Every Spring I get kind of bored and depressed because it’s cold and dark and Christmas is over. So I am looking for something to look forward to, and what occurred to me was that I could do a weekend trip somewhere and frame it around possibly meeting some DCIBers in person!
I only work a halfday on Fridays, so I can easily fly somewhere, meet people on Saturday, and fly home on Sunday, and that might be kind of fun, right? A DCIBer get together at a local library or coffee shop or something? I’d bring games and presents and make it fun.
Based on my memory of your occasional comments, and the addresses I have for cards and things, it looks like there are three main regions of DCIB community members:
Greater DC Area
New York/New Jersey
LA
This is just the folks who comment A TON and therefore I know roughly where they are. So I could be totally wrong. If there is actually a hot pocket of DCIB activity in, like, Ohio, I want to know that! And if you live in one of those three regions listed above and would super SUPER like to meet me even if you have to drive an hour to get to the meeting place, I want to know that too!
So, tell me! In the comments of this post if you want to make it a general conversation and encourage other folks from your region to join in.
Or in the “contact me” box below if you would rather be more private but still want to let me know that you would totally drive an hour to get to a coffee shop in Edison, NJ in order to join in on the DCIB fun:
dontcallitbollywood 
If its Minneapolis, you could drive Margaret, unfortunately it seems not many here.
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I really wish it was Minneapolis! If it was driving distance, I could bring Albie Dog!
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Margaret, I’ll do you one better…I’ll host if you come to LA! And if you want to get away from cold, we’ve got ya.
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Oooo, that is so tempting! And I’ve actually never been to LA. I’ve been to the Bay Area twice to visit friends, but that is the extent of my California experience.
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Greatest city in the world IMHO. Plus Preity Zinta lives here…ya never know! 😉. I almost want you to wait until fall when I do my show but perhaps we’ll bring you out for that…
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I’m trying to get better in general about traveling. I’ve got this sweet Friday off schedule now, I should be doing something with it instead of just going home and taking a nap and then wondering what to do with myself.
Also, Chicago is clearly the greatest city in the world. Despite the terrible horrible depressing winters. Although Aryan is also in LA right now….
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I can’t take winter. I grew up in NY and I don’t miss it at all!
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My goddaughter just applied to the film program at USC – hoping they overlap a bit
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At the very least, she can ask upper classman for stories, right? Or professors? I had a bunch of friends who were in grad school at Northwestern at the same time as Tom Hanks son, and the whole campus had stories about him. Although he sounds less retiring than Aryan,
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I’m surprised you aren’t getting more from people from heavily Indian areas of the country. Or, are those the main big ones?
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I think Atlanta and Dallas are big concentrations too? I’ve got at least one regular person from Texas, but no one that I know of from Atlanta. It’s really random! The fact that I have this little blip in the DC area makes no sense, and that’s two non-desis and one desi. And where are my midwesterners at???? There should be a big concentration here, and NOTHING!
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I live in Atlanta, but guessing that’s not a venue option! Anyway I’d try to make it to DC or NYC if possible, LA not so much!
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Atlanta!!!! If you scroll up a few comments, you will see me mention that Atlanta is a big Desi concentration but for some reason I don’t seem to have any readers down there. And now I know that is not true and I am so happy 🙂
On Wed, Dec 18, 2019 at 4:45 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Yup saw the comment which is why I was compelled to represent Atlanta!
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So I know I haven’t commented in a thousand years (got sidetracked by a whole getting married thing and haven’t quite gotten back into the swing of things) but I would totally be into a DC area meet-up!
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Oh right, you are the other one! Sorry, that sounds creepy. I remembered that there was one more confirmed person in the DC area than in the NY area but I couldn’t remember who it was. You make it 4 in DC that I know of, to 3 in NY. Versus 2 in LA (although LA has the best weather)
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Oh, and congratulations on the getting married thing!
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Thanks!
And I’m totally fine being henceforth referred to as “the other one” 🤣
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Molly here! As you know both Carol and I would LOVE it if you came here. (NYC) I’d love to meet you. We have just found the BEST Indian restaurant ever in Jackson Heights Queens. We’d take you there.
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Yes, but New York? It’s like Chicago, but not, and scares me a little. What about if I went for New Jersey instead (where I have two other people), would you head out there?
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If you can handle Chicago, New York shouldn’t scare you at all. It’s a very easy city to navigate.
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No alleys! It’s weird.
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 1:54 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I would definitely be willing to go out to Queens, or really anywhere I can easily get on the train or subway. Speaking as a NJ person who lives right on the other side of the Hudson River and works in Manhattan every day. Or we could meet in the middle in Manhattan. Or try to convince the NYers to come to Jersey City :).
(Though something tells me DC is going to win out, what with their warmer weather and not being whatever terrible thing you remember about New York. For what it’s worth, I also hated New York when I visited as a child, I found it loud and dirty and overwhelming, and now I feel very differently. There are things about the humans here you can appreciate better as an adult.)
