Seattle!

April 1, 2010 10:18 AM

Another Seattle meetup?

I'll be in town April 19-23 for some meetings. If anyone's not too tired of meetups, I'd love to grab dinner and/or beer!

I'm staying at the SeaTac Marriott, but I should have a car (or I will make sure to get one if the good bars are far away). I'm flying out Friday night, but any other evening should be fine.

posted by backseatpilot to MetaFilter Gatherings at 10:18 AM (74 comments total)

I'll be out of town, but I should note that you are a short walk away from the SeaTac Airport light rail station, which would make getting to somewhere better without a car easier.
posted by grouse at 11:35 AM on April 1, 2010

Hey, my secret quonsar's coming to Sea town! I can't organize anything, but I would try to make it if someone else did. I am on call that week, it's my son's first birthday, and my parents are both in town. Come to think of it, I might really need a drink.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 1:11 PM on April 1, 2010

I could probably go. I'd also second the use of STLLR to get downtown from the airport.
posted by Cogito at 1:29 PM on April 1, 2010

Am I the ONLY one who has plenty of gray hair? That is the major discouragement for me. (Sorry, I'm ageist that way.)
posted by bearwife at 2:49 PM on April 1, 2010

I probably won't be able to come for reasons beyond my control, but if I can I will.
posted by The corpse in the library at 3:35 PM on April 1, 2010

I have a lot of grey hair and had an awesome time at last week's meetup! I was not the only, or the most, grey-haired person there, at all!
posted by rtha at 3:50 PM on April 1, 2010

Bearwife, *if* can make this one, you won't be the only one with grey hair. I have a noticeable amount, depending on where I part my hair.
posted by TochterAusElysium at 4:18 PM on April 1, 2010

I like gray-haired people. I only have a few stray gray hairs myself at this point, but when it turns it'll do it in a hurry if my family history is any indicator. My late uncle went from raven-black-brown to stripey gray in less than a year in his late 30s.

Anyway, I might be there. Depends mostly on if I have beer funds or not.
posted by loquacious at 4:29 PM on April 1, 2010

I'm sure there was someone at the last meetup with grey hair. Does it make you feel less nervous if I can't even remember who it might have been?
posted by jacalata at 4:43 PM on April 1, 2010

Thanks, you gray hair toleraters. You must be from Seattle or something.

Does anyone have a location in mind?
posted by bearwife at 5:15 PM on April 1, 2010

I have some gray hair! Well... ok, I have one gray hair.

I have never been to Seattle before, so I sadly don't know the area at all. Somewhere walkable from a train station?
posted by backseatpilot at 5:39 AM on April 2, 2010

Most of downtown is pretty walkable from the light rail stations. It's not a neighborhood that I'm terribly familiar with, but I've enjoyed Brasa before.
posted by Cogito at 9:40 AM on April 2, 2010

I've been to Brasa once too, with a large group for dinner. Great food.
posted by bearwife at 10:01 AM on April 2, 2010

I might show too. Maybe.

I too have gray hairs but you didn't read me admitting that.
posted by R343L at 5:14 PM on April 2, 2010

I will try.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 6:10 PM on April 2, 2010

Which night are we doing this, and where? (Oh, these overly precise gray haired people . . .)
posted by bearwife at 9:03 AM on April 3, 2010

Tuesday or Wednesday would probably be best for me, I think.
posted by backseatpilot at 9:42 AM on April 3, 2010

Is this the appropriate location for me to apologize because I think I saw someone on the 26 bus that I kind of but not for sure recognized from a meetup and I didn't have the courage to say "hi" to? Because I think I saw someone on the 26 bus that I kind of but not for sure recognized from a meetup and I didn't have the courage to say "hi" .

Oh, and I'll be there and loquacious I got a beer for you yo.
posted by vapidave at 2:29 AM on April 4, 2010

By a strange coincidence, I'll be in Seattle between the 23rd and the 27th. My first time back in the US in over a year. I'd like to meet a few folks since I don't know Seattle too well.

