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Okay, okay. I’m biased. I love Japanese food, so the task of treating myself to a dinner of sushi and hibachi grilled awesomeness is pretty sweet. But I’m a professional, and I am committed to relaying my experiences at Koto Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi to you, the loyal Visit Fort Wayne reader.

Koto’s unassuming exterior belies the zen inside.

Right after you walk through the door, you’ll notice Koto’s intimate atmosphere, and it really helps to remove you from the busy exterior of the building which sits just west of the Coldwater/Washington Center intersection. Outside the restaurant, there’s always an abundance of traffic, but once you walk into Koto you immediately feel like you’ve been ushered into a special little world of peace and zen. Oh, and amazing food, but that’s still to come.

As the worries of the world start to fade away, you’ll probably be ready for some appetizers. The Gyoza, which are pan-fried pork dumplings, come first. Think Pot Stickers, then take a bite and quickly forget Pot Stickers were ever a thing. Another favorite of mine is the Shumai, which are steamed shrimp dumplings so there’s no fried crust like the Gyoza. No matter, still awesome. I could eat a full meal of just these little lovelies, but there’s more. Oh, so much more.

After wiping out the appetizers, it’s a good time to look around a bit more and you’ll likely notice the sushi bar right away. It’s a cozy little bar where you can watch the exceptionally skilled sushi chefs prepare your favorite rolls, and you will find a favorite. Granted, with dozens of options, it may take you a few tries to get there, but you’ll absolutely enjoy the journey. Koto serves everything from the simple and traditional rolls (the California Roll is a solid standby), to the unique and complex. The sushi menu at Koto will challenge you with exotic new morsels that might raise your eyebrow at first, but after you try a piece, you’ll probably raise your chopsticks for more. Trust me, I’m a strictly cooked food guy, and while they have plenty of raw options, I can still find great fully-cooked sushi selections too.

But wait! There’s more! The Koto menu features a variety of hibachi dishes as well. These meals feature your choice of meat (chicken, shrimp, steak) cooked on a hibachi grill along with fresh Japanese vegetables. Add a side of rice, miso soup and a green salad, and these meals will leave you full and happy.

Mmmm, miso.

Being a sucker for a great dinner show, I like to go to Koto for the full steakhouse experience and they deliver. In a separate room, several hibachi tables are available where one of their fantastic chefs will cook your meal and throw in some witty banter to keep you entertained while you salivate. In the past, you’ve had to wait for a special occasion to enjoy a similar experience and Koto allows you to enjoy it more often. Why? Because they’re open for lunch! You can reserve a hibachi table for your family gathering and enjoy the same great Japanese steakhouse experience for a very reasonable price. Well played, Koto!

I’m thinking at least a few of you are suddenly experiencing a hunger for some great Japanese food, and I can’t blame you if you find yourself uncontrollably surfing over to KotoJapaneseSteakhouseandSushi.com. I’m having a little trouble finishing this article myself. Once again, you can find Koto near the corner of Coldwater Rd. and Washington Center Rd. and their hours are:

Monday – Saturday 11:00am – 2:30pm
Monday – Friday 5:00pm – 10:00pm
Saturday 3:00pm – 10:30pm
Sunday 12:00pm – 9:30pm

I can’t be more of a Koto fan, and I encourage you to visit them so you can enjoy the experience too. Arigato!

Black Friday is over.  Cyber Monday has passed.  That means if you’re still shopping for gifts, you may be running low on cash.  If you’ve noticed that some of those names on your list tend to be your nerdier friends and family, I’ve done some digging to find some really cool ideas that will brighten their holidays and keep your wallet from feeling like Han Solo trapped in Carbonite.

Sorry, I may have gone too far with that reference.  That just means you’ll relieve the stress on your finances if you follow these tips:

Comic Books

This one’s a no-brainer.  Most single-issues of current comics (including DC’s popular “New 52″ series) go for around $3.99 and comic-lovers are always excited to read a new book.  Grab a few issues (slipped inside comic bags with cardboard backing, of course) to make your nerdy loved one happy.  You can find the latest issues (bagged and boarded) at locations like Clem’s Collectibles in Jefferson Pointe, Books, Comics and Things at Time Corners, and Discount Comic Book Service in the Pine Valley Shopping Center.

