The dates and time:
The tour starts at 10am on Saturday, November 14 and ends at 2pm on Sunday, November 15. We will spend a few hours at each writing stop. The only actual "food" stops are Denny's and Perkins, both back-to-back, but every coffee shop along the way has an excellent selection of sandwiches and pastries. Plus, there are other food options to grab a bite between stops if you're anti-coffee-shop-sammich.
The schedule:
10am - Depot Coffee House, 9451 Excelsior Blvd, Hopkins (on bus route 12)
2pm - Uncommon Grounds Coffee, 2809 Hennepin Ave, Minneapolis (just north of the Uptown Transit center)
6pm - Blue Moon Coffee House, 3822 E Lake St, Minneapolis
10pm - Merlin's Rest Pub, 3601 E Lake St, Minneapolis (non-writing stop for those of us who wouldn't mind a drink... those who wish to not be around alcohol can continue on to Denny's)
Midnight - Denny's, 2700 E Lake St, Minneapolis
4am - Perkins, 1544 University Ave W, St. Paul
7am - Nina's Coffee Cafe, 165 Western Ave, St. Paul
11am - Barnes & Noble, Mall of America
The tour ends at 2pm on Sunday, 28 hours after starting in Hopkins. If you don't have a car, all of these places are easily accessible by Metro Transit or Kyteroo has kindly offered to pick people up (see the thread she started). Plus, people are usually kind enough to let you hitch a ride between stops along the way.
Here is a PDF flyer that you can download and print for your reference, or to hang up some place next to a NaNoWriMo poster or what have you:
http://homepage.mac.com/callipygianking/x/nanotour09.pdf
I plan on being there for the long haul. I hope you come along for the ride!
----------
http://matthew.kilanowski.us
35,057 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 11 13
3am - Perkins, 1544 University Ave W, St. Paul
Ha! Typo! And I can't edit the original post:
4am - Perkins, 1544 University Ave W, St. Paul
----------http://matthew.kilanowski.us
4,456 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 11 33
Is this the thread for continuing discussion of the 24 hour Write-In? If so, then here is a map that I intend to follow on my bicycle over the course of the 28-hour 24 hour write-in:
mapmap
I would welcome anyone to take the same route but I will be pushing a sprint the whole way since each stage of the ride is relatively short.
----------iliketoridemybikesiliketoridmybikesiliketoridemybikes
35,057 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 11 49
There's an issue with Letter C on your map... Uncommon Grounds is in Uptown, not Nordeast.
----------http://matthew.kilanowski.us
39,152 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 11 52
I edited it for you, Cal...
----------Theresa, aka Sapphirestar
Twin Cities ML
http://sapphire.albatross.org
2003: Out of Houdini's Trunk
2004: Rita, Not the Hurricane
2005: Days of Confinement
2006: My Name Is Shay
2007: After 50 Years
2008: The Fat Lady Sings
37,015 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 12 58
i really want to do the whole thing but i may need help pushing through some of the late night hours lol.
4,059 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 13 37
yeah.. I
a) am trying to get a job so don't know if I'll be available (anyone need a secretary/assistant? ha)
b) don't know if I can handle staying up all night anymore.. I'm getting old.
but I didn't get to do it last year so I really hope I can commit to it this year :D
----------here your poems still warm me when memory drains
35,057 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 18 10
Awesome. ----------
http://matthew.kilanowski.us
40,429 / 50,000
Okt 21, 2009 - 19 18
I'll be there for as much of it as I can! I had so much fun! Though I too am old! :)
----------It's on, now!
39,060 / 50,000
Okt 22, 2009 - 07 29
Tragically I have to work Saturday; I was really hoping to do this this year. But I might forgo sleep and join you at 2 AM after my shift ends. :D
Hey now, moodswing and Gwenn, don't start talking about being old, I'm older than you! And I feel old already ;_;
----------"Ach, the muse is a terrible thing to have happen to ye."
