Magical Mystery Tour EAST 2010 - DAY 1 COMPLETE!

1246

Posts

  • KiashienKiashien Medford, MARegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Didn't catch if you ended up snagging a duck tour boat.

    If not, you pretty much are doing the Freedom Trail + a couple bars.

    http://www.cityofboston.gov/freedomtrail/

    Might want to consider using it as a starting point.

    Kiashien on
    The pirate hat riding bobcat compels you...

    Relevant info: #PAX East: 3 Coin Lunch organizer. 2012 Trading card available. Pokecrawl Assistant 2012. Pokecrawl attendee 2011. Cult of the Leaf attendee 2012.
  • KiashienKiashien Medford, MARegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Also, not sure if I'm going, but I'll add boston-local knowledge as I can.

    Fannuel hall is a huge marketplace, and it is a awesome place for lunch if you want to land it there.

    I reccomend waggamamma though if you end up eating there, but if you can't plan a time to end up there, it's got a gigantic food court.

    Kiashien on
    The pirate hat riding bobcat compels you...

    Relevant info: #PAX East: 3 Coin Lunch organizer. 2012 Trading card available. Pokecrawl Assistant 2012. Pokecrawl attendee 2011. Cult of the Leaf attendee 2012.
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I think there was someone else interested in doing a Duck Tour, they haven't started a thread yet though. We're going to be getting a charter bus. Ideally, we're going to hit some spots on the Freedom trail, but what spots we hit (outside or inside of the Freedom Trail) really depends on what everyone votes for. So vote! =)

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Here's a quick summary of our leading locations at the moment! Remember to vote when you get a chance!

    The following locations, as of this moment, have a point total > 0. In order of popularity...

    **********

    Sam Adams Brewery
    Votes: 6

    Bell-in-Hand Tavern
    Votes: 5

    Museum of Science
    Votes: 4

    Faneuil Hall
    Votes: 4

    Harvard Museum of Natural History
    Votes: 3

    Boston Symphony Orchestra
    Votes: 3

    Harpoon Brewery
    Votes: 3

    Fenway Park (Tour?)
    Votes: 3

    U.S.S. Constitution Museum
    Votes: 2

    Museum of Fine Arts
    Votes: 2

    John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
    Votes: 2

    Old State House Museum
    Votes: 2

    Boston Common
    Votes: 2

    **********

    Remember, voting closes February 10th, so get over there and vote!

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I cant believe no one punched in MIT for the MMT, its right across the bridge from the PAX Area...

    If you guys dont go, Im going by myself the monday or tuesday before, anyone in the area is invited

    ZeroHourHero on
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Well, why don't you add it? Add it to the list so we can vote on it! Just put in a little blurb about what in particular we can visit there (i.e. interesting things we can see)!

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited January 2010
    MIT updated

    ZeroHourHero on
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Woot, good dealin'! =)

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yay, flights and hotel booked, I'm a-voting!

    LewieP's Mummy on
    For all the top UK Gaming Bargains, check out SavyGamer

    For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints

    "The power of the weirdness compels me."
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    WOOT! It's going to be great having you guys along for the trip LPM! Yay! =)

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hiya VT! tried to vote, but failed miserably - I tried to vote for beer stuff and museumy things! Night night!

    LewieP's Mummy on
    For all the top UK Gaming Bargains, check out SavyGamer

    For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints

    "The power of the weirdness compels me."
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Oh no! Did you get an error when you tried to vote? Let me know, perhaps it's some kind of bug I can fix. Did you get any blinking "loading" message when you clicked the thumbs up or down?

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I just got a blinking loading message and gave up when it hadn't loaded for a while!

    LewieP's Mummy on
    For all the top UK Gaming Bargains, check out SavyGamer

    For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints

    "The power of the weirdness compels me."
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hmm... try it again when you get the chance, and give it a minute or so before you give up. I'm on this shared hosting provider... usually it works well, but sometimes it's terribly slow.

    I've been meaning to talk to JonXP, he was mentioning that he had a better place to host this stuff and I keep forgetting to talk with him about it. =(

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • RdrRdr Rider Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Hmm... try it again when you get the chance, and give it a minute or so before you give up. I'm on this shared hosting provider... usually it works well, but sometimes it's terribly slow.

    I've been meaning to talk to JonXP, he was mentioning that he had a better place to host this stuff and I keep forgetting to talk with him about it. =(

    I use Dreamhost. I have been with them since 2006 and I can host domains and such and have 100x more space than I could ever imagine to use...so if you need me to set you up with something on my hosting account I can do that. Give you a ftp username/pass, etc. For free as well!

    Otherwise they have pretty solid deals themselves.

