The Fireflies Light Up NYC!

[RTFirefly]

Or at least, that's the plan. I'm giving a talk at the Joint Statistical Meetings in NYC, which take place August 11-15, and my wife is coming along with me.

We're taking the Acela up on Sunday the 11th, and I give my talk on the morning of Thursday the 15th before we head home that afternoon. Since we may feel like just taking it easy Sunday night after traveling, and I'll be wanting to rehearse my talk Wednesday night, that leaves Monday the 12th and Tuesday the 13th as free evenings.

So, who wants to get together for dinner in (initial cap) Manhattan with Mr. and Mrs. Rufus T. Firefly? Is one evening better than the other for NYC Dopers, or does it make no never mind? And where shall we get together? Our hotel's the Sheraton on 7th up around 53rd, in case any Dopers want to stalk us. :)

[lurkernomore]

I have a probable conflict on the 13th, but would be interested in the 12th.

[RTFirefly]

That would be good - I'm kinda leaning toward Monday the 12th as it is.

Anyone else? :)

[Pucette]

I think I actually might be free! Wow! (My Mondays have been solid booked all summer...)

It'll be good seeing you again, RT, and you too, lurker! :)

[RTFirefly]

Cool - can't wait to see you again!

That's two votes for Monday so far. Any others?

[lurkernomore]

Only count me for 1/2. I'm shaky

[RTFirefly]

OK, then, 1-1/2 votes. But I do hope to see you.

And maybe bumping this thread to right above Billdo's thread about sailboat racing around Long Island will get this some extra views from the NYC Doper contingent. :)

[Biggirl]

How could I miss seeing my hero?

But I do have a problem with school nights. Hmmm.


I am most probably a definite maybe.

[Gadarene]

I'm there for sure. :)

[RTFirefly]

Gadarene: yeah, you've been down in DC for an entire year, and I have to go up to New Yawk to meet you!

Well, hey, whatever it takes - I've wanted to meet you for awhile. And maybe we'll have resolved Bert Blyleven by then. ;)

Biggirl: hey, that's no fair - you're my hero!! So I sure hope you can make it, school night or no. :)

[Green Bean]

Well, you know I'll be there.

[Gadarene]

Gadarene: yeah, you've been down in DC for an entire year, and I have to go up to New Yawk to meet you!

I know; I was thinking about remarking on the irony. :) I'll be back down to D.C. by the end of the month for my second year of law school--if we find we can stand each other's company, we should try to organize some regularish gatherings down there.

And maybe we'll have resolved Bert Blyleven by then.

If not, there's always fisticuffs. :D

[RTFirefly]

Originally posted by Green Bean
Well, you know I'll be there.
Cool beans! :)

Couldn't resist. :)
Originally posted by Gadarene
I'll be back down to D.C. by the end of the month for my second year of law school--if we find we can stand each other's company, we should try to organize some regularish gatherings down there. We have frequent gatherings in the greater DC/Balt area, most recently Weirddave and Ginger's wedding (http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=104182) last weekend. Keep an eye on MPSIMS. :)
If not, there's always fisticuffs. :D Or there's always Super-Soakers at twenty paces. ;)

[OxyMoron]

How'd I miss this? Of course, of course, count me in.

[RTFirefly]

Oxy - I knew if I kept it in play long enough, you'd spot it. :)

So we're on for the evening of Monday, August 12.

What time do you folks normally get together for dinners, when you do that sort of thing? Since I'm just attending a conference, my schedule's very flexible.

And where shall we eat? I'm counting on you folks who know the area to have good ideas here. Both Mrs. F. and I are partial to spicy foods, btw.

Definites, so far:

RTFirefly
Mrs. Firefly
Pucette
Gadarene
Green Bean
OxyMoron

Maybes:

lurkernomore
Biggirl

[Gorgon Heap]

Can I be placed in the "Not at all" catagory? ;)

Sorry I'll miss you.

[MannyL]

Hmm I believe I can make it into the city that night. Put me on the 3/4's sure list

[SmoothOperator]

I finally get back on StraightDope so I can find out what has happened to you and what do I find....you and the Mrs are running off. All I can say is have fun.

[RTFirefly]

Hey Smoothie, I just sent you an email a week and a half ago asking how you were doing! And then I wound up in a pie-throwing contest with you over on Fathom. So I haven't totally neglected you, honest!

Now if you and the other NC Dopers ever have a get-together, I'll drive down for it - I miss seeing you, Poly, aenea, and the others.

