In London from 27 Sept - 1 Oct...let's meet!

posted September 2, 2012 1:44 PM | |

Sat September 29 at 6:00 PM, the Slaughtered Lamb

34-35 Great Sutton St, Finsbury, London Borough of Islington, London EC1V 0DX, UK (Map & Directions)

Would I have to get a tattoo?
posted by Grangousier at 2:55 PM on September 2, 2012

Sharpie tattoos for every attendee!
posted by iamkimiam at 3:35 PM on September 2, 2012 [1 favorite]

Definitely! The weekend days are easier for me, and I was actually planning on my first tattoo in October!
posted by ellieBOA at 4:55 PM on September 2, 2012

I've been hankering for another meetup! Anytime during the weekend would be OK for me.
posted by Gordafarin at 4:53 AM on September 3, 2012

I can't do the evening of the 29th as I am meeting another bunch of people from the internets. Earlier that day or any other dates are fine though.
posted by permafrost at 7:42 AM on September 3, 2012

Got no plans for any of those days, so I'm up for it.

Had been thinking of suggesting the Turing exhibition for a meetup at some point, so that could be an option maybe?
posted by Infinite Jest at 8:55 AM on September 3, 2012

I went as a Turing Machine for Halloween two years ago, so I'd be in for that.
posted by iamkimiam at 10:02 AM on September 3, 2012

I am up for any/all of the above. Fancy dress or otherwise.
posted by freya_lamb at 3:07 PM on September 3, 2012

I'm up for most anything too. I can't do Thursday or Monday since I'll be arriving and leaving on those days.
posted by Kattullus at 3:16 PM on September 3, 2012

Since you'll be arriving from York and Iceland respectively perhaps something Norse-themed would be in order. Like a pub crawl in Viking helmets. Preferably on a Saturday. Just putting it out there. I need a decision reasonably quickly though as I'm thinking of shaving my beard off. But if there's some horned-helmet-related fun in the offing I'll defer the great unwhiskering.
posted by tigrefacile at 3:46 PM on September 3, 2012

Yes, I'm up for this. Yay, iamkimiam! And Kattullus!
posted by essexjan at 3:52 PM on September 3, 2012

Let's sack the City of London!
posted by Kattullus at 4:17 PM on September 3, 2012 [1 favorite]

This counts as a double meetup, right?

Count me in.
posted by ersatz at 5:07 PM on September 3, 2012

I like the pub crawl idea...I might actually have access to viking helmets (our roller derby team is somewhat viking themed, with Erica Bloodaxe as our mascot).

I'll go find out which day I'll be stuck (by needles) at the convention. I'm hoping Friday.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:51 PM on September 3, 2012

Viking helmets can be bought for about two quid on ebay, and I know I've seen them in toy shops, Asda, etc., so don't schlep them down from York, iamkimiam, anyone who wants to wear one (with or without Brunhilde hair) could probably get their own.
posted by essexjan at 2:46 AM on September 4, 2012

I'm in!
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 3:28 AM on September 4, 2012

I will also be in London from Sept 29 - October 4. Depending on what my hosts have planned, I'm potentially up for something!
posted by pointystick at 8:39 AM on September 4, 2012 [1 favorite]

As a recent switch from Lurker to Gobshite, I'd love to meet some of you suckers. Massively in.
posted by ominous_paws at 6:57 AM on September 5, 2012

(I'd like a 3/4 sleeve with lots of flaming skulls, please)
posted by ominous_paws at 6:58 AM on September 5, 2012 [2 favorites]

I love the idea of a good Norse-drenched pub crawl, and if we pick Saturday 29 there is nothing against starting in the afternoon so permafrost could join in the fun. Although is that allowed, hanging out with other people from the internet?

Just for centrality's sake, we could do Clerkenwell: I know that the Slaughtered Lamb, the Jerusalem and the Three Kings are all within stumbling distance of one another. There may even be other good venues nearby? Venues friendly to tattooed, grar-filled internet Vikings?
posted by Chichibio at 9:27 AM on September 5, 2012

Saturday sounds good. Clerkenwell will be reasonably quiet, too, and yes to anything to do with the Slaughtered Lamb. (You made me miss).
posted by tigrefacile at 7:47 AM on September 7, 2012

What ominous_paws said. Would be cool to meet you folk!

_{It is possible that I will be in the Lakes that weekend, however.}
posted by katrielalex at 1:45 PM on September 8, 2012

Of course, if a pub crawl starts in Clerkenwell, it could easily progress to the Betsey Trotwood => Roseberry Avenue => Islington => Archway => Alexandra Palace => Welwyn Garden City => Birmingham => Cumbria => Newcastle => The Hebrides. Or west to Old Street => Bethnal Green => Dagenham => Southend => Paris => Istanbul.

