The Seoulite

Classical Concerts
Goyang City Choir’s Subscription Concert
Goyang Aram Nuri Arts Center
June 9
Under the baton of conductor Ham Shin-ik, Goyang City Choir will hold its 17th subscription concert. They will deliver Verdi’s “Requiem” with soprano Kim Young-mee, alto Lee Ah-kyung, tenor Na Seung-Seo and bass Yang Hee-jun. Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 60,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (031) 967-9155~7. Connected to exit Aramnuri of Jeongbalsan Station on subway line 3.

Kim Jung-eun Piano Recital
Hoam Art Hall
June 20
Pianist Kim Jung-eun will hold a recital. She will play works of Beethoven, Liszt and Brahms. Tickets are 30,000 won. For more information, visit www.credia.co.kr or call (02) 751-9609~10. Located near exit 9 of City Hall station on subway line 1 and 2.

Cellist Song Young-hoon’s “Original Tango”
Seoul Arts Center
June 21
Cellist Song Young-hoon will hold a concert titled “Original Tango” with pianist Pablo Zinger and clarinetist Jose Franch-Ballester. They will perform “A Concagua,” “Milonga Para Tres,” “Tango Callejero” and “The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires” among others. Tickets cost from 22,000 won to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 2658-3546. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Novus Quartet Concert
LG Arts Center
June 21
Novus Quartet, award-winning musicians from Korea National University of Arts, will hold a concert titled “The Truly Novus.” They will perform Wolf’s “Italian Serenade in G major,” Ravel’s “String Quartet in F major” and Beethoven’s “String Quartet No.15 in A minor Op.132.” Tickets cost from 20,000 won to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 6372-3242. Located near exit 7 of Yeoksam Station on subway line 2.

Martin Stadtfeld Showcase
DS Hall
June 3
German pianist Martin Stadtfeld will visit Korea to promote his music. During the showcase, he will play various Bach works and sign autographs for fans. It’s free of charge and admission will be offered on a first come, first served basis. For more information, e-mail pr@vincero.co.kr or call (02) 599-5743. Located near exit 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal Station on subway line 3.

Takacs Quartet & Son Yeol-eum Concert
LG Arts Center
June 18
Takacs Quartet visits for a concert with pianist Son Yeol-eum joining as a special guest. The program includes “Haydn String Quartet Op. 77 No.2,” “Bartok String Quartet No. 4, Sz91” and “Schumann Piano Quintet Op. 44.” Tickets cost from 30,000 to 70,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 2005-0114. Located near exit 7 of Yeoksam Station on subway line 2.

Opera `Carmen’ Gala Concert
Seoul Arts Center
June 22
Prominent singers of Novosibirsk State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater perform famous arias from Bizet’s opera “Carmen” to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the construction of CBS. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 2650-7480~2. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Jerry Jae-il Chae’s Clarinet Recital
Hoam Art Hall
June 17
Clarinetist Jerry Jae-il Chae, winner of the 2008 Dos Hermanas International Clarinet Competition, will hold a recital. The program includes Henri Rabaud’s “Solo de Concours,” Schumann’s “Fantasiestucke for Clarinet and Piano, Op.73” and Brahms’ “Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano in A minor, Op. 114.” All tickets are 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exit 9 of City Hall station on subway line 1 and 2.

Kim Jun-hee’s Piano Recital
Hoam Art Hall
June 19
Pianist Kim Jun-hee, a prize winner of 2007 Concours Long-Thibaud, will hold a recital. He will offer various works including Bartok’s “Two Rumanian Dances for Piano, Op.8/a” and Chopin’s “Barcarolle in F flat Major, Op.60.” All tickets are 20,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exit 9 of City Hall Station on subway line 1 and 2.

