Northern New England Meetup at Jessamyn's

July 26, 2007 9:52 AM

Cookout at my place, Saturday August 4th. Grilling starts at 5 or so. Drive-in movies at 8-ish assuming the chosen films aren't totally awful. Rain plan is drinking and Scrabble/Boggle/old Connections episodes. Details to follow in the comments once we know who's coming.
posted by jessamyn (retired) to MetaFilter Gatherings at 9:52 AM (61 comments total)

Awesome. I will school you at some freakin Scrabble! Can I get driving directions from South Carolina?

(Kidding, wish I could come though. Have fun!!)
posted by LordSludge at 10:10 AM on July 26, 2007

If it were a week later, I'd actually be in New England.

Alas.
posted by dersins at 10:11 AM on July 26, 2007

For once, I'm actually sad to live in Southern California instead of somewhere much closer. Have fun!
posted by jonson at 10:14 AM on July 26, 2007

Same as dersins, what a shame!! I will be in Brattleboro about a week after that.
posted by Meatbomb at 10:34 AM on July 26, 2007

Damn, that sounds like fun. My birfday, too [day after]. What movies?

3000 miles...
posted by chuckdarwin at 10:45 AM on July 26, 2007

LordSludge: unlikely!
dersins: anywhere near Central VT?
Meatbomb: I'm still good for a ride if you need one.

This may be the teeniest NNE meetup ever, but I'm pretty sure my sister, SirStan and joannemerriam can make it.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:45 AM on July 26, 2007

Hmmm....how far away are you from North Adams? I'm coming up to the Berkshires/ VT next week.
posted by brujita at 10:50 AM on July 26, 2007

The rain plan sounds better than the non-rain one. :)
posted by mr_crash_davis at 11:00 AM on July 26, 2007

Details to follow in the comments once we know who's coming.

I feel like this is where I say, "Hey, I live in Northern New England" and the directions become, "Drive up the coast, turn right, keep going."
posted by yerfatma at 11:01 AM on July 26, 2007

I live in Bethel VT and the dot on the map for Bethel is about three miles from my house.

brujita: it's about 3 hours
chuckdarwin: they only announce the movies the week before so I don't know. I saw Fantastic Four and Live Free or Die Trying last weekend and they're playing Knocked Up and something else this weekend.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:06 AM on July 26, 2007

I'll be biking down (weather cooperating) from Montpelier, VT.
posted by SirStan at 11:17 AM on July 26, 2007

Holy shit, Jessamyn, I didn't check back to see your answer there, that is so awfully sporting of you! I will be in Brattleboro about a week, I hope we might get the chance to meet face to face one way or another. I will write when my travel plan is firmed up.
posted by Meatbomb at 11:54 AM on July 26, 2007

Wow Meatbomb, you must have signed some kind of truce or armistice or multilateral agreement or perhaps motherfuckin' treaty with Jessamyn and the other mods...
posted by Mister_A at 11:59 AM on July 26, 2007

I would love to be there. Jessamyn-hosted meetup plus cookout plus Scrabble equals awesome. It seems like I'm not on top of mountains very often, but then when I am, J takes the opportunity to do something fun.

Someone make a kwyjibo joke about for me.
posted by Plutor at 12:10 PM on July 26, 2007

I'll be biking down (weather cooperating) from Montpelier, VT.

Motorcycle or bicycle?
posted by sequential at 12:40 PM on July 26, 2007

Solid maybe here.
posted by Miko at 12:43 PM on July 26, 2007

bicycle :).
posted by SirStan at 12:44 PM on July 26, 2007

Damnshucks! I'm kayaking the Allagash that weekend.
posted by misterbisson at 1:30 PM on July 26, 2007

Damn. 2,171 miles by highway.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:39 PM on July 26, 2007

hmmm..... tempting :/
posted by sporky at 1:41 PM on July 26, 2007

Dang. :( We'll be in Dayton, Ohio at this, where there might just be some Scrabble going on. Well, for Himself, anyway. Since this is the year of the Scrabble tournament vacation, we're going to one in Burlington in November. Perchance we'll meet then?
posted by booksherpa at 2:21 PM on July 26, 2007

That'll be an awesome ride SirStan.

500 miles.. Hmm, maybe the Ottawa meetup :P
posted by Chuckles at 2:24 PM on July 26, 2007

I will be there with bells on.

