celebrating

instead of the requisite fireworks picture, i bring you the work of Italian artist Alberto Seveso. all photos are from his Disastro Ecologico series, 2010. photos unceremoniously stolen from his website, because i adore his work. i find them intriguing and beautiful, and the chemical reaction that is occuring reminds me of fireworks. so temporal, so ephemeral. happy 4 july!

fashioning

background: i did fashion design in school. i do none of that now. but i am obsessed with it. it's fashion week in paris, so i've been trolling style.com, and i found this gem of a collection, from Ulyana Sergeenko. here are some highlights:

WHAT? i want to wear this exact outfit every day. i'll move to alaska if i have to. the bubble hem. the white. those driving gloves!

this may be a bit "maddonnaesque" but i don't care. that stiff victorian collar with those exaggerated shoulders? AND braces? please. i die. i'm also slightly obsessed with legs. the higher the skirt (or in this case, nothing) the better. true story: i used to wear american apparel "hooters shorts" in all black, with two pairs of black tights, and a striped turtleneck. out of the house. with heels. i looked fantastic. i wish i could still pull that off.

i admit, the headdress is a litte fucked-up-star-wars, but this dress looks like HEAVEN. the way it drapes would make any woman lovely. i might want to chop off the sleeve right before it puffs out? maybe? i don't know. i'm on the fence. i just am imagining how kick ass you would feel walking around in this. i'd wear it as a house coat. amazing.

i know, fur is VILE EVIL AND AWFUL, but THIS! this. this ombre/diamond fur. plus embroidery around the neck. wow. just, wow. lose the tulle crap on her arms and pair it with mid-forearm kidskin gloves? winner.

there are some misses in the collection, but overall, i think it's rather inspired.

and here's a picture of Michael Pitt with black hair. i find him oddly attractive/compelling in a creepy/hot kind of way. at the chanel show.

working

and i wonder why i can't seem to find my way.

Images Jewelers, 1997-1998. cleaning lady.

Summer Orchestra, summer 1999. viola coach.

Department of Parks and Recreation, summer 2000. flower caretaker.

Orientation + Parents Weekend Office, 2000 - 2004. administrative assistant.

Volcanoes Pizza, summer 2001. cashier.

V&A, summer 2002. press office assistant.

BCBG Max Azria, summer 2003. showroom intern.

Victoria's Secret, summer 2003. sales associate.

BCBG Max Azria, 2004. executive assistant to the vice president of import production.

Neighborhoodies, 2005. assistant manager.

Tiger Beat + BOP Magazines, 2005. graphics intern.

Planet Funk, 2006. assistant manager.

Puma, 2006 - 2007. visual merchandising supervisor.

Museum of Craft and Folk Art, 2007 - 2012. administrative director.

Smart Design, 2013. office administrator.

reading: internet edition

Miranda July, Pedestal for Guilty Ones, 2008. Eleven Heavy Things at MOCA Pacific Design Center

Miranda July, We Think Alone.

the first one dropped today, and if you're like me and nosy as fuck, you will love it. it helps that i have an unending crush on Kirsten Dunst. here is an interview with Miranda July about the project, from The Rumpus. i know this might be controversial, but i kind of think Miranda July might be a genius.

McSweeney's Internet Tendency

I EARN UP TO $300 A DAY MAKING MY OWN JEWELRY AND BEING A PROSTITUTE!, by Colin Nissan.

Internet Tendency has to be one of the best curated writing websites ever. i know, it's one specific point-of-view, but it speaks to my point of view, and that's all that matters on this blog (ha!)

and, finally, one of the sites i reference so much it really should be bookmarked (but i'm not much of a bookmarker): Is Mercury in Retrograde?

informative and to the point.

have your favorites? please, tell me... whisper it in my ear...

photo at top, courtesy of me.

23-year-old me confesses a crush / new hair

back into the mysterious world of 23-year-old me. i feel like i should name her, like she's a pet or something.

i have a crush on a boy that works at starbucks. it is an expensive crush, but something i feel might be worthwhile because we had a moment and he knows my name without me telling him. of course, im in there nearly everyday so its not shocking BUT he's only helped me out a handful of times and i think it means something that out of the hundreds he's heard he remembers mine. he has black hair and wears leather converse.

editor's note: nothing happened with the crush.

