Let's talk meetup

July 16, 2002 11:31 PM

let's talk meetup. as has been briefly mentioned (peripherally, in other metatalk threads (can't be bothered to search right now)), the venues proposed by the meetup mavens generally leave something to be desired (the ithaca everything2 meetup is scheduled to take place at a mcdonald's, for the love of god). so let's pick our own place(s).
posted by mlang to MetaFilter gatherings at 11:31 PM (54 comments total)

MANHATTAN

in a failed (and only tangentially related thread), i suggested:

double happiness (mott at broome street; southwest corner) is a great place with room for a big group but also lots of little nooks where the inevitable newly formed-couples can slink off to be alone. the drinks are decently poured and not too expensive; there's a small but excellent menu should anyone get hungry; considering the time of the party and day of the week, it won't be too crowded; the tuesday night bartender is rather gorgeous and a sort of friend of mine...
posted by mlang at 11:34 PM on July 16, 2002

MANHATTAN

and mo nickels replied:

Double Happiness is good, but we need to arrive before 8 to avoid the crowds (even on a Tuesday), and there's not a good seating area for more than, say, 10 people in one group. Also it gets waaaay to smokey, but that's the hazard of NYC bars.

If we do choose Double Happiness, everyone should be aware that it's almost invisible from the street. It's down some steps. There's no signage, but the more-ornate-than-usual hand rail (shown in the picture in the link) and the big bouncer can be good clues.
posted by mlang at 11:36 PM on July 16, 2002

Does it have to be a bar? There are other social spaces besides drink-hammering holes, you know. How 'bout some sort of restaurant that serves drinks?
posted by evanizer at 11:40 PM on July 16, 2002

Remote Lounge.
posted by swift at 11:44 PM on July 16, 2002

MANHATTAN

to which (mo nickels's comment, i'm ignoring evanizer for now) i wish to reply:

1. the last time i was there on a tuesday, and the crowds didn't start arriving until twelve or maybe eleven at the earliest. but maybe it's gotten a hell of a lot more popular in the last five weeks?
2. there is a group of tables fronted against the long bench just to your left when you come in, kind of (forgive me for using this word; i hate it) 'catty-corner' (or however you say/spell it) to the bar which i'd think could easily accommodate a group of twenty to thirty.
3. no bars will be smokey anymore; thanks to mayor mike, a single package of cigarettes now costs more than my first car.
4. yes, the place can be difficult to find... and i don't think the bouncer goes outside before, say, ten... but we'll deal with those issues if people agree that double happiness is 'the spot'.

(why do i suddenly feel like i'm running for class president? all i did was check the goddamn box that said i would be a host and suddenly i feel responsible.)
posted by mlang at 11:46 PM on July 16, 2002

MANHATTAN

evan: it certainly doesn't have to be a bar. that was just a thought. restaurant could be difficult unless we wanted to push the start time back two hours or so, though. why don't you have us all over to your new place? it could be a house warming. we promise not to trash it or steal anything.

swift: we did have a time at the remote lounge that night, didn't we? and cam knows somebody there. and we did talk about doing it there next time (this time).

ok, i'll shut up now.
posted by mlang at 11:51 PM on July 16, 2002

I was half-kidding. RL is probably too small. Unless this is one of those 5-person gatherings.
posted by swift at 11:54 PM on July 16, 2002

Meetup's business model is failing already? Who'd a thunk it?
posted by dagny at 6:26 AM on July 17, 2002

Dallas crew has already picked someplace else. There was talk of notifying Meetup, but I'm not sure if anyone did that or not. Frankly, I don't care much. It's not as if they can force us or charge us if we don't go to any of their places. We pretty much had a place picked before they even offered their suggestions. A little over-zealous, maybe, but hell, at least we're organized.

For those interested, we're meeting at Ben's Half Yard House, as suggested by thomcat.
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:19 AM on July 17, 2002

The Oakland meetup isn't even in Oakland! All of the suggested venues are way out in sub-sub-suburban tracthousing land and completely inaccessible without driving.

Of the San Francisco meetup venues suggested, only one is in San Francisco (also way out in the middle of nowhere) and the other two are also completely inaccessible with one more than an hour's drive away. Even more ridiculous, one of those is a frickin' Starbucks, and the other is, preposterously, a Jack In The Box.

