I surprised how large the gathering was compared to even last summer. -- We definitely took over the whole bar!

wish i could have made it. had work that day. oh well...

Ya. It was fun! Would have been much more fun, if we had intros (or the name cards that I saw in the DC meetup pics, I think. Go A N N A! :D )

So, next time, even if no one else does it, I will respond to the " how about some intros" from the Mutineer(s) in attendance!

I'm sorry I missed it; it sounded like an awesome party :(

razib was there?

my first time, and a good time!

It was a very fun evening... :o) I was amazed at the turnout.

Camille, I was looking forward to meeting you.

Anantha, definitely a good time but yes, intros would be more than welcome!

Camille, when did you move from the west coast? Are you in NYC now?

heh... for a diff take on the event, Zen's writeup was an interesting read. Still, it's good to see she had a good time despite the "elitist ABCD types" in the crowd. To each her own, I'm glad she made it, & there's always room for the constructive criticism...

FWIW, we briefly contemplated running across the street and grabbing nametags but figured it would be a tough sell to get folks to wear 'em @ a bar (DC had their meetup @ a desi restaurant where that sort of tribal ID badge is a little easier to get away with). Perhaps we can pull it off in SF....

- SF bow tie dude.

Vinod, I guess you weren't aware of this. :)

Vinod, I guess you weren't aware of this. :)

Isn't that what cost Dinkins the election?

Isn't that what cost Dinkins the election?

Now, now. Don't go spreading around rumors. Do you have an episode reliable source to back up that claim? ;)

Vinod,
Good thing I couldn't make it--if Zen finds your bow-tie "elitist," I can only imagine what she would have made of my ascot!
;-)

# 13 ,# 12

Episode # :71
What do I win ? :-)

Vinod, Good thing I couldn't make it--if Zen finds your bow-tie "elitist," I can only imagine what she would have made of my ascot! ;-)

Actually ascots and even the far more contemporary mankerchiefs can look fetching on the right guy.

And for the record, I didn't refer directly to the bow-tie as elitist :)

And for the record, I didn't refer directly to the bow-tie as elitist :)

I'm confused-- are we talking about the "bow tie" that Vinod is wearing in his SM pic, in the thumbnail we use next to the name of whoever wrote the post? Because if we are, I think that picture was from his sister's wedding, and he was in a tux, because he was a groomsman or something.

I like bow ties. They're charming. I have never seen a mutineer in one. If I'm wrong about the above, I feel cheated! Damn you, 3V, you never wore a bow tie around me!

I'm confused-- are we talking about the "bow tie" that Vinod is wearing in his SM pic

Affirmative.

Funny, another group of people are known for bowties.

Damn you, 3V

vinod's initial are VVV?

Affirmative. ;)

Diehard, (die-slow) reader and supporter. I was pleased to meet bow-tie-man and _the_athiest in person as well as other commenters, readers and people who blog elsewhere. Well done, Vinod. Is the NYC crowd too big for more, uh, intimate, restaurant style meetups? Nametags sound cool too.

Who else is planning on going to the SF meetup? I'm tempted but I'm a little, er, awkward in honest-to-goodness social soirees concerning persons I've silently fawned over online for months. It's like--meeting a ginormous crush and having nuffin to say! (Really, I'm not as creepy as I just made myself sound...)

I feel bad that I was unable to participate-- this sounds totally different from the DC meetups, so it would have been interesting, to say the least. I promise that my ankle is seriously injured and only something like that, which dramatically affects my mobility, would keep me away.

So.

