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You are here: Home / Balloon Juice / Meetups / Open Thread: Balloon Juice Meetup in DC on Saturday, November 18

Open Thread: Balloon Juice Meetup in DC on Saturday, November 18

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There is a Balloon Juice meetup in DC in the works!

Here’s the scoop from Recoob:

Based on the soundings I took yesterday and today, here’s how it’s shaping up:

There appears to be a consensus forming around a DC Meetup:   Saturday, November 18

This is a José Andrés restaurant. I’ve been there a few times — it has a lively atmosphere and specializes in small plates/mezze.

Zaytinya

It’s quite popular, so we may need to have a critical mass to get a reservation.  It’s also right across the street from the Gallery Place Metro, in the heart of DC.

Several are up for brunch, which runs from 11:30 am to 3:00 pm on Saturdays. Perhaps we shoot for a late brunch, around 1:30p or so? That way, people who’d rather come in during the mid-afternoon lull can do so and it won’t be too late for everyone.

Once I get an idea of  how many can make it, I’ll call Zaytinya and see whether we can set up either a private area or table for us all.

Chime in below if you’re interested in the meetup!
Otherwise, Open Thread!

Reader Interactions

86Comments

  1. 1.

    robtrim

    Hey, I live in DC and have been following Balloon Juice for years. (I’m an occasional commenter.)

    The date, time and location sound good. I’ll be there for sure.

  2. 2.

    Suzanne

    DANG! I’m actually going to be in NoVA that week, but I’m leaving two days before.

    Have fun, y’all!

  3. 3.

    zhena gogolia

    I’ve eaten there — very good! But I don’t live there, so sorry I can’t join you.

  4. 4.

    eversor

    I’m from DC.  Do NOT go to Zaytinya.

    Long story but the guy who created and ran it lost several of his restaurants in the area because he couldn’t stop sexually assaulting his staff.  Zaytinya is keeping his empire afloat along with a few other places.

    I like the food there and it’s not bad.  But if you are going to there you are litterally funding and helping keep alive the empire of the most sexually predatory chef in the entire DC area who’s now infamous in the industry.

    So Balloon Juice, not just pro Christian but pro sexual assault of working class women… though I guess I just repeated myself and I’m not shocked given people here

    Also when it all started to fall apart for him, the checks for people who worked for him in his restaurant empire bounced.  So if you are eating there you are pro not paying your staff, robbing them of their tips, and more.  But hey!  You do you

    Balloon Juice, pointing out the problems with Christianity bad, but let’s frequent DC’s most rapey Chef’s most famous dig after me-too!  Also the most abusive of the wait staff who let all their checks bounce.

    Ya’ll are proving the dirt bag left 100% correct about liberals on this one.

  7. 7.

    MattF

    @eversor: Zaytinya is a Jose Andres restaurant— I’ve never heard anything of that sort about Andres. I strongly suggest you check your sources before spreading around a story like that.

    ETA: The Mike Isabella story is pretty well-known. Zayatinya is not an Isabella restaurant and never was.

  8. 8.

    eversor

    I’d also note if you are in the area of Zaytinya (which was Jose Andres and Mike Isabella) there are MULTIPLE Jose Andres restaurants there that never had a staff rape problem and are not associated with Mike and his terror.

    IMHO go to bar mini https://www.minibarbyjoseandres.com/

  9. 9.

    eversor

    @MattF:

    Kinda.  Guess who was the head chef who made it famous though and still makes money from it!

    I know people here don’t care about rape and staff abuse (you all still refuse to condemn Christianity) but do not go to a restaurant associated with Mike and then claim to be anti rape or pro worker.  It’s nuts.

    Jose has multiple restaurants here that aren’t tainted by Mike’s legacy of raping and not paying his staff.  Zaytinya is NOT one of them.  But I never took anybody here seriously about caring about rape and not paying their staff once I saw you all refuse to condemn Christianity.

    Good to see you are all true to the normal, again, as always.

  11. 11.

    eversor

    @MattF:

    Mike raped his staff and bounced his checks.  He started working for Jose at Zaytinya.  He got drummed out of all his other places for not paying people and raping his staff.  You all are about to go to the remaining place he still makes money off.  Every cent  you pay there is money spent to rape people and then not pay them when they work for you.

    I take rape and not paying staff seriously.  You obvious are OK with it.

    Though a bunch of “actually Christianity is great” people going off to support a rape monster who didn’t pay his staff is exactly what I expect from people here now.

    I’d also note I linked you to a Jose restaurant that has not association with Mike!  But you don’t want that.  Because you all don’t really care about rape or fucking over the workers.

  13. 13.

    JPL

    @MattF: You’re not the one that should be out.   We all take rape seriously and I’m glad he’s not at the restaurant.

    That’s kinda what matters, not the other crap.  Boycotting a place where he doesn’t work, only hurts the staff.

  16. 16.

    eversor

    @JPL:

    HE STILL GETS PAID FROM THE PLACE! YOU ARE PUTTING MONEY IN HIS POCKETS SO HE CAN RAPE MORE PEOPLE WHEN YOU GO THERE

    As someone who was raped I’m going to call you all on this.  You are paying a rapist with a Balloon Juice event and fucking defending it!  You’re all now pro rape!

