Hey yinz guyz! For those of you who don't know me, I'm Fox, your friendly Municipal Liaison for the Pittsburgh region. Welcome back to all of you veteran WriMos out there, and welcome aboard to anyone who's joining us in this madness for the very first time. If you're new, you're in the perfect region for it - Pittsburghers are just as friendly and helpful with novel-ing as we are with offering driving directions and giving out-of-towners statistics about the Steelers :)
However, before we get started on November 1 (that's 12:01am again, those of you who were at our midnight kick-off write-in at Eat n Park last year!), I need some information. Our write-ins are a huge help - they offer us a chance to network, commiserate, bounce ideas off of other writers, make new friends, and explore different coffeeshops throughout the city. But they only work if people make it out to the events!
So, I need everyone interested in attending write-ins to answer the following questions (feel free to just copy and paste and fill them in as a reply to this post - I'll keep the anal retentive Excel spreadsheet to organize it all):
Area of the City Where I Live:
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In:
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location:
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location:
If you are new to NaNoWriMo, the Kick-Off Party is a chance for us to get together right at the beginning of the month and have a tasty meal and sit around a restaurant table getting to know each other (okay, okay, and maybe writing just a *teeny* bit). Last year, we had it in the downstairs room of Fuel & Fuddle, but I need to know where you guys would like to have it this year. We need a place that has yummy, pretty reasonably-priced food (F&F brunch was $7.50 or less per dish) and enough room to accommodate a bunch of us at a single table or area. Help me out - what's your best Kick-Off Party location recommendation?
Last year, we had at least three write-ins a week: one in the north, one in the city, and one in Monroeville. I'd like to do a similar setup this year, and that's why I need to figure out the best day of the week for each write-in. So help me out! :)
As we get closer to the start of the month, you'll be hearing a lot more from me with information about our write-ins and events, and also some motivational things and reminders (like backing up your work!) once we're into the swing of things. I also maintain a Google Calendar for us to keep track of everything, and I'll let you know once that's up. And if you have any questions, feel free to NaNomail me, and I will answer as very best I can.
So once again, welcome back to all of our seasoned Pittsburgh WriMos, and welcome to the madness, all of you first-timers out there. We've only got 27 days until our favorite crazy month begins!!!
Posting During Commercial Breaks of Pittsburgh Steeler Time,
fox
----------
(banner made by the amazing ThisIsRocketScience)
0 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 18 46
Area of the City Where I Live: South Hills/Carrick
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Tues, Wed, Thurs
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: No preference
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: No preference
44,611 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 18 54
Hola. This is going to be an interesting year. I can already tell. Anyway, here's info for that anal retentive spreadsheet!
Area of the City Where I Live: Depending on the day, South Side Slopes or Rural Ridge (out by Harmarville)
----------Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Probably any night, as long as I could find transportation.
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: No clue whatsoever *is new to the meetups*
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Once again, no clue. Sorry!
The gears in my mind are turning like dancers.
~ The Downtown Fiction
2006: Untitled - Lost
2007: The Five Guardians - Won
2008: How Long is Forever - Lost
2009: Pink Heart - ?
Dares Taken: 35; Dares Completed: 7; Pages Written: 38; Number of Panic
3,871 / 50,000
Oct 4, 2009 - 22 51
Area of the City Where I Live: Natrona Heights
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Any that I'm not working (HA!)
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: N/A
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: N/A
I just moved out here so I have no idea where to suggest for write-ins or the like. I am excited for the meet-ups however.
----------41,094 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 09 52
Area of the City Where I Live: Butler (Yeah, I should be with the Butler County WriMos, but I'm in Pgh on weekends)
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Friday, Saturday, occasional weeknights (not Wednesday)
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: God, I don't even know. I like bars (I'm old as hell) but I'll show up anywhere.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Eat N Park again?
Fuel and Fuddle was great for a meet up last year, once I got past the manager being a royal ass before the group was all there. I'm not sure I'd suggest it again (I probably wouldn't), but I wouldn't skip out on it either. Spaghetti Warehouse at the end of the month was awesome, though.
----------http://jessicarbrown.blogspot.com
0 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 09 58
Area of the City Where I Live: Shadyside!
