DC meetup proposal

July 8, 2003 12:58 PM

Now that we have the nifty zip-code identifier, I see that there is a decent crowd here in DC. Any want to do a gathering? This is the time of year....patios and roofdecks are open, its light late, perfect time for picking a bar and going to meet a bunch of strangers.
posted by pjgulliver to MetaFilter gatherings at 12:58 PM (57 comments total)

I'd be up for it. Especially since I've already been to Vegas once this year.
posted by JoanArkham at 1:21 PM on July 8, 2003

Nobody likes me.
posted by Witty at 1:31 PM on July 8, 2003

Well that's three...
posted by pjgulliver at 1:36 PM on July 8, 2003

We just missed Joi Ito's party, but I'm good for anything from August onward.

(I'd like to point out that the last time we had a MeFi Meetup event in Washington DC, only me and MrMoonPie came. We waited for an hour in Kramerbooks, and nothing happened, so we left, each a bit more cynical and brokenhearted. *sob*)
posted by brownpau at 1:51 PM on July 8, 2003

yeah
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:56 PM on July 8, 2003

Well, I would have kept both of you company in Kramer's.

Who's Joi Ito?
posted by pjgulliver at 1:59 PM on July 8, 2003

me too.
posted by win_k at 3:27 PM on July 8, 2003

I'm afraid of strangers, but I like Kramerbooks.

I think Joi Ito is a computer networking/IT guru and DC blogger.
posted by onlyconnect at 3:44 PM on July 8, 2003

…and MetaFilter member.
posted by timeistight at 3:52 PM on July 8, 2003

Monica Lewinsky used to go to Kramerbooks a lot
posted by matteo at 3:56 PM on July 8, 2003

Does Kramerbooks/Afterwords sill offer the Trent Latte? (black coffee and white steamed milk, served in separate but equal cups)

I'm so there. (With or without the Trent Latte.)
posted by arco at 5:00 PM on July 8, 2003

I'd be interested! I forget why I couldn't go to the meetup one... so brownpau, and MrMoonPie, please have my most sincerest apologies.
posted by tittergrrl at 7:56 PM on July 8, 2003

I used to live in the area... can I attend in spirit?
posted by jonson at 8:15 PM on July 8, 2003

Anyone know of any good roof deck type places? That won't be overrun with tourons, interns or yuppies?

Oh, and Metro accessible.

And a pony...
posted by JoanArkham at 4:05 AM on July 9, 2003

Anyone know Gazuza on CT Ave, about a block north of Kramers? There may be some yuppies there Joan, but it has a pretty good deck that looks right over Connecticut and usually isn't crowded until late in the evening. Just an idea cause Kramers could be a little cramped if more than 2-3 people show.
posted by pjgulliver at 6:20 AM on July 9, 2003

I'm in - name the time and place. I am free except for one week in August (15-22). Yuppies don't bother me, but I also vote for Metro accessible. Parking is way too ugly down there among the pretty people.
posted by Irontom at 7:01 AM on July 9, 2003

Friday, August 8th anyone?
posted by JoanArkham at 7:46 AM on July 9, 2003

Oh, argh. I just found out I'm gone from Aug 8th to Aug 20th, so those are out for me.
posted by brownpau at 7:53 AM on July 9, 2003

How about Thursday August 7th? I always like Thursdays, if you have a good Thursday evening, its almost like the weekend has started early.
posted by pjgulliver at 8:18 AM on July 9, 2003

I'll join in as well...unless I flake on it.. heh, I'm just being honest.
posted by dirtylittlemonkey at 8:39 AM on July 9, 2003

To avoid yuppies, I suggest Atomic Billiards in Cleveland Park. It's small, near the metro, has a decent jukebox, etc. They don't really have food, though.