No, sorry, I don't have anything of value to contribute.
posted by Grangousier at 3:46 PM on September 8, 2012

And obviously strike West and replace with East.
posted by Grangousier at 3:47 PM on September 8, 2012

That Eastern plan would work for me, Grangousier, though I'd have to say my goodbyes and head South from Paris.
posted by Kattullus at 5:14 PM on September 8, 2012

Saturday could work for me too, but I'm still not sure what day I'll be getting tattooed (it may be saturday). Either way, maybe we can plan some additional things for people still around and/or unable to make Saturday day or night (including self).

I'm going to be relatively incommunicado for the next 10 days...should I update this thread for Saturday starting at the Slaughtered Lamb? If so, what time is good for people?
posted by iamkimiam at 7:01 AM on September 9, 2012

Slaughtered Lamb sounds good to me. It's only about two miles from where I'm staying in London.
posted by Kattullus at 5:57 PM on September 9, 2012

I added a 'slaughteredlamb' tag.
(when else would I get such a chance?)
posted by iamkimiam at 11:44 PM on September 9, 2012 [3 favorites]

I land that morning after an overnight flight. I will not be able to vouch for my condition but I'll try to make it!
posted by pointystick at 7:17 AM on September 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I can (and will) be there from 17.30 onwards.
posted by tigrefacile at 11:02 AM on September 10, 2012 [1 favorite]

I'd like to come, but I've never been to a meet up before! Do I just walk up to a crowd and ask if it's MeFi?
posted by toerinishuman at 12:18 PM on September 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

Yes!

(If you think that would sound silly, try "excuse me, are you a friend of Matt Haughey?").

Also, we could make a sign or something, though it might be scrawled in pen on a small peice of paper. And I will try to remember to wear my "+1/favourite" badge.
posted by Infinite Jest at 12:53 PM on September 11, 2012

In that case, I'll be there (albeit terrified).
posted by toerinishuman at 1:10 PM on September 11, 2012

oooooh. anyone interested in going to see this? Or Turing exhibit at Science museum?
posted by pointystick at 1:44 PM on September 11, 2012 [1 favorite]

toerinishuman: Do I just walk up to a crowd and ask if it's MeFi?

I usually ask: "Excuse me, are you from the internet?"

I've never had problems finding the MeFites though. Two tips: 1) A large majority is wearing glasses. 2) Check profile pictures.
posted by Kattullus at 4:20 PM on September 11, 2012

I'll have to remember where I stashed my [+] badge. Someone's [+] business card(?) is the only thing that prevented me walking right past the Mefites at my first meetup.
posted by Gordafarin at 4:13 AM on September 12, 2012

If I can make it, I'll bring the rest of the badges with me, and I also have a card somewhere.

Who has The Sign - is it still chrismear?
posted by Grangousier at 6:04 AM on September 12, 2012

Ooh, I'll bite. Not sure I'll be up for an entire pub crawl as will just have arrived back from holiday, but will definitely stop by for a drink or two. toerinishuman, the recent MeFi vs. Reddit pub quiz was my first meetup, and I was similarly terrified, but it turns out they're not a bunch of assholes at all, so don't get too worried!
posted by catch as catch can at 3:20 AM on September 14, 2012

I am a bunch of assholes, in fact, but everyone else is really nice so it evens out.
posted by tigrefacile at 12:28 PM on September 15, 2012

I'd like to come as well. I'm new to London and I've never been to a meet up (of any kind!), so toerinishuman and I can be terrified together.
posted by sundaydriver at 2:06 PM on September 15, 2012

Well, since moving to a new city is stressful, and going to a first meetup is always a bit strange at first, I suppose we can go easy on the usual stuff we do, trust exercises, blood sacrifices, and telepathic communion with the Outer Cats.
posted by Kattullus at 7:28 PM on September 15, 2012

OK, I'm coming! It's also my first meetup. Happy to bring supplies for telepathic rituals but draw the line at full moon nude chanting.