Pipe Organ Meets Handel
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
June 27
rganist David Sanger will deliver a variety of Handel’s works including “Arrival of the Queen of Sheba,” “Zadok the Priest,” “Oboe Concerto in B flat, HWV 301″ and “Organ Concerto, Opus 7 No.5 in G minor” with the Seoul Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and the Grande Opera Choir. Oboist Lee Yun-jung and cembalo player Lee Seung-hee will appear as special guests. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 50,000 won. For more, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 399-1618. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Lendvay & Friends’ Concert
Seoul Arts Center
June 1
Hungarian gypsy violinist Jozsef Lendvay and his quintet will return to Korea. The program includes Leo Weiner’s Divertimento” and Vittorio Monti’s “Csardas,” among others. Tickets range from 33,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Ditto’s Ditto Carnival
Seoul Arts Center
June 27
Chamber ensemble Ditto greets its third season with “Ditto Carnival” as a part of “Ditto Festival.” Popular young artists, including violist Richard Yongjae O’Neill, violinist Johnny Lee, double bassist Daxun Zhang and cellist Patrick Jee, will perform Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” Suite, Op. 71a and Saint-Saens’ “The Carnival Of Animals.” Tickets range from 20,000 to 50,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Big Tickets
Shim Su-bong’s “Beautiful Day”
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
June 17-18
Famous singer Shim Su-bong will hold a concert titled “Beautiful Day” to celebrate her 30th anniversary of debut. Tickets cost from 33,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 522-9933. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Encore Opera `My Cup of Flours’
National Theater of Korea
May 30-31
Under the direction of filmmaker Park Su-gil, the original domestic opera “My Cup of Flours” will be on stage again from May 30 to 31. Tickets cost from 20,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 586-0945. Located near Dongguk Univ. Station on subway line 3.

Opera `Norma’
Seoul Arts Center
June 25-28
The National Opera Company will perform “Norma.” This will be a rare chance to see Vincenzo Bellini’s work in Korea. Tickets cost from 10,000 to 100,000 won. For more information, visit www.nationalopera.org or call (02) 586-5282. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

The Pussycat Dolls Live in Seoul
Olympic Cycling Stadium, Olympic Park
June 6
American pop group Pussycat Dolls will hold their first concert in Seoul, as part of their “Doll Domination” world tour. Tickets cost from 80,000 to 150,000 won. For more information, call CP Entertainment (02) 545-5395 or email cp.ent.mail@gmail.com. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station on subway line 5.

Opera `La Boheme’
Seoul Arts Center
Through May 30
Under the direction of Yang Soo-hwa and Bang Jeong-ug, Gloria Opera Group will perform “La Boheme” with the Gangnam Symphony Orchestra, the Operaphil Chorus and the Song-pa Children’s Chorus. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 543-2351. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Opera `Tosca’
Sejong Center for the Performing Arts
June 4-7
The Korea Opera Group will perform “Tosca” under the direction of Pier Luigi Pizzi and Massimo Gasparon. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 310,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 587-1950~2. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Ennio Morricone’s `Cinema Concerto Part II’
Gymnastics Stadium, Olympic Park
Through 27
Legendary Italian composer-conductor Ennio Morricone returns to offer more of his film scores from beloved movies such as “Cinema Paradiso.” Tickets cost from 50,000 to 160,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.auction.co.kr or call (02) 3444-9969. Located near exit 3 of Olympic Park Station on subway line 5.

Russian National Orchestra
Seoul Arts Center
June 30
Internationally renowned conductor Mikhail Pletnev and the Russian National Orchestra will visit Korea from June 29 to July 1. They will perform in three cities including Seoul. Tickets cost from 50,000 to 180,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 541-6235. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Museums
Egypt, the Great Civilization
National Museum of Korea
Through Aug. 30
The National Museum of Korea presents 231 artifacts chosen from `Egypt-Oriental Collection” from Kunsthistorisches Museum of Austria, covering 300 years of Egyptian civilization. Tickets cost from 10,000 won for adults and 8,000 won for children. For more information, call (02) 2077-9199. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station on subway line 4.

Special Exhibition for Donated Cultural Assets
National Museum of Korea
Through July 12
The National Museum of Korea presents 200 valuable cultural assets donated by various collectors worldwide. Autographed music by composer Ahn Eak-tai will also be displayed. Located near exit 2 of Ichon Station on subway line 4.

Dance
2009 World Ballet Star Festival
Seoul Arts Center
June 4-5
International ballet stars from around the world will appear at the 2009 World Ballet Star Festival. This will be a rare chance to see the finest dancers, such as Polina Semionova of the Staatsballet Berlin, Friedemann Vogel of the Stuttgart Ballet, Yekaterina Osmolkina of the Kirov Ballet and Viengsay Valdes of the Cuban National Ballet. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 200,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 751-9630. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Lena Park Concert
LG Arts Center
July 1-5

As a part of Adiologie concert series, R&B singer Lena Park will hold a concert. She will entertain fans with beautiful vocals. Tickets cost from 44,000 won to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 3485-8700. Located near exit 7 of Yeoksam station on subway line 2.

