Block Music Party

One of the things I love about Brooklyn is that you can find really talented people play for free. This was International Day of Music and there were couple block parties in my neighborhood. This one was right outside the live bar that always feature really good bands and DJ. All four groups features different types of musics from around the world.

In this hood, it's not just hipsters or young people who enjoy such an event. This Puerto Rican guy from around my apartment passed by on his signature bicycle with a big horn.

Grand Sichuan

Shabu-shabu is probably my favorite Nabe-ryori (hot pot dish). The only drawback is that you have to get really fresh ingredients, especially the meat and seafood, which makes this dish usually expensive. Although the ingredients may not be the freshest, Shabu-shabu in Sichuan style is very reasonable, and most importantly, comes in two broth.

The clear soup is simply flavored with scallion and ginger. On the other side of the pot is the spicy broth. Red chilies and the red chili oil cover the surface of the broth. We usually order 1 seafood (squid or scallop), 1 meat (pork or beef slice), 2 vegetables (mushroom, greens) and tofu. Each side is between 2- 7 dollars.

Since the pot comes with two broth, you can share it with non-heat enthusiasts.

Cold Noodle - Hiyashi Chuka

Hiyashi-chuka is one of the most popular noodle dishes for summer in Japan. I can get the noodle with sauce (usually in soy vinegar flavor or sesame sauce) is available at major Japanese grocery store. Typically, you serve the noodle with egg, cucumber (julienne), ham. My version is with grilled shrimp or chicken, with the sauce spiced up with hot sauce. Julienne cucumber is so refreshing.

Turkish BBQ

For me in my little 2nd floor apartment, the only option to BBQ is at the firescape by the kitchen window. I’m always scared of the flame outside of window, fanatically worried neighbors might call fire department.

We were invited to their biennial BBQ party. They have a beautiful, spacious terrace to accommodate group of guests. The host friend’s mother prepared super yummy side dishes – cabbage salad, ratatouille -ish roasted veggies, couscous-looking thing, and the host friend grilled 30lb lack of lamb. My favorite was the cabbage salad. I like his BBQ because there’ s always a good selection of side dishes—unlike typical American BBQ which involves little cooking... We brought bacon-wrapped asparagus (roll fresh asparagus and so easy, perfect to grill), which successfully sold out.

Utagawa: Japanese Woodblock Print

Not to miss, I went to see the exhibition of Japanese woodblock print at Brooklyn Museum. I always liked the Japanese print, specifically Ukiyo-e, for its subtle yet beautiful color scheme. I find resemblance in color pallet between kimono and west African and Indian textile, which I also adore. That makes me wonder where old Japanese people picked up such design taste? My guess is our fruitful four-season culture and the color indigenous nature of the island offers.

Each of Utagawa family has his own characteristic. A collaboration of two artists was also common where one artist did figures and another did the landscape. My favorite was the ones done by indigo. It's simply amazing how tiny details are clearly printed by one color, of course in different shades. Interesting, too, to see the difference in Japanese traditional indigo (Ai) and western indigo.

One of the work was created when the artist was over 70 years old; completion in details is almost the work of craftsman, rather than an artist.

Since I was there, I checked out MURAKAMI. I don't like it as 'art." What's interesting is (stealing my boyfriend's idea, which I agree) that he established the fact anything called art can be major influences in any other industry, including fashion and commercial. At the same time, its effective in many fields therefore makes me feel like denying its pure art. It's characters, anime, design, and phenomenon. Question of 'what's art' never gets answered, at least for me.

Russian & Turkish Bathhouse

After a week-long event at work, my body was feeling like 200lb... And I needed a serious massage, for which I would have needed to spend good $200. Plus, I don't like the idea of making an appointment to get a massage. I want to get is when I feel like it. So I tried something new: Turkish & Russian Bathhouse. It has been in business for over 100 years in now the Japanese mecca in Manhattan, East Village. Although the majority of clientele is male and I wouldn't go there alone, there are quite a few female guests and couples.

You walk in and put all your valuables in narrow tin can at the reception. The locker room is very small; obviously not a luxurious spa environment. They have shorts and robe for men; some girls were also wearing them. Towels are provided so are sandals. I changed in my bathing suit and now to the sauna. It's steamy and hot all over. You walk into sauna (different temperature), and when you can't take it, jump into the icy cold pool. This is PAINFULLY cold and cannot stay more than 1 second. When you get out the pool, the whole blood circulation starts to detox. Such a refreshing feeling.

