Let's meetup during my excursion

July 8, 2008 1:39 PM

Attention MeFites between Colorado and Tennessee. I want to meet you.

I'm pulling a Meatbomb (you know that's destine to be a verb). I'll be traveling from Denver eastward, and hope to leave a little wake of meetups along the way.

posted by -t to MetaFilter Gatherings at 1:39 PM (27 comments total)

This is my initial route, but I'm completely open to detours, small and large. I'd love to meet some MeFites, share a bite to eat, some drinks, conversation, take a bunch photos and I might not pass up a place to stay for a night if offered (but it certainly isn't a requirement). I'll also be stocking up on goodies from my favorite cheese shop to bring with. If anyone want's anything specific from there, or Denver in general, let me know.

I'd love to visit some interesting small local restaurants, or other noteworthy places. This is the forty year old car I'll be driving (FSM be with me), so anywhere that fits the bill and has air conditioning will certainly get you a drink.

Ultimately I'll be spending some time in eastern TN with my grandmother who is ill, so if your in that vicinity let me know. I have a feeling I'll have a lot of free time on my hands.

My initial departure date is around the 15th of July.

Sound interesting? Feel free to drop me an email if you'd rather, it's in my profile.
posted by -t at 1:40 PM on July 8, 2008

You don't want to meet me. I'd be extremely tempted to steal that awesome awesome car. Luckily for you, I am not on your route. Have fun!
posted by Tehanu at 1:51 PM on July 8, 2008

well, I'm in Denver. Have you been to, say, Denver Ted's or Tom's?
posted by boo_radley at 2:04 PM on July 8, 2008

Sorry to hear about your grandmother.

I'm assuming you know that Dollywood is in Pigeon Forge, yes? You could go and genuflect at the feet of one of our greatest Americans. Schedule shows she'll be performing there in August, if you're there that long.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 2:26 PM on July 8, 2008

Hey Tehanu, I'd let you drive it if you were on the way. Really.

Now boo_radley, where have you been? Another Denver meetup is in the works, maybe two. Come say hello/goodbye, and meet everyone. Most of them are cooler than me.

Thanks SuperSquirrel, it's appreciated. She is one amazing person. Wow, Dollywood. This will be an experience. I can't believe they have a podcast.
posted by -t at 2:49 PM on July 8, 2008

Oh cool, you're rolling though Salina, which is where I live.

It is very boring here. The local food isn't anything to scream about, but if you're going to eat here then you must eat at the cozy inn, but you will smell like onions for the rest of the day.

Also: the bar scene kinda sucks, as well as every other scene. Be prepared for boredom. I am pretty sure that I am the only metafilter user in Salina, so it may just be you and me.

Heck, I'll make a day out of it. I can show you the publicly funded eyesore that is the South Ninth street rail bridge. We'll call the anonymous comment line of the local paper and leave snarky remarks, then cruise around the tacky suburbs in your Saab. I'll find something to do.

Mefi-mail me if you're interested.
posted by hellojed at 4:30 PM on July 8, 2008 [2 favorites]

Sweet ride.
posted by tkchrist at 4:39 PM on July 8, 2008

Your car is a million kinds of excellent. I strongly suggest you have the phone numbers / web addresses of Mr Funky Old Car Parts Salesman with you on the trip. Godspeed and good luck with your mission.
posted by Meatbomb at 4:40 PM on July 8, 2008 [1 favorite]

I don't live there any more, but stop in Columbia MO for some Shakespeare's Pizza.
posted by Bookhouse at 5:32 PM on July 8, 2008

I am too far east to contribute a couch or drinks or whatever, but I do have to echo "sweet ride." Sweet ride.
posted by gac at 10:09 PM on July 8, 2008

If you want to take a detour south and then maybe catch I-40 to Little Rock, where I hear over on MetaChat you may have a meal offer, then please consider Fayetteville, Arkansas. A bed and a meal or two can be certainly be arranged. My kids are at their dad's for most of the summer, so there are extra sleeping spaces. Also, we've never had a meetup here at all, so any reason would be a great one.

If it's too far out of your way, please have a safe trip and best wishes to you and your grandma.
posted by lilywing13 at 11:57 PM on July 8, 2008

hellojed, it sounds like you need something to do. ;-) I found this little place online, which may or may not be worth hitting. I also found the Local Harvest Co-op. It seems like a good place to grab some provisions. I'll email you as the plans solidify.

Thanks for the recommendation Bookhouse.

lilywing13, thats a generous offer and it's appreciated. It's certainly doable, and it's not really out of the way. I could also hit Memphis if I go that route. For now lets say that's a definite possibility. :-) Let me know if your situation changes.

I'm glad you all like the little automobile, I sure do. Maybe I should just start a traveling sideshow giving rides in the car. I'd need to paint a little elephant on the side or something.

