Gareth in San Francisco: May 5th-9th

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i think there was another thread, i couldnt find it though. perhaps it was just the big roadtrip one.

anyway, i am due to arrive in sf on may5, and leave early on the 9th.

so this is the thread for, well, me, i guess. where i ask if anyone is around at this time, if anyone wants to do a fap, and also to ask advice, what are the things i definitely should do in sf, where is the best place to stay, those kind of things...

over to you!

― gareth (gareth), Thursday, 29 April 2004 22:19 (twenty-two years ago)

The Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park

― dean!dean!dean (deangulberry), Thursday, 29 April 2004 22:29 (twenty-two years ago)

there are no pints at the tea garden!

― kyle (akmonday), Thursday, 29 April 2004 22:32 (twenty-two years ago)

It is, however, a fine place to go and be calm and reflective and enjoy the surroundings.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Thursday, 29 April 2004 23:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Take a long walk along Land's End. You can see the Sutro Baths remains which are kind of like Roman ruins along the Pacific. Here's a neat panorama shot I just found (requires quicktime)
http://www.panoramas.dk/fullscreen/fullscreen22.html

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Thursday, 29 April 2004 23:43 (twenty-two years ago)

hang out with gygax!.

― lauren (laurenp), Thursday, 29 April 2004 23:59 (twenty-two years ago)

hang out with Aja!

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 30 April 2004 01:56 (twenty-two years ago)

hang out with Gavin Newsom!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 30 April 2004 02:06 (twenty-two years ago)

Marry Gavin Newsom!

― Spencer Chow (spencermfi), Friday, 30 April 2004 03:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Gareth, I realize that you've probably left for Seattle by now, but like I said, I am fine for that Friday night, I just have to be up at the crack of dawn the next day.

Maybe we could "do" Amoeba on Friday afternoon? I'm not actually working that day.

For things to see, SF is a relatively small city, so the best thing is to get lost for the first day or so you are here. And be prepared to do some walking up some crazy hills. Of all the "obvious" sights, I would still take any visitor to Alcatraz and probably Coit Tower if the weather is nice. For the less obvious, these are useful:

Things to do in San Francisco
San Francisco and what to do in it
san francisco classic or dud

I also recommend visiting the East Bay, officially the best place on earth.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't know about where to stay. I always rep the Grant Plaza in Chinatown, but that's just because its cheap. There seem to be some interesting hotels in the Tenderloin.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 14:22 (twenty-two years ago)

Also...I know you say you're leaving early on the 9th, but it's Erlend Oye on the Saturday if you are interested.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

from that blasthaus link you just put adam, looks like 2manyDJs and James Murphy are playing records at Mezzanine (where Luomo was) tonight.

did any of you guys go to the !!!, LCD Soundsystem show last night?

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 15:58 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Alex did. I have a ticket for tonight, but I might not be able to make it.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 16:00 (twenty-two years ago)

have a good time gareth, ig ot all the relevant details

― ambrose (ambrose), Friday, 30 April 2004 16:09 (twenty-two years ago)

Yeah, I saw the show. LCD Soundsystem was great. !!! was bleh. They sounded like Phish meets the Red Hot Chili Peppers and the lead singer has an unhealthy resemblance to Carrot Top attempting to doa James Brown impression. We left after two songs (haha such a running them with me and shows isn't it?)

Me and Jen are going tonite, @d@m, but we probably won't be there until around midnight. Let me know if you are still going and we'll look for you.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 30 April 2004 18:25 (twenty-two years ago)

how much is tonight? i'm thinking about going.

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 18:59 (twenty-two years ago)

$9.99

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:10 (twenty-two years ago)

what will i do with the extra penny!?

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Make a wish.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:20 (twenty-two years ago)

Holy shit, I might be going on a date to... wait for it... BELLE AND SEBASTIAN tonight!!! YAY!!! I had no idea they were in town!!!

