cortex sings!

August 28, 2009 5:10 PM

NYC Karaoke 10/07/2009 + cortex. 2nd on 2nd.

The CortexTour 2009 grand finale.

Opt in as the time gets closer, so that we know how big of a room to reserve.

posted by Afroblanco to MetaFilter gatherings at 5:10 PM (204 comments total)

cortex -- what time works best for your itinerary?
posted by Afroblanco at 5:12 PM on August 28

I arrive at JFK at 5:01PM, if all goes well. Google says an airport tram to the A to the F should get me to 2nd and 2nd in about an hour or so, so maybe we say 7:00 for a little wiggle room, I could head straight there and maybe show up early?

That or I could head to someone's place, drop my stuff off, and go from there.
posted by cortex at 5:33 PM on August 28

Rad. 7PM sounds fine. I live a couple blocks from there, so you can drop your stuff at my place if you like.
posted by Afroblanco at 5:35 PM on August 28

I second your rad.
posted by cortex at 5:56 PM on August 28

5 comments in and we've decided the date, time and location? Well, geesh, what are we supposed to talk about for the next 145 comments?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:06 PM on August 28 [2 favorites]

how about, how RAD this is?

'cause this is wicked rad. I'm in like flynn.
posted by shmegegge at 7:37 PM on August 28

I would go so far as to say k-rad.

Oh hell, it's the 21st century. We should be on t-rad by now, at the very least.
posted by Afroblanco at 8:13 PM on August 28

I am not comfortable with a choice of venue and time unless some sort of spreadsheet is involved.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 8:52 PM on August 28 [1 favorite]

Oh boy oh boy! I'll be there and I'll be square.
posted by vrakatar at 9:26 PM on August 28

DG, Second on Second can do us one better. They have a SEARCH ENGINE. You can look up your song by musician or title and find it INSTANTLY. So cool! No more interminable waiting for "the book." No more endless rooting through some mishmash of a catalog to find That One Song You Want.

And as a special bonus, 2nd on 2nd plays some spactacuarly nonsequitor B-roll while you're singing. Sureal bordering on Dada, with a hint of pataphysics thrown in.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:02 PM on August 28

You know, like when you're singing some kind of early hardcore punk, and the videoscreen is showing a happy young couple running through a field of flowers. Do they do that everywhere? I always thought of it as part of the entertainment.
posted by Afroblanco at 10:05 PM on August 28

Asshat song a cappella! No excuses this time!
posted by brujita at 11:37 PM on August 28

wow you guy s this is going to be awesome to sing karaoke with a

computer

guys runnin through the fields

ther is an engine that is searching for you

:D
posted by kathrineg at 11:51 PM on August 28 [1 favorite]

Went to a restaurant earlier this year that showed beaches and people running and all other random footage while we sang.

So I'm primed.

I should be able to make this unless I have some sort of late birthday plans. Those should be confined to the previous weekend, but you never know.
posted by cmgonzalez at 5:45 AM on August 29

I'm tentatively in (definitely in conceptually, but I'm bracing myself for something else to spring on me that I have to do on that date) and will confirm closer to.

I'm primed for karaoke now, having just discovered a bar in Red Hook where they have free karaoke on Fridays run by a drag queen named Dropsy.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:00 AM on August 29

I am going to be there. Whee!
posted by ocherdraco at 6:48 AM on August 29

I am not comfortable with a choice of venue and time unless some sort of spreadsheet is involved.

Happy now?
posted by smackfu at 8:17 AM on August 29

I am so so so so so so so so there. So there. My love for karaoke is unnervingly powerful.
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 10:42 AM on August 29

Me too! Whee!!
posted by DaDaDaDave at 11:11 AM on August 29

check plus. sounds like a plan!
posted by puckish at 1:03 PM on August 29

not that i'll be coming but: congratulations for picking the single douchiest venue for karaoke in the city, other than that place in times square! good luck to all of you.
posted by lia at 3:45 PM on August 29

fascinating. thanks for your input!
posted by shmegegge at 3:45 PM on August 29 [3 favorites]

Kind of an irrelevant sidenote, but how did the terms 'douche' and 'douchebag' become so popular amongst the current generation of 20-30somethings? I know it's been used as a term of derision for a while -- I remember my dad using it. Was there some sort of cultural tipping point for 'douchebag?'

Perhaps it has something to do with the popularity of bluetooth earpieces.....
posted by Afroblanco at 8:00 PM on August 29

Was there some sort of cultural tipping point for 'douchebag?'

The first time I ever heard the term was on SNL in the mid-late 80s. It wasn't the last time. I think maybe that has something to do with it.


(The oddball thing is the super curious 7 year old nerdy kid that I was then knew what a douche was in its most basic terms--thank you Summer's Eve commercials--and really wondered about the context before realizing it was just one of those twisting of terms.)
posted by cmgonzalez at 9:38 PM on August 29

Was there some sort of cultural tipping point for 'douchebag?'

I wonder about this too. I started saying it for the first time about three years ago, and now it's one of those words I wish I used less. Very fun to say, though. I picked it up from a crusty old colleague whom I used to tease about using such an antique swear. Now suddenly it's au courant and I missed how it happened.
posted by CunningLinguist at 8:35 AM on August 30

Well, according to Google Trends, 'douchebag' received a spike in popularity somewhere in late 2007, after which it began its steady rise to prominence.

