Cordelia's Blogs

Summer in SoMa: North Beach, 03.11.12

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 03:00:05 +0000

North Beach, 03.11.12

Summer in SoMa: Financial District, 03.10.12

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 05:00:06 +0000

Financial District, 03.10.12

Summer in SoMa: Fisherman’s Wharf, 02.11.12

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:00:06 +0000

Fisherman’s Wharf, 02.11.12

Summer in SoMa: North Beach, 03.10.12

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:30:44 +0000

North Beach, 03.10.12

Summer in SoMa: Argonaut Hotel, 02.11.12

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 03:30:34 +0000

Argonaut Hotel, 02.11.12

Summer in SoMa: Sacramento Street, 02.28.12

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:26:39 +0000

Sacramento Street, 02.28.12

Summer in SoMa: Sticker photobooth, Musée Mécanique, 02.25.12

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:24:00 +0000

Sticker photobooth, Musée Mécanique, 02.25.12

Summer in SoMa: Pacific Ocean across from San Francisco Zoo, 01.21.12

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:42:41 +0000

Pacific Ocean across from San Francisco Zoo, 01.21.12

Summer in SoMa: Golden Gate Park, 01.07.12

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Golden Gate Park, 01.07.12

Summer in SoMa: 8th & Brannan, 12.04.11

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:50:00 +0000

8th & Brannan, 12.04.11

Summer in SoMa: The Panhandle, 01.07.12

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:47:00 +0000

The Panhandle, 01.07.12

Remember This Place: Village of Alfred, NY, 12.25.11

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:45:00 +0000

Village of Alfred, NY, 12.25.11

Remember This Place: Guggenheim Museum, 12.07.11

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:39:00 +0000

Guggenheim Museum, 12.07.11

Remember This Place: “Can you paint this so I can do a better tag?...

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:03:00 +0000

“Can you paint this so I can do a better tag? Thanks”
Hyde Park, Chicago, 11.25.11

Remember This Place: What Do You See?

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:07:27 +0000

What Do You See?:

My dear friend Chris and I have started yet another photoblog, “What Do You See?” Those of you who follow our separate photoblogs might be interested to see some of the “behind the scenes” moments from our shoots together.

Summer in SoMa: What Do You See?

Sat, 26 Nov 2011 23:04:00 +0000

What Do You See?:

Summer in SoMa: Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Wed, 23 Nov 2011 07:31:54 +0000

Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Summer in SoMa: Ferry to Alcatraz, 10.30.11

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:08:00 +0000

Ferry to Alcatraz, 10.30.11

Summer in SoMa: Broadway, 11.05.11

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 09:01:00 +0000

Broadway, 11.05.11

Summer in SoMa: Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:59:03 +0000

Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Summer in SoMa: Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:57:48 +0000

Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Remember This Place: Attica, KS, 07.26.11 (I’ve been really into textures...

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:50:30 +0000

Attica, KS, 07.26.11

(I’ve been really into textures lately.)

Remember This Place: Attica, KS, 07.26.11

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:46:00 +0000

Attica, KS, 07.26.11

Summer in SoMa: Horton Street, Emeryville, 08.06.11

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:35:00 +0000

Horton Street, Emeryville, 08.06.11

Summer in SoMa: Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:33:00 +0000

Alcatraz Island, 10.30.11

Summer in SoMa: The Marina, 10.28.11

Thu, 03 Nov 2011 06:33:00 +0000

The Marina, 10.28.11

Remember This Place: Attica, KS, 07.25.11

Sun, 11 Sep 2011 22:48:06 +0000

Attica, KS, 07.25.11

Remember This Place: Wichita Intercontinental Airport Wichita, KS, 07.24.11

Fri, 29 Jul 2011 04:44:00 +0000

Wichita Intercontinental Airport
Wichita, KS, 07.24.11

one two six oh four: goodb[eye] to b[eye]ographies

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 05:00:00 +0000

goodb[eye] to b[eye]ographies:

Today I posted the last images to b[eye]ographies, the Vassar photo project I started a few months ago. Check out the photos here and then read my “thanks” page for some of my reflections on the project.

Remember This Place: summerinsoma: Jones Street, 06.04.11 Summer in SoMa, a...

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 06:19:35 +0000

summerinsoma:

Jones Street, 06.04.11

Summer in SoMa, a photoblog of San Francisco, is back again for the summer & the foreseeable future.

Hello followers of Remember This Place! I have just moved to San Francisco and revived the San Francisco photoblog I started last year, Summer in SoMa. I will be taking a break from Remember This Place, as most of my urban photos will find their way into Summer in SoMa. Please follow me there if you aren’t following already!

