Visiting the Sensouji Temple: Asakusa, Tokyo
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Wow, the last time I was here in Asakusa was 10 years ago with Emiliano. Then I was 10 pounds lighter with big afro and Emi had big mustache and it was our first time to Tokyo together. I decided to re visit the Temple and fun alley filled and lined up with Japan’s traditional snacks, restaurants and souvenir shops! Daniel is off to Tennis match so I’m off to Asakusa on Early Sunday morning, the perfect thing to do before all the shops are open in Tokyo. The temple’s open to public from 6:00 am and the alley is open from 8:00 am.
20 minutes from Shibuya by car or maybe 10 minutes by Subway, The Asakusa is a perfect place to visit if you need a quick fix of good old Tokyo. Ladies with Kimonos are everywhere and also there’s a beautiful temple called ” Sensouji”, which was built 1300 years ago. Two fishermen caught the Kannon statue in their fishing nest in the Sumida River in Tokyo then and this was the genesis of Sensouji temple. Now the temple attracts thousands of people daily.
The perfect scene greets me! Me getting out of the taxi.. Love the driver’s outfit! Below the drivers are waiting to hitch some riders. See the split toe shoes were NOT invented by Martin Margiela! They wear two different heights. One right below the knee and one up to the ankle. The closure is hook and bar. Cool, ha?
The entrance to the Alley. You will walk through all the shops and snacks then it will lead you to the Temple. The fun begins here!
Bean snack shop and Keda Shop. Keda goes up to many hundreds of dollars! I love the last one I am holding. It reminds me of Vivianne Westwood’s Geisha shoe collection with wooden platform.
Kibi-Dango: millet and sticky rice ball with sweet syrup or the black sesame. These are delicious! Below are Mocci with Sweet red bean inside…
Chopsticks and more chopsticks. They are so pretty…
“Osenbe”, the rice crackers. The good thing to come here to buy them is that they are made in the spot and you can taste warm and fresh of everything!
It was early morning, so some of the shops have not opened up yet and the store front is just pretty as Asakusa. You know the “Sakura”, cherry blossom is the flower of Japan.
There are many fan shops on the alley and also side little streets. They go from $10.00 each to hundresds of dollars depends on what’s involved and who made them and so on. You will see many many folks in Japan still use the fans on the street. I mean you need it. How hot is here now?!!!
This is kind of a Japanese waffle maker except that is a more like a cake form with sweet red beans inside. The shape usually comes as gold fish but this looks more like square..!?
Finally made to the entrance to the temple! It was getting packed with visitors!
So, You know what this is? These are the fortunes of visitors! Here I show you what you need to get your fortune read! The first fortune was not fabulous for me so I tried for the second one and the second one wasn’t all that good either, but when I tied my OK fortunes to this metal bar, I realized that I was overcoming my almost misfortune by letting it go from me. I felt much relived and good about it!
This is the fortune box with thousands of small drawers containing millions of fortunes. Pay 100 yen first.
Then grab and shake well this box where contains wood sticks that just look like chopsticks. Each stick has number written on it and you will go to that drawer that matches the same number on the wood stick.
Here me grabbing one stick out of little hole. What’s my fortune number..!!! It’s…. number SIX!!!
Like I said earlier, Don’t get caught up on your fortune. I felt good leaving my fortune tied to this metal bar here. I felt I overcome whatever that was.
Now it’s time to pray and get blessed. Let’s go get some incense.
Praying for everyone and everything. Yes You! For you too! And the smoke of incense will bless you. I inhaled it too! I feel much blessed…
Getting inside of Temple. You know it’s Sunday morning and there are lots of people here. It would have been much more tranquil during the week day, but hey I’m squeezing Asakusa for a good break from on going shopping in steamy Tokyo. The fresco on the ceiling below…
Hustle bustle coming through…!
More praying and wishing and asking for forgiving…. I go for this one too! Either that is at the church or the temple, I think it’s all on the same human behaviors… Interesting… Isn’t it?
Leaving the temple and walking down on a quite street, many things cross my mind. Mom, dad, brother, Emi, Gael, Suzy, Mom in law, Dad in law, Beppe, Dani, Tania, Tamara, grandma, Yoonhee, aunt, uncle, family at work, work, boss, friends, myself and my and our life together… It was a short visit all worth to do. Next time you are in Tokyo, you must visit the temple in Asakusa and the alley to the temple. You will love it for lively old traditional Tokyo and also little time for yourself and your loved ones…
Seoul Story 3: Walking Myung Dong
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OK, Come with me to walk Myung Dong!!!!!!!
