Boston Meetup for the Antiquarian Book Fair?

Anybody up for a get-together in Boston over the weekend of 11-13 November sometime? The ABAA Book fair (http://www.bostonbookfair.com/) is that weekend - I should be able to wrangle a whole bunch of passes for that if people want to go, and we can also do a bookstore meetup (or heck even a bookstore walk and hit a few: Brattle, Commonwealth, &c. downtown, or Harvard Bookstore, Raven &c. in Harvard Square). Thoughts?

I'm in!

>2 bostonbibliophile: - Awesome! Any particular suggestions, things we should make sure we do, &c.?

Oh, that sounds like fun! I don't know if I'll actually be able to make it, but it's a great idea :D

What _Zoe_ said.

3, I definitely want to go to the fair & besides that, a bookstore walking tour or evening-time in Harvard Square would be fun. Lots of places to eat and drink and shop! And everything there is nicely centralized whereas downtown there are big distances (on foot anyway) between the Trident/Raven end and the Commonwealth/Brattle end.

I would love to come to Boston again, but I've already got so much going on that weekend that I won't know whether I'm coming or going most of the time.

Well, I've determined that I'm at least free that weekend and potentially able to go to Boston. Probably just for one day (the Saturday?), since I'd be staying in Providence. Book fair, then lunch, then bookstore walk, then maybe dinner?

I'm interested but not yet willing to make a committment. I'd be travelling (most likely by plane, possibly train or bus) from DC and would probably stay in Boston one night.

I have to say, I'm much more resolved to attend this meetup and talk to Jeremy after seeing Tim's latest proposed RSI! Argh.

I nominate someone in (or at least familiar with) Boston to come up with a plan.

Yah - and I'm glad you're all thinking of coming! I'm happy to help put together the plan (though will add that I still have to work out my schedule for the RBMS table at the fair, which I'm in charge of organizing this year - lucky me).

Fair hours are 5-9 on Friday, 12-7 on Saturday, 12-5 on Friday

My (very) initial thought would be a brunch-type thing on Saturday prior to the fair opening, then the fair, then bookstore visits in Cambridge in the evening. But that's just very preliminary!

Tempting... I dunno...

Brunch beforehand sounds perfect. I'm thinking of doing a tour of Freedom Trail early in the morning (if I can get there), so the timing would be just right.

I'm not sure that I'll personally want to stay at the book fair for the whole seven hours, but we'll see.

>13 qebo: You should definitely come.

I like brunch beforehand; Trident Bookstore has a good brunch and it's a bookstore. Bookstore visits in Cambridge post-fair would be a nice way to end the day and offer some choices for people as far as whether to go to an early or later meetup.

Commonwealth Books (who'll be providing the free passes to the Book Fair) has also offered 15% off to LTers - so it would be good if we could fit them in. Maybe a mid-to-late-afternoon visit to the downtown shops prior to dinner in Cambridge?

That would give us several different meetup opportunities:

- Brunch at Trident (and the Newbury Street Raven shop is right there too) - 10 or 10:30?
- Book Fair - starts at noon
- Afternoon visits to Brattle and Commonwealth - at leisure after lunch/bookfair
- Evening in Harvard Square for Harvard Bookstore and Raven - dinnertime

Thoughts?

My head says "yes", my checking account says "oh no".

If we have confirmed, at least, that we are meeting on Saturday, then I can go ahead and buy my plane tickets. I'll get a flight that arrives in Boston at 10, then after I drop my stuff at a hotel (still don't know which one - any suggestions?) I should be able to get to the fair around 12.

>16 jbd1: That sounds perfect! Count me in.

I'll be there! I'm certainly happy to patronize Commonwealth!

I'm about to blog the Boston meetups, so I've also put up a wiki page:

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Boston_Meetup_-_November_2011

Times there are semi-arbitrary at this point since I just wanted to have something in there. We can discuss and figure out what works for folks as far as those go!

My husband and I would love to come. Saturday the 12th works well for us.

I'll be in Boston that weekend for a career forum but will probably be pulling out my hair stressing out and won't have time to attend an LT event. Will see how things are come that Friday.

Probably able to come for at least part of it, it will depend on making arrangements for my son.

I'd love to come, but we've young kids too, so it's fairly unlikely. Have fun!

