Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with fun

What to do in Montreal?

GlassHeart — Sun, 12 May 2013 23:36:32 -0800

I'll be in Montreal and Longueuil, Quebec, Canada for two weeks. What budget-friendly things should I do there? In a few days I'll be heading off, by train, to Montreal and Longueuil, Quebec, Canada and am not sure what, other than chill with my family, to do there.

I want to avoid doing costly activities and don't plan on spending more than $1000 CAD (I'll likely be spending much less than that).

I'll be spending most of my time in Longueuil, but should also be spending much time in Montreal.

Though I can speak French, I'm not fluent in it. But that shouldn't be much of a problem since I'll be with bilingual family members of mine who can act as translators for me when in very French places (supposedly most of Longueuil is very French) which means I can go pretty much anywhere without worrying much about language barriers. So please don't limit yourself to recommending very English places.

Questions regarding Montreal and Longueuil:

What are some good liquor stores there that sell beers such as Hoegaarden, Duvel and Holsten Festbock? Is Holsten Festbock, a great, cheap German beer (IMO; many beer connoisseurs would scoff at me for saying so), easily found in Montreal?

What are some good vegan restaurants there (I'm not vegan, but my partner, who'll be there with me, is)?

What are some interesting Quebec-exclusive products I should buy there?

What are some must-eat-at, budget-friendly, non-vegan restaurants there (anyone here been to Restaurant Lou Nissart? It's one restaurant I'm considering dining at)?

What are some must-see things there (I hope to snap lots of interesting photos there)?

What are some places that sell high-end colognes like Zino Davidoff or Rochas Man (I want to smell good while there)?

Questions regarding trains:

Do you handle your checked baggage yourself, or does someone else do it for you?

I'll be transferring trains on the way to and on the way back from Montreal . . . do you have to do much walking when transferring trains?

What's it like taking a train across Canada (the train ride will be extremely long and I don't really know what to expect on it. This is the first time I'll be traveling alone and am scared I'll lose my baggage—something which would be a huge bummer)?

Where exactly on the train does your checked baggage go?

Would it be stupid of me to bring expensive (closed) semi-portable headphones with me on the train (I've cheap, high-quality "beater" headphones that I could bring with me. But they're open, leak a ton of sound and I'm quite certain they'd annoy people on the train which would prevent me from getting use out of them)? Would there be much risk of them breaking on the train ride? I fear I'll be bored out of my mind if I don't bring headphones with me . . .

Help me make a birthday weekend in NYC amazing!!

pearlybob — Wed, 01 May 2013 15:23:41 -0800

I'm taking my daughter to NYC for her 13th bday gift around the end of June. She is going to be so excited!! I'm trying to plan some great things for a Mom and a 13 yr old to do but I'm getting overwhelmed.... We will do a broadway show for sure...but any other suggestions? Help me decide what is really cool and worth doing and what would be just "meh". She loves the arts and creating and cooking and falls on the nerdy, quirky, funny side of life. She's perfect!! We will be there 3 nights and 4 days. Staying in SoHo but can Uber Car pretty much anywhere. I also have a very dear friend who lives there and will be with us to help navigate. He loves my daughter and will be up for anything but has no clue what 13 yr old girls of her ilk are into so he hasn't been much help....Thanks all!

Baby- and family-friendly activity for 6 couples on May 5 in Seattle?

tristeza — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 19:59:28 -0800

My family is in charge of organizing an event or outing for our PEPs group on Sunday May 5 in greater Seattle. We are 6 couples with babies from 8-10 months. Ideas that aren't the zoo or aquarium? Let's assume the aquarium and zoo are out - what might you recommend for 6 couples with babies to do on a nice Sunday in Seattle (or within an hour of Seattle)?

It doesn't have to be exciting or super-creative - it could be something as simple as sitting around at a park having lunch or taking a walk around Seward Park, but I would love to hear some idea that aren't mine. Maybe there are some awesome local kid events happening that Sunday around Seattle?

We're all physically able, can walk and hike gentle grades, have a few bucks we can spend per family, and really like to actually talk to each other.

Any ideas welcome! Thanks!

