Organising a meetup beats donning a hairshirt every time (late November London meetup?)

November 12, 2009 5:13 AM

Fancy a late November London Meetup?

Since Mrs Mutant & I couldn't make it to the last London Meetup and the holidays are rapidly approaching, we thought as penance we'd try to organise an end of November London meetup.

Would anyone would like to get together in roughly a fortnight, say the weekend of the 28th?

We'd tentatively suggest either Friday or Saturday. Friday would be a later start, say 7PM or so, while for Saturday we'd like to suggest maybe a 4PM start. We're good either way.

As we'll have kin visiting from Amsterdam (Marielle's vader, Roel, who attended a meetup with us in Amsterdam) we'd have to bugger off after roughly three hours but that way, in the manner of all enzymes, we'd emerge unscathed from the conflagration and not only able but willing to organise a December meetup.

posted by Mutant to MetaFilter gatherings at 5:13 AM (50 comments total)

Friday would be great! I can finally meet some mefites!

Saturday I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner. :)

Oh crap it's only a fortnight away!
posted by like_neon at 6:09 AM on November 12, 2009

27th is critical mass - could come after that?
posted by dmt at 6:22 AM on November 12, 2009

Sounds great to me! I can do the 27th but not the 28th.
posted by sueinnyc at 6:26 AM on November 12, 2009

I should be able to make either.
posted by Infinite Jest at 12:03 PM on November 12, 2009

Ok, as its unanimous from everyone who responded so far, I've posted this to the sidebar as happening on Friday, November 27th.

Any views on location? Just to start the ball rolling (but we're open to alternatives), how would Liverpool Street Station work for folks? The area would be amenable to a local and then Brick Lane.
posted by Mutant at 2:57 PM on November 12, 2009

Liverpool Street Station is good for me.
posted by sueinnyc at 4:45 PM on November 12, 2009

We live in NYC but we will coincidentally be in London that weekend, so I'll be there with mr. bedhead.
posted by bedhead at 7:24 PM on November 12, 2009

The 27th works for me too!
posted by aquafortis at 8:07 PM on November 12, 2009

What great timing. Now that we're Londoners (or is it Londonites, or perhaps Londinians?), you can count me and amusebuche in.
posted by qwip at 12:12 AM on November 13, 2009

Before I commit to a date, will there be cake?
posted by ahughey at 6:20 AM on November 13, 2009

Definitely sounds intriguing to me!
posted by adrianhon at 8:31 AM on November 13, 2009

If I can shake off this hangover, I might make it.
posted by MrMustard at 10:56 PM on November 13, 2009

Warmest regards to all. I totally miss London. Shade and sweet water to you, mutants and non-mutants alike.
posted by Sparx at 2:57 AM on November 14, 2009

I'll definitely be there, and Liverpool Street sounds just grand for me.
posted by essexjan at 7:50 AM on November 15, 2009

Let's see in terms of venue we were thinking of The Drunken Monkey (warning: if you don't want sound click that red speaker icon on the right of the screen), assuming they'll have us.

Mrs Mutant & I wander in about once a month or so, great dim sum, swell cocktails and sound. Great place before or after gallery hopping.

Its only about a ten minute walk from Liverpool Street Station. Here is a google map to help orient overall, and here is another with walking directions from Liverpool Street Station.

If you folks like we'll see if they'll take a table reservation, maybe a dozen or so folks, including a couple of MeFites passing through London who have MeMailed.

Depending upon the weather and how folks feel the entire evening could be spent there, although Brick Lane is very close.

"Before I commit to a date, will there be cake?" -- I'll bake a MeFi blue cake carrot cake since its that time of year in London ...
posted by Mutant at 3:55 AM on November 17, 2009

The restaurant looks like a hoot, as my M-I-L would say. Looking forward to it.
posted by qwip at 5:28 AM on November 17, 2009

The Drunken Monkey sounds good to me. I am all for somewhere with lots of tasty food to nibble on. My only reservation has to do with potential loudness: would we still be able to hear one another speak?
posted by sueinnyc at 7:03 AM on November 17, 2009

This sounds like a great excuse for me and the fella to come up to London from Brighton for the day -- so exciting, my first ever meetup! Please be gentle...
posted by KatlaDragon at 9:06 AM on November 17, 2009

sueinnyc -- "would we still be able to hear one another speak?"

