Bay Area Meetup?

May 13, 2009 2:19 PM

San Francisco MeFites, I want to meet you!

I'll be in San Francisco from June 3-6, and while I have plans, my Friday night (June 5) is free so far. Is anyone interested in a meetup?

I've never been to one before, but after reading the thread about going to meetups, I'm excited. I wanted to go to a Toronto meetup, but plans to be downtown fell through for me.

So, what say you?

(Anywhere accessible by public transit works for me!)

posted by gursky to MetaFilter gatherings at 2:19 PM (65 comments total)

I would totally say yes, but that Friday night is already booked.

*cries a little*
posted by rtha at 3:50 PM on May 13

So sad, I'll be in South Dakota that week.
posted by roll truck roll at 3:50 PM on May 13

I am perpetually enthusiastic about Bay Area meetups. Count me in!
posted by potch at 4:42 PM on May 13

Perhaps!
posted by jeffamaphone at 11:09 PM on May 13

I'm free that Friday too! I'm pretty mobile so anywhere's fine for me.
posted by aubilenon at 12:02 PM on May 14

any suggestions for venue?
posted by gursky at 1:20 PM on May 14

Hand up. East Bay represent.
posted by zippy at 11:31 PM on May 14

okay Bay Area residents -- let's DO THIS.
posted by gursky at 3:43 PM on May 19

Quite possibly interested! Who wants to throw out a venue?
posted by zachlipton at 1:54 AM on May 20

i'll throw this out there so that it can be considered, and possibly even rejected: the Thirsty Bear (warning: sound on website).

i just picked that out of a Frommer's guide my roommate has, as it was the one that sounded best. but i'm happy to toss the idea if there's somewhere better to meet.
posted by gursky at 8:55 PM on May 20

Well, that's quite conveniently located for me anyway. I haven't been there on a friday night, but I'm intrepid, so let's say meet there at 7!
posted by aubilenon at 1:08 AM on May 21

Oh, we can do better than Thirsty Bear! San Francisco has much better places to eat and drink and be merry--what about another meetup at Frjtz?
posted by mattdidthat at 2:00 PM on May 21

I do like Frjtz better than the Thirsty Bear.
posted by aubilenon at 7:20 PM on May 21

yay! my throwing out a place accomplished something. i have no idea which places are good, so if Frjtz is better, let's go there.

Frjtz at 7? i'll be the bald girl, most likely with a backpack. i might say "eh?" a lot.
posted by gursky at 12:01 AM on May 23

Even though I can't come (wish I could!), we learned at the last meetup at Frjtz that they take reservations! For those of you who were there, remember the back table we were all at? Reservations. So you could try that. Have fun and eat a lot of frjtz and drink a lot of beer for me.
posted by rtha at 7:53 AM on May 23

It occurs to me that there is more than one Frjtz, and although it's clear to me that you all are talking about the one in the Mission, that may not be clear to gursky.

I, unfortunately, will not be there.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:43 AM on May 23

An excellent point, roll truck roll. You want the Frjtz at 590 Valencia, in the Mission. It's a 5-minute walk from the 16th St BART station.
posted by rtha at 10:56 AM on May 23

ah, thanks very much for that! i would have had the worst meetup all alone at the wrong Frjtz..!
posted by gursky at 12:39 PM on May 23

Okay, I just made reservations for ~20 people, for the big table in the back.

Friday, June 5
7 p
Frjtz at 590 Valencia
posted by mattdidthat at 3:16 PM on May 23

I shall be there.
posted by potch at 3:46 PM on May 23

thanks, mattdidthat!
posted by gursky at 4:03 PM on May 23

Why is it always at Frjtz? I like it, but it's not *that* good people, really! I'm actually not sure I understand the antipathy to Thirsty Bear .... the beer is cheaper (since it's not imported Belgian); the plates are very good for the price; but perhaps I've just only had very good experiences there ...

But ... Frjtz it is! No guarantees from me, but maybe.
posted by R343L at 8:57 PM on May 23

Well, I'm not, you know, married to Frjtz, so if someone wants to propose something different/better, please speak up!

I just think if gursky is coming all the way from Canada we can find something better than Thirsty Bear's mediocre food and beer. But that's me.
posted by mattdidthat at 11:52 PM on May 23

Thirsty Bear is decent, but not great for a meet-up. It's always packed, with crappy loud house music, and the beer can only be described as "okay". It's not always Frjtz, but Frjzt is better than Thirsty Bear.
posted by team lowkey at 2:39 AM on May 24

I guess I must have only been there on good days ... it wasn't that crowded, I thought the beer was surprisingly good and everyone in my group loved the food. Maybe their food is really variable? Anyway ...
posted by R343L at 8:31 AM on May 24

Yeah, seriously, this is my 4th Metafilter meetup at Frjtz. Let's keep it there, for less confusion's sake, but next time mix it up. I never get sick of crepes and fries anyway, so who am I to complain.
posted by iamkimiam at 10:11 AM on May 24

Yeah, the only meet-ups I've been to in SF have been at Frjtz or 21A. They both work pretty well, and it's hard to argue with success, but there's got to be some other places worth trying. The only cool places I can think of are too expensive or inaccessible.

