miss koco does korea

Korea, done.

2007-11-27T01:32:00.001+09:00

For my current projects and adventures see: www.misskoco.com

breast in progress

2007-11-12T02:05:00.001+09:00

I was commissioned by a friend to make a wall piece of her breast. This is from Silk Garden yarn a hand-dyed silk, mohair, and wool blend from Noro yarns, a Japanese company, and some super soft alpaca that I double stranded. It's coming along nicely so far.

배꼼: A Work in Progress

2007-11-11T23:11:00.000+09:00

Today was another lovely artsy day. I made a bunch of casts of bellybuttons. They came out beautifully and there are still more to come.

when friday feels like saturday

2007-11-10T15:50:00.000+09:00

I went out Thursday night to see the Brand New Heavies, went out for some drinks, and then stayed up late with a cup of tea and good company. So, Friday morning felt a bit like a Sunday. Fuzzy, dreamy, a funny tummy feeling, a desire to lay in bed all day long. But, it was Friday, filled with time to do my favorite things.

Time for making things, like belly buttons! Then time for reading After Dark, by Murakami. And then time to go to Chef Meili, to be a foodie with Dan.

Dinner looked like this:

Pumpkin soup with salmon and prawn mousse

Grilled lamb chop, duck confit, and thyme fettuccine

Nougat mousse with cherry sauce

I can't even talk about how good dinner was, you'll have to go check it out for yourself. Dessert was the best part. Chef Meili is located near exit 4 of Itaewon Station. Make a left out of the exit and go towards Gecko's. Chef Meili is on the second floor at the corner.

After dinner, I met up with the Metropolitician and Shanti, and we played in Itaewon, recording the sights and sounds of Homo Hill. For a good time go hang out with Paul of Always Homme. He was my favorite bit of the evening. Night made its way towards morning, and I, of course, found myself at Queen. A night on the hill wouldn't be complete without some late night shenanigans at Queen before I finally make my way to my bed. Then... Sleep, sleep, dream, and sleep.

I woke up today, feeling like it was Sunday... again. Fuzzy, dreamy, a funny tummy feeling, a desire to lay in bed all day long. But today is Saturday. Oy vey, I love my life.

fall

2007-11-09T16:30:00.000+09:00

We named our tree Ki. As Ki looses his leaves I slowly gain a new view from our mini-balcony.

love on the 5?

2007-11-06T15:29:00.000+09:00

www.nygirlofmydreams.com
and here's an adorable video of him.

Panties for Peace

2007-11-03T12:43:00.000+09:00

This is so up my alley. I got this email today:

Here's a Burma resistance support campaign that started in Thailand and has gotten international publicity. Inspired by a Burman male cultural belief that contact with women's garments, especially undergarments, can sap men's innate superior power, the northern Thailand activists (including women refugees from Burma) have called for women to send their underpants ("Panties for Peace") to Burma embassies around the world, for a collective psychological effect on the male generals oppressing the people of Burma.

More information and press coverage (including the "panty flinging" demonstration by Philippines Burma activists) is at:

lannaactionforburma

address for the lingerie mailers of America:

General Than Shwe c/o
Ambassador U Tin Win
Embassy of Myanmar
2300 S St. NW
Washington DC 20008

if you're in Korea, here's the address:
Ambassador U Nyunt Maung Shein
723-1, 724-1
HANNAM-DONG YONGSAMN-KU
SEOUL, 140-210

i heart nancy lang

2007-11-01T16:39:00.000+09:00

One of the highlights for me at the Seoul Collection Spring/Summer '08 show was meeting performance artist Nancy Lang, the self-proclaimed piece of walking Pop Art.

She was there along with her cat, Coco Channel. I might add that her Coco is not a real live cat, but a stuffed animal. It's a bit strange for an adult to have stuffed animals, take them with them into public and more over, to take them to this kind of fashion event, but it was kinda cool.

She's an artist--and adorable--so she can get away with it. It was very cool to meet her and she was so fabulous I really hope it's not the last time we get to chat. I left her wanting more, more, MORE! I wish Nancy had a blog so I could get regular updates on what she's doing, thinking, taking pictures of, eating... I think I'm in love.

Pictures /사진 by FMS

For more pictures and coverage of Seoul Collection S/S '08 see Seoul Fashion Week (part 2) and Seoul Fashion Week (part 1) at feetmanseoul.com.

can't touch this

2007-10-30T08:28:00.000+09:00

nanta, eh.

2007-10-14T23:44:00.001+09:00

I got free tickets to see Nanta, the cooking show.

Eh. I'm glad I didn't pay for it. It was entertaining, but had that cheezy slap-stick Korean gag show element that made it just a bit irritating instead of funny. If I were 6 years old, it would be hilarious.

The performers are truly talented. They sing, they dance, they act, they do percussion work with sharp knives! But overall it's like STOMP! gone wrong. There was a bit too much audience participation and it made me really hungry.

The most entertaining and exciting moment was when one dude got his ass stuck in a trashcan (see below). I've now saved you the time and money of having to go.

skku fashion

2007-10-12T23:26:00.000+09:00

On my way to class I came across a design show in the lobby of one of the buildings at SKKU. The fashion design students often have a runway show in the spring, but I always find out about it at the last minute. I'm assuming since graduation is at the end of the semester that this is a display of some senior work. I like a couple of the pieces, and I would totally wear the entire outfit. And others I found completely ridiculous, but I still enjoy seeing the work that these students are creating and I wish they had more stuff up.

Doosan: art & dance

2007-10-10T22:43:00.000+09:00

I went to the Doosan Art Center to see Asia Central America Dance Exchange and Tommi Kitti perform. The first group was pretty good.

"A group of young and fresh choreographers from different backgrounds and nationalities create an original work reflecting their experience of a 6-month dance residency program in Seoul from May to October 2007. Thai music and traditional dance, Indonesia’s Flores dance, contemporary dance, and Mexican pop music collapse into a work that explores cutting edge ideas and a new concept of multi-national collaboration. The production reflects thoughts and ideas on “what is the ‘contemporaryness/contemporaneity’ of the third world contemporary dance and performing art?” and is also inspired by Korean traditional dance, including Chaesang Sogo Choom (hat twirling dance), Bongsang Mask Dance, and Drum Dance."

There were a few really strong dancers in the group that made it a truly enjoyable and inspiring experience. They did a good job of highlighting and bringing together their different backgrounds through dance. They were also kinda silly. The two performances were part of the 10th Seoul International Dance Festival which is still on till October 27th. So, go check it out.

Doosan Art Center is also showing China Big Boy, an exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Chinese artists. Some of the pieces are really funny. I don't know if I was just taught to always see the humor in art or what, but I had to try so hard to hold it together in the gallery and not bust out laughing when I was looking at some of the Chen WenLing sculptures. They were great!

Did you just PIFF?

2007-10-09T10:48:00.000+09:00

Why yes, I did. The Pusan International Film Festival started on the 4th of October and runs till this Friday. Lumina and I caught a bunch of films, some stranger than others, and listened to guest directors and producers talk about their work.

I'm excited, and a bit annoyed, that the closing film on Friday is going to be the world premiere of Evangelion 1.0 You Are (Not) Alone.

Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone is a new theatrical version of Neon Genesis Evangelion, which started as a TV animation series in 1995 and remains immensely popular over a decade later with a huge following of fans. The previous theatrical animation was a tremendous hit in 1997 yet its obscure ending roused controversy. Ten years later, in 2007, Hideaki Anno planned a new theatrical series in 4 parts, and the Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone is the first of his tetralogy. After the tragedy of the “Second Impact” that killed half of mankind, a 14-year old boy, Shinji, gets mixed up in the war between the UN army and Angel. He pilots the Evangelion, a human figure weapon secretly developed by the NERV special agency to defend the earth from its enemy, Angel. Following its domestic release on Sep. 1, 2007 in Japan, Evangelion 1.0: You Are (Not) Alone will have its international premiere at the 2007 PIFF.

It would be a little insane, but I'd love to go down again just to see this.

face pack vending machine

2007-10-08T10:45:00.000+09:00

Near Haeyundae Beach, Pusan

same same

2007-10-06T16:00:00.000+09:00

Margaret Mead - "Always remember that you are absolutely unique. Just like everyone else."

She also said, "Having two bathrooms ruined the capacity to co-operate. "

weekend blah

2007-09-30T22:47:00.000+09:00

Krafty Kuts played at Air, the old Garden in Apgujung, on Saturday night. The renovations make the place look completely different, but I liked the old space. It was fun to jump around and dance with Haelan, to shake it with Charles, and catch up with random friends I bumped into, but the drinks were way overpriced (20 bucks for a mojito, I don't think so) and it got kinda dull after a bit.
What ended up being the highlight of our Apgujung outing, and the whole night overall, was being ghetto fabulous and ridiculous in front of the Haagen-Dazs with Jackie. A can of silly string was involved.

We decided to head back to good 'ole Itaewon to see what was going on. Turns out that Homo Hill was the place to be in Seoul on Saturday night. It was like the Gay Pride Parade that Korea has never seen before. And still, I wasn't very entertained. I continued to drink, thinking that would help to make things more exciting. It just made me more drunk and annoyed.
When I woke up sometime in the early afternoon I felt the full effects of last night's experience. My organs were mad at me. All of my dreams were about food, large amounts of food. I woke up hungry... thinking that I might have been better off staying home, reading my book, and eating ice cream.

