The Annual 4-20 Gathering - 20th April 2016

[Lemming]

The Four-Twenty Gathering is all about tradition so we have to have the traditional thread and countdown.

Here's the official announcement:

Wednesday 20th April 2016 is Four-Twenty Day!

This will be the 11th Annual Gathering of specifically ACD Forum members in Amsterdam.
I thought the 10th might be the last because Amsterdam is not the destination it used to be.
While the rest of the world, especially USA, is liberalising, the Netherlands seems to be closing down.
Nevertheless, although we may never repeat the massive gatherings of 2009, 2011 and 2012, we still have a group of hardcore stoners going for it so I'm going to make my annual pilgrimage to join them.
FBN of Menus and Who's in Town fame is joining us this year too.

In fact FBN has already started a thread for the Gathering that has been running for a while: here
and some of us are already listed on FlyByNite's Who's in Town


Why 4-20?

The origins of 4-20 are the stuff of legends and discussed elsewhere on this forum.
Suffice to say it's a time, 4:20, as in twenty past four, now firmly associated with marijuana, especially in America.
In American shorthand, the 20th of April (20/04/14 in Europe) is 04/20/14, so it's 4-20 Day!

(Wikipedia: 420, 4:20 or 4/20 (pronounced four-twenty) refers to consumption of cannabis and, by extension, a way to identify oneself with cannabis subculture.
The notable day is April 20.)

History of the 4-20 Gathering

2005
Soon after the ACD sprouted a forum in March 2005, Old Hippie Dave posted details of meets he'd arranged around 20th April 2005.
It seems that he and others on the Channels forum had been celebrating 420 day in Amsterdam for a few years.
After the event he posted this: Old Hippie Dave's video of 4/20 2005.

2006
In 2006 AzLaker helped to organise a band of ACDers to join the Channelites in de Kuil coffeeshop (420 cafe) on 20 April 2006.
The following day Old Hippie Dave held a "Vapo Party" in Amnesia.
Reports: Old Hippie Dave's video, OHD live report part 1 and part 2, Lafe live, Lemming, AzLaker part 1, part 2 and part 3, Zunkii, Bluelaru, BlueBerry.

2007
2007 was a big gathering with several forums represented. There's loads of pics in circulation of some of those epic sessions.
Travelogues: Lemming part 1, part 2, part 3, Twitch part 1, part 2, cattales1960, Mazdog, back2thedam (Haarlem crawl), Islandgurl part 1, part 2.

2008
Planning for the 2008 gathering was, at least as far as this forum was concerned, interrupted by it being off-air for months.
Fortunately Channels was still there and, especially, VDF stepped in and kept everyone in touch.
Travelogues: Lemming, Twitch, Bhang Buddie, SilentlyScreaming.

2009
By far our biggest gathering yet. We pretty much took over the 420 coffeeshop for half an hour or so.
Live reports were posted in Travelogues by AzLaker, Cattales1960, Couch, Fishinbob, Hestia, Lemming, WolfDangler and Worsall.
Followed by reports from Boner, Chilly1952, Couch, FenixNYC, Gapie, Hestia’s epic account days 1-8, days 9 & 10, day 11, day 12, day 13, day 14 (20th April) and day 15, Kermit, Lampshade, Lemming, LiquidSwords, PirateRaff, SoulRider and Twichaldinho.

2010
Some Icelandic volcano with an utterly unpronounceable name blew up and grounded all air traffic in Europe just before 4-20.
Nevertheless, a hard core of ACD members hit town in style.

Some members from the USA arrived just before the volcano went off and some determined people from the UK managed to get there by road, rail and ferry.
They were joined by Amsterdam resident members and, between them, they even managed to bring about the first ever ACD competition for best coffeeshop.

All of the members of the forum chose a shortlist of coffeeshops for our intrepid reporters to check out and give a rating to.
All of those members who made it then toured the shops and chose a winner.
We named our accolade the "Hestia" (well, if the American academy of movies can call theirs "Oscar" then why not?).
You can read all about it in the accounts below but I can tell you that Green Place won.

