2012

Every new years I always feel this sense of "oh god. Not another one." It's one of those gut reactions - coming about because I generally feel as though I just barely clung to or hung on to the previous year. Ah, I was never too great at good-byes anyways.

I have a few hopes this year however instead of resolutions. I hope I exercise more. Eat well. Think about the last shot, and come home before dawn more often. I hope I discover more restaurants, and get to share them with the funny people I call "pals." I hope I whine less, listen more. Make time to read, and paint whenever I can. I hope I get lost less, but wander more often. I hope next year filled with art, adventure, heartbreak, hilarity, surreal experiences, and opportunity.

And of course, I hope I get to share all these fuzzy, embarrassing, laugh out loud stories with these girls. I'm not sure it's physically possible to gchat more often, but I'll try my damndest. Hey now 2012, let's dance you and I.

So you're smart, who cares?

There are a lot of smart people in the world...and to be honest...many of them don't even have a fancy college degree. (And they'd probably beat you in a fight).

Lately I've been plagued with a sense of inadequacy. Not intellectual inadequacy. I'm talking about HUMAN inadequacy. The kind of knowledge and experience you can never gain from reading a book or a paper. The kind that comes from interacting with others. In my opinion...the kind that actually matters when it's all said and done.

I feel almost detached from life and I need to get my fingers back on humanity's wrist - connected to its pulse.

But this is not what I'm supposed to want right now. I didn't spend 4 years selling my soul at a prestigious university so I could be a regular Joe right? I'm supposed to relish in the artificial glow of my "success" and make something of myself. I'm supposed to read all of the right newspapers and follow all of the right intellectual trends. I'm supposed to annunciate everything a certain way and use words that make my educated peers feel at ease.

I don't mean to disparage learning, hell...I'm planning to learn until I'm 30 and then help others learn. I just can't help but feel as though many people are using education towards a confused goal. The goal of higher education should not be to produce pretentious pedants. In the end, pedantry is frivolous and self-serving. What good is your mind if you keep it to yourself? If it is not applied towards developing yourself and serving others? I'm beginning to feel that a selfish mind is a wasted mind.

Maybe I'm just tired, or my bun is tied a bit too tightly...but this is what has been on my mind lately. Why are intelligent people so afraid of being seen as human beings?

Thus begins my journey towards getting back in touch with my humanity. We'll see how it goes.

Warehouse Parties

I know that the New York Warehouse party idea is so cliched at this point, it's a stereotype - but that didn't stop me from signing up for listservs that email you directions to sketchy places in Brooklyn, and ask you to dress up in costumes. Considering the amount of ridiculousness that is New York, I figured "why not? I'm game."

It was sponsored by Danger, a now defunct group of promoters headed by a Mr. Etundi. The party itself was pretty fabulous. My roommate and I nabbed tickets online, before the thing sold out in a few hours. We dressed up, her in a long black back revealing dress. Myself in cream, with long white gloves, red lipstick. The invite said to be rag-tag dressy, or something, and we did that with some oomph. I am willing to admit that yes. There was a headpiece, and it received a mighty many compliments.

The first location was just off the Gowanus bridge, at a metal work studio. Large iron sculptures adorned the inside. A man in a white mask played a somber cello song. And upstairs on the loft, there was a tree house, and girls on a metal hoop scantily clad in white holding candles.



Then some limo's came, and our host introduced herself as Placenta, for that night at least. And we rode to a warehouse apparently titled Shang Hai Mermaid. We entered, and behind the red curtained door was a human in a large tree costume, welcoming us in.

There were candles, and a bar in the back. It was a cross between a speakeasy, and a electronica minimalistic dj party. The drinks were strong, and champagne was thrown out.

"Shang...Hai...Person...fish?" I said, reading about half the characters on the post. "Man, I can barely read anything. How embarrassing."

"I got person. 'Bout it." My roommate said.

There was a photobooth, and outside, a large bonfire which my roommate and I thoroughly enjoyed. Around 3 in the morning, we decided to call it quits - and called a car back home.

Can things like this happen in other cities? I've wondered about these sort of incidents. On my way out, I saw a girl offer socks to another.

"I know I probably will never see you again, but here!" She said, her large feather boa dangling around her neck.

These tiny minute incidents are largely (I think) what make up the New York mentality. Which seems to be appreciate the small minutia, momentary connections with complete strangers who you might never see again. To wonder in the future seems verboten - almost silly. I felt exhausted at times trying to keep up with the energy needed to continually introduce yourself, and represent yourself properly.

I can already hear Krod and Kdef shaking their heads. And I'm hardpressed to accurately describe the blissful feeling of anonymity with possibility. You can be anyone just walking around, but at any moment, you could meet a future roommate, or business venture. It all seems doable, albeit no less difficult.

It was neither my first nor my last Brooklyn venture, and considering how I woke up with both kidneys - I consider my night a success. Everything in my room now smells like nicotine and campfire, delectable if particular.

