Mr. Men & Little Miss Do Harajuku

Japan knows cute. Even when said cuteness doesn’t originate in Japan, this is a country that has a way of bringing everything adorable to the heart of Tokyo–often in the form of limited-run theme… Continue reading →

Sonoma Getaway Weekend

One of the big perks of living in Berkeley is easy access to wine country. I’ve taken pretty good advantage of the situation in past years–I get up to Napa 3-4 times per… Continue reading →

Stars & Sweets: Milky Way Cafe, Ikebukuro

As I mentioned in my last post about cat cafes, I returned to Tokyo this past summer for another round of research, which meant… more visits to my favorite Tokyo eateries and introductions… Continue reading →

Tokyo Cupcake Showdown: Mai’s vs. Bellas

Tokyo isn’t really a cupcake town–the fad never really materialized here the way it did in the US–but there are a few places where one can obtain these delicious little treats. Just for… Continue reading →

4 Hours and 7 Cups of Coffee in Tokyo

A friend of my brother’s passed through Tokyo a couple of months ago, which gave me an excellent excuse to drink copious amounts of coffee in some of Tokyo’s most lauded locations. She’s… Continue reading →

Updates from the Garden

http://instagram.com/p/ZMqCvqqnnN/ It’s been a busy time for my balcony garden! In March, I added thyme, peppermint, eggplant and tomato to my oregano and rosemary plants from the fall, and things have been growing like… Continue reading →

Rice Cooker Baking Experiment #3: Rosemary Bread

Rice cooker baking is back! Actually, it never really left–I just haven’t been posting about it. My new favorite recipe is definitely rosemary bread, which I got from Adventures in (Post) Gradland, who… Continue reading →

Spring Break: Hollywood!

During my time in the US a few weeks ago, I took a road trip from Berkeley down to sunny Los Angeles to attend the annual meeting of the  Western Political Science Association… Continue reading →

Instagramming Tokyo’s Cafe Scene

http://instagram.com/p/V8NmyVqnpv/ One of the best things about being a graduate student is that you don’t have to spend 8 to 5 in a stuffy office. You can work anywhere you want, pretty much… Continue reading →

Rice Cooker Baking Experiment #2: Banana Bread

The end of the year has brought lots of real world-related craziness, but a girl’s gotta eat! I tried my hand at a second rice cooker baking experiment today, so I thought I’d… Continue reading →