I’m often asked how I prepare for my coffee/cafe tours around Japan and while there are websites that are good in showcasing cool coffee shops and cafe, one guide that I pick up at the end of November each year is the “Tokyo Cafe Guide” Read More …
I tend to read a good number of books about positive thinking and leadership but I was quite curious about Christian Blauvelt’s “Star Wars – Be More Vader: Assertive Thinking from the Dark Side” (from DK Penguin Random House – $9.05). Typically you don’t find Read More …
In Japan, there is a word to describe people who purchase or pick up books without ever reading them. That word is “tsundoku” (積ん読) and believe it or not, the word goes back as far as 1879 as it described a teacher who had a Read More …
Since I was a child, I was a boy thirsty of knowledge and a big part of my life was reading books. Non-academic related, to be truthful, 80% of the books I read each week were comic book related but it was something that my Read More …
I have purposely taken my time to read “The Way of Whisky: A Journey Around Japanese Whisky”. Almost like a drink that you want to savor and not drink so quickly, I took my time reading Dave Broom’s book because while Japanese whisky is the Read More …
With the popularity of superhero films many people are interested in reading comic books. It’s important to emphasize that the comic books that many of us have grown up with has changed content-wise and price-wise. Back then, the major comic book companies had to adhere Read More …
A second post for the day and some good news from JapanBall.com. One of the big things that Japanese baseball fans of Wayne Graczyk’s “Japanese Baseball Media Guide” was wondering if whether or not the book will continue, after his passing last April. And the Read More …
From Trans-media studio, Lion Forge, which focuses on comic publishing for all age groups, the company strives to publish titles that reflect the diversity of today’s world in their characters, creators and the Lion Forge team and to create original content. Recently, I read Italy-based Read More …
When it comes to antique handbooks and price guides, Judith Miller’s “Antique Handbook & Price Guide” are one of the best out there. With that being said, it’s not perfect nor will it please everyone, including long time Antique Handbook & Price Guide readers. The Read More …
As a traveler who loves to visit locations in different seasons and as a photographer who loves to capture city life, one thing that I have not yet experienced is snow in New York or the East Coast. Often wanting to experience it through the Read More …
I’m a huge Yankees fan, literally have a shrine in one room with autographs from famous Yankees from past to present. And I also have a few items honoring the legendary Lou Gehrig. And I am a huge fan of the film “The Pride of Read More …
In 2013, located in Cat Street in Harajuku is fashion designer, Marc Jacobs’ “BOOKMARC”. Designed by Stephan Jaklitsch, BOOKMARC sells books specializing in art, music culture and photography. And the concept of the store happened when bookstores began to disappear from the global landscape. Marc Read More …
For those who know me well, they know I read a lot. It has always been that way, as a child and as an adult, I can easily say that I read more books that I watch television. And while my library consists of many Read More …
Books…I can’t quit you! I have put a lot of my books in storage and as I know it would make my life more simpler to go digital and alleviate this side of my living room that makes it look like I’m a cinema/business/art book Read More …
When it comes to camping, I know nothing about it. Just the basic things you pick up on television. But as my parents are in their retirement age and my father had purchased an RV, he would like the family to join them on camping Read More …
I have had the opportunity to review a good number of travel guides over the years but this is the first time I will be reviewing Lonely Planet’s Ireland travel guide. For those not familiar with Lonely Planet, for the last few years it was Read More …
Quite often I get into these conversations with a few writers about prose. And over the years, I have been asked if I have read Joan Didion’s “Slouching Towards Bethlehem”, ad infinitum. A few years ago, Didion was promoting her play “The Year of Magical Read More …
I have been fortunate to have met Fukami Sueharu and one book that I treasure (and was thrilled to have him sign) was a copy of “Fukami: Purity of Form” written by Andrea Marks (and also including essays from other associates who are well-versed in Read More …
In life, everyone encounters personal and professional problems. I was in my late teens and as much enthusiasm that I had in life and wanting to make the best of it, my life hit a speed bump after the death of my grandmother. Needless to Read More …
Today I am once again watching my favorite Whit Stillman film, “Metropolitan”. The film is enjoyable, hilarious and intellectually stimulating! So, many like-minded people love this film so much that we can’t help but share our favorite moments and many quotes on the Facebook group Read More …
(Originally Reviewed back in October 17, 2009) The New Yorker magazine has always been a source for well-written articles for over 80 years and but also, the publication has also been a great source to find the latest cartoons on various situations happening in American Read More …
(Originally Reviewed on October 9, 2012) I was one of those young kids who grew up with MTV. I can easily remember those days of watching Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video during the premiere, multiple times throughout the day. I can easily remember watching Duran Read More …
(Originally reviewed on October 8, 2012) Are you a photographer who has looked at an issue of Newsweek, Time Magazine, GQ, Vogue and other major publications and wondered, how did this photographer capture this moment? Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Brian Smith has been a Read More …
(Originally Reviewed on July 27, 2009) I often have discussion with many of my friends (men) who are in relationships or are married in regards to situations they have had with their wives or girlfriends and needless to say, our conversations tend to start with Read More …
As I finished reading Melina Bellows USA Today article and Sally Quinn’s article for the Washington Post on filmmaker, writer, essayist, mother Nora Ephron, many of her friends have written about how they never knew Nora was suffering from acute myeloid leukemia. Having read her Read More …