Sydney BBQ meetup?

August 12, 2007 3:12 PM

Spring has well & truly sprung in Sydney, and it's been about six months, so I am proposing a MeFi BBQ. If people are up for it, I'd propose finding a BBQ area (in local aboriginal, babakuarea) somewhere around Victoria Park or in Sydney Uni, just to be close to the traditional MeFi meetup home, the Alfred.
posted by UbuRoivas to MetaFilter Gatherings at 3:12 PM (66 comments total)

I'm in, as long as we can do it on a Sunday. (Stupid work roster...)

Do you mean an area where we can bring our own barbie, or one of those fancy built-in ones? There definitely aren't any in Vic Park, but there are plenty in Centennial. (Can you take alcohol into the park?)
posted by web-goddess at 4:10 PM on August 12, 2007

oooh... i'm a relative n00b here.
tell me more about the sydney cohort...
i've met gads of folk from various internet fora...
but mefi...well... they're a strange fish... and i'm perfectly normal. absolutely. normal. really.

what's the timbre of the usual meetup...
how many, who goes/what ages, partners, offspring, drinking, smoking, sex, drugs, rock, roll?
posted by taff at 4:11 PM on August 12, 2007

babakiueria
posted by liquorice at 4:20 PM on August 12, 2007

Sounds good to me (another n00b here)... It's time for my yearly "leaving the geeky cave and meet other fleshy beings" ritual, anyways, so it fits. ;P

And just to calm taff's possible apprehensions: I'm dull as all hell, even my geek cred is probably subpar, heh.
posted by Iosephus at 4:22 PM on August 12, 2007

oh... also... is it mefi, askme or meta folk that attend?

i've noticed that there seem to be distinct groups... some people who do the blue seldom do the green and vice versa... or so it seems.

i don't spend much time in the blue because i hate clicking on a gazillion links without knowing which is the supporting story, and which is the main one, and which one is youtube and which one is, well.... the blue is difficult for me to enjoy.

i confess that my blue criteria are, well..... i click on things with lots of comments. oh the shame.

so when you mention a mefi barbecue.... do you literally mean mefi, or plebs too? ;-)
posted by taff at 4:55 PM on August 12, 2007

web-goddess: I was thinking fancy built-in barbies. The BBQ option with BYO food & drinks also keeps the costs right down. Since ppl complain about too much commuting, I'd prefer Sydney Uni to Centennial Park. There are definitely barbies near Manning Bar, and probably around the pretty white-picket fence ovals, too. I can scout around on my way to/from work this week.

taff: I've only been to a couple, but in the past we've had maybe a dozen to twenty attendees, no kids, MeFites of all colours, sometimes with partners, eating, drinking, smoking, gang-banging, torturing & decapitation of bunnies, that sort of thing. Not sure what you mean with your MeFi / pleb distinction, but blue, green, grey, miscellaneous, metachat, monkeyfilter, and any simpatico people who have nothing to do with any of the sites or subsites are surely welcome, as long as they are prepared to make like aspies & laugh along at in-jokes that make no sense to them.

liquorice: thanks for re-cromulentizing my spelling.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:17 PM on August 12, 2007

I'm in the wrong hemisphere, but I would love to come just so I could steal those cool goggles of yours;)
posted by vronsky at 5:37 PM on August 12, 2007

After serious consultation with Serial Killer Slumber Party (we both spend too much time on Sydney Uni campus) - we're just about 100% certain that there are no BBQs near Manning Bar (although feel free to correct us if we're wrong!). We don't venture up into the realm of the sports fields very often - so I'm not too sure about that one. I'll see if we can't take a wander up at some stage over the next few days and get back to you folks.

I've missed the last couple, so this sounds like fun!
posted by cholly at 5:46 PM on August 12, 2007

i've noticed that there seem to be distinct groups... some people who do the blue seldom do the green and vice versa... or so it seems.

While all are free to come, the members of each cohort must wear the appropriate colour shirt and display naught but animosity towards the other tribes. Just like that movie I loved as a kid.

