I thought maybe you could come and give me notes...

January 7, 2010 8:24 PM

Calling Boston Mefites: Lets do this.

I've never posted a meetup thing before, but I think it would be cool if we could put something together for this. Either something simple like hanging out somewhere and reading lines to each other, to something more complicated like, I don't know, actually performing scenes and posting them to YouTube. Next weekend, maybe?

I have no experience with acting, drama, or YouTube, but I used to be the Lebowski Challenge Chair at my fraternity in college, so there's that.

Anyone else interested?

posted by Aizkolari to MetaFilter Gatherings at 8:24 PM (247 comments total)

Bostonians, by and large, won't come out unless you promise liquor. Frikkin bahstahds.
posted by Eideteker at 4:38 AM on January 8, 2010

Only if you swear to pronounce nihilists correctly.
posted by kid ichorous at 4:58 AM on January 8, 2010

You could talk me into this, but I'm busy next weekend. Even willing to host! As long as it's not next weekend.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:35 AM on January 8, 2010

kid ichorous: "Only if you swear to pronounce nihilists correctly"

In Massachusetts, it's pronounced like /NITCH-ill-ists/. That's where the C from Worcester went.

The R is on the end of our pizzar.
posted by Plutor at 5:43 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

Where the did e end up?
posted by DU at 5:46 AM on January 8, 2010

Woooster.

And I still can't get behind Peabody being pronounced PEE-biDEE.

a Californian relocated to Boston
posted by namewithhe1d at 5:50 AM on January 8, 2010

Youse college kids with your Fredrik Nitch an your fancypants ideas, I swear.
posted by kid ichorous at 5:51 AM on January 8, 2010

namewithhe1d: you should probably avoid the Blue line, then. My first ride 13 years ago:

"Next stop, Wundalind!"
Where?
"Wundalin!"
Gwendolyn?
"Wundalin!"
What?
"Wun-da-lin!"

At least Braintree is Braintree.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 5:58 AM on January 8, 2010

I'll be in the Midwest next weekend, and there's a New England meetup in VT that could take away potential recruits.

Weekend after, I'm totally there if this is actually going down.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:05 AM on January 8, 2010

"Next stop, Wundalind!"
Where?
"Wundalin!"
Gwendolyn?
"Wundalin!"
What?
"Wun-da-lin!"

When I had friends visiting from non-New England parts of the country, they actually gasped and laughed at "Next stop, HA-VUHD SQUAY-UH" I had to gently remind them not to taunt the natives.

(Also: hearing someone with a Southern accent trying to imitate this is the second funniest accent snafu I've ever heard. The funniest being a German guy who learned English in Australia trying to imitate Forrest Gump.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:07 AM on January 8, 2010

Can I just come to watch and drink beer?
posted by bondcliff at 6:08 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I've never been into Lebowski, but I like meetups. And beer.

(Speaking of weird regional pronunciations, is there some sort of compendium of how to pronounce all the place names around here? I am constantly embarrassing my transplanted self by saying stuff like "pea-buddy" and "bill-erica.")
posted by Metroid Baby at 6:08 AM on January 8, 2010

bondcliff: "Can I just come to watch and drink beer"

No beer. Only Caucasians and Sarsaparilla.
posted by Plutor at 6:18 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I like your style, Plutor.
posted by bondcliff at 6:27 AM on January 8, 2010

oh, i'd be tempted, but next weekend is arisia so i'll be getting my geek on.
posted by rmd1023 at 6:32 AM on January 8, 2010

What about the weekend after next then? I don't care when this happens, only that it does.

And clearly there will be booze.
posted by Aizkolari at 6:40 AM on January 8, 2010

I had to gently remind them not to taunt the natives.

We don't mind it. Really.
posted by oinopaponton at 6:53 AM on January 8, 2010

What about the weekend after next then? I don't care when this happens, only that it does.

I'm all for it. Name a venue and a time, and I'm so there.

(Probably. I hope.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:00 AM on January 8, 2010

I'd be down for a line reading!!!!

Especially if beer is involved!!!

Next few weekends are looking good --- outside of a possible early morning swim class for Baby Zizzle that I may sign up for and that there's no way in hell would interfere with any MeFi meet up (MeFites up by 9 on a Saturday? Don't think so!), I'd probably be able to make something.
posted by zizzle at 7:02 AM on January 8, 2010

MeFites up by 9 on a Saturday? Don't think so!

That's Shabbos
posted by kid ichorous at 7:14 AM on January 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

There is no better place to listen to that Boston accept than on the T. It just makes me smile the whole way.

Except the Green Line, that is.. That high brow line never seems to get the strong accents, or the interesting people. Just people in Pea coats, listening to their iPods and reading hardcover books.

The other lines? Pure gold.
posted by namewithhe1d at 7:34 AM on January 8, 2010

And why do people laugh at me when I pronounce Haverhill "Haver Hill", not the slurred Haverrlll as the natives do? Um, YOUR accent is wrong. Not mine.
posted by namewithhe1d at 7:36 AM on January 8, 2010

I like doing stuff that doesn't involve drinking, but I'm not a Lebowski fan, much. I was thinking about proposing some ice skating on the Common sometime, though.
posted by Miko at 7:41 AM on January 8, 2010

I took the Blue Line this morning (first time; I've now ridden every line on the T!). Apparently "Bowdoin" is pronounced "Bodin."

Don't forget Quinzee. And "Ayer" means yesterday in Spanish. It's not pronounced like "Air." I need to put together a English-NewEnglish dictionary. The other day I heard a guy talking about Stawp n Shawp (which is a grossry stowah). Then he was talking about some financial thing that was apparently the "tawpic du zhooah." It's weird how it works. You'd think "your" would be pronounced "yaw," but it's "yoh/yah."
posted by Eideteker at 7:48 AM on January 8, 2010

And of course "carriage" "bubbler" and "tawnic" etc. Still haven't figured out what makes a bulky roll so bulky.
posted by Eideteker at 7:50 AM on January 8, 2010

Why can Rhode Islanders keep the middle R (though lose the end) in the word "crack-UH" but lose it completely in the case of "AHHHHH-tic."

(That last one? Not the word attic, but the town of Arctic.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:54 AM on January 8, 2010

YOUR accent is wrong. Not mine.

There's no such thing as a wrong accent. Except for the deep midwest Fargo accent. Good lord but that's irritating.

(And everyone in my mother's family is from Minnesota and talks like that.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 7:55 AM on January 8, 2010

Haverhill is a nightmare for New Englanders. The rule is to drop Rs and optionally replace with an H. So "Park the car on the tar and shut off the power." becomes "Pahk the cah on the tah and shut off the powe." But what to do when there is both an R and an H? Clearly there's black magic at work. To avoid the curse just rush through it as fast as you can and eliminate the bad bit: Have-ill. The e to i transition makes a sort of R noise as they do it, but that's happenstance.

The alternative is to add an A in front of an R for Havearhill which becomes "Have-AR-Hill" but that's three freaking syllables. It's too cold out for that sort of thing.

On preview: Other rules include replacing Cs with K or dumping it entirely (useless letter) and this lower case O foolishness ("aw"? Where's the O "aw"?), so just eliminate and sub lower case A instead ("ah").

Grapefruitmoon: it's the Black magic again. R next to a C? Might as well be 666, or k. No point in it.
posted by jwells at 8:01 AM on January 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

A few years ago we decided that the best word to pronounce in Bostonese is "scofflaw."

