DOWNTOWN — Thousands of people say they'll gather around the Bean on Monday night and yell a quote from "Spongebob Squarepants."
The event was organized by Carlos Smith, 18, of Belmont Cragin, as a joke: He'd seen people in other cities creating events where they planned to run like Naruto, a ninja anime character, or scream like Goku, a fighter from "Dragonball Z."
SEE BELOW: OTHER WACKY EVENTS COMING UP IN CHICAGO (AT LEAST ACCORDING TO FACEBOOK)
Hoping to be different and make his friends laugh, Smith created a Facebook event where he suggested people go to the Bean and yell, "Me hoy minoy!" The quote references Doodlebob, a small "Spongebob Squarepants" character with a cult following.
Smith never really meant for him and his friends to go.
But the event "exploded" in popularity, Smith said, and now more than 2,000 people said online that they'll join in and another 10,000 expressed interest in the event. And yes, organizers now plan to really plan to go ahead with it.
"It's been really cool. Honestly, not because it blew up, but just because me and my friends have seen that there's so many people we have [this] in common with," Smith said. "I'm pumped for it because I know that tonight I'm gonna make new friends, and that's really cool."
People from as far away as Louisiana have said they're interested in going to the event, Smith said. Others have said they hope the event will make the news or will be recorded because they're upset they can't go and see it in person.
The fact that the event's just fun — and not focused on bad news, like the hurricanes that have hit in the South — could be what's attracting people, Smith said.
"It's pretty crazy," Smith said. "There's people from Louisiana and Michigan and Wisconsin, and I'm like, 'How did it get all the way over there?'" Smith said. "There's a lot of bad things going on, and I just feel like a lot of people just want something to do so they can forget that for a little while."
The event is 8-10 p.m. Monday at the Bean.
But Smith's tribute to "Spongebob Squarepants" isn't the only, uh, colorful event happening in and around the city.
We've rounded up some of the wackier ones:
Naruto run around the UIC quad
When: Midnight-1 p.m. Friday
Where: University of Illinois at Chicago quad
What: Naruto, a ninja from the anime show "Naruto," is famous for running full-speed with his arms thrown back and his upper body bent over.
Anyone going? As of Monday evening, nearly 400 say they are planning to go, while 1,500 people are interested.
Sing Original Pokemon theme song (Full Version) At Sears (Willis) Tower
When: Noon Oct. 14-12:30 p.m. Oct. 15
Where: Willis Tower, 233 S. Wacker Drive
What: Every Millennial knows the "Pokemon" theme song, right? It's the song that would play during the "Pokemon" animated show.
Anyone going? More than 300 plan to go, 1,700 interested.
Scream like Goku in front of the Chicago Bean
When: 4 p.m. Oct. 14
Where: The Bean at Millennium Park
What: Goku is a main character from the "Dragonball" series. He's known for loud, prolonged screaming during fights with his enemies or when concentrating his power so he can be a Super Saiyan.
Anyone going? 3,600 RSVP'd on Facebook, while another 15,000 are interested.
Naruto Run Around Hyatt Regency O'Hare
When: 3-4:20 p.m. May 19
Where: Hyatt Regency O'Hare, 9300 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont
What: There will apparently be more Naruto running, but this time it'll happen in Rosemont.
Anyone going? More than 150 of 1,100 interested plan to go.
