The Little House Shop

When I was in PA I went to this shop.
The Little House Shop
http://www.littlehouseshop.com/index2.htm
It was really cute shop and there were so many interesting things.
When you are looking for some gifts, this is the best place to go!!!
I wish there is one in NY too!!!

Actually many people say this word to me!!

"You're that old?!!!!"

Christmas in Philadelphia 2011

I had great Christmas this year.
I worked until Christmas eve afternoon and I went to Philadelphia by Bolt bus.
It only took 2 hours from NY and costs $25 for round trip!!
When I got there it was already 6pm but a good friend of my family picked me up and I joined her family Christmas. She was host sister of my mom when they were around 20 years old. And this was the third time to join their Christmas for me and now I feel they are my American family.
That night we went to church for Christmas math. I went to Catholic school in Japan so we sang Christmas songs so many times. So I was so excited to sing these Christmas songs. But when we sang Hallelujah I forgot mezzo part and I sang all the parts mixed... Maybe I did the same last year so for next year I have to practice it and remember the mezzo part again:) After that we had nice Christmas eve dinner and decorated the tree.
The Christmas day we made Apple pie and pumpkin pie. (I just helped her though) And had wonderful Christmas dinner with their family.
In Japan Christmas is for more couple thing than family thing. Maybe because we have new year for family. But after I moved here I feel how much Christmas is important for families. And fortunately I could join to this wonderful family's Christmas again. What a lucky I am to have such a family:)
Thank you so much, family "W"!!!

"She Loves Me" at the Heights Players

Last night my friend Stefanie and Niko took me to the show "She Loves Me".
It was at the Heights Players in Brooklyn Heights.
http://www.heightsplayers.org/hphome.html
It was small old church so if you didn't know it is the venue of musical, you never know that was the venue!!
Before they opened the venue, I went to restroom and there were many actresses changing their costumes and preparing for the show!! It was so fun to see them that much close.
When the venue was opened, we went to the basement of church and we seated chairs with numbers.
My seat was just behind of the table and chairs for the show. That was really interesting.
I think there were around 90 audiences and tickets were seemed like sold out.
When the show started, the band was just next to us and the actors and actresses were singing just in front of us. And they were so good. I've never seen and heard performance that much close in my life.
This made me goosebumps many times.
And the show was so fun too. When it started I didn't notice but it looked like original play of the movie "You got mail" (Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan).
I really liked this movie so I was so excited when I noticed this is the original one!!
After the show when we left the venue, it was so cold outside but this experience made me so warm.
I enjoyed so much!!
If you have chance to come to Brooklyn and you like musical, you should try there!!
I heard they've been playing there so long and every time they have different shows.
And I don't think there is another place that can see the show that much close here!!
I like Broadway too but this is totally different experience and it can be as good as Broadway or better???
Just for you information, ticket was just $20!!

This was interesting!! They put this note on their entrance!!

Hibino ひびの食堂 in Brooklyn

This is the Japanese restaurant in Brooklyn.
Hibino
http://hibino-brooklyn.com/
Most of co-workers told me how they were good all the time. But I couldn't have chance to go there for long time. But the other day finally I went there to try their lunch menu Obento-box.
I went there around 1:45 but already most of menu were sold out.
One of staff Yoko-san told me how fish is popular there.
I had "Samma"http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacific_saury there and it was like in Japan.
Their Obento-box has one main dish, salad, rice, miso-soup and one kyo-obanzai.
That day kyo-obanzai was zucchini with tartar sauce. So it didn't sound kyo-obanzai but still it was good.
I hadn't had Japanese food which made by someone else so having Japanese lunch after work was really relaxing and made me feel good.
And I could tell why they are so popular to both American and Japanese.
Because that place is like in Japan. All of staffs are Japanese, they are talking in Japanese, they are serving real Japanese. Even who doesn't know Japan that much but still they can tell the difference between real Japanese and Asian Japanese.
I'm sure I will go back there and have more Japanese lunch!!

Juventino in Park Slope

Last night I went to restaurant Juventino with my friend Sachiko.
Juventino
http://www.juventinonyc.com/
This restaurant is located in Park Slope and actually it is just one block from my apartment.
I always check this restaurant when I get off the bus but I hadn't been there yet.
And last night after work Sachiko stopped by our neighborhood and I thought she might like this place!!
So finally I could open the door of this restaurant.
The inside of restaurant is really simple and comfortable. And there was really big Christmas tree.
We started with sparkling wine but we didn't order appetizer, then there was first surprise. They served us small lentil soup for tasting. That soup was so good!! And on the side, there was deep fried potato chip and sage on the side. This was first time to try fried sage like this but it was amazing!!! What I really like about going to restaurant is trying new combinations. And this was so new and perfect match!!! After that we had chicken and duck for main dishes and both were so good. The owner of restaurant Mr. Juventino served us these main dishes and he poured the sauce in front of us. The sauce was a little bit sweet and that was close to asian salty sweet. And I think their gnocchi had ginger flavor... is this right?? Anyway everything was so good and we had really good time there. After main dishes we were so full but we wanted to try dessert too. So we tried apple crisp. Warm apple crisp with cold ice cream... This is what we need in winter!!
And when I asked check, they gave us second surprise!! They treated dessert wine for us.
Amazing food in nice atmosphere and special service with special friend.
I hadn't gone out dinner for a while but that was what I needed the most!!!
I can't believe this much nice restaurant is so close to my home!! How lucky I am!!!