Favorite TV homes of all time

The Wonder Years home in Burbank, California

The Brady Bunch house in Studio City, California

The Bewitched house in Santa Monica, California

Not a TV home, but I love The Goonies house in Astoria, Oregon

"Mother" trailer

Kim Hye-Ja and Wonbin star in Mother, a new film by Bong Joon-Ho. Mother tells the story of a mother trying to save her son who is falsely accused of murder. Bong, director of Host and Memories of Murder, says "I want to make the saddest yet most beautiful crime drama ever. At the center of this story is a small and weak mother who stands alone, a woman so determined that she can't even stop herself.'' (Variety)

Bong surprised some by casting Korean-wave star, Wonbin, as the mother's meak son. Bong feels despite Wonbin's mega success, one can still see the pure country image in his face. Wonbin, who hails from Kangwon province, "is far from his image of a refined city-dweller," says Bong. Mother is expected to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2009.

Who's that girl?

I turned on the Food Network, this morning, to see a plucky Asian woman showing Bobby Flay how to make blackberry pastry pies. "She's Korean," my husband speculated. She did have the tell tale sign of her head being the biggest part of her body. As she started folding her blackberry crust into a dumpling shape with fork creases ("She's making mandoo!") our guessing became even more animated.

Ajumma: Maybe she's Bobby's wife.

Hubby: Yes! I heard he has an Asian wife. Or did you start that rumor?

If we had seen the start of the show where Bobby's mystery guest shared her mother's recipe for kalbi (grilled short ribs) we would have realized she was indeed Korean American. Flay's guest was none other than pastry chef Judiaann Woo. Woo, a graduate of New York's French Culinary Institute, is the executive director of decadent dessert site PastryScoop.com. Read a Page Six Magazine interview with Ms. Woo, here.

Rocking a new tattoo

It appears The Rock has added to his polynesian-inspired tattoos. The Rock, whose mother is Samoan, has tattoos across his arm (and now over half his chest) that honor his family.

My advice: Stick with the book

The official trailer is out for Spike Jonze's Where the Wild Things Are. Looks like Ajumma will be avoiding this one. You can watch it here.

Is Korean food the next big thing?

The Korea Herald examines whether Korean food is the next hot trend in America. Read the article here.

James Franco is artsy fartsy

A few months ago, I listened to a Fresh Air interview on NPR not knowing who was being interviewed. I could tell the man was an actor originally from the Bay Area, someone known for taking unconventional roles. After 10 minutes hearing his boisterous, screechy voice I imagined he looked like this:

It turns out the interviewee was James Franco.

Franco, who is currently filming an Allen Ginsberg biopic, is on the cover of issue #3 of Man About Town magazine.

Don't forget the ginger

Homemade sushi costumes for kids and pets

Adorable wasabi hat

This child thinks he's dressed up as a Power Ranger

New 'do for Seung Hun

Korean star Song Seung Hun debuted a new hairdo this month at an East of Eden party at Lotte Hotel. Seung Hun's gone through a plethora of hairstyles since being discharged from the Korean Army in 2007. While this may not be the perfect cut for him, but it's better than his buzz gone wrong or his shag.

I'm so ready: Where the Wild Things Are

New poster alert! Warner Bros. released a promo poster this week for the upcoming film, Where the Wild Things Are. A three-minute trailer for the live-action movie, based on Maurice Sendak's beloved children's book, will premiere at the start of Dreamworks' new animated flick Monsters vs. Aliens.

Spike Jonze's adaption of Sendak's beloved book came under major scrutiny last year after strange footage of the movie was leaked online. Word began to spread that Warner Bros. was about to boot Jonze as director, and completely reshoot the $75 million dollar film.

Where the Wild Things Are is due in theaters October 16, 2009.

Korean speedskater coaching in US

If speedskater Apolo Ohno stepped foot into Korea during the winter of 2002 I'm fairly certain his body would have been torn to shreds. Due to the short track debaucle with South Korean skater Kim Dong-Sung, Ohno got the gold medal in the 1500 m and became known as The Devil across the peninsula. Ajumma was living in Korea at the time and can tell you that people seriously wanted him D E A D. If you ever wondered what happened to the disqualified skateter Kim Dong-Sung, the two-time Olympic medalist has returned to the states and is coaching American kids to go for the gold. Read an update on Kim here.