    Rdr on
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    I'm on Railsplayground which has similarly large space offerings, which is nice... but it's really bandwidth on the shared server that appears to be at a premium. Not sure how it is with Dreamhost, but things sometimes go south at Railsplayground in terms of uptime. I can't really complain though for the price they gave... I think I'm paying somewhere in the vicinity of like 60 bucks for a year. =)

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    VT, you know how to get in touch with me. I'll try to get you set up this weekend, man.

    jonxp on
    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
    3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
    PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Sweet! Aye, I keep forgetting! =( I'll try to get a hold of you tomorrow, it's a little busy today!

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Thanks to the awesome and excellent JonXP, we now have a much more stable host! Jon is even, at this moment, doing some battle hardening of the code (using his awesome Rails skills!)! Thanks JonXP, you rock much! =)

    LPM, give voting another try if you haven't already! =)

    The site is now redirecting to JonXP's host automatically, so no need to change bookmarks, but the new site (if you want it directly) is:

    http://mmt.finalmeasure.com/

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Email may or may not not be working at the moment, but the rest should be there. Did a quick pass at optimizing the code as well, and the site should be a bit faster than it used to be in certain cases. Let me know if anyone sees anything odd, or if something just doesn't look right.

    And LPM: Sorry I'm going to miss you! Heck, sorry I'm going to miss everyone at PAX-E.

    jonxp on
    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
    3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
    PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    We'll miss you too Jon! =( =( Thank you so much for doing that optimization run-through on it, you rock! (For those who don't know, JonXP is a Rails deity! =) )

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yay, voted! And jonxp :( you and mrs jonxp won't be there!

    LewieP's Mummy on
    For all the top UK Gaming Bargains, check out SavyGamer

    For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints

    "The power of the weirdness compels me."
  • ArcoArco Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Sooooo... I'm not taking the train to East. I'm saving that for the WCTT and Prime out West. What that does mean, however, is that I'm getting into Boston at 5:30am on Thursday, and I can do the MMT! First time EVAR!

    ... Now what do I do?

    Arco on
    Like this, not like the gas station.
    Organizer of the Post-PAX Party. You should come!
    Satellite Theater for life!
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited January 2010
    Yay!! =) Okay, start by going to the newly hosted site and signing up to vote on locations:

    http://mmt.finalmeasure.com/

    Very soon (Feb 10th) I'll consider the voting closed and we'll be talking about where to go from there, as far as what kind of bus opportunities/fees for the locations we voted on/meeting times and places!

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Just a reminder: five more days until the close of voting! Sign up and get your vote on NOW! =)

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • OmegasquashOmegasquash Boston, MARegistered User, ClubPA regular
    edited February 2010
    Just a heads up on some stuff that I liked from when I first moved here...

    1) Faneuil Hall - Well worth it. The market area is fun, and if you're feeling cheesy, then have a beer at Cheers. It's nicer in the Spring/Summer, but then again everything is nicer in the Spring/Summer.

    2) Harvard Museum of Natural History - Lots of fun

    3) Bell in Hand Tavern - If you go, go during the day. It tends to get packed later on, especially on Thursday night.

    4) Museum of Science - You could spend all day here. Choose, but choose wisely.

    5) New England Aquarium - Same as above, only with awesome seals.

    6) Granary Burial Ground - Worth checking out. Also, there's a bar across the street where you can go have a Sam Adams while you're looking at Sam Adams' grave.

    Just a few suggestions based on opinion, and not enough to fill up 2 days, but there you have it.

    Omegasquash on
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Jeez... work has been crazy the past two weeks. I feel like I've hardly been home at all. =( My apologies for the extended absence everyone.

    Anyways, voting closes tonight at midnight! Anyone who wants a say in where we're going should vote before midnight tonight!

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • jonxpjonxp [E] PC Security Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Uhm, do I need to do something VT?

    jonxp on
    Every time you write parallel fifths, Bach kills a kitten.
    3DS Friend Code: 2707-1614-5576
    PAX Prime 2014 Buttoneering!
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Oh no, no need to do anything: I'm just going to tally up the winners at midnight and post it here. I never wrote anything to actually stop the voting at a certain date, haven't had time yet. ;) But whatever it is at midnight, I'll post it here as the official list. =)

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Aaaaannnndd...... the results are in!

    Sam Adams Brewery, 11
    Bell-in-Hand Tavern, 11
    Museum of Science, 13
    Museum of Fine Arts, 9
    New England Aquarium, 9
    Harvard Museum of Natural History, 7
    Harpoon Brewery, 4
    Faneuil Hall, 3
    MIT, 3
    Old State House Museum, 1
    U.S.S. Constitution Museum, 1
    The Institute of Contemporary Art, 1


    (On another story... why were the votes all out of order? I could've sworn I programmed them to show in descending order? Weird!)

    Anyways, those are all the locations with vote totals > 0! I'll go down the list from top to bottom and try to fit as many of them as possible into a schedule!

    Thank you everyone for voting! I'll get the details for signup/payment for your spot on the bus by the end of the week!

