New York City Meet-Up

I was annoyed that the Black Tangerine video craps out at the end, but then I realized it's supposed to be like that! I found a live performance of it and they end it like that for real, haha...

I seriously want to get decent at singing, it's something I've always wanted to do but I was too introverted when I was young. Now that I'm all old and don't give a **** I sing at work, at home... I thought about going to ktv myself just to be able to practice. I just got a book called "Set Your Voice Free" - it's fun.

Nick, if you (or anyone else with the above taste in music) want to be "ktv singing practice buddies" drop me a line at yahoo with this username. I'd aim for maybe half chinese songs, half english, as I only know 2-3 chinese songs well enough at this point.

Woah!  That site is incredible!  Thanks for linking it Kim... it has some great songs! 

If you got 只想哭 then you got 1/4 of the song down!

Stuff like this makes learning Chinese tons of fun.

Hey! My site above has Heise Liu Ding too! Awesome, because I can read along with the pinyin until I remember it, and see the english for words I don't know.

Yeah baby. Next meetup I will be prepared, with a new song. hehehe.... Tao Zhe here I come.

:D

I learned my two songs from the site below which has an mp3, hanzi, pinyin, and rollover english meanings (literal, so a little awkward at times), and sometimes videos. 

female singer song I sang: Zhizhuo, 执著，by Tian Zhen, 田震 (different video than ktv; wma on that page is way better than videos)。。。http://www.chinese-tools.com/songs/song/7/zhizhuo.html

male singer song I sang: Xiao Wei, 小薇, by Huang Pinyuan, though I think someone else actually wrote it and he's just famous for singing it...

http://www.chinese-tools.com/songs/song/85/xiaowei.html

Black Tangerine has a lot of words! :(

I'll get it, little by little. So far I've got 3 words:

只想哭，只想哭，只想哭。。。哈哈

Hey Kim, His name is David Tao, or 陶喆.  You might also see 陶吉吉.  The song is Black Tangerine, 黑色柳丁。  I'm a huge fan of his and have all his albums... I hope one day to actually be able to understand more than 2 songs of his heh.  Anyway, here is a youtube spot of the video Karaoke style!

And a few other good rock songs of his are 王八蛋 wang ba dan，and My Anata.

What was the name of the song you sang again?  It was pretty cool... never heard it before.

Nick,

What's the name/artist of that song you ROCKED OUT to and i said i knew it but didn't know the words and I would go home & study it?

Kim

oh so sorry i missed the meetup!  looks like a great time.  if ever there's another chance for NY poddies to get together, please count me in (also another newbie).  i hope amber had a great time in nyc and found her mexican food and bagels, too!

by the way, a really good book store in NYC is World Journal on 377 Broadway, corner of White Street. 2 blocks south of Canal.

On the downstairs level, there is a wide selection of material to learn chinese

Hey guys, it was really nice to meet you all

Nathan, I will add your book to my collection of chinese books.

Amber, thanks for the Karoake pictures, I look mesmerized by the 月亮代表我的心 lyrics.

Nick, you werent the best singer, but you had the most soul.

I would certainly meet up again. Ill post our  picture now.

work firewall blocked the pictures, i'll have to check from home.  :-(

Hey guys,

Thanks so much for coming (and for dinner!).  KTV of course I embarrassingly microphone hogged but alas, skills learning in China Partyworld KTV world are not quickly forgotten.

Here are a couple more pics!  Let's meet again pengyous :)

Hey it was really great meeting you all.  So many people with such interesting backgrounds!  Thanks again to Tom and Vera for picking the restaurant and finding a memorable KTV spot afterwards.

That Kenny Rogers remix was the best! -Nick

Hey guys! It was really fun, especially the karaoke afterwards. :D

If any of you (or others) want to meet up again sometime I'd be up for it.

Any more photos from anyone else? Any of you can email me on yahoo with this username. Just stick that little 'at' symbol in there, of course.

Jim,

Here you go:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0781812046/ref=s9sdps_c1_14_at1-rfc_g1-frt_p-3237_p_si1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=0JZ149QE4C7M56K57766&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=463383351&pf_rd_i=507846

Thanks - sorry we couldn't stay longer.  I always love talking to fellow students of Chinese so maybe we can get together some other time soon.  Plenty of Chinese things to do in New York! 

c

Nathan, would you post a link to your book?  I would like to buy one for me and my kids!

Thanks for the photo Jim! And it was great to meet all of you - Amber was as attractive and personable as she sounds online. :)  Hopefully we can organize another Cpod NY meetup.

