It Only Gets Worse

Luc Dazzles the Crowd.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Not that this photo needs any more attention, but if we're shooting a calendar, why not plug it on my own blog?

The Men Of Monadnock, aka Mentelligentsia, aka Show Us Your Monads calendar, shot at Josh and Amy's tacky Xmas sweater party, will NOT be available for gift-giving season. Thiiiiink mid-winter.

But then, you would probably lose friends from giving this gift. Almost certainly.

Until tomorrow.....

Until tomorrow.....
Originally uploaded by the pentax hammer.

I'm usually skeptical of sunset photography, because it's so easy to snatch a great shot, but this one's exceptional, and from Michigan to boot. Sleeping Bear Dunes, to be exact. Please check out a larger version.

The Dark Knight

A full-length trailer for The Dark Knight has finally been released, and I instantly recognized a certain motorcycle that I was stopped from photographing. Pretty much every street scene in this trailer is shot within 2 blocks of my work. No big deal.

"With You Always"

Growing up, my parents always assured me that Jesus was with me. Sometimes it's hard to imagine, because of the Holocaust and Playstation 3, but this handy website never fails to restore my faith.

Letting The Onion do the work.

Man Finally Put In Charge Of Struggling Feminist Movement

Gratuitous Torres/Gerrard shot!

Vintage Mod

Vintage Mod
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

This gentleman handles all of the gold-embossed window graphics at Monadnock, and has been kind enough to update our look over the course of the past week.

Being a fan of the classic "I" Pot logo, I was sad to see some of the last (and most gorgeous) examples leave the store, but I have to admit, the wings look pretty nice in gold.

Schwarznegger Eyes the Presidency

Actually, this is Arnold sizing up the Prez after their publicity flight over the Cali wildfires. I'm just surprised that George forgot his flightsuit.

New Things

Bridge Up!
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

I've been in Chicago for nearly 5 years now, and until last week, I'd never seen one of these bridges up. This particular one is at Franklin & Wacker, and was blockin' my bike ride home.

Also new: My roommate Bob. Technically not new, since I've known him forever, but he just moved here from Michigan, so he's new to my Chicago life. He smokes cigars and plays videogames. He also cleaned our bathroom mega-good.

Ahem.

I want to quit posting about Halo, I really do, but the news just keeps a comin'.

Today Bungie announced their departure from Microsoft Studios, and is once more an independent game studio. The split was amicable, and they plan to continue developing Xbox titles, including future Halo titles through MS Games. Congratulations, Bungie!

When co-founder Alex Seropian left the company to return to the indie scene a few years ago, I thought it was an admirable move. He fled board meetings and produced one of the most entertaining games on the original Xbox. Now he's working on what looks to be a nice little boutique party game that I'm sure will earn rave reviews.

Not that I've been critical of Bungie's work at MS; They've done amazing things. Halo is truly a masterpice, and it would not exist as it does without the backing of Gates & co. But that chapter is closed, and to move forward in a creative fashion would have been impossible with MS goons leering over shoulders, looking for another $300 Million-dollar game.

Now, if only they would abandon that creepy Washington warehouse and return to Chicago. So I can work for them. As a janitor, if I must.

Pwned!

Who knew there was a reality-tv award show? Well, anybody who did had to be expecting this level of depressing awkwardness. I don't really know who these guys are, but I like the guy that wins. And he does win. Official word: One lost tooth (and shoe), three misplaced teeth that require root canals.

Just One More Halo Post, I Promise

Q: What's the best thing in gaming software?
A: Halo.

Q: What's the best thing in gaming hardware?
A: The Nintendo DS.

Combining the two would be a no-brainer, but amlost certainly impossible, given the rivalry between Microsoft and Nintendo. So I was shocked to see this vid, which not only proves that such a project did exist, but that it was nearly completed before being quashed by someone (MS, most likely).

