Welcome to the Cabal California

August 20, 2009 7:02 PM

In a world where... cortex has NEVER BEEN TO LOS ANGELES... until now... anything could happen... even taters.

This is how we dooo it: it's Friday night (or maybe Saturday, or hey, Sunday? Sept. 25th thru the 28th) and I feel alright, and the party's here on the [contentiously debated] side. So I reach for my 40 and I'm finna pwn, offduty moderator can't ban me from his phone...

posted by Ambrosia Voyeur to MetaFilter gatherings at 7:02 PM (147 comments total)

Cortex's world victory tour?
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:03 PM on August 20

I don't yet know what time on Friday the 25th I'm getting into Long Beach, so I'd say Saturday and Sunday are the smart bets for official meetuppery. No idea when I'll fly out Monday the 28th either, but probably middayish.
posted by cortex at 7:09 PM on August 20

Surely not hardcore tators? Save those for the sequel?
posted by Admiral Haddock at 7:13 PM on August 20

Allow me to reiterate: cortex, you are welcome to a bed (a whole room!) in my home if you'd like. I'm centrally located in LA, though some people may call it the 'east side'. I might also be able to to/from you the airp, depending on your flight schedule. Others can vouch for the relative sanity of my homelife, and the comfortability of my guestbed. I can chauffeur (or navigate, if AV comes down) all day Saturday, and I can get you to the west side for wevs on my way to work Sunday morning. Hit me up on the MeM or the G para mas.
posted by carsonb at 7:14 PM on August 20

I have secretly already told cortex that sleeping at carson's is what the cool kids are all about.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 7:19 PM on August 20

BatGrl and I should be there.
posted by y6y6y6 at 8:11 PM on August 20

I'm a little afraid of the taters. Let me know when everything's tater-free.
posted by davejay at 8:16 PM on August 20

I'm allergic to taters.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 8:28 PM on August 20

I vote Saturday over Sunday, Sunday being a school night and all. As to location, I'm more open, but the last two meetups in the West Hollywood area have been well-attended. Just sayin'.
posted by Bookhouse at 8:53 PM on August 20

carsonb, that'd be awesome, we'll confab elsewhere.
posted by cortex at 8:55 PM on August 20

I'm gonna go out on a limb and throw out some West Side love. It's been a while. How about Museum of Jurassic Technology during the day on Saturday? I leave drinks at night open to suggestion. A restaurant bar over crazy loud bar would be preffered on my end.
posted by skewedoracle at 10:25 PM on August 20 [1 favorite]

Carson's centrally located for hipsters, within easy fixie distance of Silverlake, Echo Park and Downtown.
posted by klangklangston at 10:56 PM on August 20

I still haven't been to the MoJT! That would be a blast.

klang: it's also easy to join the Avenues Gang from here, or to buy drugs in nearby Griffith Park, and speaking of MacArthur Park isn't too far off either and as long as you're headed that way it's all down hill towards USC but why stop there when you can hang a left and concrete pylon slalom all the way in under the 10 and hit up as many taco trucks on the eastside as possible?

I work in the 90210; there are no qualms here for driving out past 405.
posted by carsonb at 11:26 PM on August 20

Any night is fine for me, though I'm always a Saturday-leaning gal myself. And I will seriously drive ANYWHERE to see cortex and his giant donut (not a euphemism) in person, so location is not an issue.
posted by scody at 11:31 PM on August 20

it's all down hill towards USC

No referenda on the OP's career outlook, please. *quiet sobbing*
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:37 PM on August 20

Dude... LaFontaine is dead, you insensitive clod.
posted by Eideteker at 4:23 AM on August 21

Does the Cortex World Tour touch Chicago?
posted by shakespeherian at 6:35 AM on August 21

Cortex's world victory tour?

Not until it says so on a t-shirt.
posted by DreamerFi at 7:29 AM on August 21

What's a tater?
posted by electroboy at 7:31 AM on August 21

Couldn't this go into one of the three other open cortex threads? Also, when you coming to Slater, IA?
posted by cjorgensen at 7:31 AM on August 21

and speaking of MacArthur Park isn't too far off either

I see a cake, a watering can, and an audio recording of Andy Merrill in my future.

Does the Cortex World Tour touch Chicago?

Yeah, I'll fly into Chicago on October 2nd, fly out again on the 4th. Meetup the 3rd is the smart plan. Details here.

Couldn't this go into one of the three other open cortex threads? Also, when you coming to Slater, IA?

Yeah, I didn't really think through the cluster of meetup threads this would spawn. But it'll either all be over with quickly or it'll string out enough that it won't be so nuts over the next few days, I hope. And anything that buries that freakin' Dawkins thread is a good thing.

