Topic: Dates for the first annual FW New York "Hey, I'm walkin' here!" get-together

[02Pilot]

Since the idea of a few New York-area Filmwasters getting together slightly upstate emerged in one of the recent weekend threads, I thought it might be a good idea to start considering possible dates. My initial thoughts would be either the weekend of 17-18 or 24-25 May (the former is probably better for me, but I can likely make the latter work if necessary). I'm going to suggest meeting in Cold Spring, which is right on the Hudson Line about 1.5 hours north of NYC. If we meet late morning (around 10 or so), we would have a bit of time to walk around town before getting some lunch and beer. There would be plenty of time after lunch for more in-town activities or for a hike in the adjacent state park. Or more beer.

So, if you're interested, post here with your thoughts on the dates, times, plans, and anything else that comes to mind.


EDIT:

For your convenience, here are the links to galleries posted elsewhere by participants.

Indofunk: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152404889547278.1073741889.539577277&type=1&l=0558e485f6

limr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/51692918@N05/sets/72157644759257091/

02Pilot: http://filmosaur.wordpress.com/gallery/filmwasters-hey-im-walkin-here-photo-walk-may-2014/

[Indofunk]

Sounds great!! So far both weekends are open for me, but I usually get gigs on Saturdays, so I'm going to push for a Sunday. I'm also a notoriously late riser, so how about meeting for lunch (and lunchtime beers, natch) at 12 or 1, and then commencing all photo activities after lunch?

[Terry]

I'm in.  Coming from Princeton, so 10:00 is do-able but only just (I'd need to be on the 6:10 train to Penn Station...) so maybe a bit later would be better.

[02Pilot]

Later is not a problem. Looks like there's a 10:43 that arrives in Cold Spring at 12:00. Would that work? We could go straight to lunch, then proceed from there.

[Terry]

Very civilized.  I could easily make that.  Now, what camera to bring....?  What kind of shootin' do you have in mind?

[02Pilot]

There will be a diverse array of choices as far as what you guys want to shoot. The town will be busy on the weekend, so you can shoot street if you like. Lots of turn-of-the-century buildings, so architechture's an option. Plenty of flowers out this time of year if you like macro. The town is right on the river, so you can do landscape; this is doubly true if you're willing to hike to the top of one of the hills in Hudson Highlands park (about 3-4hrs round-trip). If you prefer a less strenuous hike, there are some abandoned buildings from an old estate buried in the woods nearby. If you want to shoot wildlife, there's a bird sanctuary nearby (I've seen several bald eagles near there this year).

None of this stuff is far from town, and all of it is within walking distance.

[Indofunk]

I shoot street stuff all the time in the city, and there's no nature to speak of here, so I vote for the easy hike/nature/landscape photography option. Though if the town is a pretty hippie town then I might load up some color film and shoot weirdos next to cool buildings.

[Terry]

That's no help--I like ALL those options!  Abandoned buildings sounds nice, though....
Thanks for setting this up 02, great idea!

[02Pilot]

Not as many wierdos as you might like. On the weekend it will be mostly daytrippers; when the tourists show up the local hippie population goes off to a granola farm or something. Abandoned farm buildings are an easy hour hike or so.

I've done color and B&W - either one will work. Bring extra film, bring multiple cameras - problem solved.

[limr]

We make our OWN granola, thankyouverymuch. We don't go to FARMS 

[Indofunk]

Not as many wierdos as you might like. On the weekend it will be mostly daytrippers; when the tourists show up the local hippy population goes off to a granola farm or something. Abandoned farm buildings are an easy hour hike or so.

I've done color and B&W - either one will work. Bring extra film, bring multiple cameras - problem solved.

Hike + abandoned buildings sounds like a win. Let's hope it's not raining like it was today 

[Indofunk]

We make our OWN granola, thankyouverymuch. We don't go to FARMS 

Damn hippies.

[limr]

We make our OWN granola, thankyouverymuch. We don't go to FARMS 

Damn hippies.

