This thread has been locked to avoid confusion -- please go to this thread: http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/1057478
Hey, folks!
Well, your lovable co-ML Heather (yes, in case you lose track, she's the lovable one) and I have been working on the schedule, and it's almost complete, save for one very important event -- the overnight writing session. We know when we want it to be, overnight on Saturday Nov. 24th, but we're having trouble figuring out a location! So I thought maybe we could brainstorm it as a group here ...
I know, we've done Fran's in the past, but I didn't really feel like we were incredibly welcomed last year, and it'd be nice if there were an atmosphere that was a little bit quieter, more relaxed. Heather and I had thought about trying to find a public space that wouldn't mind letting us do a 'lock-in' overnight, maybe a church basement or the like, but no luck so far. So ... any ideas? Would you be just as happy doing Fran's or somewhere similar? Are there other overnight venues you would suggest? Do any of you have an in with a church, meeting hall etc. that might be okay with letting us use a room overnight?
Honestly, during Script Frenzy I even thought about hosting the overnighter at my apartment (but didn't do so in the end) -- but I think there'd be too many people for this to even be an option with NaNo. So we need ideas, and all quick-like!
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
60,000 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 05 30
Hmm...
----------I didn't feel as though we were particularly unwelcome at Frans last year, we certainly ordered a lot there too. I'm partial to Frans or another place like it, because I think the food / coffee factor is important. What about calling to feel it out first?
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5,234 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 09 50
Just puttin' this out there...
If Fran's is causing mixed feelings... Has Mel's Montreal Delicatessen in the Annex been investigated?
*shruggity-shrug-shrug*
----------__________
"Acting is merely the art of keeping a large group
of people from coughing." - Sir Ralph Richardson
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 09 57
Hasn't been investigated TOO closely yet ... they're not terribly vegetarian-friendly, which I know affects some of the group. But definitely worth checking out ... problem is, it'll be on a Saturday night, and I'd imagine they get kind of busy (as does Fran's) on the weekends ...
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
5,234 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 10 19
W-wait... Smoked meat sandwiches AREN'T considered vegan? Dagnabbit.
Seriously, though... Silly me. A heartfelt apology to all of the Vegesauruses.
I blame Mondayness for this oversight.
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"Acting is merely the art of keeping a large group
of people from coughing." - Sir Ralph Richardson
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 10 54
No worries ... as I said, I checked them out myself (back in June when I was setting up things for Script Frenzy), because I know they ARE open all night. But the menu is pretty exclusively for omnivores.
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 11 03
Dunno ... I just remember the waiter being pretty rude to us while I was there.
Anyway, we're looking into options ... I mean, even if we did it somewhere that wasn't directly food-related, we'd have food and coffee THERE. No question of that. ;)
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
87,202 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 12 59
Comments from the Waterloo member of the Toronto forum :).
I agree about the Fran's waiter...he didn't seem too keen on us, though he did warm up a bit.
Have you looked into doing it somewhere on one of the university campuses? For instance, there's a room in University College called the Junior Common room (everyone calls it the JCR) that has huge red leather couches that are super comfy, in addition to tables and chairs. Lots of seating. I'm not sure what the outlet situation is, you'd have to ask. I don't know if they'd let non-student groups use it, but if you had someone who is a student ask, they might agree. Food is allowed there. There's actually a coffee bar just off the room, but it wouldn't be open overnight. Unless you were able to convince them that you'd make it worth their while with lots of spending, maybe..... :P
If you were interested, the person to talk to would probably be Nona Robinson, the Dean of Students for UC:
nona.robinson@utoronto.ca
416-978-7246
I'm excited! Yays for overnight session, wherever it may be!!
----------"merp! merp!" --bunnyhero
2005: Eleanor's Story (unfinished) | 2006: The Alchemy Project (65K) | 2007: Normal as a Coconut
50,068 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 14 32
The food court at College Park has power outlets for those who need them, and it's right beside the 24-hour Dominion where snacks galore can be had.
