Where the Wild Things Aren’t ........... Mood: Wondering

April started with Saks/Sugar Publishing event, where I was happy to snag a Marc by Marc Jacobs tote and one of the very large Shepard Fairey designed Saks shopping bags.

Saks Shopping Bags Designed by Artist Shepard Fairey


Later that night Liz and I stopped by Le Cirque(The Brooklyn Circus) at Yoshi’s Fillmore, hung out with Cas and his friend from Steel Closet, and then danced the night away at Beauty Bar’s Life/Style. Went to 111 Minna for Jay Alexander’s birthday party to see Ryan and Dylan dj, no one asked me if I was a tranny that night thank god, cause that’s what some moron did two years ago at the same event! Later that night met up with Natalie and Lindsey at Bar 821 and then had a late night corned beef sandwich with Liz and Josh at Tommy’s Joynt.


“World Walking,” by William Kentridge

Checked out the William Kentridge exhibition at the MOMA, which I liked, was dark and charmingly grotesque. However, the Nick Cave exhibition the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts absolutely blew me away. It was colorful, textural, fun, and really just brilliant.


From Nick Cave's Meet Me at the Center of the Earth Exhibition (Mar 28 -
Sun, Jul 5 2009 YBCA Galleries)

Stacy’s birthday BBQ at the SF Skatepark was a blast, and included burgers, chorizo, and some drunken playground gallivanting. Lee, Dee and I had a dinner and theatre date, went to Cav for dinner, since Zuni was closed for remodeling :(, and then saw Wicked. For the majority of the month, I experienced a horrible intestinal bug, which I believe was healed by the probiotic properties of Dannon Activia yogurt. Hallelujah for that cause it was NOT a cool time!

May always signals the official start of birthday season for me, and the month got off to quite a spectacular start with its first birthday party being Jessica’s. The night included dressy pre-partying at the birthday girl’s house where we sipped on deliciously concocted Manhattans and Aviations. Dessert and champagne were had next at Bix, and drinks in the Russells Room at Bourbon and Branch followed making for an ingenuously fabulous night, and the perfect birthday party.

The following weekend Liz and I saw Hottub at Vessel, and checked out Amanda Lopez’s art show, where The Park put on a pretty impressive performance as well. The next day was Brandan’s birthday brunch at Dolores Park, it was a decadently fun time, this classy braud brought Jello-shots, a Brandan birthday tradition I’ve been doing for a couple years now. But Teddy’s homemade jumbo coconut shrimp were absolutely beautiful, and therefore stole the show; receiving an initial gasp and then clapping as he lifted away the lid of the serving tray. Alex’s homemade salt caramels were absolutely to die for and Dan’s scones, and Dee’s savory bread pudding were certainly hits as well.


Too Much Fun at Dolores Park – Eric spent at least 3 hours being pregnant that day!

At PST at 330 Ritch Liz provided Jesse Boykins III with his stunnas for the show, and I couldn’t stop singing Pantyhose. Oh, and by the way, one of my new obsessions is vintage dead stock pantyhose! Okay, so I digress a bit.

Jesse Boykins III – Pantyhose

Then, for Errico’s birthday we hung out with him and the boys at the house, eating tacos and shootin the shit with the A-town crew. That Friday was Adrian’s birthday party which started at Badlands, moved to Toad Hall, whose DJ was so on it that night, followed by late night Nizario’s (I actually brought my Escape from NY Pizza into Nizario's cause I like their crust better, but had Nizario’s Castro Special earlier that night for dinner). The following night went to Bootybassment with Jessica, slumbered partied with her, and then had to run through the Bay to Breakers to get Sunday brunch. We had a really nice lady date that afternoon, walking through downtown SF to Hog Island at the Ferry Building, where we had our own beer and oyster festival, since I didn’t make it out to the O’Reilly’s one that day. Sara’s birthday party at Buck Tavern was nice and chill, as was hanging out at the Forbidden Island (Alameda tiki bar) with Christle, Dee and Enrique.

The mixer at Foreign Cinema with the SF Chapter of Ladies Lotto was full of female bonding fun. Was great hanging out with Natalie of Ladies Lotto, Jenny of Acrimony and Terry of Evil Monito. Liz, Gabriella, Christle and I went to Beauty Bar after, and the next night went to Vessel again with the ladies (Liz, Gabriella, Katie, Lin Lin, Sarah) to see Jubilee spin at their happy hour, went to Osha for dinner, Rickshaw to catch her again, and ended the night with Hottub at the Uptown in Oaktown. Was a nice relaxing day catching up with Jesse and Sophie (foodie - writes The Supertaster) at the Ferry Building’s Farmer’s Market, and I’m really excited to try the Rancho Gordo yellow eye beans she gave me. I’m totally gonna cook them up with a with a ham hock. Mmmmmmm I can already taste it now!