I feel at times that my life is simply a collection of distractions (drinking, watching movies, going to another party where I see most of the same people, facebook) or irritating necessities (work, taking public transportation here or there, to do lists, email, etc.) and the only real bits are the few hours a week I spend doing yoga, running, or dreaming.

miss cleo

2007-09-29T22:11:00.000+09:00

a day in hongdae

2007-09-28T17:13:00.000+09:00

Chuseok

2007-09-27T23:28:00.000+09:00

Chuseok was pretty uneventful by Korean standards. I didn't go anywhere, didn't get stuck spending time with any in-laws I'd rather not see, didn't eat any Korean food, didn't get stuck in any traffic. Instead, Charles, Ms. Zaza, and I joined Leo at Ape with Pipe for a nice brunch.

It was one of the few restaurants open during the holiday. THANK YOU Leo!

After we ate Zaza and I took a stroll up Namsan and found ourselves at the botanical garden with a bottle of red. This turned out to be a great idea, which then made us come up with another great idea--to make dinner and call up a whole bunch of people. Somehow in less than 2 hours we pulled off grocery shopping, tidying, making two pasta dishes, a big salad, rosemary potatoes, and baking a cake for a group of about 18 guests (give or take a few). Pretty good Chuseok if I might say so myself.

what the...?

2007-09-27T18:37:00.000+09:00

Why did they do this to their dog? The dog probably has a complex.

I've seen this before. I feel bad for dogs in Korea.

Update: Trance & Queens to Love

2007-09-23T12:38:00.001+09:00

Back in the beginning of 2005, when this blog was in its infancy, I somehow found myself at Trance, a bar in Itaewon with a fun show of boys who have transformed themselves into fierce women on parade. Now that I've moved to Itaewon, I find myself there on a regular basis. I've seen queens come and go, wigs that needed to go with the last queen that left, and I even built up the courage once to venture into that scary little room they call a bathroom up in there.

About a month ago I ran into this queen in front of Queen (the bar), but she wasn't all queened up, in fact she was just Jimmy. There's something quite delicate and striking about his face that makes him unforgettable. He used to perform at Trance years ago, but now he's PUCK in the Donkey Show!

The Donkey Show is now in Seoul playing at a theater in Daehagno. If you haven't seen it, go! It's a disco version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, IN KOREAN. They translated all the songs and it's all performed in the round; like you're in a club. And Jimmy's in it. Jimmy studied ballet and he does pirouettes in those boots. It's a sight worth seeing.

On that first cold night to Trance I met Ely and a his Korean friend. This angelic Korean man paid my cover charge, danced with me all night, and then basically disappeared. One night months and months and months later, I saw him again and he reintroduced himself, as Bada (on the left above with headphones), the boyfriend of the ever so adored Keith (right, pictured above with white sunglasses)! Crazy.
I know that Trance isn't for everyone, but I love it. Femininity is such a performance. These "ladies" have mastered the art of creating that illusion and then they have a lot more fun with it by, at times, going a bit overboard with it. I always feel like I have so much to learn from them about life; about hair, make up, and costume; and about being a woman and loving every moment of it.

Trance & Queen are next to each other on "Homo Hill" in Itaewon. From Itaewon station go out of exit #3. Walk straight till the next intersection and make a right. Make a left at the second street and walk up the super steep hill. They are in the middle of the block on the left.

i love the cleaning lady

2007-09-21T12:25:00.000+09:00

Charles and I thought it would be best for our roommate relations if we got a cleaning lady. And it has done more than make things run smoothly around the apartment. All that noise I usually have in my head about how I need to do this or that or the laundry or scrub the tub--it's all gone! Each week, when I come home on Tuesday afternoon my bed is perfectly made, the whole place sparkles and smells clean, everything is perfectly lined up (like the forks in the cutlery drawer) neat and tidy, and I fall in love with my apartment and the cleaning lady all over again.

Last week she organized the clothes in my closet and folded everything in a manner which made me never want to touch them ever again. Who needs to wear a t-shirt when you can just admire it happily sitting in a perfect stack in the closet?

Thanks cleaning lady, you're the best.

OinK!

2007-09-20T17:43:00.000+09:00

If you haven't noticed, I collect OinK (Only in Korea) moments and memorabilia. Here's one for the archives that I find quite disturbing:

These kids are chasing after a truck that's spraying pesticides.

Film Noir

2007-09-20T08:30:00.001+09:00

Last night we caught a film from the Fritz Lang Film Festival at the Seoul Art Cinema. We saw You Only Live Once, a movie from 1937 with Sylvia Sidney and Henry Fonda. I enjoyed seeing an old film in a theater and a lot of moments were so corny and dated I had to laugh out loud at how different things are in movies (and life) today.

The theater was a bit difficult to find, it's one of those venues that's right in front of your face but still hard to locate, but the map at Seoul Selection is somewhat helpful. One of the things I'd like to leave to Korea, other than real pedestrian sidewalks, is cross streets--ones you can use in directions, so you can say things like, "Meet me at 4th and Insadong Street." Oh in another universe...

blueberries

2007-09-19T11:31:00.000+09:00

I found out earlier this year that blueberries are a "superfood," meaning they are super good for you. They have lots of antioxidants so they help to fight cancer. They've also been said to stop the aging process and to keep your brain healthy. Raspberries and blackberries are good for you too. I love them in tarts, in smoothies, and on their own as a snack.

Berries to Koco are like spinach to Popeye. Here's what happens when I eat blueberries:
This was my breakfast yesterday, a Dutch style blueberry pancake, made in the oven, with powdered sugar and blueberries on top. Super YUM.

ridiculous in hongdae

2007-09-18T02:49:00.000+09:00

One way or another, somehow, somewhat against my will and totally against my better judgment, I ended up at a luxury noraebang (singing room) in Hongdae, with a belly full of kalbi (meat) and a cocktail in hand. It was late, way late, but Leo and I had all intentions of indulging in our ultimate guilty pleasure: being cheesy and loving a large unhealthy dose of JT. After singing Sexy Back a few too many times, I broke out Fly Me to the Moon, my personal best when it comes to Korean noraebang songs, and then it was really time to go home.

We stopped in a convenience store before catching a cab, and that's when I realized that I didn't have my wallet. I traced my steps and it was nowhere to be found. The good news is that I didn't flip out. I just went home and canceled all my cards, then stayed up with Charles and laughed a whole bunch about ideas for an upcoming themed event we're planning. All good.

However... The moral of the story: NO MORE NORAEBANGS! Don't get sucked in when you know you should just go home. They're ridiculous.

pedicures for 4

2007-09-17T03:11:00.000+09:00

Pronails in Itaewon is a fun salon to go with friends to get your nails done mostly because they ALWAYS have OnStyle on the tv. All the ladies in the place seem to have something to say about whatever show is playing whether it's The Biggest Loser or The Search for the Next Doll. They also have Cosmo in English. Not that I read Cosmo often, but it's a nice thing to be able to pick it up and understand the articles.

KOOP Obsessed

2007-09-16T08:04:00.000+09:00

Charles and I went to the Walkerhill Hotel on Saturday to see KOOP, and now we're hooked. The two main members are Swedish cross-dressers who do jazzy lounge music and stuff that sounds like you might be at a cocktail party from the 50's. It's super sexy and I love it!

Sometimes I think I was born in the wrong era. We had so much fun. Charles had been playing KOOP all week to prepare us for the event. I had "Come to me" stuck in my head. When they played it as the finale, their last encore song, I couldn't have been happier.

Now, if you see me on the street bopping along happily that's because I'm listening to KOOP (or Amy Winehouse), imagining a much different reality where there are much better outfits for everyone.

Zelen wine party

2007-09-15T13:02:00.001+09:00

Zaza and I went to the wine party at Zelen, the Bulgarian restaurant in Itaewon, on Friday night. There was a dress code--black. The majority of the people were dressed as advised and a few even put together impressive outfits. Soojin, the owner gave out prizes, including one for the best dressed member of the Zelen wine club.

Early in the evening everyone was behaving themselves, being cordial, and keeping to their own small groups of comrades. As the night continued on, and people took advantage of the all-you-can-drink benefits of the party, people started to be a lot more friendly--A LOT MORE FRIENDLY.

At one point I found myself in a circle of women where one was touching the next inappropriately. And the peak of this bizarre collection of gropes was marked by the tongue of a certain bar owner we all know and love in Zaza's cleavage.

I met a some interesting characters and drank a whole bunch. The night started to get fuzzy, I ended up at B1, then at Queen, then some other random gay bar in Itaewon, and then in McDonald's (I NEVER GO TO McDONALD'S) with Charles and a stolen umbrella (which we returned to its rightful owner). Strange night. Good, but strange.

Dinner @ Dan's

2007-09-14T15:16:00.000+09:00

Thursday, a dinner party at Dan's!

Dan is officially my favorite new person. He has great taste--in wine, food, etc.-- and is one of those characters who does everything. Dan is a fun, artsy, intellectual... he's fascinating.

He made some really fantastic food. We moved through the meal in courses. First a simple DIY bruschetta and some edamame. Next was a salad with toasted almonds, pears, and a honey balsamic dressing. The main course was a salmon curry with green beans on cous cous. Three bottles of red later we had chocolate cake (by Zaza) and played some wii. I didn't think I'd ever say this, but playing that wii was tons of fun.
I think we are going to have to make this dinner party thing a weekly event. It was so so so good.

Ape with Pipe

2007-09-13T15:07:00.000+09:00

I met up with the Nabi ladies for dinner at Ape with Pipe.

They all had quiche. I had scallops. That place makes me feel like I'm not even in Korea. This Mediterranean restaurant is tucked into the corner of Itaewon. It's one of those places that I want to thrive, but don't want to tell everyone about, because then it won't be easy to get seats. They play nice music and make you float off to another place. It's definitely a great date spot, though a little on the pricey end.

