September 12, 2005

• A better link for Trader Vic's in Beverly Hills
• Mateys, arr, I'm crying in my grog because I'm not in Calfornia right now. If for some reason you postpone it, I'll be back the 26th. Arrr.
• I saw a werewolf drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's. His hair was perfect.
• There's also the nautically themed bar, The SS Bounty which is across the street from the soon to be torn down Ambasador hotel. It is a treasure. Funky, old, and not as of yet overly trammeled by LA hipster/gliterati. The crowd is a mid-Wilshire-ish mix of middle aged bar flies and geeks in the know.
• Oh, I forgot. Arrr.
• Much appo-polly-logies. It's the HMS Bounty. Veddy British and all that rot. Avast!
• Upon reflection, the Bounty seems like a much better location; Trader Vic's is bound to be pricy, and I think Lava Lounge is more of a bar than a restaurant, which would suck for those of us coming directly from work that would want dinner. Brilliant suggestion, squid! mandyman: boo! We can always invent another holiday for the week you return... I think having a "Stalk Like A Ninja Day" meetup at a sushi place would be fun. Space Kitty sez she has a board meeting or something that day, so she may or may not be able to make it. We could always do a Saturday drinky thing before, or just wait until mandyman returns (or, all of the above including a TLAPD meetup!).
• I am currently in mid-major dental surgery; I should be able to make the Pirate Meetup, but do not intend to open my mouth... Good thing pirates say "Arrr" a lot. Of course, a later date could correspond with another High Holy Mackerel Day: September 30 (a party-friendly Friday) is my FIFTIETH birthday... (and I expect to have a full set of reconstructed teeth by then) I am at a current loss for a location... interstingly, when my parents brought me out here from Cleveland at the age of 5, the two "fancy eating out" places that became a family tradition were Trader Vic's and the Brown Derby Wilshire (the one shaped like a hat, now demolished, and about a block from the HMS Bounty). I feel serendipidous. But it may be the Vicodin for the dental pain.
• Arr, me landed in LA a month ago, and 'ave been pillagin' and plunderin' up and down the coast. This'll be a fine time for an young salt like meself to make a new crew fer to sail on to the next great treasure 'n' trove. Avast, ye scurvy tars! Me looks forward to a'meetin' with every last man Jack among yon. Just name der place--as long as the grog's good, we'll dance a jig and curse ol' Davy Jones fer what's good fer 'im. Postscripte: 'ware the Black Spot.
• I be desirin' a shoutout from ye scurvy dogs.
• Which you bloody well better spell correctly! The meanest bilge rat this side of Shanghai is the quidnunc kid.
• 'Tis true - but me mammy loves me. Arr.
• *SQUAWK!* pieces of eight! pieces of eight! *SQUAWK!*
• *SQUAWK!* give us a kiss!
• Quid, she couldn't be your mother. No woman ever slept with me and lived.
• *SQUAWK!* Yellowbeard rogered yer mum! *SQUAWK!*
• pieces of eight! pieces of eight! Pre-metric scum, arr.
• 'oy there, Quid, ye olde picaroon! How be ye? 'A'rn't seen hide nor hair o' ye on Google Talk ^(arr) since ye gave me the invite. What gives? Ye wouldn't be givin' ol' Cap'n F8xy the slip, now, would ye?
• Arr sorry mate I'll try to get on it to-night!
• I should be able to make it, but be sure to save a seat for me. It may be later than the rest of you monkeys. Aarrgh!
• If it can be on a weekend I might be able to get my sister Chechebell to show up. Write her and bug her to come. By the way, mizzen the batten hatches, poop the swab deck, and, and... AVAST!!!
• What a classy bunch you guys are - the only thematically fitting locations that came to my mind were Long John Silver's, Trader Joe's, Island's and Crocodile Cafe. By the way, I drove by the old Ambassador Hotel (mentioned upthread) one recent evening, and it impressed me in a creepy, haunted mansion sort of way. Monday doesn't work, and this weekend's busy for me, but I wish you all much eyepatch-wearing, parrot-toting, plank-walking, deck-swabbing, hook-hoisting merriment. May you go overboard.
