Lace Edge Journal

NY in my apartment

2010-10-26T00:26:00.000-04:00

It has been so, so long (like more than a month) since I did my last post. I have been busy with moving to a new place, doing new work etc. But more than that, I think I couldn't really appreciate or accept the fact that I am not living in NY. I hope things will get better here, but I so much miss NY. Funny (funny since I am Korean), but I have a huge home sick towards NY now.

Sun gave me these tiny wooden blocks of NY for my farewell gifts. They are sitting on the shelf in my new apartment here in Seoul. I wish I was in that cab :)

Beautiful Valleys in Korea

2010-09-20T00:24:00.000-04:00

Korea is often referred as a country filled with mountains, rivers and valleys.
One of the most famous and beautiful mountains is "Ji Ri Mountain". My parents often go there where we have some relatives live in. Until recently, I didn't realize how beautiful Korea is, especially the country sides. Now, I appreciate the beauty of nature in Korea more than ever. (I think it's part of "aging" process"...you appreciate nature where you originally come from, as you get older).

[Valley in Ji Ri Mountain]

Bibimbop

2010-09-20T00:01:00.000-04:00

Bibimbop is Korean dish that is beloved by Koreans and equally by foreigners. I had a chance to go to the city called "Jin Joo" where Bibimbop is famous and specialized local food.

The restaurant I and my parents went is "Chon Hwang Restaurant", who serves only 3 kinds of menus, Bibimbop, Bulgoki, and Yookhui(marinated raw beef). The restaurant first opened in 1927 when Korea was invaded by Japan, so the place is built in Korean style but there is a hint of Japanese colonial architecture.

[Chon Hwang Restaurant]

[Jinjoo Bibimbop]

Just Perfect Rice

2010-09-10T01:09:00.000-04:00

Korean rice, I personally think, has the best texture and taste. :)
It contains just right amount of moisture, so it's not too flying like kinds of rice from Southeast Asia, nor too sticky, but perfectly chewy. And it has very very subtle sweetness in it -which is almost unrecognizable- and this makes Korean rice so delicious. Rice is a essential food in Korean cuisine. None of menu will be completed without a bowl of rice. Sometimes a well-cooked rice bowl and kimchi only can be more than enough as one meal.

Right now, Korea is looking forward to harvest season. Countrysides are filled with greener than ever rice plants. The fields will be beautiful brown soon, and we will have a great harvesting season this year.

Green Rice Field

Basically

2010-09-04T01:23:00.001-04:00

I have very sensitive skin, especially sensitive to many of (not all of) chemical ingredients in skin care or body care products. So, I prefer to use organic or natural products when it comes to anything that will stay on my skin. When a products claims it's made of natural ingredients, it doesn't mean it contains zero percent chemical ingredient. On the contrary, it will contain many of chemicals in it. And many times, my skin will immediately respond to those chemicals in so-called "Natural Skin Care Products". So, it's almost a mission to find natural skin care products that will not make my skin breaking out.

I had several tried and proved products I used in US and also brought some. But I have to start to find new Korean products which will give peace on my skin. As a first trial one, I chose soaps from a store called "Basically". The store is on "Garosoo Gil (Tree Lined Road if I directly translate the name to English)" which is considered as one of the most trendy and fashionable streets in Korea filled with numerous little boutiques and cafés.

The owner developed a soap line while she herself was suffering for skin trouble and looking for the soaps that would not irritate her skin. The soaps are made with 100% natural oils and ingredients with absolutely no chemical. I wanted to buy the one with whitening effect to correct my skin that suffered so much this summer from the sun, but that particular one was completely sold out (Koreans are very into whitening). As a alternative, I picked up the one for deep pore cleansing. I haven't tried it yet, but I really hope this works.

I loved the package as well. The soap line is consists of 10 soaps, and each are graded from 1 to 10 depending on the skin type. For instance, for the very very dry skin, you can pick up a soap labeled number 1.

Basically also has made-in-house candles. I personally liked these bunny ones. The bulb ones are the store's most popular line.

The ice cream corn shape candles look so delicious.

