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Mai-Anh Ha

ThethemeforthethreemostbeautifulgardensinHuntingtonisparadise,sanctuaryfortheescapist-inclined:theEnglish(anumbrellatermforthethreegardensShakespearean,RoseandCamellia,whichsegueintoeachother),ChineseandJapanese.ArborsconnectthethreeEnglishgardensandwalkingbeneaththem,IfeelasifI’vefoundtheentrancetotheSeeliecourtsandattheendwillbethelandofthefeywhereQueenTitaniaandKingOberonrule.Thechildrendartingbetweenthelegsofmeanderingadultsservetoaccentuatetheotherworldlyatmosphere:theirlaughterlike

song, the soles of their feet eeing the ground. In the last

arbor,wisteriashangfromthecanopy,plentifulandpurple,sweetandwelcoming,onemoresteptoleavingrealityandenteringafantasticalrealm.IntheChineseGardenofFlowingFragrance,LiuFangYuan,whichmimicsthearchitectureandlandscapeof17thcenturySuzhouinsteadofthefey,adifferenttype

of fairy dominates, not ckle, but cultured. In the pavilions,

calligraphicmessagesaccompanythebeautyasatypeofliteraryartagainstthebackdropofscholarlyserenity.The

mood of spiritual and mental liberation encourages the ight

ofthesoulfrompaviliontopavilion,robestrailinginthe

wind, ngers crooked down to accept a kiss from the catsh

inthelotuspond,whosemouthisraisedinobeisance.Incontrast,theJapanesegardensemergenaturallyfromthehillsasifthey,likethebamboo,hadtakenseedandgrowntoo.Thelandscapespeaksofaquietstrength,mananequaltohissurroundingsratherthanthemastershapinglifetohiswill.Ithostsakaresansui,drylandscapegarden,whoseabstractionoftherelationshipbetweenthelandandwaterfurtherheightenthesenseofhumilityandfreedom.Note,however,thatabadmealcanspoilanymoodofcalmorimagination.Thetwocafesboastnotonlyexorbitantprices,buttinyportionsofalreadymediocrefoods.Bettertorevelinthegardenswithahomemademeal.

The Spirit of the Artist

Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens

1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA 91108

Hours:

Mon-Fri, 12:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sat-Sun, 10:30 a.m. to4:30 p.m.; Tues, closed.

Only in California, a Garden of Worlds:

A trek through the Huntington Library, Art

Collections and Botanical Gardens

Visitors can satisy antasies o being an English romantic composing poetry or a Chinese scholar voicing philosophy or a Japanese noblemanresting in seclusion rom the world.

“Craftywomenoftheworld,unite!”proclaimtheorganizersofthePinkParlourFestival,encouragingfemalecrafterstogatherandshowcasetheirwares.HeldthisyearonSunday,March22inSantaAnita,theannualPinkParlourFestivalisacollectiveofindieproductsthattiltsthespotlightonlesser-knownfemalecrafters.ThoughthefollowingproductsfoundatthePinkParlourmightnotbeasstreamlinedorcheapasmass-producedgoods,theycomewithsomethingmore:thespiritoftheartist.

Cinnamon Roll GangDolls

TheCRGdollsarecreepierthantheCabbagePatchKids,withtheirwarpedeyesandsewn-shutmouths.Eachone,however,isfascinatingandwhimsical,almostpsychedelic,lovinglysewnfromvariousscraps.Somecomeintheformofwhattheircrafter,MarcelDeJure,calls“mutantbags.”Thosewithaspookydemeanorwillappreciatetheseuniquedolls,availableinpee-wee,midiandbigatcinnamonrollgang.comforanywherefrom$10to$85,dependingonsizeandmaterial.

Alison Shawver

The annual Pink Parlour Festival gives female crafters a chance to shine.

Charcoal Designs Accessories

CharcoalDesignsoffersawidearrayofdark,edgy jewelry,perfectfortherockerlookingforsomethingabitmoreuniquethanwhat’spropagatedatHotTopic.One

necklace features a black-and-red skull-accented cofn

thathangsfromtheendofachunkyblackchain.Oneringfeaturesvintageglassstonewithagoldspiderwebimprint.Checkoutthewebsite,charcoaldesigns.com,forskullsandheartsandgeneralvintage-inspiredmadnessthatcostsonlyalittlemorethanjewelryfromClaire’s.

Serah’s Cupcake Soaps

Thosewhoaresick

of boring, owery soaps

willloveSerah’sadorablesheabuttersoaps.Shapedlikecupcakes,eachonecomesinamouthwatering

avor such as creamsicle,

candycornorredvelvet,andleavesskinfeelingfreshandclean.Thesetantalizingsweetscomeinsmallandlargesizes,andareveryaffordable—onelife-sized$12soapcouldlastonepersonamonthortwo.Findthematserahsonline.com.

