Portland OR Meetup

July 10, 2003 1:59 PM

Screw Boston! Has there ever been a Pacific Northwest MeFi gathering? There are a fair number of Portland/Seattle MeFites.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly to MetaFilter Gatherings at 1:59 PM (44 comments total)

I suggest Portland, because I live there and have no car. We could even have a barbecue gathering, at Laurelhurst Park or some such somethin'. Anyone interested?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 2:01 PM on July 10, 2003

Come on up to Vancouver on July 25th. We're on the Pacific, north and west of most of you.
posted by timeistight at 2:07 PM on July 10, 2003

I understand if Vancouver trumps out my idea for most, but it's too far for me to really make it (busy these days). Without infringing, would a Portland meetup be anything more than redundant?

And vito90, you can bring your dog, so long as he is not confused by me eating off the floor.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 2:18 PM on July 10, 2003

Ignatius: I live quite close to Laurelhurst too and also don't have a car. I love barbecue and I love beer. There are also some great bars at the end of Hawthorne that would be fun to invade.

I'm too busy to get up to Vancouver right now, but a MeFiPDX would be easy to work around. I've never met a meFi member face to face and I'm intrigued by the idea.
posted by elwoodwiles at 2:22 PM on July 10, 2003

ironically enough, i just moved to seattle from boston.

i don't think i'll be in town to make it to the vancouver meetup, but i wouldn't mind dipping down to portland if that's the plan.

imagine my horror when i see a MeTa thread with the opening lines "Screw Boston!".
posted by christian at 2:25 PM on July 10, 2003

I've never met a meFi member face to face and I'm intrigued by the idea.

Nor have I (that I know of). They could be lurking anywhere.

So... how about a Sunday? Is July 27 too soon? Do we not want to conflict with the Vancouver gathering? July 20th? Early August.

I work your standard 9-5 schedule, so it's all the same to me, so if anyone has legitimate preferences, let's hear 'em.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 2:37 PM on July 10, 2003

I say have it on the 25th. We're having ours then as is San Fran. 3 MeFi meets all on one coast! Except that Portland isn't really on the coast, but you get the idea.

Or you could be all snobby and have yours on a different day.
posted by Salmonberry at 2:50 PM on July 10, 2003

Is July 27 too soon?

Well, it is my birthday but... I don't have a car--let alone a driver's license--plus David "Honeyboy" Edwards is playing at the Alki Tavern that night.
posted by y2karl at 2:54 PM on July 10, 2003

But the 25th is a Friday, and we (at least me and, implicitly, elwoodwiles) were thinking barbecue, which is better during the day, like on a Sat. or Sun. We could just go to a bar, but if there are any under-21 PDX MeFites, they shouldn't be excluded.

That being said, the tripartite West Coast gathering could be cool.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 2:54 PM on July 10, 2003

There's only one place to be in Portland from the 25th to the 27th.
posted by turbodog at 2:57 PM on July 10, 2003

Oh, come on y2karl.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 2:57 PM on July 10, 2003

There are two mefites in Olympia WA, at least. We're over 21 and fine with commiting acts of drinkery.

I'll talk to him and see what he thinks.
posted by Captain_Tenille at 3:00 PM on July 10, 2003

The first time I went to Victoria I mentioned to a group of friends, "wow! This city is rocking! I never realized how many neat places there are in the Pacific Northwest!" One of my friends, a Canuck from U-Vic, said "Sure. But here it's the Pacific Southwest." Silly me.
posted by norm at 3:05 PM on July 10, 2003

Victoria? Rocking? Victoria must have really changed since I was at UVic.
posted by Salmonberry at 3:14 PM on July 10, 2003

7/25 in Port Land sounds good at the moment for the Oly mefites. We'll see, but I don't see any overwhelming reason I can't go.

Gotta clear it on the home front, of course.
posted by Captain_Tenille at 3:15 PM on July 10, 2003

Sundays are good for me. I have a weird schedule, so I'm not sure if I could swing a friday - I might, I might not.

On the barbecue front there's also Mt Tabor, North America's only urban volcano, which features scenic vistas of SE Portland and Downtown. It's also possible to get a beer permit through the city that would allow us to drink, well, beer. Barbecues are more organizing, but would also be more intimate, especially if we have a larger group.

The bar scene in Portland is pretty cool too. On Sundays the Bar of the Gods, located conveniently near the volcano, plays the Simpsons and has free pool. The BoG is full service and has a kitchen. The bar would be more chaotic, but easier if we have a smaller group.

I'm really just throwing ideas around, seeing what might stick. Whatever gets decided, schedule permitting, I'm in.
I guess I leaning toward barbecue
posted by elwoodwiles at 3:24 PM on July 10, 2003

7/25 in Portland sounds like fun, but I'm pretty sure a field trip to the Oregon Brew Fest will be required. Also, did hear that Blitz beer is no more? I wouldn't have made it through college without that stuff.

Hmmm...now that i think about it, I didn't make it through college! Damn you Blitz beer!! mmmmmm....
posted by car_bomb at 3:38 PM on July 10, 2003

I'm with elwood. Friday night would be harder than Sunday for me, as by the time I get home from work, rangle together some shit for the gathering, and get to wherever the gathering is, I will be either late or tired.

Is Sunday, 7/27 cool with the Olympians?

I also lean toward BBQ, though if we go to Tabor I would probably not be able to bring the grill.

Both Laurelhurst and Tabor are close to a number of drinkeries, so we could do both ideas.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 3:44 PM on July 10, 2003

Are any of those suggesting Friday unable to come on a Sunday?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 3:45 PM on July 10, 2003

Sunday makes more sense as it gives everyone time to prepare, plus we get an entire day to get drunk and eat bbq!