The next time one of you in DC rolls your eyes when I make you do the obligatory/traditional icebreaker (yeah, that word makes me cringe, too, but suck it up, buffy)/introduction at Amma's Vegetarian, I'm going to mutter something under my breath and raise a chappal, all Auntie-ishtyle. Hell, I make people re-introduce themselves, when a new batch of latecomers arrives even though it's mildly annoying to listen to me screech "Everybody, SHUT UP...okay, now starting with Coffeeface a.k.a. Paneer Dosa, go around and state your name and SM handle...AGAIN!" :D

What am I saying, it's majorly annoying to listen to me screech anything. But it gets the job done. I want people to know whom they're meeting and I want them to have a great time. I also go out of my way to speak to each attendee and thank them for lurking, commenting and most of all taking the time to show up when they could be doing a million better things in DC. I am no longer vaguely ashamed of my control-freak proclivities and micro-managing of events; I am also wondering if meetups which attract more than 25-30 people (what we seem to be averaging down here) are a bad idea.

I guess this, more than anything else, proves that the Mutiny is not homogeneous. I do my meetups one way, others obviously have their own methods for madness. Also, DC's readers seem very different from NYC's, especially with regards to expectations and reactions.

After a lifetime of being shut out by desi cliques, I'm disturbed that some of you felt unwelcome or snubbed at Verlaine-- and if any of my DC attendees have experienced similar, I want to know immediately, so I can apologize. To say that an event that I am even tangentially associated with reminds people of Netcrap is more insulting than reminding me that I was once a College Republican. Ouch, that stings, and it also makes me sad.

I imagine there's a higher-than-average minority of non-drinkers like me who read SM but prefer to meet-n-greet (-n-eat!) in more of a restauarant/food trough setting than a bar. I wish Siddartha had more vigorously pursued that Sepia Culinary restauarant meetup series thing he proposed last year. Anyway, glad y'all had a good time Saturday night!

Who else is planning on going to the SF meetup?

I should be there :)

Who else is planning on going to the SF meetup?

I won't be. :( And as depressing as that is, I'm even more forlorn that I won't get to go home, since it's been an entire year since I've gratefully gazed at traffic through Greco's window, slept in my childhood bed, kissed my Godsons, etc. I hate my effing ankle.

I won't be. :( And as depressing as that is, I'm even more forlorn that I won't get to go home, since it's been an entire year since I've gratefully gazed at traffic through Greco's window, slept in my childhood bed, kissed my Godsons, etc. I hate my effing ankle.

Awwww A N N A, we shall gaze at the traffic for you and maybe take some pictures :) Though I must tell you, its been GORGEOUS in SF these past few days.

Instead of nametags, how about names tattoed in Hindi on our forearms, like you-know-who.

Ok, OK, with 60-70 attendees were there any gender revelations , you know comments like - 'from your comments, i assumed you were a guy, maybe a centaur, or summin' :-)

Unwelcome? Snubbed? What the... Who said anything like this other than Zen? Some people write some crowds off based on their own stereotype-alarm-system. People seemed to be having a good time. Zen, if you are above 16 yrs of age, you'd know that there's no avoiding snobs anywhere and that the right thing to do is simply to move on to another group. I can vouch for the fact that I met some pretty down-to-earth people. Why brand the whole crowd or the host?

Kurma, it appears that my lesst than sycophantic post offended you, but if you read comment 8, you'd realize there was no bitterness on my part. As far as I can tell, one of the hosts didn't take offense either. He correctly pointed out it was my wish to present a "different take" on the event and the day there's no room for that here would be the right time to "move on to another group."

Vinod and zen - thanks for your respective writeups. Definitely a slight differentiation in tone/opinion there, but appreciate the varying viewpoints.

yes, what was Razib like? aka the 8 incher ABD Bangladeshi nordiccist.

LA/Socal meetup?

Kurma, it appears that my lesst than sycophantic post offended you,

Zen, I am grateful that you did a write-up of the meetup in New York. As someone who couldn't attend, I obviously wanted to read all about everything. :) It's also fantastic and rare to get a reader's point of view of the festivities, so your post was extra valuable, in that respect.

