Cortex-tastic Boston Meet-Up.

August 20, 2009 4:20 PM

Cortex in Boston! 9/11!

Short of leveling the JHT, how shall we celebrate this auspicious occasion?

Requests:

+ Early-ish, like, 7. I'll be driving up straight from work in PVD.
+ T-accessible.
+ No flash photography.

And uh... yeah. That's about it. I'll definitely be there - any of the other usual suspects in?

posted by grapefruitmoon to MetaFilter Gatherings at 4:20 PM (181 comments total)

Never forget.
posted by The Deej at 4:48 PM on August 20, 2009

Don't you mean, NEVAR FORGET!!@!!!@11!! ?

I just washed up in Cambridge for a few months and will be delighted to join you.
Something on the Red Line would be nice. Just sayin'.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 4:52 PM on August 20, 2009

I think I would be able to make this as well.
posted by cortex (staff) at 4:55 PM on August 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

So is this the thread I should comment in?
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:09 PM on August 20, 2009

Anyways, I'm out of work pretty early (3pm, the only benefit of a 7am start), so I can receive folks after that. If people want Boston Creme Pie in the place it was invented, we can do that. There's a shot at Harpoon Brewery tasting at 4, which would give our Sad PVD Cousins (tm) time to get up to town.

As for eventual hangout location, we're up for pretty much anything.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 5:23 PM on August 20, 2009

I shall attempt attendance.
posted by The Great Big Mulp at 6:25 PM on August 20, 2009

"Sad" PVD Cousins? Eff that man. We're your KICKASS PVD Cousins.

(Mulp: Should you require transport, I can fit an extra in my car. With proper notice, I might could even have a back seat.)

Anybody thought of a location yet? Christopher's in Porter Sq. was cool that time where we were there with the thing and the stuff.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:29 PM on August 20, 2009

POOP. I'm in Memphis now. Tell Cortex to come back in October. I demand that you not have any fun without me.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 6:32 PM on August 20, 2009

I like pies and beer. Porter Square sounds nice. But this is a good time to add that I have basically zero knowledge of anything Boston-related except for the location of the nearest Rite Aid and the Brattle theater. I'll do whatever you tell me.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 6:41 PM on August 20, 2009

Hey, I'm moving to Cambridge in two days! I'll be there!
posted by nasreddin at 7:08 PM on August 20, 2009

As long as this suburbanite can hang with you Cantabrigians I should be there. All I require is beer and someplace where the food doesn't suck.
posted by bondcliff at 7:50 PM on August 20, 2009

Mmmmm, Christopher's. Any excuse for yuppie nachos is good enough for me.
posted by oinopaponton at 8:03 PM on August 20, 2009

porter square is pretty nice..
posted by French Fry at 8:06 PM on August 20, 2009

I'll be there! Not till after 7, though. I'm not far from Porter Square, so Christopher's sounds good to me.
posted by Metroid Baby at 8:18 PM on August 20, 2009

yuppie nachos nom nom nom. i might be there. i'm driving out of town that night, but i'm not sure what time i'm leaving. hopefully late enough that i can stop by and say hi.
posted by rmd1023 at 8:28 PM on August 20, 2009

I'll probably be there, too! With miniature American flags for some, and abortions for others.
posted by ignignokt at 8:30 PM on August 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

Yuppie nachos are tasty, and I would love to partake. Count me in!
posted by Diagonalize at 8:52 PM on August 20, 2009

Aww, sad. Cortex is the only mod I haven't met, but I don't think I'm free the night of the 11th...
posted by danb at 9:50 PM on August 20, 2009

Phoo. Supposedly I live in Boston, but I'm still not back in town by then. :(
posted by nat at 11:01 PM on August 20, 2009

[back in the secret lair, n_o_d opens MetaTalk...]

What's this? A meetup? Hmmm, I see... I would like to meet this "cortex" whom I've read so much about. I shall attend!

Weeves, fetch my cane and top hat! We are going to "hit the town!"

No, no Weeves, I mean we are going OUTSIDE!
posted by not_on_display at 11:25 PM on August 20, 2009 [1 favorite]

We had a few takers for a bike ride in the original thread. If 7:00p is good for dinner & drinks, maybe the cyclists want to aim for 6:00-7:00p-ish and earn our meal?*

Also, Christophers? Am I the only one who thinks sister restaurant, Cambridge Common, is waaaaaay better on almost all counts, um, especially food?

*I have other mouths to feed around this time, so I might bring those mouths along or see if the Mr. Cocoa would be willing to put food in them.
posted by cocoagirl at 2:54 AM on August 21, 2009

I'mma go ahead and call it for 7PM at Christopher's. Perhaps next time we can do Cambridge Common.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:26 AM on August 21, 2009

robocop is bleeding: "There's a shot at Harpoon Brewery tasting at 4"

It looks like Christophers has already been decided on, but for future reference, you can book private tastings during the week for a pretty reasonable fee if you have sufficient advance notice.

