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Wikipedia:Meetup/DC 3

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DC Meetup


2007-12-09 17:00 EST


Who should come? You should. Really.
If you are interested in Wikipedia or other Wikimedia projects, regardless of your level of experience or involvement, or if you are otherwise involved with free content you are invited and welcome.

What, Where, When, and How?

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  • What? : DC Wiki(p|m)edian meetup
  • When? : Sunday, December 9. 5 PM — until it ends
  • How? : See the directions.
  • Where? : Skewers.

Where

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Please note that the Washington Redskins are not playing that day. (they play the Chicago Bears on Thursday, December 6th)

Also note, it is in the middle of Chanukah.

Selecting a meetup location
Skewers and Cafe Luna
Skewers and Cafe Luna

Skewers, Dupont Circle
http://www.skewers-cafeluna.com/ - recommended

Sign here:

Matchbox
Matchbox

Matchbox
Chinatown - also recommended; they take reservations for Sundays (but not Saturdays) http://www.matchboxdc.com/

Sign here:

Teaism
Teaism

Teaism, Penn Quarter
Teaism is more casual and informal, but plenty of space and well-suited for meetups. - http://www.teaism.com/ (they do serve beer, sake, wine, and cocktails)

Sign here:

Other suggestions:

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I'm an ageing yuppie who almost never goes into DC. My last venture into DC was for the prior Wikkipedian meeting. I strongly prefer a venue that has ample parking or that is very close to Metro. Our last meeting (at Union station) was very good in this ragard, but I admit that the ambiance was less than optimal. I will attend no matter what the venue is. Please recall that we had more than one atendee from New York at the last meeting. This implies that Metro access is very important, as NY attendees can easily hop onto Metro from Union Station. -Arch dude 02:05, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

If metro-accessibility and parking were not concerns, I'd pick a place in Adams Morgan or Georgetown. :) But, Metro is very convenient for Dupont Circle and Chinatown/Penn Quarter. As for parking, I usually manage to find street parking in both locations on a Sunday, though sometimes have to drive around the block a few times. If that doesn't work, there are plenty of parking garages around. Or, you could park at one of the metro stations, and then come in that way. --Aude (talk) 02:17, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
I agree about the ambience being not so good at the last meeting (though I still enjoyed it!). I feel like a more laid-back bar/restaurant atmosphere might be preferable, but not sure if this sits well with everyone. One place I like a lot are the Ethiopian restaurants around the U St stop (especially Dukem!) The food is a real novel treat for anyone who hasn't had it before too. ǝɹʎℲxoɯ (contrib) 02:56, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Not georgetown, it's not metro accessible. I don't want to have to walk from Foggy bottom. U st sounds good (because I live there), but there is plenty of stuff around there. Ben's Chili Bowl is cheap food, and Sala Thai/U St. Sushi (connected) have plenty of room and are relatively good prices. Cafe Saint Ex has nice laid back ambiance. Mocha Hut I believe has free internet; it's always got people with laptops there. SWATJester Son of the Defender 03:36, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Barring that, I'd suggest Chinatown. Dupont has terrible parking. So does Gallery Place/chinatown, but it has a couple garages, and its much more metro accessible (yellow, green, red, and 2 blocks from the blue and orange). Lots of good restaurants. SWATJester Son of the Defender 03:36, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
U Street parking is just as good as Dupont Circle. Ben's Chili Bowl is yummy, but I think too informal and not ideal for accommodating a large group. I would also advise against Mocha Hut (and free internet)... I think meetups are a time to leave laptops at home, and just come and socialize. Dukem sounds good, and Sala Thai is good. I'm not sure about Cafe Saint Ex, how it would be for accommodating our group. --Aude (talk) 04:18, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
As for Dupont Circle and Chinatown/Penn Quarter parking and Metro details, please see #Directions below. Parking is especially plentiful in Chinatown/Penn Quarter with numerous garages (at the Renaissance Hotel, and on 9th St between G and H St) and the lot at the old convention center site, which is a block from Matchbox. Also, I've have found street parking on Sundays (both locations), though sometimes have to circle around the block a few times. If I don't feel like going around the block or paying for parking, sometimes I park at the Pentagon/Pentagon City (Hayes St lot is free and open on the weekends) and hop on Metro. --Aude (talk) 04:18, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Skewers

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Skewers

After speaking with staff at Skewers and Teaism, Skewers is better able to accommodate our group for this time. Teaism has another group that comes on Sundays. Next time (probably a Saturday), we will go to Teaism. --Aude (talk) 19:18, 4 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Map and directions

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Skewers is located near the Dupont Circle Metro station - accessible on the red line. It is two blocks from the metro, at 1633 P St NW. As for parking, there is a garage across the street that Skewers uses to provide valet parking (costs $2).