Fear of Failure

Ah! I've been neglecting this blog lately! I guess sometimes life interferes. A lot has happened since my last post, mostly work things. I've had lab/GRE tunnel vision lately...super stressful! However, this afternoon I had an amazing essay writing session with a high school student, which put me back on track. She came in with no idea what she wanted to write and left with an entire rough draft. Working with her and unleashing our combined creativity was an awesome experience. It reminded me of how much I love students and teachers and why I want to help them as much as possible through my research.

I feel like I've been losing sight of my dreams lately. Not in the sense that I don't know what I want, but that I won't be able to execute my plans. At it's core, my problem is a basic fear of failure. In September I read this article in the NYT about how the American educational system fails to instill students with "character." I must say I agree. My fancy education has endowed me with an inflated ego, a sense of entitlement, and a fear of being...human. I've always considered myself very compassionate and percipient, both of which contribute immensely to my character...but I've found I lack the ability to fully accept and process failure (a crucial aspect of a well-rounded character). I make the grave mistake of taking failure as a form of rejection from the world around me. And I'm sick of it. 

I've had enough of this bullshit failure-will-define-you-and-ruin-your-future attitude that pervades society. I make mistakes. A lot of them. And I'm not about to stop. In fact, I just typed "define human" into a Google search. The synonyms: "person - individual - soul - mortal". Soul, mortal...they imply something outside of the realm of action and something inherently flawed. Proof:

I've realized that fearing failure is only holding me back. Rather than pushing myself towards innovation, I've settled into a banal comfort zone. This place is no fun. There's no room for personal growth. 

Where do I begin my journey towards acceptance? I've been inspired by a child. 

Every Tuesday night I mentor two 8 year old girls. One of them always has a ridiculous spelling assignment where she has to write out her words a million times. Whenever her hands get tired or she starts making too many mistakes, she stops and does what she calls "the crazy arm stretch hand dance." And boy, is it intense. Basically, she starts stretching like an Olympian and concludes with a few seconds of erratic finger movements....kind of like she's playing the piano...on crack. Her activities usually capture the attention of those around her, which might embarrass a less confident child...but not Jesy. Her philosophy, "I don't care if I look silly! It helps me finish my words and get a 100 in spelling!"

Now, excuse me while I go do the crazy arm stretch hand dance of life. You should try it. 

A.N.Y.W.

Last week, my friend came to visit. We saw Balanchine at the Lincoln Center. It was absolutely fantastic - quite classic, and lean lines. We got decent seats, and watched the 2 other shows in delight. But the ending scene (the iconic one) is smashing.

The rest of the weekend was spent enjoying the co-work lovin'. Halal food was had by all, and it was finished up with a quick tour of greenpoint for my roommate's art show.

Showing around friends is interesting. On the one hand, you realize how much of a new yorker you've become - on the other, you also realize that you'll still get lost or on the wrong stop.

This weekend, there was visiting, an enormous Chinese brunch, and lots of good ol' conversation. I did pass out on friday due to my exhaustion - but I made up for it by staying out and walking most of southern Manhattan last night. September was a visit-heavy month, but October will have even more faces. At least, I know realize that sleep has to be carved out. (Or perhaps taken against ones will, to be woken up at six am in your clothes next to your open laptop.)

The Mountain Is Out (And So Am I)

Photo Courtesy of JPChamberland

There's a popular saying in Seattle: "If you can't see the mountain, it's raining. And if you can see the mountain, it's about to rain." The mountain is Mt. Rainier, which can be seen from most places in the Seattle metro area, and especially well from the suburb where I live. It's a pretty big mountain, but on some days it completely vanishes from sight because of the low-lying clouds.

Anyways, as you might have guessed, it's been out lately because the weather's been nice and warm! So I haven't been posting because I've been too busy running around doing errands and things outside before I start work next week (more on this later). Basically, just wanted to say hi and will post soon!

Another New York Weekend

Numbers:

The amount of times I wound up in the West village - 5

The number of bars/restaurants I visited - 9

The hours of sleep I got total in 72 hours - 14

It's cool to be...uncool...I guess?

Photo from chibarproject.

If there is one thing I am slowly discovering about what it means to be a "cool" 20-something in Chicago, it's that you must be "uncool" in the MOST IRONICALLY COOL OF WAYS.

For a Saturday night out, I guess this means waiting in line for a dive bar/dance club/lounge in the middle of nowhere. After grabbing some cocktails at The Southern, my friends and I headed to Danny's Tavern in Bucktown. It's a little off the beaten path (Damen and Dickens), which just increased my curiosity. I'm a sucker for bars that are tucked away in corners of the city. I just didn't expect to wait 15 mins in line. Then it hit me...I looked around and realized I was rubbing elbows with some painfully trendy Bucktown residents. Is this what I have become? An ironically cool 20-something faux-hipster? Sadly, some of my activities and interests confirm this terrifying possibility. Alas, this place was awesome. The drinks were $4 and people were dancing everywhere. I highly recommend it for a night of dancing, but be warned: it's supposed to feel like a packed, sweaty house party.

