Western Massachusetts / Meetup in Northampton

[dani]

(New string to continue the conversation without bothering the CT folks...)

The library has meeting rooms, or we could try this place: http://owlandraven.org/about-us/
(which looks cozy, not sure what the fee to use the room is)

Or, if others have kids, we could try for a weekend potluck picnic meetup at the Jackson St School Playground...there are nice grassy areas and picnic tables there, along with the crazy playground structure. Jackson St School is very accessible from the bike path...

[cdttmm]

Thank you, dani, for starting us up a new thread!

I think we need to determine 2 things: when and where.

As for when, I think our best possible options are Friday evening, sometime on Saturdays, or sometime on Sundays. If interested people could weigh in on what day of the week and the time of day that works best for them that would be fabulous.

I would prefer:

Friday evenings
Saturday any time

I'd likely be flying solo for any meet ups, so any location is fine by me! I like the idea of potluck/picnic style at Jackson Street school if people want to make this more family friendly.

Western MA peeps or anyone else in the region who has reason to come to Northampton and would want to join us, please reply to this thread with your preferences!!!

[Able was I ERE]

In Eastern Mass, but could make a day / moweekend trip.

I'll keep an eye on the thread.

[ToughMother]

Good suggestions for locations.  A space within the Quaker Meeting house might be an option too (low cost, prob like location you mentioned in your link).  Look Park is prob great too.  Bikeable AND free parking over at JFK Middle School with a short jaunt across the street to walk in FREE. Jackson St is cool too although a lot of sports teams are using it to practice these days (my softball team is one of them, soccer & lax are vying for space too).  No kiddos to bring on my part, but happy to meet there at one of the very kid-friendly parks if that's what works!

Timing-wise, Fri evening works pretty well for me.  Sat/Sun are heavily in the "it depends" category.

What are folks thinking they might want to discuss?

Thanks for starting the new thread, @dani -- good call.

[Dr. A]

I have a preference for weekend afternoon and kiddo-friendly, but would probably attend a Friday night.

Jackson St would be awesome as it's practically in my backyard, but Look Park is also an excellent choice. Pretty much anywhere in Northampton is reachable by bike (no small part of the reason I'm here!).

[dani]

I second Dr A's comment. I think Look Park is $18 for a picnic table and they don't allow "blanket picnics" i.e. nonpaying gatherings... So not terribly expensive.

[cdttmm]

I second Dr A's comment. I think Look Park is $18 for a picnic table and they don't allow "blanket picnics" i.e. nonpaying gatherings... So not terribly expensive.

Look Park is another excellent idea. $18 for a 10-person picnic table on Saturdays and Sundays; $12 Monday-Friday. $10 extra if we're bringing in alcohol. Picnic sites come with a charcoal grill in case anyone is up for grilling.

[anastrophe]

I'm down for Look Park or Jackson St (or if we want more free, Pulaski Park). Any of the times that work for other 9-5ers work for me though it would have to be after 6pm on a weekday.

[tmengineer]

I think after 6:30 would be ideal during the week but anytime on weekends works :) a lunch meet up sounds great too!

Now we just need a date ...

:)

[S0VERE1GN]

would be interested sometime after memorial day weekend (moving into new house that weekend)

[dani]

Hi everyone. Just wanted to pick things up. Summer tends to be full of vacations and such but...how about a Saturday August 9th picnic at Look Park, say 11:30?

[Dr. A]

I'm fairly certain I would make it.

[ToughMother]

Alas, already scheduled for a full day event on that date.  Still looking forward to meeting the local Mustaches.

[dani]

Could try for August 16th instead....?

[ToughMother]

As of right now, I could do Aug 16... Not sure when a family memorial service will happen, so subject to that.

[Dr. A]

I would most likely be good for 8/16 as well.

[cdttmm]

Pretty sure 8/16 would work for me as well!

[jabber]

Hope you all enjoy the meetup and find a way to maybe even plan for one or two in the future.  I'm moving to Springfield next summer. Any thoughts on Liberty Heights neighborhood?

[cdttmm]

Hi jabber, Liberty Heights is pretty varied so I guess it depends on where in Liberty Heights and if you are planning to buy or rent. Are you moving to Springfield for a job? If so, do you mind sharing where you'll be working? Might help us to give you some suggestions/insights into the area so that you can craft an appropriately mustachian plan!

[ToughMother]

That memorial service I need to attend is indeed on the 16th.  Hope you mustaches have a great time - post a report!  and let's do it again.

Also, while I live close to Look Park, I work in Springfield, so happy to provide input where I can.  Are you moving there for work?

[dani]

Seems like we have 3 people/families who have said they could do the 16th..one who can't... And some others who have dropped out of the conversation... We can still do the 16th...or we could move it to try to find a time that works for tough mother too...that whole weekend works for me and my family...

