folks in Tokyo,
The Pink Cow in Shibuya is a fun place to go, regardless. The owner, Traci, is about as California as a chick can get. Think: female Bill and Ted. The food is awesome (Friday night buffets much recommended, bring your vegetarian friends), chill atmosphere (makes me think it is what a speakeasy might be like, were it in Tokyo, not during prohibition, and in the 21st Century).
Plus they feature an artist every month on their walls. This month it's photographer Toshi.OTA and illustrator Keeda Oikawa. The subject matter is Japanese mixed-race people. The title of the exhibition is
"Mixed 2006"-Ouistiti-.
[warning: shameless self-promotion follows]
[but what is a blog but shameless self-promotion, anyway?]
Ai and I were thrilled to be models for their work. Mr. Ota and Ms. Keeda are very warm and creative and I have enjoyed getting to know them, and it was an honor to be asked to be part of the project. Plus, when Ai and I saw for the first time the finished products at the opening party, we were speechless. Each picture had so much energy, and vibrancy, and personality. The colors are like candy, against the realism of the photos and the familiar--no, familial; we could have probably all passed as relatives--expressions of the models' faces. And then to see our own photos: wow.
So, if you like art, and funky restaurants, and are in Shibuya, please stop by. It's a cool event.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Men of Metropolis
Man do I miss working with these folks.
We will probably all eventually move away from Tokyo, scattering around the world and drifting in and out of each other's lives here and there, since that is the nature of getting to know people in a city like Tokyo, working for a magazine like Metropolis.
Thank god for Christmas parties so I can still see them from time to time!
We will probably all eventually move away from Tokyo, scattering around the world and drifting in and out of each other's lives here and there, since that is the nature of getting to know people in a city like Tokyo, working for a magazine like Metropolis.
Thank god for Christmas parties so I can still see them from time to time!
Monday, December 04, 2006
it's becoming a tradition
This is the third year in a row that cousins and aunts get together for an early Christmas party.
2004: Akabane, nabe, gift exchange.
2005: at the Miyoshi's, sushi and champagne, a dog that looked like a newborn deer.
2006: The new flat, curry, pork chops, spring rolls and wine, gift exchange.
It was tons of fun. The day after I was totally pooped and almost dozed off at my desk.
Looking forward to it again next year. Oh what exciting things will happen in 2007??
2004: Akabane, nabe, gift exchange.
2005: at the Miyoshi's, sushi and champagne, a dog that looked like a newborn deer.
2006: The new flat, curry, pork chops, spring rolls and wine, gift exchange.
It was tons of fun. The day after I was totally pooped and almost dozed off at my desk.
Looking forward to it again next year. Oh what exciting things will happen in 2007??
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Saturday, December 02, 2006
My old Seattle digs
I love where I live now.
Tokyo Bay is right out the window, it's quiet and convenient, and it's Tokyo.
But I will always look back on my first very-own apartment, paid 100% by moi, with fondness.
One's first flat... something special about it.
Tokyo Bay is right out the window, it's quiet and convenient, and it's Tokyo.
But I will always look back on my first very-own apartment, paid 100% by moi, with fondness.
One's first flat... something special about it.
Christmastime is here
Two years ago I visited Ai in Tokyo. It had been a few years since I'd been to Tokyo, the first time in a long time that I visited during Christmas.
The biggest event planned during my short stay was the cousins reunion/Christmas party. I found a Christmas album I'd never heard of, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," that Ai had bought from Starbucks. I popped it into the CD player and discovered the best Christmas album ever.
The Vince Guaraldi Trio--piano, drums and bass--and an angelic children's choir perform classics and originals for the Peanuts TV special that aired a few decades ago. It's simple and sweet, jazzy, sometimes off-key, joyful.
Now I'm back in Tokyo, spending all of Christmas here in Japan for the first time in 18 years.
*****
Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer,
fun for all that children call their favorite time of year.
Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere,
olden times and ancient rhymes and love and dreams to share.
Sleigh bells in the air, beauty everywhere;
yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there.
Christmastime is here, we'll be drawing near;
oh that we could always see such spirit through the year.
The biggest event planned during my short stay was the cousins reunion/Christmas party. I found a Christmas album I'd never heard of, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," that Ai had bought from Starbucks. I popped it into the CD player and discovered the best Christmas album ever.
The Vince Guaraldi Trio--piano, drums and bass--and an angelic children's choir perform classics and originals for the Peanuts TV special that aired a few decades ago. It's simple and sweet, jazzy, sometimes off-key, joyful.
Now I'm back in Tokyo, spending all of Christmas here in Japan for the first time in 18 years.
*****
Christmas time is here, happiness and cheer,
fun for all that children call their favorite time of year.
Snowflakes in the air, carols everywhere,
olden times and ancient rhymes and love and dreams to share.
Sleigh bells in the air, beauty everywhere;
yuletide by the fireside and joyful memories there.
Christmastime is here, we'll be drawing near;
oh that we could always see such spirit through the year.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Thankful for:
Friends.
Family.
Roasted turkey and gravy.
Adorably gorgeous babies whose smiles are like sunshine.
Employment.
Weekends.
Paychecks.
A nice place to live.
Tokyo, Seattle, Washington DC and environs.
Health.
Christmas season and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Family.
Roasted turkey and gravy.
Adorably gorgeous babies whose smiles are like sunshine.
Employment.
Weekends.
Paychecks.
A nice place to live.
Tokyo, Seattle, Washington DC and environs.
Health.
Christmas season and A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Thursday, November 23, 2006
Happy Thanksgiving
It's a holiday in Japan too, though it's "Thanks for Working" day here (technically "Labour Thanksgiving Day").
I am bringing poached pears to a Thanksgiving party, to be served with ice cream.
