Comments on: Toronto meetup!

Toronto meetup!

orange swan — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 10:42:07 -0800

Hi all. Brujita is visiting our ~~Rob Ford-plagued~~ fair city October 22 to November 11. Would anyone like to get together to say hello to her, imbibe assorted beverages, and generally hang out? Her visit gives us a generous window of time, and as to the venue I will only say we should pick something central — I'll ask brujita where she's staying so we can narrow it down to a place convenient to her.

By: brujita

brujita — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 13:05:20 -0800

I'm renting a car...and I remember that TO has excellent public transportation, so I can go anywhere. I'm going to the new order concert, but other than that I'm free.

By: chunking express

chunking express — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 10:56:38 -0800

I haven't been to a meet up in ages. What were people thining?

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 15:26:09 -0800

Brewpub or ethnic is fine.

By: iona

iona — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 11:18:37 -0800

I'm game, somewhat depending on when & where

By: flex

flex — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 11:44:50 -0800

I missed the last one so I don't know how reliable I am right now but I'm interested (if whatever you all eventually choose works for me).

By: grippycat

grippycat — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 14:39:30 -0800

i'm in - welcome brujita!

By: SassHat

SassHat — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 12:22:02 -0800

I'm in but the weekend of nov 2 is out for me.

By: brujita

brujita — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 17:14:24 -0800

Thanks grippycat! I got in very early this morning and am still a bit jetlagged. If anyone is going to New Order tomorrow and would like to meet beforehand for dinner let me know.

By: brujita

brujita — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:30:14 -0800

how about friday?

By: brujita

brujita — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 10:15:08 -0800

I'll let the natives pick. :-)

By: brujita

brujita — Wed, 24 Oct 2012 15:55:29 -0800

I was planning to make a lot of day trips while I'm here. If friday isn't good, I need to know pronto.

By: flex

flex — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 09:01:30 -0800

I can't make Friday. I could probably make Saturday nighttime or Sunday anytime from late afternoon on. (I have to drive out from a while away.) Since there was just a meetup within the last couple weeks I wonder if calling for this weekend might be too soon and next weekend or the one following (Nov. 9/10) would be easier to coordinate? A little more advance time for people to leave schedules free.

By: brujita

brujita — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 10:37:56 -0800

Saturday, then. Orange Swan, please call the venue.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:35:53 -0800

I'm off to Massey Hall with a friend this Saturday, but could drop in after that.

By: orange swan

orange swan — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:40:26 -0800

I actually can't get away this weekend at all. I'm thinking next weekend. How about Saturday, November 3? As for the venue.... I think something central and on the subway line is best. I am only familiar with the pubs in the Junction/Roncie area, so does anyone want to suggest a venue in the Yonge and Bloor area? Or roughly in that area — a few subway stops in any direction would be fine.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 11:48:04 -0800

November 3 is much better for me, actually (see above). I think we're looking for talk-friendly locations again. Are there any left in this city?

By: maudlin

maudlin — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:00:07 -0800

Oh, wait -- that neat little divey place in Blansdowne, Ciro's, where we went last October was talk-friendly. Good music which they turned down a bit when we asked, we had a big table to ourselves and only a few other people in the place, it was fairly cheap and had interesting beer, and it's right at Lansdowne station. If not Ciro's, can someone else recommend a local near a subway?

By: iona

iona — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:18:53 -0800

I live in Harbord Village, so my locals (not sure how quiet we're talking about here, but I like them for meeting up with friends and chatting) would be Pour Boy (Christie Stn), the Tranzac (Bathurst or Spadina Stn), and the Victory Cafe (Bathurst Stn)

By: brujita

brujita — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:40:06 -0800

I'm staying near the Eaton Centre.

By: brujita

brujita — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 16:00:41 -0800

sasshat can't make it that weekend. how's 11/9?

By: orange swan

orange swan — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:26:54 -0800

Friday November 9 would be fine for me. And the Pour Boy at Christie sounds good. Everyone?

By: brujita

brujita — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 18:48:13 -0800

excellent!

