Chicago Meetup | MetaTalk

I'll be in Chicago that weekend for a work trip. It'll be my first time visiting. On Saturday afternoon, I'll be at the Field Museum. I'd love to use this opportunity to meet Chicago MeFites. Where could we get a gathering together at, say, 5 or 6 PM, not too far from the museum area? I'm staying in Oak Park, so don't want to ramble around too much.
posted by Miko at 10:21 AM on April 11, 2007

I went ahead and added it to the sidebar, Miko. That'll be a good day for me. In terms of places, you wouldn't be too far from two Billy Goat Taverns (one on Wells and one on Michigan Ave). I know those were proposed in the previous thread bit I'm sure some of our more downtowny Chicagoans can recommend other places. I'm looking forward to it!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 10:50 AM on April 11, 2007

I went ahead and added it to the sidebar, Miko.

You can do that? Where did I miss that?
posted by Mid at 3:23 PM on April 11, 2007

Right here! Pretty cool, eh?
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 4:28 PM on April 11, 2007

I'll be working the bout between Seattle's Rat City Rollergirls and The Windy City Rollers All-Stars, but have fun!
posted by eamondaly at 5:06 PM on April 11, 2007

Frankly, if I could go to a Metafilter meetup at a roller derby and get to meet Miko, whose "Women Drinking Whiskey" song occasionally goes through my head, I'd drive up from Champaign for this one.
posted by MsMolly at 7:57 PM on April 11, 2007

I wanna meet Miko! A Plan must be formed!
posted by mrs.pants at 7:02 PM on April 12, 2007

Well, if you'll be at the Field and then you'll be catching a train back to Oak Park, something Loopish might be best. Rivers at the Merc has a really nice patio. During the week it's packed with traders but not so much on the weekends. Doesn't open until 5pm.

Miller's Pub (Wabash between Adams and Monroe) is also convenient, comfortable, and lowkey. Opens at 11am.

Last year they turned the ice rink at Millennium Park into a beer garden after the rink closed, but I can find any information about it.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:14 PM on April 12, 2007

Mmmmm.. Miller's Pub.

get to meet Miko, whose "Women Drinking Whiskey" song occasionally goes through my head, I'd drive up from Champaign for this one.

Careful there. I just may have to bring my cowboy hat and a Telecaster and make her sing!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:37 PM on April 12, 2007

The jam is on!
posted by Miko at 8:39 PM on April 12, 2007

Dammit. I wanted to go to the roller derby bout as well. And given my post today a meetup seems ideal. I'm quite torn. Although there is another bout the week prior. And since the meetup will start early, I should be able to drop in for at least a bit.

Hrm. Perhaps the south loop has better meeting spots, say along Michigan, south of Roosevelt? That area seems pretty busy.
posted by mjbraun at 9:31 AM on April 13, 2007

yes, the south loop would be a bit better. i would suggest kasey's tavern, where, among other things, there will be no dancing.
posted by lester at 3:36 PM on April 13, 2007

Hm...anything less sports-bar-y? It looks like it might be a place with a lot of TVs. Of course I defer to the locals.
posted by Miko at 4:12 PM on April 13, 2007

kasey's isn't a sports bar ... it's a neighborhood bar. they have maybe 2 tv's behind the bar. there's a pool table in back, and a few tables up front. in many ways, it's a classic example of a chicago tavern.
posted by lester at 8:37 PM on April 13, 2007

The Exchequer?

There are lots of nice things in the loop (and I'm with you, Miko, I don't like the TV in bars and lots of places around here have them). The previously mentioned Rivers. Monk's where we've Met-up before, has no teevees in the front room and is more casual.
posted by crush-onastick at 8:47 AM on April 14, 2007

I recommend Monk's. I love Monk's. I vote for Monk's.
posted by MeetMegan at 7:18 PM on April 15, 2007

i guess i'd be ok with monks. looks like it's the same kind of place as kasey's.
posted by lester at 5:25 AM on April 16, 2007

For reference, here is a map of Monk's location.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:54 AM on April 16, 2007

Monk's is way more tavern than neighborhood bar. Check out the photos from the last meetup there.
posted by MeetMegan at 9:18 AM on April 16, 2007

Monk's looks pretty convenient for even a complete out-of-towner to find, and the site MeetMegan linked promises "excellent burgers and an utter lack of pompousness." Sounds perfect.

So let's call it: Monk's, Saturday April 28th, I'll be there as close to 5 PM as possible. It does say it can be loud for conversation, so earlier is probably a bit better - maybe we can catch the quieter early-evening atmosphere before Saturday night starts to kick in.