In one of the rooms, Russian guys give Platza (Oak Leaf treatment). Basically, the guy hits your body with bunches of oak leaf. It's a bit rough and done among other guests. Some girls were making moaning noise when the guy lift their legs in like 90 degree, which kind of made me reluctant to try myself... They also have regular massage in a private room.

My body felt cleaner and lighter. It's only $30 and you can stay as long as you'd like.

Miko, the Wrestler

Another work event, but it's not a wrestling thing. It's an interactive award ceremony that my company hosts. The theme this year was somehow Mexican wrestling. We set up a real wrestling ring as a stage. After the event, I took some photos with the wrestler people. I was wearing boots, which fits perfectly! "Una Mas!" My poor Spanish somehow worked...

This Sumo wrestler appeared at the end of the ceremony. He was a real champion two years ago, but now seems too heavy and people thought he wouldn't make it to go on the ring.

See the wrestling with Sumo wrestler and Mexican wrestler.

Busy Work Week

Every time people ask me what I do for living, I find it difficult to explain. They give me 'what is that about...' when I tell them it's an non-profit organization for advertising and the conversation fades out. I an Education Director, working for student and teachers in advertising and graphic design programs, orchestrating events and programs for them.

Last week was my busiest week in a year. Event everyday. Portfolio review where students get feedback from industry creatives; students portfolio exhibition; speaker series; presentation competition; and award ceremony for students. Barely had time to eat lunch or hydrating myself and every night is a party. Standing all day and running around was not for me who's past 30 and hasn't been to a gym for.. ever.

Sweet White Day

In the hotel in Maui where I was staying for a business trip. When I walked into my room, I saw a beautiful white flower on a counter. I first thought it was a gift to our judges (my work was hosting a judging for advertising). Yet, it was a bit strange since we had been there for couple nights then. I took a better look at the card; it said "Westin Maui". First I thought it said "Welcome Maui" which made me think that was for judges. Think well... Oh it is White Day! White Day is probably a Japanese invention. Boys respond to the girls who confessed their love to the boys on St. Valentine's Day. My boyfriend found out where I was staying and arranged a flower delivery. He did the same before when I was staying at a hotel in NY, surprising me with white tulips. I wish I could have taken it with me from Hawaii.

Maui, Hawaii

A week after the trip to the D.R. Now I'm off to Maui. I've been to Maui, which is my favorite Hawaian island. The trip was frustrating already on the way out there; some technical troubles and delay. Already exhausted from the 13-hour trip. A baby was crying the whole time. It was already dark when I arrived.

Westin Hotel has an artificial lake in the lobby with swans, actually black swan. It's really strangely beautiful...

As usual, it was not until the last day that I got to enjoy the beach. Some young folks were jumping off the cliff. It's not allowed, but it's deep enough and safe, I guess. As long as someone jumps and kicks a snorkeler, it's ok. The snorkeling around this cliff is amazing. I was floating with a turtle for an hour.

And the sunset and rainbow was just so memorable.


On the last day morning, my boss treated us for a whale watching. It was already pass the high season and most whales were back on the journey to Alaska. We still saw quite a number of whales. One whale came really close to the boast. The staff told that they had a special censor that would let him avoid touching a boat even if it came an inch away. Smart. Clever. Nature is amazing... I was particularly impressed with the turquoise water that male whales make when they breath. I literary saw a spot of turquoise water in the ocean. Being mesmerized by the wonder of whale life, I was half sick from the boat ride.

Ugly Smell

Setting many other things I want to post on aside, one thing has been bothering me and I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed: Perfume.

This perfume smells like a yellow cab, car refresher swinging from the rear view mirror, bubble gum, floor cleaner from dollar stores. I detect the smell at least once a day; on the street, in the train, which makes me feel nauseous. Call me racist but a certain type (race) of men seem to like it.

UNICLOCK

My Bowl and Plant

My friend's birthday. Very talented Graphic Designer from Brazil. We decided to give him a plant that grows from a rock. My boyfriend picked it from a store while I was away for a business trip, and he picked a bowl I made. It actually fit perfectly. This summery bowl matches the plant nicely. Thanks to the friend who is keeping it in his nice apartment!

