as long as we don't order pork

May 3, 2009 9:00 AM

Houston people: we can haz dinner?

Last meetup people suggested there should be food next time. And I haven't been here long enough to find all the good places yet, so hopefully some of the rest of you also think it's about time for next time to happen?

posted by casarkos to MetaFilter gatherings at 9:00 AM (62 comments total)

I would totally drive down for a Houston meetup as long as it's not next weekend.
posted by batmonkey at 11:37 AM on May 3

Yeah next weekend is no good for me either - working both days all day. It would be nice to get together!

As someone who eats out too much I'll offer a few suggestions off the top of my head:

in the Heights:
Dry Creek
Onion Creek

In the Montrose:
Baba Yega
Ziggy's
Rudyard's (pub food)
Empire

Midtown:
Taco's a gogo
Mai's
Van Loc

Places that have margarita's:
El Plueblito Place (montrose)
Berryhill's (multi locations)
Spanish Flower (heights)
Teotihaucan (heights)
Spanish Village (off Almeda)
Cadilac Bar (off 1-10 @ shepard)

As you can see I have a soft spot for Mexican and tequila. We could see who's interested and go to that part of town. I just listed these places because their near me - but I'm not adverse to driving out west, south, east or north if that's were most of the dinner guest are.
posted by dog food sugar at 12:31 PM on May 3

Sorry Durin's Blane
posted by Deathalicious at 12:56 PM on May 3

I'd like to go. Not next weekend, but at any other time. I live in Katy, so I will travel to wherever other people are closest.
posted by Houstonian at 2:01 PM on May 3

I'm in Clear Lake so going anywhere will involve driving anyway. My work schedule is weird and likes to change on short notice but I should be clear after the 24th.
posted by casarkos at 4:04 PM on May 3

I'm in town occasionally for business, so would attend depending on the date/time you decide.
posted by Pants! at 6:08 PM on May 3

I'm in Katy (Hi Houstonian!!!!) but I know I'll have to trek in from the hinterlands to meet you cool kids. Next weekend is no bueno but I should be free anytime after.
(I can attest that dog food sugar & casarkos are both cool, cool kids!)
posted by Mamapotomus at 8:03 PM on May 3

I'm there!
posted by WolfDaddy at 8:22 PM on May 3

Oh geez, I wish something like this would coincide with my of my visits-to-family there! Gotta start planning in advance. Although I'm not going to be there, my vote is for Baba Yega -- and possibly some drinks at the Mineshaft next door. :)
posted by treepour at 9:28 PM on May 3

I'll be in town for 3 out of 4 weekends in May and will passively monitor this thread and attend if circumstances allow. (Baba Yega in Montrose has a nice outdoor patio garden area and great food, by the way).
posted by Burhanistan at 9:29 PM on May 3

Heh, non preview Baba Yega jinx!
posted by Burhanistan at 9:30 PM on May 3

Baba Yega definitely has my vote. After that, anything in the Montrose. And, after that, anything within 20min of same.

Drinks after sound good, too, and if anyone else isn't burnt out on #s, I'm bound to end up there at some point.
posted by batmonkey at 12:18 AM on May 4

(if it's open whatever night gets chosen; otherwise, i'd be in favour of finding more fun somewhere else)
posted by batmonkey at 12:27 AM on May 4

How about a Mefi cheering section at the Art Car parade next weekend?
posted by Midnight Skulker at 6:33 AM on May 4

I'm sad that Chuy's is not on your list of tex-mex + margaritas, let alone topping it! Right over on Westheimer before you get to the Galleria!

You all would have made being in Houston for college a lot more fun. Sad I didn't know about MetaFilter back then. :(
posted by greekphilosophy at 6:48 AM on May 4

I'd be game. I actually came to Coffee Groundz for the last one, but didn't realize there was a back patio and figured that the only group I saw -- with everyone over 85 -- was likely not MeFi. Baba Yega is cool with me.
posted by *s at 7:23 AM on May 4

I was pretty stunned at how many of you were octogenarians at the Coffee Groundz meetup as well. Good thing I saw the patio on my way out :-)

Midnight Skulker, I'm hoping to make the parade next weekend too.
posted by Mamapotomus at 8:14 AM on May 4

Chuy's?

You are a bad ex-houstonian! Go back to Philly!

