End Of Summer Los Angeles Meetup [Update]

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Reservations have been made. Guest list has been compiled. Goodie bags are in the works. Ms. Pac Man practice games polished. We are prepared for the sequel…

It’s time for the Sepia Mutiny Los Angeles End-Of-Summer-Blowout MEET UP!
When: Friday, September 15th.
Time: 7:00pm – really late. (Happy Hour goes until 9:00pm)
Where: Golden Gopher 417 W. 8th St. Los Angeles, 90014 [map]

Now, the Golden Gopher isn’t your typical bar, and as a non-drinker, it is my favorite Los Angeles bar for two reasons. The best jukebox in town, and they have tabletop Ms. Pac Man scattered throughout.

With that being said, we ask for everyone who is ‘up for it’ to bring rolls of quarters in their pockets for the first ever Mutinous Ms. Pac Man Challenge! Abhi claims he’s the best, I claim to be better, and we both challenge the L.A. mutiny to a death match of Ms Pac Man.

Golden Gopher is expecting a posse of macacas, and we have been promised a section of the bar. There is free street parking after 6pm. I know that there are some of you coming far from Santa Barbara, and San Diego (or the Westside) – so please don’t be discouraged by the drive, GG is located right off the freeway. And we will be waiting for you (though the goody bags may run out).

Who is we? Infamous Mutineers Abhi and Vinod. We also have Builder, Brooklyn Brown, Arun, Vivek, cauvery, Anu, Shruti, Ani (+1?), terence, Rajan, Murali, Navratan Kurma, Sumit Chachra, Ami, Payal, Localdesi, Lata, Ravi, Mad Guru, Guru One, Raj, Jazzie/Nahmuna (+1), SD, GujuDude,1 /26 (+1) and, drum roll please, Padesi Gori. And more? That would be 26+ if I’m not mistaken… If you haven’t RSVPed, please do in the comments below.

And while we are at it, where are the Celebrity Mutineers at? It is Los Angeles, after all. This is a personal request, since there seems to be two degrees of separation in the desi world, that if you know any of the following desis, please invite them to the meetup next Friday! John Abraham, Kal Penn, Parminder Nagra, Rasika Mathur, Sheetal Sheth, Sendhil Ramamurthy and, well, any other Southern California desi you think is blogworthy.

It will be a night to remember and a fabulous end-of-summer celebration. We hope to see you all there!

UPDATE: Can anyone offer to carpool folks from the westside to downtown? We have some mutineers that need you!

This entry was posted in Meetups! by Taz. Bookmark the permalink.

About Taz

Taz is an activist, organizer and writer based in California. She is the founder of South Asian American Voting Youth (SAAVY), curates MutinousMindState.tumblr.com and blogs at TazzyStar.blogspot.com. Follow her at twitter.com/tazzystar

108 thoughts on “End Of Summer Los Angeles Meetup [Update]”

  1. i will be there in spirit.. if only it was 10 months into the future…have fun for those los angelitos who get to attend… and damn you even get a goodie bag..and miss pacman? wow..if that doesn’t spark interest… what will? 🙂

  2. Taz: Forget John Abraham and Kalpen Modi. What about yours truly? I know I cannot be there on Sept. 15th, but heck you could have atleast mentioned my name as great RajKumar “Wannabees” from 60’s. Have fun and let me warn you Abhi is (or at least was!) great at Pacman player when he was growing up in San Jose in eighties.

  3. Yo Dad,

    Awww I’m sorry! You’ll be missed, but I have specially requested that we get a personal meetup with you when you and yo mom are in town. We will have plenty of pictures of the meetup when you are in town, and I have a TON of stories I can share with you about Abhi’s urbane Los Angeles life. A ton. 😉

  4. Ah! I have tix to see Zadie Smith that night! I can wing both (cue Taz thinking ‘not again…’). Keep Ms. Pac Man runnin’ for me…

  6. Hello…

    I just discovered the Mutiny a couple of months ago through Shruti’s MySpace page, (which I found in a roundabout way through my Didi’s page.)I truly cannot express my joy at finding you beautiful, beautiful people! And I thought I was thrilled to find Artwallah!

