bliu blog

conclusions

2009-12-19T22:17:00.002-05:00

c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c o u n t e r - c u l t u r e .

the bright ones figure it out. the others shall not outlive their attempts.

advice and banners

2009-12-19T01:47:00.007-05:00

a mysterious, and tantalizing, prospect: advice and banners.

they actually live quite close to home. i wonder if i pass them in the cafe, in the market, on the bus, and we knowingly nod to our secrets.

just so i remember: here lies a transcription, verbatim, of the 2-page typed letter (times new roman, 12pt font, white 8.5x11 copy paper) and the banner which arrived in my mailbox this week.

[you can merely guess what question i posed.]

Dear Christine,

Oh man, I know exactly what you mean. It's so frustrating to feel like you know what you want, even if only vaguely, and to not have it yet. And you're left wondering, "do things just fall into place at some point, or is there some formula that I'm missing that will make everything happen now?"

I am so far from having an answer to that, so I'm going to neatly avoid the subject and instead focus on ideas about the present, and what it actually means to be waiting for things. Because I can assure you that everyone I know who's around my age, my whole group of friends, seems to be holding their breath, holding out for something better. Jobs, relationships, roommates, hobbies, advanced degrees...we've had so many unproductive conversations about how things will be different when we're older and have everything figured out.

And it makes me think of this totally cheesy bumper sticker my friend saw in Harvard Square once that said, "Don't Postpone Joy." It successfully launched the two of us into mini-crises about how we had been thinking too much about the future to appreciate all the nice things we have going for us right now. We had been doing a lot of thinking like, "When I have a nicer apartment..." and "When I have a better-paying job..." and "When I live somewhere cooler..."

And, for me, all that thinking about the future starts to get wrapped up in thoughts about the kind of person I want to be...because, you know, maybe when I have a bigger kitchen I will cook more and have a more extensive spice collection and learn how to bake sourdough bread and never end up eating a bowl of cereal for dinner out of laziness. Wanting a bigger kitchen ends up being about my dissatisfaction with my cooking skills and an excuse to not do a single thing about it.

I guess the point is that the words "patience" and "waiting" imply a sort of dissatisfaction with the present, don't they? And maybe that's the problem. Not to be someone who blames American culture for things...but I blame American culture for creating masses of high-achieving, hopeful, expectant, motivated people who are so great at preparing to succeed in the future that it's almost as though we think that five-years-from-now is more important than today.

(This patience conundrum is actually really interesting to me because it's about the future vs. the present, and expectations vs. happiness, and hope vs. the unknown, all at once.)

Actually, I just remembered that the first little banner I ever made was for myself, and it says "TODAY" in big yellow letters because I totally needed a reminder to focus on the present. It's on the wall across from my bed, and it's the first thing I see when I wake up. It reminds me to take a moment, before I even get out of bed, to make a mental to-do list of what I want to accomplish that day, both in terms of helping me achieve some long-term goals and also in terms of just enjoying the day.

Anyway, I don't know what it is you're waiting for. But whether it's a certain job, or finding a soulmate, or moving to a new city, or a whole bunch of things, I think the formula for being content right now probably involves a mixture of doing what you can to reach those goals and doing your best with what you have right now. Plus a little dash of faith in the fact that you can't predict the future and that, no matter what happens, it will probably be okay. Can't go wrong with that.

So your banner says, "working isn't waiting." Because it just feels good to be doing something, not only because it can help you get closer to whatever goals you have, but because doing things* and being active is intrinsically good for your mental health and happiness, right now. This is really important, and I think lots of people need this reminder. Feeling like you're waiting for something sucks so much because it's passive and stagnant. I hope the banner helps you remember that as long as you're doing something, and enjoying it, you aren't just waiting for something better. And that's such a relief, isn't it?

Good luck!

-Advice&Banners

* Very vague word, I know. But I'm sure you are familiar enough with yourself to know what you like to do to [sic], and what you need to do to get what you want. If not, it's up to you to figure it out.

thank you.

ten tables cranks it up to 11

2009-12-08T12:47:00.007-05:00

if i don't write it down, i'll be remiss, because who knows how long it'll be on the hyper-seasonal menu before it vanishes completely?

chef dave punch's ridiculously satisfying tasting of sorts last night at ten tables cambridge, complete with creepy santas and dreidels with faces:

charcuterie: country pate with parisian ham & pistachios, chicken liver parfait with with riesling gelee LIKE WHOA

steamed PEI mussels (just the meats, no shells) with baby spinach, saffron cream, piment d'espelette & garlic crouton

handmade potato gnocchi with braised oxtails, breadcrumbs & fresh horseradish gremolata

cassoulet: housemade french garlic sausage, braised duBreton pork shoulder, hudson valley moulard duck leg confit, cannellini beans

bottle: 2006 belle pente vineyard pinot noir

chocolate terrine with sea salt & thai basil ice cream (!!!)

hazelnut semifreddo with bay, orange & caramel

saffron and honey-poached pear with crushed pistachios & vanilla bean ice cream

+ two friends sweeter than any dessert in the world.

a lion's maine

2009-12-03T17:43:00.007-05:00

according to wikipedia, "bernoulli's principle states that for an inviscid flow, an increase in the speed of the fluid occurs simultaneously with a decrease in pressure or a decrease in the fluid's potential energy."

which is precisely how i felt when i finally got the time, energy, money and gumption to unfurl all my portland, maine fantasies at once. the weekend after thanksgiving, while everyone was busy napping off the last of the pumpkin pie or getting cheeks pinched anew from farflung relatives, i packed lightly, grabbed my friend alex, and fled to the amtrak station as if my life depended on it.

30 hours + an endless list of fervent city recommendations + pent-up hopes and dreams = a whirlwind weekend. as we flew around portland with alarming velocity, the pressure ceased, the pieces soon fell into place, and we got to enjoy a staggering amount of delights--both deliberate and serendipitous. i can't wait to race back to relax ... to race once again.

{ duckfat, micucci grocery, shipyard brewery, rabelais, random shopping, rogues gallery, 555, hugo's, fore street, local 188, bintliff's, random tide-curbing, novare res, leroux kitchen, street & co, the corner bar, inn by the sea }

online private sales compendium

2009-09-14T11:13:00.016-04:00

thank you, recession + web 2.0 wonks, for making "online private sales" (i.e. members-only discounts) proliferate faster than sequins on a mcqueen ensemble.

here's an ongoing list, to be renewed accordingly. let me know if you would like invites, or if something's missing from this list.

ideeli [women's designer accessories]
gilt [women's designer apparel/accessories]
gilt fuse [women's trend apparel/accessories]
jetsetter [luxury travel]
rue la la [women's/men's apparel/accessories, home goods]
hautelook [women's apparel/accessories]
the top secret [women's apparel/accessories]
editor's closet [women's apparel/accessories]
one kings lane [home goods]
jack threads [men's streetwear]
the fairest [cosmetics]
portero private [luxury brands]
beyond the rack [luxury accessories]

temporary custody of high-end stuff (like netflix for goods)
thred up
avelle (formerly bag borrow or steal)

power-in-numbers discounts
groupon
qponus
buy with me

more nicety deal miscellany
get sugar
dailycandy deals
restaurant week
spa week
hub eats

& altogether awesome discounted designer shopping

the outnet [net-a-porter's clearance]
yoox [euro-flavored]
bad joan [west coast flow]
inven.tory nyc [boutique outlet]

last updated: 2009.09.14

cheated, a little

2009-08-21T22:59:00.007-04:00

wouldn't you take a warming, intoxicating, melt-you-all-over sip (or two) of balvenie single-barrel 15 year-old single malt scotch, especially if it was graciously passed in the luxuriously modern salon at l'espalier for a dear friend's 28th birthday celebration?

well, wouldn't you?

so, such is my lapse. but oh! mercy on this forgivable trifle. truthfully, i am glad that i did stick to my abstinent guns, for the summer refreshers that english bill prepared were blissfully boozefree, yet absolutely exquisite.

the first, paired with an island creek oyster topped dramatically with a pouf of cucumber foam and smidge of fruit and glistening roe, stood head to head with any cocktail worth its mettle: an ethereal elixir of watermelon granita muddled with lemon verbena "plucked this morning from frank's own farm."

heck yes.

the second beverage that materialized also burst forth in all sorts of sun-kissed pleasure. passion fruit juice, steeped with a cinnamon stick for a day or so, is shaken with honey syrup and then taken over ice; sipped daintily from a straw, if you would do so kindly. really perfect, presiding somewhere in that nebulous middle ground between simple fresh juice and meticulous mixology. it drinks like a dream.

there was plenty of emotional flux throughout the day. a sweet yet sentimental goodbye over breakfast, the stupefying stifle of what became the sauna-city, some stolen moments with a bohemian who has nothing to lose and all to gain.

up next: sugarbomber ice cream showdown. may the best delights reward a patient, passionate following of frozen dessert. in other words: the most righteous guerilla dessert feast in a somerville parking lot! sounds like trouble. sweet, sweet trouble.

darkly bright

2009-08-21T00:51:00.007-04:00

can't wait to participant in adam tessier's collaborative project, our daily sonnet. i'll spare you the details of how i know him (about six ways to sunday, tucked within the folds and loops and gnarls of cambridge's social pool), much less how i managed to meet him about a year after we last spoke. but here we are, enthralled by shakespeare and people and internet and whatallthisreallymeans.

every day, one video is added to the published tally: one speaker, one sonnet, in singular style, until all 154 are recited.

there have been 10 sonnets performed as of today; holly's glimmering rendering of #3 is my favorite thus far.

after reading a few dozen tonight of the enormous remainder (my summer camp culturefest must truck on), i committed myself to sonnet #43:

When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see,
For all the day they view things unrespected;
But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee,
And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed.
Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright,
How would thy shadow's form form happy show
To the clear day with thy much clearer light,
When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so!
How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made
By looking on thee in the living day,
When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade
Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay!
All days are nights to see till I see thee,
And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.

word after word, each burns with proof. this shall be the one.

HAM!

2009-08-19T23:44:00.010-04:00

♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o ♥ p o n y o p o n y o p o n y o p o n y o p o n y o p o n y o

just witnessed miyazaki's film ponyo this evening with jenna at the coolidge corner theatre. i left inspired, wide-eyed, delighted, altogether rosied with a wonderful story and old-school animation. you just need to watch it -- the humor, voicing and timing is not easily portrayed secondhand -- but instant wins in my book:

the gorgeous, silent introductory scene exploding with detail, supporting a serene balance of an ecosystem shimmering in tandem
jellyfish! so many jellyfish!
the mutually neurotic tendencies of the stripey-suited father and earthbound lisa
the extreme evocation of the ocean, the light, the color, the fluidity
octopus sneaking its way into the house
the intoxicating magic of ramen
mass-guppy tickling of scary-eyed water demons
casual appearance by enormous, scaly, prehistoric fish
the dry, crazy humor of cranky old people
the vaguely Renn-faire speak, "kiss this bubble, child, when you reach to the surface"

and, as an aside, the haunting resemblance between ponyo and the little pilgrims (night walking) by yoshitomo nara:

the glass menagerie

2009-08-19T01:44:00.021-04:00

lots of unexpectedness today: a tumultuous start in the morning, an honest-to-goodness free lunch (out-for-hours leftover pizza harkens back to grad school-worthy small victories), windows-hate technical difficulties, and the miraculous chance that i didn't get anything on my purple silk harness filippa k dress that i was foolishly, swelteringly traipsing in all day. score.

the reason for the outfit (the concept of day-to-night dressing is like a sofa bed; it doesn't really do proper justice for either function) was for the 500-or-so attended yelp gala at the harvard museum of natural history. the 'gala' aspect of it was silly but fun -- an excuse for ladies and gents to get dolled up for each other (rather than in front of the computer tapping away at yelp.com, ostensibly). i invited jake along for the ride, and looked forward to seeing a slew of familiar faces.

traversing through harvard yard on a breezy summer evening like tonight was pure pleasure. all nostalgia, tender familiarity. silent, wise trees saying hello like they've known me for years -- and they have.

any excuse to see the glass flowers is a treat in itself, but the frozen-in-time venue held a precarious balance between an eye-opening collection of animals and a pathetically retro appeal (some taxidermied specimens were so distressed you could see the armature; glass was warped; walls and surfaces were accidentally stained or painted a mustard yellow that hadn't seen the light of day since 1962). even for me, who usually has squeamishness in the negative, the idea of chomping on pork burritos or steak tartare while standing next to a dozen creatures in various stages of fur and formaldehyde was a little disquieting.

one gastronomic and personal highlight: seeing chef marco suarez at the bon savor table, with a most exquisite bacon-wrapped pheasant terrine. (notwithstanding the fact that a brilliantly plumed pheasant, caught in outstretched prostration, was strapped on display in a diorama near the museum's entrance.)

another highlight was getting my eyebrows threaded gratis at the naz kupelian salon booth in the 'mineral hall'. how often do i get my eyebrows done, and do i usually get them waxed or threaded? er... no comment. i take pride in the fact that i'm pretty low-maintenance (and do everything at home as much as possible), but goodness, it always feels good to be groomed upon. if the hair on my head could grow fast enough, and money wasn't an issue, i'd get my coif cut at a salon every day. there's something about the element of transformation, and having your head at the absolute mercy of an artist.

but seriously. thank you, leighann, for organizing this absolutely tamed circus. it was a wonderful event to see everyone in their sunday best, and the array of tasty sponsors amidst a historical institution. plus, we bore witness to a wicked funky air conditioner with ducts and foil that looked like it came out of tomorrowland. that: priceless.

afterward, stopped by upstairs for a chit-chat and zebra-lined comfort. while dipping grilled cheese odds and ends into vats of impossibly creamy tomato soup, i received my mocktail experiment for day 2. matt, in attempt to make something "not so sweet" for me, came up with this, which i adored: mint muddled with lime, shaken with lino's housemade ginger beer, dashed up with peychaud's and fee bros whiskey-aged bitters, and fizzled with a bit of soda water. sensually spicy and mintalicious, and totally refreshing in such a season. shall i bestow the moniker... "jamaican patience"?

though it didn't entail going out, i did maintain the summer-campy cultural experience promised to myself. tonight i unearthed a lot of gems while preparing for my show, sans serif , on wmbr 88.1FM. (listen to the hour-long show in MP3 here). you can recount the playlist for yourself, but what struck the hardest was how modern the work of patrick cowley & jorge socarras sounded, despite its recording in the late 70s. the synthy proto-techno stuff spawned and influenced the likes of depeche mode and lcd soundsystem. they were absolutely artists before their time. though cowley died in 1982, a bunch of tracks of unreleased work from 1976-1979 is being released in the album catholic, which i got the privilege of queueing up tonight.

by the way, some visual evidence surfaced from last sunday's whiskey smash bash at eastern standard. in my natural habitat, of course, washing down pork product with eagle rare. and it feels. so. good.

camp liu-anna-wanna

2009-08-18T01:16:00.007-04:00

i've declared a staycation of sorts. not necessarily the kind where you sit by a hotel pool, dipping your toes idly while reading a dogeared novel, dreaming about the riviera while figuring out what mbta bus route to eventually take back home. but rather one of the emotional getaway, one where i declare summer camp is now: it's my party and i'll macrame if i want to.

so every day this week, i will spend my evenings on something performative and enjoyable--a film, a concert, a furtive harmonium wailing in someone's backyard, whatever--rather than the constant oot and abootness that usually characterizes the liu. not to say i'm not aboot, but doing so as a solo act. it's commitment.

tonight i went to see (500) days of summer at the harvard square cinema, and absolutely adored it. oh, it was heartstring-pulling and teeming with sharply timed dialogue and endless flirtations with the audience that makes it impossible to hate. the acting was impeccably strong on both accounts. and can i please, please, please have summer's pastiched, art-strewn, toile-papered apartment? long-lashed girl has serious, vintage-drips-sex style that's real, yet irresistible. her pants wrinkled after a work day; her face gloriously un-botoxed in a smile; the you-can-draw-on-my-arm candor.

i think what i loved so much is that, watching it, you really get the the-world-can't-be-more-perfect swellings of infatuation and the subsequent burn-and-crash catastrophe of confusion, breakup and constant rumination. i literally felt the rush in my heart, deep and fast, with the grandiose zig and zag of the narrative. a sensation at once intimately familiar and, alternatively, a vicarious deal. this isn't anything new, but for some reason it was especially resonant--perhaps because the protagonists are pretty much of 'my' 'generation'. it unleashes the escalation of anxieties after you finally come to the realization that life only moves forwards, never backwards.

not sure if the director meant this, but in hindsight, it almost seemed like an american version of amelie--in a good way. the artful reinterpretations of tom's perspective in different cinematic modes (the french scenes emphasized this connection). the interplay between reality and fantasy with overlapped graphics; the moment when amelie melts, heartbroken, into a waterfall that splashes dejectedly in the cafe is translated here when tom angrily busts out of summer's rooftop party and disappears at a standstill, black silhouette against a misty void of the city. the recollection of each of the characters' upbringing, with that-explains-it childhood quirks and parallel do-all-things-lead-to-this-fateful-moment framing. also: tom and summer (not to mention amelie) watch a lot of films together. and i imagine many couples in various stages of their relationship are watching (500) days of summer; watch the ripples go!

the ending-ending is endearingly silly, but the end of the '500 days' is extremely moving. my heart still sort of hurts thinking about it. but somehow we all manage to find the strength to say goodbye, get off the bench and prepare for the next day: (1)

in other news, i'm doing a little simultaneous experiment: 7 days of dry. or would that be (7) days? it's the best way to research mocktails, which are totally the new bacon-wrapped cocktail.

after the film, i met up with the lish and some industry people i haven't seen in a while at the bar at clio. todd fixed me up a nameless frothy concoction with raw egg white, lime juice, lemon juice, dash of grenadine, and ginger ale. shaken like crazy and served sans ice in a collins, the foam floated deliciously about halfway down the glass. a sip revealed the drink's bearings as super-fancy version of middle-school prom punch--totally reminiscent of fruity sherbet scooped into a vat of citric soda. kinda fun, kinda sweet, and incidentally fitting right in my grown-up summer camp shtick.

hit me with any and all suggestions for what else i should see, attend, or sip this week in terms of pleasure-seeking. at the moment i may not have a bonfire to toast my s'mores, but impaled food? now that's a given.

the writer's plight in julie & julia

2009-08-16T15:33:00.017-04:00

irony always finds its way to bite.

who would expect that a film depicting everything that i find exasperating, self-absorbed and flash-in-pan-fame about modern media and blog culture would be just the impetus for me to fervently jot down my response online?

more than most, i would only assume.

i had been looking very forward to seeing julie & julia since the frenzy started, from the previews to the screenings to the opening weekend (last) and subsequent film writeups. naturally, being a complete food obsessive and starving-artist writer, i was piqued from the get-go. and despite many opportunities to watch it from last friday on, i kept the suspense so i could watch it with fresh eyes with my friend frank (a classifiably starving artist who chooses to eat exceptionally well) last night at the illuminated-owl lined screening room in the somerville theatre.

to prepare our minds and bellies, we supped at hungry mother, where i always manage to feel, in foolproof measures, better and better with each subsequent visit. seeing duane warmed my heart (the becherovka-laced no. 57 took care of the belly), not to mention learning that alon and rachel just celebrated the birth of their baby daughter, mira. john emerging from the sweltering kitchen in an apron and ear-to-ear grin, jennifer stashing a 40 of miller high life in a brown bag before delivering it to a table, naomi retelling stories with aplomb--such small, yet persistent details contribute to the indescribable pleasure of everyone here, there. everywhere.

chenin blanc, viognier, clams with housemade chorizo and hominy and refreshingly al dente potatoes, baked grits with house smoked bacon and cheddar, a succotash-esque side whose name i don't remember but starts with M and was addictive beyond measure [edit: john helpfully reminds me it's maque choux], swift demitasses of espresso and eager developments in brillet pineau des charentes, meletti anisette and amaro.

it lingers.

so yes, the film. i'll get the obvious bits out: streep is nothing short of incredible. the shots of food elicit gasps and egg-wash-golden murmur-gasms. the husbands are amusing but totally secondary. the stomach-lurching arcs of drama lead gracefully into a rose-colored ending. and, apparently, julia child had an amazing taste in shoes.

but for some reason, i felt especially nonplussed, even indignant, about the julie powell narrative. it came across as extremely narcissistic, and well--yes--a bit disrespectful to the real julia child in her apparently worshipful tribute to her. and despite julie's ambitious project and fervent followship ("i can't let down my readers!"), the questions raised (even explicitly in the film) really didn't have satisfactory answers:

what was the motivation--to make her feel better about her vapid-seeming life or to motivate and equip others with skills and morale? could she herself be her own role model instead of clinging to her projected perfection on a talented, though mortal, figure? if she were so poor, how did she manage to purchase so many ingredients in such a short span of time? was it really that easy to secure a book/media/tv/fame-in-fifteen in less than a year of a sweet, yet small, project? and something that perhaps is beside the point, but crucial nonetheless: perhaps she could weave a tale, but could julie really, actually cook?

though incidentally, i could completely empathize with the phone conversations between her and her mother regarding the blog. (hi mom, i know you're reading this very post, and you probably will call me to laugh and say you're just trying to look out for me. it's cool :)) but having the constant pressure of a fun, perhaps flippant, very public project. having your mom be the only one who, depressingly but supportively, comments. being immediately concerned after misinterpreting a faux-dramatic posting. all that, very true.

i tried to find the seed of my restless annoyance at julie (or at least the one portrayed in the film). she took less than one year of tapping away at an invisible, yet quantifiable audience, whereas julia took major strides in surmounting the sex and class ceilings, had to deal with the thorns of teamwork and constant travel, and took eight painstaking years on a very uncertain project that she, somehow, managed to make certain. that julia is so much greater a respectable artist than julie is obvious, and the juxtaposed stories just made the contrast ever more so.

then again, am i just jealous that julie powell lucked out with all this success as a writer? perhaps. but it also gives dashful hope that doing the right things at the right time, no matter how precarious, can lead to events beyond expectation.

encouragingly, many changes afoot.

anyway, the point is, julia child was a kick-butt rogue and inspiration to all subsequent (and specifically american female) cooks and writers. i mean, just look at her:

and, in indulgent tribute, two drops in the sizzling saute of julia child footage.

fowl ("the CHICKEN SISTERS!") and eggs (with not one, but two pan-flipping demonstrations)

bon appetit!

the touch of summer

2009-08-16T13:54:00.012-04:00

i cannot ask for finer adventures, more gracious friends, the beauty of serendipity and tenacity. in mid-august reflection: you have treated me well, boston, as well as i hope i have treated you.

to wonder.

