FEB 13: HOSTING A PURIKURA STICKER PICTURES BOOTH & LUNAR NEW YEAR PARTY IN LA! SISEN & SELIA US CONCERT TOUR.
Save the date: I’m hosting a J-pop party on February 13, 2010 in Los Angeles! The infamous Yukiro and other familiar faces from this blog will be there… we hope to see you!
Celebrate the Lunar New Year on Saturday, February 13th at Kira Kira, a sparkling photo-sticker shop with all of the newest Purikura machines from Japan! Our special event will be hosted by Harajuku fashion and Cute Food blogger La Carmina. The DJs from Tune in Tokyo will also be there, spinning the best in J-Pop, J-Rock, and Global Dance Pop all night long.
There will also be prizes and giveaways sponsored by Hear Japan, Lime Crime, and Gloomth! (Photo of Carmina by Shichi; flyer by Greg.)
WHEN: Saturday, Feb 13th, 8PM – 12 AM. Free and all ages.
WHERE: Kira Kira is located at the Seasons Place shopping center in City of Industry (2nd floor, above Red Mango). There’s plenty of free parking.
RSVP on Facebook here.
Look forward to seeing you there!
The cauldron is bubbling, my friends… we have multiple magical adventures in the works for our time in LA and Vegas. Too bad we just missed GPKISM, Seileen and SiSeN’s stop in LA. Liz from LA Weekly wrote an awesome report on the concert (and kindly let me post a few photos, taken by Shannon Cottrell). “We’ve noticed that J-goth has developed its own devoted following in the U.S., one that’s separate from the domestic goth scene, but isn’t necessarily that different […] It’s this strange amalgamation of now-vintage musical elements with a contemporary flair that makes J-goth so appealing to a younger generation of fans.” Check out the rest of her review here. Were you at the event, or the recent X-Japan music video shoot? What did you think?
Young author/illustrator Realm Lovejoy interviewed me for her blog and drew a charming image of me in maid cafe cosplay! I love the little bento nibbles in the background, and my ever-present earless teddy bear cat. You can read the interview on her site and pasted below.
1) Thank you for joining us, La Carmina! What is CUTE YUMMY TIME about? And what are bentos?
Imagine opening up your lunch to find Hello Kitty or Pikachu made out of rice, eggs and ham! Cute Yummy Time is inspired by Japanese “charaben” bentos, or box lunches that are arranged to look like cute faces. I created my own characters — including one based on my Scottish Fold cat Basil Farrow — and made recipes that focus on healthy, Western ingredients. You can find out more and order Cute Yummy Time here.
2) I enjoy making bentos! I’ll have to try some of your recipes out. What are some examples of how you adjusted bento-making to suit the western palate?
My cookbook builds on the Japanese trend by “thinking outside the bento box.” There are 72 recipes for all occasions: breakfast, meals, desserts, holidays. You don’t need any special bento equipment to make the cute faces (almost everything can be decorated in under 10 minutes). And I focus on healthy ingredients that are easily found in all Western grocery stores; recipes include a baby chick egg salad wrap, cow-faced cheeseburgers and hobgoblin dark chocolate cupcakes. Cute Yummy Time is a whimsical new approach to cooking that all ages can enjoy.
3) You also have a book called CRAZY, WACKY THEME RESTAURANTS: TOKYO. It sounds like something I want to bring next time I visit Japan! Can you tell us about the book and some of your favorite wacky restaurants?
In Tokyo, a theme dining experience isn’t complete unless you’re molested by monsters, attacked by ninjas, or charmed by cross-dressing maids! I endured and photographed over 30 such cafes — and wrote about my ridiculous adventures in Crazy, Wacky Theme Restaurants: Tokyo. My favorites
are Christon Café (which features church relics and a “disco Jesus”) and Alice in Wonderland (you’ll see how my friends cosplayed as the characters). I also visited the haunted jail restaurant, Alcatraz ER, with Andrew Zimmern for an episode of Bizarre World (airing this May on Travel Channel!).