    So, this is my first post, but… can I come? May I bring a friend, (Desi or possibly Chita >gasp<)?

  7. Oh shit. panicks I don’t have a myspace! gives up on denial Fine.

    Hi Jazzie 🙂 It’s cool, though I assume you read it in somebody else’s comment to me, because I’ve never mentioned SM on my page. Two different worlds, my friend, and I wouldn’t disturb the peace by mixing them up 🙂

  8. Vivek,

    You’ll get extra points of you convince Zadie to come to the meetup- (she’s honorary desi after all).

    All we be forgiven if we can go dancing after the meetup.

  10. Due to the vacation schedules of LA’s elementary schools, I’ll be coming to your beautiful city at the end of the month to go on a little hike with my family — instead of next weekend. Sorry about that, taz.

    However, I plan on paying for my cross-country trip by having mutineers contribute big bucks for the chance to bask in the glory and briliance of my nephews. To sign-up for 5-minute sessions, which will run about $100, please contact me through my site.

  11. However, I plan on paying for my cross-country trip by having mutineers contribute big bucks for the chance to bask in the glory and briliance of my nephews. To sign-up for 5-minute sessions, which will run about $100, please contact me through my site.

    Ha! Misspelling brilliance is just about the best thing I’ve done all day!

  12. Oh Shruti… tsk, tsk, tsk… denial is futile. (Don’t make me post a link to your uber-emo-myspace photo collage. ;p I wouldn’t dare, I don’t want to be responsible for any planetary collisions, (not again, dammit!).

    BTW, is it too late to change my screen name to “Nahmuna”? I don’t think I spelled it correctly, but it is what most Desis loudly declare upon speaking to me for any length of time, (particularly my family in Delhi).

  14. I would like to attend, if that is kosher for someone who doesn’t really know anyone from the muntineer crowd.

  16. BTW, is it too late to change my screen name to “Nahmuna”?

    Namuma, that’s an awesome name 🙂

  17. “I would like to attend, if that is kosher for someone who doesn’t really know anyone from the muntineer crowd.”

    I don’t know Gujudude, I just don’t know…. “Like” is isTOO subjective. What does it mean anyways? Do you have any scientific and valid data to corroborate your assertion that you would “like” to attend the meetup? 😉

  19. I fly into San Diego tomorrow, then drive up to Long Beach the morning of the 15th. I definetly plan to be there, if at all possible. Hope they have good veggie snacks and virgin drinks.

    Hope y’all will be nice to me also!

    Looking forward….

  21. Do you have any scientific and valid data to corroborate your assertion that you would “like” to attend the meetup?

    I’m sure my car will give me all the required data, post trip, when the odometer spins up an extra 90 miles one way.

    And my COSTCO gas receipt. 🙂

  23. Let’s be nice people. We leave our SM handle names at the door (and usually get new name-tags…although that would be embarassing at a bar).

  25. Name tags?! Classic.

    Hey, I was wondering… do any of these Sepia Meetu-ups ever end in Mutiny Hook-ups?

    I myself wouldn’t mind reforming a “misogynist, crude, backwards and weak-willed Indian” man, as Bididescribes in his comment above. Ha! Ha! Ha! Just kidding.

    But really, if there’s a single desi living on his own out there…..

  26. SM intern- Are you an actual intern, or just some random dude that didn’t want an avatar?

    If I ever post a picture of myself you will see that my hands have become de-formed because of carpal tunnel and I have monkey feces in my hair from all of my time spent in SM HQ’s basement. Then you will no longer question whether I am real or not.

  27. I’m always confused by references to a bunker in North Dakota. Is that really where this site is based from?

  28. I’ve left LA, but a question strikes me, maybe those who’ve attended previous meetups can pipe in with their responses, but I’m very curious if sort of “black sheep” commenters have attended meetups before, and identified themselves as such. I guess to be totally frank, I’m a bit confused at the meetup mechanics, is it just one big party or do issues ever get brought up and do people who are diametrically opposed in opinion ever bring up past discussions, etc..?

