London picnic meetup July 27, 2008 9:53 AM   Subscribe

London picnic meetup!

Saturday 16th August? Or the week after? All venue suggestions considered (lush verdancy and sunshine definite plusses).
posted by goo to MetaFilter Gatherings at 9:53 AM (97 comments total) 5 users marked this as a favorite

16th good for me - the next weekend, I imagine lots of people might well be out of town for the bank holiday.

Somewhere in Hyde Park is probably a good default suggestion - easy access, and lots of nice pubs near it we can run and hide in if the weather turns rubbish.
posted by flashboy at 10:22 AM on July 27, 2008


Heartily seconded.
posted by chrismear at 11:34 AM on July 27, 2008


I'm in. I'm happy with Hyde Park, but I'm also partial to Clissold Park as an alternative. Not as centrally located, but it also sees less traffic. There are a good number of pubs nearby as well.
posted by ahughey at 12:20 PM on July 27, 2008


I'll bring a cooler pack with Pimm's...
posted by generichuman at 12:38 PM on July 27, 2008


I am so very up for this.
posted by freya_lamb at 12:55 PM on July 27, 2008


A Hyde Park picnic could easily lead to a little row boat/girl in a sun hat scenario.
posted by cillit bang at 1:04 PM on July 27, 2008


I would love to do this, especially since I missed last year's, but I will be Fringing in Edinburgh on the 16th and the 23rd.
posted by sueinnyc at 1:05 PM on July 27, 2008


I might be in the UK around that time, I'll definitely be there if so.
posted by atrazine at 2:24 PM on July 27, 2008


You Brits and your picnics...
posted by Pastabagel at 9:04 PM on July 27, 2008


Pastabagel, I actually ended up bringing cucumber sandwiches to that picnic, so thanks for the inspiration.
posted by atrazine at 11:45 PM on July 27, 2008


Argh. I'm gigging in the North East

As a result, I vote for the week before, or the week after, and for it to be in London Fields, so I'm a sickeningly convenient staggering distance from my flat.

Anyone? Anyone...?
posted by armoured-ant at 2:27 AM on July 28, 2008


A picnic sounds even better than pub crawling.

If we're still undecided about the venue something further east would suit us. Hyde Park is great but it's sorta uptown. London Fields is good or has there ever been a meetup in Victoria Park?

Regardless of where we'll be there, but as I'm renovating our flat and laying new floors I'm not sure how physically agile I'll be. I put a new floor in our lounge and laying ten square metres almost killed me. Our bedroom is about thirteen and the morning after I just know I'm gonna feel every square centimeter. Big time.

Hey is BBQ-ing at the selected venue an option?
posted by Mutant at 3:52 AM on July 28, 2008


Oh and timing? Both Mrs Mutant and I are horribly melanin deficient, meaning we're likely to arrive sometime after peak sun. Yesterday we didn't venture outside until about 3PM. So when were you folks thinking of launching?
posted by Mutant at 3:57 AM on July 28, 2008


YES.
posted by Specklet at 4:09 AM on July 28, 2008


Great! I was thinking 3-ish, and it'd be great if we could BBQ. We can use those little tinfoil disposable BBQs if there's no others available or allowed.

And I'll bring cucumber sandwiches, a sponge cake, tinned cheese, hardboiled eggs with a little wax paper twist of salt, cold roast chicken, a block of chocolate, ginger beer, tinned tongue and an entire wedding cake! If we evoke Enid Blyton in the food we might even be blessed with finding the Wishing Chair or an island to liberate of Nazis.
posted by goo at 4:55 AM on July 28, 2008


I always preferred Regents Park to Hyde Park, especially when it comes to boating. The ninety plus species of exotic waterfowl really enhance the rowboating experience.
posted by Devils Slide at 6:14 AM on July 28, 2008


I vote Victoria Park, I've never quite managed to go there despite spending a disgusting amount of time about five minutes away from it.
posted by hugsnkisses at 6:28 AM on July 28, 2008


And I'll bring cucumber sandwiches, a sponge cake, tinned cheese, hardboiled eggs with a little wax paper twist of salt, cold roast chicken, a block of chocolate, ginger beer, tinned tongue and an entire wedding cake!