It has been years for me to stroll Myung Dong again. Hustle bustle of million office buildings, clothing shops and all the street vendors you can imagine. It’s the Mecca where Korean consumerism truly breathes. It was then steal cut sweet yam fries in newspaper cones and how many of them I had? Haha! But now I see the sweet yam is replaced by this amusingly fried potato chips on a stick! I find them fascinating. They look quite beautiful to me. ” Ajumma” (: a middle aged married woman usually with couple kids) below overseas her “fried” table. Very typical scene in Korea!
A cute little shop called Silk Button, Everything here is made out of Silk covered buttons! And…cousin Yoonhee.
More street food vendors. Oden on stick, ttuck bocki and more… Ahh nostalgia..! This so reminds me of my junior high’s… And cheap street shoes
Just like Tokyo and HK, sea of signs greets you in Myung dong. Wait until the night . They will all lit neon lights…!
More cheap high street fashion of Seoul. Wow the street is getting really packed!
Forever 21 in Myung dong. Entire just hired greet the customers. Did you know Forever 21 is a Korea brand?
You know Emi and I have been really embracing the good old vinyls these days. It became Emi’s weekend routine to find some great albums, which means good music, good cover or good anything you can imagine. Now I try here in Seoul. I love how this place has this mini stools in various colors and height where you can put down your heavy tush. Haha. I got a few my nostalgic vinyls from my high school years like “Lee Mun Se”, ” Lee Seng Chul” and also one album called ” Thank God it’s Friday!” which comes with fancy 3 vinyls inside from this place right here. tHe shop is located on under passage to Shin Se ghe department store in Myung Dong.
It’s now the time for ‘Shaved Ice=Bing Su’!!! Yoonhee finds this place on the second floor while I was taking the photo of potato chips. Nice and Spacious with delicious Bing Su that comes with Red Mango on top! Yum Yum !!
This was mine. Grapefruit and Tangerine Sorbet over the cool shaved ice and shaved banana and to top it off, red Mango!!
This was Yoonhee’s. Green tea Ice cream over the bed of Shaved ice with toasted Almond, sliced banana soft cubes of Mocci covered with toasted Soy bean flower…and Red Mango Frozen Yogurt. Mega Yum! A hot day? No problem with one of this this!
Pretty much Myung Dong is a big melting pot of everything. People with different point of view, street life, food, shops, finance offices, embassies, coffee shops and so much more. It’s a place to definitely check out if you are in Seoul!!
Right next block to the busy Empire state building in Manhattan, there is this great Men’s hat shop , JJ Hat Center. But what really attracted me was really the sign of ” Borsalino”, the high end Italian Hat House above the boutique’s sign. Since 1875, Borsalino hats have been loved by many Italian men and celebrities as well we by many others around the world till today. There are about 10 boutiques in Italy through out the country and one in Paris but also many tongue in chick Men’s shops would be carrying Borsalino worldwide. www.borsalino.com
Since 1911, JJ Hat center has been carrying Borsalino’s exquisite hats and other names like Kangol and Stetson, and the boutique still keeps the old fixtures and carries traditional charms. And I love it!!!!!!
Walking in. Tall ceiling and chandeliers do enough of first impression to me. Very nice!
It feels like almost a library. It’s a nice feeling. I feel the beautiful manly vibe in here. Properly dressed Sales Staffs, old posters and hat station for steaming and brushing, 3 way mirrors along the solid Oak shelving. Very cool.
Emi trying one on. What do you think? This one costs about $275.00 Borsalino.
From left: The steamer, Hat molder, brushes…
Borsalino Today.
Feeling all dressed up? Now go eat at 21Club NYC.
Lacasapark Spins?
Filed Under For the Weekend, Music, Shops, oldes but goodies | Leave a Comment
What a great day we had today! A good day spent in Manhattan from vintage Vinyl shopping at Academy Record ( www.Academy-records.com 212-242-3000) right near my office to ending up buying Stanton Turn tables ( yeah I know it’s not Technics. Not yet), a mixer and 2 kick ass Mackie speakers at the Guitar Center! We got totally kick out of looking through old vinyls. I mean all the awesome flare they had then!
They start from $0.50 to $ 5.00 maybe the $8.00. Then Academy also carries vinyls that are rare and important would cost you up to couple hundred bucks. A great store! We got about 20 + vinyls today and what’s after? Headed out to the Guitar Center. We were buying the turn tables and speakers. Woo- Hoo!!
A couple pics of boys on a way to the Guitar store. Today there was a soccer game, 2010 Champions League Final - Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich. We only peeked through a window of a random Irish bar. haha. Dunno yet who won.
Now at the Guitar shop!!! You know what? We rocked our soul out at the Guitar Center. Who knew the Guitar shop was all that fun? I mean forget about Chukee Cheese. Life is way Way better at the Guitar Center!
Hahahahahaha, Are you jealous that I’m rocking the triple deck key boards here? You know I do play piano quite awesomely, so this is not just all act. But, the Miu Miu sunglasses? Yes. I thought it would help! Whatever, I had fun with it!
