Das Beergarden

07.12.07
the Beer Garden!
Astoria, Queens

I hope Alex doesn't read that title, it's probably a total insult on his language

I love this place. When I think back to the summer of '07, it's going to be all Beer Garden.








SHAME on Ashley for not focusing properly!!!





Where are you, Heather??

OH LOOK who we ran into by accident!


Eric Pier. We also ran into that Chinese fellow that is at Alfred. I totally forgot his name but he's ceramics I think. He's teaching Foundation next semester. Two totally random Alfred encounters at the Beer Garden! Made my night.

Ashley!

The lighting turned out a lot better than I thought it would. After some post processing, these pics look great, if I do say so myself. Cloudy lighting is the best! Too bad it went away before I could take some more photos.

Nina!

The rest are on Flickr

Massive.

Massive update of photos coming up on Monday. I've been hosting 3 girls this entire week and haven't had time to do much editing, although I have been taking tons of photos. Going to Cape Cod this weekend to visit Modge.

Don't really have much expectations, except for seafood, and lots of it. Kind of thinking what else there is to do there besides lay on a beach. I guess I will find out.

See you Monday.

Then and Now

Look what I dug up!

Prom 2002:


Plum Beach 2007:


Not much change other than emo glasses and a few streak of highlights.

Jill

Jill at Plum Beach
Brooklyn












Gotta love that 50mm lens! Flickr for the rest.

This set almost makes me feel better about missing out on Coney Island a month ago. But that was different lighting and a different girl. A very important girl that I will probably never have the chance to photograph again.

Two Years Later

7/3/07
5:30pm

As I got off the F train, a rush of nervousness came over me. It had just hit me what was happening. I walked out of the subway to a DUMBO that has drastically changed since I was last a frequent visitor of the neighborhood. A high-rise (now the second tallest building in Brooklyn) juts out of the skyline, new trendy shops dot the streets. Pedro's is undergoing a renovation? Their awning is gone. Two men sit on their sidewalk bench drinking beer.

I walked down Jay Street to the end where it meets the East River and go in to an old factory style building. My destination is 207. Hmm, I could have sworn they weren't on the second floor the last time I was here, but as soon as I got off, I remembered that they were in fact located on the second floor.

I got to the door, took a deep breath and walked in. The office didn't change much, although it looks like they have acquired a lot more "stuff" over the past two years. Mike, the Music Editor is sitting where Michael, the Designer used to sit. He recognizes me and waves me over. I say "hello". He calls Jonny, the Editor-in-Chief and tells him I'm here. I made my way around the desks and greet Conrad, the Senior Designer and then Jonny. We all go over to the front and sit on the couches to have my interview. They introduce me to Cecilia, the current Designer.

Jonny is wearing black Chuck Taylors. He never wore anything different, and is still wearing them! During the interview, Mike comes over and grabs and beer out of the fridge. I smile. Conrad is leaving in two weeks. Cecilia will take his place. The interview goes well, they want me on board. I left the office with a big smile. When I got home, the e-mail was already in my inbox offering me the job.

I am now the Designer for the L Magazine.

Bushwick BBQ

Bushwick, Brooklyn
July 4



Yudah and Ming starts up the grill


Dapo eating McDonalds because he was hungry



Margot, Ray, Kevon & Julie

Ming gets mad belligerent when he gets drunk.

ROCK BAND

Watch This Video because I can't embed in Blogger for some reason.

I hope they bring this game to the Wii, or I might have to seriously consider dropping money on a Xbox 360 for this game and DRUM MY HEART OUT.

Do you know if you play the drums on hard mode in this game that it's like playing drums on THE ACTUAL SONG in real life??

Oh emm gee.

Still the Same

Jonny is still wearing all black converses...
Mike comes to the min-fridge during our meeting to grab a beer of out it...

It's going to be nice to be back.

Weekend Update: Sightings at Union Pool

PHOTOS LAUREN MORRIS

Met up with Lauren Morris and her friend Heather yesterday. They were both in town for the BFA opening. We started at Union Square (of course). I suggested we go row boats at Central Park and they were into it so we went.

