Brisbane Xmas Meetup!

November 22, 2009 5:45 AM

Brisbane Xmas Meetup! Want to be involved in a thing?

Look, I'm really sorry I missed the last Brisbane meetup, I feel bad about it because it looks like you had fun. So I think we should have another one, which I will definitely be there for.

It can be as elaborate or as unelaborate as you desire. I was thinking bowling. Yeah? Who's in? Sort of December-ish? It doesn't have to be bowling, I don't give a shit. But something fun before the end of the year. Any interest?

posted by turgid dahlia to MetaFilter Gatherings at 5:45 AM (46 comments total)

"Want to be involved in a thing?" Hell yeah.

Anywhere near Brisbane? Hell no!

Any chance you could put something meaningful above the fold?
posted by handee at 6:26 AM on November 22, 2009 [1 favorite]

Any chance you could put something meaningful above the fold?

Someone got up on the wrong side of the bed.
posted by Salvor Hardin at 6:32 AM on November 22, 2009

The non-Brisbane side?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 6:46 AM on November 22, 2009 [2 favorites]

I'm in if it's before the 15th (going to Asia on the 16th).
posted by divabat at 1:00 PM on November 22, 2009

The Echidna Magic cafe on top of Mt Gravatt lookout may be open December-ish. With a view like this, it would be a great venue for the meet-up.
posted by Effigy2000 at 4:26 PM on November 22, 2009

That looks like a good spot Effigy, and I think we could definitely do it before the 15th. Say the weekend of the 12th and 13th?
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:13 PM on November 22, 2009

Hell yeah! Dinoworx and I will come from Bundy again, we had an awesome time last time and were talking about lining up another. Yay! :) That weekend works for me too.
posted by indienial at 3:52 AM on November 23, 2009

I'll be in and out of Brisbane during the 2nd half of December, from the 13th onwards. If the timing is right, I'm definitely up for a meetup. Echidna Magic would be perfect for me, I think I'll be staying walking distance from there.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 6:50 AM on November 23, 2009

Ok well should we tentatively lock in the 13th?
posted by turgid dahlia at 12:37 PM on November 23, 2009

13th sounds like it will work.

We'll come down for the weekend from Bundaberg. Something close to public transport would be good. I don't know if a bus runs up to the top of Mt Gravatt because I know walking up is a real wake up call.

BYO worked real well at the Three Monkeys last time. Kept the costs down ;-)
posted by dinoworx at 1:08 PM on November 23, 2009

A few bus services go to a place called "Mt Gravatt Central" - which is Garden City, maybe? - but I've gotta say I'm not sure it's really the most convenient spot, and I don't want to give the wrong impression, but perhaps we could start out at The Bowery or Alhambra or Lock 'n' Load and sort of progress from there? I only suggest these because it's a more central location, and it's very easy to just leave without paying get up and go elsewhere if the ambience, food, service, drinks, or prices aren't up to scratch. In the end I'm up for whatever.

Unless there is dissent, we ought to lock it in for the 13th. ocha-no-mizu, are you available sort of from 12:01am on the 13th or are you touching down at midday or something or...?
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:07 PM on November 23, 2009

I'm flying in from Indianapolis, and I hit the ground at 7:45am on the 13th with a suitcase full of booze and American Spirit tobacco. Any concept of time is out the window at this point, and I'll probably be jetlagged as hell, but I'll try my darnedest to make it to my first intercontinental meetup.

Mt Gravatt works better for me because of the location, but I realise that could be tricky for most. Somewhere in the Valley or West End would be fine.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 2:30 PM on November 23, 2009

a suitcase full of booze and American Spirit tobacco

:D

For what it's worth, I've heard the best thing for jetlag is to just slog your way through it in your new timezone, and go to bed at your usual time, say 10pm, no matter where you are.

We'll see what others say. If it comes to it, I could likely come up to Mt Gravatt and pick you up (on a bus, sadly, as I do not care for cars), to make it a little easier for you.
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:55 PM on November 23, 2009

Some where central works for us out-of-towners too. I lived in Mt Gravatt for a year or two and it's easy to get to from the city, and to get to the city from there.
posted by dinoworx at 4:13 PM on November 23, 2009

I'm pretty sure I can do a thing on that day.
posted by plant at 3:02 AM on November 24, 2009

Central would be good; I live in St Lucia and it's a hassle to get out there especially in the evening.
posted by divabat at 3:12 AM on November 24, 2009

Great, so, anybody like any of my handful of choices, or do we want Three Monkeys, or will we just go by feel?
posted by turgid dahlia at 3:55 PM on November 24, 2009

13th is good for this little black duck. divabat: Worst case scenario we can split a cab back to St. Lucia.
posted by Jilder at 8:55 PM on November 24, 2009

Hmmmm, I remember you drunkards last time....

So, yeah, sure, sounds good. ;)
posted by springbound at 7:22 PM on November 25, 2009

So we've got a fair bit of interest which is great, but does anybody want to put their hands up for a venue? I may need to make bookings, or merely fortify myself sufficiently to discharge the hooples from whichever sector of the location we decide we like the most.
posted by turgid dahlia at 2:24 AM on November 26, 2009

Just thoughts. I'm okay for wherever, pretty much:

I like Three Monkeys. (It's my fave.)

I like the Bowery, though think it's worth noting it's a bit exxy for more than a drink or two (drinks about $15 as a standard, correct me if I'm wrong?); and also unless they've changed layout in the past few months I think their tables seat 4, max.

I don't think I know Alhambra or Lock'n'Load. No comment.