+ + +

there was adventure.

there was music.

there was mirth.

there were goodbyes.

there was sunshine.

and ... take a wild guess.

and all of it, salt-kissed sweet.

a year later

2009-02-13T21:06:00.002-05:00

no fixed points: many loves flowing--spatially, temporally, spiritually--in flux.

the heart is a lonely hunter, but at least the subsequent venison sausage assuages the pain.

(to be continued.)

the liu is loved

2008-02-17T14:53:00.005-05:00

the light outside today is clear, sunny and sharp as a tack ('she's touring the facility, and picking up slack'...). considering we've had some strange weather days of sno-nados and creepy apocalyptic heat, it's beginning to look a little rosier around here.

after a couple weeks of sore-throating-fatiguing-coughing my brains out, i'm beginning, as well, to see the therapeutic light. i went to the gym today after a long lethargic hiatus, and feel much better, with my training sessions picking up again this week and an impulsive massage super-early on wednesday morning. i can't wait until my trip back to my parents' in maryland, when i go home to get treated like the pwincess i ought to be. ;)

in technical news, my list of clips on my website is synchronized to the latest updates, and my radio show will ~~continue to be aired on tuesdays 7-8pm~~ be changed to thursdays 6-7pm EST starting this week on wmbr (both streaming live online and archived). get dancin'.

the dig's spring style guide will be coming out this wednesday, the 20th, which—with its merch sourcing and model seeking and photo shooting—has been a serious oeuvre of late. i hope everyone will enjoy it.

happy belated valentine's day.

and little black kitty jiji says gorogorogorohellooo...

incomprehensible.

2008-01-27T19:33:00.001-05:00

utterly epic.

last night was one of those unbelievable life experiences, time stopping and racing by at once with friends and strangers and a spectacular feeling of freedom. its instance of sheer glory is only rivaled by only by a few very memorable events, including going insane during guy boratto's live set at metropolis in montreal for mutek 2007 and one life-changing party i attended at harvard co-op. times like this make me remember again why i love boston... i saw so many people i'm met from all sorts of layers in my life: stages as student, editor, outgoing and upright citizen.

emf. unbelievable.

at times when i get itchy to leave the city, somehow boston manages to reel my heart and sentiment right back in. eight years, an investment that's blooming uncontrollably.

i wonder, if at age 18 i saw how my life were to be at age 25, if i would have even believed myself. this is how things have become, how life has recaptured the magic that never seemed possible. it's a wonderful yet vulnerable thing. how much more can i look forward to in the coming years?

hopefully much more than i could ever comprehend. there is so much love, and i can only but embrace it fully.

notable five in 2007: food edition

2008-01-13T16:33:00.000-05:00

a curious last few days: a healthy dose of tummy gratification interspersed with meetups (coincidental and non-) with college friends and a necessary tending-to of the laundry/grocery/clean variety.

saturday afternoon i got to meet the ocean of new, shiny faces that can only belong to the plucky legions we call 'dig interns'. heh. after i came home and showered and creatively (i.e. with the seat of my pants) threw together a deconstructed guacamole out of my last boston organics delivery, my friend sam (of harvard, mit and the requisite array of collegiate asian-american activities) called me up out of the blue to, naturally, eat something delicious. i took advantage of the fact that he has a car (wow, technological breakthrough) so we headed to sichuan gourmet in honey-baked-ham framingham. we drowned our desires for spicy chinese food with the following: a starter cold dish of wood-ear mushrooms (think floppy flowery mushrooms with the soft chewy wet texture of seaweed) tossed gorgeously with scallions, cilantro and tiny slices of small red peppers; heaps of gangou dry-fried fish fillets topped with an amazingly complex chili-oiled mix of green onions, garlic, peppers and fermented black beans; chengdu spicy style lamb with various greens and the most tender (tenderized? fatty? miraculous?) meat i have experienced in recent memory; and soothing sides of shanghainese green vegetables and white rice to balance the stupendous hotttttness happening on the table. there was the requisite nose-blowing, but the flavors were so rich and nuanced along with the spice and not a merely straight-on dumb heat. i'm so glad i got to finally visit one of these places that i usually only read (and drool) about on chowhound. for the next suburban sichuan destination: red pepper!

today has been a smattering of getting some work out of the way, but this morning's straightforward errand-running in davis square had a wonderfully unexpected twist. not only was the weather absolutely stunning (a warmth and light that rarely peeks through at this point in january), i noticed little things usually overlooked (the robbins smoke shop and convenience store which i hope doesnt shut down due to the new cvs; a specifically advertised brand-new timbuk2 bag in the window of goodwill) and i ran into my friend john who i've known since college and is now finishing up his math ph.d. at mit. we always bump into each other out and about in cambridge or somerville, almost always in a cafe where he gets his studying done. even more encouraging, we're now practically somervillian neighbors. small surprising things like this brighten my day in a way that few things do. i may have lived in boston for an insane amount of time (i'm on my 8th year, folks), but small-town coincidences like this never get old.

ok, i'll stop with the unicorns and rainbows now.

(just kidding.)

i meant to go running but now the sky is dark and i'm a bit paranoid since i dont have reflective gear. i can has gym session monday morning? the kickboxing bootcamp i signed up for begins this week, so see you soon with my sick, sweaty PYTHONS and fierce, twichy jabs. :)

alright, without further ado, here are yummy things from 2007. (i never specified *which* weekend i'd update my notable picks, which supposedly should mitigate my embarrassment at being tardy...)

#1: everything at o ya

tristan and i died and went to heaven at our wonderfully luxurious meal here, overwhelmed by the sheer amount of detail that went into the food and how much complexity could be squeezed into such concentrated bites. it's an upscale modern japanese "tavern" with small plates, the precious prices and wonderful sake sommeliering juxtaposed with a modest location and beach boys on the muzak. we had only but a few plates from the lengthy, dense menu, but the ones i remember most vividly are the chanterelle and shiitake sashimi and an uni-topped mound of deliciousness. i hope that we can experience this restaurant at least once during 2008... it's an undeniable splurge but extremely, fittingly so.

#2: paired cheese with cocktails at no 9 park

i apologize for the total lack of detail regarding this occasion (i wasn't taking notes, surprisingly) but it still was extremely notable and begs for a return investigation. john gertsen, bar manager at the moneyed no 9 keeps it real on tuesday and saturday evenings, eager to share philosophies behind his newest concoctions and veritable history lessons on the classics. we were enjoying some of seasonal cocktails and the restaurant's resident cheese expert came out with an array of cheeses matched specially to "pair well with our cocktails." she explained each one, the names and origins which escape me now, but the cheeses were like nothing i had ever had before: one unbelievably saturated with nutty walnut undertones; another with a rind immersed in red wine; and the third insanely rich and creamy. it was remarkable to try them in tandem, a pairing of flavor profiles that never even occured to me before. no 9 park is also a rare, occasional splurge (even when not eating) but this experience truly blew my mind.

#3: red beet salad and endives with soft goat cheese at petit robert bistro

even for the couple times i've actually dined at this restaurant, i love the french atmosphere and truly authentic dishes (e.g. andouillette or tripes provençales). also, the basket of bread (allegedly imported from montreal) is incredible. this particular occasion was the last class of the language course i was taking at the french library, so we could practice our conversation in a real-world environment. although the restaurant's not particular cher i didnt want to spend too much on dinner, so i decided on just this salad (after my aperitif of lillet blanc, bien sur). i wish i had a real photograph of the dish, because the composition of the salad was surprisingly chic, with layers of ruby, white, and green melding beautifully--both visually and on the tongue. tangy chevre paired with beety earthiness and bitter endives, not to mention the melange of textures (plump, crisp, creamy) transfixing my smitten thoughts.

#4: curry mee soup at penang

because of the dig's proximity to chinatown, at least in the cooler months i almost always go there for lunch for a hearty bowl of noodle soup. i rotate between pho pasteur, pho hoa, suishaya, and penang most frequently, but i will never forget the day i tried the curry mee. (i even called my mom because it was such a revelation). Description reads: "Rice & egg noodle with eggplant, bitter melon & tofu stuffed with minced fish served in a clear chicken broth or spicy curry broth." but it's so much more... i wax a bit more eloquently in my year-end soup roundup in the dig.

#5: truffled polenta logs at the savant project

you can't eat too many of these, or else one might become physically more a log than desired, but it's a worthy challenge of restraint. i never really was a polenta enthusiast, but these things truly turned me around. mission hill's sharp newcomer savant project serves their signature finger-shaped wads of crisp, fried cheesy polenta infused with the unmistakable essence of truffle, to be dipped into a glassful of creamy decadence. you sigh, dip, and sigh some more. the classy fragrant snackers get their own little shoutout in the savant project's review in the dig.

honorable mentions: the tiny perfect burger at dante, the jamaican jerk chicken sandwich at red bones, brunchy things at renee's cafe, the one perfect rib at east coast grill, nuclear tacos at sxsw, clams + chorizo at casa portugal, kobe hamburger at squealing pig, the list goes on...

yummmmmmiez. please tell me other things i can't bear to miss out on!

i'm sure all this eating is making you thirsty, so upcoming: notable five in the libationary category!

notable five in 2007: home decor + design edition

2008-01-04T16:54:00.001-05:00

yippee with an extra two sparkle stars: my website is finally transferred over (with thanks to nick for putting up with my technological fuss), so now i can actually edit the pages with more up-to-date information. wow, i am so getting used to this internet thing. ;) relevant content, here i come...

although i'm not one to change my profile photo on facebook every weekend (i think mine still stems from fall 2006), it's good to give a good fresh start to things after a good while, lest one ends up like the ageless marilyn vos savant.

scary.

anyway, let's get on with the 2007 notables. i absolutely hate moving and try to minimize stuffffffffff, but it's amazing how much small, well-designed objects can make a significant impact on living. (not to mention sleeping and eating and breathing and...)

#1: ingenuiTEA teapot from adagio teas (gift from mom)

call me paranoid, but it seriously took me a good ten minutes to poke around and actually put utter faith in its workings. how, indeed, would it know when to brew quietly with no chance for spillage, and when to eject its tea-leaf-infused waters into a waiting vessel? the last thing i wanted was a kitchen countertop glazed in boiling water, but of course my worries were all for naught. this thing is MAGIC. my former methods such as tea balls or blank tea bags for loose tea seemed so quaint compared to this system... you just brew, place the thing on a cup, watch the tea get 'peed' from the pot (seriously, i can't think of any other metaphor); the leaves are left inside to enjoy 2nd or 3rd brewings. the tea spurts into mugs, my media lab pint glass, whatever cups are lying around. only caveat: you can't use it on wide-mouthed mugs. but otherwise, it's a fantastic little tool.

#2: tangiers tile sheet set from urban outfitters

i rotate two sheet sets throughout my sleeping/laundering patterns, and one set sourced from when i was in college (i think i bought it secondhand too; you can go 'ew' now) was really looking worse for wear. ergo, time for a replacement to supplement my neutral ikea sheets. i've never indulged in such graphic sheet sets (i've been tempted, but i always dread the less expensive ones will be itchy or thin), but these were on sale at urban. so i made the plunge. and now i relish in my favorite color, bright green, as it cocoons me all night! luckily, they've surpassed my humble expectations and are putting up with use quite nicely.

#3: silicone zone strainer from target

i have the red one, and the soft silicone allows it to smoosh flat. which means, of course, the better to squish it in the jumbly pots and pans cabinet, flattened against the lids or wedged in a lonely corner. the bright color and rubbery texture make straining pasta and veggies that much more fun (sad but true); it wins alone on a tangible level, but the collapsible form is supernice.

#4: totoro plush susa-atari from tokai (gift from tristan)

this gets a warm-fuzzy prize of tenderness; tristan gave this to me on our first datey kind of night (although i suppose officially we were still friends) as we got gussied up for an unparalleled dinner at o ya, followed by a chill-out session at les zyg. a leather district fantasy, one might say. but this little fur ball on a suction cup makes my days a little brighter, as he hangs out on a window or any glossy surface in my bedroom. now he greets me in the mirror every morning in his curious and black-foofy way.

#5: kitchenaid citrus juicer from target

although i would kill for an antique cast-iron juicer (it'll come in time), this gadget's been super handy for extracting juice from fresh lemons, limes and oranges, and the shiny chrome surface not only is handsome and easy to clean, it matches perfectly with my classic stainless steel boston shaker. it's not the most efficient thing for, say, making a gallon of lemonade, but for cocktails and marinades and desserts it does the extraction deed with solid performance.

so, perhaps this edition was not so glamourous, but i have all the respect for intelligent industrial design. (and how!)

coming up this weekend: notable dishes eaten in boston (or otherwise) in 2007! i'll give you a hint: at least one is spicy :)

we're halfway there

2008-01-03T13:28:00.000-05:00

woooooooAOOAAAAAAAAHHHHHH LIVIN' ON A PRAYER!

www.cmliu.com is up and at 'em while cmliu.com seems to be having the sniffles. patience and kind words and the occasional latte might be what the doctor ordered.

cmliu.com is getting some "work" "done"

2008-01-03T11:10:00.001-05:00

no cause for alarm (just yet); i'm switching my website, cmliu.com, to another server (yippee! it's been about time to cut my umbilical cord from ye olde alma mater). though the site's out of commission right now, wayward issues should be cleared up by the end of the day.

i'll just pretend that all the kids at joker.com look like this:

notable five in 2007: beauty and skincare edition

2008-01-02T21:40:00.000-05:00

ok, so i pretty much use the same cosmetic regime again and again, but i do have to confess that 'routine' doesnt always mean 'mundane.' (just pretend those two words rhyme in your head.)

here we go...

notable five things in 2007 new to christine's beauty + skincare regime

#1: cleanser from earth science

so i've done everything from neutrogena to shu uemura cleansing oils and back. i tried earth science's formula on a lark when it was on sale on whole foods (at which i'm not necessarily a diehard fan), and it turned out to be the best cleanser for my skin in a long, long time. i tend to break out here and there, but peeling skin is not my idea of a walk in the park. this cleanser has definitely helped me clear up, yet keep a balance and lasts for a while without breaking the bank. you can purchase it from whole foods to cambridge naturals, and at least for me, it's a true-to-form investment. i don't think i can go back to anything out there, at least just yet. i'm sensitive yet oily, and this has been a lifesaver.

#2: facial moisturizer with spf 15 from earth science

so i've gotten on the moisturizer bandwagon, doing it religiously morning and night. however, this has been the best so far in the spf + moisture category, since it goes on light and doesn't leave a film afterwards. it doesn't get weird if i start sweating or put on makeup or anything (you know the ones that ball up or discolor or go completely SNAFU when you layer it, right?). it may be because it's the same manufacturer of my cleanser, but whatever the case, it does the duty well and good. i tried many a spf-moisturizer combination and gotten burned so many times. this, again, is my salvation.

#3: h.i.p. cosmetics from l'oreal

i've realized, both from traveling overseas and talking with people who've worked from the international corporation (hi, matt!) that l'oreal is a serious brand that pretty much got short-changed in the US. everywhere else in the world, it's a luxury department store brand to be reckoned with; but here in the US, it's a battle against everything else in CVS. the h.i.p. eye shadow pairings are nothing less but genius, and they stand the testament against the urban plight. namely, they are intense for a long period of time. plus, the products are just as good as shu uemura (at least on the surface; they have the same motherbrand) and a million times cheaper (i still love you, shu!) not to mention, beyoncé and scarlett johannsen have been pretty smokin' spokesmodels.

#4: vincent longo velvet riche rejuvenating lipstick in 'dakota red'

i don't do it often, but when i do, it's fierce. *red*. i got this for free at some gift-baggy sort of event, but i've held onto this tightly as it gives a girl some imminent danger. a blue-ish red goes better for me than a brick or orange-y kind of tint; i feel drawn to it when either holidays or diffcult times come upon me. war paint, it is determined.

#5: TIE: lumene arctic touch exfoliating cleansing cream from cvs and laura mercier's oil-free foundation from beauty and main

so the exfoliator has really been an uplifting aspect of 2007, but i fear that it has been discontinued in the beauty line for CVS. as a finnish company, it really has the natural-beauty-euro-cleansing luxury to it, but the arctic touch line is awesome because you really fantastize about lying in a hottub in scandanavia as you spread the cloudberry extract all over your face. it's not too rough, but still gives a good scrub; the blue color and delicious scent really make it worth your while. i would give a thumbs up to the rest of line, at least for its natural/scientific skincare bent.

laura mercier's foundation has been steadfast throughout the harsh boston winter, tempering my shine without going overboard on the skin-drying. i feel flush and happy, versus matte and ghastly, and as long as i apply with a sponge (as instructed) i think that i'll look lovely and natural as long as this vanilla-beige bottle follows through.

yaaaaaay.

coming up tomorrow: notable five in home decor and design!

notable five in 2007: wardrobe edition

2008-01-01T22:40:00.001-05:00

lots of quality time snoozing in bed could be seen as a good way to start off the year. (not to mention a tidy plate of toast, eggs, and ketchuppy home fries.)

to jump start 2008, let's revisit a few choice items in cmliu-land in 2007, shall we? the next few entries will be going down the notable five in various categories that are completely subjective and as fickle as the fingers that type it so. it'll span everything from eats and drinks to homeware design, from live concerts to books and articles. but today, in perfectly materialist form, will be...

notable five things in 2007 new to christine's wardrobe

those who know me can attest that my inventory is modest (i tend to work creative rotations of layerable pieces from h+m and tall boots), and my means ever more so (writers aren't especially equipped to coup any semblance of medium- or high-end design), but i'm happy that i've managed to collect a few items of pride. i'm always trying to follow the dictum to acquire few pieces of high quality instead of many pieces of low quality. for the sake of sartorial sanity, i think i've done a bang up job.

#1: charcoal 'maid in form' bag by tano, special ordered from lunaboston

it took me forever and a half to find a replacement for my former do-everything-everywhere shoulder bag, a black canvas zip-top number by ordning & reda that i got in vienna a few summers ago. with a tall list of requirements (big enough to hold the latest issue of new york magazine plus a sweater, not so big that it becomes a bother, a zipper top is a MUST HAVE, has to go from daytime to evening, needs to last through constant beating, etc) it seemed i would never find something that fit both my lifestyle and my budget. (have you seen the pricetags at barney's? it's painful.) but tano, with its sumptuous leathers and quality handiwork, seemed to fit the bill. oh, what agony in the process of choosing exactly which model from the collection, but it seems like this duo-pocketed one is faring just fine :)

#2: amp eyewear from eye-q

to supplement my (currently needs to get repaired) 'upside-down' frames, i managed to finagle a new set of eyeglasses from eye-q. both designs are in-house makes, so if you're dying to get some of your own, call up the boys at the boston eyewear shop. i spent a lot of my years in the past wearing contacts, but nothing beats the instant incognito powers of bold frames. not to say they dont get foggy or smudgy from time to time, but in terms of ease and remembrance, i wouldn't ever give up my specs.

#3: rachel comey dress from stel's

the crew at stel's get a gold star, not only for putting up with our barging into their store and fondling pretty much all the merchandise almost every weekend. but i knew karma would come around, and i managed to score the perfect dress for holiday parties (and year-round fanciness), plus tailoring perfection for a chic petite fit. the puckered texture is at once comforting and avant-garde, and the pockets come in handy for stashing top-secret items.

#4: knit wrap vest pullover by hoss intropia from stil

i can't explain it, but this thing is awesome. patterned lambswool knit makes one snug as a huggable slug, especially layered over a slim dress from american apparel or over a tee and jeans. it's a very particular piece (a bit of coordination and thought has to accompany its wearing) but i relish its unique construction.

