Roller rink meetup

January 24, 2007 5:27 AM

Following this most fantastic post, I'm inviting NYC-area Mefites to join me on the roller rink this Friday.
posted by sonofslim to MetaFilter Gatherings at 5:27 AM (13 comments total)

Friday the 26th, 8pm, at the Roxy. The Roxy is located at 515 W. 18th Street between 10th and 11th, all the way over by Chelsea Piers. Admission will be about $20 and I think skate rentals are $4 or $5. (Sorry, my sources are confused.) I'll be there promptly at 8; the floor is usually not too crowded until 10 or so, if you're worried about your skills. Which you shouldn't be, as this tends to be a very friendly and welcoming community. Plus I guarantee to get you rolling in the right direction, at the very least. And yes, they serve alcohol.

Anyone interested?
posted by sonofslim at 5:28 AM on January 24, 2007

If this was a Seattle meetup, I'd be there!
posted by litlnemo at 6:12 AM on January 24, 2007

I'm going to watch this develop, but I may be down. (This week may be a bit hectic, I need to find out more before I commit).
posted by piratebowling at 7:54 AM on January 24, 2007

I'm thinking about it.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:09 AM on January 24, 2007 [1 favorite]

I will be there regardless, although if no one else shows I may have to deconsecrate it as a Metafilter event and rebrand it as a "Super Awesome One Guy Meetup." In any case, I will do a few ceremonial 3-turns in your honor, litlnemo.
posted by sonofslim at 11:30 AM on January 24, 2007

Oh cool. I have something Friday but maybe I'll try to get out of it and do this instead.
posted by rottytooth at 3:17 PM on January 24, 2007

I would but I'm going to the Callum Robbins Benefit Show at Northsix to see Ted Leo (solo) and Medications. Have fun!
posted by safetyfork at 4:41 AM on January 25, 2007

I was thinking about it, but I have been tugged in another direction by those whom I count on to safeguard my good times.

Apparently paying $25 (plus $8 well drinks) to skate at an obnoxious club in an obnoxious neighborhood is a hard sell among my circle of friends. I have no doubt, however, that a good time will be had by all who attend.
posted by hermitosis at 8:30 AM on January 25, 2007

obnoxious club in an obnoxious neighborhood? maybe in better days, but the roxy's been in rough financial shape for some time and can't really afford to be obnoxious. it's kind of a dive, to be honest. i don't even like the bar scene that much, let alone nightclubs, so if i can stomach it there it can't be too bad.

* sulks *
posted by sonofslim at 9:04 AM on January 25, 2007

Don't sulk, I wasn't throwing shade.

My experience with the Roxy has been obnoxious*, and in general the scene there is definitely not one I find attractive.

Though I know that ultimately this little enterprise is about getting one's skate on in an unusual locale, which is something I can abide, and my allergies to other factors (distance, price, chelsea boys and aspiring chelsea boys) are secondary in my consideration




***Last year I helped organize a huge fundraiser hosted by the Roxy, an event that was supposed to go until midnight. A couple of months into the planning process, Madonna put in a bid to promote her new album by lip-synching performing there at 2 a.m. They said we'd have to end our program at 11, but that our guests would have first crack at getting in for the Madonna show. A couple of days before the event, they told us we'd have to be out by 10:30.

The night of the event they clarified that 10:30 was not the ending time for our event, but the time by which the club must be completely emptied, and that our guests would have to exit, and if they wanted to get tickets to Madonna's show, they'd have to enter at the regular time with the general public.

At 10 our program ended. People were confused because the tickets had been very expensive and it was still so early. At 10:15 when people were still milling around, the manager made an announcement telling everyone to leave. A few minutes later they began flickering the lights on and off to give people the signal to get out. It was pouring rain outside. Security gruffly moved people along out onto the sidewalk about 20 times faster than cabs could arrive to pick them up. Everyone got drenched. Nobody stayed to see Madonna. End of sob story.
posted by hermitosis at 12:48 PM on January 25, 2007

Ah, the management... yeah, different story. They've cancelled our rink time at the last minute more than once. But the skate crowd itself is a change of pace from the usual night at the Roxy. Definitely more of a community feeling, and much more diverse. There's skating every Wed. at 8, check it out sometime even if you just go to watch!

(All sulking simulated. No feelings were hurt during the making of this thread.)
posted by sonofslim at 1:12 PM on January 25, 2007

Don't think I'm going to make it- waaay too cold. Have fun!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:45 AM on January 26, 2007 [1 favorite]

well, on the off chance that someone does decide to show up, i'll be the one straight white male under 30.
posted by sonofslim at 10:30 AM on January 26, 2007