4) What aspects of the Harajuku culture inspired you and drew you in? And what exactly is the Harajuku scene like?
As a teen, I remember walking through Harajuku and feeling like I was on Mars. I love the neo-Rococo fashions, cute-meets-Gothic aesthetics, towering Visual Kei hair and theatrical makeup… there’s an exhilarating, experimental pulse heard all through this district. I post street snaps and store photos from Harajuku in this section of my blog.
5) You’ve got a popular blog and you have been on TV such as The Today Show and NHK, as well as writing articles for CNN. What’s your advice to other writers on building an effective platform to promote themselves?
My blog and YouTube channel are ongoing portfolios for my creative work. I often land writing and TV gigs when people find my site and dig the spooky-cute adventure palace I’ve built. Social networks and blogging are great ways to be in touch with readers and make connections. Be personal, reach out, write diligently about what excites you — and opportunities will naturally unfold.
CUTE YUMMY TIME can be ordered here. CRAZY, WACKY THEME RESTAURANTS can be ordered here.
We hope to see you at our Chinese New Year & Purikura party on Feb 13! Please mark your calendars, RSVP and tell your LA friends!
Song of the Day #299: Patti Smith Group – Free Money (Stockholm 1976)
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50 Comments
Ah! There’s too much happening on the 13th! Dave McKean is having an opening at Billy Shire Gallery as well.
Getting to see X-Japan for the first time, I was a bit star struck. :P Usually I’m one too poo poo such attitudes since I grew seeing famous people around. I had the great fortune of getting a VIP pass so I was able to see the performances for the video at eye level and not through a TV monitor on the street level. (and to be in the back as they did their costume changes. hehe. ) I know there’s been some criticism of X-Japan not making any new songs, but doesn’t every band re-release their older, most popular songs in the form of best of’s? just that this was in the form of new music videos. :P I think it was a good move since they had to indefinitely cancel their US tour due to medical issues.
Ah wow, you’re lucky!! I think they made a smart move too, especially since a lot of people outside Japan are only learning of them now. It’s a double-edged sword… gotta please the hardliners, but also reach out to a new audience.. ><
I was a bit histrion struck. :P Commonly I’m one too poo poo such attitudes since I grew sight famous group around. I had the large lot of feat a VIP overtake so I was competent to see the performances for the video at eye raze and not finished a TV shielder on the street dismantle. (and to be in the punt as they did their dress changes.
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Jack Brosnan
Vancouver Flowers
I love all the shirts, so hard to decide on which one to get! xo
Thanks so much!! Basil Farrow is just happy if you get one with his face on it!
awww I’m all the way in NC… T_T
now that Im broke again >_<
mmmwah! most *beautiful* being
DDDD: I wanna go to the party!!! Dammit! I wouldn’t be able to make it to LA in time >_>+++ Grawrg! I wanna meet Yukiro! He’s so frickin pretty! ;D
ahahahh Yukiro is the big draw of the party! :) Next time, hope you can make it!
Kiwamu looks so… glad to be there… XD
haha yeah!
Ah! There's too much happening on the 13th! Dave McKean is having an opening at Billy Shire Gallery as well.
Getting to see X-Japan for the first time, I was a bit star struck. :P Usually I'm one too poo poo such attitudes since I grew seeing famous people around. I had the great fortune of getting a VIP pass so I was able to see the performances for the video at eye level and not through a TV monitor on the street level. (and to be in the back as they did their costume changes. hehe. ) I know there's been some criticism of X-Japan not making any new songs, but doesn't every band re-release their older, most popular songs in the form of best of's? just that this was in the form of new music videos. :P I think it was a good move since they had to indefinitely cancel their US tour due to medical issues.
