Unexpected Adventures

Unexpected Adventures Curated events designed to maximize your discovery, connection + fun!

From Scavenger Hunts in Central Park, to Hiking + Meditation, to intimate Sake Tastings, we create rich experiences where you can learn new things + meet new people + have fun!

08/07/2026

Fans and first timers were blown away by the incredible piano accompaniment of Makia Matsumura Makia Matsumura on the final night of the MoMA Silent Film Festival.

The film was Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans. 1927. Directed by F. W. Murnau. It was a great film—but the piano accompaniment blew everyone away.

After the performance I heard Michael talking about Makia’s performance. I had to capture his energy and did a quick video.

Moments of awe like his are so contagious: Michael’s reaction to Makia’s performance inspired everyone standing nearby. It’s thrilling to see his passion and sheer delight for Makia’s magical art form. I’m grateful to capture this awe moment.



Correction: the film I saw where Makia played with no music—was Straight Shooting, 1917 by John Ford and not High Noon. It’s still amazing to think she’s playing with no music. A true genius!

07/26/2026

The adorable children in our 連 New York REN joined the end of the final performance. This is my favorite video of the night 🎉🥳🌻😊✨

#阿波踊り

05/15/2026

Dancing with a fan in Awa Odori is not as easy as it looks. I have been on a mission to learn how since last year + have watched countless videos, asked questions and bugged dancers including the amazing Sato sensei .110 as well as the supremely talented members of NY ren

There are many beautiful ways to dance with a fan so I was thrilled when Ishida san from Aho ren, shared with us the “Aho Ren” style of dancing with a fan. Happy to share it here!!

On another note, when I first met Ishida san, I learned that he had brought his lantern🏮and not a fan. He told me that dancing with a lantern is even harder than dancing with a fan!! OMG!

This video is from last week when Aho ren was here in New York to work with members of NY ren Awa Odori dance group and to dance with us at at and the Spring Festival at We were lucky to have members of from Chicago as well.

We had three-hour practice sessions every day leading up to the Japan Parade —these were filled with new and fascinating information.

I feel very lucky to be able to practice this dance and to learn from dancers who grew up dancing it, especially the professional dancers from Aho Ren who came straight from Tokushima, where the historic dance originated.

阿波踊り
awaodori


05/08/2026

Aho ren 阿保連 in New York! So honored to welcome them and learn from them. They join the NY Awa Odori ren this weekend along with dancers and musicians from other groups in Japan as well as Chicago. Come out to the Japan Day Parade for more!

12/05/2025

Kyo no Ame or Sweets of Kyoto is a 130 year old shop selling traditional Kyoto hard candies. The current owner is the 5th generation.

I’ve been coming here since 2018 and each time I’ve bought the distinctive shiso-flavored candy. I love these!! But, this year they had a historic “old recipe” candy made before sugar was introduced to Japan. Wow—very interesting! I had to buy that!

I hope you can visit!

Unfortunately I don’t have the exact address for this shop. But, it is next door to the Shinshindo bakery and cafe in Teramachi. This is a chain but the address for this particular one is below:

Shinshindo - Teramachi 進々堂 寺町店
Japan, 〒604-0993 Kyoto, Nakagyo Ward, Kuenin Maecho, 674

進々堂 寺町店
〒604-0993 京都府京都市中京区寺町通竹屋町下る久遠院前町674

Enjoy!




12/04/2025

What a surprise! After biking and then hiking along narrow paths through mountain villages, past persimmon trees and temples to an open forest trail and then up to the top of the mountain—we encountered this amazing artwork by Christian Boltanski, La fôret des murmures.

Hundreds of wind chimes installed in the forest, ringing lightly in the breeze. On strips of transparent material hanging from each bell are names of loved ones written by past visitors

This installation is located on the island of Teshima in the Seto Inland Sea in Japan. Teshima is best known for the Teshima Art Museum designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa. It is one of the Benesse art islands.

After coming back down the mountain on foot we rode our bikes up and down a few more hills to the Museum. The hike was the perfect physical prelude to the calm and quiet needed to truly experience the meditative space inside the Teshima Art Museum.

No talking or photos allowed. Just people, seated on the ground gazing at the sky through the openings in the roof. This otherworldly space has been described as a spaceship or a womb. Regardless of the reference, it cannot really be described. One must experience it.

More on the Teshima Art Museum in the next post.







12/03/2025

The Kite Dance! Edo Kabuki Ren 江戸歌舞伎連in Kōenji 高円寺11/23/25。


#阿波踊り
#江戸歌舞伎連
#高円寺マシタ

12/03/2025

Edo Kabuki Ren 江戸歌舞伎連dancing in Kōenji 高円寺on 11/23/25! So many great moments, it’s hard to pick one!!




#阿波踊り
#江戸歌舞伎連
#高円寺マシタ
#高円寺阿波踊り

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