NYC Meetup

August 20, 2008 10:05 AM

Hey New York, let's meetup. How's September 6th in Williamsburg?

I've read much hullabaloo about the frequency of NYC meetups, but I didn't see any on the horizon. Is Williamsburg too out of the way for you Manhattanites? Lovely Harefield Road, off the Graham Ave stop, has lots of seating and an excellent beer selection, if that sweetens the deal.

posted by zoomorphic to MetaFilter gatherings at 10:05 AM (83 comments total)

I like Harefield Road. They even have a nice backyard. I'm there.

Can I offer a reminder, however? Meetups that take place in bars' garden areas tend to be total smoke-fests. There are always at least two or three cigarettes burning at any given moment, and in a close gathering that can be oppressive to nonsmokers. It would be extra considerate if smoking mefites took a step back from the pack to partake... I"m not a craybaby about these things, just someone with wicked allergies who still wants to see everyone in the summertime.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 10:51 AM on August 20, 2008

I was thinking we could stay indoors and let the smokers take breaks outside, because even if the MeFi group is considerate, no one else on the patio will do us that favor. Luckily, Harefield is enjoyable inside and out.
posted by zoomorphic at 10:57 AM on August 20, 2008

I'm in -- and I live in Clinton Hill, so Williamsburg is perfect. (Brooklyn represent!)

I'm flexible in terms of smoking/nonsmoking, too (I don't myself, but I've spent enough time with smokers that I'm kind of innured to smoke for the most part).
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:04 AM on August 20, 2008

I'm not in town :(
posted by onalark at 11:34 AM on August 20, 2008

Love that place. Not in town. I will have to fire up my own meetup one of these days so I can make it!
posted by kosem at 11:47 AM on August 20, 2008

Sure, sounds cool! Why don't you set a time and add the meetup to the sidebar?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:11 PM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I just moved to the NYC area, and I may be able to go if I can figure out the whole train/subway thing.
posted by Four-Eyed Girl at 12:46 PM on August 20, 2008

I'm interested, but it's the day after my birthday, so I may have other plans.
posted by Jahaza at 1:00 PM on August 20, 2008

Four-Eyed girl: bookmark this site. You can type any address in there -- the address you're coming from, and the address you want to get to -- and it tells you the best subway/bus route to get there.

(To other onlookers: this is the MTA's own site. I've tried this and I've tried Hopstop, and Hopstop actually fell short, in my experience...)

But in general -- if you can get from whereever you are to anything on 14th street (practically all the different lines have a stop on 14th Street, so you should be fine in that regard), then you would just switch from there onto the "L" train and take that to this spot. If you're in the city proper, it should be pretty easy.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:00 PM on August 20, 2008 [5 favorites has favorites]

Hrm. The 6th *is* my birthday, and the day before my baby is due. It's looking highly unlikely, but hey, if nothing's happening maybe I could come along and see if I can have the first baby mefite born at a meetup.
posted by gaspode at 1:16 PM on August 20, 2008

OMG. Best Meetup Ever! As long as I don't have to watch, I'm not good with blood. But you can give the baby to me after you wipe it off.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:36 PM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Hopefully I shall be there!
posted by Jeanne at 2:28 PM on August 20, 2008

Uh, I'd prefer to skip all the squamous childbirthing, so let us know when you go into labor, gaspode. I'll go outside and chainsmoke. But would you name the child Meetup? Harefield? Can I buy him/her a beer?
posted by vrakatar at 2:34 PM on August 20, 2008

I'm up for drinking and birthing every day of the week, so count me in. Thanks, zoomorphic, for setting this up. The place sounds fantastic.
posted by amicamentis at 2:45 PM on August 20, 2008

Hmm, maybe I'll try to make it...What time are you guys thinking?
posted by nasreddin at 2:48 PM on August 20, 2008

I will try to come!
posted by spec80 at 3:40 PM on August 20, 2008

MeFi Meetup: Come for the beer. Stay for the placenta.
posted by The Bellman at 4:07 PM on August 20, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'll come if jonmc promises to not punch me in the head for giving him shit for four years. :)
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:40 PM on August 20, 2008

getting from Queens to Brooklyn and back is a pain in the butt.

