I'll book a flea spot again, it was a blast I didn't have an issue with "Uncomfortable Sheets"but I'd like to boycott them to support the others that got F'd over . Initially I booked at the Days Inn by the Airport but reading some reviews it has me horrified.

A few exits up is the Comfort Inn, (not Suites) for the price it's the best rated in its price class. I'll consider THE Ramada but will all the pins be SS or will there be 1-2 EM's ?

That makes 5 shows

Never did that but I listened to the dark side of the moon while watching the wizard of oz after munching some magic brownies

Reading Days Inn reviews by the Airport:

BEDBUGS , that's all I had to see and by more than one reviewer.

Ramada is missing a few amenities I get at Comfort Suites ( Uncomfortable Sheets) but after the horror stories in the 2017 thread I'm presently boycotting them. I've stayed there 6 shows in a row, I'm willing to shake the tree if need be. What say other Pinsiders ?

Wimpgate

Anyone have experience dropping a normal 6x12 sized trailer out back behind the show overnight? I think it would be a PITA to tow it around for 3 days

I think I'll find someone who will park in front of the trailer that I can count on, great advice. I keep a motorcycle cable lock through the rims in my yard . Removing the hitch or locking it sounds like the way to go

Part II, now what can I use as a deterrent for people blocking access to my trailer ? Other than caution tape, hey a--hole signs, and DOT traffic cones

I got offered a special rate at the Homewood Suites a few miles south of Uncomfortable Sheets. I’m strongly considering it because it’s cheaper, newer, cleaner, and has more amenities. The reviews on the web are pretty high. I cancelled my reservation @ The Bed Bug Inn by the airport.

Pete, I’m going to buy a no parking sign and modify it to try and deter DB’s from blocking access to my trailer. And I’ll hook up to it early Saturday. I’m ordering a hitch lock from Amazon plus I’ll lock
My rims to the axel with a motorcycle cable lock .

I registered for the indoor flea, I’m avoiding Comfort Shitz and staying further down on 222 @ Homewood Suites (Hilton) newer hotel cleaner, has more amenities. I’m just too F#%*ing old to be up all night playing pinball at the Ramada . Sadly health issues removed my beer drinking days Honestly if this were 20 years ago I’d be all in with the Ramada Team. The VIP lounge at Pintastic was awesome for the DMD crowd I’m thinking this Ramada Inn Event will be as popular!

As soon as 3 or more reviews say dirty or bedbugs Theyre the flock off my list. IMHFO I think The Wingate is the best bang for the buck with fewer cringeworthy reviews At 80$ a night it’s value. Again, I’m treating myself to the Homewood Suites because I like trying new places a shade nicer than The Comfort Shitz. I stayed the last 6 shows at the CS, but I’m boycotting them for reasons in the two Pinfest Threads. And the strawberry waffles sucked last year ! Man they should have stuck with regular batter and had toppings on the side.

Bingo. Bitching is when things don’t go your way. Advice is “stay clear of or hey go here”.
I’m excited about the show and my friends from Texas are coming up. The Hotel do’s and dont’s are here to help people traveling long distances , to steer them in a friendly direction.

A lot of chatter about DMD’s and Ramps, toppers , mods etc.., I don’t give a rats ass about , or the tournament for that matter. I just filter or scroll past those posts.

It wouldn’t be a show without the pretzel wraps in the market and Wert’s Onion straws with a glass of Birch Beer on tap. Their open face Reuben kicks total ass . The Indoor Flea in the second room was pure brilliance by Ivan and his team. Don’t forget to browse all the vendors and flea guys, it’s great show for parts and project pins....and man cave items !

Awesome now all I have to do is find a mint Hearts & Spades on the Madison Craigslist

I locked in my rate in November. Stop by again I’ll have a brownie if your daughter wants one .

HOTEL ! Play the game .. poke

Follow Sir Brad to the “Pin of Misery “

Yes and they are encouraging guest reviews on the other Allentown Thread ! LOL

441C0BC7-0843-4A01-82E4-6CA59067A9D1 (resized).jpeg

I wanna hamburger, no a cheeseburger. I wanna hotdog and milkshake,

You’ll get nothing & like it !

Does everyone know at ~4pm Saturday the pretzel wraps are BOGO ? Found that out Last year .

Hope Bob Adams is in the Flea again guy has some amazing stuff .

71 Days to Pinfest. Has anyone been invoiced for their flea or vendor spot yet? They came early January last year, now we’re approaching March .