When we got to the fountain in Central Park, those 3 street performers were there again, in the exact same spot doing the exact same act that I saw when I was there with Danielle a few weeks back. Everything was the same down to the teeth. Even the people they picked out of the volunteers- 2 European woman and an Asian dude. I pretty much told Lauren what was going to happen and she wanted to watch it anyway. So we watched a bit until right after they started asking for money. Then we left and went to the boat house.

But they were closed. They closed at 6pm. We got there at 6:12pm. Thanks, Lauren! (I kid). After that we went to Union Pool to meet up with Liz and Caitlin. It was aroun 7pm so there weren't many people there, except a few...and we knew one of them...

We're sitting on a picnic bench outside on the patio and I'm facing a wall. Lauren and Liz are sitting across from me and one of them goes, "Is that STEPHANIE sitting over there?". I turn around, and it IS Stephanie. I'm talking about Stephanie the painting prof from Alfred. She was the only teacher I saw that went to the opening so she's around. But to randomly see her at Union Pool with like 7 other people at 7pm was weird. Oh, Alfred. We can never escape it can we?

She saw us at one point and I guess did a double take, and realized there were some kids from Alfred here. Then she didn't look over again the entire time. I really wanted her to look over so Lauren could wave or something and acknowledge that we knew. But she didn't.


Look at the blond woman in the back

The Worst (Gallery)

Why they choose Kathlee Culleen again for the BFA show is beyond me. Maybe they couldn't get another gallery? Who knows. This year's show was...lacking. Less than half of the people in the show even showed up for this, and even less support from the Alfred community than last years.

There weren't as many people at this year's opening in general. I remember by 6.15pm last year it was PACKED. Well, I did invite everyone that I knew plus their mom (and one baby). But still.

Here's some photos-


Jackie and Jordan!



Rose and Jackie



Peter and Alexis (sorry B)



Yes, that IS Brandon's back and Jessica next to Elliot.





Anyway, show, some awful white wine, blah blah. There was a supposed "after party" at some lounge called the Guest Room after the opening. It was one block over on 27th street.

So Jackie, Rosemary, Justine, Jessica Dupree and I left the gallery around 7.45pm and headed over. We were obviously the first ones there. The bouncer (or just door guy) had no clue what the fuck we were asking when we said "art opening/after party/ free drink ticket". After a few minutes of miscommunication he said we could go up and see. So we did, and there were just a bunch of black people lounging and drinking, like straight out of Dave Chappelle's show clips when they are set in a lounge. We go up to the bartender and show him the card (invite thing from Kathleen Culleen) and he has no clue what it is and is all "no.".

So we just leave. Went to have dinner at this place called TRAILER PARK on 23rd street. Guess what they serve. Jackie called Chelsea to find out what the deal was and it turns out that Chelsea went with Joy after the opening to the lounge and THERE WAS NO SUCH AFTER PARTY. All I know was that money was exchanged between Alfred University to Kathleen Culleen to set up a after party and she DIDN'T DO IT. So she still has the money? We were like, "did she just print up some fake invitations?"

Joy got super pissed and started yelling and shit. Well, that's what I heard. But that really doesn't surprise me about Kathleen Culleen. When we left the lounge all puzzled, I was joking to Jackie about it. And it actually happened. oh emm gee.

---

I get the feeling that this show did not get talked about at all in Alfred, because most of the '07s didn't know this was happening or no one told them or something. That and the negativity from the have nots has got to stop. This shit is fucking childish. This stupid show did not "further" anyone's art "career" in anyway. You get to say "I was in a show in Chelsea" but thats it. The grass is always greener.

Alfred is still very much a bubble and it was so apparent at this show. Just being in a Chelsea show does not mean random people is coming to your opening. I don't think there was anyone there that wasn't somehow tied to Alfred or a friend of Alfred in some way. I think that is a reason why there were not as many people at this opening, because there was no curator or outside influence. No Anat. No sources to get outsiders to see this. This is what happened at the MFA opening last year. Not many people there, and I knew the faces of 90% of the people there.

