SoCal meetup

March 8, 2009 5:52 PM

Irvine/Santa Ana meetup?

I'm in Irvine for a week next month (April 5-11) and would love to meet up with some of my favorite SoCal MeFites on Friday the 10th. I don't know the area so I'm open for all your suggestions.

posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey to MetaFilter gatherings at 5:52 PM (91 comments total)

Oh, so those of us who may not be your favorite aren't invited?
Like, totally j/k dude. That looks kinda far for me anyway.
posted by carsonb at 8:35 PM on March 8

I suggest you drive your ass to LA, where the sun is always shining and the mefites are numerous, if lazy.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:15 PM on March 8

West-coasters: mr_crash, whatever number he may be on now, is good people and well worth your while to seek out at a meetup.

He will also buy a round for the table. Yeah, he's just that kind of guy.
posted by yhbc at 9:17 PM on March 8

Dude, what are you doing in tha Vine?
posted by clockzero at 8:46 AM on March 9

"Dude, what are you doing in tha Vine?"

I have to take a Cisco course for my company. Pretty exciting stuff.

"I suggest you drive your ass to LA"

I wouldn't mind that, if that's what it takes to get the crowd out.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:56 AM on March 9

I suggest you drive your ass to LA, where the sun is always shining and the mefites are numerous, if lazy.

I was going to say the same thing, although I might be back east then so I realize that I'm not in any position to advocate such a course of action.
posted by ob at 11:01 AM on March 9

I'll be watching this thread with interest. (If only to get the back story about how the name 'mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey' came to be)
posted by Space Kitty at 11:01 AM on March 9

Space Kitty: This is how.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 11:33 AM on March 9

Hee.

So, anybody?
posted by Space Kitty at 12:17 AM on March 10

Well, I'm in for the 10th if it's not too far. My tolerance for "far" is famously high, but I'm opposite the megalopolis from Mr. Crash.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:48 AM on March 10

I'm likely in as well. Maybe. Likely. Maybe.

If someone wants to pick my ass up in HB.
posted by Item at 10:30 AM on March 10

If we did something downtown that would leave assorted public transportation options open for those who desire them. Or require them.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 12:05 PM on March 10

Downtown sounds far better than driving to Irvine. How was that place y'all went to downtown last time? I enjoyed the cucumber soda that Thin Lizzy brought back for me.
posted by Bookhouse at 8:00 PM on March 10

I was gonna suggest the Golden Gopher, which doesn't have nearly the beer selection nor the tasty sausages that Wurstkuche had, but it does have a happy hour and pizza delivery.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 8:50 PM on March 10

Supposedly Kogi the Korean BBQ taco truck is parked outside Golden Gopher on Wednesday nights...
posted by speicus at 8:54 PM on March 10

YES.
posted by Space Kitty at 10:16 PM on March 10

I was gonna say K-town, Korean BBQ, maybe Manna? Followed by Koreaoke? But I'm not a meater myself, even. I can tell you Manna has oh-kay veggie options, like pretty minimal, but it's still fun!!! And Soju!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:24 PM on March 10

I've been wanting to try Kogi. That's temptin'.
posted by Bookhouse at 10:36 PM on March 10

Tofu tacos!
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 11:14 AM on March 11

I like where this is going. I get back in town on the 6th.
posted by Thin Lizzy at 12:20 PM on March 11

side bar anyone?
posted by Space Kitty at 9:09 AM on March 12

Ok.

Wednesday...Wednesday...Wednesday...
April 5th...5th...5th...
8pm...pm...pm...
Golden Gopher (with korean taco truck outside!!!)
417 W 8th St
Los Angeles, CA 90014

b.y.o.t
bring yer own taters
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 12:34 PM on March 12

Several problems for me there, not the least of which being Sunday is the 5th, not Wednesday.

Friday the 10th is definitely the only evening I have time available for a meetup, especially one that requires me to drive a fair distance in an unfamiliar city when I have to be in class the next morning.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 12:50 PM on March 12

Oh man, I fucked it up. Ok, I propose two meetups since meetup #1 gathered momentum and is limited to happening on a Wednesday due to taco truck restrictions. I'll leave meetup #2 details to the rest of you all.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 1:54 PM on March 12

' Taco truck restrictions' have got to be three of the saddest words in the english language.
posted by Space Kitty at 3:58 PM on March 12

What time can you be up here on Friday, Mr. Crash?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:40 PM on March 12

We've got a little sidebar mix up going on. It's listed as the 8th, but we've got the 5th and 10th going on in here.

