Vinemeet (North) East - The Details

Dave:

In a previous thread Adam mentioned living in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Philadelphia is about 90 miles outside of Manhattan. Likely an hour by high speed train, and about a two-hour drive.

Thanks. It's probably about a 5 hour ride for me. I'd love to attend but that's just not a good weekend for me. Hopefully someone will post an article and/or pictures about the event and how it went.

Things are a bit hectic lately, but I'll try to make it.
I'll be hopping between Philly and NYC for the next couple of weeks, so there's a fair chance.

I'll come if I can find another viner in Florida to share a drive with. I'd love to meet Jack in person. Since I'm sober I can be a designated driver if I make it.

I'd love to meet Jack in person.

And I share the same sentiments about you. :-)

Hi Jack,

There'll be other vinemeets where we can meet, I hope!

Whoa, new name.

Hmmm... Epiphany Sorbet... Eureka Custard... interesting.

Hi Jack,

It's my Halloween costume. Got a shiny new avatar to go with it. Just tryin' to get in the spirit of the holiday.

:o)

Dude, for some reason, when you said "it's my Halloween costume", I had an urge to change my handle to "The Stig," then thought that that would be a sweet costume.

Not sure at this point, depends on a number of work-related factors for November. It could be either New York or Arizona. Most likely New York.

Thanks, Adam, that is very kind and generous.

I think you will have enough work to do just hosting a party. And, I wouldn't want to keep anyone waiting if I run into travel delays.

I will find my own way, but thanks much, anyway.

If you are coming from NYC I doubt you'd want to take a cab the whole way, that would be some bill ;-)

That definitely would be a whopping bill. :)

The impossible task, though, would be finding a cabbie willing to leave Manhattan.

I sometimes can't even find one willing to cross the Brooklyn bridge into Brooklyn Heights, a ten minute trip from lower Manhattan, without a lot of grousing.

I sometimes can't even find one willing to cross the Brooklyn bridge into Brooklyn Heights, a ten minute trip from lower Manhattan, without a lot of grousing.

That's why you don't tell him where you're going till you're already in the cab and the meter is running.

Thanks, Eric.

I know. Legally they have to bring you to your destination.

A friend and I once tried that logic on one particularly stubborn cabbie, though, and the guy flipped down his cab number, to block it, before pulling out a handgun.

I am not sure what language he was speaking, but the gun he was waving around made me suddenly fluent.

We gladly got out. Tripping over each other as we both tried to simultaneously squeeze out the door in a comical effort to make the most time efficient exit humanly possible.

I don't think my pocket mace would have been an adequate equalizer. Although I certainly would have made a valiant effort to squeeze off a crippling puff as a bullet ripped through my face.

The license plate was covered in mud, so we couldn't read it. Hmmm!

In all fairness, my experience has been that most cab drivers will take people over the bridge, but grudgingly, and with a lot of grumbling.. whether the customer is a man, woman or otherwise. I'm just a little, well..., gun shy these days about getting into an argument over the issue.

When heading back into Manhattan, I find it's a lot easier to get a cab.

Yeah I'm in Williamsburg and the "let the meter run before telling him where you're going" hasn't failed yet. Telling him to go to Williamsburg while not yet inside the cab has resulted in one or two cabs just driving away.

Mykola, seriously, who doesn't have pots? ;) :)

...which is why I asked :-P

I also cook, though things of a less Curish persuasion. That said, I think there's some reasonable expectation of cheese steaks given that we're going to Philly and all.

We'll work out what to do about food on the scene. It's easier that way.

We absolutely need to get cheesesteaks.

Cheesesteaks 'n beer. Dinner of champions.

And the next morning:

Cold Cheesesteaks 'n warm beer. Dinner Breakfast of champions.

why *sigh*?

cuz it sounds like fun and there's no way I could go.

It is not against the CoH to threaten your life if it will improve the community ;-)

Oh really! I'll have to remember that for future reference. Heh.

Sorry, Adam et al - looks like I won't be able to make it. Have fun!

I've read a couple of people who are 14-15.

And your 25 minimum is probably a little high. I'd guess the heavy user segment starts at about 19.

Digg has been around for quite a while longer than Newsvine. However, it's only recently broken out of hardcore geek circles.

I definitely agree with the core age group, though.

Heck, I'm 21, which puts me smack dab in the (very large) middle of that range.

...not that sweet.

What a coincidence.

I started a group for under 24 viners today. Swing by.
We're not all indolent @!$%#s ya know.

-Dave

I'm really tempted to start a group for the those over 25

We can call it "We're Still Kids At Heart (If Not Chronologically)

We're not all indolent @!$%#s ya know.

It's true. We're mostly insolent @!$%#s.

Where do I count?

Where do I count?

You don't.

You don't count so hard that you're actually riding middle seat in my Mini. :-p

You drive an automatic, right? Right?

Yep, drive-by-wire flappy paddles all the way, baby.

(And "middle seat" means "the hump between the two real back seats")

Where are you?

She is.

Well, all three admins for the IMF will be in attendance. Methinks it's time to divvy up DJ time!

And you won't be able to ditch this time =P

I didn't ditch! I just..uh, left early. ;)

Waterloo (near Toronto), Ontario, Canada, above the United States.

Finances seem good, so it is looking like a stronger possibility I will be attending. Calvin you best be knowing that I'm showing up at your hotel room at 2AM and am expecting sex, drugs, and rock and roll.

Will know by tomorrow or Monday.

For that much cash would it be that much more money to just book a plane ticket?

With taxes, I'll be paying around $1000 as Adam mentions. Ridiculous seeing as European flights between cities are cheap as hell. Argh.

