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Minneapolis, MN  —  Organizer: Astro Zombie

Minneapolis Planning Thread
May 5, 2009 1:48 PM   RSS feed for this thread Subscribe

We need to pick a date and time between July 17 and July 19 and a location.
posted by Astro Zombie to Minneapolis, MN at 1:48 PM (63 comments total)

I would either suggest The Black Dog Cafe in St. Paul or the May Day Café in Minneapolis. I cant eat solid foods so if the food is shit in both of these places, by all means change it
posted by wheelieman at 2:18 PM on May 5, 2009


I might be able to attend... I'm 3 hours NW in Fargo, ND. No preference on location.
posted by fake at 2:52 PM on May 5, 2009


I'm a long ways from MPLS, but I've got a few good friends there, and I'd love to attend if I'm able.
posted by box at 3:03 PM on May 5, 2009


Old Country Buffet in Roseville.
posted by Demogorgon at 3:48 PM on May 5, 2009


How about Mancini's in St. Paul? I think we've mostly done Minneapolis is the past.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:31 PM on May 5, 2009


in, rather.
posted by Astro Zombie at 4:39 PM on May 5, 2009


What AZ said
posted by wheelieman at 7:26 PM on May 5, 2009


I hope I get to make it. This would be my first meetup! I'm 3 1/2 hrs away, but get to the Cities about once a month. I don't know enough about the local cuisine and nightlife to suggest a place, so I'll trust everyone else's suggestions.
posted by bristolcat at 7:26 PM on May 5, 2009


Mancini's? Hmmm, I'll have to check but I don't think I have a coupon for there.
posted by Demogorgon at 8:03 PM on May 5, 2009


I may be able to make it down from Duluth, I'll be coming out of the BWCA earlier that week, so may have to reassess if I'm truly banged up, which with the trip planned is a possibility. I I had any say in it I'd admit a preference for Sat the 18th mid afternoon, and someplace that at least offers the possibility of outside sitting/activities. (potluck somewhere?)
posted by edgeways at 9:25 PM on May 5, 2009


I can't do the 17th, but could likely make 18th or 19th. St. Paul would be cool with me as I think it's superior.
posted by kingbenny at 6:47 AM on May 6, 2009


I live in Mankato and could probably do one of the above. Anyone have a couch to lend by any chance?
posted by jmd82 at 7:16 AM on May 6, 2009


I'm 50-50 to be out of town that weekend, but if I'm in town I'll be there with bells on and Mancini's is one of my favorite places so hells yeah.
posted by COBRA! at 7:18 AM on May 6, 2009


Speaking as a vegetarian who has never been to Mancini's before, their website is useless without a beer menu. Hope me?
posted by clavicle at 8:52 AM on May 6, 2009


I'm a vegetarian, too, but the char house and the bar are separate entities. Or sort of, anyway. Don't remember what the beer menu's like (I know they have Newcastle and Summit), but it's really more of a mixed-drinks kind of place.
posted by COBRA! at 9:00 AM on May 6, 2009


Also a vegetarian; there are no food options at Mancinis, which is a steak house. I go there for the magnificent cocktail lounge. But if people also want supper, perhaps we should pick someplace else.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:23 AM on May 6, 2009


I third Mancini's -- lots of space, great cocktails. Maybe we could do a supper option earlier in the evening, and move the party portion to Mancini's?
posted by Zosia Blue at 11:07 AM on May 6, 2009


Cool. I'm game for dinner but not married to it, I just looked at Mancini's website and assumed it was all one thing and people'd be having steak with their booze.
posted by clavicle at 12:04 PM on May 6, 2009


Well, let's get a sense of who wants supper. If people are hungry, we'll pick two sites. If people just want to get their drink on, we'll go with Mancinins and Mancinis alone. Me -- I could just drink.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:05 PM on May 6, 2009


Meet-ups that involve dinner tend not to go as well as a drinks-only affair, in my experience, so that's my preference. I'm flexible, though. I'll always eat.
posted by Zosia Blue at 12:56 PM on May 6, 2009


I think Moscow on the Hill in St Paul would be a fabulous spot for a meetup. I do not get Mancini's popularity at all.
posted by norm at 9:37 PM on May 6, 2009


If you guys were really serious about calling it the Twin Cities event, you might want to go ahead and get the name changed before too many people get confused. Personally that sounds really cool to me.
posted by StickyCarpet at 7:17 AM on May 7, 2009


Sorry, we can't call it a "Twin Cities" event because it's all wired into the Google and Yahoo Maps APIs, so it has to map to an actual city and point on the map. There's nothing really on the map as "Twin Cities".

