Tom E. in Seattle / EMP Conference / April 2005

Do Nintendo DS-es bought in the States work with UK software, or will there be specification issues or something? I was thinking of taking advantage of the generous exchange rate.

obviously we need to have a big ol' Seattle FAP after the conference is through (or before it begins) since the conference itself is pretty time-consuming (and loads of fun!), and it would only be right to have an evening of Tom-centered reverie outside of it.

also, Dave Q is going to try to make it to the Pop Conference as well.

is there transcripts of the conference and stuff available after it?

it's a stellar line-up.

"let's do the show right here!"

Tom, nothing to fear... if anything, you'll probably find the weather here very familiar, if maybe slightly less grey given the odd winter we've been having.

It is not impromptu if we plan ahead. And we would have only a mere month to assemble our hand puppets.

Also, how crazy is it at the border right now, scrutiny-wise? I'd wanna bring a little something something over but I don't need a bust in my life right now. It's mainly the indo I'm worried about - I need a volunteer mule!

although I'm not as centrally located as Matos's place (though not that far by any means.) Hmmm, I would offer to lend my tables if someone with a car would be willing to transport them. it would just be a matter of someone providing the P.A... then again, not sure how cool Matos's neighbors are.

http://www.birdsasart.com/Tricolored%20heron%20chick.jpg

i'm afraid that in my world, that is a joke.

(pause)

Where's Jess?

(in Alan Sugar The Apprentice-style authoritative don't-try-it voice)

(I am happy to be dragged along to anything you think is fun of course. I will be gawking like a wide-eyed tourist all weekend anyway!)

(I am going to make a bold and irrational claim that if John D. as the Mtn Goats is "they" then a couple of Italian dudes as Jennifer Gentle is "she". This falls apart if you don't think of Gentle as a last name, of course.)

(And to answer seriously:

1. I don't believe they'll be scheduled to play when I'm there.

2. In my own small way, I was the first person to talk about them to an English language audience, at least, via the AMG some years back, and further helped to spread the good word via things like giving a copy of their collaboration album with Kawabata to Byron Coley at Terrastock V, etc. etc. I'm not saying I broke them here or anything! But I've helped and it will be a pleasure to finally meet them over here in the States and in LA, where I doubt they'd guess they'd have ended up playing five years back when I first got to know them through friend Marco D. :-) )

strongoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

*crane shot sweeps up and out until Tracer is a tiny speck*

Have a grebt time, Tom! How exciting!

OK. I've got reservations for a plane ride on Alaska Airlines (!) leaving Newark fairly early on the 14th and departing for Newark on the 18th. I also have four nights at a hotel. So, flight + hotel + tax = $513.18, about $200+ of which is the cost of the flight.

haha, Bearapalooza! and Bud Light!

The idea is to arrive in Seattle about half six on the Wednesday and leave on the Monday morning (earlier than I'd like but I'll have plenty of time to sleep). Air Canada, stopping over in Vancouver. I'll probably be too tired to FAP on the Wednesday but obviously if this was the only non-conference time we could I'd be up for it. But how about the 14th for a FAP, after the opening conference address thing?

What area of Seattle are you staying? if you're in downtown, do you know what part of downtown specifically? or do you know that yet?

(I know we all went down to Chinatown last year, and had a blast.)

The next worry after that will be what on earth I'm going to actually say!

Still no confirmation on the flight though. :(

Although, I think the most useful bus to get you to the EMP would be the 74 bus, which goes right by you, and ends at Seattle Center, where the EMP exists.
http://transit.metrokc.gov/cftemplates/show_map.cfm?BUS_ROUTE=074&DAY_NAV=WSU

Leaving aside hotel bills, about how much do you think 5 days of eating, drinking, gigging etc. will cost? I'm fine for money but I don't have a credit card so I need to sort out travellers cheques etc. Assume a healthy appetite for both food and booze.

