Boston Meetup?

Whatever happened to the talk of a gathering in the Boston area? I for one know I would be up for it. Are y'all still interested?

Logistics would be interesting ,seeing as we have 117 in the group. What would be good venues in which to meet? Bars, restaurants, bookstores? Libraries? The BPL Copley branch has plenty of space and a cafe.

If Tim or Abby or any other of the LT staff were to show up I'm sure I wouldn't be the only one to buy them a round! What good LT loyalists would we be if we couldn't get them liquored up in gratitude?

I would love a meetup! (Sorry the summer BBQ never happened, the Maine one was a success but then we got so caught up in this crazy thing called work that we never did the Boston-area round two.)

I'm up for it. There are no shortage of bars with literary connections or names that might make good meeting places: The Plough and Stars between Central and Harvard Squares, the Brendan Behan in Jamaica Plain, Bukowskis in the Back Bay, The Thirsty Scholar in Somerville, Flann O'Briens in Mission Hill....I'm sure there are plenty of others....

That begs the question, what Boston bars did famous literary types prefer? I understand Sylvia Plath bunkered down at the Dugout on Commonwealth Ave when she was in the writing program at BU.

Reaching a bit further back in time, the Saturday Club used to gather at the Omni-Parker House ... a rowdy crew consisting of Ralph Waldo Emerson, Oliver Wendell Holmes, Hawthorne, Longfellow, Sumner, and many others at various times.

Some info here: http://www.nndb.com/org/248/000111912/

I'd be game for a meetup too; if we decide to revisit the Saturday Club's old hangout, I can vouch that the Omni-Parker's Boston Creme Pie is spectacular.

Holmes penned a poem "At the Saturday Club" in 1884 http://www.ibiblio.org/eldritch/owh/atsat.html

I would also be up for getting together. I think we should get a date and time, then numbers attending, then pick a location. Somehow I doubt the Bukowski's in Back Bay could accomodate a group of more than a dozen or so, but the one in Inman might. This might be something the LT owners organize as Boston is LT's second home.

I'm undoubtedly in the minority as a teetotaler, but the BPL did actually sound more interesting than a bar.

I don't know whether I could make the meetup or not, but I'd really like to see the John Adams library exhibit now at the BPL. (Maybe someone could enter his library into LT and we could make him an honorary Thingamabrarian.)

Put me in with the teetotalers. Anyway, I'm happy to drink, but lets not pick some place loud...

rjohara, I've been meaning to get down to see that too, I understand that it's really quite impressive. It would be excellent to get him into LT, but those 3700 books would take awhile!

I'm with the teetotaler contingent too, but Tim's right, as long as it's not loud, I'm up for where-ever.

Sounds like a call for an afternoon plan, then. Suggested itenerary: mid-afternoon on a Saturday meetup at the BPL to see the exhibit, see who's who, then perhaps those who are interested can later invade a nearby restaurant for dinner/drinks. There are plenty of options in the area, at least the Uno's would have plenty of seating. Not exactly literary themed, but it would suit the crowd and not be too loud...

How about the cafe or restaurant in the BPL? I've never tried it, but it's supposed to be nice.

I like that option. I'd love to do the Boston Athenaeum tea, but I think it's two guests/member. I know of one other LT member who's a member. But we can't quite turn it into an LT convention....

I've never been to *eat* at the BPL either - that sounds good... When are you guys thinking?

The Athenaeum is only doing one tea this year, if I recall correctly, so that isn't an option anyway. They're putting up a large exhibition for their 200th anniversary which is taking up a lot of space. Otherwise I'd smuggle in some guests.

Oh, phoey. You were the other one, btw.

That cafe looks so-so to me, but I love the BPL so much I don't care. In a pinch, we can go to any of the restaurants near.

Hey, is this plan still in the works? I'm interested in meeting everybody. I like the BPL idea, mostly because it's easy for me to get to.

This sounds like a really great idea! I'd be all gungho about taking the initiative to lead this up and make it happen... but the end of the semester has demanded that I get my pre-prac portfolio done first (and the two other huge projects due on the same day whiiicccccch alllllll determines if I'm able to even make it to the meet-up!! eek!). :(

I was in the Cafe this Monday and was disappointed to find they no longer have their chicken salad wraps. :( Those were so yummy!

Elven's idea for an itinerary sounds good, too. The places to eat around Copley are:
- Uno's
- The Pru's Food Court
- b.good (may not have the space though)
- Novel in BPL / Cafe in BPL
- Joe's American Grill

Hmm, those are all I can think of right now. The possibilities are endless!

Hope your turkey days went well,
Chelsea :)

The BPL restaurant is pretty good - I believe it is only open during the week, and they have a very good, and reasonably priced, buffet. The cafe really has no space, and what little there is is usually stuffed. It is possible to grab food inside and eat in the courtyard, and it's warm enough to do that these days.

I'm surprised I haven't bumped into anyone at the BPL - I work there sometimes when I need a change of pace. I should start carrying my laptop in my LT tote bag so I'm instantly recognizable...

Where in the BPL? I rarely to there because I'm usually at the Athenaeum. You can recognize me: I'm the guy wearing shoes.

The next Citywide Friends of the BPL booksale is on 3 February 2007 from 10 to 4, according to the BPL website. I propose that all interested folks meet on that day at 2 P.M. for the library's tour of the John Adams Unbound exhibit. After the exhibition we can retire to a local restaurant for conversation. If the weather is decent, I'd also be happy to give a brief tour of Copley Square if there is any interest.

