AN EXPERIMENTAL LIFE
Los Angeles in December isn't much different than August. It's fairly warm (for me, a Northerner), and comfortable with little more than a t-shirt. The vegan food, Korean food, and Mexican truck food are just as good. Great deals on clothes, too. The Ocean air in nearby Orange County is still lovely - though brisk at night (definitely need a coat or thick hoodie). Cigars and Hawaiian Beer, … [Read more...]
This time, I had a different take on LA. I really liked the fabric streets near the garment district for their international feel (like Jackson Heights in Queens), and the wholesale stuff in that area (I bought a fashionable gift there for the wife). Little Tokyo was fun, also - I ate Japanese ramen and green tea gellato, and browsed the stores. Both of these areas were small, but I had a good … [Read more...]
Tandoor at 4612 Market was fantastic. I ate there twice. Try the Vegetable Biryani and definitely have the Kher. The masala tea was very nice, too. … [Read more...]
I found it a bit warm for my blood, and I really didn't like the traffic - definitely a car town on steroids, but had a good meal in Koreatown. Going to spend more time there soon. … [Read more...]
An explanation of what I think makes New Yorkers interesting, and New York a lively, fun place to be. And also to live - we're planning on relocating there next year. … [Read more...]
We scouted San Francisco as a possible place to live. For us, it's about a lot of things - the mass transit, the culture (and cultural attitude), my wife's business (I can work anywhere), and access to lots and lots of things and more and more. San Francisco was in the running with Portland OR, Chicago IL, and New York City. We also considered Philadelphia, Seattle, and Minneapolis, but these were … [Read more...]
I love Portland. I like Chicago, as a friend. New York City is enthralling and wonderful - center of the civilized world, but Portland is the country's heart - not because its representative, but because it's what a heart is actually like. I say that as not a sentimentalist, but yes as someone in love with the city. I've spent about a week in Portland, and here's what I find: It's incredibly … [Read more...]
There are some nice things there. The town being ringed by mountains is wonderful - to be able to look up and see mountains all the time. The weather is pleasant. Image via Wikipedia But I was expecting something that wasn't there. The walkable downtown area is not a livable, urban downtown area. It's mainly a district for tourists or locals to go spend some money on a fancy dinner. But … [Read more...]
Image via Wikipedia "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." -- Mark Twain Speaking of which, the wife is going to Las Vegas for a convention. I'm jazzed about that - it's a great opportunity for her. I detest Vegas - I've been enough. I'm looking at Portland for my next flight. But also planning another trip to Korea. … [Read more...]
![New York City (taken by Daniel] from the Hudson 022](http://digriz.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/New-York-City-taken-by-Daniel-from-the-Hudson-022-100x100.gif "New York City (taken by Daniel] from the Hudson 022")
Went all over NYC again - well, lower Manhattan - everything below Central Park. This time went to Queens (Astoria), too, and made another visit to Jersey City. Wish I'd had time to visit Flushing, but just to see it. If I lived in Queens, it'd be Astoria most likely. Still, like Manhattan far better. What I saw of Brooklyn on the way to the airport last time didn't impress me. This time, we … [Read more...]
Fifth or Sixth time here, at least. Hotel Burnham. Wow! What a great hotel, and right in the loop. Explored the North side. Liked most of the areas off the red line. Andersonville was great, if kind of awkward, but Edgewater sucked, other than Francesca's where I had dinner - that was good. The area off the Fullerton exit by DePaul, I liked a lot. In fact, stumbled past the Apollo Theater and … [Read more...]
How many wonderful things can I say about Vancouver. It's a bit like Seattle, but I like it a lot better. Why? The trains. They just built a new line, so unmanned subway trains are in lots of great places. The West End was my favorite. I got myself out of the tourist district by the water. That was awful. Lots of overpriced ... tourist stuff. But the West End was superb - Korean and Japanese … [Read more...]
Of course, I've been to Dallas many, many times. This time I took my brother-in-law for his last trip while visiting the US. Had desert, went to Book Depository (he wanted to see it), and spent the rest of the time in Koreatown. Hyatt Regency Dallas. … [Read more...]