Figurines

Action figures are my personal weakness and many nerds like me also love these toys.  Yes, I admit it.  They’re toys.  But in the hands of an avid collector, the right action figures will be treated as museum pieces.  They’re preserved, displayed, and even given special lighting in some cases.  You can find a wide range of action figures in the big toy stores as well as your favorite comic book stores, but you might find the $10+ price tags a bit prohibitive.

Not a Villain was stirring, not even this mouse.

Nerd /nurd/ (noun)

Definition: An intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a non-social hobby or pursuit

Well, the dictionary’s mostly right. Nerds like me consider ourselves somewhat intelligent, and I think we all have a few obsessive pursuits that would be considered fairly nerdy (personally, video games and comic books). But we’re starting to see a cosmic shift in the nerd-iverse as these traditionally uncool hobbies and interests are beginning to build some serious social steam. So much so, that those of us who haven’t always claimed our nerdiness are a little more willing to step out from the shadows. Heck, I’m writing a blog about it!

The nerd realms of comic books, video games, and role-playing board games (a la Dungeons and Dragons) are still in full effect, but the times, they are a-changin’. While they used to be reserved for small basement get-togethers among close-knit nerd herds, these activities are becoming (gasp!) mainstream. Pop culture has rolled out the red carpet for nerds like me to hold our heads high and proudly participate in the pastimes we hold dear. TV shows like The Big Bang Theory have turned nerds into cultural icons, and comic books have taken over the movie theaters as films like Iron Man and The Avengers are giving non-nerds a new appreciation for the art that my people have loved for decades.

That’s why I wanted to help my fellow obsessive brainiacs discover the many nerd hotspots here in Fort Wayne so we never miss the chance to indulge in our favorite games and activities.  In this article, I’ll list just a few to get you started as you explore Nerdy Fort Wayne:

Clem’s Collectibles

Check out Clem’s at Jefferson Pointe

Clem’s is the big daddy of the comic books stores in Fort Wayne.  After a couple of moves, they have settled quite nicely into the Jefferson Pointe mall with a rather large store near the Rave movie theater. As a nerd haven, Clem’s has a little something for everybody.  If you love comic books, Clem’s has all of the latest issues along with a huge collection of back issues for the completists and the treasure hunters.  Personally, I’m a big toy nerd, especially action figures and Clem’s always has something new for my collection.  But Clem’s isn’t just for the normal nerds.  Sports nerds are also welcome as Clem’s has a wide variety of team merchandise from several sports including collectible items and cards.  A trip to Clem’s is never brief when there’s so much to look at.  Learn more at ClemsCollectibles.com

Books, Comics, and Things

Books, Comics, and Things started as a simple book store for hard-to-find books, but soon realized the interest in comic books and shifted the focus to the comic crowd. In addition, BCT has become a popular spot for role-playing card and miniature board games.  They don’t just sell the games and accessories, they also host tournaments and game nights for players to come together and enjoy the biggest games including Warhammer and good old D&D. Books, Comics and Things can be found online at BCTComics.com.

Fort Wayne’s newest player in the game market – Nerdvana.

Nerdvana

In Northwest Fort Wayne, just off of Lima Road on Till, you’ll find a small house that has been converted into one of the newest nerd-centric stores, and they aren’t shy to admit it. They’ve even put it in their name! Nerdvana Games hopes to be the utopia for board gamers and they boast a wide variety of games for nerd to choose from, and they hope visitors can always find something new along with their favorites. Their Facebook page says it best, “Nerdvana is in the business of connecting boardgames with their geeks.”  It’s just as simple as that.  Find out more about their store on Facebook or at NerdvanaGames.com.

If you’re a Fort Wayne nerd or nerd sympathizer who would like to expand your horizons, I highly recommend checking these places out.  Do you know about other nerd hotspots that we should mention here in the Visit Fort Wayne blog?  Send it to us and we’ll try to cover it in an upcoming article.

Thanks for reading and go play some games!!