Last night (Thu), “1212″ reopened its door for the Chinese New Year celebration that we were holding in conjunction with a birthday party for one of our visitors.
The dumpling event went better than we expected with some fantastic and professional looking designs being sculpted by the patrons. No doubt that this was chiefly due to that fact that they started on them first before hitting the drink! The dumplings tasted good (so I hear, having not actually gotten the opportunity to try one…) and was quickly followed by several dishes whipped up by that supreme goddess of the kitchen… Lolita!
After that the drinks started to flow… a few bottles of beer here and there for the lads while the ladies started on the “1212″ wine supplies! It wasn’t long, however, before our BFG’s started to come out (aka ‘Big Fucking Glass’ or a ‘Pooh Beer’) and slowly started to drain away. Needless to say, before the night was out so were we!
Considering the ‘puzzling’ response that we had on some of the forums, both Lolita and I were somewhat surprised at the actual turnout on the night. We had initially ‘expected’ somewhere in the region of 15-20 people but at its height we had closer to 30. I’m not sure if anyone was cold in our workshop but no one complained about it and a few were wearing t-shirts so I figure that no one needed to be treated for frostbite…
Champagne (albeit sadly muted) was unleashed by the birthday girl along with the birthday cake that “1212″ had prepared for her (well, ahem, that Lolita had prepared for her) followed by a low-key round of singing. Not bad considering few people go in for that sort of thing at birthdays these days (Koreans excepted).
And so the evening wore on with the patrons at our humble place diligently ensuring to do their very best to drain us dry of all and everything alcoholic! Towards the end of the night we only had bottles remaining – all the wine, champagne, and BIG beer having been consumed.
People came and people went, with even a group of people that were down from Seoul visiting friends stopping by for a time (what was that French rock group again – Noir Désir?). Surprisingly, and with that many people, there were no problems and nothing was broken. In general, everyone that came was polite (with the exception of three) and encouraging with what Lolita and I are doing here with “1212″.
We would both like to thank everyone that turned up for the New Year and extend our gratitude for your donations to help us do this again. As all of you that came can attest to, we are not trying to scam anyone here, we are just in it for the good times like yourselves. Incidentally, we would also like to again extend our thanks to ‘Benny’ for the ‘Chinese sauce’ and the ‘nuts’ that he brought for Lolita and I. Cheers!
And so, we hope you all enjoyed celebrating the New Year and hope to see you again sometime whenever we open. This weekend Smiling Lolita and I have other commitments that prevent us from opening our workshop up, but keep checking the blog (the sidebar especially) for the updated dates as to when we shall throw open the door again.
Happy New Year!
UPDATED NOTE #1:
During the evening we did notice several people leave “1212″ to get a ‘breath of fresh air’ outside. Normally, the Korean restaurant just outside our entrance is open (until midnight) and I would therefore just like to ask for anyone that does want to go out for a ‘quick breather’ not to stand near our (or their) entrance but to perhaps move out further onto the street. We would also appreciate it if you didn’t take the beers/glasses with you. Quite simply, we don’t want the attention that it draws. We have already had a few ‘comments’ from the restaurant’s owner but we are okay… for now. Seeing that we are not a bar, I am sure that you can understand and appreciate what we are asking. After all, if we start getting complaints then we’ll just have to shut the doors for good.
Cheers!
Lolita’s words to everyone who came..
me(Lolita/Phoebe) seldom post here on our blog since Meanguy2(aka Cris in 1212)always gets everything i wanna say and i really hate editing…well, but now i feel like to say something to the ones who came last nite…
to the sweet girls/a few guys who made dumplings: the dumplings were so cute that i really wanted to have a try when i fried them..how could u make the dumplings looked like roses, shells, fans, sofas, sunflowers, ..?!..u r artists!!
to the ones who had my cake&other dishes: happy that u liked the cake..it didnt look vy professional but taste not bad..i ll try bigger one next time!i spent 6hours on cooking everything today..but its worth!
to the korean girls who played my rainbow piano: i dont mind u play a tone on her. but if u can’t play piano at all plz consider the others—-dont make noise..and also, the piano herself is slim and weak, plz DO NOT lean against or even sit on her.
to the guys asked me for cigarettes: we do not sell smokes. the cigarettes i gave were mine. so when u ask for something could u plz be a lil bit politely?we are not a bar and i m not a bar girl.appreciate if u guys wont bother me with asking for smokes..btw we have cigars here, tell me if u need.
to the one who has vy vy good imagination: 1. i m not korean. 2. i m not a part-time worker here,i m co-owner. 3.Cris and I did everything of 1212 n u can get it in his older posts in this blog, we didnt hire anyone to work for us.
to the ones who loved my art/works: Thank you for your encouragement.it means a lot to me:)
to Cris: needless to say that u r a real/only/best friend..thanx a lot for everything u did for me and yourself..and thanx that u always protect me from any kinz of hurt n solve my troubles…
UPDATED NOTE #2:
As I have said earlier, 98% of the people that came the other night were great and we’d welcome them again anytime. It is therefore unfortunate when something like this happens…
During the clean-up we discovered that one of our guests had decided to try and make “1212″ their own. Needless to say, “1212″ is our home/studio {sigh} and not a bar. If someone comes into your house and draws on your walls thinking that they are being clever then I am positive that none of you would be all that impressed with them. Not only that, but it reveals the true intelligence, or lack of I should say, of the individual(s) in question. What is more, the graffiti was done using one of Lolita’s craft pens. The artwork/materials that are openly visible in “1212″ are the property of Lolita and while she is very happy for people to look it is most surely a measure of respect to ‘ask’ before actually ‘touching’. Those of you that are artists/musicians/writers yourself know what I am talking about. We’re not asking for much, just a little thought and common-sense (something that is sadly in short supply these days). Incidentally, the graffiti has since been removed… along with the cigarette mark on the wall that some dumb fuck made when they stubbed one out right next to Lolita’s new canvas (whoever did that deserves a slow and painful death, hopefully while I have a good view of it at the time).
Now, I will say this the once only. Don’t write on our fucking walls. “1212″ does not have any ‘open walls’ for people to leave messages or any other graffiti on. Do not presume to think that because we have decorated our walls that you can do that here too. If you really want to do it then, quite simply, go and get your own place and draw on the fucking walls there. In short, if I happen to catch anyone doing this shit again then I will not hesitate in taking my hammer to your fucking fingers!
And in closing, to the person(s) that did this… do yourself and the rest of the people that just want to enjoy the place a favour … don’t come back!
