Okay, seriously on the party
When I talked about the Fantasy Potluck last Monday, I really meant it as a fantasy. But the more we’ve all been commenting back and forth on it, I’m thinking, “Why not?”
So here’s the deal: I really do want us all to have a chance to come together for no reason other than to hang out and meet each other in real life. There won’t be any workshops or agendas or dress code. We fly in on Friday or Saturday, have a big party with food from caterers, supplemented with whatever potluck promises we’ve made and can get through security, and then we go home.
If we were to do such a thing:
1. When? Considering everyone’s school, work, and life obligations, does a weekend work best in March, April, or May?
2. Where? If it’s in March, we could all meet in my home state of Arizona, where it will be warm and sunny and dry. If May, then maybe Chicago would be nicer. Should we pick an airport city like Dallas or Atlanta? What’s a reasonably easy place for all of us to get to?
3. Would people really come? Or did we all think we were joking?
The party planning hotline is now open. Let’s plan ourselves a shindig.
Technorati Tags: Fantasy Potluck
June 11th, 2007 at 7:44 am
Since you’re talking about next year and I honestly don’t know what my life will be like then,the best I can say at the moment is “I’d love to but not sure if I can.” Sorry for the vagueness,but Cautious Cathy has taken over,with Bold Bertha jabbing her elbow in CC’s side and telling her not to be such a party pooper.
Perhaps,a “maybe” is best-March would be good for me if I can make it.
June 11th, 2007 at 7:46 am
I accept a “maybe.” I’m just trying to get a feel for when and where.
June 11th, 2007 at 8:03 am
Put me down as a “maybe for anytime” with “the more notice, the better chance I can do it”.
I’d recommend it not being during a holiday weekend, because of people having pre existing obligations.
For what its worth, and as long as someone else is being the Julie McCoy (ie looking into details) (meaning not me) I’d also add a location that: is easy to get to re flying (ie good airport, multiple carriers); is “off season” for that time of year (so easier to get a deal on hotel rooms & meeting rooms or wherever it is we will Meet to Eat).
May: end of May is BEA so I’d stay away from that.
June 11th, 2007 at 8:29 am
Thanks for the suggestions, Liz. Being Julie McCoy is so not my thing normally, but for some reason I really want to put this gig together. So I’m just going with it. But if there are some real Julie McCoys out there (Diana? Annette? Others?) please step forward and give me the benefit of your Julieness.
June 11th, 2007 at 9:06 am
This is fun! I’m all about any excuse for a road trip =)
I like Chicago (I’ve been there once) and I’m all about an area that is city like, so that I don’t have to rent a car.
I’ll bring the Heelys!!
June 11th, 2007 at 9:33 am
Seattle is a good airport city. Seriously. And during the summer, it’s a breezy, balmy treat without a lot of rain. Sure, as a city we’re young, short-sighted (take the Underground Tour to find that out right quick) and prone to over-caffeination, but the mountains are gorgeous and we have very few mosquitoes.
June 11th, 2007 at 9:54 am
Hmmm, I hadn’t really been thinking about Seattle. How is it in March? April?
June 11th, 2007 at 10:46 am
Anyone know anything about Kansas City? It’s the closest large city to the geographic center of the lower 48 states.
I’m suggesting Oak Park Illinois. 10 miles from downtown Chicago. Hemingway’s boyhood home is in Oak Park plus Frank Loyd Wright’s first home and studio.
The Carlton Hotel in Oak Park has banquet/meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 200. Most guest rooms have a kitchen area with microwave and refrigerator for those who bring food.
One of the El lines ends in Oak Park. The Carlton is 3 blocks from the last station. So downtown is a half a hour away.
May can be great though there always a chance on cold rainy weather. In general, jacket weather.
Just a suggestion.
June 11th, 2007 at 10:52 am
Yeah, Herb, I’ve been thinking a lot about Chicago. What’s everyone think?
June 11th, 2007 at 11:28 am
Who the heck is Julie McCoy?
I’ll be on my honeymoon in March. So it depends WHEN in March. Otherwise, yeah! Pencil me in!
June 11th, 2007 at 11:38 am
Ah, and here’s where the generations divide.
Julie McCoy was the cruise director on The Love Boat.
June 11th, 2007 at 11:45 am
I’d love a middle-of-the-country spot, so I can be more likely to make the trip from the East Coast.
I’m game to join.
March seems far away though.
I live an hour from Newark and Philadelphia airports. I’d be willing to host in mid October or early November if anyone was willing to come to New Jersey. No?
