Toronto 75'ers Meet-Up

Okay, people! Let's make a Toronto meet-up happen this year!

Let's start planning -- post what time of the year works for you, or even more specifically if you have certain months or weeks when you'll be traveling up this way.

I figure Toronto is probably the most centralized location for most of us, though we could venture slightly into the surrounding GTA if anyone knows of a particularly fantastic place to meet out there (less traffic! better parking!).

Let's make it happen!
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I am glad that you are doing this
Are we talking spring? If we meet on Bloor St. in between Bathurst and Spadina- there are plenty of restaurants and bookstores ( Book City, BMV, The Beguiling) -near the subway as well as some parking.

I've added a Meetup section to the group wiki and put up a link to this thread for ease of tracking.

I would be interested in this! And yes, torontoc, that is a great location, for all the reasons you've mentioned.

For me, weekends work best. Doesn't matter when. I am also on bookcrossing but sadly, our meetups are few and far between. We are a small, but devoted, bc group.

Anyhow, please keep me in the loop. I am looking forward to becoming more active in LT and meetups are a fun dimension to that!

I would really love to go to a Toronto meet-up! I've never been to Canada before but Zoe comes to visit me all the time so I feel like it's my turn :-)

I'm traveling in mid-April, but I can make anytime after April work. I'm getting my passport renewed in February but I'm positive I should have my new one before then.

I really wish I could come up to Toronto with Jose and Barbara. Money is tight for me now, but I'll keep watching this thread *just in case*. :)

Well, depending on the job situation I might be able to swing a trip to Toronto. I'll keep tabs here.

Yay, I'm excited for this!

I'm most likely to be in Toronto in the summer: either June, July, or August. Mark wanted to go to the Ex, so we were thinking of late August, and he also has time off for the Fourth of July, so that's another possibility. I can also travel on my own, of course.

I would definitely recommend visiting the BMV in the Annex. Depending on how energetic we are, we could also go by subway to another location afterwards. World's Biggest Bookstore would have been an obvious one, but no longer :(

I hope you'll all be able to make it!

I can come to Toronto on weekends throughout the year, and basically any time in July and August.

This is fantastic!

Cyrel, that area is my old stomping grounds. It just depends on when the meet-up is as to whether or not I can make it down. I'm two hours northeast so it's do-able but it just depends on whether we have tickets for the Shaw or Stratford at the same time, etc., etc. Thanks for letting me know about it, Cait86.

Sounds like June or July might be our best bet for this...? That would give everyone some time to save up their pennies and budget for it, too.

(And please, share this thread with anyone else who might be able to get to Toronto, I am sure I've missed a few people on my rounds.)

June might be a good time- maybe during the Luminato festival? June 6-15? There are always author talks on the programme.

I probably can't do summer, alas. I may well be up there in February/March, if the freelance gods are good to me.

Hmm... well, Suz, we could always do a smaller pre-meetup meet-up? ;D

>12 torontoc:: That's a really good idea! Do you know when approximately they post the schedule for that?

I'm there, anytime. (I live in Toronto)

The schedule for Luminato is sent to me- so I will post when I get any information.
I could do a " pre-meetup meetup" in Feb or March- some dates in those months are not good for me but we can see what is good for everyone ( my niece is expecting a baby sometime in the middle of March- but her first child was a month early so I might be in Portland sometime during those months )

#17 Thanks for sending me info about this. I live in Toronto and would love the opportunity to meet other LTers.

I've joined the group but will probably lurk a bit while I find my feet :-)

Toronto is a few hours away from me and I would get there via GO Transit, with a couple of week's notice, I'd love to meet up on Bloor Street or other downtown location.

I can do the pre-meetup in February or March too, as long as it's on a weekend (or a week night, I suppose).

Okay, let's begin throwing some dates around for the Pre-Meetup Meetup (haha) in Toronto!

Do either of these dates work for anyone?

Saturday, Feb 8th
Saturday, March 8th

I am free after 1pm on both days. If neither work, please suggest an alternate date that would work for you!

I propose we start organizing the larger, main meetup after this smaller one, to keep things less confusing. Does that work for everybody?

I am free on either day after 1.

Let me try to get organized here... I would have aimed for a bit later in March, but I'll see what I can do. I have to get my Canadian passport reissued, but that requires getting my citizenship card replaced, which appears to be very difficult. (I have the paper certificate, but the card was in my office on 9/11 and thus is no more.) It's all very angst-inducing, but MUST be done in the next two or three months.

>23 Chatterbox: Maybe we'll make it an annual event. You can start your paperwork process now, and you'll be all set by next spring :)

March is better for me.

February isn't do-able for me. Prefer late March. But please don't shape any plans from my comments as it will be difficult for me whenever, especially on weekends.

What about March 22nd? I'm free after 1pm.

I could meet in the morning on that day - I have a theatre performance to attend at 2:30 pm near Bloor and Bathurst.( Tarragon)

Any of those dates work for me.

I may be up for this as well.

I think it's pretty much resolved that Mark and I will be in Canada from about June 27-July 6, so if we have a meetup on one of those weekends (June 28/29 or July 5/6) then he'll be able to attend too. I could still make a separate trip by myself at Luminato time, though.