I'll check with Captain_Tenille and see if it's still a good day for him.
posted by car_bomb at 3:51 PM on July 10, 2003

If we are going with Sunday, and there are going to be less than, say, 10-12 people, I can bring my grill (though it is small) and charcoal and such.

Food? I am a vegitarian, but a good sport. If I am the only veg., I can tote along some sort of gardenburger while everyone else partakes of something good. If there are more veg's, we can actually put some effort into something for us. (note--if you are a veg., please specify if you are the whiny kind that can't submit to sharing a grill with carnivores)

Any other input on which park (Waterfront is out--beerfest)?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 4:02 PM on July 10, 2003

"Any other input on which park?"
Something out-of-towners can find easily I hope.
posted by car_bomb at 4:04 PM on July 10, 2003

7/27 is great and Laurelhurst is as good a park as any. (Well, better then most actually) I don't have a grill, but I could borrow one if we want to separate meats from veggies. Laurelhurst is quite big so maybe you (ignatious) or I should go scout a location and inform the rest of the crowd where in the park we are planning on being.

On preview: Laurelhurst is large and easy to find. It's located off 39th ave which is a very major through-fare.
posted by elwoodwiles at 4:09 PM on July 10, 2003

Whoo-hoo! 7/27 at Laurelhurst it is.

As elwood said, out-of-towners whould have no trouble at all finding Laurelhurst. It is in SE Portland. If you have never driven here, the only tricky part is that due to the whole quadrant thing (NE, SE, SW, NW), there are two of every numbered street.

More specifics as we figure it out.

Who's in?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 4:13 PM on July 10, 2003

I'm all for the park rather than the bar, but I would like to point, just to further awe the out-of-towners, that

Bar of the Gods, located conveniently near the volcano

also features a doorway in the shape of a stonehenge standing stone configuration.
posted by cortex at 4:37 PM on July 10, 2003

Date: 7/27
Place: Laurelhurst Park
Time: ???
posted by turbodog at 7:20 PM on July 10, 2003

As for Blitz beer, someone is still making it, but the Henry Weinhard's and Rainer breweries have been shut down and the Olympia brewery will be closing soon.
posted by turbodog at 7:24 PM on July 10, 2003

Profit!
posted by cortex at 8:55 PM on July 10, 2003

Oooh...7/27...I think I'll be a bit too tired to make it. Let me know when the next one is though.

Also, if there are any bloggers here, we meet once a month at Kell's, and a good time is had by all.
posted by frykitty at 9:04 PM on July 10, 2003

5 o'clock?
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 6:58 AM on July 11, 2003

5 o'clocks good with me. I'll check back in this thread in a few hours if I have time.
posted by elwoodwiles at 11:18 AM on July 11, 2003

I don't wish to presumptuously mine people's email adresses from this page, so maybe everyone who thinks they might go could email me? I'll be in contact with elwood via email, and we will select a spot (i'll also see about this "beer permit" thingy) in the park and email folks with more info. This sounds like it will be fun, if we get a few people to come out.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 11:46 AM on July 11, 2003

i'm kind of late to the party here, but i would love to come to such a meetup. except i work sunday through wednesday. cry for me, eh?

next time though, my boyfriend is a brewer for mcmenamin's and i could probably hook us up with a pony keg of hammerhead. also i am under 21, so i'd be doing it for my own benefit. :)
posted by pikachulolita at 12:30 PM on July 11, 2003

my boyfriend is a brewer for mcmenamin's

You need a new friend, and that person's name is me.
posted by cortex at 8:49 PM on July 11, 2003

hey! i'm a lurker, but an active lurker. and a portland person! can i come too?
posted by wickedfat at 11:14 PM on July 11, 2003

You have to bring the absynthe, wickedfat.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 12:33 AM on July 12, 2003

I am a vegitarian, but a good sport.

Ignatius J. Reilly doesn't eat Lucky Dogs?

I'm not in Portland, but it's a great town. Have fun at the BBQ.
posted by Frank Grimes at 9:57 PM on July 12, 2003

I'm a half-ass in all endeavors, Grimesy.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 11:59 PM on July 12, 2003

in answer to the original question, "Has there ever been a Pacific Northwest MeFi gathering?", the answer is "yes, several". The most recent was in Seattle, at Gasworks Park.
posted by Mars Saxman at 7:40 AM on July 14, 2003

I'll be in PDX for the brewfest that weekend... I could make a Sunday afternoon gathering.
posted by maniactown at 10:57 AM on July 14, 2003

in answer to the original question, "Has there ever been a Pacific Northwest MeFi gathering?", the answer is "yes, several". The most recent was in Seattle, at Gasworks Park.

And we have pictures to prove it.
posted by y2karl at 11:48 AM on July 14, 2003

I can't make any get togethers until December, y'all have fun without me. I won't even bother asking if there are any MeFites in Central Vermont.
posted by jessamyn at 5:43 AM on July 16, 2003

I am a dirty south GA metafilter member. But I'm in Seattle for the summer. I just might see about swinging down to Portland and the Park this weekend. Sounds like a blast.

Do I need to bring anything?

Could somebody pick me up from the train station? or some other downtown spot. I'd like to hit Powell's books while I'm down there. Portland folk, expect some emails from me.
posted by zpousman at 10:58 AM on July 23, 2003

5 o'clock, Laurelhurst Park, at the picnic tables by the horseshoe-playing area.
posted by Ignatius J. Reilly at 10:17 PM on July 26, 2003