Interestingly, 'douchebag' enjoyed its highest level of popularity in news stories earlier this year. I wonder exactly what kind of 'news stories' mention 'douchebags?'
posted by Afroblanco at 9:15 AM on August 30 [1 favorite]

smackfu, we can contribute to the spreadsheet but not see it? For shame.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:34 PM on August 30

Oops, I thought it had a link to the results after you submitted or something. Here you go. Bon Jovi is winning.
posted by smackfu at 8:39 PM on August 30

Whoever wrote Spice Girls, I think I have to sing with you. I did do Bon Jovi my last karaoke go-round though.
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:03 AM on August 31

I don't think I've ever seen lia at a meetup or even in a meetup thread, so I'm surprised s/he cares. It's like the friend you invite out all the time but who can never make it and who never bothers to RSVP calling you out of the blue to finally actually tell you he can't make it but also that the bar sucks and you're an asshole for even suggesting it.

In short, lia, your comment was douchier than going to the M&M store in Times Square while simultaneously getting bottle service at Libation, holding the doors on a rush hour train, and reading the Post. Well done.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 2:33 PM on August 31 [1 favorite]

The cultural tipping point for douchebags was when people posted random, unqualified judgments in benign meetup threads. I hate douche-y karaoke bars as much as the next "hot nerd girl," but I don't go shitting in everyone's giddy plans to lip sync Blondie.
posted by zoomorphic at 2:39 PM on August 31 [1 favorite]

Yaaay Blondie!
posted by Afroblanco at 2:49 PM on August 31

Anyway, If I were to hazard a guess, I'd say that either lia or one of her friends had a bad experience there, and she mistakenly thought MeTa was supposed to be Yelp. Note to lia : this is not Yelp.

In any case, I don't see any reason we should let her or her negativity screw up a perfectly good meetup thread. So let's just drop it and get back to the Karaoke suggestions.

I'm surprised nobody's suggested Flagpole Sitta yet....
posted by Afroblanco at 2:55 PM on August 31

Hey now, there's a difference between lipsync and "sing really badly".
posted by cmgonzalez at 5:25 PM on August 31

It's like the friend you invite out all the time but who can never make it and who never bothers to RSVP calling you out of the blue to finally actually tell you he can't make it

uh this isn't me is it? Because I had a really bad head cold I swear to god.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 8:12 PM on August 31

I'm in! That's actually one of the first place where I ever sang karaoke in NYC, so it'd be awesome to go back again.
posted by TrishaLynn at 4:12 AM on September 1

Whoever wrote Spice Girls, I think I have to sing with you.

:D Alright, start practicing now.

You, too, Afroblanco. I know we decided on a karaoke duet long ago; I just can't remember what it is.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:23 PM on September 1 [1 favorite]

>That's actually one of the first place where I ever sang karaoke in NYC, so it'd be awesome to go back again

Same here actually! I'm in.
posted by chalbe at 11:02 AM on September 4

*Sigh* Weeknights. Why must they be weeknights.
posted by Karmakaze at 12:27 PM on September 8

This one isn't!
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:36 PM on September 9 [1 favorite]

I'll try to show up also, in order to meet cortex. Never have, even with the proximity.
posted by Danf at 3:15 PM on September 9

Oooh, I probably can't make the Oct 3 one, but I can probably make this one! So I won't miss Danf!
posted by gaspode at 4:19 PM on September 9

I hate douche-y karaoke bars as much as the next "hot nerd girl," but I don't go shitting in everyone's giddy plans to lip sync Blondie.
catty much, metafilter?

Also, just to warn y'all, I harmonize compulsively.
posted by Jon_Evil at 11:32 AM on September 13

Also, just to warn y'all, I harmonize compulsively.

In a similar vein: a friend told me that I once did the best "TIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN ROOF! Rusted..." that he'd ever heard since Kate Pierson, so I'm in if we wanna get a Mefi-52's going.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:43 AM on September 14

I'm laying exclusive claim to Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" before anyone else tries to get their greedy little paws on it.
posted by Help, I can't stop talking! at 1:51 PM on September 14

Vanilla Ice

Scissor Sisters

That is all.
posted by scrutiny at 7:45 AM on September 18

I've got to come up with a list. Hmm...
posted by ocherdraco at 8:57 AM on September 18

Shouldn't cortex take a brief but restorative nap at the respite so generously offered by Afroblanco? We'll probably go till what, 11 or so at least? Wouldn't 7:45 be a more realistic starting time?
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:08 PM on September 18

Well if we're renting a room, we'd probably kick off on the hour, so it's 7 or 8.
posted by cmgonzalez at 5:38 PM on September 19

I think 7 pm is fine. The guest of honor is allowed to be late. Everyone else MUST be one time for choreography rehearsals.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:42 PM on September 19

I've got all day the next day to recover for my evening flight anyway. I'll probably skip the nap and show up on the dot.
posted by cortex at 7:11 PM on September 19

I was going to come to this one but then I saw lia make fun of it ;_;
posted by Damn That Television at 12:44 PM on September 22

I will go just so I can hear my buddy ocherdraco sing <3
posted by cristinacristinacristina at 11:42 AM on September 24

You better sing, too!
posted by ocherdraco at 12:13 PM on September 24

I vow to sing/speak a song that is inappropriately low for my vocal range...I'm thinking something by Johnny Cash, possibly "Brandy" by that one guy
posted by kathrineg at 1:24 PM on September 24

Perhaps I should try something inappropriately high for my vocal range, like Rush or The Mars Volta.
posted by cmgonzalez at 12:43 PM on September 25

Is this thing on a tuesday?
posted by vrakatar at 11:25 PM on September 25

Wednesday
posted by cmgonzalez at 5:23 PM on September 26

I will be late because I am doing volunteer training that Wed.
posted by kathrineg at 6:14 PM on September 26

Okay, well, it's going to come out eventually, so I might as well announce it here.

