London meetup: shall we do one soon, chaps?

September 8, 2006 4:48 AM

London meetup: shall we do one soon, chaps?
posted by hugsnkisses to MetaFilter gatherings at 4:48 AM (60 comments total)

We haven't had a meetup for a couple of months now, anyone fancy one?

Place: [this is open to suggestion]
Date: Some time around the 21st?

(Also: I sent you lot a shoutout from the last DC meetup, enjoy your non-specific recognition.)
posted by hugsnkisses at 4:51 AM on September 8, 2006

meetup, woo!

I'm out of the country until the 17th or so, but sometime around the 21st sounds good.
posted by atrazine at 5:20 AM on September 8, 2006

Sounds good to me...
posted by flashboy at 5:39 AM on September 8, 2006

I'd come but I'd get beaten up by all the new kids. We should have another one in Oxford one day...

For future ref., I think amberglow was planning to be in Brighton in the next few months so be warned ;-)
posted by i_cola at 5:57 AM on September 8, 2006

I'm in too. Next week is going to be awful at work so some time around the 21st would be great. Can we pick a venue where we can actually hear ourselves speak this time? :D
posted by greycap at 6:25 AM on September 8, 2006

*cough* Manchester.
posted by Jofus at 6:25 AM on September 8, 2006

Yeah, Oxford sounds a much better idea!
posted by salmacis at 6:25 AM on September 8, 2006

I'll try and make a London one again. Venue, if it's not going to be Walthamstow, should be as central as possible.
posted by MrMustard at 6:36 AM on September 8, 2006

I'll wait to see the dust settle, but I hope to get to a meetup again soon - Oxford or London, or south-ish anywhere.
posted by dash_slot- at 6:44 AM on September 8, 2006

I wish I could come :(
posted by ludwig_van at 7:43 AM on September 8, 2006

Count me in.
posted by goo at 8:18 AM on September 8, 2006

Slightly earlier than the 21st would be better for me - I go back to uni in Cardiff on the 19th. Suggestion: 17th? 18th?
posted by Lotto at 8:26 AM on September 8, 2006

OWDY, GUV'NA!!
posted by jonson at 8:55 AM on September 8, 2006

The UK might not be a huge place, but it isn't tiny. My proposal for all future UK MeTa meet-up suggestions is that the town or city named in the original post stands. If you want to organise another in Oxford, Manchester or wherever then cool - make a MeTa thread when you think it's a good time!

I'll spare my usual "I'll try and make this one" lameness, since I usually fail to turn up. I probably won't make this one, but will keep an open and, who knows...?
posted by nthdegx at 9:02 AM on September 8, 2006

nthdegx Absolutely. I'm just not brave enough to suggest one of my own... ;)
posted by Jofus at 9:21 AM on September 8, 2006

I'm on a sabbatical/actively unemployed/change-is-as-good-as-a-resting for September so I may well be there, wherever there is.
Usually not where I am.

I sort of recall an Olde Englande Meta tradition of Spanish tapas after the ambiguous fluid taking, so there's my condition for attending. flashboy, back me up on this one.

And nthdegx, I'll spot your tube fare if you show. And if I do.
posted by NinjaTadpole at 9:26 AM on September 8, 2006

That's the spirit Jonson, cracking job!

The Fitzroy Tavern seems to be a standard meetup area suggested by everyone but it tends to be rather crowded; the Bricklayers Arms has a couple of floors, lots of sofas and is supposedly an excellent place for conversation; I seem to recall a decent amount of table space at the Old Bank of England but I haven't been there on a weekend. There also seem to be a few quiet pubs around Marylebone.

Just some thoughts.
posted by hugsnkisses at 11:16 AM on September 8, 2006

OWDY, GUV'NA!!

Said through yellowed, rotten teeth while brandishing a chimney sweeping brush...

