Promises kept
posted March 8, 2012 4:20 PM RSS | iCal | +googleCal
Fri April 13 at 7:00 PM, Ueno Station, Central Exit Mural.
Japan, Tokyo, Taito, Ueno, ７丁目１ (Map & Directions)
Back in the earthquake thread I made an offer to buy drinks for the folks in Tokyo. That trip got cancelled, but I'll be back over the weekend of April 14th.
I'll actually be in Yokosuka, but Tokyo's not an unreasonably long train ride away. I'm not there often enough to propose a location to meet, but I'm comfortable navigating the Japanese train system and can follow directions well. I'm free all weekend, so I'm open to any other suggestions too.
Hey, I wasn't here last year during the earthquake (so no need to buy me a drink, ha) but I'd love to get together and finally meet some of the MeFites living in Japan. April is pretty open for me and I think the 14th will be good.
posted by dubitable at 3:19 AM on March 10, 2012
posted by dubitable at 3:19 AM on March 10, 2012
I'm free that weekend! Came to Tokyo last September and would like to meet my fellow Japanese Mefites :) Are you thinking of a Japanese izakaya or a more Western bar/pub?
posted by monocot at 9:41 AM on March 10, 2012
posted by monocot at 9:41 AM on March 10, 2012
I'm flexible, but would prefer a Japanese izakaya. I get Western here :-).
posted by Runes at 7:07 PM on March 10, 2012
posted by Runes at 7:07 PM on March 10, 2012
According to this, it looks like the dates are at the tail end of the sakura bloom, if that makes any difference.
posted by Runes at 7:29 PM on March 10, 2012
posted by Runes at 7:29 PM on March 10, 2012
I have gigs on Fri 13 and Sat 14. I could do something Sunday night, but that might not be good for anyone else. If y'all wanted to make part of the meetup at one of my gigs (then maybe head off elsewhere, whatever) that'd be fabulous. I'll be posting details on those gigs soon...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:57 AM on March 17, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:57 AM on March 17, 2012
flapjax, I want to go to one of your gigs (finally)!! Do post the times...I'm definitely interested in that if others are. Otherwise, I think Sunday night should be okay for me too.
posted by dubitable at 7:56 AM on March 17, 2012
posted by dubitable at 7:56 AM on March 17, 2012
And depending on the overall vibe, I know places in the Shibuya/Daikanyama/Ebisu area (Ebisu especially has a ton of great places).
posted by dubitable at 8:03 AM on March 17, 2012
posted by dubitable at 8:03 AM on March 17, 2012
I'm actually arriving on the 7th so if the 8th would work out better for people I'm open to that too. I'll probably be a tad jetlagged, so plans to end earlier might be in order (I've got at least an hour's train-ride back to Yokosuka).
posted by Runes at 2:41 PM on March 17, 2012
posted by Runes at 2:41 PM on March 17, 2012
Hey folks, any more thoughts on this? And Flapjax, where/when are you playing?
posted by Runes at 7:03 AM on April 4, 2012
posted by Runes at 7:03 AM on April 4, 2012
Oh, sorry, Runes, I had let this slip! Here's a link to my live schedule for April. As you'll see, I'm playing in Shibuya (tiny joint, real Tokyo flavor) on Sat. 14th. The gig I had scheduled for Friday the 13th was cancelled. So, I'm free as the breeze that night.
Also playing on Sat. 7th, in Yokohama: one set (probably 45 minutes or so) with a really fun band led by Mississippi bluesman Steve Gardner. Part of the Yokohama Jug Band festival, a yearly event which is always lotsa fun.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:11 PM on April 4, 2012
Also playing on Sat. 7th, in Yokohama: one set (probably 45 minutes or so) with a really fun band led by Mississippi bluesman Steve Gardner. Part of the Yokohama Jug Band festival, a yearly event which is always lotsa fun.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:11 PM on April 4, 2012
Well, turns out my timing was such that I had to change trains in Yokohama instead of Ofuna, but I was just too beat to come out to hear you play.
Anybody have any firmer ideas for next weekend?
posted by Runes at 5:30 AM on April 7, 2012
Anybody have any firmer ideas for next weekend?
posted by Runes at 5:30 AM on April 7, 2012
Welcome to Japan, Runes!
This thread has gone a little cold. Tokyoites, REPRESENT!
