We survived a dreadful holiday- Christmas! I don't believe in Jesus Christ, so I don't celebrate his birthday. But what am I supposed to tell my child- Santa doesn't come to our house because we're Buddhists? Taiyo obviously knows what Santa looks like, but he doesn't question about his functions yet. We only celebrate commercialized Christmas in Japan, so we'd support our economy by buying gifts, but somehow I learned of possible existence of Santa Claus at early age. My first impression was that he won't come to our house because we have no chimney. But then my best freind gave me a passage from Bible and she told me if I read it every day Santa Claus would come. He still didn't come. Many years later I learned that she was a Jehova's witness. I was almost recruited for some Christmas presents! Growing up, I didn't always get a presnet for Christmas, but that was ok. New Year was much more exciting when kids collect some cash from family. So anyway, I don't really do Christmas and I'm grateful of not having heavy gift obligations but do feel left out when the holiday actually comes around. We become holiday orphans! But we had nice mellow one gathering with other orphans around shabu shabu on Christmas Eve, and hanging out at a Jewish household on Christmas day. On Christmas day when Taiyo woke up from his nap, I gave him a present- two little remote-controlled robots. This was a big hit.

On Monday we went to see the Christmas Tree at the Rockefeller Center. The area was still super crowded with tourists. This is really a beautiful sight I hardly miss all these years. Windows at Sacks was disappointing, but decorations on some buildings along Fifth avenue, especially at Fendi, were stunning. After walking around in crowds, I was mentally exhausted and wanted to have a nice dinner. We came across Shinbashi on 48th street near Fifth Avenue. It seemed too chi-chi for us, but the restaurant was pretty empty and I was sick of walking around. This restaurant has been around for a long time, and seems to have a solid reputation for providing "better Japanese food." They probably attract more business customers on regular weekdays. They didn't seem too family friendly, but I was surprised to see two other tables with a baby and a toddler.

They were quite well prepared- offered us a high chair, which we should've taken because Taiyo toppled his seat twice. A waitress promptly brought him a paper cup with a cover and a straw, and a blue set of a plastic plate and utencils. Menu is pricey; most entrees are $20 - $40, but there was a great set menu as "pre-theater dinner." For $20, we got a tempura bowl, mini-chirashi sushi bowl, chawan-mushi(savory steamed custard), a salad, soup, and beer. Everything was delicious and just done right. We also had homemade crab shumai, but these ($3 a piece!) didn't impress us. Taiyo chugged down two shrimp tempura quickly, had some rice and soup then decided to go get acquainted with the staff, who were mostly young Japanese girls. Taiyo's favorite kind. So he went right into the server's station area and made some friends. Then he went running around screaming to embarass me and the maitre-d. Service was very nice and efficiant. Recommended if you're in for a treat.

A beautiful Wednesday- we made it to the Train Show at the New York Botanic Garden in Bronx. It was the first time for both of us- although I was aware of this famous holiday show, I just never thought about it as important thing to see until I had a boy. Even a girl would definitely enjoy it, but the boys and trains! They are just so inseparable. Anyway, the show is totally breathtaking and incredible it is truly worth seeing it with or without kids. All kinds of cool trains run around the beautiful garden and amazing rendition of New York landmarks constructed with twigs, barks, and leaves. There's bridges and waterfalls, and I would imagine it would be even more amazing in the evening. Taiyo was of course totally enchanted and ran back and forth chasing the trains, chanting "Chaka chaka choo choo!" I was also glad that we beat the crowd- I assume that they get really busy in the next two weeks during the holidays.