Here's to what could have been:

The Stuff of Legend

Everything Legendary.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

I'm finally starting to recover from the initial shock of Halo 3's release. And by recover, I mean sleep more than 2 hours a night and occasionally leave the house.

Everyone's been asking me what I think of the game, but I'm at a loss for words. I want to send Bungie an overly sentimental and sincere Hallmark card, thanking them for doing such a good job on this game. I love it like I love a great record, which I believe is a testament to Bungie's love for their project. It's more than a product to them, and it really shows, especially in Campaign mode, where Halo 2 seemed a bit lacking.

I'm no game designer, so it's hard for me to pinpoint exactly what Bungie did (although Wired took a crack at explaining it), but Halo 3 recaptures the feeling that made the first installment so, well... Legendary. I lol'd when I was killed, I pumped my fist with excitement during cinematics, and I felt the same bittersweet love at the end that I felt when The Return of the King faded to black (for the final time). What I'm trying to say is, the third part has cemented this trilogy's status as an all-time great. If it could, it would surely win 10 Oscars.

While there is no game award prestigious enough to honor a game like Halo 3, Bungie might take consolation in the fact that their game smashed media sales records in its first day of release. That's across all mediums, mind you. Films, records, books... you name it. Halo beat them all, including the highest grossing film, Spiderman 3, and even mother-fucking Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows. It crushed them. And keep in mind, only American sales have been tallied. When the worldwide numbers are in, first-day sales are expected to exceed $300 million. First. Day. Sales.

To everyone that's going to rip on me for this entry: have you considered that, just maybe, you've been missing out?

It's Halo-Eve.

Well, folks, the evening has arrived. I'll be heading to Gamestop tonight at midnight to pick up my copy of Halo 3 (Legendary Edition of course, MSRP $130.00). I even took a day off of work to play the game, although due to a minor confusion, I took Wednesday, not Tuesday. So tomorrow I might be a bit grumpy at work.

When I was in Michigan a few weeks ago, Ian showed me this commercial. I thought it was funny at first, but as we near the launch of Halo 3, the more genuinely emotional it seems to me. To go extreme dork on ya'll, I have to admit: I'm getting a bit sentimental at the thought of retiring my good ol' Halo 2 disc. It brought some good times: extreme laughter and extreme anger. And that's what games are all about.

Modeling Ricky-wear.

Modeling Ricky-wear.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

My excitement for the launch of Halo 3 is almost palpable in this photo. Not necessarily in my face, or my posture, or general presence; but in the hoodie I'm wearing, which I lovingly screened with our clan icon. I made some hoodies like this for my brothers last X-mas, but those were just the prototypes. Expect a full line of this hotness in the near future. Being dorky never looked so good.

More fame and fortune via Flickr

Yay, I'm featured on Chicagoist again. Thanks to Jeff Cagle for letting me know.

Guardian of Leavitt

Home Security System.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

The other day Jackie and I were discussing the terrifying bug populace of Florida. I didn't really need another reason to avoid the south, but she gave me one, in the form of Banana Spiders. As some of you know, I already have plenty of issues with arachnids.

In talking shit about Florida, I got a little cocky about Chicago's moderate bug diversity, only to find this asshole on my front gate this morning. Meh, at least he's not the size of my hand.

Are you simple?

This was on my myspace for a bit. I think it deserves a chance to strut its stuff over here as well.

First Time in Wrigley

Look at all those rapists!

One of the funnier things I've ever posted.

Lolz.

Onion Personals Post #3.

Expect a series of these:

Redemption

Kara is scary
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Chicagoist finally stepped up its latte art coverage yesterday, when they posted my pic of Kara, and her skillz to pay teh billz.

I think it's official: There is much love between Intelligentsia and Chicagoist.

More fun with The Onion Personals!

My popularity on The Onion Personals has been steadily dwindling since I signed up. It's sad, really. The latest email about 'New Matches!' could only scrounge up one new member that met my rather demanding criteria (age 22-30, living in Chicago).