Despite the raucous good time, it all felt very strange. I began to think that I had forced my way into an ephemeral social niche. Everything about it felt temporary. The hairstyles, the fashion, the music...nothing seemed built to last. Being an old soul, I found this extremely disturbing. While I fully support advancements in society, I personally like to surround myself with comfortable, familiar things. I like my clothing pre-worn and my books pre-owned. The idea of my possessions having histories fascinates me. The funny thing is, I know if I had asked anyone there if they enjoyed vintage stores or used books stores, they'd probably answer with a similar appreciation. The whole subculture has this weird clash of new and old thing going on that I am still getting used to. It really peaks my interest in the birth and evolution of cultural movements or trends. How does it all COME TOGETHER?! Also...how the hell do we figure out where it is we "belong"?

I guess for now I'll just stick with my 1/4 nerd, 1/4 feisty Latina, 1/4 faux-hipster, 1/4 tbd persona....

Scent Memories

A photo from my walk. Taken outside The Vic Theatre.

I've recently developed a habit of taking hour long walks at night to clear my mind. Tonight, I decided to go along a different route and found myself recalling a fond memory. A few years ago I went with some friends to a Kooks concert at the Vic, which is now not far from my apartment. As I walked under the brightly lit awning, I began thinking about that night. Not the faces, the people, or the music...my memory was focused on the smell. The concert was on a humid night at the end of May, so it smelled like summer rain.  Despite the brisk early fall breeze this evening, all I could smell was summer. Where did my mind take me next? To the land of contemplating the link between olfaction and memory of course.

It seems that certain smells evoke memories or thoughts about specific people or places. Recently, I gave a few sweaters to a friend who compared wearing them to a "big Kristina hug" because they still smelled like me. Personally, smell evokes the strongest memories for me...closely followed by music. It's as if one whiff envelopes me in an intoxicating synesthesia and suddenly I'm smelling emotions or colors. I searched the internet for an article I'd read a couple of years ago (you can find it here). The bottom line is that research has suggested a direct neural link between the hippocampus (region of your brain concerned with memory) and the olfactory cortex.  The article also links to this paper if you want to read more.

What I find most interesting is how emotional these odor-evoked recollections can be. It's a testament to the complexity of memory. Not only are we able to recall events, but we can recreate the entire scene down to the smell of the air. In a way, these memories inject new life into the past. The dimensions of our recollection interact once again, producing a new manifestation of an event, person, or place. This manifestation can subsequently influence our present emotional state and create more interconnected memories. The cycle can perpetuate the essence of a single memory throughout our entire lives. In the end, the amalgamation of these memory cycles is what we call...well..life...

On a lighter note, I guess I should start giving more thought the perfume I decide to wear for a big event...

The Pike Place Market

Are you guys ready?! To go...

??

I know, I'm so clever. Pretty sure that exact same joke has been made with this exact same picture at least 421534 times in Internet history. Whomp.

But seriously, Pike Place Market is one of the most famous Seattle landmarks, and one of my favorites, because every time you go there you find something new! It's a collection of buildings built into a hill with a view of Puget Sound, and there are many vendors, seasonal stands, and permanent shops and restaurants packed into the nine acres of the market. The top level or two is usually really crowded with tourists, but once you go down further it clears out and you start to find some of the really weird shops. The only way I can think of to describe the lower levels of the Pike Place Market is as a rabbit warren...cramped, slightly dark, and totally confusing. But I'm going to start up top.

The famous flying fish stand

If you've ever heard of the Pike Place Market, you've probably heard about the flying fish stand. There are many fish and seafood stands in the market, but the one right by the main entrance is the one where the employees toss the fish around. On a nice day it's impossible to walk through here because there are so many tourists standing around hoping they will throw the fish. I gave up on getting a picture of that after about two minutes and moved on to check out some of the other things on the first level.

Like the flowers! Pike Place always has GORGEOUS bouquets for cheap. Yep, those are $5 and $10 bouquets you're looking at right there. And then there are many vendors selling variously tacky or awesome Pacific Northwest art, jewelery, tshirts, stuffed animals, etc...here are some highly tacky but colorful Native American designs!

In addition to all the daily vendors, there are permanent restaurants, like the Pike Brewery and its accompanying pub (on the floor underneath all this brewing equipment).

Mmm...beer...

And my personal favorite, the amazing crepe shop.

And oh yeah, some of the restaurants have views like this:

View from Place Pigalle, an uber-French restaurant (hope you like rare food)

When you go down to the lower levels, where you find dusty old treasures that have entertained many generations of kids, myself included. The Magic Shop was always a necessary stop when I was younger, as was the store that sold caricature portraits and cardboard cutouts (seriously, there is a whole store that does just that), and the House of Jade, aka the Room Full of Every Little Glass or China Figurine Ever Made. There's also an anarchist bookstore somewhere down there (yeah folks, this is Seattle) and some cool murals by local artists.

Need indelible ink that's been sitting on the shelf for ten years? They've got it

Now I like to look at the antiques stores, the used bookstores, and the Polish Pottery Place. And, true to form, I found something this time that I'd never seen before...

I don't really know what to say about this one. Get some seasonal produce and your teeth pulled, all in one convenient location? Hmm...

Here's one of the buildings across the street from the main market building. I didn't get the chance to run over there, but it's home to the Crumpet Shop and a great used bookstore, among other things.

And right next door is a store that I think you'll recognize...

