I would rather eat a salad with chopsticks than a fork. I think it is really odd to wear shoes indoors. I enjoy boba tea (hot and cold) and can even order it in Taiwanese. I’m what you would call an ‘egg’ - you know, white on the outside, yellow on the inside. And yes, a lot of my friends happen to be deliciously wonderful twinkies and bananas.

When I first moved to New York from Hawaii I found it extremely odd (and really exotic) to hear a slew of European languages being spoken in the subways, on the streets, in stores, in bathrooms. Needless-to-say, Chinatown was sort of a comfort. Korea-town, with Morning Glory, was better. And even though Manhattan is definitely my home now, I really felt like I was back in Honolulu last weekend when I walked into the insanely fabulous Japanese bookstore, Kinokuniya.

If you’ve ever wanted to find a hundreds of books on Japanese street style, both English and Japanese-language manga (as well as other anime-related paraphernalia), Japanese magazines galore, adorable children’s book and insane kumon workbooks (which will make you realize why Japanese kids are so much further ahead than our own), crazy toys, thousands of videos (including some of my personal favorites from Hayao Miyazaki including Howl’s Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, and Spirited Away), fashion pattern books, and so much more, then you really should make your way over to Kinokuniya, but give yourself some time…

But there is more. Much more. In fact, there are three floors just full of ‘more’. A million cute pens and notebooks (which I’m such a sucker for), packets of origami paper, glittery stickers, even crystals to bling up your phone right next to a book featuring zillions of ways to do it. “Kawaii” to say the least.

And then I spotted the I Am Plastic book by Kidrobot and had to resist a sudden (and quite strong) urge to buy the fabulous visual history of the psycho designer toys that I’m so taken with. Anyway, my little trip into Kinokuniya was such a great break from my typical Manhattan and I’m sure will become a new hang out (especially as there is a cafe upstairs).

Want to go to? Of course you do! Kinokuniya is located right at Bryant Park (making it the perfect escape during fashion week) at 1073 6th Avenue, between 41st and 40th Streets. Mon-Sat 10am-8pm & Sun 11am-730pm. See below for a bunch of pictures inside the store (which I wasn’t supposed to take - oops!)…

Mary-Kate Olsen was on Conan O’Brien to promote her new book ‘Influence’ (co-authored with sis Ashely) and she might just be a little too cool for late-night tv. And as hard as he tried, Conan seemed thoroughly uninterested in interviewing the “fashion icon” and sort of unsure of what he could even talk to MK about - At least he got to ask her questions, which according to Racked (and thank you Adam for pointing this out) was something that no one was able to do at the book signing in Union Square.

And as uninterested as Conan seemed, well, MK seemed ever more so (and wow does she slouch). Now Conan tried to ask her fashion-focused questions and even asked her to style him, but when he asked about the string she had tied around her head (which he clearly thought looked odd and found difficult not to mention), she sort of waved it off and said something along the lines of “I don’t even know what this is! Maybe a necklace?” I’m sure she knew very well what it was, but that it seemed somehow cooler to America for her not to know.

I thought that this might be an interesting interview, but unfortunately (like MK’s choice of outfit on this particular day) it fell flat.

Sheets of rain run down the window as the sky takes back the city. I love a gray world and rain that shows no mercy. It inspires romance and a melancholic mood. It inspires storytelling at its best.

Here are 3 of my top reads/movies for a rainy day:

• James Joyce, The Dubliners
• Roald Dahl, Tales of the Unexpected
• The Neverending Story

Unfortunately the rain is already passing - the sun is coming out to dry the city so we can all get on with the usual hustle and bustle…sigh

Less than a week ago, Daily Candy came out with their second book, Lexicon: Words That Don’t Exist but Should. I have been a DC fan for as long as I can remember, and their lexicon posts have always been the best.

I went to their first book party for Daily Candy A to Z: An Insider’s Guide to the Sweet Life - the sugar-coated party was fun and fabulous, and as you can guess, candy was absolutely everywhere - but I have a feeling that this book is going to be a bit more fun…especially when given as a gift.

For only $10, you’ll be able to give something fun and personal. Before your give the book, go through it and read each of the the various words and their definitions; then, circle or bookmark all the ones that you think describe the person you’re gifting - I certainly know a few whor d’oeuvres (see below). (S)he will love going through the book and discovering all of the terms you identify them with! Give it along with a great scarf from H&M, a pedicure gift certificate, and maybe their favorite candle for a cheap-chic, great gift.

*The above sketches from DailyCandy. Buy Lexicon: Words That Don’t Exist but Should here.

If you haven’t given science fiction a try, you really should. I find that by reading about other worlds, etc., I am able to re-examine my own much, much better. I also get the best editorial ideas from them that would put Vogue’s ‘Alice in Wonderland’ to shame.

Here’s a list of some of my top Science Fiction reads:

• Neal Stephenson - The Diamond Age & Snow Crash
• Samuel R. Delany - Trouble on Triton & Babel-17
• Orson Scott Card - Ender’s Game
• Olaf Stapledon - Sirius
• Octavia Butler - Dawn
• Ursula le Guin - The Left Hand of Darkness

On a more fashionable note: It’s no big secret that the geek-chic look is extremely sexy - you’ve just got to work it right. For the ultimate geek-chic look you’ll have to go back in time and shop Yigal Azrouel’s Fall ‘07 Collection, but since you’ll soon be well read on time travel and the sort, this should should present no problem. Click here for my review on ZOOZOOM of Yigal’s show, open up a new book and prepare for some serious action in the back library stacks.