I guess I can't really say much since I was in the show last year, so I don't have a sour taste in my mouth about not being chosen. What is so bad about having an outside source choose the work that gets put in anyway? Yeah some people didn't "deserve" to be chosen last year, but we're looking at it from a distorted view. We knew how these people worked and the effort (or lack of) that they put in. But it was a unbiased view. I realized that it was one of the very, very rare occasions that someone NOT from Alfred was critiquing our work, and a lot of people had a problem with the way Anat did it and talk shit about her. But she is where she is for a reason. If she really sucked at it that much, she wouldn't have gotten as far as she did curating.

BLACKOUT

Ugg theres a blackout in (parts of) Manhattan. Trains all stopped, traffic lights off. How am I going to get home.

5 Albums That Changed Your Life

From a myspace post, but I'm too cool/afraid to post on myspace.

1. Blink 182 - Enema of the State
2. Dashboard Confessional - The Places You Have Come to Fear the Most
3. The New Amsterdams - Never You Mind
4. Death Cab For Cutie - We Have the Facts and We're Voting Yes
5. Regina Spektor - Begin to Hope

Each one of these marks specific time periods of my life and/or made a paradigm shift (for better or worst). Most of them have to do with girls! Well, some. Two.

On another note, I'm really into the new album by Feist. It's great. Anyone want to go see her with me on Aug 29th at McCarren Pool? I bought two tickets...

Food From Marche

I was at Metro Marche today. Shot all (most?) of the dinner entrees. Bought all my lights over and crap, but couldn't shoot in the restuarant because they had to serve lunch and stuff. So we set up a table in the back kitchen, but that didn't turn out so hot because I had no background and too much florescent light interference.

So Simon (the chef) and I said "fuck it" and shot in the kitchen, which worked out really well.







Rest on flickr

Need New Self Portrait

I just had the great idea of taking a photo of myself by the edge of the water at Coney Island in a white button down shirt and rolled up black pants. But I'd need someone to actually take the photo. WHY'D YOU HAVE TO LEAVE ASHLEY.

I can't think of anyone else who could do it.

By the way does anyone want to model for me at Coney Island? I really want to do a series of portraits by the beach. Ever since my missed opportunity last week I really want to take some more photos there.

So Over Part 2

Like Fire Island after Labor Day ~Over!

Spotted on the D train, amongst others.

Really Wish I Had My Camera

I was at Coney Island tonight around 6pm-ish. It had just rained. The light was the most glorious thing I've ever seen. It was PERFECT. The clouds had a really strange formation going on, and there was a huge rainbow. The sun was also coming out of a pocket of clouds.

I didn't have my camera. A little part of me just died.



Took this off my cell phone. Doesn't do it justice.

New Food Photography

I'm in the process of taking photographs of every single item in the Cafe Metro menu for their website. I have been shooting all last week. I'll probably be shooting for another week or two straight to get everything done.

The big boss also wants me to photograph most of Metro Marche's dishes too...so I've been photographing like crazy in the past week. I'm enjoying it very much, even though it has been my most busiest week working for them yet. I've also been styling all the food too!

Here are some photo's I've taken so far. And of course the rest is on FLICKr.

My Very Long Stick

That's right, ladies. My new pool cue. 18oz of wood. Hard wood.

OK, I'll stop now.

So Over.

My sister. All hipstered up.


"Guah, does this look OK?"
"What the hell? NO, IT DOES NOT LOOK OK!"
"Why? Everyone is dressing like this now"
"EXACTLY!"

If it's gotten to the point where my sister is hoping on it. It's definitely over. Please read last week's article "The Hipster Must Die" in Time Out NY. It explains exactly how I feel about this new trend.

LaGuardia '02 Unofficial Reunion: Tons of Awkwardness

Friday 6.08.07
Link Lounge
Manhattan


PHOTO NYDIA PEREZ

Saw a bunch of people I haven't seen since high school. I didn't bring my camera so I don't have any pics of said people. All these photos are from people I generally keep in contact with. That is why we have so many pictures of us.


