Your target: Velfarre nightclub, Roppongi, Tokyo, Japan.
Your mission: Infiltrate. Consume beverages. Take no prisoners. Dance.
Your codeword: Glitterball, 2006.
It only happens once a year!
It's Metropolis' annual Glitterball Halloween party.
Tokyo's international community descends upon Roppongi's cavernous Velfarre for dancing, free food and drinks, mingling with the Glitterati, charity (portion of ticket sales benefit kid's charities) and my favorite part, dressing up to the nines. Dress up! Loved it as a kid, love it as an adult.
Miss Ai went hardcore military as a member of the ultra-elite special operations unit, Delta Force. Alias: Alpha 6.
Me: channeling Audrey Hepburn from Breakfast at Tiffany's. That's a knitting needle painted black with a cigarette impaled on the end.
Other costume highlights: zombie coed, human chandelier, many Jack Sparrows/pirates, Austin Powers, members of the clergy, power rangers, pimps, greek gods, ghouls, goblins and gypsys. Take a look.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Check out those abs
Capoeira dancers delighted the audience with their acrobatics and rock-hard abs.
dude was ripping up the dance floor
Contrary to popular belief, old Japanese dudes can and do live it up in Roppongi.
Inimitable Don
It's a bird... It's a plane... It's Metropolis' Movie Man, Don Morton!
He goes to the movies so you don't have to.
Mr. Morton took the stage to MC the costume contest portion of the evening.
He goes to the movies so you don't have to.
Mr. Morton took the stage to MC the costume contest portion of the evening.
Alpha 6, pay attention please
After your seventh free beer, it's hard to keep your eyes on the camera.
Suzy Newsy, Jordo and Kong!
The MetPod team representin'.
Suzy "Alpha 6" Newsy, Jordo "To Die For" (he's a die... singular of dice... get it?) Cheung and... and... Kong, is that you?
Suzy "Alpha 6" Newsy, Jordo "To Die For" (he's a die... singular of dice... get it?) Cheung and... and... Kong, is that you?
The Village People...?
Updated for the new Millennium. You got your Indian Chief, your French Maid, your Navy SEAL, and your purple fro. Now recruiting cowboys and construction workers.
wigs, helmets, headdresses, goggles, glasses
There is no such thing as a bad hair day at Glitterball. Mmmm, so funky.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Friends 4 Eva
Despite numerous inter- and intranational changes of address over our family history, we are blessed with friends that have lasted through long distances and long stretches of time.
(Mostly this is due to Miss Ai, social butterfly of the family)
From neighborhood friends in Nijigaoka to neighborhood friends in Seattle and now back to city friends in Tokyo, Y has been a part of our lives for 22 years or so. She and her husband T came over to the new digs for tea on Sunday afternoon, and brought over the most delicious gateaux chocolate fondue set from Henri Charpentier.
(Mostly this is due to Miss Ai, social butterfly of the family)
From neighborhood friends in Nijigaoka to neighborhood friends in Seattle and now back to city friends in Tokyo, Y has been a part of our lives for 22 years or so. She and her husband T came over to the new digs for tea on Sunday afternoon, and brought over the most delicious gateaux chocolate fondue set from Henri Charpentier.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Dawn Blush
Early Wednesday morning, looking east toward the sky above Tokyo Disneyland, turning from pitch black to blue to a hazy grey-violet.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
May the Schwartz Be With You.
I love yogurt.
I love Yogurt, wise and kindly allocator of the Schwartz in the movie Spaceballs, too, but right now I am talking about the cultured milk product. I truly love it. And in Japan, it is SO MUCH BETTER than in the States. Must have something to do with the ultra-pasteurized milk used in the US that zaps all the subtle flavors out along with all the germs.
And you know what tastes great with yogurt? Kabocha. No joke! Great flavor, texture and color combination. Try a vegetable curry with lots of kabocha, topped with a dollop of creamy plain yogurt.
I love Yogurt, wise and kindly allocator of the Schwartz in the movie Spaceballs, too, but right now I am talking about the cultured milk product. I truly love it. And in Japan, it is SO MUCH BETTER than in the States. Must have something to do with the ultra-pasteurized milk used in the US that zaps all the subtle flavors out along with all the germs.
And you know what tastes great with yogurt? Kabocha. No joke! Great flavor, texture and color combination. Try a vegetable curry with lots of kabocha, topped with a dollop of creamy plain yogurt.
Friday, October 13, 2006
kabocha purin
I didn't make this, but I wish I did. Does it not look delicious??
As my friends and family know, I have a weakness for kabocha. I can eat it every day (an do) and be happy. Texture, color, flavor, versatility, vitamin A--this squash has it all. Is it the perfect food? Could be.
Next post: my other food obsession, yogurt. Stay tuned.