-Rob Anybody, "The Wee Free Men" by Terry Pratchett
35,057 / 50,000
Okt 22, 2009 - 07 31
OLD!?!
Hell, I hit 30 this year... Young'uns.
----------http://matthew.kilanowski.us
35,720 / 50,000
Okt 22, 2009 - 18 42
We don't talk "old" until you hit 39 and holding! ;)
My Alphasmart 3000 came and it works beautifully. I'll be bringing 2 extension cords and my laptop as well, anyways. ;) I'm stoked and can't wait!
----------35,057 / 50,000
Okt 27, 2009 - 05 02
Just thought I'd bump this for the late-comers...
----------http://matthew.kilanowski.us
5,909 / 50,000
Okt 27, 2009 - 05 41
Yay! I can start at Blue Moon and continue on from there.
----------Emily W.
2007: Deep In The Dark
2008: Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast
2009: Twelve China Cups
35,057 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 05 57
I gotta keep on pluggin' this! The more, the merrier!
----------http://matthew.kilanowski.us
52,205 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 06 57
I plan to come for some of it, I may have to start at Uncommon Grounds though. I look forward to it.
----------"You gotta go on and be crazy. Craziness is like heaven." - Jimi Hendrix
21,284 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 07 03
Had a great time last year, hoping for a repeat.
Also hoping to have a main character before the day is out.
----------http://www.bymaggie.com/
"All good writing is swimming underwater and holding your breath."
- F. Scott Fitzgerald
"Every book is a children's book if the kid can read."
- Mitch Hedberg
50,076 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 09 10
i was excited to attend the last half of this tour, but now realize i can't because the 15th is the day i'm having a "girls day" with my mom and sister.
----------Ah well.
Sarah
"She said she cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful and life was so short" - Brian Andreas
35,057 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 10 38
Ah well.
You can always just pick a stop on Saturday and show up. Even just being at one stop is tons of fun... ----------
http://matthew.kilanowski.us
35,069 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 10 46
I was planning on trying to make this tour for the first time this year. Except the Iowa at Ohio State game is that Saturday at 3:30, and then my friends are having their engagement party Saturday night. I may show up at Nina's Sunday morning, but it's looking like Saturday is out, sadly. I printed out the flyer just in case. :)
----------"You can get away with stuff in real life that you can’t get away with in fiction." -Robin McKinley
10,005 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 11 30
I don't think I'll make the first stop but I'll try to get to all of the others. I don't mind giving people rides between stops either. I can fit four others in my car if the three in the back seat don't mind being a little squished. :)
----------No power in the 'verse can stop me
46,473 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 11 34
I might come for atleast a few stops, I assume I'll be the only20YO there .
----------http://dragcave.net/user/Lera
http://www.gifttool.com/athon/MyFundraisingPage?ID=1891&AID=777&PID=1053...
33,074 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 12 07
I want to be a part of this this year. Last year I made it to the first stop, but that was it. I want to make it to more than one stop this time around, though I doubt I'll be able to go all night (knowing myself, there's no way I'll stay awake and survive to get to work on Monday). But, consarnit, I'm going to try! (Plus, I've always wanted to go to Merlin's Rest, and this will be a perfect excuse).
----------31,935 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 15 07
Sounds exciting! I'd like the challenge of going from start to finish. We'll see if the schedule accommodates.
----------Blag -- http://wordsdeferred.blogspot.com || Twitter -- @samueltjohnston
53,853 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 15 59
I'm concerned about the Denny's stop. It's planned for the same time as the kickoff party that experienced serious issues this year. Perhaps we could find another place that will be open late and better able to accommodate a group like ours. After my experience on Nov 1 I will not be making that stop this year.
----------It's not about the words, it's about the meaning - the words are just there to hold it all together.
2007 - Hands Down - winner
2008 - Natural Spirits - winner
2009 - The Queen's Own - ?
