Pittsburgh Planning Thread

May 8, 2009 6:38 AM

We need to pick a date and time between July 17 and July 19 and a location. A good head count will be essential to choosing an appropriate location, so say something if you're thinking about attending!

Proposed locations

- Sandcastle (There are cabana rentals to keep us all in one place.)
- Hough's (a [nice] bar in Greenfield with cheap party room rentals, and many, many beers)
- Hofbrauhaus (loud but fun)
- Dozen (We can ask to use their second floor.)
- Artist Image Resource (We could do a screen printing party. Rental would be likely to be expensive, though.)
- Someone's house (My house would work if we're under a dozen people, total.)

Any other ideas?

posted by Alison to Pittsburgh, PA at 6:38 AM (46 comments total)

I would be happy to help planning, but wasn't sure if my first meet-up should be one I plan... please let me know if I can help out with anything.

I'm only "maybe" because it would depend on the date - Sunday wouldn't be the best. Otherwise I'm a yes.
posted by librarianamy at 7:04 AM on May 8, 2009

I really want to go the Steve Earle concert at South Park on the 17th so I'd personally rather do the meetup on 18th or 19th. I vote for Saturday.

Thanks for stepping up to be the organizer, Alison.
posted by octothorpe at 7:55 AM on May 8, 2009

I'm also into doing the 18th. My husband's birthday is on the 19th, so I'm planning a party for that day. Two parties in one weekend for me! Allll riiight!
posted by Alison at 8:06 AM on May 8, 2009

Whao, hey! I'm into this. Greenfield or Hofbrauhaus are probably most accessible to me by bus (which is what I'm limited to.)
posted by dorothy humbird at 11:12 AM on May 8, 2009

Hough's is right on the 56E route and a short and a short walk from the 61C and 56U. I'm biased toward this option because I live just up the street.
posted by Alison at 11:44 AM on May 8, 2009

the 17th works much better for me, but I'll do my best to attend whichever day it is held.
posted by namewithoutwords at 12:31 PM on May 8, 2009

Munch Goes to Houghs (which is apparently pronounced "Hoffs")

I'd be fine with Greenfield but we'll be driving so location doesn't matter that much to me(us).
posted by octothorpe at 12:36 PM on May 8, 2009

I can offer our house, too (about 4 blocks from Forbes and Murray in Squirrel Hill, so very friendly to public transportation). We can handle 15 or so. It could be a different kind of party, though, as we have two small children, ages 1 and 2. (Others would be welcome to bring theirs.)
posted by palliser at 8:59 AM on May 9, 2009

If it's at my (i.e. palliser's) house, I'm definitely attending.
posted by chinston at 9:14 AM on May 9, 2009

Just moved here. Looking forward to it.
posted by rbs at 12:39 PM on May 9, 2009

Is there anyone under 21 attending? That would rule out the bars.

It looks like we're drifting toward picking the 18th. Is there a time of day that would work best for everyone?
posted by Alison at 3:59 PM on May 10, 2009

Tell me if this is weird/stalkerish/not a proper use of memail: is there a way to memail those who have a Pittsburgh-area location in their profiles to let them know that the meetup is being planned? I ask because I might not have thought of it, myself, this far in advance, except that I was poking around aimlessly the other day. Maybe I'm the only one. Anyway, if the headcount is key for picking a location, maybe we could try that, then give it a week or so for folks to see it.
posted by palliser at 8:56 PM on May 10, 2009

It's tempting, but the gesture might be regarded as spam. This is a good question for MetaTalk.
posted by Alison at 9:53 AM on May 11, 2009

Yeah, not putting myself in that chum-bucket and lowering it into the deeps. I'll email the mods.
posted by palliser at 7:52 PM on May 12, 2009

Of course! Please let us know what they say.

This might sound nuts, but it's tempting to do a pre-10th-anniversary meetup, especially if we can do it within the next week or two.
posted by Alison at 10:47 AM on May 13, 2009

Is there anyone under 21 attending?

We're both legal, though it takes a lot to get me to drink. My husband (who has slipped into lurk mode though he's a member) does love a good beer or scotch though. It isn't a deal breaker one way or another for us.

Is there a time of day that would work best for everyone?

Having never been to Hough's - if that is the way we go - would be be looking at the private room? If we're not doing a private space, I'd lean towards an early-ish evening event - a time that we'd be able to secure a space to sit and meet instead of being crowded out by the other weekend revelers.

