Picture of The Day

Pho is delicious. Especially when your friends are crazy and artistic. Go find a pho place in Houston. There are many.

Picture of The Day

If you look in the right places, Houston can be so beautiful.

To Senior Year and Beyond

From freshman year, and even beforehand, every student is anxious to reach senior year of high school. It's a hot topic among teens, and it's the first thing adults ask when they hear you're in high school.

"Looking forward to senior year?"

The answer for me was always yes. I, though definitely classified as an "overachiever" from the beginning of my public school years, yearned to escape the busywork and noise of elementary school. And then to escape the busywork and angst of middle school. And then to escape the busywork and sleepless nights and college pressures and extracurriculars and suddenly intense teachers of high school.

Now? I'm here. It's finally senior year -- I, an '11 high school graduate, can walk the halls confidently, no longer lost in the vast tunnel-like hallways of my 3,500 student high school. I've braved eleven years of dimly lit classes and intellectually undernourished public school teachers, and this is the last one ever (ever!).

Though it shouldn't surprise me that this year is the same as all the others, it does. There's some mystical quality in the way senior year is portrayed, a time of superiority over the other high schoolers, of college applications and minimal schoolwork.

In real life, most of my friends are working harder than ever, pulling all-nighters for AP classes and delaying the completion of college applications and essays as long as possible. It's that tense in-between time my peers and I are going through now, and it's hard when we're all vying for room to stretch in the public school box that's housed us for the majority of our lives.

Maybe the fuss about senior year is misleading. Truth is, the hype isn't about senior year itself, but what is beyond. College looms like the Emerald City on the skyline of every kid's future. It's all about us finding the right place to discover that stretching room, wondering if it's good enough for us and if we're good enough for it.

It does scare me a little sometimes, thinking about the fact that what I've done so far determines what I'll be doing for the next four years and maybe even the rest of my life. But as Ronnie Turner, sports writer for the Chronicle, said to us today, "It ain't nothing special. I just been living, that's all."

Sara

Picture of The Day

It's like every holiday being killed in one go. It hurts just a little bit.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Today my mother and I bought flowers for ourselves, because having flowers in the house makes everyone happier. Whole Foods can be expensive. 

But flowers are worth it.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Today was rather hectic. Despite my best efforts to keep organized, everything took much longer than it should've. Letter of recommendation edits took the entire period, and then I rushed to the bus only to find that it hadn't arrived (though heavy rain had). The rain cleared up quickly...while waiting on a bench outside my school, I took this picture. That bird was fearless. 

The bus never did come. I called my mother. It took us about twice the amount of time it should have to get downtown. I'm really thankful she could come at all -- I met my mentor today! His name is Andrew Dansby, and he's the "entertainment guy," primarily music. We walked around downtown, him clad in a short-sleeved plaid button down and converses, me in jeans and Toms. He told me about Irma's, downtown, working as a journalist, and the history of the music scene of Houston. We agreed on the claustrophobia and boringness of the tunnel downtown. I think we'll get along just fine. :D

Sara

Picture of The Day (pretend I posted this last night)

Tonight, my mother and I went to Miyako. What a delicious endeavor. I'm definitely no expert in the world of sushi, but this was yummy. I like seeing the chefs work right there.

Sara

Picture of The Day

I'm very sorry for not updating yesterday. Much schoolwork was done.

This one came about while I was driving around with my mother. It was hard to catch before the light turned green.

Sara

What to Do in Houston? A Week of Not-So-Well-Known Activities

Sometimes, it's hard to figure out what to do in the city. Between school and homework and jobs and sleep, sometimes it's hard to find time to figure out what to do in the city. Worry not! Here's a list of seven free/cheap ways to pass the hours.

1. Enjoy a cup of coffee. While Starbucks is the obvious choice for your caffeine fix, why not try something a little more under-the-radar? My favourites include Antidote (a great place in the Heights conveniently situated next to a used bookstore...), Inversion, Salento, and Brasil. There are many more, of course, and I'll surely be posting something about them in the future.

2.Go to the Contemporary Arts Museum. Free every day, this corrugated-tin building is an awesome place to spend time. Right now, as I've mentioned, they're hosting a series of short films. Not only can you spend hours watching these, the gift shop (aaaah, I'm such a consumer) is fantastic. I've found many-a quirky birthday present there (think miniature cardboard art cars and various other hilarious, artsy objects).

