Topic: The Third Annual Zen Gardens Hanami

Riley ORourke

Date: 2012-03-22 19:18 EST
Saturday, 14 April at 10:00 p.m. RST, Riley and David Lo will be hosting a hanami in the beautiful roof-top gardens of the Zen Gardens Building to celebrate the beauty of the sakura blossoms. There will be music, provided by DJ Zen, traditional hanami food and drink, and beautiful Geisha will be on hand to entertain the guests.

"Hanami" is a Japanese traditional party custom of enjoying the beauty of cherry blossoms, known in Japanese as sakura. From mid-January to early May, sakura bloom all over Japan. The blossom forecast is announced each year by the weather bureau, and is watched carefully by those planning hanami as the blossoms only last a week or two. Most parties occur during the day and are traditionally bar-be-ques under the blossoms. Some more exclusive parties occur at night, with paper lanterns lit by candles strung through the boughs of the trees and if the host can afford it, maiko (geisha in training) and geisha serving the guests.

The cherry-blossoming period is so important in most of Japan that it marks the beginning of the scholastic and fiscal years, with welcoming hanami parties. One of the best places in Japan to attend a hanami and enjoy the beauty of sakura is in Kyoto, which is the traditional home of Riley's family.


http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu69/Hatsu-Hana/sakura_kyoto.jpg



((OOC Note - We'll be taking over the Great Hall chat room for the night; it will serve as the rooftop gardens of the Building. Hope to see all of you there!

ETA: I suppose it should go without saying that we'd really like this to be a peaceful, violence free event. If you feel the need to mix it up, please take your play elsewhere. Thank you for respecting our wishes.))

Riley ORourke

Date: 2012-03-22 19:20 EST
For the night of the hanami, the roof of the Zen Gardens Building has been transformed into a magical Japanese garden. Two buffet tables covered with food and the full bar are located on the northern half of the garden. Many smaller tables have been scattered around the roof to provide comfortable spots where guests can sit and relax, chat and sample the traditional food. The full bar is manned by two bartenders, skilled at mixing just about anything one could want, though their specialties are Midori sours and picking the perfect sake to accompany whatever one is eating.

The dance floor is a wide open space on the southern half of the roof, with DJ Zen's turntable tucked under a large weeping cherry tree, which is dripping with soft pink blossoms. Each of the roof's many cherry trees' trunks have been circled 'round with faerie lights and have paper lanterns burning candles strung up in their boughs. The paths that twist and wind through the gardens have been lined with more paper lanterns as well.

DJ Zen's playlist
((Spotify is necessary to open this URL. If you don't have it already, what are you waiting for? GET IT!))


http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu69/Hatsu-Hana/sakura_kyoto4.jpg

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu69/Hatsu-Hana/Zen%20Gardens/hanami-night.jpg

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu69/Hatsu-Hana/Zen%20Gardens/maiko2.jpg

Riley ORourke

Date: 2012-03-22 19:22 EST
Nigiri-sushi Menu -
Ebi - Shrimp
Hamachi - Yellow Tail tuna
Hotate - Scallop
Maguro - Ahi tuna
Sake - Salmon

Maki-sushi Menu -
Boston rolls - crab, salmon, and scallions
California rolls - crab and avocado
Shrimp rolls - shrimp and cream cheese

"Also" Menu -
Miso soup
Cucumber salad
Yakitori chicken skewers
Steamed brown rice

Dessert Menu -
Kushidango skewers - sweet rice dumplings
Sakuramochi - pink-coloured sweet rice cakes

Drinks Menu -
Sake
Kirin Ichiban
Midori sours
Hot green tea
Reisling
San pellegrino Aranciata


http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu69/Hatsu-Hana/Zen%20Gardens/hanamibentobox.jpg

http://i634.photobucket.com/albums/uu69/Hatsu-Hana/Zen%20Gardens/hanamidango.jpg

Riley ORourke

Date: 2012-03-23 15:14 EST
http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/45903580/id/usjgqIMLQdG9dmvDKWcTUg/size/y.jpg

Mataya

Date: 2012-03-23 19:11 EST
She might not get out that often any more, but 'Taya never misses Riley's big bash!
http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/45917080/id/1XVGJCW2Q6qdPd3yvmFeyA/size/y.jpg

FuryRevisited

Date: 2012-04-10 22:05 EST
http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/46987127/id/LHU6lESGQhq63qfmnw-Tzg/size/e.jpg

NorseLady

Date: 2012-04-14 01:01 EST
This is Shy's first trip to the Zen Gardens Building, and she is excited to visit during Riley and David Lo's third annual 'Hanami'.

Having never attended this type of party before she sought out help from those who own clothing shoppes when it came to apparel. After several suggestions, this is her choice:


http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii136/NorseLady_photos/jdress3a.jpg http://i263.photobucket.com/albums/ii136/NorseLady_photos/aupdo5a.jpg

Calix Aleta

Date: 2012-04-14 15:45 EST
http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/47193711/id/8uIbkzT2R76SoMHACc0w_g/size/y.jpg

Annaleigh

Date: 2012-04-14 17:30 EST
Black to match her date, Calix, for the evening.
But it wouldn't be Annaleigh if she wasn't sporting hints of red.
http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/47197454/id/VqnnULmMRkmxwSoyzw-kQg/size/y.jpg

FioHelston

Date: 2012-04-14 18:04 EST
http://embed.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/cid/47202448/id/QB3T-Oi5Qy65cgRRysR-VQ/size/y.jpg

Katarina Smith

Date: 2012-04-14 18:24 EST
http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f92/ThesmallCimo/Katarina/x-1.jpg

Edward Batten

Date: 2012-04-14 18:51 EST
In his first public appearance since the Government Advisory Council meeting - where he reportedly looked dead on his feet - the Playboy will be choosing to be attired in a black and silver silk suit of Oriental cut and style, as is befitting the occasion...


http://i.imgur.com/Z1iq0.jpg


http://i.imgur.com/Rl0dA.jpg

Wanda

Date: 2012-04-15 00:13 EST
http://eclipsedancer.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10001/Wandaparty.jpg

Riley ORourke

Date: 2012-04-15 18:45 EST
A great big giant thank you to all of you lovely people who turned out last night for the party! Inventory icons will be ordered this afternoon and distributed when I receive them. Hope y'all had fun and let's do it again next year!

Riley ORourke

Date: 2012-05-20 22:24 EST
Inventory Icons for the 2012 Hanami have arrived and have been sent out. If, for some reason, you didn't receive one and should have or you received something else form my inventory because I wasn't paying attention, please let me know and I'll remedy the situation forthwith.

I love that word. :grin: