Ricochet Biscuit's Excellent Cross-Canada Adventure March 11, 2010 11:27 AM Subscribe
Cross-Canada meetups 2010! From Bonavista to Vancouver Island, from the Arctic Circle to the Great Lakes waters, you can meet up with rb.
Due to a fortuitous arrangement of the stars, in the course of about twelve weeks this spring and summer, I will be in every province in Canada. I live in Ontario, but late April-early May will see me in the west, and late June-early July will have me in the Maritimes and in Newfoundland (the eastern leg will be along with the lovely and talented Wendy BD, who is nice to cats). Any mefites in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Regina, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Charlottetown or St. John's (or nearby to any of these places) wanna meet to hoist an ale and have a wide-ranging discussion of stuff?
Due to a fortuitous arrangement of the stars, in the course of about twelve weeks this spring and summer, I will be in every province in Canada. I live in Ontario, but late April-early May will see me in the west, and late June-early July will have me in the Maritimes and in Newfoundland (the eastern leg will be along with the lovely and talented Wendy BD, who is nice to cats). Any mefites in Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Regina, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Charlottetown or St. John's (or nearby to any of these places) wanna meet to hoist an ale and have a wide-ranging discussion of stuff?
Duh, I just checked your profile! I need to preview more....
posted by LN at 11:30 AM on March 11, 2010
posted by LN at 11:30 AM on March 11, 2010
Count me in for the Ottawa leg of Spring Tour 2010
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 11:31 AM on March 11, 2010
posted by BozoBurgerBonanza at 11:31 AM on March 11, 2010
I'm in Sherbrooke, Quebec, which is not quite Montreal but might be en route. If there's a Montreal meetup I can try to make it, but it's tricky (has to be on a weekend, with plenty of advance warning, etc. etc.).
posted by Shepherd at 11:43 AM on March 11, 2010
posted by Shepherd at 11:43 AM on March 11, 2010
I'm up for a Winnipeg meet (if numbers allow). Even if they don't, I'll buy you a frosty one if you're passing through town.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 12:16 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Hardcore Poser at 12:16 PM on March 11, 2010
I'm in Vancouver, and seldom need any excuse to go for a drink. Send a MeFi mail when you're coming through and I'll see what I can do
posted by Kirk Grim at 12:38 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Kirk Grim at 12:38 PM on March 11, 2010
If you're passing through Fredericton, drop me a line!
Actually, considering I don't know exactly where I'll be this summer (need a job, woo), let me know the timing for Halifax / St. John's, I might try to make it to those towns to visit friends anyways.
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:47 PM on March 11, 2010
Actually, considering I don't know exactly where I'll be this summer (need a job, woo), let me know the timing for Halifax / St. John's, I might try to make it to those towns to visit friends anyways.
posted by Lemurrhea at 12:47 PM on March 11, 2010
Just the provinces, eh?
Whitehorse last summer, but not this year, and even that is 1000 km or so away from you. Alas.
And the Ottawa meetup is easy as pie: I live here now, after all. Come April 1 I will be relocating and will be closer to Toronto but will still be at the eastern fringe of the province by the by.
Fredericton is tricky and Sherbrooke trickier, so I make no guarantees, but I will do my best to meet up with the rest of yas.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:09 PM on March 11, 2010
Whitehorse last summer, but not this year, and even that is 1000 km or so away from you. Alas.
And the Ottawa meetup is easy as pie: I live here now, after all. Come April 1 I will be relocating and will be closer to Toronto but will still be at the eastern fringe of the province by the by.
Fredericton is tricky and Sherbrooke trickier, so I make no guarantees, but I will do my best to meet up with the rest of yas.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:09 PM on March 11, 2010
Oh, yeah, a Toronto meetup sounds good. It looks as if we're going to have one of those baking hot summers, so beer plus patio is definitely in the plan. Or are you trying to plan Toronto for April-ish?
posted by maudlin at 1:35 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by maudlin at 1:35 PM on March 11, 2010
I'm not sure Charlottetown can get the numbers together, but if there's a meetup, I'd do my best to make it.
posted by Hiker at 2:08 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Hiker at 2:08 PM on March 11, 2010
We can probably pull something together in Calgary, ricochet biscuit. Our meetups are infrequent but fun - this sounds like an excuse.
