Hey hey, it’s the first year-end party of the year-end. I would have just called it a party, but Journey was in the holiday spirit already, and we all have plenty to forget, so it was billed as a year-ender (which is traditionally and literally ‘forget-the-year-meeting’). With Jimmy Dean, Carter of Mars and Woodrow also […]
Shibuya
- bar
- ...
Sakura, Shibuya (円山茶家 さくら)
First, a little train-themed digression. What’s funny about this photo? The cloth coat? The sensible shoes? The heavy stockings? No! The $1000 handbag! I’m being generous – they have $2k and $3k versions also, and this could be one of them. I hope I didn’t accidentally and unfairly underestimate this woman’s status. Without meaning to […]
- Italian
- ...
Manuel, Shibuya
Hola. Manuel Towers. Looks like a Portugese cottage in the middle of Shibuya, doesn’t it? First time I’ve had Portugese food, I think. If you can manage to plan ahead, you’ll want to go to the other Portugese restaurant in Shibuya, Bacari da Porta – it’s a cheap outpost of Yokohama’s fabulously popular Salone 2007. […]
- French
- ...
Zoogunzoo, Shibuya
You wanna see what a night-in-the-life is like? In addition to having a long and relaxed night on the turps with Swannie, I took pictures along the way. If I haven’t mentioned this before, I think of this blog as something I’ll be able to look back on with amusement when I’m in my dotage, so […]
- izakaya
- ...
Uoshin, Shibuya (魚真)
The Uoshins are a small chain of fish-focused higher-end izakaya, and this outlet is oddly located just across the street from the north side of Dogenzaka. It’s convenient for all your Dogenzaka needs (and I’ll refrain from including the other pictures I took in the neighborhood, OK?), and has the well-oiled reliability of a store […]
- bar
- ...
Sound Bar Lip, Shibuya
Have you ever noticed how there are all sorts of funky places hiding out in plane sight in the middle of Tokyo? You have? Everyone knows that? OK, never mind. After leaving Betterave, we flocked around for a bit. This bridal salon was next door, and they were still working on things even at 10:30 […]
Betterave, Shibuya
I had been meaning to call the Peafowl to go out during Golden Week. Specifically I was thinking of the 30th, but I started thinking I should rest between some of the other engagements and never called. Then Peacock called in the morning of the 30th, and with a smidgen of serendipity, all was set. […]
- Other treats
- ...
Chiyomatsu ramen, Shibuya (千代松)
Shinjuku is a noodle town. A spicy ramen noodle town. Geez, that worked for me on so many levels. Whaddya think, Sam? So every time I go to Shibuya, I got lost, OK? Yes, it’s a sign that I’m getting old (and this “Ooh, it’s your year” business isn’t helping). On this particular jaunt I […]
Han Hyang, Shibuya
How come people don’t write posts for yakiniku? Maybe because it’s always the same thing – plates of meat, cooked on a fire. Still, I liked this place, and also thought there were some interesting things worth mentioning. First off, it’s confusing from outside. The sign is HUGE, and it:s a neon shamrock on the […]
Cafe Mobo Moga, Shibuya
What the heck is a Mobo Moga? All African tribal jokes aside, this is a pleasant place to drink and dine. It was just late-afternoon snacks for us, which is not its best use. This dark stairway is also not its best side…but at least it gets you prepared for the dark, rustic woodiness that […]