We'll be driving, so geography doesn't matter - we're willing to cross bridges and go through tunnels to meet up. ;-)
posted by librarianamy at 5:35 AM on May 14, 2009

I wanted to offer my willingness to take on some minor organizational assistant task, such as potentially memailing Pgh-area mefites either to let them know this is going down (if approved by mods) OR to remind us all it's happening just before the event is upon us. Or something else comparable!
posted by dorothy humbird at 10:06 AM on May 14, 2009

Sorry it's taken me so long to get back about the memailing idea; I emailed the mods several days ago and only thought to check my spam folder yesterday. (jessamyn had responded within minutes, of course.)

She said it was fine, as llong as it's nicely worded, and that she did it for VT meetups.

Is the best way to look at the list of members near me? My location is mapped to Forbes and Murray in Sq Hill.
posted by palliser at 8:24 AM on May 17, 2009

I memailed the "nearby users" pegged to my profile (excluding those who had already said whether they were coming). Hope I didn't annoy anyone. I don't think there's a way to search for users who have Pittsburgh as their location but who aren't geotagged.
posted by palliser at 5:11 PM on May 20, 2009

I'm definitely interested, and unlikely to be busy that weekend, especially in the evenings (I'll have to check with the WifeMonkey to be sure). I'd suggest the Park House or Monterey Pub on the North Side (both about a block from the 500; the Park House is also right on the 54C, the Pub about half a mile away), but since we'd probably be driving as well, geography isn't much of an issue for us, either.
posted by FlyingMonkey at 8:22 AM on May 21, 2009

Hey I'm happy for the me-mail alerting me, I never would have realized otherwise, I don't have internet access at home. I'll totally come as long as it's on a bus line, (would be nice if it were in/near Shadyside/Squill/Oakland/SouthSide) unless I could convince my boyfriend to come along...hrmmm. And I'd totally be okay with it being at a bar or there being adorable little babies there.
posted by thisisnotkatrina at 8:21 AM on May 22, 2009

Thanks, palliser!

So, anyone want to check out Hough's at a pre-meetup meetup this Saturday (tomorrow) at 4:00? I'm a big believer in test runs. The only snag might be a thick pre-Pens game crowd.

You shall know us by our pony.

If we hate it, I think we should also check out Micheal's and the Library in the Southside. Michael's has awesome and cheap pizza. The Library has good, but pricier food, though the second floor is usually quiet.

Oh, and Games N' At just off of S. 21st street would be a good choice if we have any underagers.
posted by Alison at 8:43 AM on May 22, 2009

WifeMonkey prefers Sandcastle or AIR of the choices presented; doesn't care about the date.
posted by FlyingMonkey at 4:51 PM on May 25, 2009

'allo all. I missed the pre-meetup (too late notice, and I already had plans), and I'm a little bit of a lurker, but I'm in for something July 18th. I've only been here since last August, so I'm up for any place that others are interested in.
posted by ADoubtfulTrout at 3:22 PM on May 29, 2009

I'm going to go ahead and set the time/location as Hough's at 4:15 on July 18th. Of course, we can change that if we find something better.
posted by Alison at 5:48 AM on June 3, 2009

Well, I couldn't select 4:15. Doors open for the bar on Saturday at 4:00, but sometimes it takes an extra few minutes. Being precisely on time is not required.
posted by Alison at 5:55 AM on June 3, 2009

I'm also mostly a lurker. But I've always wanted to check out Hough's. So count me in on the 18th.
posted by ubermuffin at 8:16 AM on June 3, 2009

Another lurker here, and relatively new to the area, as well as to MeFi. But despite being incredibly bad at "people," as I like to say (yay social anxiety), I really want to be at this event.

I may have a "plus one" but haven't quite figured out who I can drag with yet.
posted by miratime at 7:13 PM on June 28, 2009

Hey guys! We're just a few weeks away!

Although it is likely that we will just drink and talk, I'm also planning on having a few activities as ice breakers. So, are there any suggestions? I'm planning on bringing Scrabble and Apples to Apples. Plus, if I can get permission from the bar, I'm going to be bringing my green screen and some lighting.

Also, I'm trying to get a head count so I can lay out a good case for opening the extra room for us for free. The Mefi counter was not good at capturing plus ones, so could you comment if you're planning on bringing someone who doesn't have an account of their own?
posted by Alison at 5:44 PM on June 30, 2009

Just a heads-up that Schenley park will be closed off that weekend for the Vintage Grand Prix so don't try to get to Greenfield through the park. We'll probably wander around the car show in the afternoon and then head over to the meetup at 4. We'll be good and hungry and thirsty by then.
posted by octothorpe at 1:08 PM on July 12, 2009

I talked with the owner of Hough's yesterday and we're all set for Saturday! The first pitcher is on me!