35,720 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 16 56
FYI: We were at Denny's on the 2nd worse night of the year for timing. Why? Halloween. The 1st worse night would be New Years Eve. Any Saturday in Christmas pulls 3rd place. ;)
HISTORY OF DENNY'S AND NANO EXPERIENCE:
The Denny's group has NEVER had F*!** issues like Saturday EVER! Sure, there was a manager that wasn't very nice, but it was never like that! Granted, they usually only have 10 people show up. But, they never showed up on the 2nd most busiest night of the year for Denny's. That experience was unique and not a good representative of Denny's. The service wasn't how Denny's usually is either.
DENNY"S STOP MEANING:
For those who can NOT do Merlin's and need a place to go to. Denny's is that place. Plus, NOTHING else is really open in the area. Perkins HATES people using their outlet. The last time I was there, in April of this year, the outlet was plated UP and NOT USEABLE. No one seems to believe me on this score, but its true. For script frenzy I was there. And we ended up driving all the way out to Elk River for the overnight only because we could. It was me and one other person and I drove. We have at least 1 person in our group who can't run on battery power period. ;)
Who can't do Merlin's? At least 1 underager who is trying to join us. I'm joining that group as a courtesy.
We do plan on going to Perkins without the plug-in later in the morning so they don't get disgruntled. Also, those joining us at Denny's, AFTER Merlin's won't be there as long as we were the last time. And, we can very easily fit into a booth until its time for everyone else to show up. Plus, people can always stay at Merlins at little longer. It really doesn't matter. Merlin's should be open until 1am at least.
I hope this clears things up. :D Thanks!
----------35,720 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 16 58
stupid thing posted twice.
----------50,297 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 21 20
Not that this is that negotiable now, but...
If the University of Minnesota area is not 'too far' there are two late night options out there - or if you want to unofficially break off and want more to eat than room to write --
Hard Times Cafe which I think closes for 15 minutes around 3 and opens back up,
and the Village Wok which closes around 2 am. not that these are good writing locations, and no comment on power (presume ht better than --fdkjfdlkfjlkfdjlkdfs hate this shift key! Get me a 44243983490 hammer!) - HT better than Village Wok. Alternative 24 hour location being IHOP at mall of america. they were peachy at 7-midnight on Sunday the first.
We had maybe twelve show.
All defense of Denny's aside - they sucked and they would have sucked under any circumstance if you'd randomly walked in off the street trying to get (gasp) food, service, and coffee -- halloween and one cook and one server, and one "Host" who stood there uselessly for the two hours I was there? Come on people! I know they were fine last year, but that's not this year. Incompetent management (yes, I said it) is incompetent management. Jim did everything reasonable and it was Halloween and they're by three bars. Jim said about twenty people and we had 25 or 26. And if they have/had security problems, that's what the off-duty police officer you pay is for. Works fine for Perkins-Riverside. Or you man up and close. I mean, seriously, please. It just wasn't anything. We had tinky-winky using a magic 8 ball to make the management and staffing decisions. We were more than fair and they sucked. Don't bother defending them, and please don't feel like I'm blaming anyone here (I know you feel bad, Heather, believe me, it's not your fault unless you're secretly the manager of this Denny's.) Jim - same to you. You did everything reasonable, besides applying to work there for that day only so they'd have even a half-assed attempt at proper staffing.
If you go I hope it goes well. You're not excluding me or deterring me.
One last alternative to keep south of down town - the Denny's on 98th street by where i live. the waiter late nights is pretty funny, the host dispenses coffee when they're busy (I've witnessed this). 98th and 35W - hard to miss.
Oh enough dawdling in the forums. I have a chapter of Moby Dick, my normal reading, and a shower to take.
3,495.
Brian.
----------JanNoWriMo07 - Still Waters Run Deep - >70,000 won (didn't know there was a group!)
AugNoWriMo07 - The Wreck of the Day ->50,000 won (over on Proboards)
NaNoWriMo07 - Fever ->65,670 won.