What's missing on our trip to San Francisco?

abbagoochie — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 15:44:13 -0800

I'm going to SF with my partner for our first wedding anniversary - yay! We've been before and have seen some of the sights (list after the break), but are looking for things we might have missed, awesome places we haven't eaten at, great things we haven't seen, etc, so we can make the most of it. Only limiting factor: neither of us drive. So, stuff we have both seen/done etc:

-Pier 39
-Coit Tower
-Musee Mechanique and Fisherman's Wharf
-Oakland Museum of California
-Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Company
-The Clarion Alley Mural Project
-Dolores Park/Bi-Rite Creamery/Humphrey Slocombe Ice Cream
-Walked around the Mission, ate burritos at Taquiera Cancun/Walked down the Valencia corridor
-The Exploratorium
-City Lights Bookstore
-Walked around the Castro
-Walked around the Haight
-Seen the Defenestration building
-Been in the SFMoMa
-Walked around Golden Gate Park

Stuff I'm thinking of for us:

-Visiting the Computer History Museum
-Going on an Alcatraz tour
-Maybe going in the Kabuki Hot Springs (will we be allowed in with tattoos?)
-Maybe taking a day trip out to Yosemite (is it worth it for three hours?)

Anything else I'm missing? I feel like there's more but I just don't know about it.

Extra info: We are both early thirties, able bodied and relatively fit, no kids. We have four days.

Thanks in advance for any tips!

advice for a newbie soap maker

spunweb — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:23:44 -0800

I just made my first batch of soap. Now what? I just made my first batch of successful soap! IT WAS AMAZING.

I have no idea why -- for some reason this is the hobby/craft that I've found most satisfying thus far. I got Basic Soapmaking and am looking for other resources, particularly regarding recipe suggestions, safety tips, and techniques. The forums I've seen so far have seemed to be really out of date, and while there are a few blogs (I found a great one on beer soap! What won't they think of next??) I've been stymied in finding, like, a forum or something like that. Even the last Ask on this is from 2008. :(

Where else should I be looking?

Questions I'm particularly concerned about:
1. What are some safeguards I should take when making cold process soaps when I have a cat? I figured keeping her out of the room while making the soap and cleaning up would be enough, but should I do more?

2. What are the recipe differences between solid shampoo bars and soap?

3. What are some absolute no-nos for soap making?

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Fun Springtime Movies!

Mrs. Pterodactyl — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 06:48:32 -0800

Looking for a fun spring movie to watch on Easter. Every Easter we have a delicious brunch and watch a movie and we’d like some suggestions. It should be something light and fun but not stupid; we’ve often gone with musicals, Pixar movies, or something with Audrey Hepburn. Things that have worked well in the past include My Fair Lady, Up, and Roman Holiday. For logistical reasons, whatever movie we pick either needs to be available to rent off Amazon instant video or to stream on Netflix. Our plan this year is to watch Ratatouille but we’re looking for other suggestions as well. Thanks!

Fitness with a twist

sendai sleep master — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 11:33:29 -0800

I am moving to Boston in the near future and I am looking to find some form of interesting/unusual athletic activity. At the moment I have a fairly routine lifting/running workout routine and I'm looking to add some spice to it by joining a class or activity. The caveat is that I'm looking for something interesting, something with some character. Maybe a semi-obscure martial art or similar activity (when I thought I might be moving to Chicago I had my eye on Forteza fitness) but also maybe something that might be the Boston equivalent of things discussed in this previous question.

Really I'm already getting bored with my current routine of bland workout and I think, having recently acquired regular employment, that it might benefit me to get excited about what I'm doing to get in shape so that I don't forgo it after long days of work.

Please, hivemind, help me add some uniqueness, theater, and pyrotechnics to my fitness!

Recently diagnosed with WDCDS and not sure how to move forward

Stan Grossman — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 11:23:14 -0800

Through various relationships I've come to realize I do in fact have WDCDS-formally known as White Dude Can't Dance Syndrome. Symptoms include a lack of rhythm, eventually manifesting in a complete lack of dancing.

I'm a mid 20s guy that hangs out at a lot of bars, and on top of that wedding season is coming up. I've known several woman over the past couple years that want someone they can dance with and have fun. This is not my Modus Operandi. I like to have fun, but when it comes to dancing I lock up and refuse- I assume due to fear of embarrassment. Alcohol does not help; no matter how many drinks I've had I will remain as stubborn as a mule.

Does anyone have any tips and/or resources on how I can put some dance ability in my back pocket? I'm under the impression if I can just figure out how to dance to an upbeat song and a slow song, I'll be set. Not looking for anything too fancy. I think my goal is more to go unnoticed (Ie. Not embarrass myself).

Some potentially pertinent background: I literally have trouble just clapping in beat to a song.

