Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Bing Soo


I want to start a new feature on tasty treats in D.C. and its environs. Annandale, VA is home to this area's Koreatown which holds its head high next to its sisters in NYC and L.A. Koreans love savory, pungent, rich and delicious foods but we also love light, delicious, subtle desserts. Green tea, red bean, light cream filled cakes and pastries fill Shilla Bakery, a place that reminds me of Seoul every time I arrive there. Usually, I stick with a pastry or two but this time around I decided to take Yelp's advice and try the Red Bean Bing Soo -- a GIANT mound of shaved ice, topped with red bean, tiny bits of rice cakes, chunks of fruit, and milk powder. Yes, it sounds odd but it is really refreshing and delicious, like eating ball of clean snow and the combination of all the toppings really works. If you are not as adventurous, pick up an excellent piece of tiramisu or a Pinkberry-esque tangy frozen yogurt and a cup of coffee. I only wish they would open a Shilla in the city. It would be an amazing alternative to Cosi.


Thursday, February 21, 2008

Hip-hop, history, and high art


Kehinde Wiley, Triple Portrait of Charles I

The National Portrait Gallery, once best-known for staid presidential portraits, has luckily abandoned its former "must be dead for ten years" rule for sitters whose countenances gaze at us from the historic walls of the Old Patent Office Building. Any of you who have visited NPG since its reopening (along with the Smithsonian American Art Museum, housed in the same beautifully remodeled edifice) will have noticed its decidedly fresh approach to showcasing American portraiture. A prime example of this is the current exhibition "Recognize! Hip Hop and Contemporary Portraiture."

Kehinde Wiley's huge, stunning portraits are a standout. His subjects emit hard, icy stares while being engulfed by frilly technicolor wallpaper that jumps out from the behind them and swirls life-like on the canvas.

Another artist not to miss is Baltimore-born Shinique Smith. The mixed-media installation No Theif to Blame looks like a graffiti piece, an overgrown garden, and a teenage girl's bedroom wall all at once. It is juxtaposed with the Nikki Givoanni poem "Not Just a Situation" and "honors the warrior women who have fueled me with their distinctive cries" according to Smith.

The exhibition, which also includes video, photography, and giant swaths of graffiti, is on view through October 26, 2008.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

La Casa Tonight

thefader.com



For those who feel like strapping on some ice skates and gliding up to Mt. P to enjoy some great inventive music from current/former DC people. The pic is from a great Mi Ami post on the Fader website.

WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 13TH@ La Casa
3166 Mt. Pleasant St. NW, Washington, DC
Doors at 8 PM 6 dollars

Food For Animals
(MD / gladiators of sound, hip-hop, on tour in support of new album Belly)
http://www.myspace.com/thefoodforanimals
Mi Ami
(San Fran / global sweat, endless rhythms, ex-Black Eyes)
http://www.myspace.com/miamiamiami
Wealth
(DC / classy dubtechno love)

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Object Lust

Kaj Frank Decanter from Cantilever Modern


Most beautiful decanter from Cantilever Modern, a District-based, high-end, appointment only 20th century design store. Their offerings are all impeccable and amazing. Check out eBay store where you may score some better deals.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Mexico City Impressions

Lovely City...







New Listopad Joints

We're stocking up for our next event, including these awesome bags....more details soon I swear!


Monday, January 28, 2008

Japan! Culture + Hyper Culture Festival 2/5-2/17


This festival at the Kennedy Center sounds real neat! There will be a variety of theater performances and (many free) music and exhibitions on classic and modern arts and popular culture including Shakespeare, fashion, anime, robots, and even the scarily ubiquitous Harajuku.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Tea Towel Art

marimekko kaiku tea towel


On a recent trip perusing Tabletop in Dupont, my buddy Kata got me obsessed with decorative tea towels. I am moving soon which means new apartment, new decor. You can find this pretty illustrative piece at FinnStyle and other Marimekko designs at Tabletop. Apartment Therapy shows how easily this piece is turned into art, instantly warming your home and heart.

Friday, January 18, 2008

I Love This


pic from the papparazzi (sp?)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

DC Faves: Good Eye

Good Eye is located in sleepy Friendship Heights and is only open Thursdays-Sundays, but it's worth checking out. The furniture is top notch and they get new stuff in every week, though it is on the pricey side of mid-century. But there is many a small, high-quality gift to be found in the nooks and cranies of the store: ridiculous ashtrays, modern ceramics and the odd Marimekko print or two.



pic from Good Eye




p.s. they also have an Ebay shop


p.p.s. if you see it in the window, and love it, make sure you grab it. It will be gone the next time you come around!

Monday, January 14, 2008

Not as awesome as this...



So Scary!!!!!! But season-appropriate I guess, if you're hiking in Nepal.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Isn't This Awesome?



The Love Matress...via Apartment Therapy




Yes, Valentine's Day is coming up ;)

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Object Lust



pic from ooga booga

Hillary Clinton & Marc Jacobs

Warhol-esque Hillary Clinton fund-raising t-shirt by Marc Jacobs from 2004





Do you own one? If so, you could have eBay gold in your hands.

Monday, January 7, 2008

DC Faves: Sticky Fingers



For Breakfast: Vegan McMuffin-type thing and the best chai in DC...so foamy.

DC Faves: Second Story Books

Here starts my series on places I love in DC:

Second Story Books is kinda old fashioned, kinda focused on the serious collector and kinda doesn't want to buy your used books, but every time I go in there I am pleasantly surprised. From cheap paperback editions of Anais Nin's finest to these gems I scored recently, they keep it real.



So stoked to find this half-priced.



A gift for a friend...hope she isn't reading this!

Friday, December 21, 2007

This Weekend: Last Minute Shopping Ideas


from JChocolatier.Com

Chocolates: For real. Can you go wrong ? D.C. seems to be on the up and up when it comes to the sweets offerings. Here are two local places that have addictive selections of artisanal chocolates, both local and international. Godiva is history.
Biagio Fine Chocolate 1904 18th St NW (18th and T, old Sticky Fingers space), recommend J Chocolatier box of chocolate caramels dotted with sea salt, box of 8 for $14.
Artfully Chocolate Kingsbury Confections 1529C 14tH Street NW (14th and Q), highly chompable choco bar selection between $6-7 (you cannot go wrong with sea salt and chocolate). Also, I am told they have an amazing hot chocolate bar!
Truffles by You Check out this nytimes recipe. So easy, so satisfying. And yeah, drip some earl grey tea into it.

Beautify man, woman, child, doggy: Kiehl's M Street Georgetown. Luxurious products.

Gift for that big 'ole brain: Red Onion Records & Books gift certificate 18th and T , across from Biagio.

Feeling Lucky: Eastern Market Flea Market 10-5pm Sunday. Treasures abound.

Thursday, December 20, 2007