I'll do my damnedest to be there. I can't hassle cortex about bringing the infodump back, so I'm not quite sure what I'll have to talk to him about. Oh, yeah, where's my MefiSwap, hmmm?
posted by Plutor at 5:00 AM on August 21, 2009

I would second Cambridge Common over Christopher's.

Other options, if you want to stick with the more awesome side of the river - John Harvard's? The CBC was the location of the last mega-mod-meetup, so we could have a redux there.
posted by backseatpilot at 5:28 AM on August 21, 2009

Yay! I will be making the trip from the Greater Wormtown area!
posted by Biblio at 6:02 AM on August 21, 2009

Wish I could make it, but I'll be out of town. Have a great time!
posted by cider at 6:11 AM on August 21, 2009

Tentative yes to meet-up-itude!
posted by marginaliana at 6:11 AM on August 21, 2009

Yays! I'll be there!
posted by banjo_and_the_pork at 6:22 AM on August 21, 2009

Christopher's was very accommodating when I set up the February meetup there, and they had many tasty beers [I'd go "mmm, beeeeer" but it's 10AM and that just seems a little inappropriate] so I'm more than happy to be headed back.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 7:16 AM on August 21, 2009

A tentative yes from me, too! I've never been to a meetup...
posted by sarcasticah at 7:48 AM on August 21, 2009

Meetups are awesome and fun and not particularly intimidating, sarcasticah. You should totally show if you're able.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:17 AM on August 21, 2009

Cambridge Common = fried pickles.

Fried. Pickles.
posted by giraffe at 8:25 AM on August 21, 2009

cortex: "Meetups are awesome and fun and not particularly intimidating, sarcasticah. You should totally show if you're able."

Unless you're unprepared for the requisite simultaneous speed-recitation of Julius Caesar, piano tuning, and plate spinning routine that you're expected to perform at your first meetup.
posted by Plutor at 8:38 AM on August 21, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'll be there if there's a plate of beans for me to think over.
posted by Schmucko at 8:55 AM on August 21, 2009

There are thus far more votes for yuppie nachos than against, so I'll set up something at Christopher's later - tentative headcount of 15 sound about right?
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:21 AM on August 21, 2009

Cambridge Common = fried pickles.

Fried. Pickles.

Whoa. I vote for pickles! Fried.
posted by ignignokt at 9:48 AM on August 21, 2009

Only problem with Cambridge Common is that their large party table space craps out after 18 or so. They certainly do have fried pickles, tater tots, and a slightly wider beer selection in their favor. I expect their basement space has been booked already.

One other thing to consider is that September means the return of the student and the Common is closer to Harvard than Christopher's.

But I love both places (Buffalofu!), and can be happy with either.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:01 AM on August 21, 2009

tenative yes to me too!
posted by canine epigram at 10:04 AM on August 21, 2009

Definitely there, fried pickles or not. But fried pickles are a plus.
posted by explosion at 10:07 AM on August 21, 2009

(Although, if the cry for Cambridge Common is loud enough, it might be worth asking if we could just get the boothy area on the back left side of the restaurant, by the parking lot entrance. I've been to many large gatherings at CC where we ended up with 5 tables strung together by the men's room and it's impossible to interact with anyone more than two seats away. Unless we want to go for the Cortex's Last Supper thing.)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 10:08 AM on August 21, 2009

This is like the fourth Boston-area meet up that I can't go to. Argh!

re: space issues, I don't think Christopher's is any bigger than Cambridge Common - if anything, it's smaller. It will be less crowded because it's further away from Harvard. You might try either of the Taverns on the Square (Tavern on the Squares?). The one in Porter is about as big as CC but, like Christopher's, is less crowded when school's in session.

On the other hand, it has neither alcoholic lime rickeys, or beer punch. (Or macaroni and cheese bites! Damn, if people have to sit on each other's laps, it's worth it for the mac and cheese bites.)
posted by shaun uh at 10:08 AM on August 21, 2009

Fried dill pickles were among the most notorious dishes regularly served in my college's dining hall. Out of half snobbery and half fear, I never tried one. I am willing to right that wrong if we end up at Cambridge Common.

This is assuming the fried pickles of which y'all speak are dill and not bread and butter or sweet gherkins.

Also, tots? I'm there, dude.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:08 AM on August 21, 2009

That's the one weekend in September that's free. This means there is a chance, but there's also a chance that wife and baby will want to stay home and keep me there.
posted by mkb at 10:27 AM on August 21, 2009

Christopher's has an upstairs that accommodates large groups nicely. Both restaurants will be crowded on a Friday night in September. Both have large beer selections. Cambridge Common has more interesting food, but both have great veggie burgers and yuppie nachos. I would vote Christopher's solely for the upstairs accommodations. Assuming their isn't another large group already booked for that night.
posted by abc123xyzinfinity at 11:20 AM on August 21, 2009

This is assuming the fried pickles of which y'all speak are dill and not bread and butter or sweet gherkins.

