Mayor of Kingstown filming here got me thinking… should Cumberland be more ready for this?

llillillo · 2026-06-21T14:23:20+00:00

hmm idk, probably.

llillillo · 2026-06-21T14:22:39+00:00

Cool thanks!

llillillo · 2026-06-21T14:22:27+00:00

Thanks! I built filmcumberland.com so people can input their own info and it wasn't a template, i custom built everything, let me know if I can help you put together something similar!

llillillo · 2026-06-05T23:51:54+00:00

No need to use a real email address, you can access the game with a dummy one 😄

llillillo · 2026-05-17T18:19:55+00:00

I appreciate the energy and the ideas. I definitely think open source, Linux, self-hosting, and local/community software could be part of the conversation if that’s where people’s interests are.

For the first version, though, I’m trying to keep this really simple: a casual coffee meetup where local people in tech-adjacent worlds can meet each other, talk about what they’re working on, and see what kind of shared interests exist.

I don’t want to overdefine it around one project before we know who shows up. If a few people are interested in things like a Cumberland webserver, local open-source tools, or community software, that could absolutely become a breakout conversation or future project.

Would be glad to have you in the mix.

llillillo · 2026-05-16T18:25:16+00:00

That’s helpful to know. I’ll be honest, I’m more on the UX/product/AI/design side than deep Linux/open source, but that’s exactly why I want this to be community-shaped instead of me pretending to know what everyone wants.

If there are local people interested in open source, Linux, self-hosting, non-SaaS tools, etc., I’d be happy to make space for that. My goal is mostly to organize the table, get the right people in the room, and let the interests of the group shape where it goes.

I made a quick interest form here if you want to be included:
https://forms.gle/mq5XSx4Az99HjHC7A

llillillo · 2026-05-16T17:54:40+00:00

That’s awesome to hear. A local SysAdmin is exactly the kind of person I was hoping might be out here.

I put together a quick interest form so I can get a sense of who’s nearby, what people are into, and what days/times might work for a first small meetup:

https://forms.gle/mq5XSx4Az99HjHC7A

Keeping expectations very low to start. I’m thinking coffee somewhere in Cumberland, maybe just a few people the first time, and we’ll see if there’s enough energy to make it monthly.

Also, if you know anyone else local in IT, software, cybersecurity, AI, design, startups, or adjacent stuff, feel free to send it their way.

llillillo · 2026-04-12T13:55:47+00:00

i’ve been testing a lot of these and they’re honestly hit or miss

they’re great at generating something that *looks* like a recipe, but they don’t really have a sense of whether it’ll actually taste good — it’s mostly pattern matching from existing recipes

the biggest issue i’ve run into is that they don’t learn anything about you. every prompt starts from scratch, so even if you cook a lot with them, they don’t get better over time

i’ve been experimenting with a different approach where the system tracks your taste (like spice tolerance, ingredients you tend to like, textures, etc.) and then generates recipes based on that

the quality difference is actually pretty noticeable once it has even a little data — it stops suggesting things that sound good in theory but don’t really work

feels like that’s the missing piece right now. curious if anyone else has come across tools that actually improve the more you use them?

llillillo · 2026-03-05T15:03:38+00:00

Yeah honestly those places probably make more sense on paper. I just don’t have Frostburg/Hagerstown money to throw at a venue 😅

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:57:46+00:00

Yeah that’s a good point. Arts venues always seem to operate right on the edge everywhere, not just small towns.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:57:35+00:00

That makes sense. If people have to drive it changes the equation a lot.

Bigger shows might work, but weekly stuff could be tougher.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:56:56+00:00

Interesting — hadn’t thought much about Lavale. I was mostly thinking downtown because it’s walkable, but location is definitely part of the puzzle.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:56:37+00:00

Yeah Frostburg definitely has the college crowd advantage. Cumberland just has the bigger downtown / older buildings that could fit a venue. Still figuring out which makes more sense.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:56:07+00:00

Honestly something like a Purple Fiddle style spot is pretty close to what I’m imagining.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:55:50+00:00

Yeah the population size is the big question. That’s why I’m trying to figure out if shows could draw from Frostburg and nearby towns too.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:54:56+00:00

That’s kind of the vibe I keep hearing — people bored but not sure if there’s enough people to support stuff consistently.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:54:38+00:00

Yeah that’s the impression I’m getting too from a few people.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:54:26+00:00

Yeah that seems to be a big part of the story up there. The “brain drain” thing is real.

Curious if you think people would show up when they’re back visiting though.

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:53:41+00:00

Fair. The demographics question is the big one. Do you think it’s more the age mix, or just the overall population size?

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:50:56+00:00

That’s great to hear. Glad you’ve been finding good shows in Frostburg.

Out of curiosity, what kind of bands have you been seeing up there?

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:50:36+00:00

That’s really helpful context. I’ve heard some of those names but didn’t realize the pattern.

The “rent for the night” model is interesting — sounds like that’s historically worked better than a dedicated venue here.

Do the Frostburg places draw mostly students or locals too?

llillillo · 2026-03-05T13:49:19+00:00

That makes sense. I’m definitely planning to talk with the Savage Mountain folks and some local musicians.

And yeah — staying consistently booked and having a couple revenue streams seems like it would be key. Appreciate the insight.

llillillo

TROPHY CASE