Chicago meetup

posted February 22, 2012 10:56 PM | |

Sat March 24 at 9:00 PM, Pequod's

I will be in Florida, so I am worthless to you. Worthless, I say!
posted by SpiffyRob at 6:15 AM on February 23

I'd be in. I have only two things on the calendar 3/23-3/30 right now (the ballet, a birthday). What 'hood were you thinking? Any particular places you've been missing?
posted by crush-onastick at 8:53 AM on February 23

I'd also be up for it!
posted by Iridic at 9:00 AM on February 23

Let's do it. The weekend is best for me, but I'd do my best to make a weeknight meetup as well.
posted by lholladay at 9:07 AM on February 23

I'll be getting a farecard, so I can go anywhere. I've picked up a TO Chicago restaurant guide and a Zagat.....ethnic? Chicago Pizza? Slice says Pequod's is currently the best.
posted by brujita at 9:08 AM on February 23

We never say no to Pequod's! Unless we're in Florida for some ungodly reason.
posted by Iridic at 10:03 AM on February 23 [1 favorite]

I am going to Florida to see a baseball team from Boston. Duh.
posted by SpiffyRob at 10:13 AM on February 23

Sounds like an ungodly reason to me.
posted by Evilspork at 5:09 PM on February 23 [1 favorite]

I'm calling it for the Lincoln Park Pequod's on 3/24 at 7.
posted by brujita at 11:01 AM on February 24

It turns out that one of my Bradford classmates is a childhood friend of eamondaly's wife.
posted by brujita at 11:02 AM on February 24

When I was doing research for the (failed) Pequod's meetup in December, I asked about their party packages. Unlimited pizza is $20 per person, which includes the tip. Unlimited pizza and beer is $40 per person, but everyone needs to pay the for-beer rate even if they don't drink it. Pitchers of beer start at $14 for Bud light and up to $18 for stuff like Fat Tire and 312. They need a reservation for this, especially for a weekend.
posted by Evilspork at 6:41 PM on February 24

Also, they were flexible on party size; if we don't have the full ten people mentioned on the brochure, it's OK as long as there's a reservation.
posted by Evilspork at 6:42 PM on February 24

brujita, do tell!
posted by eamondaly at 7:44 AM on February 25

Her initials are AMR.
posted by brujita at 2:54 PM on February 25

Yep! How funny!
posted by eamondaly at 7:46 AM on February 26

Last night the Guy was taunting me about how there were no anchovies on my pizza. And there weren't. And I was sad. Then I remembered Pequod's. And I wasn't as sad any more. I love them little fishies.
posted by crush-onastick at 6:52 AM on March 1

Kids are welcome.
posted by brujita at 4:56 PM on March 1

I've never been to a meetup but I'd love to attend. How many usually attend and what should I expect? I've been to meetups via meetup.com before and they varied from casual freeform chat to prearranged group activities. How "awkward" will I be coming by myself and not knowing anyone?
posted by deathpanels at 9:20 PM on March 1

We were all newbies once. :-) It took me 20 minutes and a whiskey before I approached jonmc at my first.

The last Chicago meetup I called was about 8 people.

Mefi meetups are pretty much like the others you've experienced.
posted by brujita at 11:23 PM on March 1

We meet up at least once a month (we've got a possibly unprecedented three scheduled for March--if they set up the usual trivia night, that will be FOUR), so most of us know each other. The monthly Goat usually balloons at a couple dozen people at some point in the evening and often migrates to a karaoke bar as people start going home. Otherwise, a monthly Goat is just a bunch of pretty interesting folks, hanging around, being generally entertaining. Sometimes, they turn into adventures, but usually, we just sit and drink and talk.

The planned Pequod's meet, of course, is not a monthly Goat, but it's not an entirely unknown quantity. Chicago (there is no Chicago Cabal, you know) has meet-up at Pequod's before. At least twice. Once, there was pizza-sharing, as well as personal pizza hoarding. There may or may not have been an anchovy incident. People brought non-mefite significant others. It was quite enjoyable.