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 22, 2007 - 17 19
Hmm ... could work, just wondering if it'd be anywhere near peaceful enough to focus on a Saturday night down there. ;)
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
54,070 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2007 - 02 02
We tried the food court two years ago for the overnight event, but they kicked us out fairly early, and we ended up having to go to Fran's, since it was across the street. Unless it's changed, I don't think that's going to work this year.
23,667 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2007 - 06 30
Have we anyone who's a student? If so, let me know and I may use your contact-iness.
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2007 - 06 32
Heh, I already asked Andrew to look into this ...
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
52,814 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2007 - 09 51
Hi DJ,
It seems the churches were a bust - they need time for applications to get through their boards, which seem to meet in the middles of months :P
Anybody familiar with any of these? http://www.frommers.com/destinations/toronto/0034024596.html
----------Chinese food until 5 am sounds good, if they were open to having us there...
"The past does not repeat itself, but sometimes it rhymes." -Samuel Clemens
http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com
4,140 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2007 - 18 07
Oh, I have an in at a church (I work at one on weekends) near U of T, downtown etc. but Saturday evening to Sunday morning...I don't know about that. The kitchen on the premises will be closed for health regulation reasons.
If they are willing to have me keep an eye on you all (and pay me too - yeah, right)...
But I wouldn't hold my breath. I'll check what the scheduling is like anyway.
Next board meeting is actually at the beginning of November so I'll put a feeler out and see what the response is.
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 24, 2007 - 19 47
Well, we wouldn't really need the kitchen as such ... we might bring munchies, but all we'd need is somewhere to make coffee, methinks ... but if you don't mind checking, we're definitely still looking for a venue.
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
4,140 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2007 - 09 07
Well, I looked at the calendar and there's a wedding in the afternoon. So I've asked the groom briefly about the timing.
How many people are we looking at anyway? I've never been to any of these overnight writing sessions, preferring to do something more productive like sleeping.
I see that the time according to the calendar is 8:00 p.m. Saturday to 6:00 a.m. Sunday?
I've sent out a feeler email to him (the chair of the board) to see if it is even viable. I will let you know what happens when I find out. The board will be meeting on November 3 if this thing gets past the chairperson's first preliminary approval process.
I will keep you posted.
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 27, 2007 - 14 27
How many people is generally between 15 and 20 over the course of the night ... not generally all at once, though. Though with a larger group this year, that might expand slightly.
The time on the calendar is vague, due to not even knowing our location yet ... a more likely starting time is 9 or 10 pm. And I should have mentioned that it'd be a good idea to have this somewhere that's served by a night bus route, since the subway doesn't run until about 9 or so on Sunday mornings ...
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
4,140 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2007 - 12 43
OK, my location has been preliminary ok'd by the chair of the board as long as I'm in the vicinity of the group and claim responsibility for the group. The board is meeting this Saturday and he promised me to ask them about it.
Although it is about 3 blocks north, the Carlton streetcar is close enough and is on the blue night route.
However, if anyone is staying until around 7 a.m. we can go to Tim Horton's, or Second Cup for tea/coffee/breakfast...I have to be back at the church for 9 a.m. or thereabouts.
23,667 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2007 - 04 31
Cool! I promise to help keep you caffeinated should this work out. ;)
1,447 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2007 - 06 56
How about 7 west cafe? I believe they are open all night?
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2007 - 07 40
I tried it during Script Frenzy, actually ... they refused to make any accomodations for us by reserving tables, etc., and it was too dark and too loud to really be useful.
Thanks, though ... we still have a couple of options we're checking out. We should be able to post a definite location soon.
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
38,729 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2007 - 07 41
Just out of curiousity, should this work out, what sort of table/chair situation are we looking at? Just want to make sure we advise people to bring cushioning, etc. if necessary. (I thought of it because they've already warned us for the San Francisco Write-a-thon that we should bring padding for the chairs ... )
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
4,140 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2007 - 15 46
Cushioning is definitely advised. You cannot sit for too long in these chairs.