I am moving to San Francisco in a couple of weeks to seek my fortune. The 10/7 karaoke meetup will likely be my last NYC meetup for a long time. Two days later, I get on a plane and start my new life on the west coast.

So if you want to see me before I go and experience my sparkling personality, you should come to this meetup.

Also, you'll get to hear me sing the Beach Boys.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:53 PM on September 28 [1 favorite]

You're leaving?!
posted by ocherdraco at 8:21 PM on September 28

I'm planning on coming to this one too, but please understand, I don't want to sing karaoke and so I will not be doing so, but you should.
posted by fuq at 8:24 PM on September 28

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:39 AM on September 29

You better sing, too!

that will take a lot of drinkin on both sides for this to be a possibility :p
posted by cristinacristinacristina at 1:27 PM on September 29

Afroblanco: experience my sparkling personality

From where I'm sitting, I feel I've got a passable grip on your personality, and it sparklingness; However, I have no clue whatsoever how you're planning to sing those songs you plan to choose to sing this night (Oct 7). That's where we'll be watching you, yes, along the lines of a last chance, a last chance before and lest us New Yorkers forget you, forget you for not having sung those songs.
posted by StickyCarpet at 1:54 PM on September 29

ah DAMN!!

I'm going to be giving a talk at NYLS Oct 8... if I had thought to look here, I could be joining you lovely mefites.

AAAGHGGG. g.

Well, anyway, I'll be in NYC through Sunday.
posted by fake at 9:39 AM on September 30

yes please - stranger from HEL who brought her "everyone needs a hug" tshirt along "just in case" ;p
posted by infini at 4:57 PM on September 30

afroblanco: good luck, I left chicago to seek my fortune in SF in summer of '05 adn haven't looked back since
posted by infini at 4:58 PM on September 30

How late will y'all be there? I ask because I have to be in Tribeca for a broker's open house (which will be catered!) for some of our listings and it ends at 7:30 pm and there will probably be some cleanup and I sure as HELL do not want to miss afroblanco's last NYC meetup and I wanna sing karaoke and...

Listen, I just wanna be there. So can you wait for me to get back from showing multimillion dollar homes to brokers?
posted by TrishaLynn at 5:18 AM on October 1

Ooh, also just learned that if we have less than 40 people show up, I can bring the excess wine with me to karaoke. Woot!
posted by TrishaLynn at 9:58 AM on October 1

I'm going to try to come this one too.
posted by fuq at 10:05 PM on October 1

TrishaLynn, if it was anything like the last meetup, it'll last well into the night.

Also: as much as I fucking hate the song, we're going to have to sing Scott McKenzie's San Francisco to Afroblanco.
posted by Jon_Evil at 8:26 AM on October 2

Okay, looks like I'll be showing up around 8 -- a bunch of my friends want to take me out for a farewell dinner that night.

But show up I shall. And sing the Beach Boys I shall.

I want to see all of you before I go -- you will be missed!
posted by Afroblanco at 12:28 PM on October 3

And sing the Beach Boys I shall.

Wanna duet on "Sail On Sailor"?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:58 AM on October 4

Aw, I'd been planning to come out -- karaoke's always fun, even before you throw in the Beach Boys. But I have somewhere to be at 6:30 the next morning, so I'm afraid I won't make it this time. Have fun!
posted by booksandlibretti at 4:45 PM on October 4

Cortex - I might show up; I swear I'm not stalking. I'm in NYC this week (maybe I'll see if I can talk Grumblebee into going along...)
posted by filmgeek at 6:33 PM on October 4

None of you really know me, but I may show up and drink nonetheless.
posted by miskatonic at 7:51 AM on October 5

Afroblanco: "I am moving to San Francisco in a couple of weeks to seek my fortune."

what the fuck is this shit?! I go on vacation for a week, and THIS is what I come back to?!

fucking bullshit, that's what this is.
posted by shmegegge at 9:28 AM on October 5

Hey all --

Sorry that I haven't dedicated the time to organizing this meetup that I should have. I'm moving to SF this Friday, and I've had a million billion annoying arrangements to make, and unfortunately I haven't been able to put as much energy into this as I would have liked.

Anyway, here's how we stand as of now :

2nd on 2nd has private rooms as well as a public karaoke area. Personally, I despise public karaoke and would rather eat a shoe. But obviously I'll defer to group opinion on this one.

They have two sizes of private rooms. The small ones hold 12-15 people and cost $60 per hour. The large ones hold 25-30 people, and cost $125 an hour. BUT (and this is important) they will deduct from the room price any money that we spend on drinks. So, for example, if we get the small room and spend $60 per hour on drinks, then the room is free.

WE NEED A FINAL HEADCOUNT, AND WE NEED IT VERY VERY SOON. LIKE NOW.

The only complication is that I will not be able to show up at 7, as I had originally planned, because a bunch of my friends are taking me out for a final goodbye dinner. I will be arriving at 8PM instead. So this means that somebody needs to volunteer to show up at 7. Will you be this person? If so, I will love you forever and ever and all of eternity for it. (true story) Also, this means that someone from the 7PM crowd needs to sign for our room. I don't mind signing for the room, but obviously I won't be there until 8. So if nobody from the 7PM crowd wants to sign for the room, maybe y'all can hang out in the public karaoke area until I show up and sign in. Either way is fine, but we need to decide how we are going to do this. So if you're willing to show up at 7 and/or sign for the room, PLEASE SAY SO NOW.

