Proposed High-Speed Rail Meetup at the Half Door

posted February 11, 2013 1:08 PM | |

Sun March 24 at 3:00 PM, The Half Door

270 Sisson Avenue, Hartford, CT, USA (Map & Directions)

My lurker husband and I are recent New Haven additions, and we'd probably be down for some Mefite action once we've managed to dig our car out from under the North Pole.
posted by Diagonalize at 3:14 PM on February 11 [1 favorite]

I'm theoretically down but, uh, let's give it at least a week for the roads to get passable. I'd rather do Middletown or points south personally. In New Haven, of the places, Cask is probably better; I know they've had big Reddit meetups there without crowding.
posted by cobaltnine at 1:24 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]

but, uh, let's give it at least a week for the roads to get passable.

I'm thinking sometime in March, actually. I gave it what I think is a long lead time because we have to pick a location and to have a good chance folks in this area will actually see it.
posted by gauche at 4:49 AM on February 12

I'm at the Western Mass end of this corridor, and hope to make it if I can.
posted by Songdog at 5:39 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]

I'm also on the Northern line here in Western Mass, but would love to attend if I can swing it. A couple of friends recently went to the Hofbrauhaus and it looks fun.
posted by chowflap at 6:50 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]

I'm in Hartford and would love to go to another meetup. I did one in New Haven a few years ago so would prefer it be somewhere else just to mix it up a little.
posted by victoriab at 10:41 AM on February 12 [1 favorite]

I've driven to Northhampton and Nashua for meetups, depending on where and when this is I could make it.
posted by bondcliff at 10:59 AM on February 12 [2 favorites]

Myself and otterswalkamongus (Western Mass represent!) would almost definitely come if Springfield, and our probability drops as the location goes farther south. Hartford and Middletown would be doable, but not New Haven.
posted by dayintoday at 2:23 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

I'm in Western Mass, too, and this sounds like fun. I visit family in Southern CT fairly regularly so New Haven isn't completely out of the question for me, but in general closer to Springfield would be better.
posted by camyram at 3:50 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

Southern CT, New Haven (or Bridgeport!) would be idea, but I could range up to greater Hartford.
posted by These Premises Are Alarmed at 3:59 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

If closer to the Hartford/Springfield area, and depending on timing, I'd like to attend. (I'm in Eastern MA, too.)
posted by not_on_display at 4:13 PM on February 12 [1 favorite]

How about we pick Springfield or Hartford since I don't think we've had a meetup in either of those cities since I've been a member. I say Hartford if both the New Haven folks and the MA folks are willing to travel. If the New Havenites aren't keen to travel then I think we should pick Springfield.

Regarding dates - Gauche mentioned having it in March and I'm thinking a Saturday night would be easier for everyone to make. Please let me know if that's not the case. I have a function on Saturday, March 23rd but could probably do March 2nd, 9th, 16th or 30th. Sunday's are also pretty flexible for me if that group would prefer that.
posted by victoriab at 7:57 AM on February 14 [1 favorite]

I'm really pleased that there's interest in doing this! Huzzah!

By my count, it looks like Hartford is kind of at the edge of what's doable for both the shoreline folks and our neighbors to the North.

I'm good with a Saturday or a Sunday and don't have a preference either way. My first choice is the weekend of the 16th (and my last would be the weekend of the 9th, because that will be Hartford's St. Patrick's Day parade and I'd rather not try to have a meetup in a bar on that day.)

I'll leave this open another day or so for more suggestions before making it an official planned meetup.
posted by gauche at 8:27 AM on February 14

Sounds like fun. I think our general philosophy is "Have car, will travel," and Hartford really isn't that far (assuming the roads are wider than the 1.5 lane snow chutes we've currently got going on in New Haven).
posted by Diagonalize at 9:25 AM on February 14

I'm very busy through the first half of March (including the weekend of the 16th), but if it's better to hold it earlier or further to the south I won't be heartbroken. I intend to coordinate another meetup here in Western Massachusetts sometime after I get out of the weeds and I hope you'll all be able to come to that too.
posted by Songdog at 9:34 AM on February 14 [1 favorite]

