A midsummer night's dream...a Chicago meetup?

July 28, 2008 8:06 PM

Can we try again for a Chicago meetup?

I had to miss the last two due to work and now things are slowing down a bit and I may actually be able to attend. What do you guys think? A mid-August weeknight meetup at the standard Billy Goat?

posted by MeetMegan to MetaFilter gatherings at 8:06 PM (64 comments total)

I might be in Chi-town on the 13th. It's a Wednesday.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:39 AM on July 29, 2008

13th would work for me.
posted by misskaz at 6:56 AM on July 29, 2008

I don't have anything currently scheduled for the 13th.
posted by crush-onastick at 8:06 AM on July 29, 2008

I can make it.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:57 AM on July 29, 2008

Wednesdays are tough, thanks to early morning flights on thursday, but I'll try.
posted by eriko at 11:50 AM on July 29, 2008

Wow. That was easy. So should we say Wednesday, August 13, Billy Goat, 6 p.m.?
posted by MeetMegan at 11:53 AM on July 29, 2008

Sure. As usual, I will be late.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:56 AM on July 29, 2008

Oh I should be free this time. Count me in.
posted by Arbac at 2:15 PM on July 29, 2008

OK I am adding this to the meetup list. Hope to see you all there!
posted by MeetMegan at 4:37 PM on July 29, 2008

Friend and I are going to an event at 4:30 so we might be late.
posted by IndigoRain at 7:06 AM on July 30, 2008

I've got shows in Mississippi that week so I can't be there (yet again) >:(

Hope to catch the next one!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 8:59 AM on July 30, 2008

Kevin--We'll miss you (but, hey, at least we'll have more of your really cool photos to see).
posted by crush-onastick at 9:45 AM on July 30, 2008

I'm going to a wedding in Chicago the previous weekend and will probably stick around town for a bit afterward. Hopefully I can make this meetup.
posted by Kattullus at 9:48 AM on July 30, 2008

Mememememe! I can go this time! (Not that I have a huge mefi presence or anything, but I like meeting people.)
posted by mismatched at 8:28 AM on July 31, 2008

A firm maybe from me.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:17 AM on July 31, 2008

mismatched: a lot of us don't have a huge mefi presence, we just need excuses to leave our houses (but not excuses for whiskey & beer; whiskey & beer need no excuse).
posted by crush-onastick at 9:33 AM on July 31, 2008

Drat. I have a meeting to go to. Why does my other excuse to leave the house always schedule its meetings the same night as meetups? If you folks will be going late maybe I'll catch up with you.
posted by hydrophonic at 7:18 PM on July 31, 2008

Uhhhh... which Billy Goat is it? :)

http://www.billygoattavern.com/locations.html
posted by IndigoRain at 2:21 AM on August 1, 2008

Inidigo--the original, under Michigan Avenue, under the Wrigley Building, down the long flight of steps.
posted by crush-onastick at 6:36 AM on August 1, 2008

Damn! I move to Chicago on the 14th. Maybe next time.
posted by dizziest at 3:55 PM on August 1, 2008

Heh. It's IndigoRain's first time.
posted by wfrgms at 5:16 PM on August 1, 2008

I think I can make this!
posted by halonine at 8:34 PM on August 2, 2008

Oh, hey. A meetup. On a Wednesday like god intended!

I should be there.
posted by sparkletone at 9:15 AM on August 6, 2008

We're in New York dealing with the most horrible horribleness you can imagine, but I think we'll be back by Wednesday. If we are, you can count on me getting absolutely fucking plastered, so apologies in advance.
posted by eamondaly at 8:17 PM on August 6, 2008

Drat. I'm in on Monday night and Tuesday with no way to stretch it til Wednesday. Damned Mittwoch! Missed again.
posted by beelzbubba at 9:18 AM on August 12, 2008

Not going to make it this time either. Sorry.
posted by eriko at 12:58 PM on August 12, 2008