#5: helena alto lace-ups by camper

so i must admit i was a staunch opposer of the whole ankle bootie trend; i thought they made women's legs look stumpy and were a bear to pull off properly. however, these beauties seduced me despite their suspicious bootie silhouette, but the open front and laces pulled a girly (and elongated) spin, upon which i forgave the whole business entirely. a complete splurge for sure, and i'm lucky if i find an occasion to wear them once a week (or month), but i'm all for comfort in heels (they've worn in nicely) and an unexpected bit of sass. (p.s. you can also see a cute view of them from the front at camper's autumn/winter preview)

coming up tomorrow: notable five in beauty and skincare!

bliuberry turnovers

2007-12-31T15:08:00.000-05:00

i look to my right and 2008 is right there, waiting patiently.

and in terms of blogging, ever so.

but there i was in the early bits of the year, whisked into the spectacular world of (gasp) writing for living and finding myself with less and less time to type for myself rather than for research, clips, articles, reviews. that was the logic, anyway; when i was a student, blogging was excellent thesis procrastination (especially if it had to do with shoes, all things kawaii, or cashmere). now i stand, dazed, in the midst of a life that i only once dreamt, writing about fashion, food, and culture around the clock. i couldn't ask for anything more from 2007.

(except perhaps meeting the one who makes me smile everyday. that was a bonus.)

december leaves us in the fleeting wake of warm memories. surprises at the radio station. belting out our best at karaoke. petting cats. sipping belle de brillet. playing fashion police on a back bay balcony. late nights in central square and finding ourselves once again at green street grill. gear wenching and people watching. lazy afternoons at minot beach. disassembling an ikea wardrobe and other heavy-lifting activities. harassing the people and pets at stel's. ice cream despite the tears. stupid sneakers. dj dunkies.

and the holidays mean looking like this on the outside

yet feeling this way on the inside :)

i'm already happy, healthy (thanks girls) and always up for an adventure. yet as resolutions go, here's to better writing (online and otherwise), better loving, and altogether trusting myself to do anything i put my mind to.

happy liu year's, everyone.

christine's writing clips

2007-12-30T15:54:00.070-05:00

*UPDATED DEC 18, 2008*

the ongoing list of web-accessible writing clips by christine liu:

2008.12.18 the sweet smell of success
2008.10.23 plume crazy [+ photo gallery]
2008.09.18 he's got you covered, from '80s fashion to '60s music to film: shawn cotter, trendsetter
2008.07.31 at vegas expo, it's shoetime
2008.07.10 ramped up, decked out, ready to roll: john nichols, trendsetter
2008.07.10 pampering your pets in style [+ photo gallery]
2008.06.26 this summer, go posh or penny-wise
2007.12.27 unique couture is a call to auction [+ photo gallery]

2008.12.08 give paws: 2008 winter pet guide
2008.12.05 ray of light: munstre lightboxes
2008.11.17 knit picking: lara kazan sweaters
2008.11.07 milking it: cafe fixe coffeehouse opens
2008.11.03 the crying game: crocodile tears jewelry
2008.10.29 queen bee: design hive market starts saturday
2008.10.24 she's crafty: bead + fiber: gallery and craft shop opens
2008.10.17 get a round: circle restaurant opens
2008.10.16 the weekend guide: what to do this weekend
2008.10.10 get your jollies: jollybike dutch bicycles
2008.10.06 fine herbs: erbaluce restaurant opens
2008.10.02 the weekend guide: what to do this weekend
2008.09.30 soap opera: stella marie soap company
2008.09.23 i'll be damed: dame vintage fitting and styling
2008.09.22 in distress: prps jeans for girls
2008.09.19 victorian secret: lauren blais jewelry
2008.09.04 writing on the wall: chalk home gallery-cum-store opens
2008.08.27 about time: circa vintage store opens
2008.08.14 the weekend guide: what to do this weekend
2008.07.18 pint size: the beer garden at charlie's kitchen opens
2008.07.15 feed your mind, and the rest will follow: market in the square food store opens
2008.07.14 hot flash: p.m.s. dj nights at good life
2008.07.01 your dogs are barkin': espeso pet boutique opens
2008.06.11 hamming it up: estragon opens
2008.06.02 tripping the light with plastic: tupp-a-lamps
2008.05.27 you frontin'?: front home store opens
2008.05.05 get the thrift: the alter eco consignment boutique opens
2008.05.02 money in the bank: claw money tank tops
2008.04.30 beer and now: publick house provisions opens
2008.04.15 cheap date: ten deals for $10 (sourcing credit)
2008.04.02 independent day: oak craft boutique opens
2008.03.31 choc-a-bloc: aroa fine chocolate opens
2008.03.28 brewed awakening: timeless teas seminars
2008.03.12 wilde childe: feral childe
2008.02.22 sweet breads: citrio catering & provisions co. opens
2008.02.15 i came, i raw, i conquered: grezzo opens
2008.02.13 kick it: concepts opens
2008.01.30 beauty and the geek: seamless computational couture
2008.01.07 hey, neighbor: highland kitchen
2007.12.12 animal crackers: a pet ahead
2007.11.27 shabby chic: vintage pillows by hudson
2007.11.26 on a french roll: la voile opens
2007.11.21 sharper image: 379 club
2007.11.12 it's in the male: robert geller
2007.11.05 footloose and fancy free: quoddy trail footwear
2007.11.02 twice as nice: michelle willey and vessels gallery
2007.10.19 say your prayers: church opens
2007.10.09 teas me: 2nd cup cafe opens
2007.10.03 great finnish: samu-jussi koski at marimekko
2007.10.02 put it on ice: icelandic foods hit boston
2007.09.18 just the artifacts: reliquiae
2007.08.13 do the math: davis squared boutique
2007.08.06 snack that: fun food snackery

2008.03 Afternoon Delights: Skip tired sandwich platters in favor of inspired in-office sustenance from these full-service caterers
2008.02 Raising the Wine Bar: The Other Side Café creates a vino list with a conscience

2008.05 Beer Wares: Fiscalini Farmstead Hopscotch Scotch Ale Cheddar, Bass Brolly, 300 Bears to Try Before You Die! by Roger Protz
2008.04 Beer Wares: Wheeler's Black Label Vegan Ice Cream; The Book of Beer Knowledge: Essential Wisdom for the Discerning Beer Drinker by Jeff Evans; Glasi Hergiswil Pilsner Glass
2008.03 Beer Wares: Grape vs. Grain by Charles Bamforth, Zen and the Art of Cooking Beer-Can Chicken by Cary Black, Keg Stool
2008.02 Beer Wares: Official Beer Glove, The Best of American Beer & Food: Pairing & Cooking with Craft Beer by Lucy Saunders, The Cure: the After-Drinking Drink
2007.12 Beer Wares: BACTRACK Breathalyzer, Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer, Beer Mug Candles
2007.11 Beer Wares: The Perfect Beaker, Geeky Tees, Countertop Beer Cooler and Tap
2007.10 Beer Wares: Widmer Brothers online games, LittleEarth beer cap belts, Louis Pasteur's Studies on Fermentation
2007.09 Beer Wares: The Beerbelly, Arrive Alive, Bottle Popper

2008.12.03 [feature] Kiddie Kroakers: The 16th Annual Dangerous Toys List
2008.11.26 [eats] Rachel Klein: Your job's to eat. Her job? Way harder.
2008.11.19 [eats] DIY Thanksgiving: These personal chefs advise beyond cranberry-in-a-can
2008.11.12 [feature] Dig This! Awards 2008: Bombs away!
2008.11.12 [eats] Squirts till the dirts: School gardens flourish through CitySprouts
2008.11.12 [words] French Milk: by Lucy Knisley
2008.11.05 [words] Andrew Rimas: Does have a cow, man
2008.10.22 [eats] Tavolo: Where Nonna's kitchen meets fabulous warm-fuzzy
2008.10.15 [eats] Dinner and a move: Snack before shimmying
2008.10.15 [feature] Kyle Brandse: Gets awesome (fall club guide)
2008.10.08 [eats] Team orts: Beyond chips and Cracker Jack
2008.09.17 [eats] Like a shot to the heart: Hunters and gatherers, it's time to eat (fall dining guide)
2008.09.10 [eats] It's the great pumpkin!: A zillion renditions of fall's favorite gourd
2008.09.03 [news] The unofficial 2008 college handbook: how, where and wtf: How to buy
2008.09.03 [eats] The Boston burrito index: little donkeys everywhere!
2008.08.20 [style] The new adventures of flashion: Heroic dress cues (fall fashion guide)
2008.08.13 [style] Sock it to me: Jan Willett helms the zoo at MonkeyShineStudio
2008.07.30 [style] Artifaktori: We've got it made
2008.07.23 [feature] Good Bostonians: Mimi Graney, Margaret Williams
2008.07.23 [eats] Dinner and a movie: Film nights at the bar make for eat-in theater
2008.07.09 [style] Bag that thang up: Carry on, carry on
2008.07.09 [eats] Scampo: Shire raises the bar -- incidentally, behind them
2008.07.09 [feature] Summer travel: staycation! Wish you were here -- oh, wait. You are.
2008.06.25 [eats] Aye aye, kernel!: Veg out and meat up with the Dig's summer dining guide
2008.06.18 [style] Suneri Boutique: Local booty of global beauty
2008.06.11 [commerce] Latex loves: Global Protection keeps you covered
2008.06.04 [style] Hear, hear! Block your drums from the sound and the fury
2008.06.04 [green] A roots touch-up: Gearing up for Bikes Not Bombs' annual fest
2008.06.04 [eats] A filling with the Toothaches: Pop band's dinner proves anti-scurvy, anti-scrawny
2008.05.28 [commerce] Of graphic nature: Drawing mass appeal at Hub Comics
2008.05.21 [style] Sugar hi: Futzing with ice cream makes us melt
2008.05.21 [summer preview] Get wet! 50 fluid-inspired summer fun activities
2008.05.14 [green] Bicycle Benefits: Pedal your way to awesome free stuff
2008.05.14 [eats] Hungry Mother: Open wide for an uncanny spunk du Sud
2008.05.07 [commerce] Holy spokes: Freewheelin' with the Dutch Bicycle Company
2008.05.07 [shop] Felix Doolittle: Throw out your toaster oven: Fu's illustrated papers warm hearts faster
2008.05.07 [drinks] Boston shakers: Toasting the broads of LUPEC
2008.04.30 [shop] Smells like Tom of Finland: Homoerotica in a bottle at Motley
2008.04.30 [green] To Market, To Market: Nose-to-nose with the source at Vela
2008.04.30 [defyo] Defend Yourself! Katy Childs, co-owner of Silvertone
2008.04.23 [profile] Meating—he's doinitrite: Chewing the fat with Kevin Healy
2008.04.23 [green] Haley House Bakery Cafe: Fortifyng teh city, one muffin @ a tiem
2008.04.23 [eats] I can has cheezburger?: Hunger. I has it.
2008.04.16 [style] The Youthful Stylings of Kooter Brown: Don't worry—it'll only shirt a little
2008.04.16 [shop] Shake the Tree: Goodies staple replants in North End
2008.04.16 [eats] Winging it: Four fixes for the chicken-lickin' craving
2008.04.02 [letter] Dear Reader: Letter from the editor
2008.04.02 [feature] The Boston cocktail party: New England lore deserves a tipple or two
2008.04.02 [style] Oak, aye! Handiwork gets a home at Back Bay boutique
2008.04.02 [shop] Brix on Broad: Message in the bottles
2008.04.02 [green] Join the Soda-Club: It's time to get a little gassy
2008.04.02 [eats] Face time: When the going gets rough, the rough eat at the bar
2008.04.02 [drinks] Brains: shaken, stirred
2008.03.26 [style] Cocoa channel: Aroa Fine Chocolate arrives
2008.03.26 [shop] Heavy metal: Bicoastal jewelry rocks out at Topaz
2008.03.26 [green] Party poop: Natural fertilizer Wormjava starts from the ground up
2008.03.19 [style] Curtain call: The dying art of the photo booth
2008.03.19 [shop] Scrubya: Suds for your Bush
2008.03.19 [eats] Lost in Austin: A tiny taste of Texas mess
2008.03.19 [drinks] Chillin' like a Brazilian: Cachaça brightens any day
2008.03.12 [drinks feature] Sibling Rivalry: 5 drink minimum
2008.03.12 [style] Up in smoke: Cancer sticks get a whole lot sweeter
2008.03.12 [green] tranSglass: Hope in a bottle
2008.03.12 [eats] Vee Vee: The fresh, friendly bee's knees in JP
2008.03.12 [music] Mia Doi Todd: Contextual healing
2008.03.05 [style] Shoetube: Oh, my God, shoes.
2008.03.05 [shop] Moore Massage: The knead for speed
2008.03.05 [green] Green house effect: The walls have cheers
2008.02.27 [shop] In the fold: Paper gets props for leap day
2008.02.27 [green] Truth and beauty: Slather like it matters
2008.02.20 [letter] Dear Reader: Letter from the editor
2008.02.20 [style] Tipping our hats: The Dig flips its lid on spring style
2008.02.13 [style] ScientificMatch: Smellementary, my dear
2008.02.13 [eats] An Offal Romance: Love with all of your heart, tongue, tripe ...
2008.02.13 [drinks] Aphrodrinksiacs
2008.02.06 [style] Snowboarder Patrol: Dope on a slope
2008.02.06 [eats] Dim Sum Death Match: Last bun standing
2008.01.30 [style] Sunshine in a Box: Conquer bi-solar disorder
2008.01.30 [dvds] Indoor funtime: Ten TV-On-DVD Boxes for Cabin Fever
2008.01.23 [style] Make Me Sustainable: Saving the earth one pixel at a time
2008.01.16 [style] A Fine Piece of Workout: Snap into a slim gym
2008.01.16 [feature] Sweat Dreams: Four fitness formulas designed to swiftly kick your ass
2008.01.09 [style] Boston Coasters: See the city differently... like under your beer
2008.01.09 [eats] Highland Kitchen: Gastropub oozes comfort all over
2007.12.26 [style] Brush Up: It’s time for a change—no really, it is
2007.12.26 [eats] Super Bowls: Use your noodle wisely
2007.12.26 [eats] Eating New Year’s Eve: Plethora of prix-fixe parties
2007.12.26 [drinks] Grape Expectations: Wine down with The Second Glass
2007.12.19 [eats] Haru Sushi: Stylish bites sometimes worth battling yuppies over
2007.12.12 [style] Jeffrey Fournier: Please don't eat the art
2007.12.12 [eats] South End, Morning After: The lust for butter is no more apparent
2007.12.12 [arts] Zhang Daqian: Homeboy is dishonest, though redeemably so
2007.12.05 [style] Coat of Arms: And other body parts you’d prefer to keep warm
2007.12.05 [drinks] Dante: It’s gettin’ hot in here
2007.12.05 [def yo] John McCrea of Cake
2007.12.05 [dvds] Holiday Unclassics: Muppet Christmas Carol
2007.11.28 [commerce] Like Father, Like Surger: Guinness goes new-fangled for an old-school pour
2007.11.21 [commerce feature] Gift Guide: under $25, $25-50, $50-100, $100-200, $200-500, over $500
2007.11.14 [eats feature] Throw Down a Happy Holiday: Unleash the party, animals
2007.11.07 [style] Off the Map: Be slightly less likely to get lost
2007.11.07 [eats] Eastern Not So Standard: An offal experience with Chef Marco Suarez
2007.11.07 [arts] Félix González-Torres: A gold-flecked fantasy of oceanic candy
2007.10.31 [style] Brother Cleve: Philosophically inclined to dance, discover and drink well
2007.10.31 [drinks feature] Church: 5 drink minimum
2007.10.31 [dvds] Ratatouille: Cooking digital rodents
2007.10.24 [style] Art Flambée: Wads of wax to light up your life
2007.10.24 [def yo] Dominique Keegan of The Glass
2007.10.24 [dvds] Casshern: Myopic dystopia
2007.10.17 [commerce] Ca$hing in on AuctionPAL: Selling your shit online just got a little easier
2007.10.17 [words] Andreas Viestad: Stomachs summoned by the spice whisperer
2007.10.10 [style] Barbershoppin': That razor's real sharp, son
2007.10.10 [eats] Mission: Imbibable: Three nights of flights for the wine-drinking ninja
2007.10.03 [eats feature] An Edible Compendium from A to Z: 'Tis not a curse, to bestow in verse
2007.09.26 [style] Tobias Wong: Helping art lovers shit glitter since 1998
2007.09.26 [eats] The Savant Project: Thoughtful, earnest food is a no-brainer
2007.09.19 [eats] Fall Eats + Drinks: Stuff yourself with restaurant influx
2007.09.19 [arts] Fall Arts: Get cozy with culture
2007.09.12 [eats] Christopher Myers: On blogs, crazed Asians and noisy, noisy nights
2007.09.12 [drinks] Lycheers! Rethinking the pink drink
2007.09.05 [style] Hit Me with Your Best Shot: Adjust your glasses
2007.09.05 [feature] MIT: schooled
2007.09.05 [feature] The Cambridge School of Culinary Arts: Plan B!
2007.09.05 [eats] The Boston Slice Index: Gooey slivers of love courtesy of your local pizza joint
2007.09.05 [arts] MIT's Student Loan Art Program: Sure beats that Belushi poster
2007.08.29 [drinks] 100% Organic Spirits: Getting buzzed the way nature intended
2007.08.22 [commerce] Jana Eggers: Spreadshirt CEO, triathlete and big-time geek
2007.08.22 [eats] Grilled Sandwiches: Toast just done went and grew up
2007.08.15 [style feature] Fall Style Guide: Because naked is so last season
2007.08.08 [style] Pick-up Sticks: Your ramen doesn't stand a chance
2007.08.08 [feature] Ilene Bezahler: Owner, publisher and editor of Edible Boston
2007.08.08 [feature] Misty Kalkofen: Bar manager at Green Street Grill
2007.08.08 [drinks] Beer Cocktails: Experience a brewed awakening
2007.08.01 [style] Lookin' Good: Blind and def
2007.08.01 [eats] Fermented Foods: Work that tang like it ain’t no thang
2007.08.01 [music] Booka Shade: Make requests at your own peril
2007.07.25 [style] It's Raining (meh): When God cries, you won’t
2007.07.25 [music] DJ /rupture: Your booty is on his to-do list
2007.07.18 [drinks] The Tease of Riesling: No mo’ hatin’ on this grape

+ + a million other articles i have yet to link up

+ view supplement for less recent fare

trading places

2007-08-01T10:28:00.001-04:00

christine has officially transplanted herself from cambridge into somerville.

emotional ties to extensions of self, severed and strengthened. neat, scattered, a melting sort.

i am so happy, but so tired.

2007-07-27T10:33:00.000-04:00

this morning, as the sun blazed down upon the city, i felt the rays warm my skin. another layer of tanned cells, the deep heat. as i hustled down my usual walking route down to the subway, i saw a couple strolling down the sidewalk, the boy embracing his companion with one hand, holding an umbrella overhead with the other. as seen very often in asia where people use umbrellas (or specially designed light-colored ones) to shelter their faces from the sun, he cast her smiling face under their personal, totable shade. the health of pale, smooth, unwrinkled skin.

to witness this tender moment, a mutual protection from the elements. a slight throwback to the antiquated parasol-stylin' days of yore. history is still in the making. romance still lives, with or without a drugstore mass-manufactured umbrella. they looked very happy.

on another topic entirely, a fishytini (rimmed with scales! wouldn't that be pretty?) isn't too from the far reaches of one's imagination. introduced at the 2007 fancy food show, the new product from boston-based luvli juices, mega beet (an "all-natural vegetable + anti-oxidant juice drink blend"), is a bottle of beet juice fortified with fish oils (anchovy, sardine, and tilapia, to be exact) for a ravishing dose of omega-3. they're looking out for our health, god bless 'em, but something about drinking a mélange of fish oils (rather than taking oil capsules, which already kind of leave a slight fishy tang on an empty stomach) makes me kind of feel awkward. perhaps i'm not ready for the future of experimental fortification. although, you can feed me some super-smelly-with-anchovy pasta puttanesca anytime, please.

peppy press release here, along with gag reflexes at epicurious,

fish on the beet! FISH ON THE BEET!

p.s. thank you to those who actually still listen to my radio show, sans serif on wmbr 88.1fm. on this week's playlist, there's a dj /rupture tribute, of sorts. will i see you dancing at the bouncement 2 show this saturday? will you see me?

2007-07-24T00:32:00.000-04:00

why i love summer

1. runaway excuses for barbeque

2. sunny, breezy readings on the porch

3. bountiful produce in local farmers markets

4. getting paid to eat (and write about) delicious things

5. escaping to the beach

2007-07-04T14:39:00.000-04:00

declare independence!
don't let them do that to you!
declare independence!
don't let them do that to you!

with a flag and a trumpet
go to the top of your highest mountain!

raise your flag! higher, higher!

2007-07-02T23:54:00.000-04:00

tonight i purchased a bottle of blood orange bitters.

i don't know what i'll do with it, but it seemed appropriately paired with orange, bitter blood. shaken so well that my ice-cubes disappeared.

(this is cooling.)

p.s. well, perhaps this. that. local.

p.p.s. where do they stock the complicated syrup?

