August 10: Third Annual Nihonmachi Nite

August is the only month without any official holidays. Honestly though, who needs an “official” reason to celebrate?

On Saturday, August 10th from 4:00 - 8:00 pm, Japantown will be throwing its own party — the Third Annual Japanese-style street festival Nihonmachi Nite. The festivities, mostly centered at South Main and 6th Avenue South in the ID, will provide a wide array of terrific things to see, do and eat.

To Do!

• for a little history, take the “Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet” walking tour. The Wing Luke is offering an amazing deal: $5! Normally this tour is $17.95.
• enter your kiddo in the kimono and yukata costume contest
• enjoy live music by Kimo Muraki, DJ Initial P and others
• lots of games for the little ones

To See!

• experience a bit of tradition and watch volunteers parading a Mikoshi (a portable Shinto shrine) through the ID
• watch the Shi Shi Mai (Japanese Lion Dance) 
• check out athletic kendo demonstrations 
• taiko drummers creating stirring beats

To Eat!

• sweet treats from Umai-Do and Shabu Chic
• scrumptious snacks from Umamai Kushi, Mighty Ramen, Uwajimaya and more
• SPAM MUSUBI!!

Spam-O-Rama = party in your mouth

YES! In addition to all of the Nihonmachi Nite fun, it is time for Momo’s Third Annual Spam-O-Rama! Delicious, salty, comforting, spam musubi is one of the iconic go-to foods in Momo Mama Lei Ann’s native Hawaii. Enter your own take on this culinary delight! Momo is still accepting contestants. How creative and tasty is your musubi? Come down and show off your skills! Call or email us to sign up (206. 329.4736) or lala@momoseattle.com

Spam-O-Rama!

Mark your calendars:
Saturday, August 11th from 4pm - 9pm

Japantown will be hosting Nihonmachi Nite! And here at Momo, we will be hosting an extra special, super fun event: Spam-O-Rama! This is our Second Annual Musubi-making Contest.

You may wonder “What is this musubi?” Today is your lucky day, for it is the day of Musubi 101.

First, the ingredients: a typical musubi will consist of Spam, sushi rice, furikake (those tasty sweet/salty sprinkles you often see in Japanese restaurants) and nori. A slice of Spam is fried, often with a splash of teriyaki sauce, then laid atop a pile of sushi rice that has been dusted with furikake. A strip of nori (dried, roasted seaweed) encircles the whole thing, which is pressed into a Plexiglas cube. This is done to compress the musubi into a condensed, portable “sandwich.”

Here is a musubi press:

And this is musubi:

Here is a little history:  Musubi became wildly popular in Hawaii after WWII. Spam was a staple for the troops stationed there and it soon became commonplace in the local cuisine - although musubi is the form one will usually encounter it in. Indeed, many visitors to Hawaii don’t feel fully initiated until they've sought out a musubi (available virtually everywhere) and eaten it!

So. Now that you know more about musubi...won’t you come to Momo this Saturday evening and partake? Better yet, compete! Regardless, everyone is a winner on Nihonmachi Nite.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, a Tower of Spam.

Lady Konnyaku Brings Japan Street Style to Momo

The Final Nihonmachi Nites of 2011

Saturday, September 10 from 5:00 - 8:00

Lady Konnyaku Trunk Show at Momo

Meet Malia Peoples, the hapa honey who puts her own spin on Harajuku fashion with a Pacific Northwest twist. She’ll be mingling at Momo, sharing her sustainable style sensibility during our last blast of the season. In keeping with our happy*lucky*life, we’re fortunate to host the busy Lady Konnyaku — clothing designer, artist and teacher/mentor at New York Fashion Academy. 

The rest of the neighborhood will be hopping with activity, too, as Japantown joins forces in creating summer fun. The long-anticipated 519 Art Studios (519artstudios.com) will be opening, featuring a new gallery, Prole Drift. Participate in a painting party at the Cullom Gallery, attend a show at Kobo or get a spontaneous tattoo at Tiger Tiger. Plus discover other eats and treats, all around the block. As the lights go down, the Main Street stage will showcase music and performance art, culminating in the showing of Miyazaki’s Howl’s Moving Castle. For more information, go to www.nihonmachinites.com.

As the unofficial ID concierge, I’d like to share the following tidbits,
noshing being one of Momo’s favorite pastimes:
- Fuji Bakery has delectable French-inspired Japanese pastries
- The Panama Hotel serves up beautifully crafted coffee cocktails
- You can order the full menu at the bar at Maneki (no waiting!)
- Red Lantern is a hidden gem of Chinese/Korean/French fusion
- Despite no sign, fans find Tsukushinbo, loved for its authenticity
- Customize your bento box at Fuji Sushi, great value, many choices
- Kaname’s Happy Hour (5-6:30) is a winner, try a shochu martini

This Saturday, July 9: Spam-O-Rama

No miss Japantown fun, “Nihonmachi Nites,”
Satahday, July 9 wit Spam-O-Rama at Momo
Okay, so we keep dis to da point:
Momo fun going happen from 6-8 including musubi contest, if you like entah, see da scoop below*
Leland (not our Leland) and friends going play Hawaii kine ukulele
Uddah stuff going be happening around da Japantown ‘hood
Godzilla 2000 movie going staht aroun’ dusk (9:45-ish) in da pakking lot at 5th and Jackson
Foa little moa info, check dis out: nihonmachinites.com, and dis too: seattlechinatownid.com

* Scoop on da Musubi Making Contest:
Momo give you one can Spam if you like. Pick up befoh da contest, or we give you one back dat night. At home, make your best, most ono-licous kine Spam musubi like your granma use to to, or make up your own kine. Bring dem into Momo, make enuf for da judges to try, so come wit at least tree musubi, moa would be okay, too. Be at Momo by 6:00. Yes, we going give prizes including Momo gift certificates, you bet.