Berlin Meetup | MetaTalk

You're talking about Berlin, Germany and not Berlin, New Hampshire?

I don't know if I've earned the name Mefite since I've only been here a month. But a meetup in Berlin sounds OK to me. I live in Kreuzberg, which is home to the best bars in the civilized world. Like Würgeengel, Intertank, Bellman Bar, Kinskis, Möbel Olfe, Misliwska, Bateau Ivre, Cake...
posted by creasy boy at 5:27 AM on August 23, 2007

But alas, according to my profile: "There are no other MetaFilter members nearby".
posted by creasy boy at 5:49 AM on August 23, 2007

I'm gonna be in Berlin (Germany) from around August 28th to the 1st of September (I believe). I'll be with my folks but I can probably ditch them to hang out with internet strangers for a couple hours.
posted by piratebowling at 6:10 AM on August 23, 2007

Also, WTF, Muckster, you're in Astoria, too? What odds...
posted by piratebowling at 6:12 AM on August 23, 2007

But alas, according to my profile: "There are no other MetaFilter members nearby".

The coordinates in your profile are a little off (when I clicked on them, Google maps showed me part of the Czech Republic). If you set them for somewhere in Kreuzberg (e.g. 52.50, 13.42) you should see a few folks, though it still seems to be a challenge to do a meetup here. I second Möbel Olfe, but maybe at a date and time when it isn't crazily packed.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 6:24 AM on August 23, 2007

That's embarassing. Fortunately my ego isn't hitched to my technical skills. There are all kinds of members near me. Möbel Olfe is packed on a Thursday and probably also Friday and Saturday. Bellman Bar (Gloguaer/Reichenberger) and Cafe Kreuzberg (Ohlauer near the Maybach Ufer) are quiet, the latter a little small. We could also meet up in the Markthalle of Herr Lehmann fame and eat Wienerschnitzel.
posted by creasy boy at 6:48 AM on August 23, 2007

If the weather is nice, Cafe Senti has a very pleasant outdoor area right next to Paul-Lincke-Ufer, and it's the same neighborhood (Glogauer and Paul-Lincke-Ufer). But it's kind of unpleasant inside (the ubiquitious yellow/orange "mediterranean sponge treatment" paint job). Never been to Bellman, but it's right near me so I'd be up for it.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 7:16 AM on August 23, 2007

Please to be suggesting a date, someone! :-) Wednesday the 29th, 7:30 or 8 PM works for me.
posted by Aidan Kehoe at 7:26 AM on August 23, 2007

Bellman's my favorite bar. Until a few months ago I used to live right on that corner, Reichenberger/Glogauer. Nice ambiance, they generally play good music, and the bartenders all wear ties. Relatively quiet but not at all spiessig.
posted by creasy boy at 7:29 AM on August 23, 2007

Yeh Wednesday works for me. 8 is better.
posted by creasy boy at 7:30 AM on August 23, 2007

Wednesday the 29th/8pm at Bellman would work for me.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 7:32 AM on August 23, 2007

Do we have to all wear outlandish hats so we recognise each other? Or how does this work?

Piratebowling, if you send me an email I can explain to you how to get there.
posted by creasy boy at 7:37 AM on August 23, 2007

Wednesday night sounds good to me, too. I'm in Mitte but don't mind checking out a different Kiez. We'll have to debate Kreuzberg vs Astoria, piratebowling!
posted by muckster at 8:19 AM on August 23, 2007

Woo hoo! Sounds great, I am down. Wednesday, 8pm.

Muckster, I'm staying in Mitte as well. This is just getting creepy.