Here are the people so far who have said they will come :

Myself
Cortex
cmgonzalez
EmpressCallipygos
ocherdraco
Help, I can't stop talking!
DaDaDaDave
puckish
lia, of course, is coming to wow us with her famous charm and poise
shmegegge (maybe)
smackfu (maybe)
Optimus Chyme
zoomorphic
TrishaLynn
chalbe
The Pink Superhero
Stynxno
Danf (maybe)
Gaspode(maybe)
Jon_Evil
StickyCarpet
katherineg
fuq
cristinacristinacristina(maybe)
infini (maybe)
filmgeek (maybe)
miskatonic (maybe)

So, 19 confirmed 'YES' answers and 7 'MAYBE' answers. Which .... puts us right in the middle of the room-size spectrum. Hopefully this will become clearer in the next few days.

If you're down as a MAYBE and you want to show up, please give a DEFINITE YES as soon as possible, otherwise I'll assume that you're not showing up. Likewise, if you're down as a YES, and that YES has become a NO, please say so. And if you haven't RSVPed yet, well, there's no time like the present.

Sorry to be the party fascist here, but I'm really honestly just trying to help.

Man. All this moving stuff has FRIED MY BRAIN. You know how it is.
posted by Afroblanco at 9:31 AM on October 5

I assure you, I am a definite yes.

also, I can sign up for the room, provided this does not involve me putting my credit card down. my bank account can't withstand even a temporary billing mixup, should some disaster strike. either way, I can be there at 7, if that helps.
posted by shmegegge at 9:37 AM on October 5

also, I've rented rooms there before, and we'll definitely be too big for their small rooms. even if we're not quite 30 people, those rooms are long and narrow so having a little room to maneuver is a good thing.
posted by shmegegge at 9:39 AM on October 5

Okay. Just called 2nd on 2nd.

So in order to reserve a room, we need to give them a credit card. I don't mind doing this because I have a good feeling about all of you. The drinks special applies as long as everybody orders on the room tab. Once again, I don't mind slapping down my plastic for this, but it means that y'all need to be extra extra diligent about remembering what you drank and then subsequently paying me for it.

We need to reserve the room for a set amount of time. Once our time is up, the bill comes, and everybody gives me what they owe.

How long do we want to do this for? 2 hours? 3?

Remember, we can always stay at the place after we're done with our room, it just means that we kicked out of the Edenic Garden of our private room and must do our karaoke in public.
posted by Afroblanco at 9:48 AM on October 5

I vote for 2 hours of karaoke before moving on to a different locale for generalized sociability.
posted by ocherdraco at 10:20 AM on October 5

yeah, if we have to give them a block of time, I'd say 2 hours max. we can always move to the main area or another bar after that.
posted by shmegegge at 11:03 AM on October 5

and if they'll take your credit card, but allow someone else to arrive at 7 to get the room, by all means use my name if you'd like. Adam C.
posted by shmegegge at 11:03 AM on October 5

Well, I was thinking that you guys could show up at 7 and hang out in the main area until I get there. Then we occupy the private room from 8 to 10.

If you think this is a bad arrangement or just not worth the trouble, just say so and we can forget the private room altogether. I'm not a fan of public karaoke, but I don't want to make trouble for anybody.
posted by Afroblanco at 11:15 AM on October 5

that works too.
posted by shmegegge at 11:22 AM on October 5

Also, as far as costs go, this is what I figured out :

Assume we get the big room for 2 hours. That comes out to $250, or about $270 with tax. Assume 20 people show up.

If we drink more than $250 worth of booze, than great! We get our room free. Otherwise, if we drink less than that, we will need to pay for our drinks, and then whatever the difference is between $250 and our drinks tab.

So everybody's total will be different (since people drink different amounts) but I think we can estimate that with drinks + room fee, it should come out to ABOUT $14 a person. Which sounds pretty reasonable to me.
posted by Afroblanco at 11:27 AM on October 5

I don't think two hours will be long enough in the private room given all the people who are talking about coming; three hours might be better.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 11:32 AM on October 5

Alright, well, I'll defer to the majority on this. Perhaps we need a spreadsheet? :)
posted by Afroblanco at 11:38 AM on October 5

well, it's a wednesday night. chances are we can come and go as we please, and if we need the room for another hour there won't be much conflict.
posted by shmegegge at 11:40 AM on October 5

Good point!
posted by Afroblanco at 11:41 AM on October 5

Is it too late to add an rsvp?
posted by Salamandrous at 11:45 AM on October 5

Nope, we're glad to have you!
posted by Afroblanco at 11:51 AM on October 5

I'm going to be late.
posted by brujita at 12:45 PM on October 5

I just found out that a friend of mine is coming into town that night only, so I am changing to a definite NO. Sorry, Afroblanco.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 1:17 PM on October 5

Okay, just booked our reservation. We have the big room on Wednesday from 8PM to 10PM.

One thing I did find out is that they tack on 18% gratuity, which is annoying but I guess I could have expected it. Anyway, with 20 people and 2 hours, that comes out to about $16 each -- and keep in mind that includes, like, a whole fuck-ton of drinks.

