September 1, 2012
I’m trying to get people to hang out, but things mostly just fall apart. I need to get out though so I drive with Bolanos into Williamsburg. We meet up with Teddy and Jeese. We do some metal bar that is bit hard to enjoy, loud ass metal there. We then go to a very Manhattan like place called Whiskey Brooklyn.
We then go to Spriztenhaus, which has a great beer selection. It’s a chill night just hanging out at a cool beer garden. We then get some falafel/shwarma and call it a night.
September 2, 2012
I commute to Astoria in the early night to a party that a classmate is throwing. I grab a six pack on the way. There’s almost 20 people. It’s fun seeing people outside of school, chatting about my time in Europe, talking shit with people, etc. etc. We then move onto Bohemia Beer Garden, which is really close to the apartment. I’m having some beers and people start splitting up slowly. I walk away for a second and get a crazy text from Kenny about why I’m standing by myself with a cigarette.
It acutally turns out Doug, Alon, Evan, Bola, Kenny, and Aaron were all at the same beer garden by coincidence. They didn’t know I had plans to come here, but somehow, they decided to do so and didn’t even coordinate the planning so that we would hang. They just randomly spotted me. Small world.
I bring them over to meet some people, thogh people eventually leave pretty quickly. Then again, people had been drinking early and it’s past 12:00 by now. We then get some tacos.
September 4, 2012
I’m moving onto White in the History of Art in Three Colors series. Whistler’s White’s interested me. Le Corbusier’s wish for cities to be turned into white building was unfortunate as it would end up destroying how beautiful old Europe is.
More of Sicily documentary, so now we’re dealing with the Spanish influence of Sicily. Good Friday in the city of Enna and its Marsala wine, a specialty. Then onto the fantastic gelato of Modica, or Italy in general is known for it.
September 6, 2012
There’s a “CUNITY” event after class. It would seem like it’s run by the school to some extent, but it’s not. There’s no faculty there or anything, just the students. It feels like mostly our class, the 2Ls. Then again, the 1Ls have class tomorrow and the 3Ls I don’t think are connected like us.
It’s a Thursday, so our weekend starts after the last class at 6:15. Jeremy and I are excited for it and joke about it throughout the day. We gather some people and walk over to the bar, 10 minutes away. At first, there’s only one bartender and it’s too crowded. It’s loaded by way too many CUNY people.
First, this has been a lovely feeling. Our class is now down to about 170 people and there’s a tight community feeling going around. I was happy to go to a gathering out in the city last week and then go to meet even more people at someone’s house warming apartment party.
Jeremy and I end up hanging with Katy. She also lives out on Long Island, out towards Farmingdale or something. Anyway, she tells all these funny stories about how she’s buying drinks for people all the time, sometimes, racking up over $300. She used to go into the city, girly places like Tonic East. Jeremy and I are laughing along. I’m getting buzzed really quickly as I had a light lunch and it’s towards 7-8:00 and I’ve been drinking a shot and a beer. The alcohol hits fast.
Either way, the buzz is killer after realizing that I’m surrounded by law school people and not a single law school joke has been made. I’m talking to people. These are cool life stories. We’re actually humans outside of being law students. I don’t hear any legal jargon or poor legal jokes. No one is complaining about this professor or gossiping about something that the school is going to do.
Somehow, Jeremy buys me a shot. Katy then randomly starts supporting me with beer after I’ve only bought myself 1 drink. She then gets excited that they have Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey. Jeremy and I try to get her to close her tab so she doesn’t do what she’s doing in her stories, but she gets pulled into that and buying 6 shots for people.
At one point, I go out to a nearby Chinese place to get some pork lo mein. For $5, I shovel that food into my jaws like Kobayashi. I then walk back as if nothing had occurred.
I then start walking around and catching up with people. I eventually get into a conversation with Alison. She’s a beer lover and even brews her own beer. We chat about that, Rauchbier from Spritzenhaus, the German brews, etc. Then, there are people that just start pulling people to this back room, past the outdoor beer garden area to play trivia. I plan on doing it with law school friends, but there are only 5 per table. I end up sitting with 3 other Asians. We do a shitty job, partially because I don’t know current events well. We get 2-3rd to last place out of 6-7 teams.
