Comments on: Metafilter Tokyo gathered in 2007.

Metafilter Tokyo gathered in 2007.

myopicman — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:24:09 -0800

HI WE'RE METAFILTER TOKYO AND WE DID TOTALLY OVERTHINK A PLATE OF BEANS (oh and like meet up and stuff).

By: myopicman

myopicman — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:25:17 -0800

More details from me later once I get some sleep and sober up. Since we talked behind all your backs at the annual meetup, you can gossip about us for a bit until our senses return.

By: myopicman

myopicman — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:34:04 -0800

But before I forget, I really appreciate meeting everyone who showed up and thanks to everyone who helped organize this shindig.

By: dios

dios — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:40:24 -0800

Bugbread!? That's so unlike him to overthink something!

Hi bugbread!

By: hermitosis

hermitosis — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:42:49 -0800

OH HAI

By: chrismear

chrismear — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:45:56 -0800

Good Lord, that's a lot of overthinking.

By: skynxnex

skynxnex — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:52:48 -0800

All of that overthinking made me hungry for a plate of beans.

By: taz

taz — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:53:18 -0800

Oh, gods. You people are insane. And I love you.

By: spec80

spec80 — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:56:57 -0800

So much mental energy into a plate of beans... they must have been imbued with superpowers by the time you ate them. Can you start fires with a thought yet?

By: dame

dame — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:03:17 -0800

Um, bugbread, I know you have a wife and a baby and stuff. But you look very nice with a plate of beans.

By: jamaro

jamaro — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:05:19 -0800

But were they sweet beans?

By: sluglicker

sluglicker — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:21:35 -0800

Hehe...had me laughing and it was nice to put some faces to the names. Thanks!

By: LeeJay

LeeJay — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:22:13 -0800

Hah! You make me very, very happy with the goofy meetup photos.

By: atrazine

atrazine — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:27:20 -0800

This is an great shirt.

By: frecklefaerie

frecklefaerie — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:48:00 -0800

You guys are hilarious.

By: boo_radley

boo_radley — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:07:11 -0800

This isn't overthink, it's seduction.

Nice lookin' bunch of folks.

By: Rhomboid

Rhomboid — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:13:15 -0800

That's a lot of beanplatethinking going on...

By: iconomy

iconomy — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:16:40 -0800

The mystery guy looks like Jake Gyllenhaal.

By: Wolfdog

Wolfdog — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:27:00 -0800

Who is wearing the Dmitri Shostakovich Op 87 t-shirt? And where the hell do I get one?

By: mckenney

mckenney — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:36:27 -0800

I also am interested in acquiring this shirt.

By: Kattullus

Kattullus — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:57:28 -0800

The guy wearing the Shostakovick t-shirt is myopicman, the guy who posted his photoset.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:15:55 -0800

You know how sometimes you get a sense of how someone looks before you've actually seen them? And then you see them and they look totally different than your mental image?

Bugbread looks exactly like I thought he would look!

By: drill_here_fore_seismics

drill_here_fore_seismics — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:26:12 -0800

Re: the T-Shirt, it's from Uniqlo. The ECM t-shirts are very nice indeed.

By: gen

gen — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:18:43 -0800

Looks like you guys had a great meetup. I'm sorry I couldn't make it - work was too busy. Maybe next time if I don't organize the meetup, I'll be able to make it. ^_^

By: casarkos

casarkos — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:15:12 -0800

I want the Shostakovich shirt!

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:27:58 -0800

Yeah, gen, everybody was sorry you couldn't make it! I learned that this was the 2nd meetup you initiated and then couldn't actually show up at! Anyway, it was big fun, some mighty fine folks, food was good at Las Meninas, etc.

And big thanks to new MeFite woodblock100, who presented each one of us present at the meetup with a lovely woodblock print. Wow!

By: biscotti

biscotti — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:28:15 -0800

flapjax at midnite looks suspiciously like Dr. Venture.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:36:03 -0800

Legalize Canada? Never!!! ; >

By: amberglow

amberglow — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:37:11 -0800

i'm so envious--you had more people i think than last year's.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 16:39:54 -0800

Since we talked behind all your backs at the annual meetup, you can gossip about us for a bit until our senses return.

"did you see that horrible lighting?", "that plate of beans obsession--how weird!"

ok, done. Now your turn : >

By: No-sword

No-sword — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:04:06 -0800

Having sobered up, I can confirm that flapjax speaks the truth. It was great to get such a friendly reception even as a newbie who turned up late, shouting nihilist slogans and throwing live tarantulas at everyone. (OK, I'm exaggerating a little.) Thanks, all.