And by that I mean I think a BBQ would be right on given this inexplicably pleasant weather.
posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party at 5:47 PM on August 12, 2007

cholly & SKSP: I'm pretty sure there are some coin-op bbqs tucked away in between Manning & the tennis courts - they went in as part of the redevelopment of Manning & that new Edumucation building across the oval from, um, Science. Whenever I cut thru the uni on weekends past the ovals & ppl are playing sports, there is always the smell of sizzling goodness, too, so that's a distinct possibility. And we might get a bonus: freebie amateur baseball or AFL to watch. Best to check if there are any regs against just anybody rocking up off the street with slabs of beer & animal, tho...

vronsky: thanks for the reminder. this will require new goggles. there are some big chinese mig pilot fly-goggles i've had my eyes on for a while; about time to reverse that situation.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:06 PM on August 12, 2007

Best to check if there are any regs against just anybody rocking up off the street
Here it says: "There are also BBQs available in Union Square. [BBQ (3) - fixed, located in Union Square, behind Manning House coin operated] Contact the ACCESS Centre to book."
posted by tellurian at 7:12 PM on August 12, 2007

Hmm. I happen to live with a lifetime Sydney Uni Union member, if we need one to make a booking...
posted by web-goddess at 7:53 PM on August 12, 2007

Hmm. I happen to live with a lifetime Sydney Uni Union member, if we need one to make a booking...

Unfortunately if I recall correctly, VSU measn that life memberships no longer apply (or at least are somewhat watered down). However cholly and I are both Access Card holders (that is, paid Union members).
posted by Serial Killer Slumber Party at 8:07 PM on August 12, 2007

UbuRoivas: Haha, that just goes to show how observant I am.
posted by cholly at 8:08 PM on August 12, 2007

I'd go, if only to discuss esoteric aspects of the Cum-Tard bridge to Annihiliation, but alas, I live somewhere north of Australia.
posted by Burhanistan at 9:36 PM on August 12, 2007

It's actually a two-way bridge and you're not allowed to stay still on one spot
posted by Burhanistan at 9:37 PM on August 12, 2007

Hey, I didn't have any idea you were in Sydney, Ubu. Cool!
Hope you guys and gals have fun!!
posted by hadjiboy at 9:42 PM on August 12, 2007

No problem, Ubu, I pride myself on knowing these kinds of words.

Oh, and I'd totally be at this meet, if you moved it about 800km south. 'Kay?
posted by liquorice at 1:39 AM on August 13, 2007

but isn't it always windy & rainy down there, liquorice?

and hadjiboy, my location is about the only thing i've ever put in my profile. not that i normally ever give any truthful information online. oh shit, gotta run - my tram's almost here...
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:35 AM on August 13, 2007

The qwips are in. Kudos if we can figure out how to do a Korean BBQ...
posted by qwip at 3:00 AM on August 13, 2007

Can I come? I will be noode.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 3:20 AM on August 13, 2007

oh, i forgot to mention. noodity is de rigeur.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:26 AM on August 13, 2007

also forgot to mention: maybe sunday week? that would be 26th August.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:30 AM on August 13, 2007

Could we make it the 25th? I can't make the 26th for plane related reasons.
posted by zamboni at 5:42 AM on August 13, 2007

Bad day for me. The 50's Fair is on out at the Rose Seidler house and I've already committed to meeting up with the in-laws and some photobloggers. (Incidentally - any MeFites going?)

Come on, let's make a pre-APEC get together on the 2nd... :)
posted by web-goddess at 5:42 AM on August 13, 2007

*APEC LONG WEEKEND!!!*

(at least we can derive some good from Bush's existence & visit!)
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:57 AM on August 13, 2007

Here's another vote for moving it 800km south!
posted by PuGZ at 1:41 PM on August 13, 2007

The long weekend would probably work, though getting across town might be difficult for the suburbanites. (Are there any?) I think one of you Union people should just book the sucker, and that will force us all to turn up rather than endlessly debate.
posted by web-goddess at 10:58 PM on August 13, 2007

Pugz, that makes two of us. Let's have a meet-up of our own!
posted by liquorice at 11:49 PM on August 13, 2007

poor old melbourne, always playing catch-up!

ok - fri 7th sep is an impromptu public holiday in nsw. can we set that date for the barbie? hopefully, they won't turn off all the public transport in honour of dubya, so the suburbanites should still be able to make it in...
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:26 AM on August 14, 2007

The 50's Fair is on out at the Rose Seidler house [...] (Incidentally - any MeFites going?)

my impression has always been that it's called the 50s Fair for a reason, and that's nothing to do with the decade. most historic houses trust events i've been to have been heavily skewed towards the almost/just retired demographic. ymmv. [not ageist]
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:31 AM on August 14, 2007

Ah, but I'm meeting up with rockabilly lesbians, so it's not going to be all blue-hairs and CWA out there...
posted by web-goddess at 1:14 AM on August 14, 2007

CWA? i must say, i'm impressed with the depth of your cultural integration! and rockabilly dykes, huh? that's some high-octane mileage! (i also realise that there's a hipster contingent at these things...)

oh, hang on, you'd be familiar with the CWA through the Royal Easter Show lamington contest, right? Um, by which I mean (rerailing) that we you should make some lamingtons for the barbie!
posted by UbuRoivas at 1:53 AM on August 14, 2007

Good idea, liqourice! We'll have our own meet-up! With Melburnians.. and blackjack.. and ponies.. and top-hats!

