Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with eastcoast

What non-NYC east coast cities have a vibrant graphic design community?

yukonho — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 09:29:29 -0800

What are good cities on the East Coast for graphic design besides New York City? I live on the west coast now and am planning to move east in a few years. Besides NYC, are there any other cities with a thriving graphic design community? I'd like to be somewhere in the Northeast (Maryland and north). Thanks!

How should I say goodbye to the East Coast?

susoka — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:29:08 -0800

So I'm moving from Baltimore to Atlanta for work - yay, new job! Boo, leaving the East Coast! I've got a month remaining, so in the time between finishing my business here and taking deep breaths, what should I do here that I won't be able to do in the south? I've been here for two years and haven't really explored the area much at all. I'll definitely spend at least one more day in DC and maybe go for a weekend in New York. Any other awesome places I should visit? Are there regional delicacies I won't be able to find in Atlanta? Non-perishable consumer goods? Basically: what should I buy, eat, see, and do? Money's not an issue... just time.

East Coast Twixtmas

DarlingBri — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 12:29:13 -0800

Seeking suggestions for winter break within four hours drive of NYC. Love me up on your favourite destinations! My family is keen to get away all together in the period between Christmas and New Year. We've got a bunch of people living in NJ, Manhattan and Brooklyn, and genghis and I will be flying in from Ireland for the holidays.

We're all grown-ups, from 25 - 65. Typically we've all spent summers in places like South Hampton, Shelter Island, Fire Island and Montauk but we're coming up short for winter vacation ideas. Our plan is to go somewhere we can rent a large house for a week, read a lot of books, read lots of MetaFilter, and go out for a lot of dinners.

Criteria are:

* A town. We have people who do not drive but do like coffee, newspapers, restaurants and beer and would like to be able to get to those things on foot.
* Open in the winter; some place pretty but closed is obviously no good.
* No more then 4 hours from NYC by car. (Vermont is too far.)
* Pet friendly, and not completely hostile to smokers.

We thought of Cape May, which is pretty and charming and has lots of character and the houses are great. It would be ideal except: a) you are forbidden to take dogs pretty much anywhere, including the beach and the main street, and b) you apparently cannot smoke inside any hotel within the city or state limits or something.

So, Pennsylvania? Rhode Island? Delaware? Somewhere fabulous on LI? Where can we go within 4 hours of NYC that's got a real town worth spending some time in and has a reasonable supply of house rentals?

Help get us outta here!

blisterpack — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:56:32 -0800

I'm looking for travel destinations within a day's drive of Montreal. I'm sure a similar question has been asked before, but my needs are specific...

My wife and I live in Montreal. We wanted to go on a short vacation (2-4) days in New York City, but that's a bit too expensive for us. Can you recommend another fun town/city to go to?

We've ruled out for various reasons:
Toronto
Ottawa
Boston
Chicago

We're looking to hang out, walk around, shop, hike, go to museums, whatever.

This place would ideally be within a half-day's or so commute (we can rent
a car or take bus/train).

My questions:
1) One place we're thinking of visiting is Hudson, New York. Can anyone recommend this place?
2) What are some alternatives? To give you an idea, we really liked Burlington, Vermont.

Cheap hotel tips appreciated.

Thanks!

Dress the 28-year-old grad student.

zeek321 — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 07:25:27 -0800

Where should I be shopping for clothes? 28-year-old straight guy. Long, thin torso; long arms; wide shoulders; ~5'11''; ~165 lbs; USA; East coast/access to NY; athletic and muscled but borderline thin; and a graduate student budget. Clothing has been the bane of my existence for a very long time. I'll spare you the back story. In any case, I spend most of my time slouched in front of a computer, and I can get away with being an unshaven, sweat-shirted mess. That's both because of the culture here and because I'm relatively good looking.

But, for work, campus, and nightlife, I'd like to look a little bit nicer, even a lot nicer (because I think I could pull it off if I tried), but without looking too stiff, and without looking like I'm trying too hard. I feel like it would make me more comfortable and the people around me more comfortable. I think everything hangs funny on me because of my body shape, but that's probably my problem. (Many people have commented that I look like a sculpture when I'm naked, and that it's totally unapparent with my clothing on. See top again for body description.) Also, most of the people around me are a few years younger, and I don't want to dress too old in order to keep up the rapport. (That being said, I try to date people my age or a little older.)

