MetaChat - Mefi's tenth anniversary

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16 January 2009

Mefi's tenth anniversary Whenever there's been mention of MeFi's tenth anniversary meetup it has always seemed that the main North American meetup will be in New Orleans. Assuming that proves to be the case, will any of you go to it? (I'm tentatively planning on it.) Or what will you do for the big 1-0 (as I'm sure there will be lots of meetups going on in different places).

post by: Orange Swan at: 14:27 | 32 comments

I'd like to, but I'm not sure how practical it's going to be. I need to plan travel pretty far in advance or it has little chance of happening.

Still, New Orleans is a great place to visit, and another nice thing is that it's accessible by train.

posted by Miko 16 January | 14:33

I've never been to New Orleans. I would like to go, but ideally... not in July.

posted by Orange Swan 16 January | 14:37

I would really like to go, but I'm not sure if it'll fit into my schedule; the later they end up announcing the plans, the less likely it is that I'll be able to go.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 16 January | 14:38

It's definitely in July? Then, no.

posted by desjardins 16 January | 14:41

not in July.

I've been there in July in August. I won't lie, it's hot and humid like you've never known - but at the same time, it's kind of awesome. It's not the tourist season, so there are no crowds anywhere. Lodging is much cheaper. And you get the real feel of 'the Big Easy' since everything you do becomes necesarily languid and nocturnal. Basically you move slowly all day, retire for a long nap in mid-afternoon, wake up again about 6, shower, have a cocktail, and go out just as the city begins to cool off. It's not bad for a short time.

posted by Miko 16 January | 14:42

It's not bad for a short time.
Now that's a sterling endorsement. I would love to see their tourism board adopt that as an official motto.

posted by Wolfdog 16 January | 14:49

Finances aren't looking good at all right now.

This is not likely to change in the next few months.

So, no. I won't be able to make it.

posted by jason's_planet 16 January | 15:11

Heehee.

Another caveat: I was in my 20s when I was there in high summer. And I was coming off a monthlong tent-camping trip out West. So even just having a bed and a shower made New Orleans seem awesome and put me in the right mood to enjoy it.

Now that I'm in my dotage I care a bit more about physical comfort and might need to take that into account. But still! It's New Orleans! It's amazing! Go!

posted by Miko 16 January | 15:13

I might. In fact this seems like an awesome idea.

posted by hellojed 16 January | 15:43

I hope the meet-up happens during that two-week window in the N'awlins summer when giant fat caterpillars are falling from the trees like writhing green and yellow hailstones and coating the sidewalks with their slick viridescent ichor.

I would love to go to the meet-up and toss these GIANT DISGUSTING BUT TOTALLY HARMLESS BUGS into everyone's hair.

Yes, I am juvenile. Yes, I WAS on significant amounts of LSD the last time this happened to me in N'awlins. No, I will NOT bring any to share, because I haven't seen any acid in years.

Also, the thought of being amidst a bunch of MeFites/MeChazens making the rounds in the Quarter sounds like the best kind of bad fun.

And I like bad fun.

Plus, elizard will be down heah in July and I've more-or-less promised her a trip to the Big Easy, we can take the train (Bar car! Ossem!), we could even travel with BoPo, if he can go, and I can get my neighbor to keep an eye on mom for the weekend.

Everything is fraught with possibility when you've not eaten yet have consumed an entire pot of coffee.

*vibrates at high frequency*

posted by BitterOldPunk 16 January | 15:59

I don't think that happens every summer, BOP, it's like the plague every seven years or so and lasts all summer and they sting and stink.

Although this may be another part of the charm and your trip-dip catepillars are a different fun thing.

Seriously, if anyone can go, go. You wear light clothes and take frequent showers, and frequently it rains on you. It's more than fine. It's effing great.

posted by rainbaby 16 January | 16:17

They sting? I had no idea. I handled a dozen of 'em and never got stung.

It's also nice to know that I hadn't hallucinated the whole thing. It was really, really good acid.

posted by BitterOldPunk 16 January | 16:40

Maybe these things?

posted by rainbaby 16 January | 16:45

I've thought about going, but I have no idea what sort of shape my finances are going to be in by that point in time.