For a nice rooftop thing, there's the Reef in Adams Morgan. It's a bit trendier and would probably be too busy on a Friday or Saturday. And it's a small hike from the Woodley Park metro (though a shuttle bus does run). But it's nice. Oh yeah, there's also a new crepe place at 18th/Florida/U that has a patio and a few Belgian beers on tap...can't remember the name.
posted by mookieproof at 8:41 AM on July 9, 2003

The reef would be ridiculously crowded. The place on 18th/U is L'Enfant, I've heard good things about it.
posted by pjgulliver at 8:52 AM on July 9, 2003

Crepes? That sounds so...girly. ;)

I'm open to anything I can get to by Metro, anytime in August or later. Except for the weekend of the 16th, when I'll be at this. /geek
posted by JoanArkham at 8:57 AM on July 9, 2003

I can't be there, but you might want to consider Politiki for your meetup. I was there two weeks ago, it's right by a metro stop and it's relatively uncrowded, the upstairs sports bar gets most of the traffic. Plus, if you buy one of their presidential mugs, the barkeep will probably comp you a couple of kickass umbrella drinks.

As an extra bonus, congressional pages seem to like to hang out there, so you can eavesdrop on all the juicy political infighting.
posted by MrBaliHai at 9:00 AM on July 9, 2003

I know I'm only attending in spirit, but I gotta go with the Atomic Billiards. That place rocks. Plus, I'm really good at pool. Maybe if the meetup is somewhere else, I'll attend Atomic Billiards in spirit first, before my spirit goes over to L'enfant or Politiki to join you all.
posted by jonson at 9:12 AM on July 9, 2003

Doesn't Politiki have that quiz game (quizzo?) on Tuesdays?

(And I think it was Politics & Prose that did the Trent Latte. Brilliant.)

*debates a shift from electronic universe to real one*
posted by gottabefunky at 10:06 AM on July 9, 2003

I can probably do Thursday, August 7 if I can show up after 7:30. Gazuza or the crepe place (I like the similarly-themed, tiny Chez Antoine's in Adams Morgan) or Atomic Billiards work for me. I think I have also had good luck with the outdoor seating at Bardeo (cheap tapas) in Cleveland Park, if I'm thinking of the right place (I might be mixing it up w/ Bambule in Friendship Heights). I offer those b/c I still kind of like the idea of sitting outside, but the other places like Atomic Billiards sound good, too. I don't know about the quiz game, but I think Tuesdays and Thursdays are sometimes rugby nights at Politiki.
posted by onlyconnect at 10:15 AM on July 9, 2003

Tuesdays and Thursdays are sometimes rugby nights at Politiki

I was there on a Tuesday night and no quizzes or rugby players were in evidence. Of course I was so blitzed after my 3rd MaiTai that Russell Crowe could've body slammed me into the jukebox and I wouldn't have noticed...=^/
posted by MrBaliHai at 11:02 AM on July 9, 2003

Ok. I'm going to call it.

Thursday, August 7. Gazuza balconey. On Connecticut Ave, the right hand side heading north of the subway station.

Sound good?

(my rationale is that the Dupont station is a good place to meet because its pretty central)
posted by pjgulliver at 12:52 PM on July 9, 2003

More info on the restaurant here.


(Oh, and I'll be there barring some sort of Crisis.)
posted by JoanArkham at 1:12 PM on July 9, 2003

Hmm, and what time are we meeting?
posted by JoanArkham at 1:13 PM on July 9, 2003

I like.
posted by brownpau at 1:15 PM on July 9, 2003

Let's say 8:30?
posted by pjgulliver at 1:18 PM on July 9, 2003

I work until 9:00 Thursdays (downtown) so I can be there 9:15 or so.

Politiki has that Pittsburgh connection going for it (or against it, depending on your approach), with excellent pierogies and Primanti-style sandwiches which are only pale abstractions of the real thing (you need the decades of grease built up on the grill of the original Primanti's before you get that flava) but still pretty good. If you walked into Politiki and said "How y'unz doin?" you'd probably get a free beer.

But, I'm up for anywhere.
posted by arco at 1:27 PM on July 9, 2003

Just stay out of Atomic on Fridays. And ...the other place... on Tuesdays. I'd hate to watch the regular blogger gatherings there shed your blood needlessly. Well, actually I'd enjoy watching it, but that seemed impertinent to say. So I didn't.
posted by NortonDC at 1:56 PM on July 9, 2003

Norton makes the very good point that there is already a regular Friday evening blogger gathering at Atomic Billiards. Come one, come all!