I chat with Alison’s law school boyfriend that she met during our 1L year. We get political for a second and then people start splitting out. I try to get Erdem to come out because he’s in Manhattan and it would be easy for him to come through. He gets lost somehow and ditches.
I then find around 4 people who are left. Dude, I’ve been drinking since almost 7:00 and it’s getting towards 2:00AM now. I hang with Sarah and Sharon. Sarah buys me a shot despite the fact I’m trying to turn down drinks because I’m so fucking drunk.
We then take a cab back to campus because I left my backpack and laptop in my locker. On the way there, Sarah and I start flirting and grabbing each other’s hands. I’m a huge fucking lush, so thinking now, I don’t know where I was thinking I was going with this, but I didn’t care.
I grab my bag inside with Sharon and drunkingly can barely sign in that the front test because it’s so late. I then go back to the cab and say Bye to Sarah, walk to the subway, drunkingly wait for the bus, try not to pass out on the bus, and get back home before 4:00AM. Usually I would drink some water, chill out on Facebook, but screw that. I slept 2-3 hours the night before and my body is not set. I’m really drunk and I just pass THE FUCK out.
September 7, 2012
I’m watching Art of Spain. The first segment goes through the history of the Moors and the strong Muslim influence that this culture has had on the Iberian peninsula. What beautiful architecture like Medina Azahara and the Mosque of Cordoba. I must go into the south next time I’m in Spain to see these sights.
The palace, Alcazar of Seville, is another fine example of Islamic architecture. While other mosques were built upon or simply destroyed, this beautiful has lasted as it was not religious and people just couldn’t get to destroying such a thing.
He then goes to Granada, one of the Moorish capitals and sees Alhambra. As much as there is touristy “Moorish” stuff to do, this is the epitome of how the Muslims left a (beauty) mark on Spain.
On the second part, they move onto a Catholic Spain, ruled by Philip II. El Greco starts off as the focus as he is one of the greatest in his era. The abstraction and emotion that he puts in his paintings would, 300(!) years later, influence future artists towards expressionism.
Francisco de Zurbarán and his religious work with some of the best use of chiaroscuro. He then moves onto the western city of Salamanca, which is huge for it’s important university. What I would do to live there and learn Spanish properly and get immersed in the culture.
They then go onto the Spanish Inquisition, where the church censored, had bullshit trials, and publicly excuted those they thought were not Christian enough. In Plaza Major of Salamanca, this is where people were burned at the stake as a spectacle.
Then onto Diego Velázquez and his work for Philip IV. Las Meninas is a fantastic masterpeice of artistic perspective. Velázquez was daring enough to turn on religion and paint every day life. This would create a setting from El Greco to him onto the Impressionists and modern painters.
Onto the day, I really need a recharge and wake up in the afternoon. I’m trying to make night plans, but nothing goes through except Erdem. I haven’t seem him since I’ve been back, so it’s good for us to catch up about stuff. He’s been to Europe and enjoys art, so there’s much to discuss.
I realize how much I really don’t know BHT. The crowd always never cool, always a bunch of racists, assholes, or homophobes. Otherwise, it’s some Persian kids that look way to young. Bolanos is back from the city so we pick him up and go to Bayside. TA and whatever gang went home, I guess they drank too much, and we go to Safari Club. It really has nothing to do with a Safari, but it’s a very meh crowd. Lots of dudes, a decent amount of chicks though, so it’s refreshing that this is close at least. The four of us hang there for a bit and then end the night.
September 8, 2012
I wanted to get out today to get some “adventuring” done. I actually was invited by Lori on FB to this “picnic” thing at Central Park. However, I don’t really feel like showing up myself. Either way, it’s cancelled because of the shitty weather.
I end up just watching some TV shows and chilling out. At night, things don’t seem to be working out well either. I could go into the city to meet up with Stefan and Sara, but not in the mood to drive in myself. Dunno why. Bolanos and I just end up going to BHT for a couple beers. A really freaking slow weekend. I wanted to hang with my brother, who has been home for a week, but he had party plans in Brooklyn.