  29. one big party or do issues ever get brought up and do people who are diametrically opposed in opinion ever bring up past discussions, etc..?

    It’s a party, not a political party. Have never seen what you describe, I suspect it may have to do with the way people are more civil and circumspect when they meet face to face.

  30. I’m always confused by references to a bunker in North Dakota. Is that really where this site is based from?

    Yes. SM’s world blogging headquarters is based at a secret location in North Dakota. It may or may not be based in a converted military bunker. We also have bureau offices in several major cities including NYC, D.C., LA. Each bureau has a bureau chief that runs things. We all fly back to North Dakota twice a week to confer on important matters that affect desis in America. It is all very efficient.

  31. Dear Sepiamutiny:

    My name is Raman and I am currently completing my last year in Electronics at Maharaja Sayaji Rao University in Vadodara. My height is 167 centimeters, I am wheatish, and my interests are cricket, hindi movies, and a little Garba.

    I was looking to come to the United States, hoping to find a suitable bride. My background is Hindu Brahmin, but caste, language, relgion, race, age, species, fictional character, etc. is no bar. Your help would be appreciated. I have profiles on Shaadi.com, Indiandating.com, Yahoo.com, Matrimonials.com, and eharmony.com…

    I would like to request that sepiamutiny start a matrimonial service. I understand that the mutineer crowd is primarily South Asian American with many professional women. Do you offer legal services for immigration and an airport pick up service also? Do women in the United States know how to cook and clean? Will she quit her job after we have children. My only requirement would be that she is ready to be pregnant in one to two years after marriage. My parents are very anxious to see grandchildren before they get more older. At 50 years of age, they are quite old now.

    Sincerely, Raman

    NOTE: Folks, its just a joke (Ducking and taking cover).

  32. Damn! I thought it was for real and was gettin ready to respond.

    I love the name Raman, by the way.

  33. It’s a party, not a political party. Have never seen what you describe, I suspect it may have to do with the way people are more civil and circumspect when they meet face to face.

    Right, that’s what I was thinking, too. Also when face to face, people don’t have the luxury of a google or lexis nexis search to link to studies and articles to back up their opinion, and of course, verbal communication is full duplex where as blogging is half duplex.

    And it makes sense if the strife is a peer-to-peer transmission, that is, only between two people, but I wonder when it’s a multicasted opinion difference, that is, one person differs so wildly from the norm (that person almost becomes a rallying point for others to unify around) Maybe I’m blowing it out of proportion.

  34. ‘t’s a party, not a political party. Have never seen what you describe, I suspect it may have to do with the way people are more civil and circumspect when they meet face to face.”

    That’s exactly how real-life works, too – with friends, that is, even if you’ve known them for years and years. Whenever political discussions do come up, I am slowly finding out a little bit more about some of my friends that I really want to know – it’s making me second-guess our friendships! Even though I do offer a rebuttal in the most disgustingly apolitical, diplomatic way, I still feel pretty sick to my stomache after these “discoveries”. And then ofcourse, the question is, do you stay friends, or slowly drift apart??? For me, I can’t help but slowly drift apart – even though I don’t mind hanging out drinking martini’s – I’ll afford them some leniency that I would never extend to closer relationships – such as the person I am dating…. Sigh… though I’ll never get why in the world, rednecks, jocks, and frat boys display any interest in a brown gal like me at all!! It’s tres bizarre!

    Sorry for the rant – Enjoy your party!!!

  35. The internet is a terrible means of communication. People are always way more misunderstood on the net than they are in real life.

  36. Metric, why wouldn’t “red-necks”, jocks and frat boys be interested in a brown girl like you? If they find you attractive in some way, a man will show interest.

  37. I’ve been to one other ‘internet’ meetup (not Sepia) and people are pretty civil, though, getting over the handle name part is probably the most weird part. I mean, I don’t go around introducing myself as “GujuDude”.

