Wikipedia talk:Meetup/NYC/March 2010

March meetup date
Maybe Sunday March 21, or Saturday March 20 would work? Unfortunately, March 7 is the day before Columbia midterms, and March 14 and 28 both are holidays. Also, apparently Pupin Hall is also all booked up for the other Saturdays that month. Thoughts?--Pharos (talk) 21:10, 3 February 2010 (UTC)


 * That would be fine. I am on Spring Break, and Birthday #19 will have just passed :). Mitch 32(We the people in order to form a more perfect union.) 21:42, 3 February 2010 (UTC)
 * Prefer Sunday. Tim Song (talk) 21:52, 3 February 2010 (UTC)
 * OK, I guess Sunday March 21 then.--Pharos (talk) 16:36, 11 February 2010 (UTC)

Different restaurant?
I want to be honest. I was not content with Cafe Nana's food (and or prices) last November. There was just too little food for the high prices that I could be content with. Is there a chance we can either 1) Go back to Symposium or 2) Find another place? Mitch 32(We the people in order to form a more perfect union.) 19:00, 16 February 2010 (UTC)
 * Lots of really good restaurants near Columbia. One of the advantages of Cafe Nana is that it's kosher and so would accommodate the Wikipedians who observe kashrut.  But there are other possibilities.  Here are some of my favorites.  At any of these it's pretty easy to get a good meal for under $10 a person, counting tax and tip.

--AFriedman (talk) 22:47, 16 February 2010 (UTC)
 * Hummus Place (also certified Kosher, and very vegan friendly)
 * Note that this has more than Hummus and is very highly rated in Zagat, though I've never been there. -- Ssilvers (talk) 00:56, 20 February 2010 (UTC)
 * V & T Pizza (a neighborhood classic)
 * Ollie's Noodle Shop (across the street from Columbia, a quite good pan-Asian restaurant with a large vegetarian/vegan-friendly menu)
 * This sounds good to me. And it's close. --RoyGoldsmith (talk) 20:51, 17 February 2010 (UTC)
 * I put my name here :) Mitch 32(We the people in order to form a more perfect union.) 22:35, 18 February 2010 (UTC)


 * It's up to you folks of course, and we can be pretty flexible as long as it's in walking distance.--Pharos (talk) 19:43, 18 February 2010 (UTC)
 * Ollie's is usually pretty crowded and noisy, and it would be extremely difficult to walk in with such a large group and all sit together. Symposium and V&Ts are much more likely to accomodate us and are quiet enough to permit conversation.  Can anyone comment on Hummus Place for a large group?  I agree that Cafe Nana's had a limited selection and rather small portions.  -- Ssilvers (talk) 00:56, 20 February 2010 (UTC)
 * Symposium gave us a heartier chowdown; Nana a better chance at conversation which to my mind is more important. Eating opportunities abound every day but I don't meet this kind of people every month.  Jim.henderson (talk) 20:49, 21 February 2010 (UTC)

Re: the restaurants--I've never been to Symposium so can't comment on it. But V & T's is quite good for conversation and gives you lots of good food for your budget (if you order the legendary and inexpensive Pizza instead of the supposedly mediocre and much more expensive Italian specialties). As for Hummus Place, it's not a large restaurant, but it also doesn't tend to get crowded or noisy. As a venue, it might work if we tried to make a reservation, and I don't know if they accept those. However, you can only order vegetarian dishes from Hummus Place and the menu is not large--aside from big bowls of delicious Hummus and some equally delicious appetizers, there aren't that many choices. In the last Wikipedia meetup we got take-out for dinner and is there any reason for actually going to the restaurant this time? If we do take-out, V&T's pizza + a vegan/Kosher option of Hummus Place's hummus might work. --AFriedman (talk) 22:39, 21 February 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, we've been taking the group walk together to the local restaurant for a while, and I think it works pretty well as a break from the conference-y experience at Pupin. Plus, it makes logistics easier too, because everyone can choose and pay for their own meals at the restaurant.--Pharos (talk) 18:24, 22 February 2010 (UTC)

So, any more opinions on the grub options? Chime in now.--Pharos (talk) 01:48, 1 March 2010 (UTC)

Meetup on Sunday, interested in presenting?
Look forward to seeing you this Sunday, folks. Unfortunately, SciAp had to pull out of his talk last minute, so we have one or two open spots if someone else wants to sign up to present at Meetup/NYC--Pharos (talk) 23:50, 18 March 2010 (UTC)
 * A final reminder, folks. Our meeting is tomorrow afternoon. See you there!--Pharos (talk) 04:39, 21 March 2010 (UTC)

Wiki Tutorial?
Would anyone like to conduct a tutorial for those new to Wikipedia...particularly posting new stories; improving organization of existing stories, etc? Enviromet (talk) 14:49, 19 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Well, we'll certainly be glad to answer your questions, and give you some pointers.--Pharos (talk) 23:31, 19 March 2010 (UTC)

Bad news
Through something of a perfect storm of unfortunate circumstances, the Columbia Astronomy Department no longer wants Wikimedia NYC to meet in its library. This was a decision made by the professors in the department. I'm truly sorry about this.