Wheesung Live Concert
LG Arts Center
June 4-7
Singer Wheesung will hold a concert titled “The Man.” He will entertain fans with his rhythmical music. Tickets cost from 70,000 to 99,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 517-0394. Located near exit 7 of Yeoksam station on subway line 2.

Mocca Live in Seoul
Mapo Arts Center
June 21
Indonesian group Mocca will visit Korea with Peppertones and Lee Han-cheol joining as special guests. Tickets cost from 44,000 won to 66,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 322-0014. Located near exit 2 of Daeheung station on subway line 6.

George Winston’s Summer Concert
Seoul Arts Center
June 23
Jazz pianist George Winston will hold a concert titled “Summer Concert.” He will play “New Orleans Rise Again #4,” “Cat & Mouse,” “Urban Lullaby” and “Pixie” among others. Tickets cost from 30,000 to 120,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 548-4480. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

Bobby Kim’s Encore Concert
Auditorium, Yonsei University
May 30-31
Soul vocalist Bobby Kim will perform his hit songs including “Mama” and “Only you,” among others. Tickets cost from 66,000 to 77,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 512-9496. Located near exits 2 and 3 of Sinchon Station on subway line 2.

European Jazz Trio Live in Seoul
LG Arts Center
June 20
The European Jazz Trio will host a concert here after a nine-year absence, entertaining fans with their romantic sounds. Tickets cost from 22,000 to 88,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call (02) 720-3933. Located near exit 7 of Yeoksam Station on subway line 2.

Plays & Musicals

Grease
Dongsoong Art Center
Open Run
The musical tells the love story of high school students Danny and Sandy. Enjoy the rock and roll performance. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 60,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exit 1 of Hyehwa Station on subway line 4.

Dreamgirls
Charlotte Theater
Through July 26
The Broadway musical “Dreamgirls” makes its big debut in Korea. The musical tells the story of a young female singing trio, called “The Dreams,” who become music superstars. Tickets cost from 40,000 to 130,000 won. Visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exit 3 of Jamsil Station on subway lines 2 and 8.

My Scary Girl
The Stage
Through July 19
“My Scary Girl,” based on the Korean film of the same title, is now on stage at The Stage. All tickets are 45,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near exit 3 of Sinchon Station on subway line 2.

Chicago
Seongnam Arts Center
June 5-29
Based on a 1926 play of the same name, the hit musical “Chicago” will be put on stage at Seongnam Arts Center June 5-29. Veteran musical actor Choi Jung-won, singers Insooni and Ock Ju-hyun star in the musical. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 110,000 won. For more information, visit www.musicalchicago.co.kr or call 1544-8117 or 1544-1555. Located near exit 1 of Imae Station on the Bundang subway line.

Mamma Mia!
National Theater of Korea
June 21 - July 23
Musical “Mamma Mia!,” based on hit songs of ABBA, such as “Dancing Queen” and “Waterloo,” is currently in Korean production. Tickets cost from 40,000 won to 120,000 won. For more information, visit ticket.interpark.com or call 1544-1555. Located near Dongguk Univ. Station on subway line 3.

Romeo & Juliette
Seoul Arts Center
July 4- August 2
Musical “Romeo & Juliette” will be put on stage at Seoul Arts Center July 4- Aug.2. It will be adapted into Korean language. Musical actors Shin Sung-rok, Im Tae-kyung, Kim So-hyun and Park So-yeon star in the musical. Tickets cost from 55,000 won to 150,000 won. For more information, visit www.romeonjuliette.com or call 1588-5212. Located near exits 4 and 5 of Nambu Bus Terminal on subway line 3.

* Info from the Korea Times

The Seoulite is expanding his online offerings… now all kpop fans can unite… and date each other! Tired of so-gae-ting? Want to find someone new? Need to just waste some time online by flirting with fellow kpop fans? Well, well, well… go to my new website: www.kpopsingles.com.

Everything is free. You can chat, send messages, do video conferencing and even browse through the kpop zone. We’re just getting started so if anyone wants to volunteer to update the kpop pages with more recent stars, let me know. I only put up my favorites from back in the day…!

A love like this... how romantic.

If you’re walking along Sinsa-dong behind the Ferrari dealership on your way to Dos Tacos… you may stumble upon this cafe that looks like it’s part of someone’s patio of a mid-century house in West Germany. It is indeed South Korea… but the cafe is part of a duplex if you take a close look. No matter… it’s the inside (and the cute outside) that counts. This place has ‘new favorite secret spot’ written all over it.