    Ain’t nothing better than having a casual conversation over beers, a few drinks, discussing stuff, hanging, and meeting imaginary internet friends. No violence or drama, unless its a desi party…wait a minute! Maybe Vinod or Abhi can re-enact their infamous beer spilling incident.

    Naaaa, just like everything else, it’ll be all good. I hope.

  38. Because, it just doesn’t make sense!! Period!! End of discussion. Actually, it’s very political – I may have to go into politics and I don’t have the energy to do that right now! 😉 I refuse to take even one step further into the mess that discussion would become.

  39. I can’t speak for sepia stuff in Hell-A 😉 but NYC, DC and SF meetups are 100% laughter and good times– they revolve around South Indian vegetarian food (D.C.), excellent espresso (SF) and, well, the greatest city on earth (NYC). Anyone and everyone is welcome; I have never, EVER witnessed an awkward moment at a meetup I’ve coordinated. Mutineers are total sweethearts in person. 🙂 And yes, occasionally I get people to wear nametags (scribbled on with a sepia sharpie!), which is uber-helpful to this bear of little brain, who has an excellent memory for everything EXCEPT names.

    No one discusses politics, calls people out on past comments or leads a corporate-esque meeting on the progress/future of the blog. It’s just eating, drinking, giggling and if you’re very, very lucky (cough! Nina Paley), me grabbing your ass. Twice.

  40. There’s no way i would say some of the things I’ve said here in person;

    I actually would, but I’d sound a heck of lot nicer. Tact is hard to communicate for us non-writers on the internet. 🙂

  43. 25.

    “SM Intern” is very much real. Tough I haven’t met her, I believe she is who she says she is. Their duties among other things is to answer newbie and newbie like questions on SM. Search the archives for her posts. She is also an anonoymity freak. When bored, she does mischevious stuff like post with handles of regular bloggers. It is still open to speculation what punishment is meted out for such transgressions.

  44. Western Ghat –

    I’m flying into San Diego tomorrow and driving up to Long beach two days later. That night I plan to attend the hook-up. But I don’t know if there’s room in the car for one extra person as my cousin says we will be packed to the brim in our drive up to Long Beach (she’s relocating).

  45. For the record, I am all about ass grabbing also. Taz and I are making an effort to make this the most R rated meet-up ever. Well, as R-rated as you can get with a bunch of bloggers and blog readers…and name tags…and virgin drinks.

  46. WesternGhaat:

    I’m making the trek up from North County, San Diego. I’m gonna be leaving from work on Friday (I work on Camp Pendleton) around 5 ish. If you need a ride, I can swing back to Carlsbad. But you’ll have to make the 30 mile trek up to Carlsbad by yourself somehow.

  47. Taz and Abhi look like sister and brother in the photo they posted here. Similar nose and other facial features.

  48. Done. I’m in for the next meetup in Chi-town, even if I do have to drive my ass across the corn fields of Indiana to get there.

    Chicago? Sorry, that’s all Ennis. Unfortunately, even with that fantastic nom de plume, he is NOT an ass man.

    ………………………………………………………..

    WHO HOSTS/ATTENDS WHERE ………………………………………………………..

    Abhi: LA (also: DC– hometown/where parents live, a fact hereinafter indicated by an asterisk by city name; soon to close down LA bureau and open Houston bureau)

    Amardeep: Philly (possible: DC* and NYC…I think)

    A N N A : DC, NYC, SF* (possible: Philly)

    Ennis: Chicago (possible: SF, NYC*)

    Neha: Toronto

    Siddhartha: NYC (possible: DC*)

    Vinod: SF, NYC (possible: Houston*)

  49. P.S.

    Gautham: ANNA went to one of those public universities you’re so fond of, just to rub salt in that wound. 😉

  50. I can’t speak for sepia stuff in Hell-A

    Face Off. Castor Troy. “I’m about the unleash the biblical plagues Hell-A deserves.”