This part here explains the io9 post.

Gipsy is 260' I think, which puts it about the size of Clover. I think Cherno was the tallest around 280' which puts it on par with Leatherback.

As a former resident of Hermosa/Redondo Beach I'll agree to this statement whole-heartedly. I'd regularly encounter 3-4 subtypes in a day.

I still call it the Valley of the Dirt People.

To be fair, the bartender did say that droids weren't welcome at his bar. These are probably trophies from the previous droids that didn't listen to him.

Frosty and fries! I'm glad to see this already mentioned.

I'm from Southern California originally, and I only know it because my grandparents were from Ohio. I never saw it anywhere else other than their house for holiday parties. Living in Northeast now (1.5 years) and I haven't been to any place that's had it.

It's a carved wooden toy in the witch's hut/shop.

I grew up in LA, and went to UCLA for college. I recognize multitudes of locations for TV shows. Street signs are a dead giveaway. A good majority of "college campuses" in the late '90s, early '00s were really UCLA.

I like #4 a lot.

I can't get Narwhal out here, and Stone is very expensive, about 30-50% more expensive than when I lived in LA. I think their HoD is a good compromise on price and quality/flavor.

Have you had the "Heart of Darkness" winter seasonal? It's a pretty good porter/stout. I would stay away from the Pistil- which is supposed to be a "Dandelion Ale" which meant that it was a bland ale. The previously available "Circus Boy" Hefe wasn't bad either.

I used to host, or do my own meetups for the Los Angeles area. It's possible.

It happens in NYC too? Hurrah! I can go to those now.

You aren't the only Hawaiian io9er I've seen commenting.

+1

This is the place: http://www.yelp.com/biz/szechuan-gourmet-flushing

Oh, no. The restaurant I was at brought it out in a bag with it flopping around in it.

+1

Last fish I ate in NYC, I looked the actual fish in the eye and 25 minutes later was eating it. I am reasonably sure I know what I ate then, and it was delicious. Usually I shy away from the generic "tuna" or "salmon" names.