Here's a similar question that assumes a longer layover, but might still be useful: http://ask.metafilter.com/52367/A-Day-On-The-Town
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 11:42 AM on July 7, 2008

Really most songs in 3/4 will work. We used "You & Me" by Lifehouse and danced a Viennese waltz. I bet if you stopped by a local dance studio they could give you a good range of suggestions.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 9:26 AM on June 26, 2008

Some quick notes on the Green/White Mountains - might not be a bad idea to hit just one in favor of making your itinerary a bit more manageable.

In the greens, at Stowe, they're just opening up a new lodge that supposedly has some really good deals throughout the summer:
http://www.stowemountainlodge.com/
It doesn't get much prettier than Stowe in the greens, in my opinion.

In the whites, the Mount Washington Hotel is... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 5:48 AM on May 15, 2008

You are definitely over-thinking this. TMBG concerts get such a diverse crowd (in every respect) that there is nothing you could possibly do to stand out in a bad way.

They generally still play some kids songs even at the adult shows, maybe 1 or 2. The recent shows have been full of songs from The Else (newest album), so it's probably worth checking that out before you go.

If you want to stand near the front you'll need to get there early-ish,... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 7:25 AM on February 13, 2008

Another cute way to do something like this is with postcards, if you can find ones that are fitting. We got married in NYC and used generic NYC postcards for our save-the-dates, and just printed on the reverse with our printer. Total cost: ~$30. The only thing to be aware of is the thickness... try to buy postcards that are slightly less beefy, or be sure your printer can handle the heavier paper weight.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 2:02 PM on November 5, 2007

It's doable if you make it a priority. Many of my managers now make an effort to work 9-6 or 10-6. Many work far longer. Both do equally well. If you're good at your job and find a company where reasonable hours are culturally acceptable, it's very doable. I'm also in New York City.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 8:17 AM on November 3, 2007

Make scrambled eggs or omelettes, but use mostly other stuff instead of eggs. Add ham, green peppers, cheese, whatever. If you add enough delicious things you can hardly even taste the eggs. Then slowly decrease the amount of other stuff and increase the amount of eggs. This worked for me.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 5:38 PM on October 26, 2007

I'm on my third job since graduating in 2003 - 1.5 years at the first, 2 years at the second, and now almost a year here. I've had no career issues or repurcussions as a result of changing jobs.

I say quit if you think your 2nd job will be different in some substantial way - going from a big corporate job to a startup, for example, or changing industries. You kind of get a free pass on your first job, in my experience, as long as you have constructive things to say in... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 7:25 AM on October 3, 2007

Why *must* it be right the first time? While it would be nice to get it right the first time, it's not that big a deal. Take one of the pictures above to the jeweler and get their best guess, but 1 resizing will almost definitely be included in the cost of the ring. My ring was too big when I got it, we took it in to get resized the next weekend, and all was well.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 6:06 AM on October 2, 2007

Yeah, no one thing in Florence stood out for me more than any other.
- David: I believe you have to call ahead for tickets. Was definitely cool to see, but on the expensive side.
- Uffizi museum: If you're going to hit one museum, I'd go to this. The line wasn't long for us, though I forget what day/time we went.
- We also went to Santa Croce, where Galileo and Michelangelo and some others are buried.

I really feel like you're best off... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 8:35 AM on August 20, 2007

(Also want to 2nd J-Train's recommendation of the Rick Steve's books. Best guides for sight-seeing EVER. Just don't rely on them for restaurants and going out.)
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 8:36 AM on August 20, 2007

My brother saw what I thought was the original version of this in March at the Tokyo National Museum. This is what he saw.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 6:32 AM on August 15, 2007

You mention you're in NYC -- throw up an ad on Craigslist and see what you get. About 5 minutes of effort, and you'll almost definitely get at least a few interested responses.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 7:57 AM on August 13, 2007

I've seen one in person and they're pretty cool.

To the comment about needing still air: this is true with inexpensive helicopters as well. My dad recently bought an one ($60? $80? I forget), and unless there is *no* wind it gets knocked around and can't really fly.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 6:35 AM on August 3, 2007 marked best answer

The last question on this page addresses this:
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/petcolumns/showarticle.cfm?id=303
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 9:08 AM on July 26, 2007

I've had good luck with a Canon SD400 as well. I take it skiing all the time, keeping in an interior jacket pocket. I've fallen on it more than once, it regularly gets cold enough so that the battery spontaneously dies, and the case is actually bent and popped slightly open on top. I've been treating it like this for about 3 years now and it's only a month or so ago that it started giving me problems (it doesn't recognize that there's space left on the memory card when there is).
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 12:08 PM on July 19, 2007

You might try driving to Stamford, CT and grabbing Metro-North from there. Trains going out to New Haven and up to New Canaan all go through Stamford, so the schedule might offer you more options. It's also got a nice parking garage.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 10:25 AM on July 12, 2007

We went a ways down the sliding sands trail and back in the fall -- the hike out is surprisingly hard due to the altitude. We ski out west every year, and I felt far more affected hiking out of the crater than I ever have on a ski trip. I think that's the biggest obstacle. If you have experience at altitude and know you'll handle it well, go for it.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 10:40 AM on June 19, 2007

You always have to check-in 45 minutes (or whatever that airline's policy is) before the SCHEDULED flight time.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 7:19 AM on June 13, 2007

It's stereotypical, but Hawaii is amazing -- I've never been anywhere that looked anything like it. Stay on the Big Island for a less touristy vibe, and go see the volcano.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 4:41 PM on April 16, 2007

Just a few very general comments here, from someone who grew up in central CT (very middle class), then lived in Stamford, CT for 2 years (just a few exits up 95 from Rye) and now lives in NYC for going on 2 years.