It's the first Starbucks store! Complete with original signage, two unique individuals playing an accordion/saw duet, and a bajillion tourists. Good luck getting a drink there because you cannot even get in (check out all those peeps waiting in line). Luckily there is another Starbucks just around the corner!

Goodbye, market...I'll be back soon!

Cheese + Meats + Wine

There's something uniquely alluring about an indulgent cheese and meat platter paired with a glass of wine. On many occasions, I've skipped dinner in preparation for a wonderful night of this combination. While a DIY version in the living room is always convenient, sometimes nothing beats a night at a wine bar.

Bar at The Bluebird. From bluebirdchicago.om

My favorite wine bar in Chicago (that I've been able to visit) may not be the best, but the food, wine, and ambiance are perfect for my budget. The Bluebird, located at 1749 N. Damen in Bucktown, is a cozy brick-and-rustic-wood  escape from the bustling six corner intersection at the heart of the Wicker Park/Bucktown area. Their beer and wine selection is immense...the menu is literally a book. I'm not going to pretend like I can even BEGIN to discuss the finer points of beer or wine, so I'm just going to recommend that you ask your server for some help navigating the menu. Luckily, the food is a bit easier to discuss. Their food menu is fairly small, but I prefer it that way. They offer small plates, mussels, large plates, sweets, and (of course) meat and cheese assortments. Both are priced under $20, while a combination platter is $25. I usually split it with a few friends, so it ends up being pretty doable on a lab rat's budget. The Bluebird is near and dear to my heart, so I recommend you grab a few people you love and head over for some wine and excellent conversation.

Right by the wall at Old Town Social where we sat! From oldtownsocial.com

This weekend I experienced some deja vu and ended up back at Old Town Social for dinner. I thought Bluebird's bar selection was overwhelming, until I came here on Friday night. If you like beer or whiskey, you need to check it out! To accompany our drinks, we ordered a "Ploughman's Platter" with different meats and cheeses. While the pricing is about the same, I enjoyed Bluebird's meats and cheeses much more. I'm not entirely sure why, but Old Town Social left me feeling a little jipped. The ambiance is also different, but it depends on what you're looking for at the time! Old Town Social has much more of a loud, fun bar atmosphere and I'm more of a warm and fuzzy conversation kind of girl. I still recommend it, though! Apparently their cocktails are pretty delicious (so say my friends).

Saturday Night

Saturday morning, I got up bright and early and trekked over to the Upper West Side. They have a HomeGoods there, which as the equivalent of TJMaxx for ...homegoods, was promised to have all the decorations I needed to transform my once plain room into something worthy of Martha Stewart.

There was brunch at Viand, a cute little cafe whose brunch specials were quite good - though I wish I had asked for some tomatoes in my omelet. Fall makes me crave ratatoille. I might try to make some later - there's a Mark Bittman recipe that promises easy and minimalism. There's some promise in that.

Home Goods was like a mish mash of argyle pumpkins, and garden things. I got a ceramic fish, a box in the shape of war and peace, some fake plants (to go with my earthy rabbit lamp-jar), and a few desk items. Afterwards, I tried to take all this on the subway. Have you ever tried to carry branches in a small encramped space? It was wonderful - no one sat next to me, or even tried to stand near me. The only price was that I poked myself in the eye with a branch when I tried to fall asleep. Note to self, don't fall asleep near branches.

There was some napping, some setting up, and then I trekked back to into Manhattan. I watched the sunset on the Met rooftop, enjoying the sculpture gardens. Due to subway incompetence, I almost missed it. But at the last minute, I ran upstairs to find myself basking the last 45 minutes in the subset, reflected off Central Park nearby.

Dinner was at Burger Joint. I wish I had taken a photo. Imagine a classy, beautiful hotel. Le Parker Meridian, all tall glass and marble, and 60 degrees all summer long. And inside, are tall red drapes that should you walk into, contains a burger joint straight out of the East village. Small, cramped, full of writing on the wood panneled walls (full of scratches, and outdated pop culture movie posters.) It's considered one of the best burgers in New York. And I? I think it's better than Shake Shack. I know, blasphemy, but it is succulent, and tender, and diet free. It was a greasy, messy burger, and it was glorious.

We decided to walk down Manhattan after that. Let me put this in perspective. The Met is in the low 80s. The burger joint was in the 50's, and we ended up in Meat Packing and the West Village, which was past 1. So we walked most of Manhattan - and even more because we stopped along the way to walk along the Highline.

Highline park is a fantastic piece of urban architecture. It used to be a railroad that was converted into an urban park/walkway. Hipsters, seniors, tourists, and my coworkers and I walked through just as it was about to close, getting a beautiful look at the city as we walked the entire length.

Which dropped us off near Meat Packing. It's literally a district where meat is processed. But nestled near by are couture fashion houses, and dinky places that open up to amazing clubs. This sort of mish-mash is also paralleled in the population. For every dirty Jersey shore Jersian, you also have models, and places where exclusivity means you must show up before 11 unless you're on a list.

We stopped by Brass Monkey, got a drink, and when the place began to fill it was time to go.