No one wants you to be dishonest, nor do we hope for anything "sycophantic", but there's a wide space between boot-licking obsequiousness and accusations of fake, elitist, annoying, smarminess etc. Smarmy elitists have feelings, too, and they read your post just like the rest of us did, not that you intended to hurt others by your observations. It is possible to say, "eh, it wasn't all that" neutrally...and when you figure out how to do that, kindly let me know, since I'm getting in trouble for that shit, all the time. ;)

Thanks for recognizing my attempts at "warmth and hospitality", your words were very kind. I don't think I've ever been called a "celebutante" before. :)

Having said that, I am concerned about your, Rani's, Brian's and Jeet's takes on these events, because you are all regulars whose comments make this space as good as it is. I won't lie and say that I wasn't a bit wounded, to read such words from people whom I respect so much; it was like a strike to the solar plexus. We plow every spare moment of our waking hours in to this project and give it all that we can, in the hopes that SM could be the exact OPPOSITE of what you and your commenters discussed. Guess we have a lot of work to do.

No Desh, you may have appreciated this comment which was posted elsewhere:

[deleted]

But I didn't. That's a personal flame, now that it is here. Please don't do that. Leave your appreciation where you saw that vs. transplanting nastiness here.

As for YOU Vivo:

yes, what was Razib like? aka the 8 incher ABD Bangladeshi nordiccist.

If you are the same person I met at a DC meetup, you might find it ironic that I deleted an even nastier comment left about you afterwards, several months ago, before you could see it, for the same reason I'm speaking up angrily now. Not nice.

How about we all stop being assholes? Or I can shut this thread down. Your choice.

anna - feel free to delete/edit my comment.

Affirmative. ;)

despite some bad reviews, i'm disappointed not to have made it. though knowing that ANNA, camille, puli et al. did not either makes me feel a bit better:)

anna - feel free to delete/edit my comment.

Done. Thank you so much for

a) responding so quickly and

b) helping me keep things civil.

I really appreciate it. :)

This thread is like a college ISA flashback. Fishbowl, backbiting, pointless drama. Is everyone here still 14 or what? Let\'s bury this and move on.

How about some constructive feedback about meetups in general, until we hear from other NYC attendees?

Nina raised an interesting point-- is there a preference re: where we hold them? Are restaurants better than bars? I just realized that bars/lounges may be suboptimal because readers may not be drinkers...and shyer types may avoid such venues.

I've said it before, but the reason why I host meetups at Heritage and Amma's in DC and Greco in SF, is because I have relationships with the management of all of the above-- which makes it possible to linger if not take over the entire place, with limited interference and maximum contentment. I'm always nervous about NYC meetups b/c I don't have similar relationships there; space is always an issue, it's cramped, restaurant owners are probably even more obsessed with getting diners in and out, etc. And the alternative, i.e. holding a meetup at someone's home, is difficult, b/c most people live in super cozy spaces. So unless it's a picnic, like last summer, I stress about logistics. Maybe NY meetups should happen in Queens or NJ? ;)

A N N A et al, there is a new Indian (veg + non-veg) restaurant in midtown West/Times Square/Hell's Kitchen that is good but hasn't developed big crowds yet; the management seems nice, I'd gladly ask them if they could accommodate (or would appreciate) a meetup there. It's called SpiceFusion (8th Ave. and 47th/48th); has anyone else tried it? I'd suggest everyone's favorite Saravaanas but it's always packed. The delicious Saravaana Bhavan Dosa Hut has a largeish back room that might accommodate a meetup, they're also fairly friendly and could be asked in advance. I'm happy to do the asking.

It's hard to get a vibe on a group as large as we had--the biggest NYC meetup I've attended. I think a lot of the perceived weirdness would not happen if we just had these things more often. The groups will be smaller, there won't big some big expectation of the Annual New York Meetup, and people will get to know each other continually. It's nice to see people face to face. Let's do more of it.

I'm more likely to show up at a restaurant than a bar as I don't drink. But I doubt if a Boston meetup is in the offing. (hint, hint) :)

I just realized that bars/lounges may be suboptimal because readers may not be drinkers...and shyer types may avoid such venues.

There is also the part about loud music.

