Netherlands Meetups

Schiphol was a zoo early early in the morning. Tomorrow is the 35th Annual Marathon, so I presume some fly in, and most continentals from neighboring countries take the trains. Schiphol is becoming more and more a large shopping center pretending to be an airport See ya all! at 1900 hrs.

We'll be thinking of you guys, CG & hubby, too. Yes, Americain is another of those classic institutions here; that I've likewise never been to yet. It seems it used to be quite the hang-out for say an early alternative scene here, 1950's-60's or thereabouts (as much of Leidseplein was, for that matter, and no longer is). Their site presents it in that same way still; it's possible it's still popular with artists and the likes, of a league rather different than those I tend to hang out with (would make sense, as for instance there are still some major theaters around). I know my mom used to find it both hip and chic; I should still have a coffee there in her honor some day.

It is, isn't it (shopping mall) I'd forgotten about the marathon, thanks for the reminder. Don't expect it to interfere with traffic today, though.

So, one final bump for any late takers:

There'll be an Amsterdam IM mini-meetup tonight (Sat. 16), 19:00, at Die Port van Cleve (in its Bar de Blauwe Parade), Niewezijds Voorburgwal 176-180. Details and directions in the posts just before, e.g. in post # 389. Make it there before 19:30 if you want to come, as we may be moving on later.

See ya there! Last in the water will have silly dry feet, etc.

Oki, back from a nice night with NYCank, I hope the feeling was mutual. It's funny really, I've never ran into any folks via IndiaMike yet that I don't get along with. (Indojingai couldn't make it, alas. We missed you, man. Next time!)

Other observations: That Die Port van Cleve is really OK, not insanely expensive indeed either; but for all it's made out to be, I know a gazillion of such "brown" pubs,* didn't strike me as anything much special. It's nice, yes; I know many places that are nice.

Underwhelmed, in short; no matter, we went and hit a few more spots. Had some food at what I had to conclude was not essentially better than having a chow mein in India just for the heck of it, LOL Oh well.

I had a fun night, and NYC is a cool chap

* Signifying a kind of classic pub here. Not only will the interior often be wooden, but they'll often bear the signs of a century or two of people smoking there. Hence the brownness.

Mach, so I take it that all went well?

Trying to pick up the key words here... Any photos to share?

Yep, 'twas an OK if very private meet

Pics we didnie take, no. So: no pics

Nyet, Noko, Nada for photos.

Cloudy weather whole day

Ahem !! Long layover at Schiphol. And the KLM lounge is now totally smoke-free I can do coffee at the Mall February 1st week or march 1st week.

I'll be there (in principle). (Not 6AM, one hopes? )

Which Mall, Schiphol, one presumes? Anyways it's all fine by me. There's a few bars now (or there were earlier this year) dotted around the passengers' areas (past immigration, or before it, in your case) that allow for smoking again btw (i.e., have these depressing cubicles for it), should be signposted (as being "smoking zones"), or ask around; when I recently asked again in the public zone, there still seem to be none there (and I was told there were none past immigration either, but I think the good lady whom I asked just didn't know what she was talking about. Either that, or they have in fact been abandoned again, of course.)

Anyways if we pick a joint close to the exits, we can have a smoke outside. Provided it's not -30C by then... (A chain smoker's worries: Not being stranded at the airport so much, but what to do about the smoking for all that time )

With snow advisories in East Coast & Midwest US for next week, I am unsure of my flight schedule. So AMS layover next week is iffy-iffy.

Not exactly an IM meet-up as such, but met up with old (young) member IndoJingai yesterday (who in fact once started this thread), together with Bart Plantenga and company, to visit the free open-air event of the annual Amsterdam Roots Festival.

Very nice gathering, at near-tropical temperatures IndoJ seems to be doing well as ever.

Mind your step !!!

My patron Medici has agreed I should visit Floriade....

1-4 Sept in AMS... One evening free... Le's do Surinamese ? !!!