I've been driving that thing for ten years, so fear not meatbomb, I'm packing spares.
posted by -t at 1:59 AM on July 9, 2008

If you're detouring to Arkansas, my little detour is likely too far in the other direction, and I can't spare sleeping space. But look up Maryville, MO, and if you'd like, Gingerkitty and I live up there. Otherwise, if there's a KC meetup happening for -t, someone clue me in.
posted by lleachie at 7:09 AM on July 9, 2008

If you keep on going east for another hour and a half, or if the many wonders of Pigeon Forge, Gatlinburg & Dollywood pale over time, we could totally do another Asheville meetup. I think I can speak confidently for the majority of Asheville mefites (all four of us) when I say we are ready to drink beer at a moment's notice.
posted by mygothlaundry at 7:20 AM on July 9, 2008

If you hit Arkansas, come to Central Mississippi so we have an excuse to put together our first MeetUp.
posted by fijiwriter at 7:24 AM on July 9, 2008

If you do the detour down to Arkansas, stop by Branson, Missouri and I'll treat you to my family's show.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:38 AM on July 9, 2008

-t, I sent you a MefiMail.
posted by lilywing13 at 12:06 PM on July 9, 2008

lleachie, right now it does look like your a bit high on the detour scale. :-( Maybe things will change.

After a bit of searching, it doesn't look like there have been too many meetups in the larger cities that might be along the way (Kansas City, Wichita, Tulsa, Little Rock, Memphis, Nashville) I'm kind of bummed about that.

mygothlaundry, I'd be thrilled to make the drive to meet everyone in Asheville (and provide the oh so convenient excuse for drinking). I hear it's really nice there. It may not be on the initial trip out, but like I mentioned, I should have plenty of time for excursions once I'm settled. Should I send you an email then?

fijiwriter, where in Central Mississippi? Depending on where, your right. From Little Rock it wouldn't be all that far out of the way, and timing wise it looks like it could work. I could then take 59 northeasterly. I'd skip Memphis and Nashville then. Do you feel up to putting a meetup together?

shinynewnick, I'm not sure if the timing driving wise is going to work out for a stop in Branson because it's so close to Fayetteville (total hours a day thing, I need to make sure I'm making some time between stops). But that's a really cool invite. Can I let you know if things change? That's your family? Do you play?

lilywing13, got it thanks. Right now it looks like it would be on the 16th or 17th, but I'll email you soon with more info.

Cheers all, and thanks again.
posted by -t at 5:12 PM on July 9, 2008

i have this fantasy that pigeon forge is named for some crazy old mountain coot who liked to capture pigeons, thrust them into a furnace until they were glowing red-hot, pull them out and pound them flat with a sledgehammer and anvil.
posted by sergeant sandwich at 9:05 PM on July 9, 2008

We can scramble up a St. Louis meetup when you come through. Name your food, and we'll get you hooked up. How many days do you plan to take to get out here? (ugh, I just drove from Denver to St. Louis in one long drive on Monday. Christ, Kansas is boring.)

We had a meetup with Meatbomb, but I don't think there's been one since then. Give me a date, and I'll set something up!
posted by notsnot at 9:48 AM on July 10, 2008

notsonot, That sounds great! I hope it's not too short of a notice. The 17th (in the PM) looks like it would be the best date. I'll drop you a MeFI mail as well. Actually, I need to send several.

hey sergeant sandwich, I was curious about the name well, so I looked it up. I <3>
The name "Pigeon Forge" comes from an iron forge built by Isaac Love (1783-1854) sometime around 1820. The name of this forge referred to its location along the Little Pigeon River, in the vicinity of what is now the Old Mill. The name of the river comes from the flocks of Passenger Pigeons that frequented its banks at the time of the first Euro-American settlers' arrival.[4]

Actually, I like your story better.
posted by -t at 4:16 PM on July 10, 2008

You have to get with the St Louis crew, -t, they are excellent people plus they have frozen custard.
posted by Meatbomb at 8:41 AM on July 11, 2008

-t, there haven't been a lot of Kansas City meetups, but the Lawrence KS crew is decently active and it's more fun than KC anyway. Lawrence is on your route, just about 2 hrs east of Salina, which hellojed has described with frightening accuracy.

Also, as someone who played host on the Meatbomb US Tour 2007, I strongly urge anyone who may be hesitant to open your home to a random mefite to go for it. It was way randomly cool.
posted by donnagirl at 8:55 AM on July 11, 2008 [1 favorite]

Well donnagirl, maybe I could try and hit you guys on the way back, if there is interest. I once had the wacky idea of packing a bunch of MeFites from Denver in a car and crashing a Lawrence meetup. Maybe wearing eye patches or something.

You know, I was hoping hellojed was exaggerating for affect. *hears banjos in the background*

Mmmm frozen custard. Oh wow, check this place out.
posted by -t at 4:21 PM on July 11, 2008

Certainly, I just got an email from another Mefite coming to Branson next week, so let me know if your plans allow a nighttime stop in town. That is my family, and I just stay behind the scene for our show, director of our video production.
posted by shinynewnick at 9:45 AM on July 12, 2008

Will do shinynewnick!
posted by -t at 11:10 AM on July 12, 2008

For those interested, I met a most wonderful array of people.

I don't want to get all schmarmy, but I do want to make sure and let everyone know how much fun I had, and how grateful I am for everyones hospitality and generosity of time. Sincerely.

I am continually amazed by MeFites, online and off. A heartfelt thanks to all. *sniff*
posted by -t at 9:10 PM on July 19, 2008