  17. 17.

    WaterGirl

    @eversor: Someone with more credibility than you has stated that this is not a “Mike the rapist guy” restaurant.

    Then you admitted that he doesn’t own it and doesn’t work there.

    How is it that you think this Mike person makes money from this restaurant that he is no longer associated with?

    What am I missing?

  18. 18.

    Geminid

    This post reminds me of the time 4 weeks ago, when Annie Laurie put a a post titled  “The Case for Chill” and war broke out in the Middle East!

  20. 20.

    eversor

    @JPL:

    Please let us fund rapists and not be told we are doing so.  That would be rude.  It’s OK if the food is good!

  21. 21.

    JPL

    @Geminid: haha  Normally I can ignore what I don’t agree with it, but I took this one personally.  There is not one person on the site that condones rape.

  22. 22.

    eversor

    @JPL:

    And yet he raped them and then didn’t pay them.

    Balloon Juice Democrats.  Raping staff is OK, not paying them is OK, as long as the food is good.  But don’t point out problems with the Church.

    Fuck this pro rape and anti worker site and fuck your political party.  I know people who were raped and not paid at that exact place and I also know Mike still makes money off it.

    Ya’ll are pro rape, pro not paying workers, and vicious evil shits who want to call rape and not paying on others for political advantage while endorsing it on your own if you like the food.

  24. 24.

    eversor

    @JPL:

    Anyone who goes to Zaytinya is paying for someone to rape someone.  If this site allows people to go there this site is pro raping the help.  Full stop.  Anyone going there, and as long as thread remains up, condones raping underage humans.

    Glad to  know you are pro rape.

  25. 25.

    eversor

    @WaterGirl:

    Go give money to Harvey to rape more people.  You pro rape asshole.  Rape, you love it, rape, you fund it.  You are PRO RAPE.

    In fact, you are worse than a rapist.  You are excusing it rather than owning it.

  26. 26.

    WaterGirl

    @eversor: No, I am asking you to state your case in a logical fashion, with facts.

    Is this Mike guy still associated with this restaurant?  YES or NO

    If YES, in what way is he associated with it?

    If YES, what is the financial arrangement that allows him to make money off a restaurant that is owned by someone else.

    All I am doing is ask you to stop repeating the same words over and over, without actually sharing any use-able information.

    And instead, provide us with factual information. That’s what I am asking of you.

  28. 28.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @eversor: Could you provide any support for your assertion that this guy is currently profiting from this restaurant?  I am sure that, if you would do so, no one would want to put money in his pocket.  So far though, you have provided only assertions and attacks.

  32. 32.

    WaterGirl

    @JPL:  Many, many men have raped women, raped their employees, raped their co-workers, and have never been charged. So to me whether he has been charged isn’t relevant.

    All of Mike Isabella’s restaurants appear to have closed in 2018-19.

  33. 33.

    JPL

    @WaterGirl:  I know that.   Eversor wanted to make a point about our party, as if that was relevant to the rant.   I think that was the point all along.   kinda sad reall

    btw Jose Andres is amazing for the work that he does.

  34. 34.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @WaterGirl: I think eversor provided enough evidence to show that Mike Isabella is a scumbag and no one should patronize his restaurants.  Where he has failed is in providing any evidence that Isabella has any connection the restaurant in question besides being a chef there in 2009.

  36. 36.

    WaterGirl

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I think eversor provided enough evidence to show that Mike Isabella is scumbag and no one should patronize his restaurants.

    Absolutely.

    Where he has failed is in providing any evidence that Isabella has any connection the restaurant in question besides being a chef there in 2009.

    Hence my questions at #26:

    Is this Mike guy still associated with this restaurant?  YES or NO

    If YES, in what way is he associated with it?

    If YES, what is the financial arrangement that allows him to make money off a restaurant that is owned by someone else.

  38. 38.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @WaterGirl: I think you are aware of my opinion of the commenter in question.

    ETA: In this particular case, I tried to be polite because of his stated history and because, if he could support his claim, he would be correct that no one should go there. Doesn’t make him less of a bigot though.

  40. 40.

    WaterGirl

    @Omnes Omnibus: If he said the Mike guy got a 1% stake in the Chef Jose restaurant when he left in 2010, and he still has it, that would be a fact that would keep me from frequenting that restaurant.

    But he showed no interest in providing facts.

  43. 43.

    frosty

    @WaterGirl: Quite the dessert cart on this thread! I toggled you and Omnes and I got the gist of it.​

    ETA: What did we get, one commenter who wants to go and one who unfortunately won’t be in town. Then … train wreck!!!!!

  45. 45.

    Barbara

    @eversor: You’re confused. Zaytinya is owned by Chef Jose Andres not Mike Isabella.

    I’m a tentative yes. I’ll be there if I’m in town.​

    Isabella was head chef at Zaytinya until 2010, when he left to start his own restaurants. If you have other information then share it.