I'll come if jonmc promises to not punch me in the head for giving him shit for four years. :)

Heh. Don't worry. You're not even in the top ten of shit-talkers. and I've met and conversed with online rivals before.
posted by jonmc at 5:24 PM on August 20, 2008

I challenge jonmc to a drinking contest, the details of which are to be worked out when we get there.
posted by vrakatar at 5:56 PM on August 20, 2008

I'll come if jonmc promises to not punch me in the head

He'll punch you in the... oh nevermind.
posted by Jahaza at 6:08 PM on August 20, 2008

I really, really wanna come, but it depends on my work schedule. If it can happen before Sept. 2 I can probably participate. After that, who knows. I like the idea of a non-Manhattan meetup. OK, people, let's firm this thing up. I'm looking forward to meeting Hermitosis and Help!.
posted by HotPatatta at 7:09 PM on August 20, 2008

I really want to get to one of these. so maybe, but it's a schlep from up here.

I think I may have to suggest a Bronx meetup one of these days. An Béal Bocht or somewhere like that.
posted by JaredSeth at 7:57 PM on August 20, 2008

We need a Western Queens meetup.
posted by sondrialiac at 8:19 PM on August 20, 2008

beer, babies, and birthdays
posted by netbros at 9:30 PM on August 20, 2008

So, not to hijack this thread, but I'm going to be in Astoria over Labor Day weekend. Maybe a few NY MeFites would like to get together?
posted by adamdschneider at 10:29 PM on August 20, 2008

Jealous? Me? The fuck right I am.

A shoutout from the old Mefi NYC crew would very much make my day.

Dallas meetup anyone?

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In other news, though I haven't been 'round these corners of Internetland much as of late, I just got Jessamyn to morph the lowercase 'i' in my username to the urbane and much more regal 'I'. I think this makes me everyone's boss - you can call me Mr. Item, if you prefer.

She mentioned something about the button that retroactively capitalized names falling off her computer and into a storm drain right after my account's modification, so don't go pestering her about changes to your usernames. Sheesh. You people. Take take take. Would giving back a little to the community every now and again kill you? If you want, the sign-up sheet for the bi-monthly storm drain cleanup and vegan potluck dinner is on the table in the hall.
posted by Item at 12:15 AM on August 21, 2008

Wait! No! It's... um, the cleanup is full and besides, I heard this one's gonna be kind of sucky.
posted by Item at 12:15 AM on August 21, 2008

Oh, hey, should someone list this in the box over on the right?....Or is the date still being hammered out?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:44 AM on August 21, 2008

Gaspode, if you come, I not only will buy you a non-alcoholic drink for your troubles but will also offer my babysitting expertise. I babysit half of Brooklyn already.

So: the baronial Harefield Road (full disclosure: I wrote that review, so take the "critic's pick" with a grain of self-linking salt) at 7ish pm. Take the L to the Graham Ave stop, and it's right down the street. This is my first meetup--be gentle.
posted by zoomorphic at 8:02 AM on August 21, 2008

What time would this be? I may be able to make it, depending on how the earlier portion of my day (helping a friend move) goes. It's also like a ten-minute walk from my place, so it's certainly convenient.

Also, just so y'all know, Harefield Road is a lovely little bar that's right next to a White Castle, which means the block is perfect for post-drinking grease-consumption!
posted by Greg Nog at 9:03 AM on August 21, 2008

OK, 7 p.m., sounds fun.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:55 AM on August 21, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Oh, hey. 7 PM, the post right before mine. "What time would this be?" I'm a genius.
posted by Greg Nog at 11:16 AM on August 21, 2008

I may actually show up to this one. But I smoke without mercy. That's why they invented "inside."
posted by dame at 12:58 PM on August 21, 2008

I really want to come! I've never been to a meet up before and I'm a bit nervous...
posted by Salamandrous at 8:19 PM on August 21, 2008

Don't be nervous, Salamandrous. Everyone is very nice at these things. Show up, drink beer, and holler. Summer is fading fast so we best do it while we can.
posted by vrakatar at 10:52 PM on August 21, 2008

I was nervous the first meetup I went to as well, but once you get the nerves down, everyone is really friendly and it's a great group of people to know and look forward to seeing at other meetups.