Driving directions

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From Silver Spring/Baltimore - If you are driving in from Silver Spring or Baltimore, the best way to get to Skewers is to come down 16th Street. You can get off the Beltway at Georgia Avenue (going south), then immediately get in one or the right two lanes, because you will veer to the right onto 16th Street. You can also take Colesville Road, through downtown Silver Spring. If you do that, 16th St is right after East-West Highway. You will need to make a left, and its somewhat tricky or confusing, because there is somewhat of a traffic circle (or semicircle) there. From there, 16th St is very easy coming into the city. Only caution is a few streets past Military Road, (just past Kennedy) when you pass Carter Barron Amphitheatre and the Tennis Center, there are speed cameras. Speed limit is 30 mph through there. After that come, all the way down to P St, and make a right. Skewers will be on your right.

From Rockville/Germantown - Take I-270 south, and get on the Beltway going towards College Park. Get off at Connecticut Avenue (south), and into the city. Be careful coming through Chevy Chase (MD side), since they use photo enforcement of traffic laws. Speed limit is 30 mph. Once you get near Dupont Circle (past Columbia Road, past Florida Avenue), you should make a left onto Q St. Get over to 16th St and make a right. And then a right onto P St. Skewers will be on your right.

From the east - Take New York Avenue into the city. Continue past the New York Avenue Metro Station, and past North Capitol Street. (Forget exactly where, but there are speed cameras on NY Ave near National Arboretum and Bladensburg Road, so please slow down) Then you will get to the Washington Convention Center and Mount Vernon Square. Then you need to continue (keep straight) onto Massachusetts Avenue. There is an underpass (beneath Thomas Circle/14th Street). Then you will very soon get to another traffic circle (Scott Circle). You want to be in the right lane, as you want to get onto 16th St (north). Immediately get over into the left lane, because P St is the next left. Turn there, and Skewers will be on your right.

From the south (I-395) - Come across the 14th Street Bridge and veer to the left to get onto 14th Street. Continue up 14th St, until you get to I St. Highly recommend you make a left there. Go two blocks and make a right onto 16th Street. There will be an underpass beneath Scott Circle/Mass Ave. Be in the left lane. Once you come out of the underpass, P St is the next left. Turn there, and Skewers will be on your right.

From the west (I-66) - Come across the Roosevelt Bridge and get onto Constitution Avenue. [Instead of I-66, if you want to come in on the GW Parkway, that works well. You would need to get onto the Memorial Bridge, then veer to the left and around the Lincoln Memorial and onto Constitution Avenue.] Make a left onto 18th St. Then a right onto H St. Go two blocks. (Lafayette Park and will be on your right, and St. Johns Church on the left). You need to make a left onto 16th St. There will be an underpass beneath Scott Circle/Mass Ave. Be in the left lane. Once you come out of the underpass, P St is the next left. Turn there, and Skewers will be on your right.

Metro

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Metro is also a good option, to take it up to the Dupont Circle station on the red line. Coming out of the station, you want the south (Dupont Circle-South) exit and NOT the Q Street exit. [Note: If you get on the Red Line at Metro Center, Gallery Pl, Union Station, or Glenmont, you should board the train towards the rear; If you come from Shady Grove, board the train towards the front. That way, when you get to Dupont Circle, you will be near the South Exit.]

You will come up the long escalator and will see Krispy Kreme and Cosi. You can cut through the circle, and cross over to P St (east) by Books-A-Million. Walk on P St, crossing 18th St, and over to 17th St. CVS is on the corner, and Skewers is a few doors down (on the left).

Please note that Metro is doing track work this weekend on all of the lines. [1] Please allow extra time for travel.