I'm partial to Barnaby's myself, but I don't think they have a good patio to lend to a meet-up. I enjoy Baba Yega.
posted by politikitty at 9:19 AM on May 4

I'm up for whatever, wherever too, as long as I'm welcome.
posted by mrbill at 10:53 AM on May 4

In.
posted by pomegranate at 12:08 PM on May 4

Sounds like most of you would be happy with Baba Yega? I do like the idea of drinks afterwards as well (although if you've ever met me you'd know I can only do drink, singular).

So how about Baba Yega on the 30th? What time(s) would be good for you people? Does someone need to call ahead or something?

(I've never been to the place before, halp!)
posted by casarkos at 4:23 PM on May 4

casarkos: here's their about page. It's a bit of a local institution.
posted by Burhanistan at 5:20 PM on May 4

Wait, so we're talking about the end of the month now?

Either way is ok with me, but I thought maybe we were talking about May 16/17?

(I've never been to Baba Yega either, casarkos.)
posted by Houstonian at 5:32 PM on May 4

I'm cool with whatever date/time.

Also, I'm going to the 10:10 AM showing of Star Trek this Friday at the AMC Dunvale theater. Any mefites wanna go with? memail me.
posted by WolfDaddy at 7:28 PM on May 4

The 30th or the 16th/17th could be good. I'm working during the art car parade. waah.

How about 5-ish? That way we can snag a good size table early - wherever we decide to go.

You know what else could be fun is Little Bigs. On Montrose just past Westheimer. They've got long patio tables outside that could accommodate us well. It's a mini burger joint - and they have a veggie option for the non-meat eaters. Plus beer and wine.

Sorry greekphilosophy I didn't mean to slight Chuy's! I DO like their margs and tex-mex! I don't know how I could forget a fav Austin transplant like that. The way they put your flatware in that little wax paper bag is super cute too.
posted by dog food sugar at 7:48 PM on May 4

It's just that I will likely be working crazy night shifts over the 16/17th and maybe driving up there all sleep-deprived is not such a great idea. Anyway, whatever the rest of you people decide I will be there somehow or other.
posted by casarkos at 9:58 PM on May 4

I can't do the 30th, not that it's all about me.
posted by *s at 7:33 AM on May 5

Are most folks also unavailable for the 23rd, due to the long weekend? I admit that would be the ideal day for me.
posted by batmonkey at 8:21 AM on May 5

A) If you've responded to this thread and I haven't met you before, I've started following you on Twitter. No time for stalking, just tryin' to be social. (Frannyo)

B) My vote, FWIW, is to work with Casarkos on what works for her, since she's new to town and started the thread, so is most likely sick to death of her coworkers and ready to hang out out with some less NASA-focused nerds. .s could you make something in the afternoon of the 30th rather than the evening?

In the meantime, we're definitely going to the Art Car Sneak Peek at Discovery Green this Friday and would love some company. Sneak a flask in, their basil lemonade goes GREAT with vodka. EMP if you're up for it!
posted by pomegranate at 8:30 AM on May 5

Agreed on going with what works for Casarkos!
posted by batmonkey at 9:51 AM on May 5

Absolutely, what works for everyone else works for me!

*s, the 30th is a Saturday. If you can't do that, what do we all feel about the 31st (Sunday)?
posted by Houstonian at 10:06 AM on May 5

While we're all talking should we make some plans for a MeFi tenth party?
posted by Mamapotomus at 5:16 PM on May 5

31st is fine by me too!

Since I'm not absolutely sure about the rest of you, how about I put this on the sidebar calendar thingy for the 31st for now, just to have it visible, and then we can negotiate as things shift around and whatnot.
posted by casarkos at 8:07 PM on May 5

May 31st is A-OK. In case you're looking for something to do on May 30, this is what's keeping me busy.
posted by *s at 10:23 AM on May 6

Well if we're going to push this back to the 31st, why don't we just push it on into June and make our gathering the Houston10 event??
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:01 PM on May 6

Well, I'm dumb. June<>July. So why don't we talk about planning a Houston10 thing AT our end of month event? :-)
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:03 PM on May 6

Do we have consensus for the 31st, Baba Yega, 5pm?
posted by batmonkey at 12:06 PM on May 7

Depending on my gestational status (as I am currently eleventy months pregnant), I will be there.
posted by LittleMissCranky at 6:23 AM on May 8

That sounds good to me. Baba Yega, 31st, 5 PM.
posted by Houstonian at 4:20 AM on May 9

heya - I'll try to make it too... :)
posted by yeoja at 2:42 PM on May 13

I'd love to come (unless Rice gets to host the NCAA Regionals that weekend; go Owls!). This will be my last week in Texas before moving to the West Coast.
posted by halogen at 4:23 PM on May 13

I'm feeling emboldened by the I'm-socially-awkward-but-want-to-attend-a-meetup thread and want to attend this one.

