Portland/SoPo Maine meetup?

March 22, 2007 9:32 AM

South Portland/Portland, ME meetup? I'll be in town for a few days, and I have Sunday 3/25 free.
posted by cortex (staff) to MetaFilter Gatherings at 9:32 AM (35 comments total)

Important caveats:

- I will have no car, but Miko has offered to swing by my hotel and pick me up for meetup purposes;
- I have no idea where anything is;
- I'm under the assumption that Portland proper is a lot nicer than the stripmall near my hotel.

So, suggestions on place and time are pretty much up to you.
posted by cortex (staff) at 9:35 AM on March 22, 2007

Pick a place with good parking, and I'm in.
posted by JanetLand at 10:09 AM on March 22, 2007

Bummer. I'd make the drive but I have an early appointment on Monday, and turtlegirl will be in DC this weekend. Have fun!
posted by terrapin at 10:17 AM on March 22, 2007

I will very seriously consider it, final decision depending on weather and my luck at subduing jetlag.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 10:46 AM on March 22, 2007

Ha! Now they can't keep complaining about being left out of the Portland, OR meetups. And they even get Cortex on loan from us.
posted by matildaben at 12:20 PM on March 22, 2007

Oh, we can still complain!

We actually need cortex to show us how to have a meetup. Whereas the Northwest seems to average one every three weeks, we are running around once a year out here.
posted by Miko at 12:24 PM on March 22, 2007

Going out and drinking beer and meeting new people? I think I can do this!
posted by suki at 2:24 PM on March 22, 2007

That's the spirit!

One of you locals want to name a venue? I cannot emphasize how much I don't know the area.
posted by cortex (staff) at 2:33 PM on March 22, 2007

I suggested Gritty MacDuff's, but I'm an out-of-towner. It just seems to be the place I always end up in Portland for a pint. Well, that or Bull Feeney's. Both are near the ginormous (paid) parking lot on Commercial Street.
posted by Miko at 2:46 PM on March 22, 2007

Is this a good idea? I mean, if Portland, ME has a meetup, it's going to be like the Red Sox winning the world series. How do they define themselves afterwards?

The law of probability says I'll be having a drink with you in spirit.
posted by alana at 3:28 PM on March 22, 2007

Flatbread Pizza place is good, parking garage right next door.

Unfortunately I don't know when I'll be getting back into town that night, but if it comes together I'll swing by if at all possible.
posted by mikepop at 4:25 PM on March 22, 2007

Woowoo! I am definitely in on this puppy. The night isn't ideal, but I will make it work, lord knows when this might happen again.

I'll vote for Flatbread, because it's among the easier places to find / park at,* plus a decent drink selection, veggie-friendly and not too exotic. I'd be up for anywhere from Tandoor to Yosaku, but will bow to the milder crowd.

There's the always classy Sebago Brewing Co. too. Decent food, local brews, etc.

* I myself will be walking to anything downtown, and sadly only have on-street parking to offer for free.
posted by nelleish at 5:33 PM on March 22, 2007

i wish i could go but the last time i was in portland, i went to the applebees at the local mall, ordered a bunch of food, noticed that the chicken soup was congealed, and then walked out without eating or paying.

have fun cortex! also JANETLAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Stynxno at 7:11 PM on March 22, 2007

But stynxno, that was South Portland! And it was Applebee's!

Flatbread's okay, I suppose. There's one in Portsmouth, so I never go to the one in Portland 'cause it feels like I haven't left home. Still, it's wonderfully local, sustainable, and organic, it's quite relaxed, and has a good tap line and nice gingerbread with pumpkin ice cream for dessert.

Never been to Sebago but that sounds good, too...
posted by Miko at 8:31 PM on March 22, 2007

Um. I'm from Portland originally (as in, my parents still live there). It's a dollar per hour to park in almost all the garages in the city. So parking shouldn't be an issue. I wish I were up there for the meetup, but alas I'll be in Philly until late May.
posted by nursegracer at 8:33 PM on March 22, 2007

Parking's basically not much of an issue if we pick a place in the Old Port (which I think all of these are). Nothing's farther than a few blocks from a lot or garage.
posted by Miko at 8:36 PM on March 22, 2007

I'd actually like to widen my very limited Old Port pubs experience. I threw out Sebago, but our choices for seating there are the brilliantly lit basement dining room or the blue-light lounge on the main floor - I enjoy going with friends, but there might be a better fit for a gaggle of MeFites?