My 2 paisas, Restaurants/ coffee places are always much better because you have a longer time to mull over the food, spend lesser money and in most cases, people get to spend an extended amount of time talking. And for people who do not drink coffee, there is always chai :)

kurma & lady were very cool. we met up, shot the shit, and went and had mexican food at a place where we couldn't understand the help ;-) very nice meeting everyone else! i asked several east asian patrons of the wine bar what part of india their families were from. very fun.

i don't go to meet ups often, but the wine bar might have been just a tad upscale in terms of loosening up people that didn't know each other. i talked to some people, but it wasn't as big of an issue for me since i knew v-man and vij-man. but i wonder if the biggest issue was spatial, the wine bar was kind of stretched out, so you could only interact with those in front, or behind, you. and as the more "exotic" blonde indians (i'm assuming kashmiri???) started showing out it got harder to get some brown-time in.

hey anna, did you get my email about coming to D.C. tomorrow???

On the contrary... at restaurants those who don't eat/drink a lot or eat veg(an) often end up paying more than they ate. I know, I know, we're adults, suck it up. But it's easier to handle your own finances at a bar. [And FYI I usually drink a lot ;) and eat meat.]

It's about birthday parties, but still: You Do the Math.

P.S. NYC is NYC, DC is DC, SF is SF. It's ridiculous to think that meet ups in any of the cities would be the same. It's not just about venues or hosts. It's about the people who go to them. Duh.

Tamasha,

On the contrary... at restaurants those who don't eat/drink a lot or eat veg(an) often end up paying more than they ate. I know, I know, we're adults, suck it up.

I would NEVER say that to a mutineer! Not after writing what I linked to next!

It's about birthday parties, but still: You Do the Math.

It's about Vegetarians, but still. ;)

::

FWIW, at DC meetups, everyone pays for whatever they ordered, nothing more. We don't do that "Let's just split it" bullshit. That's why there's always a picture of me smiling, with a pile o' cash I just counted thrice, because aside from one notable, long-ago exception, we have always had enough to cover the bill AND a tip of 20% or more.

On the contrary... at restaurants those who don't eat/drink a lot or eat veg(an) often end up paying more than they ate.

I've gone to plenty of lunch/dinner parties in restaurants with friends, acquaintances and co-workers, and we almost always pay for what we order - unless someone is treating. I would never suck up to subsidizing other people's cold-drinks or high-priced entrées or desserts, nor do I expect others to subsidize what I order. It's only fair. :)

P.S. NYC is NYC, DC is DC, SF is SF. It's ridiculous to think that meet ups in any of the cities would be the same. It's not just about venues or hosts. It's about the people who go to them. Duh.

Achtung- sniveling sentimentality ahead:

Once upon a time, when this website was younger, whether we were meeting in DC, SF or NYC, the people were remarkably similar-- they had this site in common; that's what I can testify to after attending more meetups than almost anyone else in the bunker.

I know, I know...it's different now, we're older, bigger, impersonal, things change...suck it up and shut up, etc.

More than any other mutineer, I've felt that meetups were critical to building this community-- if you have met someone and had tea with them IRL, you were less likely to flame them OR tolerate someone else flaming them. Sometimes, the worst thing about the internet is the anonymity...people aren't accountable for their drive-by shittiness. That's what made us different/better than regular "desi message boards"-- credibility and accountability. I knew things had changed when people stopped linking to email addies via their handle. Oh, vell...

Ummmm--I understand the concerns I've seen on this and other topics about getting screwed over by "splitting the
bill"--but, if that's the "local" norm, why do we have do dis-respect it so--I mean, if I were in China I would
go along with their norms about paying for the bill--I think balking at this "splitting equally" norm may hold us
back here--I certainly go along with it and don't think myself less desi for doing so.

