Kick-Off Par-tay!

My main concern with Barnes and nobles:

There is nowhere to plug in my laptop if I start to run low on power.

The Saucon B&N has exactly one plug so unless someone volunteers to bring a power strip, those of us with laptops are left begging,

and the powerstrip idea works only if nobody else is tying upn both plugs when we arrive :/

Also there's the table issue. Unlike the Panera meetup I went to where we could shove eight square tables together, B&N has round ones and few big enough for more than one laptop :-P

just my concerns.

Valid concerns! Where are the Panera's you would suggest? I could make the Trexlertown or Tilghman & Chew in Allentown locations with the greatest of ease, but I know those are a bit too far West for most people. There's one on MacArthur, correct? Where else would people like to meet?

If there's a concern for available wi-fi and seated space, but not so much for people-watching or (good) coffee and snacks, I could ask my boss and IT guy if we could meet in one of the conference rooms in my office. I could definitely prepare for plenty of laptop plug-ins there! And it could potentially hold 10-15 people.

Any other ideas, pros or cons for B&N or Panera or Alternative Spaces?

Saturday morning is not good for me and I would really like to go to the kick off. Perhaps at a later time? Say 6 or 7 pm? Oh and anyone that's going to go to the kick off just pop in this thread because I need and approximate estimate of people who will be there so I can make up NaNoWriMo survival kits ;)

Are you certain there's only one plug at the Saucon BN? I could have sworn there were at least 2 along the wall where the green chairs used to be. In my experience people aren't too cranky if you ask them to unplug for a second so you can plug in your power strip.

The round tables are definitely a drawback though, and Panera seems to have more tables to begin with. I like the Panera on Rt. 33 by the Bethlehem BN.

Since I'm doing most of my writing from MD, I don't expect to be able to make anything on the 1st, but I find myself in the Lehigh Valley very regularly for writing-related purposes so I might be able to make a write-in or two at those locations... especially when I come "home" around Thanksgiving. I could also bring a power strip (provided I know enough in advance that I can pack one!)

I would like to come to a meeting for the kick-off on Saturday and really like the Saucon B&N for a site. I've done a bit of writing there, and find it to be a good spot. I haven't found the table issue to be a problem. I think that might be more true at some times of day than at others, though. The B&N on Rt. 33 would be my second choice, with the Panera on Rt. 33 being my third choice. I like the ambience at B&N better. Maybe all the windows at Panera give me too many distractions from what I should be doing. I can bring a power strip if needed, too.

Does anyone else have an Alphasmart NEO? I think they're really good for NaNoWriMo. You do not have access to the internet, so that shuts off a potential source of distractions. They run on 3 AA batteries that last forever. And, they're really light and easy to carry around. If you carry some spare batteries, you never need to carry a powerstrip!

18 days to go . . . .

I'm up for any time that day. I know some regions do a meet-up before the 1st to chat about what they're doing, but since Bethlehem is actually doing its trick-or-treating on Halloween this year, that's not going to work for me.

No, we didn't meet at the MacArthur B&N at all last year, though I think we did meet at the Panera out there a couple of times.

If people like Panera, I'll point out that there's also one just off the 22 on 512 (Center Street, Bethlehem). (Why, yes, it is almost right around the corner for me. ;-) )

Edit: By the way, I'm one of the people being afflicted by the lack of notifications to posts, so if I'm not answering quickly, that's likely why. Last year, I got notifications whenever there was a new post to this forum. This year, it started that way . . . and then abruptly stopped working. *sigh* It's on their list of bugs to fix.

Hmm. There are two plugs, one outlet.

I'm not all against it, they have good food :P

Hmm Well I'm coming regardless :!

Which means I hear all the buzz from SC > Elsewhere as well as Lehigh Valley

It sounds like an evening time (7 p.m.?) at the Saucon Valley Barnes & Noble on Saturday, November 1st then? Yay or Nay, everyone?

I'm willing to bring a power strip and ask whomever is using the outlet to unplug for a moment. If we end up with two power strips, we can supply about ten people with power for ailing laptops.

Aye! 7 pm is good.

Sounds good here. I'll pencil it in.

I come down from Mt. Pocono, so stuff on 33 is best for me. If that's not going to happen, can someone tell me how to get to the Saucon Valley B&N from 33/78/22?

Thanks--
Amanda

Interstate 78 W to Exit 60A (309 S); Take immediate right onto Center Valley Parkway/Saucon Valley Road Exit. Turn left at exit traffic light. Follow Center Valley Parkway approx 1 1/2 miles. (Cribbed from the Promenade Web site.)