Here she is:



Some of you may recognize that big-mouthed redhead. First, The Onion tried setting my up with my boss's ex-girlfriend, now it's trying to re-acquaint me with my own. Oh, Onion. Stick to satire.

...

Omg wait... Are they sticking to satire?!?

US Secretary of Transportation: Bikes 'Really not Transportation'

US Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters is a true American:

"Well, there's about probably some 10 percent to 20 percent of the current spending that is going to projects that really are not transportation, directly transportation-related. Some of that money is being spent on things, as I said earlier, like bike paths or trails."

By the way, she's trying to explain the bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Apparently it was due to all the money wasted on cyclists.

Read the full interview here.

Somehow I missed this

I wonder how many bodies they find on the bottom at the end of the day.

He could be my bff.

Ups and Downs of Filter's Relocation.

Gentrification.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

On the Bright Side

1. There will be a significant drop in Missed Connections for me to waste time on.

2. People will no longer ask me to meet them at Filter. Then, after seeing my grimace, ask me why I don't like Filter.

3. Leaves the 'hood in need of a central coffee shop. Hello, Intelligentsia Wicker Park?

On the Down Side

1. I was in love with a girl that worked there (of course).

2. It's going to be a bank. Yes, another one. In the Flat Iron Building.

3. There will be a significant drop in Missed Connections for me to waste time on.

Play-doh.

Venue for Tennis
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Despite a long-term love for tennis, I've never learned to play the game properly. I always thought that I was okay, but upon taking actual lessons, it turns out I was wrong. Luckily my friend Sean is remedying the situation. He coaches at Robert Morris College, in addition to working as a pro at the club pictured here. Sean's got my forehand straightened out pretty well, but my backhand is still a nightmare. As is my fitness level. But my suckiness at tennis isn't really the point of this entry. I just wanted to show off the sweet-ass clay courts we've been playing on.

Frustrating Things

1. The obsese, screaming child in the theater with the obese, retarded parents that refused to take him outside. I miss the private screening room. Roger Ebert would've just eaten that fat little fuck and given him two thumbs down.

2. There was amazing Batman stuff scattered through the streets on Friday; enough that I could even reveal a spoiler or two about the movie. Unfortunately, for once the crew was on-hand to baller-block my camera work. So no fun for ya'll.

3. Stephane, who you may recognize from my adventures in Tokyo, played here in Chicago last night, and I didn't find out about it until about 2 in the morning. I really like him as a person, and as a DJ. There are maybe two people in the world I can say that about. Hopefully he will be hanging with Ashley today, and I can crash that party.

My God-Given Talent as a Barista

Yesterday The Chicagoist featured this photo of a latte from Intelligentsia on Broadway:


Here's a latte I poured today:


Chicagoist, you'd betta recognize. And to the kids at Broadway, I love ya, but Do like Snoop said, "Step ya game up."

The Hazards of Gotham

Helicopter
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Although I didn't manage to score any extra work in the new Batman film (as I did on Batman Begins), I have been riding my bike through Gotham City every morning, as I work about a block from Wayne Tower, a.k.a. The Chicago Board of Trade.

Yesterday, I was hungover and riding with my head down, staring at my feet. Great idea for riding in traffic. But at 5 a.m., the threat isn't from crazy taxis, it's from burnt-out helicopters on the sets of major motion pictures. Some asshole left this thing in the bike lane, and I almost crashed into it. I would've hated to dent such a valuable prop.

Jackie.

Now It's Summer

Tsha and Josh and God.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Tsha, Josh and I went to the Sox v. Tigers game tonight. The Tigers blew a 7-1 lead, which was a bit rough considering all this shit I had been talking, but the night was gorgeous. This was the start of it: drinking forties on Josh's roof in Wicker Park.

I was smoother.

Lolz, check out this douche. He tried to hit on this girl that I used to stalk, and she posted their correspondence as a bulletin, because it's a total classic.

Jovan: interesting profile you have there, not to mention captivating pics!

