time you posted, lurker.;)

So it looks like I will be joining the fun through the mission tour. Then I have to split as I'll be driving up to L.A. to get some sleep before catching a plane to Seattle at a gawdawful time of the morning.

CP may be able to show up and take my place in time for the BBQ, depending on how she feels and how we work the logistics of me getting to LA.

Hey, I just wanted to drop in and wish everyone a good time. I would have joined you if I weren't out of town that day. Have fun, everyone!


(And report back as to whether David E. is real or fictional.)

So, can we do a final headcount on who is going to be there? I can't keep track.

We're still a maybe for now. Will know for sure in another day or two.

Dang I could spend about three days in the Barn alone, and have long wanted to take hubby there, but we're booked. That's what I get for temporarily leaving the loop I guess. Ogle farm implements for me please!

I call dibs on the hoes!

I'm in until dinner - I have to pick Maddy up.

I'm about 75% there.

Count Susan and I as a "for sure."

I was thinking of looking into train service down there (out of Fullerton). Probably wouldn't save time or money, but it would be fun to take the train

Where's the other 25% going?

I'm a maybe for the first two activities, after which, I'll have to depart for work.

I'm going to try to hook up with the group after Sarducci's and stay at least until the mission. I might do the mission but will likely miss the BBQ due to a gig that night. Matthew still doesn't know his work schedule for that day, but will in the next couple of days, so he is iffy.

I am a no-go. A birthday event has me occupied all weekend.

I'm planning to come.:)

I just checked the Amtrak Schedule for Sunday and it looks like it would be pretty easy to make the round trip. $12 per person per segment, so for Susan and I it would be $48. While driving would be cheaper, I think the train might be fun!

Since Sarducci's in right in the train depot, it won't be a problem there. The only question is how far is David E's place from there? Is it something we could walk?

All of the mentioned activities in SJC are walking distance. You can drink on the train and re-fuel anywhere along the way.

If it turns out that most people can only do earlier activities, we can come to my house for a summer patio drink after lunch and then onto the rest. This would take less time than the BBQ, which will not be cancelled, but which is already looking like it will have less people.

I am open to whatever the rest of the world wants to do. It is looking like we will be doing the train. Now to decide whether to arrive at 9:48 or 11:00...

Well, I am in a bit of a quandry about the BBQ. I have these 3 week old kittens that I rescued that are living on my backyard and being bottle fed by me. I have a pet sitter coming over at about 3:00 to walk the dog and bottle feed the cats, but I shouldn't be out too late.

I'll be there through the missioning. CP is a maybe as a late arrival for BBQ if it's still on.

Just cuz I am curious, I went back to do a summary of the yes's/maybe's. Here is what I found. Let me know if there is an error, additions, or updates:

1. Not Afraid - Yes! (but may need to skip BBQ)
2. €uroMeinke - I assume yes, but don't know
3. lindyhop - Yes!
4. Kevy Baby - Yes!
5. GusGus - Yes!
6. Disneyphile - maybe
7. Frodo Potter - maybe
8. katiesue - Yes until dinner
9. Bornieo: Fully Loaded - 75% of him will be going. I am not sure what the other 25% is doing
10. Morrigoon - There until about 1:30
11. Motorboat Cruiser - Los Rios - Barn. Maybe Mission
12. Matthew - Possible depending on work schedule
13. Ghoulish Delight - Yes through Mission
14. Cadaverous Pallor - BBQ only (if happening)

I'm a maybe....waiting on the Mouse.

I'd love to go, but Bill has gotten back into his "let's clean the garage" mood. He insists we spend this coming weekend doing that.

Hopefully, it will be like last time - we'll spend a couple hours moving things around until he gets tired, and then we're done. :rolleyes:

Ok, postpone! (That's my recommendation, since I can't go this weekend ... and want to meet David E. more than I might to meet the cuddly Pope in heaven so we can dish on the ghastly Pope now in power.)

Well, we're not going to postpone, but we may change things around a bit - schedule-wise. We've got quite a few people leaving early and it is a "school night" so we're not going to do a BBQ this time, but just drinks and nosh after the Mission.

So, the new schedule looks like this:

11-12:30 pm Sarducci's restaurant in the train depot.

