Comments on: Philly. Bowling. Me. You?

Philly. Bowling. Me. You?

misanthropicsarah — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:30:10 -0800

Philly. Bowling. Me. You? Finally, the much anticipated bowling meet up thread. I'm thinking late February or early March. I think a Monday or Tuesday night or Saturday or Sunday afternoon would be best to avoid the crazy drunken lane-hogging crowds. Lucky Strike is out because it's a lounge with some flooring that looks like an alley and it sucks. Any suggestions for a good alley in or very near the city that's close to public transit? So, let's throw out some dates and locations and we can go from there.

By: Blazecock Pileon

Blazecock Pileon — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:37:25 -0800

You might consider Strikes, which is a few blocks from the 40th Street trolley stop.

By: amro

amro — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:47:08 -0800

I will attend if it's on a weekend afternoon.

Be forewarned, though: I'm pretty sure I stink at bowling.

By: dmd

dmd — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:19:33 -0800

I vote Strikes.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:22:49 -0800

I've heard good things about North Bowl at 2nd and Poplar; some colleagues of mine used to be in semi-official league there for ad agency types...

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:23:09 -0800

Whoa, a bowling meetup? This might be worth using some vacation time for.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:27:51 -0800

I will be there wherever it is held. (I will not be around the weekend of Feb 16 or Mar 8. Please schedule accordingly.)

Strikes may be easier for our 'burbian friends.

I can't wait to show you all how much I suck at bowling! Whoo!

By: scalefree

scalefree — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 12:19:41 -0800

North Bowl's gotta be the hands down favorite. It's brand spanking new, has a large seating area complete with pool tables & a bar. But I haven't made any of the meetups except one so far so my vote shouldn't count for much.

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:15:30 -0800

i also suck at bowling. that's part of the fun.

By: chihiro

chihiro — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:22:16 -0800

I could do one of the evenings or pretty much any Sunday afternoon. My Saturdays are tied up until April with high school speech and debate - whoo-hoo!

I, too, suck at bowling and I agree that's a huge part of the fun.

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:25:50 -0800

If the day's right, I'm in.

By: shmegegge

shmegegge — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 13:48:49 -0800

sorry, I don't live in Philly. thanks, though!

By: LilBucner

LilBucner — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 14:08:08 -0800

My vote is for North Bowl and Saturday afternoon. Great bars, decent food and lots of bowling (and relatively inexpensive too). But not March 1, that's Philly Craft Beer Fest 08!

By: potch

potch — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:10:36 -0800

Analog Wii Bowling? How retro.

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 16:19:36 -0800

Sounds like fun. I could make it in the evening, but not on a Saturday afternoon.

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:20:46 -0800

I agree with Saturday afternoon...easier for the suburbanites to take the regional rail in and not risk missing the last train back.

By: mothershock

mothershock — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 18:47:30 -0800

I have yet to actually make it to a Philly meetup, but North Bowl is awesome. The bowling is fun, but the lane-side drinks and tater tots rock.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 19:53:48 -0800

(Do we need a pair of meetups? 'Cause that way, by the second one I might bowl a three-digit score.)

By: Deathalicious

Deathalicious — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 20:58:51 -0800

I move into Philly in early March. So, I vote early March.

By: 31d1

31d1 — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 08:22:20 -0800

As long as no one is _really_ good at bowling ...

I'm in, and I have no time preferences. The video store next door to Strikes hates them and has petitions and stuff about how they suck, but since I never go there anymore I'm sure I can sneak in without any dirty video store looks.

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 11:20:18 -0800

I think I may have just been swayed by "lane side tater tots".

I'll do some investigating of prices and possible group discounts (I am cheap) at Strikes and North Bowl.

It looks like weekend afternoon is winning so far.

By: miagaille

miagaille — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:47:07 -0800

I'm pretty sure I love you, misanthrophicsarah. I agree that a weekend afternoon would be better.

Can we get some votes on dates?

Feb 16
Feb 17

Feb 23
Feb 24

Mar 1
Mar 2

Mar 8
Mar 9

By: chihiro

chihiro — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:02:29 -0800

I vote Feb 24, Mar 2 or Mar 9.

By: amro

amro — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:04:45 -0800

2/16, 2/17, 3/8 or 3/9.

By: amro

amro — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:05:03 -0800

Or 3/1.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:11:52 -0800

Not Feb 16-17 or March 8-9.

By: Deathalicious

Deathalicious — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:49:50 -0800

I guess March 1-2 would work. It means I move to Philly earlier, I guess. :)

By: LilBucner

LilBucner — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:54:51 -0800

I vote 3/8-3/9.

By: LilBucner

LilBucner — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 12:55:28 -0800

also ... Strikes on 40th st. only has 4 bowling lanes. My vote is still squarely for North Bowl.

By: edverb

edverb — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 00:28:42 -0800

It looks like weekend afternoon is winning so far.

I agree that likely works best. I'm watching this thread to see what date you all settle upon, so I can try to make it.