How does this sound to everyone?

Uhm, won't we be lugging around the spoils from that sale? This past weekend's experience indicates that one can get close to the limit that one can carry for less than the cost of (quite good) vegan chili and sandwich from the Other Side Cafe.

I hope this idea wasn't abandoned.

I'm in, if it hasn't already happened.

Well, I plan to be at the BPL at 2 P.M. on 3 February 2007 (see Message 21 above) if anyone wishes to join me.

Count me in. I'll be there.

I think a bar might be better!
smile
m*

If something doesn't come up then, I hope to be there. :) (I hope to be there anyway to try to get some more books for my near-future classroom library... I found some good finds last year!)

Is there a specific meeting spot?

Hope everyone has a great Christmas/holiday! :) And Happy New Year.

Chelsea :)

Knock, knock. Searching GOOGLE and came up with your chat re: meeting at the BPL for Adams exhibit. Was very interested in your mentions of the Citywide friends book sales, obviously a well-known event for many of you. I am prez of the CWF and would like to assist you in your visit. The BPL restaurant NOVEL is not open on Saturdays, but I could possibly arrange for it to be open for s designated Saturday if your group is large enough. Note to non-drinkers, its a non-alcolholic venue (for now at least). Would love to set it up and host for you. 781.446.7889 and leave name and number of a principal contact person. Next book sale 2/3/07 woukld be a good date, but not necessarily the only one. AND...I can arrange to "hold" your purchased books so you won't have to lug them around. An opportunity for you, more sales for us!!

Dave Vieira, Prez. Citywide friends of the BPL

Good heavens, CWFPREZ, that's a wonderful offer: that might be enough to tempt us into coming in for the occasion, all the way from the Albany (NY) area.

- Bob and Maggie

(edited to specify the distance involved...)

(One of the Boston-area members really should follow up on the kind offer at #28... Abby, are you still here? I can't really take this on myself, as my attendance is so contingent upon the weather.)

#21, that sounds like a great plan, same with #28, I do hope someone takes the up on it and posts back here.

My husband and I will do our best to try and be there!

-Kindli (husband, Gavin)

See msg. #28. Love to help make it happen, but don't see many takers so far.
CWFPREZ

Well, I am planning to be at the booksale, unless something comes up, so if anyone can check in with Dave and make it happen, odds we'll stop by. Novel is a great locale.

I'm planning to come, too (just joined LibraryThing a few wks ago and loving it).

Sorry I haven't been very active as of late, but I'm definitely planning on attending the book sale. Work has changed, more pulling of hair and vicarious shooting sprees and less LT. I need to fix that.

That said, I think Abby should be the one to organize this, since she is the real employee and all. But failing that, once things calm down a bit for me I could do it. I don't know if it will be in time for the book sale, though...

Ok, as the real employee, I vote that someone else does the organizing. I'd rather *not* be in charge :) Isn't that part of the fun of a meet-up?

But I will do a blog post a week before hand or so, to spread the word far and wide!

Tim - are you going to be able to drive down for the day?

Okay okay. I'll do the organizing, since I set the date in the first place. I'll give David a call and report back.

Has this been organized? Weather looks good, so we might be able to drive to Boston on Saturday.

Would someone please post the arrangements?

Thanks,
Maggie and AsYouKnow_Bob

I'm planning on going - 2pm, right? Where are we meeting? (I'm relishing in *not* having to worry about the planning of this). If there are some meet-up details (where, when, etc.), I'll post them on the blog, and maybe we'll get a bigger turn out.

Abby

We're probably going to be there. (Might be snow in the Berkshires...) So that makes three LTers, anyway.

CWFPREZ (Dave) - If you're reading this - how many LT people would you need to constitute a quorum to open 'NOVEL' ?

I'm planning to be there. Will be bringing one more person with me.

The kid is feverish at 7:10 AM Saturday, so my status is now unclear.

Husband vetoed the idea (I unfortunalty have to agree with him)... we just built 2 more book shelves and they're already packed (so we've decided not to buy any books for a while).

We are planning on going to the one in April (for my birthday).

AsYouKnow_Bob, MaggieO, capital_l (Eleanor and Mark), and MMcM (Mike and Joyce) managed to find one another thanks to Bob's having the presence of mind to wear a LT T-shirt. CWFPREZ Dave hadn't been contacted, so we got thrown out of Novel.

I was able to get there around 2 (I had a meeting beforehand, so I wasn't sure I'd make it). I bought something at the book sale and wandered by the John Adams thing and some cafe for a while, but didn't spot anybody who looked suspicious.

daschaich, abby - sorry we missed you.

As MMcM reported, six of us DID manage to meet up, and we had a very nice (if brief) time.

We also met met Dave Vieira (member CWFPREZ), who took a moment from his busy Friends sale to come down to say 'hi'.

Nice meeting you all, perhaps we'll see you again at some future Bostonians meet-up.

I'm so sorry I missed you guys. I had every intention of being there, until I woke up Saturday morning with a nasty bug. (So much so that I didn't leave the couch even enough to open my computer!)

6 people though - that's not a bad turnout! We'll do it another time, and maybe even Tim will come down for it.

Hey. Did anyone take pics?

(Sorry I wasn't there. I was in San Francisco on a sudden and "secret" business trip.)

I'm sorry Abby didn't make it. She was to announce it was also a ten-million book party :)

T