The Arkhamist http://www.arkhamist.com/ en-US Copyright 2008 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:16:58 -0500 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification RAIN, RAIN, GO AWAY...


The air gets very thick, and carries the rank smell of the seaport wafting through town. They might as well be hauling crabs outside the office right now.

You know those Polar Bear clubs, where crazy people go swimming in the ocean on New Year's Day to feel alive, or something? Arkham has its own group of nuts who go swimming every time it rains, no matter what the temperature. They call themselves the Old Ones Swimming Club, which I think is a reference to the fact that the majority of them are pushing 90. They've been doing it since the early 1900s, and not without their share of accidental drownings or disappearances. But then again, I hope I'm still swimming when I'm 90.]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2008/03/rain-rain-go-away.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2008/03/rain-rain-go-away.html Wed, 19 Mar 2008 12:16:58 -0500 STILL ALIVE, THANKS FOR ASKING Contrary to popular belief, Arkham hasn't done me in yet. It's a bizarre place, and it seems like that sort of thing is actually a bit more common than I'd like, but I'm still kicking. The job is going well at the Advertiser, and as for the disappearance?

A certain girl named Maggie, who I just might have mentioned was a cute girl who worked at the office with me a few entries back, happened to find my blog. In as much as I was going to attempt to date her, her finding out that some weird new guy at the office was writing about her on a blog for the entire internet to see wasn't necessarily the best way to get that first kiss.

Luckily, she thought it was amusing, and claims to have actually been flattered. I didn't believe it at first, but it's three months later, and we're actually doing a fair amount of kissing these days, so I guess it all worked out for the best. So having been busy with that and the craziness of the Advertiser, I haven't had much time to keep you updated on the goings-on in Arkham.

Maggie and I went to a Miskatonic Meteors game today, the university basketball team. It's amazing - the guys are probably the most emaciated bunch of players you've ever seen on a team, but they really kicked ass. It didn't help that Columbia, today's competition, suffered about a zillion injuries. I swear, half the team were benched by twisted ankles and leg injuries by the end of the game. And it's not like the Meteors were rough - half the time, the ball just seemed to come to them. Final score was 56-30. Pretty rough for Columbia. I think they need to do more of that weird chanting the Meteors were doing under their breath. Kind of creepy, but I guess it worked.

Finally, there's some asshole putting up graffiti all over town, and the cops have a reward out to catch him. I saw it on the way out of the gym on the wall: "Yog Sothoth Sucks!", whatever that means. There's a $3,000 reward for clues leading to his arrest.

Oh, just so everyone knows, the Esoteric Order of Dagon church down by the wharf is having a bake sale on Saturday. Who's in?]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2008/03/still-alive-thanks-for-asking.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2008/03/still-alive-thanks-for-asking.html Tue, 18 Mar 2008 18:18:50 -0500 A MISKATONIC PHYSICS LECTURE
Today at Miskatonic, during a quantum physics lecture taught by Professor Milton Rouse, everything started off normal. Then, students report that about ten minutes in, Rouse began stuttering. This was followed by bizarre titters of laughter, and occasional lengthy pauses. When a student questioned whether Rouse was feeling OK, Rouse replied that he had had a series of nightmares the previous night, and hadn't slept enough.

It was at this point that Rouse stopped the lecture entirely, and brought out a strange device about the size of a car engine - it's hard to describe, but it looks like a crazy mishmash of parts from an electrics supply store. As students watched with confusion, Rouse explained that the idea had come to him in a dream the night before, and that he built it as soon as he woke up. One student, Clara Skinner, claims that Rouse said something to the effect that he had no idea what was about to happen.

This is where things get really weird. After pressing some buttons, the machine turned on with a hum akin to a vacuum cleaner, that began to grow louder and louder. Students report that as the sound increased, they began feeling a strange sensation, as if pressure was building up in the room. Some say there was a feeling of an electric charge.

