Thank you, thank you, thank you!

batgrlHG and I had such a wonderful time in New Orleans this weekend. A great meetup and a great vacation. I really want to thank all the local folks who set up the event, drove us around, made great suggestions, and generally just made everything easy. And of course a thank you to everyone who came and made it one of the biggest MeFi meetups ever. Meeting so many cool people is what a meetup is for, and you made it special.

I'd like to apologize to the folks who sent me messages I never replied to. We were going at a pace that didn't match the heat/humidity and some things fell by the wayside.

I have more pictures to get up, but I wanted to get a few posted quickly. If people could help with names I'd appreciate it. I'm extremely bad with names.

posted by y6y6y6 to New Orleans, LA at 7:47 AM (43 comments total)

Yes! Thank you ColdChef and radioamy! We had a great time! (Well, TVGraphicsGuy didn't have a great time for the 24 hours or so after the party, but that's his own fault. He drank his $30 worth, my $30 worth and enough for that whole bachelorette party.)
posted by artychoke at 9:35 AM on July 20, 2009

Unfortunately I'm just as bad as y6 is with names. Tonight we'll be in our living room at our computer desks (what, doesn't everyone have four computers and a television in their living rooms?) asking each other "ok, do you remember who this is? argh!" Or something like that.

I'd start on photoshop work now only I'm still having a food hangover.

Also, yes, y6 did have a shrimp poboy at the airport. He needed it after the taxi had a flat tire on the way to the airport. Well, it was either the poboy or a drink, and the poboy was on the checklist.

And thank you everyone, that was the best time ever! I wish I'd met more people and said hello to everyone, but thanks to the eating fest y6 and I were having brain meltdown on Saturday evening. Next meetup we'll work on staying up later.
posted by batgrlHG at 11:34 AM on July 20, 2009

Thanks to ColdChef and radioamy for all your hard work in making this event so spectacularly fun.

I just realized that y6³ and I didn't have any sort of interaction at all! WHAT UP WITH THAT? Next time, man, next time.
posted by WolfDaddy at 12:12 PM on July 20, 2009

"I just realized that y63 and I didn't have any sort of interaction at all! WHAT UP WITH THAT?"

Not on purpose. Maybe I'm just the shy sort. Or more likely, completely lacking in social decorum.

And I had to keep an eye on my wife and DaShiv.....
posted by y6y6y6 at 12:27 PM on July 20, 2009

Yes, I only got to interact with half of the people there. But I'll count it as all of the people, since I was seeing double by the end.

HEAR HEAR!
posted by not_on_display at 1:19 PM on July 20, 2009

Thank you all so much for coming! I had such a great time!
posted by radioamy at 2:22 PM on July 20, 2009

Thank YOU, radioamy. All your effort really made for one spectacular event. I am so glad I got to meet everyone - you all were terrific. ColdChef and I visited the New Orleans Museum of Art's incredible photo exhibit on our way out of town, and then I got to enjoy a great evening with his family before heading home this morning. (Yes, they are all as wonderful as I knew they would be.)

A fantastic, unforgettable trip! Yay, MetaFilter, for sparking it. Let's keep in touch! And anyone who comes within miles of Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky - you know, to go to the Creation Museum or what have you - better call me.
posted by tizzie at 2:37 PM on July 20, 2009

Don't Stop Believin', MetaFilter.

I'd like to give my thanks to radioamy who really did all the heavy lifting in putting this thing together and to jessamyn, for being such a fantastic guest and headliner for our party. And to everyone who RSVP'd and then weaseled out, the loss is entirely yours.

Oh, and welcome to all the new members who joined at the party. And also to the party crashers who thought they had joined a chronic masturbators' help group. On to the White House!
posted by ColdChef at 5:27 PM on July 20, 2009

Omg, must share the Don't Stop Believin oddness. So apparently we left the meetup just before that great moment (I totally would have been lip synching that too, can't live through the 80s and not somehow know that song) but! Our cab driver dropped us off about 2 blocks from our hotel because there was such a mob of people and cops in the street. (Nothing exciting happening, just keep moving people.) And then, suddenly, many many voices were heard to sing "DON'T STOP BEEEEEEELIEEEEEEEVIIIIINNNNNNNNNN" - coming from a bar, but echo'd by many people standing across the street on a balcony. I took a photo, but of course you can't hear it. But literally most of the street was singing that song. So the next day when they told me about the Don't Stop Moment I had to wonder "wow, wonder if that happened at the same time." A little MeFi Twilight Zone Cheesey 80s Flashback moment.

But next time I'm gonna cobble together some kinda trophy thing to award people with on the spot. Because (among many other people who rocked muchly, which I must blog about later) it should be known for the history books that subbes managed to Rickroll the entire room. By patching in audio from her cell phone via YouTube no less, to the sound system - so it was not preplanned, and done only by a suggestion from the crowd that she took up and ran with. That's totally one of my favorite moments.