Erin: you've sent this message to me before...multiple times.

Jovan: hmm, evidently you didn't have the brains or taste enough to respond before. What else would one expect from someone dumb enough to admire some chimp like Barack Obama.

***

Please keep the blatant racism in mind as you check out his profile. Feel free to send him fun messages. Especially if you're black.

Things I've Done Today

1. Avoided upsetting customers.

2. Decided that the new Spoon record is living up to the hype.

3. Pulled or strained a hamstring riding my bike.

4. Discovered that Kara's true Daemon is a Chimpanzee. Wasn't surprised.

Lincoln Park

Me and Tsha went to Lincoln Park tonight. Here's proof.

I love shiny objects.

Last winter I met a smart girl, and she introduced me to Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy. It's a children's fantasy series in the vein of Narnia, Harry Potter, and Lord of the Rings, but it's darker and more subversive than any of those works. Aaaaand it's an absolute masterpiece. I've been dutifully passing the books on, trying to expose friends to them before the first film is released this winter.

Anyway, In Pullman's world(s), human beings have a physical incarnation of their souls, called Daemons. They take the form of animal companions that represent the qualities of their human. Children's Daemons can change shape at will, reflecting the untapped potential of youth. But around puberty, they settle on a permanent shape. Humans and their Daemons are absolutely inseperable; they are literally the two halves of the same being.

The girl I mentioned earlier would always ask me: "What would your Daemon be?" A loaded question, in the eyes of a dork. And we were dorks. Luckily, I always managed to dodge it. I wanted to believe it would be a river otter.

But you can't choose your Daemon's shape, so I was never sure. But now, thanks to the magic of the interweb, the girl's question has been answered. Scientifically. As part of the upcoming film's marketing campaign, you can take a quick myspace-style personality quiz here and meet your real Daemon.

Without further ado...



Modest? Who you callin' modest!?

Just 5 seconds of your time, please.

Nobody Panic.

Shaved Head.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

If my apartment had a security camera, it would show some interesting things from last night. For instance, 2 a.m. found me running around in the dark, wielding my laptop as a flashlight, frantically throwing clothes and blankets around my bedroom.

It's sort of a long story, but it involves a recurring nightmare featuring a large spider, and a newfound (or newly discovered) tendency to sleepwalk. An ex-girlfriend once woke to find me frantically pulling her out of bed, away from that fucking spider. Usually it takes about a minute for me to realize that I'm dreaming, even if I'm running through the house. To any aspiring therapists: please tell me what it means.

Oh yeah, and last week I got drunk and buzzed all of my hair off. This is what I looked like by the time I realized what I was doing. That's even a decent re-enactment of the face I made.

Anal Disembowelment, Chinese Opera

Gross

Everyone thinks I'm making it up, so thank God CNN covered this story about the 6-year-old girl who got her intestines sucked out through her asshole by the drain of a public kiddie pool. Yes, you read that right. Disemboweled via her rectum. And fuck you guys for thinking I would make something like that up.


Beautiful
I consider myself a fan of everything Damon Albarn does, and by that logic I now consider myself a fan of Chinese Opera. Mr. Albarn, of Blur and Gorillaz, is composing the music for Monkey: Journey to the West, an opera based on a 16th-century Chinese fable and a 70's Japanese TV show. For the show, he invented an instrument that uses a keyboard of arcade-style buttons to control a 24-note scale of car horns that he recorded in China. God damnit, I love this man. Image and details from Wired.

For the ladies... and soccer fans, I guess.

Check out this stud! Liverpool have finally signed an A-list striker, for a club-record 26.5 million pounds. That's, like... $476 million dollars. Roughly.

His name is Fernando Torres, he's Spanish, and until now he scored goals for Atletico Madrid and Spain. A YouTube search of his name will yield a few highlight reels, and more than a few photo montages of his abs. Dreamy.

