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Continue reading →: Cafe Review: Blue Bottle, MyeongdongThere’s really not much to say about the Myeongdong location of Blue Bottle. It’s a take-away only location located in Noon Square, a large shopping mall in Myeongdong. I ordered the winter latte with oat milk, and the barista let me know that it would be a sweet latte, which…
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Continue reading →: Memorials and Mourning: Reflecting on the Jeju Airline TragedyAfter the unfortunate crash of Jeju Airline flight 7C2216, the Acting President Choi Sang-mok declared a weeklong mourning period for South Korea. This is the second mourning period I have witnessed while living in Korea, the first being after the Itaewon crowd crush in 2022 that killed 159 people. As…
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Continue reading →: Books I Read in 2024I read a lot in 2024 but I still think I could have put my phone down more often in favor of a book. I have several entries about reading all original 62 Goosebumps books coming soon, but for now, here’s a list of everything that I read this year.
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Continue reading →: Exploring Jesus’ Birthday Cafe in South KoreaYes, that’s an advertisement for a birthday cafe for Jesus. A new friend introduced it to us via a TikTok and when we discovered it was only a short bus ride away, we obviously had to go and find out what it was all about. Was it a joke? Was…
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Continue reading →: Solo Summer Trip to Gangneung: A Coffee Lover’s Journey, part fourI’m not sure why I decided to take a solo trip to Gangneung for summer vacation 2024. I had heard of the infamous cafe street, but the previous cafe streets I’ve visited have been disappointing, with lots of chain cafes, few cafes, or simply not enough cafes (in my opinion)…
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Continue reading →: Rereading Goosebumps–Fifty Two/Sixty TwoI was determined to complete this challenge without spending a dime, but four books were eluding me: How to Kill a Monster, Bad Hare Day, Deep Trouble II, and Chicken Chicken. My friend came through and I was able to get copies of these books, securing access to all 62…
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Continue reading →: Celebrate Onew’s Birthday at These CafesThis is a list of birthday cafes for SHINee’s leader Onew, along with basic information. Check out the locations on Naver Maps: CLICK HERE 페이브커피 압구정로데오 정준하점 12/12 through 12/15 weekday: 9am until 9:30pm weekend: 10:30am until 7:30pm Onew Birthday Frame Event RGB포토스튜디오 합정점 12/13 through 12/15 카페쿠키드 12/13 through…
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Continue reading →: Cafe Pokpo: Sip Lattes by a WaterfallEver wanted to sip a latte while relaxing next to a waterfall? Come to Cafe Pokpo in Seodaemun-gu! So the waterfall may be artificial, but the coffee and pecan pie are delicious and it’s nice being able to sit outside and take in some nature while drinking coffee. Cafe Pokpo…
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Continue reading →: Sponsor a Child This Holiday SeasonSponsor a child this holiday season! I’ve been sponsoring a child for the last three years. I always sponsor an older child, for whom the holiday season is often not as magical as they have more awareness of the struggles their families go through. Last year I picked a child…
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Continue reading →: Exploring Korean Hagwon Lunches, Part ThreeThis is just another photo drop of school lunches I’ve eaten since May. Descriptions are in the captions. Enjoy! 맛있게 드세요!
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Continue reading →: Itaewon, Two Years OnYou can’t do this. You have to allow it. This is the scene of the tragedy, so shouldn’t we feed these kids (deceased) a meal? We still have names to remember.
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Continue reading →: Dongnimmun Arch 독립문, Historic Site No. 32Built in January 1898 and designated as a historic site in 1963, Independence Gate or Dongnimmun 독립문, was proposed by Soh Jaipil 서재필 (or Seo Jaepil in another romanization). It symbolizes the Joseon Dynasty’s end of being a tributary state of Qing China. It was built near the remains of…
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Continue reading →: The Aesthetic Charm of Manhole Coffee CaféThis beautiful cafe popped up on my instagram feed and I had to visit. Not only was it uniquely beautiful and roasts its own coffee, but it’s called “manhole” coffee, and I was recently made a moderator for a manhole covers around the world group and take many photos of…
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Continue reading →: 2024 Kim Kibum Birthday CafesAnd we’re back with more Key birthday cafes! I only went to two this year, focusing instead on hanging out with my friends, but one of my friends went to a Key cafe in a different area of Seoul and brought me goodies. To find the birthday cafes, there’s a…
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Continue reading →: Got7’s Youngjae Birthday Cafe 2024For the first time, I went to a company-sponsored birthday cafe. (At least I’m pretty sure.) Youngjae has been my bias in Got7 for a long time, since before I came to Korea. My first kpop album was Got7’s Present: You, and I specifically ordered Youngjae’s version. I carried around…
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Continue reading →: Gangneung Money Museum and Ojukheon on the 5,000 Won Note (Gangneung, part three)Let’s start with a poem by Shin Saimdang, mother of Yi I and accomplished artist herself. According to the translation, she wrote this while living at her in-laws’ house. Google Translation: Missing My Mother My hometown is a thousand miles away from here. Even in my dreams, I only think…
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Continue reading →: Munseongsa Shrine and Eojegak (Gangneung, part two)Munseong is yet another pen name for Yi I and this is a shrine to him. In front of the portrait of Yi I is a round incense burner and next to it is a pile of broken incense that you can offer by simply dropping in the incense. Here…
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Continue reading →: Rereading Goosebumps–Forty One/Sixty TwoHere’s books #32-41… I may have binge-read four Goosebumps books one Sunday when I wasn’t feeling like doing anything. The Monster Blood arc is finished! I really enjoyed the pivot the fourth book took, but am still annoyed at the random inclusion of a character that did nothing to help…
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Continue reading →: Ojukheon House (Gangneung, part one)One of the historical places I visited when I went to Gangneung, Gangwon-do for summer vacation was Ojukheon House. “Ojukheon” refers to the black bamboo that grows on the premises. Ojukheon is where Shin Saimdang gave birth to Yi I (pen name Yulgok) during the Joseon Dynasty. Shin Saimdang is…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre, Cho YeeunYou know how you read the synopsis of the book, or even just the title, and know that it’s going to be the next book you read? That’s how I felt about The New Seoul Park Jelly Massacre. I got a copy thanks to Anthony over at Honford Star publishing,…
Welcome to Koffee & Kpop, adventures of an errant American barista living in South Korea.
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