I have driven through Iowa (and Nebraska, and...) once, years ago, but I didn't visit scenic Slater, so who knows what the future holds?
posted by cortex at 8:00 AM on August 21

"or to buy drugs in nearby Griffith Park, and speaking of MacArthur Park isn't too far off either"

Yeah, but those are all shitty street drugs, like, y'know, Mexican ditch weed and eightballs and shit. I assume, though, that like every other part of LA you have four pot dispensaries within three blocks of you.
posted by klangklangston at 8:04 AM on August 21

We need a passenger van or a caravan of cars and a group photo in front of Randy's Donuts.
posted by loquacious at 8:14 AM on August 21

Golly, klang, never had you pegged for a weed snob. Ask me, you haven't really smoked til you done schwaggy knife hits off a neodirthippy's propane stove on the hill behind the carousel.

I'm all for landmark-visiting and photo-opping. I've been here for two years and still haven't had a Randy's Donut, haven't eaten at Canter's Deli at 4am, and have yet to visit the venerable MoJT. cortex the catalyst!
posted by carsonb at 11:22 AM on August 21

Sigh. Another reason for me to be sad for leaving LA. Still, I do sincerely hope you all have a good one.
posted by ob at 11:29 AM on August 21

Couldn't this go into one of the three other open cortex threads? Also, when you coming to Slater, IA?

Yeah, I didn't really think through the cluster of meetup threads this would spawn.

That's just the LA hate perennially cropping up in mysterious ways. Don't be scared, those people are probably in a tornado basement or something. brb, catching a wave.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:35 AM on August 21 [1 favorite]

"Golly, klang, never had you pegged for a weed snob. Ask me, you haven't really smoked til you done schwaggy knife hits off a neodirthippy's propane stove on the hill behind the carousel."

I remember buying from this kid, maybe he was 17, during a dry spell back in Michigan. He was in one of those '80s townhouses that sprang up in the suburban sprawl, white walls and beige everything else, under a bug-filled frosted fixture in his kitchen, slicing off weed from a pound block the size of a Grisham hardcover, $30 an inch. It was Birkenstock brown, mostly stick and seed, and compressed enough that it cut like colby. I assume that it was treated with something, because three hits in it'd give you a headache like plastic fumes, the kind of headache that made the back of your eyes hurt, and every chunk included at least one pube-looking hair.

That was, I think, the worst pot I've ever bought. Even the dime sack in Vegas from one of those guys with the hooker cards, where you could practically taste the paraquat, was better.

But the secret to Kyle's weed, I learned from a friend who paid his way through Berklee similarly, was to rinse it in warm water and let it dry on the heat vent in the closet. When rinsing it, a frothy scum would develop which would kill grass where you dumped it. But after rinsing and drying, it was usually fluffed enough that it looked like decent weed—another trick was to add a little brown sugar to it while wet, letting it develop "crystals"—decent enough that the frat boys who I worked with would pay $20 an eighth for it, letting me bump up to the chunky "kind" sold by one of the delivery drivers at my other job.

So yeah, by now, I'm the kind of weed snob who doesn't mind not smoking if smoking means tasting shoe polish or using coke can pipe.
posted by klangklangston at 11:44 AM on August 21 [2 favorites]

Too bad they just raided the Royal Temple of Zion dispensary in your 'hood, carsonb.

"4,000-square feet of 'Reggae by the river' with pool tables, ping pong and chess tournaments. A free gram is offered for new patients."
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 2:21 PM on August 21

I think WeHo is a good idea, what are some good venues there? I also prefer not incredibly loud.

Not sure if we should make MoJT the main meetup — how many people can they accommodate successfully?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 5:30 PM on August 21

Not sure if we should make MoJT the main meetup — how many people can they accommodate successfully?

It's been years since I've been there and, as much as I hate to rain on anyone's parade, it really doesn't strike me as a great meetup place for anything larger than a small group. It's a fairly intimate environment and I just don't see it working for something like this.
posted by dhammond at 7:17 PM on August 21

No, go on, stomp harder on my dreams.
posted by carsonb at 7:52 PM on August 21

I've got a spare day, some sort of dream-unstompening small-group sojurn to this phantastical MoJT thing could probably be arranged.
posted by cortex at 11:07 PM on August 21

Since I live, like, a half mile away from the MoJT, I've been there like seven or eight times, including twice with MeFite groups. It's really a place you should go, Cortex, but it's really not a meet up spot. It relies a lot on the dissociative richness of Victorian curio cabinets and brain-bending craziness, which means that it's best seen in very small groups with very little talking as a weird immersive experience. There are plenty of places to meet up around there, including a pretty great Indian lunch counter a couple doors down, and some bars within easy (city) walking distance (and better bars within easy driving distance). But a loud crowd stomping through it and giggling is pretty much enough to wreck a lot of the fun of the museum.
posted by klangklangston at 12:38 AM on August 22

it really doesn't strike me as a great meetup place for anything larger than a small group

Plus, it's super lame. I swear I'll never understand this sites love of that place.
posted by willnot at 1:06 AM on August 22

Another reason for me to be sad for leaving LA

There are reasons to be sad for leaving LA?
posted by davejay at 2:15 AM on August 22

including a pretty great Indian lunch counter a couple doors down,

Oh, wow. That's still there? That place is scary awesome good. I could go totally vegan if I could eat that every day, but I think if I ate that every day I'd start sweating pure curry.

