Meet-Up in Southern Ontario: Call for Interested Parties

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A couple of us have been discussing a meet-up for Southern Ontario and Border Town New York Areas.

If there are any interested parties please post ideas for locations and activities in this thread and we'll try and organize something.

Upbeat meet topic

I would like it to be in Toronto. I live in Barrie and Toronto would be a good halfway mark.

I am able to meet people and not get my amygdalla in a knot, though I know doing even this kind of social is difficult for many Aspies/Auties.

I live right in Toronto, so Toronto is perfect for me. I could take the Go train/bus anywhere else, but it's extremely expensive and time consuming, especially now that I'm at school.

Anywhere in Toronto is fine. I live in the West end, but I can use my parents' metropass to take the TTC.

Remember that all persons from the NY Border towns will now need a passport or NYS enhanced license to visit Canada

Well, it would appear we have at least 3 people interested, so far. Not that I'm a huge fan of throngs of peoples but it would be nice if we could get some more.

Toronto sounds like a good midway location we can all agree on.

* Any ideas to where people would feel comfortable meeting?
* Do we want a social type event such as a pub or a purpose driven event such as a Museum or Movie?
* Are all interested parties "of age" or should we be looking for an "all ages" location?

Personally I'm up for anything, I'll let the anxiety set in as the date approaches closer.

* Any ideas when we'd like to schedule this? Do people have exams or work times we need to work around?

I'd like to have something social, but in a quiet place that's not too overloading. I've just gone to an aspie meetup today at a coffee shop, and I've found that I couldn't hear half of the things people said because of the music and the people talking. Now if I only knew a place like that where we could go... I've never been to a pub, so I don't know what the noise level is there. A museum/movie is not a good idea, in my opinion, because it's difficult to communicate at this kind of an event (too many distractions). Any other ideas/suggestions?

Since it's difficult to find something ideal like that, I'm thinking of doing a combined event. We could meet at a more quiet coffee shop/restaurant (restaurants tend to have a lower noise level than coffee shops) and maybe chat for an hour or so, and then do a social activity. I'd suggest going to the science centre, but that's just my preference.

MathGirl, what a nerdy idea. I love it!

A good excuse to see BodyWorks as well. Is that still on? I missed it when it was in Buffalo.

A coffee shop sounds like an accessible place for everyone, perhaps those that would prefer going to a pub could go to a pub after and those interested in going to an event could go there.

I can't remember any good locations from back in school. There was the red room or something like that, can't really remember the name of it, up near Bloor. It was kind of a combination coffee/dinner/dessert/pub place and had little nooks for people could have some privacy with their "party". There was also a place on, um.. that main street that China Towns on, it was fairly decent. Or that place near Kensington with the killer Latkas, hmm.. how i miss the city minus the people.

Yes, hearing people and low volume would be ideal.

I'm glad you like the idea! And yes, the science centre still has BodyWorks. I can't remember if I've ever been to BodyWorks, since the last time I've been to the science centre was about 5 years ago.

I don't know the city that well myself. I've only began expanding my knowledge of the city significantly during the last 4 months. I know that the smaller coffee shops (not Starbucks, Second Cup, Tim Hortons, but the small private coffee shops) tend to be very quiet. I've never been to a pub before, but I guess I can ask some people I know about good locations. I've heard of the Red Room, and pretty sure I've passed by it before, but I have no idea what the atmosphere is actually like in these places.

Where exactly in the city would be more convenient for us to meet? I guess if we choose to go to the science centre, we should meet somewhere in that area for easy access.

So this is a suggestion of something we could do that would appeal to those who want the social aspect without hte overload to imminent shutdown aspect. If we could pool resources we could rent out a VIP(unfortunately it would be 19+ as there is the persence of alcohol) auditorium at the Varsity Cinplexodeon. It just west of Bay street tucked on a little side road just off bloor street west. what does everyone think of this? I myself can easily access it as I'm about a half hour's TTC commute from it. Does anyone have any suggestion that would maybe fall somewhere between Kipling station and the core but closer to kipling,? Not that the commute bothers me, I'm just curious.

Wouldn't that be expensive?
And anyway, I'm 18, not 19 but turning 19 pretty soon. Maybe we can do something like this later, but if it's too expensive, I don't think it's a good idea at all. There are many restaurants on the outskirts of Toronto that are very quiet since there are rarely very many people visiting them. There's a Thai place I went to on Dundas St. West once on a Saturday. There were absolutely no people there... I sat there and read my book and ate. The only thing that annoyed me was the waiter constantly asking me how I was doing and how was the food. It'd be definitely harder to approach a group of people for small talk like that, though.

you know for me it is not so much where we go but what we do. I prefer to have good, deep conversations with people, not stupid chit chat about mindless things. I am up for anything. The noise does not matter too much for me, but more so the people. I prefer smaller, intimate gatherings to large boisterious ones. And yeah a aspie meet up/dating site would be perfect for the GTA.

Go and get your diagnosis first
I honestly doubt you have it. I, for one, have problems hearing people in noisy places... but there may be many people out there who like to have deep conversations about your interest. You don't have to specifically join an Asperger's group.

(P.S. I know him in real life)

I'm with MathGirl on this one, renting anything sounds loads expensive, especially since there appears to be only a handful of people interested.

As far as locations go, I haven't been to the city in approximately five years. Venues most likely have changed since then and the only ones i'm familiar with fall inside the downtown core. Most of the locations I know are marginally acceptable as far as "information overload" is concerned but not ideal.

If the food was decent in the Thai restaurant I'd be up for something like that. They would most likely be favourable to group of paying customers. What do other people say?

Location is the most flexible for me as I'll be driving in from out of town. On an alternate note, this means a vehicle could be made available for those who might need a ride. My vehicle holds 3 people in addition to myself, so space is limited.

It appears the Ontario Science Centre website is currently down, or at least my connection won't let it through.

I was going to attempt to get hours and prices and see if there were any small coffee shops etc.. nearby. Perhaps later...

BodyWorks is only on exhibit until Novemember 30 ! Which is soon.

Bawdy Worlds topic

I wrote to Mathgirl that the only days I could not be there are the 23 and 26, but I could postpone the 26. But November 23 is definitely out because my youngest is being tested that day for ADD. I cannot come that day.

Looks like I have one child somewhat on the Spectrum after all, even though my youngest is very social and fashion conscious.

Last edited by sartresue on 19 Nov 2009, 9:06 am, edited 1 time in total.

Alright, we have decided to meet on Saturday. Three people are definitely coming: satresue, me, and nansnick. If anyone else is still interested, please PM me or nansnick for details of our meet - up.

And about the Science Centre, it's actually called BodyWorlds, not BodyWorks, eh?