There are specials listed... but many don't change. If you go for lunch... get the green chicken curry. It's what the servers are always eating too. There are real bay leaves in the dish.

From certain angles, it looks like you tripped into a friend's apartment in the Czech Republic. The art here changes every monthly and it's for sale as well.

Sturdy furniture for lots of reading, writing and people watching.

In the afternoons, you may even be able to meet the artists and share a cup of tea while you see them work.

Hungry? Have a four-cheese pizza. The food here has the homey taste of a bed and breakfast.

Here is an assortment of sausages, carrots and broccoli.

Shin Seung Hun filmed music jams over at OPP. This is definitely a celebrity dive type of place. The espresso here is quite amazing.

To get there all you need to do is take along a seeing-eye dog because you will swear your sense of direction has become blind. Go to the Ferrari dealership. If you don’t know where that is… stand in front of Benihana and look across the street.

Once you find the Ferraris go into the alley and then make a left at the second alley. OPP will be on your right. Closest subway? Apgujong Station exit 3. But from there you will be coming from a completely different direction. Get a homing piegeon. Or consult this map if you can read Korean.

Food: 4/5
Ambiance: 5/5
Service: 5/5

Phone: (02)2238-3437

A good martini is hard to find anywhere… but especially a dirrrrrrrty martini in Seoul. Where’s a Seoulite to go when martinis beckon to drown out sorrows and lift spirits to another dimension? Look up in the sky… it’s not a bird and it ain’t Superman… but all you Supergirls come with me to Skybar Chang in Gangnam.

The bar sits on two levels on the upper floors of the building.

While the standard martini may call for a four to one ratio of distilled spirits to vermouth, aficionados of the dry martini may reduce the proportion of vermouth drastically for a drier martini. Connoisseurs boast of sweetening the cocktail by merely coating the glass with vermouth (such a Martini is traditionally known as an ‘In-and-Out’)

You can opt for indoor patio seating and enjoy the view.

Although it started with olive as a garnish, olive juice can be added to a martini to make it a dirty martini. The taste of olive distracts from the taste of straight gin and vermouth, easing the stiffness of the drink.

Or you can join the serious martini lovers right at the bar.

It is said that a “Churchill martini” contains no vermouth, just British gin. The legend holds that Churchill would get as close to the vermouth bottle as to “look at it from across the room.” On the other hand, some experts strongly object to this practice, arguing that a cocktail with one predominant ingredient is no cocktail at all, and furthermore, that the term “dry” has nothing to do with the gin-to-vermouth ratio, but with the use of dry, white, French vermouth instead of sweet, red, Italian vermouth.

The martini is an American invention. It's so. American. Yes. It. is. so.

While variations are many, a standard modern martini is an approximate four to one ratio, made by combining approximately two ounces (or 55ml) of gin and half an ounce (or 15ml) of dry vermouth. Some prefer somewhat less vermouth—about a five or six to one proportion of gin to vermouth.

The martini is a cocktail made with gin and vermouth. Sometimes, vodka is substituted for gin, although this is properly called a vodka martini. The drink is almost always garnished with an olive or, less commonly, a sliver of lemon peel. It is often described as being 'crisp' or 'astringent.'

Many bartending schools insist that a cocktail shaker tends to dull the taste of the vermouth, and some argue that it sharpens the taste of gin by “bruising” the liquid. However, it is relatively common to see a bartender mix a martini with a shaker due in part to the influence of popular cultural figures such as the fictional super-spy James Bond, who asked for his vodka martinis “shaken, not stirred” (such a martini is traditionally referred to as a “Bradford”). The ingredients are mixed then strained and served “straight up” (without ice) in a chilled cocktail glass, and garnished with either an olive or a twist of lemon (a strip of the peel, usually squeezed or twisted to express volatile oils onto the surface of the drink).

We told the bartender that these were the best martinis in Seoul and she gave us a free round.

Skybar Chang

Drinks: 5/5
Food: 3/5
Ambiance: 4/5

To get to Skybar Chang, get off at Gangnam Station exit number 7 and find the Paris Baguette. Go up the street (uphill). You’ll see a German beer garden with outdoor patio lighting when you’re close to the building. Look up and you’ll see a red sign that says Skybar… the Chang part is in Korean: 창.