September 9, 2012
I was thinking about going to the Frick Collection because it’s free from 11-2PM on Sundays, but I find out that pictures aren’t allowed. Without memory, we’re nothing and really, I don’t know enough about the artists and pieces to appreciate them fully and I won’t be able to remember them, most importantly.
I end up going to DUMBO. Smorgasburg as moved there for Sundays. I get to see the Promenade, Brooklyn Bridge Park, the bridges, the downtown skyscrapers, and just the cute little neighborghood there. It’s a quick day trip as there isn’t much to do and I don’t really feel like standing on line for an hour at Grimaldi’s.
I then go home before my brother has to leave. I give him a ride to the airport and we chat a bit. I’ll hopefully be keeping more in touch with him this semester.
I get back home and still don’t feel like eating. I had this huge, huge ice cream sandwich from Jacques Torres that is holding me down. I actually stopped enjoying it one point and it was a pain to eat.
I finally work out, but this time a few more sets and a bit harder than I’m used to. I’m working with a new strategy of bulking. I’m giving up on what I eat, as long as I get some protein in me. I’m trying to get fat, but just worrying less so I get more calories in me. Hopefully this means that I start gaining some muscle. We’ll see how this all goes.
Something a guy said on Reddit to a dude complaining about not getting dates. Not that it’s the best advice, but I thought it was funny:
You don't just "find" a date, like it's something buried deep in the sand. You foster a relationship, plant a seed of trust and you grow and water that seed by being interesting and fun; someone anyone wants to have around. You grow that plant, and then you fuck that plant!
I’m also watching Jiro Dreams of Sushi. A really cool film. A few takeaways are how much prep is involved in sushi. The apprentices do all the work and he just makes it in front of the customer.
Then Jiro’s rough childhood. He has this idea that parents should kick their children out at one point to suceed at life and never return. If you leave the door open for them to return, then they WILL be failures.
Finally, it’s about his personality. He’s a stubborn motherfucker. He’s old and doesn’t want to quit. This affects his 50+ year old son that has been apprenticing and is still waiting to take over the restaurant. Jiro is 85 and still won’t give this stuff up. But really, he’s passionate about his food and he’s strict about how things so he done. A perfectionist and that’s what you get in his sushi because he’s like that.
September 15, 2012
I end up chilling out and watching The Good, The Bad, and The Weird, a Korean film that Tork recently posted. I’m trying to watch more stuff and catch up on things. It’s a cool spin on the original Western with really cool Korean history behind it. Cool style, great acting, really cool characters. I liked it.
During this, I pull out my guitar for a second and I put it on my bed like usual after I’m down. However, I had my phone on my bed as I wake up from an alarm, check Facebook for a second to collect my brain, and then get out of bed leaving it there. It couldn’t be face down, like usual. I didn’t place my guitar flat, I put it down with an edge down first. It PERFECTLY taps the face of my phone. Stupid iPhone class, crack boom. My case is pretty good that even if I placed it anywhere else or a different angle, it’s fine. Just that exact set of events.
Thankfully, it’s only really 1/12th of the screen. Just by the face camera and phone speake on the top. It doesn’t affect anything, I’ve seen worse, it’s just a cosmetic complaint. Stupid me, but I’ll live.
At night, things don’t really seem to occur. I chat with CNF for a bit. I guess I could’ve texted some people from school, but whatever. I end up staying in and just chilling out.
September 16, 2012
I get into the city in the afternoon. It’s beautiful driving the Williamsburg and seeing the city. I go check out the Lowline, which sort of sucks, along with the $2 I donated, it’s a $10 suggested donation. It’s dark inside and shows a bit of history in the area. It’s a gorgeous old building so I wish I could see it all of it. Instead, they have it extremely dark and you can’t see anything. The space isn’t used really well and there’s this art installation. It has a smelly “nature” thing in the middle of some plants, but it just smells like poop. I wish the style was more organic or old-fashioned to fit the setting, but it’s a bit too modern for me.
I leave that after no time, as there isn’t really anything to see. I get some a sandwich, some Doughnut plant, and then I drive up to the East Village to walk around. I check out some thrift shops, but there really isn’t anything my size as usual so I give up.
