Calgary, AB meet-up

February 1, 2008 3:55 PM

C'mon Calgary, let's get together.

We've done it once, but that was a while ago. Who is game for a Calgary, AB meet-up? I'm thinking maybe Feb 29/Mar 1 or Mar 7 or 8 as a possible date. Completely open on location.

posted by never used baby shoes to MetaFilter Gatherings at 3:55 PM (45 comments total)

Great idea! I think a Calgary meet-up is well overdue and it looks like we've gained about 8 or 9 people since I last checked the MeFi population around here.

The last meetup (which I missed) was at Bottlescrew Bills. Their beer selection runs the gamut numbering 80 or so on tap.

Other spaces I really like: Ming on 17th ave between 4th and 5th streets (Totalitarian Martinis) and The Marquee Room - 2nd floor at the Uptown theatre on 8th ave, across from the Globe theatre. Whatever venue or hole-in-the-wall is selected, I'd prefer it to be downtown as I will likely be on bicyclette.
Oh, and I'm dead set against Melrose which would be a shitty place for a meet-up any way you butter it.

Just my 2¢ here.
posted by isopraxis at 5:01 PM on February 1, 2008

This terribly shy mefite checks MeTa everyday waiting for someone to suggest a Calgary meet-up.

I'm there.
posted by chudmonkey at 11:17 AM on February 2, 2008

And I won't even mention the discounts I can get at Melrose... why antagonize isopraxis?
posted by chudmonkey at 11:18 AM on February 2, 2008

Awesome. I am absolutely in. Downtown will be good for me too, as I will be on bicycle also.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 11:45 AM on February 2, 2008

So it sounds like a downtown location is the best bet (for me too - I use transit). I think the issue with Melrose, chudmonkey, would be that it will be fairly loud (at least, that's how I recall Melrose - I haven't been out drinking in a long time...).

So, can I tentatively suggest March 1 and Bottlescrew Bills?
posted by never used baby shoes at 12:58 PM on February 2, 2008

Let me chime in again and say that I have no requests/requirements in regards to date or location. But if it comes down to a vote, I'll do my part and pick a place.
posted by chudmonkey at 1:23 PM on February 2, 2008

Bottlescrew Bill's sounds good, and I've been to and enjoyed Ming - I'm happy to meet at either.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 6:11 PM on February 2, 2008

Ack. I need to get out of my office and read better. :-) March 1 and Bottlescrew Bill's is perfect for me.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 6:21 PM on February 2, 2008

I'm 95% sure I can do March 1, which is about as sure as I seem to be about anything beyond a week's time horizon these days.

And I can live with Bottlescrew Bill's, but I'd like to suggest one other possibility: Hop-In Brew. Same neighbourhood (it's on 12 Ave SW, just west of 2 St.), excellent beer brewed on premises plus regional drafts, great food, and (to my mind) a laidback ambience far superior to Bill's.
posted by gompa at 10:58 PM on February 2, 2008

March 1st is a Saturday? I might be able to make it. I'm in Lethbridge, and I don't drive, but I'll try my darndest!
posted by arcticwoman at 12:21 AM on February 3, 2008

Hop in Brew gets my doubleplusgood vote.

The place is perfectly charming in a spartan way. And we should be able to converse quiet easily without having to resort to raised voices or semaphore flags.
posted by isopraxis at 11:16 AM on February 3, 2008

Always happy to meet smart, interesting people. How old are you guys? Would a 44 year old feel out of place?
posted by ethnomethodologist at 10:44 PM on February 3, 2008

Only if a 39 year old would feel out of place, ethnomethodologist. :-) It's about like (and unalike) minds, not demographics. Please do come. Hell, if I can work up the courage to do so....
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 9:02 AM on February 4, 2008

Hop-In Brew sounds like exactly the sort of place I was after.

So, March 1 - Hop-In Brew. I'll get it up on the sidebar. Time would seem to be the outstanding issue - I'm guessing the evening works the best - 7ish?

I've never organized one of these before, so I have no clue if I'm missing anything.
posted by never used baby shoes at 9:41 AM on February 4, 2008

Name tags? Pens? A digital camera? Nine-decimal point precision GPS co-ordinates?

And 7pm is fine. :-)
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 10:14 AM on February 4, 2008

never used baby shoes: 7-ish (say 7:30 just to be precise?) would be about right, I think. And that's all the organizing necessary, but if you were feeling really ambitious, you might go through the first-meetup thread and all those "Nearby users" in your profile and drop them a Mefi Mail linking to this thread, since lots of people don't check Metatalk all that often.

And FYI, ethno, I'm 34. And if you come, we can talk about those pictures mrs. gompa took of you for Swerve.
posted by gompa at 10:18 AM on February 4, 2008

I'd prefer not to use name-tags, but would welcome other suggestions on how we can id each other. I'll bring my camera. No GPS coordinates, but will this do?