3. Explore your neighborhood's used bookstores. Admittedly, it can be tiring (and painful) to find a good book and immediately fork over the contents of your wallet in exchange. I like Half Price Books (there are eight of these in Houston, so there's sure to be one near you) and Kaboom (there are two of these-- one at 3116 Houston Avenue, the other at 733 Studewood St). There's also Brazos Bookstore (though I've yet to check that out) and Lloyd's Bookshop (I have yet to find that on a map, but it's in generally the same area).

4. Go to open mic night at Taft St. Coffee. Hosted every Tuesday at 8 pm, this occasion is great for sharing your work (spoken word poetry, music, and the like), or merely sitting back with a cup of tea or coffee and listening to others.

5. Explore the wonders of the MetroRail. It's just $1.25 for a ticket, and the train goes up and down Main St. It gets you downtown, to the art museums and Hermann Park, and everywhere in between. Especially those wonderfully sketchy 24-hour flower shops.

6. Visit your family-friendly downtown park-- Discovery Green! It's a relatively new park, and fills an important niche in the community. Whether you want to sail remote-control boats, grab a hamburger (or sweet potato fries...yum...) or go to Saturday morning yoga sessions, this is definitely a place to check out.

7. Go to the Orange Show! This isn't free...it is, however, only a dollar (still student budget-friendly, I believe) It was built by Jefferson Davis McKissack, who must have been quite a strange guy. Careful-- it has some strange hours.

Have fun! Comment if you have any more ideas. I'll most likely have future posts like this.

Also! My picture of the day comes from a trip I took on the MetroRail.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Yay for forgetting to take pictures. However, I do have an old picture from when I was in Turkey a summer or two ago. My uncle got us lost in the mountains for five hours. I took too many pictures -- like this one.

Sara

Picture of The Day/Music

I know, I know, what an interesting picture of Houston. But really, I just wanted to use the picture as an excuse to talk about music. Good music (or at least, I'd like to think so). Here are some links to songs I've been listening to a lot lately.

And...yeah. That's life right now. Lots of music in the house, with some tea to keep me company. Being social can come later.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Here's a picture of the Rice Gallery with the current installation, D-17. I'm currently writing an article on this. Yay!

Sara

Picture of The Day

I took this yesterday right next to the Chronicle building. Proof that Houston can be elegant (and a little bit green, too)! 

Today, I went to the opening of the Rice Gallery installation, D-17. Sarah Oppenheimer (the artist) spoke. She's a rather small woman with a buzz cut, straightforward and brief, very adept at speaking about her work. The exhibit itself was intriguing, very stark. Expect pictures this weekend! 

Sara

Picture of The Day/Art News

Hullo!


Day before yesterday I went to an incredible exhibit at the Station Museum for Contemporary Art. I don't know much about the place, as I just discovered it, but I plan on frequenting it. The exhibit I saw was called Because We Are, and it focused on GLBTQ art. It. Was. AMAZING. And just...as a warning, some of these pictures are not so PG. So view with discretion.

It seems like such a humble industrial building from the outside.

This was the first work the artist had done in marble. Also, the background is watercolour versions of Polaroids taken of her and her partner. It's interesting how the watercolour sort of makes the photos abstract.

This is a leather cover to old exercise equipment. It was in a gym open in the eighties to a primarily homosexual male group.  From this angle it resembles a skeletal body, doesn't it?

This one really got to me. In the background, from another part of the museum,  Bang Bang by Nancy Sinatra was playing loudly. This "Medicine Man," as he's named, is made of medicine bottles for HIV medication, in part belonging to the artist and his partner and friends (both dead and alive). The syringes are tipped with red.

Though this exhibit is closing the 16th, I believe, the Station has more interesting art coming up! Check the website (I've linked it above) for more information. 

On the topic of GLBT-related art, there's another exhibit opening at 7:30 Friday night at DiverseWorks! It is, as Joey Guerra (author of this article about it) says, a "multi-artist exploration of queer sex." I'm intrigued and plan on going to explore. I've had this gallery recommended to me recently, as well, so this will be a good excuse to get over there. Once I do, there will definitely be more pictures. 

