The meet a real live New Zealander tour - Toronto
posted August 19, 2011 12:51 PM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Thu September 1 at 7:00 PM, Nirvana
434 College St, Toronto, ON M5T, Canada (Map & Directions)
I'm in Canada, and that means I need some Canadians. Following on from my (presumably) exciting time in Montreal, I'm going to be in Toronto, meeting and greeting at Nirvana (corner College and Bathurst street) at 7pm, after a couple of us have chomped some food at Gandhi's (554 Queen West) at 6.30pm on Thursday September 1. Come say hi!
You'll get to hear all about how our winter this year was so cold it snowed... wait a minute...
(North York is extensive... that's why I ask.)
posted by cranberrymonger at 1:51 PM on August 19, 2011
posted by cranberrymonger at 1:51 PM on August 19, 2011
Yeah, North York's like half the city, land area-speaking. And not the fun half, either. But there are subways and such up there, so we can get you to a more entertaining part of town, most likely.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:00 PM on August 19, 2011
posted by jacquilynne at 2:00 PM on August 19, 2011
You see how little I know? I am a babe, lost in the woods. :)
I'm nearest the corner of Park Home Ave and Yonge Street. I appreciate any help you can give me in making it to funsville.
posted by roobot at 2:11 PM on August 19, 2011
I'm nearest the corner of Park Home Ave and Yonge Street. I appreciate any help you can give me in making it to funsville.
posted by roobot at 2:11 PM on August 19, 2011
That sounds like you're probably staying at the Novotel, then.
Fortunately, there's a subway station right there -- North York Center Station -- so you'll have easy access to the rest of the city. You may not even need to leave the building to get to the station, I'm not sure. A lot of the buildings there have direct access to the subway, but I don't know about the Novotel specifically.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:48 PM on August 19, 2011
Fortunately, there's a subway station right there -- North York Center Station -- so you'll have easy access to the rest of the city. You may not even need to leave the building to get to the station, I'm not sure. A lot of the buildings there have direct access to the subway, but I don't know about the Novotel specifically.
posted by jacquilynne at 2:48 PM on August 19, 2011
Suggestions about where to meet, then? (I'm hoping for farther south on the subway line....)
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:36 AM on August 20, 2011
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 7:36 AM on August 20, 2011
Gandhi's!
posted by tehloki at 11:46 AM on August 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by tehloki at 11:46 AM on August 20, 2011 [1 favorite]
I like the sound of that. It looks to be close to the water, which is an element I enjoy. if there are no objections, let's say Gandhi's? What's a good day?
posted by roobot at 2:16 PM on August 20, 2011
posted by roobot at 2:16 PM on August 20, 2011
Just to be clear, is Gandi's at 554 Queen West? That's the first Google result, anyway.
Roboot: that location is near-ish the lake. The Toronto Music Garden and the Toronto Islands are nice, if you like gardens and islands. :) i think there might be boat rentals on/near the islands.
Also the Ex (Canadian National Exhibition) is on right now! It's only $5 admission on weekday evenings.
Just a couple suggestions for you!
Anyway, for the meetup, I'd suggest Thursday September 1 or Friday September 2. You'd likely get a better turn-out on the Friday but if you're leaving early on Saturday morning, it could be rough for you... Assuming you will have a few beers at the meetup! :)
posted by cranberrymonger at 9:07 PM on August 20, 2011
Roboot: that location is near-ish the lake. The Toronto Music Garden and the Toronto Islands are nice, if you like gardens and islands. :) i think there might be boat rentals on/near the islands.
Also the Ex (Canadian National Exhibition) is on right now! It's only $5 admission on weekday evenings.
Just a couple suggestions for you!
Anyway, for the meetup, I'd suggest Thursday September 1 or Friday September 2. You'd likely get a better turn-out on the Friday but if you're leaving early on Saturday morning, it could be rough for you... Assuming you will have a few beers at the meetup! :)
posted by cranberrymonger at 9:07 PM on August 20, 2011
Once again I will try to make it. Is Thursday or Friday evening better for you, roobot?
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:53 AM on August 21, 2011
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 9:53 AM on August 21, 2011
Thanks for the suggestions!
