My phone died recently after 4 years of good service. I was delighted to find one surviving simple flip-phone at a Sprint store. Everything else was a smartphone. I am afraid one day I'll be forced to join the rest. But in the meantime I was able to acquire this old people phone with EXTRA LARGE FONT. Texting is still an enormous task on this kind of phone, and it is my main excuse for not replying to text messages. I love the small size and the fact that it's just a phone. But I ended up selling my soul to a promotion to receive a free Samsung tablet for two-year data service contract. Now I really don't need a smartphone.

So much has happened in between while I was slacking in blogging. Hopefully I'll catch up with some of the food/restaurant items I should really be talking about, but here's the latest.

We went to check out our new neighbor on Clinton St. Ivan Ramen with Rey and Elliot. Mr. Ivan himself was hanging out in front of the restaurant greeting us. We were there early Sunday evening. At 6 o'clock, the brand-new shop was already half full. Taiyo quickly picked out his favorite Anpan Man in the mural near the entrance. We got a nice spacious table in the garden. Taiyo was somehow uninterested in the whole dinner experience and kept doodling by the lovely bowl of ramen. Well, the meal was nice, with two appetizers we shared- four cute meatballs($9) and a plate of three "Kewpie" mayonnaise drenched shrimp over watercress($14) and we(adults) had Triple Pork Triple Garlic Mazemen(Rey, $15), Shoyu Ramen with egg(Elliot, $15), and Tokyo Shio Ramen, fully loaded with an egg, pork chashu, and roasted tomato (me, $18.) It was delicious, unique in its own way, but this is not a Japanese ramen shop. If you're Japanese and was looking for a ramen shop, you'll be disappointed. Rye noodle don't have that bounce of ramen noodle. My broth had too much bonito powder. Egg had the perfect soft consistency but not flavored (as normally expected to be for ramen topping.) Pork Chashu was thick boiled pork belly. Chashu means barbecued. There was no gyoza dumplings on the menu. With a beer each, the check was $96. This was not a ramen shop in Japanese dictionary. I guess that's what to expect from a fine-dining-trained chef. But Mr. Ivan is so nice and friendly, and food was tasty and service was more than efficient, and casual enough to bring kids of any age, so fairly recommended. I just wish it was more ramen shop priced.

It was our Spring Break. Time for our annual "tax refund vacation." Taiyo was off from school for 10 days- we had to get out of town. A month ago, I was still undecided going through family destination travel book. Then I came across "Dollywood," Dolly Parton's amusement park in Tennessee. Although I'm not a particular fan of Dolly Parton, I did want to go there once in my life. After a bit of research, it turned out to be a perfect destination: a short flight (less than two hours) with perfect schedule (afternoon flights), in the south (kind of exotic and it should be warmer!), and I found a beautiful mountain resort with a huge indoor water park on site. So that was our trip: Dollywood and Great Smokey Mountains. I was so proud of myself to come up with such a plan- obviously not many family Spring Breakers were heading that way. There was one direct flight a day to Knoxsville, Tennessee, and it was a tiny airplane, and not even full. Not many people were heading there from NYC, period. The timing was perfect. The flowers were everywhere down there. And we just missed a crowd they just had for a big car show down there, they told us when we arrived the resort. We stayed up on a hill overlooking across Great Smokey Mountains. Taiyo totally loved the place since our unit was more like a real apartment than a hotel- a kitchen, living room with TV, washer and dryer in the bathroom, and bedroom with TV (we did not need it and we did not use it.)

We dined at Smokehouse Grill at the resort. I ordered smoked brisket and here it was, two thick slices with 70-percent fat, seriously. I could not eat a quarter of it. Taiyo loved chicken fingers and curly fries.

