Comments on: I'm all out of Cleveland jokes...

I'm all out of Cleveland jokes...

chesty_a_arthur — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 17:18:58 -0800

Cleveland meetup? I can't resolve the East Side/West Side rivalry, but maybe we could meet in the middle.

By: greatalleycat

greatalleycat — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 21:50:24 -0800

Fellow Clevelander here:
How about a bar in the Independence area? It's close to all the highways and you don't have to pay to park like downtown.
Winking Lizard is good, lots of beer to choose from and there's all kinds of food if you're interested.

By: terrapin

terrapin — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:58:13 -0800

I am not familiar with the city's layout, but my buddy is the head chef at Bar Cento. If you (ever) end up there, tell him I said hello.

By: bitter-girl.com

bitter-girl.com — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:27:19 -0800

Taco Tuesday at the Lincoln Park Pub in Tremont = tasty.

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 14:59:25 -0800

sciurus and I would be happy to host at our house in Tremont, but the baby's bedtime is at 7pm. How about a potluck on a Saturday afternoon?

By: sciurus

sciurus — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:03:01 -0800

TT at the LPP is diggity. Prosperity in Tremont has good chow too and Happy Hour deals M-Th.

Past Meetups have been held at Edison's, The Barking Spider and Great Lakes Brewing Co.

It'd be boss to get more than me, Shane and stuart_s at a meetup. If there's advance notice, d_a and I will get a sitter.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 15:04:10 -0800

Oh yeah, Bar Cento is right near the West Side Market, quite close to mid-city.

By: mismatched

mismatched — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 06:28:29 -0800

Eeeeeee! I'm a CWRU student -- still barely under 21, in case that matters -- who would love to go. I don't have a car, but I have a few friends with cars who love both drinking and the internet, so this should not be a problem. :D

By: chesty_a_arthur

chesty_a_arthur — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 09:58:12 -0800

How kid-friendly is Prosperity? Happy Hour deals are great but we haven't identified any sitters yet so it's likely that I'd come armed with a toddler. (Don't cross me! He's two!)

By: By The Grace of God

By The Grace of God — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:20:24 -0800

i would just like to say i used to live in cleveland and miss the lizard. drink some delicious beer for me.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:35:03 -0800

Prosperity is fairly kid-friendly. I have a friend who used to take his three girls there all of the time. None were as small as your two-year old or our 10 month old. It is a bar, but they've got a nice patio.

mismatched, if you're by CWRU, you could take the rapid to West 25th and walk to someplace if we meet somewhere in Ohio City.

The not-yet 21 thing and trouble finding a sitter for the kids make me think that a meetup at my place some Saturday or Sunday might be the best idea.

chesty, since this meetup was you're idea, you should settle on a place and date, and we'll follow your lead.

By: chesty_a_arthur

chesty_a_arthur — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:06:08 -0800

OK, how's your place on Saturday 4/11?

Mismatched, if you're not a serial killer, we can probably give you a lift.

By: ltracey

ltracey — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:20:30 -0800

Do I need to find a toddler to bring? I'm sure I could pick one up on the way...

By: sciurus

sciurus — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:26:17 -0800

Saturday, April 11th, 2009 works for us.

Want to make it a late afternoon thing? Say 4pm - until whenever? If it is nice out I'll fire up the grill and we'll make it a cook out. Otherwise we can orderve it up inside. We'll have some alcohol and chow, but politely suggest a modicum BYOB/F action.

We can use this thread to continue planning, until the date arrives.

Address:
1719 Holmden Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44109

By: sciurus

sciurus — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:28:48 -0800

ltracey, you don't have to pick one up, but we might send you home with one. ;)

By: chesty_a_arthur

chesty_a_arthur — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:43:45 -0800

Second prize: TWO TODDLERS!

By: chesty_a_arthur

chesty_a_arthur — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:44:27 -0800

Um. Anyway, I'm in for a cabbage salad (vegan, even, accidentally) and some hooch, certainly.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:25:43 -0800

Heh. If y'all got dietary restrictions now's the time to voice them. I eat everything but yellow onions, but I can cook to veggie or vegan tastes as the moment demands.

chesty, if you think we're set on a time, date and location, you might want to add it here.

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:41:09 -0800

So can I go ahead and start inviting?

By: ltracey

ltracey — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:53:59 -0800

That's much better than the meetups I use to go to in NYC. All I got there were hangovers and a weird itching.

Looking forward to it...

By: chesty_a_arthur

chesty_a_arthur — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 18:23:46 -0800

Done and done. No dietary restrictions here.

By: mismatched

mismatched — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:46:29 -0800

Haha. I'm totally not a serial killer, but I am a vegetarian. And jewish. I'll bring something I can eat, due to veggie + passover, that y'all will also want to eat. I promise I don't usually cause this many feed-me problems. Any other passover-observing folk planning on attending?

I need to check one last thing, but I'm fairly certain i'll be able to go. (And thanks for the offer of the ride, chesty_a_arthur.)

By: sciurus

sciurus — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:51:39 -0800

mismatched, is there a certain kind of wine you need for Passover/Seder or will any old red do?

By: mismatched

mismatched — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:38:47 -0800

scurius, the seder is actually only on the first two nights -- but, in more direct answer to your question, there is special kosher wine. Whether people drink ONLY that depends on one's level of observance -- it's not a special kosher-for-passover thing, it's kosher-in-general.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:06:14 -0800

Want me to pick some up for you?

By: mismatched

mismatched — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:58:17 -0800

Nah, that's fine, but thanks :)

By: DeltaForce

DeltaForce — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 19:47:22 -0800

Sorry, I am a n00b. I've never been to a meetup before. Does one just show up?

