Traffic was bumper to bumper.

I heard you're going to

Yes. I'm having a dinner party with my friends there.

Well, you may not know this, but because it's Christmas tomorrow, everybody gets off work early today so that they can go back home early. Starting at 3, traffic usually becomes bumper to bumper.

Oh, I didn't know that. Well, I'll leave earlier today then. Say 2

That would be my advice. If you don't have any important things to deal with, leave as early as possible.