COMING TO BOSTON FOR THE CONVENTION? Read this.

[WilliamPitt]

As some of you may already know, I live pretty much in the heart of Boston, near the Boylston St/Prudential/Copley area. I'm going to be truthout-ing the convention, and there will be a lot of other things going on, but I fully intend to have a few (ahem) gatherings at my place.

Interested?

I'm looking for input on how to organize this. What time would be best for evening get-togethers? Are there days that won't work?

All DUers coming to Boston are welcome, even the DUers who don't like me. No one is allowed to punch me in the face in my own apartment. Save that for the street. :)

Sound off.

[Walt Starr]

1. I'd love to come

and I wouldn't even punch you in the face.

Unfortunately, work precludes anything like this for me.

:(

[sniffa]

2. i'LL be waiting in the street

with my trusty bLue crowbar (i named it 'oLd bLuey'). ;)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

3. I will be available for partying if necessary

;-)

I would be happy to help some of the out-of-towners get around town if needed. I live and work in Cambridge.

i can't wait to meet our out-of-state DUers!

:toast:

[jonnyblitz]

11. I will be in touch.

I am in NH now and my cell phone doesnt pick up in Hollis (townfolk don't want a high tower or some such thing..)

[ihaveaquestion]

4. I'm volunteering at the convention

and I'd love to visit with you and other DUs. I'm scheduled to work mornings, so my nights are free to wander the city.

[RummyTheDummy]

5. Will, wish I could be there

But as a consolation, could you score some Pats tickets for me? C'mon I know you've got connections. You're a powerful man!

[Warpy]

6. As a refugee from Jamaica Plain

who now lives in central New Mexico, I'd dearly love to be there. I still miss Boston terribly, even after 10+ years away.

However, I'll stay here and do whatever agitating I can. The state is already showing Kerry with a comfortable lead, and I mean to help to increase it.

[Blue_Roses]

7. I would LOVE to come and have been

trying to plan a way, but family and finances continue to hold me back.

[senseandsensibility]

8. Indulge me

This may be a stupid, hypothetical question, but if two DUers showed up in Boston for the convention with no hotel room reservations and no connections, what would their chance be of scoring admisstion to the convention or a hotel room?

[WilliamPitt]

10. Slim on the hotel, none on getting into the convention

[Kathy in Cambridge]

13. Hotel rooms are ridiculously expensive if you can get one

I did an expedia search and nearly passed out.

[Renew Deal]

34. Stay outside Boston.

Search for Danvers. It's close and it's got lots of hotels.

[Kathy in Cambridge]

39. It's not on public trans though

I wouldn't suggest anyone renting a car during that week!

[jonnyblitz]

9. I plan to meet up with Youngred who will be in town.

and hopefully plan to meet up with everyone with him in tow (if he can get away from the convention) or not...

[ET Awful]

12. Count me in. . .

I'd take the long drive in from . . . Lowell :). I just need to figure which back route to take to get into town during the convention.

Add me to the list :)

[Kathy in Cambridge]

14. Rt 3 South to 128 South to Rte 2 East through Cambridge

will be your best bet...

[TorchTheWitch]

17. I've got family in Lowell

I've been thinking of canceling a booking and taking a lil trip up to Boston. I've got a brother living in Boston, but he'll be out of the country during the convention. I could still stay at his place, but his roommate gives me the creeps. Looks like if I go, I'll be camped out on someone's couch in Lowell.

[WilliamPitt]

15. .

[DrBB]

16. As another Boston DUer, mein gott, I might just show up

...for one of these things finally. And since I work down the street from the Fleet, with a couple of major side-events being held at my place of bidness, I might just have an amusing anecdote er two.

[Zolok]

18. I'm interested

a low key party might be nice....

www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

[xocolatl]

19. Would love to come to the party...

... but I'm trying as best I can to be away from that area of town for most of the convention.

A party might be worth the hassle tho. :) Evenings are best...

:party: :toast: :party: :grouphug: :party: :smoke: :party: :crazy: :party:

[Amaya]

20. Yes.

Making plans with some Cambridge DUers. Sound good?

Do you need any supplies for these get-togethers?

Btw, how's the cat?
:)

[WilliamPitt]

21. Going to get snipped Thursday morning

Gonna call him 'Stinky' until then. :)

[Amaya]

23. Sorry...

:(

[TorchTheWitch]

22. I'd be game

I've been thinking about canceling a booking and going to Boston for the convention. I've got family in Boston and Lowell, so there's no shortage of couches I can camp out on.

I'm looking for input on how to organize this. What time would be best for evening get-togethers? Are there days that won't work?

I don't think it matters much which evenings as long as it doesn't conflict with the convention for those that have coveted tix. I would think that most people would be fine with any evening as long as it isn't too late (for those that have to be at work the next morning semi-coherant). If you aren't planning on serving food other than nibblies, just leave some time for people to grab some grub after work before party time. I'm a night worker, so I've learned that most people do the 9 to 5 routine, but since I'd be technically on vacation (and anyone else coming from very far out of town would be too), any evening at any time would be cool as long as they have time for some dinner (and you don't want people drinking on an empty stomach... my carpet can testify to that).

I think you'd be better off having a BYOB type deal... alcohol is expensive in quantity, and it would discourage those that just want to go for an excuse to guzzle free booze and barf on your carpet or in your fish tank. Lock up valuables in a designated no trespassing zone (cd's fit down the front of someone's pants pretty easily). It sounds weird, but remove the telephones in the area where the partiers are... I've had people at parties of mine make major long distance calls on my phone during a party. Consider paying a friend to act as incognito security... people are capable of doing the strangest most unsavory things in someone else's home - even people you think you know and would never imagine would do such things. Have a potty plunger handy... even if your potty has never, ever, ever, ever backed up/overflowed, it will want to at a party. Make sure there's an extra roll of potty paper on hand and easily visable for the ladies to find (so you don't have to wonder if they used your hairdryer).