Yellow Submarine

2007-09-13T13:45:00.000+09:00

Mr. C and I stopped by the The Yellow Submarine for their grand opening. This new hot sandwich shop comes to you from the same people who own Indigo in Haebongcheon. For their first day open Joe had free beer and cake, made by the lovely Zaza, for everyone. The lemon cake had marshmallow and pineapple in the middle, which was surprisingly tasty.I was eager to see the place open since the Nabi ladies had spent all week painting it.
I've only tried one of their sandwiches, the chicken cheddar, but it was quite nice, reasonably priced and comes with those great kettle chips.
The Yellow Submarine is located across the street from Noksapyeong Station, exit one. When you exit walk straight for a long block to the underpass. You will see The Yellow Submarine across the busy street as you walk towards the underpass. Take the stairs on the right going up out of the underpass. It's about a half a block up the street. Can't miss it, it's big and yellow!

week in review

2007-09-09T11:27:00.000+09:00

I filled the days of this past week with lots of my favorite things and the universe sprinkled a few lovely surprises on top to make it, overall, phenomenal.

On Monday, I went with a friend to a fashion event to celebrate Ji Haye and welcome her design house to Seoul from Paris. The party was at her studio in Samcheongdong, one of my absolute favorite areas in Korea for its chic contemporary sensibility mixed with traditional architecture and landmarks. The people in attendance included models, diplomats, well-known actresses, filmmakers, and the like. The champagne was flowing, the people were fascinating, there were cameras at every turn, and the clothes.... OH! THE CLOTHES! Ji Haye designed some beautiful garments. Her focus in Seoul is on high fashion wedding dresses and men's wear. I fell in love with one of the bags she had and a couple of her jackets. I left quite inspired, and very much in awe.

On Tuesday the cleaning lady came. I love my new apartment and coming how to it sparkling clean and tidy made it feel like a palace. For the first time in years I LOVE my apartment, and coming home is a pleasant experience.

On Wednesday, after a "long day" of work (two 75 min. classes), I had an very enjoyable warm goat cheese and almond salad (that I had been dreaming about all day) and the perfect dinner companion to share it (and my chocolate mousse) with.
On Thursday, I went to an art opening for Nakhee Sung at One and J. Gallery. Upon walking up to the gallery I immediately saw someone I met at the Ji Haye party earlier in the week and a couple of people that I've met before, but haven't seen in some time.

It felt really comforting and made the whole event that much more fabulous. The gallery space itself is quite nice with a patio, two floors, and a couple of rooms on each floor. The electro-alternative/indie pop dj playing was the sister of the artist and the music complimented the visual art well. Sung's abstract paintings looked a lot like circuit boards and a bit influenced by graffiti. Her work has been shown all over the world, including at the Venice Biennale and the Singapore Biennale in 2006, so it was a treat to see a Seoul local who is internationally appreciated. To compliment the art there were some beautiful people in attendance, including a couple of sisters who allowed us to take pictures of them for FMS. The owners of the galley are fantastic, charming, and fun guys who come off as articulate art professionals but not snobby and unapproachable wierdos as many often do. All in all my favorite kind of people and exactly the kind of creative environment I thrive in.

Last night, Friday, after a rooftop BBQ, I went to The Spot in Apgujeong. I rarely go south of the river, but it was a lovely night and an experience well worth crossing the Han for. The Spot is a nice venue with a lot of space. It definitely appeals to the locals that like things to at least pretend to be upscale. It's huge in comparison to clubs in Hongdae that stuff hundreds of people into little basements. At The Spot they even have a pool, which is nice, but kind of pointless since I'm sure it probably never gets used. There are many little rooms and places that all seem to be "VIP Areas" but actually aren't. I, once again, randomly bumped into a lot of people I haven't seen or talked to in ages. Like a woman I worked with my first year in Korea and a guy I met my first week in the country. I also ended up meeting lots of new people, exchanged a few cards, and talked to people I don't know, AND actually enjoying the conversations--which is rare.

My classes have gotten off to a good start and I'm feeling quite confident now that I've done this for a while. I found myself in a conversation with a new faculty member where I was giving advice, I was in the role of the experienced teacher, and I was sure of myself and what I said unlike I have before.

I had dinner or brunch with my favorite ladies a few times this week. We had tea, made food, ate homemade baked goodies (courtesy of Zaza), watched episodes of America's Next Top Model, discussed future plans for great parties, events, and activities that excite me beyond words. I really love these people in my life.

In the mornings I wake up without an alarm. I have yoga on the rooftop or I go running in my neighborhood before I go to work. The weather has been pleasant, and I've been waking up happy to meet each day. And I wonder, what's in store for next week?

new faces

2007-09-03T12:29:00.000+09:00

That funny fall feeling has washed up again. The new semester starts with a bang, 150 new students, meaning 150 new names to remember, new faculty, a new schedule in my pocket, and a new computer on my desk. Hyehwa has changed too, again, with new shops popping up all over the place. A recently opened Krispy Kreme greeted me with a smile as I stepped off the bus. It just showed up over night it seems. Everything feels untainted, crisp, ready to be something different, full of potential, like the first page of a notebook.

But I always say this. I shouldn't get wrapped up in the romantic back-to-school feelings that go along with September. In two weeks it will all be routine. It's the same old thing just packaged in a different container.

now in new york

2007-08-27T00:21:00.000+09:00

Oh New York, you are filled with so many things to do! In the past week I:

*went to ñ for tapas and flamenco
*met Adam's fabulus guy and we all went for karoke in Chinatown
*shopped in SoHo all afternoon
*saw my sister's office and joined her for "pasta friday"
*went to Barcade in Williamsburg and played Centipede
*helped my sister move out (a little)
*went to Governor's Island to see DJ Rekha
*kissed Debbie & Chris goodbye and wished them well
*checked out the Spiegeltent and Turntables on the Hudson with Phil and Tisha
*met Eleni's man, Sam
*saw the new show at the National Museum of the American Indian
*had a cosmo at the gayest bar in mid-town, Vlada Lounge
*ate delish Indian on 5th street in the East Village with Rose and Jenn
*met up with Eric at a great wine bar, Veloce
*bought heaps of yogi tea, and I think I'll get some more before I go
*walked in and out of two great yarn shops without buying anything
*bumped into a guy I went to summer camp with on the N train
*have been having the best time with my favorite people in a city I'll always adore

I have a few days left, I don't want to leave, but there is a bit of unfinished business I have to take care of back in Korea (the rest of my contract) before the party can go on.

cigs

2007-08-23T00:07:00.000+09:00

KT&G Factory, Daejeon. They make about 2 million dollars a day. It was pretty cool to see how they make cigarettes, disturbing to see how many they make/sell per day, and disappointing to find that they didn't have any umpa lumpas.

so lovin' Amy

2007-08-20T23:46:00.000+09:00

I can't get enough of Amy Winehouse right now. She's like a little bit of Shirley Bassey with a hint of Lauryn Hill, and all I want to hear. They tell me turn it off but, "I said NO, NO, NO!"

out with the posse

2007-08-19T11:35:00.001+09:00

The MC Fatboy Slim The Rockafeller Studio TECHNO crew was representin' at the Pusan Aquarium.

Miss Koco DID Korea

2007-08-14T17:12:00.002+09:00

There are three states of being in Korea. Just got here, staying here forever, and leaving. I'm now in that last category. While I still have quite a bit of time left on my contract, I'm mentally somewhere else already. I'm done with Korea.

Currently, I'm in Philadelphia, a "sister city" of Seoul. These siblings have very little in common, but I'm glad for that. I'm really appreciating America and Philadelphia (the city I grew up in but never owned) for the first time in my life. I find it difficult as a liberal American to have any kind of pride in my country, but right now it's really easy to see all the differences and simple reasons I love it.

Here is a list of a few things I'm loving about Philly.

Pedestrians have the right of way.
I was at a corner waiting to cross the street when I realized that the guy in the cute little jeep wasn't going anywhere until I had safely planted myself on the other side of the road. What a concept!

In Seoul it seems that all drivers have adopted "Move bitch, get out the way" as their driving anthem and general philosophy.

Black people.
I've said it before, I'll say it again--I love black people. Philly is over 40% black. I'm a black Jew, growing up I didn't quite understand how African Americans or Jews were "minorities". I felt like I must have known every person who was considered a minority. How did that happen? I guess I was lucky. So, my point here is that homogeneous societies can get a little dull after a bit for a girl who's used to a little of this and a little of that. Especially when there are so many good looking black men walking around in summer! It's delicious.

It makes me feel more comfortable to be in a place where I see all different flavors of people, and not just in one area (like Itaewon), but everywhere. What this really has to do with is VARIETY. I want good options and to see all kinds of things and people. At Essene, the health food grocery store, I wander the aisles full of wonder. I can have my pick from 30 different kinds of granola. And this is a beautiful thing.

I can breathe.
You're going to think this sounds crazy, but my lungs feel great! The sky is BLUE. Yes, it's actually a couple different shades of blue.

English.
I actually do like talking to people. I miss chit-chat, particularly with people I don't know.

I got compliments on my earrings from two people today. The woman at the check out at the health food store and my neighbor who is almost done renovating the house he rents. He talked about how the drama with the sale of his other property and how it fell through today.

I went to a cheese store in the Italian Market and had such an experience with the cheeseman, Fred. He handed over a heavenly slice of a cheese named Prima Dona and told me it was named after me. He fed me a dessert made of rigatto cheese with a thick 25 year old basalmic vinegar drizzled over it. I bought olives of all shapes, colors, and sizes. He joked with my mother and I the whole time, informing us of the history of every item. I left the cheese store filled with joy.

I talked to people on the plane, while waiting for my luggage, waiting in line for customs, and in the ladies room. We didn't talk about anything in particular, but it just felt so nice to talk to strangers. To ask questions freely and not have to think so much about how to make my words simple, clear, and slow. I miss chatting like this.

