Portland Planning Thread

May 10, 2009 9:18 AM

We need to pick a date and time between July 17 and July 19 and a location.

How about some representation from The Original Portland^tm? High summer, so a great time for an afternoon BBQ or an Old Port deck. I'm midway between Portland and Boston but would really like to see something happening in the Great State, so I'm willing to organize. Anyone up for it? Creative venue ideas welcome!

posted by Miko to Portland, ME at 9:18 AM (54 comments total)

I love this idea! I am tentatively counting myself in --- tentative because The Fella and I are getting married the previous week, so:
A) we'll probably still be tuckered out;
B) I'll still have far-flung family in town over the 17th-19th, and their plans take priority right now.

If my family schedule allows it, I'll be there! The Boston meet-up was tempting but frankly unlikely for me. A walk down to the Old Port (or wherever) I can handle!
posted by Elsa at 10:01 AM on May 10, 2009

Hey! Sounds fun. We have a wedding to attend that Saturday so that day is out for me, but I'll try to come if it's another day.

I'll ponder venues. If it's nice, maybe the deck at Novare Res?
posted by miss tea at 1:02 PM on May 10, 2009

The 17th is best for me, but I'm pretty flexible. Novare Res is already pushing impossibly crowded, although, it is awesome and everything is going to to be crowded. I'm a big fan of the Snug, but it is small, and lacks a deck. Perhaps a dinner in Silly's patio would be fun?
posted by bzbb at 3:27 PM on May 10, 2009

I can make any of those nights, and Mr. Mon Dieu might tag along. I'll go wherever, and throw in a suggestion for Sebago or Gritty's - they seem to have adequate seating if we're going to have a lot of folk and pretty decent pub food. Looking forward to it!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 4:18 PM on May 10, 2009

Any of the days are good for me. Maybe the decks/bars would be less crowded on a Sunday evening?

I'd love to check out Novare Res (haven't been there during the summer), but in addition to the suggestions above, there's also DeMillo's (it's touristy, but the deck is great), Jay's (if we can wangle a table), Portland Lobster Co., Amigo's (it's a dive/hipster bar, but it has a great patio)....and I understand there are more restaurants opening up this spring/summer (I miss living in Portland proper, but my liver is so relieved).

And I'd be happy to host the meetup at my house in the Cash Corner area of South Portland - I hope to have a patio put in shortly!
posted by suki at 4:55 PM on May 10, 2009

I tragically can't make it. But everyone hoist a pint for me. And then tell me where you hoisted it to and I'll go get it a couple days later.
posted by rusty at 4:58 PM on May 10, 2009

Amigo's patio is good, sometimes they have bluegrass in the summer. also, or the Porthole... I am imagining nice weather, but who knows!
posted by miss tea at 6:06 PM on May 10, 2009

I'll say YES with as much certainty as possible this far in advance. But my vacation is two weeks later so it is unlikely that I'll be out of town. What about the outside/dockside seating at Flatbread? They have couches to retreat to in case of bad weather.
posted by mikepop at 7:24 AM on May 11, 2009

I like the idea of bluegrass.

I, too, am imagining nice weather, but have been bitten once by that issue on a meetup. I definitely think we should place a priority on going somewhere with a deck, but somewhere that we could retreat inside if it was rough out.

It also occurred to me that Sunday the 19th might be the better pick to avoid the worst of the crowding at some of these places. I also thought that maybe we could shoot for a late afternoon meetup time (like 4 or 5?), again to avoid the dinner hour crowding (and take advantage of summer sun, if there is some).

I'm not going to push a location too much - I don't live in Portland so I'm less intimately familiar with the ins and outs of all the options. I've been to most of these places (except DiMillo's) and all sound good. Novare Res does seem to get crowded, but the outside is huge - only downside, not so much of a water view or anything like that.

So far we have in consideration:
Novare Res
Silly's patio
Sebago Brewing
Gritty's
DeMillo's
Jay's
Portland Lobster Co.
Amigo's
Suki's place in SoPo (do they call it that?)
Flatbread
The Porthole

Criteria: we might achieve about a dozen, 15 people if all goes well. Food would be a good plus but not totally necessary. Less crowded is a plus, but we can call ahead and send an advance party to secure table space. Outdoor space is first choice, but with a Plan B or nearby indoor area if weather is lousy.

