Philly is nifty! Pinball is also nifty!

September 3, 2008 9:56 AM

Pinball!! Pinball!! Pinball!! Open to anyone willing to drive to scenic Earlington, PA. We got the place and the activity; now we need the date.

This is part 2 of the series of meetups, the first one being a pub crawl along Passyunk Ave in Southern Philly.

posted by Deathalicious to MetaFilter Gatherings at 9:56 AM (68 comments total)

Crosspost:

Okay, we'll do it this way: I'll put out some possible, and you all can say yay or nay:

All in September
15 Monday
17 Wednesday
18 Thursday
22 Monday
24 Wednesday
25 Thursday

(The parlor is also open on Saturdays but apparently that does not work with some Philly MeFites. I can do Fridays theoretically but will feel appropriately guilty doing so.)

I could theoretically meet this Wednesday or Thursday, but I am gone for a week starting on Friday.

I really, really want to go, but for the good of all if a date before the 15th is better for everyone else I will go on my lonesome at another point.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:58 AM on September 3, 2008

More relevant info:

There are no restaurants immediately adjacent to the parlour, but there is a place featuring buffalo a short drive away called the Rising Sun Inn. The restaurant is closed Mondays, so if bison is to be added to the activities it would have to take place on a Wednesday or Thursday (or, again, Friday if necessary).
posted by Deathalicious at 10:04 AM on September 3, 2008

I just realized I forgot to include info about the Pinball Parlour itself:

• 50+ pinball games, dating from 1948 to 1999
• An assortment of video games as well, plus air hockey
• $6/hour to play, $15 for the evening
• In the middle of nowhere

posted by Deathalicious at 10:08 AM on September 3, 2008

I vote for a Wednesday or Thursday as to get both pinball and bison into this Meetup.

Yo, Dealthalicious. It's South Philly. South. Souf (pronounced with an ow!) is also acceptable. Not "southern." Egads, we may have to sentence you to a stint in Manayunk if you keep that up.
posted by desuetude at 11:22 AM on September 3, 2008

Yeah, sorry. As a southern boy myself, it's hard to knock off the Ern. It's just part of my di-uh-lekt.
posted by Deathalicious at 11:44 AM on September 3, 2008

The only thing is, the place shuts at 10, so if we want to get a couple of hours in we'll have to meet for Bison earlier (and, likewise, the Bison join closes at 9). Maybe we can do takeout bison?
posted by Deathalicious at 11:46 AM on September 3, 2008

join joint
posted by Deathalicious at 11:46 AM on September 3, 2008

What's the normal protocol for meetups?
When do they normally start and end?
posted by Richard Daly at 12:53 PM on September 3, 2008

Oh my god I love me some pinball.

Have fun, PA'ers.
posted by sleslie at 1:24 PM on September 3, 2008

The week of hte 15th I'm in town. Their hours are from 7-10pm. Google maps says it's about 50 min from downtown philly, but at 6pm, that'll be closer to 90 min or more (several heavy traffic areas including city line, blue route@ conshy and Plymouth Meeting.

We could have some public transit people get to city line (or carpoolers) to take the least amount of cars.

Is there a reaosn that saturday is out? I think the only way to do bison is to go up on a saturday - that way nobody has to struggle with getting out of work+traffic. Dinner @ 6, pinball @7.

Richard, there is no real protocol - figure that carpoolers will meet around 6ish, and play pinball for at least an hour or two...followed likely by dinner...so back from there around 9-10ish...and back in the philly area around 11-midnight.
posted by filmgeek at 2:25 PM on September 3, 2008

I don't care about the date, I just need a date.
posted by 31d1 at 2:50 PM on September 3, 2008

gah! I wanna do this so badly. When a date is set, I will make sure I'm in Philly (I have to go soonish to try to scope apartments/jobs) but any chance I can get hooked up with a ride? I will chip in for gas and take up minimal space.
posted by piratebowling at 2:59 PM on September 3, 2008