2007-07-02T00:57:00.000-04:00

there are so many sources of happiness. like trickles into that great damning mouth of sustenance. i've created and destroyed and sustained... with particles of sand still sticking to skin, despite a week's worth efforts. tanned arms giving it away. glasses of cognac, unclaimed, oysters drowning in neglect. unseen efforts; does consumption claim its worth?

argyle, at least 30 years of warmth. leathers and wools and lines and angles and... and... and acknowledgement. can 30 days mean just as much?

an afternoon of constructed pleasures, a sugared distraction. frantic fingers. digital dabblings. inexplicable productivity. unexpected companies.

deflection of monstrosities and redemption for my choosings.

2007-07-01T02:02:00.000-04:00

i am so, so sorry. i wish i knew exactly how to be.

2007-05-18T00:22:00.001-04:00

ever so palpable.

2007-05-08T11:20:00.000-04:00

i have plenty of NEW(s).

last night's sans serif is primed and ready for your aural receivings. i abused björk's spankin' new full release, volta, with great pleasure. the plink-plonk of min xiao-fen on the pipa puts i see who you are at the lip of my heaving wonts.

this weekend was spent gloriously, bathed in sunshine, sidewalk skedaddles and noodle splurpage. arms entwined with a co-conspirator, partaking in adventures both simple and complex. spinning in colour; the pull of faraway lands; the LP hisses until it is reset.

we are all host to the dirty and complicated; but despite our dishevels, the sky persists so blue. [beauty in between.]

i've officially declared this recipe for chocolate currant cake to be possibly the most addictive thing this side of the atlantic. it's become my desserty modus operandi. :) but inspired by holly's fantastic batter, here's a new recipe for chocolate stout cake i look forward to testing (and tasting) out.

although i feel like i'm pretty adventurous when it comes to cocktail culture (mmmm, the campari is for me, thank you so much), the egg cocktails mixed by misty at green street grill are on a completely new echelon. yes, it's exactly what you think: raw eggs (either the white, the yolk, or the big kablammo WHOLE THING) shaken (and emulsified) with fantastic ingredients into a frothy, creamy, silky, sippable concoction. look out for my writeup about them in next week's (may 16) issue of the dig.

which brings me to this last explosive nugget of news.

+

on may 15, i will be officially crowned as lifestyles editor at boston's weekly dig. i cant express how ecstatic i am to be part of the big crazy family over there, and actually being paid for basically... living. i'll be coordinating stuff in all things regarding style, commerce, food, drink, and honing some serious editorial skillz on special issues and other such fantastics. it's my first full-time gig ever! i fear i will swoon upon seeing my name emblazoned on the masthead.

life couldn't be more rosy. it's like i'm still waiting to wake up from the dream.

2007-05-01T12:30:00.000-04:00

welcome to my weekend.

fantastic backyard barbeque in mattapan, accessorized with several visiting balls o' fluff:

chocolate and beer and several samples from the wine jukebox, oh my. (read my review in the dig)

a comforting tuck-in with dear friends and lots of suishaya goodness (non-sushi pix taken by new-lens-owner carl):

treasures from 1920 that i picked up at mcintyre + moore, post-veggie-chili-brunch:

oldskool dj set by none other than amon tobin. i giddily felt like i was back in 1997, twitching 'n glitching. (see the phoenix's preview for the show)

+ + microcosm darling morgan packard and superdraw at enormous room last niiight... so tiiight...

p.s. ridiculously mixed sans serif show last night. mia doi todd has rendered my heart transfixed yet again.

p.p.s. take me, add sunshine, watch happiness grow.

2007-04-26T09:40:00.000-04:00

the sunlight streaming into my room, an uninvited but not a wholly unpleasant guest. i breathe, rouse; have recovered an energy that's been unleashed as springtime's warmth finally creeps into an otherwise dreary winter-weary boston. this past weekend of glorious weather, as i shared an eggy brunch on a sunny patio, indulged in the dog-parade sidewalks of south end, sampled grilled succulent bivalves with dear friends... i could not have been happier to reclaim that resurgence of exuberance. the cocoon has been broken; i emerge hopeful (though probably a bit disheveled and pale), blindingly swimming the currents of the human instinct.

everything now, a bit more saturated; impetuous; intoxicating. a greenness in the air.

i've been sort of quiet lately on the blog, not only because i'm channeling most of my voice in the print (big paper!) and mobile media (small screen!) realms, but also because i've been going out a lot more in the city. attending live music (amiina, caspian, the books, junior boys, [upcoming] amon tobin), films (the lives of others, boston turkish film festival, independent film festival of boston), events (karl cronin + modern dance friends at the ica, the define-a-thon at the brattle, miss witherspoon at the lyric stage).

it's also been a mega re-prioritization of spending time with the people i care about. impromptu drop-ins for tea and cake, climb the stairs, share a glass of wine, espresso at midnight, sidewalk rendezvous. this warmth within is ever growing. it's unexpected; perhaps a mixture of sxsw and professional/personal transitions has fueled me in these directions. as if to clarify, i'm not waiting anymore...

some grainy, gratuitous snapshots of certainly, sir...

and san serac...

at the middle east downstairs, opening for synth-pop darlings junior boys.

a quickie roundup of the concert:

- certainly, sir was awesome as usual (go brodeur! galusha! hubben!); there were a couple disturbingly obsessed young groupies who desperately clung to the stage railing and all but threw their manly panties on stage. at the end of the set (one so hotttz that brodeur's glasses slipped off), the nubile groupies clamoured to beseech galusha for his white drummer-drenched sweatband in exchange for a piece of gum. jeff agreed, the swap proved successful, the kids blissfully rubbed their faces in the moist terry, galusha snapped his gum with pride.

- there is nothing that can prepare you for san serac's live performance. he literally is like transported from another era; planet, perhaps. a spastic fantastic blend of prince, a random guy in tijuana, david bowie, and napoleon dynamite, he contorted himself into a ravenously disco-bleeding slackjawed-drum-pad-action tizzy. he moves. desperate clutches at the microphone, horrendous leaps across the stage, eyes oscillating between ecstatic blaze and cold focus. near the end he's like 'can i turn the lights off up here [the stage]? yeah, yeah, all the way. these lights are weighing me DOWN." then he leapt and crooned and sweat in the LED-studded darkness. it was the best performance i have seen all year. DONT LOSE THE MAGIC, SERAC.

- junior boys were, well, catchy. i happened to see them last fall at the middle east UPstairs, and they blew me away back then with their natty head-to-toe white suits, smiles + laughter, an earnest groove. but here, in the downstairs, with a writhing fan club, a sound system that literally vibrated everything i ever wanted to know about my internal organs, and a seriously tired-sounding junior boys, i actually left the concert early. perhaps my high expectations (and also pseudo-solo status) set me up for a premature night. even with earplugs, the bass physically overwhelmed me, and honestly they just SOUNDED like their CD. except the singing was out of tune, the inter-song chatter seemed tame and cliche, and perhaps san serac sucked all the raw energy out of the place. perhaps if i had a companion with whom to exchange furious discourse, cling onto, meander upstairs for tabbouleh; things would have been different.

in more amazing news, because i do happen to have a healthy trove of opportunistic food photographs, and just because i can, here's a bevy of delicious things:

a righteous piling of fresh greens, eye-poppingly purple potatoes, and salty hairy anchovies (earnestly yummy) give the salade nicoise at les zygomates awesome cred. i always thought that the tuna in such a salad at other typical restaurants is the chunk-light-canned type, but here (ooh la la, monsieur) a supple tuna steak is seared around the outside, leaving the inside silky raw, and handcut into dapper slices. and egg yolks always make me happy. that is just a given. i'm glad i have photographs from our meal, because this lunch was particularly memorable on many levels.

people always wonder what i do when i'm freewheeling on my research/writing days. well, for one thing, i push buttons on my laptop a lot. also, eating things is right up there. on a drizzly, grey morning, i was craving (nay, feeling downright withdrawal) a hot bowl of noodle soup: the perfect antidote for a cloud-induced brood, exhaustion from shivering and wiping the raindrops from vulnerable skin. the szechuan beef soup from mary chung's is like a warm satin-wool comforter wrapped around your shoulders. steaming, sumptuous, utterly beefy, soul-soothingly indulgent. chopsticks and spoon are in immediate view, and for a moment, i am cured of the damp disease.

fast forward a bit. i took the opportunity before going to the constants / on fire / caspians concert at the the paradise a couple weeks ago to ravage the asian food court at everyone's favourite chinese superdupermarket, super 88. thai, vietnamese, indonesian, malaysian, indian, korean, japanese, cantonese, yummmm in full circle. somehow (perhaps it is my natural disposition?) a warm bowl of comfort was also in the cards for the evening. i ordered the 'spicy beef noodle soup' from pho viet and simultaneously munched on peanut-sauce-dipped summer rolls. the crunch of mint makes for instant tantalization. let it be known: i was def tantalized.

here's miss ryan rose (fellow co-conspirator at 80108, otherwise known as our fearless editor) at lucky's lounge in fort point one day after work. i covered lucky's in one of my latest drinky pieces for the dig. it's kitsch, it's fun, it's pricey; i think of it as a south boston version of inman's own b-side lounge's daddy-o-ness mixed with a bit of portland's doug fir's wood-grained fireplace aesthetic. the impossible deliciousness of the toasted coconut cocktail (frangelico!) will linger with you...

i have learned all beautiful things resurface in unexpected ways.

2007-04-20T17:00:00.000-04:00

i must confess i'm jaded in terms of internet content, but i have to say this website really goes the exceptional mile:

weirdmeat.com!

For several years I was a dietary vegan. I was considering a long trek in the Congo with an ethnomusicologist -- also a strict vegetarian -- and he asked me would I eat meat if my life depended on it? I said no, but I realize that was foolish of me -- I am an animal and it's my instinct to try to survive. He had been to the region before and was served monkey for dinner, while stuck injured in a rural area. He survived.

So far I've survived all of my "weird meat" experiences. In fact, I've rarely gotten a stomach ache after these experiments. I've eaten dog, cat, rat, cockroach, camel penis, bee larve, scorpions, spiders, night hawk, and pre-born duck embryo without feeling ill. Can't say the same for Taco Bell or McDonalds.

(excerpted from michael's introduction)

2007-04-20T16:24:00.000-04:00

the best story i've heard all day, from my friend mark:

Did I tell you about the time my dad brought home oysters and gave them to my brother and myself as "pets"? I remember him saying, "You guys have always wanted pets, so take good care of them."

"But dad...it's...it's....it's an ugly grey rock."

"Well if you don't want them then we'll just cook them and eat them instead."

"Noooooooo we love them, you can't eat our pets!"

But in the end it's hard to love a pet that just sits in the refrigerator so they were eaten.

[as for me, i am bountifully excited about the cambridgeport maricultural event going down tomorrow night with friends... grilled oysters on cardboard tables, yum yum]

my friend karl is performing his choreography work + cello skillz tonight at the ICA tonight in CRASHarts Presents: Ten's the Limit. great preview writeup and profile published in the boston herald yesterday. i'm looking forward to a delightful night of dinner + drinks at lucky's followed by modern dance.

btw, yesterday i committed myself to become a member of the ICA. i'm foreseeing many more decades of enthusiastic arts patronage, 'til i am sprightly and grey...

2007-04-13T10:35:00.000-04:00

pick up the dig.

two girl looks, two guys looks, my hands (in one way or another) in all of them.

liu's inaugural style shoot is doing her rather proud.

sheer joy.

in full color for your perusing enjoyment.

p.s. although the rule of thumb when running around with the photographer and model is to be invisible, i ended up elegantly peeking through at this shot took at reiss.

2007-04-10T17:48:00.000-04:00

happy belated easter and pasquetta. i needed some time to recover from this:

sunday we celebrated with friends and were guests of some amazing italian hosts who feasted us fantastically with nonstop procession of food, festivity, and fenestration. (seriously, we had a great view of the city from our sunny situation.)

check out the flickr set for more details, but it was an elaborate production (we charmed ourselves at the table for seven hours) with foodstuffs including:

bowls of green and black olives
caprese salad
proscuitto-wrapped melon
nuts and chips
saucisson
terrines of paté
hard and soft cheese
lots of sparkling wine
crusty and chewy breads
crunchy fresh veggies
spaghetti al dente with marinara, shrimp, mussels
lots of pinot grigio
eggplant mélange dressed with EVOO
sliced zucchini with mint
enormous prawns sautéed in lemon, garlic, armagnac
entire roast rack of lamb
refreshing romaine salad
lots of chianti
grilled swordfish steaks
roast potatoes and tomatoes
an assortment of sweets
colomba cake in a pink box
chilled limoncello
sips of armagnac

suffice to say, it was an occasion.

i am so thankful to be among friends, be healthy and happy, and adore these spontaneous and sustained social connections.

one cannot imagine living without them.

2007-04-10T10:42:00.000-04:00

yup, we're official.

80108 busted out its public debut yesterday, with three major shoutouts. here we are in the press:

boston globe, Snippets of news, via cellphone: Start-up aims to be local, snappy, social

mediaweek, 80108 Launches Mobile Content

GigaOM, 80108, local content via SMS

the initial user experience and feedback has been super-promising, and it's definitely rewarding to witness a public unveiling after personally working behind-the-scenes for the last several months.

show your love and try out my channel, Boston:Style. it's free (cuz we care) and get secret reminders like...

did you know today is free ice-cream day at jp licks? get runnin' (i've got my eye on the rice DICE-Kream)

or that there's a super shopping night at gypsy on april 19th with goodies and specials from persona, habit, queen bee, injeanius/twilight, i soci salon + kérastase reps, shu uemura, hazel + grace, and stil?

ja, stuff like that.

so try it out, and channel your cathartic feedback through email. love me or hate me, that is the question... ;) if neither boston nor style is your scene, try any and all channels that fit the bill. we got a ton of channels represented in a bunch of US metropolises (metropoleis!)

get excited.

2007-03-25T13:18:00.000-04:00

i've been running full force, and finally my body has caught up to me.

on possibly one of the most beautiful (sunny, breezy, warm) and eventful (boston underground film festival, my roommate making butter-sugar crepes from scratch, many plans for social m-eatups, and burning star core et al at p.a.'s lounge) weekends, i'm house-bound (bed-bound? couch-bound?) with wicked chills, a wracking cough, zero appetite, and a throat sorer than the sox-yankees rivalry.

inadequate sleep, frequent nights out, incessant stress (both physical and emotional), and altogether busy-boddying has reduced me to this sniffling, swaddled heap o' mess that's wearily typing right now.

it hit me like a truck on friday afternoon, when i explicably began mumbling and zoning out during a brainstorm meeting at work, and then later on (at the warmly irreverent grub gone silly reading at boston's grub street writing center) i just knew i'd crash and burn immediately. my lungs raw. my lymph nodes swollen. i turned down a movie-in with two wonderful friends. it became (and evolved into great variation) a complete surrender to this virus.

see? it was indeed silly.

yesterday i was quite useless. somehow i survived a sweaty, dizzy 5 minute walk to fetch emergency supplies at walgreens (it's a vague memory). a medley of tea (thanks alexis!), throat lozenges (thanks ricola!), and homemade veggie soup (thanks carey!) somehow carried me through. lots of reading material and a late-night heartfelt chat miraculously brought me into a slumberous dreamland, shivering even in three layers of clothing and two down comforters.

therefore, it comes with some relief that i can still sort of work, since my fingers are not (surprisingly!) afflicted with some horrible symptom. but yeah, i can only take house-calls now. i invite you to come by see me croak, and in exchange for a potential contagion i will love you forever and ever.

pretty fair deal, no?

ok, so enough with the painful self-indulgence. on a lighter note, here are some photographs of food, which always manage to perk me up. it's also a brief synopsis of the past week.

tuesday, i was running around all over tarnation doing sourcing, research, and interview for some upcoming dig pieces. during one delicious break in the day, i tucked into a vietnamese lunch at pho pasteur at the harvard square garage. i had way too many convenient meals here back in the day, but it's still reliably tasty. because they take credit cards for minimum $10 orders, i splurged on (admittedly gummy/sticky) fresh summer rolls (the yummy peanut sauce gets a megaboost from extra dollops of chili sauce) and a small bowl of (#15?) beef pho. naturally, there was much subsequent nose-blowing.

wednesday evening post-work was night 1 of 2 of 80108's representation at shecky's girls night out.

some semblance of what 2000 women smashed in the cyclorama look like. (pix by joe baz)

luckily, meals were expensed to offset the pain of 10 extra hours. on wednesday after we packed up, joe (our marketing guru) and i went to pops restaurant, literally right across the street from the bca in south end.

his decontructed salad with big leafy romaine, a strip of bacon, and a mean slab of cheese.

my lovely rhode island clam stuffies! tasty and savoury, if not a tad salty from the bits of chorizo. extra points for cute presentation. although the bread wasnt earth-shattering, i especially enjoyed the butter housed in a mini-porcelain dome.

great minds think alike, i suppose. we both got the crispy-skin salmon, which is the most decadent thing to come out the sea (short of toro). the sesame rice was perfectly seasoned, and the slices of (caramelized?) miso-soaked turnip were astoundingly good. the salmon skin was so crispy (like bacon) that one had to use a knife to get through it, but the fish itself was well-prepared. along with a glass of sparkly pinot noir, i was impressed that i was stuffed after all was said and done.

the service was pretty good (our waiter was especially attentive at making sure everything was okay) and although we felt sort of guilty being one of the last ones out (the kitchen closes at 10:30pm) they didn't seem to (outwardly) mind at all. dinner for two came to around $70; with tax and tip, total was $87. on my own, i could imagine coming in for a drink and/or a hearty appetizer, but despite that it's on the more 'affordable' end of south end eats, it's still definitely indulgent.

okay, thursday: lather, rinse, repeat!

shecky's gone wild: two random interested people, me, and ryan rose weaver (rogue boston freelancer and 80108's invincible editor). at this point i think i did feel a little fatigue setting in, but there wasn't much i could do except keep going.

afterwards, four of us youngin's collapsed at nearby franklin cafe, a cozy, comfy south end hangout. not dirt cheap either, but probably one of least pretentious places out there, and great for late-night bites with friends. highly recommended.

i tried taking a photo just as an experiment, but yeah, this place is dark. here is my lamb shank, visible through a mega night-goggle high-contrast tweaking. the brandy-soaked apricots are insanely potent, kind of like the soaked plum at the bottom of a bottle of umeshu. the dish on the whole is super tasty and filling, but you need to watch out for large swaths of fatty lamb skin. don't worry, it makes it all the more delicious.

so i did the embarrassing and did some flash-work at the table. forgive me. but here you can see the feast laid out in all its glory: if anything, the bread/hummus starter is unbelievable. we shared a seared shrimp appetizer between us, and if you can dare to believe me, those brussel sprouts were mean tasty. buttery, crispy nuggets of vitamin-packed greens.

so after all this, i think my immune system packed up and said farewell.

i hope we will reunite sometime soon.

2007-03-22T23:56:00.000-04:00

tonight, i feel like a cat that has lost her way home.

2007-03-21T10:51:00.000-04:00

things have unfurled within the last few days, as if i were standing still amid a uncontrollable disintegration. i'm more active than ever, in all respects: vigorous productivity, hustled distraction, social cultivation, domestic recourse. but it all seems cinematic in a way; is this an overcomplicated drama? who is in control of this script? why are all these characters coming in and out, being constructed in these ways?

my sensibilities are wracked with flickers of violent tension and an equable calm. at one given moment things are crystal clear, at another it all seems to shatter in a thousand deadly pieces.

i make it through the days via the satisfaction of small things. walking over industrial bridges, flipping through the glossy pages of new york magazine, relishing the juicy bite of one fresh orange.

in despite of these pleasures, it's as if my insides were coated with shiny black.

... . . . . . .. .. . . .

in other news, 80108 is rarin' live. hyperlocalized and authentic insider info txt msg'd to you, all authored by impassioned city expert/enthusiasts like myself. i encourage you to check it out! we're servicing a ton of cities all across the country. boston's the homebase, but we have awesome writers all over, including new york, san francisco, l.a., philadelphia, washington d.c., denver, atlanta, etc.

if you're in boston, i'll be at the shecky's girl's night out tonight and tomorrow night hyping up my Boston:Style channel for 80108. clothes + cocktails + cyclorama, that kind of thing. the event is sold out (that is, to the public), but i DO have an extra pair of comp tickets for either day. email or comment if you want to claim them! :)

... . . . . . .. .. . . .

my radio show, sans serif, is now on monday nights 7-8pm EST. groove your little glitchy, jazzalicious goodness with me, either through real-time streaming on wmbr 88.1fm or with truly podcastable archives listed all in a row here. liu's loves lately are my brightest diamond's remix album, tear it down and clara hill's house collaboration, all i can provide. i just want to wrap myself within these sonic layers and pillow-collapse, dizzy with warm somatic rhythm.

