OK, we talked about this last year (!) in thisthread. At the time I had nine Dopers, 10 including myself, express an interest. Here is the list (don’t think I forgot you):
sj2
bouv
Exgineer
jeffb
little nemo
taxi78cab
realitychuck
nuttybunny
rackman
And possibly **racinchiki **.
If you are all still interested, I thought we could get together on a Saturday afternoon, maybe January 22nd with a snow/alternate date of January 29.
We would meet at **1 PM at the Albany Institute of Natural History & Art ** (I think that’s its full name). Spend a couple of hours there, and then hit Jillian’s, or we can plan something else on the spur of the moment.
That way, I figure we have something to do, something to talk about, and an easy way to fly away if we all hate each other or something. Spouses & significant others are welcome, of course.
Here is my e-mail: elenia25@yahoo.com. E-mail me if you like! We can discuss it via e-mail.
Hey, “Capital Area” – you don’t want the Schenectadyites, Renssalaerwyckans, and Trojans (well, you make an adjective from Troy!) to feel left out.
…or the Cohoesitarians either.
Speaking of which, IIRC Reality Chuck is in Schenectady, and I don’t recall him posting often in MPSIMS – somebody might shoot him an e-mail to make sure he’s aware of plans.
I know - I tried to think of a good one, as one might even be coming from Saranac Lake. Instead, I put Albany since I myself am from Latham (well, Watervliet really) and I figured I’m calling myself an Albany Doper too.
We have, or had, active and valuable members who are “college kids” from Saranac Lake (I think - NCCC) and Plattsburgh. AFAIK Funnee Farmer no longer is a member, but he was from Cooperstown. ISTM that there was at least one person from Glens Falls as well.
Whew. At least it’s not Cohoes. Just so you know, Latham (but not Loudonville) and Menands are both incorporated villages in the Town of Colonie, but Watervliet is an incorporated city in the County of Albany. Just sayin’. Actually, I’m not all that sure about Latham. That might just be a Postal Area, like Loudonville.
Back on topic: I think I see a couple of flaws in The Plan.
The Museum of History and Art is up on Washington near the state and county offices, and there’s no parking space. After consulting a phonebook, I note that Jillian’s is way down on North Pearl, where there is also no parking whatsoever. It’s also kind of a long walk. Granted, we’re talking about daytime on a Saturday, but I anticipate an enormous PITA for all attendees, which can’t be conducive to an avuncular mood. Ignore that last bit; let’s just say that we’ll probably all be grumpy.
May I suggest an alternative? As far as I know, parking at the Plaza is free and open to the public on weekends, and it’s close to the State Museum. If we want to go to a pub afterwards there are a couple right there on Madison (I think) or we could just follow the enclosed and covered walkways down to Pearl and get to Jillian’s or one of the other six hundred bars down there without exposing ourselves to the elements.
Jillians has video games, right?
What? I grew up here.
We also need some means of identifying each other, to be sure that we’re in the right group and haven’t left anybody out.
See, that’s why i hired you. Your pay is…a beer, on me.
OK, change in The Plan. We park at the Plaza. Exgineer, can you come up with directions once we get these people into the city? I am not very good at giving directions.
Yes, Jillian’s has video games.
And I actually knew I was in the County of Albany, but I border on Cohoes and I don’t go that way. Yuck.
How can we identify each other? Should we all agree to carry something? An umbrella? A balloon? Or maybe I’ll make a sign that says “SDMB” in big letters and wave it around and embarras the heck out of everybody.
Latham is just a Postal Area, not an incorporated village. From the annals of useless trivia that is my brain.
Anaamika, could I request that we not all carry balloons? I have a very strong case of ligyrophobia - fear of loud noises - and it extends as far as being afraid of balloons popping. Yes, I am serious, I’m terrified of balloons. Not something I admit terribly often, but considering the other things I’ve said on this board, it’s hardly the most embarrassing thing one could learn about me. Anything else that doesn’t make noise would be find for identifying each other. Thanks! (Although if it’s a rainy day and everyone’s carrying an umbrella, that wouldn’t work so well. I personally like the idea of Anaamika carrying a big sign. )
Two long-standing Dopefest traditions that may help you:
When making reservations, list the event as “the Adams party” or “the Adams family reunion” – reference of course being to Cecil. When arriving, ask the greeter for whichever name is chosen.
“Hi, My Name Is ____” nametags, which are filled out with both SDMB nick and what the person wants to be addressed by in real life (Yelling across the room, “Hey, Truly a Jackass, come over here – Notorious Slut wants to meet you,” usually has less-than-pleasant effects! :D)
I wil try to make it. As said, I’m not really that close to Albany, but it’s also not too far that I can’t drive down for a weekend. And seeing as I spent four years of my life in that area, I do like to go back.
I’m even willing to pick up people who might be on the way, or are close by. This all hinges on me having a car before then, though. I shoudl be getting some paperwork this week to get a loan, so hopefully next week I will have it. And if not, well then I have another week after that to get it.
Yuck.
Anything else that doesn’t make noise would be find for identifying each other. Thanks! (Although if it’s a rainy day and everyone’s carrying an umbrella, that wouldn’t work so well. I personally like the idea of Anaamika carrying a big sign. 
)