The Museum of Jurassic Technology is really tiny inside. We'd be better off descending en masse on the Getty, LACMA or MOMA. Another museum option would be the Museum of Science and Industry down in Exposition Park, which is pretty close to Randy's Donuts.

And for the record I have never actually eaten a donut from Randy's Donuts. I'm not even sure if they are anything unusual above and beyond a basic donut. I just want pics of cortex going "sweet sugary fuck that's a giant fucking donut!" as he marvels at one of the 7 stucco wonders of Los Angeles architecture. See also "The Gernsback Continuum" with donuts instead of stucco ray guns.

Something to also consider is that there's a few folks that probably have the space and skills to actually host the meetup at home. I may be able to volunteer for that, but I'll have to ask. There's a BBQ and a big, dusty concrete patio here. I know others were talking about hosting as well.

I like the idea of a home-hosted meetup because it's cheaper, more friendly and is likely more comfortable for a broader spectrum of our members.

Some of you might be totally comfortable with the Edison or whatnot - but that's really kind of swanky to me. I was always more comfortable some place really dingy like Al's Bar or Little Pedro's - which are probably gone or totally gentrified by now but used to be moderately dangerous and filthy.
posted by loquacious at 7:26 AM on August 22

Something to also consider is that there's a few folks that probably have the space and skills to actually host the meetup at home. I may be able to volunteer for that, but I'll have to ask. There's a BBQ and a big, dusty concrete patio here. I know others were talking about hosting as well.

This would be me, and I don't have to ask. For the first time in my post-mom's house (and pre-my own family) life I'm living in a house with a yard, have a grill and some grass to roll it onto, a driveway designed and constructed with foursquare in mind, a kitchen for waltzing, cooler space, between the porch the sofa-and-a-half the blow-up mattress and the guest room enough bedding to pass out 8—10 if you're cuddly, and a sound system that isn't a boombox. Oh, and people I'd like to invite over.

I understand if consensus swings bar-ward, and I plan to show up wherever swingin', but do consider this an invitation to party, LA mefites.
posted by carsonb at 10:42 AM on August 22

And cortex, of course.
posted by carsonb at 10:43 AM on August 22

And rock band on the projector?
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 10:46 AM on August 22

Fuck yes. Someone flip on the DaShiv signal.
posted by carsonb at 10:48 AM on August 22

"Oh, wow. That's still there? That place is scary awesome good. I could go totally vegan if I could eat that every day, but I think if I ate that every day I'd start sweating pure curry."

Yeah, it's still there and they just renovated. The Indian grammas are still behind the counter, still getting frustrated while I dither (it all looks so good!) and still just telling me what I'll have. All for pretty cheap. But it's not vegan—there's plenty of ghee and paneer.
posted by klangklangston at 10:50 AM on August 22

Drunken four square? Speakers?

How could that not be awesome?

Seriously, does anyone have any problem with converting their few pints of bar money into a full on BBQ and cooler full of beer and cocktails? We could do potluck, too.

Or I could just stand here and mock you while hurling stale tortillas at your head.
posted by loquacious at 10:56 AM on August 22

Pretty sure that "rock band on the projector" is the dashiv signal.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 11:04 AM on August 22

Holy hell, this sounds epic. Count me in: I'll bring some hard liquor. Did anybody say when?
posted by Space Kitty at 11:08 AM on August 22

Saturday the 26th of September sounds good.
posted by carsonb at 11:17 AM on August 22

That's your second cue, carsonb. :)

We could likely start early with some sightseeing or whatnot for those that are interested and work up an appetite for the BBQ in the late afternoon to early evening.
posted by loquacious at 11:18 AM on August 22

What time on Saturday?
posted by loquacious at 11:23 AM on August 22

What time on Saturday definitely depends on whatchy'all wanna do. Caravanning around could be fun. I have walkie-talkies. Having a hard time for the house gathering would be good though, so let's aim to all be in Frogtown around 7pm. The link in my profile gives the nearest crossroads and specifics can be had in the usual way.
posted by carsonb at 11:37 AM on August 22 [1 favorite]

I mean, if that's cool with everyone.
posted by carsonb at 11:37 AM on August 22

You had me at "I have walkie-talkies."
posted by dhammond at 1:08 PM on August 22 [2 favorites]

If that's not cool with anyone they don't have to come. *assumes bouncer stance*

I also have at least one FRS/GPRS radio that works. And a GPS.

The main problem with showing someone from out of town LA is that it's nigh impossible to see any quantity of cool shit in one day without spending 90% of your time on the freeway, so you kind of have to pick and choose carefully.

I suppose I should confab with AmbrosiaVoyeur and cortex and whomever else is stepping up to do the driving and see what their plans are. Visiting the giant donut isn't really all that important - it's just a big stucco gimmick that's been in a few movies - but we could do a triangle along the west/central area from Venice, to the giant donut, up to griffith park and over to the Getty or LACMA something like that.