2007-03-18T15:09:00.000-04:00

not like i'm counting down or anything (she doesn't tickle me in the right places like victor & rolf manage to do), but madonna's collection at h&m debuts this thursday, march 22.

everything is in variants of black and white, and i'm a tad underwhelmed by the classicism of the silhouettes. i'm warm to the abstract floral print dress, and who doesnt love a well-made leather jacket, but the separates of trousers, sweaters, and skirts are as plain-jane as your banana-republic variety. i have a hunch that the runaway successes will be the attention-getting accessories, like the wide shiny belts, the M-emblazoned sunglasses, and any bags or shoes that come along for the ride. the shirt-dresses are kind of interesting, but i feel that it'll be so hard to accommodate a wide audience (wide- or narrow- shouldered concerns, plus shaping around the bust, makes it a very difficult fit). one of the dresses in the online lookbook is so bizarrely draped that it makes the mannequin look pregnant. and that catsuit? about as unpalatable as those awful tracksuits.

however, this is one of my favourite looks of the collection:

although it does strike a biting resemblance to one of the breakout looks perfected by precious project runway darling kara janx. i mean, check out the sketch for madonna's collection:

and now observe kara's design:

anyone can make a kimono dress, yes, but the resemblance is all too uncanny.

especially for a third of the price, and by supporting a worldwide fashion corporation instead of an independent designer. but i digress.

i must confess the real appeal of this whole M collection is the creepy, slickly surreal film produced for the campaign. check it out on h&m's awkwardly flash-designed website. i highly prefer the 'director's cut' over the original version, only because it shows more of the story. something very bizarre about the victim being an asian schoolgirl and lots of underwear shots amidst italian sunglasses and a non sequitur crying fembot. madonna's inexplicably looking corporate sexy with the paper shredder and her black riding crop.

it it it it it!

dont! think it;
you need to know it

the point is made clear.

if you want to bypass all the muck on the official website, here's the director's cut of the film right here for you instant-gratification types.

2007-03-17T12:52:00.000-04:00

i get a funny feeling in my stomach while reading this article in new york times' sunday style section about boutique dressing room mirrors that allow others in your remote online social network to pitch in thoughts and recommendations.

the first thing that i thought was ridiculous was the overlaying of the virtual image of clothing on top of one's reflection. mapping 2D (an image) onto 3D (a human body) seems really bizarre when it comes to choosing actual clothes. otherwise it's just a simulacra, a paper doll psychology. why are we putting the premium on 2D (the screen, the image, what can be broadcast onto the web) over actual reality?

so, putting people into actual clothes is low-tech (albeit with a smidgen more time, effort, and yanking) and you can still send pictures out into the ether. i dont understand the logic of the projected overlays except for the companies to issue out more looks per minute like some sort of holographic catalog.

and there's this element of trust. you'd trust your friend or sister or mom who comes with you into the shop; do you really trust your friends ('friends') out there? also, why limit yourself to just your social network? would it be worthwhile to have a more democratic process, opening up the voting / input to anyone who's out there and logged on to this network?

reminds me of this project i did back in 2004. (gettin' out the excavation gloves.) at this time, myspace was probably embryonic and facebook was just pushing out the harvard beta. however, the point of the work was to get to that psychological effects from acceptance / rejection / judgment from those in the remote digital sphere. invisible, voyeuristic input from those who can publicly access your image.

here's mirror mirror from my physical computing course at harvard. (hi professor huang!)

have we progressed at all in 3 years? in 6 years (the overdesigned, overtechnologized prada soho flagship opened in 2001)? i dont know the answer, but something must explain the queasiness inside.

2007-03-17T12:11:00.000-04:00

happy st. patty's day.

a tall mugful of earl grey tea in hand, its wisps of steam warming lips. the window frames a silver blend of snow, rain, and dew, a low windy howl in the distance. boston's irish energy is fantastically tempered by an act of god. coincidence?

this doesnt say it better. freezing drizzle. it may be sweeter as a frozen dessert than a daily forecast, methinks. but as long as i am warm and dry (or, at least my feet), i am in a stable mood.

last night i slept for 12 hours. this morning, a workout and a bowl of cereal. glasses askew.

i'm still recovering from my return from sxsw. don't know if it's the ongoing grey, low-pressure weather, or a cataclysm of acclimation from warm sun, intense A/C into long flights; high consumption levels of texmex bowing to homestyle stirfry. it could be the massive amount of catch-back and email frenzy to follow, which is not so much as unenjoyable as it is a bit tedious. high payoff, though.

such is the same as blogging and flickring, back to a situated routine. a bit everyday, time well spent, my existence documented, redeemed, somehow.

a quote referenced at the festival: if you're not on myspace, you don't exist.

i'm not persuaded by that argument, but try replacing 'myspace' with written documents, photographs, letters, emails, journals, scribbles, notes, recordings, snapshots, memories of others. traces of self. truly, does anyone hear when a man falls (alone) in the forest?

yesterday we were hit from the blizzard. i felt smug until i was forced to leave my workplace, and proceed (for about the next half hour) to get pummeled with tiny ice pellets in my face. after each leg of the pedestrian journey, my bag was laden with a thick layer of snow. i went to fetch milk and toilet paper from whole foods like a sensible citizen, and trudged home through shin-high drifts with completely tread-less boots. (these are scheduled to arrive today.)

the night beautiful, i feel asleep to the pelt-pelt of frozen showers. but here we are the next day, it's more wet than white, and i just want to continue with my warm tea.

in case no one believed my exaggerated rainy plights in austin, here are some shots from eviltwin, aka andy beaumont, who caught the wet evidence.

song of the moment: múm, póst póstmaetur, off friends of the random summer. energy crackling beneath a silent expanse.

2007-03-15T19:18:00.000-04:00

last night, after a bleary flight of infant hysteria and a creepy airplane neighbor ("hi, would you like a sandwich?"), boston and i reconnected. i'm safe and sound, still hating the mbta (aside: i thought it was hilarious that the renovated mbta website was nominated for css excellence at the sxsw web awards), and able to sleep again in my own bed.

today, grey and drizzle lull me to quiet moments while i kick around my suitcase with way too much austin swag.

i also got a haircut, which was very much overdue. you can see how long my wild tresses had ravaged in the previous post illustrating my taco experience. now i'm lean, mean, and ready to sweep my bangs a'gin.

some random notes from the crevices of my mind:

- there are too many sketchy ATMs in downtown austin. everywhere you look, there they are, those standalone machines with no-name banks and that do the bare minimum of dispensing crisp cash. as someone rightly put it, 'looking for an ATM? swing a dead cat, and you'll most likely hit one.'

- everytime i get tempted to buy a playstation2 (for the sole purpose of riffing to guitar hero) or the nintendo wii (for the sole purpose of battling millions of cutie-manic-pie rabbids) i think of all that money and time that could be better spent on live concerts, films, and books. therefore, i just need to make friends who'll let me hijack their consoles once in a while. (where are you people?)

- even though i was psyched to see a relatively diverse mix in attendance of sxsw interactive and film, some things still tended to bother me. first, many of the panels that dealt with design, engineering, or entrepreneurial motifs were predominantly (if not wholly) male. maybe it was just the combination of panels i attended, but from blog to book, design aesthetic of the indie developer, five tips to make your podcast listenable, and tv comedy of today were all male.

whereas females popped up on more social-oriented issues: all panelists of under 18: blogs, wikis, and online social networks for youth and do you blog on the first date? were women.

not to mention, aside from designer paula scher and journalist leslie savan), all the designers or experts interviewed in the helvetica film documentary were white males. i'm not out to go on some gendered rampage, but it's interesting to note the disparity.

- on that note, conference-goers were probably 80% caucasian. not like there's anything wrong with it... wait, what am i talking about? there's something seriously wrong with it. but i wont merely rant, as i know i can actually do something about it.

- crap! i missed meeting the ceo of zappos! probably lucky for him, since i dont know what i would have done. cried for joy and hugged his knees?

- i learned that texans live and breathe chili con queso. also, tasty migas. i think i need to go back to catch up on my huevos rancheros.

- not like this is breaking news, but the y-chromosome set is a peculiar one. however, i am deeply enjoying the illogics. it's reminds me that relinquishing control is a rightful, ongoing lesson. björk says it best in it's not up to you. vespertine is my soul soother, curling up into lush snowsound.

as always, i'm behind on the blogacious nature of photos and text published in a timely manner, but for now i can offer the tantalizing link to my full set of sxsw 2007 up on my flickr.

here's but a taste.

2007-03-15T17:01:00.000-04:00

it's strange how sometimes the best way to fix something is to first break it completely.

in shards, pieces, a phoenix rising from the ashes.

2007-03-12T23:42:00.000-04:00

i am so, so stupid.

because of my naivete and seeming bravado, i ate the nuclear taco.

because i ate the nuclear taco, approximately 90 min later i vomited on east 6th & brazos.

because i vomited, my stomach feels like it's being burned alive by an army of trogdors.

because my stomach feels burninated, i'm back at the apartment trying not to die while literally twelve parties are being set in motion in downtown austin.

by the way, this is not the first time i've gotten sick while eating something superspicy. i love love LOVE spicy food; i adore it, i crave it. but only certain peppers--namely the dried roasted red ones in chinese dishes and hyper-potent scotch bonnet oil--seriously irritate my stomach lining to a most tummy-clutching discomfort. for most people, the pain is on the tongue.

that part's easy.

i almost think for me it's a chemical allergy to something in the pepper production or preparation. in any case, you would think i'd know better, right?

here's the story: apparently 'nuclear tacos' is a sxsw tradition, where they set up a bbq party + tent outside boasting the hottest tacos in the world. lest you think i'm nuts, there were actually a lot of people there! you had your choice of hard corn taco shells or soft flour tortillas; the potent fillings of nuclear beef, hot beef, nuclear veggie (more like beef-esque soy-protein product), or hot veggie; and toppings of cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and sour cream. as we waited in line, we saw many a pink-faced diner exit the premises, sweating, crying, swearing. i pooh-poohed them as total wimps. naturally.

here's the cutie indie ice-cream truck right outside the premises, apparently to salvage burnt esophaguses. one guy literally ran from the bbq, yelling, 'need, ice-cream, NOW!' he looked pretty desperate for a creamsicle or something.

the oh-so-welcoming sign at the entrance. i wonder if they put the signage there to sustain the campiness of it all, or if they were legally contracted to do so. you have to wonder.

i love the composition of this pic. these guys are bravely concocting the killer taco innards. out of the frame is another mellow dude putting on some rubber gloves. by the way, the air is full of the hot, spicy smoke. just hanging around the tent, you can feel it already tickling the back of your throat.

you probably dont want to get too close, buddy.

so here is my lovely dinner, before the devouring. the flour tortilla holds the nuclear beef, and the other dollops are the nuclear and hot veggie just for curious sampling. by the way, the weather could not have been more perfect! thankfully the thunderstorms from last night gave way to delightful sunshine early this morning.

thanks to sooz of exploitboston who took these pix of me. (ever notice there are never photos of me because i am always the photographer?) anyway, here i am, totally confident, totally healthy, totally happy. little did i know how wretched i would be in two hours...

chowin' down. it was definitely high on the spicy scale, but it wasn't tastebud suicide. i figured i'd condense the time spent in burning pain so i sort of gnarfed it down fairly quickly. pretty tasty, you could still taste the beef, but i do confess to blushing, sweating, and blowing my nose at copious frequency. however, i felt pretty darn good next to a woman who took two bites of her hot beef taco and declared defeat. ha, i thought, see, i am someone who can take it! as always, my competitive spirit persists, even when it comes to inflicting gastrointestinal pain on oneself, as it (later) became painfully clear.

hence, eating this taco was a foolish move. and i am not dancing now. :(

here is my night instead:

and you, dear reader. that is it. that all i have as comfort for 11pm on a monday.

p.s. pix on flickr. tagged with nucleartacos. it's the truth.

2007-03-12T02:26:00.000-04:00

torrential, torrential rain.

dampened spirits? oh no.
dampened body? yes.

nothing feels better than taking a taxi home and jumping immediately into a hot shower after being completely drizzled on by chilly overhang and leaky tarps at austin lounges with plenty of outdoor expanses. basically, out-and-about discomfort hits the threshold when your feet are sloshing in their shoes and your bare legs are wet with dirt clods, spilled soda, and recycled rainwater.

however, i had a fantastic day, including enjoying enchiladas at guero's (the chicken al carbon was delightfully seasoned with a refreshing oj-based marinade), meeting christine of pointy sticks (she had marzipan from mike's pastry in her trunk, totally by coincidence), watching 'does your soul have a cold?' (utterly poignant, the cinematographic rhythm at perfect cadence), going to the shortbus dvd party (i'll catch the panel with director john cameron mitchell tomorrow), seeing ze frank (once again) host the web awards with to-be-expected zaniness, and going to a party sponsored by chow.com!

excellent resident pulled pork, by the way.

i predict i will have incredible opportunity wasting even more time on the internets when i get back home: checking out all the sites nominated for a sxsw web award, plus watching back episodes of lonelygirl15 and arrested development, in addition to consuming the ugly betty season 1 dvd. i mean, this it total conjecture, and i probably could spend the hours instead doing much more meaningful things, such as updating my blog (speaking of which, tonight i met some blogger.com reps and lavished my utter gratitude for the magic of blogging software) or solving fermat's last theorem or something.

but honestly, where would bree be without me?

2007-03-11T11:29:00.000-04:00

holy moly, there's so much going on and so many people and things and events, it's wonderfully overwhelming. went to a slew of panels yesterday, great things to share, i'll post more when i have a chance to breathe. (i'm choosing not to take my laptop to the convention center because i have enough stuff to lug around from morning til wee, wee night.) anyway, i'm sure you can find hundreds of bloggers feverishly dissecting each interactive panel to bits in real-time... (trust me, i saw them)

there are probably like six parties going on at any given time. last night i felt like a true old fogey pretty much exhausted at 2am (granted the day before i also went to bed at 2am, and this pattern will probably continue ad nauseum) while i'm sure everyone else feted until 5ish or so. chalk it up to my amazingly sleep-hungry brain. snooze snooze snooze. oh yeah, i'm also a dork who loves catching those early morning talks. but i had a great time and met some amazing people last night. somehow ze frank fit in the picture. not sure.

here are a random slew of photos, in no particular order, because i'm lazy.

the building on the right is the tallest in the city and has a super cool crystalline design. viewed from the angle, it totally looks like totoro. (see it?)

i'm so glad i was familiarized with guitar hero because i came to sxsw because admitting that here would be terribly embarrassing! at the hi-lo lounge, there are a ton of artisan guitar hero guitars mounted all over the place. i kinda get it now. kinda.

a midnight snack at katz ("never klozes!"), an enormous cobb salad. and infinite amount of pickles. trust me, the waiter saw how quickly i was chowing those down and was like, 'want more? seriously, they're just free-flowing from the kitchen.' but i think five pickles made a pretty good dent in my pickle quota. this restaurant itself was super-strange... not sure i'd go back. but it probably does wonders when nothing else is open at strange hours.

lis sylvan and hubby misha. she's happy, eating beans, and pregnant! yay!

waiting in the queue on friday night for the film festival opening party. this is where those excellent chips and salsa were hiding out. the fox and hound is totally gone, but at least you can clamor around the space like stealthy hyenas.

the dig! the dig! the dig!!!!! i was so excited to see boston amid the austin. seeing this gives me some semblance of credibility when i tell people what i do. i just shove this paper right into their skeptical face.

the 'under 18: blogs, wikis' panel. lis from the lifelong kindergarten group at the mit media lab and smg-alum danah boyd (in the awesome fluffy animal-eared cap) helped lead the discussion. i've never heard danah speak before, but i'll just say: SHE. IS. AWESOME. i cant describe it, but she's terribly on target and she argues with a super-convincing blend of academic, personal, and pop-cultural backing. go danah!

lunch as las manitas. this place was packed for lunch! also, i loved the tshirts worn by the servers... it had a faux academic shield and 'university of rice and beans'

i dont think anyone can eat a tortilla chip more gracefully than nicole (fellow chowhound). the salsa in austin in general is so freakin' good.

dorkbot in the haus. lots of blinky lights, random robotics, and generally silly hijinks. loved it! also, met the MAKE / CRAFT zine peeps and rocked out to 'stringless' capacitive-sensor guitars and a dj inexplicably dressed as a star trek shipmember.

until next time, i will be your faithful blogger who basically tells you how ridiculously good beans with lard are. trust the others for picking apart keynote speakers kathy sierra's words of wisdom. i'll be catching a film screening later tonight, a documentary ("does your soul have a cold?") about mental illness and medicating depression in japan. should be fascinating.

over and out.

2007-03-10T02:44:00.000-05:00

hey, really tired. lots of walking, lots of keeping my eyes open amidst a moodily dark-lit social scape. some notes:

- earlier this evening went to the ginormous whole foods to pick up some small things like cereal and milk. i dipped in for 10 minutes but honestly you could spend hours and hours in there! combine the comprehensiveness of the new york time warner center whole foods and the expansive mindset that is texas, and the result is this absolute city block bursting in organic carnivale. more photos and stories to support this universal awe. (there's an area larger than my apartment just for grinding nuts into butter. really.)

- saw paul rudd at the opening film festival party at the now-defunct fox & hound tavern. i basically was an arm's length away but too fantastically chicken to ask for a photo or something. very chill in the crowd, very handsome :)

- the food at the main outdoor party was pretty good. beef and chicken soft tacos (made to order!) topped with fresh pico de gallo. plus lots of tasty chips and salsa, with more flavor and spice than to be expected. just ignore the vat presentation, and dig in... (just what i needed for my seriously suffering stomach)

- between the fox & hound, and the instances flitting in and out of molotov and hi-lo tonight... it kinda got a bit weary from socializing in an event that's loud, crowded, and filled with strangers, all who are cavorting and huddling in their own social circles. i'm doing my best to meet new folks (those who know me can attest i'm not a wallflower!) but it still can be a tad awkward and frustrating. i hope to meet more people in less high-profile style tomorrow during the panels and screenings. plus, a bit of sadness does yet creep; i have still some serious stuff on the brain, tugging at me from going-ons back in boston... things that are not easy to forget.

- i organized a chowhounding event tomorrow! saturday, 12:15pm, at Las Manitas on 211 congress ave. sxswers: meet & eat. i hear the tacos are transformative. must resolutely confirm this fact.

i should get some sleep tonight, because i dont think i will have many more opportunities to do so in the next few days! goodnight austin, goodnight b-austin.

2007-03-09T20:28:00.000-05:00

i am finally here in austin, still in one piece after a long late night yesterday (it being so cold in boston i wanted to self-implode), an emotional spree, less than 4 hours of sleep, and a bleary-eyed flight through chicago. already i am feeling the energy and the overwhelming festivity of it all, not to mention the tropical climes and the fitful alternations between sticky breezy warmth and sterile hyper-air-conditioning.

i'm in a lull just before heading out. i'm staying in a loft apartment with a new-york-based filmmaker who is awesomely sweet, a fantastic sxsw veteran, and spectacularly hooked up.

so far, some thoughts on the day:

- there's a native bird that caws so mournfully and sharp, it's like a child crying each time; they're black and congregate above, in the branches

- the happy hour phenomenon is crazy here. once 4pm hits, nothing is sacred. we were starving and went into mccormick & schmick's, not necessarily a place i would find either tasty or affordable. however, with purchase of a drink (i even just got iced tea) there's a menu that's cheaper than your wildest dreams. even more so than half-priced specials at grendels! $1.95 for deep fried pickles, $2.95 each for soft fish tacos (deLISH) and spicy chicken tacos and flash fried calamari, and $3.95 for a lamb gyro. unbelievable.

- i'm overwhelmed by the enormity of panels, parties, events, functions, and even side things like dorkbot, barcamp, and lots of private group mixers. i'm planning on going to a bbq for design bloggers tomorrow night, which should hold some tasty meat for my waiting, excited stomach.

- at this quick mixer earlier this evening for the film disturbia, i spotted a woman wearing a wmbr 88.1fm bag slung around her shoulder! it was totally fate, and she indeed was from boston and just a fan of the station. love it.

ok, i think we will head out soon. lots of sweat and silliness, and it's the first time in weeks (no, months) that i'm going bare-legged. let the warmth (and not the bugs) overcome me tonight.

2007-02-26T11:39:00.000-05:00

you can call it a comeback, but i've been here all along.

with minimal drama, i shall dive right into the present. this weekend i escaped boston for a completely unreasonable trip to new york, and i'm definitely all the better for it. self-indulgent details, photos, poetry forthcoming.

a momentous re-mount.

2006-11-18T13:30:00.000-05:00

is there a word that describes the simultaneous sensation of being completely exuberant and completely exhausted? i'm a writer, right? so i should be able to derive these things easily, we'll see...

anyway, i'm personally cached for about a week. here's some fun stuff from last weekend, a two-day dip down to soho / nolita / east village.

(or should it be eat village? mmmm)

highlights: beautiful mexican propane stoves, a matrix of $50 cashmere, an aerobed-bearing host, sweet potato shochu, slurping xiao lung bao, cheap coffee at endless chinese bakeries, no metro, fung wah loses to lucky star, a robot talent show, 3-for-2 sapporo, sushi meets salami, pink machine trumps human, soho retail trumps art, tummy-salvation brunch, and tucking in to sleep soundly after one of the most beautiful days in the world.

* perhaps i'm electrocuted. isnt both energy and aftermath apparent? maybe electrocution à la mode. that sounds a bit more sophisticated.

