I don’t know about the rest of you Bored Apes in LA, but I am still riding high on BAYC grant winner @joshong’s Bored Ape Venice meetup!
On a July day with the most perfect weather, with the palm trees swaying in the warm breeze and the beachgoers happily riding their beach cruisers, we all arrived in the heart of Venice Beach where every single person who has ever visited stops to take a selfie before frolicking on the beach or strand — Windward Avenue.
Along the main sidewalk sits the most charming dedicated NFT gallery called Bright Moments Gallery.
An estimated 75 Bored Apes gathered, all trickling in from various locations — some even flying in — to attend the first BAYC event in Los Angeles.
As attendance increased, my mind was doing the math. The Bored Ape floor was 7E. That means our collective Bored Apes worth was (at least) a whopping 525E, not counting the BAKC companions or additional BAYC apes owned by our group.
With a DJ in the back corner and the music pumping, we were greeted with large screens featuring @leovitiart’s “Renaissance,” a 3D Bored Ape rendering worthy of the Louvre.
Also on display was the psychedelic Bored Ape derivative called “King Bong,” by digital artist, @AlienQueenNFT.
Josh kicked off the event by officially welcoming us. When I asked him how he was feeling going into the event he said, “I was looking forward to meeting everyone going in but a little nervous about how it would go. It was fun hearing everyone’s stories about how/when they became an ape.”
We chuckled about wearing name tags and how perhaps they weren’t as useful as wearing buttons with our ape’s image on them. All night long we’d introduce ourselves to mind-searching stares, blurting out Twitter handles until eventually, the phrase became, “Hang on a minute, this is my ape!” and the flash of an image on our phone would jog our Bored Ape’s memory into recognition.
Aside from the adrenaline speed meeting of fellow apes, it was a treat to find out that the gallery screens would be scrolling through Bored Ape images requested by the owners — and that was a sight to see!
The sense of connection I witnessed as each person gazed at their Bored Ape on screen was amazing. These NFTs have become more than just tokens for people. Some are the rewards of minting, others the accomplishment of secondary snipes, some as straight investments…but either way, the Bored Apes are our NFT babies and the community our new friends.
“The meetup felt fresh. Like there was something happening for the first time. The first of many. It’s crazy to see how our online identity can bring people together IRL,” said @seannana, BAYC #2338.
Taking a photo with my Bored Ape 5273, Mapel (aka Kiki) — and winner of @punkscomic — was a defining moment for me. Not to be dramatic, but I never thought I’d be so proud of a “cartoon” I own.
We mingled. We had beverages. Some minted the gallery’s NFT.
It’s the first time entering a gallery so specific to NFT that they had their own NFT to mint on-site called CryptoVenetian.
Also of note: Proof of Attendance Protocol (POAP) code slips were given to all the Bored Ape attendees, a system made by @poapxyz available to event organizers as a way to distribute crypto-badges — or rather, ERC-17 tokens, as proof of attendance.
And I am proud to share that my very first POAP badge is of this Bored Ape Venice meetup.
Eventually, we migrated to the outside patio loaned to us by The Townhouse, a bar next door and location of the next Bored Ape Venice event hosted by @ApedCollective on July 31.
It was great to see so many Bored Apes come together and none of us alike. We are all different ages, professions, lifestyles, personalities — but the best part was how incredibly welcoming and fun they all were.
“I feel like there was an underlying connection with the Bored Apes I met. We see a future that’s tapped into the potential of NFTs, art, and how blockchain can enhance our lives. And not just our online experiences, but our offline experiences too,” said @seannana.
It was as if we had known each other our whole lives.
“The common theme is that being part of this crazy club is changing our lives for the better. I’m impressed by all the creativity coming from apes, anything from salons, 3D animations, documentary films, and music NFTs,” said @joshong.
I have to hand it to Josh — the gallery, the Bored Ape display, the vibes…and the tacos! My goodness, the tacos. They even had a back area to watch (and bond?) the Finals game. He took care of us.
He kept us happy, well-hydrated, and well-fed. And most importantly, he facilitated the perfect environment to just BE PRESENT with our fellow apes. Four hours flew by.
He is the embodiment of what BAYC members mean when they say #ApesTogetherStrong. I commemorated it by taking a selfie with the man of the hour.
“The event really exceeded my expectations. Meeting my fellow apes was an inspiration, and I felt a real sense of fellowship together as we all hung out,” Josh said.
We thank you, Josh, for organizing such an amazing event.
It was bittersweet leaving at the end of the night. I wanted it to last just a little bit longer.
I looked back as I walked to my car. I saw a Bored Ape screen hanging in the gallery window, the string lights on the patio twinkling in the distance, and the last of the Bored Apes collecting their things and shoving one last taco in their mouth.
I had a lot of love in my heart for these people who were strangers on the street to me just a few hours before.
If my life had a highlight reel, meeting all the Bored Apes Venice Meetup would definitely have some real estate footage.
Until next week, LA Bored Apes!