I've spent so much of my life trying to get away from where I came from. This city was dull, slow, and didn't offer enough. I wanted more and I got that from living abroad. When I look back at my archives, I can see just how much I've had the privilege to experience and discover over the past 2 and a half years of living in Korea. And I still want to see more, but I'm getting the feeling that I may, in the end, find that I do actually want to be in my own country. That I do feel more comfortable here, and that the U.S. is one of the best places for me to be, and that all of that is okay.

magic day

2007-07-25T18:41:00.000+09:00

매직스!

If you can't tell, these are sanitary napkins, called Magics. This is a wonderful find. Their slogan is, "Enjoy your magic day." Hilarious! There's nothing magical about getting your period--unless it's the day you realize you're NOT pregnant.

Technorati Tags: fun with English

Vinyl

2007-07-21T18:39:00.001+09:00

I've gotten into video a bit; however, I haven't figured it all out quite yet. In this one, Gia helps introduce one of my favorite spots in Hongdae--Vinyl! It's the cute cocktails in bags that keep me coming back.

Vinyl is located down the street from the main entrance to Hong-ik University. There is a robot on the front. It's just past the 7-11 where you would turn right to go to BrixX, Tool, or FF.

And here are some pics of nights out at Vinyl...

SHOSHIM w. G

2007-07-20T18:44:00.000+09:00

I took my sister to one of my favorite vegetarian Korean restaurants, Shoshim, in Insadong. I can't ever get enough of the mushrooms and the tofu at this place. Gia agrees, the mushrooms are great!

Gia wondered why the "water" was brown. Now that I'm so over things like 물 being water but also sometime like a tea, it's nice to have a guest to feel like it's novel all over again.

Technorati Tags: food

HP in 3D!

2007-07-17T18:59:00.001+09:00

My life is currently consumed with Harry Potter. Yes, I went to see the movie, and yes, I got the book.

The fight scene in 3D was really cool. Overall, the movie was a lot of fun AND the bonus was that we got these crazy glasses to wear and play with!

Technorati Tags: good times in Korea

blogs to love

2007-07-07T15:29:00.001+09:00

You might have noticed that I have added some link love on my sidebar. These new additions to my world include Scribblings of the Metropolitician, the Marmot's Hole, and ZenKimchi. The Metropliician, he's fabulous, and he thinks I'm fabulous. It's a mutual adoration kind of thing which is, well, FABULOUS! ZenKimchi has funny t-shirts to help you buy a beer in Korean and he has been writing about Korean food for like forever. Overall, it's fun and funny. Then there is the Marmot, which I'm not exactly sure what it is yet, but it seems to be filled with a lot of boys talking about news, Korea, and politics--and intellectually jizzing on each other in the comments. Lots of hate over there which makes for a really great read.

One of my newest and most favorite blogs is: Through Whitey's Eyes
His user name over at the Marmot is "Whitey." Whitey's comments on misskoco:

Personality: Brassy, self-absorbed.
Influences: Numerous TV characters.
Interests: Shoes.
Originality: Lacking.

I have to give him credit for noticing that I'm interested in myself and shoes, yet I'm a bit upset that he left out a few of my other major obsessions: food, pussy, and nipples. Brassy? Ok. BUT unoriginal? I mean, REALLY!? How many English speaking self-absorbed TV character influenced female bloggers interested in shoes are there in Korea? I mean, I'd like to meet them for shopping, laughs, to take pictures of each other for our blogs, and long walks on the beach to talk about ourselves.

Shit, I'd like to start a club! If you are a lady out there with these interests, please contact me ASAP at koco(at)misskoco.com with CLUB FOR SELF ABSORBED WOMEN OBSESSED WITH SHOES WHO ARE JUST LIKE A CONGLOMERATE OF TV CHARACTERS in the subject line. We can meet once a month at all different locations of interest including Myeongdong nail salons or Doota! in Dongdaemun to shop and discuss recent developments in our (tv-like) realities.

Please go check out Whitey's site because he really never gets any traffic. You can check how he gets an average of 17 viewers per day on his site meter at the bottom of his page. It's kinda sad. So, let's send him some love, misskoco-style, and do something about that lack in his life. And while you're there you might as well tell him all of your thoughts, dreams, wishes, obsessions, and how great his blog is.

peace,
koco!

Mongolia

2007-07-04T02:01:00.000+09:00

Slowly I go through the odds and ends of my adventures. Looking at ticket stubs, photos, and by reading over my journals, I recreate the journey and do my best to compile a complete document of my trip. Here's a little bit of Mongolia with Matt.

While I am quoted here as saying, "I try everything," I wasn't up for the snuff or vodka for breakfast. I stuck to the tea!

**Thanks to Matt for documenting so much of our trip, and for being such a mench.

love in small packages

2007-07-03T13:07:00.001+09:00

The ATM wished me happy birthday. Yes, I'm a year older today. As a really nice, and unexpected gift, I got talked up on Scribblings of the Metropolitician. I got some nice emails, a few phone calls, well wishes and lots of love in those oh so important small packages.

FUCK ME BOOTS

2007-07-02T17:45:00.001+09:00

Ok, I usually save shoe content for feetmanseoul.com, but I'm pretty PG over there. So...

A wise woman told me once that the first thing any woman should do after a break up is buy a pair of "fuck-me" heels/boots. These should be the sexiest, possibly the biggest splurge of your life, and the most fabulous shoes ever! You need them, and yes, yes, yes, YES, they will make you feel better. They will hurt your feet more than the pain in your soul, and remind you with every step that you will get through whatever shit you just went through... cause you have the hottest shoes ever made on your feet, and they are going to take you places. You are going places. Slowly, but surely, you will strut away from what-ever-his-name-was and all the memories that went with him.

So, here's what I'm talking about. I think these are Japanese. They're ridiculous. Whatever. With a little school girl black mini-skirt and and simple tank top.... Oh, I think an outfit like that could cause accidents.

The other thing that helps is a bit of saucy late night shopping. You might call it SWT, Shopping While Tipsy---it's better than drunk dialing (not by much, but it's still better). It's not easy to find shoes of the true "fuck me" variety in Korea. Seriously, everything has a butterfly or a bow on it. I wanna vomit sometimes things are so cute. However, during my SWT adventures I have come a cross a few that, by Korean standards, could work.

A new store, called MANO Paris, opened in Hyehwa right near my place. They're open late, REAL late, which is REALLY bad for me. I get home and instead of a late night snack, it's a late night pair of 29,000W shoes. I think what I like about this store the most is that they have the same shoe in different colors. I want the same shoe in many colors. I want these wedges in red, in blue, and in black. That would look cute in my life.

**this post is dedicated to V. Smith, the aformentioned "wise woman"

Bye Kash...

2007-07-01T17:07:00.000+09:00

I'm aware of that cycle thing again. People I've gotten used to being around, are gone. I meet new people... but, no matter how aware I am of the way people enter and leave your life in Korea, I'll never get used to it.

jellyfish

2007-06-27T13:06:00.000+09:00

tips from a mani-pedi junkie

2007-06-25T19:34:00.000+09:00

When I lived in NYC, I was pretty much a "mani-pedi" junkie. I've cut back to just a couple a month, but still... I LOVE GETTING MY TOES DONE! I'm a glutton for all the pampering, the whole atmosphere, and most of all, for the way my toes look so much hotter in strappy sandals. As a result of my addiction, I've had my share of good, bad, and ugly pedicures. Also, I can make my way around almost any nail salon, anywhere.

I've found that it's most important to focus on maximizing three things: relaxation, sanitation, and preservation. So here is part one of the 4-part series on getting the most out of your next pedicure.

RELAXATION

Find a nail salon with "spa thrones."

These are big comfy lounge chairs with sinks attached. I particularly enjoy the chairs that vibrate and massage you while you get your pedicure. The throne makes you feel like a queen. Otherwise, you're sitting in a regular chair with a woman on the floor in front of you with a big bowl full of water. That's not as glamorous.

Leave more than enough time for the whole experience.
You don't want to rush the pampering. Give yourself about an hour so you don't have to feel stressed about getting out of the nail salon.

Relax.
This is a great time to catch up on celebrity gossip, update your journal, or close your eyes and chill out! If you feel a little uncomfortable about it all, take a friend or three. I love to make pedicure dates with my friends to enhance the "girliness" of the experience.

Get the foot massage.
Even if you have to pay extra for it, treat yourself because it's worth it.

SANITATION

Don't shave your legs.
Okay, this sounds crazy, but the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery says that you could be exposed to bacteria, if the equipment hasn't been cleaned properly, through tiny nicks or cuts you may have gotten from shaving. Leave shaving for after the pedicure.

Buy your own tools.
Infections can spread through certain tools like emery boards, which can't be sterilized. Instead of having to worry, just bring your own. While it's not common in Korea, many salons in the states have shelves for regular clients to store boxes of their own personal emery boards, cuticle cutters, heel scrapers, etc.

Ask questions.
Ask the salon about their sanitation practices. Do they sterilize after each use? How often do they change the spa throne filters?

Push, don't cut.
Getting your cuticles cut can be not only painful but if they aren't cut properly you can get an infection. Paula Abdul, got a nasty fungal infection that required surgery just before the new season of American Idol. OMG!! To reduce the possibility of something like that happening, just ask to have your cuticles pushed.

PRESERVATION

Wear flip-flops.
Duh. I've had a couple winter pedicures that went bad when my little piggies were squeezed back into boots. Even though the aesthetician sprayed my nails with quick dry, put a few drops of oil on each nail, and even wrapped my feet in plastic wrap, I still had a couple smudged toes when I got home. What a waste! Wear open toed shoes and put them on before they start painting your nails and you should be safe.