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:24 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by never used baby shoes at 2:24 PM on March 11, 2010
I'm not much into Ale these days, but I'd be willing to do an Ottawa meetup.
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 3:13 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by Monday, stony Monday at 3:13 PM on March 11, 2010
See you in St. John's.
I think I'm it though.
posted by futureisunwritten at 3:33 PM on March 11, 2010
I think I'm it though.
posted by futureisunwritten at 3:33 PM on March 11, 2010
I'd be up for an Ottawa meetup as well.
posted by aclevername at 3:45 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by aclevername at 3:45 PM on March 11, 2010
It would be great to have a big meetup in Ottawa. We've had big ones in the past, but the last few haven't been very well attended.
How about late March sometime, Pub Italia on Preston?
posted by bonehead at 3:48 PM on March 11, 2010
How about late March sometime, Pub Italia on Preston?
posted by bonehead at 3:48 PM on March 11, 2010
Oh, yeah, a Toronto meetup sounds good. It looks as if we're going to have one of those baking hot summers, so beer plus patio is definitely in the plan. Or are you trying to plan Toronto for April-ish?
Toronto can be whenever. I live in Ontario and am in Toronto frequently, so I am fine with waiting for prime patio season.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:51 PM on March 11, 2010
Toronto can be whenever. I live in Ontario and am in Toronto frequently, so I am fine with waiting for prime patio season.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:51 PM on March 11, 2010
It would be great to have a big meetup in Ottawa. We've had big ones in the past, but the last few haven't been very well attended.
How about late March sometime, Pub Italia on Preston?
Good by me. I have plans on Saturday the 20th, and Tuesday the 30th is out, but apart from that, any evening in the last half of March is doable. Feel free to post it.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:53 PM on March 11, 2010
How about late March sometime, Pub Italia on Preston?
Good by me. I have plans on Saturday the 20th, and Tuesday the 30th is out, but apart from that, any evening in the last half of March is doable. Feel free to post it.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:53 PM on March 11, 2010
If you are in Victoria we should all meet up.
Slightly off the projected course, but I might be there if only so I can look at both ends of the Trans-Canada. Again, late April is the key date to bear in mind. My days on that coast are finite, though, and I figure Vancouver has a better potential yield...
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:55 PM on March 11, 2010
Slightly off the projected course, but I might be there if only so I can look at both ends of the Trans-Canada. Again, late April is the key date to bear in mind. My days on that coast are finite, though, and I figure Vancouver has a better potential yield...
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:55 PM on March 11, 2010
MPTE
We need another Pierre Trudeau to man up this country of ours.
posted by KokuRyu at 6:45 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
We need another Pierre Trudeau to man up this country of ours.
posted by KokuRyu at 6:45 PM on March 11, 2010 [1 favorite]
Slightly off the projected course, but I might be there if only so I can look at both ends of the Trans-Canada. Again, late April is the key date to bear in mind.
All right, late April meetup in Victoria!
posted by KokuRyu at 6:45 PM on March 11, 2010
All right, late April meetup in Victoria!
posted by KokuRyu at 6:45 PM on March 11, 2010
I'm in for Calgary.
posted by arcticwoman at 7:23 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by arcticwoman at 7:23 PM on March 11, 2010
I can't remember ever having believed in Santa Claus, but I did believe for several years that Trudeau actually said the words "fuddle duddle" in Parliament.
rb, we can have a Toronto meetup any time. It doesn't have to be summer.
posted by maudlin at 7:47 PM on March 11, 2010
rb, we can have a Toronto meetup any time. It doesn't have to be summer.
posted by maudlin at 7:47 PM on March 11, 2010
articwoman, if this happens, you've got to come to the Calgary meetup! We miss you!
(Also in for Calgary, of course. Thanks for the idea, rb... you've led me to making long-term plans for proposing the occasional meetup along my projected route for the Borza-Horza-cycles-across-Canada tour in two years).
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 9:26 PM on March 11, 2010
(Also in for Calgary, of course. Thanks for the idea, rb... you've led me to making long-term plans for proposing the occasional meetup along my projected route for the Borza-Horza-cycles-across-Canada tour in two years).
posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 9:26 PM on March 11, 2010
I'm not sure Charlottetown can get the numbers together, but if there's a meetup, I'd do my best to make it.