PHOTO NYDIA PEREZ Jason, Cathy, Tina, Joann, and Nydia



PHOTO NYDIA PEREZ Joann, May and I



PHOTO NYDIA PEREZ Joann was drinking Guiness. That was soo random. It's cuz she was drunk



PHOTO NICOLE WOO NORA! on the left


Nora and I keep trying to meet up but it hasn't happened. Tonight doesn't really count because no one could hear each other in that place.



PHOTO NICOLE WOO Yulia and Nicole



PHOTO NICOLE WOO Jason, Ming, Nic and I



PHOTO CATHY WANG Nydia, Cathy, Nicole, Nora, Jo, I and Tina at the bottom

I'm always in photos with girls. My high school Asian friends are hot!



PHOTO NYRON Nyron, Me, Klavin, Nydia and Phillipe


Dapo was GHAY and went home after work. Kevon and Yudah were MIA all night. DBF did not represent. Otherwise, fun times.

Some Random Stuff

-I just bought a pool stick. It says "ADAM" at the base of it in gothic letters. It's made by a company called Adam Cue. That's the sole reason why I bought it.

-I've been mad busy this week at work shooting EVERY single food item in the company for the soon to be relaunch of the websites. After this, I can say, "I shot all the photos on the Cafe Metro website"

-I can now say I'm also a Food Stylist since I fixed up all the sandmiches for my shots. Photos soon, maybe. I'm paranoid about people stealing shit on FLICKr. Especially commercially demanded and hard to find photos such as food photography.

-Last week when Nate and Alex were here, we were all set to go to ChickaLicious but when we got there they were closed. There was a sign that read "closed for renovations" (or something) until like mid June. I was so disappointed.

-Also last week I went through the most awkward 1.5 hours of my life at Justine's birthday party with all her (fake?) hipster friends. It was go to that or Adam Hinterlang's BBQ in the South Bronx with Nate and Alex. Hmm, be awkward with hipsters or be awkward with art stars. I choose the hipsters because I'd rather listen to hipster nonsense than art star nonsense.

-Nate and Peter. Together. UGGG. At a Italian Pizza place in Little Italy with Hinterlang, Patrick Reiner, and Jen Serchia- "Look at this plate, what do you think it's made out of?"- Peter. Nate and Peter proceeds to discuss the various merits of the plate.

-Alex and I "took" beer mugs from the Beer Garden and Zen Japanese restaurant.

-I'm only bitter because I'm tired.

-On the day we went to Central Park, we met up with Jackie and her friend that night and went to the Brooklyn Museum (at night!). Then we went to Park Slope and drank at some bar that was going to be torn down soon because of gentrification.

Weekend Update 6/02/07

Saturday
Bohemian Beer Garden in Astoria, Queens
Central Park, Manhattan

Another lazy and wonderful Saturday spent doing nothing...



Alex and Nate are in town this weekend to set up a SOFA show at at the Armory for gallery that Nate works for. We met up, along with Peter, at Union Square in the mid afternoon. Then we went to the Beer Garden in Astoria. When we got there the gate was down and I almost thought it was closed but upon closer inspection, there was a sign that said "Entrance through the yard".

So we went and looked inside to see tons of people and kids running around. They were having some Belgium style chidren's festival or something. They made us pay a cover of 3 bucks. Don't know what that was about. They also jacked the price of the food up too! Oh well.

At one point they had a clown. It was the oddest thing I've seen in some time. He was on stage and got into a garbage can and put another one over himself and changed into a shiny gold DRESS and put on some weird mask and came out of it. Then he chased the children around the stage with a fishing poll. The poll had a dead bird thing that had a slinky attached to it. Very odd and humorous to watch.


Alex and Peter watches the Fool

After the beer garden went to take a walk in Central Park to follick around. We started on the south side and went all the way to the Fitzta Fountain (I can't spell it). It was in HOME ALONE 2 (I kept pointing that out). We sat for a while.



I love the juxtaposition


Nate and Liz


Peter refills his water bottle


End.