Thursday night, the 14th..
DAVID THOMAS/DAVID GRUBBS/DJ DREW DANIEL
Sunset Tavern.. Ballard, Seattle
5433 Ballard Avenue, 98107
$10 at door. 21+.. (don't know when show starts.. probably )
Advance tickets page on URL: http://www.sunsettavern.com

I'm going to this.

...

Friday night, the 15th

either

U.S.E./DOLOUR/FRIENDS FOR HEROS
The Vera Project.. downtown, Seattle
1916 4th Ave, 98101
$9 ($8 with club card). ALL AGES.. show starts at 7:30pm..
Ins and outs allowed (I think)
Advance tickets available on site: http://www.theveraproject.org

or

ALBUM LEAF/PLASTIQ PHANTOM/ASPECTS OF PHYSICS/MANUOK
Neumo's... Capitol Hill, Seattle
925 E. Pike Street, 98122
$10.. 21+ doors open 8pm, show starts 9:30pm
Advance tickets available on site: http://www.neumos.com

or

just hang out with friends

...

Saturday night, the 16th..

either

Vera's Dance night with Special guests
U.S.E./BRUNO PONSATO/STRENGTH/DJ SHORTIN'/DJ SAPPHO
The Vera Project.. downtown, Seattle
1916 4th Ave, 98101
$9 ($8 with club card). ALL AGES.. show starts at 7:30pm
Ins and Outs allowed (I think)
Advance tickets available on site: http://www.theveraproject.org
* This one is a benefit for the Vera Project

Also

SWARMING HORDES/GRIEVOUS/LAST SECOND LEFT/BOOK OF BLACK EARTH
Chop Suey.. Capitol Hill, Seattle
1325 E. Madison, 98122
$6.. 21+ doors open 9pm.

I'm going to this U.S.E. show for sure, then, if there's time, maybe head over and catch Swarming Hordes at Chop Suey if I still have energy and it's early enough.

...

Mind you there are other shows happening in town. Other things might pop up in the meantime.

To answer's Tom's daily cost question...

Assuming you take the bus to the EMP: $2.50 per day (or more if you cab it back depending on where you are... although I could easily guide people back via bus if I'm there, cabbing could be split amongst many)

Assuming about 2 and a half meals: two cheaper, one more expensive
$20-25? maybe $30 if you are particular gluttonous?

Assuming 3 beers/drinks or so a day: add another $15? although that might be a high estimate.. or low!

Assuming you might go to a show here and there.. $10 at most?

So, let's just estimate $40 a day, on the average. Multiply that by 5 (since two of the six days are really half days)... subtract drinking for about two or so of the five days at the extremities.. $200 or so?

But that's assuming you buy NO music!

hahahahahahahahahahahaha, he gets through that in an hour donut ;)

also TOM, take yr PASSPORT with you to bars etc, as you will NEED id, even though yr obviously an old giffer like what i am ;)

tnhx

How's the weather?

Seattle, United States Of America: Fair, currently 9C.
Increasing clouds with showers arriving this afternoon. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.

...

So, fair, then.

David Thomas (of the Ubu)/David Grubbs/DJ Drew Daniel at the Sunset Tavern on Thurs.

U.S.E. at the Vera Project on Friday night

Mixmaster Mike, Electric Six, and VHS or Beta at Neumo's on Saturday night (for FREE.. get there by 8pm or earlier apparently.. I just want to see E6 really)

I think the best bet for a FAP is in Belltown before/during Friday night. Get to the Vera Project by Fri 7-7:30pm (via monorail!) get your hand stamped after paying cover (if they allow ins and outs which I think they do), then grab dinner (while the two opening bands play) somewhere in Belltown, since the Vera is nearby.

Hmmm Then again, maybe dinner at that Indian place just up from the Sunset Tavern on Thursday would be best. I don't think that show would start until later on.... I'll call the Sunset and ask.

You all don't have to follow my live show plans by means! You can FAP without me, but I'm definitely going Thurs and Fri.. we'll see about saturday if I can even get into that show... given it's free and all.