Lizards! I love the lizards. Went snorkeling again - liked that. Out by the wrecks, though, the waves were particularly choppy. Takes an athelete to fight them. The reefs were better. Dessert at Hyatt Regency Aruba was The Mediterranean. It was fantastic. Before you rush off to your Hyatt and get one, make sure they're using pistachios, and that they're using cardamom, and the olive oil cake, and … [Read more...]
Stayed three nights in the Hyatt Regency Jersey City, and two in the Grand Hyatt New York. Loved the ferry across the Hudson River. Better than the tour boats. Coffee, smoothie, and roasted nuts outside in Financial District (Wall Streeet area) was fantastic. Ukrainian food. Italian food. Chinatown. Hated Times Square. Didn't like the tourist zones - Wall Street itself for instance. Walked … [Read more...]
Went to the Plaza. Saw the dragonboats waiting for the festival on the river. Introduced my brother to barbecue and to creme brulet. Hyatt Regency Crown Center. He thought KC was quite impressive compared to Oklahoma City. True, but he hadn't seen New York City yet. … [Read more...]
Been here more than once. Driving through to Kansas City for cheap flights. Went to Old Town, though - a trolley ride from the Hyatt Regency Wichita. That was good. Took my brother to an old-fashioned stage show, mostly to get him a photo with the actors. :) Introduced him to hummus. … [Read more...]
This is the fourth or fifth visit. Found the North Side! Ate at Pick Me Up Cafe on 3400 N. Clark. Belmont exit off the red line has coffee shops, book stores, vegetarian food. Spent a day there. Don't like corporate food, but liked Potbelly. Not Giordanos. The red line is great, but someone I know calls it the NARL. Nasty Ass Red Line. Still, I like it. Chicago Hyatt Regency. … [Read more...]
I just recovered three Korean pop songs I used to like about 10 years ago when I lived there. Not a big fan of pop, but you adapt to what's available. :) 돌아와-클론 (Clon, "Come Back"): I like the energy when the woman in this one starts to sing, and the underlying spirit of it, the warm communal singing, is very Korean. The video is bizarre, but not silly. This one is my favorite of the … [Read more...]
Waikiki. I'm not a big fan of the tourist zone - there was a Denny's! Snorkeling was great. First attempt at surfing - I made it to my knees. :) I love the ocean, but salt water pickles me raw. Liked the Korean restaurant. Hyatt Regency Waikiki - the hospitality was unparalleled. … [Read more...]
Great subway system (actually elevated train, but I call it a subway). Breakfast at Yolk twice - fantastic. Fun area along Wabash in the look, under the L-train. Chinatown there, compared to Chinatown everywhere else I've been, leaves a lot to be desired. Yuck. Even the food was atrocious. Saw some brutal police action - didn't like it. They seem more threatening and pugilistic that yankee … [Read more...]
Great chowder. Love the ocean, of course. Downtown is fantastic. Good coffee. Grand Hyatt Seattle. … [Read more...]
Lee Jung Hyun is one of the most unique and creative pop artists in Korea. She developed her own style and made the already interesting pop culture there even more interesting. If Michael Jackson, Elvis, and Madonna became one person, they might start to measure up to Jung Hyun. The embedded videos don't carry over from the old blog, but are easily found in Youtube. … [Read more...]
For now, anyway. They fixed the power on my street this evening, so we're finally off the generator and can turn on all the lights. We took quite a hit - this area lost so many old trees, literally ripped out of the ground in some cases, by the ice storm - it was a mini Tunguska. Oklahoma gets hit with an ice storm usually every December and February, because it's not cold enough for the water … [Read more...]
Image via Wikipedia Personally, I find Vegas boring. If you don't want to drink, gamble, or patronize prostitutes, what else is there? I know, I know there's nature out there - canyon, desert, etc. But unfortunately, with this business trip, no time to see it. As it is, it's like visiting a giant strip mall in North Texas (the main attraction is even called "the strip"). I know, again, … [Read more...]