Meetup in London, July 2005

July 7, 2005 10:46 PM

I propose a meetup in London as soon as we get into relative normality in this city.
posted by keijo to MetaFilter Gatherings at 10:46 PM (35 comments total)

This is also to clear up the fumes from various meta-threads about various people getting worked up about nothing. Any dates that you would prefer?
posted by keijo at 10:48 PM on July 7, 2005

Can quonsar come?
posted by nthdegx at 12:20 AM on July 8, 2005

Haha, nthdegx, if he dares :) We are a tolerant lot here, but I wouldn't rule out a smack on the head by some members...
posted by keijo at 2:05 AM on July 8, 2005

I missed the last one by a week, and there's only a waif of a chance I'd make another, but if the date's right I'll book a ticket.
posted by NinjaPirate at 4:00 AM on July 8, 2005

At the last meet three people turned up, and one of them wasn't American (me). Let's make this competent!
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:15 AM on July 8, 2005

mis telefon [phone]
posted by Pretty_Generic at 4:24 AM on July 8, 2005

At the last meet three people turned up, and one of them wasn't American (me). Let's make this competent!

Dropping emails to those that expressed interest with an agreed time and place would help. Not everyone can/wants to read MeTa every day.
posted by nthdegx at 4:29 AM on July 8, 2005

Sorry for not making the last one - was commuting between countries and just couldn't do it in the end :(

So next weekend (15/16), or the following (22/23)?
posted by keijo at 6:18 AM on July 8, 2005

At the last meet three people turned up, and one of them wasn't American (me). Let's make this competent!

Yes, I suck. On the other hand, I'm American so I don't know if it counts. I sure hope I'm able to come to this one. Saturdays are much, much, more likely.
posted by grouse at 6:35 AM on July 8, 2005

I was born and grew up in Battersea, so London's very much in my thoughts right now. Much too far for me to get there but would one of you toast London and Londoners for me please.
posted by Tarrama at 9:20 AM on July 8, 2005

Of course grouse counts! I merely feel that British meet ups should have some British people at them, rather than some British person at them.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 9:54 AM on July 8, 2005

Count me in.
I'm a Mefi meetup virgin, so I do hope you'll be gentle.
posted by qwerty155 at 10:01 AM on July 8, 2005

me: Yes, I suck. On the other hand, I'm American so I don't know if it counts.

Pretty_Generic: Of course grouse counts!

So you're saying I suck, PG? I'm going to try to come anyway. :-P
posted by grouse at 11:20 AM on July 8, 2005

Has a weekend been picked? I might be able to make it if someone has a couch I could crash on... I just moved to Brum from Canada two weeks ago.
posted by srboisvert at 1:58 PM on July 8, 2005

srbvisvert -- you're welcome at mine.
posted by nthdegx at 4:34 PM on July 8, 2005

I'm back in the UK for a bit and a London meet sounds great. Any thoughts on a location?
posted by normy at 5:12 PM on July 8, 2005

Let me know what's happening if you can, and if possible email me as I don't get on meta all that much. Stupid busy at the moment but would certainly like to try and meet up with you all. And I'm British, which apears to be a rarity.
posted by ciderwoman at 5:17 PM on July 8, 2005

Ok, to get things going I suggest that we choose the 23rd as a definite date - it is a Saturday and will also give us 2 weeks to get organised. Everybody ok?

I'm happy to call/text/email everybody from this thread to make sure they are coming.

Ninjapirate, hope you could make it. Tarrama, will toast for you :) qwerty155, we do not promise anything, so be prepared :) Ciderwoman, I will email you later on. Srboisvert, if you need a couch I might be able to provide one, let me talk to my flatmate if you are ok about the date. I will also try to reach the usual suspects from previous meetups who haven't been part of this thread.