By: flex

flex — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 09:50:36 -0800

Pretty sure I can do that as long as you don't mind me showing up between 8:30-9 PMish (traffic going in and out of the city on Fridays from like 4-7 PM is miserable, obvi). Is this place easy to get to if you're driving?

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 16:40:42 -0800

Iona, how crowded does pour boy get weekends? Do they allow space to be reserved downstairs?

By: iona

iona — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 04:45:09 -0800

I don't think you can reserve tables in advance, if that's what you mean. You can book a room I believe. It can fill up pretty fast on a Friday-Saturday night, but I think that's true of pretty well any bar. I can't guarantee what time I'll be off work that day (or any day), and Pour Boy isn't very big - if people are concerned about not getting a table, perhaps somewhere larger might be a better bet. for driving, it's at Bloor and Manning. I don't drive an awful lot in the city, but I'd suggest getting onto Bathurst from whatever highway you're taking in and getting off at Bloor. I believe there is street parking on Manning, although I have no personal experience trying to park in that area.

By: brujita

brujita — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 17:24:34 -0800

Flex, can you come into the city with public transport? If not, maybe we should pick a place where we can reserve a table. As I posted before, any ethnic is fine: Ethiopian, Greek, Chinese, Indian,Thai .... are there any table service places with good poutine?

By: brujita

brujita — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 21:52:40 -0800

asking about poutine was intended as "when in Rome"

By: flex

flex — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 09:15:06 -0800

Brujita, I can't - I'm over an hour out so I have to drive. I'm happy with wherever as long as I can find parking!

By: brujita

brujita — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:37:57 -0800

Is it ok with everyone if we switch to a place where we can reserve a table?

By: orange swan

orange swan — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 12:28:10 -0800

Does anyone have suggestions as to a centrally located pub where we can reserve a table?

By: brujita

brujita — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:55:40 -0800

It doesn't have to be a pub.

By: miss_kitty_fantastico

miss_kitty_fantastico — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 14:11:19 -0800

Anyong! Grippycat was such a great hostess last time that I thought I might crash another meetup! :) How about Harbord House*? Can't speak to the crowds on Friday, but they have decent food and apparently take reservations before 6 and after 8:30pm on Fridays. It's just west of Spadina on Harbord. Flex, you'd take the Spadina exit off the Gardiner, then drive north through Chinatown and turn left on Harbord. There'd be (some) street parking, or you could do the U of T grad house garage for I think $6. * Not to be confused with the Harbord ROOM, which is just across the street. Harbord House is bigger and more pub-like. Harbord Room is fancier and narrow/small.

By: brujita

brujita — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 17:58:35 -0800

looks good!

By: grippycat

grippycat — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 20:08:54 -0800

flex. you're always welcome to use my visitor's parking and you have a place to crash if a night out turns into a looooooong night :)

By: ricochet biscuit

ricochet biscuit — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 13:04:58 -0800

Flex: depending on in which direction you are an hour out, we might be able to haul you along (we would be coming along the 403 from the Hamilton/Burlington direction).

By: flex

flex — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 17:43:54 -0800

I'm down the 401, ricochet, but thanks! I'm always happy to pick up anyone along my way or carpool, to have company in the car, if you all are on or near my route.

By: orange swan

orange swan — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:28:13 -0800

Hi everyone. I've updated this post to show the venue and the date and time. Unfortunately I may not be able to make the event myself. There has been a death in my family - one of my cousins died last night. I don't know when or where her funeral is to be yet, but my guess is that it will take place on Saturday and in a town somewhat north of Toronto, such as Stouffville, and given that I will be taking public transit to get there and back I don't know if I can get back to Toronto on time. I'll post again when I know for sure, and I will make reservations at the venue for everybody else if it seems necessary once we have confirmed numbers. Sorry everyone, but of course I do have to prioritize my cousin's funeral over a meetup.

By: flex

flex — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 18:52:39 -0800

I'm sorry to hear of your loss, orange swan. I thought we'd decided on November 9th - next Friday?