KTX

2010-09-04T00:41:00.001-04:00

I am still staying with my parents in Busan. But I have to go to Seoul pretty often to look for a place (I just got one! But still need lots of paper work) or to see my partners. From Busan to Seoul is about 328km, almost the same distance between Washington D.C. and New York City. It takes 45 minutes by flight. But these days KTX is more popular than the airplanes because the fare in about 50% cheaper and the train station is in the city with better accessibility. And I also no longer take airplane but take KTX now.

KTX (Korean Train eXpress) is high speed rail system in Korea, similar as TGV in France or Shinkansen in Japan. The top speed can be 305-350Km/H. Including about 2-3 stops in between Busan-which is almost far southern part of Korea- and Busan, it takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes. And in a very near future, the travel time will be reduced to 90 minutes with new faster trains. If I think about the time to travel to airport and to wait in airport, the total travel time between airplane and KTX are about the same. But since the KTX fare is only about $30 (with 15%-30% discount membership program called "Business Card" that is $75) one way compared to $80 for flight, these days I totally prefer to travel by KTX.

Another great thing to travel by KTX is, I can enjoy beautiful sceneries of Korea which I became to appreciate very much.

Inside of KTX train compartment

Another fun thing not to miss on KTX is a snack cart.

Scenery seen from the train window.

Wed. 08/25/2010 - Be An Alien

2010-08-24T22:35:00.000-04:00

Since I arrived here in Korea, and my parents place in Busan, I went through the worst flu I've ever had. I am normally very strong with flu or cold but this time I couldn't function at all and had to stay in bed for a couple of days. I think it was not just flu, but it was mixed with this fear I have, the fear for a completely new life.

Yes, Korea is my country. I was born here, grew up here and lived here for about 27 years until I left for Paris, then New York. I still have Korean citizenship and even have driving license since 92. But I can't get rid of this fear, the fear that I have to learn every single thing to live a real life here. I still don't feel this is a home. I rather feel this is a foreign country that I happen to live and I have to learn all about it.

I've been in NY for 12 years, and before NY I was in Paris about an year. So, I left Korea 13 years ago. My knowledge or the way of living a real life here froze 13 years ago. And even when I was here, the life I had was a semi-real, meaning I was mostly a kid or a student who didn't need to know everything about a real life. Plus, Korea is such a fast forwarding country, so if you were not here more than 2-3 years, everything's changed already.

In the meantime, my life in NY was much more a real one. I was there all by myself and had to get all the necessaries by myself. I had my first job in NY and the last employed job there as well. I know how to ride a subway there, how to and where to get a new cell phone and where to go to get a place to live. Plus, America is more slowly changing than Korea. -It just means it's already developed as much, so the changes are much slower than the countries like Korea.-

Here in Korea, I totally feel like an alien who's just arrived here. Thankfully I can speak Korean -even though I already forgot so many "intelligent words"-. I don't even know how to ride subway -believe or not, I haven't done it for 13 years-. As soon as I got here, I tried to get a cell phone, but it was one overwhelming experience. There are so many plans and so many phones and plans with words and phrases I don't quite understand.

I am feeling a little bit of a identity crisis now. I am obviously not American, but I look absolutely Korean, I am legally Korean as well. But I am having difficulty to write in Korean, and even understanding Korean -seriously I couldn't understand more than 50% of of cell phone plans-. And I feel I am on vacation now, feeling NY is still my home. And I think for quite some time I will deny the fact that I left NY for good, remembering everyone saying "You can always come back!"

I was thinking the way not to fear a new life in Korea but to enjoy it. Be a foreigner. It may sound ridiculous when you know that I am Korean by the fact. But for now, this will be much easier and fun for me to get it through.

Discover and enjoy Korea like I am an alien.

Well, I guess I'd better be in authentic Korean café rather than Starbucks. But this was the only place I knew that I could use free Wi-Fi.

Sun. 08/22/2010-First Day in Korea

2010-08-21T20:10:00.000-04:00

I am finally in Korea. I arrived here at 3:30 in the morning.

