wow . . . i posted this at work today for fun, and by the time i get back, there's a quantum going on. here is how attend the birchmere in style, in my opinion only. if it is a show inside the hall, get there when the box office opens to get a good lottery number for getting in. i think it's about five o clock on the days of shows; then go and have a wonderful dinner somewhere and get the drinky drink on, to start the night off right; then, as some have pointed out, birchmere is not in the "greatest part of alexandria" and some cabbies will advise you to call only when you are ready to leave--they never just go to "that part of town"--then other cabbies say those first cabbies are lying; i do advise taking a cab there because the lot is smaller and sometimes they really pack them in, which can be a bitch if you want to leave early; then get there half and hour, or so, before they start to call lottery numbers to be let in and boom.
if you are seeing a show on the other stage, an hour is good to get there before hand . . . and come on, you get there an "hour" before hand; go look around, check out the store, order more drinks, go for the big tables on the right first, sit with anyone, order pitchers, and have a great time. the other stage is better because you can talk and smoke and be rowdy, but for sound con-e-sewers, the main hall is the best buy.
and i still suffer the chances of parking on eighth street to have a close walk to see what i know will be a kick ass, small club venue show at nine thirty. thank you, seth.
and is it me, because i honestly don't know, from only visiting the place about three times, but is the crowd at black cat, black cat, some spare change for the homeless, sort of a bit snotty; you know mate, like skool girl english style snotty, and those damn lisa lobe glasses.