I'm down for the 10th though, and Bookhouse says he's down for both.
posted by Thin Lizzy at 6:56 PM on March 12

I am down for the 8th and/or the 10th. Previous experience has demonstrated that we can do two LA meetups in one week, right?
posted by speicus at 7:06 PM on March 12

Yeah, the 10th works for me. I *should* be available for anything involving a taco/bbq truck as well.
posted by carsonb at 7:08 PM on March 12

Usually classes on Friday are cut short as there will be people who need to catch flights home that night. I expect if class is out by four o'clock I could be there .. sixish? I don't know what sort of traffic I will be dealing with, though.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 7:08 PM on March 12

I might be planning something for the 5th. It's my birthday... So if I figure out what, I'll mention it here. I'm thinking beach bonfire maybe.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:24 PM on March 12

Y'all go ahead and eat BBQ out of trunks trucks on the 5th. How about the patio at The Red Lion Tavern on the 10th?
posted by Thin Lizzy at 12:05 AM on March 13

Wait, who with the what now? Man, I missed all of this…
posted by klangklangston at 1:50 AM on March 13

German beer is always good, Lizzy.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 5:13 AM on March 13

I dunno, no one put kogi truck at golden gopher on wednesdays together with what date it would fall upon, I guess.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 8:40 AM on March 13

Call me naive, but the last time I was at the Red Lion I was really in the mood for something cheesy. Now, you all may know that authentic German cuisine doesn't incorporate cheese much, but I hadn't the faintest back then. I mean, I could tell from the menu choices that there wasn't much available with melty dairy goodness on top, but I did see one entry that looked promising. Well, it had 'cheese' in the name of the dish, and even if the waitress was gonna warn me off my mind was set and I ordered. Imagine my surprise when 'head cheese' turned out to not have any cheese at all associated with it. Imagine my surprise when head cheese turned out to be so fucking vile that vinegar and onions were deemed an acceptable side dish. It was like fruit cake for chunked deli meat. Blech.

But yeah, Red Lion is cool! Good beer, and that porch is rad. My only concern is that it may very well take Crash longer than 2 hours to wend his way up the 5 this far, which sucks. Freeway traffic on a Friday evening in LA is horrendous, appalling.
posted by carsonb at 9:07 AM on March 13

(Cuz, you know, if Irvine is 'kinda far' for me, then Silverlake's gotta be really damn far for a visitor in Irvine.)
posted by carsonb at 9:11 AM on March 13

OK, any objections to Red Lion Tavern on Friday, April 10?

carsonb (or others), any tips for avoiding traffic woes? Set the GPS unit to avoid I-5 and pray?
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 7:07 PM on March 13

I have no objections. Should we sidebar this puppy?
posted by speicus at 10:46 AM on March 18

Slackers! Sidebarred.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:13 PM on March 18

any tips for avoiding traffic woes?

Well, keep an eye on traffic. You'll probably have to make a snap decision whether to take the 5 all the way up or the 405 over to the 110, based on how long gmap's red lines are. If you go up the 110, you'll probably want to drop down to street level just south of the 10, get on Hoover or Figuroa north. If Hoover, right onto Alvarado which merges into Glendale Blvd, all the way up to the Red Lion. If Fig, a left onto 2nd feeds into Glendale Blvd, all the way up to the Red Lion.
posted by carsonb at 4:28 PM on March 18

All right, see you all then. I'll be the one not wearing a suit.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 6:48 AM on March 19

Heyo - I re-sidebarred the 8th and asked jessamyn to correct the date in the post above that mandymanwasregistered initially sidebarred. I got confused when the sidebar said 8th but the post said 5th and asked for it to be un-sidebarred. Mea maxima culpa... Not the least because I probably won't be at either!
posted by mzurer at 1:02 PM on March 22

So is this on for the 10th? There are two meetups sidebarred on on the 8th and one on the 10th but they both lead back to this thread...
posted by ob at 7:39 PM on March 24

I'm tentatively down for both BBQ Gopher and the bloody Lion, pending the outcome of most recent localized monetary crisis.
posted by carsonb at 11:00 AM on March 25

I *ahem* am down, coming from Long Beach...
posted by malapropist at 6:57 PM on March 26

Ok, I added an Outlook reminder.
posted by starscream at 10:47 PM on March 27

I'll be in LA that week, so I might make it out on the 10th.
posted by HotPatatta at 4:32 PM on March 28