I'm really looking forward to meeting any and all Chicago MetaPeople. Also, feel free to email with other things I should see and do while in town (Friday through Tuesday morning). I have some work stuff to do, and have already started planning to visit some Frank Lloyd Wright shrines and take a food tour.

See ya there!
posted by Miko at 9:47 AM on April 16, 2007

wait a minute ... those people in meetmegan's links are wearing nametags. am i gonna have to wear a nametag?
posted by lester at 4:09 PM on April 16, 2007

No, but a lei or maybe a squirting buttoniere would be encouraged.
posted by Miko at 5:45 PM on April 16, 2007

Sadly, I will be hosting a party of my own that evening, but have fun without me! (Kevin, you can borrow my squirting buttoniere if you need it.)
posted by me3dia at 8:08 AM on April 18, 2007

I'll try and stop by for a bit. We've got birthday celebrations that Saturday, but I'd like to come out anyway.
posted by youngergirl44 at 4:19 PM on April 18, 2007

looks like me and the missus will be there ... but sans any kind of lapelwear, at least on my part.
posted by lester at 8:35 PM on April 20, 2007

Poop. I'm moving to the city over the course of the next two weeks, but will be back in Detroit-area hanging out other peoples that weekend.

But next time... Next time...
posted by sparkletone at 10:21 PM on April 20, 2007

Awesome! I will be there! How exciting, to meet real MetaFolks...
posted by buriednexttoyou at 11:17 AM on April 21, 2007

Just a quick check-in: I leave tomorrow and probably won't be online much. See you all at Monk's, 5 PM, Saturday the 28th.
posted by Miko at 9:34 AM on April 26, 2007

hey, so, if meetmegan actually shows (and fat chance at that, given her track record...), we're gonna get her shitfaced, right?
posted by rbs at 10:53 PM on April 26, 2007

Hey RBS you are a dork. I went to 1 meetup...and phooey on you. So there. See you all at Monk's tomorrow!
posted by MeetMegan at 10:15 AM on April 27, 2007

Okay, so I'm super late to the game (and only a former Chicagoan to boot), but my band Lisboa (as featured on the excellent Mefi Comp) is playing a free show at Quenchers tomorrow night. It's at 2401 N. Western and of course it'd be awesome to see some MeFi folks there. No cover, good beer (from what I hear), and a killer jukebox. There's only two bands, and a separate room for just chilling if you don't feel like watching the bands. Just another option. Maybe I'll see some of you guys this weekend. Cheers!
posted by joe lisboa at 11:25 AM on April 27, 2007

(This would probably get going around 10 PM, by the way, so if anyone's looking for a post-meetup hangout, come on by.)
posted by joe lisboa at 11:30 AM on April 27, 2007

Ok, I'm a hypocrite, I'm not gonna make it.
posted by rbs at 1:27 PM on April 28, 2007

Where did everyone go? I was just at Monk's and the bar is closed...with a note from Miko on the door...I am totally willing to meet somewhere, just tell me where!
posted by MeetMegan at 4:10 PM on April 28, 2007

Yeah, I just got back from downtown, Megan. We must have passed each other on the sidewalk. I saw the note but figured it would take some elite detective work to find out where Miko and Co. ended up. Maybe next time!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:42 PM on April 28, 2007

I elected not to run from bar to bar in the area shouting "MeFi where you at?". Next time...
posted by MeetMegan at 6:55 PM on April 28, 2007

Ack! The bar was closed, and it was just Miko and I standing around for half an hour. After awkwardly asking a few strangers, "Are you, um, from Metafilter?" we wrote the note and wandered around till we found a bar. It was a fun 2 mefite meetup, but next time hopefully the rendezvous point will be open!
posted by buriednexttoyou at 7:45 PM on April 28, 2007

I'm so sorry to have missed everyone. What's the deal with that bar? I mean....after perusing the website I find the hours deeply buried under the non-intuitive "Monk's Food." Evidently it's one of those business-district places that just closes up on weekends. What a bummer.

If we had known where we were going to go, we'd have put it on the note...and without any wireless capability there was no way to update here. Total bummer!

I'm in town this afternoon wandering about and it's beautifully sunny. Wish I knew where I was going to be for dinner, or I'd update here.

I guess I'll just have to come back to Chicago -- it's really fantastic here. Y'all are lucky to live here...
posted by Miko at 1:12 PM on April 29, 2007

Chicago Meetup April 11, 2007 10:20 AM Subscribe

Chicago Meetup
April 11, 2007 10:20 AM Subscribe