So it's pronounced Or-uh-gun?

January 8, 2009 9:17 AM

Portland OR meetup in late January?

I will be visiting your lovely city from Monday, January 26 until Sunday, February 1. Would anyone be interested in getting together with this Philadelphian on her first visit to your town? Monday through Wednesday I'm staying at the Lloyd Center, and the rest of the week I'll be downtown (not sure just where, yet). I have plans for the evening of the 28th, but other than that I'm completely free.

posted by lagreen to MetaFilter gatherings at 9:17 AM (64 comments total)

I'd be down. I've been thinking we needed another meetup around here. Friday or Saturday would work best for me, as I have classes every other evening of the week.
posted by Caduceus at 10:14 AM on January 8

I'm in, if it's after the 29th. Downtown would be great!
posted by velvet winter at 10:57 AM on January 8

As long as it's not at the Deschutes Brewpub again, I'm down.
posted by dersins at 11:32 AM on January 8

I enjoy meeting at the ups, yes.
posted by cortex at 11:48 AM on January 8

Meetsup?
posted by dersins at 11:53 AM on January 8

And relish, yes.
posted by cortex at 11:55 AM on January 8

One could have both, no?
posted by carsonb at 12:00 PM on January 8

I think I'd be down for another as well.
posted by turbodog at 1:06 PM on January 8

Wonderful! I'll leave it up to the locals to suggest where to go. How does Friday (the 30th) sound?
posted by lagreen at 3:52 PM on January 8

Ok I will actually show up *and* talk to people this time.
posted by ugf at 6:48 PM on January 8

As long as you bring Tastykakes.
posted by medeine at 8:15 PM on January 8

I'm up for it, weeknights better. Lots of bars are more reasonable choices now that smoking is banned -- notably, the Horse Brass (Belmont and what, 46th?) They have beer there.
posted by msalt at 8:28 PM on January 8

Portland OR meetup in late January?

False dilemma.
posted by George_Spiggott at 8:55 PM on January 8 [1 favorite]

As loathe as I am to cross the river unnecesarily, has anyone been to the new location of the Virginia Cafe? I was just thinking the other day how I kinda missed the VC.
posted by dersins at 10:26 AM on January 9

the new location of the Virginia Cafe?

Cool, just saw that -- 820 SW 10th Avenue across from the main library (and Myspace)
posted by msalt at 11:06 AM on January 9

Portland OR meetup in late January?

False dilemma.

You only say that because you don't know about the terrorist threat to crush Portland under an enormous donut if we have a meetup.
posted by Caduceus at 11:29 AM on January 9

I haven't been to the new Virginia Cafe location (or the old one, for that matter) but I've heard good things about it and would be glad to try it. It was suggested as a possible location for our last meetup, but we ended up at McMenamin's Market Street Pub instead.

The Virginia Cafe would be fairly easy for an out-of-town visitor to find, too, since it's downtown and located right along the streetcar and MAX light rail routes.
posted by velvet winter at 11:37 AM on January 9

count me in.
The Produce Row Cafe has been suggested by fiercekitten.
word is food is reasonable and there are many beers.
and it's hopefully a bit brighter inside than the Virginia Cafe where tables should include flashlights or night-vision goggles for menu browsing.
posted by nickthetourist at 12:25 AM on January 11

Generally our biggest problem is lack of space; ideally, wherever we go should have both many beers and multiple tables we can push together, or some other way we can accommodate anywhere between eight and twenty awkward internet nerds.
posted by Caduceus at 9:36 AM on January 11

Since this post is no longer on the front page, I'm going to go ahead and put us on the sidebar for Friday the 30th. Starting around 7? And Virginia Cafe seems to be leading in the polls, but we've still got some time before the final decision is made.

Oh, and Tastykakes will be provided.
posted by lagreen at 6:23 AM on January 12

The Virginia Cafe's new location is nice--the food is cheap and pretty good for bar food, and there's a nice atmosphere, plus the bartenders aren't total hipster douchebag assholes (cross over to the eastside to see what I mean).