I won't lie: I'm glad to finally have some glamour at Anfield (sorry Crouch and Bellamy, but... yeah), but this dude had better unleash a flood of goals to justify the loss of my current favorite Spaniard, the Five-foot-Seven Slice-of-Heaven, Luis Garcia. My little buddy went back to Madrid to help ease the pain of a $476 million-dollar bill. Roughly.

While on the soccer tip, the next reported target for Liverpool is Man United defender Gabriel Heinze. I'm not particularly optimistic about it, as Premiership rivals aren't in the habit of selling each other quality players.

Also, Arsenal snagged a new striker out of the blue yesterday: The Brazilian by-way-of Croatia, Eduardo Da Silva. I don't know much about him, as he was playing in the nether-regions of Eastern Europe, but I think it's safe to say that he'll have a hard time filling the stylish shoes of Thierry Henry.

A New Era

The Process
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

1310 N. Leavitt is down to two occupants, and one less mongoloid means much less crap. To date, our place has pretty much been a clutter factory, but those days are done. This weekend, Chris and I began a modest cleaning spree that gathered steam as it went, and ended with us tossing about half of our furniture- pretty much anything with a surface to collect the afore-mentioned clutter. Now the place is super sparse. There's even a bit of an echo. I love it so much that I stand around with my hands on my hips, just admiring it.

Things that make me sad

1. Thierry Henry's Premiership Departure
I'm not an Arsenal fan, but I was depressed to hear that he would be leaving for Barcelona. The man was pure charisma on and off the pitch, and the English Season will be less exciting without him. As an homage, here is Henry, single-handedly shredding my boys. I remember cowering in shame as I watched this play.


2. The Demise of Punk Planet
A Chicago-based bastion of political, artistic, and journalistic integrity. Home to some of the finest writing that no one ever read. I was sad when Dan Sinker's other mag, BAIL, went under a couple of years ago, but I thought PP was his rock. It says a lot about the state of indie press when a book like this can't survive.




3. Dakota Blue Richards as Lyra in The Golden Compass
Okay, maybe this isn't her fault (it's probably the producer or director's), but Lyra is supposed to be a sassy little dirty butch tomboy. Not a Victorian princess. And anyway, do we really need another creepy child actress named "Dakota"? Seriously, Dakota Fanning is probably like, WTF.

I need more buckets.

I need more buckets.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

Is there anything more satisfying than discovering a new purpose for and ordinary household object? It makes me feel like MacGyver. This breakthrough is especially nice, because when all is said and done, I just can't fit a dumpster in my apartment.

In other news, I think the sentence should be a bit longer than 2 years for tearing off someone's testicle and trying to eat it. I've heard that Liverpool girls are rough, but damn.

She is in your extended network. (They all are).

A few weeks ago, my friend Luc was telling me these great stories about meeting crazy girls from The Onion Personals. The stories were so funny, in fact, that I decided to sign up, and did so immediately.

Five minutes later, I was bored with the site and forgot completely about it.

That is, until a couple of weeks later, when I received an official Onion email, promising new matches to my profile! I clicked the link to check out these fatties, and was surprised to find that a handful of cute girls had "winked" at me on the site. One of these girls seemed particulary attractive (and possibly even smart), so I replied to her wink. Chalk one up for the internet.

I was a bit skeptical about The Onion's message system though, because it kept referring me to the "account upgrade" page on the site, which I of course refused to do. Signing up was funny; paying $100 for it, sad.

So, in a somewhat dubious move, I did a quick myspace search for the girl's name. Surprise, surprise, she popped right up. At this point, she had contacted me twice on The Onion's page, and was looking gorgeous as well, so I went for broke and sent her a myspace message.

About an hour later, I was woken up by my phone. It's Luc.

Luc: Hey, did you send a message to a girl named **** on myspace?
Me: Huh, wha-um, yeah, I think so.
Luc: (Laughing) She's a friend of mine. She just called me, asking if you were some kind of stalker.
Me: Um.
Luc: But don't worry man, I told her you were normal.
Me: Thanks Luc, goodnight.
Luc: See you tomorrow, stalker.

