Sunny Day in New York

All original members of Sunny Day Real Estate (yes, even the bassist from Foo Fighters) have reunited and are touring this year!

Collisions

One of the best weekends I’ve had in a long time and it started off by watching this dude who refers to himself as the Millionaire’s Magician on Fri for my boss’ surprise bday party at the Waldorf Towers:

I’m always skeptical with these sort of things but what intrigued me the most (and somewhat creep me out) was how intuitive he was with reading people’s movements and expressions. He seems to be that kind of person who would analyze you while having a conversation, examining every little thing you do. He could probably tell if you were lying or not.

Collision #1: BFF and I were on 79th and Madison waiting for the crosstown bus, when out of nowhere a Benz speeds through two red lights, crashes into a parked taxi, backs into another parked taxi, and swerves onto the sidewalk, almost colliding into a store. I was in complete shock, frozen for a few minutes, and when I came to, BFF was already reporting the accident to the 911 operator. I’m useless! We later found out that the driver supposedly lost control of his car and thankfully nobody was seriously injured. Yet this collision sparked many more to come…

…Which leads us to Collision #2: Upon our arrival at the American Museum of Natural History, we found out that “Cosmic Collisions” was playing at their theater dome – and of course we couldn’t bypass this opportunity! And now for the nerdy stuff – a new theory developed regarding the moon and that it was created by a comet colliding with Earth in its infantile stages and the debris formed the moon in just one month. And apparently billions of years from now the Milky Way and Andromeda will collide, forming one galaxy. As I was sitting in the dome, looking up and watching this film (while Robert Redford narrated), it occurred to me that was in a similar theater as a kid during a field trip. How I would’ve love to recall what exactly I watched and learned at that time so that I can compare to what I just learned today. (Yes, I’m a nerd but when I was your age, Pluto was considered a planet!)

Later that night we met with two mutual friends I haven’t seen in 10 years. Back story – all four of us met 10 years ago at our mother’s 25th college reunion. And of course a night out in NYC includes: heavy rain, free alcohol, and diner food at 6am. Added bonus: collision #3 and #4 occurred while drunkenly wandering around the Lower East Side all night long. (My BFF and I definitely cannot be in the same city for more than a couple days. The universe just can’t handle it!)

On Sunday, and surprisingly not hungover, I convinced the BFF to postpone his flight a few more hours and went on some much need shopping on Broadway. First time there and it reminded me of Oxford St in London. Even though I wasn’t impressed with TopShop (actually didn’t buy anything!), I was in complete awe over Uniqlo!

And to end one fab weekend -I met Sia Furler (one of the singers for the electronic duo Zero 7) today at the subway station off of Canal St!!!!

Protect Protect (with a side of fries)

"Protect Protect" 12 Mar - 31 May 2009

I’ve been a huge fan of Jenny Holzer ever since I came across her book at the Guggenheim in Venice six years ago.  I was stoked when I was finally able to see her works in persona couple of years ago – LED signs at a London gallery and her “Inflammatory Essays” at the Tate Modern.  When I found out that she was exhibiting at the Whitney, I thought, well same ol’ stuff but hey I’m down.

Although her LED signs were fascinating, there was one particular room that struck me by surprise – she displayed “Redaction Paintings,” that is, declassified government documents that have been blacked out or redacted by government censors claiming some parts too sensitive for the public.  These documents displayed include autopsy reports of detainees, interrogation techniques, redacted handprints of those accused of crimes, and strategic war maps.

What I found most disturbing yet profound was her “Lustmord Table.”  Initially I walked by it, thinking nothing of it, until I read about it in the pamphlet and quickly returned to it.  Lustmord, loosely meaning “rape-slaying, sex-murder, or lust-killing” in German, consists of human bones neatly laid out on a table.  Affected by the war in former Yugaslovia (1992-1995) where rape and murder of women and girls was a systematic tactic by Bosnian-Serb forces, some of these bones consisted of silver bands engraved with text of the accounts of the victim, perpetrator, and witness.  What was frustrating was not being able to read all the text at once which I later found out was the whole point – a “metaphor for the variety of viewpoints expressed.”*

Moving on to something more lighthearted,I absolutely loved Claes Oldenburg’s giant replicas of a BLT sandwich, fries with ketchup, crushed cigarette butts, and an ice pack.  Made of vinyl, these items reminded me of when I was in 5th grade – we learned about tall tales á la Paul Bunyan.  Then we were divided in groups and each group had to create a giant object, something that Paul Bunyan would use.  Where as others made a toothbrush and a shaving cream can, my group randomly chose to make a Pepsi can (to this day I wonder why didn’t we choose Coca-Cola?!).  If only I was clever enough to make giant fries with ketchup instead.