Actual Cupcakes: Whatakaracter Creative Group

W h a t a k a r a c t e rcupcakesboastperfectlymoistbreadbasesaswellasicingthatisrich,sweetandbuttery.Decorations

may not be as awless as

thosefromthegrocer,butareplacedwithobviouslove.Thebestthingaboutthesehomemadecupcakesisthatallproceedshelpfundtheowner’sson’sStudentAmbassadortriptoAustralia.Theabsolutelydelectablecupcakescanbecustom-madeforanyoccasionatwhatakaracter.com;pricesdependoncustomizationschosen.

Hair Art to Die For

ForthosewithapenchantforthegothicorVictorian,thehairaccessoriesatHairArttoDieForareadream.Thepieces,“fascinators,”areelaboratesubstitutionsforhats.Thinkofthemassimilartobridalveils,butfortheeveryday.HATDF’sfascinatorsenchant:eachone

constructed from owers, feathers, ribbons, netting and

charmsthatwilldrawattention.Althoughpriceyat$30theymakeaveryunique,verydarkfashionstatement.

lifestyle

How to Make Tonkatsu

Work it Out.

Priya Chakrabarti

ThingsJapanisknownfor:WWII,animeandDanceDanceRevolution.Foodisanoftneglectedcategory.TomostoftheAmericanpopulation,Japanesecuisineconsistsofsushiandsushionly.Thisisatravesty;arguablythemostneglectedcategoryofJapanesefoodisthatofmeat,orinthiscasetonkatsu,friedporkcutlet.Ifyou’rearedbloodedAmericanwholikeshismeatredandhisarteriesclogged,thenhere’saculturalfoodyouwon’tregret.Prepare:Mincedginger3beateneggsHalfaninchthickslicesofporkFlourPankobreadcrumbsSaltPepperOilProcedure:1.Saltandpeppertheslicedporkonbothsides.2.Takethemincedgingerandsqueezeitsjuicesontothepork.Thissucceedsinremovingthesmellthatporktendstoemanatewhenevercooked,whichisrarelypleasant.3.Beatthreeeggsinabowluntilthemixtureretainstheconsistencyofmolasses.Addalittlesalt.

4. Prepare a pan of our. Spread the our throughout

thepan.5.PrepareapanofPanko(Japanese)breadcrumbs.Distributethroughoutthepan.YoucanobtainthesesetofbreadcrumbsatyournearestAsiangrocery.6.Takeaporksliceandlayitontop

of the our on both

sidessothatthe

our is distributed

evenly.7.Putthesliceontothebeatenegg.Makesurebothsidesarecoated

thoroughly. The our

shouldhelpretaintheeggmixture.8.Putthesliceontothebreadcrumbssothatbothsidesarecoated.9.Putthesliceontoanotherplate.Repeatsteps6through9untilallporkslicesareusedup.10.Iftheporkdidn’tcomefrozen,freezeit.Frozenmeatsfrybetter.Don’taskmewhy.11.Cookapanofoil.Atricktoknowwhenyouroilisreadytofryistodropaleftoverbreadcrumbintothepan.If

the crumb oats to the top, your meat is ready to fry.

12.Porkhasatendencytobeeitherundercookedor

overcooked. Therefore, it is a bit difcult to gauge whether

themeatisalldoneorabouttobeburntcrisp.Generally,

Grace Yoo

Yoga: The art of physical and mental self-realization.

Yoga,originallyintendedastheartofself-realizationand

both mental and physical tness,

hascometobeinterpretedinamyriadofways.Oneway,andconcurrentlythewaythatismost

benecial to students, is its use to

relaxthebodyandcalmthemind.Theoutcomeofsuchpracticeisnotonethatcanbemeasuredbytraditional,calculativemeans.Rather,theuseoryogarequiressomethingstudentshereseemtostrugglewith–lettinggo.Withtheconstantstressofhomework,

tests, projects, it’s hard to nd time

tostopthedailyrushandover-stimulationofthebraintopracticeyoga.Mythdispelled:yogadoesnottakehours.Therearesomeroutinesthatarequickenoughtodoatthedesktode-stresswhileinthemidstofworking.Trysomeoftheserightnow:1.Afteranintensetimed-writeorDBQ,yourwristsarecrampingmajorlyandyou’re

freaking out because you won’t have enough time to nish.