Hmmm Then again, maybe dinner at that Indian place just up from the Sunset Tavern on Thursday would be best.

India Bistro. Good food. I'd be up for either of these, although I'm on call, so I might have to take off if my pager goes off. (Or someone could kindly toss it in Elliott Bay for me or something!) I'm buried at work, but I'll keep an eye on this thread.... I'm only a few blocks from the EMP, so I'd love to see some of you guys again.

And Ron! Where have you been? :-) I swear I haven't seen you posting much on ILE. Perhaps I should venture over to ILM more often.

you won't find me over there. i just lurk around here mostly. actually i thought this conference thing had already happened, but it's good that i'm wrong.

We can definitely plan for an earlier dinner before the U.S.E. show on Saturday... the Monorail takes you just a block away from the Vera Project and runs 'til 7pm on weeknights.. (also, it's just cool to take the monorail from the EMP to downtown anyway) maybe an early dinner in Belltown somewhere... Noodle Ranch maybe?.. at 5pm sounds good? (I'd say the Pike Place brewery but the wait might be long for a big party.. Noodle Ranch isn't usually that busy)

Not sure if any of us will have the energy to want to see a show on Saturday night, so there's always that night too. I'm more than willing to forsake that free show (even if it's the Electric Six) if it means we need to mega-FAP somewhere....

Same assumption about the U.S.E. show as well, i guess.

I'm thinking Saturday night should be a big final hurrah FAP if any.

Again, I'm just one guy making suggestions. Matos, Kate, etc. feel free to interject..

I get in at 18.48 on the Wednesday and will go straight to my hotel. I don't want to fall straight asleep though or I'll never adjust to Seattle-time so if anyone's around for some quick food or a swift beer I'd be delighted (if somewhat zombiefied company). Then on Thursday I'm going to be Mr.Tourist (recommendations welcome) and then I guess we meet at the opening party thing on the Thursday and take it from there. Do I need a secret handshake or anything?

And yes, there is a monorail: http://www.seattlemonorail.com/
It's only useful to those who want to go between central downtown and the EMP. It's quick, but there are plenty of buses that will do the trick as well.. namely the 16, the 3, and the 4 (3 and 4 overlap a lot) -- amongst many more that get you close enough, too. The buses run a lot later and earlier though, than the monorail currently does. The monorail won't go back to regular hours until the end of this month (until 11pm at nights.. due to that fire from last fall.)

BUT THEY'RE NOT MONORAILS, ARE THEY? NO!

I don't recommend trying to stumble home completely drunk on this street though, as the cars do tend to zoom there, and sidewalk is a bit narrow. Take Mercer to Westlake instead in case you feel shifty and buzzed..slightly longer walk but safer. heh heh.

Also, Tom is very close to Bucca De Bepo!

BUT THEY'RE NOT MONORAILS, ARE THEY? NO!

AND THEY'RE NO ANNE MURRAY!

I don't want to say up too late on Wednesday. In terms of food I like everything really, though I'm definitely on the carnivorous side.

I don't know if I'll have a mobile or not by the way, but I can ring people from the hotel on Weds if I have their numbers.

GET ONE BAG OF OLD DUTCH ALL DRESSED CHIPS, HOME BOYS!

Bucca De Bepo is a national chain of family-style Italian restaurants (started in Minneapolis). Half-size portions of anything are usually the size of small toddlers. So, we probably won't have to order much. And there is wine that can be ordered too, by the jug. With enough people, I think we could get a decent crowd. Reservations may have to be made though. And yes Tom, there's plenty of carnivorous friendly items there... maybe this place is too ambitious? I chose it mainly because it's practically in Tom's hotel's backyard.

(i am actually in kind of a bad mood, re. travel, because since i waited/had to wait so long to get my ticket, i now have to fly out of nyc and pay about $150 more than i planned, plus tack an extra five or six hours on.)

