Proposed: A meetup in Washington D.C. on Friday, September 4th at 6-ish. I propose Friday because one person commented that Saturdays are bad for him/her.
Latest comment: 14 years ago13 comments10 people in discussion
That's just a shade early... if we're going to do a non-Saturday meetup, let's either go later on Friday (7:00 at earliest), or do Sunday. SchuminWeb (Talk) 03:35, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
It needs to be September. Any weekend in September should work for me, but I'm traveling at the end of August and can't do the 22nd. --Aude (talk) 06:46, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
ARRRRRRRGH! (runs around knashing teeth and tearing out hair) I was looking at the wrong month! How about Saturday, September 19th? Let me double-check: Yeah, that's right; September 19th (Saturday). --NBahn (talk) 07:54, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
If the person who said that Saturdays were bad was an Orthodox Jew, Friday nights would be just as bad. Not knowing who it was or the reason Satursays were bad, of course, I'm just guessing. I'm retired, and not Orthodox, so days of the week don't matter a lot to me. -- BRG (talk) 14:44, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I was the miscreant ... what I'm saying is, there are a lot fewer plane flights in general than there were a year ago, and fewest of all on Saturdays, so for instance, from DC to Greensboro NC, the last flight out for me is 4:30pm on Saturdays and 8:00 pm any other day of the week. But it's really not a problem, I don't mind staying over Saturday night if you guys like Saturdays. Any weekend in Sept is good. - Dank (push to talk) 16:59, 4 August 2009 (UTC) except the 26th - Dank (push to talk) 12:35, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Hadn't realized it was Rosh Hashanah until I noticed someone else's posting. So let me also ask for a postponement to the next weekend. -- BRG (talk) 13:21, 12 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
A number of people have written to say that 3 P.M. is too early for their comfort. Please specify 3 P.M. or 5 P.M. -- or both -- for your preference.[2] --NBahn (talk) 22:10, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I can't make it on the 26th; sorry. More importantly, it would be good for someone to post a notice at the user talk pages of those who have indicated a desire to attend, above, to ask them to post here as to whether the 26th would work as an alternative. -- John Broughton(♫♫)17:29, 12 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 14 years ago31 comments8 people in discussion
There's numerous choices.
A) Uno at Union Station B) Teaism C) That mediterranean place off of Dupont Circle we had the 3rd or 4th one? Skewers, something like that? D) Politics and Prose up in Chevy Chase? I think it would be a very interesting idea, and might give us some editing ideas from interesting books. E) Wherever we had the last one F) Other?
Feel free to discuss away below. ⇒SWATJesterSon of the Defender21:25, 9 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I'm amicable to Uno's or Bertucci's (where we had the last meetup). Skewers was too expensive for us because we were locked into their catering menu, and I believe Teaism was examined and rejected for the same reason as Skewers. Not enough flexibility. SchuminWeb (Talk) 04:25, 10 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Uno and Bertucci's are about equivalent to me. Either is acceptable, though I wonder if we can have something other than Italian? (And I like Italian food. But every time?) Skewers was a disaster for the reason SchuminWeb stated -- certainly not there. But I wish someone could come up with another idea. -- BRG (talk) 13:28, 12 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Chinatown is ok, if you can find a big enough place. Most of the restaurants aren't very big, and the exceptions (like Tony Cheng) are expensive. -- BRG (talk) 19:34, 12 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I hate to suggest yet another pizza place, but have had good experiences with Ella's Wood Fired Pizza on 9th St, across the street from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the metro. The place is not huge, but is large enough for us. It has a quiet atmosphere that would be good for us, and is wheelchair accessible. It's a little pricier than Unos, but I think within our price range. I'm open to other suggestions. --Aude (talk) 05:52, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Busboys and Poets on 14th St near the U Street Metro. They have a place on their website where we can inquire about having an event there. Though they have space set aside for groups, I'm not sure how quiet it would be on a Saturday evening.
Nirvana (on K Street, near Farragut West) is an Indian place, good for groups, though I think they have mostly vegetarian options. [1]
Nirvana is good, I think it's vegetarian only, but it doesn't matter since everything is delicious. I know the owner--her daughter went to high school with me (although it's been a while...).—Perceval15:03, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I don't want to go to an all-vegetarian place. While I like Indian vegetarian dishes as sides, my experience is that vegetarian food is not satisfying by itself. I'd have to go eat first before the meeting, and that's not a great option to me. -- BRG (talk) 15:40, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Mandalay (Silver Spring) - okay this is further out from downtown, but close to the metro. It's a good and reasonably priced Burmese place, good for groups and would be quiet.