I hate hipsters, cynicism, sarcasm, angst, and drinking the kool-aid. But irony, post-postmodern [sic] and "meta" anything is welcome in small doses. I want to project a friendly, approachable, effortless, laid-back competence, with a bit of an edgy edge, and I really, really don't want to look like I'm trying too hard or trying to be stylish.

I shave once or twice a week, and I'm hoping I can put stuff together that can handle that look. Can any of the above work a little bit rumpled? When I don't shave, I look edgy or gross, depending on unknown factors. When I do shave I look super-clean-cut and even baby-faced, though with a strong jaw.

(I tend to shop at express men's and banana republic, just to give a sense of where I'm going right now. I pretty much own only t-shirts, sweatshirts, and jeans. I'm on a budget, but I'm willing to spend good money on durable clothing that won't go out of style.)

What should I wear? Where should I look for ideas? (What are some good first steps because, clearly, I'm trying too hard and I have an unapproachable ideal in my head--and that's why I default to t-shirts and jeans.)

We've got a full tank of gas, two cats in carriers, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

Shepherd — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 13:38:19 -0800

Ramblin' up from Georgia to Vermont from March 26-28 with a new wife, two cats, and minimal luggage. So this is a two-pronged question: first, what do you recommend as a nice scenic fun route with minimal leave-the-car requirements, and second, how do you deal with two cats in one car for three days? Will motels be a problem with animals? Do we need to dope them to the gills, and does that pose a health risk? Which routes are nicest, considering that we can't really leave the cats in the car while we go spelunking or whatnot? What do you recommend for (nutritious, tasty, not too expensive) road eatin'?

I'm aware there are a few East Coast road trip suggestions already in AskMe, but we've got the added wrinkle of having pets in the car.

Our eventual destination is Canada, permanently (I'm a Canuck, she's an American) so there will be no return trip, if that matters.

Any/all suggestions on how to survive a cat-laden road trip, and to maximize our "honeymoon", are welcome!

The gift that stops giving not long after being received.

doift — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 12:15:18 -0800

Giftfilter: What are your favorite consumables that are only available in NYC/on the East Coast? My sister, who is trying to own fewer things, has requested a Christmas present that can be used up. She lives in the western U.S. and I live in Brooklyn, so I'm looking for foods and other consumable things that aren't readily available where she is. I'll be buying the gift at least 4 days before Christmas and taking it on the plane with me, so it needs to last at least that long and be able to withstand a flight, though I'll be checking a bag so liquids should be ok. Price range around $30, per our family gift-exchange rules.

Her tastes are pretty eclectic in terms of food and entertainment: she likes most sweets and junk foods, though she's somewhat health conscious and doesn't drink alcohol. My fallback gift plan is some Peanut Chews and a Netflix gift certificate, but surely I can do better than that.

Differences between the midwest and the eastcoast?

bobdylanforever — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:57:30 -0800

My mother says I'm "too midwestern" to move to Boston. What does this mean? I'm thinking about moving to Boston (there's a particular grad school/job I'm very interested in located there) and I've lived all my life in fairly diverse suburbs of Chicago and spent my college career in Wisconsin. When I told my mother this, she expressed that I'm "too midwestern" and would probably be unhappy. She started talking about how different my ideology/outlook on life is than your typical East Coaster.
Now, I'm aware that there are some differences between the Midwest and the East Coast (I'm also aware of the fact that I'm asking a question on mefi in regards to something my mother said...maybe it IS time to move to the East Coast...) but I don't have a clear idea of how Midwesterners and East coasters differ ideologically or what cultural differences there are that would really put a damper on my spirits. Any insights?

What's weird and fun and delicious on the East Coast?

killerinsideme — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 11:29:43 -0800

ROAD TRIP!!!!! Philadelphia to Atlanta and back in about 10 days for a couple in their thirties with no kids. You've told me what to bring the people we visit, now tell me where to go! The Philly to Atlanta leg is Rt. 81 S to Chattanooga then Rt. 75 S to Atlanta, returning via 85 N to Richmond then 95N to Philly. I went to college in Nashville and lived in Atlanta for several years after that, but he's never even been south of Washington, D.C.! I've checked through the ask archives, but I still think it's worth asking the question.