I have black hair. due to a faulty purchase of "soft black" instead of "natural black" and about five minutes too long with the dye on my hair I now have really black hair. ive been told by no fewer than five people that the change has been good, and that i look prettier, hotter, and "bolder" (the last being from the asian man whom i buy my bottled water from every morning of my internship. he never fails to recognize me though i only frequent his tiny store once a week. he's amazingly sweet and upbeat.)

i loved having black hair. i bet you're getting a picture in your mind of what i was like at 23. you are not wrong.

drinking: summertime edition

there is no hiding it, i'm a drinker. i love drinking. and nothing is better than drinking in the summertime, especially since it's tres gorgeous out and it's light late into the evening.

let's get started.

PIMM'S CUPS

first off, Pimm's RULEZ the summertime. order a Pimm's cup no matter where you go. typically, it's Pimm's and ginger ale/beer and/or carbonated lemonade and/or champagne (Pimm's Royale!) + lemon + cucumber. great thing? not SUPER alcoholic, so perfect for daytime. can drink lots of them as well.

COCCHI AMERICAN FTW. and by FTW i mean "fuck the world," not "for the win"

fuuuuuuuuck. i just found this stuff. it's AMAZING. if you like negroni's, you'll love this. put this in a glass over ice. add an orange peel. top with club soda. perfect summertime drink. again, it's an aperitivo, so not super-alcoholy, so you can drink lots of them. it also comes in "plain" (?) and just recently started being sold in the USA, so go buy a case and be ready for summertime.

okay, i can't find a picture of my next summertime staple, so i'm going to describe it, and send you to the place to get it. Tres Sabores Winery Ingrid and Julia Rose. it's crisp and clean, with hints of berries. made from zinfandel and petit syrah grapes, it tastes like sunshine when it's perfectly chilled. visit their winery in St. Helena for a real treat. i could drink this by the case. in fact, i might order a case. what's great about it is that it is not too sweet, and not too dark. sometimes you get a rose that is wayyyy too sweet (like, wtfuck is up with moscato being the latest and greatest? is that not super weird? moscato is gross) and then you end up with WHITE WINE HEADACHE. i hate white wine headache. that's why this light, airy rose is perfect. go buy a case.

what do you like to drink when it gets too hot to think?

questions / comments / concerns

"do you know where a liquor store is?"

"i think there might be one up there (gestures to next block) but i'm not sure."

"why doesn't anyone know where a liquor store is? don't you live here?"

"no, i don't."

"what purpose do you have then? why are you here if you don't live here? what purpose do any of you have?"

fin

"spare any change?"

"no, sorry!"

"NOOO SOOOOORRRRYYYYY!!!"

"get a job."

"well.. YOU, you... you get a life!"

fin

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watching

CHRISTOPHER GUEST + CHRIS O'DOWD = WIN

sad and odd at the same time. very odd. very sad. VERY glittery.

an interesting look at character actors and how hard it is, even for well-known ones.

summer hiatus part II (detail)

the mission

the bay

the palace of the fine arts

graffiti, tenderloin

summer hiatus, part II

i went on another bender this weekend (but not nearly as fun as the bender two of my friends and i planned - but never executed - once.)this was a food bender, as my sister was in town and we NEEDED to eat.

06.19.13

dinner: Puerto Alegre followed by ice cream at Humphrey Slocombe

06.20.13

dinner: Georges, followed by drinks at 15 Romolo

06.21.13

dinner: Suzu Noodle House, followed by drinks at Trad'r Sams ($6 tiki drinks)

06.22.13

lunch: Pearl's Deluxe Burgers

dinner: homemade pizza with heirloom tomatoes, pesto, and fresh mozzerella + kale salad. served with Tres Sabores Rose wine and followed by Cocchi Americano.

06.23.13

lunch: The Creamery sandwiches

dinner: WEDDING

06.24.13

lunch: Santorini, followed by Cowa Bunga ice cream

dinner: In-N-Out Burger

now, i feel gross. i think it's time to start a juice fast.

adoring

Sofia Coppola's The Virgin Suicides

magical places: LA

this isn't a real coffee shop. this is an old diner you can rent out as a set.

Griffith Observatory

best latke's, black + white cookies, and matzo on the west coast. bar none.

Sound Solutions, Silverlake.

Urban Light, 2008. Chris Burden. LACMA

all photos courtesy of me.

