Cherry Blossom Fest :D

[kiramaru7]

I had a great time at Sakura Matsuri! We spent nearly the whole day there, arriving around 11 & leaving at 6 when the park closed. Afterwards we went to an upscale pizzeria. :D Basically all we did was wander around & take pix of cosplayers, flowers, & people in general. But the weather was beautiful, and with the threat of cold rain tomorrow, it seems like EVERYONE was there. XD The cherry blossoms were beautiful! Unfortunately with the sea of humanity, it was hard to really enjoy them, but oh well. :D I got to see most of the Japanese garden which is my favorite part of the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens. Just way too many peeps to really see all of it. Since I've seen it before & got a tour last year, I'm not that upset. :D

As for my kimono, I got a lot of compliments on it. Peeps asked where I got it. Being a big girl, it's hard for find any that will fit. XD These two women wanted to know if I would make them one & for how much. I was like "I dunno... but the fabric alone was $100." ;p Needless to say they didn't want me to amke them one. I got my pic taken a few times & 4 really stand out. XD While waiting for my friend to come out of the port-a-potty, I kinda "flopped" down on a large rock & sighed. An Asian woman saw me & heard me, laughed with me, & then asked if she could take my pic. (I was in charge of the camera, which was awkward, cuz I didn't want to put the camera on the ground)I'm like okay & then she wanted a pic with me. XD At another potty break (I barely drank anything to avoid using it dressed the way I was, never mind the long lines) I was waiting outside when this cute older Asian woman comes over to me & asks for a pic with me. In limited English, she told me she was a tourist from France! and she had seen an ad for the Fest in a supermarket & decided to come. :D Then there was the cute Asian woman, whose yukata I complimented & she also liked mine & decided she needed a pic with me too. XD Finally, this weird couple came over as I was finishing my lemonade (At this point, I was thirsty & needed something) & wanted a selfie with me. XD So I took a selfie with them. XD

Then everyone was told to leave as the garden was closed, so this sea of humanity kinda flowed to the nearest exit. We went out to dinner at Baccino's (sp?) & I had a personal marinara pizza, which was good. By then I was tired of standing & I'm surprised I'm not still sitting there. XD So you have an idea why I was sooo tired, with a few sitting breaks here & there, I spent most of the day on my feet. When I wasn't just standing around, or sitting, I walked about 6 1/2 miles. The garden is biggish, but we also looped around it several times. XD And I did all this wearing flip flop sandals. XD

I nearly forgot... We ate lunch there & I tried onigiri. :D I wanted one with chicken in it, but they only had plum, so I got that as I don't really like sushi & I didn't want ice cold ramen. (Had that last year & it was meh) It was really good! It was covered with seaweed, which gave it a slightly salty/fishy taste & in the middle was plum jelly which was surprisingly sweet! So it was a good mix of flavors! :D

And as soon as I can, I'll post a pic of me. XD

Comments

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

glad you had a good time

even more glad the Asian women loved your kimono

and yeah not shocked once they heard the price of actually making a costume, they weren't interested.

please do post pics!

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

And thank you again! I think it's too big on me, so I'm going to try & take it a bit & then it'll lay properly. :D

Yeah. Plus I think peeps figure if you make it, it's got to be way cheaper than it is to buy a ready made one. It'd often just as much, but then it'll fit you better than a ready to wear one.

Will do as soon as I get them! :D

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

It might even be MORE money but you're right it'll fit better

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

*nods* And after speaking to my granny today, when I go to visit her, she said she'd help me take it in, since I made it too big. XD

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

oh cool

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Yeah, my granny is a good seamstress. :D

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

cool.

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[vexed_wench]

I am glad you had a good time! Your kimono sounds really pretty.

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Vexed! It was a lot of fun! Thanks, despite the fact I looked really huge in it, peeps seemed to like it. XD

[cheshirejin.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a lot of fun, YAY! Can't wait to see pics of the kimono under the cherry blossoms, it'll be so pretty.

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Jen, I did! :D Will do as soon as I get them! :D

I think next year, I'll cosplay. :D

[ranuel.livejournal.com]

Hurray for a successful outing!

Onigiri are really easy to make at home and they make a great cheap and filling lunch to take to work. I like to fill them with tuna mixed with mayo, soy sauce, and ginger.

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

Yeah? They are filling! I wanted another plum one as it was really good, a bit later in the day, but they were all sold out. The bun I had with red bean paste inside *forgot what it's called* was really good too, the year they had them! :D I feel like I've eaten convenience store food, which is kinda fun! :D

Awesomeness! I should look for a recipe! :D

[ranuel.livejournal.com]

It's simple. Cook a pot of rice. Don't bother with expensive "Sushi" rice. Get a good short grain rice like Valencia rice and it'll be fine. You want short grain because it sticks together better. With Valencia I use 1 cup rice to 2 cups water and a teaspoon of salt to get it the way I want it.

Let it cool enough you can handle it but it should still be warm.

Wet your hands or spray some non-stick cooking oil on them or lay a little plastic wrap across one hand. Something to keep the rice from sticking to you.

Scoop up about 1/2 to 3/4 of what you'd need to make the size you want and put it in your hand. Press down to make a hollow and then put a spoonful of filling in the hollow. Be careful of trying to put in too much.

Add more rice on top and form into shape. The harder you squeeze the better it will stay together. Have pre-cut strips of nori ready to wrap the finished product.

I like to cheat and do it in really little square tupperware type containers I have. They come out square instead of round but I can smoosh them down more firmly so they hold up. I just put half the rice in, make the hollow, add the filling, and put the other half in and then use another one of the containers to press down with since they're nesting containers and the bottom is smaller than the top.

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks sooo much for the recipe! I definitely will have to try this! *wonders if I can find plum jelly & nori in the supermarket*

[katleept.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to that picture, hon. :) Glad you had such a fun time!

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Thanks x2! I promise to post some pix as soon as I get any. XD

[kattrip033.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a great time!

I'm glad your kimono was just a hit. You worked really hard on it.

You got quite a workout. XD Your poor feet!

*blink* Not even veggie sushi? Or fried shrimp sushi? or or or...
I am glad you liked the onigiri.

Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

I did, thanks! :D

Thanks! Yeah, but it was a labor of love. :D

Yup! But my calves suffered more than my feet did. o.0

Nope. It was a very limited menu. I think they only serve during this special weekend. I surprisingly did. So much so, I was disappointed when they were sold out (hours later) & I couldn't get another one. For the size, it was quite filling! :D

As soon as I get them, I promise I'll post my fave one! XD

[kattrip033.livejournal.com]

You're welcome x 2

Awww.

Ah. At least it was filling.

Pictures!

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Yeah... XD

That it was! :D

I know. I need to get them. XD

[kattrip033.livejournal.com]

^_^

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

:D