Ummmm--I understand the concerns I've seen on this and other topics about getting screwed over by "splitting the bill"--but, if that's the "local" norm, why do we have do dis-respect it

Is it the local norm? :) And I was specifically referring to meetups, since Tamasha brought up "getting screwed with the bill" as a "con" for the list we're making about whether holding SM events at restaurants is a good idea. It's relevant to mention how this has not been an issue in DC, in this particular discussion.

It's great that you're willing to go along with the "norms". I don't know if you're a vegetarian or a teetotaler, but if you are not, and you are socializing with those who might be one or the other (or both), and you are all at a nice restaurant where "market price" is part of a dish's description and the drinks average $14 a piece, if someone neither eats exorbitantly-priced seafood nor drinks cocktails, you might agree that it is a bit unfair for them to be expected to subsidize such choices.

I saw this addressed in one of the "younger" advice columns recently (Ask Amy?) and she didn't seem so appalled at the idea of dividing the check in a more just manner. I think it's just the courteous thing to do.

Anna,

Fair points--I guess I just wanted to suggest that there's a cost to raising this issue in some circles--
it goes against the grain badly--I guess I'm in favor of fighting where we can win--and--we've won some--so--
no fundamental disagreement--perhaps just a different emphasis on where pressure is best applied....

P.S. NYC is NYC, DC is DC, SF is SF. It's ridiculous to think that meet ups in any of the cities would be the same. It's not just about venues or hosts. It's about the people who go to them. Duh.

If there is ever a proper Philly meetup it will be in the dead of winter, preferably on a snowy day, and the venue will be an unfashionable diner under a highway overpass. Also, I will be assigning homework.

I anticipate this will be the biggest meetup ever! ;-)

And if they shaft you over that badly on the bill--are they your friends...

#35 oops sorry for the comment. didn't realize a comment was made about me but whatever. didn't mean for the comment to come out mean. more of a joking tone.

rob, I understand that we all make some compromises when being social, and it's no big deal if it is a couple of dollars. But, this is one issue I feel strongly about, and I think people can (and should) speak up (if they want to, that is) without being militant about it. Also not everyone may be making the same amount of money. Keeping quiet and then grumbling about it to others is not healthy, IMO. If you are a vegetarian and a teetotaler, and happily pay more than your share (i.e. split the bill equally among all), then more power to you. :)

An idea - you could live telecast (Pocketcast) the meetups for those who cant make it.
www.comvu.com - (need a phone with camera and internet connection as your broadcast station, and a free account on ComVu).

I'm a big fan of the nametag idea, because I'm a bit shy. Some name games to go along would be equally fun...
I think bars are nice because people have the freedom to come and go as they please, and eating at tables isn't super conducive to conversation, especially if they are long and rectangular tables. However a spacious bar that served food... like Botanica (kind of a dump, but a huge back room and you can order good food from the restaurant above it) is always a good time, and chill.

At Houston and LA meetups everyone gets crunk so nametags aren't always necessary. We do play icebreakers that involve your underwear though.

*note to self...wear clean undies that day*

I was at the NY meetup and it was basically my first one--because of that I think it took me a little while to get into the swing of starting up conversations. I think it's a little like the first week of college, when everyone is meeting everyone and you just get used to talking to someone you have never met before--with me almost ten years out of college its not something that comes so naturally anymore. I'm guilty of just sitting in one spot and talking to people that I already knew or friends that came with me. I figure at the next meet-up it will be a little easier.
I personally liked the informal nature of the meet-up, if you were feeling social you could be social and if you weren't, you could just kind of sit-back--there wasn't any pressure to make yourself talk to someone (although I guess maybe some people would argue that's exactly what you need). I didn't think anyone was snobby, just maybe a little awkward and unsure of how to interject oneself into a conversation.
It was nice to meet people.
To everyone I met--hi, and if I didn't get a chance to say bye I apologize--my friends and I left pretty quickly.
Thanks to Vinod and Manish for hosting--I've been curious about going to one and I finally got the opportunity.