NYC for a Not-Cool-Anymore Dad and His Daughter

chococat — Thu, 14 Mar 2013 21:52:55 -0800

Really excited to bring my daughter to NYC for her first time next weekend. I haven't been for a few years and never with one of my kids (she's 15) so this trip poses some new challenges. I want her to have a blast, as I have every time I've been there, so I thought I'd see if anyone had any suggestions. Oh, and we get along great and she's awesome and I love her! I'd be happy just walking around; going to book stores and record stores and catching a few bands, but this is her trip and I want her to love it. I'm not sure how much I should plan ahead. Also we are on a bit of a budget.
We're going to walk all over the place, and for sure do the MOMA and Guggenheim, but aside from that we're open. We'll probably do a touristy Empire State Building kind of thing at some point.
I'm not really a theatre person, but I thought it might be cool for her to see something...I'd heard Book of Mormon was good so I looked into that and of course it's the most popular thing ever with huge waiting lists so I guess that's out. I know they do a daily lottery so maybe we'll try that. Is that TCKTS booth in Times Square still a thing that people do?
She'd love to see a TV show taping, I'm sure, but SNL and everything else I've looked into have a minimum age of 16.
Aside from concerts, is there any smallish place where a 15 year old can see bands? In Toronto it's pretty much if a place has food, you can get in if you're under 19 and sometimes bars have all-ages things in the day.
I don't even know where to go anymore for cool stuff, clothes-wise. I'm so old. I was just going to walk around St. Marks Place, that kind of thing. Is that even a thing anymore? She's very particular and hates shopping for clothes (as do I) but I know she'd be happy to come home with a unique find.
Any tips on cool, smallish, local, not extremely expensive or touristy places to eat would be awesome. We can splurge a bit on dinner a few times, if there's somewhere awesome. We're staying at the Gild Hall, downtown, Wall St.-ish.
That's all I can think of. Thanks!

Music teaching with rebellious children

yoHighness — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 09:37:10 -0800

You are a music teacher who knows how to make lessons fun and involving for a young person in a rebellious frame of mind. I visit a brother/sister pair every week to teach them piano for half an hour each.

Their mother approached me at a gig of one of my bands. They were looking for a piano teacher who gets kids to "have fun with music" instead of "just practising scales" (parents' music teachers would hit their fingers when they played scales wrong, I guess this explains their unconventional approach). I do have a formal music education if not any teaching education, but it went great for about six months.

The girl, 14, had some difficulty with fundamentals of music, but seems glad to have a teacher. She could maybe spend a little more time than five minutes a day but she started making it a positive habit for herself, and really took to it every day.

The boy, 10, can play and sing by ear and has a totally natural pulse, but he's also indifferent about having a teacher.
What worked well so far were ear training games, rhythm games; bringing in diverse instruments; recording (unlisted) clips on youtube. Anything involving the laptop really, as we are extremely into computers.

But what to do when a talented kid has no patience for practising anything he can't play right away? When he feels like it he'll suddenly play with a strong beat, even doing mad syncopation. I do manage to level with him sort of from person to person but not often enough.

Recently he's been entirely listless. The parents of the boy say he currently "sabotages" many of his activities by acting super dispassionate, which is all part of a natural rebellious phase at this age. I get that, because I was exactly the same as a kid, and rebelled so successfully that it took me until adult life to make music my own thing. But maybe there is something I could do to help this little guy realise the opportunity he has now, with his available talent.

I and the parents need to get our act together in goal setting and logging, as at the moment all he's learning is getting things to slide. Is there something such as "memrise" but for music? So far I have a text file with his "repertoire" and lesson log on dropbox. Attempts to get him to keep papers with repertoire and lesson logs (disguised as games) failed.

I need help on structuring lessons, being more engaging, and repertoire that'll interest kids. What kind of songs do 10 year olds really go for? Tunes from "The Singing Sherlock"? Are there books with CD's or online playback which the boy and the mother could practice together?

Apologies for length. Thanks very much for any insights from more experienced Mefi music teachers.

What podcasts can I listen to over the entire week?

kanata — Sat, 23 Feb 2013 08:19:50 -0800

I like podcasts. I have ones that I listen to on Friday, Sunday, and Monday but not for the other days of the week. Do you have any recommendations for ones to fill those days? I like to listen to podcasts at night and am having a hard time finding any that I like that come out regularly. I like comedy podcasts and serious podcasts with a comedic element. Do you know any that take my tastes into account?

