Possible Boston Area GD/LT Meet-Up, August 12-14, 2016

Just throwing out a post to see if anyone is interested in an afternoon of book perusal with other Dragon members in the Boston area. Since @pgmcc is going to be visiting from Ireland that week it seemed like a golden opportunity. I haven't even started to see where the best book shops are clustered. I'd prefer a locale a little outside Boston proper, so those of us who are driving have an easier time of it.

Oh, so NOW there's gonna be one over there.

I see.

; p

Ooh! Ooh! Me! Me!

Well, there's the New England Mobile Book Fair in Newton near the Needham line...it's a pretty awesome place--sort of a warehouse of books.

ETA: website with directions tab: http://www.nebookfair.com/

I will be in Boston from 10th to 19th August. My daughter's place is in Medford and Newton looks fairly close. I am told the public transport is great and apparently my son-in-law will have a car* available during our visit. I also see from the Google all-seeing eye that the New England Mobile Book Fair is near McDonald's, Dunkin Donuts, and...an Irish pub. (I have difficulty with the idea of traveling about 3,000miles from Ireland to go to an Irish pub. It just seems to defeat the purpose.)

The concept of a, in @Marissa_Doyle's words, "sort of a warehouse of books", does appeal to me.

(*Apparently it's a former police car. )

>4 pgmcc: Love the idea of the available car. Have just read an ad in a (1937-model) tourist guide to East Africa, where an outfit in Uganda notes that they have "Rolls-Royce, Cadillac and Buick touring and saloon cars for hire". I find the idea of the toffs swanning around Lake Victoria and the Ruwenzori on largely imaginary roads in a hired Roller irresistible :)

I hope y'all have a lovely visit. It's a bit too far for us.

>5 hfglen: Your comment reminded me of The Yellow Rolls-Royce, a film released in 1964 about the fate of people who owned a particular yellow Rolls-Royce and where the car travelled.

>6 Jim53: Thank you, Jim.

So, are we talking Saturday afternoon? Any particular time?

Any bids for some place other than the New England Mobile Book Fair?

>7 pgmcc:

I have fond memories of that movie. I wonder if the suck fairy has hit it?

>9 pgmcc: I posted on the GD's Facebook page, because we have a few Boston area/New England members that don't drop by LT much these days. I'm hoping for a locale a little more outside of Boston, so I don't have to deal with too much traffic. I don't really want a three hour drive each way.

My heart tells me we should be going here: http://www.shirebookshop.com/

If anyone sees somewhere they've been or want to go on this link please speak up: https://newengland.com/yankee-magazine/travel/new-england/things-to-do/best-used...

We went to The Book Barn in Niantic back in 2008. It's HUGE! We want some place new, and closer to Boston.

Oh, and this is the Facebook group, in case you're on there but haven't joined us yet.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/126129080331/
(PLEASE JOIN THE GROUP!)

>13 clamairy: Join request sent to GD Facebook group.

>14 pgmcc: We snagged two new members. (You and @Bookmarque!)

I am jumping on a plane tomorrow afternoon and arriving in Boston early evening. I am not sure how much Internet access I will have once I arrive in Boston. Is there a consensus on the venue and time on Saturday? My objective is to meet Green Dragoneers so I am agnostic with regards to the venue, although both the Shire suggested by @clamairy and the big warehouse full of books suggested by @Marissa_Doyle do have a certain appeal to me. I do not know the bookshops of New England so am looking to other Dragoneers for guidance. Travelling to the venue by plane, train or automobile is part of the adventure I am looking forward to. I look forward to seeing some of you next weekend. (I will have the plane covered, so am not thinking of taking another plane for this visit.)

>16 pgmcc: I hope you have a wonderful trip, and get to meet some Green Dragoneers.

I wish so much that I could join the meet-up, but will have to settle for thinking of all of you, and wishing you joy and new books.

>17 SylviaC: Thank you, Sylvia.

My wife and I are sitting at gate 405 waiting to board our flight to Boston. Our two sons, who are travelling with us, are sitting at gate 403.

Why, you might ask yourself, are they at gate 403?

Because there is a Pokè-stop at gate 403. Is it not obvious?

>19 pgmcc: *snicker* But you know that app is the spawn of He Who Must Not Be Named.

On another topic entirely, I am sad to say that I can't make a trip to Boston work this coming weekend. I really did try, but the stars were against me.

>20 jillmwo: :-(

You will just have come to Ireland sometime.

Wishing all those who go to the Boston meetup a wonderful time - very envious!

I am thinking I should check to see if either book shop has AC as it's going to be in the mid 90s on Saturday.

I wish you all a wonderful weekend. Of course, there will have to be a full report submitted, with a bibliography of all the books purchased.

So, The Shire does not have AC, though the owner informed me they have "an efficient fan system that keeps the store at a comfortable level."

Any thoughts, Peter?

>25 clamairy: I can't make it but I guess I don't see the concern.... books will get you through periods of no air conditioning better than air conditioning will get you through periods of no books. :-)

>26 alco261: True...true! :o)

Today we took refuge from the heat in the Museum of Science and the Planetarium.

I will bow to the superior knowledge and wisdom of those that are accustomed to these weather conditions. I have limited experence of such high enrrgy environments. Give me a location and I will plan travel arrangements tomorrow.