Don't forget the barbecued corn on the cob. Char them (obviously don't wrap them in tinfoil) and dip them in brine. The brine works much better for seasoning BBQ 'ed corn. Salt grains don't adhere well. Btw, that's the Persian method of having corn, although I wouldn't be surprised if we stole the idea from another culture, as Persians are wont to do. That is the only thing Persians have managed to do with corn. Unlike the tomato and the potato which are now indispensable to Persian cuisine, corn wasn't utilized at all except for the aforementioned BBQ 'ed and brined corn on the cob which is usually sold by park vendors.

Why the hell am I babbling about corn and Iran in a thread about a London picnic meet up? I don't rightly know.
posted by Devils Slide at 6:28 AM on July 28, 2008


Victoria Park would indeed be a nice Easterly alternative, though it's a bit of a schlep for some. And either the 9th or the 16th would be fine for me, if we want to shift it earlier to accomodate more people.
posted by flashboy at 7:21 AM on July 28, 2008


The brine works much better for seasoning BBQ 'ed corn. Salt grains don't adhere well. Btw, that's the Persian method of having corn, although I wouldn't be surprised if we stole the idea from another culture, as Persians are wont to do.

BBQ Corn is fairly common in Mexico. The salt grains stick if you rub the corn with butter first and cheese and lime juice and chili powder. Thats the Mexican method of having corn, anyways.
posted by vacapinta at 7:42 AM on July 28, 2008


I can't help but feel that all this corn-talk is derailing the meetup organising. Get your own thread, corn-botherers.

Um, the 9th would be much better for me (obviously). Also, I'm a much bigger fan of the Regent's Park than Hyde Park. Victoria's nice, big and flat too, mind. Then there's Primrose Hill, which has The Amazing View.
posted by armoured-ant at 8:25 AM on July 28, 2008


Barbecuing is banned in the Royal Parks, so if we want to set fire to things then Victoria Park seems like a safer bet.
posted by chrismear at 8:58 AM on July 28, 2008


We cracked (about) corn and you don't care?
posted by Devils Slide at 10:07 AM on July 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


A little OT but is Victoria Park really not a Royal Park, even though named after Queen Victoria? Its a pretty neat place and and where the first Flying Bomb during WWII impacted in 1944. (sorry - it's the anglophile in me trying to make every interaction with you folks a positive, leaning experience and it surely beats getting glassed in a pub. I know all about that trick now, thank you very much)
posted by Mutant at 10:07 AM on July 28, 2008


Sounds like a good idea. I say yes to sausages and down with salad.
posted by triv at 11:37 AM on July 28, 2008 [1 favorite]


I'm up for this. Having attended the highly successful Central Park picnic last Saturday, I feel it my bounden duty to drag the tone of the London summer picnic down, as I did in New York.

When a venue/time/date is decided, could somebody sidebar it?
posted by essexjan at 12:58 PM on July 28, 2008


Victoria Park or London Fields would be awesome. Bonus: if we have it at London Fields there are loads of goodies to buy at Broadway Market, yummy food, booze from the Cat and Mutton, etc.
posted by Lleyam at 2:03 PM on July 28, 2008


I'll be in Edinburgh that weekend - harrumph, another meetup I shan't be able to make...
posted by greycap at 2:33 PM on July 28, 2008


All the more reason to make it the 9th! Right?
posted by armoured-ant at 11:12 PM on July 28, 2008


Right, armoured-ant. The 9th sounds good to me.
posted by sueinnyc at 12:19 AM on July 29, 2008


TheDonF and I can't make the 9th, for what it's worth.
posted by Specklet at 1:48 AM on July 29, 2008


The Royal Parks were land originally owned by the monarchy. They used them for hunting and purging the oiks and the like. If the Queen owned everything that was named after a relative, she would one rich lady. Umm, yeah.... Plus she'd have an awful lot of pubs at her disposal.
posted by Helga-woo at 5:15 AM on July 29, 2008


Can't make the 9th. But can make 16th.

