Mushi Mushi...
I see trees of green... red roses too
I see em bloom... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.
I see em bloom... for me and for you
And I think to myself.... what a wonderful world.
As you read this, my second installment of the week, I am so far gone (ala Drake) - literally.
I'm about to get my run on, so hold the commas...
I'm a touch bi-polar today. As I enjoy the beauty of culture and admire the individuality of the Japanese (they're incredibly stylish - putting together things that I would never think of - but wearing it like they mean it - not like they're trying hard), I see things that I've never seen before and marvel at the wonder at a civilization that juxtaposes the past, present and future all at once. Castles built in the 13th century showcase architecture that no cad program could create; simple things of the present (like a toilet that has a tap running after flushing for washing your hands & a simple understanding of the environment which results in an incredibly clean city); and the future - cell phones showcasing 2014 technology - everyone on the train is watching tv. No lie.
I want to sit here and give a play by play account of my trip thus far, but a) it's almost 2pm, and I haven't left to go sightseeing for Day 3 - effectively destroying the day, and b) cause (clever? no?) a picture tells a THOUSAND WORDS...
So, I've included my first 2 days of photos, and my first 2 videoblogs (I learned a bit of video editing on the 11.5 hour leg of the flight...
Oh... back to why I'm bipolar. As I watch the midday sun, and midnight rains down on T-Dot, I put my friend up on all the Drake she can handle in one night, as she awakes the next morning to me editing video to one of my writing heroes - Saukrates... and I miss the home. The more the desire to go elsewhere in the world burns in me - and the further I travel from home, the more I make the statement that most people shake their heads at... "I don't think I would live anywhere else in the world. I love Toronto". If only we could import some of the things the Japanese have that make SO much sense, and are so ridiculously obvious...
Don't worry... you don't have to have facebook to see them...
Japan: Day 1 Photos:
Japan: Day 2 Photos: Part 1
Japan: Day 2 Photos: Part 2
and my 2 videoblogs thus far..
I gotta run... As I said, I shouldn't have really been on the computer, but I wanted to share...
I'm gonna try a green tea mcflurry and a filet o-ebi (filet of shrimp - Laura Mags, where you at?) I'll be back in a couple days - I'm looking so forward to Soul Kitchen and re:connecting...
Oh. Speaking of which, the Soul Kitchen $5 all night list is now full -> $10 all night list is still available below:
SOUL KITCHEN: Friday April 3rd - Level Nightclub - 102 Peter St • Jester x Kid Kut x Jason Chambers
Watch how this goes down. This is the Spring opener... and I brought some friends along:
Jester & Kid, and my partner in crime from Amnesia, Jason Chambers will be in the house...
Admission at the door will be $15 all night long.
I'm feeling for some NEO~Soul... Whatcha think? Tribute to Musiq Soulchild? I'll let you know on Friday afternoon I speak with Jester and Chey...
Re:connect: Saturday April 4th - Menage • 333 King Street • Jason Chambers
Due to circumstances beyond my control, I was forced to cancel the much anticipated Valentine's re:connect meet market (lovers and other strangers all slow jam party). Although I can't do it as an all slow jam event, I'm going to put a little twist in re:connect and cater to the MEN in this city who, for whatever reason have been going on with some BI^C#@$$NESS OF LATE.
EVERYONE ON GUESTLIST IS $5 ALL NIGHT...
BUT GENTS ARE FREE BEFORE 11:30PM. Don't say we never do anything for you... lol. Pause.
Music is by my good good friend Chambers, and one of my favorite "hidden gem djs". Stay tuned for more details.
groovEssentials: Saturday April 11th - IslandMix Restaurant & Lounge • Jester
A couple months back, I debuted a beautiful event concept based around an entire night of groovy soca - based on the fact that my favorite songs in the fete these days - for whatever reason, seem to be groovy. At the time, I decided that I wanted to do something for the East, wherein the event would be: a) close to home; b) with free parking; c) adult casual...
Enter groovEssentials. The first edition at Tropix in Pickering was one of the best parties I've done in ages. Part 2 at Iron Pot was equally incredible.
For Part 3, for EASTer Long Weekend Saturday, we move to the quaint IslandMix Restaurant - 200 friends and the incredible musical talents of Jester all by his lonesome with Brenton B.
Tribal Knights Band Launch - Birds of Paradise: Saturday April 25th
A girlfriend once told me that there's no allegiances in mas... Consequently, like the NBA or any other major sport, key players move from team to team - and in this case, camp to camp in an attempt maximize their chances of winning the coveted title...
My journey into mas comes from a family tradition and history of both building and playing mas, but my first personal foray into the latter came a couple years back when my Dad and I first brought a section with Marlon Singh's Callaloo. In our first year there, Callaloo won the coveted title of Band of the Year. 2 years later, we joined Jamaal Magloire's young promising band the Toronto Revellers. The band went on to win 2 years straight, and after an amazing run with a great band, we've decided to move on once again.
This year, my Dad and I have decided to go with Tribal Knights - run by Dexter who goes back with my Dad to Louis Saldenah days, and whom I met first at Callaloo. Together, with 8 other section leaders, we're out to take BAND OF THE YEAR...
This year's theme is BIRDS OF PARADISE. If you've never played mas, or are a seasoned veteran, I urge you to come out and check out the costumes on Saturday April 25th.
Anyway... I've got plenty laundry to do, and for some strange reason, I'm becoming my parents, and am agonizing over possibly leaving this house in any sort of mess... I'm off to get it cleaned.
Thanks for listening, always... Next email from the land of the rising sun.
I
Yours sincerely,
IAN ANDRE ESPINET
ian andre espinet
ian andre espinet entertainment +
black star graphic design & communications
canada's leading urban graphic design studio. period.
ian andre espinet 2007
RE:VISION
In September 1999, we revolutionized the way you viewed events with Amnesia. Since then, we have listened to you, our patrons and friends, and changed to suit your lifestyle. In the orchestration of our flagship event, Amnesia, we have stayed true to our goals. In the creation of other signature events such as Soul Kitchen, Big People Fete, B-Boy Document, X-Factor, ICON, re:connect, Socaholics, The ONE, Music Cafe etc, we have continued the mission.
With more than 2/3 of the urban nightlife scene attending Amnesia and/or one of the our signature events in the past 6 years, we continue to prove that success takes more than VISION. It takes RE:VISION. Stay tuned as we hone our online presence - www.amnesia.ca coming soon...
p.s. Follow me... follow meeeeeeeee. I'm on Twitter.
p.p.s. You can also find me on facebook, myspace, youtube and everywhere else too, doing it like I'm doing it for TV. Or just google me. LOL.
p.p.p.s. Japanese people maybe amongst the most stylish in the world...
p.p.p.p.s. On the streets of Japan, instead of giving out flyers that will be thrown away, they give away packets of klennex with ads...
p.p.p.p.p.s. They have Mister Donut here. Anyone remember Mister Donut? I have a VAGUE memory of going through a drive thru with my dad (and the photo places in those little buildings)...
p.p.p.p.p.p.s. The technology is on some NEXT ish.
p.p.p.p.p.p.p.s. The Japanese may be the most polite people on earth. Hai!
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