MeFiChi Holiday Extravaganza November 18, 2009 10:13 AM Subscribe
MeFiChi: It's that time yet again, where we bundle up our holiday cheer, throw it into the Chicago river, and head to the darkness of Lower Michigan Avenue....
Usual place/time? Which would be, I do believe, Wednesday, December 3, 6PM, at The Billy Goat on Lower Michigan Avenue. Unless you have a better idea.
And, hey, for the holidays, we could go to Daley Plaza and stare at the lights, or even better, take over the beer tent -- but it closes at 8PM.
Usual place/time? Which would be, I do believe, Wednesday, December 3, 6PM, at The Billy Goat on Lower Michigan Avenue. Unless you have a better idea.
And, hey, for the holidays, we could go to Daley Plaza and stare at the lights, or even better, take over the beer tent -- but it closes at 8PM.
Psst. Wednesday is December 2. alas, I am otherwise engaged.
posted by crush-onastick at 10:33 AM on November 18, 2009
posted by crush-onastick at 10:33 AM on November 18, 2009
Not letting anything get in my way this time.
posted by adamdschneider at 11:19 AM on November 18, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 11:19 AM on November 18, 2009
Just out of curiosity... do semi-lurkers ever attend these? I could attend it but what if it's totallyawkard and zomg...
posted by biochemist at 12:18 PM on November 18, 2009
posted by biochemist at 12:18 PM on November 18, 2009
biochemist, I am a semi-lurker and attended my first (and only) one a few months back and it was fine. No one will point at you and laugh.
posted by Bunglegirl at 12:55 PM on November 18, 2009
posted by Bunglegirl at 12:55 PM on November 18, 2009
Agreed.
biochemist, I'm not sure where the line between semi-lurker and regular poster is (though I may have maybe crossed it lately), but I went to my first Meetup in September not knowing anyone and not expecting anyone to know me personally or from my comments, and while this turned out to be true, I can't imagine that I could have met a nicer, more welcoming group of strangers.
Actually, I can imagine a more welcoming group, but that would have crossed the line into "kind of creepy/made-for-TV movie cultish" territory. And they/we aren't that.
Yet.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:50 PM on November 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
biochemist, I'm not sure where the line between semi-lurker and regular poster is (though I may have maybe crossed it lately), but I went to my first Meetup in September not knowing anyone and not expecting anyone to know me personally or from my comments, and while this turned out to be true, I can't imagine that I could have met a nicer, more welcoming group of strangers.
Actually, I can imagine a more welcoming group, but that would have crossed the line into "kind of creepy/made-for-TV movie cultish" territory. And they/we aren't that.
Yet.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 1:50 PM on November 18, 2009 [1 favorite]
Yeah, come on out! But hey, come back the next time, too, cause we get too few repeat offenders...
posted by adamdschneider at 4:58 PM on November 18, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 4:58 PM on November 18, 2009
I'm a lurker and I had a fine time at my first meetup. I even came back the next month!
I should be in for this one as well.
(nice call on the 3isNot2 tag)
posted by evisceratordeath at 8:17 AM on November 19, 2009
I should be in for this one as well.
(nice call on the 3isNot2 tag)
posted by evisceratordeath at 8:17 AM on November 19, 2009
Yeah, I see no reason I couldn't make it.
Well, rabid llamas, but we don't get too many of those in these parts.
posted by Windigo at 9:35 AM on November 19, 2009
Well, rabid llamas, but we don't get too many of those in these parts.
posted by Windigo at 9:35 AM on November 19, 2009
I should be able to come. I'm a vegetarian so I'll be the one ordering a cheese sandwich and.... no chips.
posted by biochemist at 4:38 PM on November 19, 2009
posted by biochemist at 4:38 PM on November 19, 2009
I should be able to go. I'd like to -- I've been to one Chicago meetup and one Cleveland one, and met awesome people at both.
(Oh, and biochemist -- do you eat eggs? because you can have that on your sandwich too. It's what this vegetarian does. :D )
posted by mismatched at 12:04 PM on November 20, 2009
(Oh, and biochemist -- do you eat eggs? because you can have that on your sandwich too. It's what this vegetarian does. :D )
posted by mismatched at 12:04 PM on November 20, 2009
Ha, so you read popurls too, huh? I thought the same thing when I saw it, though. :-)
posted by adamdschneider at 3:16 PM on November 22, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 3:16 PM on November 22, 2009
Yay! I am around and can finally make it.