I called them up again and the guy (naturally, I forgot to get the name -- again) said that because Saturdays are crowded, that they require at least a week's advance notice. So I'm going to be bold. --NBahn (talk) 18:39, 9 September 2009 (UTC)Reply
According to the person that I spoke with on the last occasion that I called, reservations for the private room are required one week in advance. I am going to go down there myself and: (1) Confirm that it's handicapper accessible; and (2) Confirm that no expensive menus are required (I will also get the name of the person that I am speaking with.). I will then PLACE A RESERVATION. Our window for planning is rapidly closing. A final decision ABSOLUTELY MUST be made! --NBahn (talk) 20:34, 18 September 2009 (UTC)Reply
So I did it. I made a reservation with one "Jane" (Although I'd be willing to bet -- at least, anything up to $5 -- that she only uses Jane with the English-speaking customers.) for a private room; I said that there would be ten people coming. Now, regarding Aude's concern about handicapper accessibility; those concerns are justified. It is -- in my opinion, anyway -- a screwball arrangement: FOR STARTERS, it is a private elevator (by which I mean that a key is required in order to open the door); but that is NOT the screwy part. Here is what boggles my mind: Whomever was designing the building clearly MUST have been dropping acid because by my count the usage of at least TWO elevators (yes, that is right; TWO elevators) are required.[3] Therefore, if anyone needs to use the elevators, then s/he needs to contact Burma Restaurant management. Sending me an email directly would also be helpful. --NBahn (talk) 04:23, 19 September 2009 (UTC)Reply
There is another Burmese place (Burma Restaurant) in Chinatown, but I haven't been there. According to the Washington Post restaurant guide, it's not expensive and good for groups and good reviews. [2] --Aude (talk) 06:17, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Now either of those Burmese places sounds interesting. I've probably had Burmese food only once in my life! (There used to be a Burmese place in Wheaton, Md., but shortly after the one time I ate there, they went out of business.) -- Just looked at the reviews on Yelp of Burma in Chinatown, some really hate it, some like it a lot. Strange diversity there. -- BRG (talk) 15:40, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Burma is actually one of my favorite places in Chinatown. The food's delicious, it's well-priced, and it's not something one eats every day. It's a block from the Metro stop by Verizon. I highly recommend it. And if you have questions, you can ask - I've been there five or six times, so I have some experience with the place. :-) One caveat: it's a second-floor walkup, if that would be a problem. --Ser Amantio di NicolaoChe dicono a Signa?Lo dicono a Signa.19:22, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
IfBRG is for it, then I say let's go for it. According to the map, it's only a square block from Gallery Place/China Town, so I shouldn't get lost. --NBahn (talk) 21:30, 15 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I would be happy to try this place, however, it's not accessible for the disabled. So, with this place, we could be excluding people when we want to be open to all who want to come. --Aude (talk) 17:15, 17 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
OK, so we need a backup that's handicapper accessible. --NBahn
I don't want to be negative about this, but don't think a "backup" is acceptable to a disabled person. They would instead choose not to come. I know we have had people with such needs attend our meetups in the past, and must accommodate them whether they RSVP or not. I know we want something besides another pizza place, but Uno's would be fine again or if we want to try Ella's (on 9th St), that's also suitable. I suggest you choose and go ahead put the location on the main DC meetup #8 page. --Aude (talk) 14:24, 21 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
It's really pretty nutty to make the decision depend on whether a place is handicapped-accessible when we don't even know if there's anyone who needs handicap access and wants to come. In other words, if there's a great place that everyone is otherwise willing to agree on, we can't go there just on the off-chance that a handicapped person might decide at the last minute that they'd want to attend the meetup? -- BRG (talk) 19:40, 21 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
(outdent) Per WMF:Non discrimination policy, I think it's not an issue to casually dismiss and call "nutty". We have had disabled people at our meetups in the past and express interest in attending our last meetup, so I think we need to assume they would like to come this time. Also, if we are to become a chapter someday or part of a regional or national chapter, then these are things we must consider or might be legally liable for if we don't adhere to basic policies.
