Hi all, Need a bit of help from ya'll on the side of things from me Two cohorts and I will descending upon DC on Sunday evening (1/18/09), be out and about the District on Monday and Tuesday with us boogying out on Wednesday AM (1/21/09). I am looking for lodging for the three of us during this time. I understand that all the hotels nearby are full, however I have some friends in that industry working on that. I appeal to you, the inmates because I hear that folks are renting rooms in the area. Are any of you? Know someone? Floor space and a chance at a bathroom once a day? Cool... The three of us all walk upright generally and typically have full control of our bowels too! A reasonably clean bunch we are and lots can vouch for me here - the other two, well... Why would we come to D.C.? Yeah, I wonder too Well, we have the unique opportunity to vend our tees at Obama's inauguration - a relevant event for our current tee design So, we're in the panning phase of putting this together Thoughts, tips, insults, etc are all welcome! Thanks in advance to the Collective
But... Circumstances beyond a kind inmate's control has led him to have to retract his most generous offer. So, still looking! Not looking to freeload and willing to compensate our host. Whatcha got?
We are looking at RV options as well. Should anyone have or know if a little space to park for a night or two - no hook-ups needed...
There are camping areas all around DC, but not within walking distance. You would need to rent a car or bring a your scoot. That being said, I work for the Feds, have a lot of inside information, DC will be shut down at approx. 10 PM the night before the event. Unless you have a pass you will not get through the check points. I for one am leaving the area, it's nuts in town when 750,000 to 1 million people show up for a protest for the IMF or World Bank. I can not fathom the estimated 3 - 5 million that they are predicting to hit the mall. If you really wanted to peddle your shirts you should have gotten a permit from the DC Govt / Park Service a long time ago, then you would have had the needed pass to get through the check points and parking for your RV.
Thanks a ton for your input! We are in the process of permitting (along with everyone else.) Amazingly, the vendor permit applications were only released recently - their postmarked deadline is 12/26. You mention that DC will be shut down @10pm. This is good news as DCRA has mentioned that vendors (badge holders) may have a load-in period that evening. This was one of my concerns and was leading em to consider pulling out of this even if there was going to be gridlock and no conceivable way to load in our merchandise to our booth. Our rough plan of action at this point would be to arrive in the DC area Monday the 19th so that we can get our booth set-up. I suspect one or more of us will be sleeping there as well for security? At that point we assumed we would take the RV back to its spot and then grap mass transit very, very early in the am to avoid the crowd and to begin staffing the booth for the day. From there we were flexible as to load-out as feasible, as well as departure.
We have definitely thought of that, or any other lot for that matter. We are not looking for, nor will we need hook-ups or anything even remotely posh.
I do wish you well, but having worked in DC for a long time... There are at least 9 types of police downtown and they are extremely by the book. They have to be. IF IF IF you have the permits for vending and if they allow you to do so, I'd plan to drop off everything on the mid-19th including sleeping bags. Metro is expecting to have long lines form for the inbound ride, at or before when they close the night before. You're probably not going to be able to sleep in your RV and just pleasantly ride in on Metro in the morning. If I were you, I'd try to have a driver ditch the RV after drop-off, then re-join you, and all just sleep where you are selling. This is IF the police will allow vendors to sleep, because they already repeatedly broadcast that they will not allow the public to sleep on the mall the night of the 19th. (btw- the homeless who normally sleep in the immediate area being moved out.) Not already having vendor permits is a huge problem for selling downtown. DC cops do bust unlicensed vendors and confiscate. I've seen it, it's not hear-say. I do wish you well, but I'm going to guess you're already in trouble because you say you don't already have the permits and the DC gummint is abysmally slow even in good times. Alternative idea? Arrive a day earlier and spread your people to sell out of duffles or big back-packs at the Metro station entrances until told to leave, then move to different ones. VA & MD still want permits (and taxes) but seem to be easier going on vendors who show up.
Thanks a bunch for your input, it is appreciated. At this point, we anticipate being issued permits but it is unclear whether we will be chosen in the lottery for one of the prime vendor zones DCRA has laid out or if we will be in one of their "overflow" areas. We will not come if we are unable to be permitted, the risk and logistics will just be too great for us to expend the resources based on an uncertain return. DCRA has not issued ANY permits for inauguration day vendors, and ours is inthere with everyone else so we are in as good of shape as can be (and as everyone else is). Your thoughts on sleeping there with the merchandise at the booth is my plan as well. I cannot imagine that security for vendor's merchandise will be adequate. You have a good point and I have been unable to get a response yet from DCRA as to whether sleeping onsite will be acceptable. if it is not, perhaps we just "loiter" or "set up" all night i am working with a few folks to sub-let who also have room for a rental box van to be parked. i am leaning toward that now. Drive it in to unload and as you said, have one of us three drive it back to our lodging while we set up where it will stay for the duration until we load up. Do you have any info or thoughts on how quickly DC will empty out and loading up the booth will be possible? Thanks again for the input.
pm, maybe you have seen this already: http://washingtondc.craigslist.org/doc/rvs/968839578.html good luck
thanks dentvet I have kept on a whole bunch of these, but overlooked this one it seems. Thanks for the tip!
Although I despise the president SELECT obama ....If you can make a buck off of him you are welcome to tent/RV on my property. I am about 2 hours away from DC though :) Shoot me a PM if you need a last resort. I'm near the intersection of Interstate 85 and 95.
Thanks I am with you and wasn't particularly enamored with either candidate. But, like you said, if an opportunity presents itself... I will keep your offer in mind as this comes together more.
I am an hour away on normal days. On that day I will be many hours away (travel time, not physically as I will be on Penn ave that day), but I have a 50amp electric service on my garage and a place to dump if you need it. My RV is the guest house/in law suite when we are not at a race, so I can unplug it for yours if needed. You can also look at PWC Forest, they have a few campgrounds and are 25miles or so from DC. Which on that day will also be a few hours drive time. Welcome to DC. http://www.nps.gov/prwi/planyourvisit/camping.htm
Thanks GoGo We officially pulled the plug on our excursion yesterday. The logistics and risk just do not make sense with DCRA's timeline for information/etc. We'll have to hook with with Barry another time Thanks again to all your input. It was helpful, but in the end it is proving difficult for all vendors to plan accordingly due to DCRA. Thanks again fellas
Welcome to dealing with the DC govt. I know a gal who lives in DC and registers her car in Va where she ends up paying more in taxes but it is worth it since she does not have to deal with the DC govt.