Opium Den

[Not Afraid]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/French_opium_den.jpgAn opium den was an establishment where opium (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium) was sold and smoked. Opium dens were prevalent in many parts of the world in the 19th century, most notably China (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China), Southeast Asia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southeast_Asia), North America (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_America) and France (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France). Throughout the West (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_world), opium dens were frequented by and associated with the Chinese, because the establishments were usually run by Chinese (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_people) who supplied the opium as well as prepared it for visiting non-Chinese smokers. Most opium dens kept a supply of opium paraphernalia such as the specialized pipes and lamps that were necessary to smoke the drug. Patrons would recline in order to hold the long opium pipes (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_pipe) over oil lamps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_lamp) that would heat the drug until it vaporized, allowing the smoker to inhale the vapors. Opium dens in China were frequented by all levels of society, and their opulence or simplicity reflected the financial means of the patrons. In urban areas of the United States (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States), particularly on the West Coast (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Coast_of_the_United_States), there were opium dens that mirrored the best to be found in China, with luxurious trappings and female attendants. For the working class (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Working_class), there were also many low-end dens with sparse furnishings. These latter dens were more likely to admit non-Chinese smokers.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_den#cite_note-OpiumMuseum67-0)

Opium smoking arrived in North America with the large influx of Chinese who came to participate in the California Gold Rush (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_Gold_Rush). The jumping-off point for the gold (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold) fields was San Francisco (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco), and the city's Chinatown (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_San_Francisco) became the site of numerous opium dens soon after the first Chinese arrived around 1850. By the 1870s, San Francisco's opium dens attracted non-Chinese residents, and the problem of opium addiction was acknowledged by the city at large. In 1878, the city of San Francisco passed its first anti-opium ordinance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_%28drugs%29#Prohibition_of_opium). In the early 20th century, huge bonfires, fueled by confiscated opium and opium paraphernalia, were used to destroy opium and create a public venue to discuss opium use. Due to opium-eradication campaigns, smoking opium was driven underground and was still fairly common in San Francisco and other cities in North America until around World War II (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II). A typical opium den in San Francisco might be a Chinese-run laundry (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laundry#Chinese_laundries_in_North_America) that had a basement, back room, or upstairs room that was tightly sealed to keep drafts from making the opium lamps (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_lamp) flicker or allowing the tell-tale fumes of opium escape. A photograph of one luxurious opium den in 19th-century San Francisco has survived, taken by I. W. Taber (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I._W._Taber) in 1886, but the majority of the city's wealthy opium smokers, both Chinese and American, shunned public opium dens in favor of smoking in the privacy of their own homes.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opium_den#cite_note-1).

[Gn2Dlnd]

My first 25 year cake will be at an opium den? Oy.

[Not Afraid]

AND we're inviting your MOTHER!

[Gn2Dlnd]

THAT, I'd enjoy.

Do it. Do it now.

[BarTopDancer]

My first 25 year cake will be at an opium den? Oy.

With a bunch of drunk people!

[Cadaverous Pallor]

A drug that requires you to recline in order to imbibe it is pretty badass.

That said, I'd never actually try something as addictive as opium....but a facsimile den should be a blast.

[Not Afraid]

Sooooo, we sent a lovely email. If you did not get one, please PM me your email addy.

[Kevy Baby]

What do we do if w DID get an email?

[€uroMeinke]

What do we do if w DID get an email?

Change your email address

[BarTopDancer]

The email says MONDAY Dec 31st. Dec 31st is a Friday.

[€uroMeinke]

Not in 2012

[Not Afraid]

How very strange! Now, that's planning ahead!

All better.

[Alex]

It's beautiful how time changes perception. I wonder if in a century people will be having crackhouse themed parties.

[Not Afraid]

That's next year.

[Moonliner]

Not in 2012

Better hold your party early (http://www.december2012endofworld.com/).

[innerSpaceman]

I can't make it unless there's real opium.



Seriously, I have a conflicting party that I must attend. But I'll show up for breakfast and Day 2. I hope to find some opium-soaked bacon.

[Disneyphile]

It's beautiful how time changes perception. I wonder if in a century people will be having crackhouse themed parties.Pimps & Hoes!! :snap:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Hmm.

