Hey everyone -
I didn’t know exactly where to post this, and if it’s out of line or anything, please remove it.
As you may know, I’m from Virginia Beach, VA and am one of original founders of the Hampton Roads Reef Club (HRRC). A couple of the members of HRRC started the Mid-Atlantic Marine Aquarium Society (MAMAS) and they have put together what they are calling their “Fall Frag Fest”. The date for the event is October 19th (Saturday) and will be from 10am to 5pm and it is in Virginia Beach.
MAMAS has been talking and coordinating with vendors from up and down the East Coast and they plan on having over a dozen different vendors, LFS and speakers at the event. From what I’ve seen so far is the entire thing is already “verbally booked” for all vendor spots - but so far the following vendors have signed agreements and will be there - keep in mind this list is going to grow:
1.) Pacific East Aquaculture - www.pacificeastaquaculture.com
- Dr. Mac will be there and will be speaking
2.) Zoanthids.com - www.zoanthids.com
3.) Aquaholics - www.aquaholicsinc.com
4.) Exotic Reef Creations - www.exoticreefcreations.com
5.) Aznnutty’s Saltwater Connections
6.) Aquacare - www.aquacareonline.com
7.) Jason Fox - www.jasonfoxsignaturecorals.com
8.) Atlantic Sea Farms - www.atlanticseafarms.net
9.) AJM Reef LED - www.ajmreefled.com
10.) VAquatics - www.vaquatics.net
11.) Reef Dynamics - www.reefdynamics-va.com
12.) Reef Deep Aquatics - www.reefdeepaquatics.com
They are in talks with John Coppolino as well as Jason Fox (Jason Fox is confirmed!). One of the LFS owners from Richmond is good friends with Julian Sprung and he said he’d talk to him about coming as well - all of these guys are not confirmed though.
Since I have to go down to Virginia Beach about once a month anyway for work, I’m going to try to swing this while I’m down there. I make the drive all the time so it’s no big deal to me - but - I can understand the situation for the local folks here.
I can keep updating this thread if anyone’s interested in it, and again, if this violates any rules or anything, please feel free to remove this post and let me know.
Thanks for looking!
Oh - I forgot to add - Tickets are $5 at the door. Kids under 12 get in for free.
No violation at all - please continue to post updates.
Thanks - I appreciate that.
As details continue to roll through, I’ll update this thread.
Apparently as of today, the event is booked up with more vendors wanting to get in - so the main display booth into 4 so they can accommodate more vendors - see above for additional confirmed vendors.
Wow, sounds like its a big event. Do they have a website?
This is MAMAS’s website is here:
http://www.mid-atlanticmas.com/
It’s being updated but since the guy running the show (Ben) he’s juggling like 4 or 5 websites at the same time trying to keep them updated.
If you want additional info, you can check out these websites as well - they’re going to be updated quickly - or at least more often that what I can do.
Again, as I see the info - I’ll pass it along and if there are any questions - please - let me know. I know Ben and Tom (the guys who started MAMAS) and I can probably get whatever info you need.
But - you can check out www.hrrc.us (you will need to register (free) to get into the club’s forums) and you can also look for “into the blue” on FB. It’s an off-shoot local club / chat room down there.
Obviously - the big turn-off’s for you guys would be the drive (approx. 4hrs from Middletown), gas, etc. and the toll at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel. It’s $12 to go across one way, but if you return within 24hrs, I think they cut it down to $6 as long as you keep your receipt.
Carpooling is the way to go for this one - and the willingness to basically spend a very long day away from home.
first post updated - almost a full house.
Full house now. Steve Tyree’s gonna be there as well as Joe Knows Coral.
It sounds like a kick butt frag swap but I can’t handle the LOOOOONNNNNGGGG trip to and from. Let us know how it was when you come back.
I’ve done that drive hundreds of times probably over the past 20 years. To me it’s such a mundain drive, I hate it. Time wise, it doesn’t bother me.
If anyone’s really interested in going, we can carpool and split costs. We an leave around 6 or so in the morning and be there around 10:30 or 11. Some of the other LFS are going to be there already but there’s a couple of them that aren’t, which are pretty decent places. We can hit those too during the day then come back later in the evening.
If nobody wants to go, I’m just gonna go down there the night before and stay with a friend, then just putter around the next day and come home.
The only way I won’t be going is if there’s something here that I need to do that I can’t get out of.