This is the most exciting meetup thread ever!
I could make it if 9:30-10PM arrival works for others, hope so. Probably I should exchange contact info (text, skype, or fb I guess) with someone who is going so I can ask "still there?" before getting on metro when I'm free.
The three places I know nearbyish that I like are Zaytinya, Bistro Bis, and Cafe Bohem. I don't know whether hoping for a free table for a few people is realistic at any of them. Cafe Bohem is a ~1km walk up a low-rent but not shooty part of 7th from the convention center. There are 2 places right next to the convention center. I've looked at their windows from the outside, but that's all.
Ill totally come if you make it a little south of DC. Like maybe Fredericksburg.
I once had to wait 20 minutes for a chicken sandwich at the drive thru of a Wendy's in Fredericksburg. Don't go there.
I would like to attend, but am doubtful. I am leaving this job,next week is my last week, so there are lots of transition tasks. Plus regular work.
Bistro Bis a little lavish for a meetup, no? I thought the plan was RFD? That seems like a good choice, hopefully won't be completely packed. There's also A&D just north of the Convention Center on 9th, less bustling neighborhood, that might be an alternative if RFD is too tough on a Friday night? Will try to make it if I manage to get this brief off at a reasonable hour.
I can stay fairly late if we're near the convention center- I have an 8am meeting but I'm going to sleep way better than at home with no kids around.
Maybe my wife and I will come. Not sure.
Zantinya's is nice but we've had a meetup there before. If people like it, go for it, but variety might be nice. Other choices:
* The Passenger, across the street from the Convention center, is kinda divey but the bartenders make good, creative cocktails.
* Not familiar with A&D, but it most be close to Old Dominion, on the same block as the convention center, which I like - a sports bar and sushi bar in the same building.
* I don't know of a place called Café Bohem, but if you meant Bistro Bohem, I'd second that since I've been meaning to try that place out for a while and haven't got around to it.
* Right Proper, a block away from that, which has a nice beer selection and would probably be less crowded;
* Bar Louie, in Gallery Place itself, expensive-and-classy-looking but still definitely bar fare.
If crowding is a concern, frankly, it'll be hard to avoid on a Friday night in those areas, but Bar Louie and Right Proper might be slightly less crowded than the others.
If I were dictating this, I'd say either A&D (so I can try somewhere new) or Old Dominion (variety, decent beer choices, convenient for everyone). But don't put too much weight on my votes, like I said I'm not sure I'll make it.
Also, several mentioned so far here are close enough together that we/you could just bar-hop.
Bistro Bohem Yes, on Florida behind the Howard theater is the place I know.
RFD has a good selection of taps but is IMO noisy at even non-peak times, also huge.
Cyrus and lw have better ideas than I do. I'm happy with anything, really.
Lw, heebie can give you my e-mail. I think we'll easily be there that late.
I would have suggested The Passenger but it closed a couple months ago (temporarily).
Was on travel most of the week, so I'm staying home
I'll try to come! I don't know any of these places, though, so I am useless for decision-making.
Right, would someone make the call on where to go? Sounds like Bistro Bohem is good? Or A&D?
I like Bistro Bohem, works for me if it's convenient for you all (a bit further from the Convention Center than the other options but not far, maybe 15 min walk?). Though be aware it's more restaurant than bar. There's a couple other perfectly serviceable bars within a block or two to fall back on if they can't seat us. I'll probably be on the lateish side (and some chance I'll have to flake out).
A&D looks nice, is closer. Bistro Bohem's back room is indeed more of a resto than a bar, but unless there are people waiting clamoring for a sit-down meal, sitting with drinks there after food should be OK, there are a couple of tall bar-style tables also to maybe accomodate changing group size. Oops, I just looked at hours, they close at 11.
A&D on 9th seems most practical to me, though I know BB is nice and there's food to eat there that would make me happy.
I vote A&D for proximity and later close.
Executive decision! A&D 8pm. That's why they pay me the big bucks.
Excellent, now if we could only get that appended to the front page; alas there is no new comments column so no one knows we're here.
