Buca 2011
What's this, only 4 months to go and no one is talking about the Thursday night Buca di Beppo feed?
I'M SSOORRYYY!!!! 
My job has been running me ragged. 
I have my registration and room, just need to get my Amtrak ticket and I'm all set. Meanwhile, let's get this party started. :hug: For those not in the know, we gather together in front of the Westin on Thursday night. Our purpose is to take a leisurely stroll of about 1 mile to the local Buca De Beppo eyetalian eatery to partake of noms and to generally talk and make friendly. We leave about 5:30 pm, get there about 6:00 pm, eat things till we're almost full, then head back in time for the dances and mixers. 
This will usually cost about $20 per fur, but that will include drinks and dessert. So, start leaving your names here on this post line and I'll try to keep track. Also, if there are any quetions, you may leave them here, too. Be talkin' to ya.
i thoroughly gorged myself last year and had a blast, you can definitely count me in!
I would be honored to join you if i can get to the Hotell in time.
enjoy
The menu looks satisfying and since this will be myself and my friend's first time to AC this'll be a great opportunity to meet a bunch of new friends. And we should be getting to Pittaburgh around 3 so this'll work, count four more furries in. That is assuming the underage croud can go (only two of us are 21, the others are 20 and 19)?
All ages are welcome to attend Anthrocon, of course. Parental supervision is required for those 12 and younger, and parental permission forms are required for those 13-17. at 18, you are considered a full adult as far as Anthrocon is concerned.
er, Chiaro, he was asking about the age requirements to go to the Buka dinner, not AC
Whoops! Sorry. Reflexive answering. I swear if you cut my head off right after I read a forum post, my fingers would still be able to type out all the benefits of Pre-registration before I stopped moving.
Greetings, Mollie!
That is assuming the underage croud can go (only two of us are 21, the others are 20 and 19)?
Buca di Beppo will cheerfully serve their fine italian fare to anybody who walks through the door, regardless of age - provided they have money, and pay their share of the bill, of course!
Oh cool FangFox, I guess we're the same age 
. Also thanks Chi, I actually already knew that but it's nice to see people being so informative. I was just mainly wondering if it was a 21+ dinner, although I had figured it was all ages welcome. In that case I can't wait to go and I look forward to meeting you all!
Yes, indeedy. All ages are welcome to join us for Buca. We do have some sangria with the drinks, but we make sure only the adults imbibe. Otherwise, we could be banned from returning. And I think that the others would kill me if that happened.
I forgot to check the meetup time and missed the opportunity last year. this year, I'll be more on top of the schedule for the time that we leave. I might have a friend tagging along as well. I'll know that when the semester ends.
Count me in.
Just a quick bump. See if anybody else is interested. Still have two months to go.
Count me in, I went the past few years. I may even try and bring a few people as well.
I should be there, as well! I'm all disappointed that I missed the outing last year and would love to join in this time around.
Okay, let's hear from some more Furs that like italian. so far the list is:
Me
Rivercoon
Fangfox
Corax
Aurius
Nexusfolf and 3 friends
Feltheridan
Hypr
Soba
I'll be making the reservation on the Monday prior. Still plenty of time for some others to join us.
oh sweet they got fried calamari 
haven't had a good plate of that since like, high school (real italian italian teacher.......still can't remember most of the language though ^^;) anyway, count me in ^^
I'll be happy to meet you guys at this place if that's okay. I'll arrive in Pittsburgh early Thursday morning on June 23rd. Still no idea on what I'll be wearing on my first night in Pittsburgh, maybe my Boston Blazers uniform? 
Ah, found the thread! Count me under the 3 friends of NexusFolf planning to come =)
I have one question. Would it be possible if I leave Buca immediately after I'm done eating? The reason I am asking is because I would like to help out setting up for the art show at the con, and I want to put in as much time helping out as I can that night.
you may certainly leave at any point you feel like. We don't keep anyone there any longer than they want to be. I personally am an assistant director for the art show, so I know exactly how much work we have to do. Still, it's nice to take a break and stuff your gut. There will always be more work!
Yeah Joatmon, but you bust your butt all day making sure the carpenters set up the panels correctly, so you deserve a break! R.I.C.H.A.R.D., seriously, don't sweat it -- I want people to enjoy the con too, besides you probably shouldn't walk back from the restaurant alone, it's rather far.
Yeah, PeterCat was telling me that you were the assistant director for the art show. I'll still go to Buca with you guys, and after my meal, I can rush back to set everything up for the art show. I want to experience as much of AC as I can. (It's my first time going and I'm SUPER pumped for this!) At the same time, I'd also like to give a helping hand.
One of a few Assistant directors for the art show, actually. There are usually at least 2 or 3 on staff each year, so that we have enough senior staff to spell each other and let petercat go have some fun.
As for working...sunday afternoon and friday morning are also times when we're more than happy to have a helping hand. We're happy to have volunteers almost anytime we're open(and if we don't need you, it's likely that some other department will), but those are particular crunch times for us. Once the schedule comes out, just look it over for times when you don't see anything you desperately want to go to. Those are ideal times to drop by ops, smile, and say, "Hi. Is there anywhere i can be helpful?"
Im interesting in going tho am curious why the light rail is not being used instead of walking.