As my friends and family know, I have a weakness for kabocha. I can eat it every day (an do) and be happy. Texture, color, flavor, versatility, vitamin A--this squash has it all. Is it the perfect food? Could be.
Next post: my other food obsession, yogurt. Stay tuned.
Monday, October 09, 2006
Sunrise II
Lately I wake up at around 4am every morning, make a cup of coffee, do a little writing or reading, and watch the most stunning sunrises from my balcony. Is this really Tokyo? The last time I remember seeing a horizon as gorgeous as this was in New Mexico, or maybe from an airplane. The weather has been perfect the past few days, sunny and breezy and dry, like a perfect Seattle summer day.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Tokyo Bay Fireworks
Almost a month ago to the day, I went with my dad to take in the gorgeous Tokyo Bay Fireworks.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Tatsumi Bon Odori
It's summertime in the city and that means bon odori! C'est bon!
Also, I have moved to what appears to be the coolest new apartment in Tokyo. More later.
Also, I have moved to what appears to be the coolest new apartment in Tokyo. More later.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
Happy Birthday, Sandry!
Bless the waitresses at Barbacoa, who tried to make CEDRIC's (not Sandry) birthday extra-special with a personalized dessert.
So close!
So close!
macha bliss
Tsujiri in Caretta Shiodome.
Macha bliss in ice cream sundae form.
I met up with Ai and Hiroko after work for girl talk at the uber-popular green tea sweets shop in Shiodome. It was a Thursday evening and we had to wait an hour. You don't want to go there on weekends.
I had the basic: macha kanten, macha ice and vanilla ice cream, macha whipped cream, and a side of tokoroten with kuromitsu.
Macha bliss in ice cream sundae form.
I met up with Ai and Hiroko after work for girl talk at the uber-popular green tea sweets shop in Shiodome. It was a Thursday evening and we had to wait an hour. You don't want to go there on weekends.
I had the basic: macha kanten, macha ice and vanilla ice cream, macha whipped cream, and a side of tokoroten with kuromitsu.
Tokyo bay at night
gotta agree with miss Ai's testimonial about Shiodome and Caretta. It's heavenly.
After macha sundaes at Tsujiri, as we always do when in Caretta, we stopped by the 46th floor to take in the night bay views.
After macha sundaes at Tsujiri, as we always do when in Caretta, we stopped by the 46th floor to take in the night bay views.
Monday, July 03, 2006
gardenia
Gardenias always remind me of San Francisco, where they sell individual blooms on little plastic disc-shaped holders on the streets. You can put them into a glass of water and they'll last for a day or so. Even after they've lost the beautiful white color and shape, the fragrance lingers. On humid summer nights, seems like one single gardenia bush can infuse an entire block with the smell.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Monday, June 26, 2006
Happy Father's Day
We took Pop out to his favorite okonomiyaki restaurant of the moment, Shichigosan in Asakusa. In the past few months I've been there around 4 times at least with him. He LOVES it. I think he goes every Sunday.
We talked about the restaurant biz, the music biz, the publishing biz... Grilled up some tasty okonomiyaki, mushroom sautes, Pop's favorite じゃがバター, potatoes fried in butter, and toasted our dad. Thanks for your hard work Pops! We love ya.
We talked about the restaurant biz, the music biz, the publishing biz... Grilled up some tasty okonomiyaki, mushroom sautes, Pop's favorite じゃがバター, potatoes fried in butter, and toasted our dad. Thanks for your hard work Pops! We love ya.
grilling hanpen
Our Pops loves fluffy white hanpen fish cakes. They sizzle up to a golden brown when fried on the griddle with butter, looking a lot like toasted marshmallows.
Saturday, June 17, 2006
The Organizers and the Special Guest
Ai & HK's first Spinshell Night club event at Warehouse was a smashing success!!
In addition to AG's own slammin' performance, Prince Squad and Diva Rose debuted their new single "Honey Bear"; Hardliner set the mood with their mellow beats; DJ Ram Rider kept the crowd happy and dancing (or was that the free beer?); and Kumiko got the crowd pumped with her amazing voice. What World Cup?
See ya next time in October y'all!
In addition to AG's own slammin' performance, Prince Squad and Diva Rose debuted their new single "Honey Bear"; Hardliner set the mood with their mellow beats; DJ Ram Rider kept the crowd happy and dancing (or was that the free beer?); and Kumiko got the crowd pumped with her amazing voice. What World Cup?
See ya next time in October y'all!
Lu & Ai
One of the performers was Lu, a pole dancer. Not at all sleazy, it was really gorgeous and kind of tribal and required amazing athleticism!
I love her promotional leaflet: "Pole dancing, dance instruction, and pole sales."