If we stay for 3 hours, that comes out to about $24 each. Which would include even more drinks.
posted by Afroblanco at 1:55 PM on October 5

Sorry, I'm a definite no now. I won't be able to get out of work on Wed early enough to make it worth it.
posted by smackfu at 1:58 PM on October 5

If we stay for 3 hours

Can one safely expect to be able to extend as needed? If not, we could always move out into the big room.
posted by StickyCarpet at 2:46 PM on October 5

How exactly does billing work? Everyone will pay Afroblanco individually for their drinks, and then if we don't meet the minimum, we'll all split the room fee?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:36 PM on October 5

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Of course, it would be easier if everybody just chipped in $16, but I'm sure the non-drinkers would object to this.
posted by Afroblanco at 9:03 PM on October 5

Yes, I would.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:11 PM on October 5

Right. So your system will work fine, it just means that people have to be super diligent about paying for what they drank.

If only we had some kind of sheet on which to keep track of our drink purchases. Maybe even...... possibly......

A SPREADSHEET!!!!

(this might not actually be a bad idea)
posted by Afroblanco at 9:44 PM on October 5

I will voluntarily chip in $16 if you give me a paypal address. I am going to want the happy hour beer specials and I don't want to stress about not contributing enough to our tab or whatever. I will pay for my beer/drink myself and all that in addition to the $16.
posted by kathrineg at 9:53 PM on October 5

I have faith in NYC Mefites. They were quite generous in giving toward the 10th Anniversary Party.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:04 PM on October 5

I want to come but I am filthy stinking broke due to have gone insane and adopted a kitten monster who needs all sorts of vaccinations and inoculations to stop her from being a tiny little monster psycho, and food, apparently, even though I already fed her YESTERDAY. So I'll turn up and say hi but I can only stay if one of you people buys me a beer maybe, not hinting or insinuating at anything at all here.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 10:19 PM on October 5

....oh, there's a cover. FINE, richies.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 10:20 PM on October 5

and by cover I mean this $16 thing y'all have worked out, and also I needed a "having" instead of a "have" in that sentence above, and you know what I think I have toxoplasmosis, and I'm gonna go now.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 10:22 PM on October 5

I don't think it's a cover, I just want to chip in a tiny bit extra because I am willing and able and I don't have any kitten monsters to eat my beard or whatever the hell it is they do when they're not eating, sleeping, and requiring cuddles.

I will buy you a beer if you get there when beers are still $3
posted by kathrineg at 10:45 PM on October 5 [1 favorite]

seriously though don't listen to me for any kind of information there is a reason they don't put me in charge of this shit with the spreadsheets and the thinkiness and all that nonsense
posted by kathrineg at 10:47 PM on October 5

but I will still buy you a beer ok, I will also purchase one hug for you possibly two if I forget that I already got you one before
posted by kathrineg at 10:47 PM on October 5

I can make it, probably for two (2) drinks, but I will chip in a bit extra cash for the non-drinkers and people trying to stretch out their budgets. I'll be there around 9ish.
posted by gaspode at 6:08 AM on October 6

I was a maybe before, I'm a yes now. I will bring money and my vague unsettled fear of karaoke.
posted by miskatonic at 6:50 AM on October 6

....oh, there's a cover.

Actually, no -- there is a cover ONLY if we don't naturally drink enough over the course of two hours to make up for it. We collectively have to have generated a certain size bar tab in order to get the room free -- and if we don't we have to all chip in on the room. So whether or not there's a cover depends on how much the rest of us drink.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:17 AM on October 6

Aha, got it. And that's so sweet, kathrineg! Don't make me have to use an emoticon here. Lemme see if I can come, I'd love to if possible.
posted by Dormant Gorilla at 7:29 AM on October 6

put me down for beer buyage, should you show up, DG.
posted by shmegegge at 7:48 AM on October 6

I said: Sorry, I'm a definite no now. I won't be able to get out of work on Wed early enough to make it worth it.

Hmmm. Someone reminded me that I could actually *drive* my *car* into New York on a Wednesday and that it would be a lot faster than taking the train. Shocking! OTOH, I got a bunch of immunizations today so I might feel like death warmed over tomorrow. I guess I'm back to definite maybe.

I know maybe's are bad but since we def have the big room now, more people are better, right? Until we exhaust all the oxygen in the room.
posted by smackfu at 9:11 AM on October 6

More people are definitely better.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:17 AM on October 6

Concurred.
posted by Afroblanco at 9:36 AM on October 6

Just a rough accounting of time: 2 hours = 120 minutes, at 4 minutes per song that's 30 songs. If 30 people showed and half were willing to sing, that's 2 songs each. If someone does 4 songs, someone else might be cut out. So I'm with locking down 3 hours.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:14 PM on October 6

If genuine financial hardship is someone's only reason for not coming, and they have something to add to the evening, personally I think they should show up anyway, and it will all work out somehow. That's just me, others might not agree.
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:18 PM on October 6

Umm, that's okay in theory, as long as we don't wind up with one of those "The bill says $270 but I only have $130, AND NO ONE HERE GETS OUT ALIVE UNTIL I HAVE MY MONEY, I HAVE A CATTLEPROD AND I'M NOT AFRAID TO USE IT" moments.

Now that I think about it, as opposed as I am to public karaoke (and being exposed to strangers making an ass of themselves, as opposed to friends whom I can openly mock) maybe it would be better to occupy the "main" room.

hrrmmmfph.
posted by Afroblanco at 1:45 PM on October 6

actually, crap, just realized that's not an option since i already reserved a room and there's a cancellation fee.

double hrrmmmfph.
posted by Afroblanco at 1:45 PM on October 6

Does private room time start at 7 or 8?
posted by miskatonic at 1:50 PM on October 6

What is the cancellation fee?