I think we can probably manage to do at least one meet-up off the 33, either at the Panera or the B&N! It's closer for me, which is always a plus. *grin*

In case you haven't noticed, when you're on the home page of our forum, there's a line that says, "Check the Lehigh Valley Calendar of Events." It's a publicly viewable Google calendar. I just put up the kick-off meeting, and I'll add other events as they get decided on.

Aww, my minions. . . er, friends. . . and I can't make the Kick-Off. Dracula's Ball is that night, and I have the feeling that showing up at Saucon Valley in my Drac-cy clubbing gear would be, well, weird. So I'll have to sit this one out and attend one of the other regional events when I can wear something that won't be so distracting. We'll have enough distractions nibbling at our novels-- last thing you need is having someone dressed like a postapocalyptic plague doctor rustling around in the corner. : )

I will definitely try to make it, but I've got an 11-month-old , so I've got to make arrangements for someone to look after him. I like the idea of meeting at the Saucon Valley B&N.

Saucon at 7 on 1st

got it

also, erin if you see this I'm trying to pursede a chatter to announce in this forum their We-are-from-lehigh-uni-and-have-no-transportation kickoff, there's him and about 5 others :-P

So I'll see if I can't get you that date and time.

I would be able to make it earlier in the day but at 6:45, I have a surprise anniversary party to go to. Which sucks because I would rather go to the kick off party (I wouldn't bring my son to the bookstore but everyone wants me to bring him to the party and there is going to be so many germs and everyone is going to want to hold him and I just don't want him to get sick... le sigh). :( But the location is good for me, maybe I'll be able to make a different meeting.

Hey, Erin--could you also put locations of events on the calendar, just to avoid confusion? Thanks!

I just want to inform everyone that I will be arriving at the bookstore by 6:15 or 6:30, so if Erin and Nick haven't appeared Early I shall be carrying a piece of paper that Says NaNoWrimo(likely in sharpie) and probably wearing my Nanoshirt.

So if anyone gets there early like me, I'll be waiting. :D

I will bring a powerstrip too. Okay it's a surge protector...

Did you hover/click on the events?

Lynna wrote:

Hey, Erin--could you also put locations of events on the calendar, just to avoid confusion? Thanks!

Erin_M_H wrote:

In case you haven't noticed, when you're on the home page of our forum, there's a line that says, "Check the Lehigh Valley Calendar of Events." It's a publicly viewable Google calendar. I just put up the kick-off meeting, and I'll add other events as they get decided on.

If you click on the event, you get the following info:

kick-off meeting!
When
Sat, Nov 1, 7pm – 9pm
Where
Barnes & Noble at the Promenade shops (map)
Description
Meet and greet as we embark on the voyage of NaNoWriMo! Share word counts from your first day, or bring your laptop and try to get more words in. Directions: http://www.thepromenadeshopsatsauconvalley.com/info/directions.cfm

Sorry you'll miss the kick-off, and I look forward to seeing you later in the month.

I'll be bringing my ten-month (will turn eleven months during November) little one with me. Probably also the seven-year-old, who is doing YWP this year. Just so you know. :-)

I have an 11-month-old. I'm trying to make arrangements so that I can have a mommy's night out. He's not too interested in letting me type without his assistance, so it would be nice to have a break.

I can understand wanting a mom's night out. Sadly, most of my chances for time to myself come by running to the store on weekends or evenings!

Good luck getting your break.

I would definitely be down for a kick-off party, especially since it's on a Saturday and I don't have to beg to get off of work!

I don't know what the plug situation is at the Borders up by the LV Mall, but I think the tables there are square and can be pushed together if need be. And, if it makes things easier, I've got a power strip I can definitely bring, so that more than two people can be plugged in at once.

Also, I'm wondering if you'd be sending an e-mail about the kick-off, rather than posting it here on the board. Not say that's what needs to happen, merely making a suggestion :)

~ Manda

Yes, I usually send out the e-mails about a week beforehand--which means tomorrow, for those keeping track. :-)

Sent the e-mail. I apologize if everyone got duplicates.

I realized I didn't send last year's e-mail until October 31st! Hey, I'm ahead. :-P

I plan to be at the write off at the B&N in Center Valley 7PM. Since I don't have a laptop, I don't need plug space but would love to meet other Nanowriters.
Elaine