When I travel to Tokyo, I usually stay at The Imperial Hotel. The service is great, the rooms very comfy, and I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather spending my nights. With the exception of Star Bar, a truly awesome basement bar Ivon Bartok and I discovered on our trip here a couple of…
November 8, 2012: The Osaka wrap-up! Back in Tokyo! Family dinner! Honkogetsu! Killer ramen!
On our final night in Osaka, I was invited to join Akemi's family for a grand kaiseki dinner at Honkogetsu. It was a magnificent meal, due in large part to the food and company, but also in some small part because I made it through the meal without fumbling anything with my chopsticks or unwittingly…
November 6, 2012: The Osaka Walking Tour: Part Deux!
Wow! It's been a whirlwind few days here in Osaka. I've covered so much ground that I've decided to squeeze in an extra blog entry. Let's call it "November 6, 2012: The Quickening!" We met up with Akemi's parents on our first night in town. The plan was to go to Sushi Koyoshi, a mom…
November 3, 2012: Tokyo Day #6! Pizza Seirinkan! The Molecular Tapas Bar!
I'd been thinking about it since my last trip here and, finally, yesterday, I finally got a chance to pay a return visit to Pizza Seirinkan. Joining me this time were Akemi and her friend Yukina... After lunch, we headed over to Electric Town, Akihabara, so I could track down a new Evangelion iPhone case…
November 1, 2012: Tokyo Day #4! Pierre Gagnaire!
Okay, I said late blog entry but I've got a window of opportunity here so it'll be an early blog post instead. Last night, I got together with my friend, Sachi, for dinner at Pierre Gagnaire in the ANA Continental Hotel. We spent much of the meal catching up on our respective lives. Sachi is…
October 31, 2012: Tokyo Day #3! Sawada! Shinjuku! Butagumi!
Last night, Akemi and I returned to our favorite sushi restaurant in Tokyo: Sawada. It's always more than dinner, it's a show, with Master Sawada-san presenting a feast of varied sushis and sashimis, from sweet Hokkaido uni to grilled sea eel, all expertly prepared and utterly delicious. The restaurant itself is small, seating six at…
October 29, 2012: Tokyo Day #2! Roppongi! Faro! Yasai-ya Me!
Akemi is so adorable. She's apparently been in Canada so long that she's forgotten what it's like to live in Tokyo. "Tell me when you see a garbage can,"she said, waving the empty can she was holding. A garbage can? On the streets of Ginza? You're more likely to come across Godzilla. The plan was…
October 28, 2012 (here in Tokyo): Arrival! Applause! Soba at Akatsukian! And Mitsukoshi desserts!
One of the things I'm reminded about Tokyo every time I catch the shuttle bus from Narita airport into the city are the highways and how truly high they are. So high, in fact, that one will occasionally find oneself eye-level with the top floor of some extremely tall buildings. Not a great ride for…
October 26, 2012: Your input would be greatly appreciated!
Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to explain the difference between "goofy" and "kooky" to my Japanese girlfriend. I have already tried - and failed. YOU are now our only hope. Please leave your superior explanations in the comments section. Thanks. To those of you wondering (which, I'm sure, is almost everyone),…
October 24, 2012: Are you serious?!!
In Italy, a group of scientists was found guilty of manslaughter for failing to predict a devastating earthquake. I'm sorry. I must have missed the major headline. Since when did earthquake-prediction become an exact science? In this case, following some preliminary tremors, an Italian scientist was asked if said tremors were the prelude to a…
October 23, 2012: Goodbye, Baby
His first name is lost to time. It was a French name I recall. Michoux? Michaud? Something like that. But when we adopted him, we renamed him, choosing Baby over runner-up Sasquatch. And, over the course of his 15+ years, he was a little of both: frisky, grumpy, playful, troublesome but, always, oh-so-adorable. I suspect…
October 21, 2012: Football, Roast Rib-Eye, Ice Cream, and Anguish!
Every damn weekend it's the same damn thing! My Snow Monkey put up enough points to beat at least 10 of the 13 other teams in my league. Only problem is, we happen to be playing one of the 3 OTHER teams. Well, they haven't lost yet but it doesn't look good. Our opponents, the…
October 20, 2012: Great Print Ads From Around the World!
Bazooka (Duval Guillaume, Brussels): Utopolis Group of Cinemas: Kaya King Jumbo Peanuts: 8in1 Dental Snacks: Pepsi: Utopolis Group of Cinemas: Axe Anarchy (BBH, London): Lifebuoy: Bose noise reduction headphones: Audi: Snowboard Head: Ortoimplant Dental Clinic: Post It:
October 19, 2012: Mailbag!
Hey, it's been ages since I've done one of these!noellam writes: "Also, if you are in the business of answering questions today, why is it that even bad potato chips taste good?"Answer: The fact of the matter is they don't. Have you tried those Lays baked potato chips? They taste like crispy sweat. I'm afraid…
October 18, 2012: Oh, covering just about everything!
Well, whaddya know: Hallmark Channel Reaffirms Series Order To ‘Cedar Cove’ Starring Andie MacDowell. Our old friend, Carl Binder, takes the reins of a new series, Cedar Grove, for the Hallmark Channel. According to the interweb: "Production will take place in Vancouver". And we all know what that means. Yes! I'll finally get the opportunity to…