I've never been to Gritty McDuff's, feels like something I should try!

Also, on the parking issue: shouldn't be an issue! Portland downtown is rather small, and highly walkable.
posted by nelleish at 9:17 PM on March 22, 2007

Gritty's
Bull Feeney's
Flatbread
Sebago
posted by Miko at 9:32 PM on March 22, 2007

I like Flatbread and Gritty's and will also suggest the Great Lost Bear, which has an amazing selection of microbrews, easy parking, and pretty good food. And a webcam. The Old Port allows for visiting more than 1 dirnking/music establishment without driving. In any case, count me in.
posted by theora55 at 9:41 PM on March 22, 2007

There's also a cheap parking area kitty-corner to the parking lot behind Bull Moose. Public lot next to a park and some municipal buildings.

Banjo and I could, in theory, make it... if we had not spent 20 hours in the car this past week (including Super Fun Happy Time stuck in a blizzard on 84 behind and overturned tractor trailer).
posted by robocop is bleeding at 4:26 AM on March 23, 2007

Oh fun! I'll try to show, what time do you think? I'm going maple sugaring in the afternoon.

On a Sunday night anywhere should be pretty easy to get a parking spot.
posted by miss tea at 5:05 AM on March 23, 2007

cortex, what times are you available?
posted by Miko at 6:00 AM on March 23, 2007

I think Gritty's would be best for a larger group of people as they have big long tables and benches. They also have live music on Sundays - I just checked the schedule and it looks like it's a singer/songwriter, so it shouldn't be too loud. Plus there is a back room away from the music.

Parking shouldn't be an issue on a Sunday night in March. And it looks like it's going to be a glorious weekend weatherwise - finally we'll get rid of this snow!
posted by suki at 8:54 AM on March 23, 2007

OK, let's call it for Gritty's.

396 Fore Street, Portland, Maine

Parking lots and garages (I use that Commercial St. lot frequently; it's never been more than $12/day; do bring cash for garages though on Sunday you might get street parking).

Gritty's phone - 207.772.BREW

This Sunday, 3/25.

I don't want to pick a time without cortex' input, so let's let him call that.

BYO blueberries, lobsters, and maple syrup.
posted by Miko at 2:25 PM on March 23, 2007

If anyone had a couch I could crash on Sunday, that would make the trip a more viable option for me. Downside: I will put a photo of your couch on Flickr.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 2:44 PM on March 23, 2007

I'm available all goddam day. Pick a time that works for everyone else!

I'm in Maine right now, too. Woot!
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:58 PM on March 23, 2007

4 PM? That lets us hang for a few hours and still be home at a reasonable time for a school night.

Jessamyn, you are welcome to my couch again, though of course there's a 40-minute drive from Portland to it. It has already been outed on Flickr, I believe.
posted by Miko at 7:48 PM on March 23, 2007

Hey thanks Miko, I'm still in the "I'll see what the weather brings" mode but that couch was comfy and I miss your burly cat.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 8:18 PM on March 23, 2007

Have fun, Mainers & guests - Portland is my old stomping ground, love it and miss it. I would join you if I could but can't make the trip this weekend.

Start or finish your day at Becky's Diner - nothing quite like a 4 am breakfast at Becky's with with the lobstermen - "Becky's Diner - Nothing Finah." Wicked good.
posted by madamjujujive at 9:08 PM on March 23, 2007

Sooo, will there be a cortex-jessamyn duet of the asshat song--given that she wrote the lyrics? ;-)
posted by brujita at 8:25 AM on March 24, 2007

Madame, sure you won't come up and join us?
posted by theora55 at 12:17 PM on March 24, 2007

Drat -- something's come up at work and I can't make it either. Will somebody do a shoutout for stynxno for me please?
posted by JanetLand at 1:32 PM on March 24, 2007

Plaidrabbit and I will be there.
posted by joannemerriam at 9:37 PM on March 24, 2007

And a lovely time was had by all! Plenty of pictures
forthcoming—we had at least three cameras there.
posted by cortex (staff) at 3:54 AM on March 26, 2007

special double-mod shoutout for synxno. I started a photo thread further up.
posted by jessamyn (staff) at 7:23 AM on March 26, 2007