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:23 (twenty-two years ago)

:: cue everyone hating on belle and sebastian....

but they are really very fun live (for some reason everyone in the UK seems to think they're sloppy and a shambles; they've never been anything but wildly impressive musically out here, so I don't know what that's about).

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:41 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw them in 2001 and thought they were great. It's just that uh... it's a funny date I guess.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:44 (twenty-two years ago)

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:48 (twenty-two years ago)

you mean you aren't going to the Lion King on Ice again?

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:52 (twenty-two years ago)

Wasn't that the thing about being with a date who put on The Lion king soundtrack? Now I'm confused.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 20:53 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, i think that's it. i wasn't there

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

or was i????? mwahahah

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

dan, sometime let's chat about technique

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 21:07 (twenty-two years ago)

they do the Lion King ON ICE???? That is the wrong climate for those jungle and desert critters.

― kyle (akmonday), Friday, 30 April 2004 21:08 (twenty-two years ago)

Hahahaha, it was a CD in her car. I was amused.

Besides you're married, you ain't got no technique!

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 30 April 2004 21:23 (twenty-two years ago)

how you think i got married fool!?

alright, i got no technique. i was gonna ask you for some tips.

― JaXoN (JasonD), Friday, 30 April 2004 22:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I bought my technique.

http://www.niagara.edu/neworder/graphics/fact275cfront.jpg

What?

*flees*

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Friday, 30 April 2004 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

it was a CD in her car.

I would pay big money to have seen the look on your face at that exact moment.

Still, it could have been worse-she could have been "one of the Animal Collective hyped youth of today"!

;)

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Friday, 30 April 2004 23:15 (twenty-two years ago)

Gareth,

If you want to hang with the AsiaKitty you can do so with her chaperone.

possibilities:

It's A's Vs. Yankees on the night of the 6th at the Oakland Coliseum.

I can give you a comprehensive tour of the SF bay area via car on thurs or fri?

and heck, all the hipster bars are right outside my door...can check the paper for location of any appropriate rock and roll.

If you're serious, email me since I tend to book up fast.

I may be going shooting thursday or friday.

heck, you can come shooting if you like although I don't think that's part of the SF tourist experience unless you are a Dirty Harry fan, and ammo is expensive, so bring cash.

In any case,

Welcome! and have fun.

― BurmaKitty (BurmaKitty), Saturday, 1 May 2004 04:01 (twenty-two years ago)

Beep beep.

I'm not having much of a chance to check back here, but I'm still in.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 14:34 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.sfgate.com/eguide/music/barguide/pictures/vesuvios-220x168-nb.jpg

http://www.sfstation.com/bars/vesuviocafe/

Yes. Vesuvio's. 6. 6:30. Friday night.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:34 (twenty-two years ago)

Or failing that, the-chinese-hipster-bar-that-isn't-a-chinese-hipster-bar.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

Burritos.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

we are shit out of luck for burritos in north beach

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:36 (twenty-two years ago)

but LiPo and the Buddha Bar are around the corner so if we get sick of Vesuvio's we can scram over there. Unless someone else has a better idea.

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:37 (twenty-two years ago)

"Club EZ5 (Commercial/Kearney btw. Chinatown/Downtown)"?

Burritos.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:39 (twenty-two years ago)

according to my friend it is swanky and modlike and I still haven't been. But we are still SOL for burritos in this part of town.

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:43 (twenty-two years ago)

How do you survive, Kyle?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Okay. Well...Blake's, then.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:44 (twenty-two years ago)

How do you survive, Kyle?

On the blood of englishmen and a bunch of shoegaze 7"s.

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:45 (twenty-two years ago)

no, this sounds like the place, friday. let's do it. gareth has two or three days to eat a burrito.

I survive by carefully measuring out the medications.

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Wise.

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:47 (twenty-two years ago)

You should see the pills I'm taking at the moment. One has mint in it and the other has fish in it, and I have to take them at the same time. It's terrible.

On Saturday, I spent an hour sitting at a BBQ listening to a story about how Slipknot harnessed themselves to a rotating stage, which the flipped over 180 degrees, but those badass motherfuckers just kept on playing...

