San Francisco Meetup

August 23, 2004 10:38 AM

That NY, taunting us with its rich meetup culture! For the less spontaneous, Meetup.com just suggested September 7, and scarabic and I put it on our calendars. Meetup.com also suggested (for SF) Jillian's, which is conveniently located at the Metreon (4th and Mission) but has little else to recommend it. In the past, scarabic has suggested other places, too. How about it?
posted by caitlinb to MetaFilter gatherings at 10:38 AM (19 comments total)

The Depot and Faces are actually up in Sac, if we ever do Sac...

Anywhere is fine with me. Zeitgeist was pretty good to us last time ('cept that surly doorman). The area around the Metreon would be cool too, and quite BART-able. As I understand it, you can take your own pizzas and beers down to the bowling lanes under the Metreon, too.
posted by scarabic at 12:20 PM on August 23, 2004

You SFers, taunting us with your otherworldly continental ubercool and faraway heptitude!

Why do you think we drink so much in NY? I'll tell you! It's because we know we're not you, and it kills us. Now c'mere and give daddy a kiss.



Oh, alright. But bring cameras. And get fishfucker out with youse, okay? I get the feeling he hasn't gotten much sun lately.
posted by chicobangs at 12:56 PM on August 23, 2004

Scarabic - do you mean the hyperbowl that's in the airtight garage of Metreon? Or the actual bowling alley in Yerba Buena across from Metreon?

The hyperbowl place is an adjunct to a working bar, and I've found it crowded, pricey, and not all that much fun - how fun is pushing an overgrown mouse track ball after all? I'd be really surprised if they allowed people to bring their own food and drinks there. Last time I was there, wait-staff were constantly coming by to check on if you needed another (overpriced) beer.

The Yerba Buena bowling alley is fun - they have a working arrangement with Mo's the burger/pizza place upstairs, but they seem pretty loose.

OTOH, I've had fun at Jillians - pool tables, appetizers, bar, and all. It's not perfect, but then again, it's not Cafe Gratitude. ok, i know it's a cheap shot, and it's probably fabulous, and i haven't actually been there, but check out their menu!
posted by jasper411 at 2:28 PM on August 23, 2004

It's that time again!

...
posted by DaShiv at 2:35 PM on August 23, 2004

It was an actual bowling alley. Is it under YB, not the Metreon? I was there a long time ago....
posted by scarabic at 2:45 PM on August 23, 2004

For *actual* bowling, I think you mean Yerba Buena - right next to the ice skating rink.
posted by jasper411 at 2:55 PM on August 23, 2004

as ever and always, i'll recommend Zeitgeist, especially since summer's starting soon.
posted by badstone at 4:03 PM on August 23, 2004

i've actually been getting plenty of sun, because I've been living in the toasty valley of sacramento.

if i were in san francisco, i'd vote for zeitgeist again.

or biggums. biggums in oakland.

or maybe even lucky 13.

all good bars.
posted by fishfucker at 4:10 PM on August 23, 2004

We will definitely do an East Bay meetup soon. Maybe once our hangovers have worn off from this SF one.

Incidentally, I just double checked and I will be getting back from Burning Man only the day before, so I'm likely to be sore and tired, with lots of crap to deal with at home. I'll have to ammend my commitment level to something like 50%.
posted by scarabic at 5:12 PM on August 23, 2004

What do we have to do to get you into SF, ff?

I am totally fine with going the next week, and I'd rather do that than miss folks who are tired or disorganized from the holiday weekend. I'll be recuperating from 3-Day Novel, so I'll admit, I was kind of hoping someone could, you know, hold up beers for me and stuff.

But hey, I have some straws at home.
posted by caitlinb at 7:43 PM on August 23, 2004

Oooh, Lucky 13 is my favorite hangout in Alameda, but it's a pain to get to by public transit though. Wherever we land, please be kind to us BART types. Thanks. :)

And I second scarabic's mention that a couple more days of respite after Burning Man would be most welcome.
posted by DaShiv at 9:49 PM on August 23, 2004

Oh I assumed he meant Lucky 13 on Market (very BART-able).

Let's go the Friday night or the following week, then. I love Zeitgeist and always want to go there, but Lucky 13 is more convenient to BART.

Are we going to see anyone who couldn't make it last time?
posted by caitlinb at 10:02 PM on August 23, 2004

hmm. i actually might be able to make september 7th.

as for getting me to san francisco, all you have to do is put up a few hundred dollars to provide for my now-tired routine of nightly debauchery and morning regret.

I'm happy to be anyone's clown as long as I'm not buying.

heck, i'll even wear pants.

no promises though.
posted by fishfucker at 11:43 PM on August 23, 2004

oh yeah. lucky one three on market. i've never been to the alameda one. in fact, i heard it got bought out and turned into some kind of TGIF's-type concert venue).

the patio closes early there, so that kinda sucks.
posted by fishfucker at 11:45 PM on August 23, 2004

Are we going to see anyone who couldn't make it last time?

Maybe, but I can't make it September 7.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:53 PM on August 23, 2004

Hm. Lucky 13 [Alameda] is within stumbling distance for me. It looks a little too clean-cut from the outside, though.

Interestinly, Lucky 13 [City] was within falling down range as well, before I moved out here to the hinterlands, but now it's a bit more of a pain in the ass. I haven't been in there in a few years -- did they make the jukebox suck yet? I used to love that thing.

Oh, and Jillian's = Hell No. Yupp-mo-tated downtown bars are a big fat no-go.
posted by majick at 12:33 PM on August 24, 2004

Well, I'd love it to be in the city again, and I otherwise don't have much of a preference. Just keep me posted. Ya'll've got my email.
posted by quasistoic at 4:20 PM on August 25, 2004

Yes! We will have a freakin' FOX with us, people! Now how many of you will show up?

I propose Friday, September 10, at Zeitgeist. I volunteer to head over on the early side to stake out a table, preferably near the pink elephants. I'll probably get there somewhere between 6 and 7 PM.

I'll post about this again toward the end of next week, after the current rush of "I hate you personally" and "Wah! Politics in the blue!" nonsense here in MeTa dissipates. Well, or at least enough later to give the post a chance at staying on the front page of the grey for a couple of days.
posted by caitlinb at 5:02 PM on August 25, 2004

I guess at this point it would be OK to officially add me to the vague mailing-list-oid thing that went around last time. Or I could set up something on Mailman if needed.
posted by majick at 5:46 PM on August 25, 2004