2006-11-09T17:28:00.000-05:00

we are crazy. i woke up at 6:45am this morning so i could stand outside on drizzly newbury street for two hours before the masses were unleashed onto the viktor & rolf collection at h&m.

i'd say we were about #7 in line. one guy behind us was mentioning that he was so excited he showed up at the store at 5am, saw no one was there, got embarassed, and left to return later on. how hilarious is that? at least i can reassure myself that i'm not the most pathetic fashion victim in the city...

this is sam mendoza, of jetom clothing and stil cohort. he was pretty disappointed that the V&R bowties werent for sale, but he did snag some pretty sexy underwears.

by the way, see that wedding dress? yeah, YEAH? :)

here i am! here is sam! we're damp, sleep-deprived, and chomping at the bit. surveying the crowd, we're getting ready to whip out the brass knuckles if circumstances necessitated.

you think we're kidding, dont you? ;) intense, people, intense.

2006-11-09T12:10:00.000-05:00

e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a . e u p h o r i a .

euphoria because of this:

THE VIKTOR & ROLF WEDDING DRESS FOR H&M!

I GOT IT BABY!

(+ other goodies, will dish details soon)

if you're unfamiliar, this is from viktor & rolf's a/w06 collection:

swoooooooooooooooooon.

the wedding dress is everything you would dream it to be. and designer. and not that expensive. and ultrarare. and complete with a *full train*. i'm literally on cloud nine.

some tidbits...

note #1: it's number 924 out of 1000 limited edition dresses ever made EVER
note #2: heartbreaking design AND materiality; it's 100% SILK inside and out!
note #3: boston only had THREE wedding dresses total; two on the racks and one displayed in the window
note #4: i was waiting outside on newbury street for 2 hrs before opening; everything in the V&R collection was pretty much inhaled in about 15 minutes after the doors opened

disclaimer #1: i am *not* planning to get married anytime soon
disclaimer #2: i'm not sure yet whether to wear it, save it, sell it, or ebay it; it is luckily my size so there are possibilities!
disclaimer #3: i can have a very, very competitive spirit :)

drool and take in the gorgeous viktor & rolf for H&M collection here + observe the mêlée in nyc h&m here via nymag

p.s. sorry it's been so quiet here on the blog, but i've been busy making sweet pink lemonade! for starters, you can check out my dispatch from the MFA Paris Collections gala on the weeklydig blog. dont miss the photographs, i'm especially proud...

2006-10-11T17:43:00.000-04:00

this release is totally hilarious. i cant believe karl lagerfeld as dj and his collection of 70+ iPods. ummm, what's he going to do when all those apple batteries start conking out? ;)

Karl Lagerfeld: Les Musiques Que J'aime, featuring various artists, on two CDs from Defend Music, $26, available at www.amazon.fr

2006-10-10T21:56:00.000-04:00

in honor of the upcoming 2-part season 3 finale, here are a slew of shoes inspired by that tv-show-that-ridiculously-changed-the-course-of-my-life project runway:

for the best bitchyqueen judge that the runway could ever ask for:

MICHAEL by michael kors, harness pump, $142.95

i find it hilarious that he has three shoe lines, at least on zappos, which don't seem all that dissimilar and exhaust the variants on his name: MICHAEL, KORS, and (you guessed it) MICHAEL KORS.

in celebration of ny fashion week scandals stylishly inaugurated by kara saun in season one:

dollhouse, reona, $58.95

more often (and embarassingly) than not, i kinda like dollhouse. it's fun, girly, and though it closely straddles the border i think it manages to look more cute than hoochie. probably because it's marketed to pink-lipped teenyboppers, but no matter.

and in a bizarre fashion label kissing cousin of the self-titled magazine, here's a hip-hip-hooray to sweet cheeks nina garcia herself:

elle, nuit, $147.95

although i'm rooting for michael knight, by the looks of his bryant park showing the chances that he wins the final trophy look slim. between uli and jeffrey, i vouch for uli, because you canNOT let a mommy-hater become america's next great american fashion designer. :) so exciting... let the fun and games begin!

2006-10-09T00:10:00.000-04:00

highlight on... jeffrey campbell! i adore adore adore his styling. brilliantly basic.

love, $79.00

krady, $76.95

sally wedge, $79.95

yacht 2, $79.95

2006-10-06T22:56:00.000-04:00

ooh là là, les chaussures!

spotlight on la redoute, sort of a french lovechild of spiegel and chadwicks, with infinitely better style and value. vive la france, indeed.

here are my picks from the four shoe categories: heels, casual, boots, sandals. the rest of the catalogue's worth peeking at, too.

favourite heels

Suede Ankle-strap Wedges, $69.99
LAURA CLÉMENT. The essential wedge captured in plush suede, rounded out with a slim ankle strap. Impressive 2½'' heel. Leather lining and padded insole. Man-made sole. Medium width. Imported.

favourite casual

"Daisy Patch" Suede Ballerinas, $44.99
Soft, suede slip on is abloom with daisy appliqués complete with bronzetone centers. Padded leather insole. Man-made sole. Medium width. Imported.

favourite boots

Twice-buckled Velvet Boots, $59.99
Buckles once at the top, again at the ankle. In a plush velvet, 15" tall. Silvertone metal buckles. With a fabric lining and padded, synthetic insole. Man-made sole. Medium width. Imported.

favourite sandals

Strappy Sandals, $34.99
LAURA CLÉMENT. Slim straps radiate across the toes, then buckle around the ankles. In a textured, leather-look synthetic. 2 1⁄2'' heel. With a leather lining and padded insole. Man-made sole. Medium width. Imported.

2006-10-06T10:24:00.000-04:00

itching for a fantastic slew of crafty events?

go see the gals who are spinning the town red this weekend!

(blurb from miss shannon okey...)

Three knit- spin- and crochet- book extravaganzas in Boston and beyond this weekend:

#1 Tonight from 6-8 at Spark Crafts in Davis Square -- craft night with myself & Kim Werker (editor of CrochetMe)

#2 Saturday from 1-4 at Mind's Eye Yarns in Porter Square -- book signings and fiber-get together. Bring your copies of Spin to Knit, Get Hooked, Knitgrrl, Knitgrrl 2, etc to be signed...and your mascot, if you've made one (pattern at the MySpace tour page)

#3 Sunday from 12-5 at WEBS in Northampton -- breast cancer fundraiser and book signing

Kim and I are on book tour for two weeks: monsters of teen craft and I'm also supporting my new spinning book: spin to knit

so we'd love to see you at any or all of the above!

thanks!
Shannon

2006-10-03T00:05:00.000-04:00

the perfect shoe for the season, without getting all up and brit punk 80s houndstoothy: the classic flat in navy.

sumptuous velvet tied sweetly with a bow

splurge: Delman, Evie-V, $268.95

urge: NaNa, Waltz, $78.95

classic minimal modern

splurge: DKNY, Britney, $190.95

urge: N.Y.L.A., Charli, $67.95

smattering of embellishment

splurge: Kate Spade, Party, $398.95

urge: Nina, Nayeli-YF, $82.95

flirty vintage

christine's choice! Jeffrey Campbell, Over, $79.95

2006-10-02T23:05:00.000-04:00

hiiiiiii.

i am so very much looking forward to sneaking into my bedsheets, but i still have a ways to go before the evening is complete. happy jewish new year, and let's roll into october with a fantastically refreshed start...

on to ze photos:

here's a snapshot of the stil boutique on newbury street. i worked part-time sales there throughout september, but nowadays i'm helping betty with her online marketing projectz. look forward to a day when you can shop for her hand-picked danish styles online -- i'll keep you posted! but for now, go poke inside the store; you'll be rewarded with clothes, candy, and caffeine!

this past saturday was *the* most gorgeous day eVAR. i spent it mostly downtown, doing errands, sidewalk-skedaddling, soaking up the last remnants of sunshine. niknak joined me for a sweeping lunch at l'aroma cafe where they make the most adorable (and delicious) caffe lattes. <3 the hearts.

i also dropped by fanny and delphine at the hotel commonwealth and met toronto designer joeffer caoc at the cheese + champagne festooned trunk show. it was my first time in the actual store, and my fav new finds are rundholz (very deconstructed, postmodern, german) and re.set (minimalist but artful italian sportswear). i also re-fell in love with cop-copine, which i initially stumbled upon at the late k ko...

above, a ransacked rundholz sweater and a cop-copine quilted coat (drool...)

here i am, in my first purchase from stil! it is easily my personal favourite piece in the store, and everyone who tries it on (at my insistence) absolutely falls in love. it's by a french label, manoush, with very feminine details and seams. it's like a little countryside jacket or something, and superduper great for layering. let me know if you want to purchase one, i will hook you up!

i just received this tonight from bazaar adriatic, the boxfresh blarbarian jacket. soooo perfect. i originally was introduced to boxfresh from a shirt earlier this year at mainstay karmaloop, just a simple printed tshirt on the sale rack or something, but i've gotten to really like the design elements to the brand. modern street casual, but with a twist of surprising sophistication. this jacket is perfect for the changing seasons and there's even a hidden hoodie, which kills me with cuteness.

in other news, this season my radio show will be airing on wednesday nights from 8-9pm, and my writeup of satinbox is in print tomorrow. respect the dig.

(yawn... the oh-so-inviting pillows... soft, soft...)

stay tuned for monday's shoes.

2006-09-22T11:53:00.000-04:00

so per my blog, this is one area where i could stand to focus myself a bit. (yeah? fashion-artsie-techie-foodie-fanatical me? focus?)

i'm going to try something new, and actually themetize my blog. you can dress up too in genre, costume-party-esque, that's always a thrill.

let's try it out for a month, shall we? my personal interjections will crop up here and there, assuredly.

2006-09-22T09:57:00.000-04:00

ah, life as a freelancer. sitting at the kitchen table, sipping a huge mug of blueberry tea, and working to downtempo. not much to complain about here :) except maybe the fact that it's absolutely FREEZING in the apartment (already time to whip out the handknit socks?) and that, oh, i'm continually reminded that healthcare benefits only go to the fulltime-tied. i'm still working on that one. let us wish for no pedestrian accidents, for this week at least.

speaking of which, i had this bizarre dream last night where i was just about to exit outside (a building? a subway station?) but stopped in my tracks when i noticed numbers of bodies collapsed on the ground. i turned around and asked someone, 'whats going on?' and apparently there was this incredible official group effort to shoot down pretty much everyone walking around for a sanctioned amount of time. apparently i was safe if i stayed indoors, but i was really confused, incredulous, and amazingly freaked out. from the inside looking out, i just cowered and heard the mysterious shots outside and falling bodies. it was as if there were snipers covering every possible coordinant. no explosions, no otherwise war-torn strangeness. merely a quick, strange, silent demise.

so this week has been really great! pick up an issue of the weekly dig if you have a chance; i'm so thrilled to be contributing style clips to pretty much the most brilliant paper publication in boston. check out my writeup on HABIT, and my running total should always be accessible through a search of my name.

i'm also embarking on a fantastic lifestyle production mobile media contract right now. not yet sure how much to disclose in these initial times, but you will definitely here more about it (is that an understatement?) very, very soon. :)

did i mention that i was interviewing with louisboston for a visual merchandising position? fierce fabrication! if you havent been to this place, you must go. the store is pretty much a boutique in the skin of a museum, immaculate, dramatic, postmodern. fantasy and luxury at its finest. i was extremely enthused and surprised that they were interested (it really was one of those 'drop off your resume and we'll call you' kind of circumstances), but unfortunately the work timing and situation wasnt ideal for the immediate moment. however, i'm still very much giddy and pleased! redemption, perhaps, that i am capable of doing what i love and what i want. we shall see if there might be more to mention about this in the future...

apologies i've been blogging most boringly about, well, my stuff, but i'll sort things out and figure out an ideal theme for this forum. i havent knit in weeks, i've been working out in unpublicized nature (can you believe that i'm shrinking?), and i'm thoroughly and professionally encapsulated in boston lifestyle. not to mention sneaking moments back to lab to poke old researchmates and abuse the laser printers. alum perks? ;)

which reminds me, new sans serif. lots of house to get yourself bizzy dancing to. i got an email from a listener in allston who claimed that i 'keep his ipod *on ice* all week long'. i wonder if it ends up melting during those intense venetian snares cum otto von schirach sets that i often get so fond of...

get ready for the boston knitout + crochet on sunday! see you for the free swag and the needle-wielding boston commonites.

more later on tribal bellydancing, cosmestic camaraderie, and michel gondry. à tout a l'heure!

2006-09-11T22:57:00.000-04:00

hi.

i wont go into flourished explanation, but suffice to say, i think there's definitely an inversely proportional relationship between content of this blog and content of my life. (makes you wonder how exciting things were back when i was posting 3x a day...)

as inspired by the new york magazine's daily fashion updates during OMG ITS NEW YORK FASHION WEEK, here are glimpses into my gloriously fabulous life from days past in quadtych. some immediate news-you-can-use, though: what's up with me?

well, i'm still doing homepage graphics for mit's spotlights, but the penultimate venture is working at the newbury location of STIL. you must must must come visit if you're ever strolling the newb. i'll hook you up with the most feminine and modern danish clothes EVAR. the owner betty riaz is fabulous and really knows her schtuff. it's transformative. some of the brands we feature now are manoush (the belted english waistcoast is adorable in a french accent), rützou (lots of embellishments), and get your double-vowel quota in with the clean lines of bruuns bazaar.

captions for the below are pending. updated later in the day, promise. my flickr might lend a clue.

xoxo

2006-09-05T17:24:00.000-04:00

blogging sure feels different on a new macbook. :) pristine, white, and dangerously shiny.

i promise for some photos to come, of dinner at east coast grill, an early evening stopover at the brand-new all-star sandwich bar, and friday's spree of funkyzeit festivities. i have to do some serious flickring and over-due blogging, but i'm sure it'll all be worth it! you'll feel redeemed with the pix of amazing international fashion magazine spreads that i'll share with the internet audience...

new sans serif! you know you want to clicky clicky. hear me completely overpronounce french names and hear the next best zero 7 remix this side of the pond. i got to revisit some old favourite artists with new stuff, including portishead, bt (you have no idea how obsessed i was with mister brian transeau), and basement jaxx.

btw, since i'm starting out on a clean slate with my computer, i'm wondering if i should change rss newsreaders. on my other machine, i used rssowl exclusively, a generally robust and open source application, despite its strange quirks to abort abruptly while losing a lot of recent changes since the last official application launch. however, i may be up for something new, either browser-, web-, or standalone-based. any strong feelings toward one or another? thanks!

2006-08-30T13:34:00.000-04:00

caught this article in today's Denver Post on internet curators who select interesting [consumed knowledge]-of-the-day for taste-minded internet visitors. there's plenty of featured categories, from music and poetry to art and films, hand-selected by curators/editors who give their authoritative electronically-published stamp of approval. it's the most general definition of dailycandy:

The Internet brings news about music, films, books and other art forms 24/7. But there's so much information out there it's impossible to sort through and separate the wheat from the Milli Vanillis. Now Internet arts curators are trying to help.

"People are barraged with so many things constantly, and they're looking for something great everyday," said Scott Blum. "Because there's so much they're trying to weed through, curation is becoming very, very important."

That, he believes, explains the growth of "... of the day" arts sites, which select a single song, movie, poem, film, book, photograph, etc., to highlight each weekday. They are like the popular Page-a-Day desk calendars.

But because they occupy virtual rather physical space and are free, it's not uncommon for Internet users to consult several each day. And they can feature music and video samples. Many but not all notify their fans via daily e-mail alerts.

what's brought up in this article is not wholy surprising, but it describes a phenomenon that really connects strongly to urbanhermes. it would be interesting to see if people could find affinity to others within a proximate location who also subscribe to the same poem-of-the-day site, or trust the same network of internet curators. in an infospace teeming with ridiculous amounts of information, it's useful to have some central distributors (hubs, portals, authorities) of knowledge that can unite like-minded consumers of taste.

it's truly fitting that i got notified of this article through my own subscription to a music-news-of-the-day via the dailychord of south by southwest.

2006-08-29T14:34:00.000-04:00

say hi to a new me.

(we're always renewing. resetting systems, to zero out, finally letting the pendulum swing still.)

i'm having a get-together at my place this friday to celebrate pretty much every reason imaginable, so if you're around and want the deets, please message me and i'll hook you up.

another cool thing to do on friday (aside from giving me a high five) is a live performance by final fantasy at p.a.'s lounge in union square. this is a ridiculously cool event, put on by none other than stacie of critique of pure reason.

i've been enamoured with owen pallett (a.k.a. final fantasy) since bill arning raved about him back in the day, and he poos clouds enjoys being on rotation on my radio show in the past couple months. i am so kicking myself that i cannot attend the show because of my own shindig, but you should stop by my place before or after the performance, and hopefully post-show he + stacie swing by as well!

check out other awesome upcoming shows on the critique schedule. my eye's on geoff mullen.

2006-08-28T19:54:00.000-04:00

how do you pronounce plaid? rhymes with sad, or rhymes with shade? (no cheating via OED...)

find out by listening to tonight's weekly sonic extravaganza of sans serif. it's a ridiculously hot mix this week. i am in love with the new album in the station, the clear presents twisted love songs japanese import. the colour space cover art gives me a warm, HSV-induced tingle.

2006-08-28T14:22:00.000-04:00

despite all suspicions, i'm still poking about in cambridge. writing, writing, writing. i'm reveling in my last moments at the media lab, while still looking forward to all the exciting things to come.

dear readers, if you have any or at all potential opportunities for me as a writer, designer, or producer pertaining to things along the lines of fashion, lifestyle, art, or technology, please don't hesitate to drop a line. i think the amateur gourmet ("HIRE ME!") says it best. you know, i wouldn't necessarily mind finding a job that involved intense moments of creative gastronomic pleasures, either... ;)

wicked wet weekend, from the downright chilly downpour on friday to yesterday's chill(y) session. saturday was the sandwiched climate highlight, the glossy egg between slices of boston brown bread. with the perfect balance of sunshine and breeze, i've deemed it the most glorious day of the whole year. i spent lots of time making errand treks, making pepparkakor dough, and spending a fantastic girl-date in davis square. (yep, watched devil wears prada a second time. of course, i still cried every other scene.) friday night i went with a roomie and friend to the st. anthony's feast in north end. to sum up, there was a lot of music, dancing, food, and food, and food, and... well, yeah.

some highlights...

saints, dollah bills, and bright, bright lights.

too-hip-for-its-own-good, but tasty enough, gelateria (note the superfluous color-changing LED wall...) the limoncello was unpalatably sweet, but thumbs up to the creamy green kiwi and pistachio flavours.

all hail konditor meister! it was a mind-blowing array of gorgeous pastries, from flourless chocolate mini-cakes to hazelnut toffee meringue tarts, for $1 each. $1. each. i had a tiny nibble of both christie's and lauren's treats, but man, this was the biggest steal of eternity.

speaking of cakes and such, i'm turning 24 tomorrow! that's such a nice, even, easily-factorable number, though i do enjoy being prime from time to time. i remember when growing up my bdays were always celebrated with swimming parties at the nearby pool. lots of crazy diving and going down the water slide, and then followed up with cake and ice cream (sometimes at once, thanks to baskin robbins and their brilliant combination of both desserts) at home. underneath the backyard gazebo and a mylar banner, my parents would look on as we gazillion kids in bathing suits went to town, yelping with freshly sugared stomachs.

we'll see how this one turns out.

two more tidbits:

maybe i've been out of the loop-d-loop, but has anyone noticed that there's an IHOP moving into harvard square? i would have killed for waffles at 4am as a student, but now that i have a more grand perspective i hope that the nearby local diners dont suffer for it. zoe's, prevail!

my lurvely new bag for my incoming macbook. i've been hunting for a while (longer than i'd care to admit), but they were all either too simple, too geeky, too girly for girliness' sake, too expensive, poorly constructed, or underdesigned. this one i picked up at luna boston, my favourite place to caress bags, and the brand matt + nat foremost makes wonderfully designed accessories. they happen to be vegan-friendly as well, which is an extra bonus on top of everything. i'm a convert to this montréal-based label, and it's just the most perfect blend of euro-chic minimal structured substance. i couldnt ask for anything better.

i'm waiting until the last possible minute to purchase a new personal laptop, since i want to take advantage of my educational discount but wish to anticipate any upgrades or price differentials that may come with the merom / core 2 duo processor upgrade in the next month. ah, gotta love moore's law for making any large electronics purchase an intense strategy game in optimizing and timing.

niknak came back yesterday after a glorious european conference cum vacation. bars of slovenian chocolate, glossy italian fashion magazines, and heartwrenchingly beautiful accounts of bolognese feasts ensued.

plus, dishing details on the awesomeness of canopied scooters:

happy, safe and sound.

2006-08-21T23:07:00.000-04:00

hi hi.

i'm not a huge stasher, but the time has come. i am selling some of my yarn. :) first come first serve! everything is all new and coming from a pet-free, smoke-free environment.

1.

SOLD!

debbie bliss alpaca silk
80% baby alpaca, 20% silk
colour 08, a golden buttery apricot (all same dyelot)
10 skeins x 50 gr = 500 gr

this is *seriously* the softest yarn EVAR. really. trust me. it's like a cuddly baby alpaca right in your hands.

asking for $55 or best offer.

