Monster spend last few months on vakation where me bone up on cursive writing, try all tree boardings - wake, paddle, and water for first time (Me MUCH prefer first two!), and generally healing from mental scars inflikted by 94 straight weeks of Supermovie reviews. Now me back after much-needed R&R (Rest and Remi Martin) and…
September 22, 2014: The New Fall Line-Up!
Here are a few of the new shows I'll be checking out... GRACEPOINT Premieres: Thurs., Oct. 2 at 9 p.m. on FOX I loved the premise of the original, Broadchurch, but was disappointed in the finale. Apparently, this one is the same premise - with a different solution. And it's a self-contained 10 episode mystery. I'm…
September 21, 2014: Again! Back on the home front!
Both Akemi and I managed to sleep through most of our 9 hour flight back so that, by the time we landed at 9:30 this morning, we were well-rested and rarin' to go! Well, I was anyway. Akemi decided to lie down for a little while and, seven hours later, came downstairs looking like a…
September 21, 2014: Japan Day #11!
We were standing at the hotel reception, purchasing our tickets for the shuttle bus that would take us to the airport. The middle-aged Caucasian guy beside us was purchasing a ticket of his own. "What's your room number?"asked the staff member. The guy looked around anxiously, then leaned in conspiratorially and whispered his room number.…
September 20, 2014: Japan Day #10!
I love Japanese department stores - not only for the quality and scope of their products, their terrific customer service, and their impeccable gift-wrapping, but for the little things. Like the fact that, right around closing time, they always play Auld Lang Syne to let everyone know it's time to clear out. And, I discovered…
September 19, 2014: Japan Day #9!
Today, we had plans to meet up with our friend, Nihei, for a yakitori lunch but, unfortunately, a last minute meeting derailed those yakitori plans - and sent us to Butagumi, my favorite tonkatsu restaurant, instead! Tucked away in a little side street in Nishi-Azabu, the rustic restaurant offers varieties of tonkatusu (golden-fried pork cutlets)…
September 18, 2014: Japan Day #8!
I finally hit the wall. Mark the date and time: September 17th at 7:23 p.m. That is, officially, when I stopped being hungry. Yep, I'm done. At this point, I'm just going to reduce my portions to the point where I can simply wean myself off food. Today, I met up with my oldest friend…
September 17, 2014: Japan Day #7!
No. No! Day #7?!!! It's almost over! In a matter of days, I'll be back in Vancouver, scrambling to plan and pack and make my way to Toronto for a seven month stay - one month of advance prep in which we'll be filling out the director's schedule, approving designs, hiring DOP's and editors, start…
September 16, 2014: Japan Day #6! I feel like I lost a day!
Seriously. My vacation is short enough without my misplacing days! Last night, Akemi and I hit the basement food level of the Mitsukoshi department store where we picked up a variety of tasty treats. Tokyo street fashion. I gotta get me one of those for Toronto. Our dinner haul. My favorite was the cutlet and…
September 14, 2014: Japan Day #4!
On our last night in Osaka, we joined Akemi's family for dinner at Le Comptoir de Benoit, an Alain Ducasse restaurant on the 33rd floor of the Breeze Building in Nishi-Umeda. We had counter seats which allowed us an unobstructed view of the open kitchen, allowing us to take in the culinary theatrics while we…
September 14, 2014: Japan Day #3 – Tea, Eel, and Leg Cramps!
Last night, I turned in at a nice and early 10:00 p.m. As a result, I woke up this morning at a less nice and early 3:50 a.m. I dozed on and off, cobbling together about another hour in catnaps, before sitting bolt upright at 8:15 a.m. with the realization we had a tea ceremony to…
September 12, 2014: Tokyo Day #2 – More eating, and I take a ride on the shinkansen!
There are three "can't miss" restaurants I HAVE to visit every time I come to Tokyo. The first is Sawada sushi - which, sadly, is closed during this two week stay. The second is Esquisse, a brilliant French restaurant headed by Chef Lionel Beccat - which we'll be visiting in the coming days. And the…
September 12, 2014: Tokyo Day #1 – Guts, Grub, and Garb!
It's a ten hour flight from Vancouver to Tokyo and I had hoped to sleep through part of it, but just as I was nodding off, about seven hours, I was awakened by one of the entertainment systems malfunctioning, emitting a sound akin to a spoke card's rat-tat-at. For about a half an hour. That's…
September 10, 2014: Travel Day for Tokyo Joe!
Off to Japan today and one of the things I'm especially looking forward to - besides the sushi, pastries, and robot toilets - is the sake. To be honest, I'm not a big drinker. I don't do wine and rarely drink beer. I will have the occasional glass of bourbon - but it's not some…
September 9, 2014: Ranty rant rant!
I was planning to rant today about news I received on another project, but I'm not going to do that. Nope, I'm going to keep things positive and won't even bother expressing my irritation, anger, and general disappointment with a potential scenario that has presented itself today - despite the fact that the individual who…