But we should definitely nail down some general plan, otherwise you're pretty much guaranteed to spend the entire day idling in traffic trying to figure out where to go and never really going anywhere in particular. While this is a truly traditional LA pastime it's rather boring as an out of town tourist.

Where's scody? Should we do another LACMA visit? I had a blast last time when ryanrs and I came down for an LA meetup.
posted by loquacious at 1:58 PM on August 22

As Space Kitty says, this sounds epic. I'm in. Thin Lizzy and I will bring cupcakes or some sort of treat, no doubt.
posted by Bookhouse at 2:26 PM on August 22

Oh, and carsonb: gentleman and scholar.
posted by Bookhouse at 2:27 PM on August 22

so you kind of have to pick and choose carefully.

I am totally okay with you guys doing careful picking and choosing. I wouldn't know what to pick or choose, and I'd rather see some cool stuff and otherwise have a nice time than try and sweat out an aggressive Must See Many Things type schedule.

Party at carsonb's sounds awesome, regardless. And walkie talkies are totally sweet.
posted by cortex at 3:22 PM on August 22

OK. I propose the following balanced menu for the consideration of all involved, and I'm totally talking about you Ambrosia Voyeur because you have the land-yacht and the driving moxie:

These are in no particular temporal or geographical order.

1) A park or a beach.

Example: Venice Beach. Or Griffith Park. At Griffith we could check out the "abandoned zoo" and the LA river for creative photo ops. There's also the railway museum and miniature railroad stuff close to that on the backside of Griffith. And of course there's Griffith Observatory and it's vista over LA.

I also know of an *incredible* vista up above Glendale, just a bit west of Angeles Crest. It's about a 1.5 mile hike in and about half a mile up from the trail head on a well maintained full-width fire road. On a clear day you can see Pasadena, Riverside, Orange County, Long Beach, Downtown LA, LAX/Westside and the Valley all in one shot, and it's not that far from Griffith.


2) A landmark food stop.

Example: Canter's Deli on Fairfax, or the indian lunch place on Venice, a taco truck or something else. The Pantry? Toi?

3) Some art or culture.

Example: LACMA or maybe a walk around the Getty. Cruise Hollywood and Sunset. Cruise the Crenshaw. Check out the architecture on Miracle Mile or Downtown. Eagle's Landing. Little Tokyo. Art District.

4) And tied to the above 3 points - an automobile tour of cruising landmarks and various bits of LA architecture between those 3 points and just taking our time. At least one point of travel should involve one of our 8 level, 300 foot high concrete interchanges from hell.

And of course I welcome - nay, beg - for further suggestions from others. It's a huge place.
posted by loquacious at 6:15 PM on August 22 [1 favorite]

OH MY GOD I AM DOWN FOR ALL OF THIS.

damn, Carson, you keep getting better and better.

I'll drive wherever, definitely, and I just wanna be sure cortex gets to go where he wants to go. I'm sad that there aren't any good screenings that I know of yet at USC that weekend, just cuz I'd love to show off my monstrous place of work (The George Lucas Building, ye gods) to the boss.

To the party I must bring paletas, so if I'm driving we'll be stopping for the best fucking paletas.

And speaking of the DaShiv signal, where the hell is everybody else? I think we need to get this sidebarred. 7pm okay, Carson?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:30 AM on August 23

Oh, yes. you said.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 10:32 AM on August 23

Maybe a micro-meetup friday night or sunday night at The Daily Pint would be a good addition, since I know bossman likes scotch and beer. Then you beardos can do your bellying up with your manly drinks while I make such derisively flirtatious remarks as these and wrinkle my nose at the peaty stink of you.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:30 AM on August 23

Where's scody? Should we do another LACMA visit?

I'm around, just semi-lurking 'cause I'm back from vacation and feeling a skosh under the weather.

My idea of a LACMA meetup these days would be to organize a picket line to demand the museum's million-dollar director bring back the world-class repertory film program he's seen fit to destroy "rethink," but I don't know if that would be up anyone else's alley.
posted by scody at 3:48 PM on August 23 [1 favorite]

The Daily Pint is easily one of the best places to enjoy excellent beer and scotch in all of Los Angeles, so I'm game.
posted by dhammond at 7:01 PM on August 23

For the specific location of the meetup (my house) and to RSVP (if you please) send me an email.
posted by carsonb at 7:52 PM on August 23

For local (food) flavor:
If you a. eat meat (or are open to meat contaminating your food) and b. want a walking tour of taco trucks, a pupusa stand, hand made blue corn tortilla quesadillas table, bacon wrapped hotdog tables (usually there is one around here with a veg option at night), and maybe a churro truck, I could come up with something in Echo Park. Most of the taco trucks and hot dog tables don't come out until dinner time and stick around later for the bar people. I don't think I've seen the other tables past dinner time. Weekends at Echo Park Lake are also an open air market of sorts with food and random used crap and pirated dvds. And those dudes with sticks full of inflated toy animals that Carson has the urge to tackle. Here's some person on chowhound's write up of some of the vendors.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 7:53 PM on August 23 [1 favorite]

