After a few tries over the last several months, Brooklynguy and I were finally able to meet for dinner in Park Slope. We went to Al Di La‘s wine bar, where you can eat their food without having to wait in the inevitable line for the restaurant part. We wandered vinously through Italy, the Loire valley, and Champagne while enjoying seafood soup, octopus & chick pea salad, and two different pastas- a beet and ricotta ravioli and some lovely fat yet delicate malfatti with chard and ricotta. We got grilled chard stems on the side.
The great thing about the blogosphere- apart from the stupid, stupid name- is that it’s the ultimate meritocracy; we read and return based on the quality, originality, and frequency of the content. I tend to prefer reading passionate amateurs with good grammar and wide-ranging knowledge who do not agressively (or at all) monetize their sites. A sense of humor is important, too. I thus have a pretty good idea that those people whose blogs I enjoy (and who don’t get offended by my comments, especially since I cannot bring myself to use smiley punctuation or exclamation points to signify sarcasm or enthusiasm) would be people whose company I would enjoy in real life.
Thusfar that seems to be the case; we began with a working knowledge of each other’s tastes and backgrounds so we didn’t have to deal with all the formalities that normally attend a first meeting. And by the end of the night we had covered a lot of ground. I will be attending a wine-people shindig next week chez Brooklyncouple, and have to figure out what to bring, given that he’s even pickier than I am. Who knew the interweb was good for meeting people who share your interests? Have dinner with your favorite local bloggers this fall- you’ll be glad you did. Or you’ll end up having to get a restraining order. Could go either way.
I know. Isn’t it cool?
You’d meet me for a meal, wouldn’t you?
Hey! I got one for ya: 😀
I have to admit that I accept invitations because I’m just so flattered that anyone reads my shit. And I visit and comment on subpar blogs all the time, if they leave a comment at mine. I am hell of reciprocal that way.
That said, I only actually read the blogs I like. Fervently.
(The money I get from my ad will one day buy me a new camera.)
OMG!!!!! Cooky I would TOTALLY have dinner with u!!!!!!!!! ur the BEST!!!and ur blog is awsome!!!:)
Heather: Yeah, reciprocal comments are just good manners. I also think that there’s a big difference between a small banner on the sidebar somewhere and a dizzying clutter of commercial crap bedecking every spare pixel of a site. If I had a ton of traffic I’d probably want pocket money from it too.
So far, I’ve enjoyed the other bloggers I’ve met. You and I could talk about art as well as food. Which reminds me, when are we going to see the result of your flower labyrinth?
hey peter – it was great to hang out, finally. thanks for the shout out, and looking forward to seeing you again soon.
Zoomie: I’ll post it sometime soon.
Neil: Absolutely. See you Sunday.
so, do you know my brooklyn wine guy story? it is because of him and only him that i have a blog.
today i met with one of my bleaders. such a lovely guy. someone i would never have met otherwise. and he brought me a jar of tomato preserves that he made from the ny times sunday mag a few weeks back. gotta love that.
i’ve met some amazing people through this whole blog thang – i really have. lucky me. like heather, i also accept invites and have been sent a fair few gifts and it still never ever ceases to amaze me that anyone reads me or cares what the hell i have to say…
and then there are those bloggers that are just too busy… no names mentioned or anything…
Hey Peter,
if we’d only been polite enough to call you back and arrange a time to meet-up, i’m sure we would be experiencing the warm glow generated by a mention on your blog. Sadly, we were horribly rude and completely blanked you, and hope that doesn’t blacken our names in your book and prompt a post about how miserable certain bloggers are! Many apologies for not getting back to you this week. Really hope we can link up next time you’re around our way!
WeAreNeverFull.com
Jonny: My Dad is English, so I’m already well-acquainted with how appalling British manners are. I just assumed that you were busy rioting at a soccer match and, awash as you were in cheap lager, couldn’t be bothered to pour my fancy wine in afterward; “Lipstick on a pig” I can hear you say in your haughty élitist accent- “He’ll probably offer us mooseburgers, when what I really fancy right now is to give the Vicar a good rogering.”
I’m hard at work right now on a post entitled “Spot of Motherfuckin’ BOTHER: Bloggers I loathe, and the women who love them.”
peter
classic.
you kill me
btw. I never would have not met you
not me
na uh
never too busy for you
that’s right…
ps cleveland rocks
dinner tonight with Ruhlman
funny thing… he made time for me
Claudia: I know, I know. I’m a terrible person. What can I say? I was young, and I needed the money. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to put a straight jacket on so I don’t poke my eyes out.