Our taste is, in a word, quirky. We also like food, and the bf especially needs to try some down-home Southern cooking. Currently on the list are Dog Days Peach and Sunflower Festival near Winchester, VA, Rock City near Chattanooga, TN, Fort Sanders Yacht Club (classic arcade games!) in Knoxville, TN, Lexington Barbeque #1 in Lexington, NC and probably the Sliding Rock just SW of Asheville, NC in the Pisgah National Forest. I'm also digging up some offbeat places to check out on my favorite travel website Roadside America, but, while I'm finding lots of goofy photo ops ("Here we are next to the World's Largest Chest of Drawers!"), we'd like to find more things to experience, as opposed to things to look at.

Whaddya say? What can't we miss? And please don't let the proposed route deter you - we're not looking to break any speed records here and we'd be happy to detour for something local and unique. In fact, that wouldn't even be a detour.

4 day road trip on the US' East Coast: What to see, where to stay, what to eat?

unsupervised — Tue, 20 May 2008 07:23:32 -0800

Roadtrip along the US' East Coast from New York to Port Canveral, FL with 4 days to make the drive. Where should we stop along the way to enjoy ourselves? It's just my wife and myself, so there's no children to consider. The roadtrip is from July 17th-20th (considering leaving after work on the 16th to give us even more time). We'll be taking I-95 down and it'll take us through New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia & Florida.

This isn't the first time we'll be making the drive but it is the first time we're stopping along the way for anything more than a place to sleep.

We've never really gotten to enjoy North Carolina, South Carolina or Georgia so our plans are to make that the focus of most of our free time there, stopping in Raleigh, NC, Charleston, SC and Savannah, GA, but we can easily be swayed elsewhere (although Savannah is calling us).

We'd also like to end up within 4-5 hours of Port Canaveral on the final night, the 19th, so we can get to our cruise relatively early. We've picked St. Augustine, FL, mainly because it seems central to a bunch of places we plan to hit up from Roadfood. We're certainly not tied down to the place so other recommendations are welcome.

We're always on the lookout for good eats, preferably with a local flavor, but it's nice to have somewhere to explore when the eating's done.

So where should two hungry travelers expand their horizons along the eastern seaboard?

Hobo dreams

doift — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 16:39:17 -0800

Please recommend me some day/weekend trip destinations from NYC, especially if they involve trains and don't require renting a car. My husband grew up in relatively car-centric, train-free areas, and now that we live in the East he really wants to go on a long train ride and see the rolling countryside, etc. Being more experienced in the ways of train travel than he is, I pointed out that his original suggestion (just get on any random train and ride it all day) is boring and a bad idea. But it would be nice to have some Saturday or whole-weekend trip ideas in reserve, so we're looking for destinations.

We like: food, museums, movies, theater, interesting shopping, quiet beaches, interesting scenery, longish unstrenuous walks, going to states that we haven't been to yet (which includes most of them), activities and amusements that are usually intended for children, and not spending very much money.

We don't much like: when walking becomes hiking, froofy B&Bs, having to rent a car.

Where should we go? Where should we stay? What should we do?

Suggestions For A Muscovite Driving in America

General Zubon — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:08:15 -0800

Russian friends loose in the USA ... help me suggest stops & things to see as they drive from New York to Miami. A good friend of mine and his wife (both from Moscow) are visiting the USA at the end of March. This is not their first time in the USA, but they have decided for the first time to rent a car and drive from one end of the east coast to the other. They will be leaving from New York City and then making the long trek down to Miami, FL. They plan on doing this in four short days. Is there anything they should definitely hit on the way down? Cool towns to stay in, nice tourist-y things, stuff a Russian shouldn't miss on a sight-seeing tour of the east coast USA?

I've thought of this stuff: Savannah GA, Asheville NC, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Rock City GA, and, of course, a stop in Washington DC. I'm in Orlando so they will also be stopping here. Beyond that I'm coming up short. Any other suggestions would be fantastic. Things more specific then town or city names are certainly welcome.

Thanks in advance!