• I can't talk like a parrot anyway. I mean pirate.
• You just have to offer to swab everyone's poop decks.
• Arrr!
• So, how's about this: We'll do a meetup on "Talk Like A Pirate Day" at the HMS Bounty (per squiddy's suggestion). We'll also hold another one toward the end of the month for the joint purposes of a celebration of all things Wendell, and to include mandyman and guava (should they be around and interested). I'm all for multiple September meetups, anyway... I've seen squidranch maybe once since moving here in June, and Wendell has missed so many meetups that I'm convinced he's a clever digital simulacra posting to MoFi/MeFi via a perl script (like i am learn).
• Oh, and we need to decide on a time for the 19th. I'm in the 90210 until 6 that day, so I could be there by 6:30 or so.
• End o' the month sounds good to me. I'll do some happy hour investigating. I've heard good things about a Japanese place on Pico near Westside Pavillion. My roommate said they had dollar Ichiban beers or something like that. Also, Zip Fusion Sushi on Olympic and Sawtelle has nice specials (half priced appetizers, but no sushi sale), but they only serve beer and shoju. But they mix the shoju with all kinds of fruity flavors. It managed to get me and my classmates drunk just fine. Did I mention that they have karaoke rooms?
• *raises eyebrow interestedly*
• Info here.
• I'm convinced he's a clever digital simulacra posting to MoFi/MeFi via a perl script No, but I am using the same image enhancement software as Jeffrey Tambor in "Muppets' Wizard of Oz"... I pledge to be at the Bounty on 9/19 at approx. 6:42pm (I usually err on my ETAs by +-13 minutes), and am seriously considering re-creating my legendary 1984 Halloween Party costume, the "Original Computer Pirate" (eye patch and pocket protector). As for 9/30 or soon after, I'm brushing up on my '80s "Men at Work" lyrics and promise to go "Down Under" at the karaoke room... you have been warned.
• Rad! OK, let's shoot for Monday around 6:30-7:00. I'll get there close to that time; I'm working off of Wilshire and Beverly, so I'll be at the Bounty as soon as a 6 PM cross-town commute on Wilshire allows. I guess that Space Kitty will be there closer to 7. We've got teh Wendell, and I'm assuming that f8x and squiddy are hanging out as well. Still no confirmation from drjimmy11, sexyrobot, Hatred or the inevitable lurkers (or chechebell for that matter, who really should come if she can make it out to LA on a Monday afternoon!). I'm all for doing ZipFusion on or around 9/30 - mandyman was raving about the place so unreservedly a couple of weeks ago that I'm rather intrigued.
• Unless something pops up, I'll be there. I'm in some meetings this weekend--hopefully they won't spill over.
• Don't ye be forgettin' to bring me back a rich treasure of shutouts, ye mangy sea-scum! Arr, or I'll be sendin' ye all to the locker of young Davy Jones, or else the safety deposit box of Barry McBarnicle, or possibly the secret behind-the-painting minature safe of Sonya Fishgroper. ARR YE HAVE BEEN WARNED!
• Shutouts, eh, me 'earty? Maybe we should just keelhaul ye and toss ye in the brig.
• *SQUAWK!* Throw 'im in the brig! Throw 'im in the brig! *SQUAWK! whistle!*
• *throws blanket over Koko's cage*
• zzzzzzzzzz *whistle*
• Dang, it was cold last night for Los Angeles... what happened to my blanket? I'm going to go down to Dodger Stadium before the meetup and pick up a couple shutouts... ...and a Gagne bobblehead... ...and a giant foam finger... ...and Vin Scully... or Harry Shearer doing his Vin Scully impression... Then I'll stop by the marina to get a keel and a U-haul for quidnunk. And I guess I need a new blanket... looks like Koko pecked hols in my old one. And I'd better refill my meds. I'll probably be a little late.
