Kid-a-delphia February 2, 2010 12:05 PM Subscribe
Philly-area spawn-friendly meetup!
As a newly-minted parent, I have a much deeper respect for the difficulty -- if not outright impossibility -- of making it to the usual evening MeFi get-togethers if you have to deal with things like babysitters and sleep schedules and whatnot. So the lovely desuetude and I thought it might be fun to have a kid-friendly meetup.
We were thinking of having it on a Sunday afternoon, probably March 7th or 14th, and having it a place that is friendly to both larger groups and younger patrons who haven't yet mastered the art of indoor voices. One of the bigger dim sum restaurants in Chinatown might be a good possibility, as the food is usually pretty cheap and there's lots to pick from. If some of the seasoned parents out there have alternate venue suggestions, please speak up, because dim sum isn't set in stone.
This would be open to all MeFites, regardless of your current spawn-having status or plans. Who's in?
As a newly-minted parent, I have a much deeper respect for the difficulty -- if not outright impossibility -- of making it to the usual evening MeFi get-togethers if you have to deal with things like babysitters and sleep schedules and whatnot. So the lovely desuetude and I thought it might be fun to have a kid-friendly meetup.
We were thinking of having it on a Sunday afternoon, probably March 7th or 14th, and having it a place that is friendly to both larger groups and younger patrons who haven't yet mastered the art of indoor voices. One of the bigger dim sum restaurants in Chinatown might be a good possibility, as the food is usually pretty cheap and there's lots to pick from. If some of the seasoned parents out there have alternate venue suggestions, please speak up, because dim sum isn't set in stone.
This would be open to all MeFites, regardless of your current spawn-having status or plans. Who's in?
WeeFi?
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:29 PM on February 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:29 PM on February 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
Notes:
* Eponysterical, no?
* I remain spawn-free. In case any of you who know me also just did a small spit-take.
* Baby shui mai baby is the cutest spawn-of-a-Mefite ever. Unless proven otherwise.
posted by desuetude at 12:31 PM on February 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
* Eponysterical, no?
* I remain spawn-free. In case any of you who know me also just did a small spit-take.
* Baby shui mai baby is the cutest spawn-of-a-Mefite ever. Unless proven otherwise.
posted by desuetude at 12:31 PM on February 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
WeeFi?
I can see the AskWee questions already:
"How is Me Formed??"
"Diaper full, HALP!"
(and they could post 'Boobies Make Me Smile,' without offending, I guess)
posted by jonmc at 12:34 PM on February 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
I can see the AskWee questions already:
"How is Me Formed??"
"Diaper full, HALP!"
(and they could post 'Boobies Make Me Smile,' without offending, I guess)
posted by jonmc at 12:34 PM on February 2, 2010 [2 favorites]
Pureed HAMBURGER.
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:38 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 12:38 PM on February 2, 2010
Wetafilter.
posted by sciencegeek at 12:51 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by sciencegeek at 12:51 PM on February 2, 2010
I'm all for this, I wanna meet the shiu mai baby babby.
I love the dim sum idea, if it's in the afternoon on a Sunday I just ask for notification soon so I can request off. Sadly, the place we went last time (which was so good) is now out of business.
If we go a different route from dim sum, how does that Italian place with the fantastic pizza on Passyunk work for large groups?
posted by piratebowling at 1:27 PM on February 2, 2010
I love the dim sum idea, if it's in the afternoon on a Sunday I just ask for notification soon so I can request off. Sadly, the place we went last time (which was so good) is now out of business.
If we go a different route from dim sum, how does that Italian place with the fantastic pizza on Passyunk work for large groups?
posted by piratebowling at 1:27 PM on February 2, 2010
What shouldn't I try to eat?
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:31 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by mccarty.tim at 1:31 PM on February 2, 2010
I'll have to check with my parents
posted by ludwig_van at 2:09 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by ludwig_van at 2:09 PM on February 2, 2010
If we go a different route from dim sum, how does that Italian place with the fantastic pizza on Passyunk work for large groups?
