[NSW] OzBargain 15th Birthday - Sydney Chatswood Meetup - Thursday 2 Dec at Pamana Chatswood at 6pm

Hi OzBargain,

After a year hiatus, it’s time for another meet-up to celebrate OzBargain’s birthday! Scotty will be sponsoring the event and we will hopefully have some new OzBargain t-shirts to hand out.

Some photos from previous meet-ups: 11th birthday, Shopback 11th birthday, Cashrewards, Shopback, 13th birthday

Details below:
Date: Thursday 2nd December 2021
Time: 6pm
Location: Pamana in Chatswood (Filipino restaurant) Link to the menu

I called the restaurant again today. Due to the larger than expected numbers they have suggested that we do share plates per table, which I agreed to. (Filo food is designed to be shared in big groups and the restaurant said they were unable to serve individual portions of their really popular/traditional Filo dishes. I apologise if this is not what you expected!) Each table will have the same food which will be the following.

Menu item Description
Crispy Pata Traditional fried spiced crispy pork knuckle served with salad and special vinegar
Lechon Kawali Deep fried pork belly with Mang-tomas sauce
Bulalo Beef shanks and beef marrow bones soup
Kare-kare Oxtail, tripes, beef chuck and vegetables in rich peanut sauce served with bagoong

If there are vegetarians or vegans at the table (or if requested), we can substitute any of the above items with the following vegan dishes:

Menu item Description
Pancit Bihon Rice sticks with vegetables
Chopsuey Stir fry vegetables

I will be providing finalised numbers to the restaurant on Tuesday so if you can no longer make it, please update your RSVP before then.

Poll Options expired

  • 72
    Yes, I will attend
  • 30
    -

Comments

    • +21

      Australians? We're the Oz in OzBargain.

    • +3

      At Chatswood we've had SydneySwan, McDuck, Clear and others in the past.

    • Okay?

    • Now that's a broad brush stroke fam

  • +1

    Not impressed with the Cashrewards finger food.

    • There was a lot more food than that! What is pictured is just the leftover food when it was cake cutting time!

      • +3

        And why is everyone's face blurred apart from Ian Dury, Jeff Bezos and Jacqui Lambie?

        • +1

          It was a request from an attendee who apparently had an OzBargain stalker. (It was originally uploaded un-blurred a few years ago but I deleted and re-uploaded at their request.)

          • +3

            @dust: Was it Pam?

            • @BOGOF: I hear if you say her name 3 times in the mirror, you become an accidental comedian

          • @dust: That’s strange I didn’t attend though?

        • -1

          😂

  • +14

    I really don't get the idea of these.
    Frankly Ozbargain is one of my absolute favorite sites, and one of my least attractive communities.

    • +3

      Speak for yourself. I often get compliments for my rugged handsomeness.

      • You and your twin?

      • Yes but what do folks with 20/20 vision say?

    • +4

      I've been to a few of these meet-ups over the year and I have to disagree. I've really enjoyed meeting and talking to the founders/staff of OzBargain, Cashrewards, Shopback and some of the members who post our top deals and learn about affiliate marketing, negotiations with merchants and more! Free food and OzBargain merch is also a good bonus!

      • +7

        Was ShopBack handing out $3 to each attendee for the upcoming data breach?

        • +1

          Murdered by words

    • +3

      I have seen some of this vid and the OzBargainers seem to look like really nice & friendly people. I am certain the trolls and such won't be there.

      • +3

        Yeah, a bit risky for me to troll face to face.

    • +17

      Yeah, I agree (on the point of meetups).

      Ozbargain is an incredibly useful site but I don't sense that strong a community here. It's just people who want cheap shit, trolls with inane comments or other randoms who get off on downvoting everything? I've always found the forums section to be quite dead compared to the number of comments posted on an average deal.

      I don't really see the point of eating dinner with other randoms off the internet and discussing things like:

      "Lol, techfast has another computer deal"
      "Cashrewards sucks. Shopback is better."
      "I love it when jv comments."
      "Wish I could downvote in real life, heheh"
      "Can't wait to buy my next tv using discounted giftcards."
      "Preorders aren't deals!!!"
      "Expensive thing on discount! Gonna buy 10."

      (Is this what you attendees talk about?)

      Also, it's ironic as I'll probably be in Chatswood around this time but I'll be eating dinner with my wife instead.

      • +2

        Agree on everything except about JV. I'd even fly to Melbourne to meet her.