[cdttmm]

We're a small enough group that I think it would be nice if we can get all of is together, but perhaps if we get started with a small event on the 16th it will spark some enthusiasm about scheduling the next event.

That being said, what about Sunday the 17th instead of Saturday the 16th?

[Dr. A]

I will probably be out and about with my kiddo one way or another, so I'd be glad to hang out at the park on the 16th... or the 17th for that matter.

[dani]

Sounds like the 17 the is a go if it works for toughmother

[ToughMother]

I'll come by!  What time?

[jabber]

Hi jabber, Liberty Heights is pretty varied so I guess it depends on where in Liberty Heights and if you are planning to buy or rent. Are you moving to Springfield for a job? If so, do you mind sharing where you'll be working? Might help us to give you some suggestions/insights into the area so that you can craft an appropriately mustachian plan!

I'd love to enlist your assistance in putting together a mustachian plan.

I'll be working at the three hospitals in the Liberty Heights neighborhood.  Given what I can tell of availability, and space and sound-dampening needs for family of 6, we'll be looking to buy: looking at something in the 3 bd 1200-1800 sq ft range.  The kids will be ages 7 months, 2 1/2, 5, and 6 1/2 by the time we move there, so they are able to live in compressed quarters/bunk beds.  We have one vehicle and I'm pretty resilient on the bicycle +/- trailer, when needed.  Wife will be looking to work part-time only if geographically acceptable options come up in the therapy field, but that will be more of an add-on rather than critical to planning.  Thank you for the hyper-local mustachian edge!

Cheers.

[Dr. A]

My kiddo likes to nap near the 1-2pm hour. That's not an absolute, but it makes for a better day if I can work around that. My preference would be late morning, a 10 or 11, but afternoon is fine if that doesn't work for anyone.

Looks like it will be a bit dreary and rainy that day (lame). I know of a pavillion at the south end of Look near the splash park, which seems lightly used. I'd be ok skipping the pot-luck (and therefore the picnic fee) idea this time around, though maybe we could smuggle in some illicit snacks like at the movie theater :)

I will also send a private message to the folks who posted earlier in the thread when us more active folks can nail down a time, to try to get their attention.

*Not trying to harp on the kid-angle, it's just habit to play the odds on your kid being more Jekel than Hyde when planning an outing.

[Dr. A]

I'd love to enlist your assistance in putting together a mustachian plan.

I'll be working at the three hospitals in the Liberty Heights neighborhood.  Given what I can tell of availability, and space and sound-dampening needs for family of 6, we'll be looking to buy: looking at something in the 3 bd 1200-1800 sq ft range.  The kids will be ages 7 months, 2 1/2, 5, and 6 1/2 by the time we move there, so they are able to live in compressed quarters/bunk beds.  We have one vehicle and I'm pretty resilient on the bicycle +/- trailer, when needed.  Wife will be looking to work part-time only if geographically acceptable options come up in the therapy field, but that will be more of an add-on rather than critical to planning.  Thank you for the hyper-local mustachian edge!

Cheers.

I don't have a ton to add, as I don't know much about Springfield/Chicopee, but am curious how far you're coming from (i.e. how familiar with the area are you)?

[dani]

We are fine with 10 or 11, and could do potluck or not... We will bring our kids too, so a gathering spot near the splash park / playgrounds would be great.

If we end up with a picnic site, there is a nice one right near the playgrounds: Site 10A - and there are others around there as well. Four families would make it $4.50 each...Or, I'd be happy to do $6 and others could do $4 to keep the #s round.

--
Jabber, I will ask  your question to my office mate who lives in Springfield, and has for his whole life. He may have some thoughts for you. I work in Springfield part-time but live in Northampton....You definitely will need to KNOW Springfield to choose a neighborhood wisely, as there are good areas and unsafe areas. Also, I don't want to deter you from living close to work, but you should definitely do some research on the school district, which I understand has some serious issues. However, housing is so inexpensive in Springfield that it could make sense to use a combination of charter schools and private schools. There are regional public charter schools in the area, but I'm not sure where and what they focus on, ages they serve, etc. Also, Massachusetts has a "school of choice" program - Basically, you can opt into another public school district, but of course then you need to get your kids there yourself, no bussing. I think to opt into other school districts, you need to enter a lottery to be selected. My kiddos aren't yet school age so I don't know all the ins and outs though... For your younger kids, I think there is a good daycare/preschool program associated with the Springfield museums and one that focuses on the arts as well, of you are in need of childcare, though I'm sure those options aren't very cheap...

[dani]

Hey Jabber, This is what my office mate had to say. Hope this helps. I'm pretty sure my upstairs neighbor works at the Rennaissance School and it IS a really good school. The links below didn't paste, but I'm happy to forward the email directly if you want (send email address in that case). In any case, the listings he sent are all on Zillow.