Plan A
Drop kid off at grandparents house in the Valley
Hang out for NYE

Pro: Unfettered party time
Con: No one gets to see Theo, huge pain to coordinate babysitting

Plan B
NYE at home
Show up for breakfast with Theo

Pro: Easy to pull off, Theo has us up early anyway
Con: Miss actual NYE party


I'm leaning towards Plan B.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Plan C
Follow Plan A + stop back at the Den on the way back down to OC the next day.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Plan C
Follow Plan A + stop back at the Den on the way back down to OC the next day.Yeah, was considering posting that one, but can't figure out the timing. Do we sleep at the Den (aka don't really get any sleep) then drive up to get Theo in the morning, immediately turn around and drive back down, go back to party? Remember, this is after driving up to the Valley and down to the Den the day before. It's a lot of driving, and we'll be tired. I foresee us getting back to the party and being too tired to wrestle with the baby, never mind enjoy the rest of our time there...

[Alex]

Plan D: eBay!

[JWBear]

Plan D: eBay!

How much do you think Theo would go for?

[Alex]

Irrelevant. The plan is you sell him right before the party and then ship him on New Year's Eve. But you misaddress the box so that the delivery company returns him to you in a couple days. Then you refund the purchaser with apologies.

Best to use a one-time ID for this so the negative feedback doesn't impact future sales.

[BarTopDancer]

VAM

[Kevy Baby]

Better hold your party early (http://www.december2012endofworld.com/).Every time this comes up, I suddenly start humming an REM song.

[Not Afraid]

I was trying to figure out where the Den was.

It's been a very long day.

[Kevy Baby]

I was trying to figure out where the Den was.It's where the Opium is.

[Prudence]

Some day I will have so many "costumes" that I will be prepared for any theme. Until then: more sewing!

[Mousey Girl]

Costumes are not a requirement, though?

[Cadaverous Pallor]

Costumes are not a requirement, though?Nope. Casual is fine. PJs are a good option.

[Prudence]

Some of us look for excuses to wear costumes. I have, in particular, been looking for an excuse to pretend it's 1870s London.

[BarTopDancer]

Costumes are not a requirement, though?

I usually don't dress up. Bacon is a good suggestion too.

[JWBear]

I usually don't dress up. Bacon is a good suggestion too.

Bacon is always a good suggestion.

[Mousey Girl]

Yeah, but, bacon would get uncomfortable to wear on the trek down there.

[Kevy Baby]

So drive naked and put the bacon on when you get there. Problem solved.

[Mousey Girl]

Ummm... I don't want to scare the other drivers.

[€uroMeinke]

So, this might be the last NYE we host for awhile

[BarTopDancer]

Why?

[Kevy Baby]

Are you expecting?

[JWBear]

Lisa is getting more cats, so there won't be any room in the house for humans?

[Morrigoon]

Oh dear, I hope everything's okay...

[Ghoulish Delight]

Well, 2012 will, of course, officially start at 0:00 Greenwich time, so the Aztec apocalypse will already have happened before they have a chance to host the next one.

[Not Afraid]

Its been a long and very hard year and I'm starting off next year with a biopsy and probable surgery. We are both just tired old folks it seems.

[Morrigoon]

Oh jeez, NA, best of luck to ya on that

[Not Afraid]

It's all good. Just distracting.

[JWBear]

...the Aztec apocalypse...

I see a possible theme for next year. We just need to find a new host... ;)

[Gn2Dlnd]

I see a possible theme for next year. We just need to find a new host... ;)

Yeek. It's not like we're some chest-bursting parasite on the hunt for a new place to bury our eggs. I mean, really, Lisa. A biopsy? Surgery? Are you sure? Fine. We'll go lay our eggs elsewhere.

I mean, not lay our eggs elsewhere. What'd I say, lay? No, no, not lay. That's us, not laying our alien eggs in someone's chest.

[Disneyphile]

Sending you some positive healing juju, NA. Sounds like time to take care of yourself and nurture you.

[Kevy Baby]

Eh... there was a party the NYE after the year of the Frankenstein. We'll see how things are in 11 months.

Don't get me wrong: if y'all just don't want to do it, we would all understand and will find other plans.

[BarTopDancer]

Its been a long and very hard year and I'm starting off next year with a biopsy and probable surgery. We are both just tired old folks it seems.

Ahhhh you're going to be Lupe again!

Hope everything goes smoothly and next year is better.

