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Back by popular demand (thanks Mac), I would like to again try to initiate a New England Hatrack Picnic to be held in Boston at some time in the next month or two.
Said picnic shall not be in conjunction with any concert, ballgame, or other mode of entertainment that might exclude or distract any segment of the Jatraquero population of New England. Just because the last time we tried that, it fizzled out.
Allow me to register a vote for an actual picnic along the banks of the Charles River. Yay or nay?
And when? Any preferences?
Posts: 1785 | Registered: May 1999
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If it's after 12pm on Saturday or any time on Sunday on a weekend in Sept, I'm there. (I have class till 12:30 pm on Saturdays and from 6-9pm on Fridays).
I sooooooooooo want to eat at Bartley's Burgers!!
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Well....as long as you all promise that you're not sketchy stalkers or the like, then there's a distinct possibility that I might be able to come........
Posts: 1789 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Martha, I will definitely stalk you if you make us all a picnic in the style of Martha Stewart.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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I wish I could come, but I'm going to be in college and focused on my studies (and activities), and since I'm a freshman I will not have a car at my disposal. Plus, I'm cutting back on my spending since I don't have a job, so buying any sort of ticket is out.
But if any of you is going to this picnic from Burlington, tell me now. I will find you Posts: 70 | Registered: Jul 2003
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Gwyn, if you find a ride down, I might be able to get you a ride back up there... My dad works at Fletcher Allen (hospital in Burlington) some weeks, drives up on Sundays and home on wednesdays. So we'll see...
Posts: 1785 | Registered: May 1999
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woot! I could do this one. I missed the NJ hatrack get together, so I really should get to one of these things. I have plenty of friends up in Boston who I could stay with.
I'm also in the realm of it needing to be a weekend (the NJ one wasn't, dangit) because I teach. But a 4.5 hour drive up Saturday, then a 4.5 hour drive back sunday afternoon wouldn't kill me. Much.
Posts: 3960 | Registered: Jul 2001
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And if it turns out Bob is coming in October then maybe we'll move our picnic later to Borg him in.
I have no preference of weekends -- does anyone else have votes, or should I just decide? I think we should have a picnic dinner on the Saturday and then get together again on the sunday for some event to be determined on the spur of the moment (a movie or some such).
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I now have a job at which I work Saturdays til 6pm. Of course I have no problem with people starting earlier than that as long as I can join up with you after work. Or I guess we could have our shindig on Sunday only -- but it'd be nice if it could be both Saturday and Sunday to accomodate everyone.
Someone mentioned in the pizza thread that there's fantastic pizza in Lowell, which isn't too far away. I suspect I'm not alone in not having a car, so maybe we could meet in Boston and somehow carpool out to Lowell. Or, there's a Thai place right in Boston, Brown Sugar Cafe, that is delicious -- they make a "country style pad thai" for hot-n-spicy people that is the best anywhere. And they have plenty of dishes for bland-- I mean, less adventurous people
Anyway. So, my preferences so far are for the 13/14th or the 27/28th of September. Please, does anyone else have any opinions?
Posts: 1785 | Registered: May 1999
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The music festival in Lowell was weird. It is such a strange place, and reminds me of a Star Trek episode,
However, there is the pizza place, it is closer to Mack, and there is the textile museum, which is fascinating. It is a tricky place to negotiate, though. I got lost a few times. I could see the place I needed to be, but couldn't figure out how to get there.
I would be happy to go into Boston, too, more likely near the end of the month.
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I have family in the Boston area--in Lincoln and Waban... or Newton... or something--I could probably make it if I finagled a ride down there. *cough* Gwyn *cough* I don't think a weekend is too much to ask.
If you decide to bump it to October, there's one weekend that I wouldn't be able to make it. An annual family reunion/gathering/silliness that is top priority. I don't know which weekend it is, though. Usually Columbus day weekend or the weekend before.
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I'm still there as long as it stays on a weekend. It's a 5-6 hour drive from Jersey depending on traffic (took me damn near 7 last time I went), but I could go up on Saturday morning (or, if I'm masochistic enough, Friday night) and come back on Sunday.
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Mac, I'm sorry but I think it has to be Boston. Because of the more southerly contingent, and because of the carless, and because Elizabeth got lost in Lowell.
But like I said, if we meet in Boston we can caravan up to Lowell the next day. I for one am interested in seeing the textile museum.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: May 1999
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Oh, Boston is fine. It's only 45 min-an hour from me. I'm just in Manchester. I was just commenting on Lowell. I used to work in Lawrence, we had clients from Lowell, so I drove there a lot. Every single time I had to go to downtown Lowell, I got lost.
And Camping is awesome
Cow, drag John up with you! And there's someone else in Jersey...Strider?
Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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If people wanted to camp, and if there are a significant number who are coming from the south, which is a witch of a drive, we could camp somewhere out near Sturbridge. People coming from New York and Jersey would be able to come straight up 84, it wouldn't be too far for Mack and the Boston crowd, and I know there is a KOA near there with those little cabins, if people don't have tents.