Happy to go anywhere, though; but as I'll be coming from the middling/outer burbs of the northside on public transport, you'll be making me work if Mt Gravatt wins this!!
posted by springbound at 3:03 AM on November 26, 2009

Well we've had two votes for Three Monkeys and no votes for anywhere else, so Three Monkeys it is!
posted by turgid dahlia at 6:11 PM on November 26, 2009

Aye! Three Monkeys is BYO and they do a good selection of food. Bottleshop around the corner. Plus we had a good time at the last meetup. Time? Around 11 or 12?
posted by dinoworx at 6:59 PM on November 26, 2009

Three Monkeys is totally cool with me. Had a great time there last time round, and I agree that the Bowery, though shiny, is waaaaaay too pricey. 12noon is about as early as I'm happy being active on a Sunday.
posted by Jilder at 7:38 AM on November 28, 2009

Okay, so, we'll go with that.

Brisbane Metafilter Meetup

When? Sunday the 13th of December, midday
Where? Three Monkeys Coffee & Tea House, 58 Mollison St, West End

Was a booking made last time? When you got there, did it appear that the booking was needed? Can we get some more solid numbers?
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:44 PM on November 28, 2009

I've got a vague feeling bookings aren't taken on the weekends--but my memory's nothing if not fallible so don't take my word on that. If you *can* book, *so* go for inside where there's air con. Was there today and those shade umbrellas ain't foolin' nobody; it was stinkin' out there! The Turkish Room is the name of the nook we were in last time.
posted by springbound at 2:41 AM on November 29, 2009

I love the Turkish Room with a love that knows no bounds. If I'm going to be a lush I want it to be in a space that is completely padded.

In the event of a lack of booking, anyone likely to get there early enough to reserve the space?
posted by Jilder at 6:49 PM on November 29, 2009

Well I'm in Alderley so not too far out, all told. I can try and get in there before 12 but my problem is I like to pop out for cigarettes every fifteen minutes on the dot so it's hard to reserve areas with that kind of attitude.
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:34 PM on November 29, 2009

Can you draw up a convincing "This table reserved for 10" sign? :)
posted by springbound at 3:18 AM on December 4, 2009

I guess if I get ten separate cups of tea in they can't really force me out. Or I could talk loudly and obnoxiously on my mobile about the strange rash I found on the weekend, and how the doctors couldn't identify it, and I should really be quarantined but what the hell.
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:18 PM on December 6, 2009

I gave them a buzz yesterday and you are correct, they do not take bookings. Or the girl I got certainly didn't.

Anyway if anybody wants to drop me a Memail with their mobile number, or to ask for mine, in case of whatever, well, do just that.
posted by turgid dahlia at 12:16 AM on December 10, 2009

Just letting you know I won't be making the trip down. Or Indienial. Way too many things happening up this way this time of the year.

Have a good time!
posted by dinoworx at 6:45 PM on December 11, 2009

Aw, sad story, dinoworx. Was looking forward to seeing you two cats again.
posted by Jilder at 5:07 AM on December 12, 2009

Thanks Jilder - nice to be missed ;-)

So how did it go?
posted by dinoworx at 12:35 AM on December 13, 2009

Has anyone seen ocha-no-mizu? I dropped him off at Three Monkeys six hours ago and can't reach him on his mobile. His family is starting to fret.
posted by greenapplecat at 12:43 AM on December 13, 2009

Just got home, and ocha-no-mizo has been in good and loving hands all day. I can't imagine why his phone isn't working, but when I last saw him around 7ish he was tired but pretty cheerful.
posted by Jilder at 1:39 AM on December 13, 2009

Yes, I'm home safe and doing well. That's just my brother being a dick. Had a great time, thanks to the Bris contingent. Greenapplecat just spent $5 on a hilarious practical joke that I'm sure he's very proud of. See y'all later.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 2:12 AM on December 13, 2009

Thank you Jilder. As a matter of fact, ocha-no-mizu, we WERE all getting worried. What with the jet lag and alcohol and all, who knows what could've happened? And when you didn't answer your phone or SMSs... Anyway, glad all's well
posted by greenapplecat at 2:32 AM on December 13, 2009

Okay, sorry, my bad. I thought my brother was crying wolf. Thought he had my Australian number. I think it's all clear now, anyway! All is well in the neighbourhood.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 3:11 AM on December 13, 2009

Has anybody seen my shoes?
posted by turgid dahlia at 6:00 PM on December 13, 2009

I think I saw them back where I left my dignity.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 8:14 PM on December 13, 2009

Tell you what though, these smokes are a-ok. And that hooch about blew my face off.
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:46 AM on December 14, 2009

Photos to come incidentally, I cut most of my right thumb off in an unrelated incident last night (no, honestly) so I'm taking the opportunity to be slack in every regard.
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:47 AM on December 14, 2009

Blew your face off? Jesus. After all the booze we put away....your liver mauled you on the hand right? ON THE HAND!
posted by Jilder at 6:27 AM on December 14, 2009

Also: I forgot I put that last rollie in my coin compartment and was greeted with disintegrated cigarette this morning going for my bus fare. But is was fragrant.
posted by Jilder at 6:28 AM on December 14, 2009

Damn, turgid, I hope you're okay. That was some pretty potent beer, I wouldn't be surprised if it led to the almost-loss of a thumb if you had that after all we drank. When I got home, I couldn't do much more than call my brother a dick in this thread and pass out for 15 hours.
posted by ocha-no-mizu at 3:04 AM on December 15, 2009