Well that makes two of us.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:27 PM on March 11, 2010
Well that makes two of us.
posted by Space Coyote at 9:27 PM on March 11, 2010
when are you in Vancouver?
posted by seawallrunner at 10:57 PM on March 11, 2010
posted by seawallrunner at 10:57 PM on March 11, 2010
We really should try to make a Winnipeg thing happen. I still feel bad about this one.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:03 AM on March 12, 2010
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 12:03 AM on March 12, 2010
Me too, Alvy.
teg and I were so close. I made it to the 10th in Toronto though, so I'm happy about that.
posted by ODiV at 9:03 AM on March 12, 2010
teg and I were so close. I made it to the 10th in Toronto though, so I'm happy about that.
posted by ODiV at 9:03 AM on March 12, 2010
when are you in Vancouver?
Final week of April, but early in the week is more likely... Sunday the 25th through Wednesday the 28th, maybe.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:37 AM on March 12, 2010
Final week of April, but early in the week is more likely... Sunday the 25th through Wednesday the 28th, maybe.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:37 AM on March 12, 2010
In for Calgary!
posted by chudmonkey at 12:52 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by chudmonkey at 12:52 PM on March 12, 2010
You're like the White Stripes of MetaFilter (they toured Canada and stopped in every province, no comment on musical abilities of any party).
posted by filthy light thief at 6:08 PM on March 12, 2010
posted by filthy light thief at 6:08 PM on March 12, 2010
Hey, all,
Sorry I can't work Calgary in on this trip, but I have put up dates for meetups in three different cities (Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg) in a couple of weeks. Hope to meet some mefites who will enlighten me on the concept of western alienation while I relate to them the woes of freezing in the dark.
Vancouverites, Winnipeggers... and whatever people from Regina are called... I am open to suggestions for venues. I will be carless in all three cities, so my starting suggestions would be somewhere in the region of
1) Doolin's at Granville and Nelson;
2) someplace on Dewdney (maybe Bushwakkers or McNally's); and
3) the Lo, at Kennedy and Ellice.
What say?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:11 PM on April 15, 2010
Sorry I can't work Calgary in on this trip, but I have put up dates for meetups in three different cities (Vancouver, Regina, Winnipeg) in a couple of weeks. Hope to meet some mefites who will enlighten me on the concept of western alienation while I relate to them the woes of freezing in the dark.
Vancouverites, Winnipeggers... and whatever people from Regina are called... I am open to suggestions for venues. I will be carless in all three cities, so my starting suggestions would be somewhere in the region of
1) Doolin's at Granville and Nelson;
2) someplace on Dewdney (maybe Bushwakkers or McNally's); and
3) the Lo, at Kennedy and Ellice.
What say?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 4:11 PM on April 15, 2010
Hey, if no one can make the Vancouver meetup, why don't you swing over to Victoria? hint hint
posted by KokuRyu at 8:48 PM on April 15, 2010
posted by KokuRyu at 8:48 PM on April 15, 2010
The King's Head is a nice English-style pub that's an 11-minute walk away, according to Google Maps' walking feature (which I never new existed until now.) Good traditional English pub food; on Friday has a Curry Buffet.
At the same distance is the East India Company Pub & Eatery, which has the side benefit of East Indian sweets (Jalebi and mmm, Gulab Jamun..) Shannon's Irish Pub is right next door.
I know little about the Regal Beagle, but it's even closer to the Lo pub you mentioned.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:11 PM on April 15, 2010
At the same distance is the East India Company Pub & Eatery, which has the side benefit of East Indian sweets (Jalebi and mmm, Gulab Jamun..) Shannon's Irish Pub is right next door.
I know little about the Regal Beagle, but it's even closer to the Lo pub you mentioned.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:11 PM on April 15, 2010
Doolin's at Granville and Nelson
Count me out, I have a bone to pick with those bastards for setting up "Irish House" right outside my apartment during the Olympics. Didn't get a decent night's sleep for almost an entire month.
posted by Kirk Grim at 12:51 PM on April 16, 2010
Count me out, I have a bone to pick with those bastards for setting up "Irish House" right outside my apartment during the Olympics. Didn't get a decent night's sleep for almost an entire month.
posted by Kirk Grim at 12:51 PM on April 16, 2010
can't work Calgary in...enlighten me on the concept of western alienation
You won't understand that without a trip to Calgary. If we didn't invent the concept, we perfected it. j/k.
