DC Meetup 1/19/09 Respondez, si vous plait!

January 16, 2009 11:49 AM

Pre-inaugural headcount: Taken Outtacontext has graciously agreed to be our 'unoffical' host and intermediary with the cafe, so if you'll be at Kogod Courtyard in the Smithsonian American Art Museum between 2 and 5 on Monday, January 19th, please say so here!

Attempted headcounts from last thread: 1, 2, 3. Numbers vary from 13-30+ and we apparently need a concrete number for the staff.

posted by anotherpanacea to MetaFilter Gatherings at 11:49 AM (54 comments total)

I told them 30. This was just a general heads-up. Thx.

As you can imagine, things are starting to get a bit busy in downtown DC. ;-)
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 12:01 PM on January 16, 2009

If the actual turnout is low, I pledge to drink extra. Just doing my part, y'know.
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:09 PM on January 16, 2009

Missed the last headcount--I and MrsBucket will be there, so add two more.
posted by EarBucket at 12:17 PM on January 16, 2009

Wait, they have booze?! Yes!
posted by exogenous at 12:18 PM on January 16, 2009

I'm a definite (unless something happens to my friend's car).
posted by Kattullus at 12:25 PM on January 16, 2009

I will be bringing my liver (unless something happens to its sidecar).
posted by Potomac Avenue at 12:39 PM on January 16, 2009 [1 favorite]

Man that place is going to be packed.
posted by plexi at 12:43 PM on January 16, 2009

Again (and just to be all offical about it ;) count me and Mrs ShawnString as there.

(aside note...stoked today, got to pick up my tickets from my Senators office this morning. Silver area but still....i feel like Charlie Bucket)
posted by ShawnString at 12:43 PM on January 16, 2009

me.
posted by empath at 1:46 PM on January 16, 2009

Looks like it's going to be a balmy 36...be sure to bring your swim trunks!
posted by JoanArkham at 1:55 PM on January 16, 2009

The Hellbounds (2) will be there, pending childcare, tentatively...
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 2:13 PM on January 16, 2009

If the actual turnout is low, I pledge to drink extra. Just doing my part, y'know.

You're a giver.
posted by anotherpanacea at 2:55 PM on January 16, 2009

I can only say "maybe." We have an extremely busy weekend, and I'm on the hook to work at least some time on Monday, so I don't know If I'll be able to make it all happen.
posted by NortonDC at 7:44 PM on January 16, 2009

robot rex and I, plus one friend will be there. That's 3 that are a 99% sure thing.
posted by dog food sugar at 8:30 PM on January 16, 2009

OMG--my brother got me and my wife tickets to the swearing in. Sweet!
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:33 PM on January 16, 2009

I'm jealous, man. You guys are going to witness the greatest positive moment of American history in our lifetimes, while I'm stuck in Asia. Alas.

My sister had her wedding photos taken in the Kogod Gardens. Beautiful spot.

Cheers to all.
posted by bardic at 10:17 PM on January 16, 2009

Surprisingly, bars weren't too crowded last night. Makes me wonder if inauguration will have fewer people than projected...
posted by inigo2 at 7:28 AM on January 17, 2009

Can I say maybe, too? I hope to make it!
posted by juliplease at 10:04 AM on January 17, 2009

Me also.

Surprisingly, bars weren't too crowded last night.

It was 12 degrees last night with a -10 wind chill.
posted by zennie at 2:30 PM on January 17, 2009

I could have sworn I counted in in the last thread. Count me in!
posted by necessitas at 2:34 PM on January 17, 2009

I'll be there unless my out of town guests show up much, much earlier than expected. I'm pretty excited about getting to interact with human beings who don't work at furniture stores, since that's been my entire weekend thus far.
posted by little e at 7:17 PM on January 17, 2009

Just a heads up about the food/drink situation: because the museum is within the restricted zone trucks (and their deliveries) will be spotty if at all. Bear that in mind and adjust your expectations as necessary. Every eatery within this large downtown area is in the same boat (the closest Starbucks to us has been sporting a large refrigerator within this very small Starbucks for a week to stock up).
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 5:05 AM on January 18, 2009

As long as I can get on the Orange Line, I'll be there.
posted by djb at 8:42 AM on January 18, 2009

It was 12 degrees last night with a -10 wind chill.

What better time for a drink?
That said, last night was pretty crowded, so people are definitely here...
posted by inigo2 at 6:17 PM on January 18, 2009

I'll be there.
posted by gsteff at 7:00 PM on January 18, 2009

I suddenly found out we have houseguests coming in this afternoon, so I'll probably have to skip the meetup.
posted by exogenous at 5:20 AM on January 19, 2009

Didn't see this thread til now-- I think I will make it too, depending on just exactly when my houseguest's Amtrak makes it here... Sorry for the late vagueness.
posted by ibmcginty at 5:46 AM on January 19, 2009

My out of town guests just called and they are going to be here early. So I guess I'll have to catch the next meetup :(
posted by little e at 7:15 AM on January 19, 2009

Can anyone report on the metro and bus situation today? I'm 7+ months pregnant and am trying to avoid getting stuck anywhere for a long time without a bathroom! (There were some difficulties after last night's concert, I think?) Might still come out, just not sure.
posted by onlyconnect at 7:20 AM on January 19, 2009

Washington Metro Area Transit Authority has info on closures for tomorrow. It looks like today things are operating normally. Use the trip planner to figure out the status of your route/s today. Go to Inauguration link for status tomorrow.