Although, actually, I do have some fire poi around somewhere...
posted by katrielalex at 4:26 PM on September 17, 2012 [1 favorite]

Is bunch the correct collective noun for assholes? I always thought it was clench, as in "The tube doors slide open and, with a sad lack of surprise, I find a clench of assholes standing in my path as I try to disembark at King's Cross."
posted by Chichibio at 2:10 AM on September 18, 2012 [1 favorite]

Prompted solely by the context Chichibo just provided, I'm tempted to suggest "an Exchange Trip of assholes" as the proper phrase.
posted by ominous_paws at 3:50 AM on September 18, 2012

Rush hour?
posted by ersatz at 4:34 AM on September 18, 2012

Ok, confirmed that i can join y'all on Saturday (getting tattooed on Sunday). I would be down to do something fun on Friday or Saturday-day with you all. Turing exhibit perhaps and/or lunch somewhere yummy (Oaxaca?...I miss Mexican food!)

(keep in mind that I'm throwing ideas around and have no idea where any of these places are located)
posted by iamkimiam at 1:07 PM on September 19, 2012

I am now spoken for all Saturday but if anything happens Friday evening I might be able to make a show of it. Otherwise you are just going to have to force yourselves to have fun without me.
posted by permafrost at 9:12 AM on September 20, 2012

Aw shucks, we're not going to get to see your ink! Can you bring a drawing?

I'm down with lunch and/or $FUNTHING (but I highly favour lunch) Saturday aft as it turns out I won't be able to stay out very late crawling pubs. I firmly believe that Mexican food generally sucks outside of Mexico/the border states, but London is exploding with new Mexican joints and I love trying new places (just in case). If we met at the Science Museum for 1PM, spent two hours there to build up an appetite, we could head over to Taqueria in Bayswater (if there are five or ten people, I bet shared cabs would be cheap) and then to Clerkenwell for beer o'clock. Or there's Daddy Donkey in Clerkenwell proper, but it looks more like a stall and it closes at 4, so it might be tricky to combine it with Turing.

Anybody with Secret Mexican Restaurant Knowledge?
posted by Chichibio at 9:17 AM on September 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

Ha. My own drawing is crap and I will not be sharing it. :P

I really like this idea of adding the Science museum + lunch at Taqueria to the plan! I'll update/change the post to reflect this.
posted by iamkimiam at 4:37 AM on September 21, 2012

Updated!
posted by iamkimiam at 6:16 AM on September 21, 2012

I made a separate IRL post for a Friday meetup...the Superhuman exhibit at the Wellcome collection.
posted by iamkimiam at 3:41 AM on September 25, 2012

OK, so Taqueria it is. I just called them and, while they don't take reservations on Saturdays, I was assured that because we'll be arriving at the slow hour of 4 they'll be able to seat fourteen of us comfortably.

Can we get a show of hands for who wants to come to lunch?
posted by Chichibio at 5:33 AM on September 25, 2012 [1 favorite]

[sticks hand up in the air and waves frantically]
posted by iamkimiam at 6:27 AM on September 25, 2012

I'm another first meetup-er! I can't make it for lunch, but the evening drinks is a yes. I'll probably be the one wandering round the pub surreptitiously staring at everyone trying to work out who I'm looking for...
posted by shiny shoes at 11:17 AM on September 25, 2012

Look for a table with some blue business card-sized favourites on them. You'll see.

Or I might go full dork and wear a MeFi shirt...written in International Phonetic Alphabet.
posted by iamkimiam at 11:27 AM on September 25, 2012

This is my hand. See how it is up.
posted by ominous_paws at 11:33 AM on September 25, 2012

Hello! Lunch. Yes please. hands etc.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 5:26 PM on September 25, 2012

I'll join you all at 6, looking forward to it! Enjoy Friday, the superhuman exhibition looks fantastic, will definitely be doing that at a weekend.
posted by ellieBOA at 4:27 AM on September 26, 2012

Can we get a show of hands for who wants to come to lunch?

Probable two for lunch, here.
posted by Infinite Jest at 5:49 AM on September 26, 2012

Hand, lunch, me, that sort of thing.
posted by katrielalex at 1:32 PM on September 26, 2012

[puts hand tentatively up] I don't want to fully commit, but the idea of good Mexican food is so enticing... I'll probably be there.
posted by catch as catch can at 12:40 AM on September 27, 2012 [1 favorite]

2 for lunch here... gosh it's been forever! really looking forward to seeing you guys, and yes

newbies have to learn the sekrit "are u a friend of matt's?" spoken in a fedora-type, portabello mushroom coloured accent.
posted by Wilder at 2:51 PM on September 27, 2012

One more newbie here. I saw the Turing thing recently so I'd like to join at the Mexican food stage if I can. Anyone else planning on that? Will someone post if that 4pm estimate ends up being much later or earlier?
posted by PJMcPrettypants at 3:38 PM on September 27, 2012

I also would like tacos.
posted by Gordafarin at 3:15 PM on September 28, 2012

My taco cherry will have to remain unpopped, I'm afraid. See you all in the Slaughtered Lamb!
posted by HandfulOfDust at 4:07 PM on September 28, 2012

Taco cherry. giggle.
posted by iamkimiam at 5:05 PM on September 28, 2012 [1 favorite]

I will be joining all of you good folk for cherry tacos at 4pm.
posted by Kattullus at 5:09 PM on September 28, 2012

Not going to make it for lunch (deep in admin hell at the moment) but definitely planning on meeting you lot in the pub at 6ish. If it does turn into a proper crawl, can someone update with current location?
posted by joboe at 12:32 AM on September 29, 2012

Anyone else planning on that?