My first Portland meet-up! Woo-hoo.
posted by nonmerci at 9:15 AM on January 12

Has the service improved at the Horse's Brass? The no smoking thing is awesome but the barmaids were a bit surly last time we went in.
posted by fiercekitten at 9:18 AM on January 12

Virginia Cafe, Jan. 30th at 7PM sounds good. This awkward internet nerd will be there with bells on!
posted by velvet winter at 11:10 AM on January 12

perhaps...hmmm...okay I will be there if I don't get lost (at least I will recognize people this time and not sit at the wrong table for 20 minutes wondering where the party is).
posted by Jenny is Crafty at 6:10 PM on January 12

I'd like to officially put my vote in for The Horse's Brass.
went there a few years back and enjoyed the atmosphere.
posted by nickthetourist at 9:18 PM on January 12

If by "atmosphere" you meant "cigarette smoke", that's gone as of Jan. 1. Otherwise it should be about the same.
posted by turbodog at 1:37 PM on January 13

Well, where is it going to be? It seems like the poster had made up his mind, but now there is in-thread "voting" happening.
posted by nonmerci at 6:46 PM on January 13

Well, it should probably be wherever lagreen can reach easiest, since she's visiting. The Virginia Cafe's location is pretty convenient as far as public transportation goes. I have no idea where The Horse's Brass is.

I am, however, quite curious about why the horse has some brass.
posted by Caduceus at 8:43 PM on January 13

This awkward internet nerd will be there with bells on!

A Morris Dancer, are ya? Horse Brass is on SE Belmont Street, at approximately 45th St.
posted by msalt at 8:51 PM on January 13

A Morris Dancer, are ya?

I'm a dancer, yes...a belly dancer, not a Morris dancer. I have costumes with bells, though...does that count? :)

As for the location...lagreen said she'd be in downtown Portland on the 30th, so I figured the Virginia Cafe (or some other place downtown) would be easiest for her to reach. Also, it was suggested as a good location for our last meetup anyway, and it's very convenient for me since I live downtown.

But I'll go with whatever the majority vote turns out to be.
posted by velvet winter at 10:41 PM on January 13

Hmm, it appears we have 3 or 4 votes for the Virgina Cafe, and 2 or so for the Horse's Brass. Anyone else care to weigh in? And I'll go anywhere that's accessible by your city's highly-reputable public transportation system, which I can't wait to use.
posted by lagreen at 6:51 AM on January 14

I think I'm the one who suggested Horse Brass but I'm fine with the VC. Actually works better for me logistically.
posted by msalt at 7:06 AM on January 14

Okay, let's just put it out there plain. I'll sidebar this comment:

Meetup at the Virginia Cafe's new location, 820 SW 10th Ave (right across from the main library), on Friday, January 30th, starting at 7pm.
posted by cortex at 7:40 AM on January 14

Excellent! Internet nerd powers activate! (By which I mean that I'll be there. Rather not on time, but there nonetheless.
posted by oreonax at 7:16 PM on January 15

Damn, too bad this isn't happening sooner. I'm flying up there tonight and staying all weekend. I'd love to add some pdx mefites to my mugshot collection.
posted by mullingitover at 10:36 AM on January 16

It looks like I'll be in portland for that weekend, I'll be heading down from seattle after work, so as long as you folks stay late, I'll be able to participate.
posted by mrzarquon at 11:05 AM on January 21

So I'm here, and why didn't I know that Portland, in addition to being the microbrewery capital of the US, is also the strip club capital? You don't see that in Frommers. Looking forward to Friday at the Virginia Cafe.
posted by lagreen at 6:12 AM on January 27

Portland, in addition to being the microbrewery capital of the US, is also the strip club capital

Next meetup venue: Magic Gardens!
posted by dersins at 9:48 AM on January 27

Enjoying our freakish snow, lagreen?
posted by Caduceus at 12:50 PM on January 27

I'll be there! Newbie mefite is newbie-esque & wants to make friends :)

Also, why does the note below the preview say that everyone needs a hug? Everyone does need a hug, true, but why does it say that down there?
posted by lolichka at 2:59 PM on January 29

You don't know already? Fuckin' retarded dumbass clueless n00b.
posted by carsonb at 3:03 PM on January 29

(It's encouragement away from meanity.)
posted by carsonb at 3:05 PM on January 29

Also, why does the note below the preview say that everyone needs a hug? Everyone does need a hug, true, but why does it say that down there?

It says that because everyone does need a hug, in point of fact.

Well, everyone except me.

