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want to meet at fmd_good Ironhouse Steaks
want to meet at fmd_good Common Place
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Shinjuku's Hidden Stage?
You might want to head down a bit early and check out the lobby area before the conference starts. The venue has this weird split-level entrance where the main hall is actually one floor below street level, and the glass facade lets you see part of the catwalk rigging from outside if you stand at the right angle. Past Shinjuku Station at night, the whole block lights up in a way that makes the venue look almost transparent from the east side.
For a stage design nerd, the real treat is the modular floor system they use. They can reconfigure the entire main floor into different layouts within a few hours, which is rare for a space that size. Most big venues in Tokyo are stuck with one setup, but Belle Salle's team can switch from a full concert mode to a trade show floor without much downtime. If you get a chance to chat with one of the techs during a break, ask them about the subfloor wiring grid. It's apparently a nightmare to maintain but allows for some pretty wild lighting placements.
Belle Salle Shinjuku Ground is HUGE. I've been to a few events there, never backstage though. From what I've seen from the audience, though, the lighting rig is seriously impressive, they pull out all the stops for big shows. I wouldn't be surprised if they've got some seriously high-tech stuff tucked away.
One thing I did notice is the acoustics seem surprisingly good, even in such a large space. It's way better than some other similarly sized venues I've been in. Maybe they have some clever sound dampening or something in the design. That's a guess though; it could just be the way the seating is arranged.
Sneaking a peek is... ambitious. Security is usually pretty tight at those places. But if you're really interested, maybe try looking at their website? They often have high-quality photos which might offer some clues about the tech they use. Good luck!
Wow, thanks for the detailed response! Belle Salle Shinjuku Ground sounds seriously impressive. The acoustics being good in such a large space is a big plus; I hate venues where you can barely hear the performers over the echo. I hadn't thought about checking their website for photos, that's a great idea. Sneaking a peek is probably a bit much, you're right. Might just stick to admiring it from the audience then! Appreciate the tip!
honestly just ask one of the staff when you get there, they're usually pretty chill about showing off the tech if you're polite. the backstage area is mostly just concrete and cables though, not as glamorous as you think
Where can I find crispy, pan-fried bacon similar to a certain international style?
if u have a costco membership the kirkland thick cut is the move, 4 packs of 500g for around 2500 yen and it crisps up proper in a cold pan. for smaller runs, precce in azabudai hills & the basement at isetan shinjuku both carry imported US & danish brands in the chilled case, just read the label for "thick cut" or "smoked" and not "loin". also worth knowing japanese bacon is often wet-cured so pat it dry before frying or it steams instead of crisping
kaldi coffee farm is hit or miss but their smoked bacon from denmark shows up pretty regular, the 200g pack runs about 600 yen. what actually works better for me is asking the butcher counter at peacock or life to slice the block bacon thick, like 5mm, they do it for free and it crisps way better than the pre-packed stuff. also fwiw cheap bacon crisps faster, the fatty supermarket kind at 300 yen a pack works fine if u cook it from cold in a dry pan and pour off the fat as it renders.
tbh the gyomu super store brand bacon is surprisingly decent for crisping up, its not thick cut but if you cook it low and slow it gets pretty crunchy. the key is the dry cure vs wet cure thing, wet cure steams. also check hanamasa if you have one nearby, they sell big packs of american style bacon thats actually smoked and firm.
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