If you mean Marra's, I've never been for lunch on a Sunday but that place gets crowded as fuuuuuuck.
posted by The Straightener at 6:56 PM on February 2, 2010
If you mean Marra's, I've never been for lunch on a Sunday but that place gets crowded as fuuuuuuck.
posted by The Straightener at 6:56 PM on February 2, 2010
I did mean Marra's. (I knew it began with an M and just forgot the name) If it get's crazy crowded, I retract that suggestion.
posted by piratebowling at 7:06 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by piratebowling at 7:06 PM on February 2, 2010
You ever been upstairs at Marra's, The Straightener? It's made for large parties.
But I'm still voting for dim sum this round.
posted by desuetude at 7:09 PM on February 2, 2010
But I'm still voting for dim sum this round.
posted by desuetude at 7:09 PM on February 2, 2010
This sounds like a totally sweet idea and I love dim sum. Imperial Inn, when the upstairs is open, is very good for large groups.
Unfortunately, I am not kid friendly in respect to my vocabulary or demeanor. I don't drop the f-bomb as much as I just show up with my f-gattling gun.
posted by Jon-o at 8:01 PM on February 2, 2010
Unfortunately, I am not kid friendly in respect to my vocabulary or demeanor. I don't drop the f-bomb as much as I just show up with my f-gattling gun.
posted by Jon-o at 8:01 PM on February 2, 2010
Large parties of grappa swilling goombas only? Would we have to listen to Connie Francis?
posted by The Straightener at 8:02 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by The Straightener at 8:02 PM on February 2, 2010
I'd love to attend a MeFi meetup! I know nothing about places in Philly, so I figure I'll just Google Maps something up once a location's been set.
posted by Rory Marinich at 8:45 PM on February 2, 2010
posted by Rory Marinich at 8:45 PM on February 2, 2010
Large parties of grappa swilling goombas only? Would we have to listen to Connie Francis?
Nah, we swill Chianti, and they even let Polacks like me up there. (But yeah, we might have to listen to Connie Francis.)
But don't derail, we're talking about dim sum, here.
posted by desuetude at 6:04 AM on February 3, 2010
Nah, we swill Chianti, and they even let Polacks like me up there. (But yeah, we might have to listen to Connie Francis.)
But don't derail, we're talking about dim sum, here.
posted by desuetude at 6:04 AM on February 3, 2010
You better git ur nails done gurl.
posted by The Straightener at 6:26 AM on February 3, 2010
posted by The Straightener at 6:26 AM on February 3, 2010
Yay! I will be checking my inner child's schedule to see if I can make it.
posted by Deathalicious at 6:51 AM on February 3, 2010
posted by Deathalicious at 6:51 AM on February 3, 2010
I've gotta take you out for the good of MetaPhilter, don't I.
And swerving back towards topic...Jon-O, I tend towards profanity myself. We can sit at the f-table with the kids still too small to get in trouble at school.
posted by desuetude at 7:56 AM on February 3, 2010
And swerving back towards topic...Jon-O, I tend towards profanity myself. We can sit at the f-table with the kids still too small to get in trouble at school.
posted by desuetude at 7:56 AM on February 3, 2010
Yeah, I curse pretty often around the kid; I figure I still have a few months before she gets all verbal on me and I have to watch what I say. Corollary: I am not at all offended by filthy language from other people when she's in earshot. Right now she can't tell the difference between a recitation of the Bill of Rights and the Aristocrats joke.
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:19 AM on February 3, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:19 AM on February 3, 2010
My first is due March 5th... so that might be a bit early for an outing like that. All the same, I'm quite excited by the idea.
My wife and I are big fans of Kingdom of Vegetarian.
posted by 256 at 6:58 PM on February 3, 2010
My wife and I are big fans of Kingdom of Vegetarian.
posted by 256 at 6:58 PM on February 3, 2010
I vote for the 7th, just 'cause I'd rather see y'all sooner rather than later. But both dates are open for me right now.
posted by shiu mai baby at 1:28 PM on February 4, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 1:28 PM on February 4, 2010
We should probably just pick a date and get it on the sidebar, or people will never find this thread...
7th sounds good to me!
posted by miagaille at 8:13 AM on February 6, 2010
7th sounds good to me!
posted by miagaille at 8:13 AM on February 6, 2010
Ok, so: March 7th. How about 1 p.m.? Not too early in the day, not too late as to miss out on all the good dim sum.