BLAHRHRGHGH KARAOKE IS SO COMPLICATED! :)
posted by kathrineg at 2:22 PM on October 6

It is a sign of my great esteem for the general goodness of metafilter people in general and NYC mefi people in specific that I'm comfortable stating, without fear of being gamed, that covering a gap between money spent and money required will absolutely not be a problem in any case. So come to the meetup.
posted by cortex at 2:40 PM on October 6

No worries, Afroblanco, you'll get all the money owed you. Because anyone who doesn't pay up will have to answer to ME. ::puts brass knuckles in purse::
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 2:45 PM on October 6

I will make a drinks tally chart that we can put on the wall. It will be awesome.
posted by ocherdraco at 2:47 PM on October 6

Sooooooo...I hadn't been checking this thread for a while and didn't realize it became an RSVP-type event. Do you still need a definite head count? Or does it not matter since a room is reserved? ( or is it? )
posted by kkokkodalk at 2:51 PM on October 6

Well, cortex has stepped in and saved the day, so I think it's an "everybody just show up" kind of thing.

Thank you for that, cortex. Looks like I may have been premature in busting out the cattle prod after all.
posted by Afroblanco at 3:29 PM on October 6

You? Freaking out for no reason? Noooooooooooooooo.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 5:18 PM on October 6

I'm going to miss you, K.
posted by Afroblanco at 7:18 PM on October 6

We'll always have The Blue :D
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 7:28 PM on October 6

I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
posted by Afroblanco at 8:13 PM on October 6

What's going on in this thread?

Some awesome fun people who like to sing kareoke might be joining me. They'll buy drinks, I'll buy drinks. They'll prolly sing. I will not be singing, but I might be the annoying clapping guy.

The bar will probably owe us money at the end of the night.
posted by fuq at 10:54 PM on October 6 [1 favorite]

P.S.: +2 or +3.
posted by fuq at 11:00 PM on October 6

fuq, your friends will have to lurk in the harmony until we accept them.
posted by StickyCarpet at 4:24 AM on October 7

fuq, your friends will have to lurk in the harmony until we accept them.

"fuq, someone just told me to DTFMA and get therapy? What's that about?"

"It means they've accepted you as one of their own..."
posted by fuq at 8:21 AM on October 7

I am a definite yes. Sorry for the late confirmation, but I didn't realize I hadn't explicitly said so.

Yes. This will be awesome.
posted by scrutiny at 8:40 AM on October 7

Okay, I actually tried rehearing at home last night. I may end up getting a little unhinged.

Y'all are warned. I'm kind of a karaoke slut.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:46 AM on October 7

holy fuck, I am so ready to ROCK THE FUCK OUT. why can't it be 7 already?
posted by shmegegge at 9:29 AM on October 7

Definitely in, but will arrive after 7:30 pm. Also definitely in for sake, which should help drive up the drink tab.

Woohoo!
posted by TrishaLynn at 9:53 AM on October 7

Mechanical failure of some sort in JFK delayed my flight by two hours, so I'll be landing about 7:00 instead of 5:00, so I'm going to head straight for 2nd and 2nd from the airport, hopefully can make it by 8 or so.
posted by cortex at 10:20 AM on October 7

I expect to be drinking heavily. I also owe some of you drinks from Saturday. You've been warned.
posted by Jon_Evil at 10:31 AM on October 7

cortex that sucks that your plane is delayed

I'm actually not going to be there until 9 :( :( :( but dormant_gorilla I will buy you a non happy hour beer anyway also the happy hour for hugs goes on for forever

:)
posted by kathrineg at 11:11 AM on October 7

ok, my mind has officially stopped working and all I am doing is thinking about karaoke.
posted by scrutiny at 11:50 AM on October 7

On my drinks tally I am going to include:

Draught Beer
Bottled Beer
Pitchers of Beer
Gin and Tonic
Whiskey
Red Wine
White Wine

What other things are we likely to order?
posted by ocherdraco at 12:24 PM on October 7

They have a menu on their website.
posted by smackfu at 12:32 PM on October 7

ocherdraco: "On my drinks tally I am going to include:"

waitwaitwait, are you really doing this? I can't help but feel like it would be a terrible idea, especially since we'd have to reliably tally our own drinks... as we get drunk.
posted by shmegegge at 12:33 PM on October 7

....I was planning on cider or cocktails, but if you start listing every cocktail in existance that would just be silly.

And not every bar has cider. Why not just a blank piece of paper we can maintain a running list on?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:36 PM on October 7

Or organize the sheet by drink cost, not name.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:03 PM on October 7

Organizing by drink cost is a really good idea.

waitwaitwait, are you really doing this? (shmegegge)

I like making things. For previous meetups I have made flags on bendy straws, favorites stickers, and a little sign.
posted by ocherdraco at 1:07 PM on October 7

did you make the favorite stickers for the mefi10nyc party? jon_evil gave me one! those were awesome!
posted by shmegegge at 1:26 PM on October 7

Weird question: I get out of work at 5, and plan on going to the neighborhood and just staying put until 7. Can anyone recommend a low-key, cheap place right nearby where I can just sit with a cup of tea and get out something I'm knitting, and linger for an hour and a half or so?
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:28 PM on October 7

Those were recycled from the party in May, so yes! (TPS saved them and brought them for the second go round.)
posted by ocherdraco at 1:45 PM on October 7

So a whole slew of things have hit me. I've just spent much of the day repairing my mom's computer. That after coming home at 3am (thanks, MTA!) after being out of town yesterday. I've got a ton of work to catch up on. I'm still planning to make it tonight, though I more than likely won't drink. I might grab a snack though (does that count toward our collective tab?).

