London Christmas Meetup

December 1, 2007 12:40 PM

London Christmas Meetup

Thursday, 20th December. In honour of the visit of terrapin and turtlegirl to the UK. Venue yet to be decided, but somewhere in Central London that serves fruit beer.

posted by essexjan to MetaFilter Gatherings at 12:40 PM (87 comments total)

Sounds good.
posted by fvw at 12:46 PM on December 1, 2007

somewhere in Central London that serves fruit beer

The possibilities are endless!
posted by chrismear at 12:47 PM on December 1, 2007

Sounds good to me too.
posted by sueinnyc at 12:48 PM on December 1, 2007

woot! Looking forward to it!
posted by terrapin at 1:02 PM on December 1, 2007

Yay! Thanks everyone.
posted by turtlegirl at 1:05 PM on December 1, 2007

I'm there.
posted by grouse at 1:37 PM on December 1, 2007

Sounds great! Count me in, and I'll, er, make it this time...
posted by goo at 2:11 PM on December 1, 2007

The Dovetail serves fruit bear. Sorry, I would google it and give uyou a link but iam too drunkl.
posted by randomination at 2:21 PM on December 1, 2007

Dovetail, Clerkenwell?
posted by nthdegx at 2:26 PM on December 1, 2007

Oh, heh.
posted by nthdegx at 2:27 PM on December 1, 2007

Oh! Just saw the date. If anyone fancies an electronic carol service after we could rock along later (in which case an earlyish start at the Fruity beer venue would be good)...
posted by nthdegx at 2:32 PM on December 1, 2007

I would be very happy with the Dovetail.
posted by sueinnyc at 3:44 PM on December 1, 2007

I'm in!
posted by Wilder at 3:51 AM on December 2, 2007

None of the comments here about staff being rude ring true; they were all extremely polite and helpful when we went for a birthday party. The pints of frites are also excellent.

randomination - 9 Sep 2007 11:55

Work there do we, randomination?
LemonGrass - 19 Oct 2007 18:05
Truely, the BITE chaps are masters of wit and exchange.
posted by hugsnkisses at 3:54 AM on December 2, 2007

And truly I have demonstrated my mastery of tags here today.

I'm slightly concerned by the reports that it's a rather busy bar? Crowded venues make for terrible meetups.
posted by hugsnkisses at 3:56 AM on December 2, 2007

That web site bites.
posted by grouse at 4:06 AM on December 2, 2007

Nuts. I will have flown home for the holidays the day before.
posted by generichuman at 4:58 AM on December 2, 2007

Is it too late to book somewhere?

The Metafilter sign is back from its holidays and will be in attendance. I may come along to chaperone it.
posted by cillit bang at 5:33 AM on December 2, 2007

I'll try and make this one - I have said that before and failed miserably, but I'll try harder this time.
posted by mattr at 6:05 AM on December 2, 2007

Alas, I'll be in Toronto, but have fun folks!
posted by adrianhon at 6:54 AM on December 2, 2007

Dammit, I'm on the late shift at work. If you're still drinking 24 hours later, though, I'll be along.
posted by flashboy at 10:08 AM on December 2, 2007

I'm slightly concerned by the reports that it's a rather busy bar? Crowded venues make for terrible meetups.

Might be ok on a Thursday... Shall I go in tomorrow and reserve a table just in case, though?
posted by randomination at 11:21 AM on December 2, 2007

Better safe than sorry! It'd be great if you could sort that out. Cheers.
posted by chrismear at 12:36 PM on December 2, 2007

Sadly can't make it - I'll be working.

HOWEVER.....

*hijack!*

My job for that week is fun! I'm playing trumpet/violin in Dick Whittington at the Hackney Empire in London. I hereby invite any and all MeFites (and families!) to come and see the show. I'm doing all the performances from 18th - 22nd December, but by all means go to a different one if that's more convenient - the full run is December 1st - January 12th, and it's a fantastic show even when I'm not playing in it.

Theoretically this could be the basis for an extra London meetup if a few people wanted to go to the show together - I'd be up for going out for a drink after if that was the case.

If you do decide to come (as MeFites or as parents/aunts/uncles etc of panto-loving children), let me know and/or feel free to come and say hi after the show - I'll be the one with the violin and the trumpet!

*hijack over!*
posted by Lotto at 5:20 PM on December 2, 2007 [1 favorite]

Aagh. I might be in London, but that's the night of the London Circle Fan Gathering for the holidays. But that's at the Melton Mowbray, which is less than half a mile away. I could certainly spend an hour or so.