Next we need to pick a venue. Since moving to the exurbs, my own restaurant information is woefully outdated, so I'll defer to the folks who live closer and frequent Chinatown more often than I. Any suggestions? Is Joy Tsin Lau still good? Are there other places in the area that can accommodate our group with minimal hassle?
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:12 AM on February 8, 2010
Next we need to pick a venue. Since moving to the exurbs, my own restaurant information is woefully outdated, so I'll defer to the folks who live closer and frequent Chinatown more often than I. Any suggestions? Is Joy Tsin Lau still good? Are there other places in the area that can accommodate our group with minimal hassle?
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:12 AM on February 8, 2010
I don't think that the big dim sum places have changed much. I know there's a perpetual Chinatown thread on eGullet...wanna spin through it, shiu mai baby, just in case?
posted by desuetude at 10:14 AM on February 8, 2010
posted by desuetude at 10:14 AM on February 8, 2010
Dim sum, Mefites, Philly and babies are among my very favorite things.
posted by bunnycup at 3:42 PM on February 8, 2010
posted by bunnycup at 3:42 PM on February 8, 2010
Sounds fantastic, I'll work on getting the day off.
posted by piratebowling at 5:45 AM on February 9, 2010
posted by piratebowling at 5:45 AM on February 9, 2010
Hooray! I will be glad to troll through eGullet, but it's going to have to wait until at least tomorrow. I have a proposal going out today that's going to eat up all my precious MeFi time. Stupid work.
posted by shiu mai baby at 6:43 AM on February 9, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 6:43 AM on February 9, 2010
Chinatown meetup? Without meeeeeeee? *lip quiver*
posted by greekphilosophy at 8:31 AM on February 11, 2010
posted by greekphilosophy at 8:31 AM on February 11, 2010
I've got a spare bedroom, greekphilosophy. I'll make you study the whole time you're not devouring dim sum? Don't you want to see the snow??? (At this rate, we'll still have piles of it on the corners by then.)
posted by desuetude at 8:45 AM on February 11, 2010
posted by desuetude at 8:45 AM on February 11, 2010
Ok, well the opinions on eGullet/Yelp seem to be pretty evenly split between Joy Tsin Lau and Ocean Harbor, which are right across from each other and can accommodate large groups. Philly folks: any preference for one over the other? I've been to JTL, and liked it just fine, but I've never been to OH so I can't offer a comparative opinion.
posted by shiu mai baby at 1:02 PM on February 15, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 1:02 PM on February 15, 2010
I like them equally well, haven't been to either in so long that I'm not even qualified to offer more critical opinions. Speaking of:
HEY, is this going to be anyone besides me and shui mai baby? MOAR COMMENTING PLS.
(I'm lonely)
posted by desuetude at 10:15 AM on February 16, 2010
HEY, is this going to be anyone besides me and shui mai baby? MOAR COMMENTING PLS.
(I'm lonely)
posted by desuetude at 10:15 AM on February 16, 2010
Aw, even if it is just the 2.5 of us, we'll still have a good time, promise! Since no one else is piping up about the destination, let's just say Joy Tsin Lau to get the ball rolling.
Anyway, HERE BE THE OFFICIAL STATS OF THE DIVINE GATHERING OF PHILLY MEFITES:
There's a big parking garage right on the corner of 11th & Race, as well as several other parking lots / garages within a three-block radius. I just called the restaurant, and for Sunday dim sum we need a minimum of five people to make a reservation in advance, but I don't think we'll have difficulty hitting that number.
That said, we should probably try to have a firm-ish headcount by, say, Wednesday March 3rd, at the latest, only because Sunday dim sum is pretty busy, and while they could probably accommodate a +/- 2 person variance in our number, anything more than that would be pushing it.
posted by shiu mai baby at 11:15 AM on February 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
Anyway, HERE BE THE OFFICIAL STATS OF THE DIVINE GATHERING OF PHILLY MEFITES:
When: Sunday, March 7, 1:00 p.m.Does that about cover it?
Where: Joy Tsin Lau, 1026 Race Street (on Race in between 10th & 11th Streets)
Who: Any and all area MeFites, as well as any spouses, spawn, significant others, bums off the street, Crazy Cousin Eddies, and Harvey Rabbits you'd like to bring along.
