> +1 to meet before the first slot, but I fear that we'll end up by not taking > a beer together! :-) We can meet at the end of IOUG Happy Hours, 8pm, and > seek a pub close to Howard St. (Never been at SF, I rely on you for good > places) don't worry about that, there are plenty of opportunities to be social and meet for drinks. And even before that, you can join to bridge run and/or the swim in the bay: http://portrix-systems.de/blog/brost/stay-in-shape-during-oracle-openworld-2013/ After dark, there are a ton of parties and events (last year, I attended 2-3 different events each night) which can be a bit stressful. The best way to meet up spontaneously is through twitter. Plus, many usually end up at the same bar(s) and get together at the end of the night. Usually the W hotel. So don't worry about having drinks, that will happen anyway and does not need any planning. cheers bjoern