2.

SOLD!

jo sharp silkroad aran tweed
85% Wool, 10% Silk & 5% Cashmere
colour 124 jewel, a rich berry (all same dyelot)
10 skeins x 50 gr = 500 gr

be a tweed fiend. it's very rowan-like.

this yarn is now sold under queensland kathmandu aran tweed.

asking for $55 or best offer.

3.

SOLD!

mission falls 1824 cotton
100% cotton
colour 420, "sea" (dyelot 40212)
2 skeins x 50 gr = 100 gr
colour 104, "sand" (dyelot 28254)
1 skeins x 50 gr = 50 gr

i could see these being used as awesome dishcloths, stripe accents, or knitted toys! rowr.

asking for $10 or best offer.

please comment or email [ me {at} cmliu {dot} com ] if you're interested in any of the above. i'm willing to negotiate - and i'll throw in shipping for free. thanks everyone!

2006-08-21T22:02:00.000-04:00

get a sweetsourness of margarita (re)mix with the latest edition of sans serif.

i playfully tossed a little coconut into the cherry trees; after a pinch of tuff love it's cut deftly with the knife.

a splendid little recipe for disaster.

are you ready? salt your rims and go for a listen.

2006-08-21T15:41:00.000-04:00

after a sleepy, RESfest-y bus ride, this morning i finally crossed the borders and safely channeled my way into boston.

suffice to say, it was a wonderful weekend. in a nutshell, i can say maine is gorgeous in the season, organic food tastes waaaay better here, and you *must* see little miss sunshine with friends. alyssa and arlen (and the menagerie of feathers and fur) were lovingly hospitable. beyond that, details forthcoming. here are some photos to tease and tide you over in the meantime...

evocative, no? either that or seductively savoury. :)

i cant believe i will only have two more weeks at mit! i'm done my thesis but i'm technically still a research assistant until the end of august. by the way, if you get yourself to a bookseller or magazine stand (independently run, preferably), see if you spot the last-last-last issue of PC magazine, the august 8, 2006 issue. it sports a blue cover and the story is the future of tech: 10 amazing technologies that will change your life. the cover story is titled the 10 coolest technologies you've never heard of and guess what?

urbanhermes is one of them!

it's listed as viral fashion. i would be totally oblivious of the news if it were not for one of my friends, who admitted he was flipping through it while at the airport the last week or so and spotted the shoutout. yay! it was a big proud moment. :) never mind that the article text itself is a rehash of an older writeup and that my name is not mentioned, but nevertheless i was pleasantly surprised! and strangely... vindicated. in any case, rah rah smg!

in other, completely unrelated news, this is my lust object of the day:

could. they. be. any. cuter?

spy the fornarina 5720 mina. i am tickled that they come in metallic blackberry leather. *swoon* mmm, i think i could use some vitamin c...

2006-08-20T12:22:00.000-04:00

right now i am sitting on a chair upholstered in velvet, surrounded by cooing birds and a endless amounts of wood, with a cup of dean + deluca earl grey tea on my knee and the ripples of a lake about twenty feet away. i'm living in spoilt rural style on the cusp of waterville on the cusp of augusta on the cusp of portland, maine. and did i mention the mellow chocolate lab with sleepy eyes named ella? *wag wag*

i'm here just for a weekend vaca with my friend alyssa and her consort arlen, whose folks live up here. it's been so picturesque and dreamy, with the organic milk (by maine cows, moo) composing the most perfect morning café con leche and local blueberries in the fridge. yesterday 'lys and i hit stylish downtown portland and briefly visited the wild, freaky consumerist village of freeport (with the l.l. bean mothership herself!). i'll have pix on flickr soon, but my fav store was this place milo portland, a small independent boutique hosting emerging designers such as they're house brand milo in maine and canada-grown the people have spoken. a very charming used bookstore and café casco bay books adjoins the space. i loved these shirts, and snagged one up:

organic and abstract, very hipster à la maine.

i'll indulge with more news later; we're about to head out the door to watch little miss sunshine on this very much not-sunshiny-at-all day. droopy and grey and very inviting for curling up with a book.

however, two small tidbits.

i just designed a tshirt for wmbr; it'll be given out to new students during orientation and flaunted all over the station.

lemme know if you want me to hoard one for you ;)

also, i am re-falling in love with trashy diva, a vintage-inspired high-end boutique in new orleans. i actually visited the store, years before the whole katrina disaster -- glad to know they're still in business.

super sweet and oh-so red hot.

p.s. portland has a scandanavian specialty store that has everything marimekko and moomin troll. needless to say, i was in umlaut and double vowel heaven.

2006-08-16T11:21:00.000-04:00

greetings!

so i've been in a complex state of euphoria, anticipation, fervor, and languor since friday. thought it's not so clear exactly why... let me see, nothing really happened lately except

I TURNED IN MY THESIS!! w00t++!

at approximately 10:28am on 2006.08.11, i had my two copies of double-sided archival madness complete with signatures and plenty godspeed, finessed into the hands of the powers that be. the tears and sweat and espresso drips were surprisingly invisible.

but not to me. ;)

it was a glorious day. perfect. the weather beamed. i skipped on the sidewalk. i actually found myself smiling in public. it was great.

if you feel really*and*truly compelled, you can read my thesis online [pdf] right here. as a teaser, i can readily confess that if you read carefully you'll find referential nuggets such as the knitted Ferrari, Marc Jacobs, frosted cupcakes at Magnolia, and the word 'beyotch'. don't say i didnt warn you. :)

here's a list of memorable things i did post-glory-moment, through the weekend and beyond:

1. celebrated with nick over dinner at oleana!

i have to confess that despite the fact that i have lived in cambridge for six years (wowee) i had never been to oleana, gastronomic gem, headed by ana sortun (the spice queen). it was definitely a treat and niknak and i shared the most wonderful evening. we waited for a table on the patio (worth the wait), perched on the bar. the drinks (i had a ginger-sake fizzy thing, glimmering in the palest pink) were delightful, though the bartender was a little too slap-dash for us, the clear bourgeousie. no matter, despite the spills my drink was pink. :)

we got seated at our table and nestled among the flourishing greens and happy eating people. (the best people, imho.) there was a cute little potted herb plant on the table, which i fondly named 'poppy' as i patted her green leafy head. we started with the armenian bean and walnut paté, which was lovely and complex, especially when spread on tiny cubes of yummy focaccia. next were light bites of fried mussels, with some surprising peppers in the batter, and drizzled with a fine white sauce which i later learned was made from almonds, lemon juice, garlic, and white wine. i really liked the lettuce underneath it all (is eating the garnish a faux pas?), being soaked in yummy mussely goodness. next we shared a salad (i forget what it's called, but the one that's like tiny curried noodles with chickpeas and wilted greens) and the turkish lamb. i would love to come back because OMG THE LAMB WAS AMAZING. we had it done medium-rare, and the crust of the meat was soooo delicious. i wanted to cry. there was also part of dish with ground lamb, sort of like the insides of moussaka. a savoury mound of tastiness.

once we got the dessert menu, although i do love me some chocolate-mint and creamy-whatever, i just cant ever resist anything flavoured with rose. we got the rose and currant sharbat, which was the most precious and perfect ending imaginable. a tiny glass housed the sharbat (basically sherbet, but a little thinner) which just powed your mouth with intense fruity rose. on the side was a bit of creme custard housed inside a crisp ROSE-FLAVOURED meringue shell. i think i almost died. fresh currants and raspberries dotted the plate. i think it was heaven. i think nick was amused at how easy i am amused. our meal spanned day to dusk, and we left the patio bathed in moonlight. it was so happy.

2. partied with a few good friends!

the same night, a bunch of friends were celebrating the last few moments of their apartment house before it gets demolished by the new mit landowners. it was great to just relax, feel pretty, go on a roof, meet some new people, see some old people. no marshmallow roasting this time, but the basement discotheque still beckoned.

3. have been keeping healthy and happy!

i've been keeping on a good regime for the past two weeks or so, running a few miles every other day and doing the bar method the others. august is like my rejuvenation period, so i want to keep myself in shape. if you wish to follow my very egocentric (in the dear-diary sense) fitness blog, it's here. but basically its just trying to sustain a balanced lifestyle. the weather has been spot-on gorgeous, which definitely helps! hear that, boston? keep it up!

4. put holes in my head!

so i've revisited the earring thing, and i just came to the conclusion that i'm ready. before saturday, i have had nonpierced ears for all my life. i just never got it done. but i've been doing the clip-on thing on and off this summer, and i LOVE the look. i love the accessorizing freedom! but clip-on earrings either (1) are too tight and make your lobes hurt, and (2) are comfy but can fall off at any given moment. the clasp-via-friction isn't the most secure thing. this happens with both clip and screw-back findings, i've discovered.

here i am with clip-ons custom designed by green tangerine. they are just perfect! so anyway, i love earrings. clip-on earrings dont really love me on a consistent basis. so on saturday i got holes done at 'the jewelry store' in downtown crossing. they had a little better (i.e. not cheesy) selection than claire's, and the assistant was really helpful. (you have to give some credit to the clip-ons; she originally thought i wanted second holes done because the dangly clip-ons i had looked pierced!). i got these matte silver stars; no bling, please.

so now i'm doing the rubbing alcohol thing. patience is not one of my immediate virtues, but hopefully this next month of cleaning the holes and keeping the earrings in (training studs?) will go by quickly so i can have some fun. just four weeks...

5. felt ambiguously adventurous about the new fall look!

so i have to admit, i did a lot of roaming and window shopping this weekend. i was looking for some stylish dresses and skirts. i went to H+M and i am just *not* feeling the whole plaid, 80's brit punk rock aesthetic. it looks pretty trendy, so trendy i think the trend died already. i've getting tired of bold black-and-light stripes, and the oversized herringbone and houndstooth things (especially in bold colours) will be incredibly dated. i do have to say i love the look of soft, ruched leather bags. i like the round toe over the pointy toe (at least for my style), but i still think it's kind of unnatural looking. too cutesy, maybe. i think i prefer the more natural toe curve, a peep toe, a vintage silhouette, a ballet flat. something not so... geometric.

i stepped into the GAP in central square and asked if they had any dresses. can you believe there were ZERO dresses in the store? and like, one skirt, which was a denim pencil? i guess the look is more sporty prep. eh. though, i noticed in general that sweater dresses are back. *gag*. all i can say is itchy, droopy, unflattering, and sweltering. there.

can i have kara janx? now?

6. got a glimpse of the life of a nyc editor!

on sunday i got to meet a really fun and creative person who writes, edits, and produces in the magazine publishing biz in new york. she was in cambridge for the weekend. i showed her around campus and (marveling at the saarinen and gehry), and i got to learn some bits about her work experience. it was a good eye-opener to actually talk with a professional (she loved the devil wears prada and confessed, 'that was pretty accurate to my first few jobs') and to educate and inspire my next personal steps.

7. actually knit some stitches!

a work in progress using the luscious raspberry-tinged alchemy bamboo yarn from my AMAZING one skein secret pal! here's the free pattern i'm using for the razor shell lace scarf. it's basically a subway project, despite the fact the stitches are as slippery as sin. the little red rubber sock point protectors definitely come in handy. :) it's delciously soft and slinky!

8. renewed my love for harvard and trident bookstores!

if you come to boston, you must not miss the harvard bookstore (not to be confused with the harvard coop) and trident bookstore with its free wi-fi and comfy coffee-friendly booths. that is all.

9. went rock climbing! plus bonus roommate bonding!

my roommate regularly goes to a climbing gym, and last night i went with her to try it for the first time! the place, metrorock, is apparently one of the best climbing gyms around. i have to confess it takes sooooooo long to get there and back, since it's in the warehouse district of everett. taking public transportation there takes about an hour. one way. nver mind that driving would probably be a 15 minute ride.

i learned the ropes (ha) and got to climb! the place is enormous, with colourful nubs and bits scattered all over the rock walls, and people dangling in harnesses from everywhere. it was definitely like walking on another planet! the first thing i thought was that awful zion stuff in the matrix. although, this luckily had bright lights, fun people, and a/c. :)

you have to get over your fear of heights really quickly because you scale walls that are around 40 feet high. i learned all the knots and belaying skills, but nothing really preps you for how your first climb feels. i knew enough that you use your legs for power up more than arms pulling up, but as i slowly crept higher and higher, i looked down and sweat like the dickens. you're held secure by rope and someone's taking up your slack, but it's ridiculously different than anything i've ever done before. when i finally reached the top, i'm like 35 feet high and peering down below. so then they have me ready to rappel down. i cant tell you how much trust i had to bestow on my rope / harness / knot to just lean back, suspend, and let go. it was incredible.

after the first go, i felt more and more comfortable. i think as time goes by you really just know how things feel, and how secure the rope system really is. but there definitely is a risk factor (when you go climb, the waiver form is like 5 pages long and you have to keep signing off to not hold the gym liable... IF YOU DIE! it's legalese, i know, but still spine-tingling). there's a palpable risk, since you have to trust someone else with your life as you tool up, but i think it just comes naturally.

it's definitely worth another visit, for me or for anyone! it's a very friendly, social, and supportive vibe, and all i can say is that the climber's physique is very, very attractive for both sexes. good to know.

10. coddled up the courage to sit and compose this intense, composite writeup!

yay and hooray.

so yes, there you have the explanation for why this blog has of late become dreadfully stale. but close your eyes and keep eating -- i think it still has some taste in it. ;)

2006-08-10T18:17:00.000-04:00

so close i can almost taste it.

2006-08-09T14:57:00.000-04:00

waitaminutewaitaminutewaitaminute.

where are the valley girls?

read this article on web 2.0 rockstars, and it'll all make sense. plus, check out the slide show. there's not one female, except for a ponytailed chick used as a styling implement.

[um...]

from the title of the article (Valley Boys) to the overwhelming hetero-male culture ("Rose was mobbed by fans and even photographed signing a pretty brunette's cleavage"), what is up with that?

cheers to mena trott for six apart, but the gender disparity is just soooo ridiculous. i wonder why that is... maybe because women have something better to do than code 24/7 and throw everything (money, relationships, pride) down the tube for profit? i dont want to do reverse sexism here, but i'm just trying to figure this out.

"These aren't the khaki-clad MBA dropouts that clogged Highway 101 six years ago. They're the geeks who write code because they love tech and the Internet. "

i doubt any of the ladies were khaki-clad, ahem.

btw, shameless name-dropping: i lived in the same dorm as mark zuckerberg (of facebook fame) and was taking the same mathematics class as him (math152 methods of discrete mathematics with paul bamberg; best. class. ever.) when he was coding up facebook alpha. i was in the midst of a web 2.0 rockstar, whoaaa! i knew him when!

. . .

back to work. here's a pic of a well-dressed finn (from HEL looks) to distract you (thanks danielle!):

2006-08-09T00:00:00.000-04:00

oh yeah, check this out. it's a summer smg project. log in to chitchatclub for the deets. btw, yours truly illustrated and designed the website. :)

Chit Chat Club
is now live

In a cafe in downtown San Jose, three inhabitable sculptures sit at
tables, waiting to be brought to life.

One is an undulating form, another a chair just starting its
metamorphosis into human form, and the third is a giant spoon.

Be one.
http://chitchatclub.org

WHEN:
August 7-13
8am to 10pm Pacific Time

WHERE:
ISEA Interactive Cafe, San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose, CA

and/or
http://chitchatclub.org

2006-08-08T23:43:00.000-04:00

i had this massive plan to compose three witty, amusing, thorough blog posts tonight. it was my reward after i completed today's tasks of completing my system diagram figures and getting screenshots without crashing the nokia 770s (no small feat!)

but speaking of feet, tonight i managed to get a monstrous, nontrivial splinter--nay, shard--lodged in my foot from a jagged grain within my apartment's hardwood floors. i was just skeddadling from the kitchen to the bathroom (barefoot, like one should be free to do so indoors) when i felt a sharp pain, like i stepped on some sharp bits or glass or small particles. i scanned the floor with my hands and eyes, feeling nothing, and then glanced at the bottom of my foot. it was scratched about two inches, and only after further inspection and lots of painful prodding did i realize that the gash line was actually an entire splinter that had gone straight through.

i tried coaxing it out on my own, but i feared either massive pain, infection, or fainting with regards to my own mini-surgery. i couldn't walk without gouging it even further.

thanks to sam and his father's quirky sedan, i got a ride to mit medical on campus where i got most of it extracted by a doctor's deft forceps and received the most painful pain-relief (ironic) serum via administered syringe. all i can say is, any shot through the soles of your feet (one of the most sensitive parts of the body) is probably one of the most dire things you could ever survive. though i'm not particularly needle-phobic, i screamed so loud from the pain that sam, in the waiting room, could identify me.

anyway, long story short, i'm back at home, with a fresh tetanus shot, and wearing house shoes inside until further notice. exhausted, and pretty much wanting to do nothing except snooze and pretend this whole thing didnt happen.

dont worry, i called the landlady. she better remedy this before another crippling incident strikes again...

2006-08-07T21:47:00.000-04:00

ooh la. guess what, ladies and gentlemen?

the 40th episode of sans serif aired tonight. i invite you to lap it up, drink in the remix, and clean the rest from your whiskers.

only a couple more weeks of the wmbr summer schedule, after which i officially become an alumni station member. ooh, the perks, the perks. well, maybe not really. but i love love producing radio. i hope wherever i go, i'll have the opportunity to do some non-commercial broadcasting on the sideline, if anything to keep myself up on the underground...

i love this

2006-08-07T16:10:00.000-04:00

i love this
Originally uploaded by SwanDiamondRose.

think i could pull this off? she's one of my flickr friends, just because i like her vintage style. the dress is on sale on ebay for $14.99. the colour in the silk (100%!) is killer, i'm just wondering about the waist business, if the gathering would look horrific on me.

it's so modern and clean, very euro.

2006-08-07T12:30:00.000-04:00

bits of curiosity have gotten the better of me this morning. i offer two simple questions:

1

why is kitkat in america manufactured by hersheys chocolate...

while everywhere else in the world it is made by nestlé?

2

how come asian chocolate snack websites

are so ridiculously amazing? there are like toppo-puppies and kitkat i-sticks and pine cream flavoured pocky. i think in the battle of east vs. west, i think there is no contest. we must surrender now.

2006-08-06T21:38:00.000-04:00

i always do this.

i have this backlog of bloggable items that rack up in my brain. i think i'm up to 4 or 5 or 82401 to my gills now. things that occur to me when i'm walking down newbury street (dodging the sunglasses glamazons and furry white dogs underfoot), or when the store i desperately seek is suddently and unexcusably gone (am i the last to know that harnetts, featuring natural / organic / holistic goods, went out of business?). i saw the devil wears prada yesterday and pretty much cried (of empathy and delight and drama) throughout the whole thing, and did a fair share of domus-cleansing, city-slicking, and horizon-peering this weekend.

i had this backlogish issue when i was (was! was! see that, past tense! hee!) writing my thesis... when i set myself to write, i have a ginormous amount of ideas i want to spew out as text. things that i hear in my head (yes, the voices), the phrasings, the turn of phrase or witty double entendre or the structure or the internal flow. it's all inside, ready to be poured out like a big bad batch of chocolate fudge. however, somehow i want to write everything all at once in a simultaneous haze, but i cant, because i have to go word by word, and then the bottleneck grows fuzz and i end up with a hoover dam of thought. irrigation is the trick, perhaps, but i suppose the best i can do is just drop the baggage and get typing already...

anyway, remember the stash of vintage finds i got from that neighborhood yard sale a month or so ago? tucked among them was the HOSTESS GUIDE from JELL-O gelatin circa 1967. it's a pack of cards in a paper sleeve, probably something you sent away for with a couple of UPCs and a stamp, with lots of handy 'tips' for winning hostesses on index cards. i thought it'd be fun to go through all 35 tips, one each day. i dont have a scanner handy, so apologies for the snapshotty quality. however, i may get creative as time goes on. so remember, if you want to know how to plan a discothèque for the younger set, you'll just have to come back to visit my blog through the next couple weeks. :) i personally am looking forward to the kaffee klatsch...

and so we commence... i will also type out the text for search engine's sake.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

JELL-O GELATIN'S HOSTESS GUIDE [General Foods Kitchens]

The thirty menus, the recipes, the tips on planning and serving, the suggestions for decorating and entertaining that you will find on these cards are intended to make entertaining your family and friends easier and more enjoyable for you.

No doubt you'll make changes in the menus, substitute your own recipes for some of ours, adapt these situations to suit your own occasions, but we hope it will all add up to happier hospitality... with lots of help from Jell-O Gelatin!