There's a big parking garage right on the corner of 11th & Race, as well as several other parking lots / garages within a three-block radius. I just called the restaurant, and for Sunday dim sum we need a minimum of five people to make a reservation in advance, but I don't think we'll have difficulty hitting that number.
That said, we should probably try to have a firm-ish headcount by, say, Wednesday March 3rd, at the latest, only because Sunday dim sum is pretty busy, and while they could probably accommodate a +/- 2 person variance in our number, anything more than that would be pushing it.
posted by shiu mai baby at 11:15 AM on February 16, 2010 [1 favorite]
I will be freshly returned to These United States and so should be able to attend; I will be probably by myself, as I lack significant others and spawn. At least I hope so. Oh god.
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:17 PM on February 16, 2010
posted by Tomorrowful at 12:17 PM on February 16, 2010
I will be there, with a possibility of a second. I will give more certain number soon.
posted by piratebowling at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2010
posted by piratebowling at 1:41 PM on February 17, 2010
I'll be there! I'll try to rent a sprog for the occasion, if her mother is willing.
posted by miagaille at 4:13 PM on February 17, 2010
posted by miagaille at 4:13 PM on February 17, 2010
Mark us down as a strong maybe. We'll almost certainly make it unless something urgent comes up or if I'm still sick (cough cough).
posted by Deathalicious at 8:25 PM on February 17, 2010
posted by Deathalicious at 8:25 PM on February 17, 2010
Yup, put me down for two.
posted by piratebowling at 3:49 PM on February 22, 2010
posted by piratebowling at 3:49 PM on February 22, 2010
I will likely show up with my daughter, who is so freakin' cute that it'll make everyone forgive/forget about my lame MeTa post from last week.
posted by scblackman at 7:48 PM on February 25, 2010
posted by scblackman at 7:48 PM on February 25, 2010
OK, dmd & I will definitely be there, so that's 2. I might have a toddler with me, but she doesn't really count, so that's like 2.15.
posted by miagaille at 9:41 AM on March 2, 2010
posted by miagaille at 9:41 AM on March 2, 2010
Yay, I'm really happy that we're getting a good response. So my list right now is:
- desuetude
- Tomorrowful
- piratebowling +1
- miagaille +1 (maybe)
- Deathalicious + dancingfruitbat
- scblackman + 1
- SansPoint (maybe)
So that, plus me, Mr. Shiu, and Baby Shiu Mai Baby puts us at approximately 11 adults plus three kids. Is that about right? Any other folks care to join?
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:44 AM on March 2, 2010
- desuetude
- Tomorrowful
- piratebowling +1
- miagaille +1 (maybe)
- Deathalicious + dancingfruitbat
- scblackman + 1
- SansPoint (maybe)
So that, plus me, Mr. Shiu, and Baby Shiu Mai Baby puts us at approximately 11 adults plus three kids. Is that about right? Any other folks care to join?
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:44 AM on March 2, 2010
Possibly me and my husband, Palerale. It is the last day of the flower show, too! Between school, work, etc. schedules I may not know more certainly until Saturday the 6th (if that is not too much of a pain in the butt).
posted by bunnycup at 9:50 AM on March 2, 2010
posted by bunnycup at 9:50 AM on March 2, 2010
Bunnycup: not a problem in the least. I'll assume y'all are coming and no worries if you can't make it at the last second; it's always easier to take chairs away than to add them.
And man, I didn't think about it being the last day of the flower show. Hopefully that won't make the restaurant too much of a zoo.
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:20 AM on March 2, 2010
And man, I didn't think about it being the last day of the flower show. Hopefully that won't make the restaurant too much of a zoo.
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:20 AM on March 2, 2010
Awesome! Ok, so now I have (tentatively) 15 plus three kids. Anyone else? I'm planning on calling the restaurant this afternoon around 3-ish, so let me know before then, if you can.
posted by shiu mai baby at 4:41 AM on March 3, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 4:41 AM on March 3, 2010
Reservations have been made. If I understood the guy correctly, there might be a short wait for our table because it's the weekend, but it shouldn't be bad. I'll aim to get there at 12:45 to give them a head start on prepping for us.