Remember This Place: Lower East Side Manhattan, 04.16.11

Sun, 29 May 2011 21:58:07 +0000

Lower East Side
Manhattan, 04.16.11

Remember This Place: Mars Bar, 25 East 1st Street Manhattan, 04.16.11

Sun, 29 May 2011 21:57:08 +0000

Mars Bar, 25 East 1st Street
Manhattan, 04.16.11

Remember This Place: Turkey Time! Manhattan, 04.16.11

Sun, 29 May 2011 21:55:00 +0000

Turkey Time!
Manhattan, 04.16.11

Remember This Place: Manhattan, 04.16.11

Sun, 29 May 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Manhattan, 04.16.11

one two six oh four: Commencement Countdown: -9.5 hours! I’m officially an...

Mon, 23 May 2011 02:01:00 +0000

Commencement Countdown: -9.5 hours! I’m officially an alumna of Vassar College.

I will be posting a few illustrated farewells later in the week. Until then, know that it has been a pleasure sharing my Vassar adventures with my fantastic followers, fans, and friends, and I will truly miss the community that has supported me in my creative endeavors these past few years. Thank you all.

(Yes, that is an actual photograph of me. A 126O4 first!)

one two six oh four: Photo

Fri, 20 May 2011 22:48:15 +0000

one two six oh four: True Story #1: My pen is running out of ink! My apologies for...

Fri, 20 May 2011 22:44:00 +0000

True Story #1: My pen is running out of ink! My apologies for the faded appearance of the text in the middle.

True Story #2: In high school, I thought it was a great idea to repair my jeans with duct tape. It was not actually that great of an idea.

one two six oh four: This has a context.

Wed, 18 May 2011 18:54:00 +0000

This has a context.

one two six oh four: Hi, your blog is really neat, im glad i found it. I wanted to ask why your shirt occasionally has the initials VC on it? It makes me feel funny because its also my initials ^_^' Also what do you study?

Tue, 17 May 2011 15:06:00 +0000

Thanks! I’ve been looking around your blog, as well, and love what I see! I am majoring in computer science at Vassar College, hence the initials “VC.”

one two six oh four: Once upon a time, I had 368 days until graduation.

Tue, 17 May 2011 06:52:00 +0000

Once upon a time, I had 368 days until graduation.

one two six oh four: A very quick drawing, but something I’ve been meaning to...

Tue, 17 May 2011 06:40:00 +0000

A very quick drawing, but something I’ve been meaning to say on this blog for a long time.

one two six oh four: Likes & Dislikes

Sat, 14 May 2011 02:04:00 +0000

This is a response to a recent question from a prospective student, who asked:

I found your blog because I’m seriously considering going to Vassar for college. I haven’t visited or anything, but something just clicked when I first went on the website and stuff. It was magical. I don’t know why.
Can you tell me what you like and don’t like about Vassar? Especially from your point of view as a soon-to-be graduate. It’s just difficult getting objective truths from people who will be getting thousands of dollars from you.

Thanks for your comments on the blog! I know what you mean - the Vassar of the brochures and website is actually quite different, in my experience, from the Vassar of daily life. I cannot offer you any objective truths, nor even a consistent subjective view, as my opinion of Vassar changes every semester, every week, every hour. However, I’ll try to give you some of the larger impressions Vassar has left on me that I wouldn’t have gotten from any of the promotional admissions materials. (Update: Check out the comments on this post for another alumna’s opinion.)

LIKES:

Faculty/Student Relations

Vassar’s admissions materials boast about how awesome our small class sizes are, and it’s true! After spending a semester at a larger university, I became incredibly thankful for professors who actually know my name. Last week, I went to my major department’s annual spring picnic where two professors, whose classes I’ve taken in previous semesters, said something like, “I haven’t seen you around the department in a while! Why haven’t you been visiting us?” I was surprised that they actually noticed my relative absence this semester (I practically lived there in the fall). What’s great about Vassar (and a lot of schools of a similar size) is that professors not only know your name, but also know your mind and know you well enough to miss you. I think that’s pretty rad. It also makes you work harder - when professors are invested in your progress, you want to work hard and show them you’re not an idiot.