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 06:32:04 -0800

Let's get the date discussion back on track. How about March 8, 1 p.m., at North Bowl?

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 10:37:34 -0800

I vote

Feb 23
Feb 24

Mar 1
Mar 2

I can't to the 8th because I'm going to a con. And I would be very disappointed to arrange a meet up and then not get to go....

By: chihiro

chihiro — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:00:49 -0800

Still voting for a Sunday; forensics is a harsh mistress.

By: chihiro

chihiro — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 13:01:48 -0800

But I definitely think it should be a day that misanthropicsarah can do.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 16:51:19 -0800

misanthropicsarah, your presence is totally required. How's everyone feeling about Mar 2?

By: miagaille

miagaille — Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:13:30 -0800

March 2 would have been my first choice. I'm in.

By: greekphilosophy

greekphilosophy — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 07:03:30 -0800

Oooh, I have no opinions about where or when we do this, but I am really looking forward to going whenever it is all arranged!

By: amro

amro — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 08:52:24 -0800

I can probably do March 2 if it's in the afternoon; I have dinner plans that evening.

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 09:31:11 -0800

it's settled.

March 2nd is the date

How's 1pm that day for everyone? I think we should do North Bowl.

Here are the prices:

Saturday and Sunday – All Day: $5.95 per person/ per game
Shoe Rental– $3.00 per person

If we get 8 people who definitely will show up, I'll call (ugh) and reserve a couple lanes.

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:07:16 -0800

March 2 is great for me. I'm definitely going.

1 p.m. is good...the only commitment I have that day is college basketball at 7 at the Palestra.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 10:38:45 -0800

I'm in, of course.

By: miagaille

miagaille — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 14:55:33 -0800

dmd & I are totally in. What's the best public-transporty way to get to North Bowl?

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 20:33:47 -0800

I can possibly go. I may be (hopefully!) moving into an apartment around that date, so I'm not sure.

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 06:42:07 -0800

miagaille--it's on 2nd a few blocks above spring garden. i think best way would be to get into the city however you suburbanites do it, then take the MFL to the spring garden stop. then it'll be about a 4 block walk north to the alley.

there may be a better way, but that's what comes to mind first.

By: amro

amro — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:45:07 -0800

Anyone know what the parking situation is around there?

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 17:33:26 -0800

I'm going to take the R3 into Market East and, if it's a nice day, walk, if you'd like to join me.

Amro, parking is not great.

By: Deathalicious

Deathalicious — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:49:57 -0800

I can make no promises...I am moving to Philly somewhere around that time and would love to participate, but if things get too busy back home and I need to delay moving for some reason, it will be a problem.

It looks like you have 5 definites so far...I will do my best to make it but don't make a reservation on my account.

Sorry.

By: chihiro

chihiro — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:44:36 -0800

Agh! I really want to make it but things are in flux so I can't commit. It's on my calendar now, though, so hopefully...

By: desuetude

desuetude — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 19:19:34 -0800

I don't think parking is so bad in Northern Liberties. (This is because I live in South Philly. Add appropriate number of grains of salt.)

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 05:44:11 -0800

If you Google Map North Bowl, you can use street view to check out potential places to park.

By: gac

gac — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 13:33:23 -0800

plenty of parking on N. American Street (between Poplar and Brown), a block away from North Bowl.

By: supercres

supercres — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 07:48:41 -0800

I just chanced upon this thread--- I think I'd like to stop by and meet other Philly MeFites if there's still room, and if you'll have me (and if I'm not massively hung over from the Beer Fest). Especially if it's at North Bowl.

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 10:38:04 -0800

looks like we still have room supercres, no worries!

By: LilBucner

LilBucner — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 11:32:33 -0800

I should be in house, possibly with a friend.

By: lagreen

lagreen — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 12:45:45 -0800

My husband and I will be there if you've got the space. Hope you can make it, chihiro!

By: desuetude

desuetude — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 15:11:20 -0800

We get to meet your husband, lagreen? Oooh. Does he know what he's getting himself into?

By: nursegracer

nursegracer — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 20:45:49 -0800

To clear up some stuff:

I used to work at Strikes. They have 12 lanes, thank you very much.

Bowling is cheaper at Strikes: from 10-12, it costs only 3 dollars per game per person. After noon, it used to be 5, but now apparently (according to the site) it's 3. 3 bucks for shoes. If you have any form of college ID, you get a buck off each game (so only two dollars a game). Plus, since it's in West Philly, there's more parking.

Having played pool there for many hours during boring Sunday afternoons, there is a good chance that it will be emptier than North Bowl. Which is full of hipsters anyways. If you go to Strikes, I will probably go, which means our group would most likely get a substantial discount (cause they like me) although that's not certain. Depends on the manager there.

Just saying.

By: galimatias

galimatias — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 06:59:34 -0800

Sorry for the delay in responding. I'd love to join, too, but unfortunately am out of town that weekend. Keep me posted with other meetups - it's been too long since I've been able to make it out to one and I really want to get back into it!