Echoing what salvia said, there was definitely some culture shock for me in going from very middle-class areas to areas that are definitely mostly upper-class. I'm sure some people will argue against this, but there is definitely an upper-class vibe in the NYC... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 10:49 AM on April 3, 2007

Alison beat me to the Sentinelese. There's a great book about them and the Andaman Islands here, with a section on the Sentinelese here.

I stumbled across this book a while ago from a link on Sylloge.com - read the except he has there, it's really cool.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 11:15 AM on March 28, 2007

You must have at least a few questions about the jobs you're applying for. The things you ask don't have to be earth-shatteringly original or insightful, just basic day-to-day things that you want to know about the job:
- What's an average day for you like? (good if the person interviewing you has a similar job/is in the same dept/etc)
- What do you like best/least about working here?
- What are your hours? Are they flexible?
- How does the... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 11:08 AM on March 19, 2007

Maybe run the Queens-RI span of the Triboro? The incline is decent, plus there are stairs leading onto the bridge and then a few sets of stairs on the bridge itself. The entrance is here. Bonus: great views.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 6:22 AM on March 8, 2007

Yeah, there are no restrictions, but don't forget that you can always negotiate -- a lot of people don't even try. Two years ago we got our $100-$200 increase (I forget) knocked down to about $25, but this year they wouldn't budge on a $100 increase. Never hurts to ask, though.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 12:36 PM on February 27, 2007

hermitosis, you beat me to it!
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 12:36 PM on February 27, 2007

Everything that's been said above is good, so I just want to throw a few more things out there:

1) Length - a general guideline (for shaped skiis) is that beginners should buy skis that come up about to the chin, intermediates about up to the nose, and advanced/expert as long as you can handle/prefer. Longer == faster, but for beginner/intermediate skiers you probably want to err on the shorter side. Longer skis just give you more opportunities to cross them and... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 7:44 AM on January 21, 2007

"I loved NYC, but remembered always feeling poor..."

It's all relative. If you hang out with investment bankers (which NYC is *full* of), yes, you're going to feel poor. But there are plenty of neighborhoods where you can get away from that whole vibe, with decent apartments (with roommates) for reasonale prices, more relaxed atmospheres, etc. The good thing about NYC is that you can surround yourself with literally absolutely any kind of people you want, so... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 1:59 PM on January 2, 2007

There's some info on a guy who did this in Utah here: http://www.gearthblog.com/blog/archives/2006/04/ski_snowbird.html
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 9:23 AM on December 27, 2006

You can take a shuttle from SLC airport to Big Cottonwood Canyon (Brighton & Solitude), Little Cottonwood Canyon (Snowbird & Alta), or Park City (Park City, Deer Valley & The Canyons) for about $30 one way. It's about a 30 min ride to all three; you definitely don't need a car. If you ski in BCC or LCC, though, your hotel options are pretty much limited to what exists at the resorts. If you stay in Park City you have a lot more options, and you can take a free bus to any of the 3... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 3:04 PM on December 21, 2006

I recommed opening a joint account for household bills, as was suggested above. You each direct deposit half of your monthly expenses into the joint account and pay the rent, bills, etc out of there.

The rest of her money she can do what she wants with, including getting herself into debt. Until you're married (and many would argue, not even then), it's really not your job to bail her out of debt. She's never going to become more financially responsible until she sees... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 1:29 PM on December 14, 2006

I was going to stay out of this one, but this is getting awfully one-sided in favor of snowboarding. :)

Skiing, no question. Why limit yourself? Skis will take you anywhere, whereas on a snowboard you've got to get off and hike whenever things get moderately flat.

"I found I was still fine-tuning my skiing technique years after I started."
That's part of the appeal! Who wants a sport you can feel like you've mastered early... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 12:24 PM on December 12, 2006

I agree with pretty much everything that's been said above so far.

Some more notes on the boots, as having boots that are uncomfortable can really ruin your day:
* Your toes should just barely brush the front of the boot when you're standing fully upright. When you flex your knees and lean forward a little, your toes should pull back and have some room to wiggle.
* They should be snug, but not overly tight or restrictive. If you can't wiggle your... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 6:50 AM on December 12, 2006

Can you contact a bunch of their friends and get everyone together for a dinner or something? This would be especially nice if they don't see their friends that often.