Recoat.
Pedicures last much longer than manicures, but the polish may lose that fresh shine. You can keep that look if you put on another coat of clear nail polish every week or so.

Moisturize!
I can't urge this point enough. One way to make your feet look instantly better and to preserve all the work done in your pedicure is to simply use lotion.

Basically, you want to protect your polish, maintain good health, and prolong the relaxation. More on foot health, shoes, and miss koco's take on Korean street fashion can be found at www.feetmanseoul.com. Happy pedicures!

Pedicure Tips - Part 2 (The Foot Model)
Pedicure Tips - Part 3 (The Pedicure)

**Thanks to j9 for the pics!

travel log

2007-06-23T16:58:00.000+09:00

Seoul --> (Narita --> Chicago -->) Philadelphia --> New York --> Philly --> New York --> (Miami -->) Grand Cayman --> (Miami-->) New York --> Boston --> Toronto --> New York --> Philly --> (Chicago --> Narita -->) Seoul

1.29.2006~2.23.2006

help, lists, a recipe

2007-06-23T14:48:00.001+09:00

Big news, I got part time help. She's not an intern, or a maid, but I can make lists for her. I like lists.

Here's a list of things I love that start with C, D, and E
Candy, chocolate, chopsticks, clean laundry, cocoa butter, coconuts, comfy sneakers, concoctions, creating creative thoughts, curry, dancing, daydreaming, deee-lite, eating with spoons, empanadas.

Here's a list of three things I love from certain places, in alphabetical order.

kisses from people I like
paper from Insadong
raspberry meltaways from my dreams

And lastly, here's a recipe for raspberry meltaways

1 stick of butter
1 stick of margarine
3/4 c. powdered sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
raspberry jam

Combine all but the jam. Mix the dough until creamy. Roll into balls and put them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Put a thumb print in each and jam into each thumbprint. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

hood nuts

2007-06-22T11:53:00.001+09:00

One thing I truly miss about living in New York is the fact that it's a city with some spectacular neighborhood characters. Yes, there are random drunken ajossis on the subway, but they aren't regulars in my life like there used to be. Overall, Seoul has nothing on the crazy people in New York.

I remember there was a woman in NYC I'd often see around 2nd Avenue and 11th Street, across from where the 2nd Ave. Deli once existed--it had a sign that could be misread as Zndavedeli. If you've ever seen this woman, you'd never forget her because she always had her old school walkman and her little headphones on--and she would just be dancing. I will admit that I'm guilty of getting into my music in public. You might catch me waiting at the corner tapping my foot to the beat or even humming a bit, but her case was never anything like that. This middle-aged street crazy would get down like it was her birthday, like no one was watching, like she was in the basement with the door locked, LIKE SHE WASN'T IN PUBLIC! She'd twirl around, close her eyes and mouth the words, extend her arms to the sky, while bopping her head to the groove. This wasn't just that one point in a song that just required a bit of a booty shake. I watched this woman do this for extended periods of time. She'd go through a couple songs. Then she'd start to walk along down the street like nothing happened--THEN she'd be right back at it!
Then there was Hotdog. Hotdog was kinda like a crack-head/hooker neighborhood nut that could often be found hanging around Tompkins Square Park. But she was lovable and always good for a laugh. Once Hotdog called me "Skinnybitch." One word. Well, actually... she screamed it at me, then mumbled a bunch of other stuff I now can't recall. On another occasion she tried to sell me hair in the JMZ (or more fondly, the JiZM) station on the Lower East Side.

NYC also had a guy who always asked for a quarter. The thing about him was that he didn't look like a "person in need". Quarter Guy had pretty well-kept dreads that he pulled into ponytails. He walked around with headphones on (but no dancing from him). He'd ask you, "Do you have a quarter?" If you refused he'd just go right on to the next person without skipping a beat. If you tried to tell him that he had already asked you earlier that day, or just two minutes ago, or tried to ask if it was some sort of social experiment, or performance art, or what... he'd ignore you and go on with his thing. I often wondered how much money he made in a day. I wondered if he's put himself through grad school that way or if he was doing this so he could write a book about it. It just seemed so... crazy. There was a point where Quarter Guy switched it up to a dollar. Then a couple months later I saw him again asking for quarters. I guess he wasn't smelly or scary, so maybe he just needed a quarter to make a phone call, so people gave him one; however, a whole dollar, that was asking a bit much.

The only regular nut I have in my hood is a lady who stands at the main intersection across from the Burger King droning on all day (and into the night) with a megaphone. Of course, I don't understand what she's talking about, but I imagine she's preaching about how I'm going to hell. I always think at those times that hell might not be so bad-- I mean if I don't have to hang out with the megaphone lady for eternity, AND I get to hang out with all the people who drink, have sex, are gay, etc. It might be like Vegas or the Pride Parade.

God... if you really exist, I'm sorry, but you hear what I'm saying, right? And God, could you please send me some more regular crazy, but harmless, hood nut people to watch on a regular basis? I don't own a television. I mean, I don't want one. Like, I don't think that would be a solution to the lack of interesting people to watch problem. Instead, you could send me a trip to Thailand, or a Mercedes-Benz, or some more gay boyfriends, or all of the above--your choice! Thanks God.

Okay, I've lost it. Time for a nap.

recent eats

2007-06-20T20:54:00.000+09:00

Pizza with shellfish. Why?

Out of this world salad @ Lisa's place & Mussels with sour cream and salmon and fries at La Cigale/Montmarte Brasserie

Salmon sandwich with grilled veggies on olive bread

Mango and banana waffles at Habitat topped with ice cream, whipped cream, and a cherry!

More breakfast at the Flying Pan: Banana waffles and walnut banana pancakes with ice cream

For more on brunch: go here and here.

life without dirty dishes

2007-06-19T20:46:00.001+09:00

I love baking. I hate dirty dishes. I'd do a lot more in my life if I had magical powers to make things like dust bunnies disappear. I make to-do lists... for the intern. I've been doing this for years. I often think about all the things I would be if I were simply independently wealthy. I feel that if someone were to invest in me--like back in the day where people just decided to become someone's benefactor so that they could just be fabulous--that I'd do extraordinary things and it wouldn't be a waste of any of the funds. Of course, I don't have an intern, or a maid, or a personal assistant, or special powers, BUT IF I DID... the world might just be a better place. For you, and for me.

Traditional Music

2007-06-19T13:04:00.000+09:00

say what?

2007-06-18T18:33:00.000+09:00

from a blog of poetry... I liked this, because I can kinda relate.

i have always wanted to work in a korean nail salon

i have always wanted to work
in a korean nail salon
painting nails and airbrushing tips
while chattering softly
in an unknowable language
doing pedicures and filing feet
and mentioning to each other
that that white person’s foot
was like a loaf of wonderbread.

when i was thirteen
i went to get my nails done
and i listened to the women
speak to each other in a complicated tongue
and laugh
and i thought they were laughing at me.
poor little twinkie,
she doesn’t even know we’re talking about her!
this may have just been paranoia
but my inability to grasp my own language
makes me feel paranoid,
makes me feel
inadequate
like i have a small penis.

how many times have you
stepped into an elevator
and thought someone was talking about you
in a musical language, in a gutteral language
and then the doors slide open
and you go about your day
but you still keep those sideways glances
in the back of your mind?

i listened to those women speak
and strained to hear inflections,
tried to discerne tone and rhythm
a soft clucking of the tongue
and words followed by a titter.

in all my twenty two years
i have never sensed
community
the way i did when i heard those women laugh
mouths hidden behind surgical masks
as they applied chemicals to some woman
with big hair and a layer of fat around her waist
i never never felt that kind of commonality

i am at times ashamed of my whiteness
of my pathetically limited knowledge of korean food language culture
how i know hamburgers better than i know the types of kimchi
how that woman in the library
started speaking to me in korean
and i couldn’t answer her
because i didn’t know what the hell she was saying
how self-teaching language programs
only serve to confuse me more
how i can’t wrap my mouth around the words
even with korean-english dictionaries
how cute that boy with the spikey black hair was,
and how he’d never even look twice at me
because my parents are white.
because all of my friends are white.
because i was born at a bad time.
because my birth mother abandoned me.
because i have never been to seoul.
because that soft-spoken korean girl in my english class
stopped talking to me
because her friends told her to.
i would sit at the lunch table on one side,
they on the other,
and they would talk and laugh
and i would read my books
as though my eyes could burn holes in them.

as the nail salon closes,
i’m on a bench across the street
watching them rinse out the pedicure tubs,
spinning the tops of the nail polish bottles closed.
they leave together.
one of them sees me
and waves.
i wave back.
it needs no translation.

world making

2007-06-17T20:47:00.001+09:00

I do something secret at night before I go to sleep. No, it's not masturbating or having sex--that's not a secret. It's a bit of world-making. It's like writing fan-fiction in my head, where the characters are real people in my life. These are my secret stories. I remember quite clearly why I started doing this. I asked my sister one night how she falls asleep so quickly. I might have asked, "Like, do you count sheep?" She told me that she made up her dreams in her head while she was still awake, and that helped her fall asleep. So, I gave it a go, and I haven't stopped. I think this has been going on for more than twenty years.

Most of the time it actually doesn't help me go to sleep. There have been periods in my life when I'd get so into a story it would keep me up for hours. There were times in high school, or when I've been really sad or stressed, that I've spent a lot of time in my day making up amazingly complex stories. When I came to a part I really liked, I'd rewind that bit, go over it again and again making subtle changes in the story until things worked out just right. At times, they've played out more dramatically than soap operas.

I've experimented with my world-making. I've tried a couple times to write down these elaborate tales, but I find it really painful and once it's on paper the stories are no fun anymore. I've realized just how twisted a mind can be sometimes, and, of course, I always fear that the people involved will find the stories.