Seems like every time I try to make it out to one of these something comes up-- had to help a friend move the day of the 10th meetup-- but I'm going to do my best to make this one.
posted by InfidelZombie at 8:57 AM on August 24

Ill be in town as well, so I will be at this meetup.
posted by mrzarquon at 5:15 PM on August 27

I should be around that weekend and I can vouch for carsonb's hospitable pad.
posted by liquoredonlife at 8:20 PM on August 28

After a successful trip to Galco's this weekend, I hereby volunteer to bring the interesting non-alcoholic beverages to carsonb's shindig. Together with Thin Lizzy and her baked goods, we're the teeth-rotting contingent of L.A. Mefites.
posted by Bookhouse at 3:43 PM on August 31

There are non-alcoholic beverages?
posted by cortex at 4:01 PM on August 31 [3 favorites]

They're what you put in the cup after adding the alcohol and ice. (I suspect that cucumber soda would do well with some gin or vodka.)
posted by Bookhouse at 4:14 PM on August 31

I'm late to the party here... I've barely had time for my own site lately let alone Mefi. So what's the deal? Cortex is gonna be partying at carson's with frogs and walkie talkies and then going to the Daily Pint? Huh?

BTW Cortex, if you're traveling on a budget and care to know which museums in LA are free on what days, I'm happy to say I can help with that...
posted by miss lynnster at 10:52 PM on September 21

So what is the plan? Where are we going and when are we suppose to be there?
posted by y6y6y6 at 7:24 AM on September 22

I believe the plan is BBQ at carsonb's house at 7pm on Saturday. Send him a MeMail and he'll send you directions.
posted by InfidelZombie at 12:29 PM on September 22

So far as I have it figured out right now, the only for sure is yeah 7pm at my house, ping* me for the exact location. The link in my profile is to the nearest intersection; it's close. People are bringing delicious comestibles and refreshing beverages and hopefully (yes, more!) Beatles Rockband and their glorious selves, thank you thank you thank you! There will be grilling and Scrabble and warm LA River smell and whatever else I can conjure up that might be remotely fun. Sadly, unless a miracle, unlike all the other parties on my block there won't be a jumping castle.

Other potential cortex LA Weekend activities:
- Meeting for drinksy/dinnery somewhere between my house and mr. zarquon's place Friday night. If drinks are on the order, let's go to the Daily Pint, yeah?
- Greater (western) Los Angeles driving tour Saturday day. Suggested stops so far: Griffith Observatory, La Brea Tar Pits, Randy's Donuts, Canter's, Pink's, others upthread I forget now. Additional suggestions welcome, Angelenos.
- Cortex is on his own Sunday (I have to work) so entertain him peoples. Point Dume is nice this time of year.

He may also have his own plans? Contact will be a bit easier during his breather back home.
posted by carsonb at 12:53 PM on September 22

*cortexism
posted by carsonb at 12:53 PM on September 22

I had volunteered to shuttle his ass around… Hmm. Saturday?

Just in terms of tourist bullshit, he should probably go to Amoeba. Also, foursquare/twosquare only works during the day, when the light is out.

I dunno, though, y'know? If left up to me, it'd probably be, like, hey man, let's get stoned, sit around in our underwear and play some katamari.
posted by klangklangston at 1:40 PM on September 22

Anyway, back to JURY DUTY!
posted by klangklangston at 1:40 PM on September 22 [1 favorite]

Who knew jury duty was outside my bedroom window? I thought that was the neighbor's band practicing. (GemCraft though, not katamari.)
posted by carsonb at 2:30 PM on September 22

speicus is playing in an outdoor picnic sorta thing in Sunset Junction Saturday afternoon. It's a bunch of cal arts people making music and stuff. We can scare up a guitar should cortex want to do some impromptu rocking out of his own.

Depending on the state of his liver, the Verdugo Bar (dunno about their scotch collection, but they have a bunch of craft brew type beer on tap) has a bbq on their patio on Sundays.

Y'know, I looked into renting a bouncy castle at one point and they're surprisingly affordable as long as you're not in a public park and have a normal electricity hookup. I think I found one for ~100/day rental.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 3:15 PM on September 22

You an' Isaac'd be fine in one of those castles, but I feel like I'd jump twice before bouncing a hole in the wall like some drunk Kool-Aid man.

And at fairs, they're always super serious about the weight limits. I'm like, c'mon, man, I weighed 150 by seventh grade!
posted by klangklangston at 4:26 PM on September 22

This could be a benefit of the increasing average weight of Americans--I'll bet they build sturdier bouncy castles these days!
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 4:34 PM on September 22

I tried to have Tony the Pony at my 18th birthday party and was refused. I want a bigger pony. NO, NOT A HORSE.