This isn't going to be like the time I was 17 and it turned out my online girlfriend was a really 42-year-old comic book store owner is it? (Ended up getting a lot of back issues, so it worked out fine in the end.)
posted by Telf at 9:46 AM on April 4, 2010 [1 favorite]

Not to limit the options but here is a link to a map of where the STLLR goes in downtown Seattle. Last train to Seatacville is after midnight and they run every 15 minutes up till then so no problem there I estimate. I'd offer an opinion as to where to go but I haven't lived here since 1988 so my opinion would be out of date and plaid clad.
posted by vapidave at 9:23 AM on April 5, 2010

Tuesday would work for me . . . not Wednesday, though. (M's tix!)
posted by bearwife at 12:33 PM on April 5, 2010

Should we call it for Tuesday at Brasa, then?

I'm still trying to figure out how to get into town... the hotel's actually about two miles east of the airport on West Valley Drive. I may be able to get the airport shuttle to take me to the light rail station, but is there a bus that goes from that area to downtown?
posted by backseatpilot at 12:55 PM on April 5, 2010

Actually, I just called the hotel and they'll give me a ride to the light rail any time! So I would like to suggest some time around 7:00-7:30, since I don't have an agenda for my work yet but I can't imagine the Europeans that'll be in town will want to work a minute past five.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:00 PM on April 5, 2010

You said the "SeaTac Marriott." Do you actually mean the Courtyard Seattle/SeaTac Area? If so, you can take the light rail in, or you could take the King County Metro Transit 150 bus from nearer to your hotel, but it unfortunately is scheduled to take about 50 min, and I'm not sure what the area is like, especially at night.

Either on Link light rail or on the bus, you will end up in Westlake Station and you can get off there and walk. Brasa is less than half a mile from the station.
posted by grouse at 1:05 PM on April 5, 2010

Yeah, my mistake - I'm at the Courtyard. Sounds like the best option is to hitch a lift back to SeaTac and take the light rail.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:26 PM on April 5, 2010

Not that we should decide, or anything . . . we could always wait and see how deep in the past posts we can get . . . but if we do want to decide, 7 pm at Brasa on Tuesday April 20? Should anyone alert Brasa of the MeFi descent?
posted by bearwife at 3:01 PM on April 5, 2010

Alright, I'll post it to the meetup sidebar. Tuesday, April 20, 7:00 pm, Brasa. We can always change it if there are too many objections.
posted by backseatpilot at 9:52 AM on April 6, 2010

I OBJECT.

Nah, just kidding. I think I can actually make this one, which is fun and exciting.
posted by athenasbanquet at 5:11 PM on April 9, 2010

I think I am going to pass on this one. April is busy busy busy.
posted by silkygreenbelly at 8:27 PM on April 11, 2010

Yeah, I'm in ... that would be Brasa in Beltown?
posted by Relay at 6:56 PM on April 12, 2010

I'm out again, FWIW.

If someone claims to be me then throw them out of the airlock.
posted by Artw at 10:44 AM on April 14, 2010

Oh, should I... call the restaurant? I suppose they might appreciate knowing a large(?) group is going to descend upon them.
posted by backseatpilot at 11:19 AM on April 14, 2010

I might not be there. Because there's some kind of flashmob dance party thing going on at 4th and Pine in the square at the end of the monorail. But it appears to be put on by some good and capable folks so I'm curious. But it only lasts from 6 to 9. And it's not that far from Brasa. So maybe I'll walk over and crash the party for a few minutes.

Msg if you want links to info about what's going on.
posted by loquacious at 6:03 PM on April 14, 2010

Well, fuck it. Plaintext linky: http://streetritual.com/?p=238
posted by loquacious at 6:06 PM on April 14, 2010

"If someone claims to be me then throw them out of the airlock."