Travelogues: Hestia 420 Trip Hestia, Combined, 420 Trip Hestia First Installment, 420 Trip Hestia 2nd Installment, 420 Trip Hestia 3rd Installment and 420 Trip Hestia; Islandgurl 4/20 Begins... the Eruption.; Gapie Live in NES 420; Valo Day 1 - Monday 19th April 2010 and Day 2 - Tuesday 20th April 2010; Angry Pirate Obscurerd by clouds, a latecomers tale...; Treetop Treetop's 420 boat infested trip so far...; Lem's 4-20 Verdict; Cisco Ciscos Volcano Vacation.

2011
Of banners and boats, cups and cakes. Volcanoes went off all over Amsterdam but, fortunately, not in Iceland.
The Cup went to Basjoe and a good time was had by all. See these accounts:

08-420 08-420s 420 in Amsterdam; Arsonist What? You left BEFORE 420?!; AzLaker Finally......a trip report; Camman Nine days of smoke . . .
Chillers2 chillers 2's LATE 420 trip...; Cisco Cisco's S Sour Dude !!?! 420 Report; Colina ACD 420 boat trip 2011; FlyByNite And so the adventure begins.; Ftcarer 18-22/4/11
Gapie live @ nes at 18 april 2011; Hestia Hestia; Hulldj Where did the last 12 weeks go?? my 420 trip; Kermit Froggie style; Lafe Quick 420 report; Lemming 4-20 Lem Live; Lemming Lemming's 4-20 Recollections and Pictures; MK101 My 420; Philly-Rich Philly's 420 recap.; Rasa Rasa's "Burning Down the Dam!"; Steven 420 here I come....; Stuart1976 18th -21st april..; Trad Trad's April Visit; Uncle Ron The Annual 4-20 Gathering - 20th April 2011.

2012
A few travelogues from 2012

Lemming 4-20 Gathering 2012 in pictures and 4-20 2012 LIVE!
FlyByNite Amsterdam Adventure 2012 Trip Report
Smirks Passengers on flight 420 to Amsterdam, proceed to gate G13

2013

Lemming: "Pics 17th April", "Pics 18th April", "Pics 19th April", "Pics 20th April", "Pics 21st April", "Pics 22nd April", "4-20 Live!", "4-20 Menus"
Treetop: "4/20 2013 Treetop style"
Willjay: "willjay & Robyn's 420 adventure"
Ftcarer: "ft & Wifeys 420"
Jimi62471: "My trip was awesome!!!"
Stuart1976: "2013..420"
Nimrod: "Live report buried within a long thread"
Jwall162: "My return to the 'Dam 19th-28th April. 2013"
Bigguy: "Lost not the first"
Hasj: "204"

2014

Lemming: "Lemming's Traditional Pictorial Travelogue of 4-20 2014" and "420 Live"
Banshee Beat: "Banshee Beat trip report #2: 18/04 - 22/04"
FtCarer: "ft n 1st born's 420"
DRA: "Going For the Green in 2014: The Progress"
Jack Ganja: "What I Can Remember of April"

2015

Lemming: "ACD Four Twenty 2015"
Papi: "Papi's first 420 in Dam-ACD style, 17-22.04"
ftcarer: "Ft & 1st born's 2015 420"
fraidofspiders: "Fraidofspiders - first trip to Amsterdam"
madmaxxx: "420 haarlem/dam and the ACD crawls"
Occasional Bowl: "420 2015 Live"
Smirks: "Passengers on flight 420 to Amsterdam, proceed to gate G" (link to correct page)
bleak: "bleak's stoner photos thread" (video)

2016

We'll be there. Will you?
If so, please reply to this topic and post your dates here and I'll put you on the list.
It's completely free. You just have to make your way to Amsterdam and join us for one of the coffeeshop crawls that we'll be posting details about nearer the time.

See you there!


I'll get the countdown going soon and post the current list of people and events.

