'Don't know if any local shops hiring interns offhand, but if you drop a copy of your resume and salary requirements to lalee -at- pobox (dot com) I'll keep it on file and see about any good matches as they come up.

Keep at it with trying out the various frameworks until you find one that you like. To get a good feel for a framework's capabilities, I usually write a simple CMS or Blog (something with Users, Posts, and Comments), along with Authentication and Access Control.

It's a simple enough exercise to finish within a week for most Frameworks; yet complex enough to "hit the walls" that you'd usually hit when writing a more complicated system. Good luck, and please do blog about your experiences to share the knowledge! Wayyy too many frameworks out there! :-)

Hey Fred, I only organized them during the summer of '08. But you should organize some coworking meetings. I'm sure you'd get some response. All the best! Truman

Sorry - Fred I was trying to thank you for your comment and accidentally posted a comment that was meant for another -- hope I actually deleted the mistake!