I used to have a couple characters that weren't real. For example, Toshi, my often M.I.A. Japanese fiance who supported my fashion design endeavors, but wished I didn't work so much, and that I would just find a good assistant--since I was 7 months pregnant. I end up hiring an old flame. The assistant/ex-lover is trustworthy, and always around helping, so I lose interest in Toshi, but stick with him since he's a much better option than my personal assistant. This is when I realized that more often that not I use these stories to create tension between myself and a lost love, or a crush, so that they can see me "truly happy," desirable, successful, and, mostly, NOT with them, to make them wish that things were different. This is disturbing to me, but I still find comfort in making these kinds of stories.

I've tried to give up habitually constructing a fantastical universe, to let go of making up stories, but it makes me feel bad. I miss it and always allow myself to go back to it. They put me to sleep, they get me through a day, or a rough time.

My current one involves missing a plane, on purpose, to say some things that must be said, and those words being overheard, the phrase "Bad timing," and me vomiting--but recovering gracefully.

done

2007-06-15T19:35:00.000+09:00

now that the music's over,
turn on the bright white light.

hilariously late

2007-06-08T15:10:00.001+09:00

I meant to post about the things I knit this past winter months ago. Now it's t-shirt weather and finally I'm getting it all together, but here we go. Here is Emiel's chunky eggplant hat, hilariously late.

Emiel wanted a hat that covered his ears because they get cold when he goes snowboarding. He wanted a chunky yarn that would go well with his outfit. I had the perfect yarn in mind. I had one ball left at home, but I was pretty sure I'd need another ball of it to make a full hat. When I went to the store, they only had it in hot pink. In the end it came together with just enough yarn and I think Emiel liked it. This is his intense snowboarder look.

Ethan

2007-06-08T14:17:00.000+09:00

Ethan came to visit for a week. It was fun to show him around and introduce him to a place that has now lost all of it's novelty and is, well, home to me. Here he is enjoying some dduk manduguk, or rice cake and dumpling soup. We went for everything from Korean BBQ to cocktails at Bungalow. I took him to my acupuncturist, and we even saw that epic new pirate movie (it was too long). I don't know if he's back in Mongolia in his little tent yet, but where ever you may be Mr. E, it was good to have you. It got me really excited for the next guest: GIA!

Technorati Tags: food

for gia

2007-06-07T21:10:00.001+09:00

ruby kicks

2007-05-28T23:39:00.001+09:00

I click them three times and off I go. From the beaches of Pusan to the streets of Seoul; from Beijing to St. Petersburg. On trains, planes, in boats... my ruby kicks protected me while creeping through back streets in Siberia and kept my toes warm in the Gobi. These were made for bouncing, running, strolling like I have all the time in the world, hiking up mountains, soaking up the sun, wandering through the drizzle, gently treading on the steps of so many before and over land I'm just beginning to love. They lead me to new places... then they take me home.

Technorati Tags: fashion

ghetto fabulous

2007-05-25T15:42:00.001+09:00

gHETTO fABULOUS in the HBC.. May 26/27 get your party on with 2 days of fresh and fun art, dance, music, food and film. Support local artists and musicians.

Miss Koco's gonna be there... come Sunday and say hello.

VIVIAN!

2007-05-24T08:31:00.000+09:00

This woman is one of my absolute favorite people on this planet. Beautiful, intelligent, extremely talented, and so much fun. I'm quite flattered that she's got one of my nipples in her collection. Viv named her nipple, Kittynip. I love it! Check out her website to see some of her awesome video work.

nippleplay (cont.)

2007-05-20T18:11:00.000+09:00

I'm still out there distributing golden nipples! Some time ago, I found myself at the Loft (for the first and last time), with another Koco, well, Miss Coco Shin to be more exact. The greatest and strangest part about our meeting was that she already knew who I was. I think that's really fantastic and a bit strange. Coco was there with her outrageous friend Ernie. She snapped a couple pics of him modeling some magnetic nipples on his chain. They do suit him!

This rock star, Yozoh, is beautiful, fabulous, and all about the nipples! She's playing with her band at Bar Nana on June 1st. Kevin was also into playing with my nipples. Apparently he likes to bite.

My first batch of golden nipples I hand painted. The gold wasn't the gold I had imagined in my mind, so I sprayed the second batch with enamel. Below we have Jess showing off one nipple from the first batch on the right and one from the second on the left.
For all the nippleplay documentation go here. To make a donation to the organization that all the proceeds from nippleplay are given to, go here. AND if you want a golden nipple, go here.

Technorati Tags: nipples

MORE BRUNCH!

2007-05-19T17:13:00.000+09:00

On Friday afternoons I like to meet my girlfriends for brunch. We have discovered yet another fantastic dining establishment, The Flying Pan Blue. It is located on a small street just to the right of the Hamilton Hotel in Itaewon. Oh, the menu has so many delicious things: banana and walnut pancakes, something beautifully insane called chocolate ecstasy, and so much more it makes it really difficult to decide what to eat.

I got the curry chicken sandwich. It was great. The best thing about their sandwiches is the bread. Typical grocery stores usually don't carry anything exciting like fresh baguettes or a nice cinnamon raison bread. So when it's not even all that easy to find a loaf of whole wheat, the great home-baked tasting bread they have at Flying Pan Blue makes me so excited.

Jess got the avocado chicken salad. It's too bad they're so expensive in Korea because avocados are so good and good for you. While they are high in calories, they have that "good fat." I just found out that:

1. Avocado has been used traditionally to help people with sexual problems.

2. Great antioxidant and can be used for skin disorders

3. Avocado will aid healing for people suffering from digestive and circulatory problems

4. Another benefit of avocado for the skin where avocado paste can be applied to rashes and rough skin to make it smoother.

5. The brighter the fruit, the more beta-carotene (the substance that helps to prevent cancer) your avocado contains.

Liz had the salmon salad and the other Jess had the grilled veggie sandwich with pesto. As a group we topped off an order of potato wedges with sweet chili sauce and mayo. All dishes we had are highly recommended. Be advised that this place is not cheap, but it's well worth it!

zelen

2007-05-18T11:59:00.000+09:00

Judo and I went to check out Sujin's new Bulgarian restaurant in Itaewon. It's at the end of the alley behind the Hamilton Hotel (up the stairs just past Three Alleys Pub). The food was good, particularly the eggplant appetizer. The place looks great and Sujin kinda changed up her own style, from funky BricX chick to classy restuarant owner.

I had salmon, Judo ate some crazy cheese stuffed chicken dish, which he's still talking about. All in all, a lovely evening.

Technorati Tags: food

Good Times @ Queen

2007-05-17T16:35:00.000+09:00

This is what happens when you go to Queen. Everyone has a ridiculously fabulous time, and you meet crazy wonderful drunk people. Pictured above we have a bad boy who desperately needed a spanking. Unfortunately, he really likes spankings and can't get enough of being bad if that's the punishment. Pictured below we have Angelique and Gunshik. Gunshik studies English and always enjoys putting his new vocabulary into use, so he changed his name to DIARRHEAfor the evening. He also broke a driver the first time he tried to play golf. He has a lot of power, and he's funny too.

And then there's Charles, everyone's favorite Kiwi. For some reason, the traveling salespeople of Itaewon love Charles. Despite the disapproving looks we all shot him, the hat man followed us everywhere. He tried to sell Angelique a hat seven times in a three hour span of time. Here's Charles after someone finally gave in and bought a stupid hat. Maybe that's the sales approach--never give up, maybe if you annoy them enough they will buy one just to make you go away.

Technorati Tags: good times in Korea

in the kitchen

2007-05-10T22:56:00.000+09:00

I made banana bread. Mmmmm...

new-ish

2007-05-07T23:12:00.001+09:00

New old stuff. The familiar done again in a different way, a bit better even. The comeback...

Bar Nana has been busy renovating for the past couple of weeks and I'm excited to see what they've done with the place. The grand re-opening will be celebrated with the return of Free Base Fridays. I'll be there, supporting the bbm (as usual), with a drink or two (as usual), maybe even with a few nipples in my purse, ready to shake my ass, as usual.

In other exciting news, I made quiche. I mean I've made quiche before, but not in like years and I used to always make it under maternal supervision. Not only did I make quiche, on my own, but I also made the crust FROM SCRATCH. You hear that Mom!?! I'm being super domestic. I made a batch of oatmeal raison cookies last night and last week I made a huge batch of chocolate chip cookies from scratch. So far everything has gotten rave reviews. I love my oven. I'm making banana bread tomorrow. Anyone interested in helping me eat all this?

brunch

2007-05-06T15:18:00.000+09:00

BRUNCH. It's not early in the morning, so it's not breakfast. It could be lunch time (or later), but you're eating breakfast food. That already is enough reason to love brunch, but for me it's more than just that. It's the fabulous laid back, I-have-all-the-time-in the-world, approach to dining. Spring and summer time brunch is by far the best due to the outdoor seating and people watching. There are days I wake up aching for a good brunch, and for some time I just could not find it in Korea.
In the past 6 months I've discovered some great brunch spots and just this week 2 new ones popped up.

My original favorite for brunch was Indigo in the HBC. I like the staff and the food is pretty good, but the service is not the best (food is often cold, or doesn't come at all) and I've now overdone that place and need new brunch. In some ways it feels like the dormitory cafeteria (with way better grub). Whenever I'm there I see someone I know. This is my regular local place to go when I don't feel like cooking. I'm lucky to have it, but I need variety.

A new cafe just opened half a block away from Indigo, called Habitat. They have organic teas, a chill atmosphere and mellow music to match. I dig their earthy toned interior with mismatched pieces of nicely designed furniture, and the menu is filled with exciting things I can't wait to explore. They have outdoor seating, but it's on the street which can be noisy at times. Habitat is brand new, so they have some work to do, but I'm looking forward to seeing how this place develops.

