NJ Meetup October 20, 2004 9:24 AM Subscribe
Rescheduled New Jersey MeFi Meet-up proposal [m.i.]:
New Brunswick is nice and central, but you have places that are flooded with college kids. Maybe we see who's interested, and pick a spot that's relatively easy for everyone?
2nd weekend of Nov. looks good for me.
posted by adampsyche at 10:11 AM on October 20, 2004
2nd weekend of Nov. looks good for me.
posted by adampsyche at 10:11 AM on October 20, 2004
I don't barhop so I really don't know anyplace to recommend. I'm much more likely to hit little coffee shops than bars.
posted by Karmakaze at 1:08 PM on October 20, 2004
posted by Karmakaze at 1:08 PM on October 20, 2004
Karmakaze, that'd be fine, too. I'm familiar with a bunch of cafes in Essex/Morris/Union county, but i'm not sure if any of them would be appropriate. Let me think overnight about some places that might suit the crowd...
posted by naxosaxur at 2:01 PM on October 20, 2004
posted by naxosaxur at 2:01 PM on October 20, 2004
Montclair is by far the most convenient for me. Newark is probably also possible. I should be able to make it on November 5 or 6, but I'll be travelling on the second weekend in November.
posted by Songdog at 5:31 AM on October 21, 2004
posted by Songdog at 5:31 AM on October 21, 2004
I'll come if you do it in Jersey City or Hoboken (somewhere Path train accessible) : >
posted by amberglow at 6:02 AM on October 21, 2004
posted by amberglow at 6:02 AM on October 21, 2004
If we're a little off the beaten PATH I'm sure some New Jerseyans can get you to and from city-bound trains, Amberglow. Montclair isn't on the PATH but it's on NJ Transit right into Penn Station (a half ride). This train is perversely inactive on weekends, however.
posted by Songdog at 6:40 AM on October 21, 2004
posted by Songdog at 6:40 AM on October 21, 2004
Montclair on the 5th or 6th? I can pick up amberglow from the path in Newark, I live not too far away. Someone pick a spot, I'm not too familiar with the town.
posted by adampsyche at 6:44 AM on October 21, 2004
posted by adampsyche at 6:44 AM on October 21, 2004
adampsyche, I'd also tentatively agree to Montclair. I can do it either Friday or Saturday, but Saturday is probably better. But Hoboken would also work for me. I only say Hoboken, so that the NYC MeFi contingent can make the journey, but for me, I'm not so fond of Hoboken. I say we wait and see what the consensus is when more people are vocal about areas.
I can also give anyone a ride if need be, but only if you are reasonably close (I live around South Orange). I’m not going down to like Red Bank or out to Californ to get you. However, I'm very familiar with Montclair, so we could find a place easily. Let me start thinking about places. Somewhere on Church Street, most likely...
posted by naxosaxur at 7:44 AM on October 21, 2004
I can also give anyone a ride if need be, but only if you are reasonably close (I live around South Orange). I’m not going down to like Red Bank or out to Californ to get you. However, I'm very familiar with Montclair, so we could find a place easily. Let me start thinking about places. Somewhere on Church Street, most likely...
posted by naxosaxur at 7:44 AM on October 21, 2004
The local internet cafe I know is The Internet Lounge, although I'm not sure folks would really make the trek to Fanwood, proximity to the NJT train station notwithstanding.
posted by Karmakaze at 8:03 AM on October 22, 2004
posted by Karmakaze at 8:03 AM on October 22, 2004
I think an internet cafe for a meetup might be just a bit too goofy for mefiers, no? We should at least pretend that we can exist outside of the intarwebs.
posted by adampsyche at 8:23 AM on October 22, 2004
posted by adampsyche at 8:23 AM on October 22, 2004
Still, one presumes we can't, as a culture, exist without caffeine and/or alcohol, as personally appropriate? Do people want to eat a meal, drink booze, drink coffee, or what? Montclair has some great food and a couple of coffeehouses. I haven't explored the bars. There are a few brewpub type places; a lot of the others are BYOB due to local liquor license costs and restrictions. I haven't been to either of these but: if people aren't crying out for booze or meals then Café Eclectic might work (coffee, dessert). For booze and meals, on the other hand, the South Park Bar & Grill might work. I can also recommend restaurants that I have been to, but I'm not sure how easy it would be to set up a meetup table. On the other hand, I'm not sure how many people might attend.
posted by Songdog at 10:09 AM on October 22, 2004
posted by Songdog at 10:09 AM on October 22, 2004
Songdog, If we meet on a Saturday, I'd do dinner and drinks. Or if the consensus wants dinner and coffee, fine. If we meet on Friday, I'd do only drinks/coffee because I work in the city, and can't get to Montclair until after 8pm.
