Wikipedia talk:Meetup/NYC/April 2011

Meetup is Saturday (tomorrow)!
See you tomorrow in Koreatown, NYC's most imaginary neighborhood :)--Pharos (talk) 20:48, 22 April 2011 (UTC)

Follow-up Thoughts
While I appreciate the thought put into the various different locations for Meetups, in order to accommodate as many attendees as possible, I would propose that for future eating-and-schmoozing-only meetups, we select or reserve places that allow us more privacy and/or with less noise. Food Gallery 32 was too noisy, as it was impossible, for example to hear the rundown of each Wikipedian introducing themselves. It's not easy to schmooze when you're restricted to talking only with the person you're sitting or standing next to, and the tight seating arrangement makes walking around to talk to others a bit more difficult. I think holding meetups, even eating-and-schmoozing-only ones, would be easier if we continued to have them at places like Open Space or the Tisch School, and simply ordered in food or some other type of catered or mass-ordered food, like Chinese, cold cuts, or whatever. It's a more relaxed atmosphere for meeting new people and discussing ideas. Thoughts? Nightscream (talk) 03:44, 24 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Honestly I thought it was a move in the right direction, though I'd say let's not hold the next event there. The problem is finding a space that can accommodate a group as large as us, but that can also scale accordingly. The general meetings tend to be particularly formal, and I kinda liked how this was more casual. Other meetups have meetings at bars and places like Cosi, so today was pretty par for the course in comparison. Also consider that this event was fairly rushed, so with more time perhaps we could find a place that's relatively easy to get to, can handle a group of 15+, and is a little quieter. —  Hello Annyong  (say whaaat?!) 04:30, 24 April 2011 (UTC)

I agree. Although as people started to leave, it became easier to engage in small 3-4-5 person discussions. It was worth the visit for the food and meeting new people, however, and I'm glad we did it. Something different, just overly noisy. Thanks Fluffy. — Becksguy (talk) 13:49, 24 April 2011 (UTC)

Yeah, guys, I apologize for the noise factor. I had asked friends to recommend a place that could accommodate our group and was likely to let us hear ourselves talk and Food Gallery 32 was what they said, so I just assumed it met both requirements. I agree that 32 isn't a good place to have another meetup. I'm sure there's some restaurant, somewhere, that's both quiet and large, but I'm going to suggest we get someone other than me to find it, because my locating-places-in-the-City skills are...lacking. In the meantime, we could always fall back on Symposium's back room for both business and schmoozing meetups. A fluffernutter is a sandwich! (talk) 12:15, 26 April 2011 (UTC)
 * But your organizing skills, and interesting food finding skills, aren't lacking. I think you did a good job there. — Becksguy (talk) 13:37, 26 April 2011 (UTC)
 * While we're offering up opinions, my ideal meetup would pretty much begin with Nightscream's description, relatively quiet and private, where we could discuss or BS and simply be able to hear eachother with ease, and then end along HelloAnnyong's preference for meetups. SO, basically talk and eat, and then all go out on the town. Either way, thank you for putting this together. - Theornamentalist (talk) 14:23, 26 April 2011 (UTC)
 * Yeah, no worries, Fluffy. Your efforts are appreciated. :-) Nightscream (talk) 00:01, 27 April 2011 (UTC)

Regrets
I'm sorry I turned out to be out-of-town this weekend. See everyone next time! Regards, Newyorkbrad (talk) 22:22, 24 April 2011 (UTC)

The Great Wikinic 2011: Van Cortlandt Park over Central Park
As I brought up earlier this year, I'd love to have the picnic this year (in conjunction with the Great Wikinic) on June 25, 2011 at Van Cortlandt Park over Central Park. For one, we have already had a picnic in Manhattan's biggest park, we've had one in Brooklyn's biggest park, I would love to have it in the Bronx's second biggest park, Van Cortlandt. It is totally accessible by the subway (the 1 at 242nd Street & 238th Street, the 2 at Gun Hill Road, and the 4 at Woodlawn.) and by Metro North via the Williams Bridge station. The park has great facilities for use, including an entire barbecuing area near the pool. Part of the Wikinic I want to fire up a grill and cook all you guys burgers, hot dogs, bratwurst and whatever else as my treat. (I am a very experienced grill man, been doing this for over 10 years.) Central Park doesn't have grills at all, which is a disadvantage to my thoughts. Also, it is a different place, there is stuff to photograph, more than enough room to hang out (its the 4th largest park in NYC after all), places to walk around if you want to chat privately. I think for a change of pace, it would be nice to have our next Wikinic in the Bronx at one of the best parks of all. Thoughts? Mitch 32(Can someone turn on the damn air conditioning?) 16:43, 6 May 2011 (UTC)
 * I like it even though it's an hour subway ride instead of a ten minute walk. Jim.henderson (talk) 12:13, 9 May 2011 (UTC)


 * I like it as well. The Park Dept requires a permit for gatherings of 20 or more people, even at a picnic. 30 day lead time required (and a $25 fee), but it can be done online. So we would have to apply by May 25th (and probably earlier if there is competition for spaces). I'll check today with my brother who lives near there. — Becksguy (talk) 12:34, 9 May 2011 (UTC)
 * While I agree a place like Van Cortlandt Park would be awesome for the regular group to hang out at, I think what we were hoping to do with this is reach out to a broader group of the general public, and for that I think we'd have to go with a well-known central location.--Pharos (talk) 18:49, 9 May 2011 (UTC)