The Engadget Reader Meetup: The Aftermath (part I, NY)

Whoa, it was crazy! Over two hundred people showed up for our first reader meetup, and we were seriously feeling the love. After a 40 minute Q&A with us Engadget editors, we gave some of that love back in the form of a couple thousand dollars worth of stuff (we won't go into the specifics out of respect for our readers who couldn't make it). First, we'd like to say thanks so very much to the people out there who found the time to make it out last night! Honestly, your support was completely unbelievable. We'd also like to thank everyone who took pictures for us, which you can see a gallery of below. We'd really really like to thank Anjie, Liz, Barb, and Yoshimi for their help! Then there's Kiho, who let us totally blow Compact-Impact wide open for this thing. Last of all, we're thanking all you guys who read the site and make it possible. Here's to another great 15 months! Tons of pictures, so click on!

He didn�t want a raffle ticket, just some beer.

When free beer really means free beer.

Richard and Engadget columnist Ross Rubin.

This was like after 10 minutes.

Engadget friends Roman and Seth.

Kirk crews it up with Engadget editors Marc Perton, Barb Dybwad, and Ryan Block.

We gave one of those away.

FRENZ 4EVZ.

Actually, that�s just the girlfriend pillow. Chill out, now.

Liz, Anjie, Jill, and Barb: they make our world go �round.

We�re practically giving this stuff away!

Giveaway!

Rappin�.

Yeah!

�Who wants Pocket Bible for Windows Mobile?�

The crew: Barb, Ryan, Peter, Marc. Love ya!

Photographers: Jill Fehrenbacher, Mathew Rothenberg, Marc Perton, Anthony German, and Phil Catelinet.

[Steve Fisher @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I personally could not attend, but still wished to thank you guys for the great information you provide on your site.

Steve

[Man @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Whew, my ugly face never should up. It was great anytime the ruled filled up it would go up at least 20 degrees. Maybe the Rose Center at the AMNH next time that place is big and public.

[Pancake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

We need a west coast meet up! San Fran to the rescue.

[Man @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

room not ruled?

[Ryan @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Engadget, U guys rock,
it would be great to meet you, and alot of people would also show up in san diego. so SANDIEGO PLEASE, S-A-N D-I-E-G-O!!!!! thnks!

~Ryan~

[Atul Sabharwal @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

hope you plan to do this in every city in every country in every continent...look forward to seeing you in DC next!

[Matt @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

even better, meet in seattle!

[caero @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

How about a european meetup? hehe

[narco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Yeah, I'd probably go to an L.A. one -- wonder if more chicas would show up to that one; if not, I could just bring one of those girlfriend pillows with me.

Fishes,
narco.

[Lachy @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Nah come down to Australia. Yeah we can put a few shrimp on the barby for ya.

[Leo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Ah, Crap, an opportunity to meet the guys and get free stuff. Wait a minute I live in New York, why didn't I go? (Slaps oneself).

[Apoco:Lips @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I'd love to recommend Dublin, Ireland as a European meetup - were not VERY technologically advanced (although we do make alot of Intel CPUs and Viagra tablets) we have Great Beer (^_^)

CEAD MILE FAILTE !!

[Peter Rojas @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I promise we're going to have reader meetups in other cities soon--LA and SF will probably be the next couple. The biggest problem is really finding a space to host these events, if anyone in LA, SF, Chicago, Seattle, etc. can hook us up it'll be a lot easier to set one of these up in your city.

[KitNBootz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

OMG! Who snapped that horrible picture of me?!? I want names people!! LOL! :)

[Jake T @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I liv in RI, msyb s Bodton meetup would be cool, or even NY, but I probsbly eouldn't go to a NY one.

[narco @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Yeah Apoco:Lips, Dublin sounds great! Viagra and Beer? Sounds like the perfect ingredients to a party if I ever heard of any.

Fishes,
narco.

[Joe Smith @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Because those are all guys in the picture, we can assume:

1) Guys are intelligent
2) Girls don't like science
3) Guys are lucky because they get free stuff for being scientifically partial.

[Mark @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

My house. Beer's on me (after I spill it that is.)

[Ro Ley @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

The meetup looks like it was awesome. I'm glad comments are back. Have you considered having to register before being able to place comments. A system like that seems easy to control. GO ENGADGET!

[kffjjffff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

i totally forgot about this

[jands @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Have one in Phoenix!!!!!!!


BTW, I wanted a caption contest today :( Oh well, we can blame the trolls, spammers, and First Post!!ers.

[hajmola @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Wish I could've made it. Ahh well. Guess I'll have to make up for it by flying to wherever it is next time...and soon, I hope!

Engadget. Best. Blog. Ever.

[Michael JS @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Have one in Sydney! It's only a 20 hour flight from NY...

[Iann @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Looks pretty cool. I check this blog all the time and it sucks I couldnt make it... Hope you guys hold another meeting like this in the near future so I can attend...