It is a 3 hour (at least,I did it a few years ago) to Boston and a LONG layover in Hartford on the return trip, so as much as I'd like to actually meet and explore with other LTers....
Anyhow, Have fun!!!

I officially have plane tickets. Still no hotel but I think I will just deal with that when I get there. My flight gets into Logan at 9:15am on Saturday at which point I will hopefully get a hotel room near the convention center and then meet up with everyone else.

My flight home doesn't leave until 4pm on Sunday, if anyone will still be around then or has suggestions of stuff to do.

Due to sabbath and kosher limitations, the only part I'm likely to make it to is the Cambridge bookstore visits.

norabelle, just FYI hotels in that particular area of Boston are pretty expensive, you might do better looking for another one along the orange line or green line and just take the T, especially if it's just a place to flop for the night.

Also, with a major convention in town, I'd try to get a reservation ahead of time, or you'll spend too much time hunting for a place to stay.

I'm in! This sounds wonderful.

The wife and I will most likely be there (Karen & Steve Davidson) - though it is going to be torture as the book-buying-budget is not well financed at the moment.

For those who love scifi and fantasy, you might want to consider Pandemonium in Central Square...

I can hopefully make dinner & shopping in the evening but that's it.

I'm in!!!!

>re: 32
And board games! Surely there's another board gamer around here.

Yup, I like board games!

me toooooo

Are there enough people going that we should contact a hotel & see if we can get a group discount for lodging?

Well, who needs lodging? It probably wouldn't hurt to try.

I'll be staying in Providence and just coming in for the day.

I need lodging and would be in for a group discount or something

Sounds like a great day. I am trying to re-arrange some things so I have time to come up from Cape Cod.

Great idea. Won't be at the Fair myself but hope to bring along/meet folk from our library class as well. best, James

I am going to try to go, but won't stay overnight.

Yay, it will be great to see you again, Mary!

Looking forward to meeting everyone else too :)

I'm getting excited.

Me too! It looks like there are a lot of people coming.

I just need to find time to look at a map in the next few days and figure out where exactly I'm going....

I'll be there with bells on!

We're having a lunchtime birthday party for my son so it looks like I'll just be able to make the evening events, probably along with my wife. Looking forward to meeting everyone!

Oh, and for those of us meeting up later, where should we meet? We'd like to make it for dinner before Raven and Harvard.

Sounds like it'll be lots of fun. Have a great time, everyone!

Madeline! You should come too!

I'd love too, but it's too expensive and too far for just one day. I'll be at Princeton University that day (half way to Boston, anyway!) at a production in which my niece has a role, but I'll be thinking of all of you. Regards to everyone.

No signs this time. Tell your* ideas for LT directly to the boss!

*especially Zoe! :D

At breakfast I think I'll have Liam to protect me. At dinner I'll have drinks.

where/when for dinner?

Well, I'm tempted.

...though "10am" is probably unrealistic for me, as I'm several hours away; but "noon" is certainly plausible.

(Aw, crap, I see that L.W. Currey is an exhibitor... this all might be Too Dangerous....)

When did Raven open a branch on Newbury? I guess maybe I do need to get out more....

When did Raven open a branch on Newbury?

Yeah, pretty good stuff. It disproves the notion that Avenue Victor Hugo's death was inevitable.

I didn't see the Raven on Newbury last trip in. That's exciting. I did visit the Commonwealth anex though which is even better than the main store for Classical stuff IMHO. I'm gonna have to really hold onto my wallet this time ....

>53 bostonbibliophile: - For dinner in Cambridge. Let's meet at Harvard Bookstore at 6:30. We'll plot dinner from there depending on how many we are. Sound okay?

See many of you at Trident on Saturday at 10! If you're planning to start at the book fair at noon and won't be at lunch, let me know so I can make sure that you get a pass (I'll either meet you with it or leave it at will-call - drop me an email - jeremy@librarything.com).

I'll be traveling to Boston tomorrow and then at the fair in the evening, but I'll be looking at email when I can!

We might want to think this through a bit more. It's going to be Saturday night in the Square, and with a big group. I can't tell you how many times I've wandered from place to place, unable to find a place for dinner. I mean, I'd love to hit the Border Cafe, but there is NO chance we'd get seated there in under an hour.

Anyone want to suggest some places that might take a reservation?

