Comments on: Mefi Oop North

Mefi Oop North

Grrlscout — Tue, 12 May 2009 08:55:47 -0800

Anyone up for the idea of a meetup (anniversary or otherwise) for the North of England?

If Birmingham and London can have meetups, surely those of us north of the Pennines could have one, too? I'm flexible as to location, but would prefer Leeds, Sheffield or Newcastle. Any takers?

By: Jofus

Jofus — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:16:22 -0800

I've been kicking the idea of *not* organising anything for the 10th in the NW simply because, fuck it, its 2 hours on the train to London and it'll be more special if everyone's together.

However, I'm totally down with a Northern meetup - and am prepared to put people up if Manchester is the chosen venue.

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:29:00 -0800

Hebden Bridge!

Because - ermmmm - It's halfway between Manchester and Leeds?
And ermmm - It's pretty?

By: seanyboy

seanyboy — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:30:10 -0800

That's annoying. It appears that metatalk strips out the <big> tag.

By: gergtreble

gergtreble — Tue, 12 May 2009 11:34:09 -0800

Count me in for a Sheffield one.

By: davemee

davemee — Tue, 12 May 2009 12:43:47 -0800

Mathematically speaking, the average (mean) of the coordinates of Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle is at Trof on Thomas St., Manchester.

And I'll second Jofus' offer of up-put place.

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Tue, 12 May 2009 13:58:21 -0800

The induced call, mysterious, comes forth - hit the north.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:49:14 -0800

Because - ermmmm - It's halfway between Manchester and Leeds?

Fuck Manchester. What about Liverpool? Half way between Liverpool and Leeds is probably...

Manchester? Oh no, fuck Manchester.

Rochdale?

Fuck Rochdale. We should just have a northern meet-up in Crosby. It's half way between Southport and Liverpool, and we could throw stones at the men from Anthony Gormley's Another Place

And ermmm - It's pretty?

Anthony Gormley, dude! Plus I can just walk home from the pub afterwards!

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Tue, 12 May 2009 18:55:22 -0800

The induced call, mysterious, comes forth - hit the north.

All bound for Mu-Mu Land -- It's Grim Up North

By: idiomatika

idiomatika — Tue, 12 May 2009 19:43:07 -0800

I'm in. Probably. I like the idea of Manchester, but that's just because it's where I live and I'm lazy like that.

By: Jofus

Jofus — Wed, 13 May 2009 00:52:39 -0800

Wierdly enough, Davemee is amost exactly right.

By: Electric Dragon

Electric Dragon — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:08:14 -0800

Count me in for Manchester, Sheffield or Leeds.

By: Grrlscout

Grrlscout — Wed, 13 May 2009 01:52:22 -0800

Well if I was going to go for pure personal convenience, I'd say Wakefield or Leeds. My case for Leeds is, well, it's Leeds and superconvenient for rail/road links for those coming from farther north or south. Wakefield is just off the M1/M62 and is chocka with pubs. Some of the better of which are within crawling distance of my house and are super friendly, and prone to lock-ins. not that I've actually tried to crawl the distance from, say, Fernandes or the Red Shed back to my house after a lock in. Not as pretty as Hebden Bridge or any of the villages dotting the Pennines in the Huddersfield/Rochdale/Sheffs/Manchester, but few places are.

Throwing rocks at Gormley's work, though... hmm...

It seems that Manchester's leading the league tables for meetup convenience. Why not go for this pub that's at the exact geographic centre?

I wonder what would happen to the fabric of the universe if Mefites landed in Barnsley town centre for a meetup?

By: Grrlscout

Grrlscout — Wed, 13 May 2009 02:13:23 -0800

Forgot to ask - does the majority want to make this a normal sort of meetup, or do we want to make this an anniversary meetup?

By: Jofus

Jofus — Wed, 13 May 2009 05:10:33 -0800

Votes for normal.

By: koolkat

koolkat — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:24:51 -0800

If it is an anniversary meetup then I will be in Vermont that weekend, but if it is a normal one then I am all up for Leeds/ Wakefield possibly Manchester, but depending on the actual date I might not make it.

-Koolkat

By: freya_lamb

freya_lamb — Wed, 13 May 2009 07:28:52 -0800

Oh my. Talk of northern get togethers on metafilter makes me tremble, ever so slightly, with joy.

I'm - where were y'all northern mefites when I was LIVING in Sheffield for, like, seven years!

Re: Barnsley. That makes me tremble for different reasons. But shudders aside, I'd be well up for a northern meet. There's always Holmfirth too? But Hebden Bridge would be very lovely.

So many meet-ups, so few light-speed travel options. Christ, it's gonna be a busy weekend...

By: Jofus

Jofus — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:15:26 -0800

Although I've said Manchester above, I'm totally up for travelling

By: thoughtless

thoughtless — Wed, 13 May 2009 08:58:24 -0800

A northern meet-up? Excellent!

I could do one of either kind, I think; Leeds would be easier for me, but anywhere else accessible by train is certainly doable, if that ends up being handier overall.

By: idiomatika

idiomatika — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:37:50 -0800

does the majority want to make this a normal sort of meetup, or do we want to make this an anniversary meetup?

What's the difference? Do you get cake at an anniversary one?

By: thoughtless

thoughtless — Wed, 13 May 2009 09:44:12 -0800

Other than the date: I think we get a drinks allowance from the mefi kitty if it's an anniversary meet-up ($50-100?).

Cake would be nice either way, now that you mention it.

By: triggerfinger

triggerfinger — Thu, 14 May 2009 06:45:41 -0800

Hi! Just getting this thread in my recent activity. Carry on...