Not feeling up to it this time 'round, but I hope everyone gets properly drunk without me.
posted by eamondaly at 11:30 PM on August 12, 2008

I'm an idiot, forgot tonight is Project Runway night. And my friends just found out their kitty has likely untreatable bone cancer, and they really need the distraction. Sorry!
posted by misskaz at 6:53 AM on August 13, 2008

So wait, is anybody going? Wait, let me count 'em up. We have a yes or a maybe, or at least a chime-in from:

MeetMegan
IndigoRain
crush-onastick
adamdschneider
Arbac
Kattullus
mismatched
SpiffyRob
hydrophonic
wfrgms
halonine
sparkletone

I guess I just felt like making a list, because tonight is really inconvenient for me. I worked downtown yesterday, I work downtown tomorrow, but today ... TODAY is a stay-in-the-burbs day for me. Have fun. :)
posted by iguanapolitico at 8:35 AM on August 13, 2008

Well, if Iguana isn't going, count me out. ;-)

I'll be out back smoking with the cool kids.

No, seriously, I don't think I'll be able to make it tonight. But I hope everyone has fun and is painfully hung over in the morning.
posted by wfrgms at 9:52 AM on August 13, 2008

The more or less expected stream of last minute backouts makes it even more uncomfortable for me to post my own. I can't believe I'm flaking, but something has come up that I simply can't skip out on. I'm really sorry, folks, but I promise I'll make it next time. Honest to gods.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:31 AM on August 13, 2008

I am also backing out. I'm currently--and for the forseeable future--locked in the storage closet of Mr. Blandings' Dream House.
posted by crush-onastick at 11:01 AM on August 13, 2008

I'm not quite backing out, but I won't be there for the full thing, as I've got some other commitments tonight. I can come say hi and sit around for an hour or two though!
posted by sparkletone at 12:05 PM on August 13, 2008

I'm actually able to make it this time. See you all at six!
posted by Iridic at 12:42 PM on August 13, 2008

Yah ... I'm a terrible person and will have to back out. I'm stuck at work and probably will not be leaving for a long time. My boss just asked me what my preference for dinner was. Normally not a good sign :-(

Have fun though!
posted by Arbac at 2:08 PM on August 13, 2008

Holy crap! So we're down to:

MeetMegan
IndigoRain
Kattullus
mismatched
SpiffyRob
hydrophonic
halonine
sparkletone
+ Iridic (yay!)

I really love making lists. I hope you all have a wonderful time, drink lots, eat cheezborgers, take pictures, post pictures, and get home safely.
posted by iguanapolitico at 2:17 PM on August 13, 2008

so, um, yeah. where was everyone? I stayed until 7:15 but I felt weird sitting alone!
posted by MeetMegan at 6:11 PM on August 13, 2008

A couple of us were sitting over on the side we always use. Where were you? I got there about 6:45, and talked with WCityMike and a couple others until I had to go at about 8.
posted by sparkletone at 8:14 PM on August 13, 2008

PS: We had a small sign even!
posted by sparkletone at 8:16 PM on August 13, 2008

Yeah, a metafilt sign and then a "yes, there are other mefites here" sign. Too bad we missed you, I guess.
posted by mismatched at 9:01 PM on August 13, 2008

Er, that was meant to be "we missed you, I guess," not "sorry, I guess."
posted by mismatched at 9:07 PM on August 13, 2008

I got caught in the rain after work and then sat in an air-conditioned room for two hours, so all I wanted to do was go home and dry off. Sorry I missed it.
posted by hydrophonic at 9:11 PM on August 13, 2008

Oh Jesus Hussein Christ, I'm sorry I couldn't make it over there guys, but trust me, I'm in no condition to hang out, so you're better off without me. Lest I be shoving long island iced teas down each and everyone of your gullets...
posted by wfrgms at 10:30 PM on August 13, 2008

Had a fun time! Big-group meetups are certainly fun, but there's certainly something to be said about small-group meetups too ...
posted by WCityMike at 9:02 AM on August 14, 2008

Sorry I didn't make it, guys. We were supposed to be done by 7 but everything ran late and we didn't get out till after 8. We had to RUN to make our train.
posted by IndigoRain at 9:41 AM on August 14, 2008

Oh man, I'm sorry we missed you, Megan.