Campus

I wish I could give you less standard “Likes,” but honestly, in my last two weeks at Vassar, I am already feeling nostalgic for the campus. The unbelievably green grass and the spring bulbs sprouting up around me as I walk are almost enough for me to forget how gross campus gets during the winter (oh, it gets gross — invest in some good waterproof snow boots if you end up coming here). I am not really a person who is prone to frolicking or wearing crowns made of flowers, but those are the only things I want to do when I step outside my door these days. It is kind of ridiculous. I used to think Vassar’s campus was small and stifling, but this semester I’ve realized it was small only because I made it small. I tend to restrict my experience of it to just the few buildings I find it necessary to visit during my weekly routines. There are a lot of buildings I’ve never properly explored, and an embarrassingly high number of buildings I’ve never even entered! It makes me wonder what I’ve been missing.

Folks

We have a whistling a cappella group. A club that organizes semiannual hugathons. A guy who plays his accordion on the quad. People who jump through flaming hoops. There are individuals and organizations here that make life awesome for everyone else. Having encountered many others at Vassar and in the world beyond who do most things only for themselves, I am delighted whenever one of these infinitely uplifting groups makes a random, positive appearance in an otherwise dull or depressing day. Vassar has a lot of creative people, and it is always exciting to see how they go about sharing that creativity with the rest of the community.

Chili Day at the Retreat

The chili’s pretty good, even if the president sometimes decides it’s not what she wants. Also, spicy buffalo chicken wraps are delicious, assuming you’re not vegetarian/vegan.

Groundhogs

There are so many groundhogs around campus, and every time one stays still instead of running away as I walk past, I smile. I know that’s completely random, but you don’t find groundhogs at a lot of other schools, and they really contribute to the general atmosphere in ways you wouldn’t expect. (I am somewhat inclined to pay attention to campus wildlife because my elementary/middle school had peacocks!)

DISLIKES:

That “I don’t care” vibe

If you’ve read a fair amount of my blog, you’ve probably seen me complain a lot about hipsters. There is nothing inherently wrong with hipster (I often pass for a hipster and am okay with that). However, I’ve noticed that Vassar has a lot of the “negative hipster” personality - people who are snobby, self-righteous/self-centered, and/or seemingly incapable of genuine or positive communication with others. I’m not sure why Vassar attracts so many people of this type, but there seem to be a lot of people here who don’t seem to care about anyone else. That being said, there are a LOT of people who do care about others (see “Folks” above), but oftentimes it seems that the most vocal people are also the most obnoxious. I’m sure this is a problem at a lot of small liberal arts colleges, though it seems more pronounced here than I would expect it to be at, say, Swarthmore or Middlebury, I think because Vassar does have that hipster community, and certain subsets of that community like to be kind of standoffish. As an incoming freshman, I was surprised by how prominent this attitude was amongst Vassar students. I’ve gotten used to it, but I still find it strange.

Cliques

Growing up, I was always told that high school would be cliquey and college wouldn’t be - however, Vassar is far more cliquey than my high school and even middle school ever were! There are groups who will judge you, and there are groups with whom you will want to be friends, though you’ll never be able to find the right “in.” I have a fair amount of friends who I only ever see individually because I don’t seem to fit into their primary friend groups - this isn’t something I dislike about Vassar, it’s just an odd thing I’ve noticed over my time here.

Party culture

This is INCREDIBLY subjective, but oh well: I am not a party person. I personally don’t drink, don’t particularly care for the company of massive crowds of drunk people, and don’t really enjoy dancing. I respect that a lot of other students do not share my lifestyle, but I am oftentimes bothered by the emphasis the Vassar community places on these forms of entertainment & socializing. The most publicized events are sweaty campus-wide dance parties. As a student who does not choose to go to such events, I always end up feeling “lame” for choosing to spend an evening watching a movie instead - and I’ve actually gotten looks of outright disapproval from acquaintances when I’ve told them I skipped such-and-such event. The problem is not that Vassar has no alternative programming/events, just that those events are completely upstaged by the giant parties. I wish that the general student body was not SO obsessed with this dance party culture, as I think it alienates students who don’t fit into the Vassar mainstream social scene.

Poughkeepsie?

While I love Vassar’s campus, I don’t love how disconnected Vassar is from Poughkeepsie. When people venture off campus, they usually go to one of the restaurants within a four block radius, to the mall, or to the train station to visit New York City. Even though I am a New Yorker and used to walking several miles a day, at Vassar I feel particularly adventurous if I walk one mile to the Rite Aid on Main Street. It just seems so far beyond the average Vassar student’s walk off campus. It frustrates me that Vassar wraps itself up in a bubble. That being said, I know the college is actively trying to engage itself more with the area beyond its gates, so who knows what town-gown relations will be like in the upcoming years! The Vassar shuttle is great - it makes several daily stops around Poughkeepsie. However, having never ventured very far into the city, I don’t know what I would do if I got off the shuttle at any of those stops, save for the one at the train station. (The shuttle seems mostly geared towards students who do fieldwork at various places around the city.)

