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Sunday, May 19, 2024

Memorial Metal

Surface of the metal from the NYC World Trade Center in the WTC Memorial of Napa.

Into the Wine Country

I know I am a child of the drought, because all greenery in the landscape here in California surprises me.

Orchid weekend

My orchids are blooming or have new bloom stalks... I guess they like the light they are getting in their new home!

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Succulent blossoms

Digital sensors are starting to represent this color properly... it used to be too vivid for the sensor to handle.

I had a wonderful trip with a less-than-wonderful end, so I'm trying to think of it selectively. It was my first vacation of the year, and I really needed to REST and have a chance of scene, by which I mean 'go to a place where I have no chores or obligations.'

As a gluten-intolerant vegetarian, I've struggled while traveling to eat well, but my past visits here plus research for this location paid off! I ate very well, even at a hotel without a hot-breakfast option for me.

My reference list for others like me and/or next time, in alphabetical order:

Appetito (gluten free, cauliflower crust pizzas!)
Furusato Sushi (there's a page of veggie sushi!)
Island Vintage Coffee (coffee drinks only)
Leo's Taverna (hard to find Greek stand with falafel and huge, fresh, crunchy Greek salads)
Lulu's Waikiki (omelettes, veggie nachos, gluten free pancakes, bar food, delicious mocktails)
Noi Thai Cuisine (amazing Thai food (with two pages of vegetarian options) in a glittering location on the top floor of the Royal Hawaiian Mall)
Tanaka Ramen (legit ramen, including a delicious vegan option with gluten-free kale noodles!)

Saturday, April 27, 2024

Summer Pink (24 April 2024)

No matter how overworked I am, I really do take time to stop and appreciate the flowers.

Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: Taru Mikoshi (Shrine)(21 April 2024)

Collage of three images of the shrine carried by volunteers in the parade

Yes, the finale of the parade is the Taru Mikoshi. For those of us who were watching the parade closer to Civic Center, the parade ended abruptly without the shrine, likely because the shrine takes about 140 people to carry it, and there is a big hill between the start of the parade and its finale. So the organizers wisely stashed the shrine near the top of the hill, and only had volunteers carry it for the last few blocks of the event.

Yes, I walked to Japan Center because I didn't want to miss it.

Yes, I sent one of these photos to my friends with the subtitle, "this is how sake is delivered to my house now."

Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: Dancers and Flag (21 April 2024)

There were multiple big flags, but this flag bearer was especially amazing. (Also at dodging power lines for both buildings and electric busses!). The lower photo shows what I mean about the Yosakoi dancers filling the street so effectively and festively.

Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: Kimono (21 April 2024)

There were multiple charming groups, including one from Hawaii, but I'm posting the photos with the showy kimono (because of course I am).

Cherry Blossom Festival Parade: Dancers (21 April 2024)

The Yosakoi dance teams from around North America were a cheerful highlight of both the stage shows and the Cherry Blossom parade: there were so man members of the teams and they worked so well together! They did a big musical number together! There is an art to taking up the street and filling it with movement and color, and they did this so well.