First of all, we can still do Triumph in Princeton.
However, in Montclair, here are places i've been to in the past year, and can recommend. All these places are low-end, and good for groups:
Coffee:Cafe Eclectic: A good cafe (ahem Karmakaze) right on Bloomfield Avenue. The drawback is that although it's a mixed crowd, it's usually swarming with high school kids. Seating is bad for non-smokers (very small section, as opposed to huge smoking section). Songdog, I don't know any other cafes.
Dinner: Leones: Cheap, but mediocre Italian food. The good thing about this place is that it's good for groups, and no matter how busy they are, they never rush you from your table. Very casual and accommodating. It's also BYO.
Dinner: Mexicali Rose: Meh. It's Mexican, but greasy. Not one of my favorites, but good for groups. Not sure if it's BYO.
Drinks: Diva Lounge, which has the lamest name evar, but isn't so bad inside. Drawback, it's very loud on Saturday night, and there's a $10 cover. Also, it's dressy.
Drinks: South Park Bar. It's an average, local bar. They apparently serve food, but i've never had. Casual.
Drinks: Jakes. Meh. Drawback is it's loud for groups. I haven't been here in ages, and last time I went on a saturday night, there was like a $10 cover. But I think there are rooms in the back we could chill in. Casual.
Never been, but look okay for groups/cheap:
Dinner: Tinga Taqueria and review here: Never been, but looks good and cheap. "for a casual Tex/Mex chow-down at incredibly reasonable prices, Tinga Taqueria is hard to beat."
Btw, does anyone know anything about the London Food Co.? Anyone been?
Any suggestions or preferences?
posted by naxosaxur at 11:55 AM on October 22, 2004
First of all, we can still do Triumph in Princeton.
However, in Montclair, here are places i've been to in the past year, and can recommend. All these places are low-end, and good for groups:
Coffee:Cafe Eclectic: A good cafe (ahem Karmakaze) right on Bloomfield Avenue. The drawback is that although it's a mixed crowd, it's usually swarming with high school kids. Seating is bad for non-smokers (very small section, as opposed to huge smoking section). Songdog, I don't know any other cafes.
Dinner: Leones: Cheap, but mediocre Italian food. The good thing about this place is that it's good for groups, and no matter how busy they are, they never rush you from your table. Very casual and accommodating. It's also BYO.
Dinner: Mexicali Rose: Meh. It's Mexican, but greasy. Not one of my favorites, but good for groups. Not sure if it's BYO.
Drinks: Diva Lounge, which has the lamest name evar, but isn't so bad inside. Drawback, it's very loud on Saturday night, and there's a $10 cover. Also, it's dressy.
Drinks: South Park Bar. It's an average, local bar. They apparently serve food, but i've never had. Casual.
Drinks: Jakes. Meh. Drawback is it's loud for groups. I haven't been here in ages, and last time I went on a saturday night, there was like a $10 cover. But I think there are rooms in the back we could chill in. Casual.
Never been, but look okay for groups/cheap:
Dinner: Tinga Taqueria and review here: Never been, but looks good and cheap. "for a casual Tex/Mex chow-down at incredibly reasonable prices, Tinga Taqueria is hard to beat."
Btw, does anyone know anything about the London Food Co.? Anyone been?
Any suggestions or preferences?
posted by naxosaxur at 11:55 AM on October 22, 2004
Tinga Taqueria has tasty food (ate there last night) but next to no seating. If there are more than four or five of us that might be a problem. Mexicali Rose, which is BYOB, has plenty of seating but is pretty loud inside. I like the food at both places myself but almost always do takeout.
There are also two very good Thai places (I'm a Tuptim afficianado myself) and a vegetarian Indian restaurant that I can recommend. We've got two perfectly adequate regional chain brewpubs: The Office, and Charlie Brown's Steakhouse. I'm fine with these places and go to both from time to time; they're just not terribly unique. South Park Bar & Grill is the same sort of restaurant and I've heard it has a bigger menu but I've never been there myself.
I'm trying to think of more places!
I haven't been in the London Food Co., but my wife has. It's very, very small, basically an English grocery.
posted by Songdog at 2:59 PM on October 23, 2004
There are also two very good Thai places (I'm a Tuptim afficianado myself) and a vegetarian Indian restaurant that I can recommend. We've got two perfectly adequate regional chain brewpubs: The Office, and Charlie Brown's Steakhouse. I'm fine with these places and go to both from time to time; they're just not terribly unique. South Park Bar & Grill is the same sort of restaurant and I've heard it has a bigger menu but I've never been there myself.
I'm trying to think of more places!