IN CONCLUSION:

If you have read this far, I congratulate you. This is by no means an exhaustive list of my Vassar likes and dislikes, but I am rather exhausted from typing it all out after a week of finals, and I imagine you’re exhausted from reading it, so I’ll just stop here. Again, this is all my personal opinion, which is constantly in flux. And a lot of what I like and dislike about Vassar can’t be articulated, just felt. But I hope I’ve helped a little bit, and if you have any more questions, I’d be happy to answer them!

one two six oh four: First of all, I LOVE your blog. You have some serious talent.
I found your blog because I'm seriously considering going to Vassar for college. I haven't visited or anything, but something just clicked when I first went on the website and stuff. It was magical. I don't know why.
Can you tell me what you like and don't like about Vassar? Especially from your point of view as a soon-to-be graduate. It's just difficult getting objective truths from people who will be getting thousands of dollars from you.

Sat, 14 May 2011 02:01:00 +0000

Hi! My response to your question ended up being several paragraphs long, so I’ve put it in my next post. Thank you for your comments and your question! Good luck with the college admissions process.

one two six oh four: Commencement Countdown: 9 days

Fri, 13 May 2011 23:24:00 +0000

Commencement Countdown: 9 days

Remember This Place: E. 83rd Street, 05.11.11

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:41:05 +0000

E. 83rd Street, 05.11.11

Remember This Place: York Avenue, 05.11.11

Fri, 13 May 2011 00:39:48 +0000

York Avenue, 05.11.11

Remember This Place: really happy to have an 18-55mm lens again

Fri, 06 May 2011 18:11:00 +0000

really happy to have an 18-55mm lens again

one two six oh four: Impressing your friends during finals week

Mon, 02 May 2011 22:10:00 +0000

Impressing your friends during finals week:

Since tomorrow is my last day of classes ever, it seems like a good time to repost my guide to impressing your friends during finals week. Enjoy!

(01 down, 11 to go!)

one two six oh four: Photo

Mon, 02 May 2011 22:04:25 +0000

one two six oh four: Approaching the end...

Mon, 02 May 2011 01:22:00 +0000

I am amazed at how much things have come full circle. When I filled out my Vassar application a little over four years ago, I decided to use the optional “Your Space” section to show off some of the cartoons I created during my two years as cartoonist for my high school’s newspaper. In a two-page illustrated introduction entitled “How I became my newspaper’s cartoonist,” I wrote:

In middle school, I started drawing cartoons of myself bitterly reflecting on life’s awkward moments. I liked drawing cartoon versions of real-life events, but no one else could relate to them because they were my accounts of what happened in my life. I wanted to find a way to connect with others through my new expressive medium, the cartoon. … [As my high school newspaper’s cartoonist], I learned how to create cartoons that express my own thoughts but at the same time pertain to the school’s community.

one two six oh four: Check out Vassar's homepage today (4/29)!

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 14:21:00 +0000

Check out Vassar's homepage today (4/29)!:

Many thanks to my fairy godparents in the Office of Communications for making my dream from early April a reality.

- - -

Update: For those of you who missed it, here’s a screenshot of Vassar’s homepage on April 29th.

one two six oh four: Photo

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:37:00 +0000

one two six oh four: Photo

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:20:00 +0000

one two six oh four: Photo

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 03:14:00 +0000

Remember This Place: Women’s restroom, Carnegie Mellon University Pittsburgh,...

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:49:06 +0000

Women’s restroom, Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA, 03.14.11

Remember This Place: Cambridge, MA, 03.17.11

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:46:57 +0000

Cambridge, MA, 03.17.11

Remember This Place: Washington, DC, 03.08.11

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 05:35:34 +0000

Washington, DC, 03.08.11

Remember This Place: Calvary Cemetery Poughkeepsie, NY, 04.20.11

Thu, 21 Apr 2011 04:41:28 +0000

Calvary Cemetery
Poughkeepsie, NY, 04.20.11

one two six oh four: How many days until the rain stops?

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:04:09 +0000

How many days until the rain stops?

one two six oh four: Photo

Wed, 13 Apr 2011 19:56:00 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: Skype

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 21:29:28 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: March 25th, 2011

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 03:56:13 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: I’ve never liked February.

Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:13:47 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: So what if you hate birthdays and I love them?

Wed, 16 Feb 2011 23:41:37 +0000

So what if you hate birthdays and I love them? There are worse things to disagree over.

Lately I’ve been experimenting with drawing googley-eyes on my characters instead of my typical single circle per eye. I’m impressed by the range of facial expressions this subtle shift in my drawing style has opened up. The following cartoon is as much a study of facial expressions as it is anything else. I am just so smitten by the first panel!

illustrations by cordelia: Remember when?

Sun, 06 Feb 2011 04:03:06 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: Watches

Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:45:48 +0000

Oh, glorious anachronisms!

(Actually, I just Googled it, and there are several apps for that!)

(Actually, he informs me, “They don’t work as well.”)

Yesterday Was Not Dull: I Am Not An Artist

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:30:28 +0000

Speaking of vibrant colors, you must check out “I Am Not an Artist” if you haven’t already.

Filed under: Art, Design, Stop-Motion, Videos

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Happy Socks

Mon, 08 Nov 2010 22:23:48 +0000

I’m not sure if it’s the vibrant colors, the eye-catching patterns, the perfect fit, or the fact that they were given to me by some of my favorite people, but Happy Socks really live up to their name. I smile every time I put on a pair of these amazing socks.

Filed under: Design, Fashion, Products

Yesterday Was Not Dull: All Over Coffee

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:45:35 +0000

I am completely in awe of Paul Madonna‘s weekly illustrations entitled “All Over Coffee.” Madonna captures San Francisco cityscapes, street corners, rooftops, with an incredible eye for detail, usually pairing these views with thoughtful words. He occasionally diverges from the San Francisco theme, presenting the viewer with beautifully composed depictions of Buenos Aires, Paris, Tokyo, and other areas of the world. Take a look at “All Over Coffee” on Madonna’s website and in the SF Chronicle. It is unlike any weekly newspaper strip I’ve ever seen.

Filed under: Architecture, Art, Comics, San Francisco

illustrations by cordelia: Hands

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:24:14 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: Our hands behind our backs

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:17:12 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: Chocolate truffles

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:16:19 +0000

illustrations by cordelia: Sketch of the Redhead as she works

Sun, 24 Oct 2010 22:08:56 +0000

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Moments

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 22:06:04 +0000

I was recently introduced to Devour.com, a fantastic website that posts a well-chosen collection of videos found around the web. While I have spent many hours devouring the contents of the website, I continually come back to the first video I watched there, “Moments,” by Everynone - a beautiful short film that captures the little things that make up every day experience. I also recommend Everynone’s “Words.”

Filed under: Art, Society, Videos

Yesterday Was Not Dull: My Cardboard Life

Wed, 20 Oct 2010 21:56:12 +0000

My Cardboard Life may be the most adorable webcomic I’ve ever seen. I cannot get enough of Philippa Rice’s square cardboard characters and their Sharpie smiles.

Filed under: Art, Comics

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Lee Crutchley Products

Mon, 20 Sep 2010 05:01:51 +0000

Lee Crutchley has been turning some of his Quoteskine creations into laptop, iPhone, and iPad skins. Nifty! A variety of technology skins, along with some prints, are available in his Society6 shop.

Filed under: Art, Design, Products, Technology

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Tales of Mere Existence

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:25:25 +0000

Tales of Mere Existence is a series of animated autobiographical comics by Lev Yilmaz. Lev has the amazing ability to make the most mundane topics fascinating, hysterical, and a wee bit sad.

Here is “How To Carry Your Books At School,” the first video I saw by Lev:

Filed under: Art, Comics, Society, Videos

Yesterday Was Not Dull: GnomeBomb

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 01:14:09 +0000

I am rather intrigued by GnomeBomb, a new blog documenting the adventures of a gnome in New York City.

Filed under: Art, Photography, Society

Yesterday Was Not Dull: TeuxDeux

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 02:49:57 +0000

For months, I have been seeing Swissmiss‘ posts about her TeuxDeux project and not making much of them, because I am so used to keeping track of my to-do lists on paper. However, as my life is becoming increasingly digital, I recently began looking around for a simple way to keep a virtual to-do list. TeuxDeux is the perfect solution. It’s intuitive, beautiful, free, and a web app, so it can be accessed anywhere you have an internet connection. The lovely folks behind TeuxDeux have also just rolled out a $2.99 iPhone app, which may end up being the first app I purchase.