I can't do the 30th because I have family coming in to town for Easter. How does the afternoon of Sunday, March 24th look for folks?
posted by gauche at 10:06 AM on February 14

I can't do March 10th (going to see The Cos! Flippity flappity shizzlebit eat da Jello puddin' pops...) but other dates should work assuming either my wife is around or I can get a sitter for the youngin'. She's got like a two week block where she's out every night

Saturday night is probably the best night. Hartford is just at the edge of doable for me.
posted by bondcliff at 10:26 AM on February 14

Okay, any objections to holding the meetup on Sunday, March 24th, in Hartford?

bondcliff, I know this is kind of a worst-case for you and I apologize and will definitely buy you a round of whatever's your pleasure if you can make it.
posted by gauche at 6:29 AM on February 15 [1 favorite]

Oh, no worries. Please plan it around people who are closer and/or more able to go. Don't plan it around little ol' me. If I can make it, I will.

I can probably make Sunday work. Hartford is only an hour and a half away. I've done more for Meetups. I'll also be happy to pick up anyone along the way.
posted by bondcliff at 7:03 AM on February 15

Sunday the 24th works fine for me and I like the afternoon idea. I'm in.
posted by victoriab at 12:24 PM on February 15

Sunday the 24th looks like it'd be good for me. (I cannot do the 9th or the 30th.)
posted by not_on_display at 8:51 PM on February 15

Sunday, March 24th it is! I'll make this meetup official tomorrow morning.
posted by gauche at 9:10 PM on February 15

I'll have to RSVP after I get my new schedule...right now I have weekends free but after March 15 or so I've been assigned somewhere else and have no idea what it's like (other than 'not overnight.')
posted by cobaltnine at 8:44 AM on February 16

Cool, I should be able to do that.
posted by bondcliff at 9:06 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]

It's hard for me to plan too far ahead due to my health, but I should be able to make it.
posted by camyram at 10:01 AM on February 16 [1 favorite]

Would anyone be interested in playing a few games during the meetup? I was thinking of bringing the card game Fluxx or the dice game Left, Right, Center. We could probably make one of them a drinking game if it's that kind of crowd....time will tell.
posted by victoriab at 7:41 PM on February 26

I would welcome games, but drinking games wouldn't suit my hour's drive home.
posted by Songdog at 7:02 AM on February 27

Same here, though I'm happy to play a drinking game with water. First one to the bathroom loses.
posted by bondcliff at 7:24 AM on February 27

An emphatic yes to games, but an equally emphatic no to drinking games for me.
posted by gauche at 11:51 AM on February 27

Whew...what a relief! I'll bring the games and the thanks of police officers within a one hour radius of Hartford.
posted by victoriab at 5:25 AM on February 28 [1 favorite]

I was going to ask if everyone should carry a red carnation so we can find one another, but now we can just look for the gamees (that was a typo, but I like it).

Except now victoriab has to be early or the system goes all to pieces....
posted by camyram at 5:14 PM on February 28 [1 favorite]

I'd be up for eating games! I like the one where I point out the window and say, "Hey, it's the Goodrich blimp," and while your attention is diverted, I steal your fries (and maybe swap them out with drywall screws). And then you say, "Hey, wait, there's no Goodrich blimp...," and you turn to glare at me, but instead there's just a scrap of paper floating slowly toward an empty chair, and a subtle breeze.

I guess I can't play that game now, since you know how it ends... BUT YOUR FRIES WILL BE MINE! MARK MY WORDS!!
posted by not_on_display at 10:14 PM on February 28 [3 favorites]

Your talk of games intrigues me. I'll do my best to attend.
posted by Aznable at 7:30 AM on March 2 [2 favorites]

Yay! I'm excited to meet you all and play some games. I can bring a couple of things as well (bananagrams and I think we have a canasta deck someplace although we're much more Catan / Carcassonne people and that might be a stretch for a first meetup.)
posted by gauche at 8:07 AM on March 2 [1 favorite]

I have Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity. I can bring them if there is interest.
posted by bondcliff at 8:28 AM on March 2

I'd be interested in Cards Against Humanity. Because nothing says fun times like publicly demonstrating to a group of internet strangers just how awful you can be!
posted by Diagonalize at 1:12 PM on March 2 [1 favorite]

Okay, I'll show up early with an outfit made entirely of red carnations.