Anyways, right now the plan looks like I'll leave here at 5PM on Thursday (right after writing a mid-term exam, how fun), and I'll get into NYC around 6AM Friday morning. It's been 16 months since I've been in NYC, so I'll probably spend the morning and afternoon there, then take a bus or train over to Philly for the evening.

Dinner anyone?

Also, Eric it looks like perhaps we could jump on the train together from NYC, when were you thinking of going?

Oh one more thing, I guess I can't complain too much. I get to transfer my VALUABLE Canadian money into your WORTHLESS American money. Might have to do some crazy shopping once I get to NY.

Also, Eric it looks like perhaps we could jump on the train together from NYC, when were you thinking of going?

I was gonna leave Penn station at 5:30 per Adam's suggestion above.

My parents just dropped off my passport so this is looking better as we get closer.

Another question - where would I be able to crash on Friday night? Saturday night is at your place, right Adam?

Adam, so you're thinking of meeting up around 7:30-8 on Friday?
Where would this be?

It looks like I'll probably drive into Philly on Wednesday and stay through the weekend (for Calvin, that means 90% chance of Jack for Friday + Saturday).

Should we exchange phone numbers over email at some point so we can coordinate meetup logistics when on-site?

I'm sorry if this was covered in the previous article or some comment above, but which hotel is Calvin staying at?

I seem to have missed that info.

Remember, he's staying under the name "Harry Houdini".

I forgot, where abouts do you live?

Ohio was sort of close to Kansas City.

Viki's Chicago meet next summer (if it doesn't turn out like the one from last summer) is sort of close...

Um.

A suburb of Kansas City.

And, it would be to see me not Kansas City.

Because I'm awesome.

LOL adam

How does one even get to Kansas City? Does it require horseback? Are the roads even paved ;-)

I only know of one way to get to kansas city.
you tap your shoes together three times and say I wish I was with Brian, I wish I was with Brian, I wish I was with Brian...

This does raise an interesting idea though. Newsvine is rapidly becoming a global community. We really ought to start letting each other know when we're traveling. I, for example, will be in NYC on Dec 4 and 5th if anyone wants to buy me a drink.

Yes, we should do that. In a private online community it's pretty well set up that when one of the members travels to DC he or she will post in a designated dc topic and then some of us will go meet that person.

Similarly when I travel I usually arrange to meet a few people wherever I'm going.

And now that I know that both Walt D and Dr. Know live in So. CAl near where I grew up - and where my mom still lives - i'm sure i'll try to coordinate a f2f when I'm home for the holidays.

I 'm in if there is ever a Kansas City vinemeet! Just so you know.....

I assumed he was getting a UFO ride with Dennis Kusunich.

I've almost completed my IP based teleportation device. I'll have Adam download me into his living room.

Nah -- I'm flying in. My car just gave up the ghost so a long drive is out of the question for me.

No video.

I may only be photographed fully clothed and looking happy.

The public shall not know about my topless emo drinking habits.

Thank you!

No photos of me once I'm asleep.

Should we bring "Hello my name is... "stickers so we can tell who's who because i'm terrible at keeping track of such stuff in groups.

What makes this even more odd when meeting you know online is you don't know whether to call Killfile Killile or his real name or what.

I'm reminded of the time I arranged to meet a woman in Dallas. I was traveling and she siad to just call her at her office and we'd go get lunch.
One problem I didn't realize until the phone was picked up at her office and, of course, it wasn't her: I suddenly realized I had no idea what her real name was.

So it was that I said, "Can you, um, ask on a loud speaker if a woman known on the Internet as Cassandra can please pick up?" Fortunately they were agreeble and I met her and it worked ok but it could have just messed up everything right there.

I suggested nametags for the Columbus meet but it was actually a bit more fun without them. And for the most part it's not hard to place the name to the person... by and large everyone at the Columbus meet matched their personalities on the Vine.

I actually have a group of friends down here in Virginia fully half of which are named "Chris." So they just call me Killfile to keep it clear.

I'll respond to either ;-)

That, and Killfile was an old college nick-name, so I'm pretty used to being referred to as such.

I thinnk if, while out at dinner, I shout out, 'Yo, Kill!' I might get some weird looks.

But then it's philly so maybe not.

Hey, I've tried...

Should we bring "Hello my name is... "stickers so we can tell who's who because i'm terrible at keeping track of such stuff in groups.

I think we should work out some sort of predetermined identifying symbol for Viners.

Perhaps green hair highlights, a monocle, or actual vines pinned to the left shoulder.

That way, if we don't absolutely don't see anyone we remotely recognize from avatars and whatnot, we wouldn't have to shout "Hey Viners!" at every intersection.

Then, once we actually meet, Calvin can replace those with Newsvine shirts and we'd look like a group of drunken tourists.

Jack, if I remember correctly you've already been outed by posting dancing emo photos of yourself during a NDC a while back.

That was happy dancing, not emo dancing!
Also, I was fully clothed... I think.

I thinnk if, while out at dinner, I shout out, 'Yo, Kill!' I might get some weird looks.

But then it's philly so maybe not.

We honk for drive-bys.

I could host one in blacksburg. The nearest international airport is 3 hours away and the nearest servicable non-private landing strip is still an hour away by car. Oh... and there's no extra room in my house.

So really, if you all want to come down to Blacksburg at your own expense and drink a lot, feel free and be sure to let me know.

Suggestion: It might be good to know before the event of anyone who refuses to let themselves be photographed and or have photos of them be published online. Trust me, I've learned this the hard way when you shoot a bunch of photos only to learn some don't want to be in the photos.

It's worse when they won't let video out. Winsome Cowboy smoking an aluminum foil pipe while explaining to Kymlee how both cu*t and nig**r were important and essential parts of his lexicon was truly something to behold. Sadly it is lost to posterity because of the moratorium ( post-sobriety ) that was requested.