All DUers coming to Boston are welcome, even the DUers who don't like me. No one is allowed to punch me in the face in my own apartment.

Perhaps a sturdy athletic supporter may be in order for those enemies that may hit below the belt. ;)

The more I think about it, the more I want to go. I'll have to figure out a clever way of getting out of this booking without getting shafted.

[Trajan]

24. Damn I wish ....

Im still smarting from the $250 Bill at Legal Seafood ....

'If it isnt fresh: It isnt Legal', you know ...

[stellanoir]

25. I'm in. . .

just a hop skip and a jump away and have been bumming over having missed matcom's BBQ due to a stupid scheduling problem.

Anxious to traverse and stumble over the legendary "thumb tacks and cockroaches" on your floor!!!

In case you missed it. . .thread about a gathering in Jamaica Plain on the 25th here. . .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x1974426

sounds like fun!

[Kat45]

26. I'll be on vacation that week, and as you know, I live around here.

I'm interested, but I still have to figure out how the fuck I can get into and out of the city during the convention. I haven't looked at it in detail as yet, but it looks like they're going to close off the roads into town as well as parts of the T. If anyone can help me out with that, please do.

I live right next to Cambridge, if any of the folks in that area want to get together to trek in to Will's, let me know. :hi:

[republicansarewhores]

27. I've heard all areas around the convention will be closed to the public.

Where are Democratic supporters without credentials supposed to convene if they can't so so near or around the outside of Fleet Center?

RAW

[wicket]

28. I live in Baaaahston

So I'm definitely up for it :)

[Jose Diablo]

29. Mr. Pitt

I'd like to meet you. Sure. I haven't planned on driving to Boston, but I have the time and I have never seen a major political convention. How will I find you?

[symbolman]

30. We've got something going on, love to party here - both before and after -

Here's the word on the MEDIA SUMMIT we're helping to produce.

We'd like to invite some of the general folks here at the DU to come as well, we can party after or before if they show early --

Basically, we are lining up our Speakers and delegates will be needed to - think about coming for both nights and creating a Media we can all get behind!

Palast will be there for sure, working on others, Amy Goodman is talking with us today. There will be some luminaries there, and I imagine some will want to talk and drink after, even if they don't get a whack at Will in the Punching Booth :)

************

More info here:

http://www.summitnet04.com


Take Back The Media, GTV, and People to People TV, in association with the Boston Social Forum, are presenting Media Summit Net 04, as a special event in their Media Track. This will take place on July 24-25, the Saturday and Sunday before the Democratic National Convention on the campus of the University of Massachusetts, Boston.

We are speaking with content creators, distributors, visionaries, luminaries, prominent internet sites, alternative media organizations, nuts and bolts workers, funders, advertisers, those with business models and plans.

Greg Palast, William Rivers Pitt, Link TV and many others have already expressed interest in participating. Because a lot of people are already going to be there in Boston that weekend, there is a lot of energy and juice going towards this.

******************************************************************

Media Summit Net 04 has been designed to address, work through, and resolve in a two-day structured, facilitated process how we can strengthen our voice, unify our efforts and form a national progressive media network. There's been a lot of talk, but we feel it's time for action. David Brock's "Media Matters", "Blinded by the Right," and "The Republican Noise Machine" all underscore how essential it is for progressives to use the media more effectively as tools of influence.

At Summit Net 04, we want your help and ideas to find tangible ways to work together to make the progressive voice stronger and more unified, while allowing each of us to maintain our own unique media identities.

One way of looking at this is to consider the Ace Hardware model. Ace Hardware gave more power to the "mom and pop" hardware store to compete against the corporate giant Home Depot, yet each store retains its own identity. There may be other models. This is where our dialogue begins. Our "Guiding Question" for the Summit is:

If you could design a media network that would effectively communicate progressive American values and unify the voices for truth, accuracy, and ethics in our democracy, what would it look like and how would it work?

If this appeals to your sensibilities and imagination, we invite you to join us at Media Summit Net 04 to forge the foundations of an agreement, create real alliances, with tangible follow-up actions. It's time to join forces.

**********************************************************************
Space is limited, so please let us know as soon as possible if you plan to attend. You can register online at our website in progress and you can check back there for updates:

http://www.summitnet04.com

If you are unable to attend, would you be willing to recommend someone else to represent your organization? Please let us know by responding to this email or calling me at the number below. I know your schedule is probably tight, but if you're already planning to be in Boston, for the Boston Social Forum and/or the Democratic National Convention, this will be a great opportunity.

Looking forward to hearing from you,

[WilliamPitt]

31. .

[WilliamPitt]

32. .

[Renew Deal]

33. I can come if it's the weekend before.

Boston is going to be a big party.

[merh]

35. Wish I could be there ...

I wouldn't punch you either. I would ask for your autograph. I love your writings.

Enjoy the convention and keep us informed.

:hi:

[geniph]

36. Will, I'll be there

I'm an alternate with the Washington state delegation. You pretty much have to just pick a night, and Tuesday and Wednesday are probably best; the city's giving the delegations big parties on Sunday night, I know there's about fifty big parties on Monday and Thursday, and most folks are leaving Friday. I'd be interested, if I can spare time from the corporate whores wining and dining me. ;-)

And I never punch anyone in the face. Skulls are hard.

[DS1]

37. I'll bring some veggies!

[Justice]

38. Interested

Let us know details and what to bring.

[WilliamPitt]

40. .

[WilliamPitt]

41. .