LA Skeptics - October 26

[Wyvern]

Okay! May I ask who is planning to attend the October 26 meeting of Skeptics in Pasadena?? I would really enjoy meeting some of you . . . um . . . wild and crazy folks. I have not gone to the dinner afterward - do you ever do that? Or would anyone like to do lunch before the meeting?
:fg:

[The Bad Astronomer]

Heh. Well, I'll be at the CSICOP meeting (http://www.csicop.org/events/conference-2003/index.html) in Albuquerque at that exact time... or flying home from it. :-)

[renata]

I have been trying to rope together LA people forever, but they are a shy bunch :D. I met RSLancaster and Khalid at a lecture given by Ian Rowland this summer at Caltech. RSL and I had lunch prior to it, and we had a wonderful time.

If we can arrange a JREFer lunch prior to the lecture, I would enjoy it very much. Here is a link to lecture details, it sounds very interesting. Thanks for taking the initiative, Wyvern. :)

http://www.skeptic.com/lectures.html


Edited for redundancy, dammit!!

[Electric Monk]

I'll be going to this one, and I always go to the dinners afterward. I would not be averse to meeting somewhere beforehand, though.

--James

[Wyvern]

Bad Astronomer: okay, that's a good excuse and sounds like fun. I see they are doing a side trip to Roswell. You going? I just had to go there when I was vacationing in NM. A man started following me around the museum and trying to strike up a conversation. I didn't have anything to say to him. Later, I was looking at the brochure and realized it was the guy who started the museum. :D I think he figured I was woo woo and was hoping to talk woo woo with me.:D

So, it's me and Renata and Electric Monk so far for lunch prior to the Skeptics Society meeting. Who else will join us? Is noonish good? I'll figure out a restaurant and PM people with the details. So please post here if you will join us. Feel free, also, to suggest a place if you are familiar with Pas.

[Wyvern]

bump :j1:

I haven't PM'd anyone yet - I'm researching restaurants. Who else would like to meet and have lunch with Electric Monk, Renata and Wyvern prior to the Skeptics lecture on Sunday?

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by The Bad Astronomer
... or flying home from it. :-)

Astrally? ;)

Originally posted by renata
http://www.skeptic.com/lectures.html

TAM2 is listed under "Non-Skeptic Society Events"!!

I think we should take Shermer out back at TAM2 and beat the living daylights out of him.....I'll show him a "Non-Skeptic Society Event" with a rolled-up newspaper... :D

[Jeff Corey]

Claus,
I think he means non Skeptical Society events, rather than society events that are non-skeptical.

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Jeff Corey
Claus,
I think he means non Skeptical Society events, rather than society events that are non-skeptical.

Ahh....skeptic, as in "Skeptic" magazine?

Hmpf. I don't like that - monopolizing the term...grumble, grumble...

Does this mean I can't beat Shermer with a rolled-up newspaper? :D

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by CFLarsen
Ahh....skeptic, as in "Skeptic" magazine?
Yep, or more particularly as in "Skeptics Society" which publishes "Skeptic" magazine, and hosts the lectures listed on the first part of the list you read.

Does this mean I can't beat Shermer with a rolled-up newspaper? :D Not unless you are going to be in Pasadena on Sunday, or plan to exhibit your telekenetic abilities, or deputize one of the locals. :D

--James

[renata]

Perhaps a good idea to post a thread in Community? I hope there are more skeptics in LA than the three of us, and even if they don't come to the lecture, maybe they will join us for lunch.

Otherwise, I am open to suggestions. I am not terribly familiar with eateries in Pasadena, I will be coming from the SF Valley, so we can check chowhound for suggestions, or I can rely on you guys. I am rather omnivorous, but I do despise parallel parking. If you have several suggestions, post them, and we can pick. :)

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by renata
I am not terribly familiar with eateries in Pasadena.Neither am I, despite having spent four years there for college. The only place that I remember is Burger Continental, and that's where the dinner is!

So, I've enlisted the aid of a native, and frequent Skeptics Lecture attendee for any suggestions. I'll be sure to pass along anything I get.

--James

[CFLarsen]

Originally posted by Electric Monk
Yep, or more particularly as in "Skeptics Society" which publishes "Skeptic" magazine, and hosts the lectures listed on the first part of the list you read.

Harrumph!

Originally posted by Electric Monk
Not unless you are going to be in Pasadena on Sunday, or plan to exhibit your telekenetic abilities, or deputize one of the locals. :D

Are you volunteering? Nah, I'll wait until TAM2...


Originally posted by renata
I will be coming from the SF Valley

A Valley Girl, eh?

Originally posted by renata
Otherwise, I am open to suggestions.

...yup. She is a Valley Girl.

Originally posted by renata
I am not terribly familiar with eateries in Pasadena

...yup. She is a Valley Girl.

Originally posted by renata
or I can rely on you guys.

...yup. She is a Valley Girl.

Originally posted by renata
I am rather omnivorous

...yup. She is a Valley Girl.

Originally posted by renata
but I do despise parallel parking.

...yup. She is a Valley Girl.

Originally posted by renata
If you have several suggestions, post them, and we can pick. :)

...yup. She is a Valley Girl.

(running for cover)

[Wyvern]

Originally posted by renata
Perhaps a good idea to post a thread in Community? I hope there are more skeptics in LA than the three of us, and even if they don't come to the lecture, maybe they will join us for lunch.