Is it Friday yet?

By America's Favorite Cracker

Happy St. Patty's Day

Domo kun's got ears!

Target Domo bunny

White Day= A most horrid holiday

As if Valentine's Day weren't bad enough, Koreans and Japanese celebrate another horrendous holiday founded on expectations and guilt. March 14, known as White Day, is when those who received gifts of fondness on Valentine's are supposed to return the favor with candies, jewelry or flowers. Shops across Seoul and Tokyo are stocked to the gills with gawdy baskets and White Day gift sets for people (usually guys) to give to others. I distinctly remember White Day as one of my worst days in Korea. In fact, when I think about White Day I imagine myself as a deranged Joan Crawford screaming, "No White Day everrrrr!!!!"

I think he's drinking taro

Marikoroo created this while bored in class.

Jet Li and Barbie: BFF

Jet Li finally got the girl. The bad news is she's 50 years old and made of plastic. Li attended the grand opening of Barbie's flagship store in Shanghai, last week, where models posing as life-sized Barbies strutted their stuff. Mattel's Senior VP said China was chosen for the Barbie store due in part to its large population and vast market potential. Another attraction, he said, was the potential appeal of Barbie in newly affluent urban areas of China not just to young girls, but to their mothers as well. Eek! It's still a bizarre place to find Jet Li.

See photos of the Barbie store here.

The Muppets sing-along

If you live near downtown Orlando, get your booty to The History Center for a sing-along version of The Muppet Movie on Saturday, March 14. In case you've forgotten, The Muppet Movie (1979) includes fantasical songs Movin' Right Along and The Rainbow Connection. The screening and sing-along is part of the exhibit, Jim Henson's Fantastic World, at the center through May 3.

More DJ & Shawn

I ♥ kim chi

Grace loves kim chi so much she designed a creative cross stitch pattern on Etsy.

Who needs Disney?

A Swiss take on a McDonald's Happy Meal

Top 5 reasons to smile a lot

1. Having a good time

2. Skating tight

3. Being half Asian

4. Having funny friends

5. Not having a busted grill anymore

More Malto Top 5: etnies

For your next trip to the 노래방

Huntington Beach, California

Windchill of 20 degrees below zero here, today. To cope, I'm pretending that I'm at Huntington Beach enjoying the sun and sand.

Finally...Agent Zero

Filmofilia has unveiled a new photo of Daniel Henney as Agent Zero in X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Henney found himself mobbed by fans in Canada where X-Men filmed, which surprised his more famous co-stars.

My banana

Click for a larger image. From The Rut.

Blueberry Pocky

Behold!

He's fierce

3-inch Mr. T doll as seen on geekcrafts.com

What your friends probably aren't saying aloud

KoreAm presents five women with questions on politics, marriage, motherhood and sex, and the answers they give are surprisingly frank. Check it out here.

My brother in law

Ajumma: He makes me so mad. I want to punch him through the face.

Coworker: Through the face? That's a lot more serious than in the face.

It's Star Wars Day @ The Pad

Mm, tasty you are.

Who is that exactly in the middle I wonder.

My cousin had Star Wars action figures.  I alway had Princess Leia babysit Yoda.

The dark lord atop a sweet treat

Nice buns

Ewok mice do it nice

Swing on by The House of Mouse on Etsy! Designer Anna creates handmade tiny mice in festive outfits. Some of the most popular sellers are her Star Wars-themed mice, like this Ewok. Anna gives 10% of The House of Mouse profits to the British animal welfare charity The Blue Cross. You go girl!

Good golly Ms. Molly!

Molly Ringwald is pregnant with twins. I really want to say something about this photo. However, I once made an off-hand comment regarding a girl who had one single fold and one double fold eyelid. My comment was something like, "Who the hell has eyelids like that?!" A week later I woke up with a single and a double which have never gone back. So with that in mind, Molly looks gorgeous.

If you're not familiar with whole Asian eyelids thing, set your peepers on this before and after.

Meanwhile in Seoul...

Kimchi @ Namdaemun market