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Sorry mutineers. Not enough RSVPs for me to justify driving 250 miles in inclement weather. Lesson for next time? PLEASE RSVP. To the four of you who did, my sincerest thanks and appreciation. I have emailed each of you.
The bad news is, the meetup is cancelled. The good news is, you can always bug Uncle Vinod to host another one…he still lives on this coast. 馃槈
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UPDATE, FEBRUARY 5, 2009:
I’m bumping this post back up to the top because I need to confirm who is coming/to where/at what time. Doing this is easier than writing a new post…and THEN a reminder post, tomorrow.
There’s a lot of info in the comments below, and I don’t have the time, will, or reliable wifi to paste it all in a new post. Just scroll towards the bottom, where I’ve (hopefully) answered everyone’s questions.
Once you’ve read all that, if you could leave a comment (or send an email*) to indicate whether or not you are coming, that would be super helpful. One Three of you just emailed me for details about tomorrow, so I know he’s they’re in– that makes two four of us, who have RSVP’d. 馃檪
If you can make it to Udipi in the Mission at 6:30, let us know! Since our group is smaller this time, I’m excited about actually being able to hear some of you…now who’s in?
*my name at this website dotty com.
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I have three hours until I need to take a cab to a train, to a shuttle to a plane, so what better time to put up a meetup post? Assuming I don’t get detained by TSA on my way, I’ll be in gorgeous, crunchy Northern California in time to light Shabbat candles. Wheee!
Last time I was home, twenty-one of us experienced a delightful, not-at-all-stressful meetup at Udipi Palace in the Mission, where we took over the entire right side of the restaurant and nommed vegetarian food. Well, all of you enjoyed it– I was too busy making sure everyone was eating, getting seated, not selling hard drugs, etc. I think I had a samosa. Or a vada. Not sure. I will give a “lurking” ASATA activist and original reader LS much credit for fruitlessly attempting to get me to sit down and finally eat something– this baroo (which is similar to the look I gave both of you) is for you.
I just realized that I tend to eat actual entrees at the DC Meetups. Oh, yes! That’s because in DC, my Mom isn’t pointedly waiting for me at home, with dinner languishing on the kitchen table, refusing to go to bed until an empty plate appears in front of me. Never mind that she is fully aware that I am hosting an event which revolves around food; it does not matter. I am expected to eat “real” food when I “finally decide to come home after fooling around all over California”. If my kundi isn’t in that seat, ready to chow down on thoran, theeyal, chor, mor and smuggled-from-Ernakulam-irumban puli pickle…well gosh, I don’t know. I haven’t had the testicular fortitude to even try and get out of a Mom-cooked meal. Luckily for me, they’re superb. But back to you.
We can do Udipi again, especially if they weren’t lying about revoking their asinine “No Reservations” policy. That isht only works if you’re Anthony Bourdain, son. Last time, I fretted over stragglers and those who are allergic to RSVPing, as I worried that we wouldn’t get everyone seated. I finally went in, put us down for 16 (thinking some of those who DID say they were in would flake) and then hoped for the best. I wanted to throttle one of the employees when he later said,
“Madam, please to make reservation next time! Then no worry!”
“Uh…I thought you didn’t take reservations?”
“Oho! True. We did not. Now we do.”
At which point, I smacked my head and mangled my long bangs. So yeah, Udipi is an option (though it means no photographic evidence of us meeting, since the lighting in there is impossible). Wait, that might make some of you more inclined to choose it. 馃檪 Do you know how often I get emailed later with a, “Please don’t put any pictures with me in them up on SM”? Let’s just say one meetup’s album will remain for my eyes only, since every other attendee was either a spy, ashamed of being seen with us, or both. 馃槈
IF one of you has a better suggestion for a large group, feel free to leave it in the comments. It must, however, meet a few key requirements:
- Veg-friendly
- IN San Francisco. Not Sunnyvale. Not Fremont. Not wherever.
- good for groups (duh)
- public transit-accessible
- IN SF. I mean it.
If we can linger over our food the way we do here, all the better. If there’s somewhere nearby where we can hear each other AND linger over chai, kappi or more interesting beverages, that works, too. Last time, our Vinod and Ultrabrown’s Manish played Pied Piper and we ended up at Bollyhood Cafe. There’s a party there on February 6, so that may not be the best idea, this time. Oh hell with it, I’ll just admit that by 10pm or so, I have to leave, because I have quite a drive to get back to reheated Malayalee food (that’s why we can’t meet in the South Bay).
