LA Ramen Week

May 30- June 6 here in LA was ramen week, which meant that participating ramen restaurants in the LA area were 50% off! 

Tori, Keri and I hit up Asa Ramen in Gardena last week to take advantage of an extremely authentic ramen experience. So authentic in fact, that I helped the hostess read some of the English names off the waiting list. Turns out I don't have to go too far for a traditional Japanese experience.

Asa Ramen is quaint, authentic and open late. They have a simple, traditional menu but boast an awesome happy-hour menu. The restaurant comes highly recommend from three huge ramen fans.

Kotteri Ramen x3,
Kate

The Latest...

Read

How El Nino will change the world's weather in 2014 

-The Guardian

Accomplishment 

Making it to yoga on time after a busy day at work.

Obsession

New hot pink nail polish 

Go Kings Go

a mini photo series of a few high school friends watching the stanley cup finals while eating teddy grahams. 

that's all.

go kings go,
kate

Funnies

I came across this video today and it made me laugh right out loud. Bill Cosby is probably my favorite human on television, while Jimmy Fallon comes in at a close second. Funny funny guys. 

Seeing Jimmy impersonating Bill had me on the floor. 

Happy Tuesday!

...and I do the moves like Bill Cosby does the dance moves...

Kate 

Dia de Campo

Monday night I met a new friend for dinner at new-ish, local restaurant. Dia de Campo is in the heart of downtown Hermosa Beach and boasts incredible Mexican food and a darling atmosphere. Over classic margaritas and "Big Ass Carnitas", Monica and I swapped stories about life, love and transitions.  It truly was a quintessential '20-something' evening. And a lovely one at that. 

The Latest...

Read

Facts about time to blow your mind

Accomplishment 

Waking up early to get a little more accomplished before work.

Obsession

My new delicate gold 'K' ring

27, 

Kate

Weekend Update

highlights included...

1- embracing a classic CA snack

2- running errands in our hot new ride

3-a new fence for my teeny tiny garden

4-an afternoon with my favorite four legged friend

5-fresh blueberry scones during a sunday night baking session

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-5-

hope you all had a great weekend as well!

xo,

kate

Takahashi Murakami @ The Orpheum

Contemporary Japanese artist Takahashi Murakami is in town promoting his first movie, Jellyfish Eyes. I went with a co-worker the other night to watch Mr. Murakami and Pico Iyer, a British born resident of Japan, sit down to talk about about Murakami's art, it's cultural implications as well as its reception in Japan and in the west. I found it all fascinating. You can watch the 90 min conversation online here if you're interested. The chat was put on through The Broad foundation.

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On our way to The Orpheum theater we passed a few downtown LA details as well as buildings with incredible architecture. I couldn't get enough. 

The classily stunning Orpheum Theater. 

Highly recommended if for no other reason than the interior architecture.

Beautiful.

Pico, translator (only for the difficult questions) & Takahashi. 

(please excuse the iphone camera)

Cross-cultural convos,

Kate

The Latest...

Motivation 

In wintertime, it’s very important to do aerobics, because you’re stiff. So I make my staff stretch. And now we say “hello” and “good night” and “thank you so much,” because the young generation cannot say hello. Everyone wants to keep quiet. But SMS is loud, and everybody is quiet and cannot look each other in the eye. It’s crazy. I hate that. You have to say hello. Hello. Hello!

-Takahashi Murakami on calisthenics and the kids these days

Accomplishment 

Making it through this week on little sleep.

Obsession

Our new car

(!!!!)

Chapter II: Los Angeles

So, it's been a while...

I started writing in Japan to document my life and share the culture with my family, friends, and anyone else who cared to read. I loved processing all that happened one blog post at a time, sharing my photos and making Japan seem tangible to my readers.

Since I last wrote, I have gone through all kinds of growth and transitions and have found myself a new person with a new perspective. I have found myself back in Los Angeles and have decided to tackle the City of Angeles just like I did Tokyo. 

Welcome to my view of Los Angeles.

Here we go.

From LA to Tokyo...and back again, 

Kate 

The Latest...

Motivation 

I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself.  

-Maya Angelou, RIP

Tune 

I like the way this is going -Eels

Obsession

Radiolab Podcasts