Have a safe trip rb - sorry we won't get to see you this time.
posted by never used baby shoes at 4:07 PM on April 16, 2010
You won't understand that without a trip to Calgary. If we didn't invent the concept, we perfected it. j/k.
Have a safe trip rb - sorry we won't get to see you this time.
posted by never used baby shoes at 4:07 PM on April 16, 2010
Count me out, I have a bone to pick with those bastards for setting up "Irish House" right outside my apartment during the Olympics. Didn't get a decent night's sleep for almost an entire month.
I mention Doolin's merely as a general reference point to co-ordinate activities, not as an ironclad demand to be unflinchingly obeyed. I will actually be out in the Kitsilano/Jericho part of the world that day, so somewhere on West 4th would suit me famously.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 5:54 PM on April 18, 2010
The King's Head make the second best guacamole burger in the world.
Yes, as a matter of fact, I have tried them all.
posted by philip-random at 9:48 PM on April 18, 2010
Yes, as a matter of fact, I have tried them all.
posted by philip-random at 9:48 PM on April 18, 2010
I mention Doolin's merely as a general reference point to co-ordinate activities, not as an ironclad demand to be unflinchingly obeyed. I will actually be out in the Kitsilano/Jericho part of the world that day, so somewhere on West 4th would suit me famously.
you're in luck, then; the King's Head is on 1st and Yew, sort of between the shoppingiest bits of West 4th and Kits Beach; I'm not sure how it'd be an 11-minute walk from Granville/Nelson, since you'd have to cross the Granville Street Bridge, but it's an easy bus ride from downtown (either take the 4 from Howe+Nelson, get off at 4th+Yew, walk down the hill or the 22 from Burrard+Nelson, get off at Cornwall+Yew, walk up the hill; the 22 is a shorter walk and a nicer view, IMO.)
oh, also: I'm in.
posted by heeeraldo at 12:26 AM on April 20, 2010
you're in luck, then; the King's Head is on 1st and Yew, sort of between the shoppingiest bits of West 4th and Kits Beach; I'm not sure how it'd be an 11-minute walk from Granville/Nelson, since you'd have to cross the Granville Street Bridge, but it's an easy bus ride from downtown (either take the 4 from Howe+Nelson, get off at 4th+Yew, walk down the hill or the 22 from Burrard+Nelson, get off at Cornwall+Yew, walk up the hill; the 22 is a shorter walk and a nicer view, IMO.)
oh, also: I'm in.
posted by heeeraldo at 12:26 AM on April 20, 2010
the king's head! It came up in conversation the other day, and I was all, I have no idea if that place is still around. Glad to hear that it is!
So is this happening?? The sidebar says the 26th? I'd be in.
posted by jeffj at 9:31 PM on April 20, 2010
So is this happening?? The sidebar says the 26th? I'd be in.
posted by jeffj at 9:31 PM on April 20, 2010
Very likely probably maybe I think so coming to the King's Head.
posted by Kirk Grim at 9:17 AM on April 22, 2010
posted by Kirk Grim at 9:17 AM on April 22, 2010
King's Head at 8:00 on the 26th. See you all then!
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:33 PM on April 22, 2010
posted by ricochet biscuit at 2:33 PM on April 22, 2010
Bah! I have to flake out on this one, sorry RB. It's have beer and food tonight, or have beer and food in 3 weeks on my honeymoon. The wife wins this round.
posted by Kirk Grim at 10:46 AM on April 26, 2010
posted by Kirk Grim at 10:46 AM on April 26, 2010
I think the wire's are getting crossed again. It seems there are King Head pubs in both Vancouver and Winnipeg? I'm probably going to end up at the wrong place again!
posted by teg at 2:29 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by teg at 2:29 PM on April 26, 2010
I'll be there. I'll be the guy walking up to strangers and asking, "are you ricochet biscuit?"
posted by jeffj at 4:03 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by jeffj at 4:03 PM on April 26, 2010
No one asked me that.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:23 PM on April 26, 2010
posted by ricochet biscuit at 10:23 PM on April 26, 2010
aw crap. I'm so sorry rb, I screwed up big time. Something came up and I just didn't get there. :(
posted by jeffj at 1:25 AM on April 27, 2010
posted by jeffj at 1:25 AM on April 27, 2010
So where in Winnipeg should we be looking for you on Friday?
posted by Hardcore Poser at 5:50 PM on April 27, 2010
posted by Hardcore Poser at 5:50 PM on April 27, 2010
Can we say 8:00 PM at the King's Head (Winnipeg) with the hope that mefites of the 'peg are doughtier than Vancouverites?
