Inaugurating Big Ideas Social Club
posted November 2, 2010 10:03 AM   RSS | iCal | +googleCal

Wed November 17 at 8:00 PM, Busboys and Poets
1025 5th St NW, Washington, DC, USA (Map & Directions)
Thanks to this AskMe, I've been given the confidence to start Big Ideas Social Club, a cross between happy hour, a 17th century salon, and the coffee shops in Steven Johnson's Where Good Ideas Come From. As the brain trust of the city, I want DC MeFites in on the ground floor but hope to draw in some other fun people as well. Help me figure out the details?
Place: TBD. I want somewhere that's not totally nerdy, but alludes at least partly to the aesthetic. Ideally, of course, the place is quiet enough to have good conversation. I've been to Science Club in Dupont Circle, but I'm not quite sure how loud it gets with the DJ once it gets later.

Time: My instinct says Friday nights are good for this - I'd like this to ideally become a biweekly event. On the other hand, my instincts are poor.

Entertainment / Icebreakers: AskMe seemed to think that a reading / discussion topic would be a good way to start off and keep small talk to a minimum. I'm interested in the idea, but I don't want the event to become just another DC lecture. Thoughts on this also appreciated.
posted by l33tpolicywonk to Meetup (32 comments total) 4 users marked this as a favorite

How about one of the Busboys and Poets?

I'm in for anything that involves coffee and recreating the bourgeois public sphere.
posted by anotherpanacea at 11:01 AM on November 2, 2010


This is awesome and I wish I were close enough to attend. :)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 11:18 AM on November 2, 2010


My only concern about Busboys is how noisy it usually gets when I'm there. Otherwise, I think it's got a lot of built-in audience.

Do you have any experience with grabbing a table in a quiet corner early? Alternatively, do they have semi private / private spaces for this sort of thing?
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 11:19 AM on November 2, 2010


This sounds awesome and I'd try to make the trek down from Baltimore for it semi-regularly.
posted by youcancallmeal at 12:42 PM on November 2, 2010


Alright, I'll pitch November 19th as a date - does that work for at least some people?
Target times: 7-9 or 8-10P.

I'm afraid Busboys will be too crowded, so I think I'm going to stick with the Science Club for this one, due to both central location and my sense that the crowds it can hold are variable.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 7:03 AM on November 3, 2010


I'll come if not working late! My guess is that the 8-10pm time slot would get noisier and more crowded than the earlier one. Also, attendance might be better on a weeknight because people have other plans on Fridays, but who knows, maybe people will like Fridays as an easy way to unwind.
posted by yarly at 11:43 AM on November 3, 2010


November 19 is the same day as this month's Nerd Nite!
posted by quadrilaterals at 12:16 PM on November 3, 2010


quadrilaterals: "November 19 is the same day as this month's Nerd Nite!"

Noted. We'll try for December.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 1:22 PM on November 3, 2010


I'd be in! For quiet bars/meeting space, I really like Tonic in Foggy Bottom. November is better than December for me, though.
posted by whitewall at 2:29 PM on November 3, 2010


Is there any reason not to try Busboys this month? Also, if you're accustomed to the U St Busboys, I think you'll find the 5th and K location is quieter.
posted by anotherpanacea at 4:19 AM on November 4, 2010


I'd be willing to try a Monday or a Wednesday night if we think we can get a decent turn out for either.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 4:23 AM on November 4, 2010


Science club is not a good idea. It is loud and full of jerks. The downtown busboys and poets would be a great room, though I'd prefer something in Capitol Hill because that's where I live and I am Lazy.
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:05 AM on November 4, 2010


I teach Monday nights. Wednesday? I prefer 8-10.

Potomac Ave: where in Capitol Hill? Is there anything on 8th that would work?
posted by anotherpanacea at 5:11 AM on November 4, 2010


Downtown Busboys and Poets is kinda near the Hill (5th and K). Wednesday the 17th, 8-10?
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 6:11 AM on November 4, 2010


Works for me.
posted by anotherpanacea at 7:21 AM on November 4, 2010


Excellent. Time and date locked in above and on the website. Our jumping-off point for the first meeting:
What book or essay dramatically changed how you think about a topic meaningful to you?
I'll be wearing a bright blue vest so I'm relatively visible. I'll probably also speak to the staff so they know to point people our way.

