BlackenedOut

Flights

Booked the LAX-NRT 5th freedom on Singapore Air. Great flight, incredible business class and reward of around 105k-120k per person plus minimal taxes and fees. Economy and premium economy lots of award availability as well.

Did 4 nights in Tokyo, 2 in Kanazawa, 2 in Takayama, 2 nights in Kyoto, and a final night in Tokyo.

Kanazawa was our favorite city. But really all were great. Took a while to warm up to Kyoto as it is very crowded and reminded us of a Florence or the like. But found its charms.

Here is my single best tip. Do not worry about where you eat. The food is by and large really great no matter where you go. Don’t wait in line for the viral pancake or sandwich place. Just go to the place next door. The best sashimi is going to be in some market where you choose your cut and the slice it for you right there.

Beautiful country, wonderful people. Go.

For sale on Zillow. Look for a three bedroom three bath in Beachview Estates with a big pool in the 1300 block of par view.

Moons ago there used to be parties at a place called the Bomba Shack, which was a beachside shack run by a guy named Bomba. Bomba was very large and sort of handsy with women who would ask to take photos wiry him. Bomba would make Bomba tea which was supposed to be some sort of magic mushroom punch. These parties took place on full moon nights and all the charterheads, sailors, some locals, would all head out and drink a lot of this punch and a lot of rum. The parties were a lot of fun but I don’t think the punch did anything. I do recall one time a baking sheet of mushrooms that you could sample from if so desired.

All of this is a way to say, the party is fun but it doesn’t have much to do with the full moon (although that is when the parties are most notorious).

I went into new Elio’s yesterday afternoon, which even in the doldrums of summer always had a bit of activity on a Thursday. A tasting, Tim wanting you to try something, or get you a deal on some cases, but definitely people in there buying booze. Was a ghost town. So strange.

Don’t think enough people are realizing the impact of GLP1s both on booze consumption and more critically, restaurant industry. Time for common sense GLP1 control!

Champagne region very easy from Paris as a day trip and there are quite a few local guides. They will pick you up and take you to some lesser known houses but could also just visit the grande dames.

Beaune, and burgundy and Beaujolais, areas also very easy to reach from Paris by train. And then just use Turo to use a car and drive around. Did this last summer and it was aces.

Rhône a bit further afield but same as above. Train it. Then grab a car.

It’s awesome.

You could take whatever you might invest in this foolhardy errand and just buy some really nice wine.

Charley’s is great as well. Better steaks than Bern’s but give nod to Bern’s for total experience. Haven’t been to new Charley’s location (or if it’s opened yet).

If booking with miles, I’ll book 330 days out or whenever it opens. If paying cash, I’ll see alerts.

Rons if great wine bars serving cichetti in the northwest quadrant which is the old Jewish ghetto. Also bar All’Arco, Cantina di Moro, and Al Merca. Gelateria Nico.

Love Venice. But get out of St. Marks, which is beautiful but don’t spend money around there.

What a blast from the past. That appears to be Hogs 4, which took place on the frisbee golf course near the administration building in city park. It rained like hell for the 2-3 days before only stopping Friday morning. River parish truck got stuck, the cab bringing in the stage got stuck, and was generally a quagmire. Company Burger team won grand champ. Dr. John showed up to play with voices of the wetlands all stars (and would refer to event later as Dogs for the Cause), and some hobos were sleeping in a “squat” in the backstage area, they were friendly folks.

Good times.