Surinamese sounds good, NYCank. I'll try and look for a slightly more exciting place than the last time (I've been keeping my eyes open for it ever since you mentioned it last time, but an affordable Indonesian rijsttafel I've still not seen, alas.) The best Surinamese I know of are not downtown, but we wouldn't need to venture far out of the center for them. E.g. a short tram ride would take us to De Pijp area (south), where there are some good as well as cosy ones, I mean a notch above neon lights and formica tables, whilst still most affordable. It's nice for a stroll there, as well. Old 19th-century working-class district, now partly spruced up, but it's all fairly cosy and bohemian.

(Come to think of it, there is this Indonesian place in the East. It's still just an eatery, but cosy enough, and whilst I don't think they do rijsttafel as such, they have an interesting and authentic menu enough that one could put together whatever one likes oneself, and share it all, or have them advise what goes together well. Or I could ask them about a rijsttafel beforehand, if we know how many we will be. And: What diet everyone follows, meat or fish or veg., etc.)

Let us know when you have a date & time, and we can see if we can round up the usual suspects. I suppose the 1st being a Saturday evening that could be handy for people, but not sure if that would suit you just upon arrival. Or perhaps the 2nd, with at least the day off before. Hey, with any luck, it'll be just the two of us again, anyways

btw NYCank, needless to say but if you can come up with a proposed date soon and being pretty sure that you'll be there, this would then be handy for other Dutchies reading along to get ready, and I could call upon some off-site members to see if they can make it. With some luck, it could turn out to be rather the small happening, instead (One good Indian member now lives & works just across the border in Germany and wouldn't mind popping over here if he can, and so on.)

I mean it's only like a little over a two weeks away. I'd say that's normally a good timeframe to start calling for something.

The details we could then settle as we go along (hopefully without too much ado I'm always open to an afternoon stroll and stuff before btw. Previous meets we've usually tried to make a little more of it than just sitting around together), but a date to focus on would be handy.

So, whenever you're ready.... do kindly let us know

For "real" Surinamese food btw, it's come up before, but I do know these real Surinamese bars. If you want real Creole food, they'd be where to go. (Many of these eateries will be more like Hindustani or Javanese or Chinese, always with a hint to the Creole, but never quite the real thing. For some reason and that I don't know about, actual Creole food isn't well-represented in the restaurant scene here.) I'd need to inform them beforehand, but it would be no problem if we're not sure how many we'll be, either. We could then ask them for something special, whilst again never being expensive, say under E 10 a head. A wide choice btw we then shouldn't expect, but if we can let them know we want veg. or rather some signature meat dishes or whatever, that can be accommodated.

Pros: Authentic food and atmosphere, affordable and whatnot.

Contras: The "authentic" atmosphere here some may not at all feel so comfortable with (hey, I'd be there to hold your hand ), they can be very busy and not have much place to sit and be very noisy, not so much because of loud music although that can happen, but rather because of people having a tendency to carry loud and animated conversations. I'm thinking of notably one place where I'm at home and they would love to see you. Grungy and down-to-earth it will be. You being my guests however, you'd probably get treated as kings, if in their very own down-to-earth way. Fantastic food and very nicely served btw and for no money at all, they really give it an effort. Many native American Surinamese there, too, and this again reflected in the food they serve. Many non-black folks you won't see there, although of course at least the Surinamese have a rich history in Hindustani culture, and there will certainly be Surinamese guests of either Hindustani or Muslim Subcontinental origin, no matter how may generations ago.

Well, we can see, and just let me know what is desired. It's also if for some reason we do come out with a large group, many of these places just wouldn't really have the room for it. Then the weather by then, it would be handy if at least after dinner you could take a chair outside. I am however very sure they'd be glad to accommodate us, if only we let them know before.

But for something agreeable and comfortable to all, I'm really thinking of some other places. It was just a thought.

So anyways before the point goes missing:

It's tentative so far, but member NYCank is currently proposing an Amsterdam Meetup, anywhere between Sept. 1-4, date time & venue and all yet to be decided, but keep an eye here.

As another update btw: That Suri bar is too noisy for a meeting among strangers, I was just there. It had just crossed my mind as something authentic.

NYCank, just name the date, and we'll come up with something agreeable to all.