The final part of Art of Spain goes through the 20th century until now. It runs through Gaudi’s huge influence on an emerging Barcelona. Then onto Picasso, the most important artist of the century, Dali, Bunuel, and then back to architecture. With Bilbao’s Guggenheim, although it’s Gehry’s work, Spain has emerged with such great buildings. With Gehry, the golden fish in Barcelona was him, along with his set of three buildings in Dusseldorf, and then the twisty skyscarper on the NYC skyline at 8 Spruce Street. Calatrava is leading the way with this and I actually found out that the iconic Montjuic Communication Tower was created by him, so it’s nice to know that I’ve seen his work in person.
Along with this, I’m subscribed to some cool channels on Facebook. A few are for workout tips, but most of them are music. Some of them are just people with a camera and a guitar. The best ones are indie radio stations or channels that record live artists. It’s a really great way to find new music. Granted, I’m so behind on music and I could use listening to some of the music that I’ve gathered. I’m such a hoarder.
I’m also onto “On the Table with Eric Ripert,” it’s a show on Reserve Channel. The first episode is really cool with him and Bourdain just chilling out and cooking. They actually don’t go through the recipe, but it’s more about two best friends just chilling out and talking. It’s a fun time.
Batali going on is sick. I actually like him more than Bourdain. Bourdain has a brooding thing about him. He’s pissed off and trying to be a badass. Batali is just jolly, honest, fast talking, and overly enthusiastic. His personality reflects mine pretty well so maybe that’s why.
At night, I would like to do something. I texted Jenn yesterday and she got back to me tonight. We seemed to have made plans, but then she ignores my texts when I get back home. Same goes for Erdem, who I called earlier if he was interested in hanging in the city.
I end up working out, a bit more intense than before. I’m trying to up the workouts and calories, so I’ve sort of given up on what I eat other than not being a slob eating pizza every day and paying some attention to my protein intake.
September 19, 2012
I’m onto Robert Hughes’ documentary on post-Impressionist work during the 21st Century. It’s old and a bit dated, but it’s pretty decent. It gives a bit too much of a history lesson, but that does help with the creating a context around the art during the time. It does feel disjointed at times how he’s moving through the movements. It’s a long 8 part feature, a really long one, I’ll see if I want to see it all.
September 20, 2012
We had a cool APALSA (Asian-Pacific American Law Students Association) event. To raise some money, one of us bought an ice shaving machine for themselves. We then brought in toppings to make Asian shaved ice to raise money for a scholarship and our funds.
We made about $260, which is low, but it still was a cool fun time. Cool having green tea, fruit, condensed milk, black bean, etc. In the afternoon, Marisa asks if I’m going to the bar afterwards because it’s Thursday and it’s the “thing” to do these days. However, I’m going to visit Luna. I promised a few weeks ago that I would visit. She always does. Driving to CUNY was an absolute bitch in the morning. Took me two hours, rush hour traffic to the nuts, and stupid entrance to the 59th street bridge so I crossed the bridge into the city, turned around. I made it to class 45 min late.
Getting down to Ocean City from Long Island City took a while. Took over 3 hours with my stop.
September 28, 2012
I wake up exhausted on a couch and get some breakfast at Wawa. We go apple picking in Media, PA. It’s a nostalgic experience as I used to go peach and apple picking as a kid. After some apples, we go to Philly. I’m a bit annoyed as it’s a hell lot of driving. It’s an hour and a half to Philly, but then Media is 30 minutes away from that.
I was hesitant about doing this weekend anyway. I always try to find things to do. Firstly, this semester has been great with the connection and school friends I’ve made. Thursday nights after class are perfect. People are being more close with each other, going out after class, I’m actually meeting and getting to know people in my class, it’s awesome. Missing out on that sucks.
Then, I find out that Corinne is coming back from Japan next month. She’ll be stopping by here so I get to catch up with her then. However, I have not spoken to her in forever. We planned on catching up on Skype recently, but still haven’t done that. Being away this weekend means I won’t be doing that.
