Would anyone else be interested in having some unofficial write-ins here in the Northern RI area? I'm thinking mostly of those of us in Burrillville, Glocester, N. Smithfield, Smithfield, and Lincoln. Providence isn't really that far, but when gas is an issue it can make a big difference to go somewhere twenty minutes closer. Last year a couple of the proposed locations were the Starbucks in Lincoln and the Panera Bread in Smithfield. We ended up meeting a few times at the Panera, and also having a last-day writing session at Brewed Awakenings in Johnston.
As for locations this year, I still think Smithfield or Lincoln are good bets. Woonsocket could work too, but I don't know it well enough to recommend anywhere specific. If anyone knows a good location in Northern RI, let us know! As much as I'm partial to independently-run coffee shops, we have a shortage of them in this area of the state. And I gotta admit, Panera's free refills on hot coffee and iced tea did a lot for some of us last year. If we can't come up with something better, I'm proposing Panera again.
For meeting times, Sunday afternoons or evenings as well as Monday or Friday evenings are best for me. I can do other nights (or afternoons, but I'm assuming a good chunk of people work then), though they're not ideal. On Saturday afternoons I'm going to write-ins in Bellingham, which is marginally closer for me than Providence, but I can skip them if we have something definite going here.
How about any of you other Northern wRImos?
Happy November 1st?
-Kris
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"Bagels no, Festivus yes!"
39,866 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 21 17
Panera in Smithfield is really close for me, so I could likely do that. I didn't make it to any write-ins last year, but I would like to get to at least one or two this year. Monday nights are no good for me, and I have a feeling my husband is going to tell me "no writing on Friday nights," since I spend all the rest of my time at the computer. :) Sunday afternoons could work, though!
Panera also has free wi-fi, don't they? I know that the Barnes and Noble in that plaza does not, which was both a blessing and a curse the day I went there to write last year - I got a lot more writing done, but I couldn't do any research on what I was writing.
Anyone else up here in the great north?
- Susie
----------n"
12,464 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 10 31
Cafe Such-A-Bagel, also in Smithfield, is probably a good place to write. Mostly they have better coffee than Panera. It's actually right near that Panera, too. I don't know if they have WiFi.
32,012 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 23 32
Such-a-Bagel is good, and space-wise, probably better than Panera's two outlets and larger crowds. The problem with Such-a-Bagel is that they close early. 3 on most days, not sure about Sundays. If we went to Such-a-Bagel, I think it would have to be 12-3 or something like that. I'm fine with an earlier time, if that works for other people too.
Panera's hot coffee is very good (strongish, which I like), but their iced is terrible because they leave it out all day. And they do have free wifi, which is also a blessing and a curse. You know.
SusieBW, I am very, very jealous of your current word count. :)
----------"Bagels no, Festivus yes!"
39,866 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 11 24
SusieBW, I am very, very jealous of your current word count. :)
Thanks! I wrote the VAST majority of that on Sunday - yesterday was a 300-word day for me. :(
----------Such-a-bagel is good, and they definitely have better coffee than Panera. But it would have to be early in the day on a weekend to go there. I'm game, just let me know when and where!
n"
19,412 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 12 42
I'd love to meet up! I live in Slatersville (previously N. Smithfield) and this is my first time attempting this. Any of the mentioned spots would be fine for me, and Sunday afternoons/Monday evenings are great as well.
--Kerstyn
32,012 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 02 10
I looked up Such-a-Bagel's hours, and it's open until 3 every day but Sunday. Sunday, it's open until 1. That would mean hovering around lunchtime, 10 or 11 until 1. Or, just forget the pm hours altogether and go for Sunday morning. If later is better for people, we can go to Panera or do another day. It's all good by me.
Incendiary_dan and I are planning to be in the area tomorrow, so while we're there, we'll check that Such-a-bagel has that space and outlets that I seem to remember.
----------"Bagels no, Festivus yes!"
39,866 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 06 49
I grabbed breakfast at Such-A-Bagel this morning, and was going to post the hours here, but I guess you beat me to it! ;-)
It is sometimes a little busy there on Sunday mornings, but I would think that later morning, like you said, wouldn't be as busy. There is a bunch of space there, and I doubt they'd mind if we pulled tables together, as long as it wasn't too busy. I only saw two outlets, on opposing walls. I don't know how many of us there will be, but does anyone have power strips? I don't have one, but I might be able to borrow one from my office for the weekend.
----------n"
32,012 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 20 28
Incendiary_dan and I were there this afternoon. The guy we talked to said it's fine if people want to come in and write for awhile. I completely overlooked Sunday morning being a busy time for them. Although I shouldn't have, since I worked at a breakfast place last year.
Dan and I bought a power squid a few months ago. It's still unopened, and he's trying to find it. I also have one I could unplug without too much hassle.
So then:
Sunday, November 8, 10am-1pm
Cafe Such-a-Bagel in Greenville, RI
Sound good to everyone?
----------"Bagels no, Festivus yes!"
31,019 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 10 16
I think it sounds great! <3 Drive by it almost everyday, and never been inside! lol Time to change that
19,412 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 11 29
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it. My church runs from 1030 to 1230 on Sundays.
32,012 / 50,000
Nov 5, 2009 - 22 46
Ah, I was worried about Sunday morning conflicting with church for some people. In such a small area as Northern R.I., I think we can easily schedule write-ins so that everyone who is inclined to can meet up and write at some point. That said, there's enough interest in the Such-a-Bagel write-in that I'm going to go ahead and tell Sapphie to stick it on the google calendar.
Kerstyn, we'll try to do something another week more accommodating to your schedule.
I'm also assuming that the Sunday morning Such-a-Bagel write-in will be a test run. Having only been there in the early afternoon, I can't say how much space is available during their busy hours, or how conducive said busy hours will be to writing thousands of words. Those of us who go on Sunday can decide how well it went, and if changing the time or venue would be more productive.
Btw, it's a go on the power squid!
----------"Bagels no, Festivus yes!"
39,866 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 05 43
Sounds great - I'm planning to be there Sunday! See you all then!
----------n"
12,464 / 50,000
Nov 13, 2009 - 17 30
So, are we trying it again this week? Maybe a later one too?
32,012 / 50,000
Nov 14, 2009 - 19 55
I meant to post about that earlier in the week. Not, you know, twelve hours before. From talking to incendiary_dan earlier, I know both of us will be at Cafe Such-a-bagel tomorrow (Sunday the 15th), 10am-1pm. We welcome anyone who wants to join us. Last week was both productive and delicious.
And for anyone else who is as behind on their word count as I am, I thought it might be fun/productive to have some kind of auxiliary catch-up write-in. Maybe something in the middle of the week? Lemme know if you interested.
----------"Bagels no, Festivus yes!"
19,412 / 50,000
Nov 18, 2009 - 21 59
I know we've technically reached the middle of the week, but I'd still love something additional to Sunday mornings. I've got a whole lot of catching up to do!
32,012 / 50,000
Nov 22, 2009 - 21 13
Any preferences for time or place?
Last year a few of us met at the Brewed Awakenings in Johnston for a last day marathon write-in. I'm up for that again. Anyone else in?
Also, I'm planning on spending at least one afternoon this week writing at the Jesse Smith Library here in Burrillville. Probably Tues or Wed. If anyone wants to join me there, just shoot me a message.
----------"Bagels no, Festivus yes!"