Toronto Meet-up
posted October 3, 2011 9:01 AM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Sat October 15 at 8:00 PM, Ciros
1316 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H, Canada (Map & Directions)
We haven't had a meet-up in a while. I like meet-ups. We're meeting at 8 PM on Saturday, October 15th at Ciros. Ask for Jenny if you can't find us.
We're in if we can find a dog-sitter.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:32 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:32 AM on October 3, 2011
I'm in, for real. I recommend we hang out in the lovely Blansdowne neighbourhood. There are lots of bars around: Starving Artist, Ciros, Stella….
posted by chunking express at 11:21 AM on October 3, 2011
posted by chunking express at 11:21 AM on October 3, 2011
I have a conflicting party that night, but I will pop in for a pint and high fives!
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 12:11 PM on October 3, 2011
posted by Schlimmbesserung at 12:11 PM on October 3, 2011
I think Routergirl and I may be up for it.
Unless you lot plan on having fun or anything ridiculous. Then we may have to reconsider.
posted by Brockles at 1:41 PM on October 3, 2011
Unless you lot plan on having fun or anything ridiculous. Then we may have to reconsider.
posted by Brockles at 1:41 PM on October 3, 2011
Huh, I'm not sure. I'll have to see what my classwork is like closer to that. Poke me in a week?
posted by Canageek at 2:57 PM on October 3, 2011
posted by Canageek at 2:57 PM on October 3, 2011
I think I can make this one - no F1 on this weekend!
posted by troll on a pony at 3:52 PM on October 3, 2011
posted by troll on a pony at 3:52 PM on October 3, 2011
I'm in town for Greenbuild this week (today through Friday the 7th) if anybody is interested in doing a mini-meetup a little in advance of the real one.
posted by duien at 4:38 PM on October 3, 2011
posted by duien at 4:38 PM on October 3, 2011
Sounds good. I have an irrational bias for the extremely inexpensive.. Otherwise it doesn't much matter.
posted by Chuckles at 9:50 PM on October 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Chuckles at 9:50 PM on October 3, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'm at faux-15 year homecoming sadly. Faux because us Queen's types can't be trusted not to unleash riot, havoc and bedlam on the fair town of Kingston. Have fun!!
posted by Go Banana at 4:24 AM on October 4, 2011
posted by Go Banana at 4:24 AM on October 4, 2011
I keep planning to come to these and then not being able to, so, dammit, yes!!! I'm in. :)
posted by tantrumthecat at 6:19 AM on October 4, 2011
posted by tantrumthecat at 6:19 AM on October 4, 2011
From what I've been able to glean, Stella is on the small side, and I'm not sure the set-up (small round tables) at Starving Artist is ideal for a bigger group. Ciros apparently has an excellent beer menu, if that's anyone's thing.
posted by Phire at 6:24 AM on October 4, 2011
posted by Phire at 6:24 AM on October 4, 2011
I'd be a maybe at best, given my other plans for that day, but if it ends up being in Blansdowne, I might stop by for a bit, because that's pretty near home.
posted by jacquilynne at 8:01 AM on October 4, 2011
posted by jacquilynne at 8:01 AM on October 4, 2011
Well if you're gonna have a meetup two blocks from my apartment it would be pretty churlish of me to not attend, wouldn't it?
posted by sevenyearlurk at 11:23 AM on October 4, 2011
posted by sevenyearlurk at 11:23 AM on October 4, 2011
We shall Send for you; a spectacular man-carriage of interwoven golden backs shall bear you out of your apartment to your delight and deposit you on the finest table in the establishment.
posted by tehloki at 8:47 PM on October 4, 2011
posted by tehloki at 8:47 PM on October 4, 2011
Does anyone want to make a case for any specific place?
posted by Phire at 7:27 AM on October 5, 2011
posted by Phire at 7:27 AM on October 5, 2011
Looks like Three Speed (in the same neighbourhood y'all are talking about) has a nice spacious patio with tables both large and small and a FIREPLACE. I'm thinking that seems very nice!
posted by flex at 7:34 AM on October 5, 2011
posted by flex at 7:34 AM on October 5, 2011
I am local to all of these places and have significant field experience with most of them :)
Ciros will likely have lots of room for us. Food is pretty cheap; beer list is extensive but not cheap; friendly staff -- but it is pretty divey. The washrooms are pretty gross. Nonetheless I like Ciros a lot.
