New England Meetup 2002

May 4, 2002 9:42 PM

Back in early April (perhaps not coincidentally, when the weather was warming up nicely), we discussed the possibility of having a first-ever New England MeFi gathering. There was some enthusiastic response, and crankyrobot, I believe, was even going to look into getting Red Sox tickets.

Within a week (again, perhaps not coincidentally, when the weather crapped out again), interest had sunk like a stone. Now that it's May, and the New Yorkers have had their little get-together, is there now any interest in reviving the topic? (The weather is nice again, and the Sox are still winning!)
posted by yhbc to MetaFilter gatherings at 9:42 PM (40 comments total)

Portland Maine representin' yo. Incidentally, the previous sentence is the most gangsta a Portland resident has ever gotten. You can't have it at my house, but anywhere in NE, I'd go. Assuming I wasn't accused of spying or anything.

Boston would probably be a reasonable choice. I wanted to go down and see Blogdex Cameron do his DJ thing anyway.
posted by rusty at 10:34 PM on May 4, 2002

I'll go wherever I'm told.

Really.
posted by briank at 8:54 AM on May 5, 2002

They locked someone in Portland up once for saying "hizzouse". I read it in the Herald.

I'd go, but probably not to a Red Sox game. Can I cast my vote for having it in a bar instead? Central Square, maybe?
posted by MarkAnd at 9:25 AM on May 5, 2002

boston...yuck.

providence is better (hell, hartford is better than boston).

the mayor's wife's name (this is providence; i know nothing about the mayor of hartford) is 'nancy ann cianci'. say that five times fast.
posted by mlang at 11:10 AM on May 5, 2002

Boston, baby...it's the Hub
posted by lbergstr at 11:52 AM on May 5, 2002

What about Davis Square? Redbones? Burren? Even the Diesel Cafe?
posted by PrinceValium at 12:22 PM on May 5, 2002

Providence, Boston, as long as there's parking (Metrowest 'burb resident here). I too, however, would skip on a Red Sox outing. A bar does seem the most appropriate location to meet and talk with people you've never seen before.
posted by dchase at 1:28 PM on May 5, 2002

I occasionally wonder if there are enough of us in Maine to have a Maine-based MeFi gathering...

.... then, of course, I come to my senses pretty quickly.

I'm also in Portland and I would be interested in attending, but it necessarily depends on the date. Red Sox would be ok ... some place where we could all actually sit around and talk to each other would be better.

Anybody else in the Portland area interested in going down via the train???
posted by anastasiav at 1:58 PM on May 5, 2002

Boston here. Name the spot.
posted by owillis at 3:24 PM on May 5, 2002

You Portlander's are lucky, I visted that city about 5 years ago and it seemed like one of the coolest towns in America. There was a great record store in the downtown area the name of which escapes me.

I'll be unable to come to Boston, as Bridgeport isn't really New England but New Jersey East. New England dosen't really begin till ya hit New Haven. But knock a few back for me, y'all.
posted by jonmc at 4:06 PM on May 5, 2002

I'd vote for the Burren. Or pretty much any place in Boston (I'm coming from Medford).
posted by bshort at 4:11 PM on May 5, 2002

jonmc--Enterprise Records is great. Bob, the owner does a lot of online selling too (vinyl only of course) but I don't know offhand how to track him down online.

re: NE gathering, I don't care where it is. Central Square is fine with me and most weekends would definetly be better from now until fall. BTW, I think Portland is viable too. I would prefer not Providence, but it doesn't really matter as long as I'm free on the date that is agreed upon.