Dominican Republic

I stayed in the Dominican Republic for a week for work. Honestly, I wish I didn't have to stay in a huge resort, a concrete compound, but I have to admit I had a good time down there. Luckily, I got to stay in one of the Casitos (individual villa) right in front of the beach and away from everyone else. This lobster was one of the biggest and best I ever had.


One of the evenings, we had a dinner followed by local Dominican dancers. Sad news: the driver who was carrying the costumes got in an accident and couldn't deliver them. We almost thought of canceling the evening event. However, someone somehow managed to deliver the costume and the entertainment started. We danced. They danced. Everybody danced to the merenge (if you want to learn, I can dance a bit...).


I didn't have a chance myself but my co-worker walked through a trail and he saw huge iganas.

Every morning, I tried to supplement my vitamin C with this local fruit: passion fruit. You just suck the seeds covered by this slimy thing. I loved it for the first day. But it was too acidic and it got smaller ad smaller the remaining mornings.


One thing I liked very much was the bed making. I guess every room maker does their own way, but this particular day, she/he made a little heart with a bath towel and local flower on my bed. How sweet!!!

Chinatown Crab Lunch

My boyfriend and I often share a tasty brunch with our good friends in China Town, sucking juice of crab. Happy for her, sad myself, this was our last crab lunch together as our favorite friend is leaving to Nepal for a new job opportunity. We usually order one with scallion ginger sauce and one with chili. Today, we tried Mandarin Court. The crab meat was not satisfying but the chili sauce (specially ordered to the chef) was really good.

Queens Night Scene

Queens probably offers the ultimate NY experience. They say you go to Queens for the best ethnic food. It’s probably true. After spicing up our stomach with Sripraphai’s Thai food, we roamed around Woodside to find a bar. Prior to the dinner, our friends walked into a sport bar. They said everyone in the bar stopped doing what they were doing and gave them a you-don’t-belong-here look. Ok, not every place is welcoming. It was cold out. The town is pretty slow after 10pm. We decided to try one disco/night club type of place. After passing the security guy who examined male guests body for ‘dangerous objects,’ we were asked to check in our coats. The place was nearly empty. The dance floor was lit in color and the smoker regularly jet off the smog. Same as the first bar, the waitress was not familiar with taking orders in English.

As we tried focusing ourselves in conversation, we noticed ladies dressed up in mini skirts and shiny top. At first, I thought it was just the night style in Queens. One after another, ladies came in wearing a long coast walk straight to the restroom and came out in the sexy attire. It seemed like more and more new ladies came out of the restroom. It took me a while to see the system there. Eventually there were about 20 ladies, most of whom seemed a little too old and unfit to dress up like that. I for one have no-so-fit tummy. But I’ve got no guts to expose the bump(s) in a tight dress or skinny t-shirts. They weren’t even having a drink. Just water. Maybe semi-prostitute, maybe they were paid to entertain and attract male customers. At any rate, it was a very strange scene.

Sripraphai 2

I went back to Sripraphai in Woodside with a group of six. As I wrote about this restaurant in the past, this is a hardcore Thai food place. The wait is long here but the large space serves tables quickly. You get a number, which will be announced on the light board outside. Since it was quite cold and expecting an hour wait, we tucked into a bar next door: A totally mesmerizing environment with fake flowers and valentine decorations hanging from the ceiling. The waitress didn’t even speak much English. Within 20 minutes, our number appeared on the board.

(Below: Pork Chili)
We ordered: Duck Salad, Crispy Chinese Watercress Salad, Minced Pork with Chili and Lime. The watercress salad was my new favorite. Although every review recommended the duck salad, it was not that popular on my table. The minced pork was mainly for my boyfriend who love heat like nobody. Good Start.

(Below: Drunken Noodle)
(Below: Steamed Fish - Trout Fillet)
(Below: Penang Curry)
Then all 6 main dishes lined up on the table. Green Curry (much hotter than other places but really light and flavorful), Drunken Noodle (I personally loved this), Panang Curry (as really spicy as it was, this curry was so rich and similar to Indian food. One of the most popular dishes of the night), Steamed Fish with Ginger and Scallion Sauce (We were too full to finish this dish but very good. No heat at all and light), Mixed Vegetable in Oyster Sauce (I’d recommend this to anyone. Simple yet great compliment to spicy, rich dishes), Crispy Pork in Chili (most of us were too full when this dish appeared). All these food for $22/person. Incredible.