[Morrigoon]

We could always take out a group campsite for the Aztec Armegeddon. Tacos and s'mores, anyone?

[Prudence]

And here I thought that it was since y'all knew it wouldn't be any fun what with us on the east coast.

[alphabassettgrrl]

Lisa, I hope things go as smoothly as expected with your biopsy.

[Strangler Lewis]

It's all good. Just distracting.

Here's to all good and fewer distractions.

[Chernabog]

Yeek. It's not like we're some chest-bursting parasite on the hunt for a new place to bury our eggs. I mean, really, Lisa. A biopsy? Surgery? Are you sure? Fine. We'll go lay our eggs elsewhere.

I mean, not lay our eggs elsewhere. What'd I say, lay? No, no, not lay. That's us, not laying our alien eggs in someone's chest.

Well SOMEONE walked in when I was watching Aliens on Blu-ray, didn't they? :D

[Disneyphile]

Sorry we can't make it. We're stopping by a couple different places that evening, but too far away to try and drive down in the night. We thought about breakfast, but Ken's working that day.

Have fun everyone! :)

[blueerica]

Well, this makes me wish more than ever that I could be there.

To be honest, this year has been hellacious. I should just scratch off touching California soil in 2010 and just move on to 2011. Enough failed attempts at seeing if I could get out (or afford to come out) for now!

Maybe then there will be time for some fun (in the sun, hopefully).

I could use a really great send off for 2010... *sigh*

I hope things turn out well, NA, and that this party is a smashing success!

[Prudence]

so.....who's staying the night this year?

[€uroMeinke]

I am

[Not Afraid]

You have to sleep at our house to experience the "releasing of the cats" part of the morning.

[BarTopDancer]

I don't know if I am. I no longer have an air mattress and hardwood doesn't agree with my hips.

[Not Afraid]

I don't know if I am. I no longer have an air mattress and hardwood doesn't agree with my hips.

Can you sleep in an enclosed room with 10 cats? ;)

[Cadaverous Pallor]

You have to sleep at our house to experience the "releasing of the cats" part of the morning.Warning: Said release of cats may result in a cat jumping on your face, digging in claws and launching off. It's a feeling akin to being punched in the face (with claws) while you are fast asleep.

I speak from experience.




And no, we are not staying the night this year. ;)

[lashbear]

I'm not staying the night, but we will try to be there via very limited broadband Skype, if possible.

[BarTopDancer]

Can you sleep in an enclosed room with 10 cats? ;)

Only if you want a dead body in the AM ;)

[Ghoulish Delight]

Well SOMEONE'S got to play the role of OD victim for the theme.

[SzczerbiakManiac]

If it's not already spoken for, I would love to sleep in a room full of kitties!

[innerSpaceman]

If I show up for breakfast, will anyone be there??

[BarTopDancer]

The kittehs! And Lisa and Chris, maybe?

If I go home I was planning on coming back for breakfast. If I can score the chase lounger I'd probably spend the night (and be there for breakfast).

[Kevy Baby]

We shall be staying the night. I think I shall bring my C-Pap this time so I don't keep others awake with my snoring.

[lashbear]

Believe me, the kittehs will LOVE playing with your hose. :D






(NO Kevin, the CPAP Hose. :evil: )

[Not Afraid]

If it's not already spoken for, I would love to sleep in a room full of kitties!

Sorry, SM, the room is reserved for the private pussy party. :)

(I do want to keep the cats in one room for the evening and give them a comfortable place to sleep, since they will be sequestered.)

[Not Afraid]

Our little shinding was a lot of fun this year. I'm glad, because it will probably be the last one we'll throw for a while. We've been doing it for 7 years, and I've got the itch to move on to something new.

So, here's some pics of the decor, the pugs and the morning after bacon debauchery.

The lighting was MUCH darker and moodier, but I was hurrying to take pics and used my flash.

The Opium Den before Opening:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs773.ash1/166365_1810841351254_1246598123_32070491_2534477_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs749.ash1/164065_1810841471257_1246598123_32070492_5877130_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs049.snc4/34816_1810841591260_1246598123_32070493_149662_n.j pg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs242.snc4/39423_1810841671262_1246598123_32070494_6104168_n. jpg

The Proprietors, Customers and pug:

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs761.ash1/165223_1810841791265_1246598123_32070495_2194151_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs788.ash1/167850_1810841871267_1246598123_32070496_3461544_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs061.snc6/167179_1810842111273_1246598123_32070498_8062326_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs003.snc6/165320_1810842191275_1246598123_32070499_8319638_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1334.snc4/162695_1810842431281_1246598123_32070501_5299743_n .jpg


More to follow.......

