Time to party! Thursday that is.

We've been in a festive mood here lately, ever since Record Store Day, and we figure it's about time we had another one of our weeknight "shopping parties". The last one we had was back in December, a holiday party (and "release party" for that Alan Lomax Haiti boxset) and it was a blast, we really should do something like that every other month or so, with or without an excuse. So, let's do it! Next week, Thursday night, we'll stay open late, and starting at about 9 o'clock or so we'll bring out the beers and refreshments, so stop by, hang out, eat and drink, play some video games (we'll put 'em on free play), chat with AQ-ers, listen to some music, do some shopping (gotta mention that!!), and in general have a good time partying here at Aquarius for a couple hours... 9pm until 11ish? BYOB if you like, we'll have some drinks here too, and we'll also probably get one or more of our food cart friends to stop by and be on hand to sell snacks if our chips and cookies aren't enough.

So mark your calendars, we're talking about Thursday the 13th, that's next week. Hopefully see you here then, if not before!!

Party time again!

You may have already seen our email about this (or heard about it on KQED's Forum show this morning), but we're having another late night AQ shopping party this weekend, to celebrate the holidays and also the release of a really amazing box set... here's the skinny:

Everybody had such a good time at the last aQ after hours party, we figured we should definitely do it again. Especially since a bunch of folks weren't able to come the first time. So if you missed out, here's your chance, to hang out, play games, eat, drink and buy records!

Plus this time around, we can combine all that hanging out, eating, drinking, playing video arcade games and buying records, with a special Record Release Party for the long long long in the works Alan Lomax In Haiti TEN CD box set, newly issued by our pal David's label Harte Recordings!

The recordings gathered together in this box were originally recorded between 1936-1937, when Lomax and his wife were documenting music and rituals for the Library Of Congress. Over 50 hours of field recordings (captured on archaic aluminum discs! Over 500 in all), from street musicians, to children's songs, far out jazz to dreamy vocal music, classical piano to angelic torch songs, voudou worship to big band, an incredible collection of sounds, none available to the public before now!! The box is gorgeous too, and includes two books, one is Lomax's Haitian field journal, the other a hard bound set of liner notes and essays, as well as a a facsimile of Lomax's period map of Haiti, covered in his handwritten notes. WOW.

We'll be playing selections from the box all night, so be prepared to be blown away, and of course we'll have the boxes available to purchase.

But besides the record release celebration, it's also, of course, a chance to do some record shopping, pick up some cool tunes while you sup and sip and socialize. The perfect time to get some of that last minute Xmas shopping done, while eating creme brulee and talking to Andee about his baffling love of crabcore, or getting some D&D pointers from Allan, or just shooting the musical shit with aQ staffers and customers alike.

And like last time, We'll be staying open late, we'll have snacks, sodas, a bunch of beer (but you can BYOB too!), and as most of you know, we have some awesome video games, we'll set 'em on free play.

We'll have some snacks too, the usual party fare, and there'll be plenty of other munchables, thanks to some of SF's food cart elite, the Creme Brulee Cart is coming by for sure, we're hoping to get the the Magic Curry Kart back, and possibly one or two of the other amazing purveyors of portable food in the city. In fact, if you read our list, and have a cart yourself, feel free to come by and set up outside and be a part of the festivities!

So please come and spend part of your weekend with us, should be a blast, make an evening of it, we'd love to see you, and please help support our shop by buying some records while you're here!

The details are these:

SATURDAY 12.19.09
AQ After Hours Record Shopping Shindig #2
+ Alan Lomax In Haiti 10cd Boxset Record Release Party
From 9-11pm
Right here, aQuarius recOrds
1055 Valencia Street (btwn 21st and 22nd)

Hopefully see you Saturday!!

Party time!

We mentioned it on our last list, here's a reminder for local folks: we'll be hosting a little after hours party here at AQ tomorrow night! So please come by to hang out, socialize, listen to music, maybe buy some music, drink some beer, eat some chips, play some arcade games...

The partying starts around 9ish, going 'til oh 11:30 or thereabouts. We normally close at 10 on Thursdays, so we'll be staying open late, and we'll also put lots of free credits on our Joust, Tron, and Rastan machines (Ghosts 'n Goblins is unfortunately out of order at the moment). We'll provide some refreshments but you're also welcome to BYOB.

And bring a few bucks with you for dessert, 'cause the creme brulee cart is going to be stopping by too.

Best arcade party at AQ ever

Last night's (first ever) Aquarius "Arcade Party" was a ton of fun! Thanks to everybody who came down to the store on a rainy night to hang out, drink beers, eat snacks, listen to music, shop for records, and of course compete for high scores on our arcade games. The turnout was even better than we'd expected. Extra special thanks to our friend Brett, who brought his cherished Journey arcade machine all the way from the East Bay to add to our small collection of games for the evening (Tron, Joust, Rastan, and Ghosts 'n Goblins).


We've included a few pictures from the party above and below, and if you'd like to see more, Brett also uploaded a slideshow of shots he took here.

Congrats to the several high score winners (sorry, we don't remember all your names, or your scores) and we hope you enjoy the prizes you were awarded.

We'll definitely have to do this again! If, or rather, when we do, we'll try to squeeze in some more games, too.

Arcade party tonight!

A reminder for locals: tonight, Wednesday, February 11th, at 9:00 pm, we're having a special after hours aQuarius Arcade Party!

TRON, GHOSTS 'N GOBLINS, JOUST, RASTAN and one more surprise game, all set on free play. Come challenge the masters!! MWAAHAHAHAA.

No really, just come and play games and hang out and have a blast. But, if you do kick ass on the game of your choice... well, the night's high score holder on each game will be handsomely rewarded, with a gift certificate or a cd or a record or something cool.

Plus someone will be manning the register, and we'll be jamming tunes, so definitely browse and shop and purchase, and help support aQuarius.

Feel free to bring your own snacks and libations, but we'll supply some beverages and munchables as well of course.

Should be fun, and hopefully this will just be the first of many such get togethers. See you then!

PS the pics above and below are of Andee's Christmas (and birthday present) from Allan ... Ghosts 'n Goblins, one of Andee's favorite games. Maybe 'cause the little knight guy you control kinda looks like Andee, with the beard and all? Anyway, it's a cool game but NOT easy.