I will come out; also, I'll be there.
posted by LMGM at 8:15 AM on November 23, 2009
I will come out; also, I'll be there.
posted by LMGM at 8:15 AM on November 23, 2009
Can you add a "Chicago" tag to this? Most of the older meetups are tagged that way so we can find 'em.
posted by eamondaly at 2:28 PM on November 23, 2009
posted by eamondaly at 2:28 PM on November 23, 2009
Ahh, doodles. I don't come here enough to notice these anymore, and I already have plans for tomorrow. Doodles. Happy new year!
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:38 PM on December 1, 2009
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:38 PM on December 1, 2009
Man, you used to be cool.
posted by adamdschneider at 3:16 PM on December 1, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 3:16 PM on December 1, 2009
Spiffy, buddy, first Wednesday, every month. That's January 6, 2010. See you there. When it's cold.
posted by crush-onastick at 9:04 PM on December 1, 2009
posted by crush-onastick at 9:04 PM on December 1, 2009
Happity birfday, readery!
posted by crush-onastick at 6:18 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by crush-onastick at 6:18 AM on December 2, 2009
To you, to you, to you. ¡Olé!
posted by adamdschneider at 11:58 AM on December 2, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 11:58 AM on December 2, 2009
Cattle Call purple people eatered the cool right out of me.
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:47 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by SpiffyRob at 12:47 PM on December 2, 2009
I'll be there, late as usual. We have someone to toast!
posted by eamondaly at 1:49 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by eamondaly at 1:49 PM on December 2, 2009
And we'll be there early as usual, cuz we're awesome like that.
posted by Windigo at 2:16 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by Windigo at 2:16 PM on December 2, 2009
The next hour can't pass fast enough.
posted by adamdschneider at 2:35 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 2:35 PM on December 2, 2009
FYI Rob and others (because I know you're itching for this info): Cattle Call is now actually just "The Call" as apparently the country/western motif (which wasn't at all apparent when we visited anyway) wasn't pulling in the gays.
(I learned this when someone overheard me call it "Cattle Call" when I was recounting the tale of the MetaFilter's takeover to a friend, and this stranger felt the need to play Gay Social Director and interject himself into our conversation with this valuable piece of information.)
I stumbled past it last weekend and it still seems to have the dance floor and offer the purple people eater, so I can report its two major selling points have remained unchanged.
(Now who's playing Gay Social Director?)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:38 PM on December 2, 2009
(I learned this when someone overheard me call it "Cattle Call" when I was recounting the tale of the MetaFilter's takeover to a friend, and this stranger felt the need to play Gay Social Director and interject himself into our conversation with this valuable piece of information.)
I stumbled past it last weekend and it still seems to have the dance floor and offer the purple people eater, so I can report its two major selling points have remained unchanged.
(Now who's playing Gay Social Director?)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:38 PM on December 2, 2009
Damn, I am jonesing for a Mission-style burrito, and I don't even know what that is.
posted by adamdschneider at 3:10 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 3:10 PM on December 2, 2009
And, no, I'm not there. I'm exhausted, have to be in St. Louis tomorrow and Austin Friday. I doth suck with a might suck.
posted by eriko at 5:36 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by eriko at 5:36 PM on December 2, 2009
Wish I hadn't crapped out on you guys early, but I shall learn my lesson and in the future not go to bed at 4:00 am the night before a meetup. Looking forward to January.
posted by MikeHarris at 8:08 PM on December 2, 2009
posted by MikeHarris at 8:08 PM on December 2, 2009
Grrr for not being able to make it, in the end. there was much poop-hitting-fan today, and little else was done.
On the upside, a friend took me to TAC Quick for some delicous thai food. I've never had salt-preserved crab in my papaya salad before.
OK, so when's the next meetup?
posted by LMGM at 10:22 PM on December 2, 2009
On the upside, a friend took me to TAC Quick for some delicous thai food. I've never had salt-preserved crab in my papaya salad before.
OK, so when's the next meetup?
posted by LMGM at 10:22 PM on December 2, 2009
It is my solemn obligation to acknowledge that Kaz, Eamon, and Chris are better bowlers than I could ever hope to be. And that Windigo tops all three of them. And now is fulfilled my bowling bet.
posted by lholladay at 11:11 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by lholladay at 11:11 PM on December 2, 2009 [2 favorites]
Just wanted to say thanks for the really nice time last night, guys.
