NoVa OC Picnic this Summer?

[SouthernBoy]

First, the thread title is NoVA Picnic, not NoVA, Richmond, Roanoke, Danville, and Bristol.

Second, them people from Richmond get kinda uppity about NoVA being Yankee territory. Having our picnics up here tends to weed out those hypercritical personalities.

That is certainly true, but at least one well established reside of our state capital has expressed an interest in come up so I just thought I would throw that out. No harm done.

Yes few do "kinda uppity about NoVA being Yankee territory" but can you blame them. It is a true statement since this area has been infested with so many foreigners (read that as non-indigenous persons) that there are perhaps less than 25% of us who are natives and of those, many have been brainwashed with so much anti-Virginia and anti-South rhetoric that one would be hard put to count them as true Virginians. I have lived in the DC metro area for my entire life (67 years) and I have seen huge changes in the dynamics and demographics of this area. There are still a few of us who carry that spark in our chests. I am one and I'm sure a bunch more reside on these forums.

 

[VApatriot]

I might be a little biased, but I wouldn't mind sticking with Burke Lake Park.

 

[Citizen]

That is certainly true, but at least one well established reside of our state capital has expressed an interest in come up so I just thought I would throw that out. No harm done.

Yes few do "kinda uppity about NoVA being Yankee territory" but can you blame them. It is a true statement since this area has been infested with so many foreigners (read that as non-indigenous persons) that there are perhaps less than 25% of us who are natives and of those, many have been brainwashed with so much anti-Virginia and anti-South rhetoric that one would be hard put to count them as true Virginians. I have lived in the DC metro area for my entire life (67 years) and I have seen huge changes in the dynamics and demographics of this area. There are still a few of us who carry that spark in our chests. I am one and I'm sure a bunch more reside on these forums.

Good! Then I'm sure they won't mind if we don't bring no furriners south for a picnic! Guys like Tex1n, IanB, myself, a couple Asian Americans... We'll just keep all us non-native Virginians up here.

 

[Citizen]

Bump for exposure.

 

[stickslinger]

My wife and I enjoyed the picnic two years ago, but for a variety of reasons the idea didn't come up last year.

Prime picnic season is still a couple months away, but I figured that it might be a good idea to start thinking about it now.

Anyone else up for a picnic? There are a variety of parks that we could use that would be fairly easy for everyone to get to.

I'm in. What are we lacking?

 

[grylnsmn]

I'm in. What are we lacking?

Right now? Pretty much everything. We need a place, a date, and then start pulling together a list of items/food to bring. I started the thread to first gauge the level of interest.

To start discussing dates, I know that I'm not available any week in May, but June or the first half of July looks good for me. August is likewise available.

 

[Tess]

What about Memorial Day Weekend?

I'd be willing to pay for us to have a reserved area at a park, with the "who's bringing what" model we've used in the past. My daughter will be visiting and would like to do "an OC something".

My only concern is that participation would be low because others have traditions for that weekend.

What say you all?

 

[Citizen]

I agree about low participation on Mem. Day weekend. I probably couldn't make that myself.

Maybe mid-to-late June before the summer heat sets in?

 

[Bob1]

I'm in if I have no scheduling conflicts. Hopefully the date can be nailed down soonest.

Memorial Day and July 4th weekends are out for sure. Hopefully nothing else I can't get out of.

Not a native Virginian, Paul (SB).

 

[grylnsmn]

I'd be willing to pay for us to have a reserved area at a park, with the "who's bringing what" model we've used in the past. My daughter will be visiting and would like to do "an OC something".

My only concern is that participation would be low because others have traditions for that weekend.

What say you all?

I have a friend's wedding that weekend, so I'm out. I'm also out the last weekend of June for another wedding (this one in Illinois). I'm good any of the other weekends in June or early July.

 

[bob888]

Just to keep this thread (and idea) alive, I'll throw out these dates: Saturday June 8 or Sunday June 9 would be good for me.

Also, I am willing to bring items to the picnic, both utensils and food.

Perhaps we can make this thread a sticky?

 

[JohnM15A]

I'm good for 6/8 or 6/9. I can bring nearly anything, just let me know...