On my mind this week:

1.

I LOVE this 90210 intro!!!!


2.

Speaking of 90210, my sister first showed me this video...HILARIOUS! BYEsies!!


3.

I can’t wait for the show tomorrow night!!! :)


4.

The company of wolves is best.


5.

So simple, so perfect, so lovely. Refreshing to see true talent still exists out there in the world of new-ish music.

Dragon Ladies, Pillow Books, China White...Mood: Fiery

The rest of January consisted of the first ever Bootybassment at Oasis in Oakland, where the BB crew: Errico, Liz, Danny, Moshe, Stacey, Tracie, Ryan, and Darcy shut it down literally. (Reina, Liz, and I had been there a few weeks earlier, was super crazy packed that night, like a hip hop video.) Then Amy’s birthday party at Encore Karaoke was way out of control, so good I can still hear Rick Astley...Never gonna give, never gonna give, give you up...


The Hottub album release party at Loaded at Rickshaw Stop was a really good time, helped the folks get ready, and was designated the official confetti thrower.

Dessert with Amedee, Nate, and Liz at Candybar was delightfully amazing, my faves included: Hennessy mango and sea salt smoothies, the 50/50 soju creamsicle concoction, and the sesame ice cream.

Some of our sweet treats at Candybar: Lemon Tart with Black Sesame Ice Cream, White Sangria, Choc. Creameux Cake with Thyme Ice Cream

February started nicely with me and Peter taking the fairy to Sausalito, then returning to the city only to find ourselves engulfed by the Chinese New Year parade, which quite a fun surprise for two people who had never been. And despite my tendency to get over stimulated, the floats, firecrackers, kids, and crowds were enjoyed to the fullest.

Spent most of February with a terrible cold, and then cold and all, was off to Vegas with the M.I.S.S. ladies for the trade shows: Project, Pool, Magic, and Guild. Even with the congestion, and the cold medicine brain fog, it was a good trip, and always a blast hanging out with the crew: Liz, Gabriella, Stacy Pants, Amedee, Radio Rose and Skinny Pants. And the parties: Stussy/Camp Lo party, Adidas party at the Peppermill, Fruition/A-Trak party at Planet Hollywood, and the parties that we arrive too late for and missed: Diplo at Ghostbar, another at the Encore.


Me, Gabriella, and Liz at the Project/Adidas Party - Las Vegas February 2009 courtesy of Hypebeast.com

Highlights of the trip included trying on one of Chanel’s most beautiful and most expensive bags thanks to Ruby at Encore's Chanel boutique, (diamond encrusted and white gold black alligator handbag over $260k!) – see the M.I.S.S. post here about it and also Forbes’ article.

One of the world's most expensive handbags: Chanel's "Diamond Forever" tote

Thrifting in Vegas with Liz was so much fun that I missed my flight home, but luckily the airport gods were looking out for me that night, and I was home only 45 minutes, and without any additional fees, after my original flight was scheduled to land. And thanks to Hyphy Wifey, I somehow acquired and for little money: 1 very large chinchilla stole, 5 pairs of shoes – 1 of them being ultra buttery Casadei thigh high boots!, 2 purses, 1 leather jacket, a belt, and a Dior wallet.

March was a blessed month featuring decent health and some pretty fabulous parties. The Shotwell/Jasko after party at Gallery Arcane with Spank Rock was a blast, Hottub at Detonate was out of control, and Computer Rock’s 2 Year Anniversary Party at Laszlo’s was great fun too.


Spank Rock performing at Gallery Arcane SF -
March 2009




Hottub at Detonate – SF March 2009



On my mind this week:


1. A shop in Vegas had the Samsonite Black Label/Alexander McQueen hero pulley in silver, and god knows it took quite a few minutes, and a whole lot of will power to walk away from it, and still my mind contemplates, for I am totally, uber-utterly haunted with browser’s remorse. Big sigh.




2. I’ve been cooking up all sorts of homey comfort foods lately, and have been working on perfecting my Chinese salt fish pork (a Cantonese peasant food - they usually don’t serve this kind in Chinese restaurants) a.k.a. Hom Yu, or harm you as I like to call it, which ironically seems to be the case, as studies show it gives you throat cancer when eaten in excess.




3. Speaking of things Chinese, acculturation at its finest.




4. Here’s some random family trivia: He passed away before I was born, but my Uncle Howard was married to Anna May Wong’s sister.




