ramen | Apothecary Shed

Tokyo: Zenkō-ji and the Omatesando neighborhood

October 31, 2026

In the heart of the city is Zenkō-ji. We arrived as the sun was going down.

We wandered Omatesando on a quest for PJs and underwear. It was a much harder quest than we figured. Eventually Romey had to join a gang to find success. Even the sales tribe at Armani couldn’t help.

Cat alley was on the way.

Varvatos was entirely abandoned. So we put on our own fashion show.

Here is where Romey’s gang induction was carried out.

Finally at the end of the trail there was a great cocktail at Bar Radio (the most civilized bar in Tokyo).

And that famous Penisula ramen.

Picasso and Ramen in Barcelona

July 28, 2022

The Picasso Museum in Barcelona is an institution and is worth a quick visit. But if you have been looking at Picasso for years, you won’t find much in the way of major works. In any case, Barcelona is proud of what it has come to think of as its home town boy. Lots of early work.

Lots. Like an entire wall’s worth.

Set in four connected villas, the museum has amassed a very deep (but not very wide) collection.

This blue.

Avant guard in Paris with the Russian ballet. Picasso was blending fine art, music, and dance in 1909. (And here we thought we were onto something with Into the Unknown.)