[Lemming]

Latest:

______________________________________________

People
______________________________________________

Here is a list of all of the people who've said they will or might be around during 4-20 week so far:

1st Born "19-21/04/16 " (posted: 28th Jan 2016)
Danny211204 "19th till 25th" (posted: 19th Jan 2016)
FlyByNite "April 20 - 28" (posted: 4th Feb 2016)
Gapie "I will be there I think I am local" (posted: 2nd Feb 2016)
HullDJ "Arrive Tuesday 19th early Afternoon and leave Thursday 21st mid afternoon" (posted: 20th Feb 2016)
Lemming "Tuesday 19th April to Sunday 24th April (+J 21st-24th)" (posted: 18th Feb 2016)
Macky "15th - 24th"
Madmaxxx "if thing improve i be over for a few days " (posted: 8th Feb 2016)
MeanGreenMartian "April 19th-26th" (posted: 8th Feb 2016)
Mowie "19.-21.4" (posted: 19th Jan 2016)
Occasional Bowl "17/04/2016 to 23/04/2016 " (posted: 4th Feb 2016)
Papi "I don't know how or where or when, but i'll fucking make it" (posted: 4th Feb 2016)
Smirks "fully expect to be there once again" (posted: 15th Feb 2016)
Spidergawd "The London crew be there. " (posted: 1st Dec 2015)
Stu1983 "Is this open to all forum members?" (posted: 29th Jan 2016)
Stuart1976 "ill see if i can sort out a eindhoven trip with a train ride to dam for one day" (posted: 5th Feb 2016)
Tollesburydave "I'll be there 19-21" (posted: 23rd Jan 2016)
Mr & Mrs Treetop "Maybe"


Everyone welcome. Please post here if you'd like to join us.

______________________________________________

Events
______________________________________________

Sunday 17th April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 17th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Monday 18th April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 18th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday 19th April 2016

11:45 (11.45am) Voyagers with a view of doing a crawl proposed by danny211204
18:30 (6.30pm) Utopia proposed by 1st Born
21:00 (9pm) Voyagers proposed by Lemming
22:00 (10pm) Batavia proposed by Lemming

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 19th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday 20th April 2016

12:00 (noon) Voyagers proposed by FlyByNite
18:30 (6.30pm) Utopia proposed by Macky
22:00 (10pm) Batavia proposed by Lemming

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 20th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Thursday 21st April 2016

12:00 (noon) Voyagers meet for trip to Haarlem proposed by danny211204
13:00 (1pm) Birdy, Haarlem proposed by FlyByNite

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 21st April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Friday 22nd April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 22nd April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Saturday 23rd April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 23rd April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

[Lemming]

Lots to discuss, not least what are we going to do at 4.20pm on the 20th? The traditional 420 Café will be closed at that time of course, as will Utopia.

Last year we were very disorganised. We had a brilliant session in Bluebird and then some of us went to the town hall while others went to Voyagers. The town hall was rubbish and Papi broke his bong. Surely we can do better than that this year!


Then there's the boat trip. This is another tradition, although often it's been a tradition of being cancelled at the last minute for some reason or another!

Last year we did actually get it together and, other than me nearly getting decapitated by a bridge, had a brilliant tour on a lovely boat. I could find out whether that boat is still available if enough people are up for it.

The question then would be when to do it. Many people are only around for a few days so may be the best time would be actually on 4-20 Day itself. Last year we did it between 4:20 and Utopia. Maybe we should do the same again. What do you think?


Last but not least is the Cup. I know several people would like us to do that again but nobody has put their hand up to help organise it yet. Do we think we have sufficient people to make this worth doing?

[Papi]

I just wanted to say that i bought airplane tickets. Gonna be there from 18th to 25th, in Dam from 19th to 22nd.

I see that there is already something planned in Batavia on 4/20, but if you don't mind Lemming, could we change the meeting place to actual 420 cafe?

It's 420 so we might as well have a beer before or after we go out from coffeeshop.