By: Grrlscout

Grrlscout — Thu, 14 May 2009 23:54:36 -0800

Sorry for neglecting this thread - Eurovision beckoned and I succumbed.

So far we have approx 6 Mancs votes, 5 Leeds, 3 Sheffs and various others. Why don't we have the first one in Manchester, see how it goes, and then think about alternating host towns if we decide to do this semi-regularly? (including Hebden Bridge and Crosby) That way, no one's stuck doing all the traveling.

I'm familiar with a few pubs in the Northern Quarter and city centre, but as I've only really been to Mancs pubs after work or the Winter CAMRA festival, I'll defer to the Mancunians for suggestions. I really like the Marble Arch or the Briton's Protection - which would be most convenient?

Dates: 30th May or 6th June? I'm thinking afternoon would be easiest for everyone to get together - 2ish?

By: Jofus

Jofus — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:17:38 -0800

The Marble Arch is one of the world's best pubs and is only a 15 minute walk from the station. It could be argued that it is not a very pleasant walk, but I reckon its well worth it. The place is a total gem.

I'm good for any date and GETTING EXCITED!

By: thoughtless

thoughtless — Fri, 15 May 2009 02:44:49 -0800

Well, strike a light: I will be in manchester anyway on the 6th, for 2 many djs. So that really couldn't be much better for me. 30th would be a lot trickier but I could have a go.

And good lord, that pub is a marble bewery pub, all who's real ales are vegetarian! Rejoice!

This is surely a sign of some kind. I'm in. (Well, as long as it's the 6th.)

By: Electric Dragon

Electric Dragon — Sat, 16 May 2009 12:17:57 -0800

So are we agreed? Marble Arch, Manchester; 6th June; 2pm. Be there or be ... somewhere else.

By: Jofus

Jofus — Mon, 18 May 2009 05:02:18 -0800

I'm there

By: Grrlscout

Grrlscout — Tue, 19 May 2009 00:12:40 -0800

Thanks to Electric Dragon and Freya Lamb, who've brought my attention back to this thread. I'll put it on the Upcoming list for the 6th of June @ the Marble Arch in Manchester.

I'm doing a little happy dance that this is coming together. It's blowing the Serious Scary Sharklike Auditor act I'm supposed to be doing today... ah, springtime, ah, the prospect of a lovely beer at the Arch and some good craic... :D

By: slyrabbit

slyrabbit — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:29:36 -0800

very excited about a meet up, I volunteer my culinary skills which will take the form of a cake.

By: Jofus

Jofus — Wed, 20 May 2009 02:06:20 -0800

I'll beholding you to that, Hwa!

By: idiomatika

idiomatika — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:35:14 -0800

I'll be there.

By: klausness

klausness — Thu, 21 May 2009 16:24:14 -0800

Manchester? You mean that city down south? I'm holding out for a Newcastle meetup.

By: PeterMcDermott

PeterMcDermott — Sun, 31 May 2009 10:33:17 -0800

I was only joking about Crosby, grrlscout.

6th of June. It's in the diary.

By: pocketfluff

pocketfluff — Sun, 31 May 2009 12:19:18 -0800

I'll be there! It's the day after my final exam :D

By: thoughtless

thoughtless — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 08:53:31 -0800

All set to go for tomorrow, then. I'm deeply intrigued to see how the classic 'spot the mefites' issue will pan out ...

By: Jofus

Jofus — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:10:28 -0800

ME!

By: davemee

davemee — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 12:07:42 -0800

See you all down there, maybe a little late. SlyRabbit's working the cake as I type here...

By: slyrabbit

slyrabbit — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 16:15:00 -0800

Not a comment, just a reflection: Trying out a new recipe with make shift tools is risky. See you tomorrow!

By: Electric Dragon

Electric Dragon — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 12:36:47 -0800

Hey there! It was nice to see you all (that turned up). We should do it again sometime. And many thanks to slyrabbit for the excellent cake.

By: idiomatika

idiomatika — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:04:44 -0800

Wondeful to meet you all. The photo's are up. Hope I got everyone's usernames right.

By: idiomatika

idiomatika — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:24:12 -0800

I apologise profusely for the errant apostrophe in that comment.

By: Abiezer

Abiezer — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:31:35 -0800

Cakes and ale!
Pretends not to see apostrophe

By: thoughtless

thoughtless — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 10:52:39 -0800

Echoing the sentiments above: it was a real pleasure to meet everyone, and I had a great time, including (but not limited to) having an unexpectedly huge wodge of delicious cake.

And idiomatika, I apologise profusely for managing to shut my eyes for the one photo of me. Otherwise, lovely photos!

By: davemee

davemee — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 12:16:48 -0800

Likewise, a very pleasant and entertaining afternoon with some lovely people, which I hope to repeat! Leeds, I remember, came up...

As for those no-shows... I can only assume you're lovely people - after all, you gave us double servings of MetaCake!

By: Jofus

Jofus — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:15:02 -0800

Yep. Metafilter people are awesome wherever you are. I had a great time, 3 pints more than I thought and, of course, cake.

By: Electric Dragon

Electric Dragon — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 13:10:57 -0800

Things I Learnt:

1. Nothing attracts random passers-by like cake. Particularly MeFi coloured cake.
2. If it says 2pm on the meetup, don't turn up at 2pm, because no-one else will.
3. Marble beers are far too nice and evaporate surprisingly quickly.
4. Trying to explain supersymmetry after several of aforementioned beers is a Bad Idea.