ScienceApologist (talk) 15:23, 22 March 2010 (UTC)


 * Well, that stinks. :| - I do think its time we find a new place I guess, I mean, Pupin isn't the best at handicap accessiblities either. Mitch 32(We the people in order to form a more perfect union.) 15:36, 22 March 2010 (UTC)
 * May I also ask what their specific reason is? Mitch 32(We the people in order to form a more perfect union.) 15:40, 22 March 2010 (UTC)


 * Unfortunately, the Thursday or Friday before the meeting the roof to Pupin was broken in to. The general consensus was that it was not the Wikimedians who did this, but there were a few who made it on to the roof which is against the policy of the department. After this issue was discussed a few graduate students came forward complaining about the noise and then the chair of the department made the decision that outside groups should not be allowed to use departmental facilities.


 * Columbia Free Culture as a recognized student group is supposed to have access to meeting space. Perhaps you could get them to request rooms?


 * ScienceApologist (talk) 16:15, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

Free Culture is not very active at Columbia, but Columbia Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) is. That's a student club which regularly organizes Computer Science and Information Technology related events, some of which are in conjunction with external organizations. ACM's website is here. In the past, I've publicized the meetup through ACM, and I don't think they have trouble reserving rooms. If we can gear some of our content toward helping students find summer and/or permanent jobs, or teaching undergraduate/graduate level aspects of Computer Science, ACM will tend to be more enthusiastic about us. --AFriedman (talk) 16:39, 22 March 2010 (UTC)
 * Actually, we can offer ACM participation in the Wikimedia NYC internship program if they're interested in that.--Pharos (talk) 17:49, 22 March 2010 (UTC)

I think the ACM would be interested, and so would the CS (Computer science) department. If you wrote up the info in a mailing, I could try and get it sent out. --AFriedman (talk) 04:25, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

May meetup
The May meetup date is likely going to be Sunday, May 23 at The Open Planning Project (of WP:Wikipedia Takes Manhattan fame) in Lower Manhattan. Unfortunately we're probably not going to be as flexible this time in terms of shifting around dates, because it has taken awhile to be sure of the new location itself.--Pharos (talk) 00:04, 3 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Drat; I'm supposed to be in Elizabeth, NJ that day. We'll see.  Jim.henderson (talk) 15:41, 4 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Actually, it turned out to be Saturday May 22: Meetup/NYC.--Pharos (talk) 21:45, 10 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Doesn't really affect me I guess, but why the change to Saturday? Was there a discussion somewhere else? thx,  Enigma <sup style="color:#FFA500;">msg  23:19, 20 May 2010 (UTC)
 * Because it turns out that OpenPlans is closed on Sundays, which I only found out last-minute.--Pharos (talk) 23:21, 20 May 2010 (UTC)

What about me?
Didn't I attend the meetup and even joined you for dinner? Tinlinkin (talk) 06:18, 1 June 2010 (UTC)
 * You joined us at the recent Meetup/NYC/May 2010. Were you at the previous one, Meetup/NYC/March 2010, too?  If so, sorry the sign-up sheet didn't get around to you, and we'll fill you right in.--Pharos (talk) 20:29, 1 June 2010 (UTC)
 * I feel like a fool. I was looking at the "Past Meetups" section in the top navigation box and clicked the first link. I didn't see the page on top of it, which was the May meetup. The May meetup was my first one and I enjoyed it very much. I look forward to meeting you and the others again in the future. (I have been debating to ask this question, but I'll just go ahead: I wonder if the picture on the top of this page is you and another Wikipedia member. I might be mistaken.) Tinlinkin (talk) 01:51, 3 June 2010 (UTC)
 * Sure, it was great to have you, and I look forward to you joining us again in future. On the other point, no, it's not me in the picture, but I can can see the resemblance; and in fact, I'm presently considering a lawsuit against that guy for cramping my style :)--Pharos (talk) 15:58, 3 June 2010 (UTC)