The mystery guy looks like Jake Gyllenhaal.
Would it be tacky to favorite this?

By: misozaki

misozaki — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:16:37 -0800

Yay, lots of fun! Thanks again ejoey for arranging everything. And myopicman, I can't believe you actually uploaded everything before you got some sleep. Thanks! It was really nice meeting everyone.

By: wendell

wendell — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:23:01 -0800

Leave it to Tokyo to produce a plate of beans worth overthinking. At a SoCal meetup, we probably would've gotten stuck with Refried.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:13:27 -0800

"...shouting nihilist slogans and throwing live tarantulas at everyone."

Well, the slogans we could've done without, but the chef whipped up some tarantula sashimi, which went well with the 17 bottles of wine we downed after you left. They were still twitching a little when served, which delighted everyone. Also, they inspired gomichild to jump onto the bar and dance the tarantella, with great verve and abandon. It was only toward the very end of the night that some of us dragged mexican into the alley out back and beat the shit out of him, took his wallet and spent all his money at one of the new "All-Metallica" karaoke bars. Good times, good times.

By: amberglow

amberglow — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:20:16 -0800

now that's gossip : >

By: iconomy

iconomy — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:53:13 -0800

Would it be tacky to favorite this?

No, I think you should.

By: ejoey

ejoey — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 19:10:00 -0800

My pleasure mis-ozaki.

My favorite part of the Metallica-oke bar was speeding the tempo up to double-speed and mosh-raving till dawn during the solos while hopped up on the Pepsi Cucumber Ice / Shochu mixes we snuck in.

Only in Koenji.

By: myopicman

myopicman — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:25:57 -0800

And myopicman, I can't believe you actually uploaded everything before you got some sleep.

My philosophy is momentum: if I wasn't going to upload them that night, my hangover would've prevented anything sensible today and my memory of who was there would've vapourized.

But yea verily, fun was had and I now have to watch for people grabbing at my clothing. I remember grabbing a moth out of the thin air above (and not eating it). And the conga line vs. drumline wars over the Spanish playing fields with all the hordes of warriors and pirates and the battle arias sung in six-part harmonies....

Oops, said too much. And there might still be people partying in Shibuya the morning after.

By: caddis

caddis — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:31:13 -0800

What a fun group. That would have been a nice meet-up to attend.

By: Wolof

Wolof — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 22:51:29 -0800

Yes yes, but did gomi wear the boots?

By: gomichild

gomichild — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 01:07:58 -0800

I did wear the boots and overheated which is why I look like a tomato in that damn horrible pic of me!

* Note to self- never run in late to a meetup and accept a plate of beans to hold randomly

Unlike the rest of you wussy fakers the Crustacean and I ended up in a bar in Golden Gai, before moving on to a brief tour of bars in Shinjuku-ni chome, where we watched the sun come up and had a beer for breakfast, before going home.

It was fun to meet you peoples!

Now I am sober I will post pics.

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 01:50:41 -0800

never run in late to a meetup and accept a plate of beans to hold randomly

Actually, I think you held them with great aplomb, gomichild.

By: gomichild

gomichild — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 01:59:12 -0800

Ta lovey.

Ok here be my piccies.

Maybe if I had drunk less and taken more my head wouldn't be hurting now......

By: gomichild

gomichild — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:03:23 -0800

oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY ejoey!

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:05:17 -0800

That was a great meetup. I haven't been that drunk in a long, long time.

Flapjax, sorry to have gotten all "giddy-teenager-meets-celebrity". Though it was pretty sweet that that guy on the train knew who you were.

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:07:35 -0800

Oh, and hi dios, thanks dame, and...uh...thanks, I think, Mister_A.

And, no, adamgreenfield, I'm not EB's sockpuppet ^_^ (sorry, no flickr account, so I couldn't comment there).

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 02:46:02 -0800

Hey, bugbread, no sweat. I've learned how to live under the white-hot glare of worldwide fame and adulation. And sure, it's tough, but international superstardom does have an upside. Why, just last night I got a great table at this super happening little bistro over in Koenji, where I met some wonderful people! Some of 'em had really cool t-shirts, too!

By: misozaki

misozaki — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 04:25:15 -0800

It was ejoey's BIRTHDAY? And he spent it feasting on beans and tarantula sashimi with a bunch of strangers? Last year, we had newlyweds. What next? Now I'm *really* looking forward to the next meetup.