As for recognizing one another, I'm the short one that's not a dude here. Look for something like that to come wandering in looking somewhat confused.
posted by piratebowling at 11:28 PM on August 23, 2007

Piratebowling: great, so once I find you I can latch onto you and be identifiable by proxy.
You can find locations here if you type in the address.
posted by creasy boy at 12:49 AM on August 24, 2007

I will be identifiable by the fact that I'll have a chunky camera for the obligatory meetup photos, and by my certain je ne sais quoi.
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 1:26 AM on August 24, 2007

I’ll be looking like this, but without the camera, and with Maria Rita playing in my headphones. So listen up for a tinny-but-subdued Cara Valente!
posted by Aidan Kehoe at 2:10 AM on August 24, 2007

Well, I don't look like much of anything, I look basically like a German even though I'm not, and I don't have any photos of myself. How about: I will be wearing a dark blue t-shirt, and I am blonde with glasses.
posted by creasy boy at 2:18 AM on August 24, 2007

Hooray, a meetup! Very exciting.

pb, how creepy is it that Marcy and I walk past your block (or at least past the coordinates listed on your user page) a couple of times a week, on our way to get coffee from the Italian bakery? BTW, Marcy asks if she can come even though she doesn't have a mefi account, and I tell her, of course of course. I'll try and get her to wear the silly hat. We've got baseball caps that say SUNSHINE.
posted by muckster at 2:21 AM on August 24, 2007

Ah, Berlin, I have a few fond memories of that sprawling town! Hell, I crossed Checkpoint Charlie, back when there was a real Checkpoint Charlie to cross. I remember the Wall! It was actually, I think, a more interesting place when it was "West" Berlin... and East Berlin, hey, don't even get me started... crazy memories of a particular visit to that place: a five-star (really) type restaurant that someone in the know took me to: no indication on the building facade that there was anything inside, but those who knew... we went in, and there were East german army officers dining on pheasant and such, with the serious babe-factor ladies at their side... wow, all too much. I could go on and on... Well, y'all have a nice meetup there in Berlin! And I'd second the vote for Kreuzberg, although I'm sure it's changed plenty in the last 20 years or so... I wonder if the Ballhaus is still there? Did a gig there, back in, what, '84? '85?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:13 AM on August 24, 2007

I have "Eltern Abend" and can't get around it. Maybe next time - it sure would be nice to speak English with people older than four and/or with whom I don't live.

Second one I've missed...
posted by From Bklyn at 1:55 PM on August 24, 2007

Okay, in Berlin and psyched for tomorrow night.

From Brklyn, it's a shame you can't make it. We'll toast to you.
posted by piratebowling at 8:15 AM on August 28, 2007

Damn. I can't make it tonight either. And I saw this thread too late to make any other suggestions, such as the one I was planning to make, which is 15 September.

Thus, I wish you a grand time this evening, and, in case Germans like beer on more than one day (and in case anyone's still paying attention to this thread), tomorrow I intend to announce a (mini-)meetup for Saturday, 15 Sept., for anyone and everyone who can and can't attend tonight. I will be bringing a few people.

Can you make it on the 15th, From Bklyn?
posted by gramschmidt at 4:04 AM on August 29, 2007

Beer on more than one day! What a great idea!

My lovely girlfriend/wife's b-day is the week of the 15th, so I might, might not, depending on when she wants to celebrate: it's not a "big" b-day though so I would think it's a definite maybe.

I was hoping 'eltern abend' (think PTA) would be moved and I could maybe make it but as of this afternoon that's still on.

Otherwise I'm all for it. I'd like to suggest somewhere towards Mitte/Bergmann Kietz as I'd be coming from the far end of Charlottenburg...
posted by From Bklyn at 6:03 AM on August 29, 2007

It was great meeting everybody last night. Here are a few photos. Somehow Marcy managed to dodge the camera, but everybody else is here.
posted by muckster at 3:34 AM on August 30, 2007

That was fun! Great photos, muckster. My camera died after 3 shots, so I only managed to get this one (also unfortunately missing Marcy!)
posted by Your Time Machine Sucks at 4:04 AM on August 30, 2007

Berlin Meetup August 23, 2007 2:57 AM Subscribe

Berlin Meetup
August 23, 2007 2:57 AM Subscribe