[Incheon International Airport]

Throughout the whole trip, I was struggling with my excessive luggages.

Fri. 08/20/2010 - Last Day in NY

2010-08-21T19:54:00.000-04:00

After breakfast, I was around High Line for the last time and went to Williamsburg for the last time with Sun. Even though it was last day, I was just walking around like I will be staying in NY and it was really hard to take the fact as a reality.

[High Line Park]

Just some extra pictures I took around 18th street & 10th avenue...

Fri. 08/20/2010 - Last Breakfast in NY: Pastis

2010-08-21T16:24:00.000-04:00

Prologue: I am already in Korea waiting at Incheon Airport for connecting flight to my hometown, Busan. And I am writing this post about what I did in NY on my last day there.

Friday day was my last day in NY. I wanted to have my last lunch in NY at Pastis somehow, so I headed down there in the morning. For breakfast and lunch, Pastis is sort of tourist spot these days, and you won't see many locals there, but most of them you will see are tourist like me. As a outstanding tourist character, taking picture for anything and anywhere is quite a norm there. So I was also not intimidated at all and took picture of even restroom there.

The tiled floor and wall are my favorite aspects of Pastis.

My Egg Benedict breakfast and fresh berries.

From outside...

And its restroom

D-Day

2010-08-20T20:27:00.000-04:00

I am finally going back to Korea leaving all the sweet and sometimes sour memories in NY behind. It was pretty busy and sad day today. I was still in NY going around places and saw Sun. She cried and it made me really sad. I am trying my best not to sentimental and cry. It just feels like I am going on vacation as usual. I will have to come back time to time, but I will not be a local anymore at that time. I will be just a visitor.

Now I am waiting for a cab to take me to JFK.

I still can't believe I am leaving. I guess it will become a reality once I arrive in Korea and start the real life there.

I will miss everything and everybody here...

Thurs. 08/19/2010 - At August with Sun

2010-08-20T20:13:00.000-04:00

Sun and I had our last dinner at August in West Village...

Thurs. 08/19/2010 - Prospect Park

2010-08-20T20:01:00.000-04:00

I never knew that the Prospect Park was this beautiful...

More pictures from tree filled Prospect Park

Me playing with my shadow

Thurs. 08/19/2010 - Smith & Chang General Goods in JC

2010-08-20T01:49:00.001-04:00

Gabi told me there is a store a couple of blocks away from her place, a store I would love it. And yes I loved it. It was merchandised in very much tasteful way. Great mix of vintage and new. And most of all, I was proud that one of the partners (Chang) is a Korean.

[Smith & Chang]
I really liked every corner of the store and every objects he brought here. Katrina once told me there is a store in Texas, that it's so well done, and you can spend hours in each corner. Smith & Chang was more like it, I could stay in each corner for long time and check out every single piece one by one. Everything was special or looked special -even the ones I am already familiar and can find elsewhere-. I wish I can pulled up my future store like this level.

The store is right next to Hamilton Park.

Extra: The old railroad next to Gabi's

Wed. 08/18/2010 - The Best Latté in JC

2010-08-20T01:14:00.000-04:00

It's really my personal opinion...but I think latté at Beechwood café in Jersey City is the best!

Latté and Breakfast Burrito at Beechwood

I was again playing with "Cellar Door" eye mask here.

Beechwood Café

P.S.
I was at Bigelow to do some last minute shopping...and found this. The Bigelow Cat. Sleeping between the window and the display board. I even knocked the window to see whether it's real, and it was real.

Tues. 08/17/2010 - At Marco & Pepe

2010-08-17T21:26:00.000-04:00

After I left HiJong's, I came to Jersey City to stay at Gabi's place. Gabi was still at work -it's 9pm now and she's still at work- and I had lunch at my favorite place Marco & Pepe. Every single dish is excellent there, but since it was lunch, I had light salad which was the absolutely perfect. I am so expecting to have Macaroni and Cheese or Fillet Mignon very soon with Gabi.