The hellbounds are still coming.
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 7:27 AM on January 19, 2009

Don't know how much you trust WMATA but they are currently reporting everything as being on time.

Assuming we can find parking way out here at the end of the line we will be there...probably closer to 3.
posted by JoanArkham at 7:27 AM on January 19, 2009

Onlyconnect, you should know, if you don't already, that Metro stations do have bathrooms (where you enter the turnstiles). They are generally not marked and you have to ask the guy in the kiosk if you could use it. But they generally do. Something to know.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 7:38 AM on January 19, 2009

@takenouttacontext: so... will you be wearing a sandwich board or something?

Gorilla suit? Ultraman t-shirt? How will we find the group (other than simply looking for the clever teeshirt/snarky crowd)?
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 7:38 AM on January 19, 2009

I've got my red vest on and am just about to leave for the museum (will be down on the first floor in the Folk Art Collection if you get there early). My name is Jeff, btw.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 7:40 AM on January 19, 2009

I'm heading out in about an hour, with the MrsMoonPie. We're stopping off to meet up with another friend first, then getting to the museum by 3 at the latest, I expect. We look like this, and I'm 6 1/2 feet tall.
posted by MrMoonPie at 9:55 AM on January 19, 2009

Great to meet all of you f2f!! Thanks for stopping by. ;-)
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 2:55 PM on January 19, 2009

Thank you, Jeff--that was really great.
posted by MrMoonPie at 7:14 PM on January 19, 2009

Thanks Jeff! That was a great first meetup.

Djb, I just saw you in this thread...did you make it? Did I get to talk to you? I was your Secret Quonsar!
posted by JoanArkham at 4:14 AM on January 20, 2009

Anyone have photos? The original thread didn't have anything posted yet - and I heard Gandalf was there!?
posted by odinsdream at 7:43 AM on January 20, 2009

Gandalf was there... and he ignored me both times I tried to get him to not ignore me.
posted by hellboundforcheddar at 3:41 PM on January 20, 2009

Did you all go to the Inaugural? I took my 12 yo daughter. We were situated at the slope leading up to the Washington Monument. Here are some of my photos. If you took pics it would be great to see them.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 6:16 AM on January 21, 2009

I went to the Inauguration... heres the shots I took
posted by ShawnString at 1:07 PM on January 21, 2009

JoanArkham - I was the one wearing a MetaFilter shirt. Sorry we didn't get to talk, your gift was a great addition to my collection of historical ephemera.
posted by djb at 2:57 PM on January 21, 2009

Yeah, just saw you in the panorama shot. I never managed to get to the other side of the circle...

We'll have to do this again, under less crazy circumstances!
posted by JoanArkham at 4:32 PM on January 21, 2009

Yeah, Ian McKellen was there. I know brownpau took pics. When McKellen walked in and sat down all 30 of us promptly failed our saving throws vs. lose dignity.
posted by Kattullus at 7:58 PM on January 21, 2009

Shouldn't we make a list of everyone who was there. I'll start with those who first come to mind, even though I haven't had coffee yet this morning and don't have a functioning brain.

clockworkjoe
empath
onlyconnect
nortondc
Potomac Avenue
brownpau +1
anotherpanacea +1
hellboundforcheddar +1
zennie
djb
MrMoonPie +1
JoanArkham +1
Taken Outtacontext

And a whole lot of other people whose MeFiNames escape me and I need coffee so someone else take over :)
posted by Kattullus at 4:33 AM on January 22, 2009

I actually felt kinda bad, because I wasnt able to actually talk and meet everyone that was there. BUT would I do it again, hells yea.
posted by ShawnString at 6:48 AM on January 22, 2009

another aside thing, waiting in the hell that was the line for the Silver Gate... who do i see? None other then Potomac Avenue (Peter). That was very cool in all those people to actually run into someone I knew.
posted by ShawnString at 6:51 AM on January 22, 2009

I guess it's up to me to figure out who was there so that I can be a proper obsessive and make sure I add every MeFite I've met as "met" in my contacts. Here's my amended list.

clockworkjoe
empath
onlyconnect
nortondc
Potomac Avenue
brownpau +1
anotherpanacea +1
hellboundforcheddar +1
zennie
djb
MrMoonPie +1
JoanArkham +1
Taken Outtacontext
EarBucket +1
ShawnString +1

Come on, people... help me out! :)
posted by Kattullus at 6:46 PM on January 22, 2009

MrMoonPie's +1 is AKA eviltiff, if you're looking for total accuracy.
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:16 PM on January 22, 2009

Kattullus I don't know if you met my husband, Robot Rex who was also there. Wish we had been able to talk with more people! Such an interesting lot. Thanks for a fun afternoon everybody!
posted by dog food sugar at 7:59 AM on January 23, 2009

amen, dog food sugar.

I only met maybe 1/3 of the people there. We really do need to do this again
posted by ShawnString at 8:28 AM on January 23, 2009

I tried to say hi to everyone, dog food sugar, so I'm sure I did! Either way, I've added him as a contact.
posted by Kattullus at 6:06 PM on January 23, 2009

I got a cute picture of eviltiff looking at MrMoonPie.

And a blurry celeb sighting picture of BOTH the CSI guy and Gandalf.
posted by dog food sugar at 8:10 PM on January 28, 2009