June 11th, 2007 at 11:49 am
Nancy, you do realize you’ve just tapped into that personality quirk of mine that always says, “Do it now!”
Mid-October, you say? Early November?
People? Where do you stand on that?
June 11th, 2007 at 11:53 am
I’ll go anywhere Southwest Airlines flies as I always have a free ticket on them. So far, that would include everywhere that has been suggested, Seattle, Chicago, Philadelphia, so I’m flexible. I couldn’t stand Julie McCoy on the Love Boat, so perky, so smiley, SOOO annoying. Read somewhere that she became a crackhead…
June 11th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
Deborah, let the bitterness go. I believe she was anorexic, not a crackhead. In any case, she’s off the air now and we can all go on with our normal lives.
Even Fred Grandy (that would be Gopher, for those who remember) has moved on to be a Congressman. How weird is that?
But your city votes are hereby registered. Thank you.
June 11th, 2007 at 1:03 pm
I’d really like to see Chicago. It’s the one big city I’ve never been to. But is there any way we can make this tax-deductible by turning it into a Writer’s Retreat? We could call it “The Joy of Potlucking: Calling Forth Your Covered Dish Muse” or “Wordsmithing for the Foodie” or some such.
June 11th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Sara, it’s totally tax-deductible and we don’t even have to stretch it. It’s a blogger and writer networking meeting. Books are our business and our life. What else would we talk about? Business, business, business.
June 11th, 2007 at 1:45 pm
Do you seriously think you can have Annette throw a party and there not be a dress code?
If I knew who Julie McCoy was does that mean I am in the ‘older’ generation?
June 11th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
any where, any time, as i intend to commandeer patrick’s private jet (ahemm, spaceship)–but i also think chicago would rock.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:26 pm
Now I’m scared that I come across as overly perky, smiley, and annoying. Ah, screw it, I’m perky and smiley and if you find that annoying, your loss. Of all the personality traits one could take to excess, cheerfulness is one of the better ones.
I’m busy the weekends of November 3rd and November 10th.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:37 pm
I’m trying not to be selfish here, I swear.
Obviously, Atlanta, with its huge honking airport and total lack of anything happening EVER (at least outside of DragonCon in August-September), would be best for me. But that’s looking unrealistic for everyone else.
Chicago is the only other suggestion I’ve seen that would be even plausible for me. The powers that be pretty much hate the Chicago airport, but I might be able to change their minds. They like the city, however. I love it to. I went there with a choir group several years ago and it was AMAZING.
The longer the weekend, the better.
When? Well, I’d love it to be before the end of the calendar year, but I’m just not sure how practical that would be. There are a LOT of things to work out - specific dates, specific times, a specific venue, bribing enough people to get food on airplanes…and I know that I have a lot of saving up to do.
However, mid-October in New Jersey could work REALLY well for me, as I have a week off (8th - 12th)…gah. Selfish again. And that gives us less details to worry about, since we’ll already have a venue.
June 11th, 2007 at 2:50 pm
Miri, don’t worry about being selfish. I’m asking people’s schedules because I want to know. Same about cities. The more information I get from people, the easier to make a decision.
Patrick, it doesn’t mean you’re old (because I’m not, either), but it does mean you’ve watched a lot of bad TV. No shame in that.
Diana, cheerfulness is not a character flaw. Bring it.
Annette, even though I think your house is now off the list for party venues (just too far to travel for most people), I do hope I can count on you for party planning/bossiness. But no dress code.
June 11th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
patrick, soooo right. dress code will be privately e-mailed, bossiness will be publically displayed on blog. (i’m way more general patton than julie mccoy, ask deborah).
another reason for chicago–me. when i was a wee little girl, on my one and only trip to the windy city i was overawed by the natural history museum and am curious to see if it will stand the test of time.
this is sounding like a lot of fun comin’ down and my house is still totally available if we come full circle, as often happens in these group planning sessions.
June 11th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
Is it really sad if I admit I loved The Love Boat? Selfish me has to say if this is somewhere in the Northeast, it’ll be easier to make it. Although, Chicago could be a possibility.
I hope you’ll let me know if you’re on tour anywhere near Boston. I could be one of your secret cruise directors who could get everyone enthused and wanting your autograph.
June 11th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
Ok, uh… weird fact, but I spend the entire month of March buck naked. It’s very cleansing for the soul.
Just thought I should mention that.
June 11th, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Vivian, no shame there–I loved it at the time, too. It’s just that now I’m happy it’s over. And I’d love it if you’d be my Julie in Boston! I’ll let you know when I know.