-Nathan

Thanks Amber for coming (and thinking up) the meetup, and thanks to Tommy and Vera for arranging it!

You can just see Amber peeking around Tommy's head.

Me (Jim, a/k/a newyorkcity) with Amber and her tofu.

Awesome - I'll head for the subway now - I live a bit uptown.

Cool!  I'm leaving in about 20 mins :)  I'm pretty near Chinatown!

I'm leaving my house now, from NJ, heehee

:D

Hope everyone gets there smoothly!

OK New York City pals,

Just to confirm, make sure you all come:

This Sunday, Nov 16, 3pm
XO Cafe
96 Walker Street(1 block south of Canal Street just off Lafayette)

Can't Wait!  Thanks to Tom & Vera for booking for us!  See you then!

:D

By the way, the restaurant's phone #212-343-8339

When you're there, please ask for Chinese party, the reservation was made under Tom.

Vera---Tom's wife

Hey guys,

My wife called XO Cafe to make a reservation for 10-12 people. That should be about right. The waitress didnt quite get what a chinese pod was, she kept saying Chinese Party, but hey, thats what it is.

Sunday, Nov 16, 3pm
XO Cafe
96 Walker Street(1 block south of Canal Street just off Lafayette)

不 见 不 散!

Hey that sounds awesome.  Count me in.  But easy on the Chinese - I'm just a newbie.

Hi everyone!

I think November 16, Sunday is sounding good for most of us, so let's set it as that, how about at lunchtime-ish.  I have the afternoon free so whatever we do after that is good for me too.

Sound good?  If so, spread the word!

Hi! I've only started listening to Dear Amber in the last 6 months, but I'm totally hooked. I would love to have lunch with everyone at XO in Chinatown! I'll keep monitoring this thread for a definitive time and place. See everyone soon!

Hi! When I heard that Amber was coming to New York I was really excited! I live not too far away (Philadelphia) and would have loved to take the Chinatown bus up to get together, but I can't come to New York that weekend! It would have been nice to chat in Chinglish, though. :(

Q

-Philly

The problem with closer to noon is that there will probably be less drinking ;-)

Amber - please advise when we should meet, since you are sort of the guest of honor.

Wow!  I just happened along here when I was checking for postings on Obama.  I don't speak up much on Cpod either, but would love to meet you, Amber, and other poddies in the NYC area.

It's looking like Sunday the 16th at 3 is popular - but I'll be heading out to Chicago that day.  How does Friday the 14th look for folks?  Or could we move Sunday back closer to noon?

Amber, are you up for more than one get together? Or one marathon session?

K.

I'm there on whatever day, as long as it's after work!

Is the 13th at 3 settled?  I'd love to come!

NYC is only 6 hours away by plane...i am so tempted to come out there to meet Amber...NYC is awesome!

hmmmmmmm........

Wow, this party's getting bigger. I may have to call XO Cafe to tell them to bring out the big table

I am in!

我是中国人，to be more specific，我是西安人。我是riverdale country school的中文老师。C-pod has been giving me so many ideas on teaching Chinese. Look forward to meeting you guys!

Any date/time would be ok.

Hey a meetup in NYC would be great (esp. since I already live here).  Ok so I have never commented on any CP board, even though I have been a premium subscriber for years!  I guess I'm sort of a lurker, but a big big fan of CP and of Qing Wen and Dear Amber.

I know I'm lame for not having an avatar yet.

Will definitely show up for NYC meet-up!

i know.  Fortunately we have SpanishPod here at our offices, with Leo, who is an amazing cook.  So once in a while he spoils us with something.  Yum.

SpanishPod is produced in Shanghai?? How funny.

I have a race earlier in the morning on the 16th, but I should be able to make it for a late lunch.  The big question is.. what night are we going out for drinks that week!?

Thanks for the "像" Amber. I think I've only used it for visual similarities.

3:00 is fine for me; any time that day is ok. And I'd also like to exchange numbers with at least one other for-sure person when the time comes, just in case there's a change or a problem getting there, etc.

Don't worry Tom, 当然我说普通话！ 但我在北京学，所以有时候我不知道一个词有没有“儿”。For example， 我知道 ”一点“ 没有， so I try to correct myself and get rid of the R. But “花”, flower, people have told me it SHOULD have an R sound at the end, even in proper putonghua. But they were from Beijing. So you see, sometimes I'm not sure. But I'm trying to correct away from Beijinghua, so you can all feel free to sneer at my R's, I'd appreciate it.

:)

hey freakyqi,

You can say:

我的中文有一点儿像北京话。
Wǒ de Zhōngwén yǒu yīdiǎnr xiàng Běijīnghuà.