Then Ela asks if I’m free while I’m away. I’ve texted with her since awkwardly departing Europe, but I haven’t been on Skype with her, despite chatting with her a few a week before. However, I’ll probably catch up with her soon though. I guess she’s gotten over being a huge awkward weirdo.
Then Jenn randomly texts me to hang out and drink. Motherfucker, I was around last week and we made plans and she flakes. Now she’s down to hang. I haven’t caught up with her all summer and I would love to hear what’s up with her shits. And now I’m gone for that.
Then there’s always city events that I want to hit up. It’s just feels like so much that I’m missing out on when I’m gone for something that I… don’t really care too much about?
Good thing I didn’t miss Stefan’s bday. He’s away in Philly with Sara. Funny thing, I’m in Philly the day before him. We’re doing our bday together next week.
We get to Philly and see the Magic Gardens. It’s one of the best sights in America. It’s different and so “Gaudi.” It’s not the same style at all, but there’s something about it being different, eccentric, and “natural.”
We walk around for a bit in Washington Square West. It’s hipster a bit, but also expensive and nice. It has many of the nice restaurants in town. It’s a cool area. We step in a comic store to play this old X-Men game that I used to love at the arcade. Such good memories and it’s only .25 cents! I wish I had a few dollars to shove in there and just play forever. Good times.
We then move to Chinatown and walk around that area. It’s a decent size and has a huge Chinese arch thing that NYC one doesn’t have. We get some Malaysian food and then head back.
September 22, 2012
We go to the goodwill. After seeing the cool song by Macklemore, “Thrift Shop,” I would love to get something cool and cheap. Unfortunately, most of it is ugly or too big. The kid’s clothes suck. There are some random vintage cool stuff, but it’s all too big, which is a shame. I would love to get the army jackets they had.
I then start driving back in the afternoon, almost night. It’s a long drive with the traffic. It takes me almost 4 hours with a stop. It’s great listening to WNYC 93.9. There’s world music. There’s a great story about the PI Moms and this guy that has to avoid getting caught up with a dirty cop and a PI guy into selling drugs. It feels like the plot of the movie and then tell the story in a cool way. With interviews, music in the middle, an interviewer, etc.
In the end, I got to do a lot of cool stuff, see new things, do a lot of old things again, and hanging with Luna was cool, so it wasn’t the huge regret that I was looking forward to coming.
September 24, 2012
Louie was good. The Letterman thing turned a bitch of a man into something real. It’s cool that it was driven by ambition to beat a lie from Seinfeld. Fuck that dude.
Next, I’ve been listening to Freakonomics. Shit was good. The college one was good. Basically, for a vast majority of people, college is great. It’s a huge investment, but that’s what it is. It’s an investment into an individual so that they will make more money in the job market throughout the rest of their life.
As for tuition, it’s been apparently pretty steady adjusted for inflation, despite it being expensive, and financial aid as gone up a bunch. It’s not a great picture for lower income people, but many do scrape by and it’s to their benefit. I wouldn’t paint the rosiest picture about our education system, but despite the policy arguments, they do a cool job on it.
I thought I didn’t love Anis Mojgani’s Shake the Dust, but I appreicate it more and more. I’ve listened to it 2-3 times by now. I really should find myself at Bowery Poetry Club for some slam in the future. What a shame that I miss out of this stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qDtHdloK44
September 24, 2012
I have tomorrow, Yom Kippur, off. I would like to do something as I haven’t seen people in a while. However, things just don’t work out. Erdem is actually around when I call him after reading for a 5 hours on campus and going how at 7PM. I eventually call him at night and the fucking flake doesn’t pick up.
Instead, I’m watching Stephen Hawking’s Grand Design, based on the book, into a Discovery documentary with really good quality production. However, physics has never been my thing. I never cared much about this kind of stuff, but it’s really well done to make it interesting. They apply the principles and make analogies to things a layman could understand. I give up eventually though. I have way too many travel and art documentaries to work on. Then, forget about the music that I need to listen to.
As for Treme, I like seeing that show again. The spice of New Orleans is invigorating. I want to experience that at some point. Then there are the race and police issues that I also deal with in criminal procedure. Seeing David Chang, Ripert, and Waxman is also refreshing. Chefs showing their face on TV and becoming more and more mainstream is a great thing.