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:29 AM on April 28, 2010
posted by ricochet biscuit at 9:29 AM on April 28, 2010
Well, I am certainly doughier. Sounds good! Hopefully I can get out of work sooner than 9PM, but I will be at the King's Head.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:32 AM on April 28, 2010
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:32 AM on April 28, 2010
Without redoubt there'll be at least two doughty doughboys at the King's Head waiting for you with draught.
posted by Hardcore Poser at 11:38 AM on April 28, 2010
posted by Hardcore Poser at 11:38 AM on April 28, 2010
I will also be there. In Winnipeg.
(Hey Alvy, just saw your profile pic, and I'm pretty sure we work in the same building.)
posted by teg at 11:50 AM on April 28, 2010
(Hey Alvy, just saw your profile pic, and I'm pretty sure we work in the same building.)
posted by teg at 11:50 AM on April 28, 2010
Aw, damn, i can't be there in Regina tonight... I'm in Saskatoon, two and a half hours away. Especially disappointed since I have a few friends going to Regina on the weekend. If only... T_T
posted by lizbunny at 9:15 PM on April 28, 2010
posted by lizbunny at 9:15 PM on April 28, 2010
Winnipeg = Great Success! After some wandering about in the King's Head, we all found each other: teg, Hardcore Poser, Alvy Ampersand and myself. Ninety minutes of listening to the bartender treat the in-house sound system the way most of us deal with the first stereo in our rooms at age 12 ("Oooooh, I love this part! I will crank it way up! Oh, this song is dull -- I will skip ahead") drove us off to a find sandwich-and-coffee place a few blocks away.
A brief discussion of documentation of the event for mefi led to the realization that we could key the photos not "L to R" or "clockwise from top" but by degrees of beard: from my smooth-as-a-baby's-bottom chin through teg's week-old lumberjack stubble to Hardcore Poser's neatly-trimmed full beard to Alvy Ampersand's impressive crop, which would not disgrace a US Civil War colonel. I had a grand time with these gents, and was pleased to learn even in an age of rapid globalization they still had tone of shared experiences having to do with Bombardiers and local TV that mystified me. I believe I employed the term "Quaint manitoban folkways."
A delight to meet all of these fine folks, and I look forward to trying to corral them all along with others when I next get to Winnipeg. On to the east! I will start another meet-up thread for various eastern ports of call later this summer.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:12 PM on May 2, 2010
A brief discussion of documentation of the event for mefi led to the realization that we could key the photos not "L to R" or "clockwise from top" but by degrees of beard: from my smooth-as-a-baby's-bottom chin through teg's week-old lumberjack stubble to Hardcore Poser's neatly-trimmed full beard to Alvy Ampersand's impressive crop, which would not disgrace a US Civil War colonel. I had a grand time with these gents, and was pleased to learn even in an age of rapid globalization they still had tone of shared experiences having to do with Bombardiers and local TV that mystified me. I believe I employed the term "Quaint manitoban folkways."
A delight to meet all of these fine folks, and I look forward to trying to corral them all along with others when I next get to Winnipeg. On to the east! I will start another meet-up thread for various eastern ports of call later this summer.
posted by ricochet biscuit at 1:12 PM on May 2, 2010
Yeah, good meetup; glad to hear some funny stories and finally put faces and real-world personalities to the online thoughts. As for "quaint Manitoban folkways," I plead irresistible temptation. It was surreal to find out that someone else in this world had ridden in the old plywood Bombardiers up North and played with a hand-made stuffed beaver doll as a kid - I just had to follow up on those rare coincidences.
I think Winnipeg batted 1.000 - everyone in the thread who said they'd show did so. Exceeded my expectations for a small city (but then I have low expectations - meeting three internet strangers and not having organs harvested was my goal; everything else on top of that was gravy :)
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:08 PM on May 2, 2010
I think Winnipeg batted 1.000 - everyone in the thread who said they'd show did so. Exceeded my expectations for a small city (but then I have low expectations - meeting three internet strangers and not having organs harvested was my goal; everything else on top of that was gravy :)
posted by Hardcore Poser at 9:08 PM on May 2, 2010
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posted by LN at 11:28 AM on March 11, 2010