Or, the Cape in the fall is beautiful, and not as crowded.
Sorry to keep bringing up new plans.
[ August 20, 2003, 09:22 AM: Message edited by: Elizabeth ]
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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Hmm when I read this I envisioned an honest to goodness picnic. You know with baskets and everything probably on Boston common. I think that would be spiffy. I'd probably drive the 2 hrs east and hop on the T to do that.
But feel free to ignore that and keep on with the planning.
Btw I think camping would be sorta....hellish to organize between a lot of people who don't know each other very well. We have a hard enough time when it's a group of friends.
posted
A picnic on the Common also sounds lovely. I am just throwing out ideas, so don't feel like it matters to me what is decided. I have a car, and I don't mind driving, and I sure remember the days of not having one.
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quote:And there's someone else in Jersey...Strider?
You are correct. Strider does live in jersey. I wonder where that guy is...No matter.
I don't know if i'll be able to make that trip, but if you guys settle on a date I can tell you more definitely.
Posts: 251 | Registered: Mar 2002
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Hm. I'm actually going to be in Boston (and possibly free in the afternoon) on the Sunday before Columbus Day.
Posts: 471 | Registered: Jul 2002
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Oooooh! Me I wanna go! The first two weekends in September are ok for me as is October I think.
Mack, I can't believe we haven't met yet! I get so suprised every time you say you live in Manchester; I'm in Amherst.
I will need (when we have more definate plans) for someone to help me convince my parents that you're not crazy old men who've been stalking me over the internet. But That can wait till we know just what we're doing.
quote: Every single time I had to go to downtown Lowell, I got lost.
lol, my friends and I decided that getting lost would be fun so we just drove around for a few hours without looking at a map and ended up in Lowell. It was really fun. Posts: 3420 | Registered: Jun 2002
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quote: ...interested in seeing the textile museum.
I think I've been there. It's an awesome museum if only for the fact that they give you earplugs to go onto the weaving floor with about 80 belt-powered, clockwork weaving machines. You need them, it's a ruckus when they're all going.
I'm probably going to have a time convincing my parents that you're all not crazy pedophiles, too. Somehow I don't think I have to worry about crazy people on Orson Scott Card's forum... except for Thor, that is. Posts: 903 | Registered: May 2003
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I think we could probably figure out a way to convince people's parents that we're safe (if not entirely vanilla).
Camping sounds like fun -- somehow the idea of sitting around a bonfire telling stories with a bunch of jatraqueros is my idea of a grand time. I'll bring the marshmallows! I don't have a tent, though, so cabins would be nice (or if someone has extra tentspace...)
Let's make it Sept.13 and 14th, unless a lot of people have problems with that. Good to put a specific date on it so we can start really planning. Besides, if Dragon can come then we'll have a real circus on our hands
(btw, Mike and Suneun are away this week teaching trapeze in Brattleboro.)
I'm sorry Fishtail, not to have this thing in October. I'm being shamelessly selfish and NOT making any plans for my last day off before November (I work in a costume shop, we get SWAMPED in October and I plan on taking advantage of all the overtime hours I can handle).
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Dragon, the best part is, I work out of Nashua and see clients in Amherst (as well as the surrounding towns). Posts: 14745 | Registered: Dec 1999
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Hehe. I'm with Mack on that one. I can't believe she still pushes for that place 20 months after I took her ladyday and pod there
Awesome burgers and a very hatracky environment.
Anyhoo. I THINK any weekend is gonna be fine for me. The 6-7th might be a bit tough cause I'm moving the monday before.
Posts: 4112 | Registered: May 2001
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WheatPuppet, I'm with you. I would love to come meet all my fellow Hatrackers, but I'm not sure how my parents would feel about that. Stupid mother......
Let's get together for dinner on the Common, Saturday afternoon/evening. I don't know the Common well at all, so I don't know how I'd find you guys short of walking in circles looking for a bunch of crazy intellectual people. You could come to Boston Costume, where I work and which is not far from the Common, and that way we'd all have a meeting place and time (we close at 6pm), and I can make sure that you guys don't have any fun until I'm done with work and can join you.
Evie, how old are you? And how far from Boston? I'm still trying to think of a way to prove to various parents that we won't kidnap you. Unless we like you a whole lot.
Posts: 1785 | Registered: May 1999
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I kidnap kids five days a week for 1.5 hour sessions...oh wait, that isn't kidnapping. That's THERAPY.
Paul, those burgers were and are by FAR the best burgers I've ever had. Though your sweet potato fries were GROSS.
That's Amherst, NH. The catchment area for the mental health agency I work for is Nashua, Hudson, Merrimack, Milford, Amherst, Hollis and Brookline.
And any weekend is good for me. I have class till 12:30-1pm on saturday, but I'm free after that and not far away from Boston. I can also give NH hatrackers a lift if needed in my snazzy black GSX. *drools over car*
I'm also not really up for a textile museum. Come ON. TEXTILE MUSEUM?! With all the neat stuff in Boston? I'm still hypomanic and bore easily. Then I become a pain in the ass.
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