NaNoWriMo08 - Abracadabra - >72,663 won
51,103 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 21 24
HISTORY OF DENNY'S AND NANO EXPERIENCE:
The Denny's group has NEVER had F*!** issues like Saturday EVER! Sure, there was a manager that wasn't very nice, but it was never like that! Granted, they usually only have 10 people show up. But, they never showed up on the 2nd most busiest night of the year for Denny's. That experience was unique and not a good representative of Denny's. The service wasn't how Denny's usually is either.
DENNY"S STOP MEANING:
For those who can NOT do Merlin's and need a place to go to. Denny's is that place. Plus, NOTHING else is really open in the area. Perkins HATES people using their outlet. The last time I was there, in April of this year, the outlet was plated UP and NOT USEABLE. No one seems to believe me on this score, but its true. For script frenzy I was there. And we ended up driving all the way out to Elk River for the overnight only because we could. It was me and one other person and I drove. We have at least 1 person in our group who can't run on battery power period. ;)
Who can't do Merlin's? At least 1 underager who is trying to join us. I'm joining that group as a courtesy.
We do plan on going to Perkins without the plug-in later in the morning so they don't get disgruntled. Also, those joining us at Denny's, AFTER Merlin's won't be there as long as we were the last time. And, we can very easily fit into a booth until its time for everyone else to show up. Plus, people can always stay at Merlins at little longer. It really doesn't matter. Merlin's should be open until 1am at least.
I hope this clears things up. :D Thanks!
Cindy Morgan
AKA
Kama Sutra
OOOOHHHHH .......
Now I WISH I had gone!!! FREE FOOD! I am the Queen of complaining and getting free food for bad service!
On the other side, I write letters for good service too!
Before the 15th, let me know what the full itinerary is, I have a doggy sitter lined up and was planning on going.
----------Thanks.
Cindy Morgan
AKA
Kama Sutra
51,103 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 21 24
HISTORY OF DENNY'S AND NANO EXPERIENCE:
The Denny's group has NEVER had F*!** issues like Saturday EVER! Sure, there was a manager that wasn't very nice, but it was never like that! Granted, they usually only have 10 people show up. But, they never showed up on the 2nd most busiest night of the year for Denny's. That experience was unique and not a good representative of Denny's. The service wasn't how Denny's usually is either.
DENNY"S STOP MEANING:
For those who can NOT do Merlin's and need a place to go to. Denny's is that place. Plus, NOTHING else is really open in the area. Perkins HATES people using their outlet. The last time I was there, in April of this year, the outlet was plated UP and NOT USEABLE. No one seems to believe me on this score, but its true. For script frenzy I was there. And we ended up driving all the way out to Elk River for the overnight only because we could. It was me and one other person and I drove. We have at least 1 person in our group who can't run on battery power period. ;)
Who can't do Merlin's? At least 1 underager who is trying to join us. I'm joining that group as a courtesy.
We do plan on going to Perkins without the plug-in later in the morning so they don't get disgruntled. Also, those joining us at Denny's, AFTER Merlin's won't be there as long as we were the last time. And, we can very easily fit into a booth until its time for everyone else to show up. Plus, people can always stay at Merlins at little longer. It really doesn't matter. Merlin's should be open until 1am at least.
I hope this clears things up. :D Thanks!
Cindy Morgan
AKA
Kama Sutra
OOOOHHHHH .......
Now I WISH I had gone!!! FREE FOOD! I am the Queen of complaining and getting free food for bad service!
On the other side, I write letters for good service too!
Before the 15th, let me know what the full itinerary is, I have a doggy sitter lined up and was planning on going.
----------Thanks.
Cindy Morgan
AKA
Kama Sutra
67,204 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 00 36
Unless I'm the underager you're talking (darn stupid fingers, had to type that twice to get it right ^_^) about, I'm another, Stephanie. ;)
LK, 19, here, so you're not *quite* alone. I'll probably be there for the whole thing. (yay!)
----------