Tuesday, September 30, 2003

Mr. Pointy in New York



I finally got to check out Takashi Murakami's Reverse Double Helix installation at Rockefeller Center last week. Yes, he who has inspired a flood of LV knockoffs in Chinatown.

from rockefellercenter.com:

Murakami's artwork is a splendid fusion of color, cartoon and animation and provides a unique celebration of Japanese and American pop art. The exhibit will feature a series of bronze sculptures, 2 30-foot balloons, 18 flags and specially designed wallpaper flooring for the outdoor Plaza Street in front of 30 Rockefeller Plaza. In addition, public seating, designed by Murakami in the fashion of colorful mushrooms will be positioned along the Plaza Street. This will be Murakami's first outdoor sculpture exhibit in the United States.

When I got there, there were quite a few Asian kids with digicams sitting on the mushroom seats. I stood gazing at the sculptures for 15 minutes just taking in all the colors. Everything looks good enough to eat. And the balloons! So huuuge. The flags are a thoughtful touch. The exhibit in one word: happy. So infectiously giddy and cheery that I have to go back before it's taken away on October 12. With my camera this time.

photo from gothamist.com

{You Stand Here, Dressy Bessy}

Sunday, September 28, 2003

The waves roll in

This week-end I went to Atlantic City with a couple of retired senior citizens, and actually managed to have fun. I swore not to spend more than bus fare and lunch. It costs $28 to get to Atlantic City from Port Authority, but they gave out a $16 coupon , which I used to win $25 on the slot machine. So I actually just spent about $10. Not bad, huh? As soon as I won I cashed in and left Caesars to sit on the beach with fellow stingy young people while the others (tourists from California), who could afford to, lost more money. Then we met up with an aunt and waited for her to win (because she always does) so we could get ice cream money.
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I finally got a new phone (my old one had a water accident) after two weeks of searching for a store that had the cheapest price. The snotty clerk at one store we went to (in front of Century21 in Brooklyn) actually tried to discourage me from buying this particular phone. Me: "Hi. Can we look at the Nokia 6610?" Her: "Is Ericsson." Me, patiently: "No, it's Nokia, it's that one (pointing to box on display)." Her: "Oh, that one just came out three weeks ago (big fat lie). Is colored screen. Is tri-band. (all the while shaking her head, like I couldn't possibly want it)" Me: "Yes I know." Um, hello, aren't you supposed to do your job and try to sell it to me? Anyway, I got one from a store a block away for a hundred dollars less. In the Philippines, most people my age are willing to spend significantly more on their phones than I am. If my old phone hadn't drowned, I'd probably still be mulling over whether to get a tri-band one or not.
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I like Barsuk

{The New Year, Death Cab for Cutie}