UNH Manchester Meet-up Culture: An Area Exploration

Part of being a UNH Manchester student is the opportunity to explore the area’s diverse culture. The cities of Boston and Portsmouth are an easy day trip away, perfect for meet-ups and local activities. 
    Meetup.com is a site that enables users to search for local meet-ups within the desired distance of their zip code. Membership to the site is free, and mostly all meet-up groups do not demand member fees. Meet-up groups provide the opportunity to socialize with local people and become more involved in the community. This, and an awareness of local activities, can be very valuable to the UNHM student during and after their time here. Some examples of meet-ups near Manchester include groups for varying age groups and such hobbyist groups as the Nashua Ladies Book Club. Looking to other cities nearby broadens your decision options, Boston being notable for its many hobbyist and minority meet-ups.
    Check Facebook and other social media sites for meet-ups in the area. On Sunday, September 14, I attended a meeting in Brookline, MA, hosted by the Massachusetts branch of the Jane Austen Society of North America. The meeting featured Deb Barnum, the Coordinator for the JASNA Vermont Region, as a guest speaker on the collecting and publishing of Pride and Prejudice over the past 200 years. According to former UNH student Chelsea Cahill, “the fact that they had someone who was so passionate about the subject they were speaking of was nice. The history of book publishing seems like a dry topic, but it was made accessible and interesting with a connection to a well-loved book. I learned a lot about book history and found the lecture very worthwhile.” 
    To make sure you get the full experience of the area, take a day trip to Portsmouth or Boston, where there are plenty of activities for students. I recently took a day trip to Portsmouth with some friends that I was able to tie into my studies. I am currently taking a class on The World of Henry VIII. My friends and I, being anglophiles, decided to make the trip British-themed, including an excursion to the Henry VIII Carvery in Kittery, ME. Portsmouth’s only authentic British pub is the Coat of Arms, which provided very good British drinks and atmosphere. Pickwick’s Mercantile carried many British cookbooks and famous author dolls, along with other goodies. I would rate this day trip:
Theme: A British Invasion of Portsmouth
Satisfaction: 10/10
Overall Cost: 30 dollars personally, could do less (about 20)
Parking: Hanover Street Garage
Ease of Travel (parking included): High
    For future travel concerns, UNH Manchester students may ride any bus for free on the Manchester Transit Authority. They also receive 5 dollars off of a Boston Express regular trip round ticket.
      Now that you've read about local meet-ups and activities, what would you like to do? Visit Meetup.com and start searching.

Lost in Boston

As a New Hampshire resident I can tell you that Boston is by far the most interesting place to experience New England geek culture. Many a day trip has revealed to me some of the most intriguing facets of Boston in this respect. Bars, restaurants, and places to visit and shop abound in one of our country’s most fascinating historical cities.
    Boston’s first facet is: alternative. While Salem is certainly the hub of alternative Massachusetts, the lovely gothic bar “Lolita” is the hidden gem of Boston. As the hostess leads you through the dim red lighting, ornate black chandeliers, red roses, and day of the dead skeleton portraits greet you in the dark. The restaurant serves a Mexican cuisine in an establishment that is sure to appease even the most picky of your vampire friends. The other eccentric bar that will impress is named Church. You should have no fear of entering holy ground, as you can enjoy the irony of the seven deadly sins cocktails and the seven heavenly virtues as well.
    “The Dark Side of Boston” is a free tour that runs in Beacon Hill. The tour brings you to various residences and crime scenes in the area, a decent portion of the tour being devoted to Albert de Salvo, the notorious Boston Strangler. The tour ends at the Liberty Hotel, formerly the Charles Street Jail. The hotel keeps the original structure of the jail and contains a small exhibit on its history. You are free to stop at the Liberty’s bar Alibi, which features the original jail cell doors and celebrity mug shots.      
    Boston’s second facet is: scientific. The Museum of Science is one of Boston’s most notable attractions. The museum is equipped with a theater and planetarium and will feature an exhibit on the Mayans in October. Admission to the general exhibits is free. Also be sure to catch a meal at the Miracle of Science Bar and Grill, a gathering place for all types of geeks.
    Boston’s third facet is: sexy. This is an amazing eccentricity of Boston. Boston is home to Condom World, a shop equipped with sex toys, flavored lubricants, and everything that you could possibly need for your sex life. The Sweet N‘ Nasty Erotic Bakery is also perfect for the ironic shopper. If you won’t find something tasteful, you’ll be sure to find something tasty. 
    Many nerdlesque shows can be found in Boston. Boston even hosted the first Nerdlesque Festival this past April. D20 Burlesque has featured performances inspired by aspects of geek culture with such popular followings as Night Vale.  
    Don’t forget, Boston is also asexy. Somerville and Boston host meet-ups for the asexual organization the New England Aces. This group is open to all different personal perspectives in discussion and encourages allies to attend meet-ups.     
    Boston’s final facet is: literary. As an english major I am pleased to inform you that Boston is the location of the Massachusetts region of the Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA). The organization hosts meetings with speakers of varying involvement in Janeite culture. The Austen in Boston book club is also a highlight of Boston meet-ups and will be reading E.M. Forster’s A Room With a View this September. To get more information, visit their Facebook page. 
    Boston is home to many unique bookstores including the Harvard Coop and the outdoor Brattle Bookshop, which sells used and rare books. Trident Bookseller’s and Cafe is a new independent bookstore located on Newbury St. The Boston Public Library features a cozy courtyard and cafe including tea services. The library is known for its map museum, bimonthly book sales, and ability to host marriage services.
   While the places listed in this article are entertaining, there are many more facets to the city of Boston. What is your experience with the city and what are your interests?

Welcome to My Blog

This is a mandatory blog for my media writing class at UNH Manchester. I hope to gain many interested readers. You will hear a lot about my personal goals and interests and gain an insight into this transitional period of my life, as I will be graduating at the end of this class.

Looking forward to writing for you,
Kaitlin