Where can I beach-camp on the East Coast in March?

ann_disaster — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:35:12 -0800

I'd like to get a little sun and sand during my spring break -- minus the party scene. Can anyone suggest a good beach camping spot on the East Coast? My school break is March 10-16, and I'm kicking around the idea of catching a flight south, renting a car and pitching a tent by the ocean. I did see a previous beach camping post but I'm not really looking for camping tips -- more for suggestions for spots beyond Tortuga and Assateague. Maybe in the Carolinas? I know it's not particularly toasty there this time of year, but I live in Boston. Anything above 30 degrees would be a welcome change.

My ideal spot would be:

1) On the ocean
2) Not a super-developed Disneyland of a campground -- I'm fine with primitive, and equally fine with water/showers. State and national parks are always good
3) Sort of close (2-3 hour drive?) from an airport

Is that asking too much? I'm just itchy to get out of this damned chilly city.

Green Tortoise-like but on the East Coast?

lorimer — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 05:17:12 -0800

Is there anything like Green Tortoise that has East Coast and/or Eastern Canada trips? By "like" GT, I mean you sleep in beds on the bus as it drives overnight, then you wake up at your next destination in the morning and can explore all day. I've found many bus-trip companies that are not like that (you sleep in motels) -- and I know I could assemble a quasi-GT trip (more expensively!) with individual overnight Greyhound legs. I just wanted to make sure I'm not missing any real GT-equivalents.

(GT has only one east coast route, three trips a year from NYC to New Orleans, and even that isn't a sure thing... I booked one of those last year, then it got cancelled because not enough people were booked! They were fast & nice with the refund, though, and I probably will try booking it again this year.)

I know GT does 14-day trips from one coast to the other, but I couldn't be away from regular work for that long -- and those trips also would cost more since I'd have to fly either to or from the west coast.

Think of her as a more judgemental Aunt Bea.

fujiko — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 02:57:38 -0800

Where could I find a beautiful beach on the Eastern seaboard with bland-as-hell life? So, my mom is a super patient lady that can deal with anyone. She wants to take her mom to the beach because the woman has never been there. But, now that I've thought about it, I'm not sure the beach is such a great idea.

Grandma is an old school religious lady, and she's the quietly judging kind. I am talking strict, down-the-line living. She does not relax in any conventional manner that does not include gardening, quilting or AM gospel radio stations. You get the picture. However, when I think of the beach I think of the following awesome things:

● random nudity
● partially nude men
● skimpy swimsuits
● alcohol
● expensive dining

At grandma's beach, ideally none of these things will be there.

I thought about taking her somewhere that was just geared to a much older clientele. But, having just went on a multi-beach vacation last summer, I know that even in older, less touristy areas there seems to be a flow of red wine at every turn and café. This will seriously upset her. Her church abstains from even taking the blood of Christ - juice or wine - during the Easter holiday.

So, this is what I need to know: Is there anywhere on the Eastern seaboard between, say, the states of Maryland and the Carolinas that has a beautiful beach with no gay community, no party community and no young people? I thought about Assateague Island, but I'm not letting this marr my visit to the native ponies.

I know that this is completely stupid, but I am not going to sit through a fog of disapproval for a week straight. I can get back to my recreational nudity on my own time.

Find My Solitude

jasondigitized — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 09:29:13 -0800

Solitude on the Atlantic Coast or Gulf of Mexico? I am looking to get away for about 4 days sometime this month for some R&R by myself. I would prefer to be by the water, away from crowds, maybe in a hammock or sitting by a pool. I will spend most of my time reading, writing, napping, and maybe walking. I wouldn't mind some healthy food. A massage would be a bonus. It could be at a hidden away resort, a cabin, or a spa. Price isn't really an issue. I would prefer to be within a few hours drive to a major airport. I am just looking for somewhere to chill out and find some much needed solitude. Where should I go?