As this was happening, Rouse was muttering unintelligible words under his breath. Then, blood began to drip from his ears, clearly visible on his white collared shirt. At the same time, all of the fluorescent lights in the room blew out. Students reacted in horror, and began rushing for the door. Several of the students sitting closest to the machine fainted, and had to be dragged out by their friends. Many were bleeding from their ears as well, and are currently being examined at Arkham Presbyterian.

School authorities were quickly notified about what was going on. A custodian turned off the power to the room, and campus security quickly moved in. Rouse was found dead in a pool of blood in front of his machine. Strange matter was discovered around his head, which doctors believe are - get this - the liquefied remains of his brain, which probably came out his ears. Early examinations of Rouse's machine suggest it somehow creates and manipulates electromagnetic fields, but the actual workings have yet to be understood.


The part that's not going in the article: according to two police officers, Rouse was found dead with a smile frozen on his face. ]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/a-miskatonic-physics-lecture.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/a-miskatonic-physics-lecture.html Arkham Miskatonic university crime scene body physics Mon, 17 Dec 2007 15:59:07 -0500 GREAT WAY TO START A BLOG Sorry to have disappeared so suddenly, but this was about the busiest week of my life, and I haven't had a chance to write it all down yet. More soon... http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/great-way-to-start-a-blog.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/great-way-to-start-a-blog.html Sun, 16 Dec 2007 23:40:33 -0500 NEXT DOOR PROBLEMS
I know I just moved in, and I don't want to be an annoying neighbor, but this is ridiculous. If it doesn't stop, I'm going over to say something. I'm not losing a second night of sleep over this crap. ]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/next-door-problems.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/next-door-problems.html Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:39:29 -0500 FIRST DAY AT THE ADVERTISER
Anyway, first day at the Advertiser today. Here's the office from about 70 years ago:


And today:


It looks like I'm not going to be writing anything anytime soon. They want me to assistant edit on the local features section for a while and do office-based stuff, which definitely blows. Then I'm going to get the chance to trail reporters, watching them in action while picking up the annoying basic details to save them the trouble - stuff like school events, local sports games, university news, and the like. Pulitzer, you're mine...

There's a cute girl who works at the paper named Maggie. She's new to Arkham too, and though she started working on the paper a few months ago, she's already doing the occasional headline. So maybe there's hope. Maybe she can show me a good place for lunch?

Most interesting story in the paper today: two fishermen have been missing for a few days now, last seen leaving the wharf on Friday night. Second most interesting story: a bake sale at the Carter Day School brought in a whopping $45 for local charities. Tom and Andrew, you so wish you were here. ]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/first-day-at-the-advertiser-1.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/first-day-at-the-advertiser-1.html Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:18:48 -0500 FORWARD ALL MAIL TO 7 FEDERAL ST, ARKHAM, MA...

Mr. Chandler met me at the apartment. He has an eye patch - not one of those ugly Rite Aid medical ones either, a real stylish one. The world doesn't have enough people with quality eye patches (not that I'm advocating partial blindness or anything). We finished up on lease details, he gave me the keys, and then he left with no offer to help unload my stuff. There were two Miskatonic grad students I met in the halls who gave me a hand. They were sort of weird - they didn't talk very much, didn't want any money, and didn't want to go out for a drink. Guess I'll have to wait til next week to figure out the Arkham Saturday night scene. I think one of them had religious brochures in his back pocket - should I be insulted or grateful he didn't offer me one?

I spent the rest of the night unpacking. My bedroom is pretty much finished.


Around midnight, I went out looking for something to eat. There was this pretty decent all night noodle place down an alley off of College St called the Elder Ones Noodle Shop ("Home of the Tentacle!"). Lots of interesting dishes I've never heard of before, and they use a lot of seafood caught off the Arkham coast. I'll definitely be going back.


Today, Sunday, I walked around a bit, and checked out the campus. School is in full swing, and the library was packed for kids studying for winter exams. It's so funny to think of how much they're worried about all this crap. In school, if you do bad, the worst that happens is you get an F. In life, you lose your job, your apartment, your girlfriend, your money, or wind up in Arkham, Massachusetts desperate for a job.