Mrs Mutant & I will drop by this Friday at the proposed meetup time for some field research; I recall the music wasn't that loud early on, but as the midnight hour approached it got nosier.

Will report back and if anyone has suggestions for another venue in The East End let us know.
posted by Mutant at 10:37 PM on November 17, 2009

Handily convenient for me to get the number 55 home. I'll be there.
posted by garius at 1:45 AM on November 18, 2009

I can make Friday at Liverpool St.
posted by acb at 3:21 AM on November 19, 2009

"I'll bake a MeFi blue cake carrot cake since its that time of year in London"

The piece of Mutant's carrot cake that I had at the picnic meetup was so good, I'm coming back from west Africa solely for the promise of this amazing cake.

I can't say for sure what will happen if there is no cake, but rest assured there will be an incident.
posted by ahughey at 7:54 AM on November 19, 2009

I'm glad of a venue I can drive to, my only concern being that Shoreditch High St on a Friday night generally resembles something out of a Hogarth painting and it will probably be extremely crowded in and around the area.
posted by essexjan at 2:04 AM on November 20, 2009

Ok guys, we visited The Drunken Monkey this evening and I'm afraid it's a no-go; even at 7PM there was a big crowd outside, lots of folks inside and the sound was ratcheted way, way up. Sorry about that, I hadn't been there on a Friday evening in a while and while its a great place to carouse once on the piss for talking it just wouldn't work.

So we walked about five minutes further up Shoreditch High Street to Pera Restaurant, Turkish, licensed, low key, great food, not crowded at all.

I took a brief film of the interior while we ate, and a close up of some of the food.

So its still within walking distance of Liverpool Street Station or an even shorter bus or Black Taxi ride; here is a google map with complete walking instructions.

And lots of pubs nearby, many with bands or dancing so no matter what turn the evening takes this should be a good starting point.

If it works for everyone I'll reserve a table and we'll be set!


"I can't say for sure what will happen if there is no cake, but rest assured there will be an incident."

Oh there will be cake! Mrs Mutant, being Dutch and all, suggests I make space cakes to liven the party up. Pretty much guaranteed a incident either way!!
posted by Mutant at 2:16 PM on November 20, 2009

That sounds great, Mutant. I love Turkish food. Not sure about the space cake though ...
posted by essexjan at 3:45 PM on November 20, 2009

I'll take hers.
posted by gman at 4:02 PM on November 20, 2009

Pera sounds good to me. Thank you to Mutant and Mrs Mutant for the diligent research.
posted by sueinnyc at 4:28 PM on November 20, 2009

Impressive! Thanks for all of the logistical support.
posted by woodway at 8:37 AM on November 23, 2009

I thought I'd have to miss this, but now I think I can make it. Might be a bit late though.
posted by permafrost at 11:48 AM on November 23, 2009

Wow, thanks for doing all the hard work. We'll be there with bells on, and it's close enough for a long-ish walk. Brilliant!
posted by qwip at 6:44 AM on November 24, 2009

I think I'm back to a MAYBE depending on what I need to prep for the Thanksgiving meal on Saturday.
posted by like_neon at 9:14 AM on November 24, 2009

I just reserved the tables for 7PM. Marielle and I thought we should get to the restaurant a little early, just in case there are "complications".

Heading up from Whitechapel we'll be passing by Liverpool Street Station at roughly 6:30PM; if anyone from out of town needs a guide drop me a MeMail, we'll make arrangements to meet then head to the restaurant.

Otherwise, see you folks at Pera!
posted by Mutant at 3:50 AM on November 25, 2009

I'll probably be a bit of an early bird there as well, as I'll head there straight from work (otherwise I'll only get stuck in the eternal "go on then, just one more" down the pub with the work lads).

That'll put me into Liverpool Street at about 6:00 I suspect, so I'll walk up and lurk at the bar until others arrive.

I flicked through the wardrobe this morning to see what is both 1) reasonably easy to spot, and 2) clean. As a result, I can now EXCLUSIVELY confirm that I will be wearing this Green Arrow t-shirt.