I love pinball. But I am one of those who is unavailable on a weekend.
posted by desuetude at 3:23 PM on September 3, 2008

piratebowling, I'm sure we can scrounge you up a chariot.
posted by 31d1 at 6:00 PM on September 3, 2008

I can grab people from 30th Station or thereabouts. Alternatively, they can take the train up to my train stop and I can drive them from there.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:28 PM on September 3, 2008

I am so jealous of this pinball place. I want to go!
posted by Grither at 6:13 AM on September 4, 2008

In related news, 31d1 needs a date - does anyone know any cute singles?
:)
posted by 8dot3 at 7:40 AM on September 4, 2008

I nominate the 17th.

Filmgeek is right about rush hour traffic, though. The earliest we could probably meet up for carpooling would be 5:30-6, puts us in Earlington definitely after 7.

I'd be willing to sacrifice an hour of pinball time for dinner, because all successful meetups require Weird Meat (or tater tots, or possibly enough booze that the absence of Weird Meat is not lamented). What kind of place is the bison joint? Will dinner be quick? Is takeout bison a legitimate possibility? (Would pinball be takeout-bison friendly?)
posted by miagaille at 9:09 AM on September 4, 2008

Out of the list of dates the only one I would be able to make would be the 25th. So, as much as I would like to attend in theory, in practice it's likely not going to pan out for me. I'm a little sad about that, I really do like pinball.
posted by 8dot3 at 9:21 AM on September 4, 2008

I'd be cool with the 25th. And I totally want 8dot3 to go. Hi, neighbor!

Will the boys be as scared of bison as they were kitfo? If so, miagaille and I can pick up the slack.

If pinball is takeout-bison friendly, that'd be awesome.
posted by desuetude at 9:45 AM on September 4, 2008

So are we calling it for September 25th?
posted by piratebowling at 9:59 AM on September 4, 2008

Scheduling negotiations suck. Let's do this INTERNET STYLE:

MeFi Pinball Meetup @ When2Meet
posted by miagaille at 12:43 PM on September 4, 2008

um, I tried to mark I was available for all times but may have effed it up a bit. I can fail at the internet at times. Also, I'm way too damn excited about the idea of playing pinball for hours.
posted by piratebowling at 2:27 PM on September 4, 2008

when2meet fails it.
posted by 31d1 at 3:59 PM on September 4, 2008

I apologize for the wide variety of names on which I listed my availability on whentomeet - I kept trying to log in and nothing happened. Clearly I tried this several times. Is there an undo function?

Damn newfangled internets.
posted by 8dot3 at 6:36 PM on September 4, 2008

Let me know what date you all decide upon and I'll see if I can make it. Been meaning a meetup. Considering hosting one myself.

The 25th is our anniversary. I'd totally dig it, she might have other ideas. She's not really a blue reader. But I think we both might enjoy pinball all night. It's about a 2 hour drive, but yeah, pinball. Tilting is what marriage is all about.
posted by Toekneesan at 7:14 PM on September 4, 2008

when2meet is all like "Wooo! It's green! Now it's red!" But it's never like "Woo! It's totally marked permanently!"
posted by Deathalicious at 7:43 PM on September 4, 2008

Oh man. My dearest girlfriend just told me her new schedule for the fall: Thursdays are bad, Wednesdays are kinda bad, Tuesdays are pretty bad. Mondays and Fridays sound good though!

However, if Mondays or Fridays are impossible for others I will come on my own and you will just have to keep believing in the existence of my phantom girlfriend.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:49 PM on September 4, 2008

Okay, when2meet is working now. Just out of total curiosity:

Why aren't Sundays, Mondays, or Saturdays on the when2meet? I mean, if this is going to be sorta-democratic, shouldn't those be options? Because out of the possible Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, Fridays is the only one that is nominally acceptable.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:54 PM on September 4, 2008

manayunk lol
posted by ludwig_van at 8:59 PM on September 4, 2008

My imaginary-to-youpeople non-MeFite SO may even go if it's on a weeknight. I will leave it to ludwig_van and 31d1 to vouch for his coolness.
posted by desuetude at 9:05 PM on September 4, 2008

Oh yeah, I'd vouch it all right.

