Jessamyn in Manhattan
posted December 29, 2013 9:07 AM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Wed January 15 at 6:15 PM, Hill Country
30 West 26th Street, New York, NY, USA (Map & Directions)
I am speaking in Manhattan (Baruch College, Madison Sq. Park area) on Wednesday January 15th and would love to meet up with folks for dinner/drinks afterwards.
January is travel-crazy for me so someplace within walking distance would be terrific. Suggestions?
posted by jessamyn to Meetup (87 comments total) 1 user marked this as a favorite

Yaaay - lemme think
posted by The Whelk at 9:10 AM on December 29, 2013


It looks like us Benelux Mefites still haven't gotten Jessamyn her Westvleteren beer, if anyone coming to this meetup is also coming to either of these meetups on New Years Eve or New Years Day I could leave you with a bottle.
posted by Blasdelb at 9:45 AM on December 29, 2013 [1 favorite]


Is Revival still open? It's ten blocks away.
posted by griphus at 9:52 AM on December 29, 2013


Blue Smoke? Something on the Lex Ave Curry Row?
posted by brujita at 10:11 AM on December 29, 2013


Blue Smoke is barbecue.
posted by brujita at 10:12 AM on December 29, 2013


So many options! I was at Maysville last night for drinks and snacks and it was upscale-y but not too.

I swim at Baruch and work 'round the corner!
posted by thinkpiece at 2:49 PM on December 29, 2013 [1 favorite]


I could leave you with a bottle.

!!!!!!! Please oh please make this happen.

I have no real food preferences except I'm not much for seafood. So looking forward to seeing folks.
posted by jessamyn at 3:15 PM on December 29, 2013


If nobody else is able, I can bring the bottle over!
posted by Rory Marinich at 6:35 PM on December 29, 2013 [1 favorite]


Rory, I could bring the bottle as well if it turns out you can't do it for some reason.

Jessamyn, I'm excited you're speaking at my school!
posted by mlle valentine at 4:48 AM on December 30, 2013


Oh, boo! I'm going to be in Alabama. Sorry to miss you, Jessamyn!
posted by ocherdraco at 5:21 AM on December 30, 2013


WDMB TBT!
posted by lalochezia at 6:40 AM on December 30, 2013


Maysville always sounds good to me.
I am curious about Bo's, not sure if too fancy.
I enjoyed Pippali if y'all like Indian food. Definitely a restaurant not a bar though.
Grace is nice and sorta half-bar/half-restaurant.
I will suggest restaurants until the cows come home but am not wedded to any particular idea.
posted by mlle valentine at 8:54 AM on December 30, 2013


Lots of great vegetarian Indian places (bonus: many are also kosher) on Lex between 26th and 28th - I'm a fan of Pongal. Would have to go elsewhere for drinks, though.
posted by Mchelly at 5:39 AM on December 31, 2013


I am significantly more interested in food than drinks. All suggestions so far sound just fine to me.
posted by jessamyn at 6:37 AM on December 31, 2013


Also Hill Country (TX style BBQ)
posted by brujita at 12:21 PM on December 31, 2013


But, hey, wait! How can we see your talk, Jessamyn!?
posted by Violet Blue at 3:07 PM on January 1, 2014


It's here. Registration is closed. There may be a way to sneak in but I do not know the details. I'll have the talk online afterwards.
posted by jessamyn at 3:13 PM on January 1, 2014


I'll try my bestest to come. The Turkish Kitchen is just a couple blocks away on Third and between 27-28, and is delicious food for crazy low prices.
posted by Liesl at 4:48 PM on January 1, 2014


Will be there as long as the weather isn't too frightful. I can't stay too late, though -- very early shoot the next day.
posted by zarq at 8:26 AM on January 2, 2014


We are going to have to make a reservation wherever it is.
posted by brujita at 9:19 PM on January 5, 2014


Chinese Mirch's (Sino-Indian)website says reservations for more than 8 have to pay $30 a head. We could also book the whole place; I don't know if the per head minimum applies in this case.
posted by brujita at 3:04 AM on January 6, 2014