What time?
posted by eriko at 5:41 PM on December 2, 2007

We normally start about 6.30pm and end at Oblivion. Feel free to rock up any time between those, such as 8pm, or Sharing Too Much.
posted by chrismear at 1:31 AM on December 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

Aye, I'll likely attend.
posted by armoured-ant at 1:56 AM on December 3, 2007

I can make this one - looking forward to it.
posted by oh pollo! at 4:39 AM on December 3, 2007

mattr: I'll try and make this one - I have said that before and failed miserably, but I'll try harder this time.

PLEASE, matt!?!?!?!?!!
posted by terrapin at 4:49 AM on December 3, 2007

Damnit - thats some pressure.... but I'll try...
posted by mattr at 6:47 AM on December 3, 2007

Right, I booked us in at 6.30pm for the non-Christmas menu. I asked for room for around 10 people but the last time I booked a table there I was hilariously inaccurate with the numbers and they didn't seem to mind.

There was an identical booking for 6.30pm for the same date, nobody else booked, did they?
posted by randomination at 11:27 AM on December 3, 2007

Aye, I'll likely attend.
posted by armoured-ant at 9:56 AM on December 3 [+] [!]


I can make this one - looking forward to it.
posted by oh pollo! at 12:39 PM on December 3 [+] [!]


Good. At least there'll be a little eye candy for the laydees.
posted by essexjan at 11:29 AM on December 3, 2007

You didn't see Chris is coming?
posted by cillit bang at 12:27 PM on December 3, 2007

Is now the point where 2 other people suggest 3 other potential venues? ;-)

I was at their sister pub in 'aaaaackney on Sat and it was busy with one moody bar staff person. Highly recommend the mushroom pate.

That all said, I'm not a definite, but I'm not eye candy either...
posted by i_cola at 1:03 PM on December 3, 2007

A moment of silence please....essexjan's mind has finally gone. *weeps*
posted by oh pollo! at 1:04 PM on December 3, 2007

Tuck a dollar into my garter and I'll even dance.
posted by armoured-ant at 1:33 PM on December 3, 2007

A dollar?! At the current exchange rate you're in for a frankly torrid night.
posted by oh pollo! at 1:37 PM on December 3, 2007

Did I say dollar? I meant Kuwaiti Dinar.
posted by armoured-ant at 2:36 PM on December 3, 2007

Heh-heh, I know eggggsactley where that girls' minds at!!

High fives EssexJan

A-A, I'll wear the boots if you wear the garter! (Jan you do have a stack o' dollars right??
posted by Wilder at 2:39 PM on December 3, 2007

formally closes parenthesis)
posted by Wilder at 2:40 PM on December 3, 2007 [1 favorite]

I still have lots of dollars from when I lived in NYC, if that helps....
posted by sueinnyc at 5:19 PM on December 4, 2007

I'm in. That's the day before I jet off to NYC too. Metafilger in the hizzie!
posted by triv at 5:09 AM on December 5, 2007

Cilit - I should borrow the Metafilter sign and take to to NY with me!
posted by triv at 5:13 AM on December 5, 2007

Hi, is the meet open to all?
posted by freya_lamb at 7:34 AM on December 5, 2007

Yes! Come along, we're nice people.
posted by grouse at 8:26 AM on December 5, 2007

I will be there wearing my David Duchovny costume.
posted by Sparx at 3:49 AM on December 6, 2007

(as opposed to my chrismear costume)
posted by Sparx at 3:50 AM on December 6, 2007

OK - I've adjusted a flight so that I land at London City rather than Heathrow - so I'll be there...

Where is it?
posted by mattr at 5:07 AM on December 6, 2007

Woot, mattr!

The meetup is at Dovetail at 6.30. You'll need to ask a local for more information than that.
posted by terrapin at 5:13 AM on December 6, 2007

(as opposed to my chrismear costume)

That's good news, I might need to borrow that.
posted by chrismear at 5:32 AM on December 6, 2007

That's good news, I might need to borrow that.

No worries. You'll LOVE the alterations I made after the last time - the sequins just GO with the tailfeathers.
posted by Sparx at 5:36 AM on December 6, 2007

Sweet!

The meetup is at Dovetail at 6.30. You'll need to ask a local for more information than that.

9 Jerusalem Passage, Clerkenwell. Nearest tube Farringdon. More details in this link helpfully provided by nthdegx somewhere upthread.
posted by chrismear at 5:40 AM on December 6, 2007

I should be able to make it.
posted by quiet at 5:25 PM on December 13, 2007

Can someone please turn up in a Fedora and pinstripes? (I've searched my wardrobe but I'm drawing a blank).
posted by Wilder at 11:39 PM on December 18, 2007

I would, but I'm really not in the mood for fabulous adventures with wonderful people. In bed.
posted by chrismear at 2:06 AM on December 19, 2007

Riii-ght.;)
posted by Wilder at 3:12 AM on December 19, 2007

I would, but by the time my plane flies in from San Diego, I'd never have time to change and get to the pub as well - and I wouldn't want to crumple it by wearing it in transit.
posted by Sparx at 6:08 AM on December 19, 2007

