I'm in and booked! One more lakeside mini-suite occupied. What ever event is going on Sunday I am sure they would luv it if we all stayed and joined in! What event wouldn't like free pinball!

Tom in Maine (but not Tom's of Maine - drat)

I'm in Maine -- we don't get out much!

The one downside of living in the state that touches only one other. And the cold, oh and the snow, the low pay, no jobs, the taxes, the Portland Panhandelers."Maine - the way life should be".

At least that what we tell the folk from away - discourages 'em from staying after their summer visit to Vacationland.

Time for the way back machine:

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This is how I read this at first.

Calling the optometrist next.

I would go for at least three standard sheets. I like nice shiny glass!

So you're saying you'll have 'Mugs-O-Cheese'? Sweet!!

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As a Pintastic minion from Maine, I would like to thank UNO's in Bangor for allowing me to place one of the soon to be a collectors piece of fine art inside their entry way for all to read, ponder and be amazed.

My goal is to get at least one pinhead to come out of the great woods and attend.

In exactly one month I will finally lose my 'pinball show virginity'. Does Polar Beverages make a 'cherry pop'?

I have waited so long for this day.
Finding the right one (ok - the closest) to be my first {I hear you never forget your first!},
picking out just the right stained t-shirt to wear (should it be sort of white?),
stocking up on my favorite french cologne ( Eau de Saco River ) so I can play without stopping for trivial stuff like hygiene!
Doing curls with BOTH arms to be in better shape for lifting those 22oz foamy beverages at the Friday night shindig,
and deciding which pair of steel toed boots are best for dancing with the band Saturday eve.

With all the great going-ons, I would like to add one more fantastic Pintastic incentive for pinheads from Maine. I would like to buy ONE adult beverage for the pinner that attends from the farthest reaches of the Pinetree State and one for the Mainer that brings a machine the farthest. Adults only, minors may substitute a tasty Polar beverage (vendor plug!). So look me up, I be volunteering and attending each day. I be the older, greying, heavyset guy so I should stand out and be easy to ID.

So as I said 8 months ago and have been jacked ever since: http://www.youtube.com/embed/6BNjHVl90Us?autoplay=1&rel=0

Tom

I may be able to assist anyone from Maine and points south transport a game to or from Pintastic. I have an empty, conversion van with some seats removed so there tons of cushioned space. I have been cautioned not too bring to much home so I only need room to bring ONE home. Live in Portland area, work in Bangor area - headed to Pintastic from Portland on Thursday just after Dunkin' opens and returning Sunday once the head clears! So if I can assist, let me know. Would appreciate some help with gas (12 mpg - ugh) but nothing else except loading/unloading. I have a dolly and lift table if needed.

So Mainers, come to Pintastic, fall in love with a machine and buy it - particularly a nice EM, I can help you get it home and then in a while we can deal, swap, and trade! Let's move these machines downeast!

^^^ that be a 2X shirt size for sure!

There is tons of stuff within an hours drive for families. Six Flags for us coaster freaks, shopping galore and one I have not seen discussed much is Old Sturbridge Village - a living history museum - just across the road a piece. When my kids were young we spent a day there and we still discuss some things learned. Spent over an hour working with the cooper in his shop as he made barrels. I got to see the work and the tools my grandfather would have used on the family self sufficient farm in pre-1900. Harvested his own wood, cut the staves, made his own hoops in his blacksmith shop -- all to pack his apples - 20 varieties - and send them off to Boston. Saw how they made their own tools or had to buy from England. And unlike Plymouth, they speak today's lingo connecting then to today. Polar (<cloaked vendor plug) opposite of the pinball event. Culture! - me be playing pinball though!

So as a pinball show virgin and this will be the first time i have ever bought a new piece of glass, do I just leave my money on the table? Do I tip? And would not standard be a better piece of glass as compared to wide-body or even the new fangled invisi- glass - I mean if I pay for glass I think I would want to see it? Is lo-iron glass anemic? Should I wear gloves when touching a new glass?

Dang I love frkn' pinball!

Tom

Suggested places for Pinsiders to meet at Pintastic and how to identify:

At the bar with a beer
Beside the bar with a beer
Near the bar with a beer
Under the bar with a empty mug
In the rest room with a beer

. . . wearing a Pinside badge may also be a fashionable clue!

See you all there.

Tom

Who, I say who would even think of such a thing?

