First Boston meet-up of the school year!

October 6, 2008 7:30 PM

David Sedaris will be in Boston this Sunday. Is anyone else planning on going/ interested in meeting up afterwards?

David Sedaris starts at 7 and I'm not sure when he'll be done. Also, I don't know what restaurants or bars are near Symphony Hall and might be good venues for a meetup. I do know that Monday is a holiday so there's no need to worry about getting up the next morning. Anyway, I realize this is (relatively) short notice so if you have a suggestion for a better excuse for a meetup in the near future then suggest away.

posted by martinX's bellbottoms to MetaFilter gatherings at 7:30 PM (50 comments total)

Ooh, cool! I bought a ticket for Sedaris within about 45 seconds of seeing this post. Thanks for the heads up.

I would be down for a meetup, but I don't know what meetup-worthy locations are near Symphony Hall. All I know is that there's a corner store near there called Symphony Market, and they have a treble clef in place of the S, and every time I see it I think "Gymphony Market? What the fuck?" and I feel a vague but palpable disquietude.
posted by danb at 8:22 PM on October 6, 2008

It's a good idea. I might or might not have a road trip this weekend. If the trip falls through, I'd really be up for the meetup part, and the Sedaris part if there were still tickets.
posted by Miko at 8:27 PM on October 6, 2008

I'll be there.
posted by Ryvar at 9:04 PM on October 6, 2008

As it turns out I'm going to be back in Boston this weekend, and Horace Rumpole and I have tickets for Sedaris. I'm interested in a possible meetup, but we'll have to wait until Horace gets up in the morning to see what he thinks.

I'm having a hard time thinking of any place to go that's right around there, though. We might have more luck going back up the E line towards Boylston or Park.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 11:28 PM on October 6, 2008

Oh, poo, I'm out of town this weekend. Somebody laugh double hard at David Sedaris for me!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:20 AM on October 7, 2008

I have no interest in Sedaris, but would be open to meeting up before/after.
posted by Eideteker at 4:26 AM on October 7, 2008

Of course this is the weekend that I'm out of town until late Sunday night. Have fun, y'all.
posted by xbonesgt at 6:37 AM on October 7, 2008

Count me in. Anybody have any experience with the Boston Bukowski's? It looks like it would be walkable from Symphony Hall, but I'm hearing mixed things (awesome bar food vs. pricey and overrated). It's also cash only.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:03 AM on October 7, 2008

bukowski's is fun but it's SUPER NOISY AND YOU HAVE TO SHOUT TO TALK. so it might not be the best place for a meet up.
posted by moxiedoll at 9:25 AM on October 7, 2008

NortonDC and I just went to a David Sedaris reading in DC last weekend. It was really great! Hey, if you look young (@ 17 or so) and find a way to be around the author before the show, he may offer you $10 to introduce him at the reading! This is what he did in DC.

Also, in DC he took time for some questions and answers at the end, so you can start trying to think of a profound question now if you like! One of the audience members at our show said that the last time Sedaris was in DC he offered someone $20 to introduce him, and wondered whether the new low price of $10 meant that Sedaris had suffered badly in the financial crisis of 2008. Which got a big laugh.

Have fun at the show and the meetup! Talk about Costco!
posted by onlyconnect at 9:54 AM on October 7, 2008

There's a bowling alley/bar in the bones of the old Cheri. I seem to recall it as being pretty spacious.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:14 AM on October 7, 2008

This is the place robocop is referring to. They apparently have giant fishbowl cocktails, which is a plus in my book.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 12:51 PM on October 7, 2008

I like lounging and cocktails, but don't expect me to play pool or bowl. I'd be happy to recite scenes from The Big Lebowski as needed, however.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:02 PM on October 7, 2008

It looks like the bowling alley is 21+ which would exclude me.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 1:10 PM on October 7, 2008

Well, that's no good then. I'll try to keep thinking. Seems like there are a lot of things at the Mass Ave/Newbury intersection, but I'm kind of drawing a blank. Anyone?
posted by Horace Rumpole at 1:38 PM on October 7, 2008

I got nothing. If you ask me for recommendations I'm going to drag you all out to Somerville.
posted by danb at 3:26 PM on October 7, 2008

there are lots of bars in the area but in my experience they all card at night.
posted by moxiedoll at 3:40 PM on October 7, 2008

Trident Bookstore/Café is at the Mass Ave/Newbury intersection and has breakfast all the time! Excellent pancakes.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:52 PM on October 7, 2008

The Trident is good, as is Jasper White's Summer Shack.

I'm down with a meetup but can't make it to the show. :(
posted by pxe2000 at 6:07 PM on October 7, 2008

Hey, I like Trident! That works for me. What do you guys say?
posted by danb at 6:33 PM on October 7, 2008

Trident sounds good to me too.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 7:08 PM on October 7, 2008

Trident appears to be open until midnight, so I think we've found ourselves a place. I like both pancakes and books, although the syrup tends to make the pages all sticky.

