Black Day for love, big day for noodles
By Jon Herskovitz Mon Apr 14, 12:40 PM ET
SEOUL (Reuters) - It was a Black Day for love in South Korea on Monday with lonely hearts trying to ease their pain by diving head first into bowls of noodles.
South Korea celebrates Valentine's Day, where local custom dictates women give gifts to men. It has taken on a popular event born in Japan but sweeping Asia known as White Day on March 14 when men return the favor with gifts for women.
But Black Day, on April 14, is a South Korean original. It is marked by people who have not found love dressing in dark colors and commiserating over meals of black food, with the dish of choice being Chinese-style noodles topped with a thick sauce of black bean paste.
"I had a miserable time on Valentine's Day, felt even lonelier on White Day and now I'm crying over a bowl of black noodles," said a young women who asked only to be identified by her family name Na out of embarrassment.
"Things better be different next year."
At universities across the country on Monday, students without lunch dates ordered black noodles, dined with other lonely hearts and searched for companionship.
South Korea marketers have hatched special days for the 14th of each month to create a calendar laden with love.
Some days have gained traction such as Black Day, while others such as Green Day in August, when couples are supposed to drink cheap liquor that comes in green bottles and walk in the woods, have yet to attract much of a following.
Black Day events have snowballed, with a major matchmaking service this year providing an evening of speed dating where the dish of choice is sushi blackened by squid ink.
An on-line company for movie tickets sponsored a speed eating competition of black noodles for those who bought single tickets for the latest films.
"It is depressing enough going to the movies by yourself," said Shin Youn-joo of the company called Max Movie.
"We just wanted to spread a little joy to the 'with-outs'."
(Additional reporting by Jung Hee-jung and Lee Jiyeon; Editing by Nick Macfie)
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04/14/2008 18:51 #44010
BlackdayCategory: holidays
The post that I wanted to write today I'm going to have to wait a day or two to do if I do it at all. I saw that in the art voice they have the finalists in their awards. I only looked at a few of them and saw no one from (e:strip) in the best blogger so I thought why not come up with the (e:strip) awards. But then I thought the awards would only really be my thoughts and really they might only be about people who have posted lately. I also would have no trophies or plaques or anything to give out. So If I where to do this It would have to be planed out and not just written out as I go so maybe I'll do it and maybe I won't but I hope it happens this week some time. I wasn't going to even write this at all but as I was thinking about this I saw an interesting story about a Korean Holiday and thought that I might as well add my award thoughts to the thoughts on this news. I wish I would have known about this holiday(s) back when I was writing about how I didn't like Valentines day this would have been something that could have been taken into effect. I also wonder is the day "Greenday" any way connected to the band at all or if that is where they got there name. I wish I had my cousins e-mail he might know and is also in Korea along with his brother, in any event here is the article.
04/13/2008 11:56 #43998
Winter or SpringCategory: snow
I don't know if anyone remembers this but we had a snow fall some time back and I said that it wouldn't be the last snowfall. Well when I woke up this morning and left the house I thought it might be rain but that little bit of stuff was snow, it was hardly anything but snow it was. Before the weekend I heard it could snow on Monday. I wish I had more to say that was more interesting but you gotta love Buffalo.
04/12/2008 16:22 #43990
Super Hero Movie and BisonsCategory: weekend
So Today I went to go see "Superhero Movie". I thought it was pretty good. I like how at the end the played around with the credits a little bit and then I think they had like two batches of Deleted scenes some of them where pretty good and the interesting thing is that one of the scenes from the previews was in those. If you liked spider man or if can remember the tick as a cartoon or live action or even as the movie they came out with then you would like this movie. I like that it wasn't like how some spoofs are and about 15 movies they put together to make one story. You have to give those movies credit for doing it that way. But I liked that story wise you could call it maybe 3 movies at the most. If you have seen other spoof movies then there are people you will know who they are. Nice to see Leslie back in one he picked a good one to be in.
Yesterday I went to the Buffalo Bisons opening day with my sister. Except for them losing and the down pour of rain for a little bit it was a fun time. I was surprised they played through it.
Here are some pictures on our way to the game around the Allentown/west side area.













As I said it is to bad the Bisons lost and the rain during the game but I still had a good time and the fire works where pretty nice to. Here are some random pictures from the Stadium..









































I hope everyone is having and continues to have a great weekend. I didn't do to much but I really enjoyed having Friday off from work sometimes it is just nice to be able to sleep in and not do much. I doubt I'll go out tonight have a bunch of pictures to put away hopefully I can decide what to watch as I do so.
Yesterday I went to the Buffalo Bisons opening day with my sister. Except for them losing and the down pour of rain for a little bit it was a fun time. I was surprised they played through it.
Here are some pictures on our way to the game around the Allentown/west side area.