September 26, 2012
I have today off. I can do an adventure in the city, but I decide to get lazy and take it easy. I go to Panera to catch up on my TV shows. Ramsay’s Ultimate Cookery Course is sick. He simply goes through recipes and a few basic kitchen tips. It’s quite, edited well, and easy to watch. I fast forward through it looking for recipes that interest me.
Robert Hughes has also done a three part series on architecture called “Visions of Space.” I’ve tried to collect as much as I can on Gaudi, but this so far as been the best. He goes through all his major works, including ones that I didn’t get to see or were outside of Barcelona.
There’s also another chapter with modernist architect, Mies van der Rohe. Not exactly my style, but there’s something to appreciate about his influence on the 20th century architecture. He set the playing field and skyline for Chicago. He even has a building in New York, the Seagram building. I’ll have to check that out sometime.
September 27, 2012
It’s been a long day and I even fall asleep in the library. I’ve been putting my head down during my 3-4 hour break, but this time I’m tired that I can’t do anything. I get an hour in. This is after texting Tasha and giving her a Bon Voyage for her week long trip in Italy. I helped her yesterday plan it out as she’s never been to Europe, so it’ll be a fun experience for her and it’s useful knowing the ins and outs of traveling there.
After class at 6:15, people don’t really seem to congregate around at the front to grab a drink. I eventually just walk home awkwardly myself, disappointed with nothing to do. Since I was in NJ over the weekend, it feels like I’ve missed out on a lot. However, when I get home, I find out that Bolanos and Kenny are going to BHT. I don’t really like the place, but it feels really good getting out and hanging out. We watch the game and have a few drinks, the usual.
September 29, 2012
At night, I get into the city to meet up with people for dinner. I get myself a 22 oz. of Sapporo for the train ride because it’s birthday tonight dammit!
People end up backing out and it’s just Tom and I. While, I’m waiting, I actually see Derrick. He visited by roommate Gianfranco in Prague. I haven’t seen him in so many years. I catch up with him for a second and grab his number in case he wants go get together sometime. What a small world, well NYC at least.
Tom and I have a sick meal at Westville. With sick portions, we go next door from Destination. We grab some liquor instead of beer because we can’t find anything down.
We then go to Destination as Miah and Hannah are there. Then Stefan and Sara come. Eventually, people start funneling in: Sam, Sydnee, Aaron, Bolanos, Michael, Beth, Lauren, her b/f Brendan, Matt, Chris “Toph,” and Evan. Stefan and I somehow find these Nathan’s Hats and rock those. Hannah and Sara are sweet enough of to buy me a drinks. We then split and head to Sophie’s.
I see Amos, he gives me a Happy Birthday. I see Shawna, who I haven’t seen in a while. Stefan makes moves to get me and him a shot. Thanks Shawna for being awesome. Chris also buys a round of shots for us! Great guy. We hang there for a little bit and then we head back. Bolanos drives us back and we stop by at Wendy’s for a bite. Gotta get some food in after drinking that much.
September 30, 2012
I thank loads of people for their FB birthday posts. Mom gets me a LivingSocial deal at a nice restaurant and a comedy show for two. I’ll maybe be bringing Luna along with me sometime for that. The card is actually a James Brown singing card. Obviously mom would get me a silly thing like that. Grandma gets me loads of money for bday. Aunt gets me money too. Brother got me a sick Timex watch. I’m not a watch guy, as in I probably wouldn’t get one for myself, but I’m excited to be rocking it. It’s simple and sweet.
For dinner, family comes over. It’s Chinese Mooncake festival. Decent food and family around and stuff. Cody, my little cousin, is growing up and stuff. Crazy how fast he’s growing, he’s 4 years old now. Freaking adorable little guy.
October 4, 2012
After class, Jeremy and I go to LIC Bar for some drinks. We expect people to show up, but only Charles does. It’s a few people for a 3L’s bday show up, but I don’t really know her. It’s surprising that none of the other 2Ls are there. I guess people are getting more lame. It turns out that a 2L, Ada, is having her birthday at Brooklyn bowl. We take a subway down there, which is pretty close as we’re simply north in LIC.
