Japanese Delights (Odd Socks #17)
Kinokuniya and a Japanese marketplace ... channeling the White Rabbit ... and more
Welcome to Odd Socks Issue #17
I write about stuff that interests me, puts a smile on my face, or could use some clarity amidst the noise. Each issue includes two original articles plus bonus sections. Enjoy!
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Chicago’s Mitsuwa Marketplace
First, as I wrote last issue, I was in Chicago last weekend selling merch at their annual pen show. Had a blast, met lots of online faceless people (who are no longer faceless!). Best of all: I actually made more net profit at the show than I spent on personal stuff! To that last point, here’s my new beauty:
Post-show on Monday, I had planned to spend a full day wandering up and down downtown’s Michigan avenue: people watching, sketching a ton, and of course, eating! But after three intense days of pen showness, I was exhausted. I still made the departure-day visit Monday morning to the Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights, northwest of downtown Chicago.
Kinokuniya
First reason I always make the pilgrimage to the marketplace is Kinokuniya, a holy grail of a Japanese stationery store. You on the East or West Coast have easier access to Kinokuniya stores (the NYC store across from Bryant Park is three stories of amazement). We in the middle have to drive to Chicago.
Never fail to see something I love/want/need/(______) at Kinokuniya, and this trip was no exception. A few of the new, bright-and-shiny things I bought:
Misuwa Marketplace
Of course, Kinokuniya is not the only treat in the marketplace. Love wandering the aisles and seeing all the different Japanese offerings from housewares to cleaning tools to foods to snacks and more. Past years I’ve picked up a rice maker (no English on the unit, and it plays a choice of melodies when finished), and a fantastic deep-bowl wok-like non-stick pan.
Vending Machines
I think most people are aware of the love affair the Japanese have with vending machines! I can imagine a trip to Tokyo would be mind-blowing, in part for the sheer variety of things they sell in vending machines. The marketplace has a small vending alcove with some amazing offerings, mostly anime:
Lunch
Of course, stopping at the marketplace and not eating something from their wide variety of Japanese foods would be simply negligent. This time, I had a yakitori bento box which was delightful and tasty.
Channeling The White Rabbit
It seems these days I’m always behind on getting things done. Loving the activity and involvement in the stationery shop, and as I’ve often said, I didn’t retire so I could work full-time! Yet here I am. All in, it seems.
Thus, I’ve been wonky on the publishing schedule for this newsletter! Wednesday? No? How about Friday? Not good either, eh? Okay, fine… Sunday it is.
I doubt many of my readers care when Odd Socks arrives in their inbox. I’ve always strived to be true to my word when I say I’ll do something by a date, or showing up for meetings on time, or any similar promise. So it does bother my internal compass to fly by deadlines (despite, as Douglas Adams said: “I love the sound deadlines make as they go whooshing by.”).
Sundays may be the answer, since weekdays these days are crammed full, and even though this is only every other week, you’d be surprised (or maybe not) how that deadline stealthily creeps up then suddenly it’s, “Oh you again? Is it that time already?” Sigh.
Anyway, thanks for subscribing or visiting if you haven’t subscribed yet (why not? it’s free). I need a deadline approach to keep writing this newsletter, so onward through the fog to next Sunday! Er, the Sunday after next Sunday? Right.
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Need some cool stationery stuff, like Blackwing pencils, Field Notes notebooks, and much more? Then stop reading this and visit my shop: Notegeist.