Stella - I've only been there once. It's not huge but I don't think it gets super busy (tho' I don't know about Saturdays). I think they only have Steam Whistle on tap, and the food is limited to a selection of (good) curries.
Three Speed - is awesome but gets super busy. Good food, great drinks list. Finding and holding on to a space for a group on a Saturday night would be challenging.
Starving Artist - I have only been there for brunch, so I have no idea if it is busy at night. Layout might be awkward for a big group.
Another possibility is Drift, on the west side of Dufferin at Havelock. They have $5 pints, a great beer and scotch list, and are pretty spacious. Food is pretty decent. They tend to be less rammed than 3 Speed so we might have a better chance of fitting a group in.
posted by sevenyearlurk at 9:06 AM on October 5, 2011
Ciros will likely have lots of room for us. Food is pretty cheap; beer list is extensive but not cheap; friendly staff -- but it is pretty divey. The washrooms are pretty gross. Nonetheless I like Ciros a lot.
Stella - I've only been there once. It's not huge but I don't think it gets super busy (tho' I don't know about Saturdays). I think they only have Steam Whistle on tap, and the food is limited to a selection of (good) curries.
Three Speed - is awesome but gets super busy. Good food, great drinks list. Finding and holding on to a space for a group on a Saturday night would be challenging.
Starving Artist - I have only been there for brunch, so I have no idea if it is busy at night. Layout might be awkward for a big group.
Another possibility is Drift, on the west side of Dufferin at Havelock. They have $5 pints, a great beer and scotch list, and are pretty spacious. Food is pretty decent. They tend to be less rammed than 3 Speed so we might have a better chance of fitting a group in.
posted by sevenyearlurk at 9:06 AM on October 5, 2011
I DON'T KNOW WHY WE AREN'T GOING TO THE BEN WICKES.
Sorry. I just felt this thread needed that and it would be somewhat incomplete without it. Although I have actually have no real desire to go to the Ben Wickes. Anywhere that we can park somewhere near and that has a patio and/or enough space to sit and talk and move around is fine with me.
posted by Brockles at 10:11 AM on October 5, 2011
Sorry. I just felt this thread needed that and it would be somewhat incomplete without it. Although I have actually have no real desire to go to the Ben Wickes. Anywhere that we can park somewhere near and that has a patio and/or enough space to sit and talk and move around is fine with me.
posted by Brockles at 10:11 AM on October 5, 2011
Ciros is probably the safest bet, assuming we want to hang out in Blansdowne, because it's also usually the least busy. I love 3 Speed too, but I didn't suggest it because it's too cool for school and will be super rammed on a Saturday night. Ciros has a patio too that's nice enough as well.
posted by chunking express at 12:13 PM on October 5, 2011
posted by chunking express at 12:13 PM on October 5, 2011
Also, Brock, it's "Wicks", not "Wickes". Stop adding extraneous letters to everything.
posted by Phire at 12:32 PM on October 5, 2011
posted by Phire at 12:32 PM on October 5, 2011
I'm in. Need beer.
posted by soft and hardcore taters at 9:35 PM on October 5, 2011
posted by soft and hardcore taters at 9:35 PM on October 5, 2011
If we're going to have it in "Blansdowne" (what the heck... never heard that one before!) I'll probably just have to come, since that's just a couple of blocks from me.
posted by orange swan at 5:23 AM on October 6, 2011
posted by orange swan at 5:23 AM on October 6, 2011
I'm a maybe to probably. Brain's all foggy between possibly getting sick and unpacking.
posted by zix at 6:39 AM on October 6, 2011
posted by zix at 6:39 AM on October 6, 2011
Blansdowne is the greatest neighbourhood in Toronto, next to Agincourt.
posted by chunking express at 11:44 AM on October 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by chunking express at 11:44 AM on October 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've never been to an IRL meta-event. How might I recognize you?
posted by monkeymonkey at 12:32 PM on October 6, 2011
posted by monkeymonkey at 12:32 PM on October 6, 2011
Look for the gaggle of nerds loudly making sudo jokes.
Or ask for Jenny when you get there - I'll make a reservation at whichever location we end up deciding on.
posted by Phire at 12:35 PM on October 6, 2011
Or ask for Jenny when you get there - I'll make a reservation at whichever location we end up deciding on.
posted by Phire at 12:35 PM on October 6, 2011
I don't know any SUDO jokes :(
posted by troll on a pony at 3:48 PM on October 6, 2011
posted by troll on a pony at 3:48 PM on October 6, 2011
That may be the first reservation request Ciros has ever received!