Oh look I have a 10% off coupon with conference badge for some other bars, except they're not valid until tomorrow.
Live airport blogging. If I order a burger that normally has onions with no onions, but I order a side of onion rings, am I being obnoxious?
Um, so it looks like I won't be able to make it tonight after all... I just realized that something on Monday has implications for what I can do on Sunday, which affects what I can do tonight. It's a neat kind of schedule disruption, but I'm sorry for being so flakey. I hope you all have a good time!
Huh, I have access to some fancy lounge at the hotel that has free snacks and (non-alcoholic) drinks that could totally support a meetup, although it says I'm only supposed to bring one guest.
Sunday-Thurs they have alcohol for purchase in the lounge but not tonight. I did get two cans of bud light left in my room as part of my org's welcome package, which makes me think maybe they didn't want me to come. I'll wear my new jacket to the meet up though.
Be there in 25 min or so. Late because I had to hear about hockey rec league referees.
I can definitely talk about that.
Heading over now.
Remember: Knife fighting or live blogging are the only options. Choose wisely.
Really, I come all the way down here and there's still Cisco beer? Not that it's bad.
I'm heading out, be there shortly. Other places nearby if it's too packed.
At first I wondered what institutional food supplier beer would taste like, then I remebered they spell it Sysco.
Since they serve everything in mason-jar like glasses I'm tempted to ask for the lid for my drink.
This is some solid liveblogging, SP. Don't think it isn't appreciated.
So it is pretty darn crowded. Waiting for others to show up and decide if we should try someplace else.
We found a free table in the back covered with half consumed drinks.
The youngs in DC seem much less shy about using their phones in social settings.
much less shy... than the olds? Or than the youngs in Boston?
Vs young in Boston
Now five people, a real meetup. Live blogging may suffer as a result though
Woohoo! Lurker yay! Good liveblogging.
Yeah, didn't make it, sorry. Looks like fun though.
Remember: Knife fighting or live blogging are the only options. Choose wisely.
Have we given up on sodomy so quickly?
Potchkeh can't calculate square root of his age + 12.
I'm still not in the Flickr pool!
And we have lw!
Now I'm doubly sorry I couldn't make it. Scientists for the win.
4 scientists, a programmer, and a lawyer. Unheard of in DC.
Conversation has taken an unfortunate turn to fecal transplants.
I'd like to be able to but it is too far on too many bad roads for me to bike commute. Also I foul up my back when I ride much.
So basically I would hate to do it.
I wonder if there's an urban dictionary entry for that.
"The New Jersey treatment," apparently.
Also weird to me that I've been looking shit up (so to speak) on Urban Dictionary for over a decade.
I don't know whay 69 means but it better not be disparaging the great state of New Jersey.
togolosh has committed to liveblogging his marathon of 8 dates on the next three days. I may have some of these numbers slightly off.
Wait, please let me explain to you what 69 means.
When you take shit from one place (NY) and send it all to another (NJ)?
Or did you have another gloss in mind in 72?
Always thought of it as implying a kind of acrobatic simultaneity. Strictly speaking.
+ lurker, again.
Same lurker? Someone has the dedication to show up in person multiple times but is reluctant to comment? We don't bite.
Someone should liveblog the outcome of 72.
Same lurker. I have informed him that serial attendance at meetups means he has to start commenting but he doesn't seem to be taking me seriously.
77: I'm still waiting for an explanation. Will liveblog if one is forthcoming.
Shit. It was "genuinely novel." I've been getting it wrong all this time.
Wrapping up- sorry, no one took a picture. Don't you know scientists combust under bright light?
Still waiting for an explanation of the New Jersey treatment.
72 is a joke on the comment numbering, not and seekrit knowledge of NJ nor treatment thereof.
86: Thanks for making that explicit.
I win girliest drink
Well I'm like 3,000 miles away so nobody's there to challenge you.
Does a Vesper count as girly? I don't think so. Anyway, I just had one of those. I also just saw Carmen, which I wouldn't be inclined to do if I didn't have to.
91. Probably the same personality, but translated to a foreign basis.