I'm thinking we should try The Shire. I emailed the owner of the other shop and asked if they had AC and no one answered me. If we get too hot we can retreat to somewhere cool to get some iced drinks and something to eat instead, right?

>29 clamairy: That sounds like a plan. I shall plan my adventure in the morning. I have a quest! I must prepare for all eventualities. My journey to The Shire will be epic and it will be written down in the annals.

I look forward to meeting the other members of The Fellowship who are also on this quest. To Franklin and beyond!

>30 pgmcc: Oooo, I want to read the book! Next best thing to being there. I wonder if Peter Jackson will film it?

>31 MrsLee: our people are talking to his people.

>30 pgmcc: :o)

Sadly we only have three confirmed for this gathering, and two that are saying possibly. :o(

Do we have a time in mind? I'm on the Cape, and traffic tends to be time-sensitive on Saturdays due to it being the turn-over day for vacation rentals.

>33 clamairy: :-(

Three is better than none. :-)

We are currently sitting under a fan with another two fans on the floor beside us. Hot! It is hot!

>35 pgmcc: You don't have AC, Peter? Sweet cheeses.

>34 Marissa_Doyle: Marissa, you're in? That makes four then! I'd prefer to meet around 11:00 or 12:00, if that's okay for you. Which times work better for escaping the Cape traffic?

>36 clamairy: Have been sitting in Dunkin Dohnuts reading for about an hour. My wife said it does not look so hot looking out. I think she will change her mind when we leave the AC.

:-)

I will aim to be in The Shire between 11 and 12. Trains look fairly frequent on the Saturday schedule and South Station is on the same T line as Medford. Couldn't be simpler. Famous last words. :-)

Let The Quest begin!

>37 pgmcc: I know you saw this on Facebook already but I said I'd post it here as well.

Just an FYI, I might be a no show. I have been feeling slightly light-headed for brief moments for about 3 days now. I thought I was dehydrated, but drinking fluids seems to have not helped much. I'm not sure I want to drive the Mass Turnpike feeling this way. I'll try to let you all know by tonight.

ETA: Yeah, it does not look bad looking out the window, but it's oppressive. :o(

>38 clamairy: Sorry to hear you are not feeling the best. Sounds to me like you need a good thunder storm to clear the air. I hope you can make it but I understand why you feel like it might not be the best idea to drive.

I have been looking at The Shire website and am keen to visit it. The train journey will be an added feature for my holiday.

To help with identification I am posting a picture from last Christmas:



I am the one in the middle at the back. I may not be wearing the same jumper tomorrow; it could be a different jumper. :-)


Looking forward to meeting whoever can make it tomorrow. Also looking forward to seeing The Shire.

>39 pgmcc:

@Clamairy, that thunder storm is on its way. The sky has turned dark grey; thunder has been heard; I have seen lightning. The downpour is awaited.

I am due to go out to buy potato salad for a BBQ this evening. The rain will wait until I am out of the house.

>39 pgmcc: Thank you. I'm blaming the weather pressure, and my barometer head.

>40 pgmcc: Yes, I'll look for a someone in a sweater. ;o)

>41 pgmcc: Of course it will. Just like it always waits until I finally have time for a long walk. But I hope it cools things off for you. We dropped 10 degrees here with this latest shower. Humidity is awful now, though.

>42 clamairy: The shower helped cool us off but, as you say, it is very humid. There appears to be another shower headed this way. BBQ stuff just put out in back yard may have to come in again rapidly.

An Irish BBQ involves people huddled in the kitchen while the host grills the food outside holding an umbrella in one hand. No mean fete!

>43 pgmcc: Many a New England BBQ plays out the same way. Sometimes while it snows, as well.
Good luck!

Turns out I have a fever. It explains the chills and hot flashes and lightheadedness. At least I know what's causing it now, but I am not going to spread my germs around, or drive while feeling like this. So sorry Peter and Marissa. (And whoever else might be showing up.)

I'm editing this to add that I just noticed my arm is swollen again where that bug bite was a couple of weeks ago. (The one the antibiotics apparently didn't treat effectively.) Looks like its back to the MD for something stronger.

Approaching Franklin Station. Let's hope can slip past the orcs on guard.

>46 pgmcc:

We'll watch your back.

>47 suitable1: Thank you for the cover.

The Shire has been reached.

>48 pgmcc: YAY!

On the train heading back to Boston. Interesting find in The Shire. I will report detail when I have a real keyboard.

>45 clamairy: That is horrible and sad! Horrible that you have to miss the gathering, and sad that you are ill. Stoopid bugs! Glad you will be going back for better treatment.

>48 pgmcc: Hope you have a chance to lift a pint for me! Hoping your time here is lovely and the source of many happy memories to come.

I wish I could say that you would be better in California weather-wise, but it was 104° here yesterday and probably today. Less humidity though.

>20 jillmwo:

I think this trip was just a cover to meet up with his CIA counterpart.

>50 pgmcc: Oh noes. @Marissa_Doyle didn't make it either? I'm glad you found something, but I feel pretty badly about missing out on meeting you.

>51 MrsLee: On stronger antibiotics now. Hopefully these will do the trick. I do feel better, but that might just be the Naproxen knocking down the fever.

Oh, I hope it doesn't turn out that no one was there to meet him...

>54 Meredy: Marissa said the traffic driving in from Cape Cod might be a problem. And that was the last I heard from her.