MeFites can RSVP here and don't have to RSVP on the website.

Please bring friends! Even if you can't make it, please send this out on your social networks and e-mail lists to anyone you think might be interested. And if you can't make this one, there will most likely be one again in the future.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 7:29 AM on November 4, 2010


Over on H St, there are a few bars/pubs that will open up their upstairs rooms to groups during the week, if you can promise that you'll collectively spend a certain amount of money there. I know that Little Miss Whiskey's does this, as does the Argonaut (which is currently out of commission, but also probably wouldn't require a reservation/minimum).
posted by schmod at 9:08 AM on November 4, 2010


schmod: "Over on H St, there are a few bars/pubs that will open up their upstairs rooms to groups during the week, if you can promise that you'll collectively spend a certain amount of money there"

This will be ideal if we can get enough of a crowd out at the meetings in the future. Thanks!
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 9:12 AM on November 4, 2010


the Argonaut (which is currently out of commission, but also probably wouldn't require a reservation/minimum)

I was at Argonaut this past Friday and the upstairs was open, however it was pretty full and the downstairs remains closed. Hopefully they finish the post-fire remodeling soon, as I think it would be a great spot for this.

I can't make it on November 17th, but am generally interested, especially if it's on the east side of town. Weekdays are probably preferable for me.
posted by exogenous at 11:28 AM on November 4, 2010


If you can't make this one and are interested in future events, the website or e-mail list are the best places to keep your eyeballs.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 12:11 PM on November 4, 2010


I'm a member of HacDC and would be happy to propose hosting this in our space (16th and Newton, in Columbia Heights) to the group.
posted by phrontist at 11:53 AM on November 5, 2010


phrontist: "I'm a member of HacDC and would be happy to propose hosting this in our space (16th and Newton, in Columbia Heights) to the group."

That's really great of you - I'd take you up on it if I hadn't already sent details out. Can we talk about doing it next time?
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 12:02 PM on November 5, 2010


l33tpolicywonk: Sure, no worries, I meant for future meetings anyway. I'll try to make the first meeting.
posted by phrontist at 1:41 PM on November 5, 2010


This sounds awesome. I can't do Wednesdays, but hopefully I can make it to the next one.
posted by EmilyClimbs at 9:04 PM on November 9, 2010


i'll try to make it out next wednesday
posted by Potomac Avenue at 5:26 AM on November 10, 2010


Sounds interesting. I'll try to make it.
posted by kaybdc at 12:27 PM on November 12, 2010


By the way, great first question!
posted by anotherpanacea at 11:14 AM on November 15, 2010


Looking forward to seeing everyone who can make it tomorrow night. We've got a lot of RSVPs and lots of excitement!
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 8:08 PM on November 16, 2010


Big thanks to everybody who came out last night - I think everybody had a lot of fun. Our next one will be in about two weeks, track the website and / or the e-mail list for more details!
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 5:43 AM on November 18, 2010


Aw, crud. I forgot. Post news of the next meeting in this thread as well, maybe?
posted by zennie at 12:40 PM on November 18, 2010


zennie: "Post news of the next meeting in this thread as well, maybe?"

Will do. The rough plan is for Wednesday, December 1, same time (8-10P) with location TBD. If you've got any good ideas for private spaces that are reasonably accessible, MeMail me.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 1:17 PM on November 18, 2010


Alright, our next meeting is now officially Wednesday December 1 at 8PM. We're meeting at the Toledo Lounge on 18th Street in Adams Morgan. I'm not gonna post another IRL thread, since we have this open one, but I encourage you to RSVP at bigideassocialclub.org and tell your friends! MeMail me with any questions.
posted by l33tpolicywonk at 6:26 PM on November 21, 2010



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