I'm keeping my eye on this thread. I'm in Montreal, not sure I can make my way to Toronto, but it's no impossible either!

I have also starred this thread. I am in Toronto and would love to meet up with other LTers.

I've starred this thread in case of a summer meet up. I'm in Nova Scotia but would love an excuse to go to Toronto (and visit Romni Wool!).

Any updates on a meetup here in Toronto? Hope I haven't missed it.

I am also on bookcrossing and though we are a small group of bookcrossers here in TO, we do meet regularly. We even have a location where we (myself and 2 others) have set up a dedicated bookshelf for exchanges. The location is called Harbord House Pub and is on Harbord Street, a couple of blocks west of Spadina (easily accessible by TTC). If this location sounds reasonable, I am happy to speak to the pub owner once we get a date and book us a table or 2 upstairs. This is what we usually do for our BC meetups.

Just wanted to stay in the loop.

Nothing yet! The plans for an early-year meet up this month didn't work out, so I think we'll just do one in the summer as more people seem to be free then. I think we were waiting for the Luminato Festival lineup release, to see if there were any literary events that might be good to meet up at. I see now that they've released some of the festival schedule, so I'll try to take a look at that (or anyone else is welcome to, when you have a moment!) to see if there are any options there.

That said, we'll definitely have to nail down a date sometime in April, to facilitate anyone who needs to make travel plans to get into town.

If anyone is around early next week (after Mother's Day), I'll be in town for Monday & Tuesday. Sorry for the short notice & limited time frame, but plans were very last minute (and constrained by the mother's day stuff & my niece's school performance on Saturday afternoon...)

I could meet people for drinks most anywhere in central Toronto; I have a few moving parts that are still moving in my schedule, but thought I should post here just in case...

>36 dk_phoenix:
Here is the link to the Luminato Festival: http://luminatofestival.com/

>37 Chatterbox:
Mother's Day is at the end of this coming week (the 11th). Am I correct in understanding that you mean the week after that?

I am relatively new to LT and haven't been to an LT meetup, so I'm looking forward to it. There is another bookcrossing member in our local group who is also on LT and she said she'd come, too. Do let me know when your plans are firmed up. We are both centrally located, as well.

I'm actually coming up on Mother's Day weekend. I realize that means that the weekend is difficult for many people, but I'll be free (as far as I know) on the Tuesday evening and both days for lunch. I don't know how many people work during the day, etc., and realize this is a last minute thing, but thought I would post just in case... Saturday I know I'll be busy from about 1:30 onward; I may be free Sunday evening. Monday, I'm meeting an old friend for dinner. I'm trying to find time to see another friend, but there may be some flexibility there.

Just a final quick note. I will be free on the early part of Tuesday evening, and in downtown Toronto. I'm meeting a friend for a late dinner (she's working until after 8 at the Financial Post) so could meet anyone near Bay/Bloor at Chapter/Indigo or whatever that bookstore there is, or anywhere nearby, for a drink and a browse, whenever is convenient, around happy hour? I know it's short notice and a bad week, but PM or post here if anyone is around...

I am around on Tuesday, May 13 - Indigo /chapters in Bloor Bay is a good spot to meet and go to one of the other cafes? Coffee Mill or Carole's Cheescake or Aroma on Bay?
time 5 pm?
let me know
Cyrel

Any of those would be good! Shall we pick a spot within the bookstore to meet? In the downstairs part that opens out onto Bay Street? Right by the doors there are those tables with the new books & the curving walls with the shelves of new books -- it's a smallish area and we can maybe meet there at 5 and putter around and then go get some coffee or drinks or whatever?

If anyone else is around & able to join, that would be super... Cyrel, I'll shoot you a PM with my e-mail & cell phone #

Thanks ! Good meeting place by the Bay entrance- I'll be there at 5 - I will email you my cell phone number.

I think at this point my chances of making an additional trip during Luminato are extremely slim, so would anyone be interested in (yet another) meetup a few weeks later? I expect to be around from approximately June 23-July 6, and I'll be free on weekdays as well as weekends.

I could do that- I might be out of town on July 7 weekend but could meet in the afternoon on weekdays and the last weekend of June

I can do that. Keep us posted

So, if it has to be a weekend, I think that basically leaves Sunday June 29 (I'm busy on the Saturday, and torontoc may be busy the following weekend).

Is anyone limited to weekends?

I'm flexible. Let me know what you ultimately decide and where. I can pm you my phone number or email if you want, when you get into town so we can firm up a meeting spot. I can also contact a couple of other LJers here who have expressed an interest.

That would be great if you could reach out to other people who have expressed an interest! And I'm PM you my phone number and email too.

Weekends are best now- I could meet the first July 5 weekend now- June 29 is also good- meet where? Bloor St is good- near Spadina/Bathurst- or Indigo bookstore near Bloor and Bay

Hmm, I'd say Spadina/Bathurst because there are more interesting bookstores around there? BMV, maybe Seekers, A Different Booklist?

Let's go with June 29.