West Village. By far the place I've spent the most time. It's quieter than the East village, full of cobblestone roads, and a history of artists tripsing about before it became one of the most expensive places in NYC. There was a Belgian bar with an outside courtyard hiden by pizza joints near by - and we sat and had some framboise. Enjoying hte last bit of heat in the night.

By then we were just a bit tired, which meant - fried chicken. Bon Chon was decided upon, and we went - with chicken so spicy even I teared up.

And then I began to pass out, waking up to a new coworker putting a glass of water in my face, and me clearly disagreeing with that. And the night was done. I put myself on the subway, and woke up one stop before my stop to a nice gay hipster waving at me.

And then I slept.

AV Fest

AV Club is one of those "intelligent pop culture commentary" websites with a mission to "turn nerds into snobs." And this weekend, they're having a music festival. My friend was able to get us VIP wristbands for yesterday, which was awesome! We had access to the VIP lounge, indoor bathrooms, free drinks, and food catered by Big Star (free tacos and beer...what could be better). The weather was also beautiful.

The fest was held outside of Chicago music venue and bar, The Hideout (a favorite of mine). Yesterday's lineup included some local and nation indie pop/punk bands. It was like a beautifully melodic trip through the 90's! The bands included: Like Pioneers, Maritime, Eef Barzelay, Disappears, The Thermals, and Hum. The crowd was incredibly diverse, concert-goers ranged from middle-aged men to teenagers accompanied by mom and grandma. It was a really great experience!

Afterwards, we took a stroll down North Ave. to Wicker Park for a late dinner at Silver Cloud Bar & Grill on Damen. Their menu was loaded with some delicious-sounding comfort food options, so if you're ever in the mood for some mac'n'cheese or TATER TOTS I'd check it out.

The walk back to the El, was probably the best part of the night. My boyfriend and friend are much bigger sports fans than I am, so we ended up stopping to stare into bar windows to catch a glimpse of the Notre Dame v. Michigan game. I don't know much about football, but it seemed CRAZY. Every time we decided to keep walking, the score would suddenly change! I guess Michigan won in the end?

"Look Good, Feel Good, Do Good"

Picasso's Girl before a Mirror from moma.org

That is what my high school physics teacher always told us. He was a huge proponent of dressing up on the day of an exam to boost your confidence.

In college, I'll admit this didn't always happen. Who wants to throw on their best outfit after being awake for a couple days straight? No one. Masochists, maybe. This all came flooding back to me while I was watching random TV episodes on Hulu (GRE study break, forgive me...). I happened upon an episode of a show called "Unleased by Garo" where a fashion designer custom makes outfits for individuals who are looking for a "change". He professes himself to be not only a fashion designer, but a therapist. He claims his art heals people. At first I shook my head and thought, "This guy's nuts." But after seeing his clients' reactions to their transformations, I began to contemplate the possibility.

The idea of image transformation as therapy (or a self-esteem boost) is nothing new. Television producers have capitalized on the concept for years with shows like "What Not to Wear". It's even part of our everyday knowledge (i.e. how to dress for an interview). What I find most interesting is the choice to transform the image rather than the individual (the physical body). Transforming someone's image with the right clothing cuts and makeup is much easier than losing weight and MUCH cheaper than plastic surgery, but which is more effective in the long run?

There is a wealth of literature on both topics, but I struggled to find anything that compares their long-term psychological effects. Looking at this through the scope of learning and human development (my areas of interest) you can think about how self-esteem influences motivation and in turn how motivation influences classroom performance (which is the point my physics teacher was trying to make). There is also a ton of research on student motivation, so you can check out those articles if you're interested.

My last thought concerns the influence image and body have on each other, if any. Is it the case that first transforming the superficial image could lead to a self-esteem and motivation boost, which someone could use to fuel a body change? Would an image or body change alone be enough? Perhaps this is something that could be useful to doctors, nutritionists, and therapists who are fighting "America's war on obesity," in terms of motivating patients to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.

Anyone have any thoughts or recommended readings? Think I'm nuts?

New York Bars

What I've come to realize in New York is that it has a "if we build it, legions will come" philosophy. Everywhere in the city are the strangest assortment of concept mash-ups. Why not have a bar hidden behind a hot dog stand? Why not have a drive-in theatre...in Manhattan? Why not party in abandoned banks and warehouses? Why not have a bar based on cupcakes and alcohol?

I went to Sweet Revenge for my friend's birthday. I got the raspberry red velvet - which I order at every cupcake/restaurant I can. It's my scientific yardstick of the art of cupcaking. The raspberry was nice touch to tone down the sweetness, and it had cream cheese frosting instead of buttercream. (Thank the sweet lord). But the best part was the nice Belgian I had - which I'll recognize if I ever see it, but could not pronounce it to save myself from burning. Good thick head, very mellow and warm. Washed down the cupcake quite well.

While we were eating, film cameras had been set up to document the scene. There was lighting, mood, and three people conveniently at the bar. Guess who? The funny thing was that in all the times I've ever been filmed, I don't think I've ever felt as nonchalant. Want to film me tenderly enjoying my cupcake? Alright. My zipcode is known for its Devil-May-Care, go ahead. Why not.

