2024 National — pre-war dinner event -- thank you to you all for coming and to REA!
 

Updated Thursday 7/25: thank you to attendees and to REA for a generous contribution towards tonight's event!

Updated Thursday 7/25: see last post for traffic hints!

Updated Wednesday 7/24: Headcount is in, we'll be checking RSVPs at the door, thanks!

Updated Monday 7/22: Last call for RSVP! We need to finalize the headcount! Thanks!


tl,dr: RSVP for a Thursday night (6:00 pm start) pre-war collectors dinner at the National!


Hi everyone,

While there's no N54 dinner this year, a couple friends and I have made arrangements to host an evening gathering for pre-war collectors at the National.

There's no charge for this event (all food and drinks are free!), but we do need you to RSVP so that we have a proper headcount for food and drinks.

Our private space at the venue has both indoor and outdoor space, so folks can easily mingle and hang out.

There will be a buffet of burgers, hot dogs, chicken quarters, mac and cheese, grilled vegetables, and fruit salad. Dessert will also be served.

There will also be an open bar with beer, mixed drinks, and soft drinks.

Please PM me or post here if you'd like to attend!

The venue is only 8 minutes from the convention center.

Location:
The Aviator Cleveland
20920 Brookpark Road
Cleveland, OH 44135

https://aviatorcle.com

Date:
Thursday, July 25th

Start Time:
6:00 pm


Cheers,
Steve

Steve, Sounds like a great time. Thanks for putting this together. Put me down for 2 please.

Thanks!
DJ

Put me down for 1 and thanks for doing it, Steve.

.

Put me down for 2 as well. Many thanks for hosting this, Steve.

Put me down for 1. Thanks, Steve!

Burl (Justin Burleson)

Thank you so much, Steve. I will be there.

Phil

Steve,
I'll be there.
Thanks,
Andy Cook

Thanks for setting this up! I'll be there plus 1.

Mac Wubben

Sounds great, Steve. I will be there +1. Thanks for putting this together.

Andrew

Keep those PMs and replies coming!

Looking forward to seeing everyone -- we're just a month away!

Thanks for doing this! I plan to arrive town sometime Thursday (driving from St Louis) and hope to make it in time. Looking forward to it!

Mike

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Put one down for me.

Thanks

Lee

Put me down for x1 please and thank you.

Ben Fisher


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I’ll be there!

Thanks, Steve

-Don

I will miss this, but I can't thank you enough for doing this. I know the logistics behind one of these events can be time consuming.

Looking forward to it
 

Looking forward to it

I cant be there this year, but very cool of you to organize this. Hopefully there will be a 2nd annual next year!

Thanks, everyone! It's shaping up to be a fun event with lots of wonderful people.

Daniel and Drew, I hope you're able to attend National next year as well!

Cheers,
Steve

I'd like to attend the dinner event.
This will be my first National.

Put me down for 2 please.

Jimmy Davila

Before I say put me down for just myself attending, can someone advise the distance from the I-X Center?

4 miles.

It's an 8 minute drive from the I-X Center, and there's plenty of parking. $11 on Lyft right now, if you aren't driving.

Hope you can join!

Thank you.

Put me down just for myself.

Answering a clarifying question --

YES, all food and drinks (including alcohol) are FREE.

The goal is for pre-war collectors to have a great time interacting.

Hope to see you there!

:)

Cheers,
Steve

weekend
 

Steve, this what I normally go through in a weekend...Jerry

Jerry, Pappy isn't on their list of liquors, but if that's what I need to do to get you to Cleveland, I'll bring some myself. :D

:D:D:D I won't be at The National, but am I to understand that since you are stressing the pre-war aspect, that we post-war guys would be seated in the corner and forced to wear some sort of 'Topps Era' dunce caps at this event? :D:D:D

Sounds like a great event, thanks for hosting it. Put me down for 2.

I would hope so! :):D

it's the cardboard cross we bear. :(

1952. “Post-war tailgating”
Hanging out in the parking lot drinking beers and talking Topps cards, usually in conjunction with a large convention and often outside a pre-war gathering.

:D:D:D

PS - Come to National, would love to meet the author of the Collectorisms Dictionary.

Put me down for 2 please.

This is perfect timing. I just logged into this account that I made awhile ago because I need to make some pre-war friends. My wife is sick of hearing about the cards I look at and pick up 😀. I look forward to being more active on these boards over the coming month and to meet some people in person.

- Greg

Wow This sounds fantastic

Sadly I will miss it

IF some one can send me a Virtual Cheeseburger Extra pickles it would be appreciated :):):)

I’m in for 2.

Thanks for doing this.

I will be there (just 1). Oh hell yeah !!!
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Steve, thank you for putting this dinner together. Please put me down for 1. I have room for 3 people if anyone needs a ride to The Aviator from I-X or a hotel near the airport. It's my first Nationals. Looking forward to it.
Doug Gaither

Welcome everybody! Looking forward to seeing familiar faces as well as new folks!

Doug, you'll have a great time at your first National, and Greg, this is a great opportunity to meet those friends who will spare your wife from having to show interest in your cards.

