Chicago Meetup

January 6, 2005 9:03 AM

So what with all the new members around, we should be able to get more than four people together for a Chicago meetup, right?
posted by Johnny Assay to MetaFilter Gatherings at 9:03 AM (62 comments total)

I would propose some time over the weekend of the 22nd, although the MLK long weekend (the weekend of the 15th) would work fine for me too. As for location, the Hopleaf (where we went last time) is nice, but it is somewhat out of the way for us South-Siders. Any thoughts?
posted by Johnny Assay at 9:05 AM on January 6, 2005

Yes! I was supposed to make it to the last one and completely forgot until about 10 that night. Sorry 'bout that.

Hopleaf is my bar of choice, but I'm open to others. The weekend of the 15th is booked for me, but the following weekend is still free.
posted by me3dia at 9:17 AM on January 6, 2005

Yeah, man.
posted by kenko at 9:43 AM on January 6, 2005

I'd be game. MLK weekend is out, but the weekend of the 22nd would work for me. Location doesn't matter to me as long as they have good beer and I can park relatively cheaply. Hopleaf looks cool and I haven't been there, and I'm always game to add a new bar to my repertoire. What about Schubas or the Gingerman?
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 10:22 AM on January 6, 2005

i'm out of town the weekend of the 22nd. i flaked on the last one, but would like to try again. i think the hopleaf is too far for southsiders (i'm more a gold coaster myself) but because i don't actually drink beer, don't feel up to suggesting an alternative (i'm fond of the duke of perth, which is a tad small, though).
posted by crush-onastick at 10:29 AM on January 6, 2005

as long as they have good beer

Do you folks want to tell him about the Hopleaf's beer list, or should I?
posted by Johnny Assay at 10:33 AM on January 6, 2005

They've got single malts at the Hopleaf too, crush-onastick. But it is pretty far north, and I want to ID painquale.
posted by kenko at 10:38 AM on January 6, 2005

I might be game... 15th is out for me, but 22nd would probably work assuming I don't have another damn "couples' shower".

Where's Hopleaf?
posted by chundo at 10:59 AM on January 6, 2005

Was there a meetup last time? I went to the Hopleaf but didn't see anyone. We need a secret code or something.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 11:09 AM on January 6, 2005

The people who found each other went upstairs and hid. Corpse walked around with a napkin that said "mefi" but must have missed you.
posted by kenko at 11:44 AM on January 6, 2005

Schuba's is way to crowded and loud for a meetup. Hopleaf has an upstairs bar that's open on the weekends that's perfect for this sort of thing -- we use it for Gapers Block get-togethers all the time. Or, if a couple of us get food we can sit in the restaurant area.

(Chundo, it's on Clark just south of Foster in Andersonville.)

We need a secret code or something.
How 'bout a picture of pancakes on the table?
posted by me3dia at 12:14 PM on January 6, 2005

How 'bout a picture of pancakes on the table?

That would be sweet.

trharlan, you live in Chicago now? Welcome!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 12:46 PM on January 6, 2005

Clark just south of Foster in Andersonville.

Christ, that's home -- just south of Ericcson's. Man, I need to move back.

I'd come up, but I'm in Detroit that weekend. I'll watch to see if the date changes.
posted by eriko at 1:07 PM on January 6, 2005

Well, let's throw the weekend of the 29th into the mix then, too. The 29th itself doesn't work for me, but I could do an early-evening gathering on Sunday night, say. Hopefully we can determine which of those three weekends causes the fewest people's panties to get in a bunch.
posted by Johnny Assay at 1:33 PM on January 6, 2005

i'm okay with: 14, 15, 28, 29, 30. but generally prefer any night but sunday; as in, i'd rather go with a wednesday than a sunday.
posted by crush-onastick at 1:39 PM on January 6, 2005

Gingerman would be a good option, Slack-a-gogo. Not too far from the Addison Red Line stop, plenty of room most nights (provided there's no mega show at Metro).
posted by me3dia at 2:19 PM on January 6, 2005

Me and jennyb will attend again. Anywhere is fine, but the Hopleaf is prefered, since it's only a couple of blocks away. Lava Lounge is cool if you get there early and get the little room in the back.
posted by corpse at 3:53 PM on January 6, 2005