Might run a little late, but see you guys later.
posted by cmgonzalez at 2:14 PM on October 7

all non-drinkers must sing. 's the rules.
posted by shmegegge at 2:15 PM on October 7

My signmaking plans have come to naught. I'm stuck at work, actually working, for the moment. We'll tally some other way.
posted by ocherdraco at 2:52 PM on October 7

But what about your singmaking plans
posted by kathrineg at 2:57 PM on October 7

RIDIN' ON THE AIRTRAIN MOTHERFUCKERS

please tell me that switching from the A to the F at Jay St - Borough Hall just involves getting off one train and getting on another one at the same platform, because the MTA thinks I can do that in two minutes and I'm kind of a slow-poke westerner in a metaphorical fannypack
posted by cortex at 3:52 PM on October 7

What other things are we likely to order?

Vodka Tonic
Vodka Martini ("... and don't you dare let the vodka get anywhere near that ice. Nor the Vermouth...")
White wine spritzer
Whiskey, straight, no chaser
HIq (Klingon liquor)
Shirley Temples
Bloody dog (a vodka martini with the drinker's own blood in it)

...um, I guess I'll get on the train now.
posted by fuq at 3:57 PM on October 7

have fun! wish I could make it there tonight...
posted by milestogo at 4:00 PM on October 7

please tell me that switching from the A to the F at Jay St - Borough Hall just involves getting off one train and getting on another one at the same platform

YES. It absolutely does -- your A train gets to one side of the platform, and the F train is across the platform. You will only need to walk 15-20 feet at the most.

And, I can also tell you that once you get on the F train, it will only be about 4 stops, and will thus be only about 10 to 15 minutes. Don't fret if it takes a little while for the F to show up -- it's a little fickle. (I live in a neighborhood that uses the Jay Street stop a lot.)
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:10 PM on October 7

Oh -- and I am about 2 blocks away from 2nd on 2nd,at a place at 1st and 3rd. Will be there in a few.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:11 PM on October 7

dinner with work ;(
posted by infini at 6:36 PM on October 7

Well, this was fun. I got off at the wrong stop and had to hoof it about 6 blocks until I found the place. I was running late (it was after 8), but no problem, right? Then, the mountain at the door wouldn't let me in when I realized that I'd left my ID in my other bag. At home. An hour away in Brooklyn.

I don't drive, so I use my passport for ID purposes. I tried talking to him, mentioned the MeFi group, the room, my age, offered the one card that had a birthdate on it (health insurance) but he wouldn't budge. I was really looking forward to this meetup tonight. This was the silliest thing that could've prevented me from attending. I know he was just doing his job but I have to laugh because of how stupid these circumstances were. The funny part was I wasn't even going to be drinking.

So my night ended with grocery shopping over at Trader Joe's. Mmm, edamame.

I think I need to stop procrastinating on getting that Non-Driver ID card over at the DMV.
posted by cmgonzalez at 8:25 PM on October 7

Awww, sorry cmgonzalez. Next time!

It was lovely to see you all. You all can SANG! I look forward to video proof that we killed NOLA in the "Don't Stop Believin'" contest.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:36 PM on October 7

Screw that, we had choreography at one point.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:46 PM on October 7

Yeah, so that was pretty much awesome. Videos tomorrow.
posted by gaspode at 9:52 PM on October 7

great meetup. as always.
posted by fuq at 10:19 PM on October 7

Oh, and for those curious: in order to not have to pay a cover charge for the room, we needed to spend $60 an hour on food/drinks. We spent $210 an hour.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 10:29 PM on October 7

I had a good time as well. I enjoyed meeting some of you, and for those of you I did not talk to, I was the one with the spiky alien handbag.
posted by miskatonic at 4:36 AM on October 8

TPS: I can't believe we were so worried about that part...

And you're right. Y'all can sing, and I vote that more of our meetups during the week happen like this.

StickyCarpet: I'm sorry for trying to sing a sing with you that I didn't know, but hey...! That's also part of the fun of doing karaoke: learning about new songs and how badly the karaoke CD makers butcher the lyrics.
posted by TrishaLynn at 4:37 AM on October 8

I heard you guys got super drunk.
posted by Optimus Chyme at 4:39 AM on October 8

That was fun! And for bonus entertainment, the guy sitting in front of me on the train got arrested by the police for assault or harassment or something because he was angry some woman took his seat.
posted by smackfu at 5:56 AM on October 8

That was a hell of a wrap party, folks. (Or double-wrap party, with Afroblanco's SF jaunt and all.)
posted by cortex at 6:33 AM on October 8

You heard right, OC. I heard you got super drunk, too, elsewhere.

Good meetup, peeps. My voice is a little hoarse* this morning. Particularly enjoyed meeting mefites I hadn't met before, like miskatonic of the awesome purse and DaDaDaDave who is apparently the reincarnation of CBGB's circa 1979.

I think we managed to give Afroblanco a pretty good sendoff. Now all we have to do is get the San Franciscans to welcome him properly.

*insert pony joke here
posted by ocherdraco at 6:37 AM on October 8 [1 favorite]

That was so fun!