Just as a further suggestion--perhaps it would be good to build a meet-up around an event, i.e., a new play, a movie screening, a free concert (I actually think you guys did do that once), or something like that--that way there would be an immediate ice breaker as people shared an experience watching or doing something. I know that it's hard enough with your schedules but that might help with creating a more "social" atmosphere.

Camille, I was looking forward to meeting you. Camille, when did you move from the west coast? Are you in NYC now?

Amit, I moved this past June/July from the Yay to Connecticut for work.

Nina raised an interesting point-- is there a preference re: where we hold them? Are restaurants better than bars? I just realized that bars/lounges may be suboptimal because readers may not be drinkers...and shyer types may avoid such venues.

It's hard to get a vibe on a group as large as we had--the biggest NYC meetup I've attended. I think a lot of the perceived weirdness would not happen if we just had these things more often.

If there is ever a proper Philly meetup it will be in the dead of winter, preferably on a snowy day, and the venue will be an unfashionable diner under a highway overpass. Also, I will be assigning homework.

I anticipate this will be the biggest meetup ever! ;-)

I find the community as a whole to be smarmy and annoying yet I can't look away. So despite warnings from blogger-savant, Mr. Brightside, to avoid any event with "desi-licious" in its invite, I attended the SepiaMutiny NYC meetup at Verlaine yesterday for the sheer curiosity factor.

It's hard to get a vibe on a group as large as we had--the biggest NYC meetup I've attended.

But, many NYC meetups have been quite large. Maybe it was the venue--a dark, semi-trendy LES bar isn't as inviting as a coffee shop or Kati Roll Company? (I don't necessarily agree; I am just theorizing.)

I didn't think anyone was snobby, just maybe a little awkward and unsure of how to interject oneself into a conversation.

I agree.

I had a blast. It was great catching up with folks from the last meet-up & finally meeting the charming Mr.Vij who delights with his stories. I thought Vinod was the ever efficient host, flitting in & out of conversations & brokering connections.

This was my 2nd meet-up in a similar setting and I personally liked the laid back aspect to it. You could be a fly on the wall or a social butterfly & circulate easily.

In a sit down restaurant type setting with so large a cast, one could miss out on amusing stories & anecdotes depending on where you sit and what your neighbours are drinking - just my 2 cents.

Zen, this made me smile. Are we really so bad? :)

To make it painfully obvious, no, of course not! :)

Has any of these meetups led to strangers clicking enough to go home together? Not that it should be the only metric of success.

Try standard icebreaker techniques:

- Have everyone enter a random drawing for a prize... (on the hour?)
- Build up the event... create categories related to best posts, articles, links and award prizes.
- Have a contest at the event (scavenger hunt?)
- Translate a group of words into all xx South Asian languages...
- Give a slide show of people, events and posts on the blogs... winner gets a prize.

Before you flame me for being corny... remember it's hard to host a party when you don't know who is coming or who the guests are (for the most past).

Has any of these meetups led to strangers clicking enough to go home together? Not that it should be the only metric of success.

not sure if the meetups are THAT good....

Has any of these meetups led to strangers clicking enough to go home together? Not that it should be the only metric of success.

going from being a comlete stranger to b*nging over the course of an SM meetup takes a bit of finesse me thinks...

he he. i'm not putting anything past SMers. maybe some have even gone home together without the aid of a large meet-up :) going from being a comlete stranger to b*nging over the course of an SM meetup takes a bit of finesse me thinks...

Zen, =)

but how can you put 50+ desis together without SOME shaadi.com-style dating action? Not possible ;)

good point....

SM meetup horoscope edition

hey baby, whats your gothram?

shaadi.com

" he he. i'm not putting anything past SMers. maybe some have even gone home together without the aid of a large meet-up :) "

That's something! I should spend more time here and work on my Camille crush then.

Has any of these meetups led to strangers clicking enough to go home together? Not that it should be the only metric of success.