I7d be down for something on Friday 13th, an auspicious day and all that. Anybody else?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:12 PM on April 7, 2012
This thread has gone a little cold. Tokyoites, REPRESENT!
I7d be down for something on Friday 13th, an auspicious day and all that. Anybody else?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:12 PM on April 7, 2012
Tokyoites, REPRESENT!
Sorry flapjax, I'm out of the running for this one ... just too much work. (April is 'start up' time for a couple of projects ...)
posted by woodblock100 at 8:15 PM on April 7, 2012
Sorry flapjax, I'm out of the running for this one ... just too much work. (April is 'start up' time for a couple of projects ...)
posted by woodblock100 at 8:15 PM on April 7, 2012
Thanks for checking in anyway, woodblock!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:28 PM on April 7, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:28 PM on April 7, 2012
I can try, but I can't stay out late. Any ideas? I'd really prefer something eastern Tokyoish, near the Sobu rapid line, if at all possible.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:02 AM on April 8, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 4:02 AM on April 8, 2012
Ghidorah, do you mean the Sobu line that goes between Chiba and Naruto, or the Sobu-Yokosuka line? I can't really tell from the JR map if those are really two different lines.
posted by Runes at 5:32 AM on April 8, 2012
posted by Runes at 5:32 AM on April 8, 2012
Sorry, I meant the one that runs between Yokosuka and Chiba through Tokyo and continues on past Chiba. I can also get to Ueno and that area after work pretty easily.
posted by Ghidorah at 6:29 AM on April 8, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 6:29 AM on April 8, 2012
So, Ghidorah, Runes, y'all wanna call it a meetup on Friday 13th? Then see if anyone else climbs outta the woodwork to join? As for location, I'm sure we can find something mutually agreeable. Ueno is great for me, since I live really close. But, yeah, various stations on the Sobu/Chuo line are OK as well.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:39 AM on April 8, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:39 AM on April 8, 2012
And dubitable, you still good for the weekend?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:40 AM on April 8, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:40 AM on April 8, 2012
That sounds fine. I mean, what could possibly go wrong on Friday the thirteenth?
posted by Ghidorah at 3:37 PM on April 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghidorah at 3:37 PM on April 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
Tokyoites, REPRESENT!
Another Tokyoite here. Sorry for not responding in this thread sooner, but I've been trying to stay away from MetaFilter itself because it's a huuuuuge time suck for me and I've been super busy these past few months. I can't come to this one, sorry!
posted by misozaki at 3:43 PM on April 8, 2012
Another Tokyoite here. Sorry for not responding in this thread sooner, but I've been trying to stay away from MetaFilter itself because it's a huuuuuge time suck for me and I've been super busy these past few months. I can't come to this one, sorry!
posted by misozaki at 3:43 PM on April 8, 2012
Misozaki, you gotta just go with it. Be one with the time suck.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:44 PM on April 8, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 3:44 PM on April 8, 2012
Sorry to hear that, misozaki. It would have been nice to see you again.
Tokyo Mefites, we need to get our act together. I mean, look at Chicago, they have meetups every other day. We've had, what, three in the last three years? And two of those were because there were Mefites visiting the country, and the other was a going away party? We should try and figure something out, at least more than once a year.
/pot talking about kettle
posted by Ghidorah at 4:46 PM on April 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
Tokyo Mefites, we need to get our act together. I mean, look at Chicago, they have meetups every other day. We've had, what, three in the last three years? And two of those were because there were Mefites visiting the country, and the other was a going away party? We should try and figure something out, at least more than once a year.
/pot talking about kettle
posted by Ghidorah at 4:46 PM on April 8, 2012 [1 favorite]
Ghidorah's right!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:39 PM on April 8, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:39 PM on April 8, 2012
Friday the 13th works for me, it looks like I'll be able to leave here by 4:30. Hyperdia tells me that'll put me in Ueno by sometime around 6.
posted by Runes at 1:56 AM on April 9, 2012
posted by Runes at 1:56 AM on April 9, 2012
Ghidorah, I'm still waiting for you to invite us all to a homemade bacon party in Chiba. (^o^)/
Have fun, guys!
posted by misozaki at 3:05 AM on April 9, 2012
Have fun, guys!
posted by misozaki at 3:05 AM on April 9, 2012
I'm curing some right now, and it should be done by Saturday. I'd love to have a BBQ sometime soon, but my school has changed to Mon-Sat every week, which kind of hampers anything that isn't actually work. Mayhap this summer?
posted by Ghidorah at 3:27 AM on April 9, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 3:27 AM on April 9, 2012
How do we shift this over to upcoming? It doesn't show up on the front page of irl or in the events cue on MeTa. That might help to get more people to explain why they can't come.
posted by Ghidorah at 3:38 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 3:38 PM on April 9, 2012
Good question, Ghidorah...