I hope their first child be a masculine child

joaniemcchicken — Mon, 21 May 2007 09:35:01 -0800

I have just been "schooled" by my Long Island in laws about what I am expected to give, in cash and gifts, for my neice's upcoming wedding. I was apalled, and am wondering if what they keep calling, "wedding protocol" is TRUE or some white trash, goombah way to get guests to finance the wedding. Background: Irish, Catholic, grew up in Bay Ridge with Italians. Very class and money conscious, but not very classy. They informed my SO and I that it is long time wedding protocol to: 1: Give an engagement gift from a place they are registerred at. 2: Give a CASH gift equalling the amount of the cost of our dinner (over $100) and, a WEDDING gift, also from the registry. My mother-in-law, who is 86, in ill health and living on a shoe string has been told that she should buy the bride and groom an entire place setting which comes to $800. ASIDE from the $100 cash gift and the engagement gift.

I learned that they are planning on inviting 400 guests, and that the cost of the wedding will be covered by the expected cash gift from each person.

I have been told this is customary, and all my apoplectic looks and the ire of my SO and my mother-in-law have not CLUED them in yet that this seems classless, greedy and not at ALL real wedding protocol.

Am I wrong? I have never, in any part of the US I have lived, and in my 50 plus years, heard of ANY of these wedding "etiquettes." If this is protocol for some tiny part of the US, please tell me, and even if it is, please help me craft a suitable reply that will let them know what I think of these bizarre, mafioso kind of wedding expectations.

i want outta here

andywolf — Sun, 13 Aug 2006 16:38:55 -0800

I'm thinking of moving from seattle, going out east. My initial thoughts are of Burlington Vermont, but my company also has a branch in Buffalo New York. Can anyone give me an idea of what the cities are like/have to offer? I also work as an EMT (any idea on the EMS services in those areas?) and will be going on to be an RN. So ideas on decent school options/length of residency? Any other suggestions city wise? I don't want to live in too big of a town. I want to be somewhere that I can visit New York City and Boston fairly easily. Somewhere "politically progressive".

East Coast vs West Coast stereotypes

qvantamon — Tue, 04 Apr 2006 07:29:10 -0800

Can you give me some stereotypes on East Coast vs West Coast differences? I'm not an American. In about every media I've had contact (Metafilter included), there is some stereotyping of Blue State vs Red State, or North vs South, or Urban America vs Rural America (Yeah, I know most of these overlap a lot). And yeah, much of it is offensive.

But stereotyping among the Urban, Blue State population is either rarer, or subtler. About the only things I get about this is that West Coasters are much more informal than New Englanders, and that people in the West Coast tend to use their cars a lot more than New Yorkers, and everywhere but California is damn cold.

So, can you give me some stereotypes about these places? What do New Englanders think of Californians? What about Seattleites and New Yorkers?

Tell Me Where To Vacate?

RJ Reynolds — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 16:40:50 -0800

Christmas Vacation Rentals: I need an island. Or, maybe a peninsula. Or fine, just some peace and quiet. Anyway. I got a week off around Christmas, and I'm obsessed with renting a house for a week or a long weekend. I've been looking for days, and everything I can find is like a horrible nightmare of new development and suburban sprawl. Desires: Must be within a (very very long) day's drive of New York City--I'm thinking South Carolina to Maine, though Georgia is possible--should be on the ocean, should be isolated, and definitely not surrounded by golf courses and condos, but somewhere weirder, more interesting. And I'm not at all looking for a palace, though I wouldn't mind a little luxury, either. But shacktastic? Sure, I'd love to get all Unabomber!

So: Been anywhere interesting like that? Care to point me in the right direction?

Working and Commuting in New England

Anonymous — Sun, 23 Jan 2005 09:50:57 -0800

One of us needs to be in Providence, RI. One in Bedford, MA. Is the commute doable from one to the other? Are there good places to live in between? We're 20something liberals, but we're okay with interesting suburbs.

(Posting anon to preserve pseudononymity.)

East coast vacation ideas?

biffa — Tue, 02 Mar 2004 08:01:50 -0800

My boss is looking for somewhere on the US East Coast to stay for a holiday for the week from 8th -15th April (ie over Easter). They fly into Dulles and have to be in Charlottesville at some point, but want a week somewhere picturesque and out of the way with fairly upmarket accomodation. They were looking at the Sanderling in Duck, N.Carolina to give you an idea of what they're after but its a bit steep for the days they want. Any recommendations for somewhere to stay, prices around $200 a night for a double (with a view) would be appreciated.