But it's just an idea, i don't want to barge into your plans.

Oh, and one other thing, I'm gonna be in Eindhoven on 18th, I already spoke to Macky about it, but other ACDers are welcome as well. I want to do a little crawl in Eindhoven starting around 12:30-13:00, so if anyone would be interested to join me and Macky, feel free:)

I think that's it:D Wanna go to Utrecht at some point, but i just don't know which day, damn.

[Lemming]

Better and better. Welcome aboard Papi!

420 sounds good. Actually, there's a bar next door to it that Cattales used to like. Called 'The Bottle' I think. Been there on a couple of 420s. We could finish the evening at 420 and The Bottle instead of Batavia.

[FlyByNite]

in Dam from 19th to 22nd.

Posted on the April Whos In Town page.

Enjoy
FlyByNite

[macky]

Because MADD Maxx will won,t us too Talk and Toke Bluebird on 20th at 200

[FlyByNite]

Talk and Toke Bluebird on 20th at 200

Posted.

Enjoy
FlyByNite

[Occasional Bowl]

This is starting to take shape. I'd be up for a boat trip. It would be cool if we could make it happen two years running. Did someone mention a trip to Den Haag?

[Lemming]

Latest:

______________________________________________

People
______________________________________________

Here is a list of all of the people who've said they will or might be around during 4-20 week so far:

1st Born "19-21/04/16 " (posted: 28th Jan 2016)
Danny211204 "19th till 25th" (posted: 19th Jan 2016)
FlyByNite "April 20 - 28" (posted: 4th Feb 2016)
Gapie "I will be there I think I am local" (posted: 2nd Feb 2016)
HullDJ "Arrive Tuesday 19th early Afternoon and leave Thursday 21st mid afternoon" (posted: 20th Feb 2016)
Lemming "Tuesday 19th April to Sunday 24th April (+J 21st-24th)" (posted: 18th Feb 2016)
Macky "15th - 24th"
Madmaxxx "if thing improve i be over for a few days " (posted: 8th Feb 2016)
MeanGreenMartian "April 19th-26th" (posted: 8th Feb 2016)
Mowie "19.-21.4" (posted: 19th Jan 2016)
Occasional Bowl "17/04/2016 to 23/04/2016 " (posted: 4th Feb 2016)
Papi "in Dam from 19th to 22nd" (posted: 21st Feb 2016)
Smirks "fully expect to be there once again" (posted: 15th Feb 2016)
Spidergawd "The London crew be there. " (posted: 1st Dec 2015)
Stu1983 "Is this open to all forum members?" (posted: 29th Jan 2016)
Stuart1976 "ill see if i can sort out a eindhoven trip with a train ride to dam for one day" (posted: 5th Feb 2016)
Tollesburydave "I'll be there 19-21" (posted: 23rd Jan 2016)
Mr & Mrs Treetop "Maybe"


Everyone welcome. Please post here if you'd like to join us.

______________________________________________

Events
______________________________________________

Sunday 17th April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 17th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Monday 18th April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 18th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday 19th April 2016

11:45 (11.45am) Voyagers with a view of doing a crawl proposed by danny211204
18:30 (6.30pm) Utopia proposed by 1st Born
21:00 (9pm) Voyagers proposed by Lemming
22:00 (10pm) Batavia proposed by Lemming

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 19th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday 20th April 2016

12:00 (noon) Voyagers proposed by FlyByNite
14:00 (2pm) Bluebird proposed by Macky
16:00 (4pm) Celebrate 4:20 somewhere
18:00 (6pm) Possible boat trip
18:30 (6.30pm) Utopia proposed by Macky
21:00 (9pm) The Bottle (bar next door to 420)
22:00 (10pm) 420 Cafe (de Kuil) proposed by Papi

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 20th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Thursday 21st April 2016

12:00 (noon) Voyagers meet for trip to Haarlem proposed by danny211204
13:00 (1pm) Birdy, Haarlem proposed by FlyByNite

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 21st April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Friday 22nd April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 22nd April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Saturday 23rd April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 23rd April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

[FlyByNite]

All people and events are up to date on the April Whos In Town page.