If someone claims to be you they'll be fitted for a white shirt with extra long sleeves.
posted by vapidave at 7:41 PM on April 17, 2010

Ah, but if only someone could, prior to popping out in the Tunisian desert, climb down the well and turn the wheel to Wednesday night. Otherwise, this will necessitate some speed meetup for lost souls.
posted by y2karl at 10:41 PM on April 17, 2010

Dude, just don't flip your Turn-A-Day.
posted by vapidave at 5:01 AM on April 18, 2010

vapidave just pointed out to me that this is Restaurant Week, so getting into Brasa might be difficult/impossible - any other suggestions?
posted by backseatpilot at 8:03 AM on April 18, 2010

Is there anywhere we can do a picnic? What about a picnic with BYOB? What about legally?

One of the things that almost always plagues every meetup I've been to is noise - noise from our crowd trying to talk on top of the noise of the normal bar crowd with the noise of some jukebox on top of that. I know a lot of bars just turn up the jukebox when the crowds get noisy, which is annoying and non-optimal for dorking out.

If I had more time I could probably find an art loft or space for us to meetup in.

We could also possibly descend on Grey Gallery, which is chill and nice (and yet not a dive bar!) and has plenty of seating, and it's usually not very crowded on weekdays. The drink prices are pretty good, and they usually have some kind of food/snack there but they may be enough of "not really a restaurant" that they're not on the lists for restaurant week.

Grey Gallery is on 11th between Pike and Pine, right near Cal Anderson Park. http://www.greygalleryandlounge.com/lounge/
posted by loquacious at 11:26 AM on April 18, 2010

Grey Gallery looks good to me. I didn't really bring much in the way of casual clothes, so as long as it won't be uncomfortable to do in dress shoes and a tie I'm up for pretty much anything.
posted by backseatpilot at 1:19 PM on April 18, 2010

You'll be fine. It's not a dive bar at all. It's a very nice, clean and fairly high end gallery sort of environment with super friendly staff. I like it because it's on weeknights it's often one of the only fairly quiet bars in the area that I've found.

Drink prices start about $5 for good beer on tap, but they also have an interesting and well done bar. Happy hour ends at 7, where good tap beer and stuff starts at $3. They also actually have a decent kitchen and food, too.
posted by loquacious at 2:02 PM on April 18, 2010

IF I am coming, still unsure about that, when and where? Still Brasa at 7 or Grey Gallery at an earlier time to tap happy hour?
posted by bearwife at 9:59 AM on April 19, 2010

If there's a real possibility of not getting into Brasa, I would say let's shoot for Grey Gallery. I may be able to meet up before 7, but it will depend on when I get out of meetings. If people want to get there earlier than 7 I can always just get there when I can get there.
posted by backseatpilot at 2:37 PM on April 19, 2010

I'm not even sure if I'm personally going to make it to wherever we're meeting up, but Grey Gallery is a good spot. They shouldn't be crowded at all on a Tuesday and I'm sure they would be thankful for the patronage.

Regardless, the upstairs area would be a good spot to take over for the meetup.

Who is still paying attention to this thread? Can we get a role-call or show of hands or something?
posted by loquacious at 3:03 PM on April 19, 2010

I know a lot of bars just turn up the jukebox when the crowds get noisy, which is annoying and non-optimal for dorking out.

From my experience, Mr. Bill's was one of those. So, add my vote for the quieter locale.

And since, as I perhaps too cryptically hinted above, Tuesday night is also final season LOST night, an earlier start, so that I need not miss this weeks penultimate penultimate penultimate penultimate or so episode, works as well.

And that the location suggested is far closer to home doesn't hurt a bit.
posted by y2karl at 3:03 PM on April 19, 2010

Don't feel neglected, loq! But I won't be able to come, sorry.
posted by The corpse in the library at 4:30 PM on April 19, 2010

Well hell. I blame the Eyjafjallajokull. Since it was sidebarred 2 weeks ago and it seems like no one is checking in I am going to be at Brasa at 7:00. There are plenty of places to eat in the area if they can't seat however many people are showing up and there is a public rave a few blocks away too. I'll hop a bus up the hill if people end up at Grey Gallery.
posted by vapidave at 1:24 AM on April 20, 2010

Alright, then we'll stick with the original plan. If they can't seat us we can mope outside for a little bit and then find somewhere else to go.
posted by backseatpilot at 7:20 AM on April 20, 2010