12:30-1:30 pm Back to David's for drinks


1:30-2:30 Los Rios Street (the oldest neighborhood in California) and petting zoo around the corner. There are some little house museums and boutiques, but it's not a very long street. Then we'll swing by the Antiques Barn and walk along Camino Capistrano downtown, there are a couple of shops, but again only a couple of blocks long.

2:30-4:30 The Mission. Probably best to split up to see the Mission then meet at the gate then.......

4:30 Where we'll head back to the Casa De David E's for a drinks and nosh (but no BBQ - too few people going to be there and it's is seems like something that will go too late for a school night.).


The Mission has an admission charge of $9, so keep that in mind.

All of these sites are within easy walking distance of each other, but no stilettos please (that means YOU Kevin).

Anybody else taking the train?

Yay, I get to meet David E!

If I'm going, I'll be taking the train.

I'd love to take the train, but there are no stations near me.

This kind of fashion restriction is going to be very hard on Kevy, to be sure!
Is the bunny suit, okay if it's a warm day?:evil:

Come meet us at the Fullerton Station and we'll train-pool :)

Or take the Blue-Line up to Union Station and then pick up the Pacific Surfliner from there (that's the train we're taking). Unfortunately, there are no stops between Union Station and Fullerton.

Thanks for considering the school night implications. Everything fun is past my bedtime.

I considered taking the train until I realized that the time it would take me to drive to Fullerton could be better spent driving directly to SJC.

Then there's my memory of the last time I took that train. Many years ago I was attending a mommy and me class with the kid and the group decided to take the train from Fullerton to San Clemente to give the kids the train experience and the beach experience. There were about 30 moms with 30 three and four year olds. Imagine what it was like when we all got back on the train that afternoon, cranky and covered with sand. You have no idea...:eek:

I don't know where you live, but the train (the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner) actually stops at Union Station. It originates in San Luis Obispo with stops in Moorpark, Simi Valley and a couple in the SF Valley.

I was looking at the schedule. It even stops in Glendale - an awesome little station less than ten minutes from our place...

We're out. Bill is being a poopy-head.

The Mouse says I can't come out and play.....hopefully another time.

So, has the updated schedule been altered at all or is it still accurate?

One thing I might suggest is that the barn is a pretty big place. Squeezing that in, along with Los Rios Street and the petting zoo, in the confines of an hour is perhaps a bit ... ambitious. :)

I can't make it. Sorry, have fun!

5 at Ortega, looks easy :)

I think I'm going to be taking the train :)

It's going to be a very interesting couple of days for me, a leisurely day of riding the train sound like a sensible way to start. Much better than the hours in the car that I was faced with.

I'll be up bright and early for a train around 9AM. It'll get me down there early, but that's the only train that stops at Orange Depot. I'd have many more options at the Anaheim station, which isn't far, but catching a train at Orange Depot has been on my list since we moved here, so early it is. I'll bring reading/listening/expressing material.

I'm excited, see you all there. :tiki:

We had a change of plans! But only for the afternoon... so we can join in for the shopping and mission portion but then will have to depart. Looking forward to it!

My view is that I am showing up at Sarducci's and then just rolling with whatever.

Oh hey, I was looking only at the Pacific Surfliner. There's also a Metrolink train that'll get me from Orange to SJC that doesn't get me there as early and is half the price. Score.

I'm in Long Beach so techinically I could do that Blue Line to Union Station route you mentioned up above somewhere. I could even catch a Long Beach bus at the end of my block to the Blue Line Station (if I had three hours to kill.) But I'm always out late on Saturday nights and I want to sleep in on Sunday morning to the last possible moment. So I don't even want to add the Fullerton to SJC leg. I'll drive.

I thought Metrolink didn't run the weekends - glad you saw that.

Are you planning on taking the 9:30 train (654) or the 10:08 train (859)?

The Metrolink added weekends recently. What's also nice is that you can bring bikes on both Metrolink and Amtrak. This means Little Italy and Gaslamp or Balboa Park in San Diego.
I have been meaning to bring my bike to Orange since that stop was recently added to Amtrak. From SJC station, you can bike to Doheney Beach on the bike trail in 20 min. Just a thought for another day.

As was mentioned, the train between OC and Long Beach doesn't make much sense. Although downtown SJC is right off the 5 fwy., it's pretty close to PCH. If you haven't taken the Coast for for awhile, you might consider it, just allow maybe a half hour extra.