I'll also bring Twisted Fish and Chez Geek to add to the card game chaos. Most of my games max out at 6 people so we'll probably have a minimum of two games going and I'm excited to dip my toe in to the new game waters. Folks should bring whatever they like to play that's not too complicated or ruthless...I want to like you and it's difficult when you keep sending me to jail or charging me $8,000 because I landed on Park Place AGAIN. Monopoly is my nemesis.

*you may threaten my fries NOD but you will NEVER possess them. NEVER!
..but you can have my pickle and my flower-like radish.
posted by victoriab at 1:52 PM on March 4

I will trade wool and brick for some fries.
posted by bondcliff at 4:14 PM on March 4 [3 favorites]

There is a port, bondcliff, where two fries will get you anything you want.
posted by Songdog at 5:47 AM on March 5 [3 favorites]

Okay, okay, I'll bring Catan. I have the 6 player expansion, and Cities & Knights for the regular 4 player game, and will try to bring them both.
posted by gauche at 8:05 AM on March 6

Bowing out of this one, sorry! Your fries are safe. This time.
posted by not_on_display at 2:18 PM on March 12

I think I'm going to have to bail as well. I need to stay local so I will probably be attending the Boston meetup instead. I will play games and take fries in Hartford another time.
posted by bondcliff at 7:52 AM on March 19

That's a shame.

For the two of you, I mean. We're going to have a GREAT TIME.

*tiny pout*
posted by gauche at 7:45 AM on March 20

Aw...we'll miss you two but I'm excited to meet everyone else. See everyone around 3:00 on Sunday!
posted by victoriab at 9:01 AM on March 22 [1 favorite]

otters walk among us and I will be there a little after 3. We'll probably be able to find you by looking for the stack o'games!
posted by dayintoday at 9:57 AM on March 24 [1 favorite]

I am here and have claimed as much space as I can. I am in the far corner by the golden tee arcade. I have a short beard and am wearing a grey and black sweater. See you all soon.
posted by gauche at 11:51 AM on March 24

'Twas fun! Let's do it again soon. I missed the Twitter handle exchange at the end... find me @thecakest or PM me for Facebook info.
posted by dayintoday at 5:15 PM on March 24

This was a great time and really just what I was hoping to have happen. Folks at the other side of the table, (Diagonalize, languagehat, and Songdog) I'm sorry I didn't get over to chat and I hope to see you all again.

Just because I'm thinking of it, I've split my fair share of checks at restaurants and bars, and I have never seen ten people put together a big check plus decent tip in that short an amount of time. I feel like that says something good about everybody at the table and I wanted to mention it.

I'm @semiotheque on twitter. Give a shout if you like.
posted by gauche at 5:48 PM on March 24

Great time, everyone. Thanks again for setting it up, gauche. And I'm glad Time's Up was such a hit. Clearly the best way to bond with people you don't know is through embarrassing pantomime! Can't wait to play again with everyone...
posted by Aznable at 6:17 PM on March 24

That was a lot of fun -- thanks to victoriab for luring me and songdog for driving me! Looking forward to the next Pioneer Valley one...
posted by languagehat at 6:26 PM on March 24

That was great fun...although I still can't believe my team didn't get my Chorus Line impression...I mean really, i was practically channeling Bob Fosse. I hope to see you all again soon and I'll add my thanks to gauche for getting the ball rolling, Aznable for bringing the game and you out-of-towners for making the drive. Glad everyone made it home safe.
posted by victoriab at 8:59 PM on March 24

So much fun! Thanks again to gauche for organizing, and good call on the game, Aznable. It was great to meet all of you (or at least wave across the table) and I hope we can do it again soon.

I don't really do the Twitter thing at the moment (trouble keeping up in real time) but I am on The Facebook - message me for contact info.
posted by camyram at 4:16 AM on March 25

Thanks for the good time, everyone. I hope to put my newly-acquired knowledge of how to pantomime A Prairie Home Companion to good use. I look forward to doing it again soon. Just say at least two of the three magic words (games, nachos, beer) and I'll be there.
posted by otters walk among us at 7:02 AM on March 25