---

There is a huge diversity of housing in the area around the three hospitals that are bikable, but also walkable.
 
Atwater Park and Glenwood are nice sections of Liberty Heights that are close to the hospitals. Here are some houses for sale in the area:
 
Atwater Park
95 Weaver Road
86 Caseland Street
109 Caseland Street
170 Springfield Street
51 Atwater Road
227 Atwater Road
 
Glenwood
106 Park Road
43 Ontario Street
71 Milford Street
 
Here is a list of some of the schools that are close by:

Public Schools
Zanetti Montessori School – magnet school – Grades PreK-8
Glenwood School – public elementary school - Grades K-5
The Springfield Renaissance School – I’ve heard wonderful things about the school – Grades 6-12
 
Private Schools
Academy Hill School  – a private day school in the neighborhood - Grades K-8
St. Stanislaus School - Catholic parochial school right over the border in Chicopee - Grades K-8

[ToughMother]

Just wanting to nail down the details for Sunday a.m. since I'll be out of town tomorrow and have to go look at land on Sunday afternoon (hoping to build a Mustachian small house!).

How about 10:30 am?  Near the water park/swingset area to entertain the kiddo's.  There is a "mini-shelter" in between the swing set area and the water park.  http://www.lookpark.org/general-information/look-park-picnic-site-map.html   Is that where you were thinking of gathering?

Given that its only 10:30 am, no need for food, I'd think.  Weather says partly cloudy & 70 around that time of day on Sunday...let's hope they get it fairly right.

How's that sound???

[dani]

Sounds like a plan...see you there.

[Dr. A]

Exactly the spot.

[cdttmm]

Planning to join y'all tomorrow morning! Looking forward to meeting everyone!

[cdttmm]

Lovely to meet everyone today! Let's plan another get together in the near future. Perhaps we can entice a few others to join us since we now know that everybody is so friendly! :-)

[ToughMother]

I second cdttmm's thoughts!  Great to meet you and let's do it again. 

[dani]

Yes! It was nice meeting you! I look forward to it.

[Dr. A]

Indeed. I am excited for the possibility of sharing a "fakeout" with you fine folks some time.

[Dr. A]

Was that one of you folks that gave me a shout out on the bike trail this morning? I only know a few people who dress the part of serious road biker, and most of them are out of town today.

[bardictortoise]

Hi folks! Amherst junior mustachian here. How would you like to do another Valley area meetup?

[cdttmm]

Welcome bardictortoise!

I'm totally down for another gathering.

What say you, fellow Western MA mustaches?!?

[dani]

Hey all. We are in for another gathering. We're happy to host in our backyard... or, another look park gathering works too

[livnletlrn]

Hi all -- Not directly Mustachian, but closely related, I wanted to let you know about Hartford Minimalists.

We usually meet in Glastonbury CT on the 2nd Tues of each month, the FB announcement page (publicly visible, no FB account needed) for which is here: https://www.facebook.com/hartfordminimalists/

This month, we're meeting on Tues, Oct 14, in Hartford at MakeHartford, a makerspace/collaborative workspace. This month's topic is "Sharing Economy: MakeHartford and other minimalist resources." Details here:
http://tinyurl.com/m4h5tzr

In between our real life meetings, discussion and inspiration continue via our private FB group here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1402832563300814/

Hartford's such an easy slide down 91 that some of our members come from up your way each month (and, conversely, I often make the trek to Amherst on Wednesday nights for contra dancing), so we'd love to meet you at one of our Hartford area meetings. I'm also considering scheduling another meeting in Enfield/Longmeadow area, so please LMK if that would be of interest.

I hope to meet you soon. Meanwhile, I'll keep an eye on this thread and also possibly come to your next Mustachian gathering.

[cdttmm]

Any Western Mass mustachians interested in another meet up? I figure we haven't seen each other in about a year, it might be time to get together and catch up!

[livnletlrn]

I'm just south of Hartford, but I'd be up for a meet-up.

[ToughMother]

Any Western Mass mustachians interested in another meet up? I figure we haven't seen each other in about a year, it might be time to get together and catch up!

Well that would be dandy!  Look Park seemed good last time, especially for those with kiddo's.  If we have enough interest, perhaps we could grab a site and have a bit of a potluck.

[dani]

Would love to, but we are away all of August. Don't hold off on our account, but if it happens in September we're definitely in.

[Cwadda]

I'm in CT but I'd be interested in a meet-up.

[Dr. A]

I'd certainly be up for it, outside of the first weekend of August.

[cdttmm]

I'm so excited that people are interested in getting together! And love the fact that some of our southern neighbors want to join us -- hooray!

I'm out of commission Aug 2-15 as I have conferences on back-to-back weeks, unfortunately.

So perhaps the weekend  of August 22-23?