If anybody needs a drive from the Concord NH-ish area, let me know.
posted by joannemerriam at 4:14 PM on July 26, 2007

I'll be (carless) in Hebron, NH. I'll see what I can do.
posted by liam at 4:25 PM on July 26, 2007

Grilling? Like real life flamewars?!

Oh, you mean, like BBQ. Sigh.
posted by spiderwire at 4:39 PM on July 26, 2007

Damn damn damn. I didn't realize there would be Scrabble.

Will update you as to whether I will be biking (motor-) up.
posted by Eideteker at 5:16 PM on July 26, 2007

turtlegirl and i will check the calendar, but should be able to make it. I have to work until 5 though.
posted by terrapin at 6:16 PM on July 26, 2007

Only about 3 hours it looks like, tempting and scary at the same time...
posted by pupdog at 6:32 PM on July 26, 2007

liam, I can arrange for Hebron to be on my way, if you'd like.

I will take anybody on in Scrabble. They named a freaking dictionary after me, after all.
posted by joannemerriam at 6:36 PM on July 26, 2007

Hmm...Bethel isn't too far away...what time?
posted by C17H19NO3 at 8:33 PM on July 26, 2007

Grilling starts at 5, if the movies are decent we'll head over around 8.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:58 PM on July 26, 2007

*googles driving directions from boulder, co*

::sigh::
posted by lonefrontranger at 5:54 AM on July 27, 2007

Darn it. We're leaving Vermont the day before.
posted by k8t at 6:38 AM on July 27, 2007

This is weird... I've planned my first BBQ at the house for 8/4. And my plan for rain is also indoor games. Great minds...
posted by ObscureReferenceMan at 6:40 AM on July 27, 2007

Oh, damn! That's the day I'm coming up....but I'll be in Rutland between the 13-to 18. Could we get together then?
posted by brujita at 9:48 AM on July 27, 2007

brujita: sure, Rutland is like 30-40 min away, let's get in touch closer to then.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:53 AM on July 27, 2007

At first I thought you were going to host drive-in movies on your property, which (while logistically harrowing) would have been awesome.
posted by davejay at 11:44 AM on July 27, 2007

Astonishingly, I will be just two hours away by motorcycle in Greensboro that Saturday (doubtless some sort of conservation principle working to balance dersins and K8t.) I need to check with what the family has planned, but if I can, I'll be there.
posted by mojohand at 3:35 PM on July 27, 2007

Oh, I'm afraid I do not play scrabble/boggle, but I do heart me some James Burke.
posted by mojohand at 3:38 PM on July 27, 2007

First thing all summer that makes me sad to be on an island in Maine instead. Have a great time, everybody.

p.s. I think Jessamyn should show movies on the side of that big white building (barn?) in her backyard.
posted by LeLiLo at 8:30 PM on July 27, 2007

You know, if SirStan brings his projector, we could just maybe do that....
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 12:13 AM on July 28, 2007

I think Graham and Sue should clean Jessamyn's BBQ first and then Chris and Kai should help her clear out her office or just, ya know, help!

(That's what I'd do anyway)


have a great day guys, hope the weather's as nice as our Hastings one last Sunday
posted by Wilder at 1:21 AM on July 29, 2007

I think I can come; it sounds like major fun. Google says to go via Portsmouth, NH, so if anybody wants to carpool, that would be good.
posted by theora55 at 10:18 AM on July 30, 2007

theora55, I might very well be interested in that. Let's talk! Email in profile.
posted by Miko at 10:30 AM on July 30, 2007

Miko and theora? And possibly another motorcyclist? Dammit, am I going to have to come to this thing? Because I totally will, MetaFilter. Don't test me. I know the way to get to Jessamyn's house and my throttle wrist has been twitching for some open road lately. Stupid weekend job!
posted by Eideteker at 6:40 PM on July 30, 2007

BTW, the drive-in is showing Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix and Licensed to Wed this weekend. Knocked Up and Evan Almighty were this past weekend (we went).

I have to work until 5 and we have seen the Harry Potter film so turtlegirl and I will probably stop by to do a little grillin' before folks head to the movies.

Hope we'll see you Miko!
posted by terrapin at 7:06 AM on July 31, 2007

Thanks for the movie list terrapin! I'd see Harry Potter but I just barely care about the Licensed to Wed movie but we can see how we feel. It's a nice old drive-in just up the road in a big field. I have a few pix of it up on Flickr.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:06 AM on July 31, 2007

Dang it. This is about the only one of these meetup things I've had a desire to attend.