At the December meetup, things went a bit too late and I spent over two hours trying not to nod off on 80 while negotiating the worst fog I’ve ever moved a car through at 20 mph. That was dangerous and miserable. Besides, people! I’m on EST. Have pity on your hostess with the mostest mascara.
Please play nicely in the comments section below; I know Southwest has WiFi, but just in case I can’t get on the interweb, I don’t want to leave a mess for the interns. Hope to see some of you soon!
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p>Yes, yes D.C…you who now dwell near and work for Obama will get a meetup soon. Late Feb maybe? 馃檪
mmmmm.. i just drooled all over my keyboard!
Someone beat me to the drool! 馃檪 Theeyal and mor is the best combo ever.
Ernakulam, huh? No wonder you say “Anchi”! 馃槈
Twenty-one folks at the SF meetup??? Fer reals? Eep–was conversation-having okay? I tend to be super shy in large-ish groups so I fear that if I were to come, I’d be sitting in a corner nibbling meekly at my vada or dosa. 馃檪
What is the policy on lurkers? A) Invited and welcome at the meetup. B) Technically invited, but we’d rather meet with people we know a bit about. C) If you haven’t posted 43 comments in the last month, you will be crashing. D) This meetup really is for the regulars to get to know the lurkers. And of course hazing is the best way to know someone. E) The regulars will actually be emailed with the real venue. The lurkers can have their own meeting at the advertised one.
Mutineers,
I have a perfect spot for you. Dosa. Authentic sambhar, chutney, all you can have tasty Dosa…yum! I loved the food.
Idli+sambhar, pani puri, bhel, samosas,egg poriyal, kerala Fish Moilee (Anna, this is for you), dosa, uttappam,chai, Bru kaappeeetc. I’m not sure if they sell any Wills Premium (single) to finish the day 馃榾 enjoy pannungo!
Dosa has great food, but the largest table is six, and its always very crowded. Not sure if they will be willing to accomodate a large group (they take reservations for groups bigger than 4… not sure how much bigger).
I’m a fan of Dosa myself, shamefacedly so, but I think it was already decided in the last discussion that it’s been ruled out for issues of (in)authenticity. Plus, it’s kinda pricey, so for those of us who’ve taken to wearing economic hair shirts, probably not the best bet.
Fillmore location can accommodate large groups. From website: “The room accommodates groups of up to 50 for seated dining and up to 85 guests for standing receptions”.
Pricey? Yes. (in)authenticity? No way!!! I had uttappam, idli+sambhar, rava roast and Madras coffee (yes, all in one sitting). The taste is as authentic as it can get…IMHO 馃檪
I have to ask, why can’t the meet-up be at your mom’s house?
I’d shell out $4 cash money for the toll. And if need be, bring enough banana leaves for everyone from lush – practically tropical – South Bay.
I suggest Kennedy’s Irish Pub and Curry House in North Beach. Beer on tap and N and S Indian food. That’s right, dosa, uttapam, vadai. There’s a small parking lot in back, it is also on several bus lines. They have a large seating area for food that is rarely full– lots of room most nights. http://www.kennedyscurry.com/menu.php
I’m up for meeting up whenever you guys decide. I live by Dosa on Valencia and it doesn’t seem like it’ll be good for large groups.
Oh Satya, you can sit next to me cuz I’m not great in large groups either 馃檪
12 脗路 brwnpunk said
oh c’mon, we know you just have a thing for hair shirts. have fun!
How about a group snowboarding meetup?
Dammit. Parents in town that weekend. And something tells me they’d rather see their new grandson than attend an SM meetup (I can already see Dad’s concerned expression: “a what meetup?!?”
sigh… maybe next time.
I am down. Udupi worked out quite well last time and I have a feeling fewer people will show up this time.
How has Dosa become a realistic possibility? 馃槈
Two meetups in 3 months? Super exciting. I’m not sure if I can make it this time around, but would love to hear where folks end up. Thanks, as always, for coordinating, ANNA!
Wait, I just realized — is Cafe Greco totally out of the picture, now?
Satya, I’m shy too. We can nibble together.
19 脗路 KukEE said
i’m beginning to think that satya has better pick-up skillz than shawn valentino. or wait: might he be the artist formerly known as shawn valentino?
1 脗路 non-sequitur said
Glad to be of service. 馃槈 My mom’s cooking is indeed drool-worthy.
2 脗路 Mmmm said
It might be my favorite combination of textures and flavors, too. Though there is this one curry my mom makes when we have chapathi…
My parents aren’t from there. Just my favorite Aunt currently lives there. What is “anchi”? Five?