If we end up with a late afternoon time, it's very likely that I'll come up to town earlier in the day and either do something outdoorsy (nice weather) or indoorsy (rainy). So when the time gets closer I'll make some plans about that and anyone would be welcome to join in!
posted by Miko at 7:44 AM on May 11, 2009

the 19th in the afternoon sounds good to me. Agreed that an indoor option would be good. Who knows what the weather will be like!
posted by miss tea at 7:15 AM on May 12, 2009

I suspect that I will be able to make myself available for whatever gets planned, so count me as another available body and do keep me posted!
posted by anastasiav at 10:31 AM on May 12, 2009

I'll try to attend the meetup! Haven't met anyone from MeFi before -- should be fun.
posted by Jubal Kessler at 11:51 AM on May 16, 2009

The Boston area meetup is on the 18th, but if you guys decide to have the Portland meetup on the 19th Horace Rumpole & I would totally drive up to attend. I'd love to meet some Mainer MeFites!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 4:28 PM on May 17, 2009

I'm definitely in for Novare Res.
posted by setanor at 10:36 AM on May 18, 2009

Hey! I called Novare Res and they said we'd have no problem. Their capacity is 200 indoors and 300 outdoors. They recommended Sunday, which we wanted anyhow, and also mentioned that that weekend is Yarmouth Clamfest so it's normally a slow weekend in the Old Port as people are elsewhere. Excellent conditions for us.
So, how about:

Novare Res
Meet at 4 PM
Sunday, July 19th

Of course we only have to have a starting location. Once we have assembled the party, if Novare Res proves too crowded or otherwise inappropriate, we can move along to any of Portland's other fine establishments.

What do y'all think? Sounds like a go to me. I'll wait a bit for feedback, and if it's OK, we can confirm with MeFi and become official.

Thanks to DiscourseMarker's mention, I also noted in the Boston thread that anyone so inclined could bag at least 2 meetups in one weekend.

Strikes me that it could make for kind of a cool roadtrip to see how many you could hit between Friday and Sunday....
posted by Miko at 3:46 PM on May 18, 2009

Sounds great! Thanks for setting this up!
posted by suki at 4:07 AM on May 19, 2009

I'll be there.
posted by bzbb at 7:21 AM on May 19, 2009

That's perfect, Miko...
posted by setanor at 9:25 AM on May 19, 2009

Novare Res sounds good. Out-of-towners should note that the parking meters are free on Sundays.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 1:02 PM on May 19, 2009

fab!
posted by miss tea at 4:14 AM on May 20, 2009

In!
posted by Grlnxtdr at 10:51 AM on May 21, 2009

Hey y'all, don't forget to click the l'il radio buttons on the RSVP form so we can keep a count. I (ahem) understand that Mathowie et al are going to kick us some drinkin' and partyin' money, so we should be sure the count is accurate to the size of our party.
posted by Miko at 11:34 AM on May 21, 2009

Horace Rumpole and I will definitely be there, but because we have already RSVP'd to the Boston meetup we do not have radio buttons to click for this one, so please add 2 to your count. I've never been to Maine before!
posted by DiscourseMarker at 4:56 PM on May 22, 2009

I'm changing my radio button RSVP to a "yes" (and I'd click "HELL YES" if there were one). I know I'll be all tired and wrung out and busy after the wedding, but I really really want to see y'all at MeFi's anniversary party.
posted by Elsa at 10:19 AM on May 23, 2009

I'm excited to [see again|meet] everyone, and delighted that the Bostonians will join us. Portland in July should offer a very nice introduction to Maine!
posted by Miko at 9:15 PM on May 23, 2009

Yessah! And my favorite place too, thanks Miko for putting this together. We've been internet-less at home for several months and may stay that way - so I might not have any recent news to gossip over, but it will be nice to re-meet Miko, Elsa, suki et al

The Mr. may or may not join us, but I've RSVPed yes anyhoo. See you in July!
posted by nelleish at 8:32 AM on May 27, 2009

Also - huge congrats Elsa! We're 7 months in to this marriage thing, and I'm pretty sure it's punk rock in all the good ways. Will look forward to hearing about it!
posted by nelleish at 8:40 AM on May 27, 2009

Count me in.
posted by theora55 at 6:29 AM on July 4, 2009

Just want to add that I have a dance party the night before at the White Heart if anyone's interested in making a weekend of it. Here's the Facebook event page for more info.

Beyond that, see you all on Sunday!
posted by setanor at 8:13 AM on July 11, 2009

Just a week to go! As you make your weekend plans, don't forget 4 PM Sunday at Novare Res. We wandered the Old Port last Sunday evening and it was beautiful!
posted by Miko at 3:25 PM on July 13, 2009

I am really looking forward to this!

For those that have not been to Novare Res, it can be a little tricky to find.

The best way to get there is to go down Exchange Street, from Middle Street to Fore Street (towards the bay). About 1/3 of the way down the block, on the right, is an alleyway. It is in between Abacus and an estate jewelry store. Go right down the alley way and you'll see Novare Res (and its huge deck) on your right.