Fun meet-up, though. We should have another quickly, on a day when Fate doesn't have it in for so many people.
posted by Iridic at 5:46 AM on August 15, 2008

A humble suggestion:

So, the last thing I would want to do is to dictate the terms of a meetup that I haven't even been to, but...

I've had every intention of going to the last few meetups, but if my schedule shifts even slightly, it makes getting to the Billy Goat very, very difficult (I'm coming from Northbrook. Neither Metra nor CTA is particularly helpful in this regard, and I'm not particularly inclined to drive to a night of boozing.)

I get the impression that I'm not the only one coming from up north, and I was wondering if a different location might lead to a better turnout. If this is sacrilege, let us never speak of it again. I'm also happy to propose a separate, north suburbs meetup, but I wouldn't want to miss meeting all you nice city folk.

How would everyone feel about a place such as Tommy Nevin's in Evanston? Big bar, not too crowded during the week, darts, pool, Irish beer and grub out the wazoo, plus it is about a block from the Dempster Purple Line station. People in the city can take a purple express on the way there and a purple to red for a nice leisurely ride home. Alternatively, it's a short walk to the Davis Metra station.

Again, having never been to a meetup, I'm the last guy who should suggest changing things around, but would anyone else be interested in this? If not, is there any other bar, perhaps further north and closer to public transit that might be a better solution?

If not, I'll just call in sick to work the next time there's a meetup, because I really want to meet everyone!
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:20 AM on August 15, 2008

I would consider traveling to Evanston for a meetup, although I'm not at all sure how long it would take me to get home to Logan Square from there...
posted by adamdschneider at 8:20 AM on August 15, 2008

I have to admit, I'm really not wild about moving the meetup to Evanston, but that's just out of consideration for my own convenience: Billy Goat's rather handy for me. (And I like the atmosphere: urban but shouting unnecessary.) But I'd go along with the groupthink on this one, whichever way it turns out.
posted by WCityMike at 8:41 AM on August 15, 2008

I live in Highland Park and I really *like* going down to the Goat for meetups, because I enjoy the place and I wouldn't go otherwise.

However, I'd definitely not object to meeting at Tommy Nevin's, a place I also really enjoy. And it would cut my travel time in half.

But I guess, after saying that, I'd have to actually commit to going to a meetup if it were held there, which is a problem for me. So don't count this comment as a strong vote either way.
posted by iguanapolitico at 8:55 AM on August 15, 2008

Honestly the meetups at the Billy Goat have been working pretty good so far. It's a central location with lots of public transport options and taxi service. It's cheap with ample seating and it has the type of seedy ambiance that a lot of us go for... Also, a lot of the MeFis seem to live and work nearby so turn outs are usually good. It seems like the things that prevent us from getting there are individualist rather than related to the location.

As for Evanston - I like coming up there, but it's a huge hassle getting back into the city late at night. At least an hour or two by CTA for anyone who lives toward central or south side Chicago... Does the purple even run 24-7? Some of our meetups have gone on pretty late, so it'd suck getting stranded up there...
posted by wfrgms at 11:02 AM on August 15, 2008

I agree that for most Chicagoans, it's a lot easier to get to the loop than Evanston, and again, that's speaking as a north-sider. Even for us Edgewater folk it can be a good 30 minutes to get to E-town on construction days. And not to be even more of a curmudgeon, but I loathe Nevin's, even though it's probably more convenient to me than to anyone else on MeFi since I work just one block north. Way too noisy and expensive, and getting seating there after 7 is really difficult. I'd probably recommend Bar Louie instead-- or even The (New! Taupe!) Keg.

