Community Stories

Mid-Atlantic Get together was awesome

JwRosenthal
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I just wanted to thank all that attended this year’ get together. Last year we had 5 in rural PA, this year we had 13 member, 3 spouses and a brother (and the brother attended the last one and has some fun watches so he’s an honorary member now). We had members come from as far away as New Jersey and Virginia so this was truly a Mid-Atlantic gathering.
The food was excellent, drink was free flowing (we all drank responsibly) and we had a private room so we didn’t sweat prying eyes and could roam freely.
This was a group effort (from members and spouses) to coordinate and host and I want to thank those that helped make it happen.

I also want to note that 3 spouses attending what would normally be a sausage nerd-fest is huge! Seeing as they support/tolerate our ridiculous hobbies, it is only appropriate that they are an integral part of the community, I hope we see more spousal/partner engagement at future events. Plus all three of the spouses that attended were wearing some pretty bad-ass watches themselves.

I only have the big group watch shot on the bar (standing on a chair), please- those that attended today, post some pics you took today. I know there were plenty of watch shots taken today.
And I hope our raffle winner will share a pic of his incredibly rare prize.
B260A9AD-D4A3-4AFA-AAD6-0EE522707B82.jpeg B2B1DA7A-B524-4A5A-9AA1-F32F741FED65.jpeg 64F47DF6-1DB2-4D68-B4F8-6F89B46D2B32.jpeg C5B2B649-4F64-4D83-A21A-CB3D3A536A7F.jpeg 8501CE5C-3B94-44C5-8BFE-974FABDC5451.jpeg
Edited:
 
BlackTalon
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x3 -- great event! Big thanks to everyone who planned and organized. The tree is going up right now and the new ornament will be one of the first hung. My son has already raided the candy bar stash.
 
vintage hab
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Great time and great to meet folks in person. We all got to see some pretty amazing watches. Some of them were even “rare and minty”.
 
LesXL
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Damn, that seemed to have been nice... We need a European version!
Mid Atlantic... I thought, who would organise something in the Azores lol
Great collection there!!
 
JwRosenthal
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vintage hab vintage hab
Great time and great to meet folks in person. We all got to see some pretty amazing watches. Some of them were even “rare and minty”.
There was some minty fresh abound! I chose to not be the asshole wearing a Rolex to an Omega event like last time- thankfully Mike took that honor today.
 
Dsloan
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Thanks so much to everyone who organized the event. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. This was the first time I've ever done a real life meet up with internet acquaintances. I must say, everyone was incredibly nice, humble, and it was super cool to just nerd out with everyone.

And, the swag bag was such a nice touch - my kid already ate the candy and hung the ornament, lol.

I didn't take many pics, but I'm pretty sure I want a flightmaster now (sorry, Mr. flightmaster owner. I forgot what your forum handle is, otherwise I'd credit who I borrowed it from!).

PXL_20221203_180845760.jpg
 
Jonathan40
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Dsloan Dsloan
Thanks so much to everyone who organized the event. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. This was the first time I've ever done a real life meet up with internet acquaintances. I must say, everyone was incredibly nice, humble, and it was super cool to just nerd out with everyone.

And, the swag bag was such a nice touch - my kid already ate the candy and hung the ornament, lol.

I didn't take many pics, but I'm pretty sure I want a flightmaster now (sorry, Mr. flightmaster owner. I forgot what your forum handle is, otherwise I'd credit who I borrowed it from!).

PXL_20221203_180845760.jpg
Easy to guess who brought that. Who organised the swag bags? That was a lovely touch.
Lovely to read about things like this happening.
 
JwRosenthal
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Dsloan Dsloan
Thanks so much to everyone who organized the event. I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. This was the first time I've ever done a real life meet up with internet acquaintances. I must say, everyone was incredibly nice, humble, and it was super cool to just nerd out with everyone.

And, the swag bag was such a nice touch - my kid already ate the candy and hung the ornament, lol.

I didn't take many pics, but I'm pretty sure I want a flightmaster now (sorry, Mr. flightmaster owner. I forgot what your forum handle is, otherwise I'd credit who I borrowed it from!).

PXL_20221203_180845760.jpg
And you made me want an Autavia officially- dibs when I get my windfall
 
JwRosenthal
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Jonathan40 Jonathan40
Easy to guess who brought that. Who organised the swag bags? That was a lovely touch.
Lovely to read about things like this happening.
Swag was a group effort. My wife Hannah made and decorated the ornaments (getting those hanging watches in there wasn’t easy), Greg got the mugs and candy I used my eBay powers for good and not evil to procure the bags (those are indeed old OB gift bags) and the raffle prize which I hope we will see soon.

Oh and we had a few lawyers there today so step off Omega if you are planning a cease and desist for us using the logo- it was in honor of the brand.
 
gbesq
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It was really a great afternoon and certain to become an annual event. And of course I bought another watch (insert eye roll HERE). Just want to thank everyone for coming and everyone who contributed to organizing the event. My new Omega ornament will be the first one on my tree. And here’s a group photo of some of our Mid-Atlantic OF members who made this such a fun day!
5C3FEEEE-725F-4160-A723-693A1C26E86B.jpeg
 
Dsloan
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
And you made me want an Autavia officially- dibs when I get my windfall

Noted. And, you made me realize how much I would love to pick up original devil diver.
 
Jonathan40
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gbesq gbesq
It was really a great afternoon and certain to become an annual event. And of course I bought another watch (insert eye roll HERE). Just want to thank everyone for coming and everyone who contributed to organizing the event. My new Omega ornament will be the first one on my tree. And here’s a group photo of some of our Mid-Atlantic OF members who made this such a fun day!
5C3FEEEE-725F-4160-A723-693A1C26E86B.jpeg
You really were in the basement😀 Security aspect covered.
 
gbesq
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Jonathan40 Jonathan40
You really were in the basement😀 Security aspect covered.
We planned carefully and covered all the bases. 👍
 
JwRosenthal
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Jonathan40 Jonathan40
You really were in the basement😀 Security aspect covered.
Sadly that wall had the best lighting for the group shot- the place was far more comfortable.
 
abrod520
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So would have loved to be there! Unfortunately it’s very difficult to make a December weekend work as I’ve got some birthdays in my circle in addition to the holidays. But I’ll be keeping a keen eye on announcements for next year’s 😀
 
Dsloan
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JwRosenthal JwRosenthal
Sadly that wall had the best lighting for the group shot- the place was far more comfortable.

Next time, break out the large format camera for some banquet photography! Then again, maybe a dimly lit cell phone snapshot is better for anonymity.
 
JwRosenthal
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Dsloan Dsloan
Next time, break out the large format camera for some banquet photography! Then again, maybe a dimly lit cell phone snapshot is better for anonymity.
I contemplated bringing the Leica SL2 and Profotos- but then that would have increased the overhead for the event to cover my day-rate 😉
 
gbesq
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For our non-US OF members, the Mid-Atlantic region of the US has great cities, terrific food, interesting people, varied topography and rain, clouds, drizzle, rain, clouds, drizzle, and rain, clouds and drizzle. We call it the Mid-ATLANTIC region for a reason.
 
JwRosenthal
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gbesq gbesq
For our non-US OF members, the Mid-Atlantic region of the US has great cities, terrific food, interesting people, varied topography and rain, clouds, drizzle, rain, clouds, drizzle, and rain, clouds and drizzle. We call it the Mid-ATLANTIC for a reason.
And can’t forget ice, freezing rain, ice, freezing rain- random blizzard, ice, freezing rain on top of blizzard for extra fun!
 
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