• Errr, I will show up when I show up. Turns out that the city of West Hollywood is having the final meeting that same night to decide the future of Irv's Burgers, a burger stand that I've been involved with trying to save from the wrecker's ball. I guess all I can say is "I'll see ya when I see ya."
• Bumping this for the sidebar. So, we've got wendell, f8x and myself showing up around 6:30 or soon thereafter, Space Kitty and squidranch will get there eventually, and still no word from other LA monkeys (sexyrobot? goofyfoot? hatred? bueller?). I'll email my cell number to y'all.
• Oh, and I'll bring shoutout-crafting materials (lovingly pilfered from work) and a shitty digital camera.
• Arrrr! Have fun, mateys!
• Avast! 'Tis a wintry day for a grog-swillin' pirate here, matey.
• if we do stalk like a ninja day can i be the ninja who hides up in the ceiling pouring poison down a thread into your mouth while you sleep?
• sexyrobot, I'm not letting you pour anything in my mouth.
• Note to the_bone: Especially if he tells you it's dark chocolate.
• Why do I get the sinking feeling this is going to turn into "Snark Like a MeFite Day"?
• I wouldn't worry about that; everyone I've met is refreshingly non-snarky in person. I will have no access to MoFi today and won't be able to check email until 3:00 or so. I sent my cell number out to some of the folks that I think might go; if you need that number, email either Space Kitty or sexyrobot. Arrrr!
• Post-meetup roundup: In attendence were: myself, sexyrobot, Space Kitty, f8xmulder, squidranch, spacekitten, Hatred and Hatred's friend Andrew. I brought hats, eyepatches and a fake pining-for-the-fjords parrot, and we made a spectacle of ourselves. Good times were had. Pictures were taken by myself and f8x, and mine will get posted to the flickr group probably tomorrow night.
• After a long time hunting for a parking space, I walked in the door of the Bounty at about 7:02PM, saw zero familiar faces and a bar heavily populated by older guys who remind me of my father, returned to my car, had a moderate panic attack and drove off at about 7:09PM. Sorry. That neighborhood has a lot of memories for me... I don't think I realized how unpleasant they were. I'll tell my therapist not to cross Social Anxiety Disorder off my list of problems...
• f8xmulder asked me if i had any frank sinatra.
• f8xmulder asked me if i had any frank sinatra. That goddamn rightie! I kid because I heart.
• Wendell: Most people were running late, but I was there around 6:45 in the back room... I got a table there because I figured we'd get loud and obnoxious, and I didn't want to bug any of the bar's normal patrons more than was necessary. I'm really sorry about that. You were missed, but this just gives us an excuse to hold another meetup in a couple of weeks (in a different neighborhood).
• Wendell, we are going to start a new children's game called "Where's Wendell?" We just have to dress you in a red and white stripey shirt and hat with big horned rim glasses. That way we can pick you out of the crowd before you leave the meetup.
• When I wandered into the Bounty, I was wearing a loud Hawaiian shirt over a Monkeyfilter-T, and walking with a cane. How much more conspicuous could I be? Just got bad news from my dentist about how much more work and time it'll take until I can smile in public and eat anything but bananas... Unless the next meetup is actually AT my dentist's office, I can't guarantee attendance until late-October.
• Arr, mateys, where be your pics?
• Wendell, it isn't our job to keep an eye out for you at the meetups, or to make an appointment with your dentist. It would be cool if you made it, but with your record so far I ain't gonna lose any sleep about you showing or not.
• Wendell: I'm really bummed I missed you. I don't know if you know the layout of the back room or not, but I was in a booth just to the inside left of the entrance to that room... in retrospect, probably the worst possible place to be seated when meeting people, as the table was unable to be seen from the front room without X-ray vision. We'll make it happen when you've recovered from dental-ness... if you want to pick a place I'll be there, since I'm over on the west side a lot now. mandyman: Working on it now!
• For the next LA Meetup, see here.
• Sorry Wendell. I may have come across too hard. My appologies. But it would be nice if you showed up when you said you would.