Every Friday I listen to The Mental Illness Happy Hour and love the discussion of mental health with a dash of comedy to make it awkward.

On Sunday I listen to Jordan, Jesse, Go!

Mondays are for Stop Podcasting Yourself.

I occasionally listen to Judge John Hodgeman if I am really bored but would love other humourous podcasts for the rest of the time.

NOTE: I've tried the rest of the Maximum Fun network and don't really like them.

What I like in these podcasts is two friends shooting the shit. I much prefer Stop Podcasting Yourself over JJGO! as they are more laid back. Since I listen to these at night I don't like a lot of loudness or too much music in them (JJGO! is pushing it). Mentalpod is the right amount of seriousness and comedy that I can take.

What makes a conference memorable and fun?

nathaole — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 08:30:21 -0800

I would like to hear about the little things that really stood out and details you still remember to this day from conferences or conventions in any field. I am planning a small conference for about 110 people in July. This group is a national organization that meets annually in a different city each year.

The planning commitee has collectively ticked all the major boxes and have figured out the big things like budget, venues, catering, website, schedule, speakers, volunteers, and publicity. In the early planning stages, I saw this question, which was very helpful.

Now, I have some wiggle room in the budget, and I'd like to hear about things that have worked well for others to create a relaxed and memorable event with feeling too forced.

Likeable characters with lives I might want to live vicariously

lollusc — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 17:38:30 -0800

I've been reading a lot of bleak books lately, often with antiheroes. Now I would like the opposite of that. I don't mind if some bad things happen, of course, or if there's conflict - usually that's kind of necessary for a good story. But I would like it if at least one of the main characters were someone I would want to be friends with. And if some of the stuff that they do or that happens in their lives makes me smile. I like mystery novels (esp "cosies" like Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Dorothy Sayers, but also e.g. Laurie R King, Ruth Rendell, Elizabeth George, Patricia Cornwell) some sci-fi (e.g. Iain Banks, Charles Stross, Neil Stephenson, Vernor Vinge, Dan Simmons) and otherwise mainly non-genre stuff. Not usually a fan of historical fiction, but I've read a few that I enjoyed. I rarely like fantasy (exceptions are Terry Pratchett, Charles Stross's Laundry series, Lois Bujold, Neil Gaiman), am not a fan of thrillers and I've never really met a romance novel I liked. "Chick-lit" is okay if a romance isn't the only plot point. Young adult fiction is fine too.

Bonus difficulty: I would like to borrow these books from my local library. It does get new books on a good schedule, so being recently published isn't a problem, but it is still quite small and doesn't tend to have little-known books. So things that have been popular in book clubs or at least where you know one or two other people who have read it are more likely to be available.

Viral, Art, or otherwise "Cool" Video Project

mistermc — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 09:19:31 -0800

My creative brain is itching to try my hand at recording and making a short video of sorts ... and I'm looking for ideas! Here's what you need to know:

- I have a DSLR with a 50mm and 18-250mm lens
- I'm not promoting any product or idea (though if someone has a good enough idea, I'm open)
- I live in Los Angeles, urban setting
- I'm not afraid to talk to people or use random people off the street - if I believe in what I'm doing
- I have some budget should it be needed for something

What's the point you ask? There is no point. I just want to do it for fun.

I once recorded a video using a small canon attached to a poll that faced me as I walked around a park. It offered a neat perspective to viewers. It was fun to make and the people I showed it seemed to enjoy watching it.

Any and all ideas of what I could go out and shoot and produce for a short video are welcome. If something sticks, I'd be happy to share the end result.

My Google Fu has failed on this lyric

Ruki — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 21:15:24 -0800

I can't believe I'm wasting a question on this, but searching the internet has failed to give me a definitive answer. In the song Some Nights by Fun, which is the proper lyric? Is it "When I hear a song, it sounds like this one?" or "When I hear a song, it sounds like a swan?" I would very much like it to be the latter, but I cannot tell for sure, and looking up the lyrics online gives me both. Stupid late night ponderings! This is why I should not go on YouTube past my bedtime!

Reccomend a novel for my beloved girlfriend.

