Richmond Planning Thread

May 12, 2009 2:10 AM

RVA MeFites, let's do this. We need to pick a date and time between July 17 and July 19 and a location.

Who's in? By my count, there have been only two or three official Richmond area meetups since I joined back in 2002. Maybe we could steal some of the northern Virginia thunder and convince people who planned to attend the D.C. meetup to head south instead.

As for a location, how about upstairs at Café Gutenberg? Depending on attendance, we could look into reserving the entire upstairs area for ourselves (free wifi, interesting beer and wine selection, fantastic food...)

Other suggestions?

posted by emelenjr to Richmond, VA at 2:10 AM (33 comments total)

Hi emelenjr, I don't have anything to stop me form attending as of today. Thanks for throwing this out there.
posted by rainbaby at 10:26 AM on May 12, 2009

Wish I could be back in VA for this one! Gutenberg would be a great place for a meetup.
posted by secret about box at 12:16 PM on May 12, 2009

Sorry you won't be around, m-s. Rainbaby, glad you're in!

Are users in the vicinity pinged via MeMail when someone posts a meetup suggestion? I don't use the MeMail much, but I'll reach out to some locals if I need to.
posted by emelenjr at 4:01 PM on May 12, 2009

I don't think so, emelenjr, I mean, I wasn't pinged for this, but maybe this isn't an official meetup yet or maybe I'm not configured for that with my memail, and maybe you have to be a contact of the poster, or maybe we just never throw meetups around here!
posted by rainbaby at 8:23 AM on May 13, 2009

I know nothing about everything, but I'd love to meet some Richmond mefi types. Gutenberg is that Veggie place by the Farmer's Market, yes? That seems like a fine location.
posted by Lame_username at 10:24 AM on May 14, 2009

Yup, that's where it is, Lame_username. Not entirely vegetarian, but there's enough on the menu that would satisfy vegetarians, I think.

Other suggestions are welcome.
posted by emelenjr at 3:43 PM on May 14, 2009

I'm in & agree that Gutenberg is a good choice.
posted by john m at 2:51 PM on May 16, 2009

Thanks for organizing this, emelenjr. I'm in!
posted by junkbox at 9:09 PM on May 17, 2009

Ah, we're getting some traction here. Good stuff.
posted by emelenjr at 3:35 PM on May 18, 2009

Assuming I'm in the area (looking probable), I'm in. Would be fun to see you cats again, and I doubt there's enough of a MeFi posse in Williamsburg to make it a thing. No preference on the three dates listed.
posted by Alt F4 at 4:41 PM on May 19, 2009

I wish I were back in Richmond for this one, but I will be participating in Tokyo's get-together. Enjoy yourselves at Cafe Gutenberg! (I hear they remodeled recently...)
posted by armage at 9:43 PM on May 26, 2009

Location seems set. Date and Time?
posted by rainbaby at 10:01 AM on May 28, 2009

Yup.

Café Gutenberg it is. Excellent!

As for the date, would Friday after work be better for anyone, or would Saturday/Sunday work best? It makes no difference to me, although my work hours are likely to prevent me from getting back downtown before 7, I think.

Who has conflicts or preferred hours?
posted by emelenjr at 11:36 PM on May 28, 2009

Proposal: Saturday the 18th, 6 p.m.

Anyone? Is this thing on?
posted by emelenjr at 2:25 AM on June 3, 2009

Works for me.
posted by john m at 3:00 PM on June 3, 2009

Barring "Big Issues I Can't Foresee At The Moment" ... I'm good for July 18th at 6. Rockstar.
posted by Alt F4 at 8:16 PM on June 3, 2009

Perfect.
posted by rainbaby at 6:31 AM on June 4, 2009

OK, then. I'm going to go ahead and set the date and time. Spread the word to any other local MeFites you might talk to, and let's hope this thing gains some traction once the event switches to confirmed status.
posted by emelenjr at 3:34 AM on June 5, 2009

Not changing my status yet, but yep, something came up - I've got somewhere to be at seven!
posted by rainbaby at 6:05 AM on June 15, 2009

There's some good discussion going on in this MetaTalk thread about Matt reimbursing meetup organizers. We have just enough people committed so far so we'll qualify for financial aid hope. I really wasn't counting on picking up everyone's tabs and then getting reimbursed by Matt. What would everyone like to do with the $50 coming my way? Put it toward the total tab? Buy a few appetizers to share?
posted by emelenjr at 8:08 AM on June 26, 2009

I know, I saw that. . .aaand now I have to bag out on the thing. Please everybody go and qualify for the scholarship! I hate to miss it, but it's going to be one of those busy weekends and the spousal just about had a fit when I told him we had to dress up for later event, but rush down to Gutenberg for a half-hour first.
posted by rainbaby at 6:28 AM on June 30, 2009

Aw, man. We'll miss you, rainbaby.
posted by emelenjr at 12:38 PM on June 30, 2009

I'm back to a maybe for me only. Still no ideas about the $50, but I will definately have cash and settle up before my quick exit if I make it.
posted by rainbaby at 1:23 PM on July 1, 2009

Dammit! I won't be able to make it. :(
posted by john m at 4:48 AM on July 9, 2009

Well that's no good. Sorry to hear that, John.
posted by emelenjr at 9:29 PM on July 9, 2009

I took the liberty of MeMailing everyone within a 30 mile radius, according to what my user page tells me is the number of MeFites living near me. There's actually a decent number of people living in the area, and it would be a shame if only two of us were able to show up.
posted by emelenjr at 12:13 PM on July 10, 2009

Should we try rescheduling, maybe for Sunday, so more people can make it?
posted by junkbox at 9:27 AM on July 11, 2009

I guess I wasn't ever on the official "attending" list, but I still feel bad about this: it turns out I'm going to be in Toronto all weekend, visiting a friend just before he and his wife have their first baby. I'm going to see if I can work something out to go to the TO meetup so I won't miss out on *all* the festivities, but I'm still sorry I'll miss you guys.

I do hope you're able to make it work out, and that you have fun.
posted by Alt F4 at 10:03 AM on July 11, 2009

I'll write the mods and see if they'd be OK with me making another general MetaTalk post alerting poeple to the Richmond meetup and offering to change the date/time. Last time I put a "heads up" post on MetaTalk, the mods killed it because it was still so early in the planning stage.
posted by emelenjr at 11:29 AM on July 11, 2009

oh wow. I guess they said no to a post? I still plan on doing a drive by - six to six-fortyfive-ish.
posted by rainbaby at 9:02 AM on July 13, 2009

Wow, I just realized that I never updated my profile location (even though I've been in Richmond for 10 months now).

I'm not that active a poster/commenter -- but would be happy to try to drop by and meet y'all.
posted by QuantumMeruit at 9:58 AM on July 13, 2009

Yeah, no go on the MetaTalk post, says Matt. There was a concern that allowing me to pimp the Richmond meetup on MetaTalk (which I already tried when we were still unconfirmed) woulc open the floodgates to similar posts about meetups in other cities that might need a shot in the arm, attendance-wise.

QuantumMeirut, come on down!

It's probably getting too late to try rescheduling, but if there are any Richmonders out there who would prefer a different date/time, please speak now!
posted by emelenjr at 2:16 PM on July 13, 2009

Look for our table upstairs. I'm going to get there early to scope it out and grab a table for us.

Looking forward to seeing everyone!
posted by emelenjr at 7:57 AM on July 18, 2009