9 脗路 Macaca #2 said
Because this website isn’t her problem and she doesn’t deserve the hassle of throwing a dinner party; not when she’s rather shy to begin with. I know, you were probably kidding, but I won’t lie, I was a teensy-weensy bit annoyed. Not your fault. It’s just the general sense of entitlement which is often displayed in connection with this site, via comment and email, from people whom I’d hope would know better. Not that you came off that way at all, but it tripped a wire. Sorry.
The banana leaves sounded dank, though.
3 脗路 Satya said
No meek nibbling, I assure you. A lot of introverts show up, believe it or not. In fact, sometimes I’m the ONLY extrovert, but that’s usually more than enough. 馃槈 Last time, there was plenty of conversating at every segment of the loooooong table.
Besides, as someone else pointed out, this one won’t be anywhere near as big, so no worries.
4 脗路 lurker said
Lurkers have always been welcome. Why wouldn’t they be? We love all of our readers, except for the assholes. Seriously though–the vast majority of our meetup attendees are lurkers; the number of commenters who show is actually not that high. I hope you come. Anyone who can compose a list of options like the one you did is sure to be fun. 馃檪
12 脗路 brwnpunk said
Dear, shy, little mutineers, should you choose to grace us with your presence, you will do just fine. I come from shy stock, myself (see: previous comment). Do come.
19 脗路 KukEE said
See: previous responses. 馃檪
5 脗路 Babu said
No. 馃檪
7 脗路 Satya said
Yes and yes. Also, because you answered all that for me, I got to enjoy the first part of my vacation. Thank you! 馃槈
10 脗路 iddlyfan said
I was SO excited for this possibility– since it would be super convenient for me, because I will be IN North Beach, just before the meetup. Then I heard from a friend about the strange hair found in her food. I’m mad squeamish, so now I can’t. I just can’t. Gah.
14 脗路 ROMEO 86 said
How about…no. You have the wrong sister– it’s my sibling who boards. Her living in Alaska for five years certainly sealed the deal on that.
15 脗路 AR said
1) Congratulations!
2) Aww, wish we could’ve seen you. Next time. 馃檪
17 脗路 Camille said
It has not. In part, because of you, and the blistering review you gave them (which I linked in a previous comment with the word “No.” 馃檪 Beyond that, they get mad at you if you dare give them a poor Yelp review. Wtf?
I like to host one whenever I’m in town because SF gets way less meetups than DC; I don’t know when I’ll be back in CA next– most probably it’ll be November, at the earliest. So many of our readers are in the bay area– how could I come home and not see them? 馃檪
And you are most welcome. Your parents raised you right, you know that? Always with the “thank yous” and isht. 馃槈
18 脗路 Camille said
I wish it were not. 馃檨 I’m going to be at Greco before the meetup– and I do miss having our meetups there. Udipi was nice last time, but it was stressful to coordinate, kinda frenzied and I didn’t get to talk to each attendee.
At Greco, meetups were more relaxed and we got to have some amazing conversations (because we could all hear each other). In fact, a few of the early SF meetup attendees are now my close friends. That probably wouldn’t be as possible with Udipi, but people seem loathe to go to North Beach (and I’m sympathetic to transportation issues…I only have a car on this coast)…so that’s that.
14 脗路 ROMEO 86 said
23 脗路 A N N A said
Please? 馃槓
I’m jealous. Paging Abhi: time for a Houston meetup!
oh man, i’m missing this one. but punjabiMC, if you are going to be there, make sure to offend the shit out of amit for me 馃槈
Are you going to be there tomorrow? You said you were in when the post went up, let a mutineer know if you’re still down. 馃檪
Email is linked in my temporary handle .Oh, the things I have to do, to get the attention of commenters whose email address I don’t know… 馃槈
Yes, as said in the Island parts of Ekm. Like in “Irupatthanchi”.
sniff sniff – i have yet to make it to a meetup 馃檨 but i shall be soothing my broken heart at tiffinwallah tomorrow with an aa-nion rava dosa, podi, and some madras coffee.
30 脗路 ak said
Fret not, my pet. I’m thisclose to canceling. It’s not worth a 250 mile round trip if only three people are meeting me– I know, people might show without RSVPing (grrrr), but that’s not enough of a reason to ditch family dinner…
thanks, ANNA. and they don’t know how good they have it – i say, take your thoran theeyal chor mor over your dosa sambar chutney 馃槈
32 脗路 ak said
Thank you, ak, for your support (seriously).
I will be having theeyal and mor tomorrow night. Meetup canceled. (In the background, my mother grumbles, “Why someone unemployed was going to spend $50 she doesn’t have on gas and toll for some silly vebsite, I dunno…”)