Well-done scrapbooks are always nice, too, if you're able to get your hands on some old family photos. I'm sure they'd love a scrapbook that documents the past 30 years they've spent together.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 7:42 AM on December 11, 2006

Look over your resume ahread of time and make sure you have something of substance to talk about for all the past jobs you have listed on there. Think in terms of the nuts-and-bolts "what did I actually work on/do/contribute here?", but also make sure you cover the more subjective "tell us about a time you overcame a conflict" stuff. For me, it really helps my confidence to know that there's nothing on my resume they can bring up that will really trip me up, since that's... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 9:37 AM on December 6, 2006

I did this a few years ago with a shorter layover (~4 hours available to sightsee? I don't quite remember). I also took the Heathrow express -- taking the tube would have had me spending all of my layover underground. The airline (American) was able to check my baggage for my flight that evening even though it was 5 or 6 hours away, so I didn't have to worry about lugging it with me.

In my limited time I was able to walk from Paddington station, through Hyde Park, past... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 12:49 PM on December 4, 2006

Two articles that I think you'd enjoy are:

1) How I Learned French in One Year, from a guy who learned enough French in 1 year to get a pretty high score on the French test they give you when you emigrate to Canada. Includes some really neat ideas, like ripping the foreign language tracks off sitcom DVDs to listen to on your iPod.

2) There's more general advice, much of which has already been mentioned above, in this How to Learn a Language... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 5:17 AM on November 22, 2006

Engagement rings are such a personal thing... it all depends what you mean by "getting the best deal." Is the size of the diamond the most important thing to your girlfriend? If you're looking to maximize size, something like the diamond district in NYC where you can buy the diamond and setting separately is probably your best bet. If you just want a really nice ring and size is less important to her, someplace like Tiffany's really is going to get you a better quality setting/band... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 10:46 AM on November 14, 2006

It's worth noting that Modest Needs is having all recurring monthly contributions matched by an anonymous donor in 2006, so were you to donate $100 in November and December, they'd actually get $400.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 9:27 AM on November 13, 2006

My brother went to Tokyo (Kokubunji, actually) about a month ago through the Nova program, and his experience so far has been great. Nova allows you to list your 3 top location choices, and they do their best to honor what you pick. He also has 2 roomates that are also in the program, which is nice in that he has some people to hang out with. Nova also helped organize his flights and airport transportation, so he arrived in Tokyo along with some other people in the program and was able to get... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 9:06 AM on November 9, 2006

Alka seltzer. The "Morning Relief" variety that flipper mentions has been renamed "Extra Strength" - it's the one that talks about "over-indulgence of food and drink" or something on the box. The stuff is amazing.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 1:20 PM on September 29, 2006

I switched from Cyclessa to the generic Velivet when I switched insurance providers, and I noticed no differences.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 10:49 AM on September 19, 2006

Go to the Mets game on Saturday afternoon and get seats in the shade.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 7:11 AM on August 2, 2006

In terms of "best bang for your buck", I'd recommend anywhere that's not on the euro. The USD->euro exchange rate can really add up over a 2 week trip. If cost is really your primary concern, I'd keep this in mind.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 5:02 AM on July 18, 2006

We did a weekend in the Berkshires over Memorial Day weekend in 2004, at the Egremont Inn. If you'd like to spend a weekend hiking, eating and generally lazing about, it's really nice. It looks like the BSO is also in the area next weekend. I brought a picnic dinner to one of their shows in Lenox a few years ago, and it's a great way to spend a summer evening.

That area is about 3 hours from NYC.... [more]
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 5:50 AM on July 10, 2006

Otto is nice. Great wine bar, nice atmosphere, and you get to eat in a Mario Batali restaurant for $20-$25/pp. It's right on the high end of your range, but worth it, I think.

Cafe Havana is a trendy Cuban place that's a lot of fun. Go on a night that's not Friday or Saturday (it gets PACKED) and you'll leave totally stuffed for $10-$15/pp. Get the corn.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 11:02 AM on June 21, 2006

I live in NYC and the reception is excellent. They do have terrestrial repeaters, and most big cities - NYC included - have one.

If you're driving out of the city, there's a spot around Rye, NY on 95 where you lose the signal for a few seconds, and a spot about 10 min up the Palisades where you lose it for a few minutes.

We've had zero problems otherwise.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 10:03 AM on June 16, 2006

I should add that we have a Starmate Replay, and do have the included antenna out the window. You'll likely need to keep the boombox near a window, or use an antenna, but I can't speak to that for sure.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 10:06 AM on June 16, 2006

I highly recommend reading A Random Walk Down Wall Street. It's a fantastic book on investing that will not only help you understand some basics, but lay out where you should put how much of your money based on your age. Very understandable and very useful.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 8:04 AM on April 3, 2006

This isn't striclty vocabulary, but there are some great ideas in here for anyone trying to learn any language, including ripping the audio tracks from the foreign-language soundtracks of sitcoms and movies.
posted to Ask Metafilter by rachelv at 6:59 AM on March 23, 2006