Good idea, Renata. It's done. Although I should have asked YOU to do it:D Nobody knows me, but I bet you would generate a lot of excitement:D

[renata]

Originally posted by Wyvern

Good idea, Renata. It's done. Although I should have asked YOU to do it:D Nobody knows me, but I bet you would generate a lot of excitement:D

On the contrary, I have cooties! Last 2-3 times I tried doing it, it crashed and burned ;)

[luvtinayothers]

I live in the LA area but I think that I may be out of town this weekend. Dammit!
I might be back in time.

[Electric Monk]

OK, I have word from Laura Anne - a recommendation from Dr. David Naiditch (who wrote the review on Stephen Worfram's opus in the current Skeptic magazine):

Crocodile Cafe
Pasadena - Lake Ave., CA.
140 S. Lake Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91101
Phone: 626-449-9900
Fax: 626-449-6969

Info here: crocodilecafe.com (http://crocodilecafe.com/aboutframe.htm)

Also - Al Franken will be at Caltech 8pm tonight - admission is free.
Info here: Caltech Public Events (http://events.caltech.edu/events/event-729.html)

--James

[renata]

Ok, Chowhound people recommended
Burger Continental (mixed reviews)
Pie n Burger
Europane
Green Street
Crocodile Cafe
Parkway Grill (on the expensive end)

Here is my original thread, check it out for more detailed answers and descriptions of each restaurant. It is hard to gauge, but people on this board usually really know their restaurants, and of many times I took their advice, there were only a few misses. The one drawback is that they do tend to recommend high end restaurants. Therefore I would probably vote against Parkway Grill (if they say it is expensive...) and Burger Continental, if you guys plan to go there for dinner as well. The other four all received good recommendations, so check the thread, see what appeals.
http://www.chowhound.com/california/boards/losangeles/messages/66509.html

Say around noon?

[Electric Monk]

Having read the comments made, I'd vote for either Europane or the Crocodile Cafe, and noon is a fine time.

--James

[Pat Kelly]

Cal Tech!

[arcticpenguin]

Originally posted by Pat Kelly
Cal Tech!
Quoted for posterity.

[Wyvern]

Crocodile Cafe and Europane both sound excellent. I don't find anything on parking for Europane but there is plenty of parking behind Crocodile Cafe so I'd say let's give that a whirl. I can try to get there a little early in case there is a wait.

I'm PM'ing you both . . .

:cool:

[Wyvern]

Don't forget to change you clocks and get an extra hour of :s2:

[renata]

Originally posted by Wyvern
Crocodile Cafe and Europane both sound excellent. I don't find anything on parking for Europane but there is plenty of parking behind Crocodile Cafe so I'd say let's give that a whirl. I can try to get there a little early in case there is a wait.

I'm PM'ing you both . . .

:cool:

Sounds like a good plan :) Should we have a secret JREF handshake of some sort to identify ourselves among the crowd?

[Colloden]

Originally posted by renata


Sounds like a good plan :) Should we have a secret JREF handshake of some sort to identify ourselves among the crowd?
Just show us ya’ nipple.

[renata]

Originally posted by Colloden

Just show us ya’ nipple.

Yes, the big complaint the first time was that I did not show as my avatar....hate to disappoint the crowd again, but I am afraid I will. :p

[Electric Monk]

Originally posted by renata
Should we have a secret JREF handshake of some sort to identify ourselves among the crowd? I'll be covered with ashes (stupid brush fires!) and wearing my Pigasus pin.

--James

[renata]

Just got home from a very enjoyable lunch, lecture and dinner with Wyvern and Electric Monk. Well, the lecture also had a few hundred other people :). Had a great time, and thanks for meeting, and I hope to make this a frequent event. But now I can't get these acoustic effects out of my head. Batman...batman...batman...batman...batman...batma n..;)

They can vouch that we are mostly normal people, and we don't bite, and hopefully next time we can get more LA JREFers to show.

[luvtinayothers]

Darn, I wanted to go. But on Sunday I was driving back to LA on the 101 trying to fight my way
through various brush fires which were burning on either side of the freeway. Not as
much fun as you guys had, I suppose. When's the next big meeting at CalTech?

[Wyvern]

Originally posted by luvtinayothers
Darn, I wanted to go. But on Sunday I was driving back to LA on the 101 trying to fight my way
through various brush fires which were burning on either side of the freeway. Not as
much fun as you guys had, I suppose. When's the next big meeting at CalTech?
Hi luvtinayothers,
I just gotta meet the person behind that nickname :D
Sorry you got caught in the fire mess. I guarantee you we had more fun than you did! I very much enjoyed meeting Renata and Electric Monk - two lovely, intelligent, skeptical human beings.

The next Skeptics Society lecture is November 16 at 1:00 rather than the usual 2:00. Perhaps we can meet for late breakfast/brunch. A place we talked about going to has baked goods and sandwiches. I may have to go to San Diego that day (if there's anything left of it :( ) and miss the lecture but I think I can meet you all for brunch and then go from there.

Open for suggestions/comments.

[Wyvern]

P.S.
Batman batman batman batman
Russian word Russian word Russan word Russian word
kitty kitty kitty kitty
hot love hot love hot love hot love
:D
If you don't what I'm referring to, then you should start coming to the Skeptics lectures!