Annette, you are now officially in charge. Subject to my veto, of course.
Patrick, once again you are hereby banned from the blog. Put some pants on.
June 11th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
looks like, march it is.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
Robin, check your calendar. I’m wearing pants. I was just trying to help with planning.
June 11th, 2007 at 6:20 pm
Yeah, I know March is over, but as Annette just pointed out, it’s coming around again. I don’t need you hearing what our party plans are, just in case we decide to do it that month.
June 11th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
I am listening with a smile and will just do my best to try to get to where ever it may be if, at that point, our budget allows (we’re taking a huge hit in the budget here with one of us giving up a full-time job ’til our daughters enter school). But, hell, maybe by that point I will have become independently and inexplicably wealthy.
June 11th, 2007 at 8:47 pm
Next spring would be much more likely for me - or perhaps I should say less unlikely
- than this fall.
I’m on the East Coast, so I vote for Chi (or KC or St Louis). Annette, the Field Museum in Chi is very good, or at least it was 35 years ago, when I used to take the train down to Chi once a month or so and then walk over to the museum. What I’d really like to see again is the Chi Museum of Science & Industry. (They have a real German WWII-vintage U-boat on display.)
Do I have to wear pants? My kilt is so much more comfortable….
June 12th, 2007 at 6:24 am
Kilts welcome, but let’s keep some modesty underneath. Do not follow Patrick’s lead.
Jules, you’d better! I need to meet both you and Eisha–and I’m sure many others feel the same way.
June 12th, 2007 at 8:50 am
Does this sound fun, or what???? Chicago is a must-do, must-see but I should say that it is a tad bit warmer earlier in the fall and later in the spring…
My WIP is an historical novel that takes place in, of all places, Chicago, so I might just have to jump on the fun boat…
June 12th, 2007 at 10:31 am
See, Liz! Like I was saying–totally tax-deductible.
June 12th, 2007 at 5:47 pm
October 12-14 in Chicago then?
June 12th, 2007 at 6:19 pm
Nancy, excellent try there. Just so happens I’ll be doing a Teen Read Week thing in Pennsylvania those specific days.
Be patient. I’m working on it.
June 13th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
Ha! Okay, I’ll put in a vote for NOT between Sept 28 and October 8. Unless you all wanted to come up to Maine to a tiny remote island town called Deer Isle, where I’ll be renting a house that week. In which case I’d definitely vote for those days.
June 13th, 2007 at 5:38 pm
Crazy busy this week, but I’m voting for CHI!!
June 13th, 2007 at 5:40 pm
I certainly remember Julie McCoy well. It makes me feel old to have people not know who she is.
But anyway, Chicago is actually not bad for me, because it’s one of the few places I can fly direct on American (on which I have many FF miles). And I have friends I’d love to see at the same time.
As far as timing goes, I’m conceptually in favor of sooner rather than later, but have to admit that the fall schedule is already filling up. Like Liz, I can do most times as long as it’s planned far enough in advance, and not a major holiday.
Incidentally, I’m pretty sure that the issue of being tax-deductible only applies to people who actually make money from their blogging or writing… More power to all of you who do. I don’t think I can deduct expenses from my semiconductor manufacturing income.
June 13th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
Kelly, duly noted. Chi is kind of looking like the place.
Jen, of course you’re right. There must actually be income to offset the deductions. The IRS is so boring about that.
June 13th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
“PEACE TRAIN TAKE THIS COUNTRY. COME TAKE ME HOME AGAIN”
June 13th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
I’ll probably be a virtual attendee - just online.
June 14th, 2007 at 8:28 pm
I never chimed in here but for me, March is better than April or May. October would be possible too.
Chicago? Yeah, okay. I’m pretty flexible.
So I guess I haven’t added much to the conversation, but at least you know I’m there.
June 14th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Mother Reader, thank you for your vote. It does matter.
June 15th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Anytime in New Jersey (or NYC? or Philly?) is a definite. Anyplace else is a maybe.
Nancy, we appear to be “neighbors”. I’m in the mid-Delaware Valley (no, the Philthydelphians don’t get to claim the whole damn thing.)
June 17th, 2007 at 7:45 am
I *love* Chicago, and I can even drive there from where I live (Western NY). In March, I know I’ll be in Minneapolis for PLA from the 25th to the 29th, where I am also planning to drive, which I know is crazy, but which I am going to do anyway. I want to take some time about it and make some stops along the way. If this was a stop, that would be extra super-duper perfect.
Overall, this is a splendid idea. If I can make it work to be there, I’ll be there. I love having this type of excuse to travel.