Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/18/2026

So, that familiar "togetherness" thing is this month's main edition of Community Day in Pokémon Go. Something that may be indicated for this year's editions is that they will encapsulate variety, including a few things that the game really needs to get on. The latter may be especially true for the featured Pokémon of this edition because of its possibly immense power and extreme musical ability courtesy of some sticks.

Those sticks are drumsticks, of course, for the featured Pokémon is Grookey, the Grass-type first partner from the Galar region, also making it likely that the rest of its friends will also make themselves present later this year. Being a first partner, the move of Frenzy Plant as its special move should have already been a given, though it also has the opportunity to learn its signature move of Drum Beating by TM. This is complemented by the bonus of triple catch Stardust, which is always wonderful to have and earn.

For the rest of the bonuses, they're as regular as regular can be. They are double Candy and Candy XL chance, three-hour Incense and one-hour Lure Modules (with its extra appearances), trade discounts and extra Special Trades, photo bombs, and special backgrounds in the wild (since the Classic Piplup edition) and from Research. Speaking of which, Field Research is of the usual sort, and there is also the paid Special Research with the title of "Grooving with Grookey". The "groove" also applies to the rest of the bonuses.

Being that it was my "special day" the other day, I decided to do something special and visit a faraway community to interact with them... though their place remains familiar for other purposes, which also became a part of my day today. I caught just enough Shiny Grookey to have a stock, and I caught a few special ones with the special background. The main purpose of evolution today was just to obtain a few that needed the Frenzy Plant move, while others (as the G-Max Rillaboom I already had) could use the Drum Beating move.

With regard to variety, as far as that goes, first partners that not only have their "super" moves but also signature moves of their own presents a good kind of variety, as shown in editions of Community Day in the past few years and even today. This year will surely have that and more - which are to be determined soon - and the sticks that Grookey and its species family wield are the lead-off for that variety and all the ways it may be realized.

One year ago: The (Android) Back Button and Pokémon Go

Two years ago: Memories of Kanto

Three years ago: 1000 Species Is Real!!

Four years ago: My Pokémon Identity

Five years ago: Pokémon Body Pillows

Six years ago: Tournament: Raid Group Fusion Cup

Seven years ago: Rivalries

Eight years ago: (Almost) A Pokémon Party

Nine years ago: Pokémon Art Academy - More Than Just Pokémon Art

In Solitude and In Togetherness

Thanks to Ash yesterday, as well as the context of posts from past years below, today is indicated as my "anniversary" - that is, my birthday. It's a happening that has had its own dynamics, especially with Pokémon, if those past years are of any indication. That seems to want to apply to this year as well, given the circumstances that surround it; one of them was the thing yesterday, and the other... well, that's tomorrow, and I'll save that for then. Right now, though, there is another circumstance that when taken together with those other ones becomes the state of matters for today.

For that, celebrations can and do occur whether one is in solitude or in the company of loving people, whoever those loving people may be. That's something that people may choose to have happen, or might happen to people regardless of what they do. Even for celebrations centered on Pokémon - or at the least ones involving its most fervent fans - this may still be the case, and all that they can do is to "go with the flow" for how those celebrations play out. With that, the current occasion of my own birthday seems to have to play out to both celebrations of solitude and togetherness. 

Certainly, it was evident that yesterday's anniversary party could be construed in part as an "early" birthday celebration. As always, I'm bringing - or technically I brought - my Pokémon flavor to the celebration, which is something I chose to do. As for today being the actual day, the weather dictated that I wouldn't be able to find togetherness even if I wanted to, so it was a "forced" solitude in some ways. Meanwhile, as a preview for tomorrow, there is a familiar kind of Pokémon togetherness to celebrate, even if it may not exactly re-warrant my birthday to come up. Yet it still may be OK.

After all this time, Pokémon still has a way of making togetherness and solitude enjoyable in either circumstance and however they're (forced to be) chosen. The circumstance of my birthday might make realizing that more important, especially given how long I've been around and how long Pokémon has been around. Following that first step, the next step is ensuring that all my Pokémon and other dealings reflect just that.

Every day is a good day for all things that are one and many (people included), and if they happen to be Pokémon things that can be enjoyed by the same number of people, then that's fitting for me and others in our singularity and multitudes for them.