Scawf-lawr.
posted by Miko at 8:04 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

grapefruitmoon: "Why can Rhode Islanders keep the middle R (though lose the end) in the word "crack-UH" but lose it completely in the case of "AHHHHH-tic." "

Non-rhotic accents only pronounce Rs that come before a vowel. The first R in cracker has a following vowel, the last one doesn't. In arctic, the R doesn't have a vowel after it, whether you elide the /k/ sound or not.
posted by Plutor at 8:31 AM on January 8, 2010

I refuse to have children until I move to a state with a less ridiculous accent. I'm even leery of getting a dog for fear that it would go "bahk" and "ahf."

I'd be game for a meetup, but I'm busy on the 23rd--I'd come the 22nd, tho. I'd love to shoot this grand guignol (I'm happy to shoot w/o flash, Grapefruit).
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:33 AM on January 8, 2010 [2 favorites]

Having moved back to Ohio from Boston, I gotta say I miss the accent. BTW, Metroid Baby, I was told it's more "brickah" than "bill-erica." That's a tricky one.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 8:39 AM on January 8, 2010

Yeah, I'm not into the drinking or Lebowski thing either, but would love to do something less mentally taxing like a dinner or movie. I grew up near Harvard U., so I don't have any accent at all. *feels left out*
posted by Melismata at 8:42 AM on January 8, 2010

When I went to college in Indiana, the first time I ordered a sandwich at a deli I asked for it on a bulkie. "A what?" the lady said. "A bulkie." I replied. "A what?" she asked again. I assumed that she couldn't hear me, so I loudly repeated "a BULKIE." The exchange continued until I finally pointed at the bread I wanted, which, unbeknownst to me, is referred to as a roll in most of the country.

I'm away the next couple of weeks but this does sound like a fun idea- have a good time! Oh, and Haver Hill? Hahahaha.
posted by emd3737 at 9:00 AM on January 8, 2010

I'd be game for a meetup, but I'm busy on the 23rd--I'd come the 22nd, tho. I'd love to shoot this grand guignol (I'm happy to shoot w/o flash, Grapefruit).

Awww, yay! We'll still see if I can make it. It's a toss-up, and not at all within my control. You may get to use flash with impunity.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:01 AM on January 8, 2010

Also: I always laughed on the inside when one of my housemates in college distinctly pronounced Northampton as two words - North. Hampton. Same with putting the H in Amherst.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:02 AM on January 8, 2010

Oh, and Haver Hill? Hahahaha.
posted by emd3737

See.. that's exactly what I'm talking about. Sounds as weird to me as Peabody.

PS.. sorry for the thread hijack
posted by namewithhe1d at 9:37 AM on January 8, 2010

winding up in a video on youtube by chance is on my list of fears, so making one on purpose would be too perverse an act for me to engage in with strangers. that said, meet ups are fun and I'm glad there's one brewing!
posted by moxiedoll at 9:46 AM on January 8, 2010

It's not "Woostah," it's "Wis-tah." Rhymes with "sistah."

People in Boston pronounce it "Woostah" but people in Worcester know better. It's "Wistah."

Also, Petersham is "peters-ham" not "peter-sham". Waltham is "wall-tham" (rhymes with Petersham) not "wall-thum".

BER-lin. CAN-ton. Me-THOO-en.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:47 AM on January 8, 2010

Sounds like we need to call a place and time. The 22nd at... ??? and ???oclock?

Someone else fill in the blanks. Last time I took charge, the venue forgot we were coming.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:47 AM on January 8, 2010

Warwick, RI, on the other hand? War.wick. Just when you think there should be something weird? Nope.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:48 AM on January 8, 2010

And Haverhill is "Hay-vuh-ill". This is not rocket surgery, folks. Especially not compared to Tchoupitoulas Street.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:49 AM on January 8, 2010

Also - the true test is the pronunciation of Fanueil Hall.

(Fan-UHL. Duh.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:49 AM on January 8, 2010

Warwick, RI, on the other hand? War.wick.

Native Rhode Islanders pronounce it "Warruck."
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:49 AM on January 8, 2010

Im late to this party but the best phrase in a boston accent is hands down "spare tires".
posted by pwally at 9:50 AM on January 8, 2010

"Warruck" is still close enough to Warwick that you can actually understand what they mean.

Until they ask you if you want to go grab a cabinet.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:50 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

grapefruitmoon, are you fucking with us? Remember that my Irony Meter and Sarcasm Detector are still out of order after yesterday.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:51 AM on January 8, 2010

FAN-uhl or FAN'l.

Also, it's not really CAN-ton. It's CAN-tun. My bad.
posted by Sidhedevil at 9:52 AM on January 8, 2010

Why on earth would I be fucking with you? In what way? "Warruck" is about the most comprehensible thing I've ever heard a native Rhody say and a cabinet is indeed a real thing other than the thing you think it is.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:53 AM on January 8, 2010

Someone let me know when and where this meetup is so I can get Scituated.
posted by Eideteker at 9:58 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Except the Green Line, that is.. That high brow line never seems to get the strong accents, or the interesting people. Just people in Pea coats, listening to their iPods and reading hardcover books.

Aw. I'm totally that person. And clearly you need to stop at Aaaaggghhhhlington station. Ok, not really, but the D line the evening of a Sox game is probably the closest you're going to get to the obnoxious Dunkin Donuts drinking New England dude stereotype.

I grew up in the 'burbs, but I don't really have an accent. It only shows up when I've had too much to drink.

Anyway, I'm interested in a meetup and available pretty much whenever.

My dad, who grew up in Summahville, voted for Barack O'Bammer.
posted by giraffe at 10:05 AM on January 8, 2010

Have-rill, guys.

KENMOAHH SQUAEUHHH
posted by oinopaponton at 10:08 AM on January 8, 2010

Why on earth would I be fucking with you? In what way?

fan-UHL?

I have enjoyed many a cabinet in my day. With coffee syrup.

One of the best non-explanations I ever heard was when someone who was obviously from Texas was ahead of me in line and asked the ice-cream lady what a cabinet was. She looked puzzled for a minute, and then said, "It's the same as a frappe!"
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:26 AM on January 8, 2010

I have never been to a meetup before. I am shy . . . but this is really tempting. Also, I know how to pronounce things correctly, and do not make fun of people "from away."
posted by theredpen at 10:32 AM on January 8, 2010

You want people from Boston to talk like shakespere doing a California accent?

I like the sound of this.

Well, actually, I think its going to sound roughly like scraping a cat across a chalkboard with a vaccuum cleaner but - hey... it will certainly sound unique.
posted by Nanukthedog at 10:39 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

The correct pronunciation of Worcester is "Wuhster", unless you're Mayor Menino; he's apparently allowed to call it "Woostick". And Rhode Island natives are weird, what with their cabinets and their New York System. I lived there for two years and never figured out half of what people were talking about when the discussion turned to food and drink.

But yeah, Aizkolari, even though I've never read Shakespeare out loud and would probably be made fun of, I'd be interested in a line reading sometime or even going all out and dressing up and performing in front of a camera.
posted by xbonesgt at 10:40 AM on January 8, 2010

Everytime I drive past Worcester, I'm reminded of my 11th grade history teacher, Ms. Wooster. She was from the Cape. She had no discernible accent.

I used to live in Central SQUEEYEAH and worked for a company in WOOBIN. They moved down to BEDFID. Now I live in WALL-THAM (or WAULTHUMB) and frequently ride my bike into WAUTAHTAHN and NOO'IN. I used to go to GLOSSTAH often. I have family down in HINGUM and friends in QUINZEE.