Now, back to our regularly-scheduled thread:

So, where do we want to break bread, a week from Monday?

[manhattan]

Cuff me at 40%. As it happens, I may be down your way at that time. If not, I'm in.

[RTFirefly]

Originally posted by manhattan
Cuff me at 40%. As it happens, I may be down your way at that time. If not, I'm in. If I'd only known! Instead of going to Manhattan, I coulda had manhattan come to me! Not quite the same thing as Mohammed and the mountain, but you take what you can get. :)

Needless to say, manny, I'll be rooting for your D.C. trip to fall through, so that you can join us next Monday.

[Billdo]

You can put me on the list at 64.23%. I have to be at a client in New Jersey that day, but should be able to make it back more or less on time.

B

[RTFirefly]

Originally posted by lurkernomore
Only count me for 1/2. I'm shaky Originally posted by MannyL
Put me on the 3/4's sure list Originally posted by manhattan
Cuff me at 40%. Originally posted by Billdo
You can put me on the list at 64.23%.Folks, this is a statistical convention I'm attending. Point estimates are OK and all, but let's have some confidence intervals, sports fans!! :D

[lurkernomore]

waddaya want, sigmas and shit? We have enough standard deviates as it is. Waddaya mean what kinda mode do you think we're in?

[Green Bean]

Well, I'll volunteer to be the standard deviant.

[RTFirefly]

You've got it, Green Bean. I'm a substandard deviant, myself. :)

So, who's got restaurant recommendations? Some of you New Yawkers must have opinions on where to dine!

[Biggirl]

All of my recommendations would be in Brooklyn. Which would be fine by me, but not by most.

So, comon peoples! I need to know if I can make this shindig.

[SuaSponte]

Put me on the list. As for a place to eat, my recommendation is "wherever you want is fine with me."

Hope that helps.

Sua

[OxyMoron]

OK, I will suggest a place which is located:


1) Above the E train, 15 minutes from Midtown.

2) Above the A & C trains, for easy access to Uptown and Brooklyn.

3) Two short blocks from the L train, for easy access to the E. Village and Brooklyn.

4) One block from the 1/2/3 lines, for easy access to the Upper West Side and Brooklyn.

5) One stop (2 minutes on the A) from Penn Station.

6) Two stops (4 minutes on the A) from Port Authority.



7) One block from the OxyPad. This is purely coincidental.

It's the Chelsea Grill (http://newyork.citysearch.com/review/7104924/).

[Green Bean]

Yum Chelsea Grill. I'd like that.

[TeaElle]

Chelsea Grill is within a nice walk from me, too. I'm sorry that I'll be out of town and won't be able to come join you all. I haven't met any Dopers yet, and now that people are getting together, I won't be here. :(

Have fun for me, everyone.

[RTFirefly]

Chelsea Grill it is, then. :)

How does 6:30 sound?

[OxyMoron]

Originally posted by RTFirefly
How does 6:30 sound? "Six thirty." At least when I say it.

If you're English, it sounds like "hoppussix," or sometimes simply "half six." Which ought to be three, or nine in the morning if you're using 24-hour time....where were we?

Oh, right.

See you at six thirty pm on Monday, August 12.

[RTFirefly]

Well, I'm glad you don't talk all funny like the English do. :)

OK, we're on for the Chelsea Grill* at 6:30pm this coming Monday, August 12.

Definites:

RTFirefly
Mrs. Firefly
Pucette
Gadarene
Green Bean
OxyMoron
SuaSponte

Maybes (at varying levels of probability):

lurkernomore
Biggirl
MannyL
manhattan
Billdo

Missing out:

Gorgon Heap
tlw


*At 135 Eighth Avenue (between 16th and 17th Streets); phone is (212)242-5336.

[Pucette]

FINALLY I will get a chance to eat at the Chelsea Grill. Brilliantness, Oxy.

See you folks there!

[vix]

Me too.

[The Ace of Swords]

RT, you intelligent-and-cute doper magnet. Look at that lineup!

Transcribe the conversation for those of us not able to make it, k?

[RTFirefly]

Intelligent and cute, that's me! ;)

And that phrase took me back to the Magilla Gorilla theme song. Make it go away!!

Sorry you can't be there, Ace, I enjoyed your company back in January.

And vix, I'm delighted that you'll be joining us. Yeehaw!! :)

[Billdo]

Just to keep you all informed, my meeting in New Jersey got pushed back to Wednesday, so I'd put my probability up to 93.75% +/- 2.675%.

[manhattan]

My trip to the Baltimore area has been pushed back a few weeks.