That's it, there will be no granola for you!

[Indofunk]

We make our OWN granola, thankyouverymuch. We don't go to FARMS 

Damn hippies.

That's it, there will be no granola for you!

(I'm a closet hippie myself. Save some granola for me. Soymilk only, I don't do dairy)

[limr]

(I'm a closet hippie myself. Save some granola for me. Soymilk only, I don't do dairy)

(How's almond milk? I don't drink soy milk anymore. We'll talk granola at the meet-up I'm still tweaking my recipe, but it's pretty good so far!)

[02Pilot]

Keep it down in there, you damn long-hairs! 

[Indofunk]

Keep it down in there, you damn long-hairs! 

hahahaha the joke's on you ... I'm bald!

[02Pilot]

Keep it down in there, you damn long-hairs! 

hahahaha the joke's on you ... I'm bald!

I was yelling metaphorically. 

[hookstrapped]

Sounds cool!

[02Pilot]

Based on responses thus far, I'm going to suggest we pin down the meeting for Sunday 18 May at noon in Cold Spring. Anyone who's interested please post here to confirm so I have an idea of how many people to look out for. If you want to include hiking up to the abandoned buildings, you should wear appropriate footgear and be prepared for an hour or so of moderately strenuous hiking along a dirt trail.

[Indofunk]

IN

[hookstrapped]

in

[Terry]

also IN

[limr]

Woot! I'm in, too.

[02Pilot]

OK, right now we're at five (myself included) confirmed for two weeks from today. If anyone else is interested, the door is open.

[Terry]

Where will we meet?

[02Pilot]

I'll meet you all at the Cold Spring train station - well, technically just beyond it, but close enough for government work. Just walk from the platform straight into the village (it will be obvious - going in the other direction leads you into a swamp) and I'll be there, right by the public toilets (you may judge the appropriateness of this after you've met me). Limr will be there as well. For those coming from NYC, if you want to meet ahead of that you're on your own.

[02Pilot]

Just a reminder that we're one week away from the big day.

[Indofunk]

I remember! I even turned down a gig to make it (full disclosure: I wasn't really all that amped about the gig anyways, and it only paid $50 ).

[02Pilot]

I remember! I even turned down a gig to make it (full disclosure: I wasn't really all that amped about the gig anyways, and it only paid $50 ).

I'll try to make sure I provide at least $51 worth of entertainment....

[Indofunk]

I remember! I even turned down a gig to make it (full disclosure: I wasn't really all that amped about the gig anyways, and it only paid $50 ).

I'll try to make sure I provide at least $51 worth of entertainment....

It'll be just like a gig! Make $50, promptly spend it on beer afterwards

[02Pilot]

I remember! I even turned down a gig to make it (full disclosure: I wasn't really all that amped about the gig anyways, and it only paid $50 ).

I'll try to make sure I provide at least $51 worth of entertainment....

It'll be just like a gig! Make $50, promptly spend it on beer afterwards

Yeah, the kind of entertainment I provide is difficult to convert to cash. But if you can come up with a way to monetize painfully dry humor and general snarkiness, I'm all ears. 

[Adam Doe]

It'll be just like a gig! Make $50, promptly spend it on beer afterwards

$50! Why in my day we'd make $50 for the entire band and we'd have to carry the bass player's enormous cabinet on our backs for miles through a blizzard, up hill, both ways.... </end tired joke>

[02Pilot]

As the day approaches, one thing that occurred might be worth mentioning for you city people: bring bug spray. Things might not be too bad in town, at least during daylight hours, but if we are indeed going to hike up into the woods, you may be eaten alive without some sort of repellent. Good for warding off any deer ticks we might encounter as well.

[Indofunk]

deer ticks

arrrrrrrrrrrrr my big fear as a city slicker. I'm going to show up in full HAZMAT gear.