On the way to NAYDICK I drive through Cochituate and in 13 years, I still can't figure it out, so I pronounce it phonetically, which my sister-in-law does not appreciate.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 10:48 AM on January 8, 2010 [4 favorites]

What's so hard about Sih-tyoo-et?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:08 AM on January 8, 2010

Shameful admission: I was talking to someone in Portugal (non-native English speaker, and certainly non-native New Englander) who pronounced "Connecticut" the way it's spelled and I had to bite my tongue not to correct them.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:09 AM on January 8, 2010

On the way to NAYDICK I drive through Cochituate and in 13 years, I still can't figure it out, so I pronounce it phonetically, which my sister-in-law does not appreciate.

I believe it's Coh-ti-chew-it...
posted by sarahmelah at 11:11 AM on January 8, 2010

Co-titch-oo-it, which is probably wrong, but that's how all we locals pronounce it. I used to catch kivahs on Lake Cochituate right down from da Ho-Jo's on the Pike. Where the bridge crosses from middle lake to North lake. Down by Kaufman's cove, near Indian Hill. Where the Hippie House was, before it burned down. You know where I'm talking about, right?

And your pronunciation of NOO'IN is one of my pet peeves about some of my fellow locals. The way they'll just omit entire syllables. 'Membah dat time we went to da packie in Noo'in?
posted by bondcliff at 11:13 AM on January 8, 2010

One more thing. The first time I heard some one ask for Jimmies instead of chocolate sprinkles on their sundae, I could not grasp what the hell they were talking about. Why Jimmies?

And hell, just because I say tennis shoes instead of sneakers doesn't mean that I play tennis all the time. Just like when you wear a tennis skirt or boat shoes it does not mean that you are actively engaged in those activities at that moment.
posted by namewithhe1d at 11:15 AM on January 8, 2010

This is all very therapeutic by the way...
posted by namewithhe1d at 11:17 AM on January 8, 2010

Ahha! Thanks!

grapefruitmoon: you're thinking of Scituate!

And your pronunciation of NOO'IN is one of my pet peeves about some of my fellow locals
Not MY pronunciation, thankyouverymuch! I mentally stab people in the face when they omit that "T".
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 11:18 AM on January 8, 2010

Certainly I didn't mean YOUR pronunciation. I'd be a WICKID BASTID if I meant it that way.
posted by bondcliff at 11:20 AM on January 8, 2010

Cat Pie Hurts: You'll have to excuse me, my brain fell out of my ears a few hours ago. I'm still trying to shove it back in.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:21 AM on January 8, 2010

My ex-spouse was horrified when I picked up "wicked" from the natives. I can't stop now. I open my mouth, and out it comes. WICKED ANNOYING, I'M SURE.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:21 AM on January 8, 2010

I grew up here, we never traveled when I was a kid and I really never met anyone from anywhere else until I got out of high school. When I was 17, my aunt, uncle and cousin came over from Ireland for my brother's wedding. I'd never met them before. I just talked like I normally do and I think my cousin had known me for about six hours before he burst out with "Why the bloody 'el is everything WICKED AWESOME? What the 'el does WICKED AWESOME mean? I fucking hate America already."

My world grew a bit that day.
posted by bondcliff at 11:29 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Still haven't figured out what makes a bulky [sic] roll so bulky.
See all my WUHSTuh relatives pronounce this "boukie" so I never had that problem.
posted by cocoagirl at 11:42 AM on January 8, 2010

And what do they call subs here in Boston? Hoagies, subs, grinders, heros, or something else?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 11:45 AM on January 8, 2010

"Subs," and a tolchock on the head for using such gussied-up language, there's a good lad.
posted by kid ichorous at 11:47 AM on January 8, 2010

Bulkie roll - Wikipedia causes me to lean toward thinking it's an Americanization of the Polish bulka, "bread roll," courtesy of delis run by Polish immigrants.

Interestingly, I recently learned that corned beef, staple of American-Irish celebrations, also came to the US via Eastern European delis.
posted by Miko at 11:48 AM on January 8, 2010

"Subs," and a tolchock on the head for using such gussied-up language, there's a good lad.

Now MY irony meter is busted because surely you mean a grinder.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:49 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

(That might be slightly regional, I grew up in Vermont where we have frappes, but no bubblers.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:50 AM on January 8, 2010

grinders and frappes grinders and frappes grinders and frappes

unless you'd rather have tonic
posted by Sidhedevil at 11:52 AM on January 8, 2010

What are bubblers? Is that like gastroenteritis?

Is there a list of these things somewhere? I feel like I'm going to go to an Indian restaurant and find out "chicken tikka masala" is called a "saucy Pete."
posted by Admiral Haddock at 11:56 AM on January 8, 2010

What are bubblers?

Drinking fountains.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:56 AM on January 8, 2010

Is there a list of these things somewhere?

Like driving in Boston, this is something you have to figure out for yourself. Or die trying.
posted by oinopaponton at 11:57 AM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

I feel like I'm going to go to an Indian restaurant and find out "chicken tikka masala" is called a "saucy Pete."

Yeah, but whatever you do, don't pronounce it like "sauce" or they'll know you're from somewhere else.
posted by bondcliff at 11:59 AM on January 8, 2010

What are bubblers?

Drinking fountains.

As in water fountains?

This is why we need C-3PO to attend all meetups, or at least someone needs to be wearing C-3PO Underoos.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:02 PM on January 8, 2010

i <3 this thread
posted by lunit at 12:02 PM on January 8, 2010

And thank you American Indians for putting all these cities geographically together so I can't for the life of me reference any of them correctly:

Watertown
Waltham
Weston
Wayland
Wellesley
Westwood
Woodbourne
Walpole
Westborough
Worcester
Woodville
Wachusett

I never remember, and just end up saying "you know.. that city to the west of here, starts with a W....?"

And don't get me started on Leominster (Lemon-stah??? Seriously?)
posted by namewithhe1d at 12:04 PM on January 8, 2010

Why Jimmies?

I believe "Jimmy" was originally slang for a black man back in the day. Hence the chocolate sprinkles are the only ones that are normally called "jimmies".

Anyway, more on topic - if you guys are really intent on doing this Lebowski thing, I got permission to have folks at our place. Walking distance to the Davis T.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:24 PM on January 8, 2010

Lemstah? Inn't that up by Gahdnah and Fitchb'g?
posted by xbonesgt at 12:25 PM on January 8, 2010

You know how those talking windshield-sticky GPS devices have a number of sexy synthesized personae, and how they're like equal parts Dante, Steven Hawking, and arch British Bond villainess? No? Well mine is.

So, one night I and a few friends fell to discussing the glaring lack of a "Bostonian" setting.

Before: Drive half a mile, then turn left. Recalculating. Turn around, and continue for three hundred feet till roundabout. Recalculating.

New hotness: Okay you go up past the Dunkies and then turn left right after that, no left! No, dumbass. OK now you're gonna wanna bang a u'ie right here, and go into the rotary but shit now you're headed straight into Mattapan! Noooo! dumbass.
posted by kid ichorous at 12:26 PM on January 8, 2010 [6 favorites]

stop in the store twentyfour an get me some burnahs
posted by kid ichorous at 12:28 PM on January 8, 2010

Okay you go up past the Dunkies and then turn left right after that,

In Rhode Island you can not reference Dunkin' Donuts in giving directions as it DOESN'T NARROW IT DOWN.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:32 PM on January 8, 2010 [3 favorites]

(And really, someone with a place/time for this meetup?)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:33 PM on January 8, 2010

Alright. Backseatpilot's house on the 22nd. Someone want to call a time so we can post this?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:33 PM on January 8, 2010

In Rhode Island you can not reference Dunkin' Donuts in giving directions as it DOESN'T NARROW IT DOWN.

