Comments on: SXSW 2007 - meetup?

SXSW 2007 - meetup?

SpecialK — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:16:48 -0800

SXSW Interactive -- do the cool kids do that anymore? I'll be arriving a day early, the evening of the 8th, and leaving the last day of Interactive. Any MeFites want to do a meetup in Austin?

By: fnord

fnord — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:34:54 -0800

I'm down for it!

Someplace not quite downtown to escape crowds would probably work best.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 11:35:42 -0800

I'll be around Saturday night to Tuesday afternoon (10th-13th I think).

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 12:21:30 -0800

I would be in (although I punked out on the last one).

By: jonmc

jonmc — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 12:25:05 -0800

do the cool kids do that anymore?

No. The cool kids don't do anything. Inactivity is the new cool activity.

By: Dave Faris

Dave Faris — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 14:35:13 -0800

It apparently stopped being a cool kid retreat the year before I went, in 2003.

By: cali

cali — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 15:25:33 -0800

A dinner meetup sounds good to me, anywhere in walking distance of the convention center.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 17:22:25 -0800

Cali, if it gets scheduled elsewhere in the city (which might be a good idea, like 50% of the places downtown are booked for private parties the entire time, so it'd be hard to pick a place to meet up), I'll have my car with me at the Hilton Garden Inn, 3 blocks over from the convention center. Anyone's welcome to take SpecialK's Taxi to wherever we get together.

Those in Austin -- any ideas? I don't know Austin well at all. Somewhere secret and cool near downtown, or elsewhere in the city that's just plain ten kinds of awesome?

By: dw

dw — Sun, 18 Feb 2007 22:03:38 -0800

I finally get to go this year, guaranteeing that all previous SXSWi's were ubercool and this one will be teh suck.

I'm coming in early (evening of the 8th) and have a rental car, so whatever.

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 07:57:30 -0800

For dinner, a little outside of downtown, could I suggest the Maudie's on S. Lamar or Shady Grove? Any other ideas? Is Vivo too far (on the other side of I-35)? Maybe sunday afternoon or evening, March 11?

By: Lyn Never

Lyn Never — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 09:51:42 -0800

It's the meetups that make it still cool. That way we can be a clique.

I think the best way to pull off a downtown meetup is a meal somewhere that has a party room that isn't booked yet, which may mean it's months too late, I don't know. The where is probably going to be dictated by the when, though.

I've been to a Friday night thing at the Gingerman the last couple of years, which has a nice sized beer garden in back - a Sunday afternoon gathering might be workable there, especially if the weather puts on a good show. It's not a bad walk from the convention center vicinity, but it's just far enough that one wouldn't look too dumb taking a cab if walking wasn't desirable.

By: donajo

donajo — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 11:25:08 -0800

Y'all can put me down as a definite maybe. Not sure what my plans are for that weekend, but if I'm in town, I'll come out to a meet-up.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 12:21:56 -0800

I agree that Sunday evening (post-panels, so 5:30 pm ish) is probably best for a meetup.

We could meet at Opal Devine's Freehouse, which is on sixth street (bonus: easy to find) closer to the end of the bars and hotels. Bonus: the closer watering holes will be full ...

By: dw

dw — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 14:58:45 -0800

Sunday will probably work for me, though it might interact with another meetup I'm trying to get scheduled.

Again, I have a car graciously provided by the state of Washington. Any Seattleites going can come see your TAX DOLLARS AT WORK!

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:27:55 -0800

Aah. State Employment is great, ain't it?

DW, do you work for the state or a educational institution? If the latter, do you know about the higher education web gathering?

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:28:32 -0800

Oh, and a friend and I are putting together http://2007.sxswiki.com/Main_Page .. not quite ready for launch yet, but we're working on it.

By: dw

dw — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 18:02:59 -0800

I work for a school within a large state university that may or may not be located in the Seattle city limits.