I'll go ahead and admit now that I'm nervous.
posted by heathergirl at 10:50 PM on May 17

heathergirl we're all nerds, no need to be nervous. the first meetup was a little awkward at first but we got through it. there were only maybe five of us there, so I guarantee you won't be the only meetup stranger there this time.
posted by pomegranate at 12:31 PM on May 18

heathergirl, I see you are in Spring -- I grew up there!

I missed the last meetup too, so we can sit and be nervous together. :)
posted by Houstonian at 1:31 PM on May 18

OK I'm in. Never been to Baba Yega and I hear it is excellent.
posted by bukvich at 10:01 AM on May 30

And I'm flaking out. Unbelievable. Car trouble, and the mechanic can't see it until Monday. I promise to be at the next one (the 10th!).
posted by Houstonian at 10:20 AM on May 30

Uncertain right now if I can make it tomorrow. Plus, I'm in a bad state of mind and hate being the token ugly fat guy in pictures, etc. Y'all have fun!
posted by mrbill at 8:18 PM on May 30

Did we decide on a time today? Totally bummed about Mrbill and Houstonian. Houstonian, depending on where you live, maybe I can pick you up?
posted by pomegranate at 8:38 AM on May 31

I live in Cinco Ranch (Katy... that's basically East San Antonio). It's best for me to take a pass on this one, but come to the next one no-matter-what. I appreciate the offer, though. Hopefully the next one will be soon - you guys are planning the 10th today?
posted by Houstonian at 9:06 AM on May 31

5 PM? 5:30??
I'd like to talk about the 10th today!
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:14 AM on May 31

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be there - Robot Rex husband probably not.

Baba Yega's 5PM right? The 10th will be on the agenda.

(Kate)
posted by dog food sugar at 9:54 AM on May 31

5 pm, yes? May be a bit late (again! sorry...) but I'll be there.
posted by casarkos at 10:12 AM on May 31

Houstonian, I'm in Oak Park Trails & would be happy to bring you in with me if you'd like. Several other MeFites can vouch that I'm not a serial killer :-)
(Except for the one's I've already seduced with rides and disposed of via methods culled from AskMe.)
posted by Mamapotomus at 1:16 PM on May 31

I have guests so I won't be coming, but hope everyone has a great time.
posted by Burhanistan at 1:54 PM on May 31

(That errant apostrophe is *killing* me.)
posted by Mamapotomus at 2:13 PM on May 31

Maybe it was fate - I ended up being ill right around 5pm (when not at home, not fun at all) but I'll do my best to be at the 10th anniversary party.
posted by mrbill at 4:37 PM on May 31

Great food. Great people. Great wine. Great conversation. Cute waiter. A six-year lurker de-lurked. A small afterparty. What more could one ask for??

Also, HOUSTON IS GOING TO NEW ORLEANS. Prepare!
posted by WolfDaddy at 8:24 PM on May 31

Lovely to meet you all, nice to attend a meetup in my own city, finally.

[NOT OCTOGENARIAN-IST]
posted by *s at 8:45 PM on May 31

Mamapatomus, I'd already logged off for the day when you posted. Nuts!

What's this about New Orleans??
posted by Houstonian at 2:17 AM on June 1

I believe we decided to have the H-Town 10th party on the East side. Waaaaaay East. Five hours East........
posted by Mamapotomus at 7:18 AM on June 1

Do we have any pictures?
posted by WolfDaddy at 9:58 AM on June 1

I can't commit to that kind of travel time. If we're not having one, I'll plan to go to the Austin one. Is anyone else from Houston going to the Austin meetup?
posted by Houstonian at 6:37 AM on June 6