I'm just kidding, Arkham's treated me OK so far, though I'm on my guard. First day at work tomorrow. Pictures later after I'm done settling in. ]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/forward-all-mail-to-7-federal.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/forward-all-mail-to-7-federal.html Sun, 09 Dec 2007 14:29:06 -0500 ARKHAM BETTER HAVE GOOD PIZZA


Later, Brooklyn.]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/arkham-better-have-good-pizza.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/arkham-better-have-good-pizza.html Sat, 08 Dec 2007 12:44:40 -0500 MOVING ON UP (WITH CRAIG'S HELP)

boston craigslist > north shore > apts by owner

Stating a discriminatory preference in a housing post is illegal - please flag discriminatory posts as prohibited

$650 / 1 Bdrm Apt. Near Miskatonic First Week Dec!

Reply to: hous-401385218@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-7-12, 11:21AM EST

One bedroom apartment available in historic brick building! Located in downtown Arkham! Minutes from Miskatonic/waterfront/train station/cafes/stores! Five minute drive to 95, 20 minutes to Boston!

Building has washer/dryer in basement. Roof access. Wifi/cable. $650+utililties. First, last, security + references.

No smokers. No pets - absolutely no fish.

Federal St

  • Location: Arkham
  • it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
PostingID: 401385218

Was supposed to be moving today, but last minute delays mean I'm going tomorrow. This is the place I'm getting (I'll post pictures when I get in). $650?? I know, dirt cheap. I picked up the lease last July for a December move-in, and the landlord told me the discount was because of the advance lease, and the need to secure someone. Never heard of that before, but the place looked good and at the price, I'm not complaining.

And no, I have no idea about the fish thing. Maybe someone is allergic? Should be leaving around noon tomorrow. Good-bye, NYC. It's been fun.]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/moving-on-up.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/moving-on-up.html Fri, 07 Dec 2007 12:40:55 -0500 HOMEWARD BOUND, I GUESS I'M, HOMEWARD BOUND

Directions
Start: Greenpoint Ave, Brooklyn, NY, US
End: 7 Federal St, Arkham, MA, US

 Distance
Total Est. Time: 4 hours, 19 minutes Total Est. Distance: 233.17 miles
1: Start out going NORTHEAST on GREENPOINT AVE toward FRANKLIN ST. 1.5 miles
2: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto BORDEN AVE. 0.2 miles
3: Merge onto I-495 E toward EASTERN LONG IS / RIVERHEAD. 4.3 miles
4: Take the I-495 E / VAN WYCK EXPWY exit- EXIT 22A-E- toward LONG ISLAND. 0.6 miles
5: Merge onto I-678 N toward WHITESTONE BR (Portions toll). 6.7 miles
6: I-678 N becomes HUTCHINSON RIVER PKWY N. 4.0 miles
7: Merge onto I-95 N via EXIT 6 toward NEW HAVEN (Portions toll) (Crossing into CONNECTICUT). 59.8 miles
8: Merge onto I-91 N via EXIT 48 on the LEFT toward HARTFORD. 36.8 miles
9: Merge onto CT-15 N via EXIT 29 toward I-84 / EAST HARTFORD / BOSTON. 2.1 miles
10: CT-15 N becomes I-84 E (Portions toll) (Crossing into MASSACHUSETTS). 40.7 miles
11: Merge onto I-90 E / MASS PIKE / MASSACHUSETTS TURNPIKE toward N.H.-MAINE / BOSTON (Portions toll). 44.5 miles
12: Take the I-95 N / RT-30 / RT-128 N exit- EXIT 14- toward N.H.-MAINE / POINTS NORTH. 1.1 miles
13: Merge onto I-95 N / MA-128 N via the exit on the LEFT toward INSMOUTH / GLOUCESTER. 24.7 miles
14: Keep LEFT to take MA-128 N via EXIT 45 toward GLOUCESTER. 2.4 miles
15: Merge onto ANDOVER ST / MA-114 E via EXIT 25A toward SALEM / ARKHAM. 0.7 miles
16: Turn LEFT onto PERKINS ST 0.1 miles
17: Turn RIGHT onto CHANDLER ST 0.4 miles
18: Turn RIGHT onto CENTRAL ST 1.6 miles
19: Stay STRAIGHT to go onto MAIN ST <0.1 miles
20: Turn LEFT onto FEDERAL ST. <0.1 miles
21: End at 7 Federal St, Arkham, MA US
Total Est. Time: 4 hours, 32 minutes Total Est. Distance: 233.17 miles