Although I had to bail early, it was nice to meet some of you and get out of my workroom for a bit.
posted by Tchad at 5:36 AM on December 3, 2009
Although I had to bail early, it was nice to meet some of you and get out of my workroom for a bit.
posted by Tchad at 5:36 AM on December 3, 2009
Good times. I hadn't been bowling in ages, and it was good fun watching Windigo beat the tar out all of us. Tchad, I have to say you look fantastic for a man of 100. evisceratordeath, I will try to keep the good comments re:Michistan coming. See you guys next Friday at the bong, hopefully!
posted by adamdschneider at 6:44 AM on December 3, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 6:44 AM on December 3, 2009
Very good, Luke. Very good.
What's this about next Friday?
And god DAMN there was some mighty karaoke last night.
posted by evisceratordeath at 6:52 AM on December 3, 2009
What's this about next Friday?
And god DAMN there was some mighty karaoke last night.
posted by evisceratordeath at 6:52 AM on December 3, 2009
Much of the mighty karakoke was due to you, my friend. You lived up to your handle, evisceratordeath, in the best possible way.
I look forward to next month; now that we've gotten bowling and karaoke out of the way, is there some other group social activity that I'm typically too embarassed by my lack of ability to enjoy yet managed to love due to the safe space created by MeFi folks.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:13 AM on December 3, 2009
I look forward to next month; now that we've gotten bowling and karaoke out of the way, is there some other group social activity that I'm typically too embarassed by my lack of ability to enjoy yet managed to love due to the safe space created by MeFi folks.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 7:13 AM on December 3, 2009
Colorful conversation, the reassuring presence of eamondaly's resplendent beard, and a perfect grilled cheese sandwich = You can’t go wrong. ...and now I’m dying for someone to ask me for a four-letter word that ends in "z."
posted by applemeat at 7:38 AM on December 3, 2009
posted by applemeat at 7:38 AM on December 3, 2009
I missed *bowling*? *Bowling* geez. Way to start the holiday season.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:55 AM on December 3, 2009
posted by crush-onastick at 7:55 AM on December 3, 2009
Although though there were many feats of athleticism and lyricism last night, I didn't capture any of them with my camera. I did manage to photograph this sign, for those in the group who didn't attend or have access to/reason to visit the men's room at the Goat.
(And even the quality of that snapshot little iffy, but apparently, it's bad form to pull out your camera phone in the bathroom, so I was trying to be a little sneaky, which, come to think of it, was probably even creepier if noticed.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2009
(And even the quality of that snapshot little iffy, but apparently, it's bad form to pull out your camera phone in the bathroom, so I was trying to be a little sneaky, which, come to think of it, was probably even creepier if noticed.)
posted by MCMikeNamara at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2009
applemeat: Colorful conversation, the reassuring presence of eamondaly's resplendent beard, and a perfect grilled cheese sandwich = You can’t go wrong. ...and now I’m dying for someone to ask me for a four-letter word that ends in "z.
As demonstrated by crush, a new one! "geez"!
posted by MikeHarris at 8:32 AM on December 3, 2009
As demonstrated by crush, a new one! "geez"!
posted by MikeHarris at 8:32 AM on December 3, 2009
Good times. Good times. Also, I neglected to put my phone in its charger overnight, causing me to show up for work an hour late. Whoops!
By the way, as I've mentioned to Windigo elsewhere, apparently my previous commitment to the Bong is on December 12th, the Saturday. Sorry about that.
posted by eamondaly at 9:26 AM on December 3, 2009
By the way, as I've mentioned to Windigo elsewhere, apparently my previous commitment to the Bong is on December 12th, the Saturday. Sorry about that.
posted by eamondaly at 9:26 AM on December 3, 2009
Great seeing you guys again and it sounds like I would have been totally humiliated by my meager bowling talent so its good I skipped out after the goat.
posted by Bunglegirl at 10:21 AM on December 3, 2009
posted by Bunglegirl at 10:21 AM on December 3, 2009
Mm, the 12th, good to know. Is there any Beck on the machine? Maybe I'll sing some Beck. I'm curious as to what, exactly, our friend Chris eviscerated last night, for those of use who bailed because we were three blocks from home after bowling.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:24 AM on December 3, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 10:24 AM on December 3, 2009
I'm curious as to what, exactly, our friend Chris eviscerated last night, for those of use who bailed because we were three blocks from home after bowling.