[Marco & Pepe]

Grilled Salmon Salad and Toasts with Nutella

And I was also working...These are o some eye masks my partner developed and what I will work on in the future in Korea. BTW, our company is called "Cellar Door", and when you open it, you will find precious treasures in there like these eye masks.

Tues. 08/17/2010 - At HiJong's

2010-08-17T21:05:00.000-04:00

So, my old friend whom I met in Paris and also who was the first friend in NY, HiJong kindly put me up at her place for several days until today. She lives in a cute Tudor style house in West Orange, NJ surrounded by gigantic trees. While I was staying there, I totally experience American family life, and a happy one. I was so happy to her happy with a good husband and two adorable boys.

HiJong's House. The neighborhood has many Tudor style houses, but I thought hers is the prettiest.

It still has these great details, like original crystal door knobs from early 20th century when the house was first built.

Mon. 08/16/2010 - Central Park

2010-08-16T23:35:00.000-04:00

I had some last projects that I had to finish for my new job before I leave. The project was that I had to take picture of the products that my partners developed in Central Park. Whenever I am in Central Park, it seems like I am always lost there, and never bale to be in the same place. I always went to hunt the locations for the shoot, but I couldn't really be able to find the same spots...but at the same time, it's in a way good that I can always find something new there. And even though today was pretty hot, it seems like we are already going into fall...

[Central Park Going Into Fall]

[Shakespeare Garden]
So, this was the first time I was in this garden...which I didn't even know exists...

Peeking through the park...

Me working hard...

People enjoying last bit of summer...

The spot I had to find today, but couldn't...

Lake looking quite different on a sunny day...

On the sunny day...the buildings almost looks fake somehow.

Sun. 08/15/2010-Lake Hopatcong

2010-08-16T22:55:00.000-04:00

Now, I moved out from my apartment, and am staying at HiJong's place in West Orange. Her family has a lake house in Hopatcong and we spent the weekend there. It rained from later morning on Sunday, but it was still nice to get away from the city, TV and Internet and completely enjoy the weekend doing fishing, swimming, boating, cooking and Monopoly! (I totally bankrupted!)

[Lake Hopatcong]

Thurs. 08/12/2010 - Brook Farm General Store & More

2010-08-12T23:52:00.001-04:00

There was 3 major reasons I had to go to Williamsburg again today. One was Fette Sau, and the others was this used book store called "Book Thug Nation" and "Brook Farm General Store"

[Brook Farm General Store]
I loved the store when I went there last time, so I really wanted to revisit there before I leave. It's really my favorite store among all stores in Williamsburg. It has this magical atmosphere that makes me wanting everything from the store. And the owner (I couldn't catch her name...) is so sweet.

Today, I asked her which is her favorite corner, and it was the same as me. Here. She even arranged the shelf for me to have better picture.

Today, I tried to take as many pictures of the store as possible.

And she's there...

Today, I got this book. It's full of practical information about living in a natural, ecological way with beautiful photography.

Plus, I want to add the photos I took last time.

[Book Thug Nation]

I always just passed by and never visited here. But today I really wanted to go in and check out, and I regretted that I didn't go in before. I should have been here more before I already shipped all my books. It was almost like I was in someone's real library.

I got these two books by Sartre and a book by May Sarton.

[Darr]

This was very curious store. I don't know why I haven't seen this store before. Anyway, they didn't allow photography, so I couldn't take any picture. The store is filled with antiques and some new things and it's hard to describe this mysteriousness without pictures.

I got this cook book which was originally published in 19th century and reproduced. It's filled with hundreds of recipes of traditional American food and cool illustrations of kitchen tools. The store sells it with brown paper wrapped in, which was quite interesting as well and which sort of tells about the store. I already shipped all my books and if I buy anymore books, I have to carry in flight...but today it seemed like I couldn't resist buying more books.

[More and More Williamsburg]

Whenever I go there, I find new interesting things there. Or it's just me loving everything in Williamsburg, whatever the object is. Again, I took many photos there today.

I am not sure what these are called exactly. Are these also standpipe? Anyway, I am almost collecting pictures of these things.