They are dill pickles. Who puts bread or butter on a pickle, anyway?
posted by explosion at 11:24 AM on August 21, 2009

i'm in! whheeee
posted by darsh at 11:29 AM on August 21, 2009

Hey, I went to elementary school with Fred Pickles!

what
posted by not_on_display at 11:42 AM on August 21, 2009

robocop is bleeding: "I've been to many large gatherings at CC where we ended up with 5 tables strung together by the men's room and it's impossible to interact with anyone more than two seats away."

This. Is why I'm not a huge fan of Christopher's either. I had a great time at the Christopher's mega-Apples meetup, but I'm pretty sure I didn't get to talk to 75% of the people there. It's awkward mingling at a restaurant. CBC's bar area worked well for the Matt/Jessamyn/pb/ROFLcon thing, and Boston Beer Works was absolutely amazing for the Tenth.

But I'm equally likely to show pretty much wherever.
posted by Plutor at 11:51 AM on August 21, 2009

I would be happy to attend a meetup any restaurant whose name begins with C, and can keep an open mind about any of the other letters in the alphabet as well.
posted by Spatch at 11:54 AM on August 21, 2009

At this point, I would settle for anywhere with bitchin' air conditioning. That said, fried pickles sound scary. I suppose yuppie nachos sound scary too, but in a completely different way. If I can get there via public transit, I'll be a happy camper.
posted by Diagonalize at 12:50 PM on August 21, 2009

fried pickles sound scary.

Imagine the deliciousness of a pickle, but wrapped in the warm, comforting, slightly crunchy exterior of a fried mozzarella stick. No cheese was involved in the creation of this fried pickle image.
posted by explosion at 1:05 PM on August 21, 2009

Would you describe them as an explosion! of pickular goodness?
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:30 PM on August 21, 2009

Hey, was someone talking about riding to the meetup? I'm in, with a quick stop in the ladies' room of our destination to have my assistant redo my hair and makeup and a quick wardrobe change before making my appearance ot the general MeFi public.
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 2:39 PM on August 21, 2009

foxy_hedgehog: I'm driving from PVD. So, if you need a ride from there, I can help. If you're someplace else, the Lunar Module (get it? moon vehicle? I kill me!) is out of range.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:01 PM on August 21, 2009

Since no one beat me to it, I called and made a reservation at Christopher's for 7PM on the 11th.

You pickle-heads can have the next round, I guess. I went with these guys since they were good before and it seems like the pros and cons of each particular venue were about the same.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:07 PM on August 21, 2009

Diagnonalize (and anyone else wondering about the T): Christopher's is literally across the street from the Porter Sq. stop on the Red Line.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:08 PM on August 21, 2009

foxy_hedgehog: I'm driving from PVD. So, if you need a ride from there, I can help. If you're someplace else, the Lunar Module (get it? moon vehicle? I kill me!) is out of range.

Oh, I got it all right, no parenthetical assist needed. Am slapping knee as I type. Thanks for the offer -- I'm actually very near, just thought that arriving as part of a bike brigade might be fun (if schvitzy...I'm heading toward my second beer of the evening, to be followed by my second shower of the day).
posted by foxy_hedgehog at 3:14 PM on August 21, 2009

Since Christopher's is a 5 min walk, I will be attending.
posted by ifandonlyif at 3:53 PM on August 21, 2009

Put me down as a definite maybe, assuming I can get over this bout of social anxiety.
posted by Diskeater at 8:50 PM on August 21, 2009

Aww, I hope you come, Diskeater. My first meetup was the 10th, and I didn't get mauled by angry bears. You should consider that a stunning endorsement.
posted by Diagonalize at 9:53 PM on August 21, 2009

You should totally come, Diskeater. Meetups are awesome in a chill, non-confrontational, everybody-is-socially-anxious-but-has-a-good-time-after-all sort of way in general.
posted by cortex (staff) at 10:04 PM on August 21, 2009

Cortex: mini-arkple!1! There's probably more than a few other cryptokibologists in this group.
posted by nonane at 8:30 PM on August 22, 2009

Every kibologist is a cryptokibologist.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:58 PM on August 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

I'm in!
posted by lunit at 11:57 AM on August 23, 2009

Except for the cryptocryptokibologists, but best not to talk about them.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:25 PM on August 23, 2009

Hmmmm...
posted by Rafaelloello at 12:32 PM on August 23, 2009

Since I've been reading MeFi for 9(ish) years and hardly ever post, would it be ok if I come and just kinda listen to all of you talk? And maybe say something very infrequently?
posted by rglasmann at 4:51 PM on August 23, 2009

Definitely! Also, keep in mind that posting frequency on MetaFilter doesn't necessarily translate to conversational dominance at meetups. Everyone's human size and in the same human-voice volume range.