Bridal Shower

I went to a bridal shower for the first time in my life. I didn’t event know what it was all about. Obviously, there’s no theme like lingerie party or anything. So I assumed it would be somehow low-key, held at a restaurant in a charming town in NJ. It turned out to be a HUGE shower, inviting over 100 guests. I can’t even imagine the scale of their wedding…. A huge banquette room decorated with lovely red roses was full of her friends and mainly family.
Nor sure why the shower involves games so much. Perhaps an American thing? Anyways, there were three games. Quiz about the bride and broom. Crossword puzzle about them as well, which was very well made. And bingo, guessing what gifts she would get.

I was wondering if she would actually open all gifts. Yes, she did, thanking each one of the senders. The volume of gifts completely blew my mind. If I got married right now, we wouldn’t even have a space in our tiny apartment kitchen to store all the gadgets. And as a tradition, she wore a hat made of ribbons from the gifts.
It was very good experience.

Roast Chicken

We once in a while get a whole chicken and roast it on a weekend, aiming to bring pieces for lunch the following week. But letting the juicy chicken stay on the counter and get cold is almost a sin, so we usually eat the out-of-oven chicken for the evening meal and use leftovers for the lunch. Our usual recipe is to rub fresh herbs and stuff with herb, garlic and lemon. This time, we made herb butter and rubbed all over chicken before roasting. I didn’t see a major difference from the standard recipe but it was very aromatic for sure. The side is roasted fennel roots, which I loved when my friend who used to live in France served at her home party. It was supposed to be simple but nothing like what she made.

Steak Time

My boyfriend, ex-8yr-vegetarian, loves steak. When I get home late, he almost always cooks steak for himself. While I worry about his health, I indulge myself in his super carnivore pleasure. You can’t go wrong with skirt steak. Easy to cook and tender. But this one time, the dish was superb. Perfectly cooked steak (I hate too chewy) and the sides of grilled asparagus and rosemary potato brought us a French bistro dining experience.

Bulldog Skin

If someone is mean to you or something gets you down, watch this clip.

Click here to see the movie on YouTube.

There Will Be Blood

Arguably one of the best actors of our generation Daniel Day-Lewis's new movie and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, There Will Be Blood. In very short, it's a movie about a life of a man whose ambition was to become an big oil tycoon and his struggle with power, money, faith, God, family and royalty and others. From the preview, which shows only the scene with Daniel Day-Lewis, I was suspicious that this movie may end up one of those with one major actor and nothing else is good. I was wrong. He was good, of course. Really good. But the sound, cinematography and direction were all great.

After the Wedding

I rented the 2006 Oscar Foreign Film nominee, After the Wedding. The story is kind of complicated so I won't say much to reveal the ending:

Jacob has spent his life caring for Indian street kids. When a Danish businessman Jorgen offers him $4 million to his orphanage, Jacob is asked to fly back to Denmark and meet the guy. Upon Jacob's return to Denmark, Jorgen insists Jacob to attend his daughter's wedding. At the wedding, Jacob finds he didn't fly back only to receive the donation but to deal with his own life in an unexpected way.

Children in the orphanage are just charming and beautiful. And the actors are very good, I thought. It's not a suspense but the story is intricate enough to ask for a really good screenplay. You look around and find many people who need help. But you only can save so many, and most importantly, your own family is the ones who really need you. I thought about this a lot.

Thanks for the Comments

I am not good at commenting on my friends' blog. But I appreciate when people write comments on my blog. Absolutely selfish. I don't blog to hear responses. This is probably the kind of pleasure authors find in writing. You don't know who would be reading when. And that intangible communication with unknown readers is exciting. And yet, my target audience of my blog, my mom, has never written me a comment. I don't even thing she's reading it. What a parent...

Lettuce Battle

Our recent argument over a very trivial issue over lettuce in sandwich. Characters: Miko (me) & Man (my boyfriend).

Man bought a bagel with cream cheese and cucumber for himself and a roll sandwich with lettuce, tomato, egg, ham, cheese for Miko. Miko found these little pieces of iceberg lettuce in this sandwich so incredibly tasty, an exquisite experience you'd never expect from a deli sandwich. It doesn't really have a taste but its texture and freshness made this sandwich perfect. Happy Miko offered a bite to Man. As Man's big mouth started to open, Miko gave a weird look, which she did unconsciously. When it covered the corner of sandwich where all the lettuce was stuck, Miko exclaimed, "Wait!" His teeth was still half into the roll, but Miko let him bite in. She thought it was childish of her to stop him at that point just for lettuce. Fresh lettuce went in his mouth.