Have you ever been to Boston?
posted by oinopaponton at 12:36 PM on January 8, 2010

Yes, I've lived in Boston. Rhode Island has more DDs. There are, off the top of my head, four within a block of my house.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:39 PM on January 8, 2010

Don't forget Milford, Medford, Medfield, etc. I always confuse those.

I still need to do that photo project where I get my friends to act out a diorama depicting the name of each town ending in -ham. Like someone holds up an umbrella while we pelt them with hams in Raynham. Sharing a bong with a ham in Stoneham. Need-ham, Dead-ham, etc.
posted by Eideteker at 12:39 PM on January 8, 2010

Providence Dunkin' Donuts. Per capita, way more than Boston.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:41 PM on January 8, 2010

I would kill you all for some Dunkin' Donuts right now. But an orange is kind of a fruit treat right? That's just as good, right? Right?!?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:44 PM on January 8, 2010

Update: an orange is not as good as a donut.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:06 PM on January 8, 2010

Eideteker - kindrid spirits! Every time I go to Needham, I pronounce it as a question!
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 1:06 PM on January 8, 2010

Per capita or not, there are enough Dunkies around me that I can get a LAHHHGE REGULAHH* in 5 minutes or less no matter where I am. If there's a Dunkies saturation point, we're well past it.

*I cannot actually drink a lahhge regulahh as that would crush me with its weight
posted by oinopaponton at 1:23 PM on January 8, 2010

In Soviet Russia, lahhge regulahh crushes you!

Wait, that's what you just said. How does this joke work again?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:27 PM on January 8, 2010

In Soviet Russia, lahhge regulahh gets diabetes from you?
posted by oinopaponton at 1:28 PM on January 8, 2010

I believe "Jimmy" was originally slang for a black man back in the day. Hence the chocolate sprinkles are the only ones that are normally called "jimmies".

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO

First of all, rainbow jimmies are also jimmies.

Second of all, the reason they're called "jimmies" is because there was once a brand of candy sprinkles, sold only in New England, called "Jimmy's." It's one of those things like "aspirin" and "zipper" that used to be a brand name and is now just a word.

My source on this is the Dictionary of American Regional English, not my ass, but my ass is too lazy to go down to the cellar and find the Dictionary of American Regional English.
posted by Sidhedevil at 1:34 PM on January 8, 2010 [4 favorites]

Drinking fountains.

As in water fountains?

Yeah. Water coolers.
posted by Miko at 1:36 PM on January 8, 2010

In Soviet Russia, Dictionary of American Regional English finds your ass!
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:36 PM on January 8, 2010

I drink a lahhge, extraextra. I am of Russian stock. I crush it.

(a few years ago, I took an 18 month hiatus form caffeine. My first dose back was (of course) a hit of Dunks and it tasted like cardboard soaked in pisswater. But it was delicious pisswater! And I still drink it! And every time I pass it down in Quincy, I'm compelled to stop by DD#1 to get my lahhge hazulnut, xtraxtra. Fucking crackwater, I tell ya.)
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 1:39 PM on January 8, 2010

My god, thank you, Sidhedevil . . . I was afraid to say "jimmies" again, and I flat-out refuse to call them "sprinkles" unless dealing with someone from away. I will be grateful every time I eat ice cream. (I also have started a campaign to return to our native "tonic" instead of "soda" -- please consider joining me, won't you all?)
posted by theredpen at 1:40 PM on January 8, 2010

Where was I where they call 'em "shots?" Somewhere.
posted by Miko at 1:45 PM on January 8, 2010

Since no one has called a time for this meet-up yet, can I now point out that I advocated for a day when I can't actually attend? I can make it up on a Saturday, but not a Friday. I know Admiral Haddock said that he can't make it on the 23rd - is there anyone else who has a strong Friday preference?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:51 PM on January 8, 2010

Oh shoot, I got my dates confused. I can still do the 22nd, but can't host on that day. So... other options?

Also, my ass is a well-respected source on cultural idiosyncrasies like the term "jimmies".
posted by backseatpilot at 3:15 PM on January 8, 2010

Bubblers aren't water coolers. Bubblers are drinking fountains.

Not a bubbler.

Bubbler.
posted by Sidhedevil at 3:19 PM on January 8, 2010

Maybe backseatpilot could host on the 23rd....? Or is the 22nd really better for a significant number of people who are not me?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:20 PM on January 8, 2010

Have we already ruled out next weekend? Or the weekend after?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:28 PM on January 8, 2010

By the weekend after, I mean, the weekend after the one in question--so, the 29/30?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:32 PM on January 8, 2010

One of my mother's sisters grew up in smalltown Nova Scotia (near enough to thick-accented Cape Breton to be of a linguistic piece with it) and has spent her entire adult life teaching elementary school in southern New Hampshire. Mrs gompa invents reasons to get her to say "shoes," because the long "o" goes on for about half a minute and has three subtle inflections in it.

ShyOOoos.

I believe if you split the distance between the Dude's SoCal drawl and Stratford English, you might arrive at her accent by the third or fourth Caucasian. She could play Maude. Or Brandt.
posted by gompa at 5:53 PM on January 8, 2010

Bob Oakes on WBUR has a similar accent and we always love hearing him say "Boston's Nyyewwws Station".

If there's beer and White Russians floating around somewhere, I would definitely enjoy being a part of it.
posted by Spatch at 7:16 PM on January 8, 2010

By Bob Oakes, I'm sure you mean Bob Ooooookes. I had to look up his name before I had any idea what it was. Literally, I had NO idea what his last name was before I looked it up.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:32 PM on January 8, 2010 [1 favorite]

Bubblers aren't water coolers. Bubblers are drinking fountains.

Not a bubbler.

Bubbler.

Yep. No. In the South, when I was a kind, drinking fountains were water coolers. The things with the 5-gallon jugs on them were kind of unheard of. I've seen 1940s versions of them, but they didn't cool the water. THey just dispense it.

A water cooler was usually stainless steel, but sometimes ceramic and wall-mounted, and bubbled out cold water. Look, this photo is tagged "water cooler." So's this. And this. A freestanding model. Here are some others.

So "Water cooler" is (to me, still, today) and at least was (to people in 1970s East Texas) a "bubbler." It's possible that not every drinking fountain was truly a "water cooler," but the word applied to all of them. In the South it was particularly important, since water in pipes would normally be piss-warm.
posted by Miko at 8:56 PM on January 8, 2010

Is Bob Ookes really from Boston? That is the weirdest pronunciation ever; really grating. It actually sounds like the way people from extreme Southern NJ, Maryland and Delaware say "oo" - I wondered if he might be from that region.
posted by Miko at 8:58 PM on January 8, 2010

I'm Boaaab Oooookes for Double-yew Bee Eee Arrrrrr
posted by oinopaponton at 9:41 PM on January 8, 2010

perhaps we could use doodle to schedule a time?
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 5:31 AM on January 9, 2010

I've heard it suggested that Bob Oakes' pronunciation of his own name may come from wearing a retainer in his youth.
posted by Plutor at 6:06 AM on January 9, 2010

I think this is the longest meetup thread in existence that has not actually worked out a time and place to meet up.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:16 AM on January 9, 2010 [1 favorite]

I'm just going to name a time and place soon if no one else does. I mean, please for the love of Dog, SOMEONE TAKE THE BULL BY THE HORNS HERE. Just name it!