All that said, there's nothing stopping those who want to rock the suburbs from doing so. Let your freak flags fly, I say. More meetups, not fewer.
posted by eamondaly at 11:44 AM on August 15, 2008

Actually, here's an alternative: we could try the Billy Goat on Wells next time, as that one's only three blocks from Union Station and is still on the Red and Purple lines, which should make it a point-to-point CTA trip for damn near everyone. It's lacking the "wait, what time is it?!" ambiance of the Michigan Ave Goat, but it's still plenty cheap and has even more seating.
posted by eamondaly at 1:09 PM on August 15, 2008

Eamon,

I'm all for the Billy Goat on Wells. Would certainly make it easier on me. To that end, let's keep Chicago meetups in Chicago. Perhaps I'll try to throw together a separate North Suburbs meetup sometime. (Though downtown folks are encouraged to come!)

I'm surprised by your critique of Nevin's, though. I'm a pretty regular patron there and have never found it to be any of the things you describe (expensive, overcrowded, loud.) Hell, I was even there for the Super Bowl, and it wasn't particularly raucous. I'll grant that it can be a little loud when they have music in the backroom, but that's pretty much never the case mid-week. While everyone has their own taste , I'm surprised that anyone who isn't an underage NU student would prefer The Keg. (Even with the new paint job, which is VERY fancy.) My opinion has always been that the further south the bar is on Sherman, the better it is. Nevin's > Prairie Moon > Bar Louie > The Keg.

But to each his own!
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:37 PM on August 15, 2008

How about that crummy little bar in Central Union Station? The Snuggery?

I mean, if you're going to go the Billy Goat, go to the original. If you need something close to the Wells St. Billy Goat, maybe something like that would work?

Hey the name is right and it's as least as safe as Rossi's.
posted by wfrgms at 1:59 PM on August 15, 2008

Snuggery on Yelp.

Choice line: "when you order wine, they ask if you want a large or a small"

Heh...
posted by wfrgms at 2:02 PM on August 15, 2008

Eww. Snuggery? Seriously. Eww. If you want something close to Union that is original but not the Billy Goat, let's go with Poag Mahone's (across the street from the Billy Goat) or even Franklin Tap (totally seedy but really close to Union).
posted by MeetMegan at 2:52 PM on August 15, 2008

Choice line: "when you order wine, they ask if you want a large or a small"

But...who would ever ask for a small?
posted by adamdschneider at 3:10 PM on August 15, 2008

Eww. Snuggery? Seriously. Eww.

As if that response is somehow a strike against the place...
posted by wfrgms at 7:13 PM on August 15, 2008

So who's gonna pick a date, candy-tuckuses?
posted by eamondaly at 8:28 PM on August 17, 2008

Well, I'm available every Wednesday and Thursday in September.

I'm unaware of this "Snuggery", though it sounds awfully snuggly. I don't care too much about the venue ... in general, I just hate going to those places where everyone is younger, cuter, and more successful than I am. I like a place for adults, even washed up ones. Seedy is fantastic in that respect.

I myself am eyeing Thursday, September 25. I'm not sure how far out you guys were thinking, in terms of date, but there's my thinking.

And I'd be in favor of keeping this thread open indefinitely, as our official meetup-planning thread, regardless of season, if it weren't automatically closed after 6 months. Now my opinion is officially on record.
posted by iguanapolitico at 7:35 PM on August 18, 2008

I can do the 25th. I say start a new thread.
posted by eamondaly at 9:11 PM on August 18, 2008

> I can do the 25th. I say start a new thread.

Done.
posted by WCityMike at 5:49 AM on August 19, 2008

I'm of the opinion we should just have a standing every-other-wednesday at the Billy Goat. If someone shows, great; if not, you can just hang out, talking to the old guys at the bar.

My opinion, too, is now recorded for posterity. Like a candy-posterior, as it were.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:51 AM on August 19, 2008