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • LewieP's MummyLewieP's Mummy Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Hey Vt, I've had a reply from Boston Tourist info people, and my disabled driver badge is valid within the US, which should mean we'll have free parking/parking nearest where we will be going. I'll bring it with me, so we can use it on the bus.

    LewieP's Mummy on
    For all the top UK Gaming Bargains, check out SavyGamer

    For paintings in progress, check out canvas and paints

    "The power of the weirdness compels me."
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Awesome, that'd be fantastic! =)=)

    Speaking of bus, I've been looking around, and here's what I've been finding thus far:

    The bus rates I've been getting quoted have been in the range of ~750$ per day. If 30 people go (we currently have 30 people on the page as tentatives), that'd be 25$ per day per person (or 50$ for the whole two days). I'm not expecting that we'll actually get 30 people though... if we get, say, 20, then to break even it'd be ~37$ per day per person, or 75$ total... however:

    I'm willing to eat some of this cost personally, but I can only eat so much of it. I've been looking at my finances, and I think I could eat about 500 bucks of this personally from what I've been saving for the occasion and still be okay... which would drop the per person total for both days to 45$ total (~22$ per day) if we get 20 people, and 30$ per person total (15$ per day) if we got 30 people.

    What I'd like to know from everyone what you'd be willing to pay in terms of cost per person: how do you guys feel about it? Depending on how many of you actually want to go, we can get this down to 30$ per person for both days and I think that'll be reasonable for most people... but I'd like to know whether, if it doesn't work out that way, people would be willing to put in as much as 50$ total (25$ per day), and then I'll foot it for the rest. Let me know what you guys think!

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    yea, I've been thinking of the cost too.
    But Im relying on people paying me for rooms to get me through pax, which will leave me with around $550 for PAX including food for the entire week Im there+Pub Crawl+Pre-Pax Dinner+Baubles+MMT

    Right after PAX I have to see how much I have because I have to roll over to Fort Dreven so I can reclass.

    Hopefully I have enough for MMT, because I was really looking forward to it.

    ZeroHourHero on
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Okay, I've got a couple of options on the table. The strongest one at the moment is this:

    By signing up for the MMT (as an actual Tourist, not just signing up for voting as all of you have done up to now), you'd agree to pay some sort of "Maximum Cap". So if that's like 60 bucks, then that means no matter how many or few people go, you won't pay any more than 60$ for both days (and if it ends up that enough people can go that the actual cost is less than 60, you'll pay less than 60). That way I can get some kind of estimate of how much money if any I actually have to eat personally to make this happen.

    What do you guys think of that?

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    The other thing we're looking into at the moment is the possibility of renting a bus for just 5 hours, which would be significantly cheaper apparently... if the proximity of the locations can be figured out in such a way that we can still have a comfortable tour in those 5 hours and get somewhere to hit up locations on foot or via subway the rest of the day (or just call it a day). Anyways, still looking into it now! And Zero's helping look up other costs that might be incurred as we speak! =)

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Map Complete:

    http://tinyurl.com/yaztzlo

    All the locations are there.

    ZeroHourHero on
  • baelionbaelion Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    i really want to hit up the sam adams brewery but i fly in on day one, so can only go day two. fingers crossed on it being that day :D

    baelion on
    Masters Degree Student: PLEASE TALK TO ME ABOUT NERDCORE
    Twitter
    Lord help me, I chose !Squirtle
    munkeefish.png
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    What time you flying in day one?

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • VThornheartVThornheart Registered User regular
    edited February 2010
    SCORE!

    Okay, so I shouldn't hold my breath just yet, but:

    http://www.localmotionofboston.com

    This charter company gives 30 passenger school bus rentals for ~300 for 4 hours... which would be significantly cheaper than the other options I was seeing. Even if we get 8 hours of bus time each day (which I don't think we'd need... perhaps 6 hours, but not 8), it'd be a lot cheaper than the other option. I asked them to give me a quote. Anyways, I think that could be a good option if you guys don't mind school bussing it. ;)

    I also sent out requests to a dozen or so other bus/van rental places in the area, to see what they can quote. We'll get to the bottom of this. =)

    EDIT: I strongly feel that this is going to be our place, look at these rates:

    http://www.localmotionofboston.com/bus/rates.htm

    At that we could have 6 hours of driving per day for both days for just under 800$, which would be half of what I was thinking before (and would make the trip extremely affordable for all concerned! We're talking 32$ combined for the whole two days per person if we get 25 people to signup, which is pretty nice!)

    I'll let you know as soon as I hear from them. I think these are our guys.

    VThornheart on
    3DS Friend Code: 1950-8938-9095
  • ZeroHourHeroZeroHourHero Allentown, PARegistered User regular
    edited February 2010
    Just to let everyone know:

    I should hear back from all locations by the end of the week.

    ZeroHourHero on
This discussion has been closed.