I haven't been in the London Food Co., but my wife has. It's very, very small, basically an English grocery.
posted by Songdog at 2:59 PM on October 23, 2004
Ok. I put in my vote for Tinga Taqueria, for two reasons:
1. we need to nail down a spot.
2. tex mex rox my sox.
posted by adampsyche at 9:54 PM on October 23, 2004
1. we need to nail down a spot.
2. tex mex rox my sox.
posted by adampsyche at 9:54 PM on October 23, 2004
Heh, how about the Tinqa in Westfield...;) (I happen to be with a hundred feet of that one right now. I know, Montclair is better. Just thought it was funny).
I'm really not too terribly fussy. I can get to just about anyplace with enough warning.
posted by Karmakaze at 1:41 PM on October 24, 2004
I'm really not too terribly fussy. I can get to just about anyplace with enough warning.
posted by Karmakaze at 1:41 PM on October 24, 2004
Do we have a head count? I'm happy with Tinga but seating is really at a premium there. I can't imagine too many of us sitting together, or staying for too long, but we can always resettle elsewhere later. Oh, Tinga is BYOB, if that matters to anyone. It doesn't to me.
posted by Songdog at 7:36 AM on October 25, 2004
posted by Songdog at 7:36 AM on October 25, 2004
Okay, I can predict the most likely attendance gauging within this thread: me, adampsyche, Songdog, possibly amberglow, and Karmakaze. From the last NJ proposal thread, we also had prospective attendees Prospero, oaf, teferi, willpie, and bingo, but no word from them on this thread...
I'm vacillating between Tinga Taqueria and Leones. Leone's for dinner is better, because it is great for spontaneous crowds because they're not uptight, and really accommodating, and have a huge dining area that doesn't get too loud. Leone's is also byo. However, I'd rather have the food at Tinga Taqueria because I also like tex/mex and have never been. So I propose we meet at Tinga Taqueria and check-out the crowds. If it's just too crowded we can trek over to Leones. Is that too complicated? (btw: no to mexicali rose, charlie browns, or the office).
After dinner, I propose either South Park Bar or Eclectic Cafe, depending on majority rules. Here are the two time-slots that i propose, and I'm willing to do either or compromise (if you definitely want it on Friday and earlier, I guess I can leave work early):
Friday night, November 5 @ 8:00 pm (or earlier if you please)
--OR
Saturday night, November 6 @ 6:00 pm (or later if you please)
Okay, lurkers and introverts, please feel free to join us. The more the merrier. Significant-others are welcome, too. I'll also post a thread on MoFi this week to invite all the NJ/NYC Monkeys. Just reply with your preferred time...
posted by naxosaxur at 9:59 AM on October 25, 2004
I'm vacillating between Tinga Taqueria and Leones. Leone's for dinner is better, because it is great for spontaneous crowds because they're not uptight, and really accommodating, and have a huge dining area that doesn't get too loud. Leone's is also byo. However, I'd rather have the food at Tinga Taqueria because I also like tex/mex and have never been. So I propose we meet at Tinga Taqueria and check-out the crowds. If it's just too crowded we can trek over to Leones. Is that too complicated? (btw: no to mexicali rose, charlie browns, or the office).
After dinner, I propose either South Park Bar or Eclectic Cafe, depending on majority rules. Here are the two time-slots that i propose, and I'm willing to do either or compromise (if you definitely want it on Friday and earlier, I guess I can leave work early):
Friday night, November 5 @ 8:00 pm (or earlier if you please)
--OR
Saturday night, November 6 @ 6:00 pm (or later if you please)
Okay, lurkers and introverts, please feel free to join us. The more the merrier. Significant-others are welcome, too. I'll also post a thread on MoFi this week to invite all the NJ/NYC Monkeys. Just reply with your preferred time...
posted by naxosaxur at 9:59 AM on October 25, 2004
AFAIK I can make either day, either time. Some logistics for city folks:
Friday has the advantage of NJ Transit train service from New York Penn Station, which is not active on Saturday. Tinga is walking distance (2 blocks) from the Upper Montclair station of NJ Transit's midtown direct service on the Montclair-Boonton line. It's a forty minute trip and you can catch trains from NY Penn at 4:52, 5:45, 6:18, 6:40, and 7:37. I repeat: Friday only.
On Friday or Saturday NYC folks can also take the #66 Decamp bus from Port Authority to Bellevue Plaza, also 2 blocks from Tinga. This is a 25 minute ride barring unusual traffic. On Friday buses leave Port Authority every ten or twenty minutes from 4:55 through 8:10, then every half hour. On Saturday your only options are hourly at 5:30, 6:30 etc.