I didn’t realize Gael’s Tee shirt had record graphic on till now! What a cool kid…! Honestly we couldn’t get enough out of all the key boards and instrumental toys from the Guitar shop. We were cruising, playing and jamming(? haha) with even other professionals at the shop. It was a hell out of time there we had!
What’s next… Hmmm We are ITCH to plan a dance party now under” Lacasapark” with one of the hottest DJs in Italy, GiGi. A dear friend of ours and brother of Beppe, who is coming to NY in June for Beppe’s concert. Will see. Brewing an idea!!!!!!!! Find me jamming on the triple deck keyboards with GiGi if that happens!
2 minutes out of our 20+ good old new Vinyls.
Good Windows Good Dresses: NYC
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Anthropology at Chelsea market, NYC, Not my favorite brand ( too cute for me) but not bad skirt Ha?
Bloomingdale’s, Soho, NYC, These are quite good!
Everyone! Spring is here! The Garden will be open, there will be bubbly proseccos! Come, browse, hang with friends and shop till drop!
Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivianne Westwood, Zucca, pieces from the turn of the century, Yves saint Laurent, Gucci by Tom Ford, Awesome Helmut Lang moto pants by Helmut lang ( remember?) and so many more mint condition vintage pieces from 50’s-80’s (Talk about Evan Picone!!!!)
It opens at 6:00 pm. April 23, Friday. Cash/Check
Creative Overload: Leaving Berlin
Filed Under Architecture, Art, Berlin, Design, Fashion, Shops, Street, Travel | 4 Comments
5 days in Berlin. It’ is so not enough time to do everything. The City has so much to offer. I still haven’t been to a museum like “Bauhaus Archive”, or a swanky Bar like “Newton bar”. But it was enough time to clear my head out, catch up with Daniel. A short visit but I was able to say hi to Alexa, Zoe and Teo. And most of all, I got to finally see Berlin. The City creative overload. It was a trip so worth to do and it was definitely a breath of fresh air to lift my busy and hectic life back in New York. A Creative Lift.
Promising myself to come back to Berlin in this summer with Emi, here are some of my souvenirs from the city I felt in love with.
From the top; BerlinTegel Airport, color inspiration in the city, the alley, Daniel’s home, beautiful public space, million posters, vintage shops, supermarket Keiser’s, 1950’s cosmetic salon turned into a cool bar on then Communist marching alley, curry dog, the theater experience, old beer bar, a tasting meal with Kelly, amazing and organic kid playgrounds, beautiful hotel: Casa Camper, Oberholz, progressive design, kicking Graffiti, the Berlin wall, the train rides, the lamp and gallery level shops, the Mauerpark Flea and people watching, amazing Vietnamese food in the city, the view of Mitte and Jaehee in Berlin. And more…
Shopping Mitte, Berlin: The best list, the most inspiring.
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The roofs of Mitte.
The best street so far was Mulackstrasse. Every store on this street felt rather like a real good Gallery. Beautiful space, progressive product and some amazing Art pieces either they were done by the creative owner of the shop or from somewhere in far east. Do a little tour of some of the best shops in Mitte with me!
The FourStore, Mulackstrasse 12. Clothing and touch of Interior. I ‘m quite obsessed with this genius lamp! Yarn, screen and wire lamp.
God I love this lamp. Every angle is a beauty. Also check out the interior site of this store www.llotllov.de
Simple and Beautiful court yard. By the way, Many buildings and shops have quite amazing court yards and glass windows for the view. Love it.
Smaller cute one. 280 Euro.
BUUTERFLYSOULFIRE. The next door to fourstore. www.butterflysoulfire.com
Start with ceiling. Stacked card stocks create beautiful pattern and texture. It reminded me the work of an artist, Tara Donovan.
Ahhh, Emi, How much do you love it? Store, SCHWARZHOGERZEIL, Mulackstrasse 28 www.schwarzhogerzeil.de
This shop carries bit of all good classics like : Hope, Isabel Marant, Tsumori Chisato and more. We have seen pink and green play off here a lot. In this shop was olive Green and hit of Fushia.
Another lovely court yard behind.
The most happiest and trippiest store of all. Starstyling Shop. Mulackstrasse 4 www.starstyling.net
This shop reminds me of the Factory, Woodie Allen, Lime Light and Liquid Sky.
I got an air sprayed fringe necklace for the summer. Oh my little Berlin Souvenir, I love you!!
And for the last but not for the least, actually my Best and absolute FAVORITE store on Mulackstrasse, 34. Of course I couldn’t take any pics in my favorite shop. Simply not allowed. Thank you…… That’s how it usually works.