(I have no problems with organizing, except that the one time that I did it, the venue forgot we were coming. Let's not go down that road again. But oh, oh I will if no one else does soon. I will name a time and place and we will arrive and there will be no tables! DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:54 AM on January 9, 2010

I'm going to call Saturday, January 30. As long as it's held in a location that's not too impossibly loud for my deaf ears to manage, even thought I'm not a devotee of Lebowski, I will definitely attempt showing up.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:18 AM on January 9, 2010

Seconded. Maybe we can figure out where to go once we know how many are in for the festivities. One option could be Cornwall's in Kenmore, where we've been before.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 9:26 AM on January 9, 2010

Judging by this profile Bob Oakes attended Mount Wachusett Community College and went to high school in Charlton (MA, I assume). So it seems like he's a local, but his accent doesn't sound that way. Weird.

I'll attend if it's on the 30th.
posted by A dead Quaker at 11:45 AM on January 9, 2010

I found that Wachusett thing, too, but really wished for a birthplace. It's a real Philly-area-sounding accent.
posted by Miko at 2:50 PM on January 9, 2010

Oookes definitely has a face for radio.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 3:45 PM on January 9, 2010

30th works for me!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:53 PM on January 9, 2010

Is this the thread for baggin on Dunkin' Donuts coffee? Because what is the deal with that shit that you New Englanders love it so much? It tastes like weakly steeped shoes.

Last time I was in Boston I had exacly one cup of DD coffee before I resorted to Starbucks for the rest of my trip (which, for a California lefty like myself, is akin to publicly murdering puppies).
posted by serazin at 12:22 AM on January 10, 2010

Is this the thread for baggin on Dunkin' Donuts coffee? Because what is the deal with that shit that you New Englanders love it so much? It tastes like weakly steeped shoes.

NO. This is the thread where we now take you out behind the barn and do unspeakable things to you.

It's right in The Rules of New England: "Thou must not cast aspersions upon our accents or our coffee without having lived through one entire New England winter." It's like your mom jokes. If you're from away, go rag on our coffee in that place that you live where you don't have to drink it.

Which brings us to the point that this is NEVER the thread for ragging on the Red Sox, Patriots, Bruins, or Celtics.

And the meetup! Place? Time? I'm happy to just go to Boston on the 30th, but I feel like that's probably not going to get me very far in terms of meeting up. Just being there. Randomly.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:32 AM on January 10, 2010

30th works for me.

How many people are we?

If we really want to talk about bizarre boston habits, the main thing here I can't understand is the eating of ice cream in the winter. It is cold out. I am cold. I do not wish to be colder. Why is every JP Licks stuffed with people at 10 pm on a Saturday night in January?
posted by nat at 9:24 AM on January 10, 2010

I can't make that day, but I hope it's wicked pissa!
posted by theredpen at 9:41 AM on January 10, 2010

If we really want to talk about bizarre boston habits, the main thing here I can't understand is the eating of ice cream in the winter. It is cold out. I am cold. I do not wish to be colder. Why is every JP Licks stuffed with people at 10 pm on a Saturday night in January?

It's not just Boston, it's all of New England. I think Vermont specifically does this even MORE than the other NE states, if I recall my "weird pointless state facts" correctly - VT has the highest ice cream consumption per capita. (And the highest beer consumption goes to NH.)

I don't know why we do it, other than the fact that a true New Englander can't admit that it's cold outside, so it might be an elaborate denial mechanism.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:45 AM on January 10, 2010

If we really want to talk about bizarre boston habits, the main thing here I can't understand is the eating of ice cream in the winter. It is cold out. I am cold. I do not wish to be colder. Why is every JP Licks stuffed with people at 10 pm on a Saturday night in January?

My understanding is that there is an unofficial contract in place. We agree to eat ice cream year round. This keeps the makers of the best ice cream in the world in business. We then enjoy the ice cream. Even if it's 10 degrees out.

Which reminds me, I need to go get a pint from Tosci's...
posted by A dead Quaker at 6:52 PM on January 10, 2010

VT has the highest ice cream consumption per capita

Well, duh!

(I trudged the 3 blocks to the grocery store last night in the windy, bitter 15F cold just to grab meself a pint of Ben and Jerry's. The guy in line behind me? -2- pints of Hagen Daaz.)
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:04 PM on January 10, 2010

VT has the highest ice cream consumption per capita

I never thought much about it before, but this fact actually goes quite well with another items VT has one of the highest per capital consumption of.

VT being #1 in ice cream was new to me, but I've also read that New England as a region also averages the highest per capital ice cream consumption. I guess my answer would be that I don't eat ice cream to get cool when it's hot outside. I eat ice cream because it's delicious. I don't really think of it as a seasonal food, though it's nice in the summer - but so are french fries nice in the summer, and they're hot.

Maybe we feel we need more comfort-food calories to get us through the winter, I don't know. But most situations that find me eating ice cream in the winter also find me inside a comfortably warm house or restaurant. It's not as though we're standing in line at the dairy bar window when it's February.
posted by Miko at 7:10 PM on January 10, 2010 [1 favorite]

New Englanders like their ice cream no matter when. We'll put hot maple syrup on snow and eat it if we can't find ice cream nearby, that's how much we like ice cream. And sugar on snow.
posted by Spatch at 6:01 AM on January 11, 2010 [1 favorite]

Granted, I was on my couch at home, but I greedily ate up Toscanini's cake batter ice cream last night. It is so good.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:42 AM on January 11, 2010

I've never heard "from away," possible because I am. It's probably said about me only behind my back.
posted by Eideteker at 6:52 AM on January 11, 2010

You guys, stop telling all our cool down-home secrets like how we eat snow . . . Eideteker is listening.

Here's another fun thing we apparently do in New England: almost pay $17.00! for a bag of grapes because we didn't notice they were $4.99/pound at the ripoff mart. Or maybe that's just me.
posted by theredpen at 7:05 AM on January 11, 2010

Since this free-form approach to planning a meetup has settled on an ice-cream theme, how about meeting at Toscanini's (or Christina's) and wandering over from there to a bar, ice creams in hand?

I don't really have a bar to recommend either around Central or Inman--obviously, there are a ton, but I don't know which ones would be meetup friendly.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:22 AM on January 11, 2010

Well, Trina's is all the rage right now - has anyone been? Everything I've read makes it sound like a pretty laid-back place.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:43 PM on January 11, 2010

grapefruitmoon: "if I recall my "weird pointless state facts" correctly - VT has the highest ice cream consumption per capita"

The IDFA wants $50 for Dairy Facts 2009, so I can't confirm it. But the Internet seems to think the answer is Alaska.

grapefruitmoon: "And the highest beer consumption goes to NH"

Nope. In 2003, it was Nevada and North Dakota before New Hampshire. Then Montana, New Mexico, Wisconsin, Louisiana. (The Beer Institute doesn't have any more recent numbers.
posted by Plutor at 1:02 PM on January 11, 2010

My numbers were from way before 2003, so not surprising it's changed.

It is 100% trufax that in the 1950s, Vermont was the only state to have ever had more cows than people. I'm still lobbying to give cows the vote. "And now, the Junior Senator from Vermont - a bale of hay."