31-year-old me tells you what she hates

not having a clear plan

dirty dishes

hangovers

having to worry about money

sharpening a 3B bruynzeel pencil and having it break with the first stroke

not having enough hours in the day

neck fold lines

weak nails

cavities

mascara that runs

fruit flies

mold

waiting for hair to grow

adult acne / age spots / sun spots

getting migraines

smug marrieds

smug singles

smug anyone

on this, the day of my birth, i should probably write a list of things i love. i hate lists of things people love. unless i really love them, then i love their lists. but usually it feels like a very forced exercise in "I SWEAR I AM HAPPY LOOK I CAN BE GRATEFUL!" i hate sounding forced. add it to the list.

23-year-old me tells you what she hates

on the eve of my birthday, i present you with a list of things i hated when i was 23:

LA somedays

crying

other peoples hatred

bitchy customers

stupid ignorance

the pain of letting someone go

traffic

fat

calories

my lazy eye

my add

my obsessive nature

my sadness

the H&H parking lot

spiders

centipedes

brown recluses

murderers

rapists

the state of america

the state of the world

forgetting to live

getting lost

always wanting to be found

wondering when it's finally going to be my turn

i'm fairly certain i only wrote rapists, murderers, the state of america and the world because i didn't want to seem too self-centered. it's impossible to know what i was thinking though. i was maudlin, what can i say?

signs you've been in san francisco too long

in no particular order

you congratulate anyone who is paying less than 50% of their salary (pretax) to rent.

you forget what iceberg lettuce is, and when confronted by it, recoil with horror.

you are used to being chastised for not bringing your reusable shopping bag.

you see an iPhone 4 and think it's "quaint."

you don't balk at making reservations two (or more) months in advance.

you are unfazed by the crazy person ranting + raving on the bus, and just hope he gets off soon.

you walk quickly, even up the hills, even when people visit. you are confused when they need to stop midway.

internet playground

Installation process of Ugo Rondinone's, HELL, YES!

i could spend days, nay, weeks in the digital archive the New Museum has built. it's stunning in it's simplicity, and surprisingly robust. it is easily searchable, as well as intuitive, with moments to stumble upon new artists/objects (hit random search for some fun!) it houses over 7,500 written and visual artworks, and it continues to grow.

as a former museum worker, i know how hard cultivating all of this must be - they must have a small army (or, let's be real, a scrappy team)to help file and catalogue all of this. it includes behind-the-scenes shots, an insider look at installations, and everything else you could possibly want (if you're a museum/art junkie.) it may not look like much, but suffice to say that for a non-profit to do this, especially one the size of the New Museum, it's incredibly impressive.

be warned. you're about to fall into the rabbit hole.

stoned love

i. adore. stone. fruits.

let's look at these unique, fruity specimens that are SO IN SEASON RIGHT NOW.

peach, le pêche

best in cobblers with bourbon, i find.

it's really easy to skin peaches: drop them in boiling water for a few seconds, then transfer immediately to ice water. skin slips right off like magic.

the result of hard work and determination is you get to eat this.

plums! plums! is there any other fruit that has inspired such a fantastic color?

mmmm pantone app, how i love thee. best $10 i ever spent.

dried apricots. boom.

adoring

Lars Von Trier's Melancholia is pure magic + beauty.

reading

MCA chicago. i'm lame and forgot to write down the artist.

one of my favorite websites is The Hairpin. i always forget to check it, but yesterday i ran across this amazing piece by Jess Zimmerman, A Guide to Eating Very Particular Feelings.

FEELING: The one where you got too drunk at a party and all you want is one cigarette, and someone finds you a cigarette or you go across the street to the bodega to buy 18 cigarettes you'll never smoke and two you will, and you're standing slightly apart from everyone and letting the nicotine run down your nerves as the alcohol runs up and you close your eyes and the horizons rush outward until the world inside your head is many times bigger than the one outside, and small on the edge of that vast and incalculable blackness you can almost make out the image of something you want to be.

it's beautiful and lovely, and i think she's fantastic. Jess Zimmerman writes for my OTHER favorite no-boys-allowed website, xoJane.com.

photo courtesy of me.

inspiring

i first came across Nick Cave's work at YBCA a few years ago, for his show titled Meet Me at the Center of the Earth. utterly amazing. meticulously constructed "sound suits" created from thrift store ephemera, fur, and sequins. larger-than-life figures looming, making the dancer inside imposing, yet playful. magic. you can see them "move," even when they are static. i have not been lucky to see one of his performances, but i know they're just as magical.