Whenever you guys agree on a location, setting the date, time, and location will work no matter what location you choose, so it should all work out in the end.

For other MeFi members coming across the list of host cities, don't all St. Paul residents assume Minneapolis events are near enough by to attend and vice versa?
posted by mathowie at 10:29 AM on May 7, 2009


We all just assume events in Minneapolis and St. Paul are connected in some way. I can spit from here and hit St. Paul, and often do.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:25 AM on May 7, 2009


Back when I lived in St Paul I got offended by the Minneapolis centered discourse. Now that I live in Minneapolis I think it's kind of funny.
posted by norm at 3:56 PM on May 7, 2009


I vote for the 18th. I love Mancini's, but almost anywhere would be cool with me.
posted by louche mustachio at 2:58 AM on May 8, 2009


I vote for somewhere in Minneapolis, since I live there and don't own a car. I've never been to Mancini's, and I'm sure I could bus/bike there with no problem.
posted by antonymous at 7:32 AM on May 8, 2009


perhaps best to pick a date/time then wrangle over location? At least a date will give everyone something to mark on their calendar to plan around.

For me, being out of town, Friday would turn my 'maybe' into a 'likely not', Sunday would be a 'eeeeh I don't know' work tomorrow, so Saturday is my 'most likely to attend'. I can't speak for all out of towners but I suspect many would be in a similar boat.

May I humbly submit Saturday the 18th and call for a vote/debate/whatever?
posted by edgeways at 9:15 AM on May 8, 2009


Saturday is good for me.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:05 AM on May 8, 2009


Saturday (18th) should work for me.
posted by kingbenny at 10:19 AM on May 8, 2009


I can do saturday (or any day this weekend, I believe).
posted by antonymous at 11:27 AM on May 8, 2009


Saturday's good for me too.
posted by nicepersonality at 11:55 AM on May 8, 2009


Saturday is fine.
posted by anderjen at 12:01 PM on May 8, 2009


Saturday the 18th is good for moi, aussi.

Bein' a San Pabloista, I prefer that city as a meeting site. Does anyone like the Happy Gnome on Selby (Cathedral Hill area)? It has a HUGE brew selection, a decent kitchen and pretty good atmo.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:47 PM on May 8, 2009


I do like the Happy Gnome. How busy is it on Saturday nights? I think we want to think about picking a place where we will be able to find room for ourselves and hear each other talk.
posted by Astro Zombie at 5:04 PM on May 9, 2009


Saturday is good for me, have never managed to attend a Mefi Meetup before, so I'm excited. I have wanted to try Moscow on the Hill, but Happy Gnome sounds good. Could we go at a time when we would be able to hear each other?
posted by judybxxx at 9:54 PM on May 9, 2009


Well, let's go ahead and set it for Saturday, unless there are any strenuous objections. Let's continue to discuss where to meet -- I think we want to think about a place where we can get 15 or more people seated comfortably and where it will be relatively quiet.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:54 PM on May 10, 2009


I've only a very cursory knowledge of Twinkie hangouts

Happy Gnome
Moscow on the Hill
Mancini
The Black Dog Cafe
May Day Café

have all been mentioned: If it is a mid-afternoonish meetup we may be able to count on a bit less noise/crowd.

Happy Gnome looks like it has a reservable space, the two cafe' may be too small (can't truly tell from their web presence) Moscow looks cool in general, but also looks like it is primary a supper/meal type place (again strictly from it's web site), and Mancini's web site seems to be kaput right now.

Just looking at whats on the web I'd vote for Gnome, but would like to hear of other options as well.
posted by edgeways at 11:50 AM on May 11, 2009


edgeways is correct that the May Day is too small (alas; it's in my hood). Don't know the others. Reservable space seems good; so does a patio.
posted by clavicle at 7:47 AM on May 12, 2009


Tell me When and where on Saturday,
posted by wheelieman at 8:32 AM on May 12, 2009


Unless my wife is giving birth, I'm in. I'm nervous and excited to meet you all.

The Happy Gnome is in Cathedral Hill and has an upper room that you can reserve. I'm a semi-regular there. In fact, if you look at the 8th picture in the gallery on their web site, I'm the guy in the bright orange shirt, near the back.