(Meet-up? Are we any closer to having one?)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 1:16 PM on January 11, 2010

the only state to have ever had more cows than people

No way! Nebraska currently has more cows than people - 4:1 according to the Nebraska Beef Council - and I don't think it's the only state that applies to.

January 2006 figures illustrate that Nebraska continues to have far more cattle than people. Cattle outnumber Nebraskans nearly 4 to 1. Cows number 1.94 million, versus Nebraska residents who number just 1.7 million. The cows and the 4.7 million head that are annually fed in Nebraska total nearly 6.64 million cattle.

posted by Miko at 2:13 PM on January 11, 2010

Damn. All of my Vermont facts aren't facts at all! They're Vermont LIES!

Eff it, I still think we should give cows the vote.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:35 PM on January 11, 2010

Yeah, mebbe. But I'd be worried they'd form a bloc...
posted by Miko at 4:18 PM on January 11, 2010

If they formed a bloc, maybe we'd actually be able to schedule a meetup.
posted by nat at 9:25 PM on January 11, 2010

Yes. Cows would do a better job of scheduling a meetup than we are.

So far, we've got the 30th. Head count? Location? Time? Anybody? Bueller? Cow?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 5:45 AM on January 12, 2010

I'll be there, and will probably drag the +1 along. I'm location-agnostic.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:52 AM on January 12, 2010

Me too, and probably my +1 will be cajoled into coming, though that's not a dead cert.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:38 AM on January 12, 2010

I just heard "than the laura lahs." Translation: "than the law allows."

Oh wait, is there a meetup going on?
posted by Eideteker at 8:41 AM on January 12, 2010 [2 favorites]

Also, the month after February? "Motch."
posted by Eideteker at 8:53 AM on January 12, 2010

So that's settled, then.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:47 AM on January 12, 2010

My vote is for Trina's, in Inman Square. Several buses stop there or you can walk from Central. Any other options?
posted by backseatpilot at 1:03 PM on January 12, 2010

I haven't been to Trina's but I'm down. The other option I was thinking (on that side of the river) would be the Cambridge Brewing Company in Kendall, which could be combined with a movie at the theatre there. Or to Friendly Toast! So tasty.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:06 PM on January 12, 2010

The CBC is also a good option, as long as we don't have as many people as the last time we had a meetup there. Then again, that was the post-ROFLCon Mega-Mod Meetup and would be hard to beat.

Flat Top Johnny's is also in that little area if people are in the mood for billiards.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:12 PM on January 12, 2010

My location preference is that it serves food.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 1:35 PM on January 12, 2010

My location preference is that it's not too loud. If that's not possible, then my preference is that they serve alcohol. I learned at the last Prov. meetup that I can compensate for my deafness, or at the very least, completely make shit up as I go along after I've imbibed some alcohol.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 7:38 PM on January 12, 2010

My location preference is that we don't sweat it because it's weeks away. Why the rush? We have so much time to make suggestions and hash out the very best one! Also, somebody who knows how should put this on the upcoming list so that other Boston people will know it's happening (even though we're off the main page) and chime in.
posted by moxiedoll at 8:34 PM on January 12, 2010

I don't know what Trina's is - is it special enough to be worth walking to Inman in the freeeeezing cold, though? Inman's a short walk from Central, sure, but there ARE no "short walks" in this kind of weather if we're just talking ice cream.
posted by moxiedoll at 8:37 PM on January 12, 2010

Trina's Starlite Lounge. Yelp. Urbanspoon.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:45 AM on January 13, 2010

Alright, let's do Trina's. The 30th. I can get into Boston at 607 PM or 0813 PM - so my vote for time would be around 630PM.

I declare this to be an official proclamation, unless someone has a MORE official proclamation to make.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:10 AM on January 13, 2010

Also, somebody who knows how should put this on the upcoming list so that other Boston people will know it's happening (even though we're off the main page) and chime in.

Yeah, to do this we have to have a date and time - so we should actually get on that, weeks away or not!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:13 AM on January 13, 2010

Calender event added. Feel free to continue discussing strange New England accents and customs.

Paahk the caah in Haahvahd Yaahd, amirite?!
posted by backseatpilot at 6:56 AM on January 13, 2010

My favorite strange New England custom would have to be cheddar cheese with apple pie. ZOMG DELICIOUS.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:06 AM on January 13, 2010

I should be there. Are we doing the Lebowski thing, still?
posted by Ryvar at 10:35 AM on January 13, 2010

How does one get there by T goodness? 'Cause while that Inman Square area is rumored to be sort of awesome, it's sort of out of the way of the T. The MBTA website tells me to grab the 91 bus, but uhhh...we all know not to rely on the T for directions.

Hope to make it, but as life with a babe dictates, it all depends. :P
posted by zizzle at 10:47 AM on January 13, 2010

I'd take a cab. Or take the T to Central or Lechmere and then take a cab. Or Zipcar!

Under no circumstances will I ever take an MBTA bus.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:51 AM on January 13, 2010

What's wrong with the bus?
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 11:01 AM on January 13, 2010

There is nothing wrong with the bus.

(Except the 66)
posted by oinopaponton at 11:08 AM on January 13, 2010

YEOUCH. That is a HIKE from Central Sq. Perhaps I'll drive.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 11:28 AM on January 13, 2010

Provided you want to LARP Waiting for Godot, there's nothing wrong with the bus.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 12:21 PM on January 13, 2010 [3 favorites]

Eh, that's pretty line-dependent. I take the 88, the 1, and the 90 all the time, and they're fine. The 77 can be a bit several-buses-at-once though.
posted by nat at 12:53 PM on January 13, 2010

Provided you want to LARP Waiting for Godot

Oh good, we have a theme for our next meetup.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:13 PM on January 13, 2010

Either the 83 or the 91 will take you from Central to Inman and vice-versa. Since Central is the start of the routes, it's a relatively good bet that they'll be on time on the way from Central--they're less likely to be on schedule in the other direction (but since there are the two of them, your likely/average waiting time shouldn't be much more than 10 minutes).
posted by rivenwanderer at 1:20 PM on January 13, 2010

Inman Square is not far from Central Square. It's a fifteen minute stroll to most places of interest. Unless your timing is lucky, riding the bus may actually take longer. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it, I'm headed to Foxwoods for my birthday that weekend.

P.S. You're all invited!
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 7:50 PM on January 13, 2010

Ooh, count me and a +1 in! And, dude! I can even bring a genuine Southern California accent to the table!
posted by Diagonalize at 7:55 PM on January 13, 2010

Well, fuck yeah. I've been back for just three months, and I've been dying for a meetup since escaping the grasp of the there-is-no-Chicago-cabal Chicago cabal.

Wait, you don't end every meetup doing softcore porn karaoke here in Boston?

I'll be driving from Davis/Powderhouse if someone wants a ride. MeMail me.
posted by sachinag at 7:26 PM on January 14, 2010

I may be able to make it from Web-stah. You know, just south of Wistah and Aubin.
posted by Biblio at 8:00 AM on January 18, 2010

How to pronounce Massachusetts town names.

