Far East to East Showcase 2009, presented by Superglorious and New York Anime Fest. Featuring the batshit-crazy-and-I-love-them-for-it Gelatine...


Echostream...


the lovely Swinging Popsicle (whose new record "Loud Cut" is out now)...


...and the almost-aggressively strange Kokusyoku Sumire.

New York Anime Fest 2009, Javits Center. Day two.


The lonely VHS aisle (trust me, the guys in the corner are looking at manga)...


...otherwise, the marketplace is doing fine. Model kits.


Doujinshi, and the ever-popular character goods.


Toys and more toys.


Love these Katamari cousins (Miki and Dipp, I believe. Right?)


Hardcore gamers are hardcore.


Yoshiyuki Tomino.


Gundam cosplayers.


And, here's a cool Spike Spiegel to go with yesterday's Faye Valentine.


That's it for this year. See you next year at the "amalgamated" (right) NYCC/NYAF.

New York Anime Fest 2009, Javits Center. Day one. Faye Valentine is one of my favorites.


The cast of Soul Eater signing many, many autographs.


Yoshiyuki Tomino, creator and director of Mobile Suit Gundam (as well as several of its subsequent sequels and spinoffs) and about a thousand other series.


Little known: did you know that Tomino is also a songwriter? Under his pseudonym "Rin Iogi", he has penned many songs, including the lyrics to the theme songs of several (most?) of the series that he created.


Vash the Stampede. Another favorite.


Zombie(?) Sailor Moons.

That's day one. More tomorrow!

Zach Hurd and band, Rockwood Music Hall, LES.

Tres leches cupcake.

These cakes are MESSY. From start to finish, MESSY. There's no other way to put it. A mess to make, a mess to eat, a mess to transport. They taste alright - the eggy cake soaked beyond saturation (I didn't think that was possible, either) with sweet milk gives the whole thing a very bread pudding-like quality - but I honestly don't see myself making these again anytime soon.

And yes, I am fully aware that this is my THIRD cupcake post IN A ROW. I swear I'm still getting out of the house as much as I used to, just not taking the photos. Might have some projects brewing, though.

Green tea cupcakes.

I swear that's not guac on top.

Flavorwise, they come out exactly as I'd wanted: light, not-too-sweet, and full of green tea goodness. Overall one of my better efforts, I think.

Olive oil, lemon, and thyme cupcakes with fresh balsamic whipped cream.

Dark chocolate and bacon cupcakes.

I've been wanting to make these for weeks, but it's been impossible to find dark chocolate cocoa in any of my local stores. I finally find a can from Scharffen Berger at the Amish Market. I'm a little disappointed that the cakes and frosting don't come out as black as in the pictures in the linked recipe, but they taste great.

Turns out I only have about half the amount of powdered sugar in the house as is called for in the frosting recipe. I plan to make up the difference with the regular granulated kind, but when I taste it I think it's just fine. Admittedly, I do tend to like my chocolate a little on the bitter side. Adjust for personal tastes, is my general point here.

Christina.

The Depreciation Guild (who do my favorite song of the year so far), Bowery Electric, East Village.