For fake bar tabs I always use names like Gabe or Derek. Just another way to show my appreciation for all that is being done.

"Not Your Father's Root Beer"

Yum

Those are stupendous! But for me this would be more appropriate trophy and indicative of my abilities:

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Hey LTG that makes two of us for the goat ride!

EM loaded, van gassed, headed out at dawn,

WaHooo! Gonna be a minion!

Pin-BLAST-ic! Pintastic!

Tom

Pintastic was Fantastic - a Pin-blast-ic good time.

Gabe and Derek put together an event of such quality I could not have imagined it possible. THANKS guys!

From the Free-Play to the vendors booths & participation, this was a top-notch show that went way beyond my expectations especially for a first time outing. A concession stand with snacks, beer & wine next to the FP room added nicely to the festivities.

The family fun add-ons were a super touch. The hilarious bicycling clown, face painting that were works of art and good sized carnival kids rides added tons to a family's experience. I saw about a half-dozen hotel guests get roped into buying tickets to the show just so there kids to do the rides - and viola! they tried pinball also. Set the bait and reel them in. The slight of hand guys always had a few young ones watching in disbelief. I watched from the side and back and I was just as befuddled as the kids ( did I mention beer earlier )

The best was: new friends galore! and faces to 'virtual' friends. Pinsiders who said Hi! when seeing my Pinside badge. What a great group.

The comments in this thread indicate all who went had the best of times and those who did not make it wish they could of. My wife - not into pins by any means stated that she wants to do this every year and asked where there might be similar shows and accommodations - that was the key for her. All in one spot: walk to food, drinks, beach, lake, pool and a comfy room.

The only debate I read is WHEN next year.
No matter what weekend there will be issues. Conflicts with other shows and 'family availability' are key. June is tough due to schools in session. May is tough with college graduations & travel. In August the week or two before Labor Day are often family's last hurrah of summer or kids being to colleges. So not much to choose from. I believe that if it is to be a summer show and have a strong 'family - all ages' component then mid-July or early August still comes out a a good choice. Maybe we could hire a rainmaker????

Would the same time as the Brimfield Antique Circus umm Show be a good fit? Tons of additional bodies in the area. Some who would rather NOT be out in the hot sun looking at ass-worn chairs. Those tired of buying used stuff could play used stuff! Or is the area so over run and prices jacked then that it would detract more than add. If it rained or even got cloudy I bet some folk would drop in.

For me - doesn't matter. I'll be there!

Gabe, Derek, all the other volunteers: THANKS!
Also a special thanks to the Sanctum Crew - great people and a well run couple of tournaments on a great selection of machines.

Tom

Coworkers with copiers! Gotta love 'em.

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This is what I came back to work to. I guess they knew I would have a 'ball'!
Note the hearing protection on the left. They must actually care. Gosh.

Yep - I a safety/hazmat guy and sent them a noise level I took during the peak of activity 105db. My wife said she would play longer if I brought some next year. Maybe get Pintastic labeling and hand them out like condoms from a college clinic.

I think August 18-20 weekend might work this year as Labor Day is on 9/7, as late as it can be. Any other year I think you would need to go one week earlier [though it would actually be just a couple of days earlier) as many folk take the week just before Labor day as vacation in order to include the holiday and extend their time off.

Hopefully more folk attending equates to better vendor sales.

???? Are show prices extremely better on machines then what I might haggle with my local distributor ? As a first time go-er I do not have much or a clue but do folk go to shows to buy brand new machines or just to kick some tires and figure out what they want to get next, then contact their favorite distributor? I am not able to ever be a NIB buyer but if I was I think I would buy at a show only if I was aware of a fantastic deal being offered way in advance of the show esp. if I am not local.

Parts and mod vendors may be a bit different. Mayfair had a nice display of parts and I picked up a couple of things I wanted sooner than my next PBR order so convenience won out over price but price could easily drive some away as 60 cent bolts were $2 and $1.29 leg tees were $3 but no shipping and instant gratification is worth some coin and worth supporting the vendor whose travel costs need to be covered. I picked up a NOS backglass from Steve@Mayfair, he gave me a slight break in the price so I spent it with him - really like dealing with people directly!

As soon as a date is set I plan to start the chatter again as I have been since last September when I booked my room for this year. Don't want to miss a minute of Pintastic 2016!

-- Tom