And I am planning on attending this meetup. This used to be the Abbey?
posted by not_on_display at 10:29 PM on January 18, 2010 [2 favorites]

Yes, I believe this is the former Abbey Lounge. (I always get the Abbey and the B-Side confused, so who knows.)
posted by backseatpilot at 8:47 AM on January 19, 2010

Wasn't B-Side in Kendall?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:42 AM on January 19, 2010

The B-Side was kinda between Inman and Kendall, yeah. That place is now the Lord Hobo and is all right, with more beers than you can shake whatever it is you want to shake at it.
posted by Spatch at 7:19 PM on January 19, 2010

I'm sorry, locals, but "Concord" has two Os in it. It's not "Conquered." Quite the opposite!
posted by Eideteker at 8:51 PM on January 19, 2010

I just moved back to Boston from LA and I fully intend to join y'all. It's going to hurt going to the ex-Abbey, though, but I can do it!
posted by pazazygeek at 7:28 AM on January 21, 2010

So are we going to try to embarrass ourselves at the bar? Is Aizkolari still coming? Anyone want to print scripts?
posted by backseatpilot at 9:11 AM on January 21, 2010

Normally I would say that this Big Lebowski as Shakespeare thing sounds mortifying, especially to attempt with a bunch of strangers, but considering that there are several Southern California transplants to Boston attending, I can't actually think of anything more appropriate to do as a group, honestly.
posted by pazazygeek at 9:13 AM on January 21, 2010

Of all the things I fear, public mortification is definitely at the bottom of the list. I'm in for a reading. Especially if I can do Maude. I really love Maude.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:50 AM on January 21, 2010

Have we ever managed *not* to embarrass ourselves? isn't that the point?
posted by nat at 12:15 PM on January 21, 2010

Explosion and I will probably be there.

Inman Square area is rumored to be sort of awesome
It is. There are like a billion places to get brunch. Mmm... brunch.
posted by giraffe at 3:52 AM on January 22, 2010

Is the Lord Hobo even open?

If I've never seen the Big Lebowski (I know, shame!), can i still come and watch?
posted by canine epigram at 6:07 AM on January 22, 2010

You have more than a week to remedy not having seen TBL. I suggest you get on that.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 8:27 AM on January 22, 2010

--Averts eyes in embarrassment over canine epigram's sordid confession.--
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:36 AM on January 22, 2010

I think I will come! I, too, need to re-watch TBL. (and... errr... try to understand what the big deal is?)
posted by lunit at 11:47 AM on January 22, 2010

(and... errr... try to understand what the big deal is?)

It's a movie that captures the zeitgeist of the late nineties. It really tied the decade together.
posted by explosion at 12:40 PM on January 22, 2010 [1 favorite]

lunit: I may or may not drive up. Let me know if you may or may not be interested in getting a ride.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 12:49 PM on January 22, 2010

Lebowski! Awesome! I'm there!
posted by komilnefopa at 7:55 PM on January 24, 2010

New hotness: Okay you go up past the Dunkies and then turn left right after that, no left! No, dumbass. OK now you're gonna wanna bang a u'ie right here, and go into the rotary but shit now you're headed straight into Mattapan! Noooo! dumbass.

Your prayers have been answered.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:56 AM on January 25, 2010

I'm still coming, but I don't want to print scripts.

I mean, I'll print one for me, but the rest of you are on your own.
posted by Aizkolari at 8:14 AM on January 25, 2010

lemme get this straight.. is Lebowski a type of beer?

[dodging lobbed bowling balls]

I should torrent this movie and watch it. Last time I saw it was ... well ... I remember something about a rug? The Dudarino is missing a rug?
posted by not_on_display at 7:27 PM on January 27, 2010

not_on_display = dead to me.
posted by bondcliff at 8:02 AM on January 28, 2010 [1 favorite]

Excitement is building. I can feel the tingle.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:25 AM on January 29, 2010

Icy Hot is not an appropriate treatment for jock itch.
posted by backseatpilot at 6:29 AM on January 29, 2010

So is this thing going to be primarily Lebowski? We're still on the fence about coming into town.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:49 AM on January 29, 2010

Is Ben Gay a viable alternative? No homo. Yes hamburger.

And robocop, I can't say, but I expect the Lebowski focus will fade very quickly. But the Dude abides.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:28 AM on January 29, 2010

Yeah, we don't want to rain on the Lewbowskites' fun by not being all that interested in it* and are concerned that the more less interested types show up, the less fun the people who set this up so they could do the Lewbowski thing would have.

Beanplate!



* True Fact: I have never seen The Big Lebowski and, like Rocky Horror, probably never will. It's as close to "would I need a TV to understand this?" iconoclasm as I get.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 7:40 AM on January 29, 2010

Lebowski is not my favorite movie, and it's not even my favorite Coen brothers movie. But it is well worth seeing. I don't own a TV either (or at least, not one that's hooked up to receive signals from The Man), and I can vouch for it as worthwhile.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:07 AM on January 29, 2010

Hmm, I was planning on coming for general meetingup, despite having no interest in Lebowski, but robocop's beanplate argument is persuasive. Is there enough interest for another table for broken picture telephone/other entertainment, or is everybody else going expecting to just quote favorite lines the whole time?
posted by nonane at 8:28 AM on January 29, 2010

Yes, please. As much as I enjoy Lebowski, I hope we can save the Lebowski cum Shakespeare drama for our respective Lebowski mamas. Plus, I am coming with my delightful +1, and it would be good to talk, etc.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 8:40 AM on January 29, 2010

After attempting to recite a scottish poem aloud for a friend's Robert Burns' day dinner, where I sounded (to my horror) like Drew Barrymore reading out loud from a German phonebook, I realize that I should probably not attempt to read any Shakespeary-type language aloud, Lebowski or no. But I still plan to attend.
posted by pazazygeek at 8:46 AM on January 29, 2010

As much as I'm in this for the Lebowski, I can't imagine that - devoted as we may be - we'd get through the entire script. Dude would probably get his rug stolen and focus would fade out as soon as Walter was ready with the ringer.

That said, I hope we at least peruse *some* of the script, maybe just the highlights, because it would be awesome and I'm totally 100% obsessed, but I'm also down with just hanging out and dropping the Lebowski pretext altogether.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:41 AM on January 29, 2010

Nonane- I am very interested in a broken picture telephone/general chatty table. I confess that I really don't like Lebowski (or any Coen bros film, they are way too long for my Billy Madison loving attention span), but I would love to hang out without raining on any Lebowski loving parade.
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 11:09 AM on January 29, 2010

I just recently bought Bohnanza (the bean farming game that anyone can play!) which I might bring. Honestly, not having ever been to Trina's I'm not sure if the layout will permit board gaming, especially on a Saturday night.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:39 AM on January 29, 2010

Saturday night?!?!

YAY!

I was afraid I was going to have to back out on going because X million things are getting in the way of me doing the things that I need to do to go and I kept thinking it was tonight. Yay!
/temporally disabled

yay!
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 11:44 AM on January 29, 2010

So is it 630? I hope so because then we've got a chance at grabbing some tables - I think it'll be too loud for playacting (it's not a big place and it's going to be crowded) but BPT can happen anywhere!
posted by moxiedoll at 4:18 PM on January 29, 2010

Yeah, 630 was the agreed upon time.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 4:25 PM on January 29, 2010

My GF and I might be there a bit earlier--both to get a little corner, and because we have another engagement at 8 and so we'd like to maximize our Metafilter time...

