Chicago helps Japan- Fundraiser for earthquake and tsunami relief!

Mar 11, 2011 by Sami

 

Chicago, we need your help! Please consider donating whether you’ll come or not. Your help will make the difference. Think about giving the amount for TWO COCKTAILS you’ll have this weekend!!

Here’s a video to give you a very small glimpse of the tsunami. Also, here is a piece I wrote on Chicagonista about why I’m hosting this event.

I’m sure you’ve heard at this point about the tragedy that hit Japan. A ferocious tsunami unleashed by Japan’s biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it carried away ships, cars and homes, and triggered widespread fires that burned out of control.

The magnitude-8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (seven-meter) tsunami and 200 to 300 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai. Scientists said the quake ranked as the fifth-largest earthquake in the world since 1900 and was nearly 8,000 times stronger than one that devastated Christchurch, New Zealand, last month.

Please join me, the Hunt Club and Eventbrite Chicago to help raise money to help the Japanese people in this time of tragedy. It’s times like these that we need to be reminded that it could have happened to us. Let’s unite as citizens of the world and give everyone an example of how amazing Chicago residents are to those who are in need!

100% of proceeds will go to Japan and Tsunami Relief program. Currently donations are being accepted through the Red Cross specifically to a Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami relief fun!

Each ticket will include your first drink and passed appetizers thanks to The Hunt Club. Eventbrite Chicago has agreed to waive the registration fees! There will also be a silent auction so bring your checkbook and generosity. If you’re a business and want to contribute to silent auction please email the host directly.

Thank you to Hunt Club and Eventbrite Chicago. Please take a moment to check out their Facebook and Twitter pages.
Hunt Club: Facebook. Twitter.
Eventbrite Chicago: Facebook. Twitter.
Follow #ChiHelpsJapan for updates!

Please visit http://chihelpsjapan.eventbrite.com/ to RSVP, donate and spread the word!

A big thank you to the talented Anderson Clair (@AClair77) for the event logo!

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Sami in Japan- Video: A Night in Tokyo

Aug 24, 2010 by Sami

Here’s a video I made of Tokyo. I am in love with this city!

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Sami in Japan- Food Food Food

Aug 13, 2010 by Sami

Ironically I’ve had more non Japanese food since I’ve been here… here are some photos for your enjoyment! I only hope that all the walking I have been doing offsets the food intake! Click on photo for caption!

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Sami in Japan – Photo Recap

Aug 1, 2010 by Sami

I have been walking so much the past few days so I’m totally fine with eating everything I see in sight that looks remotely edible. Not to change the subject but I really can’t deal well with rejection so I stopped taking photos of people because I’ve been turned down way too many times. Friend told me that old creepy men use photos for “sexual purposes”…honestly, do I look like that kind of man?? So, for now, I just try to sneak a photo here or there.

I got to visit the Advertisement Museum in Tokyo the other day. They had a special exhibit called “The Real Men and Women of Madison Ave“. I was in heaven! Mad Men fever exists in Tokyo! I also went up on the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building with amazing views from the top floor. I’ll go ahead and post some photos with captions, it seems more fun this way

This is one of the many views from the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building. The big park you see is Yoyogi park. It’s popular to go there on Sunday and watch music performances, people dressed in all sorts of costumes and even Elvis impersonators. I think, due to the hot temperatures, most people chose to stay indoors and therefore, I barely saw anything of note but it was still a lot of fun to be there.

The Sumida River Fireworks are one of the biggest in Tokyo. The show is at 7:30PM but people start waiting by the river in the AM for a good spot!

I was lucky enough that when I visited the Meiji Shrine I witnessed was a wedding there!

In Harajuku! This is where the very fashionable shop and hang out. Check out how many people are there?! Although, this is probably 3 times or more, less than the crowd at the Sumida Fireworks!

I was able to “steal” a photo!

So excited to have tried several Macaron shops in Tokyo!

You have no idea how happy I was to learn that they were showing a film, outdoors, in Yebisu Garden Place! Brought back memories of watching movies in Grant Park in Chicago.

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Sami in Japan- From the Traditional to the Technological!

Jul 31, 2010 by Sami

It seems like the ability to sleep past 7AM haunts me in Japan too, regardless of the much walking that’s being done during the day. On the upside I get to watch commercials that make no sense to me whatsoever!  Yesterday, I finally got to take the train alone without any assistance and did NOT get lost. I repeat I was able to reach my destination without any problems! Granted I only exchanged trains once…but I’m rather proud of my accomplishment.The weather is still not as bad as I had imagined it. I think I was well prepared coming from Chicago.

The destination was Asakusa, a district most famous for The Sensoji Temple. I got to enjoy a stroll down a street that has small shops on both sides selling everything from fans, chopsticks, miniature figures to bean bread and Manju. Before the Senjoji temple I went to the oldest Tempura restaurant in Tokyo. It was extremely delicious friedness! At Senjoji shrine I was able to get my fortune predicted (it turned out to be a good one!), light incense and have their smoke purify my body and observe a prayer.

After I made sure I got my religion on we head over to Akihibara, or as I’d like to call it, every nerd’s wet dream! Not sure where to even being with this one. First stop was a Maid Cafe a food establishment where girls dress as various characters, mostly servants and role-play. Depending on the theme the Maid Cafe can be little different from each other. I went to one called “The Rabbit’s Forest”. As the name might allude, you enter and you are in a forest where the servers are dressed in servant costumes with rabbit ears. It was a really fun experience. You are called “master” or “mistress” and items on the menu are named after items typically found at the forest. Each time you order something the “rabbit” hops to behind the “tree” to make your “parrot juice”. They have a very bubbly personality and when you leave they tell you that “we rabbits get very lonely so please come again and play with us”.  You are not allowed to take pictures of the rabbits and they have several rules to make sure the creepy men are kept out. Yikes! If you don’t like rabbits you can head few doors down to a maid cafe where you are treated like an older brother or an older sister and play games with each other. Whatever it may be, there’s something for everyone here in Tokyo. I plan on going to the male counterpart called the Butler Cafe…hehehe.

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