Hi bento pals! I'd like to share some images from the 51st annual Sakura Matsuri Street Festival in Washington D.C held this weekend. The festival's theme was "Stand with Japan" and all ticket sale income will be donated to recovery efforts. Many vendors promised to donate part or all of their sales.
The Red Cross and other aid societies were highly visible and offered interesting ways to interact with festival goers, including the invitation to write wishes and tie them to a wishing tree before making a donation.
"Love and happiness to all"
As in years past, a rainbow selection of beautiful Japanese textiles, papers, housewares and cute things brought out crowds of eager shoppers...
Bento stuffs!
Speaking of bento, these looked delicious from Kushi Restaurant:
Lots of cute pups in attendance:
The Kawaii Gifts stand was mobbed...
The International Shinto Foundation hosted a special Pray for Japan booth with a shrine and friendly guidance on how to pray and give thanks in a Shinto temple...and the chance to leave written prayers and well-wishes for the people of Japan. Very beautiful.
Children singing Japan's national anthem (thanks Jamison for this great capture!)
Spring flowers seen in the city...
Monday's bento features pretty periwinkle blue chopsticks and a sakura napkin from a set purchased at the festival. Violets have emerged in our garden this weekend in deep purple and ivory-indigo pinstriped colors. They have hopped into the bento with a purple potato frittata, arugula, a watermelon pickle "sakura", fennel, pistachios and a pineapple, mango and strawberry mochi sweets section!
Have a lovely week!
Such lovely Colours. Perfect for brightening up any gloomy day.
ReplyDeleteHi there Shaz, many thanks :D!
ReplyDeleteOh what beautiful colors and sight!!
ReplyDeleteLoves those items for sale especially those beautiful fabrics!
That looks like such a fun event! When it looked as if the government might shut down, I was worried for you since I heard that would prevent the D.C. Sakura viewing! So happy that's not the case! Lovely bento as well, of course!
ReplyDeleteThis is very touching..thanks for sharing, Jenn.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great event in D.C! Wish I could join in too..
ReplyDeleteI would have mobbed the shelf of bento stuffs..ahaha..
lovely idea of your Purple Potato Frittata, I would try that someday.
Oh Wow I love the eggs! I have a crazy collection but haven't seen any like those :) Hope you are well Lady!! :D
ReplyDeleteGreat bento and Sakura festival, wish I could join you Jenn :D. Oh, bento gadgets are always tempting hehehe ^^
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot to share the lovely pictures from the festival! Awesome bento Jenn! Love the little flowers inside the bento box ♥ Did you shop a lot at the festival? I know I couldn't stop myself to shop those cute stuffs (if I was there) lol :D
ReplyDeletelooks like the festival was wonderful as usual, maybe even with MORE pride in heritage this year, as in a community banding together to show support. so inspiring to see. thanks for the beautiful snaps, such a pleasure to virtually "accompany" you on your journeys.
ReplyDeletebento is lovely as always, especially love the pop of color from the violet, and the flavor combo of fennel-pistachio.
hi Angeleyes! I love Japanese textiles too :D!
ReplyDeletehi Megg! it looked kind of doubtful late last week, but the cool thing was the event organizers worked with local DC government to create an alternate plan so the show would go on in case of a federal govt shutdown. Folks were determined that this event, and its demonstration of support for the people of Japan would not be derailed!
ReplyDeletehave a super week, happy cooking!
Hello Arudhi dear, so nice to share this event with you! Best wishes ^^!
ReplyDeleteHi Bobo--that would have been fun! The frittata was easy and I liked the color combo so much it became the focal point of this bento--not my original plan :)
ReplyDeletehave a great week!
Hi Angi!!! It's been sooo long, thanks for visiting, I must see what's new at your blog. Hope spring is green and lovely in the UK!
ReplyDeleteHi Ta, aw, we could had ramen and yakitori and bought lots of bento boxes and stuff! See you at your cute blog, that's the next best thing...^^
ReplyDeleteHi Lia, your sweet comments make blogging a treat! I bought a few small things, bento accessories like some cool vitnage looking picks...
ReplyDeleteIt was just so fun to look at everything and see people's enthusiasm for Japan and its beautiful crafts and culture...
hi megan, thanks so much for coming along :D yes, there was a real sense of solidarity and care which gave this fun event a depth and heartfeltness.
ReplyDeletehave a fantastic start to the week!!
I am so glad the festival came through. So important to enable people to come together and the event appears most poignant while at the same time joyful in cultural vibrance. Love your images (and Jamison's too!)
ReplyDeletePurple potato frittata.... really! What fun ;-)
Hi Robin! Lovely comments, so eloquent. You really summed up the feeling of this event so well!
ReplyDeletePurple is always regal and resplendent...and fun in one's lunch! Have a great evening my friend :D
Once again, you've posted a journey that I would love to have gone on myself! What a beautiful festival. Really a wonderful presentation and you're lucky to have experienced it.
ReplyDeleteHello Sheri dear, thanks and I'm so glad you came along on this special outing!
ReplyDeleteI would go mad if I should be in that festival...! So many beautiful things that I wish I could buy here!!! And your bento is simply beautiful and healthy too :D)!
ReplyDeleteHi there CG! Hope you liked enjoyed this tour of the day's events, it was festive and colorful like your amazing bentos!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I love traveling around with you and Jamison, I just wish it could be in person and I could shop too. What a great event to be a part of. The bento has all my favorite colors and the fritatta sounds superb!
ReplyDeleteHi Lyndsey!! Yes, it would have been so fun to browse the many vendors together amid the sizzling scent of yakitori :D
ReplyDeleteThe fruit section of this bento has a summery bright look that I associate with your beautiful tropical bentos and Florida living images!
Hope your week is off to a very good start...see you at your tasty blogs, buddy!
What a lovely day! I was in DC too early to see the sakura, thank you for showing me the festival!!! I love how you say the violets have hopped into the bento. I picture your home alive with dancing flowers and sleepy kitties. :)
ReplyDeleteWow, thanks, so cool these comments Heather!
ReplyDelete...a pleasure to share these pics! You were in the area and visited Baltimore recently, no?
Beautiful bento, as always!!! Thanks for sharing with us the beautiful photos from the festival. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Emily dear, glad you enjoyed!!
ReplyDelete:( Blogger ate the 4 paragraphs I just typed... Hungry b*sterd.
ReplyDeleteIn short: I am SO jealous again!!! This shopping grrl had to do with just a bunch of sakura trees on Sunday. ;) LOL Had a lovely afternoon though. :) And a friend gave me a book on the Cherry Blossom Festival in DC, how neat is that?
You bento is a delight to the eye & tummy: healthy & yummy!
Hi there gnoegnoe! So sorry your comments got munched by Blogger, that's no fun at all...thanks for coming back and sharing the sweet ones above.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been fun to have been shopping grrls together at this event--I thought of you when looking at all of the gorgeous textiles! Hope you are enjoying spring's flowery emergence and hello to the kittehs ^^!
Hi Jenn, Once again, a thoughtful journal of a very remarkable day. Color, smells, textures and song! Reading your post put me right there! Thanks for sharing. And lovely bento as always.
ReplyDeleteHi Debra, thanks so much for coming by to have a look...wanted to share the bright colors and spirit of this day with you :D
ReplyDelete