Great idea- also The Beguiling for graphic novels and comic books. What time and where? We could meet in the front of BMV

Ok, what time? *By the Way Cafe* is a good place to meet if you want to do lunch first. It's on the north side of the street, 400 Bloor W, corner of Bloor and Brunswick.

https://www.google.ca/maps/place/By+The+Way+Cafe/@43.665975,-79.407642,17z/data=...

Good place-12:30? or 12:00?

Lunch sounds good! Either 12:30 or 12 is fine with me.

*wishes she could be there*

>56 SqueakyChu: Wish you could, too! Maybe next time!!

>54 torontoc:,55 Let's say 12:15, then. I'll try to get there a bit early and get us a table. I'll be the one with the
book(s)! :-)

>57 jessibud2: I'll be the one with the book(s)!

Cyrel, you really do need to join BookCrossing so you can track those books! :)

If I don't go to Stratford next weekend, I'll try to join people. Will know for sure by Thursday.

I'l be there- blue glasses!

Ohhh, I am heartbroken... I can't do this weekend. Not enough notice -- I have an event that I can't cancel this Sunday. Then again, it may be my own fault as I haven't been around on here for some time and have been unable to contribute to the discussion. Dangit. DANGIT.

Well, I think we only have three people confirmed so far—if it works for jessibud and torontoc, maybe we could move it to the following Saturday, July 5? The days are pretty much the same to me.

I'd have to do the Sunday -- I have a multicultural festival to perform in from the 2nd-5th... I know, I complicate everything, blarg! Lol.

Unfortunately I'm flying back to New York that Sunday :(

Gosh darnit.

I am truly sorry that everyone can't make it. Maybe some other time. But am I correct to assume that our original plan for Sunday the 29th, around noon, is still on?

Yup, still on!

And we'll just have to do another meetup in the future.

I agree-more meetups later

Hopefully no one is planning to drive tomorrow—my sister pointed out that it's the Pride Parade, and not just regular Pride but WorldPride. The parade goes down Yonge from Bloor to Dundas, so we should be far enough west to avoid most of the crowds, maybe.

>69 _Zoe_: - And even if there weren't any celebrations, the amount of construction/road repair, and other traffic disruptions in this city this year is astronomical. You couldn't pay me to take my car downtown. TTC is having plenty of its own headaches this year but if you want to leave your house, and where you want to go is too far to walk, it really is the only way.

Have a great meet-up today, everyone! :)

Really, really wish I could be there. We'll have to do another one sometime, maybe in the fall. And hopefully by then some of the construction in Toronto will be done... ugh. All the best getting around today without too much delay.

Our meetup was fun! Only 4 of us but no matter. We had plenty to talk about, a nice lunch, and of course, a grand finale at BMV, the bookstore across the street. I snagged 4 books, one of which was on my wishlist (The Thing With Feathers, Madeline!!)

Although I continue to be *challenged* when it comes to embedding pictures into my posts, I did manage to upload a photo of us into my profile gallery so check there! Why it is so easy to do there and not here, is a mystery to me but never mind. I'm over it! ;-)

Great meeting you three today! I hope if we do have another meetup in the fall, that maybe we can get more people to join us, as well. And for sure it won't be so hot and humid!

Shelley, I just had to put your terrific picture here on this thread -- by magic! Now you know why I got hooked into LibraryThing as well as BookCrossing. It's the terrific people I've "met" in both of these groups. It looks as if everyone had a fun time. Sorry I was not there with you.

ETA: L'Chaim! :)

>73 SqueakyChu: - Thanks, Madeline! You just have *the touch*... ;-)

Haha!

Great meetup- we have to plan another!
Thank you for the photo!

It was great to meet you both yesterday! I'll definitely be interested in another meetup in the future.

Bah! I can't believe I missed that. Anyone interested in an autumn edition?

I missed it too. Would definitely try for another date sometime in the fall.

sure! maybe during "The Word on the Street" book festival- it is usually the third or fourth week in Sept?

WOTS sounds like a good time to meet up, though we'd probably want to pick at time AFTER spending time there. It always used to be on the last Sunday of September though I've noticed that in recent years it seems to have moved to the 3rd Sunday. This year, it's on the 21st. Here is a link:

http://www.thewordonthestreet.ca/wots/toronto/whatson/intro

I usually go with a few bookcrossers, and we release (ie, leave) books around Queen's Park, while browsing/shopping, etc. It's a great event. It would be fun to meet up with LTers this year! Let's stay in touch for this!

That's an easy area to get to.

>81 jessibud2:

It's fun to plan at least once a year to get your BookCrossing group together with your LT group. I try to do this each year here in DC informally at the National Book Festival. I just plan for about an hour's time during the day to gather and chat.

Should we plan a meeting on Sept 21 at "Word on the Street"?
I'll be there

>84 torontoc: - I will be there as well. Would people prefer to do their WOTS thing first and meet up afterwards? Or meet first then split up after?

either is fine with me- we could meet at the Second Cup on Bloor St. near Avenue Rd.

HI Cyrel...LT meet ups are always fun!

I hope all is well with you.

Sorry I can't be there this weekend. I have a memorial service to go to.