On that note, I've got one and many things to do. Happy one-and-many birthday to me.

One year ago: My, How Time Flies

Two years ago: Starting (Anew on) a New Day

Three years ago: A Legendary Existence

Four years ago: Unique Touches

Five years ago: Wishes for Good Days

Six years ago: Always Together

Seven years ago: Wonderful Opportunities

Eight years ago: 30 Going on 10... Or Something Like It

Nine years ago: A Pokémon Party?

Cosplay: Bocchi Noizu 3rd Anniversary

Me: OK, now here's something different.

Goh: It's a Friday! You don't usually have something like this going on today.

Me: That's true, but today also happens to be an off day, so it kind of makes sense to schedule something for today.

Ash: Well, I'm all for it!

Me: Sure! In fact, our friends from Bocchi Noizu have asked us - you - to perform (that is, sing).

Goh: Nice!

Ash: So, whatcha got?

Me: Well, I'm thinking about our (Pokémon) anthem, a pirate anthem, and... something a little different - it could be the "childhood" anthem of some people.

Ash: That's a lot. But I can do them all.

Pikachu: Pi pika! ["Should be nice!"]

Me: We should know the first two by heart. The third... that's my call to make it even more different.

Ash: Hey, it's in English!

Goh: OK, that's unique.

Me: But it does help our case a bit. How'd you do? 

Ash: I did mostly great! But... maybe the mix was a bit of a problem on the "pirate anthem"?

Goh: Well, maybe you can have Ash do it again.

Ash: I think that's a good idea! One of the other performers said I could do that.

Me: Let me think about that - if and when we get the chance, I think that could happen.

Ash: Awesome! 

Pikachu: Pika, pika chu. ["Seems a good idea."]

Goh: So, this is a Bocchi Noizu festival. It's got everything we'd expect, right? 

Ash: Performers - one of them me, of course.

Goh: Check.

Ash: Games - I even got to try one.

Goh: OK, we know that's not our thing, but we can always try.

Me: The result was probably not what we'd expect.

Ash: Yeah. And then there was the character parade.

Pikachu: Pika pika. ["As usual."]

Goh: Sure thing. How'd that go?

Ash: I didn't win anything. It was an "off" day, but all the other characters were "on".

Goh: Shoot. At least you got something for your performance, right.

Ash: Just a little, for our friend. I hear it'll be special for him soon.

Me: Hehe, you're right about that - but I'll deal with that on my own.

Goh: I guess it's a special "off" day too where it's a bit "on".

Me: You can say that again.

Ash: Happy anniversary, Bocchi Noizu! [whispering] And happy your "anniversary".

Goh: Oh!

Me: Certainly, thanks. 

One year ago: My "Missing Pieces" in Pokémon Go in 2025

Two years ago: Let's Talk About Endings and Beginnings

Three years ago: I'm a Legend!

Four years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/16/2022

Five years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day, 1/16/2021

Six years ago: Only Women Like You

Seven years ago: Pokémon Conversations

Eight years ago: Be the Best... or Be Different?

Nine years ago: My Pokémon Anime Epoch

Lego Pokémon: Breakout Sets, Breakout Prices

It was only in the second year of this blog that I discussed about Pokémon in toy block form, although at that time I did not "name names" to keep things fair. Many years later, now I can finally name one name, and it would be the most renowned one of all the names in this field of toys, which would be Lego. The famed toy block maker has finally collaborated with Pokémon and produced a few "breakout" sets for that collaboration. Yet that also comes with another "breakout" concern, which would be for the price - but that's to be discussed later. What matters first is the initial scope of this collaboration, as the way it's manifested.

The "breakout" sets involve a few facets from the first generation. Specifically, they would be block models of Pikachu on a stand (also featuring the Poké Ball), Eevee with movable parts, the fully evolved first partners, and even the Pokémon Center building (where Pokémon get healed, of course). Those who pre-order the evolved first partners set will also get the Kanto badge case set, including all its badges. As for piece counts, the sets for Eevee, Pokémon Center, and the badge case only have a few hundred pieces, while the Pikachu set has around 2000 pieces and the first partners one has close to 7000, so these need some commitment.