Erred — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 12:26:18 -0800

My girlfriend told me that recently she has become sad and preoccupied with death. She often finds her mind drifting and starts to ruminate about her life stresses and sometimes death. Please reccomend novels to spark a love of reading and hopefully give her a distraction for when these bouts of worry surface. Preferably novels that are fun, with plots to get lost in or carried away with, and not too heavy or serious. I love my girlfriend dearly and, apart from all my other advice, suggested she tried reading fiction whenever she gets sad and starts worrying about death and her day to day life problems. She doesn't read at all and told me she stopped reading when she was young after she read a number of books in succession reccomended to her by a friend all dealing with really depressing topics. I'd like some reccomendations for a 19yr girl new to reading that are a distraction from death. Anything fun, exciting, funny, exhilarating or (possibly) thought-provoking, great plots and characters that make you want to keep reading but nothing too literary, complicated or heavy or depressing. These novels should be rewarding without a lot of work and enjoyable throughout. I want to get her to fall in love with reading as well as just solve this, hopefully temporary, problem. If it helps she's a very sweet girl, not at all intellectual, and she is emotional and enjoys being sentimental from time to time (but maybe that could be a trap, as I would prefer these reccomendations to lighten the spirit and captivate and charm).
Thanks so much

Fun before I'm old

lhude sing cuccu — Wed, 02 Jan 2013 18:04:00 -0800

What are some interesting long-term programs (in the US) I could do over a semester or summer? Free or stipend-ed preferred. I'm graduating next January with a degree in Jewish Studies, and I want to take some time off before I go to grad school.

I'm thinking things like summer camp or educational programs. I don't want touring or work-type programs like AmeriCorps. I'm going to apply for jobs and internships too, but after having tried that in nyc a few months ago, I am not expecting anything on that front.

Some things I found include:

BCI @ American Jewish University : Kind of a Jewish summer camp for ages 18-26. It's only $250 and looks pretty interesting.

Hacker School in NYC : free 3-month programming workshop, gives scholarships to women participants...only downside is you have to actually know how to program, not just want to learn it....

Windells Adult Skateboard Camp : It looks fun but it also looks like literally 99.99999% testosterone-raging guys, and I am a small unassuming 22 year old girl. It also seems kinda short and it's about $2,000.

Anyway, are there any more programs like these? I would be open to any suggestions, but I'm especially interested in Jewish studies/stuff, educational programs especially sociology but anything really, any kind of creative stuff, LGBT/women's studies stuff, and if you can help me find any kind of skateboarding program/camp geared toward women (not girls) I'll give you 10 million extra points.

(And I don't think I could apply for a job at a summer camp, because I feel like you had to have actually gone to summer camp as a kid to get such a job???)

thanks!

What do I do with myself?

Dilemma — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 20:26:20 -0800

Every once in a while, I find myself alone and bored with nothing to do. Normally I have plenty of friends and an active social life, but in times like right now, for instance, when I'm away from home visiting family, and everyone I know in this city is out of town for the holidays, and lots of things like dance classes are closed for the holidays, I don't know what to do with myself. I can stay entertained reading and stuff by myself for a couple days, and doing the family things, but I get bored and want to go out drinking or dancing or general carousing. I'm reluctant to do this by myself because a) I'm female and I hate all the catcalls and guys hitting on me every time I go out by myself (and I'm in a relationship so I'm not looking to meet guys), plus I'm in kind of a bad neighborhood so there is a safety issue, and b) I don't think it would be fun to just go sit in a bar by myself. Any ideas, or things you do in this situation? Especially ladies? (I'm in San Francisco at the moment, staying in my friend's place while he's away for the holidays.)

Applied Auntie Skills 101: Summer intensive

embrangled — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 16:49:11 -0800

I have a week to hang out with my 3-year old nephew. Yay! What things can I do to make some fun shared memories, cement my status as an Awesome Auntie and lay the groundwork for interesting Skype chats after I go home? He was under two last time we met so he doesn't really remember me. We do Skype once a month or so, but it's hard to hold his attention and sometimes he asks his Mum who I am. This is understandable of course - he's only three! - but I would like to use the brief time I have with him to form a stronger bond.

We will be in the non-Western country where his parents live as expats, which means I won't be able to take him out on adventures the way I would back home. Fun things we can do at home or while out and about with his parents are best. General 3-year-old wrangling advice is also welcome. Help me be the best long-distance auntie ever!

What the hell just happened?

cincinnatus c — Wed, 19 Dec 2012 16:00:21 -0800

What are some of the light-hearted, bizarre news stories of the past twelve months? For a Christmas quiz, I'm trying to get something for each month. September, there was the woman who painted over Jesus. For this month, Darwin the Ikea monkey. But I'm stuck on some of the other months. This is in the UK, so ideally things we would've heard of over here.