As of now just about any day would work for me so I'm in the "go with the flow" camp. I agree that Schuba's isn't very meetup friendly now that I think about it. Hopleaf sounds really cool, especially since they seem to have room to stake out a piece of social real estate. Gingerman can get noisy and crowded too, especially on the weekends, so it might not be such a good idea.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 4:56 PM on January 6, 2005

Yay, we can come this time! Whenever, we'll be there.
posted by sugarfish at 6:07 PM on January 6, 2005

I live in the burbs but might show up on a weekend. Vote for hopleaf, even though I don't know where it is.
posted by goethean at 6:50 PM on January 6, 2005

Sure, any time, if you move it about 300 miles south.
posted by davy at 7:16 PM on January 6, 2005

God, davy, you just don't quit, do you?
posted by me3dia at 10:27 PM on January 6, 2005

I've got to be the only guy from Bridgeport here
posted by Bighappyfunhouse at 10:50 PM on January 6, 2005

I've got to be the only guy from Bridgeport here.

S'okay, we'll talk slow. ;)

We could invite Hizzoner. Maybe even get a street brownsigned "mathowie" or "quonsar."

I think Stav would lose. That's a lot of letters.
posted by eriko at 4:50 AM on January 7, 2005

"stavrosthewonderchicken" has fewer characters than "Herb Kent (The Kool Gent)", so it should be ok.
posted by kenko at 7:16 AM on January 7, 2005

A lister? Pfft. Nope.
posted by sugarfish at 8:14 AM on January 7, 2005

Man, I gotta start reading MeTa more often. I may be able to make it as well. I remember I bailed last time at the last minute, I'll make valiant efforts to not do that again this time...
posted by 40 Watt at 8:56 AM on January 7, 2005

Me: "Sure, any time, if you move it about 300 miles south."

me3dia: "God, davy, you just don't quit, do you?"

That was a JOKE, and a mildly self-deprecating one at that. It's like this: I can't get to Chicago, so if the Chicagolanders really want me at their party they gotta "bring the mountain to Muhammed". Which clearly won't happen for several obvious reasons. (Get it now?)
posted by davy at 10:22 AM on January 7, 2005

I just moved to Chicago. If there's a meetup - I'll swing by!
posted by xammerboy at 10:45 AM on January 7, 2005

I'm in.
posted by eamondaly at 11:52 AM on January 7, 2005

I'm out in the 'burbs but am always looking for a reason to come into the city and imbibe; I'm in.
posted by AllesKlar at 12:16 PM on January 7, 2005

All right, so what's the date, then?
I'm currently free the weekend of 1/22 and 1/29, or any weekday except Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

*starts looking for pancake photos, becomes disturbed by the search results for "pancakes metafilter."*
posted by me3dia at 12:55 PM on January 7, 2005

Can't we have an actual rabbit with a pancake on its head?
posted by kenko at 12:57 PM on January 7, 2005

I have a friend with a rabbit, but I doubt she'll let me take it to a bar.

The more signage, the merrier, however.
posted by me3dia at 1:14 PM on January 7, 2005

I'm in like Flynn! And please not schuba's, small overpriced drinks! I love it as a venue, but they're stingy on the pour and sticky with their prices.

Also, may I suggest the Hungry Brain? Nice place.
posted by mrs.pants at 2:15 PM on January 7, 2005

I've got to be the only guy from Bridgeport here

Yay! There's 2 of us on the South Side now (I'm in Marquette Park).
posted by macadamiaranch at 2:46 PM on January 7, 2005

Hey, the hungry brain is a nice place!

And Johnny Assay's south side as well.
posted by kenko at 3:01 PM on January 7, 2005

Kelly Hogan is at Schuba's on the 28th. That's a big selling point for me, but probably not for everyone else. Barring that, I'll settle for somewhere off the RedLine that weekend.

At least 4 of us on the South Side.
posted by felix betachat at 4:21 PM on January 7, 2005

That would be five South Siders, I go to lovely IIT, at least for another semester! And yeah whatever works for me I'll try to be by.
posted by onalark at 2:35 AM on January 8, 2005

That's it. Screw the Northside. My vote is for Jimmy's Woodlawn Tap. 55th & Woodlawn.
posted by felix betachat at 8:03 AM on January 8, 2005

NO
posted by kenko at 9:45 AM on January 8, 2005

Jimmy's!
posted by bonheur at 10:19 AM on January 8, 2005

Five doesn't make a majority, guys. :)

If we need a neutral location, may I suggest the Billy Goat at Hubbard and Michigan (lower level)? There'll be plenty of space, and it's a landmark of sorts. Another option could be Trader Vic's in the Palmer House, but that might be a bit pricey.
posted by me3dia at 11:17 AM on January 8, 2005

I say those with the lowest user numbers select the location.

j/k!!! *wink*

Billy Goat works for me and I think it's a fair compromise between northside and southside.