I will be watching this thread for more people and T&Ts.

Enjoy
FlyByNite

[macky]

Are we working on canal ride? Since I will be first to arrive I could help set up ride If we get right boat I have five.

[Lemming]

Wife and I are booked for 18-22
see you there

Yay!

Are we working on canal ride? Since I will be first to arrive I could help set up ride If we get right boat I have five.

Yep. I've already been in touch with the guy who took us out last year. If you've got five people then we're already well on our way to having enough.

[Lemming]

Latest:

______________________________________________

People
______________________________________________

Here is a list of all of the people who've said they will or might be around during 4-20 week so far:

1st Born "19-21/04/16 " (posted: 28th Jan 2016)
Danny211204 "19th till 25th" (posted: 19th Jan 2016)
FlyByNite "April 20 - 28" (posted: 4th Feb 2016)
Gapie "I will be there I think I am local" (posted: 2nd Feb 2016)
HullDJ "Arrive Tuesday 19th early Afternoon and leave Thursday 21st mid afternoon" (posted: 20th Feb 2016)
Lemming "Tuesday 19th April to Sunday 24th April (+J 21st-24th)" (posted: 18th Feb 2016)
Macky "15th - 24th"
Madmaxxx "if thing improve i be over for a few days " (posted: 8th Feb 2016)
MeanGreenMartian "April 19th-26th" (posted: 8th Feb 2016)
Mowie "19.-21.4" (posted: 19th Jan 2016)
Occasional Bowl "17/04/2016 to 23/04/2016 " (posted: 4th Feb 2016)
Papi "in Dam from 19th to 22nd" (posted: 21st Feb 2016)
Smirks "fully expect to be there once again" (posted: 15th Feb 2016)
Spidergawd "The London crew be there. " (posted: 1st Dec 2015)
Stu1983 "Is this open to all forum members?" (posted: 29th Jan 2016)
Stuart1976 "ill see if i can sort out a eindhoven trip with a train ride to dam for one day" (posted: 5th Feb 2016)
Tollesburydave "I'll be there 19-21" (posted: 23rd Jan 2016)
Treetop "Wife and I are booked for 18-22" (posted: 24th Feb 2016)


Everyone welcome. Please post here if you'd like to join us.

______________________________________________

Events
______________________________________________

Sunday 17th April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 17th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Monday 18th April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 18th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday 19th April 2016

11:45 (11.45am) Voyagers with a view of doing a crawl proposed by danny211204
18:30 (6.30pm) Utopia proposed by 1st Born
21:00 (9pm) Voyagers proposed by Lemming
22:00 (10pm) Batavia proposed by Lemming

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 19th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Wednesday 20th April 2016

12:00 (noon) Voyagers proposed by FlyByNite
14:00 (2pm) Bluebird proposed by Macky
16:00 (4pm) Celebrate 4:20 somewhere
18:00 (6pm) Possible boat trip *
18:30 (6.30pm) Utopia proposed by Macky
22:00 (10pm) 420 Cafe (de Kuil) & The Bottle (bar next door) proposed by Papi

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 20th April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Thursday 21st April 2016

12:00 (noon) Voyagers meet for trip to Haarlem proposed by danny211204
13:00 (1pm) Birdy, Haarlem proposed by FlyByNite

Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 21st April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Friday 22nd April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 22nd April.
_______________________________________________________________________________

Saturday 23rd April 2016


Confirmed people on FBN's WiT 23rd April.
________________________________________


* James the boat man is suggesting 19:00-21:00 so maybe we should meet at Utopia before, sail and return to Utopia again, rejoining non-cruisers.

What do you think Macky, Occasional Bowl, anyone else who wants to ganga cruise?

[Occasional Bowl]

19:00 to 21:00 is fine with me for a canal cruise- less canal traffic perhaps.