Jackie

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.

Fun at Union Pool

5.25.07 Friday
10PM
Union Pool
Williamsburg, Brooklyn

PHOTOS ADAM AU & ASHLEY ANZALONE


Union Pool is a bar right under the BQE. It has a backyard area that is open space with a pool deck fell, with a "deck" and wooden boards. So many hipsters with black hair and bangs. And black dresses. And black flats. Uhhhh...

Jackie isn't in any of these photos because she forgot her ID and went home to get it after dinner. She met up with us later in the night, though. This was the last time we're all together and going out before Ashley leaves...


Girl in red is a hot, hot hipster




















This image pretty much sums up how I feel about last night



I'm going to miss you Ashley. A lot.

The Weekend Madness Continues

5.25.07 Friday

We all got together to go out to dinner for Ashley's last weekend in New York. We went to an Indian restaurant on Indian Row and then to Union Pool in Williamsburg.

PHOTOS ADAM AU & ASHLEY ANZALONE

Let's Sail Around the Isle

5/24/07 Sat
8PM



The Half Moon prepares to leave

Noah works for Rocks Off! which is a group that books shows or something. I dunno, all I know is that they own boats and throw shows on them. They set sail every Thursday night around the isle of Manhattan.



Noah (why am I shouting?)

Justine, Ashley, Jackie and I met up wtih Noah at the dock on 23rd street at the East River to board the Half Moon. Since we know Noah, and he's the guy that checks people off at the gate, we all got in for free. Thanks, Noah!



That's Greenpoint behind us



A cruise around Manhattan, an ice cold beer, live bands, and tons of cute hipsters. What better way to spend a Thursday night? The main band, Apollo Sunshine, was really good too. For most of the 3 hour ride, we all just stood on the deck looking at Brooklyn and Manhattan (and hipsters, for me at least). It was a really fun night.

PHOTOS ASHLEY ANZALONE except the one with Ashley in it. That's me with Ashley's camera.

Beer Garden

Here are two photos taken at the Bohemian Beer Garden in Astoria last weekend.

Jackie's Dinner Party

Jackie's (moms) apartment
Upper East Side
3/24/07

Jackie finally had her dinner party. It was a great weekend to do so too, because Colleen, Erika, and Nina all came to NYC this weekend. We had a great time! Mad props to Jackie for hosting and the good food!










































FLICKR FOR THE REST.

Weekend Update 3/17/07

It was really warm on Wednesday/Thursday. Warm enough for Eliza and I to get Mr Frosty and eat it at Union Square Park. Then it snowed on Friday. And then my dad made me shovel around our house. You don't understand, we live on a corner lot. That means I have an entire side of the street to fricken shovel. Not the 10 feet front side like everyone else.

I got quite a workout from it, now it's Monday and I'm still sore. That's what happens when you sit at a desk all day and don't work out much. I lost my abs. Yeah, I had them at one point. I think I'll start working out again.

Oh yeah, last Tuesday, I beat Paul at pool for my first legitimate win against him. Ever. And it wasn't hyped or high pressure. I think that's why it happened. I've come close a few times before but couldn't sink the eight.

So back to this weekend, I had a wonderful dinner with my girls ELiza, Ashley and Jackie at a Italian place called Soto Cinque on the Upper East Side. It was St Patricks day, and seeing the streets filled with Bros and the skanks who love them all over the Upper East Side really caught me off guard. I was walking to Ashley's apartment and it was like I was back in college. The stench of cheap beers like KEYSTONE LITE filled the air all around. It was the most disgusting thing ever. I honestly don't know how I dealt with all that shit in college. I guess I just blocked it all out and was with good company, even on a Thursday night at Alex's. I think back now and can't for the life of me know why I was there so much on Thursday nights at one point. I never even drank that shit beer they had for mug night. I always got a railbender or something.

I'm not even a beer snob, I just don't drink cheap shitty beer like those calorie conscious bros. Anyway, we had dinner at that Italian place, which was mediocre, but the wine was good. Then we went to the Royal Oak in Williamsburg.

It you didn't know better, St Patrick's day was nonexistent in Williamsburg. Because today, instead of BLUE striped button shirts, all the bros were wearing GREEN striped button shirts. Ahhhhhh. None of that shit at the Royal oak. Everyone was dressed like always- hipster. You know, sometimes the hipsters are alright. Too cool for that shit. No green beer either, which no one one seemed to mind, care about or ask for.

I was wearing my LRG jacket (why?) and my keys fell out of my jacket pocket at Royal Oak.
Those keys were attached to a purple Alfred University lanyard that has a lot of sentimental value to me. It was Colleen's. I'll probably call them to see if they have it soon. Otherwise, Colleen will have to buy a new one and use it till she comes this week so it will be "broken into" and not new. I didn't realize I lost them till I was at Union Square, because I had my arm around Jackie the entire time we walked to the L train. Ugg, is that ironic?

Was supposed to meet up with David, but he didn't even get to Williamsburg till 3AM. Maybe next week.

Friday Night Shanagians

This was one of those Friday that started nicely and ended really nicely. The weather was really warm today. I made plans with Jackie, Peter and Heather to meet up at KENKAS at 6:30PM on Saint Marks Pl for dinner. Evil Paul was eating dinner at Metro Marche at 6PM and I have discount cards so I went over there to give it to him.

Last Thursday, Paul and I were shooting pool, he wanted to make a bet on the game we were playing. The bet was the loser had to buy the winner a drink (at the pool hall). I didn't really want a drink but whatever. So we played, and I actually beat him! LOL. It was a mix of luck on my part and him missing shots he really shouldn't have missed. There is a sign with a saying at the pool hall we go to "pool constantly tests your skill against your opponent's luck" which is oh-so-true, as I will tell you about in a bit. So he owed me a drink.

