Post by Please Delete on Apr 17, 2005 11:19:31 GMT -5
Well, we had our first ever event, and I would count it a success, despite all of the problems.
We had at one point, a possible 17 people lined up for the event, and got about half that number. Only three of us actually made it into DC to view the cherry blossoms.
The Community Center worked out well. We had ban-sugoroku (backgammon) set up, and we didn't have enough tables so we just put a regular table on some wood at the right height and covered it with a red table cloth, which worked nicely. We had a few small 'zen' that we put on the end for everyone else.
The music in the background was gagaku from various CDs, and we had a fue and shakuhachi--both transverse woodwinds--but nobody could really get much out of them. We had readings out of Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book and some old Chinese lists (like 'Vexatious Things', which included things such as the setting of the sun just as you start winning at cards...). We told quite a few stories, and divided the participants up into the Left and the Right to write poetry (yeah, its doggerel, but then--that's rather period!).
The banquet and later sake party was wonderful. Abe no Kotori put together a menu that included:
Banquet
Sake Party
There will be more information up, later, but here are some pictures:
modzer0.cs.uaf.edu/~logan/HanamiParty/Pictures
We had at one point, a possible 17 people lined up for the event, and got about half that number. Only three of us actually made it into DC to view the cherry blossoms.
The Community Center worked out well. We had ban-sugoroku (backgammon) set up, and we didn't have enough tables so we just put a regular table on some wood at the right height and covered it with a red table cloth, which worked nicely. We had a few small 'zen' that we put on the end for everyone else.
The music in the background was gagaku from various CDs, and we had a fue and shakuhachi--both transverse woodwinds--but nobody could really get much out of them. We had readings out of Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book and some old Chinese lists (like 'Vexatious Things', which included things such as the setting of the sun just as you start winning at cards...). We told quite a few stories, and divided the participants up into the Left and the Right to write poetry (yeah, its doggerel, but then--that's rather period!).
The banquet and later sake party was wonderful. Abe no Kotori put together a menu that included:
Banquet
- Sakura-iri (sliced octopus and cherry blossoms in broth)
- Steamed Clams in broth
- Miso marinated salmon
- Tuna sashimi (prepared by Takeda Sanjuichirou Akimasa)
- 'Tougashi' and various fruits (an attempt to recreate 'tougashi' based on what we've seen in accounts--Kotori-hime can tell you more)
- Bamboo shoots in mirin, miso, and other seasonings
- Abalone in miso and other seasonings
- Homemade pickled turnips and kyuri cucumbers
- Rice topped with salted cherry leaves
Sake Party
- Sake, Plum wine, and a mix of sake flavored with actual plums.
- Jellyfish (tokurage) with pickled plum
- Marinated mushrooms
- Tuna Sashimi
- Tangerines
- Mochi
- 'Chinese buns' (little steamed buns in the shape of peach butts, since peaches are a traditional treat in the 4th month banquets)
- A presentation fish (actually, it was a Chinese New Year's Carp made of rice. We presented it and then steamed it, as might be done with a stuffed fish).
There will be more information up, later, but here are some pictures:
modzer0.cs.uaf.edu/~logan/HanamiParty/Pictures