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Probably only weekends...I'm a grad student at CMU, so my free time during the week is marginal. =/
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: I'm a regular at the Crazy Mocha on Ellsworth, though the StarBucks at Forbes and Craig is a nice spot as well.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: I'm still getting my bearings for the area...there are a bunch of places on Ellsworth that have a nice atmosphere and are relatively cheap - Elbow Room comes to mind. Generally I just like food, so I'm down with whatever :)
30,421 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 12 11
Area of the City Where I Live: Oakland
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: anything but a tuesday
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: no idea
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: no idea
I just started school at Pitt, so I don't know many places to eat. The few that I do know are all in Oakland.
22,371 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 12 18
Area of the City Where I Live: Monroeville
----------Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Saturdays and Sundays since that's when I'm off of work
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Panera Bread, Borders, Starbucks
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Anyplace I can find reasonably well enough (I have a baaad sense of direction)
"I no longer regard myself as a slave. My life's my own...even though I am thief and pirate..."
~Errol Flynn, Captain Blood
30,783 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 12 56
Area of the City Where I Live: I'm in Armstrong County, up the Allegheny ??? miles from Pittsburgh, half-way between Freeport and Kittanning. Since I go to to Freeport, I'll say I'm from Freeport.
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Friday or Saturday nights--not a school night.
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: I'm always up for coffee or somewhere that has good pie.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Chuck E. Cheeses! Do you think we could talk the people of Chuck E. Cheeses into remaining open long enough for us to start writing at midnight (having started the party at about 5 in the afternoon so we have sufficient time to play in the ball pit and eat our pizza)? Or, I think, of all types of establishments, a bookstore would be the most willing to stay open and host a party for writers. I don't know what we would do there except eat pie and cupcakes and drink coffee, but maybe a Borders (like the one at Pittsburgh Mills, the closest to my house) or a Barnes and Noble would let us do this. I'm sure there would be stipulations and some fees, but if someone were able to talk to someone at a book store about this, we might be able to do it. Any thoughts?
----------44,611 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 13 03
magiclhannah7 I love that idea so much
----------The gears in my mind are turning like dancers.
~ The Downtown Fiction
2006: Untitled - Lost
2007: The Five Guardians - Won
2008: How Long is Forever - Lost
2009: Pink Heart - ?
Dares Taken: 35; Dares Completed: 7; Pages Written: 38; Number of Panic
44,611 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 13 06
magiclhannah7 I love that idea so much
----------The gears in my mind are turning like dancers.
~ The Downtown Fiction
2006: Untitled - Lost
2007: The Five Guardians - Won
2008: How Long is Forever - Lost
2009: Pink Heart - ?
Dares Taken: 35; Dares Completed: 7; Pages Written: 38; Number of Panic
18,192 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 14 52
Area of the City Where I Live: Oakland
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: I have a variable work schedule, so I'm really just going to try to make it to any one of them that I can. Tuesdays are usually pretty good though.
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Anywhere the buses go?
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Same as above - I'm pretty tied to the bus, and I'm willing to walk a reasonable distance too (considering i'll be carrying a laptop)
36,113 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 18 20
Area of the City Where I Live: Monroeville
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Probably any day but Tuesdays
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Pretty much anywhere in Monroeville: Borders, Barnes and Noble, Panera, I would even suggest Boyce Park, but my laptop has no battery life.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Has anyone ever approached Half-Price books? They seem like they would be cool with hosting a midnight kick off, just a thought. Otherwise, anywhere where there is ample parking since the buses don't like to go back to Monroeville late at night.
25,326 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 18 28
Area of the City Where I Live: Squirrel Hill [but I can commute to anywhere in the city via bus]
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: All nights except fridays work for me.
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: 61c in Squirrel Hill is fantastic; great space, fantastic coffee, awesome overhead music, kick ass staff,.... The cafe at the Barnes and Nobles is a great place, 1/2 a block away. Kiva Han in Oakland on Craig Street - free internet and really nice staff. Caribou Coffee, on Forbes in Oakland. Crazy Mocha in South Side, on East Carson - pretty comfortable, lots of space, room in the back with real tables. [The Coffee Tree in Shadyside has that too....]