That might not work when you leave, though, since it starts up after 5 AM. If you take a cab from the downtown area to the airport, ask for the $25 fixed price rate "from the downtown hotel district to the airport". All taxis have to offer that rate. If it was 4 AM and you were lucky, you might be able to save money by going by the meter, but it would only be a few bucks. The fixed price is nearly always a better deal. Also a good deal if you have more than 1 person.

You can also catch a Metro bus up to downtown, much cheaper but much slower, will drop you in the bus tunnel. They pick up right from the northern end of the baggage claim area.

When are you arriving? It can cost you as little as $2.00 to get to downtown from SeaTac... getting back (4-5am?) is a different question though...

And Sunday morning? yikes, you picked to the one hour of the day on the one day of the week that's a sure deadzone for public transit. Go with Lyra's advice on fixed price cab. (Also, the bus tunnel doesn't operate on Sundays, anyway, but it wouldn't matter)

i have taken that grey line thingee before, and i just re-checked my ticket and i dont fly out until 8:30 sunday am, so i might be able to do it.

Tom, I'll email you my number right now.

Also, THINGS TO DO in Seattle... Grab the 17 bus to downtown Seattle (link to the 17 schedule is above. Surely the hotel folks should have bus schedules for the 17 handy, but who knows.) which comes from Westlake Ave N from the North, and swerves onto 9th Ave., which is right where you are staying. Just go to the bus stop that says "17" on it, and have a buck and a quarter ready. (or maybe two quarters if you're going before 9am.. peak hour fares, you know.). The 17 bus will take you to downtown.

Go towards the waterfront in downtown on Pike st. and you can have some fun at Pike Place Market for a while.. lots of things to see and eat.. Chipotle Cheese curds at the cheese shop is a must.

Also, on 4th Ave. and Spring is the Seattle Pubic Library. Get lost in it.

If you want to have a beer and play video games, there's Shorty's on 2nd. between Bell and Blanchard in Belltown...

Eventually you'll want to get to Lower Queen Anne by late afternoon or so, at the latest. Grab the Monorail (Pine and 5th ave., go to the 3rd floor). It's a $1.50 ride, but it will take you straight to the EMP. If you walk through the food court area and then head north (there's a big hill with houses on it to the north, let this be your Queen Anne compass), you'll end up near Cafe Zingado, Larry's Market, Easy Street Records, Racha, Twice Sold Tales (where Morley Timmons works!), Pagliacci, etc.

(You can also grab a 3, 4, or 16 on 3rd st. standing on the east side by a bus stop with those numbers listed. They all stop right by the EMP, too.)

I think the initial meetup starts at 5:15pm at the EMP for the conference... right?

Anyway, hope this helps.

There's also a Quickshuttle service between downtown Vancouver and SeaTac airport too. There's a stop in South Lake Union in Seattle (right where Tom is staying, coincidentally) I think the price is similar...
http://www.quickcoach.com/

Well, if you get in at 11pm, you'd either have to take the longer, less scenic 174 bus (174 schedule here) for $2, or cab it (which should be $25 max.. see Lyra's comments above) to 2nd and Pine at the Green Tortoise (arrange in advance if you can). Then the next morning, grab any bus on 2nd ave. and ask if it goes to the King st. station (the bus ride should be free since it's within downtown), then head to the King St. station, grab train, etc.

The only problem is.. trains are often more late than planes, so add a LOT of padding between your train arrival back to Seattle, you're getting to SeaTac airport, and all that.

...

Nabisco, you're also forgetting startrekman, who'll probably ask this weekend what the bass sequencer was used on Animition's "Obsession"

Chance of showers (meaning "we don't have a fucking clue")

Lows in the 40sF (4-8C), Highs in the 50sF (10-12C)

Eeeee! already, I'm starting to FEEL THE VOIB!

My abridged day at work tomorrow is going to feel mighty long before the reception.

(Oh yeah, many revelations about British vs. U.S. pop culture tonight, but most shockingly, the deceased of the Two Fat Ladies, shortly before being deceased, was a reactionary right-wing commentator!)

That seems to be the case with all Brit celebs after a while.