Happy Birthday ejoey!

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 05:14:32 -0800

Sorry, that "giddy-teenager-meets-celebrity" thing probably makes no sense, even to the people who were there, but I think it was kinda interesting, so here's what happened:

On the way to the station on the way home, Flapjax mentions that he first came to Koenji to visit John Zorn, which sets off the "spaz-out-due-to-indirect-brush-with-celebrity" part of my brain. Then we get on the train, and there's a guy with a Boredoms t-shirt, and we start talking to him, and when Flapjax mentions that he's Samm Bennet, the guy says "You're Samm Bennett? I like your work." (or something along those lines).

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 05:46:31 -0800

(or something along those lines).

Well, you were pretty toasted, bugbread, so you may not remember clearly, but what he actually said was "hey, aren't you the creep that said you were gonna marry my sister back in Fukuoka and then blew town with my dad's credit card?" Then he punched me out and kicked me off the train at Nakano. I laid there in a bloody heap for awhile til the cops hauled me into the koban, where they're holding me for visa violation and an outstanding pachinko debt. I just gave them your phone number and said you'd come down to bail me out. You should be getting a call pretty soon. Don't let me down, man.

By: woodblock100

woodblock100 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 06:34:55 -0800

After reading these posts about the meetup, I realize that by leaving 'early' at around eleven - just as the switch from beer to wine was taking place - I seem to have missed the real 'heart' of the affair ...

Narrow escape!

(But it was great to be welcomed there, even though I hardly qualify as a 'MeFite' yet ...)

By: m3thod4

m3thod4 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 08:06:06 -0800

Wow, I guess I also missed out by making the last train. Oh well, next time ;)

It was a lot of fun meeting everybody. I hope we can do it again!
And thanks again to woodblock100. I really like the print you gave us. That was really nice.

By: m3thod4

m3thod4 — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 08:07:28 -0800

Whoops, and thanks to myopicman and gomichild for the pics!

By: Bugbread

Bugbread — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 08:58:11 -0800

Yeah, woodblock100, that was really nice and unexpected of you.

By: gomichild

gomichild — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 17:57:07 -0800

Yes thank you for the lovely print woodblock100!

And just in case one night this month wasn't enough of a party session for you - on June 29th my friends bar in Golden Gai is having their anniversary party - ¥ 3,000 for nomi hodai and food! (araku bar)

Plus don't forget flapjax at midnight has a gig next Friday!

still trying to fit that into my schedule matey....

By: zardoz

zardoz — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 20:07:48 -0800

Chiming in late here...I wasn't able to go but I wish I had. Glad my fellow Tokyo MeFites had a good time!

By: flapjax at midnite

flapjax at midnite — Sat, 16 Jun 2007 23:02:24 -0800

Yes, zardoz, too bad you couldn't make it. There was talk toward the end of the night about the possibility/desirability of doing meetups more often than once a year. Perhaps seasonally might be a good way to go. Maybe aim for about 4 times a year? And while on this subject, bugbread suggested the idea of not necessarily always doing them at night, or always at restaurants and bars, but perhaps some daytime/afternoon affairs, in, say, one park or another. Those with kids might bring 'em along, and a whole different sort of atmosphere could prevail. Let's keep in touch about these and other possibilities, shall we Tokyoites?

By: ejoey

ejoey — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:26:59 -0800

Thanks for the birthday thanks's, and thanks woodblock for the awesome print. It's beautiful.

I'm just now recovering from the weekend of birthday booze and meetup madness.

By: woodblock100

woodblock100 — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 00:40:44 -0800

but perhaps some daytime/afternoon affairs, in, say, one park or another

Seconded! Those of us who are not particularly party animals, or good at smalltalk in a crowded bar (they don't call me 'woodblock' for nothing) would like to try it this way sometime.

A picnic in one of the wide-open parks, with a 'general' time frame, so that people could come/go on their own schedule. Everybody brings something to toss onto the table for nibbling ...

woodblock100, that was really nice and unexpected of you

My pleasure! Just lucky that I have a job that allows me such gestures as a kind of side benefit! :-) Thanks for the 'thank yous' ...

By: mexican

mexican — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:50:44 -0800

Once again late to a thread on metafilter...

Good meetup everyone. My significant other and I had a nice time. So nice, in fact, that after getting home we were down until around Sunday afternoon. Too much Belgian beer. And then wine. I guess.

I'm also up for seasonal meetups.