First he Eviscerated "Holy Diver," then he brought Death upon the land with "Welcome to the Jungle."
posted by Iridic at 12:26 PM on December 3, 2009
First he Eviscerated "Holy Diver," then he brought Death upon the land with "Welcome to the Jungle."
posted by Iridic at 12:26 PM on December 3, 2009
Ah, sweet. I did Holy Diver last time. Fucking great tune. :-)
posted by adamdschneider at 12:42 PM on December 3, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 12:42 PM on December 3, 2009
Or better yet:
*cues the Dank Punk*
Doooooooooooo doo-dododooo doooo do dood doo....
So on and so forth.
Saturday the 12th, huh?
posted by Windigo at 1:15 PM on December 3, 2009
*cues the Dank Punk*
Doooooooooooo doo-dododooo doooo do dood doo....
So on and so forth.
Saturday the 12th, huh?
posted by Windigo at 1:15 PM on December 3, 2009
Oh man, I forgot about the Daft Punk humming.
Holy Diver is my jam. I don't remember if there was any Beck, but if "Debra" was on there, well, that'd be a fantastic karaoke time.
whiz
posted by evisceratordeath at 3:49 PM on December 3, 2009
Holy Diver is my jam. I don't remember if there was any Beck, but if "Debra" was on there, well, that'd be a fantastic karaoke time.
whiz
posted by evisceratordeath at 3:49 PM on December 3, 2009
Oh, no. :-/
posted by adamdschneider at 10:04 PM on December 3, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 10:04 PM on December 3, 2009
Man, there sure are a lot of four letter words that end in Z.
posted by adamdschneider at 10:04 PM on December 3, 2009
posted by adamdschneider at 10:04 PM on December 3, 2009
So this Bong thing this weekend - is it on the 11th or 12th? And what time?
posted by lholladay at 2:36 PM on December 8, 2009
posted by lholladay at 2:36 PM on December 8, 2009
I can only go on the 12th after 10pm. SpiffyRob says he'll be in attendance as well.
posted by eamondaly at 4:14 PM on December 8, 2009
posted by eamondaly at 4:14 PM on December 8, 2009
But then, my words on attendance aren't worth the letters that form them these days.
I really do plan to go though!
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:16 AM on December 9, 2009
I really do plan to go though!
posted by SpiffyRob at 7:16 AM on December 9, 2009
Why did I write dank punk instead of daft punk?
I mean, it was outside, and it was raining...
But still.
posted by Windigo at 6:19 PM on December 9, 2009
I mean, it was outside, and it was raining...
But still.
posted by Windigo at 6:19 PM on December 9, 2009
Well, a friend of mine has a great big holiday party every year where she cooks for everyone she knows plus more plus usually everyone her roommates know. And unfortunately, it's on the 12th. But fortunately, tradition also dictates that she normally finally enjoys the party after it winds down and we end up heading out to a bar. So if I can convince her,, and since she's a big fan of karaoke AND tomorrow's my birthday so I should get my way, I may end up at Cafe Bong. Or I may just end up there myself. Anyway, hope to see you there.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:02 PM on December 11, 2009
posted by MCMikeNamara at 2:02 PM on December 11, 2009
Crap! Sorry I'm so late: the dinner party ran late and I couldn't get away. I'm here and staying late if anyone still has the Cafe Bong itch!
posted by eamondaly at 10:01 PM on December 12, 2009
posted by eamondaly at 10:01 PM on December 12, 2009
I sauntered in around 11, figuring anything that happening would have already started happening. Didn't see any familiar faces, and the other faces in the place weren't particularly welcoming, so I sauntered out. Not a biggie, we'll hit it next time.
I also discovered I'm not working on Jan. 7th, so you'd better believe I'll rock it hard on the 6th.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:56 PM on December 14, 2009
I also discovered I'm not working on Jan. 7th, so you'd better believe I'll rock it hard on the 6th.
posted by SpiffyRob at 1:56 PM on December 14, 2009
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FYI, and tangentially on topic, the Goat is offering up 75-cent cheeseburgers tomorrow (Thursday 11/19) in honor of their 75th anniversary. Cheap burgers, tiny beers, you really can't go wrong.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:18 AM on November 18, 2009