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New York, so much urine…. Also the subways are really old. I think that was my main impression. I mean, it’s not THAT different from Chicago, just we have newer subways and somehow less urine. Maybe because of hte alleys?
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 7:33 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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The subways are old and there are many bad smells, that much is true. Alleys would be nice for the garbage. On the other hand, such fun and interesting people ;).
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I thought at least 2 of us were in Northern California (based on mentions and references in past comments)?
Anyways I recommend LA over SF if warmth is what you seek. I head down there for weekend trips all the time, so I’m happy to be part of any SoCal meetup. 😀
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I know there’s one person who grew up in Berkeley, but I’m not sure if she is around there now.
Anyway, one of my best friends moved out to the Bay Area and I promised to visit her as soon as she finishes moving in to her new house, so I’ll be out there sometime this year for sure. I’ll let you know when I am around (I almost said something last time I visited her, and then I thought “no, that is weird, I shouldn’t stalk my commenters and try to meet them in real life”).
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 7:31 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Aww, next time definitely contact me. 🙂
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Will do!
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I grew up in Berkeley and as my parents still live there I go back at least twice a year. But currently I live 4 hours from any major city, (and even farther from the Bay) so I’m out of visiting range. 😦
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Boo!
Well, if you want, I can send you a message next time I will be in the Bay Area (one of my best friends lives there) just in case you happen to be at your parents at the same time.
On Wed, Dec 18, 2019 at 2:17 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Would love to meet up but I’m guessing 9,000 km is a bit far?
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On the other hand, what better place to get away from a Chicago winter than an Australian summer?
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 8:25 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Check the weather forecast for the next few days and you might reconsider that thought. It’s a bit scary!
http://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/exceptional-heatwave-could-see-australia-swelter-through-its-hottest-ever-day-this-week
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This instead
https://www.news.com.au/technology/environment/exceptional-heatwave-could-see-australia-swelter-through-its-hottest-ever-day-this-week/news-story/42ff7ec287a15e5b455d816d1bdaed55
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Seeing as my car was iced over this morning and I had to sit there for 5 minutes waiting for the defrost to work, this sounds pretty good!
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 8:42 AM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Yes to DC meet up! I am also frequently in Chicago so if you host a Chicago meet up, I’m in! Especially if we can order delicious food from Devon Ave restaurants.
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Why haven’t you already visited me in Chicago?!?!?!?! Truly, next time you are in town, just send me a note through “Contact Me”, I would love to meet up and take you to my favorite Devon hot spots.
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 12:01 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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Absolutely, will do!
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Another LA person in the house but I’ve been seriously considering a trip to Chicago because I have a friend who lives there plus you, Melanie, Samantha, Beth, and Sal from the Bollywood community. It’s like Chicago is the center of Indian film appreciation in the US.
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Yes, you should come to Chicago! And then you can meet Albie Dog!
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 1:56 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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That’s a sweet idea, Margret. With so many options, you could even take a holiday and do a roundtrip through your ‘Swades’ 🙂
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Speaking of Swades, I have a friend who works at NASA (about 3 miles from me) and she maybe she can get us a tour of the conference room shown in the film!! And if you come to DC, you can crash at our place and we can do a weekend movie marathon!!!! (The train from DC to Chicago is also very convenient, but we will be happy to retrieve you from BWI or National airports.)
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All right, I have now heard from all my DC-ers except Procrastinatrix, who apparently doesn’t love me any more or want me to come 😦
Anyway, I like DC! We went there regularly when I was a kid to visit a family friend so I feel comfy in that city.
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Also, I have assembled/converted/addicted about a dozen church friends to Indian film and I am sure they would also looooove to hang out with you!
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Now that’s terrifying, because knowing the low number of UUs in the world, out of that dozen there is probably at least one person who knew me when I was a baby. Kind of undercuts the “film expert” authority 🙂
But the train thing I like! I love taking the train.
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We would for sure come to New Jersey, but remember it is a big place. Some NJ towns are 20 minutes away and some 2 hours. But for you we will travel! Don’t be afraid of New York. People are nice and helpful and if you avoid 42nd street, its all pretty calm. –Molly
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I have to admit, I also just don’t like New York. Based on the sample size of one day spent there 20 years ago. It wasn’t like I had a terrible experience or anything, it was just I didn’t feel at home there. But maybe the city (or me) has changed in 20 years!
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I’m a little out of range this time, but do let me know if you’re ever in southern Japan. Heck, I’d even travel to northern Japan.
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Well, I have you and two people in Australia as my little Pacific Rim squadron. Don’t know if that is enough to put together a group though.
On Tue, Dec 17, 2019 at 4:59 PM dontcallitbollywood wrote:
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I’m guessing that you didn’t spend time in the neighborhoods we live in and hang out in. And New York is not like 20 years ago and neither are you.
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It’s funny, because I work in Edison, NJ. Which is insanely Indian. Not sure if you knew that.
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I do! Thus the choice of Edison as sn example.
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