Derek Thomas

Shin-Sen-Gumi's chicken on a stick; Credit: D. Thomas

Japanese Food Festival: Mochi Pounding, Shrine Bouncing

Derek Thomas
Last weekend's Japanese Food Festival at the Torrance Cultural Arts Center served up more than just food, though there was plenty of that too. Among the festivities: awaodori and yosakoi dance performances, samurai sword dramatics, a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, and a raucous shrine parade. Eats on offer included yakitori,......
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BALL BREAKERS

Derek Thomas
When the S.F. Giants' Barry Bonds hit his 73rd home run in 2001, he broke the single-season Major League record. He also set off a legal firestorm for the t...
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5 American Fast Food Items You Can't Get in America

Derek Thomas
While America may be known around the world as a fast food paradise, there are actually some menu items you can't get stateside. Here are our Top 5 oddities from abroad. 1. McDonald's Spaghetti and Fried Chicken (Philippines) Fried chicken with a side order of spaghetti? Yes, please! McDonald's Philippines......
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FRIENDS, RAMEN, YAKITORI

Derek Thomas
Sushi, sake and soba are on the menu at Bridge USA's Bridge the Gap Between East and West Japanese Food Festival, as are ramen, yakitori and okonomiyaki. If...
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CREAM OF BROCCOLI

Derek Thomas
Broccoli. Cubby Broccoli. The man who turned Ian Fleming's secret agent 007 into a film icon as co-producer of 1962's Dr. No -- formally known as Albert...
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TOY STORIES

Derek Thomas
It's been 18 years since the first PXL This film festival, a showcase of videos made on the Fisher-Price PXL-2000 camera that ironically turned the obsolete...
@heathermeeker @hennartonline @lorimoreno; Credit: Josh "CuriousJosh" Reiss

Top 140: L.A. Twitter Conference's Greatest Hits

Derek Thomas
Tweeps took over Hollywood & Highland's Kodak Theater for the 140 Character Conference, the second edition of Jeff Pulver's global Twitter initiative (first in New York, next in London) that explores the effects of the real-time web on business, media, and culture. Here are our Top 140 (or so) tweets......
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HARRY AND SCARY

Derek Thomas
Costumed canines are on the agenda for Much Love Animal Rescue's Bow Wow Ween, an annual fund-raiser benefiting the volunteer-run organization that helps fi...
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CANOGA PARK IS DEAD

Derek Thomas
Dia de los Muertos may mean "Day of the Dead," but celebrating with Hellga the Devil's Beer Maid (get it? HELL-ga!) is sure to make you happy to be alive. T...