I am bringing poached pears to a Thanksgiving party, to be served with ice cream.
peeling pears
I picked up "La France" pears--like anjous--at my neighborhood grocery store, a few days shy of being ripe. Halve, core, peel, sprinkle with lemon juice, and tend to the poaching liquid.
poaching in progress
Turn up the heat, and let it bubble away.
A nice big Le Creuset enameled cast iron dutch oven would be so nice right now.
A nice big Le Creuset enameled cast iron dutch oven would be so nice right now.
reducing the syrup
A bottle of wine, half a lemon and the juice of eight pears gets reduced to about a half cup of dark, spicy syrup.
tender and fragrant
The pears are tender and fragrant in no time, and the house smells of warm vanilla and sweet wine.
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Cheese Festa 2006
Have a nice day with cheese: this is what I did on Saturday.
The Spiral building in Omotesando hosted the annual Cheese Festa. Spiral has an amazing gift shop, nice restaurants, and hosts lots of events and exhibitions.
Pop joined Ai and I and we had a fun afternoon learning about cheese, tasting samples and purchasing ingredients for fondue. I won a tub of berry cream cheese.
The Spiral building in Omotesando hosted the annual Cheese Festa. Spiral has an amazing gift shop, nice restaurants, and hosts lots of events and exhibitions.
Pop joined Ai and I and we had a fun afternoon learning about cheese, tasting samples and purchasing ingredients for fondue. I won a tub of berry cream cheese.
Would you like a huge wheel of stilton?
Each corner gave out samples of one of the representing country's cheeses. Spanish Manchego, Japanese cream cheese and New Zealand cream cheese were all fine and people gladly ate them, but the Stilton counter was a madhouse. It was like the line for Splash Mountain at Disneyland. It was like herding dairy cattle. People were shoving, pushing, walking over feet to get to the Stilton.
Then they brought out these humongous wheels of the stuff, and I'm sure a couple of people ended up going home with a year's supply of moldy British cheese.
Lovely paired with raisin-pear jam, and a glass of red wine.
Then they brought out these humongous wheels of the stuff, and I'm sure a couple of people ended up going home with a year's supply of moldy British cheese.
Lovely paired with raisin-pear jam, and a glass of red wine.
Kinokuniya Bakery and Deli
After the madness, we three walked to gourmet grocery store Kinokuniya's little first-floor cafe, the Bakery and Deli.
I used to come here all the time when I worked in the neighborhood, for perfect tossed salads and a cup of coffee. Friendliest, cheeriest store manager in town.
This book on tarts was always fun to browse.
I used to come here all the time when I worked in the neighborhood, for perfect tossed salads and a cup of coffee. Friendliest, cheeriest store manager in town.
This book on tarts was always fun to browse.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Say Obi
I interviewed Kahori Ochi for the magazine I used to work for, and she invited me to join one of the events she organizes so that foreigners in Japan can meet other foreigners and Japanese people, and experience traditional culture, especially through wearing kimono.
Last Sunday was the November full moon, so she put on a tsukimi (moon viewing) party in Asakusa. It was a lovely and surreal experience. How often do you get to celebrate something as common as the moon rising? Being in those beautiful swathes of silk put me in a different mood, where time moved a little bit more slowly.
Last Sunday was the November full moon, so she put on a tsukimi (moon viewing) party in Asakusa. It was a lovely and surreal experience. How often do you get to celebrate something as common as the moon rising? Being in those beautiful swathes of silk put me in a different mood, where time moved a little bit more slowly.
With host Kahori
On the moon-viewing roof
Kahori set up the tiny roof veranda into a peaceful sanctuary with benches, potted plants, willowy susuki, a stack of origami for making paper cranes, benches and an offering tray of omochi, presented to the moon.
The sky went from normal afternoon light to dusky violet then indigo and finally nighttime darkness, and then the glowing full moon came up over the horizon of building rooftops, and everybody cheered.
The sky went from normal afternoon light to dusky violet then indigo and finally nighttime darkness, and then the glowing full moon came up over the horizon of building rooftops, and everybody cheered.
waves
One of the gorgeous kimonos, a pattern of menacing black waves against a scalloped scarlet background.
kitsui des ka?
After picking out the kimono we wanted to wear, the expert fitters wrapped, folded, tied, cinched, pulled, knotted and tucked the beautiful fabric into place. The bottom kimono layer wasn't used, so everyone just wore the robes over everyday clothes.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Drinks at Amanis
Lovely cousin Midori came out with the sis and I for a Saturday night out in Roppongi. Talk always turns to guys and relationships when she's in the room, since she's incredibly level-headed and always has sharp advice. Tip of the day: if you want a response, you've got to put something out there for them to respond to. Don't play hardest to get.
After seeing 21 Blades at Rock Factory, we went across the street to the classy lounge Amanis for a few rounds.
Salty Dog: Vodka, grapefruit juice, salt around the rim. My new favorite drink. Apparently, without the salt, it's a Greyhound, but why would you want to do that?
Plus the friendly proprieter gave us each the special cocktail they serve to ladies, all night, for FREE, on Thursday: tequila with strawberry, I think. Something pink. Very nice.
Check them out when you're in the area.
After seeing 21 Blades at Rock Factory, we went across the street to the classy lounge Amanis for a few rounds.
Salty Dog: Vodka, grapefruit juice, salt around the rim. My new favorite drink. Apparently, without the salt, it's a Greyhound, but why would you want to do that?
Plus the friendly proprieter gave us each the special cocktail they serve to ladies, all night, for FREE, on Thursday: tequila with strawberry, I think. Something pink. Very nice.
Check them out when you're in the area.
Monday, October 30, 2006
Goethe says:
Until one is committed there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: That the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way. Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Glitterball 2006
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.
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.
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
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