L.A. Takeover— Pineapple David’s first popup.

Coming back to Htown with an empty carry-on, L.A. depleted Sphyrn literally and emotionally everything. The exhaustion hit real when we all overslept and missed the group breakfast promised before taking off from Long Beach Airport.

We did exceptionally well for Project Pineapple’s first city takeover popup, baking 82 pineapple cakes and 3 large batches of mochis till 3 am to feed the curious appetites. And yes, there was absolutely nothing left by the end of the popup.

The late-night stress baking had adrenaline non-stopped pumping in our veins. However, the mixture of anxiety and excitement is no stranger after 8 popups. It is humbling to revisit these feelings that I thought were left in the early days of Sphyrn.

The next morning, we nearly burst out laughing seeing how destroyed Pineapple David looked with the heavy glasses hanging on his gloomy face. I wanted to give him “the” pep talk.

“The sense of achievement and satisfaction gets addictive from doing a popup. Before you know it, you’d be coming back for more.”

In the end, he didn’t get to hear too much of it. You only get to pop the pop-up cherry🍒 once. Why spoil it?

DTLA was a very different crowd who asked very few questions and opened their wallets intimidatingly fast💸. They cared little about relocating you and left rushing to their next appointment.

一期一會（いちごいちえ） We met very briefly for a momentary exchange of experiences that we must represent our best. This Japanese phrase poetically depicts the nature of this LA Takeover popup.

Thank you, our incredibly supportive LA/Htown old and new friends. The lovely FoH of Pine and Crane DTLA took such amazing care of us. This popup wouldn’t have been possible without the ownership of P&C sharing the stage with small potatoes like us.

Vivian, you are awesome.

Nothing in life works out the way we intended it. I am forever grateful for David’s friendship and talent. We got to know each other at Ohio State University because I had him as my physics tutor. Maybe it is the power of quantum physics mixed with the love for Asian-inspired dessert that reconnected us and led to the invention of this City Takeover Project.

I used to only owe my B.S. to him, and now I owe my business to him. There is no B.S. involved (pun intended).