If you want to caravan around to LA sights on Saturday, I seem to be the command leader for that, email me, facebook, IM me.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 6:40 PM on September 22

If you happen to be bumming around Sunset Junction on the weekends between 12-4pm, the best fish tacos EVER can be found. No joke. Dude named Ricky serves them up on his cart and they are to die for. Cortex is someone worth coming out to meet up with, but these tacos are also capable of dragging my ass out of the south bay.
posted by liquoredonlife at 1:31 AM on September 23

liquoredonlife--I've been wanting to try those tacos!

The picnic thing we'll be at:
This is an open invitation to perform or come have a picnic.
Performances won't be scheduled or coordinated; they can overlap and mingle.
A performance can be anything, any action, or something passive.
Please invite any picnickers who might like to come by.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
1:00pm - 6:00pm
Mi Alma Art Park, Silverlake
4016 Santa Monica Boulevard

There's also some kooky yoga thing from 3-4 at the same place:
Bataillean Yoga combines eccentric physical practices and radical philosophical inquiry in a unique discipline inspired by the meditation routine of mid-20th century philosopher and novelist Georges Bataille.

I swear--as much as it may sound like it--I'm not recruiting for a cult. </small?
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 11:50 AM on September 23

The Daily Pint on Friday sounds good to me if anyone's up for it.
posted by dhammond at 4:59 PM on September 23

I'd be up for that.
posted by klangklangston at 6:33 PM on September 23

Well, let's nail that down, so I can figure out if I can make it and stuff.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 11:57 PM on September 24

I nailed your mom down.
posted by cortex at 7:16 AM on September 25

I was originally planning to bring mr. cortex to the culver city father's office (the one with chairs and parking), for the beer selection and food. If folks want to meet at the Daily Pint instead, that is cool with me as well.
posted by mrzarquon at 9:22 AM on September 25

I've never been to Father's Office and am intrigued, but it should be noted on account of known cortextual preferences that Daily Pint serves hundreds of brands/varieties of Scotch.
posted by carsonb at 9:36 AM on September 25

Daily Pint has many of the same beers for cheaper; it's easier to get tables for groups; it has mad liquor; it has shuffleboard. It does not have food, but the only vegetarian option at Father's Office is the fries or a $10 bullshit salad, so that's not a decider for me. The Daily Pint does have menus for pizza joints and will let you either order in or bring food.

I vote Daily Pint, though if it's Father's Office, I can ride my bike there without breaking a sweat.
posted by klangklangston at 9:42 AM on September 25

FO is pretty nice, for the beer and burger crowd.

If we can easily order food for the Pint (my concern since I didn't see a menu), I'd be down as I haven't been to just a beer/scotch place here yet (even though I will be driving).

So I'm up for the Pint.
posted by mrzarquon at 9:44 AM on September 25

Again, the menus at the Pint—of which there are many—are for other places that serve food and deliver to the Pint.

Wanna pick a time? You're getting him from the airport, right Zarquon?
posted by klangklangston at 9:50 AM on September 25

Cheaper beer. Order-in pizza. Shuffleboard.

Shuffleboard, motherfuckers.

Pint it is. Maybe we can sneak in an FO visit at some point, it does look neat in its own right.
posted by cortex at 12:07 PM on September 25

re: menus, yes, I know that (was speaking of the websites lack of food, and no mention of one being able to bring their own, which was then clarified).

i'd say 8ish, because we have to make a few stops after I pickup mr. cortex, and he is flying into mother fucking LONG BEACH.
posted by mrzarquon at 3:57 PM on September 25

I might be up for it, though since I'll be driving down from the Valley, I can't promise. I'll be more on the 9-ish side of things if I do make it. If not, I'll definitely see you all tomorrow night.
posted by scody at 4:37 PM on September 25

Did you know: Long Beach is a tiny, sad excuse for an airport. I'd forgotten about that, even though I flew through it back in May—I can only assume my brain repressed the memories.

Weather sure is nice, though.

I would be shocked if we started at 8ish and ended before 9ish, scody.
posted by cortex at 4:42 PM on September 25

Welcome to sunny SoCal, boss! I'm curlin' my hair for ya right now! :P See y'all around 8.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 4:47 PM on September 25

That would explain the strange disturbance in the force I felt. I assumed it was an earthquake. But it was cortex.
posted by The World Famous at 5:39 PM on September 25

cortex even got a nice view of LA traffic on the 405 (which took over an hour to get through, and then 20 minutes to get back)
posted by mrzarquon at 6:33 PM on September 25

We are back by the pool table
posted by mrzarquon at 8:07 PM on September 25

That'll learn me not to read the thread for three days.
posted by Justinian at 9:38 PM on September 25

Come out, Justinian!!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:56 PM on September 25

For those who want to join us for breakfast around 10am, we should probably meet at this Ralphs outside my apartment building.