And you're talking about the Friday night gathering, right? I'll be there.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 22:21:27 -0800

dw: Yes, yes you will. So will I. I work for a large academic institution that may or may ... ah, fuck it, IS located in College Station, TX.

(I mean, not like there's anything around us but cows anyway. And I do count the residents of the surrounding towns in that population.)

By: cali

cali — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:08:16 -0800

SpecialK, thanks for the offer of a ride if necessary. Can I also request when plans are somewhat firm that it be posted to Upcoming.org?

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 09:35:19 -0800

Cali, sure, no problem. I think we're firm on date, but someone needs to step up and second one of the places... :)

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:41:54 -0800

Maybe we could just make it Opal Divine's. They have food if you are so inclined and if the weather cooperates (should be 80 today) you can sit outside.

By: Lyn Never

Lyn Never — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 10:43:21 -0800

I'll second yours, since it's a bit farther away and so probably will be a smidge less crowded. The food looks a little bit better as well.

So, Opal Divine's Freehouse, 5:30ish Sunday March 11th?

By: dw

dw — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 11:21:03 -0800

It looks like it's what, 11 blocks away? That's walkable, but again, I can offer my car.

I haven't been to Austin in nearly 20 years. It's going to be a shock to see how huge that place is now.

By: Lyn Never

Lyn Never — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:07:16 -0800

Upcoming event created. Probably it doesn't count unless it's also Dodgeballed, Twittered, Google calendared, 2.0'd, GTDed, and added to the front page of your obscure startup that just got bought for 12 million dollars, but it's a start.

By: Lyn Never

Lyn Never — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 14:11:57 -0800

Ah, it turns out panels run until 6:00 Sunday, not 5:00 as I had assumed. Would it throw anyone off terribly if it was 6:30ish instead?

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 14:14:09 -0800

Nope, that works just fine. I thought it was 5:00 too.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 22:51:45 -0800

I'll head over there after my panel.

By: mckenney

mckenney — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:31:03 -0800

I will try to make it.

By: Lyn Never

Lyn Never — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 13:32:14 -0800

FYI I think I am matrimonially obligated to pimp my husband's karaoke gathering Friday night at one of the other Opal Divine's. It's a great icebreaker if you've just gotten into town and don't know what to do with yourself.

By: rleamon

rleamon — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 17:40:55 -0800

I'll be there fo sho! My very first meet-up and #1 will be there; wow!

By: Brittanie

Brittanie — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 08:29:12 -0800

We're also having a meet-up in Houston on Monday the 12th if anyone wants to make the drive down. Although I promise my feelings won't be hurt if you don't.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 13:50:53 -0800

Brittanie -

Won't be able to for me, but let me know when the next Houston gathering is as I'm just up in Cowledge Station.

By: spiderwire

spiderwire — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:26:28 -0800

I'm at Clementine Coffee on Manor all Saturday night, geeking out trying to learn Lisp, if anyone gets bored :) It's nice and quiet here.

My car is out of commission, but hopefully I can make it to Opal's tomorrow.

By: spiderwire

spiderwire — Sat, 10 Mar 2007 17:28:04 -0800

Oh, and Vivo is right across the street, as well as the Red House bar, if that tickles anyone's fancy.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 16:14:31 -0800

I'm at Opal's, sitting in the bar for now. Look for the guy with the powerbook. There is wifi here.

By: SpecialK

SpecialK — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 16:41:55 -0800

We're now in a big group on the front porch.

By: spiderwire

spiderwire — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 17:58:37 -0800

I'm stuck at Clementine again :( no car. <3 from across town.

By: mathowie

mathowie — Sun, 11 Mar 2007 20:58:15 -0800

Yay, that was fun. Thanks everyone for coming!

By: Lyn Never

Lyn Never — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 13:47:54 -0800

It was very cool to meet everybody - let's do it again next year!

By: mattbucher

mattbucher — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 08:07:07 -0800

That was very cool. SpecialK, are your few photos up? I completely forgot to bring my camera or do "shoutouts."