Who's making this stuff up and where can I get those little rocklike things they're smoking? If these are going to be the options, I'm bowing out of this meetup thing entirely.
posted by majick at 7:31 AM on July 17, 2002

manhattan

i don't really care about location, but since it's summertime, it might be nice to do something with an outside patio. that way the smokers could smoke and the nonsmokers wouldn't get grumpy. perhaps something like bowery (b) bar?
posted by witchstone at 8:50 AM on July 17, 2002

LOS ANGELES

Why in the name of God are there no bars on the venue list? And, we have a Jack In The Box too! How exciting!

The guy who put that on the list is a total riot and not at all a complete pudwhacker.


posted by Kafkaesque at 9:17 AM on July 17, 2002

CHICAGO

Yeah, what the hell's up with their choices? They picked a Dunkin Donuts on the far south side, a McDonalds on the far west side, and Ghost Bar downtown. It's like they were trying to funnel us to a particular place.

Anyway, I'm happy to go someplace other than what's on the list (Ghost Bar's really expensive), if any other Chicago MeFites are listening -- not much turnout so far.
posted by me3dia at 9:27 AM on July 17, 2002

me3dia, I think those venues are suggested by visitors to the site.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:44 AM on July 17, 2002

AUSTIN

How about: Rudy's, Chuy's, Double Dave's, I dunno, something localish and with some character, or something.

Please.

[color me shocked that when I signed up as the fifth person, we vaulted into an 8th place tie with Chicago!]
posted by beth at 9:49 AM on July 17, 2002

It seems like we did better organising gatherings the old-fashioned "Anyone in Foo, Oklahoma wanna have a MeFi gathering?" than we're doing with "Meetup".

So what's the verdict for the New York gathering? "B" bar is a bit pretentious and expensive, no?
posted by evanizer at 10:20 AM on July 17, 2002

manhattan

Whatever the verdict is, will that be on the metafilter.meetup.com page (as in, if it isn't one of the choices)?
posted by adampsyche at 10:36 AM on July 17, 2002

How about we hold the Manhattan Meetup at a convenience store...?
posted by jonmc at 10:43 AM on July 17, 2002

Whatever the verdict is, will that be on the metafilter.meetup.com page (as in, if it isn't one of the choices)?

I can't see anyway to change even my little message beneath my name, so I'm thinking no. The Meetup site leaves a lot to be desired with regards to community features. Why aren't there discussion threads on each location/subject?

The SF meetup for metafilter looks pathetic, and frankly I'm kind of sorry I signed up. A starbucks and a jack in the box are not what I think of when I think of places to gather in SF, or anywhere for that matter.

We should buck the suggested meetup for sf metafilter and just meet at the metreon for some noodles or something.
posted by mathowie at 10:52 AM on July 17, 2002

Jon, you want us to hold up a convenience store? That would be very New Yorkey of us I guess...
posted by RJ Reynolds at 10:54 AM on July 17, 2002

DALLAS

I did tell Meetup that their suggestions of Fridays, Starbucks and a bowling alley in a godforsaken neighborhood were way, way, way off the demographic map. :)

I also told them that we'd picked a location, where ben's was and gave them the url and a contact person there and that they were welcome to meet us there and do whatever voodoo they do, but that if they looked for us in any of their suggested locales, they would be lonely organizers indeed. :)


posted by dejah420 at 11:04 AM on July 17, 2002

I can't see anyway to change even my little message beneath my name

If you are looking at a specific location, you can change your profile with the link right above the list of other people attending. It is obscure, though. If/when there is a Manhattan location decided upon, please post it!
posted by adampsyche at 11:16 AM on July 17, 2002

mathowie: The SF meetup for metafilter looks pathetic...A starbucks and a jack in the box are not what I think of when I think of places to gather in SF

It's not just Starbucks and Jack in the Box, it's Starbucks in Novato and Jack in the Box in San Bruno. I'm not going to travel to go to a Jack in the Box, and there's a Starbucks a block from my house if I want to go there.

They have added Cafe Cocomo, which is a fun place for dancing but not really that great for meeting people and talking. (Come to think of it, it would be nice if the Meetup page had links to the proposed venues so you could get an idea of what they were before you voted.)

How about someplace like The Thirsty Bear, 21st Amendment, or The Pig and Whistle? <offtopic>(Man, I miss Sidewalk.com, and man, I miss the Caribbean Zone.)</offtopic>
posted by kirkaracha at 11:59 AM on July 17, 2002

Meetup leaves much to be desired. Somebody ought to lauch a better version of the same service.

