I wanted to test the waters for starting a weekly Drupal Drop-in somewhere in the Boston/Cambridge area. Not as structured as our semi-monthly meetings, but just a static day (say Mondays, or even Sunday afternoons or something) where people could meet in a Wi-Fi'ed location (maybe a coffeeshop) and do their own Drupal needs in the helpful presence of others. No speakers or topics.
I hear from a lot of Drupal beginners that they want to learn more they just can't make the time, and a lot of Drupal veterans with backburner projects they'd like to devote more time too. I figure that if there's a few hours carved out with a bonus of coffee or pastries, it might provide a good environment.
Leave a comment if you're interested (and what nights work for you) or if you know of a good location.
Comments
I'm in
I think this would be a great idea! However...I'm new to Boston and don't know the area very well. Anyone have suggestions?
Why not at MIT?
One idea would be for people to meet in the first floor of the MIT Stata Center. There's usually plenty of space there... and free wi-fi!
.L.
Drop-In Center
Ben,
Great idea.
Great idea
I really like this idea.
The OtherSide Cafe in Boston is a comfortable place to meet. Couches, beer, food, and free Wi-Fi
Trident Booksellers & Cafe on Newbury St. is also a good place, I believe they have Wi-Fi
Count me in too.
I've fully bitten the Drupal hook (pun?) and would definitely enjoy this sort of get-together. My preference would be weekend afternoons, but I could make a weeknight if that's the common denominator. Wednesday nights are not good. I think somewhere like the Strata Center would probably be most receptive to larger groups and the ability to focus. I currently work in an architectural firm in Davis Square and could occasionally offer a conference room with whiteboard, big table, comfy chairs, free coffee, tea & water. Wi-fi would take some figuring out though. Anyways, count me in too.
Ray Guillette
Void Engineer
www.voidengineering.com
Interesting
I'm not sure about locations. If a place is too noisy and public, it might be detracting. On the other hand, if it is too private, it might run the risk or being dull or too exclusive.
The MIT Stata facility was excellent for the purposes of BarCamp2.
Any night works for me.
parking!
someplace with parking might be nice for those of us outside the downtown area (I'm in Newton, myself)
Park-emonium ?
With determination and fortitude, It is possible to find free legal parking in the Kendall Square area in the evening, often along Memorial Drive. Keep a sharp eye out for people walking toward cars with keys in their hands.
For the less determined ( or less frugal ? ), the nearest pay lots are behind the Technology Square buildings. When I did a Google Maps search on "cambridge mass mit stata" and then a seach nearby query with "parking", four lots popped up within a couple hundred yards north or east of the Stata facility.
But I'm quite open to some other location, so long as it's fairly near a T station.
Stata Center on Monday?
Thanks for all the comments. I'm going to tentatively suggest meeting next Monday evening, April 23 at the Stata Center at MIT (I'll create an event shortly). Does anyone know how late the cafe on the first floor is open for?
But because it might be difficult for out-of-towners to show up, I'd also like to hear some more ideas: Would meeting Sunday afternoons cut into too many people's weekends? Would local Bostonites be willing to go a little farther out where there is easier parking. I like Sweet Finnish in Jamaica Plain: it's about a 10 minute walk from the Orange Line and there is parking in the surrounding neighborhoods---it's comfortable and we might be able to get a spacious backroom if we need more seats. I also like the OtherSide suggestion, tea, beer and comfort is hard to turn down.
But for now let's try the Stata Center and see what people think.