On that note, I am having a party at my place in Houston this Friday (I know, I'm shameless). :)
It is NOT an official meet-up because I will not have name-tags but Houston SMers are welcome if they email me since I know that we haven't had a meet-up in months and are overdue.

remember it's hard to host a party when you don't know who is coming or who the guests are (for the most past).

That is true, and thanks for mentioning it.

On that note, I am having a party at my place in Houston this Friday (I know, I'm shameless). :) It is NOT an official meet-up because I will not have name-tags but Houston SMers are welcome if they email me since I know that we haven't had a meet-up in months and are overdue.

party at abhi's! WOO HOO!

On that note, I am having a party at my place in Houston this Friday

Wow, I'm going to be in the Texas this weekend! But I'll be in Dallas for a brown-brown wedding... I would have loved to meet Party Abhi ;-)

Has any of these meetups led to strangers clicking enough to go home together?

Yes. And that's all you're getting out of me. :) Akka observes all, but wisely, does not divulge. ;)

Has any of these meetups led to strangers clicking enough to go home together?

Yes. And that's all you're getting out of me. :) Akka observes all, but wisely, does not divulge. ;)

So mysterious. And are we sure all you do is observe? ;-)

Good to know. I can't wait to come at the next meetup in NYC.

That's something! I should spend more time here and work on my Camille crush then.

ok, puli, let's put in a little practice before you attend the next meetup, awkwardness be damned. this is a hypothetical role playing exercise.

you: hey baby, whats your gothram?
her: i don't have a gothram, a-hole.
you: ______________________________ (fill in the blank)

;)

what was the "detrius level" at the last nyc meetup?

you: hey baby, whats your gothram? her: i don't have a gothram, a-hole. you: ______________________________ (fill in the blank)

that is ok. ve are of berry liberal mindset. no gothram ok. just no Manglik please.

manglik

meh. i don't think i can make the sf meetup now. i'm getting married soon and the onus of bridal preparation is beginning to make itself uncomfortably felt.

hmmm, perhaps we should consider a massive meetup from all corners of the globe? conference style, supplemented by plenty of drinking games, bollywood films, and dosas? just like a virtual version of the blog, sans all the browbeating disguised as intellectual debate! :) it could be a multi-day extravaganza! hellz, i would be there.

Are there any plans for a Toronto meetup?

it could be a multi-day extravaganza! hellz, i would be there.

See, for me, Camille, it's gotta be either complete chaos or nothing at all. The idea of a diminutive soiree in which one is compelled to make nice and (shudder) actually socialize gives me heart palpitations. My occasional bouts of shyness render me quite inarticulate in the presence of strangers, which I think makes people mistakenly consider me little more than a pretty cipher. A vestige of my adolescence that I've yet to cast off, I suppose. :)

Oh yeah, I'm getting married in September, but I'm not having the opulent, 500-person gala that my parents refuse to throw me, anyway. I'm smart like that. :)

evil abhi: come back to LA from Houston. The weather's much better over here and we need meetups! the radio stations r better too

I thought the meet up in general was good -- granted I left around 7:30, but for the most part I met tons of new people and everyone I spoke with was very friendly. I think most people bake in a certain level of awkwardness into their expectations simply because meetups are so infrequent causing most people to look unfamiliar. I would echo previous sentiments that we should have more meet up. If anything, it would take this vibrate online community and create a great real life network--

Abhi:

No Texas meetup in September, please. I am not in Texas all month :-(.

If the public is calling for more meetups, I think it's fair to the bloggers that the public shoulder the organization so that month to month, venue to venue, SM becomes a traveling blob. Might lose a few, might gain a few but the blob shape remains.

I had a blast. I thought it was as good as the one from last year. I think that a SEPIA dinner for the next meetup would be awesome. As to the dating at the meetup, I'll admit I did meet a very nice, intellegient, attractive SM guy last year and we dated for a bit.

yes, what was Razib like? aka the 8 incher ABD Bangladeshi nordiccist.

Going by his pictures from this meeting one would think that he would be an afro-centrist rather than a nordicist:)