Labor Day Weekend Meetup Friday 3rd September

posted August 25, 2010 5:32 PM | |

Fri September 3 at 7:00 PM, Bushwick Country Club

618 Grand St, Brooklyn, NY, USA (Map & Directions)

I'll let the real New Yorkers offer suggestions, but I think this sounds like fun.
posted by smackfu at 1:09 PM on August 26, 2010

I'm still a lowly probationary-period New Yorker but I also think this sounds like fun and will most likely be in town for Labor day.
posted by Juicy Avenger at 8:43 PM on August 26, 2010

I'll be in town that weekend. Is there anything in particular you're looking for? What part of New York will you be in?
posted by kkokkodalk at 11:01 PM on August 26, 2010

There are also some interesting underground parties that weekend (on the 4th) - MeMail me for details.
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 12:59 PM on August 27, 2010

Agree with kkokkodalk--what do you like to do? Where will you be staying? It's very difficult to suggest things otherwise.

Sounds fun in general.
posted by the young rope-rider at 1:00 PM on August 27, 2010

Hey guys!

I will be staying in Brooklyn by the bottom end of Prospect Park. Nearest subway station is Fort Hamilton Parkway, which is on F and G lines.

As regards what I would like to do at a meetup, I propose talking, drinking and possibly eating. Venues that accommodate such activities would be suitable!

I like pretty much all manner of things, I am a low-lactose vegetarian food-wise should we end up eating, like just about all music from free jazz to folktronica to funk to minimalist techno but don't get with guitar based rock in general. In my opinion, meetups go better if the music is not dominant. We ended up sitting outside at the first one I attended in Manchester despite the single digit temperatures (measured in Celsius, not your crazy F) as the background music in the venue was killing the conversation.

Outside, now there's an idea! Unless the temperature drops unseasonably that would probably be my suggestion. That or a traditional style US diner that serves vegan food and micro-brews or cocktails.

Is Friday a good night to settle on?
posted by asok at 12:16 PM on August 28, 2010

Friday sounds good to me. I'm a bit lost about where, that's not really my hood.

The one vegan place in brooklyn that I know is foodswings, which is owned by my ex-neighbors who always smelled up our hallway in the most delicious way.
posted by the young rope-rider at 3:37 PM on August 28, 2010

If you want to stay in Brooklyn, there's a couple of places along those lines. I don't know what your budget and unfortunately not too familiar with vegan places, but if you want (good) cocktails, definitely say yes to the Clover Club (off the Bergen stop, so just a couple of stops from you). There's also the Jake Walk, which is in the same vicinity, but I'd recommend Clover Club more because it's a bit more conducive to people wandering in and out in my opinion.

If you want to brave it up more to Williamsburg, for meetup-friendly cocktail places I'd definitely recommend Dram,(I took coldchef there once, we left the place as the sun was coming up). I've been to the Huckleberry before, but only once, so I can only really recommend it on the space's size. Never been to The Counting Room, but heard good things about it.

Also no need to limit your evening to one venue. It is a long weekend, so maybe someone has better suggestions about places that serve something vegan.
posted by kkokkodalk at 5:07 PM on August 28, 2010

I'm not going to be around (unfortunately), but I want to throw Vegetarian Palate into the ring -- it's on Flatbush, near a bunch of trains, and is basically a vegetarian/vegan mixed-Asian restaurant (similar to VP2 in the West Village). It's a good place to meet up because it has a lot of seating and tends to be quiet, especially on weeknights.

(As opposed to Foodswings, which doesn't have a lot of seating, is often crowded, and -- at least when I hung out there -- had a tendency to play super loud music that interfered with talking. Although someone looking for vegan food in Brooklyn should absolutely stop in there at some point.)

Unfortunately, the other truly awesome vegan restaurant in Brooklyn closed down -- Veggie Castle was an amazing Ital West Indian restaurant in a remodeled White Castle!
posted by shamash at 8:50 PM on August 28, 2010

I live near where you will be staying, asok. I might attend this.
posted by grobstein at 12:06 PM on August 29, 2010

Nice suggestions kkokkodalk. Some nice sounding cocktails on those lists! We don't have to stay on this side of the water, but that is where I am based.

I think any place were sitting outside is an option would be great. Night of Joy in Williamsburg has been suggested to me. $4 beers and $6 margaritas 5-8pm on a roof with a view of the BQE. Zombie Hut is another place where you can be outdoors and drink silly cocktails or normal beers.

If people want to eat we can do that too, my esoteric dietary preferences notwithstanding. I will see if I can get advice on that.
posted by asok at 7:59 PM on August 29, 2010

"There are also some interesting underground parties that weekend (on the 4th)"

umm... this is nyc we call em subways
posted by Eideteker at 1:51 PM on August 30, 2010 [1 favorite]

Apparently there is a hurricane coming this weekend.

Maybe.
posted by smackfu at 4:15 PM on August 30, 2010

Best party so far: http://www.wandbnyc.com/

There are some good things on Friday too in Bushwick...
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 10:37 PM on August 30, 2010

Apparently there is a hurricane coming this weekend.