5. Before Amanda Lepore, there was....Amanda Lear. Doesn’t get more fabulously chinois than this!

Non-Collige Virgo Rosas...Mood: Flower Powered

“Any one who has common sense will remember that the bewilderments of the eye are of two kinds, and arise from two causes, either from coming out of the light or from going into the light, which is true of the mind's eye, quite as much as of the bodily eye.” Plato's The Republic, in Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon

Year in Review: 2008

2008 played out like a Broadway production; lots of set and costume changes, music, dancing, starts, conclusions, and the confusion that accompanies any theatrical endeavor. It was a quirky year full of random changes; good, bad, transitional, and not so transitional, propelling me into a state of instant adoption – or just needing to go with the flow.

Met many interesting new people through M.I.S.S. in 2008, and attended New York Fashion Week in September, covering fashion shows and events for the blog, which was an amazing experience in itself. Working in advertising at MNI Time Warner had been going pretty well until they decided to restructure in October, so I was laid off, which turned out to be somewhat a blessing in disguise, since I was already feeling ready for another opportunity. Dating in 2008 was packed with rapturous highs and then some abysmal lows, but I suppose that’s just the delicate nature of romance in today’s modern world. So far, 2009 has been a seemingly odd, but fun year. I keep telling Liz it’s a “year to try new things”. I’m going to stick to that mantra as well, so hopefully the following months will be filled with beautiful and wonderful things and events and states of mind, more perfect and fulfilling than ever assumed, and of course, lots of flowers too.

December 2008/Early January 2009

December had a busy start. Kira and I spent a day at the SFMOMA catching up, where Martin Puryear’s wood sculptures were the happiest I’ve ever seen, and Matthew Barney's wall drawing might have been slightly more exciting if he had incorporated greasy sandwich fingerprints or something into his work atop the walls of the SFMOMA.

Matthew Barney SFMOMA - As you can see, I’m getting better at taking pictures sans a flash. Kira’s bf, Aaron, gave me the wonderful advice to exhale deeply while snapping away.


My favorite of the day though was Katharina Fritsch's sea of black poodles/baby installation, kinda silly, kitsch at its best, with just a dash of insane - which is one of my favorite combos btw (yum, Combos, remember those delicious dog food like junk food crackers/chip things). Okay, so I digress a bit.


Anyhow, my second favorite was Robert Gober’s chest – such a gem, especially considering I’m strangely attracted to amputee looking art…



Liz, Reina, and I checked out the new Joe’s Jeans store opening downtown, and then randomly hung out with the Nike Skateboarding Team brigade (Hunter, Reese, Joey) at the Hotel Monaco, where after the longest night ever, not so great bacon cheeseburgers at 4am never tasted, well…so good. Liz’s and Trent’s karaoke b-day party at DoReMi was super fun. Afterall, can’t go wrong with homemade cupcakes, Lambic floats (Liz’s invention), and boozed up group karaoke. Scott and I saw Milk, which is an exceptional film on many levels – Sean Penn's performance, the story of Harvey Milk and the Castro, and the dire importance for the continuation of the Civil Rights Movement to secure equal rights for gays and lesbians in our terribly homophobic society. Hung out at the Attic after, where the most intimidating, yet freakishly intriguing bartender ignored us, served us, and then ignored us some more.

Julia’s wedding at the Ritz Carlton in Half Moon Bay was a pretty spectacular event; fire pits, beautiful views of the ocean, Asian junk food, 90s/00s hip hop wedding jams, Frette bedding, orchid and antique shopping with Dee and Adrian, and killer blueberry French toast brunch at original Johnny’s (their cook randomly belts out opera!) made for a very eventful weekend.

The holidays with the Kwans are always a two-month celebration filled with parties, activities, and insane amounts of good food. My gingerbread house brothel was complete with gimps and slaves thanks to my brother, Jeff, and John. Christmas was spent at four family parties, which consisted of cooking, eating, and then crashing. My homemade Christmas gift for 2008 was home brewed Kombucha tea, something I’ve been doing since the craze started in 90s.


My jarred Kombucha Christmas gifts (left), Kombucha fungus brewing process (right)

Engulfed by a wedding, two births, a death (my grandfather, who had been dealing with cancer for the past few years), and a multitude of holiday parties with friends and family, December was a month pervaded by reflection: mortality, coupling, family values, traditions, and legacy were all topics of relevance tapping around in my head lending to the most conspicuous headache; the kind whose dull omnipresent pain is later regarded with joy and appreciation, having the same likeness that of a love hangover, but respectively erring on the side of a life hangover. My answer: Ibuprofen.