You might end up talking more than someone that posts 20 times a day
posted by ignignokt at 7:01 AM on August 24, 2009

Alas, I can't make it this day. :( Take lots of non-flashy pictures.
posted by Melismata at 7:57 AM on August 24, 2009

(If you've gone and invoked Kibo you're now directly playing with fate, and will probably run into him completely by coincidence on Mass. Ave outside Christopher's.)
posted by Spatch at 11:01 AM on August 24, 2009

I would shit a giant H if I actually met Kibo.
posted by cortex (staff) at 11:12 AM on August 24, 2009

Yay, possible first meetupper here! I will try to make it...

Also, I have tried the CC fried pickles. They taste like pickles. That have been fried. I don't dislike them, but I also don't understand their goal as a food item. No judgement on the fried-pickle eaters of the world, they just baffle me - it just reminds me of eating, say, a stick of celery and a muffin at the same time.
posted by heyforfour at 2:08 PM on August 25, 2009

If pickles are equivalent to celery in your opinion, and fried foods equivalent to muffins, I can see why you'd be ambivalent about fried pickles.
posted by explosion at 3:23 PM on August 25, 2009

Fried foods are almost always superior to muffins, but muffins ain't half bad. I'm not really sure yet where pickles fall in the spectrum of delicious. A fried pickle muffin would likely break the continuum of tasty, just like celery*.



* I curse its bitter, watery taste and stupid, stringy texture! And yet...mirepoix! Hot wings! They demand its presence. I tell you, there is no god.
posted by Diagonalize at 4:11 PM on August 25, 2009

So if you had a Fried Pickle Muffin, and then drew a line away from the fried pickle muffin, to another possible fried pickle muffin, and then folded that line, you could cross from one area of the universe to the other instantaneously.
posted by not_on_display at 4:43 PM on August 25, 2009

I'm ambivalent about muffins. They're practically cupcakes without frosting. And what's the point of a cupcake without frosting? Unless streusel topping is involved; I like that stuff.

I would try a fried muffin, though.
posted by Metroid Baby at 5:12 PM on August 25, 2009

Unless you're unprepared for the requisite simultaneous speed-recitation of Julius Caesar, piano tuning, and plate spinning routine that you're expected to perform at your first meetup.

Ha! And my wife said I was wasting my summer! Little did she know...
posted by Slap*Happy at 6:04 PM on August 25, 2009

not_on_display: "So if you had a Fried Pickle Muffin, and then drew a line away from the fried pickle muffin, to another possible fried pickle muffin, and then folded that line, you could cross from one area of the universe to the other instantaneously."

Explosion!
posted by Plutor at 12:25 PM on August 26, 2009

I'm a level 10th dimensional meme!
posted by explosion at 1:53 PM on August 26, 2009 [1 favorite]

Geoffrey's Cafe in Roslindale has "donut muffins." Don't really know how they got that classification, or what that even means, but they are delicious.
posted by giraffe at 7:07 AM on August 27, 2009

I will buy a beer for anyone who finds the group using the Greg Nog method.
posted by bondcliff at 9:41 AM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]

My plan for that weekend:
• Make cortex appreciate/regret his trip to Boston
• Buy Pixies tickets
• Go to a beach party where everyone owns the same kind of dog as me (really)
• Somehow find time to run 18 miles
• Patriots season-opener MNF (hell yes, be jealous)

It's going to be dizzying.
posted by Plutor at 10:56 AM on August 28, 2009

I'm partly cloudy with a 90% chance of attendance.
posted by emd3737 at 5:49 PM on August 30, 2009

I'm in.
posted by initapplette at 6:53 PM on August 30, 2009

Pretty sure I'm in.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:02 AM on September 1, 2009

Oh, I'll come too!
posted by moxiedoll at 9:23 PM on September 1, 2009

Perhaps, maybe even with the husband.

I will echo the comments on Cambridge Common being cranky with the 15+ reservations. Fire spinning practice heads there almost every Monday night. A reservation is called in about 20-30mins ahead of time with a near-accurate head count, and they always, always make some sort of outspoken grumblage at each of our tables about our group size. We're not a demanding, bad group, and we tip well, but still, it's always the same crankypants madness.

Also, been there on Friday night with rock climbers, about 15 or so, with a reservation, with similar crankypants results.

Christopher's seems to handle the big groups better and kinder in the upstairs room.
posted by blue andrea at 7:18 AM on September 3, 2009

Whoa, we're getting cortex and jessamyn? Is it nerdy that I'm a little starstruck?
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:34 AM on September 3, 2009

Nah, I'm starstruck and I won't even be there.
posted by nat at 10:09 PM on September 4, 2009

Count me in!
posted by martinX's bellbottoms at 8:33 AM on September 5, 2009

Looks like I'm in with a +1 as well.
posted by Diskeater at 9:53 AM on September 5, 2009

Somehow I always miss these threads until WAY late. I'm in, assuming there aren't problems with the late growth in massiveness of the group.
posted by Humanzee at 5:34 PM on September 5, 2009

Christopher's seems to handle the big groups better and kinder in the upstairs room.