When you have a city so big, you can cater to niche markets and still break even (or make bank if you have a little cupcake shop in the West Village.) And with the variety of people here, you kinda feel bold enough to do whatever you want, whenever you want, however you want. That sort of freedom then frees you to do something a little bit stranger.

I'm not trying to say that New York is the only place with cupcake and beer, or that it's even that strange - how many times have I gotten a beer and a cupcake?but the eyebrow quirk that I raised at first eventually mellowed out as I forgot there was a camera there, and ate my cupcake, watching as people walked through the rain, completely unaware of anything but what was in front.

All that was left within 10 minutes.

Seattle Waterfront

 Seattle view from Pier 66

Because it continues to be gorgeous here, I had to put up these pictures of the Seattle waterfront! They should all be clickable for larger versions but they might not be because the new Blogger WYSIWIG keeps messing things up for some reason and after a couple minutes of messing with their ugly code...I gave up :-/

 The Olympic Mountains

That largeish boat in the photo is the Victoria Clipper, which is basically a small ferry that runs passengers between Seattle and Victoria, BC. I also saw some of the bigger ferries that go to Bainbridge Island, etc but didn't take pics. Probably unconsciously on purpose because the first thing everyone asks me about Seattle/living on an island is "do you have to take a ferry?" (no, there are bridges).

I also found Daddy's yacht in the harbor (hah). 

 Who wants to go to for a cruise?

So I didn't get a shot of any ferries, but I did get Anthony's Pier 66, which is one of the best seafood restaurants around and looks like a ferry!

Anthony's Pier 66

Then I played a fun game of Cruise Ship vs. Building. I think the cruise ship won...

This monster is 965 feet long...basically a floating skyscraper

I'm super jealous of the 2,934 people it's taking to Alaska!

And that's a big building on the right, too...yikes. Apparently the ship will be moving port to NY in 2012 for Caribbean cruises, so maybe Xu will see it there!

Then I saw one of my favorite things...

Asdfhjadsfk I love the aquarium

If you ever visit Seattle, you must go to the aquarium! They have tons of cool aquatic life on display; my favorites are the otters and the big underwater viewing dome.

Finally, as I was on my way home, I saw this huge Bengali (I think based on the headgear--Indian friends please correct me) wedding procession going to the Marriott for a lovely outdoor wedding! My favorite part? They rented a horse drawn carriage so the groom and his father could arrive in a traditional fashion--and his dad's on his cell phone. Technology FTL?

They were all dancing down the street, though apparently not in this pic

"Yo, where you guys at?" "Stuck in traffic, man"

Pike Place Market pictures up next I promise! And it's still sunny and warm here...supposed to be 90 degrees this weekend! :-)

Chicago Cupcakes

While Chicago may pale in comparison to NYC in terms of the abundance of cupcake shops, there are a few pretty amazing ones here. While Sprinkles IS delicious, it's not local...so I didn't include it on the list (but the cupcakes are still worth trying).

My hands-down favorite local cupcake bakery is Molly's. It's located at 2536 N. Clark St. I believe the owners opened a bakery in NYC (but it started in Chicago)! The shop is modeled after a retro candy store/ice cream parlor. It's a great place to sit and enjoy a cupcake, but beware! The location is extremely close to DePaul's Lincoln Park campus, so it's usually packed. My favorite is the center-filled Ron Bennington. It's a chocolate cake with peanut butter filling, chocolate ganache, and butterfinger bits.

Another favorite of mine is Phoebe's Cupcakes at 3327 N. Broadway Ave. Their Red Velvet cake is one of the best. The frosting leaves a bit to be desired...but the cake ACTUALLY feels like velvet on your tongue. They are also famous for their Breakfast Cupcake, which they describe as "Maple soaked buttermilk cake with a maple butter frosting topped with crispy bacon." Sounds like an amazing way to start the day!

My last recommendation is a little more adventurous. If you feel the need to hunt down your cupcake, I suggest following the Flirty Truck's Twitter feed. With a selection of delicious flavor combinations and cute names, these cupcakes are worth the hunt. I've tried The McDream (far right corner), a chocolate cake with cream cheese and chocolate filling.

Are you hungry now? Because I am....

The Olympic Sculpture Park

Looking east from the pedestrian bridge at the Olympic Sculpture Park

Happy Labor Day! It's been absolutely gorgeous here in Seattle this weekend, and I've been floating around in a little it's-80-degrees-and-not-humid haze of happiness. Did you know that it only rained once here in the month of August? I bet you didn't! And you thought Seattle was all dreary and grey...check out that sky, my friends.

Anyways, to celebrate the holiday weekend, my parents and I went down to the Olympic Sculpture Park to walk around, view all the weird modern art, and get some vitamin D. There are many post-quasi-deconstructionist-WTFist pieces in the park, but I'm only posting pictures of a few I actually liked.

"Split" by Roxy Paine

This is one of my favorites! Just down the hill, there is a whole installation/exhibit featuring a giant "nurse log" that was brought in from a forest and that's growing all kinds of new plants and trees. I tried to take pictures, but the roof of the exhibit is green, and so are the plants, and with the sunlight behind it all it was like St. Patrick puked in there, so I had to leave those ones out.