Filed under: Design, Technology

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Ampersand Food Groups

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:47:08 +0000

Found via The Ampersand. These ampersand food group typographic illustrations by Dan Beckemeyer are mouthwatering.

Filed under: Art, Design, Food, Typography

Yesterday Was Not Dull: “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart”

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:28:44 +0000

I absolutely love JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound‘s version of Wilco’s “I Am Trying To Break Your Heart.” The lyrics say “this is not a joke / so please stop smiling,” but all I can do is smile when I hear this. It is far too catchy!

Filed under: Music, Videos

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Logged In

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:17:54 +0000

I don’t have anything in particular to say except, “Watch this.”

Filed under: Social Networking, Society, Technology, Videos

Yesterday Was Not Dull: DODOcase

Tue, 14 Sep 2010 00:11:32 +0000

At brunch one day at Hudson View Restaurant in Washington Heights, the guy next to me had a stunning iPad case that I initially mistook for a Moleskine notebook. When I asked him about it, he responded, “DODOcase. It’s rad!” I agree – totally rad. Each DODOcase is handmade in San Francisco, and the craftsmanship is impeccable. Visit the DODOcase website for more information about how they’re made. Though I don’t want an iPad, I do want one of these cases.

(Also, hello, Yesterday Was Not Dull is back! Did you miss me?)

Filed under: Art, Books, Design, Technology

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World)

Wed, 16 Jun 2010 06:30:56 +0000

I am counting down the days until July 1st, when the “Maira Kalman: Various Illuminations (of a Crazy World)” touring exhibit opens at San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum. I grew up reading and re-reading Maira Kalman‘s children books, especially Hey Willy, See the Pyramids and Stay Up Late. Now, in my adult life (if I can admit to myself that I am an adult), I am just as fervent an admirer of her work as I was at age four. Kalman is a brilliant observer and artist, a real inspiration.

If you happen to be in San Francisco, do visit her upcoming exhibit. And if not, at least visit her website and her NY Times blog, “And the Pursuit of Happiness.” Here’s Kalman’s portrait of herself and her dog Pete:

Filed under: Art, Design, Exhibits

Yesterday Was Not Dull: The Tourist Lane

Fri, 11 Jun 2010 06:42:21 +0000

I love pretty much everything Improv Everywhere does, but their latest project especially resonates with me because they eerily read my mind and made a video of my thoughts. Posing as NYC’s Department of Transportation, they set up a “Tourist Lane” (slow lane) and a “New Yorker Lane” (fast lane) on a sidewalk in Manhattan and directed pedestrians accordingly. As a fast-walking New Yorker, I am thrilled that they did this.

Filed under: Events, New York City, Read My Mind, Society, Street Art, Videos

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Summer in SoMa

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 07:13:35 +0000

I normally post about other people’s projects, but I thought I might sneak in a post about a new one of mine. I have just started a blog called Summer in SoMa, where I post my photographs and hand-drawn cartoons documenting my summer in San Francisco.

Filed under: Art, Photography, Street Art

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Naptime.com

Mon, 31 May 2010 01:33:07 +0000

I Googled “nap” the other day during a week of little sleep and came across www.naptime.com. I still have no idea what it is, but it’s fascinating! Click around!

Filed under: Art, Design, Technology

Yesterday Was Not Dull: José Azevedo

Mon, 31 May 2010 01:23:06 +0000

Oh gosh, I am in love with Brazilian artist José Azevedo‘s Moleskine illustrations. Check them out at Format Magazine.

Filed under: Art

Yesterday Was Not Dull: House of Buttons

Mon, 31 May 2010 01:13:02 +0000

I’m very interested in the idea of web curating, as I am increasingly noticing sites’ replacement of the word “blogger” with “curator.” One such site that recently caught my interest is the House of Buttons, curated by Jason Long. The site features beautiful buttons found around the web. While we often take UI buttons for granted, overlooking their design and focusing only on their functionality, House of Buttons is the perfect venue for appreciating their aesthetics.

Filed under: Design, Technology

Yesterday Was Not Dull: Walking Men Worldwide

Mon, 31 May 2010 00:59:39 +0000

While out for a long walk in Manhattan last week, I came across an incredible art installation entitled “Walking Men Worldwide.” Artist Maya Barkai collected images of 99 walking men from cities around the world and covered the walls surrounding a construction site with their life-size images. I like to imagine all 99 of those figures coming to life and exploring New York with me! The installation will remain at 99 Church Street until January 2010.

Filed under: Architecture, Art, Design, Exhibits, New York City, Society