Who comes up with these locations? Are they sponsors of the site? Jack in the Box?

kirkaracha: I couldn't believe meetup was clueless enough to suggest locations for San Francisco that aren't in San Francisco.

I'm all for arranging an alternate venue. (Particularly if we make it the Thirsty Bear.) But how do we coordinate it? Particularly considering that most folks don't read MeTa (I don't think).
posted by emptyage at 12:16 PM on July 17, 2002

I used Meetup's Suggest a Venue form to submit my suggestions

Hmmm...the Photoshop meetup and the Simpsons meetup both list the same Starbucks and Jack in the Box as the MetaFilter meetup, and the venue suggestion form lists Starbucks as an example. Coincidence...or conspiracy?

I do like that their location code for San Francisco is 404.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:20 PM on July 17, 2002

re: Manhattan

Following on witchstone's suggestion of a bar with outdoor space, perhaps Sweet & Vicious on Spring St? It's spacious inside, with a small patio out back. And when I walked by a little after 8pm last night it was pretty empty. Not sure how quick it fills up as the night progresses, though.
posted by nstop at 12:24 PM on July 17, 2002

LOS ANGELES

I liked the place we met at last time.
posted by bingo at 12:43 PM on July 17, 2002

I could be persuaded to go to Sweet & Vicious. My experience of the place was mostly last summer--it was never super crowded (at least for the area) and I found that you could at least get decent standing room even on a weekend night. Drink prices reasonable for the area. Double Happiness can get awfully hot and crowded.

And their suggestions? Xando (Zando, as I call it)? Cosi? ummm...no.
posted by lackutrol at 12:46 PM on July 17, 2002

I meant to head that with: MANHATTAN. Sorry 'bout that.
posted by lackutrol at 12:48 PM on July 17, 2002

SF

Kirk and Mat, how about that belgian fries place in Hayes Valley? It's got a fun vibe and good greasy food.
posted by mathowie at 12:59 PM on July 17, 2002

MANHATTAN

Mmmm, greasy food! Wish I was in SF...

So, someone decide on a Manhattan place then. I wish there were a fun restaurant, as I stated before, where we could eat and drink, instead of some sweaty, smoky, mean and overpriced death-trap-bar. Unfortunately, I can't think of one, and I don' drink/go to bars, so I don't know any of them either. I'm a big help, huh?
posted by evanizer at 1:04 PM on July 17, 2002

LOS ANGELES

I don't know, bingo. That bouncer was getting a little ornery about the smoking thing. I think Optamystic could take him with a few Pernods under his belt.
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:05 PM on July 17, 2002

I'm still rooting for a Bocce tournament in the park.

I can dream, can't I?
posted by Kafkaesque at 1:06 PM on July 17, 2002

Fun vibe? Greasy food? Sounds like a winner!

<offtopic>Some very talented people helped build Meetup, so I'm really surprised that their HTML code is so sloppy.</offtopic>
posted by kirkaracha at 1:10 PM on July 17, 2002

SF

kirk, matt: frjtz sounds great to me. it's got a patio as well, which is nice.
posted by emptyage at 1:15 PM on July 17, 2002

This post just scrolled off the metatalk front page.

Perhaps hosts for different cities could post this URL in their comments?

Matt: I wont be in SF but the Belgian Fries place is a great choice - they have a nice patio out back.
posted by vacapinta at 1:27 PM on July 17, 2002

*hits head*

I somehow missed your comment, emptyage.
posted by vacapinta at 1:33 PM on July 17, 2002

you want us to hold up a convenience store?

"It was horrible officer...they used such big words...and they threatened me with a sharpened pancake and a rabid kitty kat..."

Mmmm, greasy food! Wish I was in SF...