"Perre's Ventaglio III" by Beverly Pepper

This one had something to do with filling voids. I don't remember but I liked it.

Sculpture by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen

Does anybody know what this sculpture is of? Hint: it's a real-life object!

No idea? I didn't know either. It's a typewriter eraser! My parents laughed at me for not knowing this.

"The Eagle" by Alexander Calder

This one is sort of the keystone piece for the park. In my mind it's like the hybrid child of Native American art and a sports team logo.

The Alaskan Way

Here's the view down the Alaskan Way (the main waterfront drag) from one end of the sculpture park. The city rolls up to the left/east and Puget Sound is on the right, though you can't see it in this shot because of the pier buildings. We walked down to the Pike Place Market, which is about a mile away, so I'll post those pictures next!

Olympic Sculpture Park Beach

And finally, here's a real Pacific Northwest beach! That means lots of rocks and driftwood, and very little sand (I wouldn't be surprised if the sand you see here was brought in especially for the park). Seattle trivia note #1: That's NOT the Pacific Ocean, it's Puget Sound. For some reason people always think that Seattle is on the ocean, but there's a whole peninsula complete with mountain range in between Seattle and the Pacific. Seriously. Check it out:

See? Seattle, not on the ocean. Know what is though? Forks.

Aaand with a Twilight reference...I'm done for the day.

How to Make Yourself Seem Important

So you've decided to take some time off before grad school? If you're like me, you have a laundry list of things to accomplish during this precious time. Considering I spent a majority of my undergraduate career under the illusion that I wanted to go to medical school, I need to make up for lost time. I am fortunate enough to have gained some valuable research experience as an undergrad that helped to mold my interests. Now all that's left is to enrich my research background, take a few classes, polish up my CV, and begin communicating with potential advisers.

So far, building my CV has posed the most difficult challenge. It feels strange to make yourself seem important when, well, you're not yet. It's kind of like...painting a striking portrait when you're only allowed to use black and white. I somehow managed to flesh out my experiences and activities enough to have a three page CV. I think my first obstacle was getting out of the "resume mindset" and remind myself that CVs are MEANT to be READ not simply glanced at while sifting though a giant pile. Professors, advisers, and investigators WANT to know about your interests and experiences. Did you help with an NSF-funded research project? Talk about it! Granted, a CV still isn't a novel so don't go overboard. Relevant community-based activities are also great additions to a CV. They demonstrate how your passion for your research interests extends beyond your desk in the lab. Your CV is a marketing tool! Give admissions boards the best chance to get to know you on paper.

The most helpful tip I have is to find someone who recently went through the application process to confide in. I met an amazing research associate (now grad student) while working in my lab as an undergrad. She's been a tremendous help so far. She's not only knowledgeable about the process, but she genuinely cares about my thoughts and my future. I also have some equally as amazing friends who are always there to answer my questions and encourage me. My boyfriend is also in the process of applying to programs, so he's always around to answer my GRE-related questions (he rocked the exam) and help me in whatever way he can (whenever I work up the courage to ask questions)! Basically, if you're like me...you might need to get over yourself, haha.

Standing on the brink of a 6 year Ph.D program may seem terrifying, but...it's all about your attitude and your willingness to ask for help when you need it.

Gluten Free Living: Day One

Some of my new gluten free friends

Well, it's finally happened. My doctor put me on a gluten free diet to see if this helps with all the various stomach complaints I've been having over the past year or so....and I'm so not excited about it. What's better than biting into a nice, fresh piece of Italian bread or having a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios? Nothing...except a PB&J. Or maybe chocolate cake.

Yep, gluten's in pretty much all of my favorite foods: cereal, pasta, bread, crackers, baked goods, granola bars, and tortillas. It's also in many things that you wouldn't expect, like trail mix, soup, ice cream, teriyaki sauces and even vitamins and jars of peanuts! Turns out that most factories use wheat flour on their conveyor belts or process multiple items on the same equipment, so just about everything is contaminated with wheat. Even most alcohols and liquors are either made or colored with wheat products these days, since it's often cheaper than using the traditional ingredients.

What's left to eat when you can't eat wheat? Rice, corn, potato, and certain oat products, and to drink, certain wines, gluten free beer, and high-end tequila or rum that has been made from the traditional ingredients. Luckily gluten free products are becoming more widespread since it turns out that 1 in 100 Americans have a gluten intolerance or allergy! (Though most of them don't know it.) I went to Safeway and bought some gluten free bread, cereal, pasta, crackers, tortillas, and cookies to try out, and I can keep eating some of my favorite snack foods like hummus, rice cakes, and peanut butter. I was also able to find peanuts, trail mix, oatmeal, and granola bars that were processed without wheat products. Now I just need to find an amazing job to pay for the extra $2 associated with each gluten free item. And that Patrón.

In taste testing, I've determined that Corn Chex taste like cardboard, and rice crackers ain't got nothing on Triscuits, though they're okay with hummus. We'll see what the rest of this stuff tastes like, though...I have to admit that I'm a little scared of the chocolate chip cookies (can they really be good when they're made with rice flour?).