Hubris is the most potent and constant threat to success. It brings down many a great man (or woman)… great nations… and of course great bars. Apparently Brix in Itaewon was roaring hot two years ago when it first opened. But now it seems to be running off of the fumes of its former self.

The Seoulite never even heard of Brix but apparently it is a popular establishment for the expat crowd, especially because of its hookah - that’s probably what catapulted it to stardom two years ago. But hookah… is soooo two years ago for Seoul and like so late 90s if you’re from the States. And isn’t it so first millennium AD if you’re from Turkey?

See the hookah smoke reflecting the strange spirits circling about? Actually that's cigarette smoke... but I think the ghosts are trying to tell Matt that flashing signs for the Midwest isn't gonna fly in here. These entities flew in from the westside! Note the upside down W makes the M.

It sure feels like America in here though... and as I found this photo... I was about to say that it had a very San Francisco vibe in particular. Do I have to say any more?

There's a dance floor. It's a basement club. There's something about the place that makes you feel like you've departed from the world above. Maybe that's the appeal. The drinks are weak though. That does not make hades very appealing.

We didn’t smoke hookah but The Seoulite is concerned that many netizens say they’ve gotten sick from this establishment. It seems that it’s not the most sanitary place and that the service is poor. And why should it be? If customers come back regardless of quality… who but saints would try harder. But that’s hurbis. Right when you think you’re so high above the rules… you can’t see how much your foundation has eroded. And down goes the elephant in the room.

Brix in Itaewon
It is located in the alley with all the new restaurants and bars including 3 Alley Pub, Gecko’s Garden and Buddha’s Belly. The door is nondescript and you take a few steps to descend down to its deep dark depths.
I have no phone number. I would never go back there.
It’s one of those places that I can’t understand why people return to over and over again.
There’s no denying that there’s something there there… but not for the Seoulite.

Where is Top Chef in action in Seoul? At a place called OKitchen. It’s founded by a husband and wife team… who opened a restaurant because they found that there weren’t enough jobs for the graduates from their cooking school.

OKitchen is located in the new trendy alley in Itaewon close to Buddha’s Belly and Gecko’s Garden. The husband… Susumu Yonaguni was born in Japan and trained in New York. The wife, Jamie Oh, served as the pastry chef from New York’s five-star Essex House Hotel. She has become a celebrity food stylist in Korea and has penned several cookbooks.

Merry Christmas! For people who just can't let the holidays go... here is a posting of Christmas dinner!

The interior has a blend of style from Tokyo, New York and of course Seoul.

A nice white wine to pair with your appetizer? Nope, it's scotch. Korean scotch. Crazy holiday revelers.

Fatten up with some great bread.

The amouse bouche bruchetta with goat cheese. The best part of the meal.

Very artistic. Salmon pate. Oyster. Smoked salmon.

Beef carpaccio.

Grilled salmon.

Mashed potatoes were mmmmm.... goood.

Gelato. Lots of pomp and circumstance. Bleh.

Chocolate mousse cake. Looks so NYC circa 1999.

This was amazing. I think I saw it on the Food Network website. Good job. It was executed with perfectionist attention.

OKitchen is OK. I wasn’t too blown away by the meal… but that might have been because it was a fixed Christmas dinner menu. On the other hand… isn’t that when you should bring it? At Christmas? Hmmm….

OKitchen
Itaewon
(02) 797-6420

Food: 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Service: 4/5

Itaweon station (line 6, exit 1). After passing KFC, make a right at the 4th or 5th alley. Sorry it’s not more specific… it’s Seoul so it will vary as to what one counts as an alley.

Convenience is a major turn on for a Seoulite. You can hop off the subway and walk directly underground to eat at a restaurant, watch a movie, go shopping, and even get a set of keys made or your shoes polished all without seeing the sun. Well… let’s not limit ourselves. If you want a swimming pool, ice skating rink, hotel… and amusement park added to all of that… your destination should be Lotte World! Go to Jamsil Station off of Subway Line 2 and you can walk directly into the madness of the Lotte Group: Lotte Department Store, Lotte Mart, Lotteria and Lotte World!

Start at the Lotte Department Store!

Here to greet you is a replica of a Greek or Roman ruin complete with fountain and classical music.

When it is time for a crazy sale, they will put merchandise right out in the foyer. Korean ladies are notoriously aggressive when it comes to sales. Don't be alarmed if you feel a lot of elbows.