The following day, we had to do Dollywood! Taiyo had vintage photo taken, got on some rides, chatted with an old blacksmith, saw a show of yodeling grandpas from Switzerland, rode a steam engine, and had Chinese buffet lunch of predictable qualities. There in Tennessee, I was surprised to be served by all white people everywhere, even in Chinese buffet restaurant. It was very, very white country. And they were nice, friendly, and spoke with slow southern accent which sounded to me like foreign language. I didn't notice a single Asian person there, although we drove by maybe two Japanese/Chinese restaurant.
The next day it rained/snowed all day. It was like 30 degrees! This was supposed to be southern vacation! So we enjoyed their massive indoor water park with no guilt. Then Taiyo enjoyed watching Sponge Bob back in our room. The arcade at the resort was also handy.

There were so may pancake places down there, so we had to try one of them before leaving. We went to Flapjack's Pancake Cabin, which was just down the street fro the resort. Taiyo got kid's french toast, and I got "The Works" omelette which came with two pancakes and yucky grits (I could never understand it.) These and a cup of coffee and orange juice was 14 dollars. So really cheap, but worth the money? Mmmm....
So I'd say it was pretty good successful vacation, although food was pretty bad in general. If we ever go down there again, I will just drive straight to a supermarket and utilize the kitchen. But it was interesting, a new country, and yes, we are safe back in the city.

Finally air is softening. I got some cherry branches from Union Square market and buds are surely fattening. Last Sunday, we went to see "Robot Competition" at Javits Center. Aside from watching robots built by middle-school students hauling balls, which was a great environment by itself, Taiyo got to control a little robot, and made a balloon fueled car with popsicle sticks and life savers.

On the way back we stopped at Skylight Diner on 34th Street and 9th ave, because it was there on the way to B&H, one of the few places nowadays I can purchase real film for my old camera. Taiyo never protests going to a "Diner." I try to avoid it, because I won't be able to eat anything decent. That was exactly what happened. The decor was old diner style, cute and bright. I liked it. Service was quick and friendly, which is pretty good. But the food. I don't even want to describe the food. I don't come to this type of place with high expectations, but my. It reminded me of that diner in Forest Hills we went last year only because it was conveniently located right by the subway. At least it wasn't horrendously expensive and Taiyo ate at least half of his French toast that was alarmingly yellow. I ate my eggs Benedict although it was too runny and not poached enough because I was hungry but felt so low eating it. I would say we shall return only if it was the only place nearby and the world was ending. I just wanted to have an average food, but not bad food.

But trip to B&H compensated for bad lunch. This place still totally amazes me with it's automated efficiency. The baskets are transported overhead to the pick-up area via tracks, which of course is the coolest thing to hang around and watch. We don't even have to go play with all kinds of camera and gadgets in the store. Just watch those bins transported above. I felt like I was the coolest mom to take him to such coolest places.

With arrival of Daylight Savings we sprang forward and days got a lot longer. We still feel return of cold spell here and there, but overall, air is warming up. Flowers are getting ready to bloom. Except my Amaryllis. Last year it gave me two stalks of flowers, so it seemed to skip flowering this year. This past bitter winter, we didn't make enough trek uptown, so the visit to the park was due. Goats must be hungry. They are always hungry. We had a beautiful afternoon in the park- with added bonus of Humpty-Dumpty puppet show. We saw his act somewhere else about a year and a half ago. Taiyo remembered. He enjoyed the show even more. Adult enjoyed the show because kids were just so adorable - they had a ball getting an egg thrown by Humpty-Dumpty. One of those magical moments that makes you feel so lucky and privileged to be there.

So we were there again- at the Disney World. Yes, we were hoping for the magical vacation that they advertise to sell, and yes, I was really convinced that we are not Disney-type, but we still didn't totally hate it. It was Taiyo's idea to begin with. He really wanted to go back there. He really wanted to dine at the castle, so I paid some $$$ to have a breakfast there. The food looked pretty and they gave us Mickey-shaped muffins and stuff, but it was mostly gross. They kept our orange juice glass filled. Large older ladies costumed as medieval maids served us. Then there were these wigged princesses with heavily painted faces making appearance. And here's what Taiyo did. It's just insane.