But If I explain it to you. The shop feels like Fellini is about to shoot a movie of Yve Saint Laurent in his caftan in Morroco in his hippie glam days. Check out my only one photo from the street. The nylon puffer woven hammock with velvet trim and leather straps is the top of the top. Whoouuuu!! It is so glamours and hippie, I just can’t take it!
Coming out from the block, I felt relieved and cleansed. Just like when I saw an amazing movie. And both Kelly and I were laughing. It must have been the endorphin level had gone up from this ridiculously fabulous eye shopping.
INSPIRED…!!!!
REPOP, Brooklyn
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Oh What a beautiful day it was today! Sunny and warm! We took a nice walk around in our neighbor, Clintonhill.
Time to time, we love to stop by at REPOP, 68 Washington Avenue. Honestly we are bit bored with all that mid century stuffs for a while now, but Repop has a good balance of things that are also from farms, eccentric artist’s studios or Dr’s office that add bit more of different style to a whole mix. /www.repopny.com/
Trying on a hat. I was loving this mirror image of the reflection of the back ground wall and all the interesting objects surrounding. We were laughing at coincident of my sweater vest and the hat…! Haha
Love the feather and the cross embroidery with metal thread and velvet applique. It’s quite beautiful.
Sorry to cat lovers… But I must admit that I am very fascinated by everything and anything that is to do with Laboratories. This is preserved Cat’s nerve system in a glass case.
Awesome painting. It’s a gorgeous painting. Faces. Colors. Love the little boy’s blazer becomes the wall paper or the wall becomes his blazer. Either way, I love this one.
I really like Repop’s sudden twists on their styling. There would be enough pieces of real taxidermies, then they would throw a couple of sculpted faux taxidermies in the mix. It just gets better that way.
A Day of Manhattan: Soho, Nolita and Lower East side
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It has been a while for us to walk around the Manhattan like we did today. I work way too much during the week, so I don’t mind just ” being” at cozy home with Emi and Gael on the weekends.
But the weather was pretty nice today( 48 F) and we have a long weekend a head of us, so we wanted to give a shot at Manhattan to run a couple of errand and also just enjoy the city. Wow, Soho over the weekend is way too crowded now. I don’t see any more beautiful people and feel that special energy I used to see and feel. It’s all shops and more shops and way too many people.
Nolita is maybe bit better. Still there are many small boutiques believe in doing what they are doing carrying on making dress shirts, selling vintages, one of kind bridal gowns or selling crapes. From Nolita we had walked to lower east side. Katz was still standing ( I thought they were closing?) and Las Venus was still there ( this used to be our weekly stop in back in the days) and what else, oh the Sombrero Mexican place where you can get frozen margarita to go in a paper cup so no one knows what you are sipping on the street is still there too.
Starting with stopping by at Grand Daisy Bakery , 73 Sullivan Street , Soho ( for some reason, I thought all these years this bakery was called Sullivan street bakery, but it’s not!)
Yum yum yum, love how everything is handled here in this shop. Famous for their bread and Pizza. The thoughtful thin and crispy crust, bold and simple flavor of core ingredient and even the paper they serve the pizza in. Just divine and just perfect! This is zucchini pizza.
Potato and rosemary= The perfection!
The one and only Hardware store in the heart of Soho. Spring Street. I’m always amazed by this store for the fabulous look but also the stubborn spirit of keep it going. I’m always surprised this has not taken by Disney store or something yet.
Some shopping at “Inven.Tory” , 237 Lafayette street, Nolita. Good menswear. They had good sale going on.
A charming dress shirt maker on Elizabeth street, Nolita. Elizabeth street is one of my favorite in Nolita. Famous high end vintage shop Resurrection is on this and also other many small businesses that make this street more special! I realized the shop ” Zero” was closed down on Elizabeth street.
Always great double RL window. Mr. Lauren, thank you for not making every store of yours so big and enornous. This one in Nolita is just perfect!
Emiliano’s favorite shop in Nolita. “In God we trust”, 265 Lafayette street; a great all American/speak easy/army navy vintage store. They have great selection of vintage boots and jackets. Very authentic and Menswear focused. Emi got a nice pair of old motorcycle boots. Very sexy!
The friendly shop helper offered Gael to try this vintage ski helmet. haha, Gael thought he looked like a mushroom. I love the double layered strap details. It does look bit too tall on him. Baby bello?
Going back tomorrow to see “Urs Fischer” exhibition. Can’t wait!
New Favorite store found in Lower east side. ” Assembly NY”, 174 Ludlow street. //assemblynewyork.com/ What a great store! Mix of re-worked vintage such as over dyed with added or reworked detail. Vintage uniform inspired great pants and more pants. Some imported designer’s. All mixed and work great together. Love it!
To end a long fun city day? Good coktails ( all cocktails are done with Korean Soju and they are delicious) and good Korean food at Bonjoo, 107 1st Avenue, East Vilage.