I could go for Thursday night - Friday is probably cutting it too fine, given how it seems I will never recover from this jetlag. :)
Is 7pm suitable for people? I'll update the post when I'm back at my hotel.
posted by roobot at 12:37 PM on August 21, 2011
I could go for Thursday night - Friday is probably cutting it too fine, given how it seems I will never recover from this jetlag. :)
Is 7pm suitable for people? I'll update the post when I'm back at my hotel.
posted by roobot at 12:37 PM on August 21, 2011
I think 7pm is a rather good time.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 4:32 PM on August 21, 2011
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 4:32 PM on August 21, 2011
I have to pick up a bridesmaid dress in North York at 7pm, but I'll come down after that.
posted by cranberrymonger at 6:58 PM on August 21, 2011
posted by cranberrymonger at 6:58 PM on August 21, 2011
This is listed on the MeTa sidebar as a meetup in "Chinatown, ON" - that's not going to ping many people's radars. Is there a way to fix it to be "Toronto, ON" as it should be?
posted by flex at 7:40 AM on August 22, 2011
posted by flex at 7:40 AM on August 22, 2011
Also, Gandhi's is a tiny place.
posted by typewriter at 9:41 AM on August 22, 2011
posted by typewriter at 9:41 AM on August 22, 2011
Cool, this is within reasonable walking distance from my office. I'll probably get there a bit earlier than 7 so that I can eat before it gets late.
posted by FishBike at 10:44 AM on August 23, 2011
posted by FishBike at 10:44 AM on August 23, 2011
pb fixed the location!
typewriter, should I make a booking?
posted by roobot at 12:26 PM on August 23, 2011
typewriter, should I make a booking?
posted by roobot at 12:26 PM on August 23, 2011
Gandhi's was kind of a joke for the people that know that I always want to go to Gandhi's at all times. It has seating for about 12 total and most of those seats are always full of walk-ins. Nearby places on queen west which have proved condisive to meetups before such as Nirvana would be better for the main event. I'd be happy to meet the real live new zealander and a few roti-hungry zealots beforehand, though!
posted by tehloki at 3:35 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by tehloki at 3:35 PM on August 23, 2011
Hey roobot you will be staying about a block from where I live. Let me know if you need any help getting around or just want to hang out. I think I can make it for the meetup as well.
posted by troll on a pony at 3:46 PM on August 23, 2011
posted by troll on a pony at 3:46 PM on August 23, 2011
Ha, okay. I could meet tehloki and FishBike there at 6.30, and at 7 we could stroll down the street a bit?
mmmm roti
posted by roobot at 2:24 PM on August 24, 2011
mmmm roti
posted by roobot at 2:24 PM on August 24, 2011
Please post the name of the place you choose tomorrow (so late arrivals will know where to meet you).
posted by cranberrymonger at 5:40 PM on August 24, 2011
posted by cranberrymonger at 5:40 PM on August 24, 2011
There are lots of good options, as tehloki said. I'm sure you'll find a good one! :)
posted by cranberrymonger at 5:40 PM on August 24, 2011
posted by cranberrymonger at 5:40 PM on August 24, 2011
Tomorrow? Meetup's next week. :) I'll make sure I advertise the info when we know, though.
posted by roobot at 5:53 AM on August 25, 2011
posted by roobot at 5:53 AM on August 25, 2011
Ohhhhh boy! How did I mess that up? I guess I won't show up tonight, then :)
Thanks!
posted by cranberrymonger at 6:35 AM on August 25, 2011
Thanks!
posted by cranberrymonger at 6:35 AM on August 25, 2011
We should probably pick a place to go to after Gandhi's in advance. I'm just going to suggest Nirvana again because it's close and has hosted successful meetups before. Not actually on Queen west, but a couple blocks north at bathurst and college. I have a terrible memory.
posted by tehloki at 5:17 PM on August 25, 2011
posted by tehloki at 5:17 PM on August 25, 2011
Well, someone named for a trickster god sounds trustworthy to me! Nirvana it is.
posted by roobot at 6:55 AM on August 26, 2011
posted by roobot at 6:55 AM on August 26, 2011
Ha! I've just moved to Toronto two days ago... See you all on Thursday!
posted by kaibutsu at 8:52 AM on August 30, 2011
posted by kaibutsu at 8:52 AM on August 30, 2011
I'd be interested in coming: What type of restaurant is it?
posted by Canageek at 1:07 PM on August 30, 2011
posted by Canageek at 1:07 PM on August 30, 2011
Gandhi's (where a few will be going before the main event at Nirvana) is a teeny, shabby, wonderful roti place. You may see Ben Kingsley there if you're lucky.
Nirvana is a shabby-chic, relatively inexpensive university-area dive. It is sometimes loud, but we can be louder. Sometimes.
posted by maudlin at 5:50 PM on August 30, 2011
Nirvana is a shabby-chic, relatively inexpensive university-area dive. It is sometimes loud, but we can be louder. Sometimes.
posted by maudlin at 5:50 PM on August 30, 2011
I'm still planning to be at Ghandi's for 6:30 tomorrow. I'm not sure who else is going to be there for a bite to eat, so, how are we going to recognize each other?
posted by FishBike at 6:37 AM on August 31, 2011
posted by FishBike at 6:37 AM on August 31, 2011
Secret gestures. Or at least, I should be recognisable by my light blue jacket, glasses, brown hair, and white courier bag.