"Commitment" also applies to the price, the other "breakout" concern I mentioned. The sets go for hundreds of dollars, almost in line with the investment for a Nintendo Switch 2. Being that Lego is renowned for its toy blocks, the price point seems to justify that; yet even so, it still seems to be absurdly expensive, and the fact that it's with Pokémon - which lately has some expensive things of its own - doesn't help matters much. As such, some fans have taken to complain on social media regarding the affordability of these novel toy block sets.

For those who can afford the prices of the sets (that is, have some money to throw around), they'll be looking at a unique take on the featured facets as above. As with any toy block model, they're a bit "rough around the edges", but that's part of their charm. The selected facets by their ties to the first generation are quite nostalgic for older fans yet remain of interest for newer ones. Personally, I'd want to have the Pikachu set and build it regardless of the cost or commitment needed to obtain and process it as such, but that's quite a dream.

After being in the shadows for many years, Lego finally coming out with collaboration sets involving Pokémon is a welcome sight to see, even if the prices for the sets aren't exactly "welcoming". But for what could look like the first batch of such sets, the "breakout" aspect is also still welcoming regardless. It makes for a great toy block Pokémon future with the ones of renown being included in that picture and presenting their offerings for the franchise.

One year ago: My Team Status in Café Remix

Two years ago: The Ultimate Journey: A Journey's End

Three years ago: Tournament: Trainers' Sparring Battleground Ember Cup

Four years ago: Let's Talk About A Fourth Party

Five years ago: I Need Good Energy

Six years ago: After Tournament, Because of Tournament

Seven years ago: Keeping Up with VGC

Eight years ago: Here Comes an Ex-Raid

Nine years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 2

The Challenge of Using Excess Stamina in Café Remix

As I had discussed a long time ago when I started getting my efforts in Café Remix going, the way that most puzzles are played in the game is through the use of Stamina. Fast forward to today, and that still remains true... except now it seems there's so much of that to go around, and yet it might be hard - thus, a challenge - to use up all of that. This situation might also apply to other players, so I thought I'd bring it up and make a little discussion out of it.

The easiest and simplest way to use up a lot of excess Stamina is by using them in and for Staff Training, where they can be used three at a time to make the staff earn lots of EXP at once. Of course, this now faces stiff competition against Tarts, which are now plentiful (and excessive) due to the game events and Daily Training. The challenge then becomes how to use enough Stamina for the staff Pokémon as needed and then filling up the rest with Tarts to use those.

Meanwhile, those who have been neglecting to play the Extra orders will likely need to not neglect them now, for the Stamina can also be used quickly there as well. In particular, some of these may demand to be replayed (thereby using up more Stamina) if one doesn't have the right staff member and/or they're not capable enough. But once that gets cleared out, more of them can certainly be cleared, and that makes it a useful way to dump excess Stamina.

It is certain that players will have to use at least some of the Stamina in the main orders if they haven't done so, although for some players (like me), this might still get a little divisive due to certain progresses. Yet it may be that what awaits them after completion of the last main order (#2400) could also be attractive, and that may just be reason enough to keep dumping Stamina into the main orders and get them cleared out and done for other possibilities.

Given the way that things work now in Café Remix, quite a bit of effort in the management of game items, including Stamina as the focus of this post, is needed to make sure they don't pile up too much and/or become unused. With the three sub-focuses as above with regard to Stamina, the challenge of its usage presents itself to me and other current players of this game, and we'll just have to tackle that challenge head-on as we get more things going here.

One year ago: My Pursuit of Unite Licenses Thus Far

Two years ago: Laughing with Pokémon (Species)

Three years ago: More Insights (and Strides) for the Daily Adventure Incense

Four years ago: Pokémon Asia Pikachu Mug + 2 Promo Cards

Five years ago: "Post-Shuffle" Activity

Six years ago: Fusion without Confusion

Seven years ago: Pokémon Theme Park Ideas

Eight years ago: Playing the Meta Game

Nine years ago: Cosplay: AsiA Cosplay Competition, Day 1

App Notifications of Pokémon Go

Being that Pokémon Go is an app on a smartphone, it can (and does) leverage the functionality of said device - certainly if one has allowed for that to happen. One way that it can do so is by periodically generating app notifications (through the system OS) for in-game happenings, which appear when the game is not actively running and/or when one is in an app other than Pokémon Go. It's a fascinating part of the game and it actually has come somewhat of a long way, which has now become the prompt to make a discussion of it here.