New Year’s Eve was really fantastic this year. To start, Jessica cooked up the most amazing spread for us, which included: Tater tots and caviar (a really superb combination btw), a leek confit tart, stinky cheeses, champagne, and Lambic. Then Liz and I headed off to Sophie’s where Patrick threw the most seriously awesome hyphy hip hop party I’ve been to in months. I had sooooooooo much fun, despite my hair getting soaked with champagne at midnight, though I didn’t get as drenched as hyphy wifey Liz. Thank god she was wearing leathers that night! Lex had hooked it up for us at 1015 to see Diplo. (Thanks Lex!!) Then at 4am, we ended up in Oakland, in front of a house where Hottub and the Official Tourist DJs had been, but it was all dark, and everyone was gone, so at that point we called it a night, both agreeing we had brought in the new year pretty damn right.

January started with Paula’s Poker/Ornament exchange cousin party (Christmas doesn’t end until Chinese New Year in my family). Card games make me really nervous, poker in particularly, so I channeled my inner Jennifer Tilly to help me out, which somehow worked, since I was ahead for half the game, and then won the second place pot of $30. Christle, Dee and Sara and I went to Addis for Ethiopian food, which was a great way to catch up, but not so great was almost getting caught up in the Oakland riots. The Brooklyn Circus Le Cirque event at Yoshi’s SF with Liz and the Hasans was a bizarre, but fun night, and all I have to say is going to Beauty Bar to see Tony DJ with the ladies, (Liz, Jessica, Stacy, Tara, Amedee, and Ritz) should have been called, Thirtysomethings (but not Jessica yet) Gone Wild Night. Highlights included: Jessica and I serenading each other with interpretive dances to Pulp’s “Do you Remember the First Time” and working it out to George Michael’s Freedom. We also stopped off at Amnesia, and then at House of Shields to check out Louder than Bombs’ Morrissey night, where their aggro bartender was unnecessarily rude to me and Ritz. Whatevs.

So this week, thanks to beautiful weather from scary global warming, was able to spend Sunday at the flea market with the fam, and spent yesterday afternoon with Liz eating ceviche at the beach and opening Christmas presents. La dolce vita indeed.




On my mind this week:

1. After months of contemplating a new eyeglass purchase, I finally got the Oliver Peoples Ari frames, and I'm hoping their new presence will further enhance my vision and hence, powers of observation...


2. Speaking of visions, this is quite an extraordinary one.



3. So in 2008, parts of my life were like this:




and like this...





4. It would be nice if 2009 plays out like this:

http://www.tcm.com/mediaroom/index/?cid=177916





5.

Yeah, Welcome to the Jungle pretty much said it all at this point…
(my video of Liz and Trent’s karaoke party)

6.

This is so beautifully awesome. God Bless Pete Burns for this and for just existing.


7. In the wee morning hours of New Year’s Day, Liz and I saw this sign when she was dropping me off…



Totally "A-town Story".



Hmmmmm, maybe god will find me too this year.


Cheers to divine intervention's magical signs in 2009!!!

President Gas......Mood: Vigilant

It was an amazing forty-eight hours as the world awaited the naming of the next U.S. president. For someone politically jaded like myself, there was a stir of emotion equivalent to the discovery of a promising new technology; part fascination, part naiveté, and wholly imbued with an infectious joy towards an uncertain, and of course, a much anticipated, brighter future. Like the rest of the world, I am curious to see how the Obama/Biden/Clinton Administration will set out to improve the country’s failing economy, and reestablish effective government leadership.


Speaking of the former, the economy’s downturn also caught up with me in October as I was laid off from Time Inc. Publishing, advertising, marketing and all relevant industries have been hit hard, this article was recently published about layoffs at Time Inc. and Conde Nast. Getting laid off was a surprise, but ended up to be one that wasn’t so devastating. Hell, life takes its twists and turns, so naturally there will be more opportunities in the making. At least now I can have more time to write and plan out my next career move, hang out during the day with my freelancer friends, and run my errands during the week. It’s not so bad. The best part though, is I can stay up late without feeling like Tyler Durden the next day. Hallelujah.