Also I somehow have 800 photos from the weekend. Most of the meetup photos look like I drank the entire bar before taking. Which I swear I did not!
posted by batgrlHG at 6:43 PM on July 20, 2009

I must say I'm shocked no one asked me to show-and-tell prove I'd self-treated a bullet wound.
posted by y6y6y6 at 6:53 PM on July 20, 2009

I'll just add my heartfelt thanks to Coldchef and Radioamy - an absolutely fantastic weekend and meetup. Sadly, I didn't get to properly meet and talk to everyone, either, but I'm sure we'll all be back for MeFi15, right?
posted by Nice Guy Mike at 6:54 PM on July 20, 2009

Good meeting everyone I got around to meeting. And to those I didn't get around to, I'm sorry, I was getting a bit drunk there. My gratitude to radioamy and coldchef for putting the whole gig together.

For everyone that came from out of town, holler when you make it back down!
posted by gordie at 7:25 PM on July 20, 2009

Thank you so much, party planners and attendees! It was a total blast. It's officially over -- no hangover and leftovers are gone. Le sigh.
posted by *s at 9:16 PM on July 20, 2009

Thanks to all you gracious folks and to all of you that helped a somewhat socially awkward old bird feel at home & welcomed. Also major shout outs to Ms. Conduct who gave so much of her time to ensure we all got around safely, and who guided us to fabulous places. Also big heartfelt props to DaShiv for tirelessly (literally) experiencing and documenting the whole shibang, and much adoration for the peeps who were reaching out to include all mefites and "+1s." This weekend was so blast-worthy, and I hope to re-meet you again, perhaps here in the mountains where there is always a couch and an F5 key free.
posted by moonbird at 10:23 PM on July 20, 2009

Thank you so much radioamy and ColdChef! Best party ever!

We had such a great time in the city. It was wonderful to meet as many of y'all as I could. If I didn't manage a graceful goodbye from Chuck's at the after-meetup gathering, my apologies. The tequila domo handed me went straight to my head. (Thanks again, domo!)

I hadn't had a real vacation in so very long. When I get to take another one, New Orleans is at the top of my list. Followed closely to where you awesome non-NOLA folks are. Asheville, I'm looking right at you. And then Houston. And then and then and then.

Three days wasn't enough.

The only thing I would change is that you marvelous people mostly live so far away.
posted by lilywing13 at 11:23 PM on July 20, 2009

y6: "I must say I'm shocked no one asked me to show-and-tell prove I'd self-treated a bullet wound."

I'd like to add that I'm REALLY grateful that no one asked y6 to show-and-tell prove he'd self-treated a bullet wound.
posted by batgrlHG at 12:12 AM on July 21, 2009

What happened to the flickr group? It went from almost 100 to about 60. Makes me sad.
posted by lilywing13 at 12:46 AM on July 21, 2009

Never mind. I unjoined and it all came back. I dunno.
posted by lilywing13 at 1:49 AM on July 21, 2009

It was an amazing party in an amazing city and I only wish I'd been able to stay longer and wander around (and drink) more. ColdChef and radioamy are terminally fantastic, and thanks to them and everyone who made it happen.
posted by casarkos at 4:32 AM on July 21, 2009

COLDCHEF I HATE YOU
posted by liketitanic at 4:41 AM on July 21, 2009

COLDCHEF I HATE YOU

Ze feling is moochul!
posted by ColdChef at 5:00 AM on July 21, 2009

(No, wait. I love you. Damn these feelings of mine!)
posted by ColdChef at 5:01 AM on July 21, 2009

(I know, I love you too. Let's never fight again.)
posted by liketitanic at 7:15 AM on July 21, 2009

Thank you so much to all, especially:

ColdChef for bursting into my room, dragging me to dinner that first night and forcing me into an "extroverted" mode for the weekend. Yes, you have him to blame for that, normally I am an introvert

Radioamy for the organizing and worrying and making it so awesome that even a goon agreed

WolfDaddy for buying us CRISTAL AND DOM PERIGNON on Friday night, helping me carry back a giant piece of artwork after Saturday breakfast, and other helps

*s for carrying Art as well, rooming with me, bonding over our shared nerderies and not getting upset when I forgot to turn off my cell phone alarm

ililloli-hardtospellusername I cannot remember and her sister for drink suggestions (oh god)

Nceguymike for letting me lapse back into my old accent and not being miffed when I monopolized him at Mimi's

GregNog for the touch of class

Middleclasstool for the whipround and long-sufferingness

And a bunch of others I am forgetting
posted by subbes at 8:02 AM on July 21, 2009

Don't worry. We'll all remember for you.
posted by ColdChef at 8:56 AM on July 21, 2009

Thanks ColdChef and radioamy for a kickass party.

Thanks to everyone who made BLuR into a real live boy. He was totally like "hey these guys ain't so bad!"

I know I didn't get to meet everyone, but there's always next time.