Nobody found any iphone headphones did they??
posted by Salamandrous at 6:50 AM on October 8

DaDaDaDave who is apparently the reincarnation of CBGB's circa 1979.

This deserves an explanation for those who couldn't make it: last night was the only time I've heard someone do a Sex Pistols song in karaoke. And that was after "Suffragette City" and "Watch Of The Detectives."

Elsewhere -- I'm pleased to have learned just how well "Fight For Your Right To Party" works in a karaoke context.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:50 AM on October 8

I saw the headphones wedged in the sofa, but that was when things were still in full swing, and did not think to look for them again later. They're probably still there.
posted by ocherdraco at 6:55 AM on October 8

Oh! Also, huuuuuuuuuuuuuuge props to TPS (and helpers, if she had any) for handling the bill figuring out part of the night.
posted by ocherdraco at 7:08 AM on October 8

Did the accounting bits all add up in the end? I saw a lot of twenties flying around but it was also a hefty bill.
posted by miskatonic at 7:19 AM on October 8

IIRC, the final total for the room was like $498. Which is pretty impressive considering I personally only had two $6 beers.
posted by smackfu at 7:46 AM on October 8

ha. so. it turns out that the cops can't give you a ticket just for being absurdly drunk on the subway. BUT! if you pass out on said subway with your feet on the seats, they will totally give you a ticket for having your feet on the seat. it's a weird world we live in.

also, apologies to everyone who had to witness my way-too-drunkenness late in the evening. jesus fuck.
posted by shmegegge at 8:16 AM on October 8

The bill worked out completely fine in the end.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:25 AM on October 8

It's okay, shmegegge, we were all drunk, too, at that point.
posted by ocherdraco at 9:18 AM on October 8

Also: how much was the ticket?
posted by ocherdraco at 9:18 AM on October 8

It's cool shmegegge I didn't even notice that part where you almost died. (!!!)

I lost a filling at some point last night...oops!

Lots of police action last night everyone!
posted by kathrineg at 9:31 AM on October 8

Wow. That was pretty insane and tons of fun. I vote we do it again sometime!
posted by scrutiny at 9:48 AM on October 8

I agree but we probably don't even need the room, the whole bar was pretty much a mefite room. Well, except this guy who was trying to teach me a partner dance and also his wife died. And Jean Valjean.

Anyone who I met there, please feel free to facebook friend me!

My facebook is linked to my profile. Just go there and click the little facebook thingy. My picture right now is really pretentious, go check it out.
posted by kathrineg at 10:01 AM on October 8

Videos!

EmpressCallipygos does Love Shack
Help! I can't stop talking does Flagpole Sitta
(don't know usernames, sorry,)
Baby got Back and (You Gotta) Fight for your Right (To Party)

And the best for last, the group rendition of
Don't
Stop
Believin'
posted by gaspode at 10:35 AM on October 8 [3 favorites]

Thanks to all for coming out last night! I can't possibly imagine a better sendoff party! You were beautiful and lovely and awesome, and I will miss all of you terribly!

And please -- think of me as your outpost in SF! I want to see you all out there!

And of course, I will be back to visit.

Much love.

--J
posted by Afroblanco at 10:49 AM on October 8

Woah video of myself makes me profoundly uncomfortable, it's like the uncanny valley* or something...but thanks for doing that, gaspode, those videos are cool


*but not actually anything like it
posted by kathrineg at 10:51 AM on October 8

EmpressCallipygos does Love Shack

Let's also credit Jon_Evil for being that evening's Fred Schneider.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 10:53 AM on October 8

TrishaLynn: StickyCarpet: I'm sorry for trying to sing a sing with you that I didn't know, but hey...!

All that matters is that you absorb half the blame.

We should definitely keep this format in the meetup repertoire.

For the record, TPS won the karaoke. That shit is hard, the words flashing and changing color and all. And the songs don't have any vocals, so how the hell do you sing along?
posted by StickyCarpet at 12:14 PM on October 8

I totally forgot to pull out the 5D and grab meetup portraits, but I have linked my one photo just to be thorough.
posted by cortex at 12:27 PM on October 8

EmpressCallipygos: "Let's also credit Jon_Evil for being that evening's Fred Schneider."

the two of you, by the way, can sing your asses off. that, along with most of the night's songs, was a really awesomoe performance.
posted by shmegegge at 12:41 PM on October 8

I am glad to see that my demanding your camera and then taking ridiculously blurry photos with it did some good.
posted by ocherdraco at 12:41 PM on October 8

Wow, gaspode, your camera does great video! I figured the audio would be completely unintelligible.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 1:50 PM on October 8

Afroblanco, I hadn't realized you were moving to SF! Had I known I probably would have come out last night (despite only being willing to sing into microphones when the machine knows how to grade your performance). Good luck on the happier coast...be sure to make a meetup happen when you come back to visit.
posted by nobody at 1:59 PM on October 8

Epic meetup.
posted by ColdChef at 2:18 PM on October 8

That rocked. It was a pleasure to meet those of you whom I met; I would have introduced myself to more of you, but I was entranced by the siren song of demon karaoke!
posted by DaDaDaDave at 2:21 PM on October 8

Wow, gaspode, your camera does great video! I figured the audio would be completely unintelligible.

Yeah, Flips are pretty good for little cheapo pocket cameras.
posted by gaspode at 3:29 PM on October 8

Uh...Cortex was in town and you guys all met with him??

FRACK!!

*Crickets*
posted by Skygazer at 9:13 PM on October 9