Meet up or die!
posted June 26, 2010 1:22 PM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Sat July 17 at 7:30 PM, The Strange Brew
88 Market St, Manchester, NH, USA (Map & Directions)
Come meet up with other New Englanders in Fabulous Manchvegas.
I suppose we're also celebrating Metafilter's 11th Anniversary! Everyone's welcome (even Massholes).
posted by ChuraChura to Meetup (24 comments total) 2 users marked this as a favorite

Are people from NJ better or worse than "Massholes"?
posted by Karmakaze at 6:51 PM on June 26, 2010


Why is it called Manchvegas?
posted by killdevil at 9:06 PM on June 26, 2010


"Welcome to fabulous Manchvegas, where the party never starts."
posted by ChuraChura at 7:24 PM on June 27, 2010


People from New Jersey in general, not so much. We don't reach the heights of madness found in Boston traffic, though. As an individual I am aware of how to drive in New Hampshire (including letting people actually cross at the crosswalks and madness like that.) Mostly I was wondering if the sin was being from Massachusetts specifically, or if anyone southerly would offend.

I may have a family gathering in Wolfeboro that weekend/following week, and the drive up that way more or less takes me through Manchester, and...
posted by Karmakaze at 10:27 AM on June 28, 2010


As a Masshole who regularly drives in Quebec I will no longer apologize for my driving. Those people are nuts.

Anyway, I've always gotten the impression that the Masshole thing is about more than just driving. Massholes litter, act arrogant, and generally clutter up the joint when we're in New Hampshire*. Also, Mike Barnicle was a Masshole when he wrote that article that one time.

I'm hoping I can drive up for this shindig.


*Not me, I'm a neat and tidy Masshole who respects the WMNF.
posted by bondcliff at 11:04 AM on June 28, 2010


Don't forget your Liberal, Socialistic, Commie-Loving politics that sully our Libertarian, Conservative, American Values reputation when you infiltrate the southern bits of the state.

Karmakaze, if we let in New Jersey residents, we have to extend it to the entire Eastern Seaboard. I suppose we COULD do that... but it's a slippery slope. Massachusetts... New Jersey ... who's next?!?
posted by ChuraChura at 11:59 AM on June 28, 2010


Are people from NJ better or worse than "Massholes"?

I grew up in New Jersey and now I live in Massachusetts. People often ask me where I'm from, and I always tell them I'm from Boston. The shame of admitting my upbringing is just too much.

Plus, constantly hearing "You're from Jersey? What exit?" really gets old after awhile.
posted by backseatpilot at 12:00 PM on June 28, 2010


the southern bits of the state.

You mean The Mall of Liquor and Fireworks?
posted by bondcliff at 12:13 PM on June 28, 2010 [1 favorite]


Are people from NJ better or worse than "Massholes"?

I grew up in Rockland County, NY (right on the border of NJ), moved to MA for college, and NH for my settled adult life so far. Hands down, NY has the most obnoxious drivers in my experience. I cannot decide whether NJ folks or "Massholes" are better, but I can tell you that NJ has better diners and MA has a better road system. I refer to NJ as "The Zoolander State"....you can't turn left.
posted by tastybrains at 2:10 PM on June 28, 2010


OK - I've been doing Important Reconnaissance at Strange Brew - I'll be in the back room waiting for people on July 17th :-)
posted by ChuraChura at 7:43 PM on July 1, 2010


Strange Brew is pretty awesome, and it's down the street from where I grew up; I wish I could go but I've got previous plans. Have fun!
posted by xbonesgt at 12:09 PM on July 6, 2010


Are people from NJ better or worse than "Massholes"?

I am intimately familiar with both states. Grew up in NJ and have lived before, and now live again, in MA.

People in NJ are more cosmopolitan, more diverse, and actually better drivers- because they have to be.

People in MA are more homegenous, swear more often, and are worse drivers - because they are rewarded for opportunism.

I'm not sure how this maps onto "better" or "worse," but if I could take the state of MA and populate its landscape with NJans, I would in a heartbeat.

Sorry I seem to have missed an NH meetup, though!
posted by Miko at 9:18 PM on July 11, 2010


Horace and I will be there wearing at least one, possibly two MetaFilter t-shirts.

I live or have lived in the following states:
NY, SC, MO, TX, MA, TN

As far as I can tell, most drivers suck in some way, but how they suck seems to vary by road conditions, traffic patterns, etc.

People in TN and TX, where the roads are generally big & wide & flat tend to speed a lot, and run more red lights than I've observed in other places.

I think the crazy road system in MA (or at least the greater Boston area), with its rotaries (some of which are not even remotely round), complete lack of signage, frequently changing road names, non-rational one-way streets, and ginormous potholes, contribute to some of the worst driving I've ever seen, FWIW.


See everyone on Saturday!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 5:16 PM on July 12, 2010


Miko, the meetup is this coming Saturday, so you haven't missed it yet!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 5:17 PM on July 12, 2010


I just heard that today - but we went and booked ourselves to go to Brimfield flea market! Have fun in ManchVegas!
posted by Miko at 7:07 PM on July 12, 2010


Hey all--I might get nutty and drive up that way from the Boston area. As a recent transplant from the west coast, I would appreciate a chance to get the hell away from Massachusetts drivers, too.

DiscourseMarker, I think your observation is right on the money, about the totally nonsensical civil engineering contributing to the horrendous driving in Bostons. There are many roads/intersections/stoplights where it is actually impossible to proceed according to the rules of the road as I learned them in the midwest and west coast.

Anyhoo--we'll see if I can get permission to disembark and see alluring Manchvegas for myself. I'm sure I've got something suitably spangly to wear, and will practice up on my lounge singing...
posted by Sublimity at 4:49 AM on July 13, 2010


I am eagerly anticipating the spangles.
posted by ChuraChura at 7:35 AM on July 13, 2010


I hope this shirt is all that you promise. Are you sure it can't be even a *little* spangly?
posted by ChuraChura at 10:58 AM on July 16, 2010


This seems to be the only entry on all of metafilter tagged with the word "spangles". '

Damn, now the pressure is on.
posted by Sublimity at 5:42 PM on July 16, 2010


Likewise! That was super fun. Thanks for organizing, ChuraChura.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:21 PM on July 17, 2010


It was great to meet you all! Thanks for driving up/biking down!
posted by ChuraChura at 7:39 AM on July 18, 2010


That was great fun! I've posted our picture, so you can prove there has now been at least one meetup in New Hampshire.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kris3198/4805415792/
posted by DiscourseMarker at 9:44 AM on July 18, 2010


Sorry to have missed it! I was just too tired last night to make the drive.

The pic DiscourseMarker posted does confirm my suspicion that MeFites are better looking than average. Or maybe I was just blown away by that Hawaiian shirt!!
posted by Sublimity at 7:19 PM on July 18, 2010


Sublimity, your promised lounge singing was sorely missed!
posted by ChuraChura at 9:36 PM on July 18, 2010



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