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:18 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:18 PM on April 9, 2012
Ah, OK, I see. It's under New Event.
How about we meet at Ueno Station, CENTRAL exit (the one with the big mural) at 7pm on Friday 13th? If Ghidorah, Runes and monocot can check back in here and confirm that that's all OK, we can make the 'New Event Confirmed' post, and it'll show up in the list of upcoming meetups.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:25 PM on April 9, 2012
How about we meet at Ueno Station, CENTRAL exit (the one with the big mural) at 7pm on Friday 13th? If Ghidorah, Runes and monocot can check back in here and confirm that that's all OK, we can make the 'New Event Confirmed' post, and it'll show up in the list of upcoming meetups.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:25 PM on April 9, 2012
I'll be there, but I'm not sure if I can be there by 7. I should be able to, though, barring the Joban line failing catastrophically (as it's been known to do).
posted by Ghidorah at 4:27 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 4:27 PM on April 9, 2012
Here's the main hall at Ueno Station. This is the mural.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:28 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:28 PM on April 9, 2012
OK, Ghidorh's in!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:29 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:29 PM on April 9, 2012
(except for his "a", apparently)
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:30 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:30 PM on April 9, 2012
The "a" has to stay late on Friday. Important meeting with "an" and "the."
posted by Ghidorah at 6:39 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 6:39 PM on April 9, 2012
Ghidorah, I hear "ni", "wa", "ga" and "no" are expected at that meeting as well.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:32 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:32 PM on April 9, 2012
That works for me. I'll be wearing a black ballcap.
posted by Runes at 8:46 PM on April 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Runes at 8:46 PM on April 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
OK, I've confirmed the event, it should be showing up.
posted by Runes at 8:53 PM on April 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Runes at 8:53 PM on April 9, 2012 [1 favorite]
I hear "ni", "wa", "ga" and "no" are expected at that meeting as well.
ど‘う！
/ザ・シンプソンズ~ed.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:10 PM on April 9, 2012
ど‘う！
/ザ・シンプソンズ~ed.
posted by Ghidorah at 9:10 PM on April 9, 2012
heh heh!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:14 PM on April 9, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 9:14 PM on April 9, 2012
遅くなってごめんね！Sorry I'm slow folks. I think I can join...will confirm a bit later tonight.
posted by dubitable at 4:43 AM on April 11, 2012
posted by dubitable at 4:43 AM on April 11, 2012
Looking like you might be able to make it, dubitable?
Glad to hear you're planning on coming, monocot!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:16 AM on April 12, 2012
Glad to hear you're planning on coming, monocot!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 1:16 AM on April 12, 2012
Hey folks, after a little research, here's a couple of likely spots for foodage and beverage:
One is a Thai place, right in Ameyoko, very close to Ueno station. Looks good, gets a good rating:
http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131101/13126040/dtlphotolst/4/
Then there's this Chinese place, also looks perhaps promising, not quite as close to the station but not real far either...
http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000682807/food/
Anyway, we can see where we're all at, preference-wise, when we meet. See y'all soon!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:39 PM on April 12, 2012
One is a Thai place, right in Ameyoko, very close to Ueno station. Looks good, gets a good rating:
http://r.tabelog.com/tokyo/A1311/A131101/13126040/dtlphotolst/4/
Then there's this Chinese place, also looks perhaps promising, not quite as close to the station but not real far either...
http://www.hotpepper.jp/strJ000682807/food/
Anyway, we can see where we're all at, preference-wise, when we meet. See y'all soon!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:39 PM on April 12, 2012
Actually, the Chinese restaurant is part of a chain, so that might not be all that interesting. The Thai place looks like it has some actual personality, though.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:46 PM on April 12, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:46 PM on April 12, 2012
Thai in Ameyoko sounds great. That, or grabbing some yaki-shouronpo from one of the stalls, a six pack of beers from a conbini, and indulge in some far, far too late hanami.
posted by Ghidorah at 4:52 PM on April 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by Ghidorah at 4:52 PM on April 12, 2012 [1 favorite]
Yeah, that could be great, Ghidorah. Hang in the park!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:40 PM on April 12, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:40 PM on April 12, 2012
Hey, another Tokyoite here, and I found this thread just in the nick of time BUT I can't make it--got hanami duties elsewhere. Hope to meet you guys next time. And be sure to post pics!
posted by zardoz at 6:23 PM on April 12, 2012
posted by zardoz at 6:23 PM on April 12, 2012
Yeah, zardoz, hope to see you sometime!