Hey! I'm workin' downtown! Wooo hooooo! Just gotta remember to leave the dog with my neighbor that day.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:00 AM on March 29

I have recently learned that I'm allowed to sit in the back of the theater during SF/Horror screenings if I want to, which means I might could duck out! So, I might be there on Wednesday, no telling what time, though. Hmm. The Lost Boys and The Orphanage. Gleh. I'm thinking 9.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:40 PM on March 31

I am probably going to actually be able to make this one! What time?
posted by pazazygeek at 10:30 PM on April 2

Ok, I'm confused. I can go on the 8th but not the 10th. Has a decision been made?
posted by Space Kitty at 8:04 PM on April 4

Space Kitty, as far as I know the 8th is on for tacos at the Golden Gopher, and the 10th for brats and beer at the Red Lion. Some are coming to one or the other, some to both.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 4:37 PM on April 6

I for one will be at the golden gopher for drinks and delicious tacos tomorrow night.
posted by Space Kitty at 8:17 AM on April 7

Oh god, kogi AND mefites? I might have to make this my first meetup.

Sad fact: kogi was coming to our office in beverly hills once a week, until the local cops decided they needed to be ticketed. I assume for being too delicious. "Taco truck restrictions" indeed.
posted by flaterik at 9:55 PM on April 7

All is well... my dog is with the neighbors and I'm at work downtown as I type this. Lookin' forward to seein' y'all tonight. Oh, and TACOS. :)
posted by miss lynnster at 6:15 PM on April 8

You may want to follow kogi on twitter for updates - they're expected at Golden Gopher at 10, I'll be there at 9.
posted by Space Kitty at 6:27 PM on April 8

So, is there like a secret mefi gang sign or something?

Assuming I don't flake out and go home, I'll be the bespectacled fellow on a dirty red motorcycle and wearing a massive attack tshirt, looking around confusedly.
posted by flaterik at 6:38 PM on April 8

I'm not off work 'til 9, so I'll be there sometime thereafter...

flateric: Many of us who should be there have pics up in profile. I'm not rockin' The Tickler anymore, but otherwise look just as retarded in real life.
posted by carsonb at 6:49 PM on April 8

flateric: Yes.

Bookhouse and I will be there. I'm the short brunette wearing a tan leather jacket.
posted by Thin Lizzy at 7:04 PM on April 8

TUNGSTEN! I can't believe I didn't see that before Thin Lizzy. Hee.
posted by Space Kitty at 7:13 PM on April 8

I am out of town and craving bbq tacos right now. It is not fair.
posted by speicus at 7:33 PM on April 8

I'm first here but I'm actually out finding cash. I have pink hair, to an extent.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:04 PM on April 8

I am now standing in the inevitable kogi line, wondering who else in it is meficulous
posted by flaterik at 9:21 PM on April 8

PLEASE BE SURE TO ALSO ATTEND THE MEETUP ON THE TENTH AT THE RED LION

TIA
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 2:32 PM on April 9

I only had 2 tiny (delicious) tacos at Kogi, so I think there'll be room for you to do your wurst, crash. See ya tomorrow.
posted by carsonb at 2:36 PM on April 9

Spicy pork grilled sliders are my new comfort food. FRIGGIN' YUM.
posted by miss lynnster at 10:21 PM on April 9

What time is the meetup tomorrow? I'll try to make it.
posted by miss lynnster at 10:23 PM on April 9

Last night's meetup was a great time, by the way. I mostly chatted with The World Famous, which was a real treat. Man, we talked about a BUNCH of stuff, like what kind of car he would have if he had a million of one car, and synthesizer music and risque cinema and California towns. All because I opted not to wait outside for a taco.

Tomorrow?? Hmmmm. I'm gonna be in Santa Barbara at a conference all day, BUT OF COURSE I'LL BE AT THE MEETUP TOO that is exactly how I roll.

By the way, I have already imagined what Mr. Crash looks like, something I seem to do habitually prior to meeting online contacts IRL. But anymore, I've met enough mefites that I tend to do my imagining within a pre-existing pool of actors. So Mr. Crash looks like lore but with a big phony black wig and he squints when he smokes and his voice is disguised by going up and down kind of a lot.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:42 PM on April 9

I don't suppose anyone could give me a lift from North Hollywood? I live near Vineland & Ventura.