I almost died taking this picture. Do not occupy someone's space in front of sale merchandise if all you're going to do is act like a tourist! For your safety!

Here's the secret to efficient shopping... particularly for male Seoulites who don't like to spend a lot of time shopping. Since department stores are so accessible, periodically go in and take the escalator to the men's clothing floor. There are usually special sales racks like this one with heavy discounts. Be sure to check both floors - there are usually two - and both the up and down escalator platforms. If it's perfect, get it. If not, then just ride back down. It's the best ten minutes you can spend if shopping pains you. You'll end up with a really nice wardrobe that doesn't take a lot of time and money if you do this consistently over time. It's so awesome. For girls who like that whole hunting and discovering part of shopping... carry on. I will never accompany you though.

Here are shirts on sale. By the way, Seoulites refer dress shirts as a white shirt... it doesn't matter if it's blue, checkered or pink. If it is a dress shirt that's what it is... a white shirt. So if a sales clerk asks if you're looking for a white shirt, don't say no... I'm looking for a green one. Just say yes.

And these are the best white shirts in the world... Brooks Brothers no iron slim fit. You will never have to go to a dry cleaners again. Currently 30% off... price is still mucho inflated than the US... the Seoulite admits he wandered from the escalator. They got perturbed that I took this picture though. Yes, 'perturbed' because it was a prissy type of mad. Don't they know I will be sending thousands of people to their store now? Who knew Brooks Brothers was at Lotte Department Store in Jamsil?

Relax looking at this pretty fixture upstairs in the food court... which is really a bunch of restaurants. A true food court in a US mall type of fashion is usually found in the basement level of a department store right next to its grocery section.

Women's floor. I will only look at it from a distance.

Entrance to Lotte World! It feels a lot like Disneyland... but right in the heart of Seoul. It is so easy to get here.

Admission ranges from 20,000 - 30,000 won with discounts after 5pm. The park is open 365 days a year until 11pm. An annual pass costs 150,000 won.

Want a flavor of what it's like inside? Just go towards the ice rink and look up. The third level is Lotte World... the indoor portion. The second and first floors are publicly accessible parts of the mall and skating rink.

This is a great ice rink. One caveat. The air in here is very stuffy. Not enough oxygen. It's like living in a biosphere.

The inner rink is reserved for young skating prodigies and their trainers. These little Seoulites can twirl on a dime!

Lotteria... the Burger King of the Lotte empire. Never eat here. It is so disgusting and bland. If you're going to eat fast food... better eat it right... like at the Krispy Kreme a few stores down.

Do you need a vacuum cleaner or toothpaste after going to the amusement park? Head into Lotte Mart which is a few steps away from the entrance to Lotte World.

And get a souvenir before you leave.

Who is Lotte Group?

Lotte Group is a large South Korean chaebol (conglomerate). LOTTE Co., Ltd. was established in June 1948 in Tokyo, Japan by a Japan-based Korean businessman, Shin Kyuk-Ho (신격호) also known as Shigemitsu Takeo (重光 武雄). Its head office is in Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.

Lotte Group consists of over 50 business units employing 38,000 people engaged in such diverse industries as candy manufacturing, beverages, hotels, fast food, retail, financial services, heavy chemicals, electronics, IT, construction, publishing, and entertainment. Lotte has major operations in Japan where its head office is located, South Korea, China, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam, India, USA, and Russia and continues to expand. Today, Lotte is the largest candy / chewing gum manufacturer in both Japan and South Korea, and is South Korea’s 5th largest conglomerate.

The source of the company’s name is neither Japanese nor Korean, but German. Shin was impressed with Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s ‘The Sorrows of Young Werther’ (1774) and named his newly-founded company Lotte after the character Charlotte (also the name of a new brand of deluxe movie theatres run by Lotte) in the novel.

That is one major accomplishment.

Seoul is flooded with pseudo-French and European restaurants. But after you go to one… you’ve been to them all. Pasta with red or cream sauce. Thin pizzas with Gorgonzola cheese. Mixed green salads using the bitter greens (like Kale!). Prosciutto and melon gone horribly wrong. Paella made with white rice. And some attempt at steak, salmon, and sea bass. OK, so it’s overpriced and you tell yourself it’s only a matter of time when someone other than an imported hotel chef will raise the bar.