L is for Lonely, if nobody shows up

not that girl — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 10:57:23 -0800

How to make an open house party enough fun that people will show up for another one? In December, my family threw an afternoon open house where we served a wide variety of fancy store-bought cookies as well as tea and coffee. We called it "C is for Cookie." It was well-attended. I don't usually throw parties, but some friends and I got a running joke going about me continuing to do these things: D is for Donut next month, E is for Eclair the month after that, F is for Fudge, and so on. I was just kidding about it, but a party-loving friend talked me into at least trying to keep the ball rolling.

I like the idea--this was a very low-stress party to plan and host, and people enjoyed the playful theme. C is for Cookie was a sit-around-and-chat party. Attendance got a boost due to the recent death of my mother, and people wanting to come to show their support for me. I'm not sure how many we'd have gotten otherwise.

What can I do in the future--besides the tasty treats and the good coffee--to make an open-house style party enough fun that people will come back for it? Guests would be likely to include both children and adults. It seems unlikely that we could plan an all-at-once group activity, but are there optional activities we could set up that would be intriguing ("I really liked the decorate-your-own donut machine...I wonder what not that girl's got up her sleeve this month? I must go there to find out!")?

Party throwers, give me the benefit of your wisdom.

Oh yeah, it runs on the world's most powerful graphics chip: Imagination!

dinosaurprincess — Sun, 16 Dec 2012 11:58:40 -0800

What are some fun daydreams I can think about to fill up long bus journeys? Hey guys! So lately I have had to take hour or two hour long bus rides quite often, and I like audiobooks and podcasts, so feel free to recommend those too, but but what I really love are fun daydreams where I can go on adventures in first person!

I have a few ones that I keep going back to (zombie apocalypses, going into space, cheesy romance ones starring me and my celebrity crushes)... But I seem to always go back to the same categories of daydreams and I would like to explore new places with my imagination! So... What are your favourite daydreams? Help entertain me on boring bus rides! :)

What are some fun conventions?

aoleary — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:03:34 -0800

What are some popular "fun" conventions or conferences? What are some conventions or conferences — maybe like TEDx or ComicCon, etc., — that are maybe either intellectual/education-oriented or fan/entertainment oriented? I am looking at all genres, because I am trying to study the kinds of programming they put together when the audience is there for fun instead of busienss. Little cons, big cons, it doesn't matter! But I need ideas! Thanks Green!

Send us on a fun mini-trip based out of Phoenix

rachaelfaith — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 16:22:11 -0800

Where should we go after a week in the Phoenix area? Us: A mid-twenties lady and her boyfriend visiting her dad in Phoenix (technically outside of the city center, more towards Chandler) for 5-6 days in mid-January, staying in his home and catching up and hanging out.

What we're seeking: A mini vacation after the time spent in his house. Could be within driving distance, maybe even a short flight away. I've done Sedona, Taliesin West, Jerome, he's done the Grand Canyon recently.

What we like: Neither of us are particularly outdoorsy, but we're not opposed to outdoor things. More like a hot springs day trip, less like a serious hiking stint. We like great food and are kind of on the lazy/indulgent side when vacationing, to be honest, so wherever we go we'd probably like a decent hotel with a cushy bed. We both need quiet recharging time after being out for a while. We're both on the nerdy side, but are plenty social. We like beer, books, video games, music, and relaxing together.

Recent successful trip synopses: Atlantic City, stayed in a nice hotel, slept in, ate at great restaurants, gambled a bit, walked the boardwalk, got dressed up, stayed up late. Philadelphia, stayed in a nice hotel, visited a lot of local foodie destinations (Reading Terminal Market! YES!), walked around a bit.

Places that came to mind are Mexico, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Denver? Tucson? More local to Phoenix is fine by me, I just don't really know what's out there that would be fun for us. Budget is a concern, but with the money we'll save by staying with my dad for a few days, we can probably swing a decent trip.

I'm guessing our mini-trip will be January 17th-20th, 2013, or thereabouts.

Where would you go? Where shall we go?

Holiday Project Time!

Ys — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 09:58:23 -0800

Hello crafty-folks! It's 2012 & once again I have realized that I have not learned to knit in time to give everyone handmade scarves for the holidays. So what new awesome projects can you suggest for holiday gift-giving? I know the question's been asked before, and I loved the ideas that were put forth last time I asked, but it's been two whole years & I would love to see even MORE cool gift-giving ideas! What creative, fun, cheap, and specifically useful projects did you all get up to last year for your gift-giving occasions?