Ev, there's a great Belgian Fry joint on Houston right near my beloved Katz's Deli, a t-shirt from which I am wearing as I type this.
posted by jonmc at 2:00 PM on July 17, 2002

[SAN FRANCISCO]

frijtz sounds oky by me as well.


posted by fishfucker at 5:34 PM on July 17, 2002

SAN DIEGO

At least someone's got a pool hall on there so we don't have to go to McDonald's or Krispy Kreme. All, um, three of us signed up so far, that is. Has anyone from SD been to College Billiards? I was going to suggest McGregor's, which is right by the stadium, but College Billliards could be okay. Probably the same kind of thing.
posted by LionIndex at 5:43 PM on July 17, 2002

MANHATTAN

yeah, b bar is pretentious and the drinks are expensive but it does have food and it does have a huge patio area. anyone know something similar with less of a "scene" vibe?


posted by witchstone at 9:17 AM on July 18, 2002

MANHATTAN
1. The meetup is on my birthday and the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.
2. I recently had to do something similar for my company softball team. How do you bring a bunch of accountants from New Jersey in sweat pants to a lower east side (location of our baseball game) bar. A trendy martini place, or a brawling bar? With food that is. I like Ev's request for food. Eating is cheating and I need that kind of help. There are ~30 of us. I think the thing should be downtown.
3. B bar is pretentious, but in a pathetic trying to be way. Like a bunch of older richer people trying to remain trendy. It is big though, and the food is ok. I think it's a good choice. I was going to take my softball team there, but they were having a party that night. Double Happiness has food too, and it's really not that crowded on Tuesday nights. I think either of those two choices are good.
posted by goneill at 9:32 AM on July 18, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO.

actually, if people want to entirely push entirely out of the meetup thing, wednesday nights at 26 mix are dollar drink nights (well drinks, bud, or tecate), and are (surprisingly) uncrowded.

also: galaga, centipide, cocktail table donkey kong and pacman, doctor who pin.

again: one dollar drinks.

my head hurts.
posted by fishfucker at 10:56 AM on July 18, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO.

actually, if people want to entirely push entirely out of the meetup thing, wednesday nights at 26 mix are dollar drink nights (well drinks, bud, or tecate), and are (surprisingly) uncrowded.

also: galaga, centipide, cocktail table donkey kong and pacman, doctor who pin. oh, and free pool, for those who like that sort of thing.

again: one dollar drinks.

my head hurts.
posted by fishfucker at 10:56 AM on July 18, 2002

argh. my first double (well, the second one's slightly different)!

my head really hurts.
posted by fishfucker at 10:58 AM on July 18, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO

I cut-'n'-pasted some of my comments from here into Meetup's feedback form yesterday afternoon, and got two long and thoughtful responses this morning from Matt Meeker, one of the co-founders. They're going to drop Jack in the Box and Cafe Cocomo. I'm impressed with the quick response. I submitted Frjtz and 26-mix using their suggestion form.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:24 PM on July 18, 2002

MANHATTAN

As long as we're not meeting in any of the official Meetup.com spaces, I'm flexible. To put all that work into this new web service and then force customers to go to Starb*cks or C*si or X@ndo (or J@ck in the Box- Yeesh!) is so, so lame.

Is the date still Tues, Aug 6th for Manhattan or are we choosing our own date too?


posted by gen at 11:04 AM on July 19, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO

say, so was anything decided?

the meetup options appear to be unchanged (re: kirkaracha's comments).




posted by fishfucker at 10:22 AM on July 23, 2002

San Francisco

I thought the consensus was Frjtz.

I emailed Meetup and pointed them to this thread, but I haven't heard anything from them, and last time I checked the venue options hadn't changed.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:46 AM on July 23, 2002

MANHATTAN

B Bar

Does anyone mind?
It isn't too Bar-ee
It has food
It has a patio
It has drinks
It has space
It is slightly expensive.
posted by goneill at 2:22 PM on July 23, 2002

SAN FRANCISCO

Frjtz sounds good to me ... should we assume that's the venue then? 'Course, I'll have to travel from the North Bay ... didn't see a meetup north of the Golden Gate ... except for that Starbucks venue suggested for the SF meetup. Couldn't quite believe it that anyone would suggest a Starbucks, but hey, I've seen starnger stuff
posted by poorhouse at 11:29 PM on July 23, 2002

SESS SEFF

so hayes valley frjtz, eh?.

(crossing fingers: oh please please please have delerium tremens).
posted by fishfucker at 4:11 PM on July 24, 2002

AUSTIN

well, i'm working 'til 10 tomorrow, but i'm game for anything afterwards. should i check this thread from work?
posted by one.louder.ash! at 11:31 PM on August 5, 2002

AUSTIN

one.louder.ash!: I'm going to be at dave and buster's this evening, If you want to meetup there just drop me an email.
posted by betaray at 9:27 AM on August 6, 2002