Back in the neighborhood, we dined at Frankies on Clinton. They are usually too busy and I know they have very small tables, so this is usually not among our choices to dine. But it was early enough and there weren't many other diners. Taiyo was somehow very enthusiastic entering this cozy restaurant. Although it was pretty empty, they offered us the tiny table in the middle. I preferred one against the wall or something bigger, but Taiyo decided to take it. We enjoyed a crostini with avocado and pesto, lentil soup, and homemade gnocchi with marinara and fresh ricotta. Oh, boy, we enjoyed them! After a crostini, Taiyo asked for more. Both lentil soup and gnocchi kept him in his seat quite a long time until we finished them all. Food-wise, this place really give you the best for the money. Everything is so simply but beautifully executed and they taste so fresh and honest. I would go back more often if it was set up a bit more kid-friendly. There aren't much room for strollers- fortunately it's walking distance for us. There's no high chairs and talbes are small and very close together. I won't go there unless it's less than half empty, which is very early in the evening. Still recommended- and service is wonderful.

Our Saturday starts with the most annoyingly edited kids show Doodlebops on CBS. Taiyo loves to watch the strange but catchy music show of two boys and a girl, who got outrageous hair-dues and crazy colors and big fingertips. Stories are childish and stupid, and it is so amazingly badly edited- almost every cut is about a second or two. But Taiyo would be bouncing around playing his instrument. Then we watch Busytown Mysteries, which I like. It's more classic looking cartoon of a town inhabited by all kinds of animals and other creatuares. It's cute. But since we normally only watch Channel 13 for kids shows, I'm always amazed by the commercials that plays on network. How many plush slippers and glittering sneakers kids need? What's the deal with that wobbling ugly bald dancing baby doll with a big belly button? Maybe I'd buy it for someone I don't like.

In the afternoon we went shopping at Pearl River on Broadway. This is one of the greatest store ever for Taiyo. Lots of little water fountain with sparkly balls turning, all kinds of windchimes to mess with, so many cool wind-up toys, cute little Japanese erasers of different shapes from fruits, animals, to cakes! We picked out the coolest wind-up toy with many legs- kind of a robotic insect? Then Taiyo picked up a postcard of Manhattan night skyscraper and said, "New York." I wasn't sure if he said it because he was familiar with the view or he read the print on the corner. Probably both. There was Santacon going, and we came across many Santas on the street heading to this strange and fun bar hopping event. Taiyo said "Hi Santa" to each one of them. We didn't actually run into the Santacon, unfortunately, but maybe it was better for Taiyo for his first impression of Santa is not to be of ones getting drunk everywhere.

We stopped for lunch at Thai Angel on Grand between Crosby and Lafayette. Entry was fairly easy with a stroller, and we were offered a bright table near the doorway. The place wasn't very busy, which is more comfortable for me. It was impossible to find not busy eatery a few blocks up near broadway earlier on the trip. Taiyo first got busy scooping up little ice cubes from his glass. His motor skills are getting refined he didn't spill much water. Service was very friendly and fast, and food was not amazing but quite decent. Price was good too. Taiyo happily enjoyed Ka Nom Jeeb dumplings, curry puffs and pad thai. Then he ran around the restaurant and amuzed the waiter and other diners. He also greeted people walking into the door. He really liked the place it was hard to get him to leave. Recommended.

We usually don't have horrible dining experience because my aim is to have the best dining experience ever than to fight the impossible beast. If the place was too crowded or the clothed tables with neat table settings were placed too closely together, I may avoid it. Fancy busy restaurants may not want to have a two-year-old hopping from one empty seat to another. This is why sometimes I would compromise and end up in a diner. Remedy Diner on Houston street, which I have written about in the past, is actually Taiyo's favorite. They would pretty much allow Taiyo to jump around on every empty booth, until I'm too embarrassed and have to stop him. But food is seriously bad.

This was their lasagna. It was surrounded by peach colored salty goo, and had two-inch-thick meat layer (have they not been selling enough burgers?) had pasta sheets with cruncy overbaked corners, and generous amount of cheese as if they wanted to cover the evidence. It was so thick and inside was cold. Taiyo ate some of it, and he thought crumbling saltine crackers into mushroom barley soup was the greatest idea ever. And waiters who are all latinos are usually quite enchanted with Taiyo. So we probably go back there again.