For Burma Restaurant, I would be most comfortable not to rely on the review, but rather have one of us check out the place. I can try to stop by sometime this weekend or on Monday, or if someone else can, then that would be helpful. As a possible alternative, there is Kanlaya Thai restaurant, on the ground level below Burma Restaurant, that might be worth checking out. --Aude (talk) 23:12, 11 September 2009 (UTC)Reply
I would like to confirm: If we go in as a group, we would be able to get the private room that the linked page mentions, and order off the regular menu? I don't want another Skewers situation, where we were catered and ended up with a too-high bill because of it. SchuminWeb (Talk) 06:00, 16 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Uh, folks, we may want to discuss an alternative. I just heard the announcement on their answering machine..... let's just say that the hours seem to be a little weird; will call them back later this a.m. --NBahn (talk) 12:52, 16 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
OK, so I just got off the phone with the manager (forgot to get her name). According to her, dinner is served from 6-10P.M. 7 days a week. Also, dinner costs a few more dollars than lunch does. Finally, she said that groups using their private rooms can use the regular menus. --NBahn (talk) 15:23, 16 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Latest comment: 14 years ago6 comments5 people in discussion
We seem to have settled on September 19th as the meeting date. It would be nice to formalize that decision, with or without a (tentative) decision on the location, and start the project page, so we can announce the date to potential attendees. Perhaps the formalization can be done by the 19th of August, which would give a full month lead time? -- John Broughton(♫♫)20:29, 11 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
thanks for notice. watching page now. Don't know if I'll make it cause might turn it into a 12 step meeting for wiki addicts OR a "how can I make money off this" meeting :-)
Half-joking aside, meeting place wise, assuming it is still doing business, there is a good Chinese restaurant on the hill with a semi private room that holds 24. (And with a speaker one might actually get a dozen) at two big round tables. Good food, reasonable prices, ala carte OK. Young Chow 544-3030 312 Penn Ave SE (3rd St and Penn Ave SE). I haven't been in two years, but assume things are pretty much the same, if someone wants to check it out. About 3 blocks for Capitol south metro. I've been pretty anti-social lately (with all these wiki articles to work on) but maybe i'd show :-) CarolMooreDC (talk) 17:39, 16 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Also, is there a minimum charge for a group? I found this to be an issue with some places. Would we order off of the regular menu, or have a special menu? --Aude (talk) 14:29, 21 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
That's why I'm trying to encourage people to put down what time they favor and what restaurant they want (If I remember to, then I'll call up the Burma Restaurant late this morning myself and find out exactly what their policy is regarding what menus groups can use.). However, since consensus seems to be coalescing around Saturday, September 26 I think that we can wait a few more days. I, myself, was going to wait until Monday before trying to bring the issue to a conclusion. --NBahn (talk) 07:32, 16 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I was surprised we didn't create it already, considering we made the last meetup page before we had a date or a location. Is there a meetup template that can go in? SchuminWeb (Talk) 09:04, 16 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Nbahn boldly created a tentative page with September 26th, so I filled it in with a previous meetup. However, the count is very close - 12/6/5 for the 19th and 13/6/5 for the 26th. Now, I may be a bit biased here, because I can only do the 26th. Still, we needed a page. Stu(aeiou)I'm Researching Wikipedia18:05, 3 September 2009 (UTC)Reply
^The only reason that I did not turn around and cancel the reservation that I had just made was that there seems to be a fair number of people who are allergic to pizza.
Latest comment: 14 years ago1 comment1 person in discussion
The Hirshhorn has a gigantic collection of Thomas Eakins works - probably the second largest in the world. I'm working on List of works by Thomas Eakins, and a huge number of missing and/or low quality pictures in that article are in the Hirshhorn. If someone could go there and photograph them, I'd be very grateful. Raul654 (talk) 17:33, 19 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
== D.C. Meetup, Saturday, September 26th ==
The 8th DC Meetup dinner will be held this Saturday, September 26th, starting at 6 p.m. The event will be at Burma Restaurant (740 6th St, NW near the Gallery Place-Chinatown Metro station). For details or to RSVP if you haven't already, see Wikipedia:Meetup/DC 8. (You have received this announcement because your user page indicates that you live in Maryland, Virginia, or DC.)
Latest comment: 14 years ago2 comments1 person in discussion
Here's Mine: Recruit more baby boomers as they retire to get active; put ads on top of articles recruiting editors from those who just drop by; start a business called "WikiRefs4aBuck.com" ;-); start a page called something like List of Videos about Wikipedia that would include links to educational videos and people could encourage disruptive newbies (like I used to be) to go there and learn something - (hint - this doesn't have any: http://www.youtube.com/wikipedia). It was fun! CarolMooreDC (talk) 01:15, 27 September 2009 (UTC)Reply