Hopefully will be able to advise tomorrow if this thing is a go.
4,140 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2007 - 08 02
OK, we have a location!!!
I just got word that the board has approved the booking. The church is located just south of the St. George Campus of University of Toronto. If any of you know where John's Italian Caffe is (or the bun shop on Baldwin Street) the church is very close to there. I am booking two rooms right now for you. All the other rooms will be locked, except for the church office if there are any emergencies etc.
The deal is that I am being held responsible for all of you, and will have to answer to the board if anything happens. I will be on site (although I may doze off in the church office on and off) perhaps working on my novel, perhaps studying or doing stuff for Sunday.
I will be giving Deej and Heather the info to set up an RSVP at Timothy's on Tuesday and have everyone who is even thinking about coming by to sign up as the front doors will be locked and only Nanoers will be allowed in. Hopefully by that time, we would know what you look like so we will not be requesting ID :-).
38,729 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2007 - 08 13
Cool ... I'll talk to Heather, and hopefully she can set everything up with you on Tuesday (I'm going to be at a play-reading thing that night) -- there was one other location she was still scouting, but hopefully she'll be able to give you the low-down on all that by then.
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D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!
4,140 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2007 - 08 25
OK, we have a location!!!
I just got word that the board has approved the booking. The church is located just south of the St. George Campus of University of Toronto. If any of you know where John's Italian Caffe is (or the bun shop on Baldwin Street) the church is very close to there. I am booking two rooms right now for you. All the other rooms will be locked, except for the church office if there are any emergencies etc.
The deal is that I am being held responsible for all of you, and will have to answer to the board if anything happens. I will be on site (although I may doze off in the church office on and off) perhaps working on my novel, perhaps studying or doing stuff for Sunday.
I will be giving Deej and Heather the info to set up an RSVP at Timothy's on Tuesday and have everyone who is even thinking about coming by to sign up as the front doors will be locked and only Nanoers will be allowed in. Hopefully by that time, we would know what you look like so we will not be requesting ID :-).
8,537 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2007 - 15 37
I've been trying to convince a few people to show up for that, but it's a bit of a trip and they won't be able to go home, but arent' sure they can stay up. I've never been to one, and I just wanted to ask if people napped at all, laying out, bringing pillows... ?
And if I can't make it on Tuesday, if I could RSVP later on the forum.
----------I've officially caught up to the recommended word count for day five.
Which wouldn't be so bad if I could stand the things I wrote
Look, I'm adhering to size standards!
4,140 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2007 - 16 22
I honestly have no idea myself and it looks like I'll be learning all about it when my workplace is hosting it!
Anyway, I am hoping we can set up a specific RSVP for the overnight session so that security (i.e. me) will be able to let in only Nanoers and no one else (we have had some people sleeping on the streets lately - one just outside one of the entrances to the church actually).
I warn you that laying out on the floor that I'm thinking of having you in is very uncomfortable unless you decide to also bring an air mattress as well as a sleeping bag. Putting your head down on the desk/table is an option though.
Anyway, why don't you RSVP when the actual thread shows up (even if you're not 100% sure you are coming) because like I mentioned earlier, I would rather have no surprise guests. If you show up, you're covered. If you do not show up, no worries.
90,207 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2007 - 20 03
Just a question... will there be enough outlets for everyone, or should someone bring something like a powerbar or something to accomodate laptops and such. Because I'm not sure about the rest of you but my laptop refuses to subsist on battery power for more than 2 hours and I really don't feel like staying up all night and writing paper to pencil only to have to type it up again [that's if I can make it which isn't likely, but i'd still want to be sure].
Morbidly Intricate
50,019 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2007 - 01 01
So when exactly is this writing session taking place? I'm confused!
Thank you so much.
----------"Man is free, yet everywhere he goes he is in chains" Rousseau