Proposed KC/Lawrence Meetup

posted June 12, 2012 2:43 PM

So, I (Ivan Fyodorovich, once known as Ethereal Bligh) just moved to Kansas City about a week ago and am eager to generally meet some new people here and specifically to meet the mefites in these parts. How long has it been since there's been an area meetup? Who's interested in having another?

Maybe it's my own (former) regional biases, but I was pretty surprised to discover that Lawrence is less than thirty miles from here (and that's from the MO side, even). To me, that's practically next door. And it seems there's a large contingent of mefites in Lawrence, for the obvious reason, I suppose, so a combined area meetup makes more sense. To me, anyway. Also, back in the day anyway, there were some mefites in Lawrence I'd like to meet.

Not being from here (though I have family here and that's why I came) I have no clue about good meetup locations and therefore have no preferences. And I don't mind driving quite a ways for one, as right now to me that's sort of a bonus as it allows me to see more of the city/area.

posted by Ivan Fyodorovich to Proposed (26 comments total)

Welcome to KC!

I haven't been to any meetups for mefi yet, but I tend to see notices for them once or twice a year. I'd be interested in going to one, depending on time/location/mood at the time/probability of good beer/etc.
posted by angelchrys at 6:51 AM on June 13, 2012

We've tried to organize a few in the past year or two, but they haven't been very successful. I'm down for giving it another shot.
posted by chara at 8:45 AM on June 13, 2012

I miss all these and then when I can make it they don't happen, it speaks to the fact there's not that many people on the site from here. I'll give it a shot.
posted by geoff. at 2:11 PM on June 13, 2012

I lived in Austin before I moved back to Albuquerque and, unsurprisingly, there's a lot of mefites in Austin and so Austin meetups are fairly well attended, even back in 2004. I went to a meetup in ABQ in 2006, I guess, and only myself and one other person attended. But then a couple of months ago, there was a meetup and about ten people showed up, about six of them mefites (others were friends & family). So, I'm not sure what the secret is. It may just be that there's not that many active mefites here in the KC area.

But can we do something to increase awareness and/or attendance? Has anyone ever thought to memail all the "nearby" mefites about a meetup, or is that too intrusive? Should we plan it well in advance?
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 2:12 PM on June 13, 2012

Yeah, it just kind of fizzled the last time. Bummer, I leave a week from today for a new gig. So unless it happens REAL soon, I wont be able to make this one.
posted by piedmont at 2:22 PM on June 13, 2012

What days and times work best for everyone? Weekday evenings are fine for me, except Thursdays. Would a meetup this Monday be too soon?
posted by chara at 6:58 AM on June 15, 2012

Monday would be best for me actually. Next weekend I'm out of town, then I'm out of town again the weekend after that.
posted by geoff. at 3:39 PM on June 15, 2012

I'm fine with anytime, but would prefer would actually be a time more people would show.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 5:10 PM on June 15, 2012

I can probably swing Monday. I can't promise to stay for too terribly long, as I've got a lot on my plate right now, what with getting ready to leave for an unknown length of time, for places unknown. But, I could probably stop by for a drink.
There was talk of the Brick last time, which I fully support. I'd also like to throw Grinder's out there, since they have outdoor seating, are relatively inexpensive, and generally awesome.
posted by piedmont at 6:40 PM on June 15, 2012

Actually, I just remembered that I'm having dinner with my sister and her family Monday night. So that's out for me.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 9:04 PM on June 15, 2012

Tuesday?
posted by chara at 4:30 PM on June 16, 2012

Since I'm right next to Grinders I am for that. I also work better during the week, I can make Tuesday.
posted by geoff. at 8:16 PM on June 16, 2012

Tuesday probably won't happen for me. I skip town bright and early Wednesday morning. While I'd like to say that I'll be totally packed and ready, this is my third major move in two years and I haven't once been ready the night before.
posted by piedmont at 10:03 PM on June 16, 2012

I am usually free on the weekends and Friday night.
posted by reenum at 5:09 PM on June 17, 2012

It'd be a shame to miss you, piedmont, but I think that it might be best to wait for some more people to notice this and then see what the consensus might be for a time and place.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 7:42 PM on June 17, 2012

No worries! I'd love to see you guys, but I am so completely inundated with stuff to do. I'll be back in town for a bit sometime this fall/winter/early spring, so maybe we can round up the KC Crew then too.
posted by piedmont at 7:47 PM on June 17, 2012

Well, not much activity here. Five of us have expressed interest, but one has subsequebtly moved away.

Maybe we can hope that more than two of us would actually show up on an agreed night, but I'm slightly skeptical. I see what you guys mean about limited interest. If we do try to go ahead with a meet-up, then we really need to pick a time and place that 3-5 of us will very likely follow through on.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 3:19 PM on June 22, 2012

If you book it, they will come.
posted by piedmont at 9:26 PM on June 24, 2012 [1 favorite]

Dang, I have to book something?
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 10:26 PM on June 24, 2012

As long as it's not on a Thursday night, I can probably be there.
posted by chara at 10:23 AM on June 27, 2012

You guys should make this happen! I feel like if this one comes off, the odds of one occurring
when I make it back are much higher.
posted by piedmont at 4:27 PM on July 18, 2012

I sure would like to have a meetup. I'm going stir-crazy and am bored and desperate to meet people here.
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 10:38 PM on July 18, 2012

First weekend in August?
posted by chara at 11:18 AM on July 19, 2012

Sounds good to me. Anyone else want to chime in?
posted by Ivan Fyodorovich at 12:11 PM on July 19, 2012

This is no longer showing up under Proposed Meetups. Grinders still?
posted by geoff. at 7:54 PM on July 19, 2012

I just made a new one.
posted by chara at 1:16 PM on July 20, 2012