Not to detract from Setanor's dance party, but I will be at the Empire Dine and Dance on Saturday night to see Mr. Suki's "other" band, Murcielago, play loud rock and roll. If anyone is going, please let me know! (And I will try to get down the street to The White Heart for a bit).
posted by suki at 7:05 AM on July 15, 2009

I'd like to attend, but I need a ride up from Boston. Any takers? (or should that be givers, in this instance?)
posted by Eideteker at 7:06 AM on July 15, 2009

Eideteker, I'd offer but we've planned to head up earlier in the day. If you can make it to Portsmouth by noon, I can give you a ride from there - the C&J Trailways bus is one option for doing that easily. Of course, then you'd be sentenced to spending HOURS with me and LT...not for the weak or wary.
posted by Miko at 10:54 AM on July 15, 2009

Novare Res now has a bean bag toss!
posted by bzbb at 3:34 PM on July 15, 2009

HR and I will be transporting Eideteker from suburbia to the wilds of Maine. In a car with TN license plates.

Also, we have t-shirts. And cameras.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 8:10 AM on July 16, 2009

I printed one of these "Flag It and Move On" posters to mark our table with!
posted by Miko at 10:40 AM on July 16, 2009

Will be there! Sans spouse and closer to 5pm (just got back from a 15 mile cycle and will be walking down from the West End) but heartily looking forward to it. See you shortly!
posted by nelleish at 12:50 PM on July 19, 2009

Thank you all for a wonderfully nerdy time, sorry to skip out early, school night and all. Their, I am so holding you to the next meet up being in costume.

Photos and some video will follow soon. Cheers all!!
posted by nelleish at 5:41 PM on July 19, 2009

Theora! Stupid auto correct.
posted by nelleish at 5:42 PM on July 19, 2009

I am so sorry to have missed this! I went to Bentley's Bar in Arundel today to watch Mr. Suki play in a 50's cover band, and was parked in. We didn't get back until about an hour ago.

I hope you all had a great time - I was thinking about the meetup as I was sitting in an open air biker bar, people watching, and listening to music (okay, so it's not like I was suffering).
posted by suki at 5:55 PM on July 19, 2009

Hi! I'm on metafilter and I could overthink a game of beanbags.
posted by bzbb at 6:27 PM on July 19, 2009

I CRUSH YOU ALL!
posted by Eideteker at 9:01 PM on July 19, 2009

Thanks you guys for opening up the meetup to nonnatives--it was so much fun. I totally want to go back to Portland (the REAL one) and see more of the city--maybe in the fall.

I'll have pictures up tomorrow.
posted by DiscourseMarker at 9:05 PM on July 19, 2009

Damn, sorry to have missed this - foiled by change in mrs mikepop's work schedule. I will jealously peruse the pictures.
posted by mikepop at 5:31 AM on July 20, 2009

I WELCOME THE GLORIOUS "DECADE 2.0."
posted by Eideteker at 6:14 AM on July 20, 2009

I'm so glad I made the trip down, even though I didn't stay as long as I would have like to. Thanks to Miko and Lipstick Thespian especially, for making me feel so welcome.
posted by Grlnxtdr at 6:19 AM on July 20, 2009

erm, "would have liked to".
posted by Grlnxtdr at 6:21 AM on July 20, 2009

hey all, so sorry to have missed! brutal day studying for the final I have Thurs. and then collapsing in a heap. Seems to happen every time there's a meetup sadly.
posted by miss tea at 6:33 AM on July 20, 2009

That was wonderful - I'm so glad you all came! Suki, mikepop, miss tea - we missed you, but these things happen. Let's be sure to do a fall meetup - it's such a nice crowd and The Original Portland is always awesome. My pics are on the way, too---and I'll be working on my beanbag skillz.
posted by Miko at 7:48 AM on July 20, 2009

Superspecial thanks to DiscourseMarker and HoraceRumpole for ferrying my destitute ass to Portland. You guys made my day!
posted by Eideteker at 9:20 AM on July 20, 2009

Great to meet new people and see familiar faces again! What's this about costumes? Sounds fun!
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 12:35 PM on July 20, 2009

That GorillaPod tripod seemed like such innocent fun at the time. In the pictures it looks really filthy.
posted by Miko at 2:57 PM on July 20, 2009

A Portland MeFite has a complete Star Wars costume. I agreed to wear bagels on a headband (Leia55) if anyone else will wear Star Wars gear.
posted by theora55 at 7:07 PM on July 20, 2009

I just wanted to say that I'm really, REALLY upset that I couldn't come. My son's third birthday party ended up being Sunday at 1pm (his birthday was the week prior) and it seemed ... weird ... to leave afterwards to go meet the internet (although my husband pointed out that I probably could have brought the 100 lbs of extra cake).
posted by anastasiav at 7:06 AM on July 21, 2009