Maybe.

The party's gotten so good now that the apocalyptic tidal wave is bearing down on Manhattan.
posted by grobstein at 10:41 AM on August 31, 2010

Oh man, I love "A Lesson..." so much that it makes me want to run around punching things while I scream, "I LOVE 'A LESSON IS LEARNED BUT THE DAMAGE IS IRREVERSIBLE'," at the top of my lungs every time I read it. I can usually manage to refrain from screaming.
posted by Eideteker at 10:54 AM on August 31, 2010

Not that this should change anyone's decision, but my presence may be required at the Bushwick Country Club to pay a social call on either the 4th or the 5th (...or quite possibly both). Just saying, if anybody wants to come hang with me there post (pre? who knows, details are still up in there) meet up, that works too.
posted by kkokkodalk at 5:35 PM on August 31, 2010

So is anything actually happening? I blame IRL for the fact that I haven't attended a meetup in over a month.
posted by Eideteker at 7:00 AM on September 1, 2010

Yeah, not sure if the whole "proposed meetup" model works that well.
posted by smackfu at 7:02 AM on September 1, 2010

Anyone want to make a metatalk post about the proposed meetup thing? I would, but I plan an angry callout at some point later this week.
posted by the young rope-rider at 7:27 AM on September 1, 2010 [2 favorites]

Well it does sound like the weather is not going to be conducive with al fresco drinking.

kkokkodalk, you just made decision making a whole lot simpler! It might mean three nights in a row for you! The Bushwick Country Club sounds pretty relaxed and the website says if we get 15 people there we drink for free! Not sure how that works, but come down and we'll see. Just a pity the mini-golf might be a wash out.

7 pm Bushwick Country Club, 618 Grand Street, Williamsburg. Nearest subway Metropolitan Avenue-Lorimer St, G.
posted by asok at 7:46 AM on September 1, 2010

Ha, well, goddamn. To be honest this weekend is going to be my first time setting foot in BCC so I really can't give an accurate description of the place, so now I'm all nervous if the place ends up being a disaster for meetups because it'll be on my head (and to be honest I don't know if I can do a bar 2-3 nights in a row).

Er, heeeeyyy just so that you know there are options there's also other decent drinking establishments that I actually can say "yes, meetups here would probably work" within walking distance or a subway stop or two away from BCC like the aforementioned Huckleberry or even Harefield Road for that matter.
posted by kkokkodalk at 9:02 AM on September 1, 2010

I am confused about this.
posted by grobstein at 9:27 AM on September 1, 2010

Grobstein: Just ignore anything I say and that'll be half the battle =( I think my stress over crazy scheduling at work is starting to spill over into Metafilter.
posted by kkokkodalk at 10:35 AM on September 1, 2010

Bushwick Country Club does indeed have a nice ramshackle-ish outside section, although the inside is a little stuffy. But yes, Harefield Road's also right nearby, and quite lovely! Also, the Harefield owners just opened up Matt Torrey's, which has a very large indoor space (no outdoor space, but if it's raining, that's not an issue), and which is only about six blocks away from Bushwick Country Club.
posted by Greg Nog at 11:54 AM on September 1, 2010

Try my best depending on the weather.
posted by griphus at 1:49 PM on September 1, 2010

BCC looks fine kkokkodalk, hopefully we'll get a table or something. Once the posse in effect we can decamp if necessary.
posted by asok at 2:49 PM on September 1, 2010

Depends how terrible the weather is. Hard to believe there is a storm coming... it's beautiful out.
posted by smackfu at 6:08 AM on September 2, 2010

If the storm does not devour us all, I will try to come.
posted by brina at 8:11 AM on September 2, 2010

The storm will devour us all, brina. It's just a matter of when.
posted by grobstein at 9:12 AM on September 2, 2010

Even if the weather will be absolute crap, it just means I'll probably be home most of the day and I now live along the L, sooooo I really have no excuse not to attend.

I'm supposed to go see a lady about a camera tomorrow, so unless I get washed out to sea while trying to get to Queens from Brooklyn, I should be able to come.
posted by kkokkodalk at 10:38 AM on September 2, 2010

It's 4pm now and this hurricane is still nowhere to be seen. I'm calling it a no-show, and getting dudded up to hit the town tonight.
posted by Eideteker at 12:56 PM on September 3, 2010

See you there! Leaving for the subway now.
posted by asok at 3:21 PM on September 3, 2010

Updating myself as a definite. Will probably be there around 8.
posted by Eideteker at 3:31 PM on September 3, 2010

I will be a no-show due to surprising (but serious) obligations. Have fun, all!
posted by the young rope-rider at 3:54 PM on September 3, 2010

I'm here... Is anyone else?
posted by Eideteker at 5:05 PM on September 3, 2010

Shit! Sorry guys. I had the day off today...then somehow that ended up not happening and I was in the office after drinking until about 2am last night. I came home and set the alarm to take a little nap before heading out and the alarm didn't go off =( Ugh, I feel like a douchebag for such flakiness.
posted by kkokkodalk at 6:34 PM on September 3, 2010