P.S. Are you going to JB's tomorrow for Beretta 76?
posted by ludwig_van at 9:09 PM on September 4, 2008

Oh, that I wish that I could, except that we're leaving on vacation tomorrow instead. Otherwise I'd be there with bells on.
posted by desuetude at 9:22 PM on September 4, 2008

That was to ludwig_van. Sorry for any confusion.
posted by desuetude at 9:23 PM on September 4, 2008

Saturdays are on there. Mondays are out because of lack of bison, Sundays are out because pinball is closed. I left off Tuesdays because... I hate Tuesdays?
posted by miagaille at 4:36 AM on September 5, 2008

i totally want to do this, but saturday is really the only day that would work for me, since i work in lansdowne until 6, have no car, and wouldn't be able to get there via public transit (but on a saturday i could presumably get a pcs car or a ride).
posted by misanthropicsarah at 8:59 AM on September 5, 2008

Erm, why haven't any photos been posted to the last meetup thread? Are Philly mefites as charming and beautiful as New York mefites? I need to know if this is worth trekking out for kthx.
posted by youarenothere at 11:18 AM on September 5, 2008

Erm, why haven't any photos been posted to the last meetup thread? Are Philly mefites as charming and beautiful as New York mefites? I need to know if this is worth trekking out for kthx.

We did, but the FotoMat wouldn't print them 'cause they were so obscene.

So, actually, bars = blurry/dark pics. Check the previous meetup links if you must.
posted by desuetude at 12:27 PM on September 5, 2008

Oh. Erm. The tone there was devil-may-care charming, not snooty bitchface. Dammit, we really must figure out how to do that markup.
posted by desuetude at 3:37 PM on September 5, 2008

I read it as devil-may-care charming and not bitchface at all, if that helps.

Hi neighbor!
posted by 8dot3 at 5:08 PM on September 5, 2008

Yeah, I'm a no go the entire week of the 22nd - I'm in Boston. Deathalicious, I'm going to say sorta the same thing that I did in the original thread.

Quit trying to find the perfect day and time. Just pick one. Make it good for you. Democracy doesn't work for meetups terribly well. Yeah, it'd be totally cool if we all could agree on a date/time. Generally weekends work best for people. Generally later hours work best.

Toekneesan - do the same thing. Host a meetup.

And I'll bring my DSLR next time, which shoots great in low light.
posted by filmgeek at 1:51 PM on September 6, 2008

Okay, okay!

I hate to do this, but it looks like the one date that works best for most people including myself is September 20th. Sorry desuetude and 8dot3! If enough people hammer me down, a change could be made, but right now looks like that works best.

I myself will not be able to make it to the Parlour until 7pm, but don't let that stop anyone else from sampling the yummy yummy bison...for those of you who want to omnomnom where the buffalo romnomnom, plan amongst yourselves.

We can plan to all meet at the Parlor by 7-8pm and then get some serious gaming on.

I hate being a dictator and am open to scheduling coups if necessary. But if all goes well, this will be an opportunity for me to inculcate my gf in the world of pinball and Metafilter simultaneously.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:17 PM on September 6, 2008

Sounds good! Put it up on the big board.
posted by piratebowling at 10:03 PM on September 6, 2008

Ohhhhh craaap. Um, you guys have fun, cuz, um. I just found out I can't make it on the 20th.
Or I guess we could reschedule?

This is what I get for scheduling something without asking the girlfriend first. :(

So, um. Yeah. I suck at scheduling. I'm officially passing the torch on to someone else.
posted by Deathalicious at 6:40 AM on September 7, 2008

Okay, so I personally would hate to see Deathalicious back out of this, since this was his idea. So are people okay with the idea of rescheduling? The other day other than the 20th that looks like it is the best for the most people is the 25th. However, that's a Thursday and it might be lousy for most. How does a Friday or Saturday night sound (26th or 27th?)