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Eat 'N Park would be good for it, I feel, though we should bring power strips. Hmm....that's all i've got.
That's a lot to sort through, sorry. But I'm really excited! :D It was a great time NaNo-ing last year under Fox. So thank you for that, and I look forward to another fantastic season of write-ins and loads of forum posts.
----------The Otherside of Things
0 / 50,000
Oct 5, 2009 - 18 52
^ I know that chick right thar who's posting above me
Area of the City Where I Live: technically Greenfield, though I get a tiny thrill in the gnarliest parts of my heart in saying that I live in Hazelwood. I can usually get to Shadyside, Oakland, or up to Murray and Forbes no problem.
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Erratic, really... Tuesdays and Thursdays maybe.
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: She took all the good ones... there's that new Crazy mocha open on murray, haven't been there yet but it may be cool. Te cafe on murray is also a cool place.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Uh... I think Primanti's might be open 24/7.
----------All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies.
-Bokonon
My poetry tends to sound like inappropriately long and personal hallmark cards except without the sense of occasion.
My prose is shallow and pedantic.
0 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 05 13
OK..I have two kids, not old enough to be home alone so i will do my best to at least make one or two of these events, if at all possible.
Area of the City Where I Live: Green Tree
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Fri, Sat or Sun
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: I am open to almost anywhere
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: I am open to almost anywhere
I have lived here only 3 years so I am not sure of great spots to do this in. I tend stick close to home as the kids activities and work fill my day.
Looking forward to seeing how all this works!
928 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 05 43
Area of the City Where I Live: South Side (flats)
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Weekend nights are nice, not Thursdays
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: the Beehive
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Games n'at! Better than Chuck E Cheese because it's not some chain but still fun fun fun.
41,094 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 06 12
I had my birthday party at Games n'At! That place is awesome.
----------http://jessicarbrown.blogspot.com
39,900 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 12 01
Area of the City Where I Live: NORTHSIDE (represent)
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Any night but Thursday night. (Hello, 9-5 job, for once you are useful.)
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Kiva Han, Amani Coffee on Foreland St. off of East Ohio St. (on weekends; they are not open very late on weeknights, but the atmosphere is awesome and I bet not many non-Northsiders have been there), Cafe 'n' Creamery in Brightwood (they have COFFEE and GELATO and the staff is super friendly and very interested in hosting community events, plus they love the newspaper I work for, so I bet it would be a great experience!), Crazy Mocha on the Northside (if it opens in time, but the one in Shadyside is crap for parking), a CLP (again on weekends, and they def. need some publicity...)
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Serendipity (also on Foreland Ave. on the Northside... I'm not sure how yummy their food is but I think it's decently priced), Kiva Han (they serve brunch now, I think), any EatnPark location, Bistro to Go on E. Ohio Street (they are like Panera only their food is WAY MORE DELICIOUS for the same price--it's a tad small though), Panera (one in Oakland, Shadyside, Squill...), El Campesino (one in Mville, North Hills...)
0 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 14 15
The PAnera in Squill closed :'(
----------All of the true things I am about to tell you are shameless lies.
-Bokonon
My poetry tends to sound like inappropriately long and personal hallmark cards except without the sense of occasion.
My prose is shallow and pedantic.
54,619 / 50,000
Oct 6, 2009 - 19 41
Area of the City Where I Live: South Fayette/Bridgeville
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Wednesdays and Thursdays, maybe Saturdays if I can manage it
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Robinson Mall/Shopping center has a handful of Starbucks and Barnes&Noble that would be good.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Don't really know.
Nice to meet everyone!
----------NaNoWriMo: The beatings will continue until the word count improves.
2005: Murder N'At (win)
2006: Unnamed Nano Loss
2007: Chosen (Loss)
2008: Tramps Like Us (Win!)