Orange Swan, chunking express is too modest to tell you that he basically invented "Blansdowne" which is now widely accepted nomenclature. He's a city builder! :)
posted by sevenyearlurk at 4:11 PM on October 6, 2011
Orange Swan, chunking express is too modest to tell you that he basically invented "Blansdowne" which is now widely accepted nomenclature. He's a city builder! :)
posted by sevenyearlurk at 4:11 PM on October 6, 2011
I've been trying to get people to call Bloordale (the neighbourhoods actual name) Blansdowne for a few years now. And Spacing made Blansdowne buttons a few weeks back. I am a modern day Jane Jacobs, it is true.
Ciros!?
posted by chunking express at 5:03 PM on October 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
Ciros!?
posted by chunking express at 5:03 PM on October 6, 2011 [1 favorite]
You can get Sri Lankan stout there. Just saying.
posted by chunking express at 5:03 PM on October 6, 2011
posted by chunking express at 5:03 PM on October 6, 2011
Three Speed is actually quite pleasant. I've always found Ciros to be strangely off-putting. I can totally do the 15th.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:42 PM on October 6, 2011
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 7:42 PM on October 6, 2011
I have to say, if I'm gonna drag myself all the way out to TO, a hipster bar's patio with a woodstove sounds much nicer than a dive with scary bathrooms! Would Three Speed take a reservation?
posted by flex at 7:55 PM on October 6, 2011
posted by flex at 7:55 PM on October 6, 2011
I doubt it. 3 Speed is nicer, but that also makes it busier. Ciros is the original nice bar in Blansdowne that never gr hipster traction.
posted by chunking express at 5:29 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by chunking express at 5:29 AM on October 7, 2011
Okay, I'm going to edit the event to reflect Ciros as the location and EVERYBODY CLICK ATTENDING, but I will give Three Speed a call this weekend and see how they feel about reservations once we get a better idea of numbers.
posted by Phire at 5:47 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by Phire at 5:47 AM on October 7, 2011
Oh, wait, I just took another look at the Yelp page for Ciros and they apparently don't take reservation. Yikes?
posted by Phire at 5:52 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by Phire at 5:52 AM on October 7, 2011
I don't think we will have any trouble finding space at Ciro's even on a Saturday night. Do check in with Three Speed -- maybe if we got started early enough we could commandeer tables before the crowds arrive.
posted by sevenyearlurk at 7:05 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by sevenyearlurk at 7:05 AM on October 7, 2011
That's the other option. We could just muscle in and take over a place. Bust heads and what have you.
posted by chunking express at 7:09 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by chunking express at 7:09 AM on October 7, 2011
Again? My knuckles are still scarred from the last time we tried to do that with a big camera flash.
posted by Brockles at 7:16 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by Brockles at 7:16 AM on October 7, 2011
8 PM on a Saturday seems early enough to claim space at a bar, I'm thinking.
Metafilter: has a posse
posted by flex at 7:20 AM on October 7, 2011
Metafilter: has a posse
posted by flex at 7:20 AM on October 7, 2011
Sorry. After this thread, I’m never going to a meetup again.
posted by joeclark at 9:59 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by joeclark at 9:59 AM on October 7, 2011
I'm pretty sure Three Speed would be totally impossible, but I am 100% behind a Blansdowne meetup!
posted by avocet at 10:10 AM on October 7, 2011
posted by avocet at 10:10 AM on October 7, 2011
That's harsh, Joe. (Though less harsh than your typical messages in these meet-up threads!)
You should come. It wouldn't be a meet up without you.
posted by chunking express at 10:41 AM on October 7, 2011
You should come. It wouldn't be a meet up without you.
posted by chunking express at 10:41 AM on October 7, 2011
joeclark, we kid because we love. Come out with us!
posted by soft and hardcore taters at 4:35 PM on October 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by soft and hardcore taters at 4:35 PM on October 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Just gave Three Speed a call - they're first-come first-serve, no reservations.