The good news? This is a trial run, and at the end of the month my doctor and I will evaluate whether I really need to go gluten free or not. After a few different diets and some blood tests, it might turn out that I'm only intolerant of or allergic to certain food preservatives or wheat products, and not gluten in general. I'm praying hard that I'm only allergic to one stupid little thing, and not the full range of baked goodness....wish me luck? And cookies that taste good.

The Davis Theater

Last night was date night! Our choice: the new Guillermo del Torro horror movie, obviously. I'm a huge Pan's Labyrinth fan, so I had expressed interest in seeing Don't be Afraid of the Dark to my boyfriend a few weeks ago. After looking up showtimes, I decided we should go to the old Davis Theater in Lincoln Square (off of the Western Brown Line stop).

It was perfect! The weather was a bit dreary, so a horror movie + an old theater + stormy weather = a great movie watching experience. The ticket prices were also awesome compared to most city theaters.

The movie itself was pretty good! There were a lot of unanswered questions at the end and I'm not the biggest Katie Holmes fan, but I can forgive that. The story is very similar to Pan's (child, big house, something funky going down) and it's very suspenseful. I'm not exactly a movie critic, but if you like del Torro or magic/fantasy/horror movies in general you should check it out!

The only downside was my boyfriend turning to me in the middle of the night and whispering, "Good thing there are no vents in your room for faerie folk to use" in my ear. It was a bit difficult to fall back asleep after that...so...maybe don't see this movie alone...

Food On the Go!

I recently sold out to another food trend: food trucks...and I'm sooooo glad I did!

A friend of mine works for a media group, so she gets wind of some pretty cool events! Last weekend we went to a "Food Truck Social" in West Town. It was a gathering of food trucks in two parking lots complete with music and drink tents. Kind of like the Taste...but less crowded...and with cheaper, tastier food! Most of the entrees were $5, much cheaper overall than Taste tickets.

We stopped by a few trucks throughout the afternoon. The first was Hummingbird Kitchen for some garlic, basil, chili pepper fries. DELICIOUS. Then we stopped by Gaztro-Wagon, which was hosting Big Star for a few hours. To cool off/charge up, we stopped by the Isla de Cafe truck, where I ordered their "Rice'n'Beans" drink (rice milk, cinnamon, and espresso). Our final stop was Flirty Girl cupcakes.

It was a great way to spend an afternoon and I guess I have to stop hatin' on food trucks now...

Nostalg-uh...why do I have this?

But seriously guys...where the hell did this come from?

I've spent the last two days at home cleaning out my room, and boy am I enjoying this little trip down memory lane. I vaguely remember getting rid of a few things before I left for college, but apparently I didn't do a very good job because I've donated or thrown out five or six garbage bags of stuff since I got here. While there are many things that I want to keep, I've realized that I was a huge packrat, and getting rid of things is a skill I really need to work on.

On the plus side, this cleaning spree brought back many fun childhood memories, and I enjoyed laughing at some of the things I thought were important when I was younger. I know that the passage of time helps people realize that they don't need to hold on to certain things, but I'm really scratching my head over why I needed to keep troll dolls, Polly Pockets, incredibly confusing/overly embellished dance costumes, fake Kate Spade bags, a stuffed Ewok that I can't remember acquiring, and about twenty pounds of Beanie Babies. Remember how we thought those were going to be valuable collector's items someday? Yeah, that didn't happen.

And then there are the diaries. There's nothing quite like reading an old diary--it's two parts Oh God, I Don't Even Want To Throw This Away Because It's So Embarrassing to one part This Is Hilarious, I Was Such A Weird Kid. I'm impressed by how much detail I managed to record (wondering who you had a crush on for three days in 7th grade? I can definitely tell you), so I guess it was good practice for writing fiction and may even come in handy someday should I feel the need to join the recent horde of people writing memoirs. But for now I think I will put all the old diaries somewhere they won't be found...

I did find some cool things I'd forgotten about, like a hand-carved jewelry box from Morocco and a silver dollar from 1922 that my grandfather gave me! And probably best of all, I found space in my closet for things that I actually wear and use. Though I did keep that stuffed Ewok--it was too funny to throw out.

Old Town Social Brunch

455 W. North Ave. Photo from Time Out Chicago.

After a summer of intense data collection, I'm finally settling into a routine. I'm working diligently with a collaborator to transcribe and annotate what we collected. While it's not as involved as actually running the study, it's a necessary step! However, a more settled routine has given me more time to catch up with friends.

I recently went to Old Town Social with a good friend for their Dixieland Sunday Brunch. SO DELICIOUS. During the week, Old Town Social is a southern/western inspired bar with a great menu. On Sundays, the menu gets a New Orleans kick. I ordered a french press (I splurged for that!) and the pork belly eggs benedict. My friend ordered a tea pot and the turkey pastrami hash. We also split an order of beignets. Everything was amazing, but the beignets were the stars. Fluffy delicious pillows! I'm going back just to have them again!

Not only was the food great, but the outdoor seating area was beautiful! There were plants and flowers everywhere. The weather was also pleasant, so that probably had something to do with the overall experience. If you're in the Chicago area, I highly suggest you stop here on a Sunday for a delicious brunch!