By: orange swan

orange swan — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:10:24 -0800

Oh shit, you're right! Duh me. I'll change the date.

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 07:52:13 -0800

I'm sorry, orange swan.

By: miss_kitty_fantastico

miss_kitty_fantastico — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 10:06:34 -0800

Thanks for setting up the page, orange swan. I'm sorry to hear about your cousin.

By: orange swan

orange swan — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 17:29:03 -0800

Changed the date again to November 9. Where it should stay. Thanks all for bearing with me.

By: lotusfeet

lotusfeet — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 20:03:32 -0800

I'd love to crash this gathering and take a much-needed opportunity to meet people in a -relatively- new city! I hope that's cool.

By: Lemurrhea

Lemurrhea — Sat, 03 Nov 2012 09:30:24 -0800

Oh hey I'm in Toronto that weekend, coming in from the north earlier in the evening! Like lotusfeet, I'm crashing the party.

By: flex

flex — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 09:04:31 -0800

There is no crashing - just fresh MeFite blood! We love new people. (Actually there is sometimes crashing, but of a different sort - I might take you up on that offer, grippycat.)

By: scruss

scruss — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:46:57 -0800

Gotta pass - out of town. Youse have fun now.

By: sheprime

sheprime — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 10:26:02 -0800

Semi-lurker here: I'm in too if it's not too late!

By: brujita

brujita — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 17:54:43 -0800

11 and. 4 maybes....should one of us call tomorrow to reserve the space?

By: typewriter

typewriter — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 18:55:06 -0800

Hey meet-up! Whee! I suspect dominant conversation will be election?

By: brujita

brujita — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 06:23:28 -0800

That or Robbie's stolen bus. ;-)......I've been listening to a mix of the cbc and Jim Dale's Harry Potter recordings on my day trips.

By: brujita

brujita — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 08:09:42 -0800

just called harbord house and they can seat us at 8:30.

By: brujita

brujita — Tue, 06 Nov 2012 09:10:28 -0800

I made the reservation for 20 people.

By: flex

flex — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 06:55:36 -0800

Well, I know I will know who some of you are, but how will new people (hi new people! yay!) know who we are? Could someone bring a little table sign or perhaps an outrageous hat so people who haven't met us before can spot us easily?

By: Lemurrhea

Lemurrhea — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:41:02 -0800

I was planning to walk around looking lost until someone took pity on me and invited me to join them (which hopefully would be the MeFi crew, but whatever); a sign or something would probably be a better idea, though!

By: essexjan

essexjan — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:53:00 -0800

The usual thing (in London anyway) is to ask people if they're friends of matthowie. This is what we're reduced to after a deer ate our sign.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 07:59:10 -0800

I hear that a Horse Mask will be present and probably worn. No, not by me. Well, not until I have a drink or two.

By: maudlin

maudlin — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:02:19 -0800

Oh, about the timing: time at the top of the post says 8 PM, but the reservation is for 8:30, right?

By: flex

flex — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 08:09:30 -0800

You need to say 8 PM so people show up at 8:30 PM. SOCIAL ENGINEERING

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:04:46 -0800

I've seen pictures of some of you... I have long curly hair, glasses and am wearing a purple top and charcoal cords. See you soon!

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 09:05:54 -0800

Yes, HH told me they could seat us at 8:30.

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 12:05:13 -0800

The reservation is under the name metafilter.

By: jacquilynne

jacquilynne — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 13:53:04 -0800

I'm officially still too coughy to be seen in public.

By: brujita

brujita — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 14:20:13 -0800

Feel better!

By: Lemurrhea

Lemurrhea — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 15:55:28 -0800

I just got to Union and still need to head out to High Park to drop luggage etc. We'll see how long it takes me to get there!

By: flex

flex — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 16:29:11 -0800

Leaving now... hopefully traffic is not too bad. See you there!

By: miss_kitty_fantastico

miss_kitty_fantastico — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:27:36 -0800

Late, as usual! Be there in about 40mins! :)

By: peagood

peagood — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 17:58:07 -0800

I am always happy to meet strangers from the internet, but flex and grippycat have me convinced I should try to drop in. On my way!