Yes but how it works is if you had an indoor spot in 2017 you have first rights of refusal for 2018. On April 1st it becomes a first come first in line available if any of the 2017 flea spot owners decide not to flea for 2018. This was explained to me by Ivan to
Me and how it appears on The Pinfest website.

69A766D5-53D5-4456-8CA0-BBE889FC69CD (resized).png

well as soon as anyone sees an invoice give us a shout

oh boy you need to go to the "other" thread they really like discussing HOTELS

Me and my friend got the flea invoice today Thanks Ivan.

I wonder if the pretzel people gear up for Pinfest week-end. We’re some pretzel eatin’ Sumbitches.

Hope we get good weather and some outdoor flea setups. It’s nice to get outside and take a short break from the indoors.

I've only had one issue and that was 4 years ago. I had just gotten a pin, drove 6 hours to get it. On Friday This Jagov was playing it by violently slapping the flipper buttons, and not being very respectful. When I mentioned this to him, he was unresponsive or unapologetic. Looking back the thing I should have done was to unplug the game until he went away. Other than that, no issues at all. Last year when things didn't function last year on a game, this guy texted me, told me what the issue was, and turned my game off. There are more people like this than the idiot from 2014.

The doors open at 8AM Friday for Vendors and Free Play, you really should have the game set up before noon, when the GP crashes the gate. On Saturday it's a tighter window, the General Public comes in at 9 AM. Thursday after 1 PM is the best time to set up, but a lot of folks cannot afford to take time off from work and make this happen. They are pretty much 8 am on the dot for doors opening on Friday and Saturday from my experience. Ivan runs a great show, he has to have rules in place, but from my experience he is very approachable and will work with Pinsiders who want to bring games. They also have an armed Security Guard walking around and many volunteers monitor the show, I feel comfortable bringing Free Play games to Pinfest. A fellow pinisider reminded me that these games were designed to be played by the General Public, not placed in a home environment and treated like 200 year old parchment paper.

2017 on Thursday they let in the indoor flea and vendors before they let the free play participants. I was inside setting up in the flea and had to wait to set up my free play pin. I didn’t pay strict attention to the exact hour but I was let in just after noon

Which Hotel ? There are a lot of good choices being discussed so feel free to extrapolate.

Anyone up for tilted Kilts Thursday or Friday ?

I had no
Idea but I did call & found out ! Yes they have outdoor seating in warmer months

The bar attached to The Comfort Suites , LINKS, does have a patio with tables. I’ve rolled in late and peeked inside at some trashed folks doing Karaoke. The outside people were even more trashed . That is a 5 Star rating for me.

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g30029-d4763438-Reviews-Linx_Resturant_Pub-Allentown_Pennsylvania.html

Odd request: anyone have a playfield box they’re willing to trade for ? I need to possibly ship a PF to Texas

Yes please bring. I was in spot #20 last year, not sure what spot Ivan will have me in. PM sent

My guess is The Wingate as best value for your money. Comfort Suites was mixed reviews by Pinsiders on the 2017 Thread. I stayed there 6 years in a row but for 2018 I tried a new spot. Quick check on Hotels.com says Comfort Suites is available and not much else as of 4/4/18. Wingate has a few rooms left but only 1 King sized bed

Hookers and Beer and Pinball can’t beat that with a stick !

Don’t forget to add RAMADA HOTEL to your post. Hotel Talk is instantly thumbed up on here. We’re a mere 4 weeks away ... I’m stoked!

He was replaced with a uniformed Woman who was looking for her opportunity to taze somebody.

Wert’s cafe is awesome it’s a few blocks from the back gate. Great food ! As bad as that pizza is inside the door , the snack bar pizza is even more challenging to consume . I’m not knocking it because they have every right to provide quick easy food for patrons. I just prefer a more tasty and palatable version

I had some sour blackberries and some Peanut butter cheesecake that had an aftertaste that required a 2 liter bottle of Lavoris to remove the taste from my mouth. ALWAYS ask to sample first. Bottom line is that 99 % of the Farmers market food is absolutely delicious.

I have 3 food goals for 2018 Pinfest.
Pretzel wrap with steak n cheese
Onion straws from Wert’s Cafe
Awesome Mother Clucker at Tilted Kilts

We’re 8 days away anyone else staying at the Homewood Suites in Fogelsville? I was booked at the Days Inn by the airport then read a review stating bed bugs. I cancelled that reservation faster than a Neptune in high tap.

