We've discussed the problem of the most suitable venue before. The house party is a nice idea, but the general consensus was that most of us feel awkward about opening our homes to complete strangers; as well, strangers are probably more likely to come to a more neutral space to meet people for the first time.
I've been in another group that has tried the coffee shop alternative. It doesn't work. Coffee shops are not designed for large groups sitting together, so it is more difficult to get seating together, and you can't make reservations. Also, most coffee shops are not as comfortable as most pubs.
Walkabouts/site visits are nice, but make it harder for people to come and go as they please.
A Chinese restaurant would be ideal if you want a round table, but for that we would require firm commitments from all who plan to attend, and experience tells me people - especially newcomers - prefer to be able to decide at the last minute.
As for the Madison, it was not a great venue. Too crowded and noisy. Although we got there early when it was not even half full, we could not find a space big enough. After one opened up (just in time), we were pretty crammed in and if Darkstar and SimplyDan had not had to cancel, there would not have been enough room for all of us.
That said, it was a nice meet. I regret that I didn't have much of a chance to talk to some people, and I didn't even get to meet M II A II R II K. It was nice to see both new faces and old, though.
For those who don't know, we do organize other types of meets. But the pub meet has become a tradition. Next time, we will:
- choose a better venue
- make a reservation (!)
- devise a system for newcomers to recognize the group
Cheers!