Maid Cafe New York

On August 11, 2013, my wife and I went to Maid Cafe New York, the first attempt of trying to bring the very popular Maid Cafe’s from Japan to the States.

In the past, makeshift maid cafes have been set up at the Anime and Comic Book conventions.

We have personally been to ones in Akihabara so, for the most part in our minds, we have this expectation of what should be done.

Each cafe has their own unique take. Some host as a Manga/Anime place where you can read Manga and even do voice over work in a sound booth. Some treat you very mean. Yet, most have this very traditional style of the servant/master relationship.

Mixing all the awesome Otaku flair with this very hands-on approach makes maid cafes a must-stop attraction while visiting Tokyo.

I never thought in a million years something so different as a maid cafe could be brought to the States. Yet, here we are for our 13th wedding anniversary with the hopes of getting a little taste of Tokyo in our collective tongues.

image

Now let me first point out that the shop has not done it’s official opening so we attended a “beta” test of the shop. They haven’t even officially placed an awning
above the shop yet.

image

image

The decor is pink and white and at least one of the servers was actually Japanese (which we feel should be a must since this is an import specialty shop).

image

image

The other two servers where not readily able to speak Japanese. The owner spoke Japanese as well, so we are thankful that the person behind the shop is Japanese (Is it necessary for him to be? No, but it helps).

The shop is rather small for a maid cafe (not all maid cafes are really that big anyway). This shop could only legally hold at max 25-45 people standing. The tables are made of solid wood with green chairs which gives a nature feel to it.

image

I do feel at this stage of the game that maybe having a LCD screen showing Anime like Maid Sama or just cute Anime characters would add more to this experience. This could bring a lot more fanboys and fangirls to shop. Maybe even having some Anime or Manga artwork of the Maid Cafe girls around the shop would boost the atmosphere.

Also, the music playing was smooth jazz while we where there. Once again, to get that awesome feeling, adding Anime soundtracks or famous J-Pop music or any modern Japanese music would add a new level of fun. I believe it would showcase the shop as something more than just a sweet shop and something very modern Tokyo.

With the decor aside, how was the food?
Unfortunately, I can’t speak about the Japanese Curry since it was not ready at the time we arrived. So my wife had a matcha green tea cheesecake with a green tea flavored bubble tea.

image

image

I ordered a crepe with bananas and ice cream while drinking a famous Japanese soda, Ramune. The menu also consisted of shaved ice, hard boil eggs, different cakes and yogurt.

image

image

With all this in mind, we shall wait until the official grand opening to give a full verdict as to how Maid Cafe NY measures up.

Follow me on Twitter @AltMindz

 

The Adicts: Tokyo

So We are preparing for our return trip to Japan in Sept 2014 and to get us in the mood we are blasting this song!

Lyrics below

There’s a lot of sexy
ladies, in Tokyo
Millions who have babies, in Tokyo
All that I’ve been looking for
Is one that’s free

Got to go, to Tokyo
Got to go, to Tokyo

It must be in their
cooking, in Tokyo
Or the way they bow to me, in Tokyo
I find Japanese ladies irresistible

Got to go, to Tokyo
Got to go to Tokyo

Got to go, to Tokyo

Take me on a fast train, to Tokyo
Take me on a jet plane, to Tokyo
Take me in a wheel chair,
Just take me there

Got to go, to Tokyo
Got to go, to Tokyo

I got to go to Tokyo
I got to go to Tokyo
I got to go to Tokyo
I got to go to Tokyo
I got to get to Tokyo
I got to get to Tokyo
I got to get to Tokyo
I got to get to Tokyo

Learn Japanese with JapanesePod101.com

Review:It’s Tokyo Charlie Brown

By Robert Greenwood

http://dyn1.media.forbiddenplanet.com/products/diamond/STK474/STK474295.jpg.size-290_maxheight-290_square-true.jpg

It’s Tokyo Charlie Brown

If, by now, fans of Alternative Mindz didn’t know, I am a huge fan of all things Japanese. I’ve been to Japan twice and my wife reads, writes and speaks Japanese.

I’m also a huge fan of The Peanuts so having the two together is like Reese’s.
I’ve sung the praises of the new Boom series and how it lives up to Charles Schultz and embodies the spirit and energy of his work.

So, how does this new adventure fit? First off the writer, Vicki Scott, placed segments of actual old strips into the story to meld the world as one, making this book seem like it “fit like a glove” as one of Charles M. Shultz’s own.

This story has a familiar theme. Charlie Brown once again fails at everything he does, letting his team down again as their coach and pitcher. This leads to all forms of torture by his peers through name calling. Despite all of this, he receives a letter in the mail to have his team play in Japan.

The reasoning gets lost as to why they are chosen but who cares? Get these kids to Tokyo!

They sprinkle bits of actual Tokyo into the story from images of Tokyo Tower to the “go to” tour bus of all of Tokyo, the Hato bus and more. Yet, they missed a real opportunity at showing the gang like fishes out of water by not taking them to Akihabara (Akiba) with the maid cafes or all the fun electronics, something they would look completely confused by. Also having Snoopy interact in a pachinko parlor is a personal wish.

It would have been something unique to have the game played in the Tokyo Dome. When Lucy makes fun of Chuck’s head, I thought we would get a game inside the Tokyo Giants’ turf.

Other than my Otaku grip, this is a perfect continuation of all the past “It’s ——- Charlie Brown” books and should be read by all who love The Peanuts and who love Japan. It’s over 100 pages and a super fast fun read for all ages.

Tokyo Gundam Project 2012

http://img1.ak.crunchyroll.com/i/spire4/67e3d22ffb4eff412be109e3e5028f3f1341970582_full.jpg

“Tokyo Gundam Project 2012” is an event to promote “Green” in Tokyo’s waterfront areas by the image of “Flower Gundam”, RX-78-2 Gundam covered with flowers and green. The event will start at Diver City Tokyo where the 1/1 RG RX-78-2 Gundam & Gundam Front Tokyo is located in Odaiba on July 14, as part of the National Urban Greenery Fair Tokyo. A promotion image video which will be screened at the event “Flower Gundam Activates!” was advance released on YouTube.