As for other art, I'm going to the Rice Gallery tomorrow night at 6 for the reception and artist talk with Sarah Oppenheimer. She is the artist of the new exhibit, D-17. It looks really interesting-- her work primarily deals with perceptions of space and windows ("portals") into other spaces. If you happen to read this before then... go check it out! 

I think that was enough talking about local art for now. I'm out!

Sara

Picture of The Day

Another image from my new favourite cafe next to the Chronicle! What a delicious place to be.

Sara

Culture Highlight: Anis Mojgani

Today I'd like to focus on an artist with whom I've absolutely fallen in love over the past year.

Anis Mojgani, age 33, works both in visual art and spoken word poetry. He was born and raised in New Orleans, then moved to Georgia and completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Comic Book art from the Savannah College of Art and Design and a Master of Fine Arts in Performing Arts. Until recently he was based in Portland, Oregon. However, he just made public his plans to move to Austin, Texas. Further information can be found on his blog http://mojgani.livejournal.com/.

He has been a big part of the slam community over the past several years: not only did he win titles in the National Individual Poetry Slam in 2005 and 2006, but he was also in the documentary Slam Planet: War of The Worlds and HBO's Def Poetry Jam. He won first place at the 2007 World Cup Poetry Slam held in France and placed 2nd in Poetry Slam, Inc.'s 2007 Individual World Poetry Slam. Most recently, he was also part of the Junkyard Ghost Revival slam team in 2008 with Buddy Wakefield and Derrick C. Brown.

Mojgani names among influences of his "Jeffrey McDaniel, Richard Brautigan, Charles Bukowski, Gregory Corso, Kerouac, MF DOOM, Aesop Rock, Robert Rauschenberg, Basquiat, Chris Ware, Frank Miller, Saul Williams, Walt Whitman, Savannah, GA, New York, New Orleans, being broke, being a hermit, Shoot the Piano Player, the Bahá'í writings and history" ("An Interview with Anis Mojgani". The Commonline Project 0 (13). 2007). However, this man's skill extends far beyond just a compilation or mutation of the works of his predecessors and mentors. A small, meek looking man, he twists language in any way he can to perfectly suit the environment and subject of the poem. His words can be both sweet and harsh, his poetry a strange mixture of eloquence and street-talk. In such informal places as blog entries, his genius can be found. A short piece that particularly appealed to me was this one:

"the wet streets.

the city lights above you.
laughter and arms below.

the wet streets. the open road.
one car talking to the night alone. red lights. the black windows turning blue. your skin turning blue, as the dark in all is wondrous magnificence opens itself to breaking. the soft-o how soft-the soft skin of the morning coming through those cracks. how soft and pink and becoming orange its shoulders are. how wondrous to be the first and only thing awake watching this from the back or front seat of the car, the buildings tall and praying outside, and you, like the day being born, are laid bare." (Found on http://mojgani.livejournal.com/, entry for 9/8/10)

Apart from written works, recorded copies of his spoken word poetry can be found any number of places, most conveniently and YouTube. For an introduction to his work, I very much suggest you follow this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMS1SfHx8hk. It includes his poems "Direct Orders," "Here I Am," and "Shake the Dust," a personal favourite of mine. You can also find him (and links to his various other technological identities) here, at http://thepianofarm.com/.

I definitely recommend Mojgani's work, whether written, played, painted, drawn, or spoken. He's incredible.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Today my mother and I drove and drove and drove. We explored the town. We listened to Ethiopian/Israeli electronica and ate Greek food. I liked this stop sign and the way the clouds reflected the shapes of the trees.

Also, I wrote last night. After going to Starbucks and watching a man with a fountain pen write.

What to do when you know you’re being written.

When you find yourself sitting at a table only to look up and notice someone scribbling away in your direction, do not panic. This person means no harm, for he is only writing you. You might straighten your shoulders a bit, adjust the curve of your neck to its most elegant. Rest your hand on the edge of the table subtly, laugh delicately. Show yourself as you want to be pictured. Take off your bulky winter jacket and straighten your back. Know that for this writer, you are the centerpiece. Know that for this moment, you are all that the pen in his hand can describe as the letters curl lovingly around the dimples in your cheeks and the funny way you cock your head.