Williamsburg Bridge looks great from every perspective to me. And each time I am there, I can't help but taking more pictures of the bridge.

Yes. Oh, Dear, I am leaving Brooklyn and the States as well...

I also watched a fashion photo shoot in a bagel shop while I was waiting for Fette Sau opening.

Another place that I can't help...is "Junk".

McCarren Park

I was keep going north and north to shed some fat from Fette Sau. And without knowing it, I was in Green Point. I almost got lost in this little Polish community.

With the help of iPhone's navigation -which helped me a lot these days-, I finally found my way to L train on Bedford Avenue.

Thurs. 08/12/2010 - Tartine to Fette Sau

2010-08-12T21:53:00.000-04:00

The two restaurant I've been wanting to tried for long time...so today, it was almost a mission to try them.

It was my motto today!

[Tartine]
Tartine is tiny French eatery in West Village. The staff is very polite and well mannered and the food is quite decent. It's also great place to eat alone like me.

I was torn between Croque Monsieur and Chicken. At the end I had Marinated Chicken and Onion Soup.

[Fette Sau]
How many times I was in Williamsburg, but I always left there before Fette Sau opens for dinner. So, today I really tried to stay there until 5pm and finally was able to eat at Fette Sau. Did I like the food at the end? I have to say "No Comment". Maybe I was not so hungry, but even as a big meat eater myself, I honestly couldn't find the great reason for this craze about it. And it's quite intimidating to eat alone...

Wed. 08/11/2010 - Made In USA Obsession #2

2010-08-11T21:43:00.000-04:00

This summer, I got obsessed with canvas bags. It all started after I bought a heavier and bigger camera and later a new 13" MacBook. I couldn't carry heavy leather bags with all these new gadgets I was equipped and started to look for lighter bag. I had one that I got from Brooklyn Flea, the one I originally got to carry the things I bought from the flea -vendors only give you used, rugged plastic bags-, but I found it was so light and perfect to carry with heavy things in it. Then I became to so much love canvas bags' practicality and sort of have been accumulating them one by one. I also love them for their non-chalant character that gives any look effortless chic -which I am all about this summer-. Plus, they will never "in trend" but will never be "out of trend" as well.

[L.L.Bean Boat and Tote Bag]
I guess I can't talk about canvas bag without talking about L.L.Bean canvas tote. I think it's one of the most loved totes for various purpose. This summer I got the biggest size to carry in flight.

L.L.Bean tote has been around more than 60 years. Its famous heavy-duty canvas and double-layer base and handle make it very durable and great for various usages.

[Klein Tool Bag]
As we all know, Klein is a company who manufactures tools. But they also produce one of coolest tool bags as well. Their tool bags are equally loved by the ones who actually use them for real TOOLS and by any fashion conscious who wants unique and chic bags other than everybody else carries. The most well-known and popular ones must be the one with leather bottom with magnetic closure, but I got the tote version which I feel like I am not trying too much to look cool carrying a real tool bag. (or not...I may still look trying too much)

I really like this hardware feel of nail-headed base.

I also have this cute pouch. It comes in all vibrant colors, and perfect for a airplane ticket and passport.

[John & Mary Bags]
So, instead of getting Klein's real tool bag, I got a re-interpreated version from John & Mary. The brand just launched, but they became so instantly popular and I had to wait almost a month to get my bag. Theirs bags are designed by this couple John & Mary and all hand-made by local family owned factory. The bags will go into production once the order is placed, and that's why it takes quite a time to get them, especially right now, they are so highly demanded and waiting will be at least 3 weeks!

The strap, I can say, this was almost the main reason I bought this bag. And it also comes in 4 different sizes. I feel a little guilty about this, but I got smaller version as well and also want travel size version.
-There is a travel set as well, with 4 of them together.-

[Re-Usable Grocery Tote]
This is the one I got from the Brooklyn Flea and the one that started my canvas bag obsession. I had only a couple of canvas bag before, one L.L.Bean and one with leather. I found canvas bag with leather is sort of unpractical -even though it is meant to be- and was not a big fan of them, since when it gets dirty, it can't be washed because of leather part. (And that's why I got black or dark color canvas when it's with leather this time, so I don't need to wash them). But this one little bag completely change my thought this summer! I carried it the most this summer and already washed several times, so the silkscreen got faded quite a bit. Still I love this one...it gets softer by every wash and the lightest bag ever.