Oh yea, and if any of y'all are ever in Minneapolis, come on over.
posted by cabingirl at 9:41 AM on July 21, 2009

We have cats, and the wine cellar has been decimated by a very long....LONG winter. There are about 20 gallons of mead tho...
posted by BLuR at 9:48 AM on July 21, 2009

ColdChef, that sounds like a threat!
posted by subbes at 11:05 AM on July 21, 2009

Had a great time and met some great people. It's funny how so many of the comments I've read from people on mefi over the years have been smart or just clever but you can't really understand how much more there is in all these great folks till you've gotten drunk and watched a sunrise with them.
posted by nola at 1:20 PM on July 21, 2009

Also, I don't think I met half the fine people there and for that I'm sure I'm sorry, but there's always next time. Really had a fine time thanks hosts.
posted by nola at 1:23 PM on July 21, 2009

Yes! Thanks again to ColdChef and radioamy for setting this up! I had a wonderful time (voiceless as I am)!
posted by brujita at 8:07 PM on July 21, 2009

HEAR HEAR!

Hey, you're hearing double too!

I just got back a few hours ago -- trip home went via not_on_display's house where we watched a Flickr slideshow of all 1400+ mefi10-tagged photos, such is the life of a mod -- and I showed all the trip photos to my 86 year old landlady who was alternatingly charmed and confused by it (and yes, whoever was asking me at the meetup, that's my famous-writer landlady).

Thanks to ColdChef and RadioAmy for the planning and hosting, and NiceGuyMike for obliging the do not disturb sign but inviting us out to dinner via an under-door note, and MGL for taking the Miguel photo and GregNog for suggesting the zoo, and msconduct for saving me from death-via-sunburn, and middleclasstool for the sweaty hugs, and umbú and luazinha for the hosting, and whoever wrote the "I <3 Jessamyn" shout-out which made me smile, and all the locals for showing up, and all the people from away for making the trip. I've been to a lot of meetups and this one was really something special. Please do stop by central Vermont if you are ever in the neighborhood.
posted by jessamyn at 8:51 PM on July 21, 2009

Double what she said!
posted by not_on_display at 11:21 PM on July 21, 2009

A thousand thank yous to everyone! I had a phenomenal time, and you people are excellent. I just got back home last night, and BOY ARE MY ARMS TIRED.
posted by Greg Nog at 5:31 AM on July 22, 2009

Thanks all! It was great to talk to those of you I met. I really meant to make it over to the other side of the room (where rumor was jessamyn was showing people the 'admin login page), but I looked up and all of the sudden three hours had passed and people were on their way out.

Keep your eye out for not_on_display's and my caribbean/afro-pop-y take on the Velvet Underground's tune 'There She Goes Again' on mefimusic. It was great to record in the same room together, even if for just a couple of hours.
posted by umbú at 9:15 AM on July 22, 2009

Oh y'all it was awesome! It was wonderful to meet everyone I did meet and I wish I had met more of you - worlds enough and time and stuff and DAMN, I meant to ask y6 about that bullet wound and it completely slipped my mind. Mad props particularly to msconduct for being so awesome and driving my hungover unto hell ass from the cemetery (where I was thinking about just crawling into a tomb and giving up) back to the hotel on Sunday morning and also to dashiv, who can stay awake longer and still remain coherent than anyone I've ever known. And lilywing, I can play better pool than that. Really. Seriously. I mean, I couldn't actually be worse, now could I?

Everyone was so cool and I wish it had lasted another week or more - I love your city, new orleansites, and I'm definitely coming back someday. And seriously, there's a guestroom in Asheville for anyone who's interested. You just have to share it with three large dogs and a vocal cat.
posted by mygothlaundry at 11:46 AM on July 22, 2009

Yeah ditto to all the effusions. What a great time.

Now who is going to start planning the first anniversary of Mefi10nola?
posted by CunningLinguist at 2:42 PM on July 22, 2009

y6y6y6: "I must say I'm shocked no one asked me to show-and-tell prove I'd self-treated a bullet wound."

Oh man I totally freakin forgot about that!!!!
posted by radioamy at 3:31 PM on July 23, 2009

My current concern is that our own famous photog has not posted any pictures...and it's 5 days later, which we all know is an eternity in Internet time!
posted by radioamy at 5:51 PM on July 23, 2009

Well the last time I seen him he was taking the Canal street bus. It was about 7 am and we had just tucked Wolfdaddy to sleep with his pjs and binky, DaShiv and I had a long night.

Wolfdaddy had killed a man with his bare hands for speaking ill of Texas, and DaShiv had a hell of a time getting the Nola PD to look the other way. It's not as cheap an expenditure as you would think.

Anyway I waved goodbye to him that Sunday morning and haven't seen him since. I flagged a cab moments later myself. "Where to buddy?" 'Take me to the race track friend. I'm feeling lucky.'
posted by nola at 3:53 PM on July 24, 2009

New Orleans, LA — Organizer: radioamy

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
July 20, 2009 7:47 AM Subscribe

New Orleans, LA — Organizer: radioamy

Thank you, thank you, thank you! July 20, 2009 7:47 AM Subscribe

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
July 20, 2009 7:47 AM Subscribe