I don't know Hackney at all, so if you do decide on Victoria Park please give me some directions. There's a big mist on my internal map of London around east of Dalton and north of Shoreditch, it says 'Here be pirates' and has those funny woodcuts of creatures with no head but eyes instead of nipples.
posted by randomination at 7:57 AM on July 29, 2008


creatures with no head but eyes instead of nipples

Yep, that's Hackney.
posted by flashboy at 8:36 AM on July 29, 2008 [1 favorite]


How are these things normally settled? Thumb wrestle, a duel or a cagematch with the nipple-eyed pirates from Hackney? The 16th is better for me.
posted by goo at 9:49 AM on July 29, 2008


Quite simple - someone has to lay down the law and that's that. Are you going to capitulate to the 9th rebel faction?

Or, er, not? Either way's fine by me.
posted by cillit bang at 11:02 AM on July 29, 2008


Ooh, laying down the law is fun. What say we to 3pm on the 16th at Victoria Park?
posted by goo at 12:01 PM on July 30, 2008


Works for me.
posted by ahughey at 1:34 PM on July 30, 2008


The 9th is my birthday. Does that count for anything?
posted by triv at 2:45 PM on July 30, 2008


16th is better for me and kirjava.
posted by adrianhon at 4:29 PM on July 30, 2008


The 16th it is.
posted by chrismear at 3:01 AM on July 31, 2008


Yay!
posted by Specklet at 4:28 AM on July 31, 2008


Mope.
posted by armoured-ant at 6:22 AM on July 31, 2008


The 9th is my birthday. Does that count for anything?
posted by triv at 10:45 PM on July 30 [+] [!]


Yes. The drinks are on you.
posted by essexjan at 1:41 PM on July 31, 2008


Sorry I'll miss this one - and unfortunately I will likewise miss the Edinburgh meet-up by a day.

And triv, you and I share a birthday!
posted by sueinnyc at 10:18 AM on August 2, 2008


Damn... pre-booked for a birthday picnic in ... Hyde park! Grrr!
posted by electriccynic at 5:46 AM on August 4, 2008


I'll actually be close enough for this one due to wedding in the London side of Surrey on the 16th, sadly, I'll be at the wedding so can't make it.
posted by biffa at 9:21 AM on August 4, 2008


I shall be holidaying with the entire Mustard clan that weekend, so you will be spared my beery presence. Have fun.
posted by MrMustard at 9:31 AM on August 4, 2008


Any thoughts on where to meet in Victoria Park? The only station within walking distance is Cambridge Heath, so I'd suggest somewhere not far inside the gate that end (aerial photo). I made a quick reconnaissance trip this evening and you have a choice of "The Glade", which is the secluded area on the left where it says Victoria Park (though I thought a bit claustrophobic), the open the space on the right, or somewhere alongside the Regent's Canal (though also nearer the roads, and running track).

Thoughts?
posted by cillit bang at 1:28 PM on August 4, 2008


Near the gate off of Gore Road sounds good cillit since the "nearest" tube station, Bethnal Green, is on that side too. The main open area that you come to after entering through the gate would be fine- good mix of open swathes of grass and some trees too. Or if we did want water/some seclusion, another suggestion might be the area just above or above/left of "The Glade" by the narrow end of the pond. Looking forward to the picnicing, Pimms, and peoples!
posted by Kirjava at 7:29 AM on August 5, 2008


Will aim to make this one
posted by edd at 7:33 AM on August 5, 2008


Sueinnyc - I'll have to drink for both of us. You too!

Also, someone has to mention it; do we have a backup in the face of our lovely english summertime? We should probably address that sooner rather than later.
posted by triv at 1:08 PM on August 5, 2008


Good point, triv. I don't know the area at all - any suggestions?
posted by goo at 2:29 PM on August 5, 2008


I passed The Approach on Monday, and it looks good enough.

another suggestion might be the area just above or above/left of "The Glade" by the narrow end of the pond.

Sadly it's fenced off. So let's go with the open space on the right (actually on the left as you come in the gate).
posted by cillit bang at 6:55 AM on August 6, 2008


I'll try and make it. I'll wear my deerstalker and take my anti-nipple stick.
posted by randomination at 4:08 AM on August 7, 2008


Yes! My first meetup and it's a 10 second walk from my place, yay!

I was recently at Royal Inn on the Park which I think would make a decent rain backup.
posted by vodkaboots at 11:35 AM on August 11, 2008


Cool. I'm not local to that area so couldn't comment on where to go in case of bad weather, but knowing what it's like we could well need it. Early forecast for Saturday in London is rain.