Table of Contents:

[2] Your Party Plan, Table Settings
[3] Table Decorations, Flower Arrangements

HOLIDAY HOSPITALITY
[4] New Year's Eve Open House
[5] Valentine Party for Teen-Agers
[6] Holiday Brunch
[7] Halloween Hi-Jinks
[8] Thanksgiving Dinner
[9] Christmas Tree-Trimming Party

FAMILY AFFAIRS
[10] Birthday Party for Preschoolers
[11] Birthday Party for a Teen-Ager
[12] Company Dinner
[13] Father's Day
[14] Dinner on Trays
[15] Picnic "On the Road"

INFORMAL GET-TOGETHERS
[16] Sunday Night Supper
[17] Welcome Aboard
[18] Father Rules the Roast
[19] Shower for the Bride
[20] Card Club Luncheon
[21] Come for Dessert and Coffee

SPECIAL OCCASION
[22] Dinner for the Gourmet
[23] The Beautiful Buffet
[24] Guest Luncheon
[25] Christening Tea
[26] Birthday Party for an Adult
[27] Wedding Anniversary Dinner

ENTERTAINING FOR A CROWD
[28] Discothèque for the Younger Set
[29] Prom Night Party
[30] Wedding Reception at Home
[31] Family Reunion
[32] Church Supper
[33] Kaffee Klatsch
[34] Cakes that Rise to the Occasion
[35] Party Frostings
[36] Coffee -- Plain and Fancy
[37][38] Index

The recipes for all menu items preceded by an asterisk are given on these cards.

7845 General Foods Corporation Printed in U.S.A. 1st Edition 1967

Your Party Plan

Basic recipe for a party: take good food, a cup of cheer, a warm welcome, and congenial guests; spice with interesting conversation, fun, and games; blend thoroughly and serve on an auspicious occasion.

We plead guilty to oversimplification, but you, too, can simplify your party-giving with a detailed plan. Put it all down on a big sheet of paper. Study these Hostess Guide menus and recipes; then adapt them to your particular situation. As each recipe is chosen, put down its name and the correct card number. Go over each recipe, listing just what you must buy and when you will need it. Don't forget garnishes, sugar and cream, condiments, flowers -- every smallest item. Check linen, china, and silver. Plan table decorations.

Now list what is to be done each day, from preparing each item of food to filling the salt and pepper shakers. Have an hourly schedule on the day itself, including tasks you have delegated to others, and keep everyone strictly to it. As each task is completed, check it off.

Knowing that you have everything under control is the most important factor in the success of your party -- even you can relax and enjoy it.

Table Settings

TWO WAYS TO SET A BUFFET TABLE

Card tables or tray tables can be set up with linen, silver, salt and pepper, butter, and rolls; or guests can eat from trays on their laps. Leave room near serving dishes for guests to put their dishes down on the table while serving themselves. Arrange dessert on side table, or when first course has been cleared away, arrange dessert, plates, and silver on buffet. Or pass trays of desserts to seated guests.

[fig. Away from the wall] [fig. Against the wall]

FORMAL TEA FOR A LARGE GROUP

Set the tea table for two-way traffic if possible, with similar plates of sandwiches and cake on both sides. Have tea set up at one end, coffee at the other, with a hostess presiding at each to serve the guests.

/ / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / /

hope that'll give you an introductory taste. i already can sense the pretension, the tone, the ever-so-slight push toward getting all the ingredients at the ready, including, oh, well, let's just say... JELL-O. so stay tuned for lots of gelatinous hostessing to come.

p.s. i find the archaic spelling of teen-ager to be strangely captivating...

2006-08-06T09:20:00.000-04:00

clarification -- my birthday has not yet come to pass! the last-last post with the kara janx dress was only in anticipation of my actual birthdate, which is august 29. (i only pulled the birthday bit because there is no other method in which i could ever acquire that dress... expensively beautiful!)

any guesses how old i will be? :D

2006-08-06T09:07:00.000-04:00

i love catmum (my one skein pal) for many, many reasons! (pix of loot to come...) however, my life has not been the same since her introduction to me of...

MAKING FIENDS!

(and accordingly, muffin films and big bunny)

the animations are amazingly good (she worked for a spell at south park, it seems), and the muffin film series basically comprised her mfa animation thesis at ucla animation workshop. i haven't (yet) watched all the episodes from the three series, but i feel this is my new, cutesified, emily-the-strange-esque homestar runner. in short, lots of bits of flash-driven amusement.

may i not have a big muffin (ok, i can settle for a bunny) as part of my thesis too?

2006-08-04T15:27:00.000-04:00

today's lust object:

a dress for my birthday? hee.

go kara!

2006-08-03T12:13:00.000-04:00

i just snagged this gorgeous mod print from winmil yesterday for $2.98 / yd! they're really slashing prices on spring prints, so i'd jump on that. they also seem to carry a small selection (like 3 patterns, 2 colourways apiece) of cotton broadcloth (around the bend, near the neon nylon and shiny denims) that's a bit more modern for things like pillows or skirts or handbags.

this was the last 2 yards of the cutting. i really want to make a sassy little dress with this... any suggestions on patterns?

just looking online brieflly i found halter dress from mccalls, and similarly this halter dress and dvf-esque wrap dress from simplicity. my first issue is... i dont have enough fabric as called for on those patterns (i have 2 yards of a 50" wide piece, and i would need to make the 36" bust size). my second issue is... i like these styles but would probably more likely wear something that's bra-friendly. (you know what i mean.) i'd rather not get tangled in whatever contraption that's necessary to wear backless things. but what i like is the vintagey silhouette. simple but subtle.

please let me know of good sources, or a particular pattern you may have in mind. i'm also wondering if 2 yards is just cutting it way too close for a dress... hopefully i can do it!

* * * * * *

my cutie-pie nara. it was her time to go.

i will miss her.

2006-08-02T20:46:00.000-04:00

you know you're in boston when you step into a fabric store and you overhear the saleslady say yea, so you want a yaaaaaaaaaaahd of this?

:)

by the way, i officially DESPISE the T. i was tempted to write a how do i hate thee, let me count the ways ode to the mismanaged labyrinth of doom this morning after suffering the T's woes on seriously the hottest day ever, but man, i was too exhausted to do it. the occasion will come 'round, i'm sure.

that is one thing i will not miss if i ever leave boston. probably the only thing. for a commuter and the mbta, it's less of a love hate thing and more of an abusive relationship, if you ask me...

2006-08-02T00:03:00.000-04:00

just coming up for air...

a checklist, for those who are curious:

seriously, when do you graduate?
within two weeks!

how's the thesis?
i've already waltzed through the denial, depression, deliberating, drilling, and drafting. now is just detailing and soon, delight! i have my paper out to my readers, and i should be able to finalize everything soon.

where will you go next?
not sure... i'm not formally constrained. wherever life takes me... boston, new york, san francisco, LA, chicago, washington dc, london; it's all up for grabs!

get a job yet?
it's going... there will be news when there is news!

crafty recently?
i have a couple pokey subway knitting projects but it's too hot to even fathom fabric. i do have a CPU cozy on my plate to do this week for ISEA. check out the website i did for smg's project, chitchatclub. anything other than that is seriously on hold.

random goodness?
this pop beauty ribbon gloss from sephora is the best lip gloss ever. so smooth and non sticky and oh-so-portable. i purchased 'red ribbons', and i even helped the store staff sort out the confusing display with the mismatched color labels. for those into modular systems and press-fit (oh yeah!), the jouer packaging is really innovative. however, talk about expensive! $18 for a single lego-sized cosmetic is not exactly pocket change. i wish the prices were more conducive to collecting, configuring, and matching... then i'd be more likely to mix and play...

2006-07-26T00:33:00.000-04:00

i took this survey in the name of simplicity and got this clever little badge. join in for the sake of science...

2006-07-25T19:20:00.000-04:00

i got a sampler!

june/july edition, baby. i've been waiting for this hot-snatch-from-the-oven opportunity for a while. package of handcrafted goodness will be at my door sooooon.... a deserving reward, i would hope.

[plus, how cute is this?] mystic owl notecards at snailmail creations.

2006-07-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

nothing like swedish bunnies, robots, and a limerick to start the day!

[j'aime diesel sweeties]

2006-07-25T00:52:00.000-04:00

despite the fact that i find nothing more comforting than a soft pillow under my cheek, i sometimes wish that sleep didnt exist. too much stuff i need and want to do, and yet the sun persists to rise and fall to the diurnal cycles. i am wide-eyed awake and can probably work for a good few hours, but i know full well that taking bites off the sleep cycle is *not* the best thing to do when, oh, one's graduate thesis is on the line. [all-nighters aren't what they used to be.]

so yes, tomorrow and its corresponding joy + sorrow awaits with biting anticipation. but some news before i snooze...

numéro un!

i designed these personal business cards (with matching website, and knowing me, probably a handbag down the line) and received the box from the printers last week. i had the most challenging yet exhilarating time trying to come up with my title. i am very happy with them, though i might go with a local offset printer for the next batch. i think creative cognoscente fits me really well... if you'd like me to elaborate, please feel free to contact me!

numéro deux!

more career gearing-uppage... i've joined the legions of socially networked professionals at linked in. you may check out my (ever-updating) profile on the sidebar, and can also click that big blue button above. the site actually seems pretty helpful, kind of like an industry goldmine (fleck fleck), recruiting cocktail party, and traces of friendster all in one. no flirting though; that little fact i could safely discern. :)

numéro trois!

new sans serif for tonight; listen your tender pink brains out. the theme is remixes in the front, party in the back. in essence, don't get too comfy with your oh-so-adorable postal service, when cut chemist is right around the corner to knock some turntabling sense into you. tussled hair is in, anyway.

enjoy, rinse, repeat, and sleep.

2006-07-23T23:03:00.000-04:00

miss japan was robbed!

okay, that's enough of me caring about this...

but her national costume is *completely* on fire.

d00d. this chick will make it far with that sword.

2006-07-23T21:41:00.000-04:00

simultaneous blogging and watching the miss universe pagaent! don't be hatin'... it's only because of the *intense* project runway tie-ins... nick verreos (season 2) designs a gown for nancy o'dell, host; santino rice (season 2) is one of the judges; and kayne gillaspie (season 3) designs the evening gown for miss usa! project runway fevah, for sure...

now, as the swimsuit competition commences....

on friday night, i somehow managed to wheedle nick into joining me for a tango lesson + milonga on campus. ;) orkan and arzu are already tango enthusiasts, and invited us to join. now, i have always been a tango freak in spirit, and i took a year or so of classes and workshops back in college with my friend, carlos. we would practice on the sidewalks of harvard square, tango in the entryways in front of amused onlookers in our dorm. i love love love tango music, and desperately hope to travel to buenos aires one day!

*side*
CARSON KRESSLEY is hilarious!
the snap + turn!
i kind of miss him, ever since queer eye completely nosedived...
*okay, back*

that night both of us were learning as if from square one; and it's amazing how easy it sounds to just walk in step with a partner, but it truly is harder than it looks. the dj at the milonga was a little wacked out, interspersing old-skool tango music with like, bhangra or disco interludes, but perhaps that's just the typical type of intercessions at these things. who knows? i had lotsa fun (thank you to both nick and orkan for the gracious dances!), and hopefully when i finally have some spare time, i can take some additional lessons and get back into the scene!

*side*
wait a second... miss puerto rico's officially listed interests include: weightlifting, watching reality tv, and yoga.
um.
she may be pretty, but i think that says enough on its own...
*okay, back*

last night, we went to two small get-togethers, one at a friend's in davis square, and then afterwards a birthday bash-ette for nick's roommate at zuzu in central square, cambridge.

zuzu is a lovely place for dinner, great drinks. they offer middle-eastern mezes, and the kebabs are delish. however, i've never been there for a nightscene, and it is altogether mindblastingly LOUD. plus, the dj was playing the dorkiest music ever (60s? oldies? ironic nostalgia?) in the name of coolness, and hipsters and their bad haircuts were cavorting in their vintage boots and striped H+M. anyway, i dont mind the indie crowd (they're cute! aww...) but it was so loud you could only hear the person directly next to you, and with screaming at the top of your lungs.

that said, i stepped outside often to take a break from the roar. am i getting old already?

*side*
do those girls have those sashes surgically attached to them, or what? they always have them on!
*okay, back*

so, i've been rewarding myself for completed sections + chapters... by shopping! i have a fondness for shoes, cosmetics, and lately, earrings. i've never really got up to getting my ears pierced, and so i still have intact lobes. therefore, i can't really wear most styles because of the piercing issue. i'm a little miffed on filene's closing downtown because they had the best clip-on section (the 'monet' brand, which already is a little matronly sometimes), and the macy's selection is completely laughable.

*side*
wow, i LOVE miss japan's evening gown dress!!!!!!!!!!
she looks amazing! it's very very modern!
w00t!
*okay, back*

what i'm doing now is converting dangle-type hook styles into non-pierced versions through clip-on converters. i purchased some pairs, very reasonably priced, from colorfiesta on etsy. there's this place downtown called 'so good' (yay teenage girl squad!) that's just out-right plastered with accessories of all kinds covering every last square inch of a two-story roomy retail store. it's claire's, all done grown-up. it just *exudes* estrogen. in any case, here are the takeaways...

the first pair are a cool, basic but intricate, set. i love the flowers, they're almost like plum blossoms, with slightly dark purplish beads at the center. kind of handcrafted look and off-bent.

the second are kinda fun, and i *love* the aqua color. it's sort of matte and pure, like milky sea glass. although they're big, they're very light and airy looking.

and the last have so much movement! they are coloured like tortoiseshell, are semi-translucent, and the colours swirl in an organic variegation.

yay! i'm very excited, and also waiting on two custom orders from etsy from greentangerine. i can't wait to report on them, they're superb!

*side*
wow, kayne's dress looks amazing, and no major edits at all!
however, tara conner looked a little uncomfortable... nerves? hard to walk? constipated?
still love the design, though! comfort is overrated, anyway...
*okay, back*

so one last thing. i'm terrified at the condition of my skin. it's just gotten worse and worse, and i am breaking out constantly. i dont know if it's stress related or what, but i want to see a doctor about it. i think i'll schedule an appointment at MIT, but i'm also considering seeing a licensed esthestician at a clinic downtown or something. my yarn pal, catmum, actually works as a medispa RN! i'm very grateful for her tips and advice, especially in this realm of questionable medical ethics when high promises and high costs are tossed around. i've ever so curious about the obagi skincare system, which is only prescribed by a physician. i mean, looky! i am most closely aligned with the case of the gal at the bottom.

right now i'm trying out l'oreal acne response acne system, a salicylic acid / glycolic acid sort of chem peel at home. we'll see how it goes, but patience is not one of my immediate virtues!

if anyone has any suggestions, or experience with skincare professionals in the boston area, please let me know! it would be lovely to not worry about all this, especially when the woes of adolescence should be long forgotten...

I'M ROOTING FOR MISS JAPAN! she's amazing! she answered her warm-up question in french *and* english. she studies french cinematography and flamenco dancing. she's the most 'real' and down-to-earth of the finalists (that's relative, sure, but at least she's not trying to pull off the collagen lip injections like some of them) and seems actually intelligent.

plus, her dress completely rocks. that settles it. :)

2006-07-21T18:43:00.000-04:00

writing this thesis is killing me!

(softly...)

but anyways, as proof that i'm still alive, mostly in pictures:

1. artbeat at davis square last saturday!

weather was good and hooootttttttt, lots of fun vendors and stunts and events, and a 'pure junk' outdoors exhibits including some awesome pastiche clothing and metal robot sculptures by skunk, not to mention an enormous rug crocheted out of plastic bag strips and singleton shoe planters by miss bess paupeck. with all the craftsters, i wanted to buy everything and support it all! however, i and my pathetic wallet just left with a small toys to sew booklet by sewingstars teresa levy. her stuff always makes me swoon with cuteness!

then off to...

2. liusters in town saturday afternoon!

there's my mom, sister grace, and the twin tykes hunter and sofia. nick, good sport as always, joined our clan. what's amazingly about being in such a gaggle is that at any given moment, someone (including the adults) is either hungry, thirsty, tired, or has to go to the bathroom. it's unreal!

we went on the swan boats in boston public gardens, and then played on the ducklings between other tourist's kids' photo ops. there was a dunkin' donuts episode (my sis declared boston 'dunkin' donut land') where i learned that hunter's absolute favourite kind is pink with sprinkles. got it. sofia happily snarfed not one, but two, chocolate glazed donuts. atta girl!

i was pleased that the kids liked my small gifts to them (much much more than the knitted christmas gifts, i can safely say). sofia adored the hello kitty 'schoolgirl' plush, and we'll have to see if the hunter's comic book will instantly put him on the path to be comic book guy.

3. i got a haircut!

before...

after!

on one of the hottest days of the week, done at my usual digs, le gala hair group in chinatown. i've been going here for years, after realising it's the best.

i recommend this place to *everyone* (of all ethnicities, trust me) because:

- it's very modern and cozy, with an italian/asian sleekness, and flat-screen LCD screens *everywhere* (at every styling chair, at the shampoo sinks, by the waiting area) showing the very sparkly and bizarre footage from chinese pop concerts.
- during the shampooing, they give you a 5-10 minute head massage. i mean, not only the massage/lathering of the normal sort, but honest-to-goodness fingertips in your scalp, your hairline, your neck. it's surprisingly intense, and somehow manages to be simultaneously relaxing and invigorating. this is my *favourite* part of the whole deal.
- they offer any beverage (water, soda, tea, coffee) once you sit in the chair. small favor, but so hospitable!
- a pretty thorough haircut. scissors, razors, blades, all sorts of tools here and there. i feel like the work is very detailed.
- a *second* shampoo to make sure all the loose hairs are outta there!
- secondary finalising cuttings, and then blowdry and serious styling with product.
- it's obscenely cheap. $30! in boston! with all the perks!

i recommend stylists jimmy (the owner) and sam (broody-but-tender from hong kong). i mentioned as i was leaving that 'haircuts here are the best deal in boston!' jimmy let me in on some insider scoop that 23 years ago he was working on newbury street and did haircuts for $30. whoa. (and now they're all like $100+). also, most of the super hip asian people go to hot gossip, which hosts a number of too-cool-for-you sleek japanese stylists with prices to match, but apparently michael (owner of hot gossip) used to work for jimmy! whoa.

so, what i'm saying, is that le gala is the best deal in boston, ever. with scalp massages. and tea!!!

i am the best evangelist for this place. if you go, tell them i sent you!

4. when things at smg get too quiet...

we just try on each other's glasses. we're just so creative.

2006-07-14T19:47:00.000-04:00

it.is. so. HOT.

i'm sitting in my apartment, dazed, sighing into my window fan as my laptop gets ready to fry an egg. even with the sky cloaked in blackness, it is just absolutely *roasting*. it started innocuously this weekend as grey humidity, and then accelerated into full-blown knock-socks-off heat-wave. i dont even want to think about socks. or fur. or fabric. or pretty much anything that involves energy. getting up and dressed to go takes eons of lugubrious effort. i've survived summers in boston with only fans and the errant cross-breeze, but it's not a pretty kind of survival. last summer i was spoiled with central cooling at that asylum-esque on-campus apartment. that was its only redemption. but now i am suffering. my computer literally whimpers as it blows hot air into hot pillow into hot legs into HOT.

a/c a/c a/c a/c a/c a/c. soon. so soon.

* * * * * *

new sans serif from tonight. i'm happy to report the mix is one of my better shows! the first set is a bit dancefloor to loosen one up, and the second set glistens with iciclic minimalism and glitchy gloss. even the studio at the radio station suffers from faulty air; stuffy. i need all the help i can get to cool down, so this mix is a chiller. just grab a glass and go. pink paper umbrella optional.

postscript: i'm so excited about the new plaid and kammerflimmer kollektief and venetian snares releases. they deserve a good listen + a posted review soon. [psst.. you can hear tracks from these releases on tonight's radio show...]

* * * * * *

re the last bloggy week: i may be silent, but i am not absent!

lots o' stuff going on. thesis continues to loom (until august 11 -- can i get a collective whoop + holler when that day comes?). i'm cranking hard on the get-a-job mission. my mom and sis and wee cute kids came to town this weekend. last week has been subsumed with other projects: the new chitchatclub website which i designed (and should be live soon), and two days spent at a simplicity event at the lab. reviews of yummy times at atasca, tapeo, and red bones are pending.

* * * * * *

on to sleep, to escape this heat. believe me, what this city needs is a nice long siesta...

2006-07-11T16:01:00.000-04:00

you can feel it.

THIS IS A DANGEROUS STORM. 
IF YOU ARE IN ITS PATH...PREPARE IMMEDIATELY FOR DAMAGING WINDS
...DESTRUCTIVE HAIL... AND DEADLY CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING. 
PEOPLE OUTSIDE SHOULD MOVE TO A SHELTER... PREFERABLY INSIDE A STRONG 
BUILDING BUT AWAY FROM WINDOWS.

can i even visualise the glass in my office shatter from destructive hail? i'm tempted to go over and stick my nose against the window against all warnings.

curiosity.

2006-07-10T01:57:00.000-04:00

*yawn*.

news: cmliu.com got a makeover. [finagling bits of chartreuse always provides a great deal of amusement.] nothing too elaborate, but i felt like i needed a bit of a dramatic electronic entrance. an anchor-tag-peppered anteroom of sorts? please let me know what you think. perhaps my witty-self-talk echos inanely when not read or written at two o'clock in the morning.

sadly, my review of the psapp / juana molina / jose gonzalez show has to be postponed yet again. for a rainy day, perhaps. i wish to write it with reasonable extensiveness... all i can dispense is that it was fantastic! it gave me renewed faith that live performance by real flesh-and-blood musicians are not yet dead.