Plus, I think my parents would LOSE THEIR FUCKING MINDS if I told them that I was going to New Orleans, much less to meet random strangers from the internet.

posted by sperose 16 January | 16:57

I absolutely adore New Orleans and go as often as possible. But July is unbelievably hot and humid. In fact, though I live in florida, I've never experienced that type heat and humidity. If it's especially a bad day, there's nothing to do except stay in your hotel room or find a pub to drink the afternoon away. And nights, while better, are still miserable.

I still go in July, but it's different. If you like heat, great. But if you hate it, you're gonna be miserable. You clothes will be wet 5 minutes after you leave the A/C. Don't get me wrong, that wouldn't stop me from going to New Orleans. Just be prepared.

posted by justgary 16 January | 17:56

much less to meet random strangers from the internet.

Tell them we are so much less interesting than it sounds like we're going to be.

there's nothing to do except stay in your hotel room or find a pub to drink the afternoon away.

You say it like it's a bad thing.

posted by Miko 16 January | 18:08

This July 14? NoLa? ColdChef is nearby in all his awesomeness, and the NoLa MeChaItes seem pretty groovy. July could be pretty miserable, but that's what beer and cool, cool jazz are for. I might have to start planning for this.

posted by theora55 16 January | 18:09

If you like heat, great. But if you hate it, you're gonna be miserable. You clothes will be wet 5 minutes after you leave the A/C.

Oh God, that sounds absolutely horrible. I hate heat.

posted by Orange Swan 16 January | 19:50

I just got laid off, so no.

posted by heeeraldo 16 January | 20:25

I'm going. I grew up in Charleston. There is nothing New Orleans can show me in the heat/humidity/cockroach arena that I haven't long since become blase about. Anyway, I've never been and I'm going. Driving, probably. Email me if you'd like to share a hotel room.

posted by mygothlaundry 16 January | 23:18

Hm, the US Metafilter10 meetup is going to be humid and sweaty and awful. The EU Metafilter10 meetup on the other hand will have us in Amsterdam enjoying the long enjoyable summer evenings we have (sunset at 10 pm). It will be awesome.

posted by jouke 17 January | 01:08

Maaaaaaaybe. I don't know what my schedule will be like for summer yet.

posted by casarkos 17 January | 01:27

1. There absolutely, positively will be at 10th Anniversary Party in New Orleans this July. Even if it's just me, some homemade cherry bounce and a bag of Zapp's....it will happen.

2. To all the wilting flowers out there who are afraid of a little heat: Relax, a nice hurricane will cool you off (the disaster OR the cocktail (which some people also consider a disaster))

3. Seriously, it's hot, but not unbearably so. You will sweat. You will not stroke out with your tongue swollen in your mouth. And booze goes a long way to cool you off.

4. If you cannot stand heat no matter what: well, no. This isn't the town for you. But, seriously.

5. If some of you bastards don't drive/fly/bike/train/walk/crawl down, you're all getting voodoo curses--ya herd me?

posted by ColdChef 17 January | 15:44

Amsterdam. Come to Amsterdam, I will smoke a doobie with you.

posted by Meatbomb 17 January | 15:47

(mushroom trip facilitation also available by special request)

posted by Meatbomb 17 January | 15:48

Maaaaaybe.... It is my birthday. Some sweaty pub crawlin' with some bunnies sounds like a good birthday to me. And Jon's never been to New Orleans.

posted by Pips 17 January | 16:11

Jon's never been to New Orleans?!?!?!!!?!

This must swiftly be corrected!

posted by Miko 17 January | 20:44

I've been to New Orleans in August... it's survivable.

If non-members of Metafilter can attend this bash, I'm totally riding the Love Train to New Orleans with elizard and BitterOldPunk.

posted by BoringPostcards 17 January | 20:52

Maybe

posted by brujita 17 January | 21:19

BoPo, you've seen Easy Rider, right? Anyone can go to New Orleans. Just don't trip there, as the movie indcates. It seriously must be one of the the worst places for hallucinogens anywhere. (Said as a never tripper, but I've seen experienced ones loose their shit.) ((Maybe because your buddies chuck bugs at you, plus the heat and rain and plus yawning graves and whatnot, and by whatnot, I mean seriously strange whatnot.)) Booze and pot and excellent food seem to do nicely, though.

posted by rainbaby 17 January | 21:49

I've actually had some really fun trip experiences in N.O. (a long time ago), and one of them was even in a graveyard. So I think the danger is exaggerated. ;)