BTW, we didn't really specify, but let's make that meeting at Ueno station OUTSIDE the turnstiles, OK?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:30 PM on April 12, 2012
BTW, we didn't really specify, but let's make that meeting at Ueno station OUTSIDE the turnstiles, OK?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 6:30 PM on April 12, 2012
Aw, darn, I'd love to come to this meetup, but I'm currently in Sendai on business, and then I have to head straight to Haneda and then Singapore :-( Enjoy the last hanami of the year!
posted by armage at 7:33 PM on April 12, 2012
posted by armage at 7:33 PM on April 12, 2012
I will be around ten minutes late D: sorry. Are we going to the Thai place?
posted by monocot at 2:34 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by monocot at 2:34 AM on April 13, 2012
If any of you guys get this, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it in time, can someone please send me a text telling me where you're at?
08011203710
posted by dubitable at 2:48 AM on April 13, 2012
08011203710
posted by dubitable at 2:48 AM on April 13, 2012
I will also be able to check this thread, if you can post here...thanks!
posted by dubitable at 2:52 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by dubitable at 2:52 AM on April 13, 2012
I'm here with Runes, just outside the gate. My phone seems to be dying of suspicious causes, though.
posted by Ghidorah at 2:57 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 2:57 AM on April 13, 2012
Ugh, ten more minutes on the yamanote... If you guys decide to go ahead my number's 08032508001.
posted by monocot at 3:03 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by monocot at 3:03 AM on April 13, 2012
I'm in Ebisu about to get on Yamanote. If you guys tell/text me the restaurant you're heading to I can just meet you there.
posted by dubitable at 3:07 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by dubitable at 3:07 AM on April 13, 2012
Dubitable, we're going to go ahead to the Thai place. Can you meet us there?
posted by Ghidorah at 3:18 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by Ghidorah at 3:18 AM on April 13, 2012
I had a great time. Thanks for making a visitor welcome!
posted by Runes at 7:52 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by Runes at 7:52 AM on April 13, 2012
Me too! Let's do this again, hopefully within a year... Runes, I hope you have a great time for the rest of your stay in Japan :)
posted by monocot at 8:00 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by monocot at 8:00 AM on April 13, 2012
Yay! Fun! I'll post pics soon!
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:19 AM on April 13, 2012
posted by flapjax at midnite at 8:19 AM on April 13, 2012
God, I wish I'd checked this thread fully...
NOBODY MENTIONED BACON AT ALL TONIGHT.
posted by GoingToShopping at 10:47 AM on April 13, 2012
NOBODY MENTIONED BACON AT ALL TONIGHT.
posted by GoingToShopping at 10:47 AM on April 13, 2012
It was nice to meet some new people. Hopefully we can do this again before next year. Also, hopefully we can do this when I don't have to wake up at 6 am the next morning.
Runes, thanks for giving us the boot to the behind we needed to get one of these things going. It was good to meet you, and I hope the rest of your trip is a good one. I'm looking forward to your BBQ pictures.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:17 PM on April 13, 2012
Runes, thanks for giving us the boot to the behind we needed to get one of these things going. It was good to meet you, and I hope the rest of your trip is a good one. I'm looking forward to your BBQ pictures.
posted by Ghidorah at 5:17 PM on April 13, 2012
And yet more pictures from the meetup.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:33 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
posted by flapjax at midnite at 7:33 PM on April 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
Very fun guys!! Let's do it again sooner rather than later. flapjax, thanks for putting the pics up!
posted by dubitable at 9:43 PM on April 13, 2012
posted by dubitable at 9:43 PM on April 13, 2012
GoingToShopping, I owe you an apology. I was in Don Quijote today, and the fake facial hair does indeed look like it's intentional, not a joke.
posted by Runes at 7:42 AM on April 14, 2012
posted by Runes at 7:42 AM on April 14, 2012
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
posted by Ghidorah at 1:06 AM on March 9, 2012