If I'm in the HBC area these days I walk up to Jule's Kitchen for her brunch. It's a bit pricey, about 10,000 won, but worth it. On top of that, she's totally lovely and her cakes are heavenly. Jule's Sandwich, a chicken salad with apples, is my favorite. I also recommend that you try the carrot cake, it'll rock your world. It's not often crowded so the food is made pretty quickly.

My all time favorite Hyehwa chill spot is Comfort Zone/The Living Room. Due to the size of my apartment, I quite literally made this bar my living room. It has a clientele of mostly Hyehwa locals, Sungkyunkwan University professors, international MBA students who live up the street, and ME! Until now I've felt like it's been my secret. I wanted Andy, the cute and friendly English-speaking owner, all to myself.

But now they have brunch EVERYDAY from 11-4 and everyone should know. Andy's sister, Jessie, is awesome in the kitchen--she knows how to do brunch right and make it look beautiful. On most days you will find me there on the patio during my lunch break.

Their standard brunch plate has yummy potatoes, a couple strips of bacon, a bagel with jam and butter, some veggies, and eggs. I recommend the French toast.

See the comments for directions.

food & dance!

2007-05-05T19:20:00.001+09:00

The International Food Festival in Itaewon was heaps of fun. Charles and I hung out at the Egyptian food spot and smoked hookas, ate yummy stuff, drank beer, and watched everyone having a good time dancing around. After good eats we went over to Above and had the best mojitos in all of Korea.

Technorati Tags: food

on the street

2007-05-04T19:03:00.000+09:00

I bumped into Alan looking good, sporting this great shirt. I love finding these gems all over Korea.

fuckin
freak
furrous

Street unifrom. Copyright 2004.
Freaky clothing. All rights reserved.

good design

2007-04-30T18:57:00.000+09:00

I went to my friend Haelan's show, nicely planned trip at Studi-oh! in Hongdae. She's showing some of her design work. I love what she's doing with used bottles and the work she's creating a way to deal with all the wires we have in our life.

Haelan's fashion solution for all your mp3 player's wires--buttons to wrap the cord around!

These clever household items are made out of alcohol bottles. The green glasses are made out of large beer bottles and hold beer from a small bottle perfectly.

Haelan's design buddy, Kwangho Lee, made these vases out of stacks of mugs, cups, and glasses. They aren't attached, which makes them a bit dangerous, but I love the idea and the look.

Haelan's solution for all the wires coming from your computer--weave them through the holes in this table!

Check out more of her work at her website: www.haelankim.com

SUGAR FREE T

2007-04-25T21:15:00.001+09:00

This is my new favorite t-shirt. It has the following "English" text on it:

SUGAR FREE

Dr Pepper

BEVERDIALLY SWEETBONES
BRONDNATED BEVERSEEDS

testeful is has clean taste that Drink a of with anything makes as ideal base for really qutoches a thirst. Everyyhing in base punches and can be used in a veriety of Enjoy and is pore and wholesorse so treefor testeful ways for cooking. Drink a bottle of kitle children can drink it. feeling of makes Everyyhing when you're hot of tred or thirsty with anything. makes as ideal base for ice can fresh up with children anytime.

If any of that makes any sense, please let me know.

More potty talk

2007-04-25T21:03:00.000+09:00

I don't know why I must constantly post about poo or the state of bathrooms in Korea. Maybe it's because I continue to find things I just can't keep to myself. Here's one: the bathrooms at my job don't have a dispenser for liquid soap as many bathrooms often do. Instead we have a bar of soap on a stick. And another: there are no paper towels or any other method to dry your hands provided. Thirdly (I have to tell you this), while they don't have some important things, they do have bidet toilet covers installed in at least one of the stalls of each bathroom--with heated seats (good for the winter).

Lonesome & Hot

2007-04-24T23:43:00.001+09:00

Lonesome
Photo by Neaners.

What a sad scene. My sister found this one shoe alone on a street corner in New York City. Every shoe has a story...

Which makes me wonder what these red pumps would have to say. HOT!

Hot
Originally uploaded by Neaners.

lemonade

2007-04-20T16:04:00.000+09:00

I've found that most lemonade in Korea is carbonated--but not this one! In addition to the non-fizzy lemonade, 조이스타코 (Choi's Taco) in Shincheon has great Mexican food.

Technorati Tags: food

this i miss

2007-04-14T10:39:00.000+09:00

blackberry cobbler
(photo by judo)

I miss diners and delicious decadent dessert.

It's not impossible to find in Korea, it's just that it's so easy to find these (essential) things in my favorite cities: New York, San Fran, Seattle... even Philly has enough strategically placed fantastic places to keep me knee-deep in sweet treats all day. I could really use some eats from The Pink Rose right about now. I'm hungry.

tour el bano

2007-04-13T13:45:00.000+09:00

Earlier this month, Korea.net featured this picture in their Photo News section.

Ambassadors from 15 countries and their wives tour a public toilet in Suwon on Tuesday (April 3). The Suwon Toilet Tour was organized by the World Toilet Association, which aims to enhance the hygiene state of public restrooms.

There's a World Toilet Association?!? I wonder what the schedule for that day looked like...

9:00 AM Morning Welcome & Continental Breakfast
9:30 AM Opening Speech
9:45 AM Guest Speaker presenting, "The State of Urinals Today"
10:30 AM Local Tours: The Hwajangshils of Suwon
Noon-1PM Lunch & Networking
1-3 More Tours
Optional Late-afternoon Presentations:
New Advancements in Bidets
Toilet Paper Samplings
8:00 PM WTA Member's Social (Men's room, Namsan Tower Observatory Level)

I'm actually quite glad to see that there is an organization out there doing something to try to improve the state of bathrooms. I've seen some bathrooms in Korea that could use a bit of help.

hip-warmer?

2007-04-11T21:12:00.000+09:00

I'm not sure what to call these crocheted creations... hip-warmers? cummerbunds? butt bands? What would you call it? I like them because they're easy to make and keep me toasty when I've got cramps or my body is a bit sore from yoga.

big news

2007-04-10T23:54:00.000+09:00

Now you can find me at feet|man|seoul, too!

Make a Splash

2007-04-10T23:28:00.000+09:00

for feet|man|seoul
Rainy days make me want to sleep all day, or drink herbal tea, snuggle up with my laptop, browser-window shop, and dream up the most fabulastic rain boot and umbrella combinations, ever! During a recent gloomy weather internet expedition I stumbled across FashionIQ. Their resident fashion reporter, Nicole, has the right idea--on wet dreary days slip into some loud wellies and make a statement while you sing in the rain. I suggest adding a funky umbrella to make the whole rainy season a fashion event and something to look forward to.

A designer umbrella with interchangeable handles matched up with girly boots to remind you of the May flowers to come.

The umbrella has a built in speaker in the handle and you control the music when you spin the umbrella. And the boots are just the hottest rain boots I've ever seen.

Now this is a dreamy set: shiny water-proof boots and Jean Paul Gaultier's Pinstripe Square umbrella!

This high-tech umbrella (still in development) from Ambient Devices has a chip that picks up wireless weather info and will glow when the chance of rain is high. What a good idea.
The wish list grows. So many shoes, hardly enough time...

delicious, not!

2007-04-09T10:53:00.000+09:00

Food in Korea goes into two categories: delicious and NOT delicious. This cookie, despite what it says, was NOT delicious.

public art

2007-04-03T19:44:00.000+09:00

umbrella spider
Originally uploaded by misskoco.

I love finding an unexpected funky installation, a clever sculpture, or a large scale mosaic on my adventures and jaunts. I found these sculptures in a subway station in Pusan. They are a great addition to this public space and really creative. The spiders were made out of umbrellas and the birds are from bottles. What great whimsical little creatures!

Seafood Stew (해물탕)

2007-04-02T20:33:00.000+09:00

After spending a few hours at the Pusan Aquarium admiring fish and other underwater creatures, Jess, Jess, and I decided it was time to see what some of them tasted like. We found a nice restaurant that specialized in a seafood stew. It was enjoyable, but it was also a bit scary. I wasn't quite sure what I was eating, or if I was supposed to eat that part. I had to dissect everything and remove questionable bits and exoskeleton. Regardless, somehow, I stuffed myself.

The restaurant also had a side dish I'd never come across before, some kind of noodle slaw of sorts.

Survey says: not my favorite, but it didn't make me puke.

days of the week

2007-03-30T00:14:00.000+09:00

Many cars in Seoul have a color-coded sticker on their windshield that is associated with the government's "No-Driving Day" campaign to reduce pollution and traffic. In short, once a week (Monday-Friday) you should leave your car at home and take public transportation just to be nice to the environment and other people living in this bustling metropolis. Additionally, according to an announcement on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website there are some major perks involved:

At present, car owners participating in the "No-Driving Day" system receive a 5% discount on their vehicle tax, a 2.7% reduction in car insurance premiums (Meritz), and a 50% reduction in tolls for passage through the Namsan Tunnels 1 and 3.

Good stuff! Other incentives are being developed, like free public parking (starting 7/07). But you have switch to the special new electronic tag because the old paper sticker won't get you any good stuff come July. These new ones were developed so they can catch the people driving on their "No-Driving Day" with some kind of super-Korean technology (or just RFID tags). 오빠 is watching!