Sunday, Nov 16, 3pm is fine for me... everyone else?

Hi freakyqi,

I spent a week in Beijing in 1999, Id love to hear about your experiences....a little Beijing accent wouldnt bother me as long as its 普通话

Guys, I muffed up, 很 不 好 意 思, I offered a time when my wife is taking her Accounting final. My fault.

Can I suggest 3pm Sunday November 16th for a late lunch. Im flexible on the time/date so feel free to offer something else if its inconvenient. We both really look forward to it. I think I can send you my cell phone through the private mail the week before

thx

Tom

Hey guys,

I don't "talk" much here, so you probably don't know me, but I've been back & forth to Chinesepod for a couple years now. I'd LOVE the chance to hang out & speak Chinese. I'll keep the date & time above open if you'll have me!

怎么说"我的中文有一点（儿）北京话（儿）“？哈哈... 我住在北京两年了，三四个月以前会美国。 :(

我很想北京。

Wish I could be there, but alas I won't be back home in the NYC area until (American) Thanksgiving, a week and a half later.

hi tommyb,

That sounds good to me!  Everyone else?  I want azerdocmom there toooo!

阿呀！我也要去！可是我住在Arizona : (

OK we have a suggestion. It is ........ XO Cafe on 96 Walker Street. It is in the heart of Chinatown just south of Canal Street. The N,R,W,6 trains all stop very close.

Its is a very popular place with many small dishes but probably not so loud as a Dim Sum restaurant.

How is 12 noon Sunday November 16th for early lunch?

I see we have shiqiangdan, garfaldo -i will recongize his/her big eye :) and of course Amber.

I hope more will come, I think so. It will be very cool.

Here is a web site with their menu

http://www.bridgeandtunnelclub.com/bigmap/manhattan/menus/xo.htm

thanks!

i know.  Fortunately we have SpanishPod here at our offices, with Leo, who is an amazing cook.  So once in a while he spoils us with something.  Yum.

yeah. lack of mexican food was definitely the primary (possibly only) downside of my time spent in asia.  all this talk is making me hungry.

hi turdferg,

That's awesome, thank you!  I will DEFINITELY go there.  There is no good Mexican food in Shanghai.  That little write-up has gotten me extremely excited to go!  :D

oh no! i would normally be in NY at that time, but unfortunately i'm stuck someplace much less cool for the next month.  i'm sorry to miss you guys.  i would've loved to have met some other poddies and of course, the one and only amber.

amber - i'm glad to see that you have an appreciation for mexican food.  i can't get enough of it.  since you'll be in the neighborhood, you should check out cosmic cantina on 3rd ave between 12th and 13th.  it's not fancy but they have the best burritos i've found in america (outside of san diego, which is pretty much mexico). they are a particularly good late night choice when, after a bit of partying, you MUST have a burrito that is roughly the size and weight of your own head.

also, if you like tequila, go to dos caminos in soho (w broadway and houston).  they have pretty good food and a mind boggling assortment of tequila. if the weather is decent, the outdoor area is a fantastic place to engage in the sport of day drinking.  nice for people-watching as well. possibly even a good place for you guys to arrange your meet up.

for bagels, pretty much just walk half a block in any direction from any location and you can't go wrong.  i sure do miss new york.

pardon my long-windedness. Have a great trip and travel safely!

hi tommyb, great... i'll let you guys pick the day and time.

shiqiangdan, just on vacation mostly.  I love NYC, you see.  :D

I'm in! Amber, what brings you to NY? Just for a vay-cay or are you on official Chinese-Pod business? :P Either way, please keep me updated about this meeting. I am really looking forward to it!

Hi Amber, all

I would like to join a meeting, I can suggest a restaurant in Chinatown (which is not far from the Village). And I hope a friday evening or Sunday morning works for people. Theres plenty of time, but those are my thoughts. My wife will come too, she will make me speak chinese! :)

:-(

yay!  two people want to come :) 

I'll be in Manhattan, near East Village.  I had a change of plans so i think around the 13th to 20th November will work out best... too bad we'll miss you, andrew!

I'll be around and down for whatever!  What... no Chinese food on your trip back Amber?  I know some great bagel spots in Brooklyn in Park Slope.  Manhattan... I'll have to defer.  Which borough you plan on staying in?

Awesome.  I'm down in Virginia... But I will back home for Thanksgiving.  It would be really cool to meet you Amber and other poddies.  The only problem is that I'll only be available on the 26th.  That seemed to be possible yesterday, perhaps it still is?