I don't mean to slag Thirsty Bear too much. I used to meet my carpool there every day after work, so I'm pretty burnt out on it. It was hard to find three empty seats in the evening. The food is good, and the beer is good. But of all the brewpubs in the bay area, I'd rate their beer near the bottom. It's still better than the beer in most bars; we're just spoiled.
posted by team lowkey at 12:22 PM on May 24

Okay, what about Cha Cha Cha, in the Mission?
posted by mattdidthat at 2:14 PM on May 24

side note: i'm staying at a hostel near Ellis/Larkin. googling has yielded little about safety after hours. is it a sketchy area? i'd prefer to walk wherever possible since i'm a lowly student, so if i walk back to the hostel at 11, is that alright? or is it an area where i'd be better of taking a bus/cab?
posted by gursky at 2:19 PM on May 24

I live in the neighborhood where you're staying. I actually like it a lot, and neither my wife nor I have every really felt unsafe there.

But the funny thing is that feeling unsafe and being unsafe are pretty closely linked to one another. So if you're not used to spending time in this kind of neighborhood, then you might want to cab it after dark. I've really only ever been in the touristey parts of Toronto, so I honestly don't know how it compares.

The good news is that the hostel where you're staying (assuming it's the HI one?) is actually the best one in the city. The Fisherman's Wharf hostel is in a prettier environment, but since it's on federal land, they have to allow everyone and they can't kick crazy people out without calling the park police first.
posted by roll truck roll at 2:27 PM on May 24

i'm definitely okay with spending time in a seemingly-seedy neighbourhood, as long as i'm safe. i don't mind sketchy people about so long as they don't bother me if i don't bother them.

yeah, i'm staying at the HI hostel. i've heard good things and it was cheap enough. good to hear it's better than the FW location because i was having second thoughts.

thanks for the info!
posted by gursky at 3:13 PM on May 24

Okay, Cha Cha Cha has a reservation available for June 5 at 7:15, for ~20 people, but it's a 2-hour maximum, unless someone wants to grab the reservation right after it as well. (That's a bit unethical for me, unless we can guarantee lots of food and beverage consumption.)
posted by mattdidthat at 3:46 PM on May 24

I am still sad that I can't make this meet up. Not to derail any plans, but the Edinburgh Castle has been the site of at least one meet up, and is very very close to where Gursky is staying.
posted by gingerbeer at 6:20 PM on May 24

Oooh! Edinburgh castle! I haven't been there in years, but I'd love to go back. I don't know that they have much in the way of food though. Fish and chips? Anything else? I suppose they wouldn't care if you ordered in pizza or whatever ....
posted by R343L at 8:38 PM on May 24

i'll try to make it to this meetup. i've only been to one before, but it was a lot of fun, and was at frijtz. the service there was really impressive - they handled an unexpected, large group with efficiency race and good cheer. the one bad thing about frijtz is that the seated environment did make it somehwat hard to mingle. there were several people i never got to speak with that night. even so, it would be better than thirsty bear - which is fine for small groups but on a friday night after work, it'll be really crowded and loud. i love the idea of the edinburgh castle - lots of room to move around; plenty of food options nearby that can be brought to the bar; close to the hostel where gursky will stay... and they have a great whisky selection.
posted by lapolla at 12:54 AM on May 25

grace. dammit, not race.
posted by lapolla at 12:56 AM on May 25

I'll try to make this one. I do like Cha Cha Cha although I haven't been there in years. There will be another sf meetup soon. Rhapsodie is coming to sf and we could go to Edinburgh Castle then.
It will be between 17-22.
rtha/gingerbeer: Will you guys be around then?
posted by special-k at 1:05 PM on May 25

Though the food is terrific, Cha Cha Cha on Haight is the NOISIEST PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE. I can't even walk by there when the door's open without feeling a bomb blast of noise. Just sayin' - if there's a meetup there, forget about talking to anyone except the person right next to you.

Not sure about the Cha Cha Cha in the Mission (between 19th and 20th) - I went there early (right around 5) once, and it wasn't too bad, but I have no idea what it's like later.