For the benefit of whoever gets there first, how many people are coming? Sounds like

Admiral Haddock +1
Moxiedoll
Grapefruitmoon
Cat Pie Hurts
Backseatpilot +1
pazazygeek
Bondcliff
Aizkolari
Lunit
Explosion
komilnefopa
sachinag
banjo_and_the_pork
Biblio

That's 16 by my count, and I am far from confident I've found everyone in the thread who said they were coming. But, friends, I am about to embark on a burrito expedition, and I can't think straight anymore.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:32 PM on January 29, 2010

Metroid Baby and I are "very maybe" going. Bohnanza is awesome, and hopefully, they'll allow it.
posted by ignignokt at 6:05 PM on January 29, 2010

I don't think I can make it unless I can bring my son. He's probably a bit young to play Larry and I'm not sure he's heard of Vietnam.
posted by bondcliff at 7:00 PM on January 29, 2010

I'll be there. I am a TBL fan, but I can't act. I'd play Liam if need be, but I'd be happier just hanging out and swilling a beer or two.
posted by A dead Quaker at 7:36 PM on January 29, 2010

I'm planning on coming, in the same sort of "very maybe" way. I'm planning on being just me, but hey, you never know, I might bifurcate.
posted by nat at 10:10 PM on January 29, 2010

(I'm banjo's other half, so it looks like I'll be there too!)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:39 AM on January 30, 2010

Hooray! I'm a definite maybe as well. I planning to trek from Harvard Sq, the fool that I am.

I'm going to squee like a little girl if I'm allowed to read Sir Donald's eulogy:


WALTER
Words, words, words. I’ll speak.
A glooming peace this morning with it brings:
The sun, for sorrow, will not show his head.
We come here to have talk of these sad things;
Of Donald, he who in his life bowlèd.
He was a straight and true bowler, and a virtuous man. He was of our sort, a man who loved the woods free from peril of the envious court. And he loved bowling well. He knew the pebbles on the hungry beach. And yea, he was a bowler most avid. And a fair friend, who never can be old. He died as did so many of his generation, ere his time. In Thy wisdom, Lord, Thou didst take him, as Thou took so many bright flowering young men, i’ the jungles of the Orient. These young men gave their lives, and Donald too; Donald who loved to play at ninepins.
And so, Sir Donald, in fairest accordance
With what your wishes last well might have been,
We make commitment of your last remains
To the deep bosom of the ocean buried,
A peaceful progress to the ocean, which
You loved so well. Now cracks a bowler’s heart.
[He scatters the ashes]
Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

posted by prufrock at 6:35 AM on January 30, 2010

Oh, hey, meetup. Will have to ask the missus if we can attend.
posted by Eideteker at 8:24 AM on January 30, 2010

We cannot. Somebody insult someone and then someone else punch that original somebody for me!
posted by Eideteker at 8:58 AM on January 30, 2010

handabear + i maybe, but not for any liebowski thing.
posted by mr. remy at 9:11 AM on January 30, 2010

Hope I'm not too late to add myself in?
posted by Schmucko at 9:11 AM on January 30, 2010

looks like i'm not actually going to make it. another time, perhaps.
posted by lunit at 11:28 AM on January 30, 2010

BLARGH! I have a headache, which means I can't drive :( Since Boston is too far to walk, guess I'm going to have to miss this one. RATS.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:07 PM on January 30, 2010

nuts. I am not going to be able to make it after all. Too much work to do! I hope against all hope there will be another soon?
posted by pazazygeek at 3:28 PM on January 30, 2010

I lost a bunch of hours in the middle of the day today, so I don't think I can make it unless someone from the meetup posts here that it'd be OK to show up at 10pm or thereabouts. :(
posted by sachinag at 4:00 PM on January 30, 2010

I am still kicking myself for, when the hostess asked "So what is this Metafilter thing anyway?", not answering "$20 same as in town".
posted by nonane at 7:23 AM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]

I posted the one photo I took of the long, long table. Please add notes/comments for those whom I missed.

Yay meetups! I am getting tired of the long-table-noisy-bar meetup, though. I always end up sitting right under the speaker blaring the music, and then I can only hear 1/4 of what's going on, instead of the 1/2 I usually hear at a noisy bar.

Damn, though, that food was awesome, huh? At least my mac & cheese rocked.
posted by not_on_display at 11:31 AM on January 31, 2010

not_on_display: I may be having a small PVD meetup at my house sometime in February when jessamyn is in the greater Southern New England area - that should pretty much be the opposite of a noisy bar.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:01 PM on January 31, 2010

Oooo, I hear jessamyn is really cool! I may attend that one!
posted by not_on_display at 3:01 PM on January 31, 2010 [1 favorite]

That was fun! I've uploaded some photos, there might be a smallish movie in there as well.

I ended up going to Bukowski's next door, and at robocop is bleeding's suggestion tried their grilled cheese sandwich. It was awesome. Thoroughly recommended.
posted by prufrock at 3:27 PM on January 31, 2010

It was good seeing everyone!

I dislike the noisy bar setting, but I do like having a table, rather than just having to mill around, myself. However, round tables that let you talk to more than the five people immediately near you would definitely be an improvement.
posted by ignignokt at 10:36 PM on January 31, 2010

I'm in the opposite camp--I think these meetups are for meeting, not eating. Sitting at tables greatly diminishes your ability to meet people (though I'm always delighted with the people I've met).

Ideally, someone should host a backyard barbeque--eating and meeting in equilibrium.

Great fun seeing everyone in person again. Sorry I didn't have a chance to meet more of you. Posted some pics; you looked fabulous.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:19 AM on February 1, 2010

I can definitely see why most people would prefer that. It's not really about eating for me, though.

I'm personally averse to wandering around looking for a conversation circle to bust into because I always feel like it's the wrong time to inject myself. I can do it, though. I guess whether or not you enjoy it depends on whether or not you have an adequate level of partying skill!

That said, I do enjoy barbeques.
posted by ignignokt at 8:39 AM on February 1, 2010

I like sitting (let the conversation come to ME, dammit), but tables are limiting. Obviously the next meetup should be held at someone's house - someone with seating for twenty.
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:38 PM on February 1, 2010

Once the weather gets better, I'm toying with the idea of hosting a Mefi BBQ up here in Salem.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 1:53 PM on February 1, 2010

I have been meaning to call a meetup for Lanes & Games ( = alcohol & bowling) for a while now. I think it would allow for activities (Lebowskiesque, no less), there are video games, the noise wouldn't be too loud, plenty of open seating, and a ten-minute walk from Alewife Station. Also, there's both candlepin and ten-pin bowling.

I'm thinking of calling it for the Spring sometime, but I have to get my schedule sorted out, and I'd want to wait for a time when jessamyn was in the Boston area and had free time. Plus, a ten-minute walk is much better when it's warmer outside.

If anyone wants to call that meetup while I dawdle, feel free.

Meantime, any good trivia nights that we could pwn?
posted by not_on_display at 1:55 PM on February 1, 2010

So long as we only burn witches, and not tasty hot dogs or burgers.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:55 PM on February 1, 2010

Oh man, I love BBQs. I wish I could host one, but I have no backyard. There is a strip club in the alley behind the house... but that's just not the same.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:58 PM on February 1, 2010

We had a round table at John Harvard's when we went to see Horace Rumpole's Johnson, and it really wasn't better than a rectangular table. To accomodate ten or twelve people, the table has to have such a large diameter that it ends up pretty wide, and you have little hope of hearing the people on the other side of it.
posted by Miko at 6:10 PM on February 1, 2010

Regarding trivia nights, I go to the one at Razzy's in Somerville every Tuesday night. They hold it on Thursdays as well.
posted by Aizkolari at 6:55 AM on February 3, 2010

Who has two thumbs and missed this by a week?
posted by bensherman at 5:45 AM on February 9, 2010