The idea is just to mozy on down to venice beach, and find a place to grab breakfast, I was thinking El Tarasco because it is cheap and fast. Some folks may want to walk down, others may want to pile into a car and risk trying to find street parking. if we walk it will be about 10-20 minutes.
posted by mrzarquon at 12:15 AM on September 26

Last night's pre-meetup meetup photos are up! Thanks to DaShiv for the use of that ridiculously nice lens.
posted by cortex at 9:10 AM on September 26

Merr, ignore the last comment, its a bit too last minute, and there are big cortex plans awaiting, (and no one has responded), if you do end up showing up, we will probably be down on the beach (westend of Washington)
posted by mrzarquon at 9:13 AM on September 26

Wait, what? Bob's on the way to get us…
posted by klangklangston at 10:00 AM on September 26

Sorry we missed the pre-meetup. Thin Lizzy and I will see y'all tonight, and we'll be bringing new Mefite and even newer Los Angeles resident (twelve hours or so) joechip with us.
posted by Bookhouse at 11:06 AM on September 26

Wait a minnit... I thought the meetup was today? And now I hear you had one last night? WTF?

Could someone please e-mail me (or memail me) with where things are going on (and when) tonight? I feel so out of the looooooop. Sigh. That's what I get for getting a real job...
posted by miss lynnster at 11:36 AM on September 26

Speicus and I will be at Carson's later and we're bringing some curried veggie and tofu kabobs to grill.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 2:10 PM on September 26

miss lynnster: the bums just had a bonus pre-meetup meetup. The meetup meetup is still same bat time, same bat channel.
posted by Justinian at 4:03 PM on September 26

Can someone PM me Carsons address? No word from the man himself.
posted by liquoredonlife at 4:42 PM on September 26

PM me too. Please? I've flown across the country (for some work) and have tonight free..
posted by filmgeek at 5:11 PM on September 26

miss lynnster, liquoredonlife, filmgeek: check your memail.
posted by scody at 5:22 PM on September 26

Heading over - see you all there!
posted by Space Kitty at 7:45 PM on September 26

Me and Tinatiga are sick and very much missing things. Hope you guys have a great time.
posted by skewedoracle at 8:46 PM on September 26

Good times, everyone. Thanks again to carson for opening up the house.
posted by Bookhouse at 11:00 PM on September 26

I say, next time, West Side!
posted by mrzarquon at 12:37 AM on September 27

(also, thanks to Carson for hosting, awesome meetup, would attend again, +++)
posted by mrzarquon at 12:37 AM on September 27

AIN'T NO PARTY LIKE A FROGTOWN PARTY CUZ A FROGTOWN PARTY DON'T SJKLFDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD
posted by dhammond at 1:35 AM on September 27 [4 favorites]

Lots of fun. Worth the drive.
posted by The Pusher Robot at 1:36 AM on September 27

But seriously, it was great to see everyone, and a thousand thank yous to Carson et al for the kind hospitality.
posted by dhammond at 1:36 AM on September 27

Oh hey so I guess all that happened. Now for a few hours of sleep and trying to figure out what if anything to do tomorrow. Photos will have to wait, too tired to do 'em tonight.
posted by cortex at 3:10 AM on September 27

Holy fluck that was fun. Y'all are good people, thanks for coming over!
posted by carsonb at 3:24 AM on September 27

Also, belated apologies to everyone's messages I missed last night/today. And thanks to scody for setting everyone straight.
posted by carsonb at 3:25 AM on September 27

Wassup today?
posted by klangklangston at 1:43 PM on September 27

That was awesome! Thanks again for hosting carson - next stop: More cucumber soda!
posted by Space Kitty at 1:52 PM on September 27

Wassup today?

cortex and Ambrosia Voyeur and contraption and loq are holed up in the Arclight currently, I believe. I'm at work in BH until 5. I don't know if that gang has plans after the show, so, uh, call 'em in a few hours? If I hear anything I'll post an update.

OK, and seriously, you all are awesome. Thank you for making my first party in the new abode a rockin' good time. Thank you for bringing your delicious treats and delicious booze and tasty beverages and meat and kabobs and games and selves and others and wow I couldn't have asked for a better bunch of people and a bigger blast of a night. I look forward to pictures and videos tout suite.
posted by carsonb at 2:19 PM on September 27

We just saw a movie about SOCKPUPPETS GONE TOO FAR, and dropped the boss off right in the heart of Hollywood. I gotta go home and bathe the stink of too much fun off!

Thanks again, Carson. Mwah!
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 3:18 PM on September 27

Yeah thanks Carson! Great meetup. Way better than any meetup the west side could ever have. HA
posted by speicus at 4:47 PM on September 27

Heh, you better watch it! Westside had a pretty good turnout, contributing to the high levels of awesome last night.
posted by carsonb at 4:51 PM on September 27

No plan for this evening; I'm eating some well-deserved yakisoba on Sunset and will catch up with carsonb in the next short while with a general aim to head back to his place. If folks want to do something, I'm game, though.

