Re: [bsd-75] BSD meetup postponed for one week

On Wed, Jan 16, 2008 at 04:32:23AM -0500, Brad Knowles wrote:
> I find it very difficult to hear what anyone is saying
> in a loud, noisy, location that has virtually no soft furnishings
> anywhere in the room, and where a large portion of the attendees seem
> to go there for the primary purpose of being drunk, loud, rowdy, and
> boisterous.

True enough.  I had a pretty hard time hearing at Opal Divine's North.
I do not know if NxNW is as noisy.  Lovejoy's is pretty noisy, but it's
from the music, not the people (until much later at night).

> If you could delete all the loud patrons and environment, have some
> more comfortable seating and soft furnishings around, serve a variety
> of food that includes good low-carb options, and give me some
> interesting non-alcoholic options when it comes to drink selection,
> then you'd get my attention.

The only reason I suggest bars is the low price of rental of the hall :-)
Depending on what hour it is, actual restaurants may not want you hanging
around to just chat.  OTOH if we're just going to be there for an hour,
I don't think that rules out restaurants.  However, all the eating places
I know are either downtown south/southwest, so someone will have to help
me out here.  (Except Pok-E-Jos, but I don't think we're talking heart-
healthy here, either :-) )  Well, the Black-Eyed Pea at 183 & Burnet
still appears to be around; there is also a Souper Salad in the area,
that has an area in the back that is fairly quiet.

> Another group I know used to enjoy going to Dave & Busters.

I would be up for that, but I don't think that meets your criteria of
healthier food.  The one I used to go to in Dallas was pretty noisy, too.

I see them in pretty much the same category as Opal Divine's, except
with more fun distractions.

> So, I guess the choice of establishments boils down to the purpose of 
> the meeting, and what kind of other activities the members of the 
> group want to participate in.

I see it more as an opportunity to socialize, talk about what projects
we're working on, and so forth.  I don't see it as much as the
"presentation" type thing that Cactus does, but if someone wants to
set up something like that instead, I'd probably turn it over to them :-)

mcl