*from the Whitney Museum’s “Jenny Holzer: Protect Protect” pamphlet

Dance like no one is watching

Since the follow up to this fantastic T-Mobile advert occurred today I thought I might share this with y’all:

Cai Guo-Qiang

Cai -Guo-Qiang’s amazing retrospective exhibition entitled “I Want to Believe” was exhibited last year at the Guggenheim in New York.  I’m very disappointed that I missed out on this one!

I was thinking about going to Estonia this summer but since this exhibition is now at the Guggenheim in Bilbao until 6 Sept, I’m very tempted to head to Spain instead!

I’ve included two videos of the exhibition at both the New York and Bilbao locations as well as another video showing  how he creates his signature explosion works using fireworks -

Coachella ella ella eh eh eh

"It's great to be in the desert here with you. Thank you!" (To be said with an Icelandic accent)

You really do need an umbrella while at Coachella Festival.

Although Spring officially started about a month ago, today was actually a proper day of Spring.   And I’m stuck at work.

I’m looking out of the windows and I can see people in their shorts, tank tops, and sandals on their way to Central Park.  Le sigh.

And on the other side of the U.S. of A., indie folks are driving into the middle of the desert for the Coachella Festival.  I’m not too upset missing out on three days of unbearable heat.  Plus the line up isn’t that great.  But I do miss experience such a festival with my like-minded friends.  Since two years ago, who could top Bjork and Rage Against the Machine?!

(Side track:  Bjork and DJ Shadow were playing at different stages at the same time so I decided to run back and forth between the two and sure enough, I almost ran right into a guy pissing in the middle of the field.  I recall some splashing?)

But I wouldn’t have mind seeing, M.I.A., Glasvegas, My Bloody Valentine, Lupe Fiasco, Lykke Li, TV on the Radio, Fleet Foxes, and Sebastien Tellier.

Point is, once again I’m just glad that the cold weather is finally making its way out, and hopefully I’ll get off my lazy arse and start exploring this city.

No standing anytime

Sorry ladies, he's taken

I’ve decided to expand my blog to include a collection uber cool outfits.  Call them fashionistas, unique, hipsters, or just plain bad ass – they’ve got a pretty damn good taste in fashion.

Who:  G-Dawgg from LDN

What:  American Apparel hoodie, H&M blazer, plaid shirt from ex-girlfriend (blegh), Knicks t-shirt, Converse shoes, Wrangler jeans, Brick Lane Market sunglasses, All-Scottish middle finger

Where:  Upper East Side, New York City

When:  March 2009

Why:  “Everything I do… I do for you.”  (LAME)

Muto

Check out this fantastic street art animation clip:

I tried to see if I could recognize certain spots of BsAs, and I think they were in San Telmo or Palermo?  I could be completely wrong!

Okay I’ll shut up now

Don’t you hate it when you’re in the subway, and as you’re saying goodbye to a friend who is getting off the train, and as you’re in the middle of saying something witty, she’s walking further away from you, and then your tone of voice gets louder but she can no longer hear you anymore, and so you stop talking midway but everyone on the train looks at you funny because it looks like you’re talking to yourself?

And then you try and act as if nothing happened.

Peanut butter, banana, and eel sushi rolls… yum?

Spring forward

So I missed my one year anniversary – it’s been over a year since I started this blog.  But I never was really into celebrating milestones.  But I do like to reflect.  A LOT.  Last year I was overflowing with inspiration, unlike the last few months – I was experiencing a drought.  But now that I’ve got a routine again, I’m beginning to get back into writing.  I realized I wrote solely as a means of communicating and expressing myself when I had an extremely hard time doing.  Now that that isn’t a problem anymore, I really didn’t have the need to write.  Now I’m trying to convince myself that writing isn’t just a means of venting.  That said, I’ve been experimenting with minimal poetry, and most importantly, looking into performing again.  I must admit, I’m very intimidated by the NY poetry scene.  I’ve performed in Chi-town, LA and LDN, but NYC is the mecca for poets.  I’m definitely scoping out the scene – I attended a poetry performance in Brooklyn a few weeks ago and will attend an open mic night hopefully soon.  So even though it was cloudy and rainy today, once again I’m happy winter has surpassed.  And I’m so thankful I managed to get out of my rut!

Other points to make -

1.  Hah!  Slumdog Millionaire did win!

2.  So much for keeping up with posting a Lomo photo everyday…

3.  After almost 6 months, I’m finally getting my haircut next week!  And you know how much I just LOVE change

4.  I’m sure you’re bored of me.  I too am bored of myself.  So what better way to resurrect myself than to get my own website.  Stay tuned, folks!

We are two fish sticks swimming in a fish bowl, year after year