Thanks for the country living warning, I never would have thought of that

[Indofunk]

Now, for logistics: Peter & I are going to meet in GCT. How about at the central info booth at 10:30? I have a late gig the previous night, so I'll really be pushing the envelope to get up at a reasonable hour. If you don't see me there at 10:30, just get yourself onto the train 

Who else can meet us at GCT? Looks like Terry will be getting into Penn Station ... is there a train you can take from there, or will you need to get to GCT for the 10:43 train? If so, you can meet us there too. Anyone else? Shouldn't we have a million NYC FW's? I mean, it is NYC after all Maybe not the biggest city in the world, but certainly the best

[02Pilot]

Trains only go from GCT, so anyone coming up will need to get there by whatever means necessary.

The deer tick threat is not all that severe for where we'll be heading - the trail is fairly wide and we don't need to pass through much undergrowth. Always good to take precautions nonetheless. Personally, I'd be more concerned about the mosquitoes.

[limr]

I'd say you would be safe from mosquitoes because if I'm there, they'll go straight for me and leave everyone else alone. But I'll be wearing weapons-grade bug spray, so unfortunately, I won't be much protection for you guys

[Terry]

Satish, I'll look for you at the central info booth at 10:30, carrying my f.64 camera bag.  And a can of bug spray!

[Indofunk]

Coincidentally, turns out my gig tomorrow night is in Princeton Unfortunately, I can't invite you (it's a wedding) and I can't even spend the night in Princeton and come up with you because I'll have all my music gear on me (and I'll be dressed in a suit), so I'd need to come back home to get all my camera gear. If I'm extra-sleepy on Sunday you'll know why

[Terry]

You can snooze on the train.  Where's the wedding?  Nassau Inn?

[Indofunk]

No idea. The bandleader drives me there, I play my horn for like 5 hours straight, he drops me off somewhere in Manhattan, I take the train home. Twelve hour day, about $300, never sure it's really worth it

[02Pilot]

Tomorrow's the day and the weather looks good. I'll be leaving the house around 11.00am, so if you have any questions or issues, drop me a note in this thread before then. See you at noon in Cold Spring!

[gothamtomato]

Damn! I'm checking in here for the first time in a while and just seeing this. I would love to have joined you all but, ironically, I'm busy today hosting a screening of EastEnders. (Yes, that EastEnders.)

Have fun!

[02Pilot]

Damn! I'm checking in here for the first time in a while and just seeing this. I would love to have joined you all but, ironically, I'm busy today hosting a screening of EastEnders. (Yes, that EastEnders.)

Have fun!

Well, assuming we don't all end up hating each other after today  , I'm sure there will be other get-togethers. Hopefully you'll be able to make the next outing.

[limr]

Damn! I'm checking in here for the first time in a while and just seeing this. I would love to have joined you all but, ironically, I'm busy today hosting a screening of EastEnders. (Yes, that EastEnders.)

Have fun!

Oooooh, that EastEnders was one of my guilty pleasures when I lived in Portugal. You have fun too!

And, like 02Pilot says, we'll hopefully see you for the next outing.

[02Pilot]

It's over. Photos to follow. No doubt.

[Indofunk]

Much film was wasted, many good times were had, and at least one waiter was thoroughly confused.

Andrej, Leonore, and Terry are beautiful people and I love them all, and the oxygen pilot in particular is a great tour guide/event planner. Peter is just cold. Physically, that is, not emotionally.

Pictures will indeed follow (you mean I gotta DEVELOP all these rolls now??), as will a series of "shootouts" where we each contribute our own version of the exact same scene (waiting in line to take these shots was the most anxiety-inducing part of the walkabout).

As the thread title implies, we will do this again next year, but that's not to say we can't do another one before then!

[Ed Wenn]

It was a lot of fun reading the arrangements being made, but the tension was rising as it got nearer to the date (I was hoping people wouldn't flake out and not make it), but props all round the NYC-area FW'ers for sticking to their guns and meeting up as planned  It seems a good time was had & I'm excited to hear more and see some results.

[hookstrapped]

This is something we ought to do more than once a year.
















No doubt.