Any Engadget readers in Merced, CA?

I'll be kicking it in my hometown of Merced, California for a couple of days next month, and I figured I'd see if there were any Engadget readers there (or close by in the San Joaquin) who'd be interested in a small, informal reader meetup. Let me know in the comments and if there's enough interest I'll put something together.


P.S. - I'm going to be speaking in San Francisco on June 6th at Core77's Design 2.0 panel discussion on product design. Details here.

P.P.S - I know we're WAY overdue for proper Engadget Reader Meetups in New York, LA, London, Detroit, (insert your town here). Please know that I'm working with our sales team to get us some sponsors so we can do 'em up right.

UPDATE: Damn, who knew there were so many Engadget readers in the 209? Ok, let's definitely do something, I'll be in town Saturday, June 10th. Anyone have any suggestions for a location? Not sure how many people would be coming, but wherever we end up going it has to be all-ages.

[diulei @ May 15th 2006 2:40PM]

Ouch. Merced...is your hometown? Well at least there's a UC there now.

[JMass @ May 15th 2006 2:43PM]

kickin it in bako man...you need to make it the "big" city!!

[Perry Reed @ May 15th 2006 2:44PM]

I'll be damned, I'm from Merced, too. But I'm not there anymore (I live in Florida now) and I haven't been back in a long time.

Perry
(Merced High, Class of '85)

[foodswami @ May 15th 2006 2:45PM]

stop by San Jose on the way to SF, the valley is going to be hella hot this week!

[superkyle @ May 15th 2006 2:45PM]

Wow, I never knew you were from Merced. I'm from Atwater and would be interested in a meetup but my schedule is kinda hectic.

[Simon @ May 15th 2006 2:46PM]

I'm a big Core77 reader and a Product Design student - what will be your role at the Design 2.0 conference? Do you have a background in design?

[Chris Thacker @ May 15th 2006 2:46PM]

Oh, funny, I was just in Merced this weekend for Mother's day. I'm afraid I probaby won't be in town next month (work, will be keeping me on the east coast), but enjoy the valley and hope you can find some readers in town. I'm always amazed everytime I visit...how much growth is happening and how the town changes, especially now that UC Merced is actually open. Have a good time, and let us know the next time you in the silicon valley, my current location.

[Alex Newman @ May 15th 2006 2:48PM]

Hey Peter,
I notice you do not post on Engadget often anymore. Anyhow, a London meet up would be great!
Thanks

[Adam @ May 15th 2006 2:53PM]

I live in Modesto, and I know people from Oakdale, Tracy, etc. would come for a meetup!

[mikey h @ May 15th 2006 3:03PM]

I'd be interested in a meetup. Live in Visalia, but would definitely be willing to drive up.

[Johannes Vinke @ May 15th 2006 3:06PM]

Hey Peter,

if you ever happened to be in Zwolle, The Netherlands
just send me an email LOL

Johannes Vinke

[Jordan @ May 15th 2006 3:07PM]

I was just happy to see Detroit in there, I'll see you there!!!

[Regula Oblique @ May 15th 2006 3:08PM]

AND CONNECTICUT

[Randy Phillips @ May 15th 2006 3:16PM]

I'm from Merced - once (MHS Class of '73) - when did you escape?

[David @ May 15th 2006 3:18PM]

So, uh, these reader meetups look like fun!

but where's the engaget love for your Canuck counterparts? (i.e. Edmonton)

cheers,
-David

[Dan Dolar @ May 15th 2006 3:21PM]

Does Stockton count as nearby? A meetup sounds fun -- keep us informed!

[Jonathan @ May 15th 2006 3:22PM]

WOW... i live in merced... this is kinda scary, i wake up and check engadget and see the "welcome to merced" sign on the front page! ... am i the only one?

[Joe @ May 15th 2006 3:27PM]

Nerdy things to see in Merced -

UC Merced - If you haven't seen the new campus since it opened, you'll be surprised. The modern world comes to the Valley. Just watch out for the cow cookies on the floor!

WiMax - Merced and Atwater are now one of the growing lists of towns that have access to WiMax tech via Clearwire. I use it down at my barn.

Castle Air Force Base - Home to Cingular's (AT&T) customer disservice center! (I think, or it could be just a resting place for the company's recently fired orange mascot.

[Christian @ May 15th 2006 3:27PM]

How about Orange County?

[Ross Perkins @ May 15th 2006 3:29PM]

Inserting Austin into the list.

[David Landrum @ May 15th 2006 3:30PM]

I open up my RSS feed and I see "Any Engadget readers in Merced, CA?" and I'm like... yeah, me.

A meet up would be sweet.

[Jonathan @ May 15th 2006 3:30PM]

Hey hey hey #15 there is lots to do in merced... that is if you have friends... Just last week i went to the lake which is coincidentally by the UC and there was little "college gettogether" if ya know what i mean so we joined in... boy did i have a hangover the next day... and also they are suspusdo start building nothing but night clubs around the uc and lake area so give it some time!!!.. GRRR

[BobMac @ May 15th 2006 3:34PM]

I grew up in Merced then moved to Sac when I went to college (now I'm in Napa). Just about the last thing I want to do is go back to Merced in the summer, but I could visit the family and get together with my home-geeks.