  47. 47.

    WaterGirl

    @Timill: I personally added every single image for the pie filter. :-)

    I spent a ridiculous amount of time searching for exactly the right images, and I even asked Avalune to create  some of them for us.

    So I’m glad you are enjoying them!  CatCake is my favorite.  And when I couldn’t fund a PupCake image anywhere, Avalune made one for me.

    Which reminds me, it’s nearly time to put the christmas cookies back in – unless I forgot to take them out at the end of the season last year!

  48. 48.

    Almost Retired

    Well bummer, I’m visiting my sister in DC a few days later, so I’ll just miss it.  But maybe it’s all for the best if all you’re going to do is brag about who is more pro-rape.  In the meantime, I’ll have some pie!!

  50. 50.

    WaterGirl

    @frosty: Oh, wait, you missed the commenter at #1 who lives in DC and is planning to attend!  Yay!  It did go downhill pretty fast, though.

    I might just pie eversor for a moment just to get a feel for how much of the thread contained normal comments.

  52. 52.

    sab

    @Omnes Omnibus: Somewhere along the line a nifty toggle switch was installed. Everyone commenting to a pied individual is also pied ( just that reply)  but it is easy to read the pied responses by toggling in the comment.

    That was a huge improvement. Many many years ago you had to go all the way to the pie filter and unpie the person just to read the comments to their comment.

  53. 53.

    coin operated

    @eversor: Y’know…I typically give you a wide berth when you talk about religion and politics.  I’m an atheist, not as militant as you are, but I get your point.  On this issue though, I have to ask…

    What the fuck is wrong with you?

  59. 59.

    Paul in Jacksonville

    Interesting conversation. Semi off topic, but Water Girl, it seems that a Florida meet up won’t happen.

  63. 63.

    MikefromArlington

    ❤️ zatinya

     

    They once stopped selling octopus when it predicted Spain for the World Cup

  66. 66.

    sab

    Not even off topic. Our oldest grand-daughter just left the nest and moved to Richmond VA yesterday. My husband and my step-daughter are distraught or at least forlorn.

    Virginia isn’t that far away from DC or even Ohio, but who will take care of the five cats and the pitbull?

  67. 67.

    Andrya

    @MikefromArlington:   Yes, and a chef from the country of the opposing team, Argentina, published a recipe for octopus in retaliation.  I give this as a discussion topic to my statistics students, as the octopus’ predictions were more accurate than could reasonably be expected based on random chance.

  71. 71.

    lowtechcyclist

    Y’know, eversor’s crapping all over Christianity doesn’t bother me in the least, because I am a Christian.  (I know, that makes no sense on the face of it, but it’s true in deeper ways than you can imagine if you haven’t been there.)

    But I’m all for kicking eversor’s sorry butt out of here for awhile on account of his unsubstantiated bullshit in this thread.

    At least for a week, so we can plan and then have our meetup without having to deal with his crap while we’re doing so.

  72. 72.

    rekoob

    You can well imagine my surprise to discover that my suggestion of a centrally-located restaurant in DC was met with such vitriol. I believe the invective is not merited, but if others wish to change location, that’s fine with me. Options welcome.

    In the meantime, I’ve put a request in to  <<the restaurant that shall not be named>> to see whether they can accommodate 16 of us on that Saturday afternoon.

  73. 73.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Timill: ​
     

    With this lot on display, we could almost do with a fine selection of Aldebaran liqueurs to accompany them.

    And later on, the Universe will explode for your pleasure. :-)

  75. 75.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Suzanne: ​
     

    DANG! I’m actually going to be in NoVA that week, but I’m leaving two days before.

    Have fun, y’all!

    Bummer! You gotta let us know the next time you’re going to be in town.

  76. 76.

    zhena gogolia

    @lowtechcyclist: You and I shared this before, but it is funny to me how upset everyone gets about eversor’s Christianity stuff, but it doesn’t bother me at all as a Christian.

  77. 77.

    rekoob

    @Suzanne: Too bad! I enjoyed meeting you at the Philadelphia Meetup and was hoping you might be around in greater DC at some point. I’m also hoping Another Scott and Steeplejack, among others, will wend their way into the city.

  82. 82.

    Paul in Jacksonville

    @WaterGirl: Three responses. One from someone up north who was going to be in Florida in February, and two from a couple who live in central Florida. I sent a request to the people traveling here in February but never heard back.

  83. 83.

    randy khan

    @eversor:

    Isabella worked there, but he left in 2010, a long time before the scandal broke.  It’s hard to blame Andres for what happened afterwards, and so far as I know there is no indication that he knew (and the articles I’ve seen don’t indicate that this happened at Zaytinya, only after Isabella went out on his own.

  85. 85.

    Shana

    I’m currently away from my calendar but will be home Sunday evening and will check if I can make it. I love Zaytinia and would love to meet up.

  86. 86.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Ramona: ​
     

    Ooh! Ooh! Yes please! I can be there! What is the closest Metro station?

    The restaurant is right off of Gallery Place, and also just a few blocks from Metro Center.

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