Sara

Picture of The Day

"Ma'am, you can't take pictures in here."

The Contemporary Arts Museum is currently hosting a fantastic collection of short films. I like the whirring sounds of the 16mm film as you walk among the screens and makeshift walls.

Sara

I like coffee (aka Picture of The Day).

Today was a much healthier day. So I ventured out for coffee. I also wrote more. 

I long for ice cream right now. Something plain, cold to the touch and almost too cold to taste. It’s more than that, really-- I long for the atmosphere of ice cream. Flip-flop days and sitting in the middle of sidewalks watching ants mill about in search of the last drop of flavour I spilled. Lazy days of waking up late and stretching in the last rays of morning sunshine, padding into the kitchen with soft-blurry tired eyes. And then the nights, I miss most of all. Calls at nine, ten, eleven: “Let’s go.” Running out to the car, wad of sweaty crumpled bills in hand, driving to unknown places and corners of my own city I didn’t know existed. The rush of peering through the nighttime car window to watch the lights fly past. I miss the loud music pumping through the cramped space and singing along quietly, mumbling words I only half know. On and off conversations. I long for ice cream.

Sara

Picture of the Day/A Story

This is how I'm feeling right now.

Also, here. I've been writing a lot of 72-word stories lately. 

We were walking past my old stone school building, crouching and jumping from rock to mossy rock, and I had asked you what you wanted to be when you were a grown-up like your tired parents. 

“I would tear off the suit and escape the office. I would run in darkness, sing by campfires, write beautifully, travel the world, eat foods we’ve only dreamt of.” 

“I was being serious,” I said. 

“Oh.”

If you're intrigued / want to read other stories by other people, please check out http://www.seventytwowords.com. It can be incredible.

Sara

The World Right Now/Picture of The Day

The world is quiet where I am right now. My round paper lantern is shining like a shoddy movie-screen moon over my little table, casting light on all the scattered objects across the dark brown wood. Glass bottle, stack of old journals (scribbled words to the edges of pages), bag of chocolate-covered espresso beans (dark chocolate, of course), computer... I'm typing quietly. My large green headphones cover my ears, but no sound is playing. They merely serve to silence what buzz there might otherwise be. Curtain, open. Beyond, dim glow of an orange hall light. Beyond, black inky darkness of the campus and its trees. Occasionally people walk past, mouths shaping words I can't hear. I'm removed. A siren wails in the distance.

It's times like this when I want to get up and go. Grab a bag, stuff in headphones, music, extra shirt, money, and go. Take the spare car keys from the colorful bowl in the living room (loopy purple patterns encircling the glint that means nighttime freedom) and run out the door into the humid summer night. I'd like to drive forever down empty roads, stop in lonesome truck stops and accompany the drivers in the cracked concrete of the parking lot as they dreamt during the few hours they had of rest. And then move on and on and on... I don't know if I could stop.

That's all that's in my head right now, really.

And this is how my pink flamingo views the world. What a bright world he lives in.

Sara

Picture of The Day

Today was rainy. That's about all there was to it. More tissues and DayQuil. Flowers on the windowsill. Golden light from lamps contrasting with the grey outside. I sat curled on the couch and watched sheets of water pour down.

Sara

Hello Music + Picture of The Day

Hi there, all you blog readers!

Unfortunately, today wasn't much of an active day for me. I got quite sick over the weekend, and therefore spent most of today lounging about the house listening to loud, delicious music, reading, and looking through old pictures of mine. Due to such hours, I didn't explore the city enough to take a picture. Hope you won't mind a picture from my trip to Oregon over the summer. This particular one was taken while I was on the coast with my relatives.

On a different note, did listen to and criticize quite a bit of music today. Here are some of the results:

On Lissie's Catching A Tiger: 

Lissie’s voice is incredible. There’s no denying it. This self-proclaimed“smart and gutsy and tough”  Midwestern singer has something amazing. Her songs, however, often don’t. Her debut cd, Catching A Tiger, starts out strong with three rocking songs that are sure to quickly plant themselves in your head. Ah, but then—the lyrics and melodies take a nosedive for those looking for good indie rock. A sudden departure from the broad, vague country of indie music leaves her stranded in the land of Appalachian Folk—dangerous territory indeed for such a new artist with promising beginnings. It’s hard not to lose interest when percussion dies away and you’re left with lyrics like, “momma’s here, and your papa too, we are so darn proud of you.” Lissie’s efforts to sound as an aged Appalachian folk singer fail due to her obviously youthful appearance and first three songs. Keep those three, and perhaps Worried About, and you’ve got an EP, Lissie. Leave the rest for b-sides. Or just throw them out altogether.