What time should we say (since some of us are going to the show first)?
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:55 PM on October 7, 2008

The girlfriend and I just moved to the Boston area and would love to go to a meetup. The timing doesn't work out for this one but count us both in for the next one.
posted by Diskeater at 10:12 PM on October 7, 2008

Sunday is difficult for me. If I cannot attend, will someone else please eat a disk (or "pancake") for Diskeater.
posted by not_on_display at 6:51 AM on October 8, 2008

5pm for a meeting?
posted by pxe2000 at 8:55 AM on October 8, 2008

I thought we were meeting afterward. 5:00 doesn't seem like a pancake time to me (yes, I know, anytime is a good time for pancakes). Although I guess the problem with meeting afterwards is that we don't know when it will be over. 9:00 seems reasonable.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 11:05 AM on October 8, 2008

For what it's worth, the Sedaris reading in DC lasted less than 2 hours -- I think the question and answer period started about an hour and a half in and lasted for about 10 or 15 minutes. YMMV. (Started at 8, ended before 10.) Have fun!
posted by onlyconnect at 11:34 AM on October 8, 2008

I think I would rather meet afterwards, as well. If we say 9-9:30ish, those folks who aren't going to the show could, you know, start talking to each other before the rest of us get there. Just don't eat all the pancakes.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 1:32 PM on October 8, 2008

Assuming there are no further objections I'm adding this to the sidebar. Sunday, October 12th at the Trident at 9:00.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 5:06 PM on October 8, 2008

Yeah! See you guys then!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 6:17 PM on October 8, 2008

Oooh! Sounds fun. Maybe I'll be able to get out of NYC this weekend to visit Boston. Is Trident easily accessible by public transportation? Never been to Boston, so I know nothing about how to get around the city.
posted by HotPatatta at 7:51 AM on October 9, 2008

HP: Here's a googlemaplink; It's about a minute walk from the Hynes/ICA stop on the Green Line.
posted by not_on_display at 7:59 AM on October 9, 2008

Trident is also a very short walk from the Hynes stop on the #1 bus, which also goes to Symphony Hall. Depending on where you're staying in Boston, it might be easiest to just walk the whole way. Boston isn't very big.
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 10:20 AM on October 9, 2008

If you take one of those buses that goes to South Station, you'll want to take the Red Line to Park Street and then the Green Line to Hynes. If you can get around on the New York subway, the T will be a breeze. There are only a handful of lines, and they're all color-coded.
posted by danb at 6:44 PM on October 9, 2008

AWESOME. I did not know about the Sedaris event, and I just bought a ticket. I'm definitely in for the Trident as well.

Is there booze available at the Trident? I enjoy booze. And I have never had booze with pancakes, which seems a decadent luxury lacking from my life.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 4:50 PM on October 10, 2008

there is booze (wine and beer) at Trident. there are also books and they totally don't mind if you sit down in the cafe with a book or magazine and then put it back! that's not really relevant for a meet up - but it's the reason I love that place.
posted by moxiedoll at 7:27 PM on October 10, 2008

lovely. see you all tonight!
posted by thatelsagirl at 4:52 AM on October 12, 2008

I'm in, and I'm bringing my hubby, so there.
posted by blue andrea at 2:29 PM on October 12, 2008

Dag, I just got back from climbing Mt. Monadnock; if I weren't feeling like I was made of jello, I woulda joined y'all! Hope it was fun!
posted by not_on_display at 8:37 PM on October 12, 2008

ohh noooooo it is baby nun george bush
posted by danb at 9:39 PM on October 12, 2008

No, it's a Precious Moments (TM) George Bush nun baby.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 9:43 PM on October 12, 2008

I just got back from climbing Mt. Monadnock

Oh, yeah, like that's a real mountain.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:45 PM on October 12, 2008

ohh noooooo it is baby nun george bush

oh no private jokes from the *wrong* end of the table!
(our end had a much better time! we have jokes, too... *better* ones).
/ representing my end of the table.
posted by moxiedoll at 10:05 PM on October 12, 2008

pshh WHATEVER we had all the cool people

ps harmonix rules 2k drools
posted by danb at 10:11 PM on October 12, 2008

Is this where I'm s'posed to put this?

In attendance:

blue andrea
Admiral Haddock
danb
DiscourseMarker
Horace Rumpole
martinX's bellbottoms
thatelsagirl
Ryvar
moxiedoll
[insert husband who wishes to remain anonymous ;D]

Multiple shout outs were made... when/how they will appear is a mystery to me.

I'm totally going to have anxiety dreams about the George Bush nun baby and it's little friends coming for me while I sleep, flying on the backs of goats with the wrong pupils through a sky of weird Fimo beads.
posted by blue andrea at 10:43 PM on October 12, 2008

Haddock had the camera, so I guess he dictates the shoutouts

I had a blast, and coming straight off a bachelor party at a casino that took some doing.

Let's not wait so long before we do another meetup again, eh?
posted by Ryvar at 12:04 AM on October 13, 2008

ps harmonix rules 2k drools

only at selling out

Yeah, I went there.
posted by Ryvar at 12:09 AM on October 13, 2008

Awesome photos, Admiral. Thanks for posting.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:27 PM on October 14, 2008

Awesome pix! I have angered the autofocus gods!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 9:01 PM on October 14, 2008

Yeah, I went there.

Wait! I got something!

Yeah -- selling out copies of our games!

wooo
posted by danb at 4:59 PM on October 16, 2008