[Not Afraid]

Kimchi on her pillow.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs054.snc6/168462_1810842751289_1246598123_32070504_4515206_n .jpg

Thurston getting sleepy.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/hs022.snc6/165281_1810842831291_1246598123_32070505_7241031_n .jpg

The making of the bacon (all 9 pounds of it).

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1371.snc4/164339_1810842911293_1246598123_32070506_4622055_n .jpg

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs1364.snc4/163608_1810842991295_1246598123_32070507_5997054_n .jpg

We ended early this year. The last people left at 7:30 pm.

Now it's time to clean up and take a nap - a very long one.

[Not Afraid]

Quotes from the night:

"How about Hot Buttered Co<k?"

"Bi-Fart?"

"If that's Andris, I have to put on my pants"

[Kevy Baby]

We left:

Cake carrier top (Tupperware)
Tongs (green handle - used for bacon making)

[alphabassettgrrl]

Thank you for hosting!

[€uroMeinke]

We left:

Cake carrier top (Tupperware)
Tongs (green handle - used for bacon making)


We also have:

Camera - BarTopDancer
Sleeping Bag - keith - SuPeR K!
Fan & Opium Pipe - Cynthia
Book - Theo (Ghoulish Delight/Cadaverous Pallor)

Seems like the makings of a nice little dinner partyt - perhaps we should all get together and exchange our goods?

[Gn2Dlnd]

Once again, a wonderful time hosted by NA and €! You guys are fabulous.

[lashbear]

Thanks for hosting us (on the web) and thank you to our mobility agents who carried us around the party ! You all looked swank & happy (and we realise how much we miss your company)

[Stan4dSteph]

I really like the decorations.

[Morrigoon]

Great party guys, thanks for hosting!

[Ghoulish Delight]

Camera - BarTopDancerOk, now she's just doing it on purpose.

[BarTopDancer]

We also have:

Camera - BarTopDancer

My camera is on my kitchen counter. This is the first year I forgot nothing! But I'm still in for a dinner party :)


The shark fin ice cube tray works!!! Thank you so much GD and CP!! I love it!

[€uroMeinke]

What a wonderfully swanky New Years!

I have many thank yous to those who made it happen:

Thanks to you that dressed up, playing with the theme in all it's variations.
Thanks for all the great conversations started that will have to continue into the next year.
Thanks to you who stayed the night, stayed up till near dawn inventing new ways to play old games, sharing conversation and the hookah.
Thanks Kieth for sharing your hookah knowledge turning the decorative into the fun and functional.
Thanks you who came for breakfast, to enjoy the new day and bacon orgy.
Thanks Kevy for taking on the 9lbs of pig solo - making the bacon orgy possible.
Thanks Tony & David for being our surprise guests.
Thanks Lashbear & Stoat for skyping in from the future and joining our virtual New Years Eve.
Thanks for indulging my mixology experiments sharing cocktails both communal and custom.
Thanks Erik for finding Peychaud and making the Ginger-Cherry Bhurah Peg a possibility (even if it did have a scent of Grandma's bathwater ;) ).
And Special thanks to Lisa who really made this happen, showing off her talent and creativity transforming our house to Opium Den.

Thanks for all the love, I think you've all helped me get the New Year starting off in the right direction.
:cheers:

[Cadaverous Pallor]

[IMG]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs788.ash1/167850_1810841871267_1246598123_32070496_3461544_n .jpgThurston is really showing it off! ;)

As always, thanks to everyone who makes this party as awesome as it is....especially Lisa and Chris, who, year after year, have worked their asses off, spent tons of money, and opened their home to us unconditionally. It's been a great run, and I'm sure everyone understands if it's time for a break.

Happy New Year, swankers. :cheers:

[Kevy Baby]

We also have:

Camera - BarTopDancer

My camera is on my kitchen counter.Hmm... the plot thickens.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Hmm, what kind of camera is it?

[Not Afraid]

Thank you yo everyone who was there - virtually or otherwise. You all make New Years something special. At one point, the Lashpair were on Skype, Brad was on NMs phone and Erica was on Marla's phone. It was awesome! And having Tony and David show up was amazing. Tony lives in Chicago. He was the last person I was expecting to see. It's was a fantastic surprise and made my night.