Also, there is a 90s party in Lawrenceville starting at 10 pm if we want to continue the festivities.
posted by Alison at 7:02 AM on July 15, 2009

D'oh -- last minute business trip means I gots to cancel. Sadness.
posted by ubermuffin at 1:05 PM on July 15, 2009

The bar isn't big, but I'll be the lady in the yellow shirt and blue skirt. I'll see you all soon!
posted by Alison at 12:12 PM on July 18, 2009

Fun times, all. It was great to meet you all--I hope we do it again soon! Thanks again for Alison for organizing and everyone for being great company. :)
posted by miratime at 7:19 PM on July 18, 2009

Also, aside from octothorpe, Alison, chinston, palliser, and librarianamy...I don't think I caught anyone's usernames--who else was able to make it tonight?
posted by miratime at 7:39 PM on July 18, 2009

What a fun time. We (darthduckie and I) ended up staying for almost six hours. I'll put up the pictures that I took in a little bit.
posted by octothorpe at 8:00 PM on July 18, 2009

Me and dereisbaer were there. Thank you Alison, for putting so much thought into it and making it work so well!
posted by arabelladragon at 8:05 PM on July 18, 2009

Yup, I was also there, and had a wonderful time. Thanks, Alison, for putting together such a great event!
posted by Serf at 8:20 PM on July 18, 2009

Thanks so much, Alison. Great meeting everyone!
posted by chinston at 8:39 PM on July 18, 2009

I just added a link to the pictures that I took on the main Pittsburgh page. I think that I got at least one shot of everyone, except myself of course. I'll try to match user names to the pictures tomorrow, too tired now but I did open up the permissions to all flickr users so if you want to add your name yourself, that would be great.
posted by octothorpe at 8:43 PM on July 18, 2009

Thanks, Alison, for organizing!

As we were all lamenting the construction of the casino on the North Side, I was reminded of Eliot's Daniel Deronda's thoughts on gambling, so I dug them up:

"There is something revolting to me in raking a heap of money together, and chuckling over it, when others are feeling the loss of it....There are enough inevitable turns of fortune which force us to see that our gain is another's loss; that is one of the ugly aspects of life. One would like to reduce it as much as one could, not get amusement out of exaggerating it."

It was great meeting everyone! We should do another. You know, before the 20th anniversary.
posted by palliser at 9:05 PM on July 18, 2009

We too had a lovely time, and really appreciate your organizing Alison. Great venue, good people - you were right though about splitting into two conversations - I only wish I wasn't intimidated enough to have joined the second group for a bit! Yay Pittsburgh!

Can someone tip me off again to the donut place? As we were driving home we were both bemoaning our lack of donuts!
posted by librarianamy at 7:48 AM on July 19, 2009

It was really great to meet everyone! I'm psyched that we had such a good turnout!

Okay, the awesomest donuts in Pittsburgh are from Big Daddy's donuts in Crafton. They are open 24-7, so that shop has a special place in my heart.

The secret bakery with the best cinnamon rolls, the one that is open only on Saturdays, is Food Glorious Food on Bryant Avenue in Highland park. They also sell some wonderful biscuits and quiches. The menu changes every week, so I like to visit when I'm craving something new.
posted by Alison at 10:17 AM on July 19, 2009

I was there, but had to leave early.
Had a wonderful time, and would like to add my thanks to Alison for organizing.
posted by namewithoutwords at 12:34 PM on July 19, 2009

Hi all - I also had a great time - thanks for organizing, Alison! Thanks also for the links to the donut and bakery places - I was going to ask about them if someone else hadn't already :)
posted by sherlockt at 12:44 PM on July 19, 2009

I'm really bummed I couldn't make it.

I'd been excited about this for like a month, and I tried to get there:

A cab from the South Side would have been way too expensive. The bus I thought would get me there from Oakland didn't come, and I tried to walk, but got stuck, because the Vintage Grand Prix was in the way. I was so pissed by the time I got that far, only to be thwarted, that I couldn't even enjoy the race.

Guess I'll have to wait for the 20th Anniversary. :)
posted by Mister Moofoo at 3:01 PM on July 19, 2009