Friggin gas prices keep rising, glad I filled up before this latest jump. For those pulling a trailer I find the Exxon at Exit 7 in NJ on 78 the best bet with plenty of turn room,

I must be missing something, I went to the Pinfest Home Page and the site map I was unable to locate. I was looking for the vendor locations and the flea market assignments to see where I am assigned this year.

Any help, a hyper link specifically, would be much appreciated.

This is the HOTEL thread of course you should get a room and party at the Ramada! All honesty here 18 hours of driving in one day is possible if you tag team it. By yourself it’s asking for a car wreck. Be safe live to flip
Another day.

Echo the cash sentiment.
Double echo the padding , aka movers blankets, foam, bubble wrap and cardboard. You need to eat up space in the Forester so the game doesn’t shift or get damaged. The cardboard protects your game and vehicle and if done correctly helps slide the pin in. Also a hunk of cardboard under the game before you tilt it forward off the hand truck. Stretch wrap is your friend if you happen to get a pin with a nice original cabinet. Bungee cords always come in handy. Foam over the game should save a window if you have to jam on the brakes or protect your hatch window.

Don’t be in a rush to buy but don’t be trigger shy Be Somewhere in between. People will help you load it’s in our nature. Sellers as others have stated have hand trucks with them.

Good luck hope you and the wife enjoy the show and find a pin priced fairly.

No man, You gotta go Stretch Wrap, this is a pinball thread.

Only by a few cents if you stay on 78. Up a few miles on 57 it's 10 cents cheaper. I just paid 2.769 in Manchester, CT..

yeah is that Canadian or US Currency? 3.93 Canadian translates to about 3.07 US.

Still better than the bed bugs at the Days Inn . Jeebus I’m glad I’m paying extra for bug free linens. BTW if Comfort has the strawberry waffle batter again AVOID IT.

Putting E track in my trailer was worth the time and effort. I ordered my tracks and straps from U-Line , good to deal with.

I wonder if I can get off exit 7 on 173 and pick up
22W and avoid that mess , sounds like exit 3 is already too late .

We’ve had everything else why not combine a few things. I’ll say it again Wert’s cafe is some real good food and beer on tap just a few blocks from the back gate . Those sour berries from the market last year turned my ass into a Wagner Power Painter . Buyer beware.

There were 3 Flipper pools there I had one in Free Play Friday and then in the flea Saturdsy

My 2 cents. Ramada bar staff needed Mydol . Folks who like to raise a little hell and play pinball all night don’t forget Pintastic end of June. Lots of games kid and alcohol friendly. If you get the right pass or have met the X Games for Free Play, you go to the private party room full of great titles it closes ar 6 AM. There is a bar right outside the Free Play room and you can drink inside without being hassled: the hotel and show are one in the same. Next to the show is a liquor store, no DUI just saying.

Looks like 2 deals went sour, this is a Pinfest thread and calling each other out is best kept in PM’s. What about a deposit , it’s just that, cash is king. A handshake used to mean something but I guess now it’s an E-shake .

I had a great show but had vehicle issues that were just bad luck, chit happens,

Food and Lodging review, comments, don't read if not interested.

Any pinside reviews of the Wingate? I'm looking at the buffet pic and I do not see a waffle maker. Also I saw it was a merging traffic nightmare to get into the unlit entranceway to the hotel, not a positive in my book. But it got good cleanliness reviews and it was 20 bucks cheaper than comfort suites and HIE. I stayed at the Homewood Suites in Fogelsville, about 3 miles up the road from the Wingate. Breakfast was ok,not as good as Comfort., Interesting on Saturday the breakfast meat was thinly sliced Kielbasa, pretty good actually. It's not the Taj Mahal, but its a step up from Comfort in size and cleanliness, just too far away for my liking.

Local food, had a pretzel wrap, steak and cheese is by far the best one. Wert's open faced Reuben is a $hitload of food, I finished it but holy crap. Love the mouth watering fried onion straws, but you need 3 people to finish that huge basket They have white birch beer on tap, a step up from standard Root beer. They closed early on Thursday @ 9 PM, so don't fart around heading over there. Had the spicy mother clucker at Tilted Kilts. Basically its a buffalo chicken sandwich, pretty tasty. The kilts on the girls are extremely short. The beer on tap selection is wide, very impressive.

Check out Gottlieb's Astro. http://www.ipdb.org/showpic.pl?id=99&picno=20769

The goal of the game is to spell out S T A R T R E K. These games were made before all the licensing BS started and the lawyers and greed set in.

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