Having a meetup Edinburgh would be awesome, if a band's not playing. Of course, it's a bar, so everyone would have to be over 21 (not a problem for me, but still).
posted by jasper411 at 2:18 PM on May 26

> It will be between 17-22.
rtha/gingerbeer: Will you guys be around then?

yes, we're around then - Saturday or Sunday would be good.
posted by gingerbeer at 6:52 PM on May 26

If folks would prefer Edinburgh Castle, please speak up so I can cancel the reservation at Frjtz!
posted by mattdidthat at 11:28 PM on May 26

For simplicity sake, let's keep the Frjtz reservation...maybe we can turn this event into a 'Metafilter is about to temporarily throw down the banhammer at Frjtz, so let's all come watch' type event; a last hurrah for Frjtz; an homage to all the MeFites who we've missed 'round these parts (even though they kinda needed to go).

Then in a few weeks we go to Edinburgh Castle.
posted by iamkimiam at 9:48 PM on May 27

Sadly, I have Friday night plans, but I can hang around an hour or so. I basically always have Friday plans... maybe next meetup can be a Sat or Sun?
posted by gryftir at 12:21 AM on May 28

Yes gryftir, the next one will be on a Satuday (June 20^th).
posted by special-k at 12:01 PM on May 28

So it sounds like we're also planning a meet up on Saturday June 20th at the Edinburgh Castle, at, say, 6 pm? Should we start another thread for it, or just sidebar this?
posted by gingerbeer at 11:22 AM on May 30

I was planning to start another thread but wanted to wait till this meet up was done (so people wouldn't get confused). But I am also happy to just sidebar this thread.
posted by special-k at 3:27 PM on May 30

Am really looking forward to my first meetup on the 20th!
posted by rhapsodie at 5:34 PM on May 30

Woo Castle! Beer n fish n chips n scotch n mefites!
posted by rtha at 9:41 PM on May 30

sorry about the friday thing, gryftir! that's my fault - it's the only night i have free when i'm in SF.


also, just to make sure i've not messed this up in my head: Frjtz (in the Mission) on Friday at 7 pm, yes?
posted by gursky at 8:49 PM on May 31

also, just to make sure i've not messed this up in my head: Frjtz (in the Mission) on Friday at 7 pm, yes?

Well, that's where I'll be.
posted by potch at 10:42 PM on June 1

Oooh, I'll be in the Greater Bay Area tomorrow night with Mrs. filthy light thief and a posse, but I'm not sure if I can talk them into it. Our place is only 1.5 miles away (somewhat near Haight-Ashbury), so maybe I can talk them into popping in for a bit. My big plan is to get to 10 6th Street by later that night (GoldSweat, free bmore/ haus/ hiphop/ grubstep/ glitch/ dancehall/ gold-classics/ re-mix/ re-edit dance night), but again I need to convince some people.

Is the food good for a meal, or better for appetizers?
posted by filthy light thief at 9:28 PM on June 4

You could have either a meal or appetizers there. In addition to the fries they have crepes and salads and so on. It's a full kitchen.
posted by gingerbeer at 10:07 PM on June 4

gingerbeer - thanks! I should have opened the menu (PDF), but figured someone who has been there could judge the serving portions or things of that sort.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:49 AM on June 5

You think y'all will still be there at 9ish? We might be running late.
posted by iamkimiam at 1:38 PM on June 5

I'll be there tonight.
posted by zsazsa at 2:38 PM on June 5

Damn... Can't make it this time folks.
posted by gryftir at 4:33 PM on June 5

iamkimiam: We'll make an extra effort to keep the party going!
posted by aubilenon at 5:47 PM on June 5

Hey, I'm running late too, so if you get there at 7:00, the reservation's for ~20, at the big table in the back, and the reservation is for MetaFilter/Matt.
posted by mattdidthat at 5:54 PM on June 5

on my way now!
posted by potch at 7:14 PM on June 5

oops, a little late, but now some of us are here now!
posted by aubilenon at 8:22 PM on June 5

Just home from our previous engagement; was it fun? Got pix?
posted by rtha at 10:47 PM on June 5

Not a huge turnout, but I had a total blast last night guys! Favorites for everyone. :)
posted by potch at 4:27 PM on June 6

Also:

gursky, if you left last night because you thought nobody was coming, that's a total bummer, and I'm sorry we missed you!
posted by potch at 4:29 PM on June 6

I had a super fun time last night! Thanks, and looking forward to the next meetup. Soon. And not at Frjtz.
posted by iamkimiam at 6:30 PM on June 6

Me too! June 20th, Edinburgh Castle, right?
posted by rtha at 7:40 PM on June 6

aww, i'm sorry! i last checked this on thursday, and was out all day friday.

i got to frjtz at 7, had a drink and waited around...but by 7.40, figured either i had missed the "can't make it!" posts at the last minute or that no one was coming. i thought i should try to fit in something else while i was in SF so i left.

i should have been more patient. :( i'm sorry!!!

frjtz is cool, though! i liked the atmosphere!
posted by gursky at 7:59 PM on June 7