Join ZDNet.com.au for drinks on 27 May

"Without question, the greatest invention in the history of mankind is beer. Oh, I grant you that the wheel was also a fine invention, but the wheel does not go nearly as well with pizza." — Dave Barry

(Beer in Chorągwica image by Maciek PELC, royalty free)

With these fine sentiments in mind, the ZDNet.com.au team would like to invite all readers to our first reader meet-up and after-work drinks night, to be held from 5:30pm on Wednesday 27 May at Maloney's Hotel, which is located on the corner of Pitt and Goulburn Streets in the Sydney CBD.

Ever wanted to intervene in the fiery debate between Mel Sommersberg and Jason, discuss Telstra or the National Broadband Network with Sydney Lawrence, or find out who Fat Baby Goose really is?

Or would you like to tell ZDNet.com.au's team of journalists and editors how you would like to see the site evolve in future? Want to give us a piece of your mind about what's really going on behind the scenes of a story?

Or just want to have a quiet drink or a coffee (or even a pizza!) with other like-minded technology people in a classy venue in downtown Sydney?

Our first reader meet-up will aim to fulfil these needs and more in a really relaxed and informal environment. If you're interested in coming, let us know in the talkback below this article, drop us an email, or just rock up on the night with any mates that want to come!

The ZDNet.com.au staff will be wearing name badges and we'll have a small sign on a table somewhere so you'll know it's us.

Unfortunately, it'll be pay for your own drinks, food, etc. We'll post photos on the site the next morning so anyone who can't come will be able to see what they missed.

Maloney's Hotel (Credit: ZDNet.com.au)

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Missed opportunity Alcohol not needed -- 06/05/09

This seems like a missed opportunity, excluding those who do not frequent Sydney hotels for good reasons (Sydney ****-up boof-heads). An opportunity to communicate intelligently with readers and other interested folk goes begging. Seems like a lack of imagination and frankly just a repeat of the typical aussie boof-head ****-up mentality.

Shame that.

How about a get-together that doesn't always involve alcohol.

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er James -- 06/05/09 (in reply to #320134699)

this is still Australia, right?
and this is a shout-out to IT folks right?
and we're going to be mixing with journalists, right?

and you are shocked that there is going to be alcohol?

are you sure you're on the right website?

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Order of the day: Open hatches Mel Sommersberg -- 06/05/09 (in reply to #320134699)

Alcohol,I am sure things wil go just fine providing no Rugby League players show up. :-)

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oh come one Anonymous -- 06/05/09 (in reply to #320134699)

No one is forcing you to drink sweetheart

FYI they do sell things without alcohol in them at pubs!

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Alcohol Renai LeMay -- 06/05/09 (in reply to #320134699)

hi there,

I certainly appreciate your point! An after work drinks event seemed like the easiest option for our first reader meet-up, but I wish to emphasise that there is no pressure for anyone to drink at this event.

If this first event goes well, am happy to look at an event in another venue without alcohol (for example, the Sydney Open Coffee meetup does this very successfully).

In addition, we've already had several suggestions for a meet-up in Melbourne!

Cheers,

Renai LeMay
News Editor
ZDNet.com.au

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Meeet and Greet with ZNet Crowd Doug Hughes -- 06/05/09 (in reply to #320134863)

I was just about to ask,what about Melbourne and you've answered my question already,thank you in anticipation.

Cheers,
Doug Hughes

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After works drinks Terry -- 26/05/09 (in reply to #320134863)

That's kinda funny Renai, you use the phrase "after works drinks" like people in the industry ZDNet targets (IT and telcommunications) all work normal business hours. Unlike most journalists like yourself I think you'll find the networks don't stop at 5pm and kick start at 8am the following morning, but rather go 24x7, so for a lot of us there is no standard "end of business day".

But anyways, have fun, I'll be at work, some of us have to be :-)

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Hours Renai LeMay -- 26/05/09 (in reply to #320138184)

Don't worry Terry I am familiar with sysadmin hours, having gotten many automated text messages along the lines of "the server is down" in my previous career as a Unix/Linux admin ;)

This may be why HP makes a line of fridges disguised as waist-height servers ;)

As a ZDNet.com.au journo I typically work between 9-6pm, but it often spills over.

Cheers,

Renai
News Editor
ZDNet.com.au

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Im in .... Angus McKinnon -- 06/05/09

Chalk me up as one of the "Sydney ****-up boof-heads" who's happy to chat IT over a beer. I thought that the unwritten rule was you cant be a CIO or CTO unless you've cracked 100kgs and dont know how you would do that without the beer :D

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Bailing... Anonymous -- 26/05/09 (in reply to #320134931)

I won't be able to make this one. Currently in LA. Will keep an eye out for next one.

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Bother Not Again Eddie Saunders -- 07/05/09

I do not frequent Sydney hotels but that is more a distance problem more than anything else, not that I live anywhere near there.

If I was in the Sydney area I would not have missed this for anything, hope it all goes off with the usual bang.

O just to remind you there are a lot of BOFH's located over this side of the island and yes we also like to gather and talk tech in Perth.

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Join ZDNet for after hours drinks Frederick Santos -- 25/05/09

Having ruptured discs, puts paid to any evening event, due to pain.

It sounds like a good idea, even though i am a non drinker.

I, also would feel out of place, in a group of IT specialists, not being a social type of animal.

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ZDNet name tags Simon -- 25/05/09

I hope you hand out tags for the punters, although it could be confusing with half the people there having "anonymous"

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Tell me if you're the wrong Anonymous this evening Graeme Harrison (prof at-symbol post.harvard.edu) -- 27/05/09 (in reply to #320137974)

I'll try to make it this evening.
There is at least one anonymous I'd like to have a debate with, but I suspect he'll be hiding in a crowd of people all wearing anonymous name badges.

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Don't come - Don't whinge Anonymous -- 26/05/09

I'm not a "Sydney ****-up boof-head" either, but I have been a ZDNet reader for a couple of years now. A get together, a chat and a quiet drink sounds like a great idea at the end of the "traditional working week" will do my best to drop in
good idea gang ;-)

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Ooops Anonymous -- 27/05/09 (in reply to #320138364)

Re Don't Come - Don't Whinge
Ooops
Got my dates mixed up - thought for some reason thought 27th was this Friday. Just got the nod for a major building IT project today after 16 months of work. So a couple of cold ales would have gone done well - hope you all had a good catch up.
Maybe next time...

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Meet for Drinks Sharon Weeks -- 27/05/09

Damn! It is 8:20 P.M. here in Wisconsin, USA. I'll never make it in time. Toss a couple down for me!
Sharon W

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