Groovy, looking forward to it.
posted by nthdegx at 4:21 AM on December 20, 2007

See y'all tonight, if all goes well!
posted by grouse at 8:17 AM on December 20, 2007

Sorry, I can't make it. I have a gig, and I hate to cancel them. I wish were able to, though. Have fun, everyone. Drink one for me.
posted by chuckdarwin at 9:29 AM on December 20, 2007

Am going about 10 minutes early, see if I can bagsy the table by the door.
posted by randomination at 9:57 AM on December 20, 2007

Afraid I can't make it tonight. It's this cold, man. This damned cold.
posted by armoured-ant at 11:44 AM on December 20, 2007

I'm just writing this message from the office to let you know that I really wish I was in the pub right now.
posted by flashboy at 1:30 PM on December 20, 2007

I may be the first one home! Sorry I had to leave early. Fantastic meeting everyone.
posted by nthdegx at 4:12 PM on December 20, 2007

It was great meeting everyone. I'll put some pictures up on flickr soonish.
posted by ahughey at 4:18 PM on December 20, 2007

Thanks to everyone! It was lovely to meet you all. And...who will end up with the sign????? Where will it go next on its marvellous adventures?
posted by goo at 4:27 PM on December 20, 2007

Good night out! I got to stride across Millennium Bridge on the way home (stride, dammit!), which made me happy. Hooray for beer.
posted by Grangousier at 5:05 PM on December 20, 2007

I'm very sorry I missed it. I finally got the keys to my new flat a little after 8, and things have continued to be frenzied since then. I look forward to the next meetup!
posted by sueinnyc at 5:21 PM on December 20, 2007

That was a brilliant night.
posted by cillit bang at 9:56 PM on December 20, 2007

That was a brilliant night.
posted by cillit bang at 5:56 AM on December 21 [+] [!]


*spits coffee out*

Exactly how would you know this?
posted by essexjan at 11:58 PM on December 20, 2007 [1 favorite]

Top night out - nice to meet many of you, sorry I had to chip early but it's a fair old journey home from there!
posted by mattr at 1:06 AM on December 21, 2007

Ever so slightly hung over. Also, either I'm getting smaller or camera's at meet-ups are getting bigger.
posted by oh pollo! at 1:34 AM on December 21, 2007

My pictures here. Still to be properly edited and captioned. Feel free to add a note with your name if I don't know you or give you the wrong name.
posted by essexjan at 1:40 AM on December 21, 2007

And the award for rubbishest name for explaining at meet ups who you are at metafilter goes to...
posted by nthdegx at 3:19 AM on December 21, 2007

And...who will end up with the sign?????

I got it.

Where will it go next on its marvellous adventures?

I do not know. Suggestions?
posted by chrismear at 3:28 AM on December 21, 2007

Hooray! That was loads of fun. Thanks everybody. We'll post our pics on flickr soon.
posted by turtlegirl at 3:48 AM on December 21, 2007

Note the use of italics Jan. And sorry everyone.

My photos
posted by cillit bang at 5:02 AM on December 21, 2007

There's some really nice portraity photos in there, cillit bang, including one of me I don't hate. Kudos.
posted by Sparx at 5:28 AM on December 21, 2007

Yep - agreed on the pics... nice photies...lovely to see someone using 50mm goodness - it had reminded me to take mine away for Christmas!
posted by mattr at 5:44 AM on December 21, 2007

Had a great time, everyone. Thanks for such a warm welcome! Here are my photos.

no worries, cillit bang! just glad you made it home
posted by terrapin at 5:55 AM on December 21, 2007

A pity I couldn't get there earlier but having two other Christmas parties that night left me rather worse for wear.

Currently on Chris' laptop which has a web standards compliance plug-in. Apparently Mefi doesn't validate because of "too much recursion". Sounds about right.
posted by hugsnkisses at 6:45 AM on December 21, 2007

Sorry I couldn't make it. Looks like it was loads of fun.

Chris: given your empirical testing, can you report if the MeFi sign is in any way like Roosta's towel?

Merry Christmas everyone!
posted by honest knave at 7:01 AM on December 21, 2007

honest knave: It is slightly beery. That is all.
posted by chrismear at 7:29 AM on December 21, 2007

Ceiling cat made an appearance too.
posted by terrapin at 9:19 AM on December 21, 2007

And, I suppose now, slightly meary.

*rimshot*
posted by honest knave at 1:55 PM on December 22, 2007

There should be MANY more photos. Come on people.
posted by terrapin at 3:24 PM on December 22, 2007

Since you insist, my two cruddy camera phone shots.
posted by chrismear at 3:43 PM on December 22, 2007