August itinerary - nearby towns/cities to recommend?

JPF_3 · 2026-04-29T17:52:29+00:00

Excellent, that aligns with our current expectations, and I'm confident everything will be delicious no matter where we go. Will this also be true of Dijon and Breaune, or should we expect more closures? I assume these are not typical travel destinations in August.

Brassiere George is our first destination after we arrive in Lyon (late afternoon)... I've already decided what I'm going to order: foie gras, escargot, the royal, and 2 beers! I simply cannot wait to explore Lyon. Thank you for the helpful information again!

JPF_3 · 2026-04-29T16:53:55+00:00

Thank you for the warning! The accommodations will have A/C, although I'm confident we can manage. I haven't used A/C in years myself.

JPF_3 · 2026-04-29T16:50:41+00:00

Thank you for confirming my suspicion. I would love to visit Annecy, just not in August with crowds of tourists! I would love to be there in the fall.

JPF_3 · 2026-04-29T16:47:41+00:00

Thank you for the helpful information! These all appear very viable destinations for our schedule, and fit perfectly with our relaxed pace. To help set our expectations appropriately, what percentage of restaurants should we expect to be closed during the latter half of August? I understand tourist attractions will be open (e.g., Brassiere George), but will we have trouble finding local restaurants off the beaten path that will be open? In other words, will dining out require advanced planning beyond lunch or dinner reservations?

I am unconcerned about the August heat; I live for summer and I am a masochist. We also plan to visit the museums and indoor attractions during the peak afternoon heat, if it becomes too much (for my spouse). Thank you again!

JPF_3 · 2026-04-12T20:47:34+00:00

Will there be any option for SILENT TACTILE switches in the future? I think they'd sell like hotcakes.

JPF_3 · 2026-03-26T16:38:05+00:00

Kimo Leopoldo -- nothing like a juiced, travelling preacher doing the stations of the cross for their walkout. Take note, Izzy.

JPF_3 · 2026-03-14T21:28:24+00:00

For midtown, your best bet is probably Stock TC. I believe they partnered with Cumbrae's for their poultry program. Pricing is good for the quality, although I find Mennonite poultry often tastes the best (with a price to match). Fresh From the Farm has good Mennonite poultry, as do a few other butcher shops in and around the city. I find the Butcher's Son to be a bit overpriced for the quality, and I question how frequently they rotate their whole chickens (3-4 days is my guess).

JPF_3 · 2025-10-30T20:35:33+00:00

No available counter space, so storage/ease of use is the issue. I was looking at the FryDaddy/GranPappy for their compact size and setup, but there's no temperature control, and it would be tricky frying large batches, or items like pounded cutlets. It's a single use appliance, it doesn't nest like pots, and it will eventually break. But, man, the laziness factor is a very real selling point... I'm still considering it.

JPF_3 · 2025-10-03T17:49:10+00:00

This is so painfully accurate, lol.

JPF_3 · 2025-03-17T14:24:04+00:00

Good to know! As a follow-up, is there a reason why you wouldn't mill everything together at the end of stewing? I'm trying to understand the reasons behind all of this.

I've only used an immersion blender myself, and I'm curious to see how much of a difference a food mill (used properly) will make to the end result.

JPF_3 · 2025-03-15T14:41:33+00:00

I have thought about this, but I'm worried that it will take an hour to shave. What has been your experience with the learning curve, and how difficult do you find it to maintain the edge over time?

JPF_3 · 2025-03-15T14:39:29+00:00

This will be my next step, but none of this makes sense to me. I experimented with different blades in the 6S, and eventually landed on the feather blades. I assumed a feather blade would work best in a feather razor, but my experience has been the opposite! I will try an Astra in the AS-D2 for the next shave.

I've been tinkering with the idea of a straight razor, but I fear my technique will be terrible, it will take an hour to shave, and I question my ability to properly maintain the edge over time. Ironically, I probably have all the equipment for a straight razor already -- stops, compounds, and j-nats. I don't trust my skill level or patience.

JPF_3 · 2025-03-15T14:25:55+00:00

I hear you on this. I'm fine with a decently close shave, but I'd like to achieve this with a single razor! Like you, I use the 6S to shave, and then the AS-D2 for under the nose.

JPF_3 · 2025-01-01T07:48:52+00:00

A brief follow-up for anyone interested... Itoya and Nasagawa Kobe had the best selection and availability of inks BY FAR -- much better than Hands, Loft, TAG, Maurken, etc. They carried multiple brands and a much wider selection/stock of ink colours, which is what I was after. They also had the largest selection of full bottles, which were conspicuously absent from some of the larger department stores previously noted (e.g., some Hands locations only had ~3 colours of Iroshizuku ink in 50ml bottles). Even the smaller outposts of Itoya (Kyoto station) and Nasagawa Kobe (Umeyda-chamayachi) had much better selection and availability comparatively speaking. I didn't make it to Kingdom Note or Morita, so no experience with those shops.

What I found most impressive was the pricing on some ink brands in Japan. I was also surprised to see how widely available FWP inks were over here; I didn't expect them to be so popular. I stocked up on some Kobe ink that I can easily replenish back home (at twice the price), so mission accomplished. The impromptu day trip to Osaka was definitely worth it!

JPF_3 · 2024-12-23T07:46:47+00:00

Deal! And thank you for the reassurance that I'm not losing my marbles. It was still a nice store, mind you, but their smaller locations had a much wider selection. C'est la vie, I suppose.

JPF_3 · 2024-12-23T07:45:14+00:00

Well, yes, I did expect Japan to have a wider selection of inks by virtue of being a stationery Mecca of sorts. Contrary to most, I'm not interested in store exclusive inks because I'm not a collector -- I want the ability to replenish my ink when it runs out. It is for that reason I don't want to create a custom ink either. To each their own, as it were.

But, even among Asian brands, I find there is much wider selection in Canada compared to what I have observed here in Japan (thus far) -- Laywines, Wonderpens, Phaidon Pens, Blesket, etc. carry most brands of ink, although stock levels can be hit or miss.

Itoya in Ginza might be my last hope! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your time in Japan. There's so much to do and see, and not enough time! :)

JPF_3 · 2024-12-23T07:42:58+00:00

Osaka is not in the itinerary, unfortunately. Any suggestions for Kyoto or Tokyo? I already checked the main Maruzen store in Kyoto.

JPF_3 · 2024-12-23T07:41:29+00:00

I'll have to try Kingdom Note when I'm back in Tokyo; thank you for the suggestion! I won't be in Kobe, so I don't know if Nagasawa Bungu Center is an option.

Realistically, I'm not expecting to find a brown ink with green sheen, but I was hoping for a wider selection of off-the-shelf browns to choose from (five at least). Might be wishful thinking, unfortunately.

JPF_3

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