]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/homeward-bound-i-guess-i-am-ho.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/homeward-bound-i-guess-i-am-ho.html Wed, 05 Dec 2007 23:36:57 -0500 WHY I'M MOVING TO ARKHAM AND BECOMING LAME
Anyone reading this? I'm quite aware that it's lame to do another -ist site - Gothamist has already added too many city names that don't match the suffix (I see they gave up on San Franciscist and went with SFist instead, which sounds like some kind of Mario 3 item [p-wing? s-fist? Wow, gave away my nerd credentials in the first entry]). But whatever. It works with Arkham, and frankly, maybe it'll help bring a bit of interest from the ist-crowd (crowdists?) to reading about the oft-forgotten city of Arkham, Massachusetts.

My name is Dave. I'm originally from Boston, Massachusetts. I went to NYU, studied journalism, graduated, and quickly found out that NYC newspapers really don't give a shit about someone who went to NYU, studied journalism, and graduated. After a few months waitering at a cafe on the upper west side, I realized that, though I was no closer to becoming a Pulitzer-prize winning reporter, I had nearly mastered the concept of regular right, decaf left.

Which depressed the hell out of me.

So I decided that I'd have to give up New York, the best pizza in the world, my friends, my closet-sized room, my non-existent girlfriend, great movie theaters, my favorite Turkish place on Houston, excellent public transit, the annoying hipsters in Williamsburg, the annoying bankers in Murray Hill, the fake punks on St. Marks...and move to a smaller city or town with a paper willing to hire a useless college graduate like myself. Hence, why I'm moving to Arkham at the end of the week.

It's weird - I've been all over Massachusetts, from Martha's Vineyard to the Berkshires, and I've never really visited Arkham. I've driven through occasionally on my way to Salem or Newburyport, but for whatever reason, I never felt the urge to stop. In high school, friends would go down to frat parties at Miskatonic (Arkham's Harvard, for you non-New Englanders), but my parents were pretty strict about that sort of thing. Really lame too, as I missed out on some crazy stuff.

In other words, Arkham's not really at the top of my list for places to live, especially when it means leaving New York, but it's pretty much the only decent job offer I got east of the Mississippi (yeah, there's no fucking way I'm writing about cattle in Nebraska). Arkham has a pretty decent newspaper, the Arkham Advertiser, which sort of sounds like it's a store catalog, but it covers as far as Innsmouth, so that's a lot of range. And they're willing to put me on as a local guy in a town where I'm not a local, which is sweet.

So I'm going to keep a blog of my new life there. Partly because there's no good Arkham blogs, partly to keep my friends in NYC aware of my thrilling life in an old New England seaport town (go to hell, Jeremy), but mainly to get picked up by the Gothamist for a zillion dollars once Arkham becomes more popular. Over the next few months, I'm going to try to keep posting about life in Arkham, dirty secrets and all. It's taken a fucking while to get everything on this blog working right, but I'm leaving in a couple days, so we're done fighting, Movable Type.

Uh yeah, so an underwhelming first entry. I'll be leaving for Arkham in my UHaul van on Friday. More soon. ]]> http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/why-im-moving-to-arkham-and-be.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/why-im-moving-to-arkham-and-be.html Arkham Miskatonic blog gothamist journalism NYU Innsmouth Salem Massachusetts Wed, 05 Dec 2007 00:09:43 -0500 TEST TEST Is this thing on? ... http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/test-test.html http://www.arkhamist.com/2007/12/test-test.html Tue, 04 Dec 2007 19:00:38 -0500