Putyourarmsoutinfrontofyouandturnthemsothatthebacksofthepalmsfaceeachother.Takeonehandovertheopposite,pressthepalmstogetherandinterlacethe

ngers. Brings the hands towards the chest and then away,

soyou’rebasicallyturningyourarmsinsideout.Holditaslongasyouneedwhileyoucollectyourthoughtssoyoucangobacktowritingfeverishly.2.Buttpain.Youallhaveitaftersittinginclassfor

Indulge yourself with the best of fatty Japanese food.

lifestyle

overanhourandsothisisthepointwhereyoustarttoget

dgety. Instead, try this. Rotate so your legs aren’t stuck

underthedesk.Proponefootovertheotherknee.Putonehandinsidethetrianglethiscreatesandholdthethighofthelegyourfootisrestingon.Holdtheothersidewithyourotherhandandgentlyliftyourlegofftheground.Itisimportanttounderstandthatallformsofyogaleadbacktothesamething:completeconsciouscontrolofthebodyandmindthroughself-realization.Don’tpanic.Eventhegreatestyogimastersstillhavenotachievedcompletecontrolbutitisessentialthatyoualwayskeepinmindtheultimategoal.Suchconcentrationispreciselywhyyoga

holds the benets that it does.

Whenyouconcentrateon,say,yourbreathing,youendeavortoblockoutoutsideforcesandforthatmomentintime,youareself-contained.Ittakesanextremeamountofwill-poweranddeterminationtoblockoutthethingshappeningaroundyou(thusthementalexercise).Theknowledgethatcomeswithconcentrationontheself,though,isthesameknowledgethatallowsyoutoattainself-realization.Thereasonisthis.Breathing,aninvoluntaryprocess,usuallygoesunnoticedbutinthemomentofyogawhenyou’reconcentratedonbreathing,theprocessbecomestotallyvoluntary.Inthat,youbegintorealizehowmuchworktheminddoeseverydayjusttokeepyoualive.Thus,youbegintorealizeallthecomponentsthatmakeupwhoyouare.Theintricacyofyogaalsodictatesthatnomoveonly

ever has one benet. Focusing on your breathing and

takingslow,deepinhalationsalsoexerciseyourdiaphragmandallowsforgreaterlungcapacity.Thus,ithelpsyouspiritually,mentally,andphysically.Findmorequickde-stresstipsandavideoofhowtodothemovesdescribedathttp://www.sprig.com/videos/4-yoga-moves-de-stress-your-desk.Gotowww.yogajournal.comformoreinformation.whenthetonkatsustripsturnagoldenbrowncolor,it’sdonecooking.Ifyou’reunsure,youcanalwayscheckbycuttingthestripopenandseeingforyourself.13.Aftercooking,letthestripsoftonkatsuonastrainerinadishsoastodrainoutallexcessoil.14.Servethetonkatsuwithtonkatsusauce(availableatyournearestAsiansupermarket),andaservingofdicedcabbage.

Long stretches and deep breaths can calm the mind and relax the body.Tonkatsu is the Japanese equivalent to American country ried steak.

Alison Shawver

Thedrummerthrashesabout,piercingsholdingthestagelightslikeheartbeats.Theguitariststrums wildly,tornskirtandpinkpigtailsbouncingtotheheavybeat.Theleadsinger’ssmokyeyes,entombedbyinordinateamountsoeyeshadow,pullachinghandstowardsademonicgrowl.Butsomethingseparatesthisgroupromtypicalgirlrockers:they’remen.Whenitcomesto Japaneserockbands,anythinggoes.It’sbecomealmostimperativeor J-rockmusicianstodressinthe whimsicalcombinationodrag,cybergothandVictorianashionsknownas“visualkei.”WiththeirlaxattitudetowardwhatmostintheU.S. wouldseeasbizarre,disciplesothe J-rocksceneareadierentbreedohuman.Otherthantheactthat J-rockersdon’tbataneyeatdrag,theeral,obsessivemannerismsoansalsoaddtoJ-rock’sstrangeness.Anyonewhoconsidershimselanadventure-seekerwoulddowelltoattendaJ-rockconcert.AtanyJ-rockshow,you’reboundtoseesomequirkycharacters.ThereareHarajukuemulators(notGwenSteani’smangledHarajuku),adornedincomplexcostumesandswelteringLolitadresses;theanimecosplayers,suitedupascharacterslikeVampireKnight’sZero;andtheusualpacksoignorablehipsters.Theeccentricityotheseans,however,goesbeyondtheirappearance.SomecouldbeconsideredworshipersotheirchosenJ-rockmusician,clawingoranychancetogetclosetothem,honoredtobrushahandorevenbespaton.Theirscreamingisincessant,butitaddsaninvigoratingvibetothealready-chaoticscene.Themusiciansthemselvesarevariednotonlyintheirdress,butintheirexperimentationwithAmericanstyleslike