Hey, how about Settle's dorm room at RISD!
posted by anathema at 4:31 PM on May 5, 2002

I don't think a Red Sox game would really be conducive to getting to know people. I would much prefer a hang out spot like the 1369 cafe in Central Square or something similar.
posted by anathema at 4:41 PM on May 5, 2002

Thanks mefiers for suggesting places in Cambridge I merely need roll out of bed to attend. :)

I like the coffeebar idea - 1369, the Greenhouse in Harvard Sq, something like that.
posted by PrinceValium at 4:52 PM on May 5, 2002

Davis Square sounds great to me. I vote for the Burren or Diesel
posted by alball at 4:57 PM on May 5, 2002

What's that great BBQ joint in Davis square? Redbones? Nice casual atomosphere, beers, great food. Or would people prefer a real bar?
posted by jpoulos at 6:32 PM on May 5, 2002

I second all the votes for Central Square, since I live a two minute walk from 1369 and, for those who appreciate the Guinness, there are four Irish bars within stumbling distance.
posted by jpbutler at 7:07 PM on May 5, 2002

God, I remember haunting 1369 years ago. Sniff...it was my fav [greenhouse was next for sunday brunch]. Damn I wish I was back in the Hub.
posted by plemeljr at 7:15 PM on May 5, 2002

Looks like Central Square is at least a good place to start. Now how about a date.

As an aside, I received an email from Settle after my comment above. Apparantly he has been excommunicated from MeFi.
posted by anathema at 7:40 PM on May 5, 2002

chiming from the Sox tickets contingent - my "in" on tiks has recently been laid-off (doh!), so I'm back to square one on that point. Central Square is cool, but let's also look for somewhere were we could hold a conversation without screaming...
posted by crankyrobot at 8:03 PM on May 5, 2002

I noticed Settle hadn't been around lately. I obviously don't know the circumstances, but I'll be the first to say that I wish that he was able to work out a way back that mathowie is comfortable with. I missed the unpredictable little guy.

< /off topic>

I fully agree with all the progress that has been made so far - the Red Sox idea was a nice fantasy, but completely unworkable in practice. Seeing as how we're zooming in on Central Square, consider:

1. Does the Peoples's Republic still allow smoking?

2. Are any of the venues under consideration likely to be too crowded to allow for any actual interaction on a Friday or Saturday night? Should we think about a Thursday night instead?

3. As was brought up before, will there be any parking available, for those of us in the hinterlands (i.e., outside of 128)?

And on preview, what crankyrobot (and I, I think) just said.
posted by yhbc at 8:07 PM on May 5, 2002

Redbones sounds great to me. Of course there's always "bowling" at the Hong Kong in Harvard square. And, I've always wanted to try Zuzu's in Central Square (sorry, I'm hungry).

on preview: does anywhere in The Commonwealth allow smoking anymore (let alone the PRC)?
posted by dchase at 8:13 PM on May 5, 2002

anastasiav: I sometimes wonder if there are enough of us in Maine to have a gathering. Of any kind.

Then I come to my senses and go back to the kitchen to stir the chowda pot. :-)

I'm actually on Peaks Island, not technically in Portland. I can see Portland from my back porch though.

jonmc: Portland rules. Don't f-ing tell anyone though! ;-)
posted by rusty at 8:50 PM on May 5, 2002

You Portlander's are lucky, I visted that city about 5 years ago and it seemed like one of the coolest towns in America.

It is. But don't tell anybody..... I harbor a secret fear that one morning I'll wake up and we'll be Seattle.

There was a great record store in the downtown area the name of which escapes me.

I suspect you're thinking of Bull Moose Music. Unless you were thinking of a shop that sold mostly classical, in which case you were thinking of Amadeus Music, now sadly closed. Or the CD Exchange, also sadly closed.

And, of course, Zootz is dead.

But I'm not bitter. :-)






posted by anastasiav at 9:31 PM on May 5, 2002

anastasia--my bet is on Enterprise Records. See above.

I always find parking in Central Square. My vote is for the weekend. We could always start in the late afternoon/early evening at a coffee place and then move on to wherever. We could sit outside at 1369 so smokers could smoke. I don't think there is much smoking left in Cambridge indoors. I could be wrong though. How about the last weekend in May? Or is that too late?

If folks from Portland are planning on taking the train I suggest you grab tickets as soon as we agree on a date. The weekends often sell out. And just so you know, there is a train that leaves South Station pretty late, so you don't have to skip out all that early. Here's the link to the train.
posted by anathema at 2:49 AM on May 6, 2002

I have one visitor parking pass for the residential streets south of Mass Ave between Harvard and Central. Other Cantabridgians with cars have permits for their respective neighborhoods as well.