As if that wasn't enough, I'm also still sporting some rather silly facial hair (ostensibly for charity, but I'll admit I've grown quite fond of it). So apologies in advance for looking like Matthew Broderick in Glory.
posted by garius at 4:47 AM on November 26, 2009

Sorry for the late response, but I would like to join in this super MeFite party, if it doesn't mess up the table reservation!
posted by chrismear at 8:14 AM on November 26, 2009

I just called and added more seats to the reservation, but I wouldn't worry about numbers so much as we can always squeeze in and get cozy. 'Sides, the restaurant staff were very laid back and overall vibe was more of a later evening than early evening kinda place. Last week when Marielle and I left around 9PM there were only about a dozen folks eating.

So please come one come all!
posted by Mutant at 3:22 PM on November 26, 2009

Ms Jest and I are planning on being there.
posted by Infinite Jest at 6:49 AM on November 27, 2009

Carrott Cake made, didn't have the time to make the logo or letters in frosting, but I did try to duplicate the colour. As usual, I used about half the 500g sugar great grandmum's recipe calls for. Folks back then seriously liked their sweets.

Oh! Its all cake and no space just in case anyone's wondering. See you folks this evening!
posted by Mutant at 6:51 AM on November 27, 2009

I'm sorry to say that I haven't quite recovered from the bout of "welcome to the UK, here's your complimentary upper-respiratory cold-type-illness" I picked up last week, and will have to take a rain check. I was really looking forward to meeting my first set of MeFites, so hopefully you'll leave the Mutants unscathed enough to plan a meetup next month!
posted by KatlaDragon at 8:08 AM on November 27, 2009

Ooh rats! I'm coming to London for a conference, but won't be arriving till Sunday. Still, if anyone is interested in meeting up for lunch or an odd museum or two, MeMail me.
posted by MsMolly at 8:48 AM on November 27, 2009

We're in motion, carrot cake yielded 15 pieces, first come first served!

PS - look for that sign
posted by Mutant at 10:31 AM on November 27, 2009

That was a lot of fun. Thanks for organising it all, Mutant!

I have added the four best pics that I got tonight. Some names are missing, I'm afraid.
posted by sueinnyc at 4:08 PM on November 27, 2009

Great time guys, many thanks for attending. Our pix are up, hope to see you folks again before the years out.
posted by Mutant at 5:28 PM on November 27, 2009

This was a great meetup - excellent company, wonderful food and driving distance for me! That restaurant is a gem, Mutant, I'll definitely be going back there.
posted by essexjan at 12:11 AM on November 28, 2009

Great to see faces both familiar and new - and disappointed that prior commitments meant I had to leave early!

Looking forward to meeting everyone I didn't get a chance to chat to next time!
posted by garius at 3:10 AM on November 28, 2009

We had a lot of fun, and thanks to the group for welcoming us to London and giving us some "inside scoop" on settling in. Looking forward to meeting the other half of the the table, and then the complete other table, sometime soon!
posted by qwip at 4:32 AM on November 28, 2009

My photos are up now. I didn't know a couple of usernames, so feel free to add them as notes or comments and I'll then update the caption.
posted by essexjan at 4:43 AM on November 28, 2009

^essexjan - thats me in your photo labelled 'Infinite Jest and ???'

I really enjoyed my first meetup and it was great to meet you all - here are links to some of the things I was talking about blabbering on about: Ulillillia, whose recent book uses hex colour numbers in descriptive passages, the ten percent myth (turns out there is good material on it after all, yay) and You Shall Know Our Velocity, an awesome book by Dave Eggers. This alternate version has an extra chapter in the middle that turns everything inside out and upside down, but I prefer the other version. And finally, the reason for my mental association between Alan Partidge, Brian Blessed and Horses.
posted by memebake at 5:10 AM on November 28, 2009

That was great, good to meet some people again and some people for the first time. Great food as well. Thanks to Mutant for organising. And cheers to Memebake for the links, I remember discussing most of those topics...
posted by Infinite Jest at 11:14 AM on November 28, 2009

Marvellous, many thanks all.

essexjan - I'm the ??? in the green jumper!
posted by freya_lamb at 5:46 AM on November 29, 2009

So apparently I came to this meetup by accident? It was a friend's birthday, so I couldn't make it, but I'm told we were actually in The Gun at the same time as some of you... ooops. Sorry I didn't spot you.

I refuse to explain the glitter.
posted by flashboy at 8:13 AM on November 29, 2009