Drupal Coworking Fridays?

Posted by akalata on December 10, 2011 at 8:22pm

Is there any interest in the solo/freelancer/work-from-home set in a regular co-working meetup, similar to what Mediacurrent recently proposed at http://www.mediacurrent.com/blog/drupal-coworking-friday-we-dont-have-wo... ?

The post suggests a regular monthly schedule (last Friday of the month, starting January 2012), though with enough interest we could do it more often. I've participated in a weekly freelancers coworking morning at a north side coffee shop for the past few months, and I've found the community and connections to be quite useful.

Comments

coffee shop is good, but...

Posted by gjangelo on December 11, 2011 at 4:26am

Don't forget libraries! Many branches have study/meeting rooms and free wi-fi.

Bonus: You don't get hassled to keep drinking coffee because you are taking up tables paying customers would be using.

downtown? 311 wacker building lower level

Posted by mikehchase@gmail.com on December 11, 2011 at 2:32pm

or art institute.

Libraries FTW

Posted by stkrzysiak on December 12, 2011 at 7:10pm

I use to get a lot of coding sessions in with friends at the Harold Washington Library. Not the best internet, but tons of room.

I would definitely attend a co-work day! Great idea!

Count me in for co-working day!

Posted by ChiTech on December 11, 2011 at 5:40pm

This a great idea. I'm interested. I like coffee shop idea...I like moving around the city working in different ones. Keep me posted on the first co-working day.

I think this is such an

Posted by MrMaksimize on December 12, 2011 at 1:44pm

I think this is such an amazing idea. I love it. I think there's something about just being in the same room with Drupal people that creates a learning environment where everyone can benefit. I would vote against coffee shop though. Coffee shops by nature would stifle that kind of an environment. (It's hard to talk over all the chatter, lots of other people are there). I'd like to see it happen in a an actual coworking space, or like Lrrr suggested in a library.

Love it.

Posted by Todd Young on December 12, 2011 at 5:48pm

I would be willing to attend. I also have a location on the northwest side that I could offer which is not at all glamourous but it would be free and dedicated to our purpose. Perhaps consider it as a fallback location? Contact me for details.

Location options

Posted by akalata on December 14, 2011 at 3:03am

Thanks for the offer Todd! I think it might be good to decide on a location collectively, to make sure that at least the instigators all show up! If it's successful and we find ourselves needing to expand, we can always do more regional/neighborhood-based locations.

So, we've got

Libraries - a meeting area and reliable wifi would be a must. Free?
Multiple locations around the city
Co-working spaces - more office amenities, but with a cost per person -- maybe we could get a sponsor?
COOP - Chicago CoWorking Space - Chicago, Brown Line
Ravenswood CoWorking Group - Montrose, Brown Line
coLab Evanston - Main, Purple Line and Metra
~~Coffee shops~~
Todd's mysterious northwest side place :)
Extra office space - Anybody know any Drupal shops with extra office space?

I'm just wondering -

Posted by MrMaksimize on December 14, 2011 at 2:57pm

I'm just wondering - depending how we spin it to co-working spaces, we may not need sponsors. (Or actually they would become the sponsors by giving us free space). I know they're always trying to get more people in the door, and this will give them a good chunk of freelancer / small shop publicity

Speaking of which....

Posted by akalata on December 15, 2011 at 12:52pm

A new co-working space and coffee shop called Topics (2122 N Halsted, https://www.facebook.com/TopicsChicago) got in touch with me via Twitter. Any thoughts on this location? Also looks like they need a website. :)

oh cool looks like they have

Posted by MrMaksimize on December 15, 2011 at 4:52pm

oh cool looks like they have a round conference table. from the fb pictures. I'd be up for trying this :)

Stopped by Topics yesterday

Posted by akalata on December 27, 2011 at 3:14pm

The conference table is a nice addition, and the guys were pretty friendly. It's a bit of a hike from the L, and I didn't notice many affordable food options -- maybe not the best when planning a full day in the area.

I hope to check out Slurpee's suggestion this week, and hopefully make a decision.

new place - Next Door Cafe?

Posted by slurpee on December 15, 2011 at 5:31pm

http://www.yelp.com/biz/next-door-cafe-chicago
https://www.nextdoorchi.com

I randomly found Next Door Cafe the other week. Scenario is pretty strange that it is owned by State Farm and they want to share financial information (you don't have to talk finance). However, the place is open to hangout/work, reserve rooms, and has pretty nice beverages at cafe.

Finding a space weekly might be difficult. Has anyone put thought into every other week? Is Friday a firm day? Friday's can become fairly busy for anyone.

Last Friday of each month

Posted by akalata on December 16, 2011 at 5:40pm

At least, that's the plan on the initial post I referenced, and I think it would be good as a start.

Next Door Cafe looks interesting, though I'm hesitant of any place that won't list their address on their website. Seems 'off' to me.

Is Lakeview a good neighborhood for everyone who is interested so far?

I wouldn't be able to make it out to the 'burbs, but if there's enough interest to branch out the event, go for it! No reason to travel if you don't have to.

Address is listed for me

Posted by slurpee on December 16, 2011 at 5:56pm

Not sure why you can't find the address. It is on the About page. Plus website allows users to create accounts to reserve rooms.

659 W Diversey Parkway
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 472 3667 (DOOR)

Café
7am-10pm daily

Coaching & Classes
Monday-Friday
10am-7pm
Saturday-Sunday
10am-5pm

very interested

Posted by seanfitzpatrick on December 15, 2011 at 7:59pm

Hi all, just wanted to say I'm very interested in this idea. I'm pretty new to freelancing and would really jump at the opportunity meet, work, network, etc. Count me in. I will also look around for ideas on a venue.

Sean

Sean Fitzpatrick
Proof Studio
@sffitzpatrick

Also Northbrook Public Library

Posted by gstupar on December 16, 2011 at 4:06pm

I know it's the north-suburbs, but if anyone wanted to get a group together and needed space, I could book one of our rooms at the Northbrook Public Library. I would need 2 weeks advance notice but I'm happy to help any way I can.
gstupar@northbrook.info

Lakeview great for me

Posted by ChiTech on December 16, 2011 at 6:58pm

Lakeview and any northside city location good for me. I'm flexible with the days too so Friday is fine. Thanks for all your research to make this happen. Look forward to it!

Next Door Cafe it is

Posted by akalata on December 30, 2011 at 4:28pm

http://www.yelp.com/biz/next-door-cafe-chicago
https://www.nextdoorchi.com

This place is really cool. I've reserved the 'Blue Room' from 9am to 5pm on Friday, 1/27/12.

It's a smaller conference room set up to hold 7-10 people, but there's lots of other seating arrangements in the main area if we have overflow or don't want to be all crammed together.

Hope to see you all there!

out of town

Posted by slurpee on January 2, 2012 at 7:33pm

Wish I could attend the first coworking day, but I will be in Sri Lanka. Please post info of how it went and next date.