For those who don't want to deal with finding parking, the garage at the Alewife Station (red line T) is $4.

Weekend of May 31 - June 2 works for me. Can't do Memorial Day though.
posted by PrinceValium at 6:00 AM on May 6, 2002

Interesting - I was sent a link to a gathering of other "like minded" bloggers in the boston area : boston blogs.com - don't know if there is an opportunity for cross-polination, or if the MetaGathering might be tested in beta-form before expanding....

May has pretty much already been shot because of work; might June be better for people?

posted by crankyrobot at 7:11 AM on May 6, 2002

I would go to the Plough. MeFi gathering or not. I'd be heading there right now if the place were open and I weren't all the hell the way over here, where it's nearing time to leave work already and there's no Plough to stop at. But don't go when there's a band playing or all you'll be able to do is stand two inches from one another and sweat.

Or is the Plough even still there? I'm getting old.
posted by pracowity at 7:11 AM on May 6, 2002

There's a bus from Portland every hour, too. They show a movie, it costs about the same, and isn't any slower, generally. Less seat room than the train, but it's certainly a workable alternative. Leaves from the same station as the Downeaster.
posted by rusty at 12:24 PM on May 6, 2002

If we go too far into June, we'll start running into pre-scheduled vacations. I make a motion for Saturday, June 1, beginning at 4:00 PM at a location to be determined in Central Square. Is there a second?
posted by yhbc at 1:01 PM on May 6, 2002

June 1st sounds good.

There is a large parking lot, on Prospect Street in Central Square across from Carberry's, that is free on weekends. I always have people park there and there have never been any problems.

This lot is five minutes off the Mass Pike Exit 18 for those of you coming from the west.
posted by jpbutler at 3:24 PM on May 6, 2002

My birthday is around June 1 so I'll probably be downtown that night, but I could show up for an hour or two and get us a free birthday cake, depending on the venue of course. I'm in Woburn, BTW.
posted by jwells at 7:18 PM on May 6, 2002

Sadly, I will be out of town June 1st. (In Montreal, for Mutek.) Have fun.
posted by lbergstr at 9:05 AM on May 7, 2002

Not sure when/if I can make it, so June 1st is as good as any other, and I'll do my best. I too am in Maine, though not in Portland, about an hour north instead.

Amadeus Music closed? Geez, I don't get out much.
posted by JanetLand at 7:08 PM on May 7, 2002

FYI: it's NORTH Station.
posted by ParisParamus at 7:37 PM on May 7, 2002

Paris--Sorry, you're right, the Downeaster comes into North Station not South Station.

So folks, is this going to happen or what? I get the feeling people are losing interest again. It doesn't have to be perfect, lets just do it on the first of June and start out at the 1369 on Mass Ave. (um...1369 Mass Ave.) in Central Square, Cambridge and then maybe move to a second location. If anyone is going to be late I can email my cell number so you can call and know where to find us. What time should we plan to meet? If there is a strong concensus for an alternative date lets here it.
posted by anathema at 3:07 AM on May 8, 2002

hear it.
posted by anathema at 5:56 AM on May 8, 2002

June 1st. Bummer. Sorry, I can't make it ... I've got a wedding in Castine to attend that day. *sigh* Have a good time.

p.s. - I was secretly hoping you'd choose Friday the 31st since I have to be at Brown on business that day and could stop in on my way back through.... but don't change the date just for me. I'll be thinking of you all, though.
posted by anastasiav at 8:02 AM on May 8, 2002

The 31st is fine too. What is better for everyone else, Friday or Saturday?
posted by anathema at 8:17 AM on May 8, 2002

I can't do that weekend, but if you want this to happen, the next step (it's probably too late now as this drifts off the MeTa front page) would have been to name a place and time!
posted by MarkAnd at 9:56 AM on May 8, 2002