By: chococat

chococat — Fri, 09 Nov 2012 18:34:34 -0800

Hey I think we might hop on our bikes and head over there; probably in half an hour or so. Are you guys upstairs or down?

By: peagood

peagood — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 05:52:04 -0800

Thank you all! I really enjoyed coming out and I apologize for my flying elbows and endless stream of nervous chatter. brujita, warm wishes for safe travels. Strangers from the internet, I'll hope to see you again. Also, please forward any pictures of maudlin wearing the horse mask. Because she did. That can be the sign for future meetups - I can make that happen.

By: brujita

brujita — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 06:43:13 -0800

So great to meet you all! Thanks again to orange swan for calling this.

By: Lemurrhea

Lemurrhea — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 07:09:03 -0800

Thanks to everyone who came out and orange swan for organizing; it was great to meet you! Hopefully I'll see everyone again when I'm back in the city.

By: TimTypeZed

TimTypeZed — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 08:16:27 -0800

I had no problem with a couple light flying elbows. If later someone sitting at your shoulder being so quiet they sort of disappear was hit with a blow more vicious, I can't speak for them. (My insecurity runs in the opposite direction from nervous chatter. People from Metafilter have so many pursuits and interests and enthusiasms, I always find it overwhelming.)

By: ilana

ilana — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 09:47:17 -0800

Thanks everyone, we had an awesome time! (Thank you, flex, for driving us North York-types home.) Hope to see you all again soon!

By: flex

flex — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 10:42:44 -0800

Nice to meet you, brujita; hope you have a safe trip home. Thanks for calling this meetup, orange swan. And thanks to everyone who showed up! So good to see you all - both those who I already knew, and to meet new people too! Very congenial, as always... wish it was less travel time for me so I wouldn't be as tired.

By: miss_kitty_fantastico

miss_kitty_fantastico — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 10:54:38 -0800

I woke up this morning to pretty grey polish on one thumbnail (hooray Flex!) and memories of having had a lot of fun last night. :) Thanks to all for coming out, and especially to Orange Swan and Brujita for making it happen. It was great to meet everyone, and to see some of you again. Happy weekend! (PS: Horsey photos are now in maudlin's possession; I trust she will choose to use them only for good/hilarity and not evil.)

By: grippycat

grippycat — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 11:17:50 -0800

It was great seeing so many new and familiar faces. I demand horse mask photos!

By: maudlin

maudlin — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:46:36 -0800

What a great night! Thanks again to orange swan and brujita for making this happen, and to miss_kitty_fantastico for suggesting Harbord House, which was actually a really neat, talk-friendly venue. It was great seeing everybody -- regulars, occasionals and newbs. Also courtesy of mkf: The Horsening and The Horsening 2. I'm sure there are photos of grippycat imbibing horsily, too, but I haven't seen anything yet. Also also: I believe one more dead town's last parade was able to take off his Obama t-shirt today. Rejoice!

By: one more dead town's last parade

one more dead town's last parade — Sat, 10 Nov 2012 15:59:16 -0800

Yep! Now, if only Allen West would take off his tinfoil hat...

By: typewriter

typewriter — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 08:03:03 -0800

Argh. Work was too swampy and draining. I would not have been good company. Catch you another time mefites!! Maybe a holiday meetup?

By: Lemurrhea

Lemurrhea — Sun, 11 Nov 2012 21:45:16 -0800

I think I mentioned this to somebody at the time, but all of the horse masking has kept Horse Outside in my head for the past few days. So...thanks for that. Also I know a few people were interested in this and I said I'd send it to them, but I forget who (sheprime and orange swan, maybe?) So it's kitty bow ties for everyone! Or at least everyone's cats.

By: grippycat

grippycat — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 11:05:42 -0800

stress-relieving fidget toys for some, kitty bow ties for everyone!

By: iona

iona — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 16:08:45 -0800

wow, those tie are great - I know what my cat's getting for christmas