They were super nice to me on the phone, and only asked that I call back this week with as precise a headcount as I could get (understanding that even this may be off). What's it looking like? 15? 20? I am bad with the maths.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 6:07 AM on September 6, 2009

I think at this point, over 30 have said they're coming. I don't know exactly what the usual drop-off rate for these things is, so maybe someone more experienced in the ways of MeFites in the wild should chime in with their best guesstimate.
posted by Diagonalize at 9:23 AM on September 6, 2009

30? Geez. I'm going to guess that means 25.

I thought a lot of people had responded, but I was obviously underestimating what exactly "a lot" was.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:32 AM on September 6, 2009

I'm in.
posted by Rafaelloello at 11:22 AM on September 7, 2009

I'll be there on my own, but I expect to be drinking for two.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 12:12 PM on September 7, 2009

I'm in too.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 12:23 PM on September 7, 2009

In case you need a very firm number, I said I'd come above, but now I can't. So, -1 for me.
posted by oinopaponton at 1:43 PM on September 7, 2009

It is just barely possible I will come, but I do not live in this city anymore.
posted by grobstein at 3:34 PM on September 7, 2009

I'm planning to be there, possibly +1.
posted by cocoagirl at 5:48 PM on September 7, 2009

It's looking like I'm pretty definite at this point. As much as I love Christopher's, 30 is gonna be a tight fit (that's what she said), unless we can grab the entire upstairs room (opposite where we were last time). Which seems unlikely given a Friday night.
posted by Plutor at 5:25 AM on September 8, 2009

Oh. I was so excited about unhealthy food that I neglected to say that I will be in attendance.

Explosion!
posted by giraffe at 6:58 AM on September 8, 2009

I'm at the making-plans part of my week. Have we decided where this is going to be yet?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:18 AM on September 8, 2009

I think I have to bow out. Sorry :(
posted by mkb at 10:58 AM on September 8, 2009

jessamyn: "I'm at the making-plans part of my week. Have we decided where this is going to be yet?"

My double entendres notwithstanding, grapefruitmoon made reservations at Christopher's. And unless they faint when she tells them 30, that's where I'll be at 7pm.
posted by Plutor at 12:20 PM on September 8, 2009

Confirmed the reservations at Christopher's. They took a deep breath, but said that they would still be able to accommodate us. They've been really great.

Also, I offered that if it would help, we would sit on each other's laps. This request was met with nervous laughter. So, I'm gonna say, be prepared and claim your lap ahead of time if you don't want to be sittin' on some stranger.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:16 PM on September 8, 2009

It is just barely possible I will come, but I do not live in this city anymore.

Pffft. Neither do I. Or Jessamyn. Or Cortex. Lamest excuse ever!
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:17 PM on September 8, 2009

It is just barely possible I will come, but I do not live in this city anymore.

That's not what your profile page says, so I can only assume that you are confused.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 8:14 PM on September 8, 2009

I am confused, but not about that.
posted by grobstein at 10:08 PM on September 8, 2009

Ok, so Christopher's called me this afternoon and what they can do given our horde-like numbers is give us the bar area where people who are getting drinks can sit/stand and chat, and those who are actually eating food can get a table rustled up for them.

They do have a room, but the room comes with a $1000 MINIMUM and there's no way I can guarantee we'll eat that much. Should be good for socializing, but don't wear shoes that you don't want to stand in is all I have to say on that one.

(There was a lot of standing action at the 10th, which didn't seem to be problematic, so I'm guessing this will be alright.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:09 PM on September 9, 2009

I'm not totally sure I understand this. Does this mean people who sit will be off someplace else? Or no?
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:12 PM on September 9, 2009

People who sit will be near the bar, but there's no set number of tables or anything.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:16 PM on September 9, 2009

Do they want some indication of number of people eating and number of people at the bar? Or will it be more like a table for 10 or something reserved for us the entire night and as people get hungry they sit down?

I'm suddenly thinking of something akin to the long "regulars" tables at the Hofbrauhaus in Munich except for a sign that says "Metafilter" on it.
posted by backseatpilot at 2:22 PM on September 9, 2009

Something like the latter. We've got a section, and if we need tables, tables can be found - this is my understanding at least.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:43 PM on September 9, 2009

Dang, with this many people, I'm just going to show up and assume everyone is from the Internet.
posted by Diagonalize at 3:45 PM on September 9, 2009

Do we really have a section or are we invited to [fuck off and] stand near the bar [like you do, when you don't have a table]? It doesn't matter to me - I think standing is preferable since it means you can talk to everyone and not, like, whichever five people are sitting at your sides and across... I dunno. This might not be a good place for such a big meet up, and I'm worried that Jessamyn is losing patience with us.
posted by moxiedoll at 4:26 PM on September 9, 2009

I think it'll be fine. We'll be this ameboid mass repelling other lifeforms as our real estate needs increase.
posted by Rafaelloello at 5:28 PM on September 9, 2009

I'm worried that Jessamyn is losing patience with us.

