Trap Sushi Pop-Up Blends Atlanta and Japanese Culture Through Food, Music, and Cosplay | Eater Atlanta

"Walking into a Trap Sushi pop-up party, I experience DJs and dancing, sushi made to order, cosplay competitions, and anime projected onto the walls — a bimonthly celebration of anime and facets of Japanese culture hosted by musical artist Tolden Williams (Troop Brand) and his wife Stephanie Lindo. Launched in January 2020 at Our Bar ATL on Edgewood Avenue and now regularly held at Monday Night Garage in the West End, the event sells general, early bird, and VIP tickets (typically $15–$30) for a decked-out party. Chef Doni Lukman of Wagaya oversees the food, using ingredients from the restaurant’s Japanese market to make rolls, nigiri, and sashimi to order, while complimentary Japanese snacks like Yan Yan, Pocky, Hello Panda, and roasted seaweed are available for early arrivals. The parties showcase Atlanta music and local vendors, tap resident DJ DJ Lachii and other talent, feature runway-style cosplay contests (judge’s pick and crowd favorite) with prizes — the overall winner gets $100 and the crowd favorite gets a mystery bag that has included anime posters, Japanese candy, and car decals — and offer dancing, photo areas, and board games. What started with a couple hundred attendees grew to roughly 800 at a recent party; Trap Sushi has collaborated with names like B.o.B’s Send Noodz for a ramen event and aims to become an Atlanta–Japanese music and food festival while scaling carefully to preserve the community it has built." - Kris Martins