August 7 at Gazuza sounds good to me, though. See you then!
posted by MrMoonPie at 8:34 AM on July 10, 2003

How will we know who the other Mefiers are out there in Gazuza?
posted by pjgulliver at 8:47 AM on July 10, 2003

Hi! My Screen Name Is:
posted by gottabefunky at 9:34 AM on July 10, 2003

Wear something #006699?

I'm setting up a wiki now. Will post here when it works.
posted by brownpau at 9:37 AM on July 10, 2003

Someone ought to volunteer to wear a Metafilter Thong .

Happily, it will not be me.
posted by onlyconnect at 9:37 AM on July 10, 2003

Er, what's a wiki?

We could all wear a pancake on our heads...
posted by JoanArkham at 9:52 AM on July 10, 2003

Happily, it will not be me.

Luckily for the rest of you, it will not be me, either.
posted by arco at 9:53 AM on July 10, 2003

Yeah I don't get the #006699 or "wiki" reference
posted by pjgulliver at 9:56 AM on July 10, 2003

#006699 is the MetaFilter blue; a wiki is a kind of collaborative website that everyone can edit simultaneously.
posted by timeistight at 10:36 AM on July 10, 2003

006699 is the particular PMS blue color used on the main page (e.g., wear something slatey blue) -- a much more sensible suggestion than the thong idea! A "wiki" (I think) is a webpage/database we can add to with details about time, place, etc., which will be especially useful once this thread rolls off the page. Thanks, brownpau!

(Note: it would be funny to have a MeFi Politiki Wiki.)

Is there any way to ensure we can still get a table outside if we don't get there til 8:30?
posted by onlyconnect at 10:37 AM on July 10, 2003

Oops. What timeistight said much more succinctly.
posted by onlyconnect at 10:40 AM on July 10, 2003

It's usually easy to get a table until around 9:30ish, but I'd be happy to make the get together earlier if people want.
posted by pjgulliver at 10:56 AM on July 10, 2003

Actually, it's RGB, not PMS. Translating between PMS and RGB colours is problematic and dependant on gamma values and other such mundanity, though mathowie probably gave a PMS value to Cafe Press for the t-shirts.
posted by timeistight at 10:58 AM on July 10, 2003

If you want to see a wiki in the flesh, look at the MetaFilter Wiki.
posted by timeistight at 11:01 AM on July 10, 2003

8:30 sounds good, pjg, I just wanted to check.

Serves me right for trying to sound like I know what I'm talking about, timeistight.
posted by onlyconnect at 11:57 AM on July 10, 2003

How will we know who the other Mefiers are

Walk up to the 6 1/2 foot tall guy with a ponytail. Ask "Hey, are you MrMoonPie?" If he kicks your ass, it's Steven Segal. If he doesn't, it's me!
posted by MrMoonPie at 12:10 PM on July 10, 2003

MeFiDC Wiki!

(I used QwikiWiki, so the thing's really bare and simple. Reformat and append as needed.)
posted by brownpau at 12:12 PM on July 10, 2003

Thanks brownpau. Now I just can't stop saying wiki. Wiki, wiki, wiki!
posted by JoanArkham at 12:20 PM on July 10, 2003

No link to the autographed shorts pic, MrMoonPie?
posted by NortonDC at 12:38 PM on July 10, 2003

As requested....
posted by MrMoonPie at 1:42 PM on July 10, 2003

Hey, add me to the list BP - I'm totally there. I'll be the chain smoker. (Unless I get weirded out by the prospect of meeting people who until now have remained virtual. Then I'll stay home and chain smoke.)
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:20 PM on July 29, 2003

Hmm, I need very little excuse for drinking on a patio on a Thursday night. Lurkers welcome?
posted by MiddleSea at 2:07 PM on July 31, 2003