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Jenni and I were discussing the WMASS Picnic for this year, and since we have some fairly serious scheduling issues...like her audition with Disney and my parents moving away for good when my dad retires this Aug.....we thought it would be good to get a jump on planning.
We want to have it in June or July, but not the weekend of the 4th of July, unless everyone wants it then.
It has to be on a Saturday or Sunday, either July 9th or July 23rd works..the weekends of those dates anyway.
How do those dates work for everyone who can attend?
Also, I want to get a pavilion this year so we don't have a drowned rat cooking for us again...wait, that was me. They are expensive, but not out of reach if we can all contribute something to it. I payed for the site all myself last time, and if we were doing just a site again I would do it again, but there is no way I can afford the pavilion all by myself. We had something close to 25 people last time, so if we all chip in I think we will be fine.
If we can't afford a pavillion, then maybe we can rent a huge tent or something, just in case the weather doesn't cooperate again. I know Taylor Rental has huge ones for rent. Kwea
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July is tough for me, what with lots of music festivals, but the 9th seems OK. Now, anyway. July is usually jam packed, though.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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quote: We want to have it in June, but not the weekend of the 4th, unless everyone wants it then. It has to be on a Saturday or Sunday, either July 9th or July 23rd..the weekends of those dates anyway.
So is it June or July? That could make a difference to people.
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What's the town you'll be holding it in? I'd like to mapquest it to see if it would be a feasible weekend trip by car for me.
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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That would be great, although I would plan on a long weekend if possible, as it is about 6-7 hours from where you live, Karl. I usee to live in that area, so I drove it a few times. However the train goes right into Springfield too, and that takes about the same amount of time, but you don't have to drive it so it is far more pleasent.
I lived in Fredrick, MD, near DC for almost 3 years.
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If we did it, Chris and I would come up on Friday and back on Sunday, probably. It's 6.5 hours mapquested from my town. I'd probably drive. It looks like Amtrak is $120/person from Harrisburg to Springfield and actually takes about an hour longer than driving. I'd really like to come but can't commit right now.
I've been hoping to plan something myself for this summer to which any Hatrackers interested would be invited, but right now there's no reason I couldn't do both. Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
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There is a lot...do you like basketball? The Basketball Hall of Fame is in Springfield, and is very cool even if you aren't crazy about it...my wife doesn't like basketball at all, but she really liked the HoF.
Also, Northampton is full of little shops and eateries, and there is a very cool resturaunt named Goten, where they do tempenyaki (sp?) style cooking right at your table. Dr. Seuss was from Springfield, MA, and his step daughter was the metal sculptor who made the official Dr. Seuss memorial in Springfield.
There is the Yankee Candle flagship store in Deerfield, which was the very first Yankee Candle store...the guy was a local, and use to make the candles at home and sell them out of the trunk of his car! The store is a huge showroom and has all sorts of cool things set up, including an old workshop on how candles use to be made in frontier America, and a candle dipping station where you make your own candles.
There are all sorts of B&B's up here, and the summer is not a high volume tourist season for the most part, so rooms are off-season prices. If you would prefer to stay in a hotel, there are TONS of them near by, either in the Springfield area or up closer to the park. Jenni and I live near Springfield, it is only about 20 min to the park from here.
Also, Six Flags New England is in Agawam, very very close by....right nest to Springfield, really, then next town over.
Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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KarlEd, Northampton is known by some as the San Francisco of the east. It is a town which prides itself on, well, pride.
Posts: 10890 | Registered: May 2003
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I didn't mention that as I didn't see it being that important, to be honest. If he wa moving here, it would be for sure, but visiting? I don't see it being a huge factor.
They do have a bunch of neat things..public hot tub facilities (not too expensive), the butterfly conservatory nearby in Deerfield....very cool book stores.
It is a great plavce to walk around and enjoy a summer day, visiting all the local candy makers, and getting some homemade ice cream to top things off.
Northampton is a very liberal town, in many ways. I like visiting there, although I am glad I don't live there...the rents are way too high.
Smith College is there, and a lot of colleges are nearby...it is called the 5 college district for a reason.
Look Park also has a water park for kids, tennis courts, mini golf, volleyball courts, paddleboats, bumper boats, and a mini train ride, and a small zoo.
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I have no idea what I'm doing this summer. That includes where I'll be working so I can't say yes or no to anything.
Posts: 872 | Registered: Mar 2002
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It isn't a crazy city enviroment, although if you want that Boston is only about 1 1/2 hours away, if even that depending on where you want to go in Boston.
It is a nice place to visit, although I will be glad to move away...it gets a bit boring living here year round. Still, the location is great as we are close to the ocean, the mountains, and two HUGE cities (NYC and Boston), so there is plenty to do if you have the money to do so, and the inclination. All of that is fairly close...NYC is about 3 hours away, Boston is an hour from my house, the Berkshire mountains are about an hour towrads NY, and Vermont and NH is about an hour north.
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My schedule is crazy busy this summer, but I might be able to go.
(Dragon, are you on the tour again this summer? I'm not sure when I'll be able to see a show, but I'll try to catch at least one.)
Posts: 1810 | Registered: Jan 1999
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That would be very cool, Mike...Please tell martha about it as well, and mention it to Suneun just in case she didn't see this thread yet.... Posts: 15082 | Registered: Jul 2001
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They are expensive, but not out of reach if we can all contribute something to it. I payed for the site all myself last time, and if we were doing just a site again I would do it again, but there is no way I can afford the pavilion all by myself. We had something close to 25 people last time, so if we all chip in I think we will be fine.
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