here is a video of the suits in action, from PBS:

Watch Nick Cave Brings Art, Sculpture to Life With 'Soundsuits' on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

reading, 06.12.13

Douchebags Like You Are Ruining San Francisco

i've had this conversation over and over and over again with a variety of different friends about SF. some think it's fine, some think it's deplorable, some are downright pissed. all i know is that if you want to leave SF, you'd better make damn sure you don't want to come back, because you won't be able to afford it.

techblog roundup, if you're so inclined:

Valleywag, brought to you by the snarks at Gawker

Techcrunch, Valleywag's older, more reverent brother.

All Things D

comments/concerns in my head, 06.05.13

questions + thoughts i made a note of on 06.05.13:

"is it really truly gauche to do my makeup on the bus?"

"am i too old for knee socks?"

"is tying a bow in my scarf cute, or too gossip girl?"

"i can pull off a sexy bed-head side ponytail, right?"

"am i too old for sexy bed-head side ponytail at work? is that inappropriate?"

"lipgloss is enough makeup for drinks with friends, right?"

hiatus, part I (detail)

oyster shucking/eating, tomales bay oyster co.

THIS PLACE IS MAGIC.

magic little oysters, i forget their name. golden nuggets?

the tools of le trade

P.S., i shucked that. then i ate that. and i'd shuck it again. and eat it again

mmmm, grilllled. looks sexual, no?

all photos courtesy of me.

hiatus, part I

it's summertime in the city, and that means i'm enjoying nights/weekends more. hence, less time for sitting-in-front-of-the-computer-freaking-out-about-what-to-write. what have i been doing on my summer vacation? let's take a look! these exploits took place over memorial day weekend. i had my bestest friend in the world in town, and her boyfriend. they're awesome and rad. we went oyster hunting (okay, shucking and eating,) wine tasting, drank at romolo, and got up to other shenanigans. they make me want to move to NYC.

helen, et moi. Tomales Bay Oyster Co.. courtesy of Alex Breen

all the wine is mine, Tres Sabores Winery. courtesy of Alex Breen

have you met my friend, 15 Romolo? courtesy Alex Breen.

stupid teenagers, Failla Winery. courtesy of Alex Breen.

Alex "naps" with the doctor.

23-year-old me tells you where she works

hollywood + highland mall is a crazy place. it's where they host the oscars every year, so you've seen it on TV. i do not recommend going there, ever, for any reason, ever.

23-year-old me outlines why.

have i ever told you about where i work? its about half a block east of manns chinese theatre where red eye was premiered on august 3rd. did i go and stand among the masses to catch a glimpse of my latest obsession, cillian murphy? that would be a no, i was working, people. and besides im far too hollywood hip to go and stand outside with all the fucking tourists (sorry i know we have all been tourists before but these people are fucking ridiculous!) tee hee hee. but to give you an idea there are people in character outside the theatre snapping pictures with people from all over the world. there is a black michael myers, a johnny depp from charlie and the chocolate factory as well as one from pirates of the carribean. there is a whore/cop and a weird dude in a demon suit that wears a thong. Not to mention the "snake charmer" that shows up on random days and the rapper that apparently used to work NYC then moved out to a warmer, more accepting climate. the tourists LOVE these people and i warn each and every single one of them to back away slowly from the VD marilyn monroe and the "elvis" who stakes his mark right under the construction scaffolding. when i walk down the boulevard (not of broken dreams, hollywood boulevard ya green day freakizoid) these people know better than to a. touch me, b. talk to me, c. approach me in any way. they're sort of like dogs, you have to show no fear and not make eye contact. one made the mistake of grabbing my arm once and i told him, in not so many words, to kindly go and make love to himself in a secluded place underground. im telling you you have to be brutal. they don't respond to ignoring. expletives usually are the only way.

there is a kiosk right outside my store where nailcare products are sold. the people who sell these products insist on soliciting some of the workers i work with. yes, even after encountering these sketchy guys everyday they dont give up hope that one day one of us will buy their fucking product. they also know better than to approach me, and im beginning to think they might be a bit afraid of me which i appreciate because if i were to meet me in a dark alley i wouldn't particularly feel threatened, this is for sure.

for an interesting documentary on the people that hang out in front of mann's, check out confessions of a superhero. it's streaming on netflix.