And aren't you impressed how professionally they all pose for the photo? Even though this kid is acting like a psycho, slicing up his beloved kitty? (By the way the sword was supplied by the castle) So for all these photo alone, maybe it was worth the trip. And of course yes, it was really lovely to spend a few days wearing only t-shirt outside, dipping in a pool under sun, and walking on a beach. Also, I must say, I was extremely impressed with this super American brand. So many people believe in it, too. You can see that they love being there! As much as I hated being there, it was also seriously fun. Look at the pictures above again.

We're having a long, cold winter. I'm slacking in my running routine already after attempting to go back to it since Taiyo started school. "Too much snow" has been a good and honest excuse. It feels like we haven't been without snow on the ground for such a long time. Every time I decided to put away the snow shovel, I usually had to retrieve it from the scary basement within days. Last Wednesday's wet one was just so bad. It wasn't much accumulation but it packed down so quickly I had to chip pieces off with a cute little trowel which was like the only useful tool I could think of. Anyway, Lunar New Year arrived and it's a year of horse. I'm afraid this one will go by so, so fast. We had many lion dance sightings around Chinatown and Taiyo also found a little red envelope with two dollars. I think this is pretty good start.

I found some old pictures and had to share this one. How cute is he! But at 20 month he was actually a devil. He was tough and difficult child. He would be cranky, fussy, or simply freak out and be so extremely loud! I seriously wanted to shoot myself every day. I'm glad I don't own a gun- I would be totally dead, more than dead, if I had one. But look at him! I miss this incredible cuteness but I'm so glad I don't have a child that age any more.

We were heading to Times Square to catch a show. This is probably the neighborhood you must come with low culinary expectations. Food are mostly bad to mediocre and higher priced. Services are usually fast, though. All the tourists traps are what I would normally avoid, but with a four-year-old, it could be a rather pleasant experience. After passing by a few boring Irish sports bar, I saw "Planet Hollywood." Taiyo was immediately excited. "Yes, I want to go there!"

And this visit turned out to be just what I expected. We were greeted by a photographer when we walked into the restaurant, who placed us in front of a blue screen for a souvenir shot (which of course I did not purchase.) The decor only was just so worth the visit for Taiyo. Airplanes and trains hanging from the ceiling! Rhino head and big car parts! Big murals of Chinatown and New York City and whatever! So disgustingly touristy but so fun and amazing to a four year old. It's basically bumped up fast food with reliable service, since being in Times Square you'd usually served by a cute and friendly actor type. And that was exactly what we got. 80's hit music in the background, the noise level is just comfortable for not feeling conscious about young companion. Most of the tables had at least one child under 10. And the food was rather gross - terribly-tall-and-impossible-to-bite pretty burger was so dry and tasteless. But Taiyo loved his kid's mac & cheese that was macaroni with melted velveeta. And he genuinely loved the place so I felt it wasn't totally waste of money. Although I would seriously avoid setting my foot ever again there, because the food is really gross, we may do something like this again. It just reminds me that I'm not so typical American. But I do recommend the place for dining with kids. They really love it.

A little show at New Victory Theater was another gem. "Still Awake Still" was simple cute funny cabaret show that made little kids giggle and laugh so much. How they love to laugh is so amazing. One thing we eventually forget to do as we get older. After the show, we trekked to Bryant Park for carousel ride, then to Grand Central Station for the Train Show, and had a bad crepe at Ciao Bella in the food court. Please do not have the crepe at Ciao Bella- the mix berry crepe was smeared with strawberry jam (too sweet), and crepe was dry and tasteless it seemed like a frozen crepe. Taiyo ate most of it but he didn't finish. For $6, I'd like something more edible. So food-wise it was horrible day, but still a fun-filled nice day with Taiyo.