Surrogates is not a very good film, but it was kind of fun imagining it as having been sponsored by Realdoll. Whoever was in charge of makeup effects did a nice job on the skin, though it's hard to straddle the line between "actor doing a good job of pretending to be a slightly stiff automaton" and "actor doing a bad robot impression", and the stiffness of the dialogue has no diegetic explanation and should probably be blamed on a genuine human scriptwriter.

It was a lot of fun.
posted by cortex at 4:55 PM on September 27

Hahaha! Happy to read you went in search of the forced borscht place, cortex! I'm shocked, shocked I say, that this economy had been unkind to Uzbek cuisine!

It really was a fun treat to Mack on that moderator shizz three days running. Luckiest girl in the world title: unchallenged.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 8:43 PM on September 27

Just chiming in to nth all the comments regarding what a KICK ASS meetup it was -- thanks to Carson for being the awesomest host, thanks to DaShiv for the Rock Band tutorial, and super-duper special thanks to Cortex for the world victory tour. It was also great to meet some new folks. Yay!
posted by scody at 10:43 AM on September 28 [1 favorite]

So bummed that I couldn't make it. Sounds like it was a great time.
posted by The World Famous at 10:50 AM on September 28

The World Famous: we have to have a weeknight meetup soon so you can attend.
posted by scody at 11:22 AM on September 28

I'm organizing a pretty casual "whoever comes comes" meetup type thing — "Aperetifs for your Apparatus Appetite" — for my classmates and LA friends on Tuesday: dinner and/or drinks at the Edison at 6 and a walk over to REDCAT for the Bruce McClure projection show. I know you don't drink, The World Famous, but I would EXPECT The Edison to concoct some interesting virgin cocktails with all their syrups and ankcient unctious elixirs. Also, their food, it is tasty.

Also, may I pester you LA dwellers for something? I saw a shop, I thought it was on Fairfax, it was a vintage furnishings place with a lot of vintage pendant lamps in the window, and I couldn't go back and find it. Does anybody here know of such a place on a North-South running street between Sunset and Wilshire?
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 12:12 PM on September 28

I saw a shop, I thought it was on Fairfax, it was a vintage furnishings place with a lot of vintage pendant lamps in the window, and I couldn't go back and find it. Does anybody here know of such a place on a North-South running street between Sunset and Wilshire?

Sounds like it might be one of the shops on La Brea. I'll try to remember to drive home that way tonight and see if I can figure out which one it is.
posted by scody at 12:16 PM on September 28

There was a place like that on La Brea south of Pico (just a bit north of the 10), but it had closed the last time I drove past. They still had a big display window, but the floor was totally empty.

That was a couple of months ago, though, so it's possible that they've moved or that someone else took the space over (or even just renovated).

It was over near where the huge barber shop mural is, which I think is still Michael Jackson (and prior was Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant).
posted by klangklangston at 12:20 PM on September 28

I'm organizing a pretty casual "whoever comes comes" meetup type thing — "Aperetifs for your Apparatus Appetite" — for my classmates and LA friends on Tuesday: dinner and/or drinks at the Edison at 6 and a walk over to REDCAT for the Bruce McClure projection show.

Sounds fantastic. I think I can probably make it, at least for part of it.

I know you don't drink, The World Famous, but I would EXPECT The Edison to concoct some interesting virgin cocktails with all their syrups and ankcient unctious elixirs.

I love the Edison. I'm not sure you want to see me all messed up on virgin cocktails, though.
posted by The World Famous at 12:36 PM on September 28

Fun meetup, everyone! For those who asked, here's where I bought the strawberries. Thanks again for hosting, Carson!
posted by mattdidthat at 1:51 PM on September 28

Retropia is probably not the vintage furniture shop you're thinking of (it's on Highland just south of Sunset), but it has some cool mid-century stuff.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 3:06 PM on September 28

I don't know why that Google Maps link got borked. Here's the correct link.
posted by mattdidthat at 7:48 PM on September 28

Thanks for the tips, scody and klang. Google agrees: vintage stores be on La Brea. My giganto light cluster must feeeed.
posted by Ambrosia Voyeur at 9:26 PM on September 28

I drove up La Brea from Wilshire only as far as Beverly, and saw a few shops that might fit the bill: Antique Hardware, Info Lighting, and Brown & Gold Lighting. There's obviously a fair number of other lighting and/or vintage/antique stores between Beverly and Sunset that I didn't see, though.
posted by scody at 10:27 PM on September 28

I want to thank all the west coast mefites. You guys rock. Sorry I couldn't hang longer.
posted by filmgeek at 8:47 PM on September 29

Been swamped with work and whatnot but finally posted my pictures. Thanks for hosting carsonb and nice seeing the rest of ya. :]
posted by liquoredonlife at 11:16 AM on September 30

It was awesome meeting cortex, but I don't remember curtsying.
posted by Space Kitty at 2:07 PM on September 30

Sorry to chime in so late but my voice was still hoarse from beliting out "Don't Stop Believin' at the top of my lungs." :)

Fun night! TRIPLE FAB!!!
posted by miss lynnster at 10:43 AM on October 4