Accordingly, my percentage is up to 80%, +\-3 at a 95% confidence level.

It would be higher still, but damn you guys meet early. Don't you people have jobs?

[RTFirefly]

Now that's more like it, campers!!

manny, feel free to join us in progress; we won't hold it against you. :)

Updating the list:

90% or better likelihood of appearing:

RTFirefly
Mrs. Firefly
Pucette
Gadarene
Green Bean
OxyMoron
SuaSponte
vix
Billdo

75% or better likelihood of appearing:

MannyL
manhattan

Less than 75% (or indeterminate) likelihood of appearing:

lurkernomore
Biggirl

Missing out:

Gorgon Heap
tlw
Ace0Spades


The Chelsea Grill's profile says "Make reservations: no" and "Good for groups: yes". Whoever gets there first might want to tell the hostess that if someone comes looking for the Cecil Adams party, to send them in your direction. And stake out table space for 10-12 people, of course. :)

Essential info, again: Chelsea Grill, 135 Eighth Avenue (between 16th and 17th Streets), 6:30pm Monday; phone there is (212)242-5336.

[lurkernomore]

I must downgrade to doubtful. Not definitely out, but doubtful.

[Green Bean]

Rats and double rats! I must bow out. :(

[Pixellent]

Does anyone remember me?

I've been gone for a long time. Call it an extended illness, or call it insanity. Call it what you will, as long as you don't call it late for dinner.

I've missed people. I'd like to count myself in for tonight's get-together at the Chelsea.

[The Ace of Swords]

RT: I've had a cancellation, so count me in!

I am psyched, psyched, psyched to meet you and the Mrs.!

-Ace

[Cajun Man]

DrM and I'll see y'all there.

[Canby]

Yay! Looks like I'll be there too.

[Zebra]

In the imortal words of Michael Jackson


I'll be there

[Billdo]

Originally posted by Zebra
In the imortal words of Michael Jackson: "Ill be there."

Now you better not show up, because I'm going to have to kill you for sticking that stupid song in my head.

[Pixellent]

Originally posted by Billdo


Now you better not show up, because I'm going to have to kill you for sticking that stupid song in my head.

<Singing:>

You and I must mayyyyyyyyyke a paaaaaact...
We must bring salvayyyyyyyyyyyshun back...

<Ducking and covering>

[The Ace of Swords]

RT, so sorry, but as I've been pitted all day, I'm consequently in a lousy mood, and would probably just make a hash of dinner. No pun intended.

Do send me the transcript, and I do hope to catch up with you and the Mrs. at the next DopeFest.

Cheers,
Owen

[OxyMoron]

We now have a reservation (I don't about you, but I'm having more of those all the time) for the appointed time and place under the name Adams, Cecil.

see y'soon......

[chula]

I am debating showing up. However, I'm one of those people who feels weird to meet strangers from the internet. Plus I haven't been around here long enough to feel like I know you all. Then again, I have nothing better to do tonight than to hang out with some intelligent, interesting people, assuming that at least a couple of you fit that bill. :) If I do show up, I'll have to be late, due to work and crosstown transportation.

Too bad about Ace. I thought it was interesting that people who were planning on having dinner tonight were having it out in the Pit.

[Cosmopolitan]

Shit - I missed it! I shoulda looked at the thread sooner. Damndamndamn. Manhattan is the one place I can get to with ease!

Frig. Well, I'm sorry I missed out. That'll larn me ta lookit threads involving NYC sooner.

[RTFirefly]

[posting from the NY Public Library on 53rd]

Guys (of both genders), it was great to see you all last night! Thank you especially for making Mrs. F. feel welcomed. The conversation, as usual, was exceedingly lively. And Ace, ya shoulda been there, my friend - you know the old expression, "be there or be talked about." ;)

Can't wait to see y'all again in January. :)

[Zebra]

Pixelant how about 'Whack an Atta' you know that game where something pops up and you bash it with a mallet?

All others don't ask.

[Pixellent]

Originally posted by Zebra
Pixelant how about 'Whack an Atta' you know that game where something pops up and you bash it with a mallet?

All others don't ask.

Oooh! I like it, I liiiiiiike it!

Those who were at dinner last night know that Zebra is referring to the magnificently tasteless idea I came up with last night and shared with the group.

Who dares me to make it public? I'll actually open up a whole new thread about "Six Flags Over... You-Know-What" with the slightest encouragement! You might all be treated to the magnificent spectacle of seeing me dragged into the virtual Town Square and burned at the cyberstake...