We pay a $12 for a band, but aren’t there for that. We get to say Hi and see some cool people. Us three guys haven’t had dinner and decide to go to Mable’s BBQ around the corner. After another quick drink, we head back to LIC bar by cab. I had forgotten by credit card at the bar. I actually see freaking Kenneth the Page from 30 Rock at the bar. Spotted a celebrity in NYC!! The night had ended by 11:00ish.
October 5, 2012
I get to Panera to get some studying done and then it’s time to start heading out for night plans. I had made plans for Oktoberfest because I haven’t done anything for it yet and didn’t do anything for it last year. Matt, Chris, Stefan, and Aaron show up. The other people end up bitching out.
They bitch about the place and we go downtown to Spitzer’s. It’s a nice place with a great beer selection and the kind of place that actually has girls show up instead of many of the shitty bars we go to.
Stefan and Aaron end up splitting. I texted to invite Nikki, Scott’s roommate to my bday last week. However, she’s around tonight for Liza’s bday. I remember her. She just stopped by to say Hi and it was great seeing her. Hopefully get to catch her again sometime.
After another quick drink, Matt, Chris, and I catch a cab and able to take the 1:19. Not a crazy night, but a cool bros night out. It’s cool chatting with Chris because he’s a smart guy that knows his issues. In general though, a chill guy that is good to have around. On the other hand, Matt is great to have around for other reasons. We have a conversation on the train and I feel he’s being a bit loud talking about women and sex, but it’s all in good fun. It’s fun getting stories from him about his escapades with women and whatnot. Freaking guy with the 27 year old that was at my party. Dagnammit.
Soaking in the LES tonight, I still get that slight amount of jealousy in me. Not of anyone specific, just looking around the city, seeing the so many fine ladies out there. I’m missing out. Whatever, just one of those nights of thinking.
October 6, 2012
I watching Midnight in Paris. I felt like I missed out not having watched that before I went to Paris. As a film, I didn’t like it too much. However, it name drops Dali, Degas, Lautrec, Man Ray, Buneul, and the more important characters like Gertrude Stein, Hemingway, and the Fitzgeralds.
At night, I go with Kenny and Bolanos for dinner in Astoria at Butcher Bar. We then go back, I change, and then drive out to Bed Stuy for my friend’s house opening. She had followed by life along with NYU, Prague, and Budapest. It was a chill situation and Aaron and Bolanos are there as well.
We just hang out and chat, have a few beers, and eventually move downstairs because it’s freezing. It got cold really fast. I shimmy this bottle open as the cork is fucked with throwing that cork in with a good stab.
Aaron is really into this one girl for some reason and we head out to a bar for a beer. Just hanging out for a bit and Bolanos and I split. Aaron asks me if he should try to get this girl’s number. I tell him, “No consequences.” He ends up staying for a bit, so I’m not sure what ended up happening.
October 7, 2012
Art of America is another great documentary series by Andrew Graham-Dixon. In the first part, he goes through colonial to Westward expanasion. I do love the landscape pantings. They always caught my eye at the MET. American truly has some of the most gorgeous landscapes nature has to offer. I would love to do Yellowstone again sometime that I can appreciate it more as I went when I was a bit younger.
In the second part, we have New York and immigration. The Ashcan School depicts this has American heads into the 21st century. Dixon even goes to McSoreley’s as an example of old New York that barely still exists.
It moves onto my favorite American art with Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper. It’s fun seeing Nighthawks on the screen as my poster of it stands right over my table. I can’t wait until The Whitney gets its permanent collection up at the end of this year.
Gorky is the next transition from the shift in American art from figurative painters like Rockwell towards abstraction. This is the embrace of abstract European movements.
I wake up a bit sick and get into a hacking attack. My throat is killing me. I wake up as I can’t sleep. I stay up for a few hours and then go back to sleep until 4:30. Good job Darwin. I then hang out for a bit and then find out that family will be coming back from Virginia. I’m hungry and would like to cook so I pick up stuff for a seafood paella. Sausage, spicy, cuttlefish, shrimp, aboro rice.