All of this is a long-winded, pompous way of saying: Chicago meet-ups are fairly casual , lots of fun, pretty freeform, and happy with alarming regularity. That's supposed to read "happen with alarming regularity" but I find I really like that typo, so I'm leaving it as is. If you don't come to this one, come to one of the others!
posted by crush-onastick at 7:05 AM on March 2 [1 favorite]

I live over an hour outside of Chicago and I work during the week so I rarely attend Chicago meet ups (in fact it's probably been almost a year since my last one! I've been busy...). Which basically means I consider myself a newbie still. And whenever I've gone to a meet up I invariably had a great time. You don't need to do much either. It's mainly talking, eating, and/or drinking in whatever quantities you're comfortable with. Someone there will be happy to talk your ear off if you let them and vice versa.
posted by Green With You at 4:09 PM on March 9

UPDATE:

Pequod's let me know they won't have space until 9.

Would the maybes please confirm whether or not they are coming?
posted by brujita at 3:31 AM on March 18

We will be meeting at 9 instead of 7
posted by brujita at 10:07 AM on March 18

I'm going to be a maybe until the last minute, unfortunately: I have a ton of stuff to do on Saturday and I'm not sure I'll be able to get through it all. I'll try my best, though!
posted by eamondaly at 8:32 AM on March 19

I'm going to be a yes up until the last minute where I will show up and pretend like I don't know anyone there, possibly even myself.
posted by adamdschneider at 8:34 AM on March 19

I've reserved space for 20.
posted by brujita at 8:53 AM on March 19

As excited as I am for Florida, I am truly, truly jealous that I will not be able to attend. Though, as an interesting side note, I'll be going to the Pequod's in Morton Grove on Thursday. I will report back on what fantasy character they have painted a terrifying likeness of in their turlet.
posted by SpiffyRob at 9:29 AM on March 19

If this is starting at 9, any idea how late things will likely get? I'm debating getting a hotel so I don't have to drive too late.
posted by Green With You at 10:59 AM on March 19

I will report back on what fantasy character they have painted a terrifying likeness of in their turlet.

Ooh, I'll bet it's Richard Cypher.
posted by adamdschneider at 12:10 PM on March 19

GWY, I don't know. Sometimes they end when people are finished eating, sometimes they decamp elswhere (it's posted in thread if they do).
posted by brujita at 12:52 PM on March 19

Thanks brujita. A hotel is overkill anyway, so I'll either leave early enough to get home safely or connive a Chicagoan into letting me crash at their place.
posted by Green With You at 1:09 PM on March 19

Oh, curses! I will be in Chicago from the 26th...
posted by running order squabble fest at 7:04 AM on March 23

I forgot to check the turlet in Morton Grove. :(
posted by SpiffyRob at 8:59 AM on March 23

But I discovered that both locations have a ridiculous lunch special Monday-Friday: $4.95 for a 7" 1 topping pizza and a beverage (which can be a Bud Light, if you want it to be THAT kind of lunch.) So if you work near either location, and didn't know this, then every lunch you've ever had during work has been a WASTE.
posted by SpiffyRob at 11:28 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]

I've made the reservation for Metafilter at 9pm. I'm wearing a teal shirt and blue pants.

See you soon!
posted by brujita at 10:50 AM on March 24

Well, I'll be there about 8:30 thanks to Metra's schedule. I'll also be leaving slightly before 11 for the same reason.
posted by adamdschneider at 1:51 PM on March 24

I will be wearing a blue hawaiian shirt and brown corduroy jacket and be lightly bearded, FYI, and will be accompanied by a shockingly cute girl with pixie cut hair, for ID purposes.
posted by adamdschneider at 3:51 PM on March 24 [2 favorites]

We're upstairs at the table by the door.
posted by brujita at 7:24 PM on March 24

Woo, anchovies!
posted by adamdschneider at 9:12 PM on March 24 [1 favorite]

Great to see Iridic again and meet the others!

The women's room had a picture of Arwen.
posted by brujita at 9:58 AM on March 25

Sorry I couldn't make it. Enjoy the rest of your trip! I've arranged for a cold blast of winter and then a delightful touch of spring so you can enjoy everything a Chicago March has to offer.
posted by eamondaly at 9:48 AM on March 26 [1 favorite]