Yes, probably. I was going to check this page before setting off.
posted by katrielalex at 3:20 AM on September 29, 2012

So we have twelve confirmed for lunch plus some tentatives, which is perfect. Folks with the fancy phones will be posting updates I'm sure.

See y'all soon!

[To make this meetup extra-memorable, we could all get matching commemorative tattoos of a cherry-topped taco! Just a thought.]
posted by Chichibio at 3:29 AM on September 29, 2012

We're outside the science museum. I'm wearing an obnoxiously bright yellow t-shirt.
posted by iamkimiam at 5:08 AM on September 29, 2012

I'll be at the pub around 6! I'll look for the crowd where someone's wearing an obnoxiously bright yellow t-shirt.
posted by toerinishuman at 5:14 AM on September 29, 2012

Chichibaby and crew now entering museum...
posted by Chichibio at 5:26 AM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Appear to have lost you all, I'm outside across the road. Will see you at restaurant if not before
posted by Infinite Jest at 6:35 AM on September 29, 2012

See you all at 6 in the slaughtered lamb!
posted by ellieBOA at 6:56 AM on September 29, 2012

We will be at the restaurant in about ten minutes
posted by Infinite Jest at 7:46 AM on September 29, 2012

I'll be there shortly as well.
posted by catch as catch can at 7:47 AM on September 29, 2012

And I, in an obnoxious green shirt. Meeting outside?
posted by katrielalex at 8:00 AM on September 29, 2012

Taco Cherry really ought to be a member of Jazz's Cherry family - a relative of Neneh. Probably a percussionist.
posted by Grangousier at 8:52 AM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

For those meeting us at the lamb, we're eating tacos, but there's a lot of us, so we might be slightly late.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 9:03 AM on September 29, 2012

In the spirit of the proceedings, I've put my obnoxiously bright red shirt on.

Don't kill me 5 minutes in.
posted by ersatz at 9:35 AM on September 29, 2012 [2 favorites]

Update when you get to the slaughtered lamb!
posted by ellieBOA at 9:48 AM on September 29, 2012

I'm not going to be there until almost 7, so can we please keep this thread updated? I can gmap anything I need to.
posted by toerinishuman at 9:56 AM on September 29, 2012

I'm not able to make it, sadly. Trip over pond was exhausting and I am about to crash. Will be here a few more days but sorry missed this.
posted by pointystick at 10:01 AM on September 29, 2012

I just tweeted iamkimiam to ask her if they're still having tacos, toerinishuman I will update when I get there :)
posted by ellieBOA at 10:05 AM on September 29, 2012

Thanks!
posted by toerinishuman at 10:06 AM on September 29, 2012

I'm at the table next to the entrance, on the right. Bright red shirt.
posted by ersatz at 10:16 AM on September 29, 2012

Fab, 5 mins away
posted by ellieBOA at 10:18 AM on September 29, 2012

We're all near the entrance!
posted by catch as catch can at 10:41 AM on September 29, 2012

Inside or outside?
posted by toerinishuman at 10:44 AM on September 29, 2012

Inside
posted by katrielalex at 10:50 AM on September 29, 2012

At 20:00 toerinishuman will be leading us all to the crown tavern, Ec1r 0EG. It is, apparently, where Stalin and Lenin first met.

Also, there's a beer garden.
posted by Just this guy, y'know at 11:43 AM on September 29, 2012 [1 favorite]

Well, that was a ton of fun. Good job, everyone! =)
posted by Kattullus at 8:11 PM on September 29, 2012

It really was, although I fell victim to the classic blunder: falling into bed after a night of alcohol without the requisite big glass of water beforehand. Boo. I hope tattooing goes well today, iamkimiam (and ellieBOA, if you go)!
posted by catch as catch can at 12:49 AM on September 30, 2012

That was a great night. So good to see such a lot of people at their first meetup too.
posted by essexjan at 1:22 AM on September 30, 2012