 

[grylnsmn]

Just to keep this thread (and idea) alive, I'll throw out these dates: Saturday June 8 or Sunday June 9 would be good for me.

Also, I am willing to bring items to the picnic, both utensils and food.

Perhaps we can make this thread a sticky?

Sundays are bad for me, because both my wife and I have a lot of responsibilities at church. Saturdays really work better for me.

 

[user]

1) most folks didn't like the beans - too much vinegar, not enough like the "boston baked beans" sweet molasses thing people are used to; Maybe I'll make some bobby-queue instead.

2) burke lake park charges five bucks for people who don't live in the county; my suggestion is fountainhead regional park - also easier to get to from pr.wm.co. (either 123 N to Henderson Rd or over the bridge at Yates' Ford Rd (rt 612) and through Clifton to Henderson Rd). I, myself, get to S. Fairfax Co. by way of Manassas.

 

[Citizen]

1) most folks didn't like the beans - too much vinegar, not enough like the "boston baked beans" sweet molasses thing people are used to; Maybe I'll make some bobby-queue instead.

2) burke lake park charges five bucks for people who don't live in the county; my suggestion is fountainhead regional park - also easier to get to from pr.wm.co. (either 123 N to Henderson Rd or over the bridge at Yates' Ford Rd (rt 612) and through Clifton to Henderson Rd). I, myself, get to S. Fairfax Co. by way of Manassas.

If the venue ends up being at Burke Lake Park after all, I'll pay your five dollars just to get a crack at your next baked beans. Mmmmmmmmmm!!!!

 

[Tess]

Having organized this thing a couple of years, I recommend someone pick a date and start the RSVP/who's-bringing-what list. There's quite a bit of lead time needed to herd these cats.

 

[grylnsmn]

1) most folks didn't like the beans - too much vinegar, not enough like the "boston baked beans" sweet molasses thing people are used to; Maybe I'll make some bobby-queue instead.

Too bad for them. It just means more for me and mine.

2) burke lake park charges five bucks for people who don't live in the county; my suggestion is fountainhead regional park - also easier to get to from pr.wm.co. (either 123 N to Henderson Rd or over the bridge at Yates' Ford Rd (rt 612) and through Clifton to Henderson Rd). I, myself, get to S. Fairfax Co. by way of Manassas.

According to Burke Lake Park's website, the fee is now up to $10 per non-resident car on holidays/weekends. For that reason alone, I'd argue against Burke Lake (even though I'm a resident).

If we want to reserve a picnic area, Fountainhead will charge $85 for a half day or $130 for the full day. Some other options would include:

Ellanor C Lawrence Park
5040 Walney Rd. Chantilly, VA 20151
$70 for all day

Braddock Park
13451 Braddock Rd. Clifton, VA 20124
$70 for all day

Levelle Dupell Park
6812 Newington Road, Lorton, VA 22079
$70 for all day

Hidden Pond Park (and Nature Center)
8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield, VA 22152
$55 for all day

Lake Accotink
7500 Accotink Park Road, Springfield, VA 22150
$85-350 for all day, depending on the shelter

There are a variety of other parks with picnic shelters we can reserve in Fairfax County.

Personally, I like Hidden Pond the best, for a couple reasons. First of all, my son loves the nature center there (and they've never had a problem with me OCing). Second, it's the cheapest cost to reserve. (I'd be willing to cover it, although I wouldn't mind any donations to offset the cost.) Third, it's generally a beautiful park with a substantial amount of shade, a decent playground (for the kids), and some nice trails in case you want to go for a walk. It's fairly centrally located, and doesn't charge for parking/admission to the park.

Thoughts?

 

[Tess]

In the past, we didn't bother to reserve an area. Just show up. One member volunteered to show up early (I forget -- 9 or 10 am) to stake out our area for us.

.

 

[moriar]

You can put my wife and I down,

Maybe I can get her to OC aswell... Well i think pigs will learn to fly before she will do so.

I can bring food, hamburgers

 

[Citizen]

You can put my wife and I down,

Why? Do y'all have distemper? They got shots for that now, you know.