Jeff, virtual cheeseburgers sound like some type of NFT, and I haven't figured out how to order those yet. :)

Looking forward to it!
 

Looking forward to it!

Dinner
 

Steve,

I may be a hit and run but I will try my best to be there.

I should be in town by then. Put me down for one

Please put me down for 2....thanks for the invitation....sounds terrific! Michael

Giving this a friendly bump as we're looking to round up a headcount soon for the venue.

Looking forward to seeing everyone there!

Cheers,
Steve

Hi Steve............Please add me to the list for 2, as my son will be traveling with me to his 1st National. Thanks!!

Matt

Thanks, Steve, put me (Spike Glidden) down for one.

Put me down for 1.
Benjamin Jordan

Please add me +1. One friend I will see there may be interested.

Thanks for doing this Steve.

Can you please add me + 1 to the evening?

Safe travels everyone.

Thanks so much for putting this together - put me down for 2 please!!!!

Thank You
 

Please put me down for three. It sounds like a fantastic opportunity.

Dinner Event
 

Put me down for 4 people total. Thanks, Bill

Steve: I will be there along with two others who are also Net54 members Doug D and Taylor S so put me down for 3 and thank you!
Larry

+1
 

I will attend, thank you for the Invite, Clifford Franklin.

Sound fun. Put me down for 2. Thanks!

Name Tags
 

I suggest having paper nametags to put on so folks (like me) can know who everyone is, because I can't remember names for the life of me.

and a card...

This is what the dinner party might have looked like a few years ago....

national event
 

Great thanks .. Ill be there -- just one Darrell Fletcher

Good idea leon on the name tags ... large font too !

I’ll be there, thx Steve!

We will definitely have big name tags for folks should they want them. :)

Looking forward to it!

Last call for RSVP -- we need to finalize the headcount this afternoon!

Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve!

I'd love to attend, if there's still room.

Thanks for organizing this!

Al

Dinner
 

Thanks for hosting. Please put me down for 2. Thank you

Thanks, everyone, we're going to have a great group!

I'm going to look into have a slideshow of cards on the giant TV at one end of the room. Just to help along discussions and viewing -- if anybody would like to send some of their favorites, I'll include them!

I'll send out direct messages asking folks for photos as well...I doubt everybody is rechecking this thread. :)

Someone get some videos, so we can get a look atcha all. :)

2024 National — Thursday, July 25th — pre-war collectors dinner event! -- LAST CALL!
 

I am sad to not be at the National this year. I will start making plans to attend next year. I would really enjoy a prewar card gathering!


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I hope you guys enjoy, but after a morning MRI followed by a meeting with the doctor, although I am going to the show, I will pass. Also, Friday would have been my parents' 71st anniversary, my late middle brother's birthday and my nephew by way of my sister-in-law and oldest brother. I also have a rule against sleeping over in towns I can drive home from. I only violated it at the last Ohio National because I had two friends traveling to the show the Friday of that week. On Friday I may go back to the National and then to Fremont/Ballville, Ohio to pay respects at the gravesites of my parents and middle brother. My mother's family dedicated an acre of land in the 1800s for the cemetery.

I would like to attend.

I’d like to RSVP for 1 please. Thank you for hosting.
Scott

RSVP +1

thanks!

RSVP+1


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Thanks everyone, see you tomorrow! Enjoy the show today and tomorrow.

Cheers!

HELPFUL HINT FOR TRAFFIC:

Traffic leaving the show was a nightmare yesterday.

To get to the Aviator, go out the WEST EXIT on the back side of the convention center.

Stay in the right lane all the way to the right. Don't wait in line to turn left.

DO NOT TURN LEFT.

Set Google Maps to "avoid highways" and go the back roads. Go the back way to the Aviator.

The venue will be prepared for us, and we will be checking the guest list.

Thanks!

have fun
 

Have fun guys...Jerry

We are on! This is not cancelled -- another event at the same location was cancelled.

Come have fun! Lots of folks are here!

Thank you Steve for setting this up! I (we) had a wonderful time. Great to meet so many people and put faces with names.

What an awesome event. A huge thank you to Steve for his incredible generosity. The food was amazing and it was great to sit and talk with fellow collectors
It made the 8 hour drive worth it.

Thank you to everyone for coming -- we had over 80 attendees, and I hope that everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did!

A big thank you to REA as well -- they provided a generous contribution towards tonight's event, and we all appreciate it! :)

Cheers,
Steve

Had a great time, Steve. Thanks for doing it. And thanks to REA for helping out!
.

Thanks Steve it was a great time!

https://i.imgur.com/QXVizhxl.jpg

I had a ton of fun.

Thank you Steve and REA.

The food was incredible but the people were better!

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...aee622646f.jpg

Steve, thanks very much for putting this together. Thank you to REA as well. I had a great time. The venue was very nice, the food was great, and it was awesome catching up with old friends (and meeting some new ones). Highlight of the show for sure!

Great work and great event, Steve! Enjoyed chatting with everyone, including your folks working the front door entry list. :-)

Left-to-right, Taylor and Doug of OBC, LuckyLarry, Anson Whaley (PreWarCards), and me.

Many thanks to Steve and Brian/REA for hosting this dinner. It was fantastic!