[Orvis Batternkill Luggage]
I saw this at a thrifty store -but it was never used- one day and couldn't resist. I didn't know about Orvis and later found out it's quite famous for sporting goods. Even though it's made of heavyweight 18oz canvas and leather, it's still amazingly light. I think many of my friend saw me carrying this all the time.

What I like the most about this bag is, the button closure that makes no need to unbuckle to open the bag. And I also love the brass buckles, heavy but soft canvas and tanned leather. It also has several compartment inside for cellphones and pens. Basically I like everything about this bag.

Wed. 08/11/2010 - 12 Hours of Moving

2010-08-11T20:19:00.001-04:00

Finally I shipped everything to Korea. It was one long day today. It took 6 hours for movers to pack - meticulously pack, so everything can endure 2 months on the ship- and another 6 hours for me to clean up the after mess and prepared for moving out inspection. I washed my hands numerous times but I still smell like dirt and cleaning products.

I have to sleep on the floor with just a thin bed sheet and a pillow for two days...At least my internet connection is still working and I have Free WiFi at my downstairs Starbucks. I am writing a post here about my canvas bags here at Starbucks with a cup of decaf.

How great it is...I can take pictures with phone and send to myself instantly and post it simultaneously. Sometimes fast forwarding technology annoys me, but at this moment, I like it!

Tues. 08/11/2010 - Breslin at Ace Hotel

2010-08-11T00:48:00.001-04:00

I've been packing madly, but I had some errands that I must take care of in the city. I decided to take advantage of the fact by dropping by Breslin at Ace Hotel for lunch, which I've been wanting to do for long time. The Breslin is a sister restaurant of The Spotted Pig in West Village that owned by April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman.

I liked its dark dark lighting and bright open kitchen in bit of English style with lots of little pigs and cows figurines everywhere.

[The Breslin Bar & Dining]
It's very dark...so hard to recognize anything in the picture. Whenever I go somewhere, I am like, I will take so many picture. But once I am there, a lot of time, I get intimidated and take only a couple....

I had "Terrine Boards"with guinea hen, rustic port and rabbit. And added french fries which had a little too much salt.

[Ace Hotel]
So, this was second time being there, and numerous time to pass by this wall and sign...

Ace Hotel gives me a message that I really need at this moment.

Sun. 08/08/2010-One Sunday at Guillaume's Neighborhood

2010-08-08T20:33:00.000-04:00

These days, I've been meeting my friends one by one, day by day before I leave. Today I had brunch with Guillaume. He lives on Jane street and we had great time talking and walking around his neighborhood and Meatpacking.

I got off C train from 14th Street. And passed a couple of liquor store. I am not exactly sure why, but I always like liquor store signs. Maybe it's the word LIQUOR can be graphically spelled out cool or something, but they always look good to me. Now I have to leave very soon, and regret that I didn't take more pictures of these signs...

Guillaume's neighborhood, especially Jane street, I think, is one of the prettiest little street in the city.

We checked out Pastis first to get brunch, but it was too packed.

Also went through Chelsea Market. I never noticed that it has this cool ceiling.

Got out from the Chelsea Market and walking through Meatpacking area. Another thing I am always drawn to is this industrial metal beams.

We passed by this tiny store that sells glass trays and plates with natural motif prints.

We had nice brunch at little café called Café Henri. Guillaume had Le Croque Monsieur and I had La Croque Madame.

I dropped by Guillaume's place. His roommate had this cute collections of pottery in the dining room. And he has the most amazing panoramic downtown view.

After I said good bye to Guillaume, I headed to Strand to buy some books for my friend in Korea, and had quick bite at Whole Food. On 2nd floor of Whole Food, it has a great view to the Union Square, and it's quite nice to have a seat on the window side there and enjoy the view and fresh food.