Now, about the location - we have met in the West End and Islington before - what about something a bit more South? It's really up to how you all feel. Discuss.
posted by keijo at 12:31 AM on July 9, 2005

How about I open the bidding by suggesting the NFT cafe, underneath the south end of Waterloo Bridge?
posted by normy at 2:03 AM on July 9, 2005

I'm pushing for downstairs at the Fitzroy Tavern, Charlotte Street again. That was good meetup.
posted by Pretty_Generic at 3:27 AM on July 9, 2005

Aaah, poo. Only just saw this thread. I can't make the 23rd - Lovebox - but have a great time. I'll see you at the next.
posted by blag at 4:24 AM on July 9, 2005

The 23rd is my birthday, but I might have other plans.
posted by cillit bang at 10:30 AM on July 9, 2005

Yes, we should be there - unless the venue is crap. can't we do better than the fitzroy this time?
posted by dodgygeezer at 7:59 PM on July 9, 2005

Yeah, I agree - the Fitzroy meeting was great but probably due more to the people rather than the location and why not change? If we are going to be in the south, there is that nice Jazz Bar next to Tower Bridge - I would go for that unless you want to be more to the west. I can go by before and arrange that we have some space for us. I am trying to think of other places...
posted by keijo at 11:29 PM on July 9, 2005

I'll try and make it, depending on the date and location. Anywhere central sounds good to me. That said, the 23rd is the Saturday of the Lords Test, so I'll be at that during the day.
posted by MrMustard at 5:36 AM on July 10, 2005

I'll kick in ten bucks to the "Buy PP a ticket to London" fund. I really think he ought to attend.
posted by five fresh fish at 7:38 AM on July 10, 2005

...and it falls off the front page.
posted by grouse at 12:56 PM on July 10, 2005

I think I can make the day, but someone throw dice to sort the location and I'll be able to find a nearby hostel or something.
posted by NinjaPirate at 1:16 PM on July 10, 2005

I'll keep on monitoring this thread for the next couple of days for any new ideas and then I guess just email everybody, old and new, and in the worst case just pick the place myself. I suppose the best thing is then to post a new thread a couple of days before the actual meetup just to remind everyone and email again.
posted by keijo at 1:28 AM on July 11, 2005

23 July is probably the best date for me. But whatever.
posted by grouse at 2:55 PM on July 11, 2005

Keijo made a good choice to location. I haven't been to the one in Covent Garden but I have been to the one in Dublin and it was good. Although I think it is the first place I had ever been to that took our food orders while we were sitting down and then asked us to pay before they served us. That night was kind of a blur, maybe I'm remembering wrong.
posted by grouse at 1:40 PM on July 12, 2005

To recap (new thread will follow in due course):

I tried to send the email to everybody whose email addresses I had. If you know somebody else that would want to know, feel free to forward especially since there were some people who didn't have emails listed in their profiles. And somebody might want to alert the monkeys in "that other place" as well (I have no account).

Anyway, as a self-appointed dictator I present you with the following details:

Timing: 23 July 2005, 6pm onwards

Location: The Porterhouse, Covent Garden, 21-22 Maiden Lane, London WC2 E7NA

Streetmap link:
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=530355&y=180753&z=0&sv=WC2E+7NA&st=2&pc=WC2E+7NA&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

Bar website:
http://www.porterhousebrewco.com/coventgarden.html

And, they have good beer and lots of room and it is central. Anything else I can help with before the 23rd, let me know :)
posted by keijo at 2:04 PM on July 12, 2005

Grouse, maybe it was due to the Brainblasta being consumed?

And I've also been to the one in Dublin :) Was good but this one is bigger :)
posted by keijo at 2:09 PM on July 12, 2005

I've not only been to the one in Dublin - I stayed in a hotel opposite it. When we drank in there it was on the day of 9/11 so it was a bit of a weird evening.

Anyway keijo, I'm glad you've played venue dictator - I don't think I could face another pint of flipping Ayingerbrau.
posted by dodgygeezer at 2:54 PM on July 12, 2005

So.... where's the new thread?
posted by grouse at 5:41 PM on July 20, 2005