Who's playing catch-up now, Mr UbuRoivas?
posted by PuGZ at 3:19 AM on August 14, 2007

You tell me.

As far as I can tell, I'm not commenting in your thread, claiming I can upstage your meetup.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:43 AM on August 14, 2007

(tou-fucking-che, darling!)

* high-fives all the gals, who are actually guys
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:47 AM on August 14, 2007

It's just as well I liv-- no, I've got nothing. :-(

In all fairness though, here's to hoping your meet-up is a success and it encourages someone down here to follow suit. Have fun!
posted by PuGZ at 4:04 AM on August 14, 2007

Wanna move it 3,953 km west? Naaah... can't blame you!! Have fun guys.
posted by indienial at 1:56 AM on August 15, 2007

Well, I'm a Sydney Uni guy as well, so I will try to make it as well. Seconding the second (or first) of September. Next weekend isn't really good for me :-(
posted by kisch mokusch at 2:28 AM on August 15, 2007

little squirrel: too late. i hate herding kittens, so web-goddess & i have decided that *the day* is the friday that the govt has given us as a public holiday becoz dubya's visit will shut the city down. fri 7th Sep. i think that makes it the fourth day of BinLadenmas, or the 8th. i forget. it hardly matters. BinLadenmas is the time for BBQing flesh, in any case.
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:46 AM on August 15, 2007

ok - fri 7th sep is an impromptu public holiday in nsw. can we set that date for the barbie? hopefully, they won't turn off all the public transport in honour of dubya, so the suburbanites should still be able to make it in...

Completely missed that comment! 7th sounds doable. It was the 25th/26th I couldn't get to.

Is the location finalised? BBQ on campus?
posted by kisch mokusch at 2:41 PM on August 15, 2007

I can't commit to anything on that weekend, so I may or may not be there. If its a BBQ on campus, its probably better for kisch to book anything we've got to (if he can).
posted by cholly at 2:51 PM on August 15, 2007

Yep, executive decision: BBQ on Sydney Uni campus, starting, say, 1pm, Fri 7th Sep (aka Bushwhacking Day).

Can Kisch suss out the best location & make a booking?

If the weather is bad, we can relocate to the Alfred on Missenden Rd.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:15 PM on August 15, 2007

The only BBQ I've ever had on Campus was at the one near the Grandstand (near Blackburn). We got the gas from the HK Ward Gymnasium. But that was on a weekday, so I'm not sure about accessibility on a public holiday.

That being said, I'll look into it today and have an answer for you by tomorrow.
posted by kisch mokusch at 5:33 PM on August 15, 2007

Not sure when I was awarded a deciding vote, but that date/time works for me! :)
posted by web-goddess at 6:04 PM on August 15, 2007

web-goddess: with tellurian & peacay conspicuously absent from the discussion, i think you have the lowest mefi usernumber of us all.

*bows to respected senior*
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:16 PM on August 15, 2007

(plus, you're bringing the lamingtons, so we've gotta work around you)
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:17 PM on August 15, 2007

Lamingtons? I thought as a sheila, it was my societal obligation to bring the salad!
posted by web-goddess at 9:14 PM on August 15, 2007

Salad and lamingtons, ya great galah! D'ya reckon blokes know how to bake cakes? Fair dinkum! Our role is to swill beer & burn cook the meat to perfection.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:20 PM on August 15, 2007

So much for the nice weather! (WE TOTALLY JINXED IT.)

Has anyone booked a barbecue yet? I mean, we can use the one in my Chippendale back garden in a pinch, but it's so much more social to be out in public. (The yellow face, it burns us!) And anyway, we can keep my place in mind as a rain venue if we need to.
posted by web-goddess at 7:39 PM on August 18, 2007

web-goddess: thanks for the offer, but it's probably simplest (for you) if we go to the Alfred in case of rain, unless people are encumbered with mountains of steaks that just need to be turned into charcoal.

