Will Smith 新片中的青天白日滿地紅國旗

ShowTime's new series - The Tudor

When Dexter finally get his Ice Truck Killer soul mate, everyone is packing or preparing for the holiday season. And when evryone is back from the long break, ShowTime's new series The Tudor, the story about the English King Henry VIII is giving us another reason to expect the year 2007. Here is a little teaser with the charming and excellent Jonathan Rhys Meyers.

Rai Rai Ken - Best Ramen in NYC !!

Address:
214 E. 10th St., New York, NY 10003
between First and Second Aves. (East Village, St. Mark's Place area)
Tel: 212-477-7030
Open hour:
Mon~Sat: Noon - 2:30 am.
Sunday: Noon - 11:30 pm.

I always though Japanese Ramen is just a bowl of well cooked instant noodle, never really understand some people's obsession about it. As half northern Chinese, half southern Chinese, grew up in Taipei, and spent half of my life in Paris... Chinese's ramen or simply Taiwanese beef noodle are the best of the best in the noodle world.

I've a celebrity friend who's obsessing by the Japanese Ramen, and wherever we meet, Paris or New York, she always like to have Ramen many days in the row. We'll try out all the Ramen places possible, to find a best Ramen soup spot. But couple years later, I still can't understand why she likes Ramen so much, they're still just a bowl of well cooked instant noodle for me. And still can't understand why the movie Tempopo makes such a big deal of Ramen with some almost magical Chinese soup base.

One day I found a New York Japanese website, where many people posted reviews for the Japanese restaurant in NYC. Many restaurants mentioned, but only the name "Rai Rai Ken" 來來軒 appears repeatedly in many reviews. "traditional taste Ramen and the best soup base etc." But there was one comment lighted up my appetite. "The movie Tempopo's style..." Oh man. We got to eat that Ramen right now!!

It was Friday night, we got there just a bit after 10 pm. The very small restaurant was almost empty. And I can't help to wonder the accuracy of the reviews. Then, Kim-Chee was tasty but too spicy, Gyoza comparing with Paris Sapporo and our home made special recipe, it was almost unbearable. But the Curry Ramen and the Fried Rice were the best we ever had. It's not just the delicious soup base, the noodle itself is with character, they never lost the chew by the soup. And for the first time. Ramen is on my tasty food list. Later, by the time we enjoying our meal, the only content 14 persons' mini restaurant is already full with a small line at door.

The appetizers are from $2.30 to $4.60, and the main dishes are from $5.55 to $8.30. They only have 4 different ramen dishes, and I can't wait to try them all.
Other notice: The restaurant encourage clients to drink their very tasty filtered water, and all food are nature without any MSG added.

If you''re in New York, don't forget to have a Miso or Curry Ramen soup and fried rice at Rai Rai Ken.
Bon Appetit !

Linus Blanket

Still remember your first blanket? Or still looking for the one to hook on?
I used to have 2 small blankets, one in baby pink and one in baby blue. Since I'm the 2nd child of the family, when is my turn to own those two blankets, they're already not new. But I was so into those blankets, that the 3rd child of the family had no chance to have them. They were my parents' wedding gift, which came with a big brown color one. The quality was the best, hand made with the topest technic of a best bedding company from Shanghai. They used the best wool and the best Chinese silk for the border. They were extremely attaching for the touch, and they were my main interest in life until I turned 10.

What happened? We moved, and my mom decided to throw them into the trash. I was shocked and terrified when I realized I will never able to sleep a night feeling secure again. Well. My parents were still using the big one, which I was always sneaking in their room by any excuse, just to be able to touch the big blanket and the silky border. When I was 16. I got a serious car crash and had to stay in the hospital for a month. And while I was in pain with drug, I asked my mom to bring the big blanket to the hospital, that I can touch the silky border 24H/24H. ^_^' What a joy of life !!

Many years later. I grew up, fell in love, moved to Paris, fell in love... but there is always a hole in my heart that I can't explain. Finally once when I returned to Taipei. I found myself again sneaked into my parent's room touching the silky border a lot. Then the day before my depart back to study... I asked the permission to bring the blanket with me to Paris. And ever since, I'm with that blanket. I specially bought a window door laundry machine to let me able to watch the blanket while washing, and I carry that blanket whenever I travel away for more than a month. That's the longest I can bear a life without it.

Again many years later. I realized this 40 years old blanket is facing it's end. It lost the thickness and the silky border is also about to disappear completely. Which I guess it's time for me to find a replacement, and maybe put this old blanket in a much safer place. And for many years, I've been looking for the replacement with the same touch but in vain.
Well. At least I found "Linus Blanket". Linus, the the little boy with a blue blanket in the Snoopy.
mmm... The quality is absolutely not comparable, but it's extremely soft to touch. Unfortunately, the border of this $34 blanket is nothing silky for the touch, which I bought $46 's satin ribbon to redo the border myself.
Voila! The story of my life.

The "Linus Blanket" is from Urban Outfitters store. They're already sold out from the online store, and won't have them in the stock till 2010. If you're like me a blanket hooker or planing to hook a baby with a blanket. You can always purchase it from their stores. And guess what? When you purchase a "Linus Blanket", you also donated $5 to "Project Linus" and become a blanketeer. : )

The Ark concert photos - DC & NYC '06

YouTube videos

My 2 favorite The Ark songs are
1. It Takes A Fool To Remain Sane
2. Tell Me This Night Is Over

What's yours?