I fucking hate hugs.
posted by dersins at 3:16 PM on January 29

Basically we ended up picking up a few hundred gross of hugs a while back when the hug market was heating up but then the bubble burst and at this point we just want to get the things cleared out so we can use the warehouse space for something more profitable.
posted by cortex at 3:21 PM on January 29 [1 favorite]

In the highly unlikely event anyone cares, I'm heading over a little early. I'll be the guy who doesn't look anything like Sam Adams.
posted by dersins at 5:48 PM on January 30

Seeya soon, dersins.
posted by idiopath at 6:26 PM on January 30

It's true. He actually looks like Jason Bateman.

We're totally at the VC now. It's not, uh, very spacious. We're considering wandering elsewhere at some point, but we're holding off to see who else shows up.
posted by cortex at 7:40 PM on January 30

Realtime meetup shoutoutery time!

Hi everybody. I'm passing the laptop to dersins now.
posted by cortex at 9:35 PM on January 30

i am shouting out now.

OUT.

/me misses the BIG tag.
posted by cortex at 9:36 PM on January 30

lagreen here. shoutout to all my philly mefites! (ugh, that is so not how I talk.)
posted by cortex at 9:39 PM on January 30

/me misses the IMG tag so much I re-enable it in the logged in admin console while cortex smokes outside.

BRAND NEW DAY FOR POOPING ELEPHANTS
posted by cortex at 9:41 PM on January 30

This is Caduceus shouting out. I don't actually know anyone who isn't, you know, here, but I'm giving a shout. Rock on.
posted by cortex at 9:45 PM on January 30

mrz shouting out
posted by cortex at 9:46 PM on January 30

Hi frenchfry and waterydeath! You are awesome people. Love Secretariat!
posted by cortex at 9:48 PM on January 30

And waviolet. Love Secretariat again!
posted by cortex at 9:50 PM on January 30

i am cortex. only shorter. and asian. and distinctly possessing of different sorts of secondary gender characteristics.

shouting out. now...
posted by cortex at 9:53 PM on January 30

Wait, who's minding the store now?!
posted by not_on_display at 10:00 PM on January 30

Great meetup, all! lagreen, it was lovely to meet you, hope you have fun in the Gorge. Everyone else, it was great to see you again. We'll do this again soon.
posted by Caduceus at 12:15 AM on January 31

I had the weirdest dream last night. And you were there, and you...

Good time. Blurry pictures to follow.
posted by cortex at 8:27 AM on January 31

Tipsy five-mile bike ride home + discovering a pack of Tastykakes in my pocket once I stumbled in the door = priceless
posted by dersins at 10:10 AM on January 31

What a fun meetup! Conversation topics included: bacon (but of course), self-immolation (don't even ask), the horror and humor of internet dating (thanks for the CD, msalt!), and belly dance.

I discovered, to my delight, that there were three of us there who had taken belly dance classes - me, Secretariat and fiercekitten. There was even a brief mention of starting a MeFi Dance Troupe.

Nice to meet you, lagreen. Glad you're enjoying our beautiful city, and thanks for taking the initiative to get the meetup together. Sorry I missed out on the Tastykakes.

melissa may and sleepy pete sent their regrets via cortex. Hope to see you two next time!
posted by velvet winter at 11:06 AM on January 31

Photos are up! Didn't get more than sometimes-blurry headshots around the table, but at least there's documentation of the bathroom chalkboards.
posted by cortex at 5:04 PM on January 31

Kind of a neat profile shot of me. Thanks cortex!

Now I need to decide whether to put that or "Yog-Sothoth rocks!" as a profile pic.
posted by Caduceus at 7:27 PM on January 31

Sorry to not write in sooner--I've been internet-less for since Thursday. It was so nice meeting all of you. Unfortunately I didn't get to go out the gorge, but I did cross one of your many, many bridges and saw the Columbia river. Oooh, and I think I saw the "Failing Pedestrian Bridge" that was mentioned at the meetup! And although I didn't go for the bacon doughnut at Voodoo Doughnuts, I did get a "triple chocolate penetration" (eww...) doughnut and a "memphis mafia" huge-ass banana fritter-type doughnut. Yumm. I loved Portland and will definitely be back, though probably when the weather is warmer. Thanks for hanging out with me, everyone!
posted by lagreen at 7:09 AM on February 2