Land of the LostSouls:

newwaveandblues.Staging,nomatterhowsmalltheset,isalwaysaseerieand vividasthecostumes,andsingersbeltoutvocalswithemotionsthattranscendanylanguagebarrier.Anyskepticismotheseo-the- wallartistsisboundtoadeonceyoulistentoaewtracks.Direngrey’s“Kodou,”orexample,isperectorthosewholikepowerul,piercing vocalsthatshitromquivering whisperstothroat-rupturingscreams. J-rockidolMiyavi,whoseshowsareamplewithsensualtheatrics,appealstothosewithatasteorthewildanduninhibited;oneohisbestalbumsisMiyaviuta,whichperectlycaptureshisuniqueblendometalandblues.DuoLM.C’smusicissel-describedas“NewCenturyElectrock,”andthoughthey’relesser-knownthanJ-rockgiantMiyavi,buttheyputonanexhilaratingshow,completewithleadsingerMayaspewingwateronhisadmirers.IthewhimsyoJ-rockhascaught yourinterest,thebestsourcesorJ-rockinormationarejrockrevolution.comandjrockeventsusa.com.J-rockRevolutionhaseverythingrominterviewstoconventionlistings,while J-rockEventsalwayshasthescooponupcomingshows.Sinceeventhemostwell-knownJ-rockerstouringtheU.S.havearelativelysmallanbase,concertticketscanbeacquiredoraslowas$10to$30.Atthisprice,there’snoreasonnottotakeachanceandindulgeinsomethingnew,andwhetheryoulovetheshoworhateit,you’llneverorgethowchillingitwas.

A Different Breedof Human

A look into the bizarreworld of Japanese rock

Norealnames.Fiveboroughs.Countlesssleepingspots.ThisisthelieCadillacManhasbeenlivingorsixmonths—atimeopain,loss,heartacheandacoupleogoodriends.And yetattheendo268pages,thereaderdoesn’tpityhim.Notatypicalcommentaryonthehomeless,CadillacManportrayshislieverysimply.FromseverebeatingstomultiplesuicideattemptstohisprostitutebestriendsAmber,SweetheartandChocolateMilk,CadillacManletsusseeeverything,leavingthereaderreetointerprettheincidents.Thenovelopenswithano-holdsbarredpreaceinwhichhetellsreadershislackogrammaticalskillsisduetotheactthatheishomeless,“notaRhodesscholar.”Thebeautyohislanguage,however,isinitssimplicity.Hisrawcolloquiallanguagegivescolortohisstory,showingthebeautyandcultureoNewYorkCitylie.Still,thelanguageholdsapoweroitsown,creatingpowerulimagery.CadillacMan’swordsmakethehomelesspeoplewehaveseen,andperhapsdisregarded,justthat—people.CadillacMan’sintendedaudiencecomesromarelativeplaceoprivilegeandheassumes(whether

Priya Chakrabarti

Cadillac Man’s life on the streets

An autobiographical look into the lives o New York’s homeless

a&e

heassumescorrectlyisuptoyourdiscretion)thereaderhasnevertrulytakenthetimetothinkothehomelessasmenand womenwithlivesandstories.Thatmightexplainthereasonheinsultsthereaderateveryopportunity(“you[are]spoiled[expletive]rotten”).Ajournalosorts,thespeakeristhesameastheauthor–CadillacMan.Heisullyawarethisbookisbeingreadbysomeone,resultinginanunconventionalstyleowritingthatincludesinsultsdirectedatthereader.Somewouldarguehehaseveryrighttobeangryat“therestous”whodon’tsuerthesameatehedoes.Thewayhechosetoleadhislie,however,wasaconsciousdecision.Aewchaptersintothebook,CadillacManexplainsthataterlosingthreejobsinarow,heandhiswiestartedfghting.Realizinghisshallowwieonlywantedahusbandshecouldbragabout,hejuststoppedcominghome.Hegaveupandwenttothestreets,hopingtodie.Consequently,thereaderdoesnotpityCadillacMan.Manyothesituationsheportraysaretrulytragic—instances wherehe’sseverely,andunnecessarily,beaten,orwherea

Miyavi, a revered idol in the J-rock world, boasts a distinctive style that combines blues and metal. He, like many otherJ-rock musicians, takes it upon himsel to be as eccentric and exciting as possible.

riendgetsmurderedbyanotherhomelessmanwhowantshiscoat.Thoseexperiencesareveryreal,andotenverypainul.Hisnonchalantdepictions,however,don’tnecessarilyleavereaderswithaeelingotragedy,butawarenessoapeople whowanttobeloved,tobesavedromtheLandoLostoSouls.

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