Eh, I'm fine. I'm just not sure if we settled on a place that is barely tolerating us or if this is really a good place for a meetup and was trying to figure that out. Boston is HUGE so it seemed like that was a worthwhile question. I'll be at this meetup, the Portland ME one and the Montpelier one this weekend, so I'm sure it wil be fine [and will definitely be the biggest of all the ones I'm headed to].
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 5:36 PM on September 9, 2009

My vague recollection is that the bar area is surrounded with bar-type tables, rather than the sit-down tables in the rest of the place. I don't think it's going to be a problem; in fact, I would imagine it will facilitate circulation.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 5:39 PM on September 9, 2009

Wow. This will be huge. So GFM, if we say Metafilter will they know what's up? Or should we just say "hi, we're the people from the internet."
posted by canine epigram at 5:48 PM on September 9, 2009

Yeah, the reservation is made for MetaFilter. Or you can drop my real name. (Sonja) Basically, the "group of thirty" will narrow it down.

They've been really great on the phone, I'm sorry if that hasn't been coming through in my explanations of the situation. The first time I called, was for 10-15 people. When I had to call back and up that to THIRTY (!!!), obviously some changes needed to be made. The manager called me yesterday to ask if we would be interested in their private room, but made it clear that this was only for *dinner* and that there was a $1000 minimum. I can't possibly guarantee we'll eat that much, so we chatted a bit about other options.

We *DO* have a section. It will include tables, as needed. They just can't give us table space for thirty on a Friday night without us plonking down big bucks. Were this meetup on a weekday, they'd have absolutely no problem giving us the room, but yeah... Friday night. They don't even typically take reservations unless it's specifically for dinner, so they really are going out of their way over here.

(Makes sense, they need turn over and tips, a bunch of people standing and drinking beers four hours isn't going to get that done.)

So, yes, there is a section, it just doesn't include seating for all thirty people at the same time. As for changing the location: this was decided on way before jessamyn decided to come, and I've done my best to keep both Christopher's and MeFites apprised of the details, so really, trying to do this somewhere else with this many people on a Friday night seems kind of insane at this point. But hey, if someone else has a better idea and wants to take the reins, then go for it.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:42 AM on September 10, 2009

Chances of a Plutor appearance are now about 50%. There's a hard-stop Friday night for some decisions/ordering for my kitchen remodeling, and that will sadly have to take precedence. I will be at Christopher's if and when I can. Apologies to all of our foreign alternate-coast visitors.
posted by Plutor at 4:53 AM on September 10, 2009

THESE MONKEYS WON'T GREASE THEMSELVES, MAN
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:16 AM on September 10, 2009

We can have a massive game of Broken Picture Telephone, yes?
posted by not_on_display at 9:20 AM on September 10, 2009

I think it should be blindfolded Broken Picture Telephone tag.
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 9:29 AM on September 10, 2009

It might be tricky to get BPT going with a shortage of tables. It might have to be done paper airplane style or Kick Me signs on backs style.
posted by Metroid Baby at 10:49 AM on September 10, 2009

YES BROKEN PICTURE TELEPHONE
posted by lunit at 11:54 AM on September 10, 2009

It might be tricky to get BPT going with a shortage of tables.

I dunno man, we had it going at the 10th and hardly anyone was sitting. It was kind of Wandering Picture Telephone.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 3:08 PM on September 10, 2009

Broken Picture Courier Service.
posted by grobstein at 3:30 PM on September 10, 2009

Easy: use index cards, when you're done, you hand the next card to the next person in the chain, and they use your forehead as a writing surface.

As a bonus, it may encourage non-internet types to back off and give us more room.
posted by Humanzee at 5:39 PM on September 10, 2009

Well. I just found out about this. I live very close. I spend a fair amount of time at Christophers. I will come, and spend more money if that makes Christophers happier.
posted by dubitable at 7:19 PM on September 10, 2009

Broken Picture Telephone doesn't require tables - it requires a brilliance at rendering, and a keen interpretive sense. (I have both!) (but also: notepads with cardboard backs help, too!)
posted by moxiedoll at 8:46 PM on September 10, 2009

Just to coordinate the actual telephone:

We still have (the nearly complete contents of) 2 packs of Crayola thin-line markers from the 10th anniversary party, and I'll bring those along. Who has some spare index cards?