Count me in... all those restaurants sound yummy!
posted by yaymukund at 3:57 AM on January 6, 2014


What time will we meet? I might not be able to join until later due to my writing class, but I'm not sure yet.
posted by yaymukund at 11:33 AM on January 6, 2014


Chinese Mirch just got back to me and told me that booking the place for the whole night would be $2000 with a cap of 45 people (if that amount shows up it will come out to 44.45 a head plus tax and tip) We can have a group larger than 8 for 2 hours at the $30 a head plus tax and tip fee.
posted by brujita at 3:02 PM on January 6, 2014


$2000 is unreasonable. $30/head for two hours gets you what? I do not know the area, I'd love it if someone could choose a place and a time (7? Not too late) that works for folks.
posted by jessamyn at 3:07 PM on January 6, 2014


$30 would cover appetizer, main and drink. I just looked at Grace's private events page and their 2 course dinner option would be $35 a head. I will put up more options later.
posted by brujita at 3:21 PM on January 6, 2014


I suppose the question is, what happens if people come who aren't planning to eat? If they're just going to kick back and have a beer or two, then $30-$35 would be a bit of an outlay, no?
posted by zarq at 3:26 PM on January 6, 2014


Yeah fixed price reservations work for folks who want dinner, but maybe not for the 24 maybes we have. I'm fine with something less formal that lets people come and go.
posted by jessamyn at 6:04 PM on January 6, 2014


Yes, just for the record if y'all are planning a sit-down-and-order-from-menus dinner, I'll meet up for drinks after. If we're just smuggling tacos into a bar, that's a bit easier for me.
posted by griphus at 6:32 PM on January 6, 2014


Hey is that a taco in your pocket or are you just glad to see me?
posted by zarq at 7:17 PM on January 6, 2014 [1 favorite]


Hill country isn't a sit down and order place; one orders food/drinks at areas around the venue. There are a few vegetarian options.

There's also Molly's Shebeen pub.
posted by brujita at 7:56 PM on January 6, 2014


Sometimes we start out at one place and decamp to another but this time would be up to Jessamyn
posted by brujita at 7:58 PM on January 6, 2014


Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it until 9 or so.
posted by yaymukund at 7:44 AM on January 7, 2014


Hill Country BBQ seems meetup conducive - it's not super cheap (looks like around $14 for a meat + side + cornbread combo, $27 for the multiple meat 'Pitmaster' combo) but I think the seating layout is okay for table-hopping. You order & get your food cafeteria-style, and then there's waiter-table service for the drink order.
posted by oh yeah! at 8:57 AM on January 7, 2014


They make their reservations through open table, which has a limit of 20.Here is their event menu.

Perhaps it would be best if one of us makes a reservation for 20 and another makes one to take up the 13+/- others.
posted by brujita at 9:30 AM on January 7, 2014


I don't think we can rely on having a realistic head count from the Yes/Maybe button, judging by recent NYC meetups - anyplace that is going to require a reservation is probably not a good choice of location. (when I last went to Hill Country BBQ for a weekday lunch, we were walk-ins, don't know if it's different on a weekend)
posted by oh yeah! at 1:44 PM on January 7, 2014


The 15th is next Wednesday night.

When Jessamyn came to Boston and had the meet up at the Chinese place she was able to reserve two large tables.
posted by brujita at 2:33 PM on January 7, 2014


We also had a lot more confirmed people attending and we settled on the location decently early. I'm fine leaving this thread open for feedback but at some point (Friday? Saturday?) we should pick a place and decide if we need a reservation or not. Hill Country and Pongla both sound good to me.
posted by jessamyn at 3:10 PM on January 7, 2014


Several years ago I called a meet up at a pub that served food without making a reservation beforehand. It was only by sheer luck that we were able to get a table.
posted by brujita at 3:23 PM on January 7, 2014


Hill Country is cafeteria style and I don't think it'll be slammed at the time, from experience the "maybe" list is just that and places are usually good if you say "10 but there may be more" if you give them enough lead-time.
posted by The Whelk at 9:01 PM on January 7, 2014