Boooooooo!
posted by triv at 3:38 PM on August 12, 2008


Metcheck is currently predicting a dry afternoon. Hurrah!

Let's pin down some details:
  • Meet here in Victoria Park at 3pm-ish - use the gate off Sewardstone Road and turn left after you cross the Regent's Canal, or from the Gore Road gate do the opposite.
  • If it rains, Royal Inn on the Park, also marked above.
  • Nearest station: Cambridge Heath. Trains leave Liverpool Street at :00, :15, :30, :45 and take literally 5 minutes, accept Oyster pay-as-you-go, and the exit at the station points exactly the direction you need to go.
  • Second nearest station: Bethnal Green on the Central Line.
I think that's everything. Bring Pimm's and food and joy. I shall bring the Metafilter sign.
posted by cillit bang at 5:31 AM on August 14, 2008 [1 favorite]


Sounds like a plan to me, cillit bang! Thanks.
posted by goo at 8:55 AM on August 14, 2008


Weird. The Beeb thinks it's going to piss it down.
posted by pharm at 2:31 PM on August 14, 2008




Cilit bang, you linked to Sunday's forecast. Tomorrow's forecast is not so good.
posted by Optamystic at 2:08 AM on August 15, 2008


Metcheck links are relative, so the page I linked to was about Saturday, and was looking good. And it seems to be looking good again since you made your post.
posted by cillit bang at 4:57 AM on August 15, 2008


Disaster. I am having to work on Saturday due to a monumental IT cock up.

I will have a sausage roll or two at my desk, tinged with envy at the lot of you enjoying your collective selves. I hope the weather holds and that you all have a lovely time anyway.
posted by triv at 6:44 AM on August 15, 2008


Metchek linke are relative...

Good to know. Sorry I won't be able to make it, due to an unforseen wedding anniversary.
posted by Optamystic at 7:58 AM on August 15, 2008


Hmm, the cooler pack might be an issue, so I shall bring possibly warm Pimms.
posted by generichuman at 8:49 AM on August 15, 2008


just moved to London, would be good to meet some MeFites. I should be able to make it.
posted by Infinite Jest at 9:52 AM on August 15, 2008


unforseen wedding anniversary.

Well pooh.

On the other hand I will certainly be there to welcome Infinite Jest and his confusing accent.

Can I suggest we meet at a certain place at a certain time as the weather is typically unpredictable?
posted by Sparx at 4:04 PM on August 15, 2008


What might work is a Tube station to meet at. Just saying.
posted by Sparx at 4:16 PM on August 15, 2008


Well, the weather is pretty meh, but it's not windy and not persisting down. I will therefore endeavor to go to Cillit Bang's blue balloon in the park without getting lost in London (something I seem to have an innate ability for)
posted by Sparx at 1:43 AM on August 16, 2008


Eyup 'yall!

Sorry for being silent on this for so ling, but I was renovating an upstairs bedroom (12 sq m, removed carpet & underfloor, painted enire room, then laid a new wood floor and put new sidewalls in - ouch!) and then I caught up in some Uni crap ... but I've been cooking & baking all morning, and Mrs Mutant & I are good to go!

So you folks later this afternoon!
posted by Mutant at 5:24 AM on August 16, 2008


Ahemm - See you folks later this afternoon!
posted by Mutant at 5:24 AM on August 16, 2008


There are five of us "enjoying" the London afternoon on the west side of Victoria Park. Hope to see more soon!
posted by ahughey at 7:33 AM on August 16, 2008


Many thanks to the people that organised this - you know who you are!!

Mrs Mutant & I had a wonderful time hanging out, chatting, eating & drinking on a lovely late summers afternoon in London.

Too bad that nascent pigeon & squirrel assault on our northern flank didn't come to fruition - I had great hopes for the conflict as I ended up carting a fair amount of food home.

Our pix are posted here.