Worst case is we go to the CVS right there at Porter, but at least in my experience, index cards tend to just linger, and someone's got to have a bunch lying around. Waste not, etc.
posted by explosion at 3:44 AM on September 11, 2009

Humanzee: "Easy: use index cards, when you're done, you hand the next card to the next person in the chain"

Better: Find someone arbitrary. Go to a random group of folks, or a person who looks bored. Tell them to describe what you drew. Then tell them to do the same. If only the people who expect to play BPT are playing, your result won't be half as fun.
posted by Plutor at 5:48 AM on September 11, 2009

I am keen to experience this Broken Picture Telephone. Got room for one more?
posted by xbonesgt at 7:38 AM on September 11, 2009

We still have index cards a-plenty from last time that we can bring. And hopefully, since it's 9/11, we won't forget.
posted by ignignokt at 7:47 AM on September 11, 2009 [2 favorites]

I am keen to experience this Broken Picture Telephone. Got room for one more?

Broken Picture Telephone has infinite room. It's kind of a MMOG! MMG, perhaps.
posted by ignignokt at 7:48 AM on September 11, 2009

NEVAR FORGET TO BUY MILK AND EGGS ON YOUR WAY HOME
posted by Plutor at 8:16 AM on September 11, 2009

Just to get a Declared Plan link in place on the sidebar for anybody still confused:

Meetup is at Christophers, at 7pm.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:31 AM on September 11, 2009

And yeah, xbonesgt, the more the merrier.

I'm currently sitting in my friend's living room in Hyde Park, awake enough to head out into Boston proper to get some lunch and kick around town until the meetup. If anybody wants to do some adventuring (for likely extremely mild interpretations of "adventuring" that probably come down to "walking around and eating") in the next few hours, lemme know.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:37 AM on September 11, 2009

Since I'm not going back to the 'burbs between work and 7:00, I have an hour or two to kill. I may just show up early to make sure the beer taps are working properly, if any other early birds want to join me.

I'll be the nerdy looking one.
posted by bondcliff at 8:54 AM on September 11, 2009

I'd completely forgotten about the index cards, ignignokt! How un-American of me.
posted by Metroid Baby at 11:28 AM on September 11, 2009

I ended up coming up with some really awesome things to do, so I've got that going for me.

Really genuinely looking forward to the meetup.
posted by cortex (staff) at 12:48 PM on September 11, 2009

I have a stupid earache and might-be-a-fever going on, so I'm gonna skip this meetup so that I can hopefully rally and pick up cortex at the Portland one tomorrow. My amusing doctor was like "You might as well go, you'll be sick here or sick there!" and I remarked to him that this is how the influenza pandemic started in 1918.

not_on_display is distributing and receiving hugs in my stead.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 1:35 PM on September 11, 2009

Bummer, Jessamyn. Hope you feel better.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 2:02 PM on September 11, 2009

You're first on the "hugs" list, HR.

/me gets out the BIG bottle of patchouli.
posted by not_on_display at 2:13 PM on September 11, 2009

I have a stupid earache and might-be-a-fever going on, so I'm gonna skip this meetup so that I can hopefully rally and pick up cortex at the Portland one tomorrow.

Drat. I'm selfishly disappointed as I was hoping to meet you. Feel better Jessamyn!
posted by dubitable at 2:52 PM on September 11, 2009

[...] this is how the influenza pandemic started in 1918.

If I've learned anything from watching movies, we have to actually allow Jessamyn to use the time machine ---otherwise history will change and we might never be born. In fact, we might want to make her life hell, ironically twisting her into the kind of person who would go back in time and start an epidemic. I'll do my part: I'm crafting the perfect ask-me shitstorm involving Christianity, circumcision, vegetarianism, and just for the hell of it, bonsai kittens. You all can thank me by continuing to exist.
posted by Humanzee at 3:31 PM on September 11, 2009

I'm at the meet-up. Ignignokt is being a total douche. He keeps talking about 9/11.
posted by dubitable at 6:21 PM on September 11, 2009

ＨＶＧＹ、ＤＵＢＴｂｌｅ世ぎょう予想
posted by dubitable at 6:27 PM on September 11, 2009

Dude, you're in serious danger of Forgetting! I'm like a designated driver or something.
posted by ignignokt at 6:28 PM on September 11, 2009

I showed up at Christopher's at 9, but I guess everyone had moved on, or else I didn't have the heart to try any more groups after being shot down twice. Alas!
posted by nasreddin at 6:30 PM on September 11, 2009

Sorry you didn't find us nasreddin, we were all along the far right-hand side of the first floor.

I got the meetup off to a rousing start by nearly walking in on Cortex in the one-person bathroom he neglected to lock behind him. I'm relieved that I don't have to live with the psychological scar of actually seeing his modhead.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 6:41 PM on September 11, 2009 [3 favorites]

Oh, I thought we were supposed to be in the upstairs room! Oh well.
posted by nasreddin at 6:43 PM on September 11, 2009

Hope it was fun. Sorry I couldn't make this one.
posted by mds35 at 7:26 PM on September 11, 2009

Sorry for the garbage upthread. Flagged. That was the result of posting after two hefeweizens: doh.