Since we're going to have to muscle our way in through sheer force of numbers anyway, how do you guys feel about Three Speed vs. Ciros?
posted by Phire at 9:57 AM on October 8, 2011
Since we're going to have to muscle our way in through sheer force of numbers anyway, how do you guys feel about Three Speed vs. Ciros?
posted by Phire at 9:57 AM on October 8, 2011
They are like 5 minutes away from one another. We could start at 3 Speed, and if it's too busy we could move to Ciros.
posted by chunking express at 7:59 PM on October 8, 2011
posted by chunking express at 7:59 PM on October 8, 2011
I prefer 3 Speed to Ciros but it's usually a wait to get a table for two there!
posted by avocet at 8:54 AM on October 9, 2011
posted by avocet at 8:54 AM on October 9, 2011
I've never been to a meet-up and I'm new in town but I'm in!
posted by marais at 8:11 PM on October 9, 2011
posted by marais at 8:11 PM on October 9, 2011
Probably better to just go for Ciros, since seating will be impossible at 3-speed. I'm workin' at Bike Pirates until right around meet-up time, so this is super-convenient! I'll be sure to wear my "I [+] Metafilter" t-shirt for identification purposes.
posted by kaibutsu at 9:03 AM on October 10, 2011
posted by kaibutsu at 9:03 AM on October 10, 2011
I will be the skinniest person in the bar. So you will know that person is me.
posted by chunking express at 9:53 AM on October 10, 2011
posted by chunking express at 9:53 AM on October 10, 2011
Yeah, I don't know how I feel about starting at one place and potentially moving to another, since lots of people arrive late for meetups and I would hate for there to be confusion about where we are.
I know Ciros doesn't take reservations, but I'm going to give them a call later in the week anyway to give them a heads up that a big group is coming.
posted by Phire at 10:05 AM on October 10, 2011
I know Ciros doesn't take reservations, but I'm going to give them a call later in the week anyway to give them a heads up that a big group is coming.
posted by Phire at 10:05 AM on October 10, 2011
Alas, I will be in Ottawa then... Next time,
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:49 PM on October 10, 2011
posted by ricochet biscuit at 7:49 PM on October 10, 2011
I have other plans that night, unfortunately.
posted by jacquilynne at 4:43 AM on October 11, 2011
posted by jacquilynne at 4:43 AM on October 11, 2011
Yuh. Y'all picked the *one* weekend this month I'm actually not in Toronto or close to it.
posted by the dief at 12:14 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by the dief at 12:14 PM on October 11, 2011
Life has intervened on me. I can't make this one.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:38 PM on October 12, 2011
posted by kuujjuarapik at 5:38 PM on October 12, 2011
Just to verify, we're meeting at Ciros. Sorry if there was any confusion.
posted by Phire at 2:02 PM on October 15, 2011
posted by Phire at 2:02 PM on October 15, 2011
My stomach has been pretty grody all day so it's looking unlikely that I'll make it. :(
posted by sevenyearlurk at 2:29 PM on October 15, 2011
posted by sevenyearlurk at 2:29 PM on October 15, 2011
Um. Looks like we're not going to make it. Got our days mixed up!
posted by Brockles at 4:02 PM on October 15, 2011
posted by Brockles at 4:02 PM on October 15, 2011
Hugs to y'all!! Don't think I'll make it after all but I'm coveting your beers.
posted by soft and hardcore taters at 7:02 PM on October 15, 2011
posted by soft and hardcore taters at 7:02 PM on October 15, 2011
ARGH. Not going to make it. Hello to everyone. Another time, my nerdfriends!
posted by typewriter at 7:07 PM on October 15, 2011
posted by typewriter at 7:07 PM on October 15, 2011
Thank you for the lovely evening and thanks especially to Phire for arranging the meetup.
posted by saucysault at 10:54 PM on October 15, 2011
posted by saucysault at 10:54 PM on October 15, 2011
You people are fabulous! YOU PEOPLE.
Great to meet everyone I hadn't met before. Excellent meetup, Phire!
posted by flex at 8:25 AM on October 16, 2011
Great to meet everyone I hadn't met before. Excellent meetup, Phire!
posted by flex at 8:25 AM on October 16, 2011
Thanks to everyone for coming out! I had a fantastic time, as always. It was great to see some new faces come out as well. We should definitely make this a standing thing.
posted by Phire at 10:02 AM on October 16, 2011
posted by Phire at 10:02 AM on October 16, 2011
Thanks for organizing the meetup, Phire! I had fun and hope to grace future meetups too, especially if there's strong beer served...
posted by marais at 3:23 PM on October 16, 2011
posted by marais at 3:23 PM on October 16, 2011
Excellent meeting up, people. Good job keeping Ciros afloat for another week. And Flex, thanks again for the baby books. My baby is eating them as we speak!
posted by chunking express at 3:57 PM on October 16, 2011
posted by chunking express at 3:57 PM on October 16, 2011
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by maudlin at 9:12 AM on October 3, 2011