Love joy peace on earth

Subway playlist

There is one thing I absolutely need when on the subway: something good to listen to. Lately, my ears are on heavy hip-hop/rap rotation. There's really nothing better than listening to old school New York greats like A Tribe Called Quest while riding underground.    

Long subterranean commutes are made more enjoyable by carefully curated playlists. In addition to The Pharcyde, Kendrick Lamar and Jay-Z, I'm being serenaded by Robyn ("None of Dem," "With Every Heartbeat" "Konnichiwa Bitches"), Lorde ("400 Lux"), Sia ("Chandelier - Four Tet Remix") and Fun. ("We Are Young").  

How about you? What are you listening to?    


Subway etiquette. (TimeOut)

NASA (clothing) is having a moment

My husband went bonkers at the Vans store recently when he came across a collection of NASA-branded clothing and accessories - sneakers, hoodies, jackets and duffle bags. It was like a little boy's I-wanna-be-an-astronaut dream come true, albeit here on earth and not in the outer galaxies.

He walked out of there happy as a kid at Space Camp, eager to wear his new NASA black hoodie and NASA x Vans Old Skool "Firecracker" sneakers.  

Funny because I feel like I've been seeing NASA-themed clothing everywhere these days. Though the trend started popping up a couple of years ago, I'm seeing NASA tees, sweatpants, pins and patches at Urban Outfitters and on Kanye West to my neighbor's kid and the cover of Teen Vogue. 

And with this week's news of NASA's InSight landing on Martian soil, there are more reasons (besides it being cool and geeky and of-the-moment) to celebrate by proudly wearing that official "meatball" insignia.  


NASA has strict guidelines for using its logo.

Hilma af Klint is badass AF

Mind blown by Swedish artist Hilma af Klint (1862-1944), whose paintings were amongst the first abstract art. Little known during her time, af Klint insisted her work remain a secret until at least 20 years following her death (she said the world wasn’t ready for them).

Fascinated by the spiritual realm, she gathered with a small group of women she called “The Five” - they would meditate, pray and read the New Testament together, then hold seances to try to commune with spirits (quite a departure from her days as a Sunday school teacher on the family farm!). 

On one occasion, The Five received a message from an otherworldly being - who told them to produce paintings that illustrate the spirit world. Af Klint was the only one to accept the task, calling it “The Great Commission.” She began “The Paintings for the Temple” in 1906, which led to a series of 193 paintings and works on paper - with more than 170 currently displayed at the Guggenheim.

Af Klint saw her work filling a round building, where visitors would progress upward along a spiraling path, on a spiritual journey defined by her paintings. Some believe Frank Lloyd Wright’s design for the Guggenheim was perhaps inspired by the temple af Klint envisioned. Destiny, or coincidence?

What a treat to see with my own eyes, the work of a badass trailblazing woman. Light years ahead of her time.

Why Hilma af Klint is the perfect artist for our time. (artnet)

A very Banksy Halloween

My BFF had the most brilliant Halloween costume idea this year. "Let's go as the shredded Banksy painting!" he exclaimed as we were brainstorming interesting things that happened in 2018.

Banksy shocked the world when his "Girl with Red Balloon" painting self destructed moments after selling for $1.4 million at Sotheby's in London earlier this month. 

"It appears we just got Banksy-ed," Sotheby's senior director Alex Branczik said in a statement that described the incident as "the first time in auction history that a work of art automatically shredded itself after coming under the hammer."

Oh, Banksy. You're so punk rock!


Banksy's story. (Smithsonian)

Introducing... my magazine

Dear Friends, I'm excited to introduce the inaugural issue of the storyteller!

If you've been following my journey for the past half decade then you know how much I've wanted to return to New York to pursue my writing career. (We all know the saying: You can take the girl out of New York but you can't take New York out of the girl...)

So here I am - 28 years after my very first visit, 16 years after returning for the first time and 5 years since making an extended pit stop in Cleveland - back to living, pursuing and striving in the city of my dreams.