They also have a patio, which would be nice to hang out on if the weather is nice. I could look into reserving the private room, if people wanted.
posted by elmer benson at 9:31 AM on May 12, 2009


Gnome's patio is great if we could get there early enough to pull a few tables together. We'd probably want to use that or the upper room, as the inside isn't huge and can get pretty cramped at times.

Moscow on the Hill has a patio, too, but I've only been there in winter so I've never seen it in use.
posted by anderjen at 11:11 AM on May 12, 2009


I'd definitely vote for The Gnome of the places suggested thus far, although I've heard many good things about Moscow on the Hill and haven't been yet.
posted by kingbenny at 12:02 PM on May 12, 2009


Moscow on the Hill is great for vodka; Happy Gnome is great for beer. Both would be perfectly suitable. My vote, as a hard liquor drinker, grandson of Belarusians, and playwright of Ivan the Drunk and His Terrible Tale of Woe, is Moscow of the Hill. Any objections? If not, I'll see about reservations.

What time are people thinking? Mid afternoon? Evening? Early morning? All of the above?
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:14 PM on May 12, 2009


mid afternoon until people leave or pass out.
posted by edgeways at 4:53 PM on May 12, 2009


Oh, and A.Z., I'm totally not trying to step on your toes in the organization dept
posted by edgeways at 4:54 PM on May 12, 2009


The MOTH patio is about perfect I would think (and the Frost's patio, across the street) would be an ideal afterparty spot for the hardcore types. I think late afternoon, say 5 pm, sounds pretty good. It looks like the crowd will be big!
posted by norm at 7:10 PM on May 12, 2009


Oh, and A.Z., I'm totally not trying to step on your toes in the organization dept

"Mid-afternoon until people leave or pass out" is my motto, as some on this site can attest.
posted by Astro Zombie at 9:31 PM on May 12, 2009


so MOTH is it? I'm excited! 5ish?
posted by localhuman at 10:26 PM on May 12, 2009


Heck, "Mid-afternoon until people leave or pass out" is my middle name!

N. Midafternoonuntilpeopleleaveorpassout Personality.
posted by nicepersonality at 6:00 AM on May 13, 2009


All right. Failing serious objection, I'm gonna set the plans for Saturday, July 18 at Moscow on the Hill, 371 Selby Ave, Saint Paul for, oh, between 4 an 5 pm. When the day approaches, I'll make reservations. I'll leave this post up for a day or so before I set it on the official thing, to make sure there are no strenuous objections, but let's all pencil it in on our calendars. Mine is a Google calendar, so I have to use magic marker, or it won't show up on my screen.
posted by Astro Zombie at 8:05 AM on May 13, 2009


And ... location, date, and time set.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:31 AM on May 15, 2009


I love MOTH and hope I can make it.
posted by fake at 6:52 PM on May 16, 2009


MOTH, so were going bug hunting? SWEET!
posted by wheelieman at 5:41 AM on May 21, 2009


Who could have imagined
that they would Freak Out
in Minnesota?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 4:37 PM on July 2, 2009


Reservation made.
posted by Astro Zombie at 11:28 AM on July 7, 2009


Headed out. Reservations are under my name: Max Sparber. See all y'all in half an hour.
posted by Astro Zombie at 1:31 PM on July 18, 2009


Hey I uh just found some pretty interesting footage of us. Dont know how that got in there
posted by wheelieman at 6:46 PM on July 18, 2009


I had a great time at my first meetup. Special thanks are owed to Astro Zombie, for picking a great site, organizing, and being the undisputed Ambassador of the Twin Cities for Metafilterdom, and to wheelieman, who, when the crowd grew enough to necessitate splitting the group into two, kept action going between the tables to keep us all together. Thanks, all.
posted by nanojath at 9:03 PM on July 18, 2009


Eh the other table was more fun IMO, JK guys!
posted by wheelieman at 1:02 PM on July 19, 2009


So where are the photos? I can't make heads nor tails of that flikr tag group, there are like over a thousand uploads in it now...
posted by nanojath at 7:55 PM on July 19, 2009


Sorry I missed it. /sheepish

I'll be sure to make the next 10-year meetup. When do you think that will be?
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:44 PM on July 19, 2009


About 10 years.
posted by graventy at 11:43 AM on July 21, 2009



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