        • +2

          Plot twist: jv and pam are one and the same

          • @Jugganautx: JV taught pam everything she knows

            And now Pam is the troll-kqeen

      • -3

        I believe the community is already here, being online. Of course the only reason to meetup in real life is if there was some personal grudge you had with someone else on here…..

        Also introverts won't show up anyways (and those are mostly the trolls here….unless there are extrovert trolls I am not aware of?), it's really only the extroverts that rock up because it would be pretty awkward for an introvert to start a conversation or be in one or maybe there is nothing to talk about so there's no point going unless there's free food and drinks?

        • +1

          Attended previously, no one trolling that day. I’m an introvert and no troll and able to start conversations - perhaps consider before commenting, perhaps base on fact rather than assumption.

          • -2

            @djk: I was talking about introverts who are trolls, not introverts who are not…..

      • +9

        totally agree. I would prefer dinner with your wife too.

    • You just have bad taste. My juices started to flow after seeing all those photos in the OP.

    • My reference to attractiveness had nothing to do with physical appearance.

    • You should try Twitter

    • Never mention great discounts you got from Harvey Norman.

      • Why not?

  • +3

    Should have done it on December 1 to take advantage of Ippudo Day where the standard ramen is $10.

    I'd go, but I cbf driving in peak hour traffic to Chatswood after work.

    • And get kicked out of Ippudo Chatswood again!

      • Hahaha I didn’t go to that one, so didn’t know that happened!

        • +5

          Ippudo at lunchtime really isn't the place for a social event once you're finished eating. I don't blame them.

          • @Clear: Indeed. They're trying to serve customers, especially regulars for lunchtime service.

        • +3

          Haha it wasn't for rowdiness! They just wanted the seats and centre table during the lunchtime rush!

      • I went to Ippudo at Chatswood last Thursday lunchtime to discuss the possibility of holding a lunchtime meetup there but they were run off their feet (short-staffed and very full, a queue even) and after waiting over 10 mins to have a word with the boss I gave up.

        • +1

          Not an appropriate place for it. Gotta get people in and out at lunch.

          • @Clear: I agree but Chatswood Ippudo has been something of an Ozbargain tradition.

            • @SydneySwan: Chicken V with Korean fried chicken and beer (tower?) sounds like a lot of fun. Though would be more suited for night time as I'm sure most are going through the Interchange in their lunch breaks.

  • Thanks for organising mate. I was discussing this with the wife the last couple of weeks and she was reluctant for me to organise one in a a restaurant as the kids haven't been vaccinated. I thought about one in the park at lunch time, but the turn out was probably going to be low.

    • +1

      I was in a similar boat but with the high vaccination rates, low new cases and the meetup date still being a few weeks away off I thought the risk of any adverse affects of getting Covid were pretty low.

      • +1

        Not to mention that only fully vaccinated people can attend as it’s before December 15

  • +3

    Will Big Man Tyrone be there?

  • +1

    Keen!

  • +1

    Is SlavOz attending?

    • +6

      He won’t be able to get in unless he fakes his vaccination certificate (also I doubt he has the courage to show his face)

  • +3

    I’ll be there. I mean you won’t know that I’m there or see me, but I’ll be there… watching.

    • +2

      You don't exactly blend in with the crowd; barcoded-bald head and all.

      Unless you steal someone else's clothes of course, then you'll be completely invisible!

    • +1

      Is your real name Gary Host?

  • +1

    Count me in!

  • +1

    The demographics comment from before is pretty spot on! The ratio of male/female is a downer though. So what do you guys discuss when you meet?

    • +1

      Haha we weren't kidding about the demographics! I guess you'll have to come and find out!

    • +6

      this isnt ozmatchmaker

  • We are not your friends…

    • +2

      wE aRe YoUr FaMilY

  • Im too scared to go.

    Do you have to reveal ur ozbargain identity

    • Not if you are a skilled actor

  • +3

    Hi all, I've updated the event with the location. It's a Filipino restaurant in Chatswood. Feel free to check out the menu.

  • I'll definitely be there!

  • I will come - last event I attended in Chatswood was at CR headquarters.
    Still got CR t-shirt, I need a new t-shirt for WFH/bumming around the house.

    I wonder if TA & the CR crew will come…

  • Can I get to meet JV ?

  • +1

    @dust
    It's getting close to the cap of 30 ppl rsvped. You should consider charging a $5 osko entry like neil.
    You will refund with $5 cash if we show up otherwise we will get 10 no shows.