ONE GIANT RUN ON SENTENCE.
posted by spec80 at 7:40 AM on August 22, 2008

Don't lie. We're all very mean, and bloodthirsty, too.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:06 AM on August 22, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

So THAT'S what those marks were on my neck after my last meetup.... I assumed I fell on a corn cob holder in my drunken meanderings....
posted by Grither at 8:24 AM on August 22, 2008

Alas. I'll be back at school. Have a drink for me.
posted by youcancallmeal at 10:56 AM on August 22, 2008

Harefield Road is all of like 2 blocks from me. I'll totally be there
posted by GilloD at 1:18 PM on August 22, 2008

Does nickyskye ever make an appearance at these things?
posted by HotPatatta at 10:40 AM on August 27, 2008

I don't think she has- drop her a line, maybe she'd be interested in coming.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:34 AM on August 27, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

MeFi meetup in Brooklyn? I don't think I can refuse!
posted by DeWalt_Russ at 12:03 PM on August 28, 2008

I've been in NYC for 3.5 years, and a MeFi lurker for even longer. I think I might have to wear my lucky red suspenders.
posted by bastionofsanity at 2:02 PM on August 29, 2008

heh, i might pop by : )
posted by sgt.serenity at 10:45 AM on August 31, 2008

I was supposed to go to an album release party...


...and this sounds like a perfect reason not to go. I was told by someone in another meet post that these things are "boring". I'll see for myself. Boring can be fun.
posted by Alex930 at 6:12 PM on August 31, 2008

Boring can be fun.

Ben Stein made a career out of being boring.
posted by HotPatatta at 1:22 PM on September 1, 2008

Woohoo, I might actually make it out there, and with the fiancee, too! We will try to drag thetenthstory with us if he's around, too....
posted by Grither at 5:54 AM on September 2, 2008

I'll make an effort, but Williamsburg is my Siberia so I am not sure.
posted by rmless at 10:42 AM on September 2, 2008

I was told by someone in another meet post that these things are "boring".


In that case, I'll be the girl doing cartwheels with sparklers attached to her belt.

Sheesh, now I'm all anxious about calling together a boring meet-up.
posted by zoomorphic at 3:54 PM on September 3, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I'm definitely there, and 7 is a great time - late enough you can get things done, early enough you can still have an evening of debauchery afterward.

blah boring blah

Shall I bring magic tricks or something?! I'm too old for handstands.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 5:58 PM on September 3, 2008

No meetup is boring, anyone who thinks so either hasn't been to one or didn't bother to talk to anyone when they came.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:16 AM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I think I'm gonna make it out there too. Been a long time. been a long time been a long lonely lonely lonely...
posted by allkindsoftime at 10:24 AM on September 4, 2008

wooo. looks like this will take place in the middle of tropical storm hannah. this shall be fun.
posted by Stynxno at 12:30 PM on September 4, 2008

This one still isn't showing up in the meetup list...fyi.
posted by allkindsoftime at 7:22 AM on September 5, 2008

This one still isn't showing up in the meetup list...fyi.

....I do see it there, actually.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:41 AM on September 5, 2008

Listen up, folks... it's supposed to rain tomorrow, but I don't want to hear any crybaby excuses. You are not made out of sugar -- you ain't gonna melt.

Looking forward to raising a glass with you crazy kids!

It's only a short dash to the incredible Fortunato Brothers Italian bakery, if anyone decides they need emergency rations of espresso, gelato, or blueberry Napoleons.
posted by [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] at 1:36 PM on September 5, 2008

Looking forward to this. Gotta go iron my best poncho.
posted by HotPatatta at 5:28 PM on September 5, 2008

You are not made out of sugar -- you ain't gonna melt.

Speak for yourself! ;-)
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 6:49 PM on September 5, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

So we're still meeting at Harefield tomorrow, right?


I just went on my first "pre-fashion week" night out in the village with some folks in the industry.