In preparation for my homecoming, I began compiling works for my portfolio. "I don't want to do what's expected; so let's go with something fun, something different..." The result: a magazine featuring my love of a good story and a collection of some of my favorite works. 

Job hunting be blessed!


Read the full issue of the storyteller, here.

Rebirth

Libra mantra

Illustration by Mari Andrew.

I like you, I love you

Ladies, amiright?!


Illustration by Carissa Potter Carlson

The best part of the Meg

The best part of The Meg?

No, it wasn't the shark or Jason Statham or the special effects and action sequences (though all of that was fun and good). It was Li Bingbing's character, Suyin. God, it was refreshing to see an Asian actress playing the female lead in a Hollywood summer blockbuster who wasn’t the sexy Kung Fu sidekick or the war bride "damsel in distress" or the cold, calculating Dragon Lady bitch.

Last night reminded me that there’s something profoundly excitinghappening in media, entertainment and pop culture right now (#MeToo, diversity, inclusion). Something that’s been brewing for quite some time and finally bubbling up in mainstream American cinema, TV, digital content, publishing, social media, marketing, music and sports.

Growing up, my only Asian/Asian American cultural reference points were minor characters that played to tired stereotypes (read: Long Duk Dong in Sixteen Candles, the Me-Love-You-Long-Time Da Nang hooker in Full Metal Jacket and even Mr. Miyagi in The Karate Kid - I love you, Mr. Miyagi, but I swear if I ever have to hear another wax on-wax off reference I’m seriously gonna lose my shit).

Thankfully, today we have John Cho, Ali Wong, Ken Jeong, Awkwafina, Mindy Kaling, Randall Park, Constance Wu, Eddie Huang, Bobby Lee, Dev Patel, Kelly Marie Tran, Daniel Wu, Elodie Yung, Priyanka Chopra, Li Bingbing (and the list is growing!) starring in Fresh Off the Boat, Ocean’s 8, Star Trek, Quantico, The Mindy Project, Into the Badlands, Daredevil, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Lion, Baby Cobra, Hard Knock Wife, Love, and yes, The Meg (and many others!).

And what’s opening this weekend? CRAZY RICH ASIANS!!!!

#ItsAboutTime 

#WhenYouSeeSomeoneOnScreenWhoLooksLikeYou

#YouFeelSeen

Crazy Rich Asians is a game changer.

It's about time (Beyonce/Vogue cover)

Tyler Mitchell, 23, makes history by becoming the first African American photographer to shoot a Vogue cover (and Beyoncé for the coveted September issue, to boot!). 

He's also one of the youngest ever to land the cover. 

#Epic.


Everyone is talking about the Beyoncé cover. (Man Repeller)

This is America

A graphic and disturbing yet brilliant social commentary on the state of America.


The Childish Gambino video, explained. (CNN)
💥

The little racer that could

For 11-year-old racing prodigy Juju Noda, speed defines everything.


She's got her eyes on Formula 1. (The Drive)

Phony baloney

Need I say more?


Sandwich art by Asier Sanz.

Chloe goes for the gold

A huge congratulations to snowboarding phenom (and California girl!) Chloe Kim. I told Izzy that Chloe won the Gold Medal, to which she replied, “Any time a Korean American does something good or wins, I am so proud!” 

Thanks, Chloe for being such an awesome role model. Keep shredding! 🏂🏅🙌🏼


Photo by Getty Images.

8 things to do less of in 2018

OK, so we survived a year of this atrociousness. Kudos to us. 

As we look ahead to 2018 (another year filled with opportunities and possibilities!) here's a reminder of what to do LESS of in 2018.

Less complaining.
Less apologizing.
Less overthinking.
Less comparing myself to others.
Less of the comfortable.
Less of the predictable.
Less holding back.
Less giving a f*ck.


The subtle art of not giving a f*ck.