That was a great first meetup -- thanks all :)
posted by katrielalex at 2:17 AM on September 30, 2012

PS beat remnants of the evening: [citation needed] and [+] badge. Thanks Gran-go-USier =)
posted by katrielalex at 2:26 AM on September 30, 2012

So happy with my badge! Lovely to meet you all, I'm off to the Superhuman exhibition with my sister after all the recommendations!
posted by ellieBOA at 3:43 AM on September 30, 2012

OMG just surfaced and there's a badge on my dress, a favorites badge! Great evening and thanks to Iamkimiam & Katullus for a great Friday too! Great to see so many new faces.
posted by Wilder at 3:45 AM on September 30, 2012

the dress is not still on me, I wasn't that drunk!
posted by Wilder at 3:45 AM on September 30, 2012

Wilder, there were two badges on your dress, which you'd positioned to be nipples.
posted by essexjan at 3:48 AM on September 30, 2012 [2 favorites]

Totally fab meetup, great to see so many new faces. And the cherry taco on my arm? Je ne regrette rien.
posted by Gordafarin at 4:05 AM on September 30, 2012 [4 favorites]

That was lots of fun--thanks for putting it together, Kattullus and iamkimian!
posted by sundaydriver at 5:00 AM on September 30, 2012

It really was, although I fell victim to the classic blunder: falling into bed after a night of alcohol without the requisite big glass of water beforehand.

Better than getting involved in a land war in Asia.

Thanks everyone for the good times!
posted by ersatz at 5:20 AM on September 30, 2012 [1 favorite]

That was fun! You were all bloody lovely. Big thanks to the organisers.
posted by ominous_paws at 6:22 AM on September 30, 2012

I awoke having lost my credit card. That blew the hangover from my brain.

But to indicate how super this two-day rolling meetup was, I'd be happy to relive it all, even if it would mean I'd lose my credit card again.

I've closed my card and I'm all set regarding travel and accommodation, so no need to worry about me.
posted by Kattullus at 7:06 AM on September 30, 2012

Oh NO, Kattullus, what an absolute pain in the arse. Glad to hear you have a contingency plan, though.

It was great to see all you lovely people, old and new faces both. Good times!
posted by HandfulOfDust at 8:10 AM on September 30, 2012

Thanks Jan, now would the person who currently has my second nipple and Katullus' credit card please return them? KTNXBY
posted by Wilder at 2:07 AM on October 1, 2012

Oh, and there are now two Cherry Taco tattoo shapes imprinted on my sheets. (Oi. Not like that, I just rolled over)
posted by ominous_paws at 3:51 AM on October 1, 2012 [4 favorites]

I'm finally home! Yesterday at the convention was mad, but went great. I had so much fun meeting all of you this weekend, tattooing tacos, and exploring the chips of prostate. Oh, not to mention the personals...green eyed scorpion, anyone?

(most of this stuff doesn't make sense even if you were there)

Here's the list of meetup attendees:
catch as catch can
Chichibio
ellieBOA
Erberus
ersatz
essexjan
Gordafarin
Grangousier
HandfulOfDust
iamkimiam
Infinite Jest
just this guy, y'know
kairab
katrielalex
Kattullus
ominous paws
PJMcPrettypants
shiny shoes
sundaydriver
tigrefacile
toerinishuman
Wilder

Till next time, y'all.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:53 AM on October 1, 2012 [2 favorites]

damn, I already spot a typo in the list.
posted by iamkimiam at 8:54 AM on October 1, 2012

The personals were the best.
posted by catch as catch can at 9:15 AM on October 1, 2012

On behalf of V and myself, we had a blast at KimKatKon 2012! Let's make next time not so far away. Maybe my cherry fish taco tattoo will last until then....

Yes, we regret leaving early - and as such not being privy to the real booze-fuelled hilarity - but we soldiered on at our next engagement till around 6:30, so good times were had. Would've been fun to combine events, but maybe we'll leave that for the next go 'round.
posted by Chichibio at 12:24 PM on October 1, 2012

Ooooooh man... so, I just noticed that I had a Facebook message in the "Other" category. It was from a friendly Londoner who had found my credit card on Sunday morning, in a McDonalds (which I hadn't been to). If I'd seen the message that morning, or thought to check my Facebook messages, I would have avoided having to cancel my card (turns out it hadn't been used... yay the ubiquity of having to enter a pin).

[HOLY SHIT EDIT WINDOW]
posted by Kattullus at 4:05 PM on October 1, 2012 [1 favorite]

Could I just second that, HOLY SHIT EDIT WINDOW.
posted by Gordafarin at 12:55 PM on October 2, 2012