― @d@ml (nordicskilla), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

why do you do this to yourself?

― kyle (akmonday), Monday, 3 May 2004 16:55 (twenty-two years ago)

Skipping 370 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Oh, to be in your twenties, work in retail, and passively go to art school - it’s the life. Well, not for me, but it is for the people at the Arrow Bar - an uber-hip dive bar.

Hip dive bar - it’s almost an oxymoron. However, one must first define “hip.” To review the Arrow Bar, I will have to describe the subculture that frequents it so you‘ll understand what, for some, constitutes “hip.” I don’t expect most people to understand what I mean by “sceney scenesters” or “twenty-something pseudo-intellectual artists.” You could get the idea, but both judgments are somewhat vague, and not everyone has been exposed to this “scene” of people.

The aforementioned subculture consists of twenty-something to twenty-something-minded-thirty-somethings that really like independent, or “indie,” stuff. They like music that doesn’t get played on the radio, they pride themselves on knowing obscure bands and films, and their reading list contains fiction writers that “understand” their subculture (e.g. Kerouac, Bukowski, Eggers).

You’ve probably seen one of these kids on the street; maybe you're one of them. The girls wear jeans with high heels and retro fashions. The guys wear impossibly tight pants and t-shirts, possibly with blazers. Both sexes have precision (choppy and unnaturally-dyed) haircuts; both sexes aspire to be Mick Jagger (circa 1965, of course).

At the Arrow Bar, in a part of town I can only describe as “really frickin scary,” these sceney scenesters are all dressed up with no one to go home with - yet. They rub up against each other, order cosmopolitans because Sex and the City left them with the impression that it’s okay to be promiscuous, talk shit loudly in order to win the “most pretentious = cool” award, drink Pabst Blue Ribbon under guise of being ironic, and snort lines in the bathroom like there’s no tomorrow - when they will return to their job at Amoeba or a coffee shop or someplace similar.

“Now Layne," one might ask, “why are you so bitter regarding this subculture? It’s just a bunch of kids having a good time.”

The answer is simple: I find the whole display boring and shallow, and I feel the same way about people who go to Ruby Skye or any other meat markets. It’s just not fun, and it's an unhealthy lifestyle.

But, just in case you’re completely intrigued and this crowd sounds fun, go ahead and be "hip" at the Arrow Bar. There is no reason to go to this bar other than to be immersed in its clique. See an independent band play there (despite the fact that there is no room for a band to play, shows do happen). Talk about your band, name-drop, dance on top of the bar, get sloppy drunk and hook up with a total stranger, see if I care.

Layne Karafantis August 2004

― adam. (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 September 2004 22:53 (twenty-one years ago)

so many fuckin scare quotes

7 o clock it is.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 September 2004 22:55 (twenty-one years ago)

You buncha sceney-scenesters! *giggles*

― Michael White (Hereward), Friday, 17 September 2004 22:59 (twenty-one years ago)

ok, im just heading out for some food, see you at 7! (will you be coming michael?)

― kippax lad (gareth), Friday, 17 September 2004 23:38 (twenty-one years ago)

i left a message on kippax lad's answering machine

― adam. (nordicskilla), Friday, 17 September 2004 23:39 (twenty-one years ago)

did you, i'll go check it now

i have much to tell. and, perhaps, much to ask

― lipxax ked (gareth), Friday, 17 September 2004 23:41 (twenty-one years ago)

you know, ive never actually been to kippax, i should drop the pretense really

― the great doxology of middleton rd (gareth), Friday, 17 September 2004 23:43 (twenty-one years ago)

okay, talked to the club promoter around 1pm and he said tix are not an issue they will have plenty at the door.

― gygax! (gygax!), Friday, 17 September 2004 23:52 (twenty-one years ago)

you're all having drinks now. I'm sitting in my boxers watching Extra (extra! extra! oh billy bush you cad! dana devin you vixen! why is hollywood so fucking boring?).

see some of you at the show later. i'll put some jeans on.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 September 2004 01:46 (twenty-one years ago)

it would be nice to see a fight by the night's end.

― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 18 September 2004 09:36 (twenty-one years ago)

So THAT is what Sparks looks/tastes like.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 14:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Gareth,

How long are you in town? I'm off to grandma's house near Yosemite for the weekend and hence unavailable for the weekend. Hectic whirlwind of a social calendar, ask my valet (poor thing spends whole days in tears), but I'd gladly consume adult beverages with you next week.

― Michael White (Hereward), Saturday, 18 September 2004 15:03 (twenty-one years ago)

it would be nice to see a fight by the night's end.

Please tell me you did write this before the cab driver almost killed us and that little incident at JaXon's place happened....

M83 were okay for anyone wondering, but they played over prerecorded synth tracks and I don't really know why since it did nothing but detract. Surely there is some french person who could have played that stuff live. I guess that's what seeing Depeche Mode was like though.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 September 2004 16:47 (twenty-one years ago)

Please tell me you did write this before the cab driver almost killed us and that little incident at JaXon's place happened....

i actually wrote this during all of the above was occuring, yay for cell phone internet!

M83 were much different setup than I expected (where are the Rolands?) and as Kyle says a lot of the great synth textures were DAT'd on top of their 2 guitar, bass and live drum/drum machine combo. At times they were just flat-out rocking in a Mogwai style. I yelled out "So much... Rock!?!" at one point in a pretty funny (to me) accent. I larfed. There little improvised composition at the end came out pretty limp and fell flat. The DJ's were playing some pretty icy minimal house after the show.

Also, I got my Led Zep fix for the next year or so. Big Star rules too btw.

― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:16 (twenty-one years ago)

JEALOUS COWARDS TRY TO CONTROL
RISE ABOVE!

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:22 (twenty-one years ago)

haha

― gygax! (gygax!), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:26 (twenty-one years ago)

go back to scotland!

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:30 (twenty-one years ago)

jaXon I'm sorry we crashed into your house at 2:30 in the morning and ate all your candy and then fell asleep in the chairs. we will repay this somehow.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

I guess that's what seeing Depeche Mode was like though.

Hey!

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:35 (twenty-one years ago)

I am jealous of everyone who got to go to JaXon's house. :(

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

Anwyay, we're going to do something on Sunday...right?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

We are having brunch at 1 somewhere on Valencia, but I can't remember the name.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 18:24 (twenty-one years ago)

let's have brunch at boogaloos on Valencia and 22nd at 1:00 PM, unless someone has a better idea (the guys who used to work at boogaloo's opened somewhere else nearby but I don't know the name, it is allegedly less crowded, anyone know what it is?)

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 September 2004 18:27 (twenty-one years ago)

i had a good time last night. i thought m83 were pretty good, even if it all seemed pre-recorded. to be honest they were like a 3rd rate shoegazey band, but, you know, i like that well enough! it was good to get out and let off a little steam. i apologize to everyone for my drunkenness online when back in the hostel, i didnt want to go into the room because the weird guy was still up. today, he isnt in the room, though his bag is still there

― the great doxology of heckmondwike town (gareth), Saturday, 18 September 2004 18:53 (twenty-one years ago)

you live for 3rd rate shoegazey bands!

I just don't "get" you.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

is boogaloos fancy feast?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 19:02 (twenty-one years ago)

Hi freaks hi

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 19:10 (twenty-one years ago)

Boogaloos is really good, but it is going to be freakin' crazy tomorrow (it always is on weekends, but it will be ESPECIALLY crazy cuz of the Valencia St fair tomorrow.) Brunch sounds good though (we were gonna bike down to the fair anyway actually.)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Saturday, 18 September 2004 19:27 (twenty-one years ago)

So everywhere around there is gonna be crazy? What is this fair all about then?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 19:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Crazy in this case just = busy = long wait to get seated and eat.