By: edverb

edverb — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:15:33 -0800

....aaaand wouldn't you know it, I'm now scheduled at a work function on 3/2. Have fun everyone, see you next time.

By: Deathalicious

Deathalicious — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 22:45:18 -0800

Yeah I will not be able to make it into Philly until the 8th or 9th, so I will have to show up for the next meetup whenever that is.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 06:52:00 -0800

So, are we still doing North Bowl or are we getting swayed to Strikes by nursegracer? What say youse guys?

By: chihiro

chihiro — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:49:05 -0800

Thanks, lagreen! Still working on it, I may need to be out of town that weekend. :(

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 09:10:20 -0800

i still vote north bowl. and if it sucks, lesson learned for next time.

i think we have about 5-7 people who've said they'll definitely show up. i don't think that's enough people to warrant a reservation. i don't even think we'd be able to reserve just one lane. so....yeah.

i'll have some kind of metafilter signage and when people show up we can get a lane or two as needed.

to review:

march 2nd
1pm
north bowl

i hate to be all dictatory, but with such a large group, someone has to take charge or nothing ever gets decided. sorry if i'm coming across bitchy.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:48:20 -0800

Misanthropicsarah, it's cool. Decisive is good.

By: amro

amro — Wed, 20 Feb 2008 16:32:01 -0800

I'll be there. Unless it snows or something.

By: fixedgear

fixedgear — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 16:33:08 -0800

Arrgh. 3/1 is the Craft Brew Festival at the Navy Yard, and 3/1 is also the SRAM Red Bowl (a benefit for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia) at, you guessed it, North Bowl. Too many choices....

By: stupidsexyFlanders

stupidsexyFlanders — Sun, 24 Feb 2008 16:32:51 -0800

I'll be in sunny Clearwater that weekend checking up on our Phils. Sorry no go, but have fun!

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:14:47 -0800

i reserved us two lanes for sunday at 1.30. because i know that as mefites we all run a bit late. i think it's a requirement for being a mefite. see you sunday!

By: lagreen

lagreen — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 09:02:51 -0800

I'm so sorry, but I won't be able to make it. I have an unexpected job interview on Monday that I have to prepare for today. I hope you all have fun and see you at the next meetup!

By: amro

amro — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 13:41:57 -0800

I also couldn't make it at the last minute. Hope you had fun!

By: dmd

dmd — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:59:57 -0800

Evidence.

By: chihiro

chihiro — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:23:24 -0800

I can't believe I missed the bowling. *sniff* What was the verdict on North Bowl?

By: miagaille

miagaille — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 18:53:56 -0800

North Bowl was quite nice. It is bigger on the inside than the outside and there were, as advertised, lane side tater tots (with queso cheese!)!

By: ludwig_van

ludwig_van — Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:34:09 -0800

Sorry I couldn't make it, I was moving in. But I live in south Philly now! Looks like it was fun, though.

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 06:58:56 -0800

i have some pictures too, but have to get them off the camera.

north bowl was better than i expected it to be. i'd go there again.

and yes, the tater tots were AWESOME.

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:38:27 -0800

North Bowl was a pleasant surprise...easy to get to, clean and roomy inside (except for the seats around the lanes themselves), and generally quiet.

Great tots.

Thanks to the meetup regulars for welcoming me into the fold.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 07:54:43 -0800

ludwig, where do you live now, neighbor?!

Do we need bowlings, part deux? Dare I predict that next time, someone will score into the lower three digit range?!

31d1, where the hell were you? I wuz sad. (Don't worry, I compensated by scarfing tater tots with queso cheese, getting some snarking practice in, and getting cozy with dmd and miagaille as per usual.)

By: sjuhawk31

sjuhawk31 — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 08:38:59 -0800

Hey! miagaille and I both got 103 in the second game. It's still pathetic, but it's triple digits.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 09:11:33 -0800

Oh, I conveniently blocked that out, crushed by my staggering defeat at the likes of you people. Next time, perhaps *I* will score into the lower three digit range?

By: miagaille

miagaille — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:38:33 -0800

Thanks for coming, sjuhawk31! It was nice to meet you and reassuring to know that we're not too terrifying (or too, um, lame) for newcomers.

By: desuetude

desuetude — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:21:06 -0800

Hey, why isn't the little photo icon next to the meetup on the MeTa sidebar?

By: misanthropicsarah

misanthropicsarah — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:33:08 -0800

hey. i got a 43 the second game. i rawk!

i think you have to add the photo thru the photo thingum up there to get the icon to show up. i'll get my photos off the camera tonight and add 'em.

i'm also disappointed that 31d1 didn't show up. i was sad about lagreen too, but at least she had a viable excuse!

By: lagreen

lagreen — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:23:45 -0800

Aww, thanks, misanthropicsarah. It looks like you guys had a great time and I'd definitely be up for, as desuetude suggested, "bowling, part deux!"

By: 31d1

31d1 — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 17:58:15 -0800