Goddammit, I just saw this today. But I'm stuck on Whidbey with a Labrador puppy, so I cannot make it :(
posted by The otter lady at 10:13 AM on April 20, 2010

For a future kid-freindly event this place might be worth considering: Fremont Brewing Urban Beer Garden
posted by Artw at 10:24 AM on April 20, 2010

I'm out. We still have way too much to do before out of town guests arrive tomorrow. Have fun, all.
posted by bearwife at 12:06 PM on April 20, 2010

I'm probably in. I think we should stick with Grey, but I'm conflicted because I also want to go check out the thing at 4th and Pine, but I may head there early-ish to help set up or watch them set up.

Brasa and Grey are a short bus ride from each other. The 10 or 11 from 5th/Pike (Eastbound, uphill) are good buses to get to Grey from Downtown, and downtown is a short walk from Brasa.

I'll check in throughout the day before heading out.
posted by loquacious at 1:51 PM on April 20, 2010

I will defer to the local knowledge, then. Grey Gallery, for serious this time! I hope to be there around 7:00, but will update when I get into the neighborhood.

If anyone is reading this, take note, and I will try to update the calendar with the new info.
posted by backseatpilot at 2:06 PM on April 20, 2010

Sounds good.
posted by loquacious at 2:24 PM on April 20, 2010

Turns out I couldn't figure out how to change the calendar information. Here's hoping interested folks will read all the way to the bottom of the thread!
posted by backseatpilot at 3:47 PM on April 20, 2010

I'm going downtown earlier and I might stop by Brasa to give a heads-up. See youse on the hill.
posted by vapidave at 4:06 PM on April 20, 2010

Just about out the door to walk to Grey!
posted by loquacious at 6:19 PM on April 20, 2010

Be there in a few. Probably will be the only person in a suit.
posted by backseatpilot at 6:35 PM on April 20, 2010

Looks like I'll be able to stop by.
posted by Errant at 6:41 PM on April 20, 2010

We're upstairs.
posted by loquacious at 6:52 PM on April 20, 2010

Heh, figures I'd chose the one night I've ever seen Grey Gallery host another web site meetup. Nice timing, me!. There's four of us now upstairs.
posted by loquacious at 7:21 PM on April 20, 2010

Ignore the people with name tags, they're imposters.
posted by loquacious at 7:40 PM on April 20, 2010

Y2KARL IS WATCHING LOST? WTF?
posted by loquacious at 8:05 PM on April 20, 2010

Oh well, it's probably too noisy here for y2karl anyway. I swear, this place is normally very quiet on weeknights.
posted by loquacious at 8:25 PM on April 20, 2010

Not only that, but I got caught flat footed by unforeseen events too tedious to elaborate upon. My apologies for being there in wishful thinking only.
posted by y2karl at 8:25 PM on April 20, 2010

I knew that mirror ritual would (almost) work.
posted by loquacious at 8:26 PM on April 20, 2010

Four people there and I am beat to the posting punch by loquacious. Go figure.
posted by y2karl at 8:27 PM on April 20, 2010

But then I got my PC at the army surplus store. It's hard getting tubes these days.
posted by y2karl at 8:29 PM on April 20, 2010

My netbook is generally welded to my hands. It's a bug, not a feature. Let me know if you ever want some help tuning up your computer.
posted by loquacious at 8:35 PM on April 20, 2010

I am just lame, that's why i'm not there.
posted by jacalata at 11:00 PM on April 20, 2010

That was fun.

But it's probably good it was a smaller meetup, because I suck and I chose the one night that there were about the most people I've ever seen in that bar, It would still be good for future stuff with more planning.
posted by loquacious at 1:01 AM on April 21, 2010

Thanks for coming out everyone! I had a great time.
posted by backseatpilot at 7:16 AM on April 21, 2010

That was a lot of fun for me too ... should have stayed longer.

OK, when are we doing this again?
posted by Relay at 12:30 PM on April 21, 2010

Looks like you might not get another chance to visit Brasa.
posted by grouse at 11:13 AM on May 18, 2010