As I said it is to bad the Bisons lost and the rain during the game but I still had a good time and the fire works where pretty nice to. Here are some random pictures from the Stadium..









































I hope everyone is having and continues to have a great weekend. I didn't do to much but I really enjoyed having Friday off from work sometimes it is just nice to be able to sleep in and not do much. I doubt I'll go out tonight have a bunch of pictures to put away hopefully I can decide what to watch as I do so.
04/07/2008 19:53 #43940
Jays Bandits Part 2Category: photos
So if anyone is reading this journal you might want to read the one before it first since this is a part 2 journal. I know I have done other part 2 journals with pictures before but not sure if a story has been part of that. I last left off saying that Toronto has a lot of hot ladies there even if they may not all be from there.
Back to the Blue Jays Game: It really was a pretty good game. The Blue Jays won and if I heard correctly it meant that they swept the "Bo Sox". I have been to games in Toronto before but I don't think that I have ever been there for an opening weekend. That reminds me there is a Spot Coffee in Toronto but we didn't go. Well here are some random pictures from the game.

















It was a good game and Boston had there chance to win up couldn't do it. If it wasn't for the grand slam the Jays may have lost, if memory serves that was during a railie with two outs and Frank Thomas got the grand slam not sure who gets credit for the winning run though.
I can see time wise that I won't have time to post the Bandits pictures so I will say that it was a great game Saturday night and the cheerleaders where hot and it was a lot of fun, ok dance team sorry. The bandits beat the Mammoth buy only one goal so it was close, the bandits where way outshout so we won with good goal tending or better shooting depending how you look at it or some of both I say goal tending.
Back to Toronto, the reason we went was for my Mothers Birthday. Hopefully there is a Yankees Game in the future but we shall see. Here are pictures from us leaving Toronto to go home.






























(doing a moonlighting or as they call it "speak to the Audience" "break the 3rd wall). I hope anyone who read booth journals enjoyed them. I'm kinda pictured out so that isn't all of them so sorry about that. It is strange because unless someone leaves a comment you never really know if your journal is read. Yeah you can look at the views and that is kinda a marker. But that doesn't tell you if anyone really read it or not. There is often the pull that the journal is for your self but also for those who read it, it is a very gray area. Well I had a great weekend and hope everyone else did also. Hopefully some time this summer I can go back to TO and just explore and take pictures maybe just along the waterfront and see where that takes me.
Back to the Blue Jays Game: It really was a pretty good game. The Blue Jays won and if I heard correctly it meant that they swept the "Bo Sox". I have been to games in Toronto before but I don't think that I have ever been there for an opening weekend. That reminds me there is a Spot Coffee in Toronto but we didn't go. Well here are some random pictures from the game.

















It was a good game and Boston had there chance to win up couldn't do it. If it wasn't for the grand slam the Jays may have lost, if memory serves that was during a railie with two outs and Frank Thomas got the grand slam not sure who gets credit for the winning run though.
I can see time wise that I won't have time to post the Bandits pictures so I will say that it was a great game Saturday night and the cheerleaders where hot and it was a lot of fun, ok dance team sorry. The bandits beat the Mammoth buy only one goal so it was close, the bandits where way outshout so we won with good goal tending or better shooting depending how you look at it or some of both I say goal tending.
Back to Toronto, the reason we went was for my Mothers Birthday. Hopefully there is a Yankees Game in the future but we shall see. Here are pictures from us leaving Toronto to go home.






























(doing a moonlighting or as they call it "speak to the Audience" "break the 3rd wall). I hope anyone who read booth journals enjoyed them. I'm kinda pictured out so that isn't all of them so sorry about that. It is strange because unless someone leaves a comment you never really know if your journal is read. Yeah you can look at the views and that is kinda a marker. But that doesn't tell you if anyone really read it or not. There is often the pull that the journal is for your self but also for those who read it, it is a very gray area. Well I had a great weekend and hope everyone else did also. Hopefully some time this summer I can go back to TO and just explore and take pictures maybe just along the waterfront and see where that takes me.
metalpeter - 04/08/08 20:50
I know it is tacky to put up a a comment on my post as the first one and for that I'm sorry. But if anyone is reading this I just wanted to add that my Toronto Pictures and my bandits pictures are now up on my webshots page if anyone wants to see them or see more Toronto and more of the game.
I know it is tacky to put up a a comment on my post as the first one and for that I'm sorry. But if anyone is reading this I just wanted to add that my Toronto Pictures and my bandits pictures are now up on my webshots page if anyone wants to see them or see more Toronto and more of the game.
04/07/2008 19:19 #43939
Jays Bandits WeekendCategory: photos
So On Friday night Club Diablo was having this Fetish Ball thing and I thought it would be cool to go. I didn't wind up going. After going out to dinner and eating a lot I didn't really feel like it plus I figured I was going to have a busy weekend so I would just skip it. Friday was my mother's Birthday so we wound up going to JP Bullfeathers the plan was Indian but there was no parking. There where a few hot sexy ladies there as a slight distraction. We wound up getting sat in the same area where (e:ladycroft)'s dinner was. It wasn't the same table but it was close by. I'm not sure what is up those stairs or that doorway but some people went up there. I thought my food was pretty good.