On venues, there's always the various Sam Smith's pubs - Lyceum Tavern on the Strand, or the Cardinal in Westminster? (Yes I am cheap).
posted by greycap at 12:44 PM on September 8, 2006

Ah, Bricklayers is Sam Smiths. Mental note to read the links before I post next time.
posted by greycap at 12:45 PM on September 8, 2006

How did you know I was a chimney sweep, greycap?
posted by jonson at 1:47 PM on September 8, 2006

I was going to suggest the Lyceum, but fancyapint says it's closed for refurbishment, unless that's out of date.
posted by cillit bang at 1:59 PM on September 8, 2006

So did we settle on a day?

I'm definitely up for it but would need to make it in from Brighton, and I have a few evening events in that week.

And as for venues, there are some nice pubs in the Whitehall area (my old London stamping ground) that are fairly quiet earlier in the week. The Red Lion is good for political spotters (and tourists), but the new St. Stephen's Tavern is lovely. There are also little gems like the Speaker (on Perkin's Rents), though they are small if we are arriving mob-handed.
posted by athenian at 3:21 PM on September 8, 2006

Oh, and there's also the King's Arms on Roupell Street, which has rather a nice tapas place round the corner, if that's the food direction we want to take.
posted by athenian at 3:25 PM on September 8, 2006

If people don't mind Sam Smiths then it seems like the Bricklayers Arms would be fine. And who wouldn't want to spread out the embarrassing horror of attempting to locate Weird Internet Strangers over several different floors?

As for dates, since some people are mentioning traveling then perhaps Friday 22nd would be best.
posted by hugsnkisses at 4:15 PM on September 8, 2006

Fitzroy/Bricklayers are just round the corner from each other - Fitzroy was the venue for an ye olde MeFi meetup many moons ago, I recall. So I say yes to that particular bit of Fitzrovia.

The other good thing is that the Bricklayers is just round the corner from Stephen Street, which will be very amusing to any Blur fans out there.
posted by flashboy at 4:40 PM on September 8, 2006

Oh, and yes to the tradition of wanton Spanish-style cephalopod consumption following meetups. Pretty Generic still owes me an octopus.
posted by flashboy at 4:42 PM on September 8, 2006

I should be able to make it, if I ain't in Paris. This time I shall behave myself afterwards, too.

And I'll wear pink.
posted by armoured-ant at 8:01 AM on September 9, 2006

Also, the Bricklayers sounds good. Gresse Street is very easy to find. And the 22nd's probably a good idea, since it ain't a school night.
posted by armoured-ant at 8:03 AM on September 9, 2006

And who wouldn't want to spread out the embarrassing horror of attempting to locate Weird Internet Strangers over several different floors?

Don't worry, I'll be wearing my Weird Internet Stranger T-shirt.
posted by chrismear at 8:51 AM on September 9, 2006

Pretty Generic will probably not come this time :( I however, will. I don't care where in London, as long as it's near a Tube station.
posted by public at 3:11 PM on September 9, 2006

I will definitely try and make it along - haven't been to a UK meetup since Oxford...
posted by adrianhon at 3:48 PM on September 9, 2006

21st or 22nd?
posted by cillit bang at 4:57 PM on September 9, 2006

I can't make it to this one but I'll be living in London starting in early October and therefore hope that there's another one soon. My choice of username five years ago was not sufficiently forward-thinking.
posted by sueinnyc at 10:37 PM on September 9, 2006

So, are we saying Friday 22nd at the Bricklayers Arms? I only ask because that's the one date I definitely can't make.
posted by MrMustard at 12:32 AM on September 10, 2006

also requesting confirmation. I can make Friday 22nd, is that fixed?
posted by Wilder at 2:21 AM on September 10, 2006

I can't make 22nd either - but will bow to the will of democracy if it does turn out to be the Friday.
posted by greycap at 3:28 AM on September 10, 2006

Well again, I'd have considered showing up any date other than the 22nd, but you're never going to please everyone.
posted by edd at 5:37 AM on September 10, 2006

22nd is My Morning Jacket at the Astoria, otherwise I'd make my usual soundings of wanting to go
posted by TheDonF at 8:13 AM on September 10, 2006

I just moved to London, so I'm excited about this ...