If people are coming into Union Station, I could come by there and give a few people a ride over to Skewers. Just let me know on my talk page. --Aude (talk) 23:39, 8 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Map of Skewers

Food

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Depending on how many people actually show up, Skewers would like us to order from a set menu. (we did it this way at the last Philly meetup) Skewers can give us a choice of three main dishes, along with appetizers, dessert, etc. They recommend for main dish options, we get Chicken Biryani, Lamb Kabobs, and a vegetarian dish. The menu is here, if you want to look and suggest different options. --Aude (talk) 18:59, 8 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hello badge

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Hi, guys. I designed a WikiHelloBadge for the Nov 2007 NYC Meetup for anyone who wants to use it, so if people at other Meetups want to use it, feel free. The design is supposed to represent Wikipedians of every possible persuasion, at least symbolically. I made it a double image so that when you print it out, you can fold it in the middle and laminate it so that's it's double-sided (if you plan on hanging it instead of clipping it). I included spaces so that you can identify yourself by your real name, or your Wiki Username, or both, whichever you feel comfortable with. A high-res version of it is on its upload page. And if someone wants to use it at a Meetup in a location where a language other than English is spoken, feel free to modify the greeting into a different language! After all, it's in the public domain now, so all I ask is attribution! Cheers! Nightscream 17:41, 1 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Hey, nice creation there. It beats random writing on blank white labels. I might use it, thanks. :) --Coredesat 00:12, 2 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
Thanks. Btw, someone familiar with Arabic told me that I messed up on the Arabic writing on the Wikiguy in the wheelchair, so I fixed it. Nightscream 07:51, 3 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Attending

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Yes

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If you're driving and can give others a ride, please say so!

Maybe

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  • Verdatum I'd be a first timer, and unsure of my schedule, but if you're in the Laurel, MD area and want a ride, it may give further incentive.
  • User:Kumioko. I am planning on coming but there is a chance I will not be able to make it.
  • User:Gyrofrog. My wife has final exams. If I do attend, I will have my toddler son with me, which might not be very productive.
  • Coredesat, definite maybe due to work on Monday and the fact that I'd be driving up from Richmond. If I showed up I'd probably have to leave at 11 PM or so. Of course, I could just drive up there earlier. :P
  • Hersfold (t/a/c) Probably, but finals start that week, so, yeah... I'll try to get a more definite answer as the meetup approaches, but for now go ahead and count me in for reservation purposes. I will be able to drive, I'm on UMBC's campus so can pick up from around Baltimore and points in between.
  • David Fuchs (talk) annoyed I missed the last one, I'll try and come this time.
  • Chrislk02 - as long as I do not have any exams of projects due that monday, tuesday or wednesday Im in.
  • Sholom - I will try to make it, and can prehaps give someone else a ride (if it's parking friendly) from Fairfax, Virginia. Having kids, and the meeting at the same time as Chanukah lighting makes it a a bit harder for me, though
  • JayJasper - The schedule is a bit iffy right now, so I can't commit. I'll be there if I can.
  • ASDFGHJKL- I just really can't plan that far ahead right now. I honestly don't know.
  • FeanorStar7; depends on where it is; prefer metro-accessible
  • User:SteveFoerster: Hopefully. Any of those venues is okay. Hopefully the one chosen will have something vegan to eat.
  • User:Linusthefish: Maybe. Depends on Hanukkah. Regardless of whether or not I can come, please keep inviting me.

*User:The Bearded One - I don't yet know if I'll be free, but I'd like to be.

  • Arturoramos 22:21, 7 November 2007 (UTC)[reply]
  • JayHenry — not sure yet if I'm in DC or NY that weekend.
  • CComMack (tc) — I might drop down from Philly that weekend.
  • mcpaige - Not 100% sure yet, but most likely.
  • Perceval - Hopefully will be done my paper by then. I enjoyed seeing the first bunch at DC Meetup #1.
  • Moxfyre - Enjoyed the last meetup! I will likely make it this time, but not sure yet.
  • Vpuliva - I'll be busy Sunday, but might be free in the evening-still unsure.
  • Deltopia - Want to, not sure if I'll finish my classwork, which I foolishly and dutifully feel I should do first... but will try!!

Nope, but let me know about future events

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No, and do not send me invites for future events

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Agenda

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DC meetups are informal... an opportunity to put faces to usernames, get to know people, socialize, and have fun. We do not have anything specific to talk about, but usually talk about wiki-related topics and other things.

Other events

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5pm is late, I want to do something beforehand too.

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Want a pre-meetup outing? Suggest it here.

  • Meet beforehand at the National Gallery of Art, in the sculpture garden for ice skating.

The night will be young! I want to do something afterward too.

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That's cool, too. Suggest something when the crowd starts to disperse and you decide if you're sick of everyone or not! Or place suggestions here.

Comments, suggestions, and graffiti

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Note: Skewers is upstairs (in case people are downstairs at cafe luna). SWATJester Son of the Defender 21:49, 9 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

Photos

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