Really looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:03 AM on March 5, 2010
Really looking forward to seeing everyone on Sunday.
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:03 AM on March 5, 2010
If jellyfish is offered, you may remind me to eat it. Someone may have to sit on me to prevent me from saying "yes" to every item offered, actually.
posted by desuetude at 10:38 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by desuetude at 10:38 AM on March 5, 2010
If jellyfish is offered, I will watch you eat it. I've tried it a couple of times, and the rubbery-crunch consistency was not to my liking.
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:59 AM on March 5, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:59 AM on March 5, 2010
Also - can we please all try to be on-time? Most of our meetups seem to start at X:00 pm, and then people start trickling in around X:45. That works for a bar, but won't work very well for dim sum.
posted by dmd at 6:32 AM on March 7, 2010
posted by dmd at 6:32 AM on March 7, 2010
If anyone else is coming, we are downstairs!
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:23 AM on March 7, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 10:23 AM on March 7, 2010
Really enjoyed meeting everyone! Anika had a blast. Thanks, shiu mai baby, for arranging!
posted by scblackman at 1:47 PM on March 7, 2010
posted by scblackman at 1:47 PM on March 7, 2010
Yay. That was tasty food. Had an excellent time. Holding shiu mai's baby was fun.
posted by Deathalicious at 1:09 AM on March 8, 2010
posted by Deathalicious at 1:09 AM on March 8, 2010
Thanks, everyone, for the nice turn-out. It was lovely seeing the crew, as always, as well as the new faces (hey there, scblackman!).
Biggest irony of the day: I didn't get any shiu mai. Argh.
posted by shiu mai baby at 4:42 AM on March 8, 2010
Biggest irony of the day: I didn't get any shiu mai. Argh.
posted by shiu mai baby at 4:42 AM on March 8, 2010
Hey shiu mai, please make available photos of your gorgeous baby.
People, if you missed her, GP is a frikken adorable little baby.
posted by Deathalicious at 8:28 AM on March 8, 2010
People, if you missed her, GP is a frikken adorable little baby.
posted by Deathalicious at 8:28 AM on March 8, 2010
Please tell me someone took photos of shiu mai, shiu mai baby, and shiu mai baby's babby.
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:03 AM on March 8, 2010
posted by greekphilosophy at 9:03 AM on March 8, 2010
I didn't take pictures, unfortunately (forgot the camera, along with the MeFi signs and the nametags, dangit!), but I know scblackman was sporting a camera.
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:09 AM on March 8, 2010
posted by shiu mai baby at 9:09 AM on March 8, 2010
Please tell me someone took photos of shiu mai, shiu mai baby, and shiu mai baby's babby.
This wouldn't been an excellent idea.
Come back, greekphilosophy! We need you!
posted by desuetude at 11:38 AM on March 8, 2010
This wouldn't been an excellent idea.
Come back, greekphilosophy! We need you!
posted by desuetude at 11:38 AM on March 8, 2010
huh, how did i miss this?
posted by misanthropicsarah at 4:50 PM on March 8, 2010
posted by misanthropicsarah at 4:50 PM on March 8, 2010
Awwww, dammit. We all missed you and wondered why you didn't chime in during the planning. I should'a been less polite and dragged your butt to this thread earlier.
posted by desuetude at 7:30 PM on March 8, 2010
posted by desuetude at 7:30 PM on March 8, 2010
Oh, all the cute kids! I wish we'd been around - my daughter would have had a blast.
posted by chihiro at 7:32 PM on March 8, 2010
posted by chihiro at 7:32 PM on March 8, 2010
The pictures are great! I miss you all! Even the people I don't know! Exclamation point!
posted by greekphilosophy at 7:40 AM on March 9, 2010
posted by greekphilosophy at 7:40 AM on March 9, 2010
Argh crap I'm sorry I missed this guys, I had a late (very late) night the night before and was in no shape to make it over there. I would've loved to see the adorable MetaKids!
posted by Anonymous at 9:35 PM on March 9, 2010
posted by Anonymous at 9:35 PM on March 9, 2010
You are not logged in, either login or create an account to post comments
Be careful, the little brats will get together and start MiniFilter.
posted by jonmc at 12:28 PM on February 2, 2010