A Milwaukee Meet Up?

January 15, 2008 1:04 PM

A Milwaukee Meet Up for real this time?

How does either Saturday, January 26th or Saturday, February 9th work for everyone?

Last time, quin suggested Paddy's Pub, which has live music on the 26th but not on the 9th.

Would another date or location work better?

posted by drezdn to MetaFilter gatherings at 1:04 PM (31 comments total)

I'm up for either date; I'd prefer to get there well before the music starts so we have a chance to chat.
posted by desjardins at 1:20 PM on January 15

Maybe I'll set it for the 9th so the Milwaukee members who need to defrost will have plenty of time to see it.
posted by drezdn at 4:58 PM on January 15

Naturally, I'll be happy to attend either, though for personal preference, I'd like to go to the one that didn't have a band playing.

Not that I have anything against live bands, I'd just prefer a climate which I didn't have to yell over music.

That being said, if we can convince any house band to provide the Thrash, I'll be happy to know that ours was the first meetup that had an Irish bar styled mosh-pit.
posted by quin at 9:04 PM on January 15

I'll put it up on the sidebar as February 9th at 7 p.m.
posted by drezdn at 6:55 AM on January 16

Could not be more convenient for me. I'd probably be in the pub anyhow. :)

quin & desjardins -- The bands usually play upstairs. We could probably get the front or center rooms downstairs. (Front room in non-smoking, center is smoking. Entire upstairs is non-smoking.) That way we wouldn't have to talk over the bands. Or we could take our chances with the upstairs pre-show and then move down if it's too loud.

7pm is early enough that we shouldn't have a problem getting the space, but I have to pop in there tonight anyhow, so I'll mention the meetup to Patty and see if she can set some space aside for us.

Any preference on smoking/non-smoking?

(Also, hi, all. Been away from MeFi for awhile. Looks like I picked a good day to visit.)
posted by aine42 at 4:02 PM on January 16

Aine42, thanks for the heads up about the meetup. I too have been away from MeFi for a while. Count me in. You know how hard it is to convince me to go to Paddy's. ;)
posted by crystalblue at 4:50 AM on January 17

Yay, my first meetup! I'm so psyched.

Seems like we are missing a few people in this thread. Who else is a Cheesehead MeFite?
posted by desjardins at 9:23 AM on January 17

I'm a cheesehead, but I'm in Madison. The 9th probably won't work for me, but who knows. Milwaukee has traditionally sent healthy contingents to our meetups, so maybe Madison should return the favor.
posted by rocketman at 12:39 PM on January 17

Stopped in Paddy's yesterday and talked to Patty (the owner). She's willing to set aside a few tables for us for the meetup. I told her that closer to the date, I'd let her know roughly how many of there'd be and where she should put us.

I let a couple other locals (crystalblue, danherwig and steelbuddha from Milwaukee and mimi from Madison) know about it. Crystalblue's in. Haven't heard yay or nay from the others.

This will be fun. And rocketman, by all means, send Madison folk our way. You lot have always shown the Milwaukeeans a good time at your meetups (including the ever-so-tiny meetup that even the organizer didn't attend).
posted by aine42 at 4:30 PM on January 17

Looks like I won't be able to make it, I'll be traveling to the west of the state that weekend. Have fun all!
posted by rocketman at 2:38 PM on January 28

What the hell is in the west of the state? Milwaukee's where it's at, man.
posted by desjardins at 5:18 PM on January 28

We'll try to be there! Thankfully Paddy's is stumbling-distance from my bro's. O_o
posted by mimi at 9:06 AM on January 31

I'm sure I'll stop in there at some point this weekend (I have some photos to drop off for some of the bartenders), so I'll confirm that Patty will set aside some space for us.

Looks like so far we have confirmation or a maybe from the following people: drezdn, desjardins, quin, crystalblue, mimi and me. I'll let them know to expect about 10 of us. That way, if anyone brings a guest or spouse, or other locals show up, we'll have some room. (And really, at 7pm, we should be fine if we need more room. Bar's usually still kind of quiet then.)

See you all there. Don't forget to save room for Chex Mix and M&Ms.
posted by aine42 at 4:00 PM on January 31

Ooh. Suburpia will make excellent ballast!
posted by mimi at 6:15 PM on February 3

It's tomorrow, and I'm sure you'll all be able to brave the snow and frigid wind to make it. I'll try to bring something to make shout-outs with.
posted by drezdn at 10:04 AM on February 8

hey, how will I know who you all are? will the bartender point me in the right direction? [meetup n00b here]

I'm the really short brunette (female).
posted by desjardins at 12:21 PM on February 8

I'll try to post later today or early tomorrow what I'll be wearing. I'm thinking I'll go with a nerdy internet t-shirt or at least something not very likely to be owned by anyone else. Or, look for 5'9" guy with a beard, a p-coat, and a very pregnant wife.
posted by drezdn at 12:57 PM on February 8

(I'm also new to the meet up thing)... Maybe I can make a sign.
posted by drezdn at 12:58 PM on February 8

Oh. Right. Shout-outs. Just put a Sharpie and a pad of paper in the camera bag. (Thanks for the reminder! I always forget.)

I'll make sure the bartenders know where we are in case anyone asks. But I'll try to make up a little sign, too. (Drezdn: Not jumping on your turf here. Just making a backup.) Worst-case scenario, just ask any of the bar staff where Anne is. They'll point you in the right direction.

And if I can find my MeFi shirt, I'll wear it.

See everyone tomorrow!
posted by aine42 at 1:22 PM on February 8

Oh, and there is a band now, but they won't go on until 9. Don't think it'll affect us too much, though.
posted by aine42 at 1:23 PM on February 8

No worries aine42, I've never been in there before and I'm hoping I won't get blown into a snow drift on the way over.
posted by drezdn at 2:00 PM on February 8

Signs = made. I made one for at the door and one for the table.

Can't find any nametag stickers around here, though, or I'd make us all little MeFi nametags. Foo. :(
posted by aine42 at 2:55 PM on February 8

I'm wearing black jeans and a gray North Face jacket. Haven't decided on a shirt yet.
posted by desjardins at 7:48 AM on February 9

I'll be wearing a black p-coat, a near-beard (neard). I'll also probably wear a t-shirt that says "I'm made of poison."
posted by drezdn at 12:16 PM on February 9

OK, we're gonna be there closer to 7:30 as all the early bird special reservations are taken. See ya then!
posted by mimi at 3:19 PM on February 9

Sorry, got spooked by the weather and it's a 2 hour drive for me. Hope to catch y'all another time. Have a beer for me if anyone's reading this at the meetup.
posted by desjardins at 5:27 PM on February 9

Thanks to everyone that came, I really enjoyed it (and good call on the location).
posted by drezdn at 10:28 AM on February 10

Photos from the meetup
posted by aine42 at 1:28 PM on February 10

Things I learned from my first meetup;

1.) Winter in Wisconsin can be unpleasant.

2.) Everything that is good can be made better by the addition of plastic monkeys.

3.) Milwaukee (and Madison) Mefites are witty, charming, and urbane (discounting myself, natch.)

3.) Photo's are fun!

Thanks to everyone.
posted by quin at 3:30 PM on February 10

bah, I'm sorry I missed it. You look like a cool group.
posted by desjardins at 6:28 AM on February 11

Sorry I missed it as well... just for fun this time I will blame Quin instead of myself.
posted by hexxed at 12:37 PM on February 12