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Saturday, 18 September 2004 20:17 (twenty-one years ago)

ah shit I didn't know about that fair. it might be a lost cause, because there's usually a 20 minutes wait for a table anyway. any other suggestions? I have practice from 10 until roughtly 12:30 in bayview so I'm for for pretty much anywhere.

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 September 2004 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe we should just go anyway. 20 minutes isn't so bad, is it?

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 22:42 (twenty-one years ago)

If you say so!

― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 18 September 2004 22:43 (twenty-one years ago)

I do.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Saturday, 18 September 2004 22:50 (twenty-one years ago)

From Flavorpill:

FAIR
Valencia Street Fair

when: Sun 9.19 (10am-6pm)
where: Valencia St btw 21st and 22nd Sts (415.240.6384)
price: FREE

Now that those chilly summer months are behind us and the real San Francisco summer is in full swing, it's time to step out, catch a few fleeting rays, and get that SoCal tan that we've been so enviously eyeing. Fortunately, the Valencia Street Fair provides just the right mix of people, food, art, music, and culture for a frolic in the Mission. On top of sampling the area's numerous merchants' wares, check out musical highlights the Monolith, Ride the Blinds, DJ Soulsalaam, and the Avengers' Penelope Houston. And anti-gentrificationists take heart: the festival is sponsored by community-minded, grassroots-oriented organizations like Rainbow Grocery and Centro Latino de San Francisco. (KT)

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Saturday, 18 September 2004 23:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Oh, I finally got my voice mail. You crazy people!

― tokyo rosemary (rosemary), Sunday, 19 September 2004 01:05 (twenty-one years ago)

so are we still doing this? I could not think of anywhere else.

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 19 September 2004 14:15 (twenty-one years ago)

i am leaving for SF shortly. Someone call me later and tell me where to go.

― kyle (akmonday), Sunday, 19 September 2004 14:52 (twenty-one years ago)

So Boogaloos at 1pm, yes?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 19 September 2004 16:36 (twenty-one years ago)

Guys, I am as sick as a dog (stomach stuff) . I'm not going to be able to make it. :(

Trying to phone some of you now...

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 19 September 2004 17:03 (twenty-one years ago)

...I left a message with Kyle, who is at practice close by and probably still intending on going to Boogaloos.

I deleted gygax's number by accident last night, fuck.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 19 September 2004 17:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Also left a message with Gareth to let him know Boogaloos at 1 and that I can't make it.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 19 September 2004 17:19 (twenty-one years ago)

Alright well we're still planning on the Valencia thing so we'll be there. Sorry you aren't feeling well, adam. :(

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Sunday, 19 September 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

tx, let's do something again soon though.

― adam. (nordicskilla), Sunday, 19 September 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

i'll be there at 1

― the great doxology of heckmondwike town (gareth), Sunday, 19 September 2004 18:12 (twenty-one years ago)

i went for a meal with alex, jen and kyle today. it was pretty nice, then me and kyle went to ameoba, but i couldnt find the terry durham record i wanted. then i went back to the hostel because i was tired. then i went to a couple bars with this guy from san diego

― the great doxology of heckmondwike town (gareth), Monday, 20 September 2004 07:05 (twenty-one years ago)

How did your work-ish thing-y go yesterday?

― Alex in SF (Alex in SF), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 15:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I have been to Kippax. It is a shithole.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 21 September 2004 15:14 (twenty-one years ago)

morley hays hill chapeltown chapel allerton rothwell

GGGGGGGGGGGGG u said on the note u were going to be in leeds before 21st sept. WERE R U

also, i sent you a text with the subject: RE: where should i live in LEEDS

to S: I fluctuaute between the two largest cities in Yorkshire. And its fucking, fucking, fucking tiring.

― ambrose (ambrose), Wednesday, 22 September 2004 15:50 (twenty-one years ago)

it was fun we had sparks

― adam. (nordicskilla), Friday, 24 September 2004 19:04 (twenty-one years ago)

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