If I'm adding to the confusion, I apologize.
posted by piratebowling at 7:03 PM on September 7, 2008

Reschedule. The 27th. Or Oct. Etc. And next time check with the girlfriend.
posted by filmgeek at 5:07 AM on September 8, 2008

Yeah, sorry everyone. I totally forgot I'd bought tickets months ago for an event on the 20th...

The 27th would work for me. How about it everybody?
posted by Deathalicious at 7:54 PM on September 8, 2008

I'm for it.
posted by piratebowling at 8:48 PM on September 8, 2008

27th is good. You should change the listed date soon, before the misinformation gets entrenched...
posted by miagaille at 11:33 AM on September 9, 2008

cortex to the rescue.

My earlier caveat stands: I will not make it for bison, or at least I cannot make it out to the Parlour area before 7 pm or so. So people wanting to omnom should plan that amongst themselves and then I will meet them at the parlour around 7ish?
posted by Deathalicious at 4:09 PM on September 9, 2008

so, now that it's a saturday, i could go! anyone going from the cc area that could gimme a ride? i would be up for omnom or no omnom, either way. i just like saying omnom.
posted by misanthropicsarah at 5:17 PM on September 10, 2008

For those happy arriving at 7pm, I can pick people up from University City around 6pm.
posted by Deathalicious at 7:30 AM on September 11, 2008

I'll be meeting you there at 6, then.
posted by piratebowling at 7:51 PM on September 11, 2008

A full report with many pictures, please!!
posted by desuetude at 11:54 AM on September 15, 2008

No worries. My great Eye of Canon pierces cloud, shadow, earth and flesh, and darkened pinball parlors.
posted by Deathalicious at 10:23 PM on September 15, 2008

Hey, have fun on Saturday! (So jealous)
posted by desuetude at 8:14 AM on September 26, 2008

Sigh.

Sadly (in part), I'm unavailable tomorrow. I'm going to see Weezer (!). Next time.
posted by sjuhawk31 at 9:56 AM on September 26, 2008

I'm going to see Weezer (!).

(something about inventing a time machine to go back to 1998)
posted by ludwig_van at 11:15 AM on September 26, 2008

miagaille and I can pick up anyone in the western suburbs. We are driving from Exton, 202 east to 476 north. We're likely picking up 31d1 in Conshohocken.

memail me if you'd like a ride and are roughly in that area.
posted by dmd at 4:45 PM on September 26, 2008

http://flickr.com/photos/3e/sets/72157607552099884/
posted by dmd at 10:17 AM on September 28, 2008

Hey, super-congratulations on your engagement, Deathalicious! You make a really lovely couple.
posted by miagaille at 3:39 PM on September 28, 2008

Well that was fun as hell.
posted by 31d1 at 9:03 PM on September 28, 2008

31d1, OMG haircut!

Is it just me, or do those photos show an awful lot of bowling for a pinball parlour? Was there bison?!
posted by desuetude at 8:00 AM on September 29, 2008

We adjourned to bowling after pinball.

The bison place turned out to be a very fancy restaurant, not someplace where you can get a burger.
posted by dmd at 8:19 AM on September 29, 2008

Where'd you go bowling?

(Note for future: Fancy places will do takeout sometimes if you ask right. They look at you funny, but hey, don't they anyway?)
posted by desuetude at 9:21 AM on September 29, 2008

The bison place turned out to be a very fancy restaurant, not someplace where you can get a burger.

Next time you're there, turn right instead of left. You'll arrive at the bar restaurrant, where burgers are indeed served.
posted by Deathalicious at 6:01 PM on September 29, 2008

Forgot my Canon (I hung it on the door even, and still forgot it, sigh), so please accept my crappy crappy mobile phone photos instead.
posted by Deathalicious at 9:49 PM on September 29, 2008

Where'd you go bowling?

All my photos are geotagged :)

We went to Earl-Bowl lanes, right down the road.
posted by dmd at 6:39 AM on September 30, 2008