In the interests of precision, 7:29:46 pm.
posted by never used baby shoes at 10:33 AM on February 4, 2008

Whoops, that link didn't work the way it should have. This should be better.
posted by never used baby shoes at 10:45 AM on February 4, 2008

Ethno: as Gompa sez, above. I have 3 small post-its bearing your real world name in various easy-to-see places. Road to hell, good intentions, etc. Was just singing your praises yesterday whilst in line for coffee at the barracks "farmers'" market. 44? Bah, you is young.
posted by Mrs Hilksom at 1:00 PM on February 4, 2008

Thanks for your mail never used baby shoes. I'd really like to meet some other Mefi users, so I think I'm in.
posted by mariokrat at 6:57 AM on February 5, 2008

Cool - I'm in (that is, if the missus lets me off the leash - maybe she will want to come - then again past geek experiences have not "wendell'd"...)
posted by jkaczor at 7:01 PM on February 6, 2008

What, only to the second? We demand precision, dammit!

Count me in.
posted by arto at 9:04 PM on February 6, 2008

At the Hop for sure?
I'm in.
posted by comiddle at 5:20 AM on February 8, 2008

Woo hoo - looks like we will have a good turn-out.

arto - I'm sorry, my atomic clock is down for repairs.
posted by never used baby shoes at 11:50 AM on February 8, 2008

Hey, I won't make it to Calgary until after the 6th of March, how about a shout out? Or even better, anyone have any good connections in Banff?
posted by furtive at 4:38 PM on February 8, 2008

Just saw this - I'm in.
posted by Quartermass at 11:04 AM on February 11, 2008

Sure, I'm in if I'm in town. Hop n' Brew is totally fine. Is March 1st the definite date now?
posted by converge at 1:49 PM on February 15, 2008

March 1 is the definite date. 19:29:46. Don't be late.

Sorry you won't be in Calgary by then furtive; it gives us a great excuse to have another in a few months though...
posted by never used baby shoes at 1:56 PM on February 15, 2008

Oh, and thank you so much for not choosing Melrose.
posted by converge at 2:47 PM on February 15, 2008

Ok, I will definitely be there. I am totally unfamiliar with Calgary (and a little intimidated), so are there any special instructions on how to get to the place?
posted by arcticwoman at 7:45 AM on February 26, 2008

It's pretty easy to find. Take the C-Train to Centre St. or 1st St SW, head south down 1st st SW 'till you hit 12th Avenue. Hang a right and look out for the place that looks like an old house next to Soda. Kinda like this.
posted by arto at 11:54 PM on February 26, 2008

articwoman is coming in from Lethbridge, so she might want more help than that - I'll email some directions, but since I normally move around downtown via transit, I don't know anything about parking in that area. Anyone got any suggestions?
posted by never used baby shoes at 7:39 PM on February 27, 2008

There's a free parking lot behind the Hop n' Brew.
posted by converge at 6:48 PM on February 28, 2008

OK folks, we're a few hours away now...I'm going to try to be somewhat early in order to make sure we have a good space for about 15 or so. I'll have some sort of cleverly worded sign on the table to make sure we can find each other.
posted by never used baby shoes at 10:45 AM on March 1, 2008

Yay!
posted by arcticwoman at 2:26 PM on March 1, 2008

Sorry to announce this at the 11th hour, but after an afternoon of finagling, I'm pretty certain I won't make it. I tried to re-arrange/reschedule a family obligation, but it didn't work.

If anyone has any thoughts about how long you'll be at the Hop, post them and I'll see what I can do.
posted by chudmonkey at 4:01 PM on March 1, 2008

Sorry to hear that chudmonkey...I have no idea how long we will be there - we may all hate each other on sight and break up quickly, or we could be best buds and drink til close. I'll MeFiMail you my cell number; maybe you could give it a shout if you don't think it is too late.
posted by never used baby shoes at 4:08 PM on March 1, 2008

Just returned home, and here is the first place I came. Kinda sad, huh?

Thank you all very much - I had a wonderful time. It was a true pleasure meeting and talking to everyone... and I hope we can do it again, very soon.
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 10:38 PM on March 1, 2008

Yes, that was grand. Thank you all for a very enjoyable evening.
posted by converge at 12:04 AM on March 2, 2008

That was fabulous.

Next time in Lethbridge? :)
posted by arcticwoman at 8:46 AM on March 2, 2008

Very enjoyable meet-up...for obvious reasons, my wife wouldn't let me near the computer last night when we got home. Photos are here.

Looking forward to doing it again soon and meeting more people!
posted by never used baby shoes at 10:02 AM on March 2, 2008

Yeah, I had a fantastic time. (And I'm paying for it now... ow, my head!)

I really enjoyed meeting all of you. What a smart, witty bunch we are! *pats self on back*
posted by arto at 3:37 PM on March 2, 2008

Nice pictures, nubs. Hee hee hee, I just get a kick out of calling you nubs.
posted by arcticwoman at 5:39 PM on March 2, 2008

articwoman, you can call me whatever you want.
posted by never used baby shoes at 1:58 PM on March 3, 2008

I was in Fernie, looks like a good time.
posted by robofunk at 3:40 PM on March 3, 2008