I'd love to finally make it to one of these things!
posted by starscream at 7:05 AM on April 10

Why will nobody discuss WHAT TIME the meetup is!!!???? I'm sitting in the Red Lion waiting for you right now and none of you are here!!!!* GAAAAHHHHHHH!


*Okay, I'm lying. I'm sitting on my couch.
posted by miss lynnster at 11:27 AM on April 10

How about 8?

Truthfully I'm not sure how crowded the Red Lion will be at various times on a Friday night so if anyone knows better please speak up. I can show up pretty much anytime after 7, so if we need to lock down a table/section early I can help.
posted by carsonb at 11:47 AM on April 10

I'm off work in Santa Barbara at 5, so AV and I won't be able to arrive anytime sooner than 7ish even if we drive straight down without stopping to eat. After looking at the fairly meatcentric Red Lion menu, though, I think we're more likely to eat on the way and arrive 7:30-8:00. But don't let that stop you from starting from the party earlier, we're used to arriving fashionably late to these things.
posted by contraption at 12:10 PM on April 10

Sevenish was what I was aiming for - but it appears my class today will end early so I am going to head over there as soon as it ends (three o'clock, maybe, which gives me four hours to get there which should only make me an hour late, judging by the traffic I have seen this week). Seriously, I can't believe freeways this wide move this slowly. Y'all are crazy.

I'll be easy to spot, I am tall, wide, and I'll be wearing a white t-shirt that says "CELEBRATE MIRACLES" on it.

AV, I left the wig at home (it got to be too mch hassle explaining it to the TSA) and I quit smoking back in '01, but I will squint if it helps.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 12:25 PM on April 10

Oh please... like I take freeways? Not unless I'm going against traffic. Otherwise it's sidestreet shortcuts all the way. Newbies and tourists take freeways, man!

I stayed home today but I'll try to scrape myself away from my taxes to get there around 8 or so. Give or take.
posted by miss lynnster at 1:19 PM on April 10

Well, we made it early, so I will be a few beers ahead of everyone else.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 6:10 PM on April 10

Due to a lack of a way to get to NELA tonight, looks like I'm gonna drink German beers at home instead.

Prost, everyone! :)
posted by starscream at 6:39 PM on April 10

Okay, so three of us have been trying to find you, crash. Haven't seen the tshirt. We are sitting in the upstairs bar that is inside. I'm wearing a purple and black print shirt and jeans. So get in here!
posted by miss lynnster at 8:24 PM on April 10

Y'all have fun. I just got home an hour ago and plum forgot about this one. Too lazy to go out now, and plus, I really should spend some quality time with my boy. Okay, so he's a cat.
posted by dhammond at 8:37 PM on April 10

I am so sorry everyone, about twenty minutes to seven someone at the table next to us lit up a cigar and it set off my asthma - and I had left my medication back at the hotel, so we had to split. :(
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 8:45 PM on April 10

...omg. well of all the asthsmatic...
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:53 PM on April 10

Doh!!! Bummer! :( you ok?

Well we're sitting in the dining room that's attached to the inside upstairs bar. DaShiv just showed up so its officially a meetup now. This place is a maze so I hope people find us!
posted by miss lynnster at 8:56 PM on April 10

Yes, I am OK now that I have some breathing drugs down my windpipe, thanks. It was a bit scary there for a while.

And DaShiv being there too just totally bums me out - I've always wanted my picture taken with his "make me look good" lens. Crap.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 9:11 PM on April 10

Well, he didn't bring his camera if that makes you feel any better...
posted by miss lynnster at 9:38 PM on April 10

Well get your butt back here then!

Love, DaShiv's Camera

P.S. If you're allergic to smoke, WHY WERE YOU SITTING IN THE SMOKING SECTION?????
posted by miss lynnster at 9:51 PM on April 10

Who leaves their asthma mess behind when going to a bar in LA?? You suck at assmar!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:38 PM on April 10

Hey, it was really great meeting you guys, and I am so glad I was shot by daShiv's "make me look good" lens! :)
posted by malapropist at 12:19 AM on April 11

The optimator has optimized my brain.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 12:56 AM on April 11

We were sitting outside, which makes it all the more puzzling to me how smoke could bother me so much.

Ah, well.
posted by mr_crash_davis mark II: Jazz Odyssey at 11:35 AM on April 11

So sorry to hear that, crash! Fellow asthmatic here, cigar smoke is the worst. :(
posted by Space Kitty at 10:22 PM on April 13

Were the photos so horrible that DaShiv isn't posting them? Yikes!
posted by miss lynnster at 2:29 PM on April 25