Why San Francisco? Anyone who’s been there for at least five meals will find something odd there. Harldy any chances for fast food meals. And no matter which eaterie you go to… from the donut shop with Vietnamese sandwiches to the Slanted Door in the Embarcadero… the food is at a level beyond any transcendent (note I almost typed transgendered!) competition. In other words… it’s really the bomb diggity good yo. The community standards that people have for public decency may be non-present in SF, but perhaps all that energy has gone into maintaining quality food.

Well, fellow Seoulites. The time has come for the city! It’s like the beacon of Barack Obama shining down on Seoul portending brighter days ahead. What is this place I’m talking about? A little restaurant tucked away in a busy alley in Daechi-dong right near Seolleung Station Exit #2! The name? French Blue!

The restaurant is reminiscent of a San Francisco eatery in the mode that good things coming in small packages!

So many cute girls here sitting alone... drinking wine and eating salad.

Camembert Cheese salad. The first restaurant I've been to with a balanced balsamic vinaigrette and good mix of greens.

I want to individually point out the elements that show this salad is a cut above. Left to Right: A breaded and deep-fried wedge of Camembert cheese, bacon, candied pecan, and tomato. Sorry, I took a bite out of the tomato. As a combination, it is divine.

Chicken sandwich with tender meat inside a delicately toasted baguette. The sauce had one of those 'Vietnamese Sandwich aahhh' moments... though the flavor was less tart and cilantro-esque than that. Anyhow... beliisimo! at 4,500 won.

Mussels with Cream Sauce. When a chef has 'IT' you know what I mean. A flavor that shuts down any food critic and turns one into a sensual being without words... just delighting in the slippery, savory flavors. A good deal too at 11,000 won for a bucket more than big enough for two people.

Espresso con panna. Bellisimo. Or Bellissima. Is espresso male or female? Anyhow very delicious and strong as they use Illy Coffee.

Another look at the flourless chocolate cake. It truly had the right recipe with the right hands making this cake. How else can you say this... The chef deserves a bravo at the end of the meal. It was a meal that reminded us that life is worth living just another day based on the glorious things we can make with god's creations.

Oh how could we forget the wine. A lovely dry white Italian wine went wonderfully with the mussels, cheese and sandwiches. Only 29,000 won.

The ambiance encourages incredibly intimate conversations. Sara looks fine and normal... even a touch soft here. But let me tell you... no let her tell you over some ribeye steak - the best thing on the menu - about all the drama that's been going on. I keep telling her it's her karmic moment to clear the bad of the past and change her life torwards the good. But it might take a few more flourless chocolate cakes for that. I don't mind one bit. Whatever it takes for a friend.

This is the ‘neighborhood restaurant’ with world class food we’ve all been waiting for. Can we send a big thank you chant from Buddha and a big Amen from Jesus for this ambitious young chef who opened up his new restaurant? I happened to ask the owner/chef if he had spent time in the US studying… especially San Francisco. And he said he’s never been to the states. He learned everything here in Korea from a chef who worked in the UK.

This shows a beacon of hope. You can develop taste right here in the city for the international gold standard for a french style menu. May French Blue be a role model for the rest of the city to follow. There is nothing but undying thanks for a beautiful meal. Nothing was comped for the Seoulite - we paid in full. May this restauranteer continue to propser and hone his talents to create even better meals in the future.

French Blue
Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Daechi-dong, 897-8, First Floor
Seolleung Station Exit 2. Make a left after the Burger King. French Blue will be on your right within the first block.
02-566-7940
Open 10AM - 2AM

Food: 5/5 — We have a superstar genius here. As long as he cooks, your food will be amazing. A case where the chef has given you the spirit of the food and himself along with the taste. Thank you.
Service: 5/5
Ambiance: 5/5

The hottest club in Seoul for Seoulites? Well, at one point it was Circle. It’s still not bad - it just doesn’t have that exclusive vibe anymore. But whenever you want to go to a comfortable standby, come to Circle. This place doesn’t have the longevity advantage of being attached to a hotel, but if it were, it would probably be a long-standing place like J.J. Mahoney’s at the Grand Hyatt. It’s well-run and I guess the word to describe this place isn’t necessarily ‘hot’ but ‘consistent’ - which is not a bad thing at all.

Yee-ha! Do you have EDGE? Seoulites who do come to Circle. Jeez. Can you get anymore obvi?

