As far as the weather goes, I think the only solution if we wanted to deal with this for 2010 (beyond AC and drinking) is to move to the fall. I'd asked earlier if anyone wanted to suggest fall dates and no one responded, but if anyone would like to take another look at that, feel free. I'd be happy to set up another survey.
If people want to look at spring dates for 2011 that's fine, but we need to start planning before Christmas if we want to get a decent turn out, realistically.
Just a quick update on survey results so far, for what it's worth. I bolded the top results so far:
Total Started Survey: 21
Total Completed Survey: 21 (100%)
Which city is your FIRST choice for the 2010 F2F?
answered question 19
skipped question 2
New York (staying nearby in NJ) 47.4% 9
Philly 52.6% 10
Another East Coast city that I am willing to pimp myself and will list in my comments 0.0% 0
Please check any of the dates below that you think you MIGHT be able to attend (you may check as many as you would like):
answered question 21
skipped question 0
May 29-30 (Memorial Day Weekend) 14.3% 3
June 5-6 38.1% 8
June 12-13 28.6% 6
June 19-20 (Father's Day Weekend) 42.9% 9
June 26-27 66.7% 14
July 3-4 (July 4th weekend) 19.0% 4
July 10-11 71.4% 15
July 17-18 76.2% 16
I can't attend any of these dates 0.0% 0
I can't speak for Philly, but NYC is decidedly less humid and muggy than DC during the summer. (It wasn't built on swampland and is closer to the ocean.)
If heat is a genuine concern, I would strongly advocate avoiding July, which is historically the hottest month of the year. Late June will be hot but not oppressively so, and there is easy access to many beaches for people who want to cool off in the Atlantic.
The comments I heard about the DC F2F were why I brought up the subject. Hot weather's not a deal-breaker for me, but it is a factor in picking which weekend. Hell, having it in New England (which doesn't look to be the case) is no guarantee of non-disgusto heat/humidity during July/August.
The weather we got during the DC F2F was a fluke - it was unusually hot for that time of the year and there's really no guarantee that any weekend we choose won't have the same thing happen.
Holding the F2F in September would mean milder temps, but we'd also be essentially disinviting all the teachers and most of the parents w/ school-age children.
Was someone pimping Providence? I don't know what the weather issues are there. I know here it is insanely hot and humid during any of the dates discussed. I worked in Philly in the summer and I still recall vividly the aroma of the subways. Not nice.
What Jessica said about the lack of guarantee on any weekend in any location. We can choose a place that averages 70F with 10% humidity and that weekend they get an unusual tropical wave and it pours the whole time.
But Buffista gatherings are always lovely and if we have to hang inside or in the pool with umbrellas it will be fine.
OK, that is my only suggestion for east coast, low humidity, summer. No clue how much there is to do or where. I spent the summer just south of there at Flat Rock Playhouse.
Actually, Asheville would be a pretty good place for an f2f. Walkable, good restaurants, funky stores, gorgeous views, hiking for those who want it, the Biltmore, lots of live music and culture (including bellydancing)...
Someone remind me in three years, k?
The weather we got during the DC F2F was a fluke - it was unusually hot for that time of the year and there's really no guarantee that any weekend we choose won't have the same thing happen.
Also, a number of us went to Georgetown. Which isn't well served at all well by public transportation, which meant we spent a lot of time walking from here to there in an all-concrete (which holds the heat) area.
Though on the plus side, if I hadn't been staggering around in the heat in Dupont Circle I'd never have had the opportunity to pet a bear cub.
Last winter was really cold around here. I think we only used our AC two or three times, so it is really hard to predict.
Last winter was really cold around here. I think we only used our AC two or three times, so it is really hard to predict.
I think you meant summer, sj. But yeah. For the Seattle F2F, the weather was WAY nicer and warmer than it was in New England. I'm just worried that with this crazy winter (supposedly the result of El Nino) that we may get a nasty summer.
On the upside, we seem to be having a nicer, earlier spring than usual (though the weather is supposed to be crappy this weekend).