Merced High School class of 1987
Go Bears!

[ChillyWilly @ May 15th 2006 3:38PM]

Not in Merced, but would love a meetup in Salt Lake City at some point. I know there's a lot of gadget freaks here.

[Akshat @ May 15th 2006 3:38PM]

Hey how about a reader meetup in New Delhi?
Yea i figured it was not very likely.

[Jonathan @ May 15th 2006 3:38PM]

sorry... im MHS class of 05'

Go Bears

[Jayare @ May 15th 2006 3:40PM]

i'd love to see a Cleveland or Pittsburgh meetup!

[l @ May 15th 2006 3:40PM]

i dont want to meet you dorks

[Mack_Daddy @ May 15th 2006 3:46PM]

Wow, that's crazy. I grew up in Merced, parents still live there. So I visit about 2 or 3 times a year. I read Engadget almost everyday. Did know the the Creator was from Merced. Graduated '89..
I work in the gaming industry...

[mrknowldge @ May 15th 2006 3:46PM]

Holy *#@$#@!!! I thought this was a joke I live in MERCED CA on R st. I have sent in some of my comments before And i would love to be part of it. I'm still in awe I comment about this website to all my co-workers, family and friends they are not going to believe me when I tell them. I'm now very proud of being a mercedian :)

[yosh @ May 15th 2006 3:47PM]

Peter, or any Editor, please can you try to co-ordinate a London meet-up during June-to-end of August? Basically, this summer?

I study in the states, and am always back for the vacation period. Somehow, I always seem to miss the Engadget meetups. When you are in Europe (I'd come as long as you were around Western Europe), I'm in the states. When you do the US meetups, I seem to be back in Europe. Tragic..

[Storm9 @ May 15th 2006 3:49PM]

Why does everyone forget CHICAGO!!!

[mrknowldge @ May 15th 2006 3:51PM]

I'm from class of '92 MHS Go BEARS!!!! I also wake up to read everymorning it is in my homepage of yahoo! as well as I4U who also uses you guys for references on their websites Keep up the good work !!!

[diulei @ May 15th 2006 3:55PM]

28: The weather is just too crappy.

Haha, just kidding. I just have bad experiences with the weather there, being from California.

[Perry Reed @ May 15th 2006 3:57PM]

Wow, who knew there were so many folks in/from Merced here? I tell you what, although it's been several years since I've lived there and it's very unlikely I'll ever live there again, I'm very glad to have grown up there.

[JJ @ May 15th 2006 3:57PM]

Come on people can we get a Northern Irelnd Meeting?

[tim lopez @ May 15th 2006 4:00PM]

I was born in Merced, live in Porterville now, but I'm totally down with a meetup!

[Maurice @ May 15th 2006 4:00PM]

You're killing me Pete! I'm moving from Modesto to the OC at the end of May. Ryan, are you making your way back to Aliso any time soon?

[Crunch @ May 15th 2006 4:09PM]

I'll be staying in El Portal next month, wouldn't mind driving a couple of hours for a meetup in Merced.

[Ayrkain @ May 15th 2006 4:12PM]

Hey, I'm in Visalia. Definitely email me about a meetup.

[davix @ May 15th 2006 4:17PM]

I live in Modesto (stop that snickering....damn you all!)

Hit me up

[Dan (thoughtfix) @ May 15th 2006 4:17PM]

*poke* *poke*

Phoenix, AZ?

[Rob @ May 15th 2006 4:20PM]

Merced? Really? I guess some good things do come from there. I was there for about three years, but moved a couple of months ago to Monterey. If you come out here, look me up.

[Robert Rusticus @ May 15th 2006 4:21PM]

I grew up in merced now I chill in SD.
I never thought I'd Say this but I wish I could be in Merced.

[Mr.Furley @ May 15th 2006 4:26PM]

I wouldn't mind taking a drive out to Merced to meet with Mr. Rojas

I attended the SF reader meetup and it was fun.

Hey when are we going to have a Engadget Reader Meetup in Redwood City, CA?

[Adam Clare @ May 15th 2006 4:43PM]

Whoa. That would be awesome. I had to reread that like 3 times to make sure it was for real. I'm pretty sure everyone in Merced had a similar reaction.

[Ernest Leitch @ May 15th 2006 4:43PM]

I live in Fresno but I would take a trip to Merced to meet the voice behind one of my favorite podcasts.

[mrknowldge @ May 15th 2006 4:44PM]

I would love to attend I was thinking if someone could come up with an indoor location becuase this is only mid may and temperatures here in Merced, are 98 degrees! I don't know how big of a group it would be becuase the starbucks here not very large. Please keep me posted and hopefully I will get an email from you ;) thanks again by the way my name is Dan.

[Steve Rhodes @ May 15th 2006 4:45PM]

It would be great to also do something informal in SF if it fits into your schedule.

[Roy McKenzie @ May 15th 2006 4:54PM]

cool man, im in modesto...whats the topic?