I had to leave early but this was an incredibly fun meetup. Thank you to everyone, especially Cortex, for being there!
posted by dubitable at 7:32 PM on September 11, 2009

Good times. Nice to see old friends and new faces. We need to nominate our waitress for sainthood. She totally ruled.

Good to meet you, Mr. Cortex. I think I've now met all the mods. At least the ones on this continent. What do I win?
posted by bondcliff at 8:14 PM on September 11, 2009

It was fun, yet again. I think I'm discovering that my speech perception in noisy environments may be below standard, though.
posted by ignignokt at 9:00 PM on September 11, 2009

Thanks for the fun times everyone; too bad I had to leave early for the long drive back to Wootown.

NEVAR FORGET
posted by xbonesgt at 9:36 PM on September 11, 2009

Yeah, we were still there at 9. I actually stayed past 1030! I'm up way past my bedtime!

Good times though. Good times.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go and take my Metamucil.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:43 PM on September 11, 2009

On the last Orange Line back to Forest Hills. I had a fantastic time, everybody.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:45 PM on September 11, 2009

yay, you got the last Orange line! Sorry for my brainfart. (I had offered cortex a ride home, and then realized at midnight I didn't have a CAR; I had bussed it to Porter Sq. Yah, kinda an important detail.

Glad I didn't derail the whole "cortex meets teh USA" thing, damn the MBTA...)

Great to meet all-a-y'all, and I realized that small meetups are much better for actually meeting people, though I had a really nice time picking your brains a bit at a time!

mmm, brains.
posted by not_on_display at 9:58 PM on September 11, 2009

That six-man-strong martial arts class we engulfed had no idea they were surrounded. I didn't know the metafilter was so powerful.
posted by cocoagirl at 6:28 AM on September 12, 2009

Awesome, but in the future let's find more capacious venues, yeah?
posted by Ryvar at 6:42 AM on September 12, 2009

Plutor's taters were remarkably good.
posted by a womble is an active kind of sloth at 6:51 AM on September 12, 2009

I get that a lot.

In the interest of future Googlers: Kimberly at Christopher's deserves a Nobel Prize for waiting on drunk nerds. That's what my receipt said her name was, I didn't check for truthfulness.
posted by Plutor at 7:04 AM on September 12, 2009

Photos are up. I am doing a terrible job of remembering which usernames go with which people.
posted by cortex (staff) at 8:19 AM on September 12, 2009

It looked like everyone was having a blast. I had to bolt fairly early because I was being driven insane by the extreme squeeziness and noise levels (I have no-so-worky ears) and couldn't understand a single damned thing anyone was saying (though I heard cortex talking about "fire" at one point. Fire is always good).
posted by Cat Pie Hurts at 8:41 AM on September 12, 2009

You should have banned ryvar while you were there (I'm sure he deserves it, for some readon or another). Then you could have had the largest group of banned MeFites together at a single meetup!

Sorry I couldn't make this one; looks like it was fun. Enjoy the rest of your trip, cortex, and I hope to see the rest of you massholes the next time!
posted by yhbc at 8:49 AM on September 12, 2009

Added my photos. Sorry they're a little grainy - some douche told me I can't use flash.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:39 AM on September 12, 2009

Kimberly gave out stickers, even!
posted by ignignokt at 9:40 AM on September 12, 2009 [2 favorites]

Kimberly was awesome. I hope she was convinced to sign up for an account here! I also hope our bar-crowd-math didn't end up undertipping her.

I propose that our next meetup be held at someone's house so we aren't tripping over each other and yelling "WAIT, WHAT?"
posted by Metroid Baby at 9:53 AM on September 12, 2009

I propose that our next meetup be held at someone's house

NOT. IT.
posted by grapefruitmoon at 2:08 PM on September 12, 2009

We can have it at my house, but I live nowhere near Boston.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:09 PM on September 12, 2009

This was my second meetup and it was loads of fun. I brought a guest and y'all impressed her so much that she's going to sign up for an account.
posted by Diskeater at 3:40 PM on September 12, 2009

I stroked Cortex's beard!*



*not an euphemism
posted by prufrock at 2:45 PM on September 13, 2009 [1 favorite]

I have video.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:04 PM on September 13, 2009

We always go a little crazy when MODS COME TO TOWN!

This was also my second only meetup, and despite the crush of people and noise (at least there wasn't music, right?) it was a lot of fun. I regret only that there were a bunch of people that I wanted to find out who they were and the sheer wall of people made it impossible.

Now off to see what happened to those Broken Picture Telephone cards! Someone cleverly numbered them this time.
posted by canine epigram at 11:03 AM on September 14, 2009

I have the Broken Picture Telephone cards, which appeared to be abandoned at the end of the evening (Kimberly deserved more of a tip than that). I am open to any suggestions on what to do with them.
posted by nonane at 7:42 PM on September 14, 2009

No, really, I have video.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:50 PM on November 25, 2009