There's going to be five people that look just like me, isn't there?
posted by roobot at 7:17 AM on August 31, 2011
There's going to be five people that look just like me, isn't there?
posted by roobot at 7:17 AM on August 31, 2011
There's going to be five people that look just like me, isn't there?
Probably, yes.
I'm going there straight from work, so I'll be the 6'4" guy carrying a black briefcase. If you see five people that look just like me... it would probably be a good idea to start running, I guess.
posted by FishBike at 7:31 AM on August 31, 2011
Probably, yes.
I'm going there straight from work, so I'll be the 6'4" guy carrying a black briefcase. If you see five people that look just like me... it would probably be a good idea to start running, I guess.
posted by FishBike at 7:31 AM on August 31, 2011
Ooooh, I get to meet FishBike? Great!
I'll be recognizable, I promise.
posted by kaibutsu at 8:43 AM on September 1, 2011
I'll be recognizable, I promise.
posted by kaibutsu at 8:43 AM on September 1, 2011
I'll probably be there for roti. I kind of look like my profile pic, but in colour and without the fetching headgear.
posted by maudlin at 1:37 PM on September 1, 2011
posted by maudlin at 1:37 PM on September 1, 2011
Are people at roti right now?
posted by cranberrymonger at 2:56 PM on September 1, 2011
posted by cranberrymonger at 2:56 PM on September 1, 2011
I'm heading out of the office in about 2 minutes to walk to the roti place... I should be there just before 6:30.
posted by FishBike at 2:57 PM on September 1, 2011
posted by FishBike at 2:57 PM on September 1, 2011
I am in Gandhi with five others. They are leaving for nirvana now but I will maintain roti vigil for any stragglers until 7:30. I will have a sign.
posted by tehloki at 4:09 PM on September 1, 2011
posted by tehloki at 4:09 PM on September 1, 2011
Don't wait for me - scheduling conflict! Another meet-up missed! :-(
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 4:16 PM on September 1, 2011
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 4:16 PM on September 1, 2011
I did not find any stragglers, but I did find earthly bliss in roti. Now, fittingly, I must seek Nirvana.
posted by tehloki at 4:38 PM on September 1, 2011
posted by tehloki at 4:38 PM on September 1, 2011
AGH HELL DAMN CRAP
I forgot to pay for my goddamn beers
If somebody ends up getting stuck paying for that, memail an email address and I'll paypal you double whatever it cost
posted by tehloki at 7:39 PM on September 1, 2011
I forgot to pay for my goddamn beers
If somebody ends up getting stuck paying for that, memail an email address and I'll paypal you double whatever it cost
posted by tehloki at 7:39 PM on September 1, 2011
That was fun! Nice to meet all the new people, and see all the regular folks again. Both venues were good choices--one for a quick (but enormous) bite to eat, the other to actually sit down and talk (loudly). Next time we should put in call to Environment Canada and ask that the humidity be lowered a bit, though.
posted by FishBike at 8:40 PM on September 1, 2011
posted by FishBike at 8:40 PM on September 1, 2011
HUMIDITY! I mean, lovely to meet you all tonight. Thanks, chums.
tehloki, I think we basically just split the bill, so it wasn't too onerous. Call it payment for suggesting Gandhi's, which I think went down a treat. :)
posted by roobot at 8:47 PM on September 1, 2011
tehloki, I think we basically just split the bill, so it wasn't too onerous. Call it payment for suggesting Gandhi's, which I think went down a treat. :)
posted by roobot at 8:47 PM on September 1, 2011
Yay! Nice night and it was great to see oldbies and newbies
Don't worry about the beer, tehloki. We covered it. (And the bit extra I brought home will make lovely bread for Saturday WHEN I AM NOT IN MY CUBICLE.)
posted by maudlin at 9:09 PM on September 1, 2011
Don't worry about the beer, tehloki. We covered it. (And the bit extra I brought home will make lovely bread for Saturday WHEN I AM NOT IN MY CUBICLE.)
posted by maudlin at 9:09 PM on September 1, 2011
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
If it's an area with some good places, mefites could come to you. If it's a less-interesting area, mefites could at least give advice on how to take transit to a more-interesting area. :)
posted by cranberrymonger at 1:50 PM on August 19, 2011