I think though so this blog is more fun and more exciting instead of getting into Saturdays Bandits game I go to the Blue Jays game. It is good that we got to Toronto early because as luck would have the keys got locked in the car. Waiting around for Triple A wasn't fun but at least it was warm and sunny out. Here are my pictures of TO











































The Jays Played the Redsox. With the waiting and buying some merch I did miss some of the on field stuff like there was a band out on the field and I only heard the anthems. It is kinda odd to hear the US one first you get so used to hearing it the other way around. I was in line as listing and watching it as they cooked my Noodles. It was cool to watch them kinda stir fry them in front of you, the noodles in a box where pretty good.




One thing I do have add that I forgot is how many lovely and sexy ladies there are in Toronto. From the Beer vendors to people in the crowd. Well ok some of them may have been from Boston or other parts of the states. The Asian girl (with BF) was cute and the blond behind me was so pretty and her boobs looked like they where pretty nice also. A Few more random pictures from the game well it won't let me upload any more so for those that care maybe I'll do a part 2.


I think though so this blog is more fun and more exciting instead of getting into Saturdays Bandits game I go to the Blue Jays game. It is good that we got to Toronto early because as luck would have the keys got locked in the car. Waiting around for Triple A wasn't fun but at least it was warm and sunny out. Here are my pictures of TO











































The Jays Played the Redsox. With the waiting and buying some merch I did miss some of the on field stuff like there was a band out on the field and I only heard the anthems. It is kinda odd to hear the US one first you get so used to hearing it the other way around. I was in line as listing and watching it as they cooked my Noodles. It was cool to watch them kinda stir fry them in front of you, the noodles in a box where pretty good.




One thing I do have add that I forgot is how many lovely and sexy ladies there are in Toronto. From the Beer vendors to people in the crowd. Well ok some of them may have been from Boston or other parts of the states. The Asian girl (with BF) was cute and the blond behind me was so pretty and her boobs looked like they where pretty nice also. A Few more random pictures from the game well it won't let me upload any more so for those that care maybe I'll do a part 2.
theecarey - 04/10/08 18:43
mmm the food pics are making me hungry!
Looks like a good time! I like the picture of the bridge with the people walking across.
mmm the food pics are making me hungry!
Looks like a good time! I like the picture of the bridge with the people walking across.
metalpeter - 04/07/08 20:09
I went and added some spaces between pictures of Toronto as you suggested, it was a good idea, I'm not sure if I prefer the hitting enter once or twice though. I also left some of them together as a way to remind my self of this and also to remind my self it was an edit. On a side note the weird thing about eating there was as soon as I walked in I remembered Timika's going away dinner and it took me back to that place, also glad you like the pictures.
I went and added some spaces between pictures of Toronto as you suggested, it was a good idea, I'm not sure if I prefer the hitting enter once or twice though. I also left some of them together as a way to remind my self of this and also to remind my self it was an edit. On a side note the weird thing about eating there was as soon as I walked in I remembered Timika's going away dinner and it took me back to that place, also glad you like the pictures.
metalpeter - 04/07/08 19:57
Yeah that Penne (however you spell it) Alfredo was very good. That is a good Idea about the pictures I seem to forget that after I up load them to then space them out I will try and edit my part 2 and see what that does, you do make a good point.
Yeah that Penne (however you spell it) Alfredo was very good. That is a good Idea about the pictures I seem to forget that after I up load them to then space them out I will try and edit my part 2 and see what that does, you do make a good point.
imk2 - 04/07/08 19:43
otherwise, those are great pics. thanks for posting them.
otherwise, those are great pics. thanks for posting them.
imk2 - 04/07/08 19:43
mmmm...that pasta you had at jp bullfeathers looks soooo good.
peter, i hope you don't take this the wrong way, but would you be able to put some space between your pictures when you post them, so that they are a little more spaced out and not so close together? you don't get to appreciate each individual picture if it doesnt have some space between itself and the picture below it.
mmmm...that pasta you had at jp bullfeathers looks soooo good.
peter, i hope you don't take this the wrong way, but would you be able to put some space between your pictures when you post them, so that they are a little more spaced out and not so close together? you don't get to appreciate each individual picture if it doesnt have some space between itself and the picture below it.
i almost cried when I saw this snow this morning. :(
I have a memory (not sure if it is correct or not) about being at my grand mothers for easter and my cousin and his family was there and it either snowed and or there was snow in the back yard I think it might have stuck. I think one year on easter we went to the botanical gardens and everyone had winter coats and there was a dusting of snow, crazy buffalo weather.
i remember on year when i snowed on easter..back when easter was in late april