2009: Chosen -2009 Mix- (TBA)
0 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 12 06
Area of the City Where I Live: Friendship
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Friday - Saturday
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Anywhere with a table and plug
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Anywhere from North Side out to Monroeville
15,403 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 17 53
Area of the City Where I Live: South Hills (Century III area)
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Saturday, Sunday, sometimes on weeknights
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Beehive except I get distracted by pinball, Crazy Mocha in South Side
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Can't be there because I'm "running" (I'm slow) that half marathon on Nov. 1
0 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 18 21
Haha. I live in Apollo. Just felt the need to share. I'm glad there's a wrimo closer to me than the city :)
----------~DawnMarie
41,896 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 18 41
Area of the City Where I Live: New Brighton (Beaver County)
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Almost any night is workable
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Paneras are nice and already set up for folks with laptops, and they never seem to mind people hanging out there for hours on end. I also love Cafe Kolache in Beaver, but we'd have to talk them into staying open late. They do have a soft spot for writers, though. And I'd love to patronize a local establishment in some way. (They're going to be on WQED on Thurs evening, Oct. 8, "Eating Pennsylvania 2.")
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: How about the Cranberry area (for perhaps a write-in or two)? Plenty of places, easy to find, fairly accessible by highway from any other area of town...
----------2004: Do-It-Yourself Widow - WON
2005: Black Soul Choir - WON
2006: The Scarlet Letter Opener - WON
2007: Mrs Needlemeier's Novel Idea - WON
2008: Societal Smackdown - WON
www.lindamaubooks.com
24,224 / 50,000
Oct 7, 2009 - 19 47
Area of the City Where I Live: Ben Avon to the north, but I'm a Pitt grad student so I'm familiar with Oakland and sort of with Shadyside.
----------Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Tuesdays, weekends, maybe Thursdays depending on the timing
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: I'm new to the area so I'll accept other people's recommendations, although there's always the local libraries?
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Again, no idea, but I hope to be able to make it!
'03: Loss | '04, '06, '07, '08: Wins
2009: Paths
Honorary Member of the Lancs. & Cumbria Region
Mod of Writing 101, This is Going Better... & Virtual Worlds
2,932 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 14 48
Area of the City Where I Live: Bloomfield
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Mondays (at present), but soon any evenings will work for me.
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Kiva Han on Craig Street
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: Eat n Park actually does sound like a good location, but I'm drawing a blank for other locations.
36,520 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 16 38
Area of the City Where I Live: Bloomfield/Friendship disputed zone
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: open
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: The Quiet Storm, Coffee Tree Shadyside, and Crazy Mocha Shadyside, Bloomfield or Lawrencville are all convenient to me, but I don't mind taking a bus somewhere. Tazza D'oro and Big Dog both have fantastic coffee. The Beahive is also nice and would have room for a large group.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: The Quiet Storm has good, affordable vegetarian food. If we end up with a really big group there's a Korean/Japanese place in Bloomfield that is huge and always empty. It used to be called Young Bin Quan, but it's Tokyo something now.
41,094 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 16 44
Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse! I love that place, and you can get cheap certificates for it off Restaurant.com.
They'd definitely have room for us.
http://www.youngbinkwan.com/
----------http://jessicarbrown.blogspot.com
0 / 50,000
Oct 8, 2009 - 17 37
Hello! I'm a second year nanoer who had zero involvement in the Pittsburgh nano scene last year... maybe it will be better this year.
Area of the City Where I Live: Swissvale (but I go to school in Oakland, so meetups in Oakland are good)
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Tuesdays and Thursdays are preferential, but any weekday is a definite possibility
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: Kiva Han is the bomb. The Starbucks on Fifth and Craig is also ideal for me.
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: No suggestion... I highly doubt I will be able to go (I am a high school senior who can't drive)
Hope to see some pittsburgh nanoers somewhere this year (assuming I can fit nano in around college apps).
Cheers all.
-orangegecko/rebecca
10,519 / 50,000
Oct 10, 2009 - 22 23
Area of the City Where I Live: Duquesne University
Nights I Would Most Likely Attend a Write-In: Any night but Wednesday, and I would prefer not Sundays, too.
Suggestion for a Coffeeshop/Write-In Location: None
Suggestion for Kick-Off Party Location: None
Basically, I'm cool for meeting up places as long as they're non-smoking (I forget, is smoking allowed in any restaurants here still?) and not hard to get to from Duquesne, that is, just off the bus route or within walking distance. South Side works, so do Oakland and down near the Cultural District, for instance. Well, I'd love to attend meetups! I hope I can this year, now that I'm back in the country.
----------Draco's book review blog