Rats Get Food Poisoning, Too!
September 16-September 30
For those on the outside looking in, the rodent way of life might seem like it’s all fun and games, but it’s important to know that the hustle of scurrying and scavenging is not for the faint of heart–especially when your rodent-in-chief decides to go highbrow for the day and scrounge together a crudo night for some friends. “Found Oyster who?”, I cried. “Eat your heart out, Malibu Seafood!”, I gloated!
My fellow rats, some things are better left outside of our world. To the Sea Otter community, I see you…I respect you…To the rodents in the room: heed my warning.
Okay. Let’s talk about where the rats are crawling from 9/16-9/30.
If you want to submit to Ratplay for October, dm @ratplayla or email ratplayla@gmail.com.
Rat Traps 🪤
(Events/Experiences)
USAL presents: Summer of Marley
Saturday, 9/16 (add to cal); Sunday, 9/17 (add to cal)
$10 donation (purchase here for gardening, and here for beach clean-up)
USAL, TUFF GONG, and UMe alongside are working with Bob Marley’s estate for Summer of Marley, a series of local events highlighting the King of Reggae’s passion for activism through a focus on nature and connecting to the environment. A foraging hike happened earlier this month, but you can still catch two upcoming events: a gardening day with Nelson Zepequeño and Francis River (revered Ratplayer 👑) and a beach clean-up with Gage Crismond. Tickets are $10, but all proceeds go to Ziggy Marley’s charity U.R.G.E benefitting children’s education and building homes for the un-housed in Jamaica. Take a look at Usal Project’s other outdoor events on their September calendar–there’s plenty to keep you busy outside.
Bahia Reverb: Artists and Places
9/16 - onward
FREE
For the cultured rats among us, there’s a multi-media exhibition opening at Art + Practice in collaboration with CAAM this weekend, the fruit of an artist residency that asked its fellows (all from North America and of African descent) to reflect on how Bahia, an epicenter of the African diaspora in northeast Brazil, has fueled themselves and their work. As a black woman with Caribbean and Nigerian ancestry, Bahia is a place of lore, one that exudes power and mystery in its influence and legacy, a place that feels personally significant to me even though I’ve never been. Expect the fellows to share the manifestations of their own perspectives on the Black Mecca of South America as they explore themes like faith, environmental justice, and inequality.
Honey Hi hosts: Taren Coulter Dinner
Friday, 9/22 @ 5:30AM-9:30PM (add to cal)
Drop-in only (aka get there early)
Farmer’s Market Greek Feast. Farmer’s. Market. Greek. Feast. The minds behind this dinner description…they’re sinister. Conniving. Diabolical. Trapping a deluxe LA rat is simple, but my friends…so are we! They’re even forcing us to come SCURRYING to our demise by making it stampede-in walk-in only for a one-night event, so I’m imagining a 2+ hour wait. Only the toughest of our mighty Mischief will break through here, so report back if you manage to nab a table.
COUNTERPUBLIC Presents: Judgement Day
Friday, 9/22 @ 10PM (add to cal)
$10 ($15 at door). Tickets here.
It’s still Virgo season, so now is a good time to tell you that Ratplay isn’t my only labor of love. I started Counterpublic with friends for two reasons: I wanted a way to connect with other queer femmes at parties that 1) had global music (not just early 2000’s sing-alongs), and 2) felt more intimate– still at a bar, but reminiscent of the comfort and connection that you get at a house party.
The theme this time is Judgment Day–if you’re having trouble, we always provide some inspo to get the gears moving. Most important thing? Get creative, get loose, and come find your people. The rats are putting on their dancing shoes for this one.
Virginia Moss Presents: CHURCH
Sunday, 9/24 @ 10AM-2PM (add to cal)
DM @virginiamoss for address
This one seems fun–Virginia Moss is advertised as “Southernish French bar food”, so it’s giving both “we’re serious about food” but also “the South has something to say” energy. Southerners, this is a call to come out of your hiding spots, we’ll welcome you if you’re carrying bulging baskets of beignets in your hands, it’s not a trap I swear! This is okay for me to say, as I’m from Miami (very much the South and also, not even slightly the South!) and people only want me for my croquetas. These are hard lives we live.
For the pop-up aficionados, one of the founders of Virginia Moss is GM for THEE pop-up don @chainsaw.la (which I went to last week, and it is indeed very fucking worth the hype), so expect a well-oiled machine and solid, no-nonsense grub.
Rat Colonies 🏘️
(Communities to Join)
Join: Koreatown Run Club
Where to go if you want to meet fellow amateur runners/new friends
The Club: Koreatown Run Club, a “community run running community”, is an easy way to make friends in the city whether you’re a casual runner looking for accountability or an ultra marathoner training for your next race. I got into it post-breakup a couple years ago, as did basically all the other people I met there lmao. 100+ people show up each night, making it one of the largest and most consistent communities I’ve experienced in LA. The coaches, especially at track nights, are top tier–it’s a testament to the strength of KRC’s community and their desire to foster a love for running.
The Culture: There’s a culture of encouragement, kindness, and safety that I haven’t found at other run clubs (or many communities in general), an important combo for those of us like myself that have a let’s say…complicated relationship with both exercise and competition :) If you're already anxious about the idea of showing up alone, KRC’s got you covered–at the beginning of every run, they challenge everyone to talk to at least one new person by the end. And if the exercise and community isn’t enough motivation, go for the merch (no, I don’t get commission, it’s just so GOOD).
The Founders: KRC is one of the many community projects started by Community King and unofficial Mayor of Koreatown, Mike Pak, owner of Love Hour, Bicycle Meals, and the IG Handle @Koreatown . The coaches are community members/running lovers, and often former competitive athletes.
The People: Best for people that can run a 10:30 mile pace or faster. They organize different pace groups, so you can choose the one that matches your fitness level. If you can’t do 3 miles without walking, I’d recommend Wednesday Track Nights so that you can take your time without losing the group.
Expect a relatively even balance of men and women, mainly millennials, and a full spectrum of body types. It’s a pretty ethnically diverse group as well, especially in regards to Asian and hispanic representation. Black representation is on the lower end, but as a black runner myself, I’ve always felt comfortable and welcome, especially by other black members/coaches.
When/Where:
Monday Night Blocks, 3 or 5 mile option, 7pm, Wilshire/Oxford
Wednesday Track Night, 7:30pm, LACC Rainbow Track
Thursday Night Blocks, 8pm, Love Hour
Saturday Long Runs, locations/mileage/time varies (check IG story)
Pro-tip: If you go on Thursdays, the run starts and ends at Love Hour, meaning you’re rewarded with smash burgers for getting your blocks done.
How to Join: Just show up!
Rat Sightings 🕵️
What will you do with your one wild, precious life? Make taxidermy clown rats, baby!
Courtesy of gift giver, Adam Lee, and receiver, Tanner Williams. Submit your rat sightings at ratplayla@gmail.com or DM.
Editor’s Note: This rat donated its body to science.
That’s it for now! This rat is in Hawaii and (tragically) avoiding poke at all costs 💋.
Go play,
CK
*edited by Jocelyn Florence