So yeah, after getting turned onto the damn site by Luc, the first girl I message there is an acquaintance of his. They even dated for a bit.

Fucking Chicago.

The Polls are in: Summer '07= Ribs & Hip-Hop

Well, it's official... Hip-hop is "in" for the summer. A brief stroll around Wicker Park confirmed it this Memorial Day Weekend, when they were blasting Clipse in Reckless, Company Flow in Una Mae's, and... I don't know, some garbage in Urban Outfitters. I responded to the trend accordingly. A glimpse of the shuffle:



I mean, I don't want to be the guy that bucks every trend, but I really love hip-hop, and I hate when it comes into fashion every three years or so, and I have to listen to some fake-ass, desperately intellectual hipsters tell me what I'm supposed to like about it.

With that rant off my chest, I should mention that Memorial Day itself was excellent, in large part due to my friend Tsha and her mother, who cooked up this ridiculous meal for Josh and Myself. There may have been other people present as well, but my attention was locked on the meat, like Chewbacca on Endor. Luckily, Josh keeps a mini buzz-saw in his pocket, so we were able bail.

Hydrate or Die Tryin'... No more!

Question: Does Glaceau really expect me to keep buying 50 Cent's Vitamin Water, now that they cut the chromed-out packaging? I mean, this new label just ain't street. Even worse, they removed the quote, "Suckaz be movin' out the way at them beverage conferences."
Word to Gatorade: My life is now seriously devoid of ill hip-hop beverages.

The 80s are back.

As a kid growing up in the 80s, I only wanted one thing: lasers in the background of my school pictures. Oh, and Lazer Tag. Yeah, two things. While my Mom never let me get the pictures (mine are all "Traditional"), my brother and I did eventually pick up a pair of these bad boys.

As the 80s faded into the 90s, my appetite for lazers went dormant; and was eventually replaced by L.A. Looks hair products.

Thankfully, Bungie redeemed my life this week, with their release of the Halo 3 beta. Check the vid- it looks more like an ELO concert than a game of Halo. It's good to know that some people still remember what it means to be Rad.

Transition

Blazers Low
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

To my great relief, I am officially down to one job. About 35-40 hours a week. A normal schedule that feels like another vacation, considering the 60+ hour weeks I've become accustomed to.

I am so happy with my newly freed time, in fact, that I spent most of this weekend drafting a cover letter for my next 2nd job. I've learned my lesson though-- from now on I'm only applying for dream jobs. I almost landed one once; only school thwarted me. And Lord knows I don't have that to get in my way at the moment.

So after many hours hunched in the lounge at Alliance, I have a pretty dope cover letter together. Just the right mix of bravado, flattery, and brilliance. You know, like everything I write.

The only problem is, the position I'm applying for doesn't exist, and the company in question probably doesn't have the budget to create it. The goal of my cover letter isn't to sell myself. It's to convince this company to rethink their entire public image, hire me, and allow me to handle the change.

It's a pretty audacious goal, but when you only apply for dream jobs, that's the way it's gotta be. Besides, I wrote like 3 drafts of that letter. And I never rewrite.

I'm a shoo-in. Get it?

Have you Slept Yet?

Goodbye Japan.
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

It's 3:00am in Chicago, and I'm wide awake. Perhaps I'm not fully adjusted yet. At least I'll have endless espresso in about 2 hours.

In regards to my last, "introspective" entry, I seem to be taking steps toward changing my life here in Chicago. On my first day back, I sent a sort of "fuck off" email to the Lawyers, although I admit it was phrased more politely than that. I told them that I didn't need their money, which is hilarious because post-Japan, I need it more than ever. But sanity is more important. With any luck, today will be my last as their bitch. Amber is taking steps toward leaving too, which helps my conscience. And she bought a Prius! 'Atta girl.

Happy Endings?

Salarymen Graffiti
Originally uploaded by todd.burbo.

