How to invite yourself to present at another university? I am a PhD student right now, and I'm looking towards doing a post-doc in the future.  There is a research laboratory where I want to do my post doc, primarily because there are scientists engaged in very similar topics to my dissertation work.  I've never met any of them personally, and I know that the standard approach is to network with them at conferences first.  Someone had suggested to me that it is possible to target an individual in that institution, and somehow invite yourself to their lab to meet them, potentially giving an unofficial (non-departmental) talk in their lab.  I know that this is not a standard approach, and I think that if I'm not careful I might give a bad impression in the process.  How can I invite myself to the lab if I don't have a personal connection to a researcher in that institution?
One thing that sometimes works is the following: 


  Hi, I'm so and so, working with Prof. X on topic Y (my webpage). I was
  going to be in the area during (vague period) and was wondering if I
  might stop by to chat with your group about your fascinating work in
  Y'.


While this is a little passive-aggressive, I've found that more often than not, they'll ask you to give a talk, and even if not, you might get a chance to meet with the lab folks, which is the real purpose in any case. Make sure that the PI is around though.