[benhc911 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I wish I could have gone, but Im from Northern Ontario... Nuff said. Anyway, despite not wanting to insult us, I would be interested in what tech goodies you gave away, and how you managed to fund this, although you are the best gadget blog, gizmodo sucks in comparison, so perhaps you are multimillionaires. Can I have some money, or beer? so long as it isnt crappy.

[benhc911 @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I suppose I can just metion it here then (sorry for double posting) but Nano"m"ech memory? and did you mean to say "� "just" five meters into the air, dodge bullets, jump and kick without wires or post-production." or did you mean to say ""jump" five..."

[Rob @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

hey pete, met you on the cruise to Bermuda... Have been hooked on this site eversince!! Excellent work on always having the most up to the minute info. congrats on the apparent success. Keep it up... also props to your peeps at joystiq. ciao.
Rob

[Pete Jenkins @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

fun stuff, for anyone who hasn't checked it out Compact Impact is much recommended. Gotta get myself one of those tables! I'd come back to new york again for another one, but as far as new locations are concerned, i'd like to throw boston into the mix.

Pete

[Tom W @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Damn! I never would have guessed that HOT babes are into Engadget! If you ever do Chicago....I AM THERE!

[Max @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

haha, what about HOUSTON, TX?!

[ALi @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Wow! Looks like I missed one heck of a party! But hey it aint fair, you guys gotta have one at this part of the globe. I mean how about a Middle East Gig next time?
Anyways, wish I could have been there! You guys are the best! Keep up the GREAT work!

ENjoy

[Jeff @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I was in all honesty actually *busy* that night, which is an odd coincidence, because both that and these Engadget meetups happen about once in exactly a blue moon.

Wish I could have been there, but oh well, there's always next time.

[icebin @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

So cool the party is!

[Tom W @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Jeff,
Don't brag unless you intend to back it up with pics.

[sam @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

how about florida lol

[James @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Looks like it was an amazing time! Next time hold you event in toronto~! lol... haha But seriously its cool that you guys did something like this, its like being able to meet Peter Jennings or Tom Brokaw...this is the future of media and it definitely would have been cool to take part.

[badtz @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

For Los Angeles: you should definitely look into a lot of the loft spaces in Downtown, or just in Downtown in general. It's a very central location, and would be a great place to host the event!

Possible location: The Standard Hotel, maybe get a way to let them do a rooftop gathering on a weeknight, great views and bar.

[Cisco Kid @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I know space is @ a premium in New York, but if your going to throw one of these shin digs in Los Angeles try to get "hooked up " with a bigger space. That Peter dude looks like Anthony Kiedis. "Give it away give it away, give it away now"

[Mashko @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Missed out on the meet up. Looks like many good times were had. Next time, arrangements will be made to be there. This kind of reminds me of a meeting I participated in years ago for a BBS. Only that wasn't particularly successful. Can't wait to be at the next one.

http://dmashko.typepad.com

[Richard @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

You know, I had a really good time, regardless of the fact I didn't win s**t. C'est la vie.

I met some really cool folk, and look forward to the next meetup!

-Richard

[Blake @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Looked like a great time, hopefully there will be another one some time that I can actually attend.

[lawadm @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

I'm sure someone already mentinoed this but I don't want to read all the comments but lets have and OC/LA one of our own here is what I say.

[B-rad- @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

In your last podcast you said something like there was going to be a big announcement that the people at the meetup would get to hear first. What was that all about?

[pacey @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Got to come to Detroit if you do a Engadget National Tour. Think of it this way, for the first time in many years the city is in good shape. You don't think we're gonna have it looking crappy with the All-star Game and the Superbowl now do you? Down town is banging again and it's all near the major convention center - Cobo Hall. Just a thought...

[Sedo @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Woohoo, I came out in the pics. I'm the one with a cap playing with the light. (Next to girlfriend pillow, LOL) The light changes from time to time and I couldn't figure out how to keep the light same color.

Anyway, great meeting! I do wish that the place was little bigger. I was surprised how so many people showed up!

[Phil @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Cool! They posted my pictures. But I forgot to include a link to my blog in my e-mail to Engadget, so here's the link now:
http://fiveguysproductions.blogspot.com

-Phil Catelinet

[johnny envelope @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

MORE meetups in NEW YORK pleeez!! I couldn't make it because of work, but I would definitely attend one of your parties in the future.

Though I wasn't able to make it, I'd still like to know what giveaways I missed out on.

[1337freek @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

been there and it was awesome - i am the one with the skateboard - they had lots of cool gadgets, i got to meet with the editors, lots of beer, Q&A with Peter, free giveaways (i almost won the smartphone - dammit Peter, i told u to pick 069 not 065) stacks of engadgets stickers (i plastered my room with them) thanx alot cant wait till next one comes around

[Rich...! @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

Shit, I'm jeaous.

Next time.

Rich...!

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 1:01AM]

http://img.engadget.com/common/images/4214434909043189.JPG?0.10845720169348061
Omg it's hoootie
Why didn't i go? CURSES.