Speaking of which I have open table open right now if you want to put in a place holder RSVP for 10 with a note, what time is good? If the event ends at 5 then 6 would be early enough to avoid crowds.
posted by The Whelk at 9:25 AM on January 10, 2014


Your Reservation is Confirmed ›
Hill Country on Wednesday, January 15, 2014 at 5:15 PM for 10


There, we got a place in the door at least, with a note that more may be coming and I am not expecting it to be full. Of course this can be dropped anyway.
posted by The Whelk at 9:39 AM on January 10, 2014


Thanks, The Whelk!
posted by brujita at 9:58 AM on January 10, 2014


So is the consensus that we're confirmed at Hill Country at 5:15p?

I probably wouldn't be able to arrive before 7pm. I assume this is okay?

Address, for everyone's convenience:
30 West 26th Street, between 6th Avenue and Broadway.
New York, NY 10010
Phone: (212) 255-4544

Transportation:
The F and M stop at 6th and 23.
The N and R stop at Broadway and 28th as well as Broadway and 23.
posted by zarq at 3:20 PM on January 10, 2014


Looks good. My event ends at 5 so there's a chance I'll be rolling in more like 5:30 depending on when everyone else can get there. There are some people who can make it at 5:15, right? Or should we just push the reservation to 5:45?
posted by jessamyn at 9:33 PM on January 11, 2014


Uh, Jessamyn, it's posted as the 18th not the 15th.
posted by brujita at 9:41 PM on January 11, 2014


I can be there to hold a table whenever.
posted by The Whelk at 9:42 PM on January 11, 2014


Fixed the date. Just saying, if zarq can't get there til late and I'm arriving a little later, how do other people feel about start time?
posted by jessamyn at 9:49 PM on January 11, 2014


Later is better for me - I can't be there until 6:15-ish. (All thread I was thinking this was a Saturday the 18th meetup, but since it's a Wednesday, I'll be at work until 6)
posted by oh yeah! at 6:11 AM on January 12, 2014


I can't do 5:15, but should be able to get there by 6 or so?
posted by ethand at 11:55 AM on January 12, 2014


Yeah, 6 or so for me.
posted by mlle valentine at 2:47 PM on January 12, 2014


Maybe we should push the reservation back to 6 to give more people the option to be there at once?
posted by jessamyn at 4:01 PM on January 12, 2014


I will attempt to.
posted by The Whelk at 4:08 PM on January 12, 2014


poop. Open Table isn't showing anything available for a table of more than 4 within 2.5 hours of 6pm. I can hold onto this 5:15 RSVP til Wednesday - but maybe ramp up to another place? I don't know the area very well but I can always throw on the mad desperate event planner cap if need be.

(looking at the schedule, if it was literally any other night it would be fine ..is something happening on Wednesday or something? Huh. )
posted by The Whelk at 4:16 PM on January 12, 2014


I will call them in an hour after dinner.
posted by The Whelk at 4:19 PM on January 12, 2014


It may be one of those things that humans can make work while computers can't (I KNOW RITE?) maybe 5:45 would work where 6 wouldn't. Thanks for handling, in any case.
posted by jessamyn at 4:22 PM on January 12, 2014


OK!

I made a phone call and they moved the party of 10 to 6:15, which seems better for everyone.

Whew.
posted by The Whelk at 4:57 PM on January 12, 2014


I changed the time in the post.
posted by jessamyn at 4:59 PM on January 12, 2014


Yaaay
posted by The Whelk at 5:31 PM on January 12, 2014


Thank you (both)!
posted by ethand at 6:28 PM on January 12, 2014


Thank you both for organizing!