Pick up a schedule if you're catching a return trip. If I'm still at the party I'll be glad to help drive people to the next stop or back to the train or bus station.
posted by Songdog at 10:55 AM on October 25, 2004
Friday has the advantage of NJ Transit train service from New York Penn Station, which is not active on Saturday. Tinga is walking distance (2 blocks) from the Upper Montclair station of NJ Transit's midtown direct service on the Montclair-Boonton line. It's a forty minute trip and you can catch trains from NY Penn at 4:52, 5:45, 6:18, 6:40, and 7:37. I repeat: Friday only.
On Friday or Saturday NYC folks can also take the #66 Decamp bus from Port Authority to Bellevue Plaza, also 2 blocks from Tinga. This is a 25 minute ride barring unusual traffic. On Friday buses leave Port Authority every ten or twenty minutes from 4:55 through 8:10, then every half hour. On Saturday your only options are hourly at 5:30, 6:30 etc.
Pick up a schedule if you're catching a return trip. If I'm still at the party I'll be glad to help drive people to the next stop or back to the train or bus station.
posted by Songdog at 10:55 AM on October 25, 2004
Songdog, wow...great info. Adampsyche & karamakaze, what do you think about times and dates?
posted by naxosaxur at 11:21 AM on October 25, 2004
posted by naxosaxur at 11:21 AM on October 25, 2004
Crap, me too.
I think it's up to adampsyche now...re: if amberglow is coming because friday is easier for the NYC people.
/sorry to be so indecisive.
posted by naxosaxur at 1:09 PM on October 26, 2004
I think it's up to adampsyche now...re: if amberglow is coming because friday is easier for the NYC people.
/sorry to be so indecisive.
posted by naxosaxur at 1:09 PM on October 26, 2004
C'mon, amberglow, c'mon NY neighbors, we'll figure out a way to get you to and from the meetup. We're only 12 miles from the city, for crying out loud!
posted by Songdog at 4:50 PM on October 26, 2004
posted by Songdog at 4:50 PM on October 26, 2004
Okay, I'm putting my foot down and calling the date:
What: NJ MeFi Meet-up
Date: Saturday, November 6, 2004
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Tinga Taqueria, 215 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ. Phone: 973-509-8226.
Specs: BYO
Since there really is no apparent NYC participant interest, I'm picking the date that works better. So I'm rsvp'ing that I have that date open, so i'll see you all there! I'll post a follow-up thread a few days before. I'm also going to post on MoFi, and hope we can meet some of the monkeys.
posted by naxosaxur at 8:03 AM on October 27, 2004
What: NJ MeFi Meet-up
Date: Saturday, November 6, 2004
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Tinga Taqueria, 215 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair, NJ. Phone: 973-509-8226.
Specs: BYO
Since there really is no apparent NYC participant interest, I'm picking the date that works better. So I'm rsvp'ing that I have that date open, so i'll see you all there! I'll post a follow-up thread a few days before. I'm also going to post on MoFi, and hope we can meet some of the monkeys.
posted by naxosaxur at 8:03 AM on October 27, 2004
Ok. That work for me.
Incidentally, I was planning on getting together friends to see "The Incredibles" on whatever day the MeFi meetup wasn't. (We usually hit the South Brunswick Regal on rte 1 for an 8ish showing). I could post the logistics here when its planned, if anyone's interested.
posted by Karmakaze at 6:45 AM on October 28, 2004
Incidentally, I was planning on getting together friends to see "The Incredibles" on whatever day the MeFi meetup wasn't. (We usually hit the South Brunswick Regal on rte 1 for an 8ish showing). I could post the logistics here when its planned, if anyone's interested.
posted by Karmakaze at 6:45 AM on October 28, 2004
I'll be there. If anybody wants directions or needs convincing that it's easy to get to Montclair from Manhattan, please contact me.
posted by Songdog at 9:28 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by Songdog at 9:28 AM on October 28, 2004
FYI, I've posted an invitation on MoFi, found here. So far, the MoFi dignitaries attending are: immlass, goddam, and maybe forksclovetotofu!
posted by naxosaxur at 10:21 AM on October 28, 2004
posted by naxosaxur at 10:21 AM on October 28, 2004
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Of course, anyone is welcome: Lurkers, MoFi'ers, Out-of-State visitors, NY'ers, cT'ers, Jon Bon Jovi, the ghost of Frank Sinatra, heh...
I'm thinking somewhere in New Brunswick, Woodbridge, Princeton, Montclair, or Newark. We could also meet around the Hoboken/Edgewater/Weehawken area if you'd prefer. The date range is for Friday November 5 or Saturday November 6. So I'm wondering:
1. What location/area works best for you to meet?
2. What date works best for you?
3. Can you suggest a good restaurant/bar/event?
4. Do you need a ride?
posted by naxosaxur at 9:25 AM on October 20, 2004