Why is it called Circle? Well, you gotta have a gimmick and the one here is that the bar revolves in a 'circle'. Actually it's the seats and tables around the bar that move. So if you go dance and come back to 'your' table, you'll find that it's rotated half way around the club!

Sometime there are live performances. Sorry about the picture quality. Seoulite only had his camera phone. Most of the time the music is house. Except for Hip Hop Thursdays!

Nice lighting. Trees even. In the garden of eden.

This is a good spot to pick up girls or just hang with friends.

All in all, it’s a good place. According to some, Circle raised the bar on clubbing when it made its entrance onto the scene. The crowd here will also be seen at Volume in Itaewon, which seems to have overtaken Circle. But even Volume may be replaced by a new club. Apparently the W Hotel will be launching its new club with much fanfare next month - called Eden. But the W is in such an inconvenient location… We’ll have to wait and see!

Entry fee is usually 30,000 won. But the Seoulite tries to go only when his friends can get comps for entrance. Drinks are 10,000 won to 20,000 won. It’s pricey so drink beforehand. Or stay sober. That’s another trippy experience.

Circle
Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Chungdam-dong, 91-2 Dong-gung Town, 504
02-546-5933
http://www.thecircle.co.kr

Water(Crowd): 4/5
Ambiance: 4/5
Music: 3/5

Oh no they didn’t… but oh yes they did. In Sinsa-dong there is a country bar called Uncle T. Cabin. You think that well, maybe it could be any other uncle other than ‘Tom’ but then you look at this picture… and there’s no doubt as to the inspiration.

But then of course don’t judge a book by its cover because this place is actually quite a warm, friendly, fun atmosphere. There are no people in blackface, no pictures of slaves toiling in the field, nor any pictures of house negroes baking a pie. I’m not exactly sure why they called it Uncle Tom’s - other than the fact that the architecture uses a lot of wooden logs.

However, Uncle Tom’s Cabin is quite a well-known and popularly read book in Korea. If that says anything - I think people are quite attuned to the abolitionist movement and the belief as well as the practice of civil rights. Seoulites and Koreans in other parts of the country have a long and deep history of protest rallies, demonstrations and marches.

Do you think the million man march can top this? And this was over the importation of US beef. Koreans around the world - learn a little lesson in mojo from the Koreans in Korea!

Dr. King’s historic 'I Have A Dream Speech, delivered August 28th 1963 before the Lincoln Memorial, in Washington, D.C.

Uncle Tom's Cabin or, Life Among the Lowly is an anti-slavery novel by American author Harriet Beecher Stowe. Published in 1853, the novel had a profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the United States, so much so in the latter case that the novel intensified the sectional conflict leading to the American Civil War.

But why is the best-selling novel of the 19th century so controversial? According to Wikipedia, The book, and even more the plays it inspired, also helped create a number of stereotypes about Blacks, many of which endure to this day. These include the affectionate, dark-skinned mammy; the Pickaninny stereotype of black children; and the Uncle Tom, or dutiful, long-suffering servant faithful to his white master or mistress. In recent years, the negative associations with Uncle Tom’s Cabin have, to an extent, overshadowed the historical impact of the book as a “vital antislavery tool.

Black civil rights demonstrators attacked by police water hose. Birmingham, Alabama May 1963.

Riot policemen blast water at protesters to disperse the rallying crowds near the presidential house in Seoul on June 1, 2008.

Back to the restaurant... the view from the second floor is great. During the summer, there's an awesome patio deck. It's there in the winter too - with heat lamps and fleece blankets.

Inside is dark and cozy. Perfect for social gatherings of all types. In the three tables next to us there was a couple breaking up, a happy couple on a first date and a business gathering of foreigners. Perhaps the name of Uncle T. sprinkles the diversity spirits upon the place.

Uncle T. Cabin
Seoul, Gangnam-gu, Sinsa-dong 642-9
02-3444-3465
To get there go to the Designer’s Club in Apgu. Cross the street into the archway entrance of ‘Rodeo’. Keep on walking until you see it on your right.

Drinks: 4/5
Service: 5/5 (Of course! It’s the spirit of Uncle Tom!)
Ambiance: 4/5

Hi, I’m Sean Lim, an American expat living in South Korea.  This is my blog about becoming a Seoulite.

What is a Seoulite?
A ‘Seoulite’ (서울깍쟁이) is a citizen of Seoul, just as a ‘New Yorker’ is a citizen of New York. Of course the label ‘Seoulite’ doesn’t simply denote a place of residence [...]