And maybe some of us could be allergic to cats. Not that you have a kitty in your apartment, of course. [not catallergic]
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:00 PM on August 19, 2007

Heh. Good point.
posted by web-goddess at 7:06 PM on August 19, 2007

Have fun, guys! I'll be on the wrong continent, but I'll be sending good vibes.
posted by zamboni at 1:09 AM on August 20, 2007

nooooo! we can't get by without awesome facial hair!

also, where are tellurian & peacay? i suggest you email them, w-g. they're more likely to respond to a bonza sheila.

is there anybody else who hasn't rsvp'd? apart from dhruva, who i think will be in chile....?
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:44 AM on August 20, 2007

Nah. I'm right here. I'll probably turn up.
posted by dhruva at 8:15 PM on August 20, 2007

T MINUS ONE WEEK, PEOPLE!

kisch, did you find out anything about the barbecues? I just tried calling the Access center to find out if we need to book the coin-operated ones, and nobody answered. Are we just going to take the chance of rocking up and hoping they're available?

(Why does the girl have to organise everything?)
posted by web-goddess at 6:56 PM on August 30, 2007

Email sent. See you there.
posted by tellurian at 5:23 PM on September 2, 2007

Eh. I'd like to come, but have just moved up the coast; now, if there's enough interest in a meetup in/around Port Macquarie ... :)
posted by 5MeoCMP at 7:49 PM on September 2, 2007

Hi all,

sorry I didn't get back to you earlier. I was kinda busy, then I kinda forgot.

There are a few BBQ locations on campus that I know of. One is near the HK Ward gymnasium, and one is near the Grandstand, both of which require that you hire the gas from the gym. Unfortunately, although the gym is open 7 days a week, it will not be open on the 7th because of APEC.

That only leaves the coin operated ones that are indeed there, between Manning and the the tennis courts. I haven't tried booking them, but I don't think it will be necessary, since I highly doubt there will be two other groups there on Friday.

The uni may be locked down somewhat on Friday, but that shouldn't affect accessibility to these BBQs.

For those of you who don't know where they are. They are located at H14/15 on this map.
posted by kisch mokusch at 9:34 PM on September 3, 2007

Excellent. I'll aim to be there at the coin-operated bbq's at 1ish on Friday. See you all there!

(Incidentally, does anybody know whether it's cool to bring alcohol? I'm just paranoid from stupid American open-container laws.)
posted by web-goddess at 11:11 PM on September 3, 2007

HA! Just asked the (Sydney Uni graduate) husband about bringing alcohol, and he responded with an eye roll: "It's the uni. You could do it in the NUUUDE and no one would bat an eye." Beer it up!
posted by web-goddess at 3:19 AM on September 4, 2007

NUUUDE meetup it is!

Just a word of warning, though: long range forecast is for showers until dubya pisses off, so we might need to retreat to the Alfred, or elsewhere, eg web-goddess' place in Chippendale.

Plan to meet at / near the BBQs 1pm on Bushwhacking Day, Fri 7th Sep.

If it's rainy we can relocate, but we won't necessarily be able to blacken all the meat, scoff down web-goddess' lamingtons, or obey time-honoured tradition & totally ignore all salads if we move to the Alfred. I'd say leave yr shopping until Fri morning, depending on how the weather looks on the day.
posted by UbuRoivas at 11:02 PM on September 4, 2007

with the disturbance in teh force affecting our previously glorious spring weather, it looks like a bbq might not be all that pleasant.

so, for those who don't know the offical home of MeFi in Sydney, the fallback venue is the Alfred (Hotel) on Missenden Rd, Camperdown, opposite Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. About a five minute walk west across the uni grounds from the Manning Bar babakiuaria. Parramatta Rd buses will get you close, as will any bus passing through Newtown.

1pm kickoff. If weather looks shitty, head to the Alfred first. I might go & put a sign up near the bbqs with directions for anybody who misses this message.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:09 AM on September 6, 2007

Yeah, I'm guessing the BBQ is going to be a wash. Don't worry; I'll still bring treats to the Alfred!
posted by web-goddess at 4:12 AM on September 6, 2007

stupid fucking weather! it's sunny in patches but has been raining overnight. and the clouds look just like yesterday's. play it by ear, i suppose, but the Alfred looks like it's the go.
posted by UbuRoivas at 2:59 PM on September 6, 2007

Man, I had the veggie patties all made up! With an hour to go and rain starting again I'll see you all at the Alfred.
posted by tellurian at 7:11 PM on September 6, 2007