I was a bit histrion struck. :P Commonly I'm one too poo poo such attitudes since I grew sight famous group around. I had the large lot of feat a VIP overtake so I was competent to see the performances for the video at eye raze and not finished a TV shielder on the street dismantle. (and to be in the punt as they did their dress changes.
***************************
Jack Brosnan
Vancouver Flowers
… molested by monsters? Lol XD
I love all the shirts, so hard to decide on which one to get! xo
awww I'm all the way in NC… T_T
now that Im broke again >_<
mmmwah! most *beautiful* being
DDDD: I wanna go to the party!!! Dammit! I wouldn't be able to make it to LA in time >_>+++ Grawrg! I wanna meet Yukiro! He's so frickin pretty! ;D
ahahahh Yukiro is the big draw of the party! :) Next time, hope you can make it!
Thanks so much!! Basil Farrow is just happy if you get one with his face on it!
Ah wow, you're lucky!! I think they made a smart move too, especially since a lot of people outside Japan are only learning of them now. It's a double-edged sword… gotta please the hardliners, but also reach out to a new audience.. ><
Kiwamu looks so… glad to be there… XD
There’s no way I can get to LA…I wish I could watch the party from home lol.
guess I’ll just settle for my own lunar celebration at home
hope you have fun! ^-^ I’m sure it will be Awsome!
Yeahhh it’s fun to celebrate Lunar New Year! Maybe get some Asian snacks and wear red!
We’ll have tons of photos and coverage for you. xoxo
… molested by monsters? Lol XD
a party in a purikura shop! excellent idea ^^
Yessss I can’t wait! If you have any LA friends, please let them know!
There's no way I can get to LA…I wish I could watch the party from home lol.
guess I'll just settle for my own lunar celebration at home
hope you have fun! ^-^ I'm sure it will be Awsome!
Yeahhh it's fun to celebrate Lunar New Year! Maybe get some Asian snacks and wear red!
We'll have tons of photos and coverage for you. xoxo
haha yeah!
a party in a purikura shop! excellent idea ^^
city of industry is not quite los angeles, as it is a bit of a drive :) there’s a lot going on on the 13th… so it’s a maybe for me, _but_ i’ve spread the word along. :)
haha it’s not that far… it’s just off the freeway, 20-40 min depending on where you are. Ahhh hope the maybe turns to a yes!
This sounds soooooo freaking awesome! Dang it now I really want to go! Ahhh but I have to work on Science Olympiad and Piano CM T_T. I really hope you’ll host another one sometime!
Awwwwwww tell your friends at least… hope they can come in your spirit!
city of industry is not quite los angeles, as it is a bit of a drive :) there's a lot going on on the 13th… so it's a maybe for me, _but_ i've spread the word along. :)
This sounds soooooo freaking awesome! Dang it now I really want to go! Ahhh but I have to work on Science Olympiad and Piano CM T_T. I really hope you'll host another one sometime!
Awwwwwww tell your friends at least… hope they can come in your spirit!
haha it's not that far… it's just off the freeway, 20-40 min depending on where you are. Ahhh hope the maybe turns to a yes!
Yessss I can't wait! If you have any LA friends, please let them know!
So psyched! This party is gonna rock! I’m hoping I can go, plus, it’s my birthday on the 11th! XD
Oh by the way, can you RSVP even if you can’t go at the last minute?
Absolutely — you can RSVP and if you can’t make it, no worries! I really hope you can make it… perhaps there will be a special birthday prize for you. XD
So psyched! This party is gonna rock! I'm hoping I can go, plus, it's my birthday on the 11th! XD
Oh by the way, can you RSVP even if you can't go at the last minute?
Absolutely — you can RSVP and if you can't make it, no worries! I really hope you can make it… perhaps there will be a special birthday prize for you. XD
I’m so happy for you for all the successes you have! And I really wish I could join your event. It sounds super awesome.
Thank you! I really appreciate that!
I'm so happy for you for all the successes you have! And I really wish I could join your event. It sounds super awesome.
Thank you! I really appreciate that!