The Camera is a Lumix.

We also have a black straw hat.

I'm sure we'll find more as the cleaning orgy continues.

We only lost 1 champagne glass this year, and it was Chris who did it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

The Camera is a Lumix.
Yeah, I think that's Jen's. Was there a gray and read zipper case with it?

[Not Afraid]

Yes. And pictures of a penis and a nostril.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Definitely ours.

[BarTopDancer]

Such an awesome time and I can't think of a better way to end an awesome run of NYE parties but with a game of strip Taboo and an appearance by Andris requiring Lisa to put on her pants.

Thank you for 7 years of awesome NYEs.

[Kevy Baby]

LOST: One Kelty sleeping bag - black

[Prudence]

It was an awesome time! I've needed an excuse for finally making a bustle, and now I have one! We enjoyed the bacon-y goodness and the company.

[Kevy Baby]

A grey sleeping bag was left behind and one of ours was taken by mistake. Ours is packed in a bag with "Kelty" on the side. Please let me know if you have it so we can exchange.

[katiesue]

I am so incredibly bummed that I missed it. Especially as it may be the last hurrah. I've had many wonderful times over the years. Thank you guys so very much for hosting this tradition!

[BarTopDancer]

A grey sleeping bag was left behind and one of ours was taken by mistake. Ours is packed in a bag with "Kelty" on the side. Please let me know if you have it so we can exchange.

I think Keith also had a gray sleeping bag. Might want to call/text/IM him and see if he has yours.

[Kevy Baby]

I think Keith also had a gray sleeping bag. Might want to call/text/IM him and see if he has yours.Apparently I do not have his cell phone - can you text/IM him my number please?

FWIW - ours is black

[BarTopDancer]

Apparently I do not have his cell phone - can you text/IM him my number please?

FWIW - ours is black

I did. He said Lisa still has his and he doesn't have any.

I blame Andris.

[Cadaverous Pallor]

There are always some hangers on. (http://cuteoverload.com/2011/01/02/morning-after-hang-on-ers/)

[innerSpaceman]

I'm so sorry I missed the gist of the Opium Den, and have missed the last two NYEs at Casa Cone-Meinke, and apparently the last of a line of big hit parties. Waaaa.

Well, who can blame them? Certainly not me. I understand party-hosting burnout! But kudos and thanks for the fantastic string of amazingly fun and generous celebrations!!!

[Morrigoon]

Didn't Prudence have a black straw hat on?

[Prudence]

'Tis not mine, which was more of a plum anyhow.

[Not Afraid]

AAAAANNNNNDDDDDD, I found Kevy's sleeping bag.

I swear, I find things for DAYS around here!

[Prudence]

So....you found Kevy's big black....bag?

[Ghoulish Delight]

Photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66141390@N00/sets/72157625803465072)

[Bornieo: Fully Loaded]

I was really expecting to come in here and read "Lost: Anal Virginity." Maybe next year.

[Stan4dSteph]

Photos (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66141390@N00/sets/72157625803465072)
It says I don't have permissions to view it.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Oops, wrong link

Try this link instead (http://flickr.com/gp/66141390@N00/UMWqiE)

[Kevy Baby]

Hmm... someone didn't drop their pants (http://www.flickr.com/photos/66141390@N00/5347744332/in/set-72157625803465072/). Take away his Man Card!

[SzczerbiakManiac]

I think he did eventually, just not by the time that pix was snapped.

[Stan4dSteph]

Oops, wrong link

Try this link instead (http://flickr.com/gp/66141390@N00/UMWqiE)Thank you :)

[keith - SuPeR K!]

I'm the mayor of the Opium Den!

[BarTopDancer]

No fair!

[Not Afraid]

I'm the mayor of the Opium Den!

Well, come on over Mr. Mayor. You can preside over my City Council anytime. ;)

[Kevy Baby]

Hey Mr. Mayor - are you going to do anything about those potholes?

[Morrigoon]

And plow the snow

[Ghoulish Delight]

Missed opportunity. Banned Yves Saint Lauren fragrance ad from Britain (http://www.boingboing.net/2011/02/03/banned-yves-saint-la.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+boingboing/iBag+(Boing+Boing))