Representin' Foster/Western!
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 1:31 PM on January 8, 2005

Kevin, you're my neighbor. /represents Western and Lawrence.
posted by sugarfish at 6:50 PM on January 8, 2005

All right, before this slips off the MeTa front page: How does the evening of January 28th at the Billy Goat sounds for everyone? (I probably won't be able to make it there until late-ish, but it's a better option for me than the 29th, when I won't be able to make it at all.)
posted by Johnny Assay at 8:35 AM on January 9, 2005

I'm down. Maybe we should make a new post to confirm the time and date.
posted by me3dia at 9:42 PM on January 9, 2005

If it is right after work on the 28th I can make an appearance (I work right across the street from the Billy Goat. : )) However, I am going to a convention that evening so if it's any later I won't be able to make it. : (

And I live in the west suburbs and work downtown. : )
posted by SisterHavana at 8:08 AM on January 10, 2005

Oh yeah, the weekend of the 22nd works for me.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:11 AM on January 10, 2005

I second the Hungry Brain, it's a dive but it's got more class than, say, Jimmy's which veers out of "dive" territory and into "dump" territory. Plus it's real close-like to my office.

I also meekly suggest Four Moon(I think that's the name) on Roscoe, and Ginger's Ale House on Ashland. Anywhere but Hyde Park.
posted by 40 Watt at 1:39 PM on January 10, 2005

the evening of January 28th at the Billy Goat

works for me. are we looking at a post-workish 6:00 or a later sort of thing?
posted by crush-onastick at 1:48 PM on January 10, 2005

There is indeed a Four Moon on Roscoe.
posted by kenko at 2:17 PM on January 10, 2005

I'm hoping for slightly later than 6, as I'll be driving in from work in the NW suburbs. However, I can just show up late if others want to meet that early.

We *really* need to settle on a place and date if we expect this to happen. I just realized I have a conflict for the 28th, but any other day mentioned works for me.
posted by me3dia at 2:37 PM on January 10, 2005

I'm out for the 28th (wife's birthday). The 22nd works better but I do have a show at Abbey Pub that afternoon so basically, the late afternoon/night of the 22nd will be the only do-able scenario for me.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 2:40 PM on January 10, 2005

All right, folks, I'll step up: E-mail me at the address in the profile, and let me know which of the following evenings works or doesn't work for you: 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 28th, 29th, 30th. (Leave that "mefi" in there, if you could, and it'll help me filter.) Once a couple of days have gone by, I'll figure out which of those days has the least conflicts and post the result.
posted by Johnny Assay at 7:19 PM on January 10, 2005

The efficacy of that procedure depends on how many people are still checking this thread now that it's fallen off the front page.
posted by kenko at 7:24 PM on January 10, 2005

True, but they can just decide whether to come once Johnny posts the date/time/place. Hey -- did we determine a place?


*I assume he's making a new announcement post -- kenk's right that it wouldn't reach many people down here in the archives.
posted by me3dia at 8:22 PM on January 10, 2005

I meant, not many people will necessarily know to even email JA unless a new post is made to advertise that.
posted by kenko at 7:46 AM on January 11, 2005

It should be obvious by now, but Matt's added an item to the sidebar listing meetups, so that should help keep the thread alive. At least, that's how I found it again.
posted by eamondaly at 1:02 PM on January 12, 2005

It'd be kinda cool to meet a fellow Eamon, but I doubt I'll be able to make the trip this month.
posted by Eamon at 6:26 PM on January 13, 2005

Well, Johnny Assay, what's the verdict?
posted by me3dia at 1:32 PM on January 14, 2005

Just in case anybody still checks this thing, the 28th is pretty good for me, although the Goat is a bit harder of a sell. Any chance of it getting moved up northerly a little ways?
posted by 40 Watt at 10:06 AM on January 20, 2005