In the beginning, the notifications were somewhat rudimentary. They would mostly consist of Pokémon returning from Gyms and friends sending Gifts - even for the latter, the sender was not identified. Later on, it was finally possible to identify these senders, and there are even ones for Egg hatches, which began to show the possible diversity of these notifications. By tapping on these and the other kinds of notifications to be mentioned, the game is opened and if possible, the screen relevant to the notification is displayed.

More recently, there have been lots of notifications for the various in-game events. One of these is often generated just as a certain event starts (within a few hours) and the Trainer doesn't have the game open. In similar fashion, another one is generated at the tail end of certain events (again within a few hours, this time before the events themselves end), often with a reminder for them to catch a debuting species or form, or to complete Timed Research and/or Collection Challenges. These may become rather useful for some.

Other notifications that have appeared include those for weekly progressions, as one for the weekly Adventure Sync after it's been completed (Mondays after 9 AM) to remind the Trainer to collect the rewards from the feature. Then, the recently (re)implemented Weekly Challenges have periodic notifications as well at every quarter milestone, gently nudging the Trainer to help make progress on and complete it. These progression notifications illustrate just how helpful and varied they can be for a Trainer to keep up with things.

Like other apps on the smartphones the game is on, Pokémon Go can extend its reach to some key aspects for dealing with the apps on the devices and the devices themselves in general. The usage of notifications is a particularly clever one to keep its player Trainers in the loop of what is going on, has gone on, and could possibly go on as well, given the ones detailed above (and more that haven't been detailed due to the scope of this write-up). With the notifications, they can stand to do much more just as the game does more. 

One year ago: My Next Pokémon Figure Targets

Two years ago: Cosplay: MCP Creative Festival

Three years ago: Transfer Soon, or Forever Hold Your 3DS

Four years ago: Goh's Workstation Setup

Five years ago: The Rain and Pokémon

Six years ago: Premier Ball Hanging Ornament

Seven years ago: Pokémon Go Community Day + Local EX Raid, 1/13/2019

Eight years ago: My Pokémon Show

Nine years ago: Pokémon and Cosplay

Quickies: When Trees Have Memories

A certain myth states that trees possess memories and stories of the past. This myth has the implication that trees are not only alive biologically, but also spiritually in a way of speaking. Meanwhile, the people associated with the trees would keep track of what they know by a writing system that is evocative of the spirits of the trees, given their paramount importance. All this sounds like an elegant myth, and it seems it could also be applied to Pokémon in an equally elegant manner with its certain species that are pretty much sentient trees.

I'm of course talking about the likes of Trevenant, Exeggutor, and Sudowoodo (even if the last of these is just a "fake" tree), which are somewhat capable as far as trees go in battle, and their sentience is a given. In this way, they definitely do hold memories and stories, especially if they - the Pokémon - are associated with Trainers who are dear to them. Their related humans may only use a script that resembles Unown script to communicate with each other, but for the trees, at least some spiritual connection may be evident.

Now, the myth I mentioned above is from Ireland, which happens to be the land from where the singer Enya hails from, who happens to have an album entitled "The Memory of Trees" with the album's title track being the first. It's an instrumental piece that to me sounds like a spiritual journey through a forest of sentient trees, which could be a wonderful thing. The trees may not be any or all of the Pokémon species I mentioned above, but the same journey could conceivably apply somewhere in the vastness of the Pokémon world.

Whether trees are actually sentient could be considered up for debate, but there is no doubt that they're alive in different ways. The same is true of the Pokémon species that resemble trees in their appearance, although these trees are definitely sentient given the way they are and do their things in that world. Either way, they might just have certain capacities for holding memories, and thus the myth and the associated musical piece above may just ring true for all regular trees and Pokémon trees.

One year ago: Cosplay: Atarashii Sekai

Two years ago: #25 Makes a +62 Journey

Three years ago: A Solitary Pokémon Fantasy

Four years ago: (Dis)Engagement in Silph Arena Action

Five years ago: To Spotlight or Not to Spotlight?

Six years ago: Cosplay: Nihon Matsuri 2020

Seven years ago: These Sides of Paradise

Eight years ago: Another Big Shuffle Update

Nine years ago: In-Game Trainer Name Inspirations