The official "Help Hobie invade the NE for a visit" thread

[Key-Glyph]

Heck yeah, Maker Faire! Too bad my friend doesn't have a table this year. I can get in for free sometimes. All of the suggestions have been great so far.

I hadn't heard of Maker Faire until Hobie mentioned it. It looks awesome. I'd love to check that out.

[Key-Glyph]

Bump for decision-making help.

For those considering being involved in these plans, which is more feasible: Funspot in Laconia, NH, or The Maker Faire in NYC?

These two seem to be the finalists for the meetup, and it would help to see who can or can't make what. Thoughts?

These choices are equally doable for me, but I'm not aware of any extra activities in either area that might make one a draw over the other.

[Hobie-wan]

Also maybe considering just holding until PAX East too. I dunno. I kind of want to do something sooner, but at the same time I don't want to be trying to plan things and coordinate with people when it's somewhere I've never been.

[pierrot]

I could be at Funspot in a Jiffy. NYC, not so much. (I also have an extreme aversion to NYC.)

[CRTGAMER]

While you're visiting the North East, Nathans Hot Dogs and all the Pizzerias!

[Key-Glyph]

I thought I'd offer up a hypothetical Funspot sample plan, which is completely flexible, just to lay out what I can help with.

If Hobie flies in Logan International Airport in Boston and takes a Logan Express Shuttle (they're really easy and convenient) to Framingham, I and my husband and/or my good friend Nemoide can pick him up and carpool from there to Laconia. That would be a two-hour drive. I know there are a ton of hotels around Funspot, so we'd be able to find a place to stay.

We could stay there for a few nights depending on how long Hobie intends to be over here, with people dropping in and out, staying over or not, through the duration in a sort of relaxed roulette. We could perhaps rely on Pierrot's local wisdom for supplemental activities to the Funspot main event, but we could also sit around in a hotel room in a big bunch, playing video/board games, watching cartoons, anime, whatever!

When the tour wraps up, my crew and I could drive Hobie back to Framingham in time for a return shuttle ride to the airport and a plane back home.

I know that Manchester Airport in NH is a possibility as well, but I didn't want to volunteer pierrot for chauffeur duty. I can definitely handle this if nothing more convenient for Hobie turns up.

[Nemoide]

I lean towards FunSpot planning because there was a mini-Maker Fair at the library conference I went to earlier this year, so I think arcade game-central would be a little more different? I've been to FunSpot before but def. want to be going back at some point?
SO YEAH.

[CRTGAMER]

Another thought if you are a museum buff is hitting the mall in Washington DC. The various Smithsonian buildings, you could spend a week and not cover them all. Georgetown is nearby for a variety of restaurants and pubs.

What is with the ACME (roadrunner) stores and turn right to turn left in Jersey?

[pierrot]

I know that Manchester Airport in NH is a possibility as well, but I didn't want to volunteer pierrot for chauffeur duty. I can definitely handle this if nothing more convenient for Hobie turns up.

If Hobie and/or others decide on FunSpot, I'd be happy to meet anyone who wants to fly into Manchester. I don't know that there are really any convenient places to be parked without a car in NH other than maybe Manchester/Nashua/Portsmouth/Hanover areas. Those all kind of satellite Laconia, though. If I had an extra beater, I'd offer it, but--.

I know of a couple game stores around Manchester and Concord, but for a better time in NE, I'd probably recommend hubing in Boston, and busing up to Laconia for a day or two.

[fvgazi]

I've done the drive to FunSpot. It's approximately 5 hours for me. I could bring some NY folk too if ya'll need a ride. However, last time I stayed in a motel with my friends, because 10 hours of driving ain't so fun.