Hope to hang with you folks again soon - thanks again!
posted by Mutant at 12:24 PM on August 16, 2008


Well, I didn't make it from Oxford in the end, hope everyone had a good time!

btw, Mutant: Your 404 had me in stitches.
posted by pharm at 1:32 PM on August 16, 2008


Thanks guys! Central line issues aside, I had a great time chatting with you all - and we even managed to conjure up a few minutes of sun, just like MAGIC!
posted by goo at 4:39 PM on August 16, 2008


Ah yes, drunken bus rides and kebabs were had by all. Or, at least had by me. (And, Phenomenologically, isn't that all that can be?) That was a lovely pub and it was lovely to meet you all in person.
posted by generichuman at 4:58 PM on August 16, 2008


Personally, I quite liked Mr Mutant's website theme song. Even though I completely disappeared in his photos (I feel like Trotsky in a Stalingrad Middle School History Exam).

It was fun and an excellent use of a Saturday, y'all. Infinite Jest - you need to show up next time so I can not be the only guy with a kiwi accent, and FlashBoy, there will be a MeFi mail in your direction as soon as the hangover subsides - because a man's gotta do what a maaaaaans gotta do.

Peace out.
posted by Sparx at 2:01 AM on August 17, 2008


These hangovers subside?
posted by generichuman at 2:50 AM on August 17, 2008


Whoa, who the heck are half the people in these photos? They didn't come to the pub (unsportingly)!
posted by hugsnkisses at 3:54 AM on August 17, 2008


TheDonF and I wanted to stay for longer and make it to the pub and have a drunken bus ride, but we were exhausted from previous nights' shenanigans, and went home from the park. Even so, it took us over two hours to get home!
posted by Specklet at 4:06 AM on August 17, 2008


Some photos
posted by cillit bang at 4:25 AM on August 17, 2008


Some other photos!
posted by flashboy at 4:33 AM on August 17, 2008


Thanks everyone for a really lovely afternoon and some tasty food! Nice chat all round, great to see people again and meet new folks too! And thanks for arranging the weather cillit ;-) Here are my few photos.

And for the record, some of us did go to the pub, but just didn't stay all evening! (It was supposed to be a park picnic meetup, not just a pub meetup...) In the end, I think I did pretty well for having only had 2 hours of sleep on a library floor the night before!! Sorry I didn't get to meet everyone and I hope you all enjoyed the rest of the evening- by the sound of things, you did! Hope you're all recovering sufficiently well ;-)

(Also I hope you can make it next time pharm- it would be good to meet another Oxonian Mefite!)
posted by Kirjava at 4:53 AM on August 17, 2008


Why does everybody have a picture of that Kat? I don't remember any Kat at the meet up?
posted by Mutant at 5:14 AM on August 17, 2008


The Kat was an Emissary of the Ginger Light, warning us not to go to the pub. If only we'd listened... it would all be so, so very different.
posted by Sparx at 5:39 AM on August 17, 2008


And I wouldn't now have this unsightly tattoo.
posted by hugsnkisses at 6:18 AM on August 17, 2008 [1 favorite]


And I wouldn't be on my seventh cup of coffee.
posted by generichuman at 6:51 AM on August 17, 2008


Hey guys, lovely to meet yoos all yesterday, for all that I feel unutterably terrible today. (Banana-bird man).
posted by YouRebelScum at 10:34 AM on August 17, 2008


...

You mean last weekend was the 16th?

Arse.
posted by randomination at 3:38 AM on August 18, 2008


I knew I wouldn't be able to make this one but didn't want to derail the planning, since its almost impossible to accomodate everyone. Looks like fun! Hope to make the next one!
posted by vacapinta at 4:38 AM on August 18, 2008


photos please, hugsnkisses.
posted by terrapin at 5:14 AM on August 18, 2008


Sorry 'bout that Sparx. Owing to some domestic confusion I ended up stuck in the house with no money, and no way of contacting my girlfriend to get some. Will do everything possible to make it to the next meetup.
posted by Infinite Jest at 6:51 AM on August 19, 2008


This is the London in the south of England, and the August the 16th of 2008?

Pencilled in for next year.
posted by davemee at 5:45 PM on August 27, 2008


There'll be no London in 2009.
posted by chrismear at 5:09 AM on August 28, 2008


Finally finished writing up and got a chance to put up my picnic photos.
posted by ahughey at 1:44 PM on September 7, 2008


Cheers, ahughey! The 'someone' in your pics is generichuman.
posted by goo at 4:11 PM on September 7, 2008


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