I take the train to San Diego every summer. Its a great trip when it's not crowded. On the way home it's usually around dusk and the sun setting over the ocean is wonderful. Great ride.

Oooh, a bike day sounds great! Let's put that on the future swankings list :)

9:30, give myself plenty of time.

Actually, I wouldn't recommend that. I'm constantly traveling up and down PCH for gigs. And now that summer is here, it can be very congested between Newport and Dana Point. Last weekend, just getting from Dana to Newport took me almost 2 hours. Perhaps things will be lighter on a Sunday morning, but if it were me, I wouldn't chance it.

We may be later than expected, due to an excellent error in judgement when the ocean swallowed my eyeglasses. I have to get some sort of eyewear before we come down, because oherwise I'll be useless.

And we missed the Annual Moon Amtrak event by one day

GD is on the train right now - he sent me a text. I'm rather jealous of his train adventure. I've never taken one out here. However, I still have a work gathering that I must attend. You guys have fun :)

Dang. I saw a bunch of campers and picnic chairs along a fence in Mission Viejo n the way down and wondered about that. Must have been the remnants. Oh well.

I'm at the SJC station waiting for everyone to arrive.

Have fun everyone!

I scored a gig for later this afternoon, so we couldn't make it. :)

By a "quirk" of fate, I was back from Vegas at 8:30 this morning ... and could have gone to this afterall - if I had remembered, and if I'd had any sleep the night before.


Fun? Pictures? Stories? Mission Dish!

Thank you DavidE for a wonderful get-together. I know we were only supposed to be hanging out at your house for a short while, but the heat was too high, the drinks too wonderful and the yard too pleasant. I appreciate the gracious hospitality of you and your lovely wife (and Emma!). We had a lovely day and, some day soon we may even get to see the Mission! I guess we need to visit SJC again.

Yes three cheers for DavidE!!!

Thanks to David E and especially his wife who let him host a party with people he had just met on the internet. Fabulous time, maybe someday we can do the Mission?

Here are a few of my photos of the day

Yes, wonderful to see everyone (or at least those that dragged themselves out of bed. iSm...cough, cough)

David, pleasure to meet you. You have a beautiful home. Thanks for the hospitality and yummy beverages!

:confused:

Ooh! I like GD's porn mustache!
:D

Cool pics!

"Shoo-be-doo-be-doo... exchanging glances... shoo-be-doo-be-doo..."

Many Thanks to David E and his lovely wife Emma! A grand day to be sure.

_____________


You know you are in trouble when NA is in charge of knowing where to go:




Hmm... I don't seem to recall this part of the day:

You must have not been paying attention then :D

Three cheers for David and Emma. They were amazing hosts. And quite the cocktail makers. From brunch to petting zoo to cocktail hour(s) at their lovely abode, we had a wonderful time in SJC. Next time, to the Mission we go. Perhaps on a cooler day...

I was there and I am wondering how I missed the petting zoo at their home. Sounds like I missed some of the fun...

Psst. Emma is the dog.

That is a horrible thing to say about David's wife!!!

There's a mission there? Oh yeah, just something we forgot to do.

Many thanks to our wonderful hosts. It was a fun day.

Let me try this again:

Three cheers for David, Reagan AND Emma. They were amazing hosts. And quite the cocktail makers. From brunch to petting zoo to cocktail hour(s) at their lovely abode, we had a wonderful time in SJC. Next time, to the Mission we go. Perhaps on a cooler day...

My apolgies for leaving Reagan off the "thank you" (I refuse to admit that I referred to David's wife using the dog's name. REFUSE! Of course, if that is what I did, um, well, I blame the Pimms!)

So, you guys didn't go to the Mission due to the heat?

Yeah, the heat. We'll go with that story.

:p

Ok, I heard about the bunnies. Now I'm freakin' jealous.

Fun. Yay.

Thanks to David, Regan, and Emma. Stellar hosts, as mentioned. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I did have a great time. When I'm not at work and exhausted I'll post my pics.

We drove past the mission. Does that count?

We had a mission...

I blame the Pimms!

...mmmm Pimms

We had a real good time with y'all. It was our pleasure having you and we look forward to future swankings.

It took you a week to come up with that? :p

Maybe he has this delusion that one can still have a life AND post on LoT.

We need to get his priorities straightened out.