This will be my 1st year attending Anthrocon so i'd be more then happy to go granted my ride gets me to my hotel in time.
Also when would the time of the meet be again? I'm looking through this forum again but cant seem to find it.
We gather in front of the Westin at about 5:15. We start heading for the restaurant at 5:30. Takes about 20 minutes for the walk, depending on the speed of the walkers. dinner usually takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. I bring copies of the menu along, so people can start picking what they want to share. This place is a family style foodie, which means big portions that everyone picks from.
Is there still time to add a friend of mine to the list of people going?
We will gladly let people join us right up to the time we start heading for the restaurant. I usually reserve for a few more furs than I have listed, for just such an emergency. Plus, while we're standing around waiting for everybody , I hold up a sign that says "BUCA". If anybody asks, they're welcome to join us.
My name is on the list but please add Dingo too. The puppy will be there again this year!
im going to consider this outing, i need to talk it over with my mate first because were supposed to celebrate our anniversary that night
Congrats on your anniversary! I'll be celebrating my 20th while stuffing bags Wednesday night.
thank you and im sorry you have to stuff bags during your anniversary
alright well i talked this over with my mate and weve decided to come with to bucca, so count us in please!
I'll bring some friends here, Mako, Alkane, Danny Dingo, Flow, Kokuei, and Shawn Drechlin, and possibly Sateva , I am unsure if they will all show or not, things can change very quickly at AC
And me of course--Anthrocoon... I should have checked this earlier.
The Buca tradition began when we are at the Adams Mark. Actually I think in the second and final year of Valley Forge (2000), Joe Ekaitis
had suggested it to me and I didn't know much about the place, but we decided to try it beginning in '01 or '02. At that time we had to drive
9 miles from the beloved Adams Mark to Jenkintown (that location is no longer there!) and it was maybe 4-5 furs. It would expand to 12-14 later. The one yr we were in downtown or Center City Philly, we walked to the location (just under a mile) and then starting in 2006 when we moved to Pitt., we moved to the Station Sq
location. Again it is one mile and usually it's not overly hot or raining--usually a nice walk to build up appetite, then work it off on the way back. You could also drive (there is parking; fee) or take public transit (I think there's a light rail station at the corner of Wood St. and Sixth Ave. (WOOD ST.)
and take it to STATION SQUARE. From there it's a very short walk. I do encourage we all go together in the big walk, but if your paws are tired
you could take the light-rail back, maybe. No idea how long a wait for the next train.
As said above, great food, great time, and very affordable. Thanks to Joatman for doing this list from year to year. We usually get about 2 dozen furs or so? They put us in a big room, two long tables.
Joatmon said he will pass out sample menus but if you're curious go to http://www.bucadibeppo.com and take a look at the menu
by clicking on the STATION SQ.--PITTSBURGH location. Walking en masse is fun and it goes by very quick. Usually the weather is
great and there's that wonderful moment when you approach the "Mon" river and see Station Sq. across the Smithfield St. bridge.
What we do is walk down Liberty St. and take a left at Smithfield St.--going by the Golden Palace Chinese place on the latter street--
and when we cross the river we take a right into the Station Sq. area and it's easy to find. If you're taking light rail you get off at Station Sq.
stop and you'll see the whole complex (look toward the "point" where the three rivers meet). As said above, it's family style so we agree on
some plates and share. Salad, garlic bread, pasta, chicken, meatballs, seafood, etc. Pitchers of soda, wine/beer (for those of age), desserts.
Hopefully procione* won't be on the menu
*--er, Italian for "raccoon"
http://www.furaffinity.net/full/2490243/
Pic by Hypr from last year; I am over the Holy Father's right shoulder and Joatmon is over His Holiness' left shoulder. We were in the Pope Room
I'm interested.
Mark me down for 2 - I'll be bringing a friend.
corax here. please put me down for one. as long as i can get to Pitsburgh in time
thank you
Thanks to everyone whose reaponded so far. We seem to have our biggest group ever. so far the list is:
Rivercoon
Dingo
Fangfox
Corax
Aurius
Nexusfolf & Kavi & 2 friends
Feltheridan & 1 friend
Hypr
Mako
Alkane
Kokuei
Shawn Drechlin
Soba
Coyoty
Slegiar Dryke
R.I.C.H.A.R.D.
Inugirl731 & 1 friend
Anthrocoon
Kataklysmos & 1 friend
Liyoht
ZR Pizza Guy
I'll be making the reservation on the Monday before the con. I'll put the final count up here, then. There's still time for others to join in. I kinda wonder what the biggest room is in that place? I'll have to call and find out. Maybe we'll have to get two rooms. We'll see.
YES. I am -definitely- down for some Buca love action again this year. Sign me up, Thursday at 5 is perfect for me. Looking forward to it! ^^
wow we are gonna have a heck of a huge crowd going to bucca
So that looks like 27-29 or so? There's the poss. one, two, or three can't make it at last minute...or some may be added. The reservation number
should be pretty accurate, though; in the past we've had about 24 or 25 or so. Two big tables--poss. of Pope Room. But yes we may have a record high number THIS year.
This is MADNESS!!!
Due to economic recession and budget cuts the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off, we're sorry for the inconvenience.