Fine with me - Abby, do you know of anywhere that might do a reservation? We may very well have to do several smaller tables wherever we go, depending on how many we are at that point.

jeremylibrarything.com

Side note: I think the at thing is more trouble than it's worth (though admittedly, I'd say the value is pretty much nil).

I definitely agree that a reservation would be a good idea.

A few ideas other than Border Cafe:

John Harvard's Brew House
Grafton Street Pub & Grill
Grendel's
Cambridge 1

Isn't Grendel's now just a small bar?

Apparently so - shows how long it's been since I went there. So scratch that one.

Heaven forbid, there's Legal Seafood at the Charles Hotel. Quodba & Chiptole are both now in Harvard Square, and fairly sizable. Bertucci's usually takes reservations. B.Good's is a burger place, but rather tiny (if delicious).

I don't think I'm going to be able to make it (again! the last time LT was in Boston, I twisted my ankle on the way out the door and got laid up for weeks). Have a wonderful time!

Jeremy- I'll be joining you for brunch tomorrow a.m. - any chance of a pass for Saturday's Fair? Looking forward to meeting you all.

Jeremy, I just printed off the itinerary so we will look for you at tomorrow's brunch. Looking forward to meeting you.
Bridget and Ed (BMMcManus) Hope we can get passes too.

>65 michigantrumpet: - definitely! I've got lots of passes. And the Brattle folks tonight said they'll have tote bags for anyone who wants one!

I was actually thinking Grafton Street for tomorrow night; they're good-sized, and even if we have to wait a bit, we can wait at Harvard Bookstore and shop while we wait for a table. We can talk about it at brunch tomorrow and if that makes sense to folks, I'll see if they take reservations.

Mmm, tote bags

If they have extra tote bags, can you bring me one? I'll be there in spirit! :)

I hope everyone has a nice time! :)

Me too! Looking forward to hearing all about it...

Jeremy- hated to miss seeing everyone. Awoke with a nasty sore throat and fever. Thought it best not inflict that on others. Had bben looking forward to seeing fellow LTers. *sigh* maybe next time.

can't make tonight's events. have a wonderful time!

Damn. Would have liked to chat again. Well, another time!

Tim, Jeremy, Mary, et al: couldn't stick around for dinner but it was great meeting you all -- had a terrific day and scored some cool volumes on the book store crawl. Hope we can get together again and I would be happy to assist with a similar event in Western Mass at some point if you guys are up for it.

tim, lol. i'll probably drop by the show today.

>76 bostonbibliophile: - Do you need a pass? I've got lots; let me know! I'll leave a few at will-call with "LibraryThing" on the card, just in case! I'll be at the RBMS table today, so if you do come by, say hi!

Thanks to all who came to the various meetup components yesterday - what fun!

77, I would love a pass- could you leave two for me and my husband? :-) i'll come by & visit the booth for sure! thank you!

You bet. I'll be there a bit before noon and leave them at will-call for you. Enjoy the show!!

I'll leave a pile of passes under "LibraryThing" - so anyone else in/around Boston who wants to get into the book fair today (12-5), just stop by will-call and grab one!

I've been sitting in Boston Common for 20 minutes and have yet to be attacked by any squirrels. Super disappointed.

You'll have to try harder. Maybe spread some food around you.

Did they at least get close enough for you to pet them? :)

Well, that was fun.
Thanks to Jeremy for organizing, it was nice meeting you. And it was nice to see Tim and Abby again, and to meet everyone and match up some names and faces.

I just uploaded some photos from yesterday:

http://www.librarything.com/gallery/member/jbd1

I'll blog them tomorrow!

Heh, some fun ones there, Jeremy!

Here's the only picture I've managed to upload so far:

Nora and Mary

I only have a couple more (that apparently need to be reduced first), but I'll be sure to put up at least the one with Jeremy eventually.

I miss that toasty bench. I should've stayed there.

Tag your meetup photos with "Boston 2011" and they'll show up here:
http://www.librarything.com/gallery/tag/Boston+2011

Here's "meetup," which picks up a previous meetup photo:
http://www.librarything.com/gallery/tag/meetup

Cool. Mine are now in the gallery.

Had fun meeting everyone and scored some fine books at HBS - and if I wind up getting work in the Portland area, Tim, you'll be sure to hear from me about the school systems!