By: mismatched

mismatched — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:26:04 -0800

DeltaForce, I've only been to one so far, but it seems like you RSVP on here and then just sorta show up. In this case, i'd also bring something tasty. :)

By: sciurus

sciurus — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:27:05 -0800

Yup, that's pretty much it, DeltaForce.

By: Avogadro

Avogadro — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:21:17 -0800

Swell. I ought to be able to make it, although I would have to travel all the way across I-490. Jeepers!

By: sciurus

sciurus — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 04:38:00 -0800

Hehe. Our house is off of Scranton, not W14th, as a general FYI. I-71 cuts right through where the rest of Holmden used to be.

By: Aaaugh!

Aaaugh! — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 21:54:31 -0800

Any other passover-observing folk planning on attending?

*raises hand*

Thanks for the invite, Debbie Ann!

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:53:57 -0800

Well jeez, I could freakin' walk from where I live. I guess I have no excuse. I will most likely be there.

** Flourishes his worm can opener **

Are dogs welcome? I have a very well-mannered, well-trained dog who loves kids.

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 04:22:29 -0800

If the dog is truly well-mannered as in won't bark and jump that's fine. I love petting dogs but am quite frightened by being jumped on and barked at.

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 09:51:01 -0800

Having thought better of it, let's just close up that can of worms and pretend I never opened it. I don't want to cause any problems for the non-dog people, and I certainly don't want to be "that guy" who has to take his dog everywhere.

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:12:44 -0800

ha ha

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 14:12:55 -0800

oops I mean LOL

By: sciurus

sciurus — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 11:08:01 -0800

So I'm guessing this is the current attendee list:

sciurus
debbie_ann
mismatched
chesty_a_arthur
starvingartist
fizzix
Avogadro
Aaaugh!
DeltaForce
ltracey

If I missed anybody, lemme know. I'm gonna pick up some vittles tomorrow morning.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 08:26:08 -0800

I've got tortilla chips, salsa, doritos, 12 Coronas and lime, homemade blue/cranberry coffee cake, homemade banana/cranberry bread, Bombay Sapphire, Bailey's, Captain Morgan's, Stoli, coke, sprite, orange crush, sweet tea, homemade garlic pesto on toasted italian bread, and a ten month old.

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:10:11 -0800

I was thinking of bringing my homemade, killer, dark-chocolate-and-cayenne brownies. Would that be too much sugar, though?

Also, what kind of dipping sauce does one serve with a ten-month-old?

By: mismatched

mismatched — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 09:25:02 -0800

Due to lack of time and groceries, i'll be throwing some whatever's-around-the-kitchen in my bag. Probably matzah and maybe another dip type thing. (oops.)

By: sciurus

sciurus — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 10:18:05 -0800

Brownies are good, matzah is good. Dip type things are good. Ten-month-old is best served encrusted with half-chewed cookies. Mine is pre-encrusted for your convenience.

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:17:30 -0800

4:16 do do dooo

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 17:35:35 -0800

Thanks for coming! I had a great time.

By: chesty_a_arthur

chesty_a_arthur — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:15:21 -0800

Thanks for hosting us! This was extraordinarily fun. I can't stop thinking about the brownies, starvingartist.

By: sciurus

sciurus — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 12:48:46 -0800

April 11, 2009 Cleveland MetaFilter meetup Official Photo and Trading Card

By: adamdschneider

adamdschneider — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 13:42:20 -0800

What a great photo. Looks like a good time. Almost makes me miss living in Cleveland.

By: fizzix

fizzix — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 17:52:21 -0800

debbie_ann and sciurus,

Thank you for hosting it ! It was a great meetup (and my first) ! The photo turned out well too (thanks to debbie_ann's friend's photo-taking skills). I look forward to attending more in the future. ^_^

By: Avogadro

Avogadro — Sun, 12 Apr 2009 20:07:21 -0800

Indeed. Well-hosted and attended, all. Let's do again soon.

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 09:08:29 -0800

Agreed. Much fun (and beer) was had by all. Perhaps I'll post the brownie recipe on my lunch break.

By: debbie_ann

debbie_ann — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 15:59:58 -0800

brownie recipe acceptable in all forms

By: starvingartist

starvingartist — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 18:55:44 -0800

Art of Darkness Brownies
(I don't have a better name yet. The recipe is an adaptation of Alton Brown's, and he did an episode about chocolate called "The Art of Darkness", so that's where I took it. Please feel free to come up with a better name.)

The Chocolate
1 1/3 cups dark cocoa powder, like Hershey's Special Dark (hard to find - I usually buy an extra carton whenever I find it)
1 cup (2 sticks) melted butter, cooled

The Wet Works
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla or vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1 cup brown sugar, packed

The Dry Goods
2/3 cup all purpose flour - NOT SELF-RISING. Bread flour is okay if you want a heartier texture to your brownies.
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt - if using regular table salt, make this 1/4 teaspoon because the granules are much smaller and you don't want crazy salty brownies
1/2 to 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper - or more, depending on your tastes

The Extras
1 bag (12 oz) dark chocolate pieces
4 to 5 oz dried cherries
Nuts if you want them - I'm not a fan

Preheat oven to 300°F. Grease an 8-inch square aluminum baking pan (the leftover wrappers from the butter are great for this.)

In an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, whip the eggs at medium speed until light in texture and color

Mix the sugars together in a bowl, reduce the mixer speed to 30%, and add the sugars in 3 doses, incorporating thoroughly

Mix the dry goods together in a bowl, then add to the mixer in alternating doses with the melted butter (2 or 3 doses each)

Add the extras and mix for a few more minutes, making sure everything is thoroughly incorporated

Pour the batter into the pan and back for 45 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center of the pan; if it comes out clean, the brownies are done.

Let cool on a rack before cutting

Try not to eat them all in one sitting.