• Pics are up at the flickr group! 1. Any picture with bright, vivid colors was taken with f8xmulder's camera, which is pretty good. Any photo with crappy color or red-eyed monkeys (prior to inebriation) was taken with my shitty camera. 2. I always forget monkeys when it come to shoutouts. I'm gonna make a list and take it to meetups. There was a shoutout for the absent LA monkeys (mandyman, PY/guava , wendell et al.), but somehow it didn't get photographed.
• No, squidwich, you weren't too harsh. I've been screwing up a lot of my obligations and initiatives lately... I was hoping a for-the-first-time-in-my-life fully matching set of choppers would be pivotal in improving my self-esteem, but then it was pointed out to me today how much my past dental sins would truly cost me, including the fact that any appearance at an Irv's Burgers celebratory meetup would require me to bring a blender to liquify the munchies... Sorry if I've been acting more like an ass than usual. My Name Is Wendell.* *you would need a TV to get this reference
• I like this meetup much better than the recent London meetup, with its bad audio, no shoutouts, and lack of pirate hats. There's even an Anonymous George plug! (Warts and all.) The Austin monkeys will be hard-pressed to beat this one.
• Splitter!!!
• The LA monkeys are better-looking, too.
• OH MY CHRIST!!! I GOT A SHOUTOUT! MY VERY FIRST SHOUTOUT! WHICH IS WHY I'M SHOUTING! Thanks, guys! I think I'm gonna cry... *sniff* That's beautiful, man. Just beautiful. You like me. You really, really like me...
• *blushes* It's all that plastic surgery Koko.
• *glares at Koko* Excellent work on the shoutouts, folks - hope it didn't eat into your drinking time too much.
• I kid, of course. I only meant they're better-looking than kitfisto.
• Aah. Hey -- wait..!
• Sorry, Cap'n. You're ugly by association ;-)
• Are any LA monkeys interested in a meetup at the LA County Fair? I've never been, but I must admit that I'm intrigued.
• Did I mention that the fair has a margarita bar? And there's a wine competition? Along with various fried things on a stick. Admission is 5 dollars after 5 on Wednesday and Thursday. Fair website. (It has pig oinking noises, I warn you)
• I'm down... lurker Asimovian was actually trying to get a group of people together for the Fair recently. Keep in mind that the fairgrounds are pretty far east (like, even east of me), so a weekend trip might work better than a weekday, as traffic in that direction gets hellish in the afternoons/evenings.
• Pretty good website, IMO.
• Re: the Fair...those of you who would be coming from the westside should definitely heed the_bone's warning about traffic on a weeknight. But I have some advice to offer. If you're going on a weekend, you can pick up tickets from Cingular Wireless stores instead of at the fair. It's the difference of paying $9 for an adult admission at Cingular instead of $15 at the gate. Definitely worth it. I don't know if all Cingular stores are doing it, but the one nearest me (Target shopping center on Arrow Highway just west of the 57 Fwy, south side of Arrow) definitely has them. Also, the Fair kicks all kinds of ass and you all need to go and have deep fried Twinkies with strawberry goo on top of it. Trust. Me.
• Whoa.... my first shoutout, w00tness! Thanks LA monkeys - it looks like you guys had a blast, as usual. Bay Area monkeys have a lot of catching up to do - both drinks *and* meetups!
• The tv ads for the fair seemed weird to me until I remembered the occasional 909-bashing coming from Hollywood. A bit of payback, maybe (310-bashing?).
• Q. Where is Captain Hook's treasure chest? A. Under his treasure shirt. Q. What did Captain Hook die of? A. Jock itch Q. How much do they charge pirates for piercings? A. A buck an ear Q. Where does Captain Hook keep his buccaneers? A. Under his buck'n hat A pirate walks into a bar with a steering wheel stuck down his pants. So the bartender asks, "Is that a steering wheel in your pants?" And the pirate answers, "Arrr! Tis true. It's driving me nuts!"
• 
• Berek, you've taken a perfectly straightforward testicle joke and shoehorned it into a gratuitous pirate motif. And I think that's wonderful. *Pours, oh pours the pirate sherry*