I spent two days, just last week, damn near driving past your house (on the way to NH for cheap booze and fireworks) preparing for a four day thing last weekend. Unfortunately, this weekend, we're doing it again in Bellingham, WA -- anyone know anything about west coast fireworks/liquor laws -- we do like to blow shit up and everyone knows how well fireworks and alcohol go together.
posted by cedar at 9:14 PM on July 31, 2007

Other locals are welcome when I'll be here...I'll email jessamyn a day or two before I 'm in Rutland.
posted by brujita at 10:23 PM on July 31, 2007

I live in the middle of nowhere, and never thought I'd be anywhere near a Mefi meet-up, but I'm actually going to be in Bethel this weekend staying with my Dad. (He lives on the hill above the post office.)

Sadly, we're driving to a family picnic and will probably not make it back in time for the BBQ. Maybe I can still make the movie though. I'd love to go to that drive-in again, the purple bus/concession stand is hilarious.

For anyone who is definately going, I'd suggest putting some blankets in the car. Last time I went to the movies there, we were shivering by the time the second feature started, and it was August.
posted by saffry at 11:00 PM on July 31, 2007

I just realized that I have no idea as to where in Bethel I'd be going...
posted by C17H19NO3 at 11:34 PM on July 31, 2007

I live four doors down from the white church right over the new bridge. Email me for directions. Saffry, you'll be spitting distance from my house at least knock on the door and say hello if you can't make any of the other festivities.

cedar: call/email next time!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:21 AM on August 1, 2007

Wow - you're in Bethel?! I was just there (well, Randolph). I have a place to stay in Gilead (which I don't think is actually, technically, a town). I have been looking for an excuse to get out there again - it's such a beautiful, peaceful area.

I know just the drive-in you're talking about too.

It's a bit late for me to get it organized, but it would be a great trip. Maybe I can get my act together and ride my motorcycle out there.
posted by suki at 4:03 PM on August 1, 2007

Hey suki, I work in Randolph and Bethel-Gilead is right up the road! Drop a line next time you're nearby, would be fun to say hi again.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 4:38 PM on August 1, 2007

Is it too late to say I might go to this? I'm a two hour drive away. And I rock the Boggle. I've seen Harry Potter and have a violent allergic reaction to Robin Williams movies, but might be able to come for BBQing fun. That is, if semi-lurkers are allowed.
posted by chowflap at 10:08 AM on August 2, 2007

Yes, anyone is allowed chowflap, please come by. As of now I have at least a few friends coming who are NOT MeFites so there will be ample things to talk about besides OMG did you read that FPP?!!?!"

Anyone who needs directions, email me. As of now I will be grilling some chicken and making a cake and maybe some foccacia like last time. I'll have condiments and tea/coffee/soda and probably some beer. If anyone wants to bring anything I'd suggest salad, chips/salsa/cheese, veggies for the grill, meat substitutes if you require them (I have some, not a lot) or other drinks. Also since the drive-in is likely, anyone with folding chairs is invited to bring them. Assuming the weather is nice it's much nicer to sit outside your car.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 11:13 AM on August 2, 2007

There is a significant chance of my being there, and there is a significant chance of my NOT being there. The leasing office of my new place will decide based on how many paper hoops they make me jump through.
posted by Ryvar at 5:59 PM on August 3, 2007

Jessamyn, this sounds utterly perfect. I wish I could be there, but I'm unable to travel for the next little while.

Enjoy!
posted by Elsa at 2:09 PM on August 4, 2007

Well, that was a bunch of fun! I uploaded three pictures for now (the most recent three there), I assume others have a few more. In attendance were chowflap, joannemerriam, terrapin, turtlegirl, mojohand, sirstan & his girlfriend, me, my sister, two friends of mine from college who I haven't seen in twenty years and two pals of mine from Barre. About half of us made it to the drive-in. Thanks everyone for coming!
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 9:54 PM on August 4, 2007

we had a blast, jessamyn. thanks for having us. was great meeting a few mefites we hadn't met before and getting to know your fun college mates.
posted by terrapin at 4:38 PM on August 5, 2007

Thanks for hosting, Jessamyn, it was great to meet everyone. I had a lovely time! And the drive-in movie was totally worth getting home around 1:30 for.
posted by chowflap at 5:10 PM on August 5, 2007