To Miko's explanation for her shout, Man started to get indignant: "You offered it. Why are you complaining? I don't even care for the lettuce!" Miko knew she did offer but somehow she didn't expect Man would eat up the lettuce. While Miko admitted her reaction being somehow unreasonable, but to her, there was a reason. It was a temporary moment she got distracted by this disappointment, and now time to go see a movie. Meanwhile, Man couldn't get over the incident, staying angry the rest of the day and making fun of Miko's reaction. Miko still doesn't understand why he needed to be so angry. It was just lettuce. But it was really good lettuce.

Incense Time

Getting sort of tired of super expensive aromatic candles, I've been enjoying burning incense in the apartment. Clean up the house and light the incense, a short one so that it won't get too smoky. It's kind of relaxing. Since I'm too lazy to clean the little incense holder with ashes all around, I made my own incense burner. It has a cover with holes so the smoke slowly diffuses out and makes it safer to leave the incense burning. Just like perfume, incenses smell differently at different places. I bought a nice set of woody-smell incenses in Japan. They were smelling so fresh and almost sweet in the store but not in my apartment. My search for the perfect incense goes on....

Bruschetta

More awesome dishes from my boyfriend's repertoire. Tomato soup is not made from scratch but he added fresh garlic, which made a big difference. Mushroom was perfectly flavored with thyme and butter—cooked crunchy and tender just perfectly to sit on the crispy bread. Ricotta bruschetta seemed really simple but it was a good contrast with rich and flavor-intense mushroom.

Miko's Japanese Breakfast

Rummaging through my empty refrigerator, I managed to make an almost traditional Japanese breakfast.

Rice. Miso soup with Wakame seaweed and yellow onion. Natto (fermented soybean which my boyfriend can't even bear to smell) with dried Nori seaweed. Umeboshi (pickled plum). Omelette with mushroom and bolognese sauce and canadian bacon.

What I still miss is fresh egg over steamed rice (Tamago kake Gohan). You beat fresh egg and drop some soy sauce. Pour it over steamed rice. Japanese eggs are much larger and firmer. Yolk is more like a golden yellow. I don't really feel like eating eggs here. If anyone knows good, fresh eggs you can eat raw, please let me know!

Happy Days

Stage, static, a few actors, absurd. My theater experiences with these elements had never been good. So, even though I knew this play—reviewed by NY Times as the best Beckett's production— was promised to be a wonderful experience, I sat in my seat with little expectation. But the minute Fiona Shaw as Winnie started speaking with her darling Irish accent, I got completely mesmerized and flooded in the sad, happy, realistic, futuristic, desperate, cheerful, absurd world of this play.

Rough story is: Winnie, a woman no longer young, is embedded up to her “big bosom” in a mound of earth, “the Mother Earth symbol to end all other mother earth symbols”. She lives in a deluge of never-ending light from which there is no escape: even the parasol she unfolds at one point ignites, leaving her without protection. We learn that she has not always been buried in this way but we never discover how she came to be trapped so. - from Wikipedia

Imagine what an actor can do only with half of her torso. A bag stuffed with teeth blush, mirror, gun, lipsticks, calm is the only extra the actor can play with. Fiona absolutely used every inch of her acting skill and made this 1.5 hr play so original and upbeat. From my seat on the second flower balcony, I could clearly see her charming smile and every action she made with her arms, neck, head and face. In the next half of the play, the ground has covered all her body beside her head. Simply a marvelous one.

As great experience as the play was the Harvey Theater itself.

Mini Show

My work had a little exhibition of artwork and paintings done by our members. Invited by my CEO, I included some of my pottery pieces. Probably the first and last time my pieces get such exposure. Hopefully, I can have a private show with better stuff in the future!

Happy Ps!

Happy New Year! In its third year, we made an original holiday card. This year again, my boyfriend came up with an idea: Biggy P and Shorty P. The tall P is a birthday gift from my friend this past year. Coincidentally, my mom sent me the short, chubby P for my birthday too.

In case we missed to send you the card, here's
"Happy Holidays from M & M"