Boy did it suck; I left early. I don't do well with the non-eating/beer drinking set.
posted by Alex930 at 6:51 PM on September 5, 2008

Yes, we're still there! And you better come so I can butter you up and get you to take me to fashion week events.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:48 PM on September 5, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I was supposed to go to a music fest in Jersey tomorrow, but now I'm at the precipice of "eff dat noise" thanks to bad weather prediction. Since it'll be a Saturday night all alone with the stepcat (I'm participating in a surrogate crazy old cat lady program) dancing with her to Lenny Williams if plan A falls through, I guess it's a good enough excuse to try and make this if possible.
posted by kkokkodalk at 8:22 PM on September 5, 2008

Ummmmm....8 pm? 9pm? I might be a plus one and we should all pester busithoth to show up.
posted by vrakatar at 8:24 PM on September 5, 2008

I moved to New York from providence JUST DAYS AGO. This is a most fortunate coincidence. I'll be there, drenched.
posted by scarylarry at 11:24 PM on September 5, 2008

Yes, we're still there! And you better come so I can butter you up and get you to take me to fashion week events.

The only reason I got invited is because my friend works for Carolina Herrera and knew my past history in the fashion industry (which is in the past for a reason). You'll have to butter her up.
posted by Alex930 at 9:29 AM on September 6, 2008

Oh yeah...how will I know who you people are?
posted by Alex930 at 9:33 AM on September 6, 2008

Given the weather, I imagine we'll be the only group in the bar?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:02 AM on September 6, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I feel like going on a rant about my loathing for fashion week, but instead I think I'll just go buy some gobstoppers to calm me down.
posted by allkindsoftime at 11:50 AM on September 6, 2008

Frack! Some nonsense has come up and I have to sit this one out.
posted by vrakatar at 1:53 PM on September 6, 2008

Boooooooooooooo.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:13 PM on September 6, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

I don't want to hear any crybaby excuses. You are not made out of sugar -- you ain't gonna melt.

Dammit! I got just got home after getting drenched in the monsoons, and I was secretly reciting my excuses about how I'm now too pneumatic in my current state to go out.

Sadly, [NOT HERMITOSIS-IST] knows that I'm made of more spice than sugar. If I'm going, you all better show up.
posted by zoomorphic at 2:16 PM on September 6, 2008

It's not looking too bad out right now...and i did the work of hop-stopping the damn location so I must show up.
posted by Alex930 at 2:45 PM on September 6, 2008

Hey, kittycats: I'll be there in about an hour. Can't stay long, as a friend is having a going-away party this evening at another nearby bar, but I'll be there. I'll be the guy who looks like the guy in my profile picture, only replace the can of tuna with a pint of stout.
posted by Greg Nog at 3:03 PM on September 6, 2008

I'm about to head thither. I am about five or six stops away on the G (yes, the G train really does exist), so maybe...a half hour?

I'll have a huge green umbrella.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 3:52 PM on September 6, 2008

Sorry cats and kittens. Got soaked for a few hours earlier today then got frozen on the subway. I'm not feeling so well. I hope you have a great time!
posted by spec80 at 6:10 PM on September 6, 2008

Fun time. Thanks, zoomorphic.
posted by HotPatatta at 9:17 PM on September 6, 2008

Good time, lovely to see you all!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:19 PM on September 6, 2008 [1 favorite has favorites]

Photos are up! I know that it is still going on but I am home, and thus, lame.
posted by Stynxno at 10:22 PM on September 6, 2008

Good times!
posted by rmless at 10:49 PM on September 6, 2008

Everything was good. I especially like all of my funny faces in Stynxno's pictures. As anticipated, this White Castle is having its way with me right now...
posted by Alex930 at 11:06 PM on September 6, 2008

I'm making a rule that any meetup where you get to nosh on food of a wedding reception you technically crashed and go home with a jar of mustard in your purse (holy shit, HotPatatta, I forgot that was in there) can be deemed a good meetup.
posted by kkokkodalk at 12:22 AM on September 7, 2008

Good to see you all! Sorry I had to cut out early, but it looks like y'all managed to carry on without me. I salute your bravery.
posted by Greg Nog at 6:52 AM on September 7, 2008