Sometime in the afternoon yesterday I had the AWESOME idea of going over to Marche, getting a drink and putting it on his tab. So I did. He was on a date, and I had decided I was sooo going to butt in on that shit and be the most obnoxious thing ever. I thought it was really funny. So I got to Marche and ordered a Jimmy Bean and coke and I go over to his table and sit my ass down. He introduced me to his date and already it was obvious she was VERY uncomfortable with me butting in. I started being really obnoxious and asking them questions and shit. Then it got really awkward because she didn't say anything and looked like she really wanted me to leave. Paul looked at me and motioned his head like "get the fuck out!". I said "alright, nice meeting you, but the way Paul, this drink is on your tab". He laughed. He couldn't have done anything else anyway.

I wasn't at Marche with anyone. Ashley was working till 8 and was busy. Couldn't really talk to her. So I SLAMMED my drink in like 5 minutes, and they made it pretty strong too, because I work there and all. Before I even got out of Marche, I was already feeling it. All the lights and sounds of Time Square didn't help (or did it?). So I'm walking to the subway, and I'm already tipsy and smiling, and laughing to myself about what I just did and it was the best thing ever.

Got out at Astor Place and met up with Jackie in front of Kenkas. Peter was late (of course). I told Jackie I was already drunk, she laughed. We sat down and ordered a round.



The pitchers were like 8 bucks or something. Kenka's is a relatively cheap place to have a late night snack and drinks. I've taken almost anyone who's been to NY there.

Heather got out of work and met up with us also





After Kenkas we went to the bar Hi-Fi, where the Hold Steady sometimes bartend, to meet up with the rest of the crew- Liz, Justine, Ashley. Justine's friends Susannah and Hesper also came. Hi-Fi has a pool table so I called next. I ended up playing with these kids that goes to Cooper Union. They didn't know how to play pool, they didn't know what the fuck they were doing really. They wanted to play partners, I didn't mind. So one of them is my partner (I thought I get to pick my friend as a partner? Ok...). He asked me what school I went to, I said I graduated already and asked him the same. He said Cooper Union. I asked him for art or engineering, he said engineering and that was it. They pretty much prejudged me instantly anyway. They looked like boring, typical people anyway. You know, the kind that wears striped blue and white button down shirts.

So I let his other friends break, and it was a terrible break. Paul always say smaller tables are harder to play on because all the balls are clumped together. I thought it was actually easier, but I guess not. Through sheer luck, the other two beat me and the guy I was partners with. I was so upset, because I know I'm better then them. They got lucky at first, leaving me without a shot. Then they hit a ball in, get lucky and hit another. At one point they had no shot and tried to reach one of there balls. The cue ball goes around the table and doesn't hit any balls. So I started to pick it up because it's ball-in-hand for me and one of them stops me. "The cue ball hit three rails, you can't pick it up!". Um, NO. That's a stupid non-rule stupid people like you who don't know the rules made up. But there was obviously no point in arguing, so I was just like "oh really, OK", acting all dumb and shit.

So we have one ball left and they have one ball left. The girl on the other team goes, hits the ball in and is now on the 8. The only shot she has is to hit the 8 ball off the rail into the side pocket. I'm thinking there's no way she's making this. And what do you know, she gets lucky and pops that shit in! I lost! Ugggg. I'm not being obnoxious here, they won through pure luck. That's all there is. So Justine puts our names on the list to get next. The 2 I play gives up the fricken table because they didn't want to play anymore. So some new people are playing, not really playing. They are socializing more than they are playing.

I'm sitting with everyone and talking to Justine. You know what, I really miss her. But what can you do. We never got to play. We left to go to Midway, where the Isles were going to play at 1:30AM. Yeah, late-ass set. I don't know why Susannah decided it was a good idea to get on the bus. It was like 7 blocks away, but we got on anyway.


Hesper and Susannah on the bus. And Ashley's big ass yellow bag. Never saw that before.

We got to Midway at like 12:30AM, the opening band was supposed to go on then, but of course they didn't and was still setting up, because it's always cool to not play your set on time. I called Paul to see where he was at. He was driving his date to Queens to pick up her car. I asked him to come get me because I didn't want to take the train home later at 2AM. What a guy he is, he agreed and came to pick me up! "You're lucky you're on the way home" he said. Weee! I ended up missing the Isle's set because I pretty much bounced around 12.45AM. Paul has no interest in staying in a club packed with hipsters that wouldn't give him/me? the time of day so I didn't even bother trying to convince him to stay. Even though I said he HAD to come and watch how some of these people are the most superficial people you'll ever see. It's really wild seeing how these people are. Sometimes I can't even believe there are people like this, really.

And I most certainly drank too much.

Year of the PIG

Went to Chinatown today with Jackie to watch the second Chinese New Year Parade. It got mad packed. We stood on the steps that led up to a Beauty Parlor that my mom's friend owned on Mott Street.

Some Chinese actress, who's semi famous I guess, came out of either the beauty parlor or the clothing store next to it at one point. Some guy who was also standing on the steps with us pointed it out. I don't watch Chinese programming so I wouldn't know.

The parade lasted for about an hour and a half, which seemed really long, and I got bored half way through. After we had enough, I took Jackie to a Shanghainese restaurant off Mott St. We had pan fried dumplings, scallion pancakes, and the signature dish, which is a thing of steamed dumplings with soup inside the dumplings. It's hard to describe, but it's amazing and cheap.


The Foxwoods float.


Some Chinese people on a float.


A pig carved out of ice, by the people who make some Asian beer that I've never heard of before


A semi-important Chinese celebrity (?)


A dragon dance company.


Another dragon dance company. This dragon was so long, there were about 20 people moving it from front to end.


Jackie watching the parade.