Of course, I love this program because it's attempting to do something about the nasty air in Seoul--even if they are kinda tricking/bribing people into doing it. But here's the funny bit, before I knew anything about this campaign I was just tickled by these stickers. For someone like myself--a non-driving, sticker-loving, lazy student of the Korean language--these stickers served a whole different purpose. Since my mind is like a sieve sometimes, I created a little game for myself. As I walk through the city I quiz myself on the days of the week in Korean. I get points, and if I do well, I take myself out for ice cream or allow myself to buy yet another a new journal with bad English on it. I mean you can never have too many of those anyway, right?

MONDAY
Moon Day
월요일
ORANGE!

TUESDAY
Fire Day
화요일
RED!

WEDNESDAY
Water Day
소요일
BLUE!

THURSDAY
Wood Day
목요일
GREEN!

FRIDAY
Gold Day
금요일
VIOLET (but it should be yellow)

There aren't stickers for the weekend, but SATURDAY is 토요일(Earth Day) and the easiest is SUNDAY, 일요일 (Sun Day).

New York Hotdog & Coffee Sign

2007-03-29T00:12:00.000+09:00

Pizza!

2007-03-25T15:45:00.000+09:00

Korean pizza definitely has its own distinct personality. It's entirely different from New York style thin crust or Chicago style deep dish. The concept of pizza has been tweaked, changed, and stretched to fit the Korean public in ways I've never thought were attainable by a pizza. Koreans have taken pizza to a whole new level and sometimes maybe they just shouldn't have.

There are so many reasons to love Korean pizza that I don't even know where to begin. I love the way Koreans say pizza. PEE-JA! I love the crazy stuff you put on the pizza, and the wild recipes the pizza joints come up with. I love how they wrap the take-out pizza boxes with ribbon like it's a gift to put under the tree. I've even had pizza in a cone! AND of course, I can't talk about pizza in the ROK without giving props to the one and only Mr. Pizza.

First of all, no pizza in Korea comes without hot sauce, Parmesan cheese and pickles on the side. Pizza and pickles never went together in my world before, but here you never see pizza without it. I think it has something to do with the amount of cheese in one sitting. Sometimes pizza also comes with a little side of garlic dipping sauce. It doesn't taste very much like garlic to me, and is far to reminiscent of the consistency of cheese whiz for my liking, but some people love this stuff. I had a coworker a couple of years ago who loved it so much I'm pretty sure he probably ate it all by itself with a spoon when no one was watching.

There a lot of familiar pizza places in Korea including Papa Johns, Domino's (which has some crazy Star of David pizza), and Pizza Hut (which, somehow, is somewhat of an upscale dining establishment). My all time favorite here is Mr. Pizza because they proudly display that their pizza is "Made for Women." I just think this slogan is totally hilarious. No one seems to know why either. On the company's website it says that their pizza making techniques make it healthier and lower in fat. They claim to be the originator of the "Well Bing" pizza and Mr. Pizza's secret ingredient is their hands and hearts (and a bunch of cheese, tee hee). I guess these things are attractive to women. I have to wonder if saying it's pizza for women deters or attracts male customers. And get this, the 7th day of every month is "Mr.Pizza's Woman's Day." I have no idea what happens on "Woman's Day," however, I imagine it should be like what every man wishes "Ladies Night" at a bar would be like or like a sleepover party at an all girl's boarding school.

My favorite pie at Mr. Pizza is their Vegetarian or Begetarian as it reads on their Korean menu. It has: "Mushrooms, corns, onions, green peppers, red pimentos, black olives." That's right, it has corn! Pizza in Korea has corn on it. Some other interesting toppings include potatoes, sweet potatoes, sweet potato mousse, cream cheese mousse, pumpkin mousse, "fruit cockstails" (whatever that may be), and almond slices.

Their menu boasts a collection of bizarre pizzas. Listed from least to most ridiculous:

Potato Gold
Our most popular pizza. It is upgraded potato pizza added sweet potato mousse, cheddar cheesenacho chips and sour cream. Well-being premium pizza with rich taste.

Free Ta
Go ahead! you be the chef!
Enjoy your pizza! Enjoy your toppings!
You decide which toppings to enjoy with your thin crust pizza. Choose from beef, shrimp, chicken breast and vegetables to create your own fajita pizza.It's fun! It's wholesome! It's Free Ta!

Grand Prix(shrimp+potato)
surprising combination of European cookies and pizza!
Sprinkling the crust rings with sunflower seeds,
pumpkin seeds, and raisons, this one-of-a kind pizza which tastes like European soft cookies, will have you craving for more! And that's not all. With Grandprix, you can have our two best toppings, shrimp and potato, on one crust. And when you're done, dip the rest of the crust into our irresistible blueberry sauce for dessert!

This post doesn't exhaust all the things that could be said about Korean pizza. OH NO! This is just the crust, and who knows what the future may hold for pizza in this country.

2007-03-24T22:12:00.000+09:00

My clicky/pointing finger, my texting/send button thumb, and my right wrist are experiencing some technical difficulties. My new acupuncturist has told me not to use my right hand for the next two weeks ("No use!"), so I have to put the knitting down for a while and do my best to become ambidextrous to prevent future injuries. Poo.

Shopping in Namdeamun

2007-03-23T21:21:00.000+09:00

I went to Namdeamun searching for a hamper. I didn't find a hamper, but did I find my new favorite Korean cross-dresser.

He screamed out to me, "Hello! Welcome to Korea. Nice to meet you." Then he went on selling items from the pile of clothing at his feet. His getup was actually working. In addition to the large crowd just watching his street performance, there was a large group of women frantically digging through a heap of tacky clothing like it was filled with designer labels--which it wasn't! I think my favorite part about his outfit was the fact that he was wearing a red bra as a hat.

Tahl

2007-03-22T21:18:00.000+09:00

This lovely lady owns like a bunch of my nipples. Here's Tahl with her green merino nipple named... come to think of it, I don't think she named it, but look how she works that nipple!

Once upon a time...

2007-03-21T07:33:00.000+09:00

I lived in New York City. Now that I'm "all grown up," those days, back in 2004, seem like ancient history. Moreover, going out for a night on the town now seems so tame in comparison. It's hard to beleive that my nights out used to look a lot more like this...

Pre-party Activites: Putting eyeliner on boys.

Pre-party Activities 2: Whippings

The Event: Spend QT with the beautiful people.

End of the night photoshoot: street poses on trashed furniture, give the camera "naughty/angry"

... all from the archives at my boy phil's site, aloofproductions

oneself

2007-03-18T21:59:00.000+09:00

Seoul was privy to quite a treat this weekend. Oneself, a hip-hop trio unlike I've ever seen before, took the stage of Cargo and really put on a show. It seemed that everyone was there, and everyone had an amazing time. I loved every moment of their performance, and I danced, danced, danced, like it was meant to be a workout.

golden nipple magnets

2007-03-14T22:58:00.002+09:00

Hommus/Hommos/Homous UPDATE

2007-03-14T22:34:00.000+09:00

Judo's been making lots of hummus. Last night he made the best hummus/hommos/homous in town. Now I'm completely unable to eat any other hommos.

Dialogue in the Dark

2007-03-14T22:18:00.000+09:00

Last week I went to the Seoul Arts Center to check out Dialogue in the Dark. It turned out to be one of the best exhibitions I've ever experienced. As explained in the exhibition info:

Visitors are lead by blind guides in small groups through specially constructed darkened rooms, in which scents, sounds, wind, temperatures and textures conveys the characteristics of daily environments, for example a park, a city or a bar. In the dark, the daily routine becomes a new experience. A reversion of roles is created: sighted people are torn out of their familiar environments; blind people provide them with security and a sense of orientation transmitting a world without pictures. The impact is remarkable: "Dialog in the Dark" have been presented in the last years in 17 countries throughout Europe, Asia and America.

Our guide, Christine, was a 20-year-old student with pretty decent English speking skills. We never saw her in the light, but I imagined she was adorable. She was really sweet, and without her guidance we would have never made it through the exhibition. There was absolutely NO LIGHT.

Since I consider myself to be a very visual person, I thought this experience would be excruciatingly painful and scary, but I enjoyed identifying things with my other senses. I kept having to laugh at myself when I would find something and say "I see a..." Of course, I didn't see anything, but that's the way I've been accustomed to talking about the existence of objects.

Basically, if you have the chance to see this show, GO! It was really impressive and unlike anything I've experienced before.

HBC livin

2007-03-07T10:51:00.001+09:00

My new place is starting to look and feel like a real grown-up dwelling. I moved into a 3 bedroom with the boy in the HBC. For you non-Seoulites, the HBC (HeaBongCheon) is filled with foreigners, has Indigo (one of my favorite cafes in Korea), and is otherwise known as being the ghetto. YAY! My new hood is filled with fun sights.

What do we have here? ODB! The Old Dirty Bastard, Dirt McGirt, Big Baby Jesus, the only black God, Osiris (aka Russell Jones), right here in the HBC!

Mr. Bastard lives just down the street from The Pink House. Just after I took a picture of this unique building, out walks one of its inhabitants--a man WEARING A PINK SHIRT. It couldn't have been more perfect. So I followed him... and where did he lead me?

To the WHITE FOOD TOAST & TACO food stand, of course. I can't wait till this place opens up. I love white food! Doesn't everyone?!?

Stay tuned for more tales from the ghetto. In the meanwhile check out the flickr photos from my most recent jaunt in North America.

100 GOLDEN NIPPLES: EDEN @ Cargo!

2007-03-02T13:33:00.000+09:00

Thanks to ROKON and Venus I'll be doing another EDEN party. This time it's at Cargo. I hope to give out all 100 golden nipples and collect donations for the National Breast Cancer Fund and The Breast Cancer Fund.

Here's more info:

SecondFromTheSun
presents a mix of beats, art and performance by both local and
international female talent each month.

EDEN @
Club C A R G O in Hongdae

MARCH 10th
SATURDAY

click on the image for a larger view