I so wish that I could make it earlier… aw! If people are there around 9, I'll come by at that time.
posted by yaymukund at 8:39 PM on January 12, 2014


Yes, thank you, look forward to seeing everyone at 6:15!
posted by mlle valentine at 6:00 AM on January 13, 2014


I am going to keep an eye on the thread and if people are still around after 8 or so I'll swing by for a drink.
posted by gaspode at 8:28 AM on January 13, 2014


I get out of work at about 6 in the boonies, so I can't make it before 7:30ish. But I will be there 7:30ish.
posted by griphus at 8:52 AM on January 13, 2014


Bugger. Another commitment came up. Enjoy NYC jessamyn!
posted by lalochezia at 11:22 AM on January 14, 2014


gaspode, I will be able to stay until 9. Possibly 9:45, depending on how tired I am.
posted by zarq at 11:57 AM on January 14, 2014 [1 favorite]


Just another person who RSVPed yes who wanted to mention that I'll be arriving late - 7pm.
posted by unannihilated at 6:03 AM on January 15, 2014


I will be there around 6:20-6:30, most likely.
posted by Hactar at 7:36 AM on January 15, 2014


FYI, the traffic on 5th Avenue from the water main break down at 13th Street was awful when I was out getting lunch - some impatient fuckwit took a left turn on a red light at 17th Street and nearly ran me over in the crosswalk. Maybe it will be better this evening or above 23rd Street, but, ugh, watch out for yourselves people.
posted by oh yeah! at 11:16 AM on January 15, 2014


Reservation under Leavitt, jyst FYI- wearing bomber jacket and mefi t-shirt
posted by The Whelk at 2:31 PM on January 15, 2014


Hello! I hope it isn't too late to notify - I just realized I'm getting off work early and can come! I'm new to New York, so this is my first meetup. Hopefully I can make it by 7.
posted by Buckt at 3:01 PM on January 15, 2014


FYI 4/5/6 trains are all screwed up. im stuck in the bronx right now
posted by Wretch729 at 3:10 PM on January 15, 2014


We're downstairs!
posted by The Whelk at 3:26 PM on January 15, 2014


This is getting silly. How late will yall be there? I may give up and go home. Getting a little claustrophobic in this subway car.
posted by Wretch729 at 3:40 PM on January 15, 2014


where downstairs???
posted by zarq at 4:03 PM on January 15, 2014


Was really hoping to come but looks like I won't make it :( . Have a great time.
posted by Mchelly at 4:04 PM on January 15, 2014


leaving home in Astoria now. Hopefully you are still there in 40 minutes or so.
posted by gaspode at 4:33 PM on January 15, 2014


Thanks everybody, that was really fun! I'm glad I persevered and didn't let the MTA get me down.
posted by Wretch729 at 7:14 PM on January 15, 2014


THE BEST! Thanks everyone, especially the cameo appearance by jonmc. Sorry we didn't get to meet you Buckt.
posted by jessamyn at 8:06 PM on January 15, 2014


Yes, I almost didn't make it out, but glad I did. Sorry to not have mingled better and talked to more of you, but always a pleasure to see familiar faces and meet new ones.
posted by wintrymix at 5:05 AM on January 16, 2014


This was so fun and hooray for meeting people!
posted by griphus at 5:57 AM on January 16, 2014


YAY! It was so nice to meet everyone! :)
posted by zarq at 7:26 AM on January 16, 2014


I could leave you with a bottle.

Not to be a terrible nag on this point, but is it possible to make this work or did I miss the window? I'm in Manhattan working today, Brooklyn tonight and heading home via train tomorrow.
posted by jessamyn at 10:00 AM on January 16, 2014


I certainly shouldn't speak for other people (but I guess I am anyway), but when we saw Blasdelb on NYE, he said the bottle had met an unfortunate demise :(
posted by wintrymix at 11:19 AM on January 16, 2014


The bottle I brought up was unfortunately damaged in transit, but my one remaining Westvleteren 12 in the states should be shipped to you from where I stashed it by Monday. The Randolph, VT box number on your website should work right? I'll send you a memail with the tracking information as soon as its sent out.

I'm sorry its taken so long, we're actually about to start the next epic beer run.
posted by Blasdelb at 1:01 PM on January 16, 2014


PO box totally works, yes!
posted by jessamyn at 8:59 PM on January 16, 2014


but my one remaining Westvleteren 12 in the states should be shipped to you from where I stashed it by Monday

Did this happen?
posted by jessamyn at 10:34 AM on February 3, 2014



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