October was also a hectic, but socially abundant month, half of which was spent coming down from the New York Fashion Week trip. Lindsey’s house warming party was a delight, and Anna’s ice skating birthday party was great fun, except this Michelle Kwan did not hit the ice, and instead hit the dancefloor at Bootybassment with Liz and Reina, and then hit up Jeremy’s 50% off sale with Liz and Pauline a few days later. The Ladies Lotto meeting at Ver Unica was fabulous, since the guest speakers were Liz and Gabriella, and the main topic of conversation was their foray into M.I.S.S., and most enjoyable was being able to spend time with some of the other M.I.S.S. ladies, since it’s such a rarity. Oh my god, and the preview of the YSL exhibition at the de Young was incredible. I was extremely excited to do the M.I.S.S. write up for it, since Yves Saint Laurent has always been my favorite designer, and I was able to see his partner, Pierre Berge (who was wearing an Obama pin) speak, which was superbly impressive as well.


November was interesting and quite social as well. Started with PST’s election celebration party at 330 Ritch with Reina, which was way totally off the hook. Saw the Official Tourist DJs at Pink with Liz, and was absolutely shocked but of course happy to run into Joe and Jason at the LW, since I hadn’t seen either of them for like two years. Hanging out with Theresa was also great fun, since her visits from Hawaii are so few and far between. Computer Rock at Laszlo’s to see Liz (who rocked the freestyle jams that night), Ryan, and Dylan DJ was a blast, especially since I got to see my homies, Errico and Pauline too. Hung out with Scott at Zeitgeist and then we saw Emo Philips at the Punchline. Sheng Wang opened for him, and it was a bit uncanny, since he totally reminds me of Errico, but in Asian form.



The Hamsters
Thanksgiving included the perfect spead of Thanksgiving-ish treats Kwan style (turkeys, sides, ham, prime rib, taro shrimp - we call them “Hamsters” cause that’s what they kinda look like, chili, lamb stew, lumpias, spaghettti/meatballs, tamales, fresh crab salad, coffee cruch cake, flan etc.) My contribution this year was a sweet potato pie – completely from scratch, and super loaded deviled eggs (topped with bacon, scallions, and dill).


I’ve also been able to catch up on my list of TO SEE movies, and have gotten some reading done as well (and no, I am not a part of the Twilight cult like some others I know). I haven’t felt this wonderfully relaxed in a very long time. It’s a pretty awesome karmic package that I am so thankful for, and I’m really looking forward to more holiday visitors, including: Kira, Christle, Christine and Sergio, and their newborn, Isabella, and to the rest of the holiday season. Cheers to good food, friends, and family. There ain’t nothing better than that…well, a little YSL Y-mail clutch under the tree would be nice too! ;)



On my mind this week:


1. I found my favorite hot sauce of all time, and let me tell you, it’s been like the quest for the mf-ing holy grail. It all started back in 2003 when I discovered it in the lunchroom fridge while I was working at Enterprise Corporate. Then a few weeks ago, I was in Smart and Final, and lo and behold, there it was, and only a dollar! Florescent green and hot as hell. It’s sooooo good. I’ve been putting it on everything!!


2. The Tuesday PST (Pacific Standard Time) party at 330 Ritch is so much fun! For anybody who loves to dance to good hip hop music spun by great longtime Bay Area DJs like Sake1, (not obnoxious DJs spinning bad medleys flocked by suburbanite chicks wearing barely any clothes and too much makeup), and sans the meat market and hipsters, this is the place.

3. So before I was told by the specialists that my right breast is filled with fibro-cystic tissue and not cancer, I’m lying down on the examination table in my hospital gown, when the doctor says, “nice boots”, while she is examining my boobs (these Kitson Ugg boots embroidered with “LA” really big on them and studded with Swarovski crystals - the ones Hyphy Wifey Liz hates). The Freudian slip happened only in my head thank god, causing my jaw to drop for just a millisecond.

4.

This was so rad. At the last Computer Rock at Laszlo’s, Dylan hooked up a Nintendo to the projector, so Super Mario Brothers 1 was like super ginormous Mario brothers. And oh my god, I can’t believe how great Liz’s memory is, can you say Warp Zone!!! Crazy…


5. I’m selling my organic cotton heated muscle packs/eye pillows and a small selection of vintage on Etsy. Here is the link to my Etsy Store, FLESHandBLOOD, if you want to check it out!!!


6. Aw ma gawd, the latest Mama collection, “Mi Vida Loca” is so fabulously badass. I’m hella esta loca loving it!
Check it out: http://www.missomnimedia.com/2008/12/mama-clothing-fw-08-la-vida-loca/

7.

So we find life imitating art…and to Skinny Puppy too, nonetheless. Ahhhh Metropolis.

8.

This Yelle video is sooooooooo cute, and too funny! ;)

9.

But this, THIS is the funniest shit I’ve seen in a long time…sigh, what the hell happened to teen movies?!!!