The first sentence of this post was written and deleted about 6 times. Each tackled a different issue I have with life, ranging from my rampant aimlessness, to my mistreatment of those who deserve better, to more positive thoughts about life's general excellence. All overlaid with depression, stemming from my impending return to Chicago, where I feel like the chaps pictured here.

This trip was bound to spark some introspection, as I've spent a huge part of it alone, but I'm going to organize my thoughts with a pen before I get all emo on ya'll. Most of this shit isn't fit for public consumption anyway.

7 a.m. Update

OMG Liverpool wins on Penalities! Pics on Flickr and Vids on Myspace as soon as I get an hour or two of sleep!

Work
So, I just spoke with my cousin Bob, who teaches English here in Japan. Bob seems to think that I'd be able to find work here, with an agency that will line up housing and a livable salary. As many of you know, this was a long term goal of mine, that is perhaps more attainable than I had thought. More on that later.

Play
Liverpool plays Chelsea tonight in leg 2 of the Champions League Semis. Chelsea has a 1-0 lead from the first leg, but THIS IS ANFIELD, BITCH! L'Pool's gonna bring it home, no doubt. I'm going to head over to Ebisu to watch the game here. Should be a crazy time, as the game is on at 3:30 a.m., and everyone is bound to be a bit slap-happy and more than a bit drunk.

The past few days.

Well, I'm always terrible at posting regularly, and I guess Japan can't change that. A lot has happened in the past few days, so I'm going to break this post into sections.

Falcon's Intineraries @ Loveless
Last night, we went to the opening of Stephane's exhibit at Loveless, which is a sort of uber-trendy, upscale... boutique. I can't think of a Chicago equivalent. His work is pretty cool. Even cooler was Yuji, this kid we met outside. At first, he was glued to his DS, but later he put it away to work the crowd. Afterwards, Stephane was DJing at a club down the street, which was an aight place. His set was great. I kind of hate dance music (which seems to annoy Ashley & Louis), and earlier had told them that I prefer hip-hop & Canadian Indie-rock. So I was pleasantly surprise when Stephane worked both Kanye West and The Arcade Fire into his set. I got tore up and actually danced. Then we bailed, Louis got Mc D's, and we made it home at 5 am for sunrise.

The Secret Place

Okay. This place was amazing. We met up with Ashley's friend Kyu earlier in the evening, and after taking us through a labyrinth of shops to drop off flyers, he brought us to this parking garage, where we went up a back stairway, and he hit the buzzer at a security door, identified himself, and gave us a reassuring thumbs up. Eventually they let us in, and we were blown away. It was a private loft, with seating for small parties scattered around a ping-pong table. The atmosphere was incredible.
Really, I can't begin to describe it without writing a book here. We had a 6 (or so) course meal of traditional Japanese dishes, & the waitress, a friend of Kyu's, gave us a very nice bottle of wine. We ate, drank, and played some ping-pong. This was possibly the coolest place I've ever been.

The Park

Ah, the park. The contradictory nature of the Japanese people is well-known, and I can't think of a better illustration than this park, in Harajuku. In the midst of the madness that is Tokyo, this beautiful, ancient forest seems like another world. It's deep enough to completely emliminate the city sounds & sights.The smell of the dead leaves reminded me of northern Michigan. what I loved most about it was that it's obviously an ancient forest-- not the manicured crap we call parks in Chicago. The city was built around this. It was impossibly serene. It's going to be difficult to describe the temple at the park's center without sounding like a cliche zen-loving douche, but standing in it, you can see why the imagery is so pervasive, even in America. It was the first time I've felt an equivalent to standing on the shore of Lake Superior-- The last feeling I would have expected Tokyo to provide.

I think that's enough for now. I've had two Americanos and an Espresso at this cafe, and I'm a bit caffeinated. The cafe will have its own post in the future, because it's great. But for peace for now, and check my Flickr for more pics of everything mentioned above.