So far the 22'nd sounds like it's bad for more people than the 21'st ... to be rather forward, may I suggest we fix the 21'st, at 6:00, at the Bricklayer's Arms, at this point?
posted by louigi at 8:31 AM on September 10, 2006

aw crapola. i was hoping to have another party to crash, as i'm on my way there right now. seems i'm headed back on the 17th, however. enjoy!

to anybody hanging out at the PRO this week, i'd love to hear of a good pub in the area (email's in profile).
posted by garfy3 at 9:23 AM on September 10, 2006

The 22nd is not really going to work for me. Y'all have fun though.
posted by grouse at 3:16 PM on September 10, 2006

garfly - I don't know about any pubs, but the fish and chips place beside Kew Gardens tube stop has some very nice cheap roast chicken. Much cheaper than the PRO lunch.
posted by jb at 3:58 PM on September 10, 2006

Place: Bricklayers Arms in Fitzrovia
Date: Thursday the 21st
Time: 6.30pm

All you lot commenting about not being able to make Friday had better be coming to this now.
posted by hugsnkisses at 5:35 PM on September 10, 2006

Woah. Someone just got their stern face on.





I feel tingly.
posted by NinjaTadpole at 8:49 PM on September 10, 2006

Blimey. Guess I'd better make it then!
posted by MrMustard at 12:02 AM on September 11, 2006

All you lot commenting about not being able to make Friday had better be coming to this now.

You better believe there's a list, non-attendance will be Punished.
posted by atrazine at 1:49 AM on September 11, 2006

Well, I will be there if you lot will be there at about 8. I have a meeting in Brighton that doesn't finish till 6. Factor in being buttonholed by people and getting to the station, in London at 7.40.
posted by athenian at 5:16 AM on September 11, 2006

Yeah, coming in on weekdays is pretty difficult in general so it's probably not going to happen for me.
posted by grouse at 5:23 AM on September 11, 2006

I'll be there, then.
posted by armoured-ant at 10:46 AM on September 11, 2006

I'll be there but a bit later, have to go to a colleague's leaving party first.
posted by greycap at 11:14 AM on September 12, 2006

I will kill again.
posted by flashboy at 1:04 PM on September 12, 2006

Sorry. Be there. I will be there. Is what I meant to say.
posted by flashboy at 1:04 PM on September 12, 2006

Can make the 22nd but not the 21st - out of town all week. Have a good one.
posted by blag at 1:52 PM on September 12, 2006

The Internet is Serious Business, boys. Did I forget to mention the dress code required for attendance also?

(The fun part is that we won't tell you what the dress code is until you get there.)
posted by hugsnkisses at 2:03 PM on September 12, 2006

I have a prior engagement several thousand miles away, otherwise I would be there too. Have fun, and I'll see you on the next one.
posted by essexjan at 2:11 PM on September 12, 2006

I'll be there.
posted by adrianhon at 2:13 AM on September 14, 2006

Can't make it, God damn it! Tell you what - I'll propose the next one ;)
posted by nthdegx at 8:33 AM on September 14, 2006

I'll be there, nervous but..... you guy's ll be nice right..?
posted by Wilder at 2:21 PM on September 14, 2006

The penthouse^* and jet⁺ are booked, so I'll be there.
In fact I'll be there early, probably, so y'all have to play catch-up. I know, Pimms all round, right?



^* expensive hostel^#
+ National Express coach
^# middling hostel
posted by NinjaTadpole at 2:41 PM on September 14, 2006

I don't think anyone's been to more London meetups than flashboy: his is a great record of attendance. He's secretly asked me to reveal this when he's no longer reading the thread, in order to ensure that he gets the bumps when he's not expecting.


In addition to all that, can someone make sure that they bring:
a) paper to make shout-outs
b) pens of various hue and possibly glitter to make shout-outs
c) their amusing in-jokes to make shout-outs
d) DaShiv to take proper photos
e) a map to point me in the right direction at the end of the night

Thank you.
posted by NinjaTadpole at 2:47 PM on September 14, 2006