    • +1

      For the Melbourne event we booked the venue for a fix cost, so it won't be worthwhile if people don't actually turn up and hoarding on the spot. It's fine with restaurant where we pay only for the food.

    • I believe the 30 person cap was a soft cap based on government/health guidelines. And at the moment I believe the cap would just be the number of people the restaurant can fit.

      I'm in contact with the restaurant and will keep them updated on expected numbers (taking into account no-shows). At the moment I don't see an issue with us not fitting in the restaurant though.

      • +1

        I think his idea about the $5 cover and cash refund is a good idea, as you can also get shirt sizes and numbers and making sure that people actually turn up.

      • +1

        It's jumped up to 58 now… ._. I was wondering how many can fit in the venue but good to see you have considered it already! Thanks for organising. :)

  • I’m down, how exactly do we sign up?

    • +1

      Just click on the "yes" option in the poll.

  • +1

    well done @dust for organising just like last time, efficient, decisive and easy.

  • Wow 40 is a lot of people.

    • People are flaky nowadays.

      It's probably gonna be less than 20 people that bother turning up.

  • Thanks for organising it. Alas unable to get there at the moment. Hope everyone has a great time celebrating.

  • +3

    How is this well organised and the other Sydney one was worse than a chook raffle lol

  • So is this still happening? Looks like we have too many from the upvotes …

    • Still happening. Why is it too many?

      • How many can the restaurant fit?

        • 80+.

      • Oh my bad, I saw in a post somewhere else about attendees shooting beyond 40s and the event was cancelled so assumed the worst.

        Looking forward to it. :)
        Thanks for organising.

  • -4

    For the social pariahs among us, I'll ask the question on my, and probably nobody else's mind.

    What if one isn't vaxxed?

    Hypothetically, asking for a friend I haven't met etc

    • +2

      What if one isn't vaxxed?

      As this event is before December 15, they won't be allowed in. Simple.

      • -2

        What an unfortunate set of circumstances for all involved

  • Hmm, tempted to do a drive by. No shooting involved 🤪

  • -3

    I can't vote on the poll/rsvp as it has expired I thought I had until today to do so. Nevertheless I will be attending.

    • +4

      Hi sorry but it doesn't really work like that. You're not on the list so far and you won't be able to check in using the QR code. I have confirmed the numbers with the restaurant yesterday (allowing for some no-shows). The restaurant has confirmed that they are otherwise full/booked. I'm happy to manually add you to the list at 6:30pm if there are still available spots.

  • I've spoken to the restaurant again today and can confirm that they are now fully booked (there are other non-OzBargain bookings) so if you weren't one of the 72 who clicked attending we won't be able to accommodate you.

  • Not trying to be a party-pooper, but just sharing this ABC news article in case any attendees were not aware.

    NSW Health has released a list of exposure venues on Sydney's lower north shore for the period from Tuesday, November 23 to Wednesday, December 1.

    • Mantra Serviced Apartments, 10 Brown Street, Tuesday, November 23 to Wednesday December 1, all day.
    • Vodafone, Level 3, Westfield Shopping Centre , 1 Anderson Street , Wednesday, November 24, 12.25pm to 12.40pm.
    • Centrelink and Medicare, 56-64 Archer Street , Wednesday, November 24, 1pm to 2.30pm.
    • Priceline Pharmacy, Chatswood Interchange, Shop 40, Concourse Level, Chatswood Interchange, Victoria Avenue, Wednesday, November 24, 1pm to 1.10pm.
    • Woolworths, Chatswood Interchange, Shop 55, Chatswood Interchange, Victoria Avenue Wednesday, November 24, 1pm to 2.30pm.

    Anyone who was at these venue on those dates is considered a casual contact and must immediately get tested and isolate until receiving a negative result.

    • Just say no, the virus cannot legally enter your body without your consent

    • Thanks. I am reconsidering my attendance - Railway st is right near Brown st, which is where this person stayed.

  • +2

    For those who are coming tonight — we are going to use the OzBargain event checkin system to check who has attended the meetup.

    Have a read here for the participants.

    Basically, for those who have registered to come, you need to

    1. Log into OzBargain on your phone
    2. Open the events page under "My Accounts"
    3. Scroll to the Sydney Chatswood event, where a QR code will be shown
    4. Show it to cerealsmok3r or me to check you in! We then know that you are here tonight, and the Not A Bot badge will be added to you later.

    See you tonight!

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