I love her promotional leaflet: "Pole dancing, dance instruction, and pole sales."
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
corn field by the path
It's tuesday morning, I need to get on a crowded train for an hour to go to work, sit at a desk for 10 hours and type. Then get on a train again for an hour. Repeat.
Missing the open country! Was it really just two weeks ago?
Missing the open country! Was it really just two weeks ago?
Monday, May 29, 2006
lunching at the Irish Pub
The trip was way, way too short, but each day was a delight! Like the day we went to a next door town for window shopping and lunch at the local Irish pub (one of two of the trip).
atomik!
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but apparently does not regrow severed limbs: Atomik was still the adorable, beefy, three-legged sweetie pie that I said bye bye to last year. He seems to love the new digs, and so did we!
babushka
Chuchu was a very good sport about keeping Ai and I entertained as we packed for our Maryland trip. (Poppo was not so cooperative)
Those eyes!
Those eyes!
Monday, May 01, 2006
Ginza Mikimoto 2
The dazzling new restaurant Dazzle opened over the weekend. Its home is on the 8-9 floors of the Ginza Mikimoto 2 building, which has odd-shaped windows which are apparently supposed to look like seafoam. It was all very atmospheric, with glittery crystals hanging overhead and gauzy pink curtains.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
morning
Popo had a very special appointment recently that he was so excited for.
"Popo, today you are getting your balls cut off!! Doesn't that sound FUN?"
"Yes!" his testosterone-ridden brain thought, "that sounds like a BLAST! Let me show them off one last time, though."
When he got to the vet's, though, he didn't pass his preliminary tests--something was wrong with his liver. So now he is chowing down on meds which will hopefully correct the problem, and then he can try again once he's better.
"Popo, today you are getting your balls cut off!! Doesn't that sound FUN?"
"Yes!" his testosterone-ridden brain thought, "that sounds like a BLAST! Let me show them off one last time, though."
When he got to the vet's, though, he didn't pass his preliminary tests--something was wrong with his liver. So now he is chowing down on meds which will hopefully correct the problem, and then he can try again once he's better.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
open open!
I got to take a sneak peak this morning at the new IKEA in Funabashi, in Chiba. It took a freaking hour and a half each way but it was worth it. I love this store. Going to the one near Seattle was an adventure (no, I do not get out much) and it made me feel like fulfulling my secret desire to become a home stylist diva like Martha Stewart was achievable. Plus they served $1 lattes (this in the land of Starbucks) and sold funny Swedish goodies at the food market. This new one is just a few stops away from Tokyo Disneyland, and the gentlemen leading the tours said that they would be their No. 1 competitor, only half jokingly. It'll be up to the consumers to make this a success or not but I hope it is.
cushy
I came up with a great premise for a novel/movie--a bunch of shoppers get trapped inside of a store. That store happens to be IKEA, so everyone just sets up shop in all of the model rooms and settles in, and gets to know each other really well. Swedish meatballs for dinner every night might get a little repetitive, however.
model bed
I was on a press tour a few weeks before opening, so things were still getting set up. The half-made beds, paperwork everywhere and general disorder actually made it feel more like a real home...
tokyo mosque
Right in the middle of Tokyo, this beautiful building. Islamic design was my favorite during my short-lived architecture phase.
"Contemporary Pops"
You could not get more vague with a genre of music than that.
Miss Ai and her entourage played at Caretta a while ago, while I was on Blog hiatus. Better late than never, right?
The AG fan club were there, including Hisae-san, Satoko & Bolita.
Miss Ai and her entourage played at Caretta a while ago, while I was on Blog hiatus. Better late than never, right?
The AG fan club were there, including Hisae-san, Satoko & Bolita.
smiley singer
I will gladly spend a day at Carette Shiodome anytime. It's classy, it's swell. it's seaside and has a killer view. The big plaza by the turtle fountain is great for events. Like a live concert from Avant Garde!
Sunday, April 09, 2006
2006 Hanami
hey y'all! long time no see.
It's spring in Tokyo, which means cherry blossoms. And hanami. Our company has a hanami party every year, always at Aoyama Cemetery, where the sakura were in full bloom last week. A picnic at a cemetery? Freaked me out a little too, but it was really quite lovely.
It's nice to get out of the office in the middle of the day, on a breezy spring day, together with coworkers, food, and alcohol. Not a bad way to spend a Monday afternoon.
It's spring in Tokyo, which means cherry blossoms. And hanami. Our company has a hanami party every year, always at Aoyama Cemetery, where the sakura were in full bloom last week. A picnic at a cemetery? Freaked me out a little too, but it was really quite lovely.
It's nice to get out of the office in the middle of the day, on a breezy spring day, together with coworkers, food, and alcohol. Not a bad way to spend a Monday afternoon.
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