On Sia's We Are Born: 

Oh, Sia, I love you. It’s impossible not to. Your songs are always infectious, no matter which cd they’re from, and you’re brimming with personality. Who is this Sia, some may ask, and what does her newest cd, We Are Born, bring? Definitely rebirth for this incredible bubbly yet subtle Australian singer, is the answer. While past songs such as the well-known Breathe Me delve into atmospheric alternative indie, We Are Born includes such poppy tracks such as Clap Your Hands (which, yes, does include the automated sound of clapping sounds. I’m surprised, aren’t you?). And yet Sia pulls it off. Her fantastic rich voice is still apparent even through the automated drumbeats, and she manages to keep her many unique qualities. Though many old fans may be unhappy with the style in which she’s heading, I merely think she’s trying to broaden her (and our) horizons. Good on you, girl.

I'm out! 

Sara

Picture of The Day

What can I say? I find this hilarious. I was walking through Rice campus when I spied Willy's statue with...shall we say... offerings. What better way to adorn the tomb of the University's founder than with empty beer cans? Oh, college. 

Sara

P.S; Here's what I'm listening to right now: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrGMIdemDnQ&feature=related

Picture of The Day

I took this picture at Rice University. An adorable bicycle, no? And orange is an unappreciated colour. Just saying. 

Sara

Picture of The Day

I took this picture last night when my mother and I went out for dinner at the Raven Grill. It's a fantastic restaurant on Bissonnet serving such wonders as Baked Brie, Spinach and Feta Enchiladas, and Grilled Tuna Burgers (served best medium-rare, as I got last night. "Like a sushi burger!" The waiter said, and although luckily the fish wasn't quite that raw, it made us laugh). All of the baked goods (breads and desserts) come from Picnic, a deli and bakery in the same strip. Though situated right next to the main road, Raven Grill manages to keep a secluded, elegant air. My mother and I sat outside on the patio yesterday. 

I definitely recommend this place. The prices, although not exactly student budget-friendly, are moderate ($8.95 for the grilled tuna burger with marinated purple onions, for example) and the atmosphere is lovely.

Check it out: http://www.theravengrill.com/

Sara

Picture of The Day

I've decided to start something new. My camera isn't in nearly enough use, so from now on I'll take one picture of some part of Houston every day and upload it onto this blog as an official Picture of The Day. 

Now, immediately after creating that tradition I'm going to bend the rules a bit. This is a series of three photos, but they fit together quite well. You'll see why.

I wonder who drew these. Did the artist(s) decide beforehand how and where to draw the faces, or was it more of a spontaneous decision? Merely a moment like so many of us have, the same instinct as spotting shapes in clouds, only actualized through thick black marker? "That one looks like a face," the artist might've said,  hurriedly reaching deep into his pocket and pulling out a nondescript stick of permanent ink, memorializing his aesthetic epiphanies and walking on as if nothing had happened. Or perhaps it was a plot, deviously and carefully worked out, plans made and necessary tools stowed in a bag to wait until nightfall. We might never know, but we may (and, obviously at least to me, do) ponder the origins of these two-dimensional characters. And another mystery-- though the first two seem to be drawn by the same person (black sharpie used to create a face on a predetermined "head"), I'm not so sure about the third. The style is different, as is the setting. Which face came first? Did the presence of one inspire the existence of the others?  Either way, these are quite hilarious additions to the graffiti world.

 All three of the above photos were taken in Rice Village. 

Sara

Hello, Blogging World!

Today has definitely been intriguing. Upon exiting the Chronicle building downtown, I turned toward the Metro Rail stop and found an as-of-yet unexplored café by the name of Minuti Coffee. As downtown is not a place I’ve explored nearly enough, I (ever the overly enthusiastic one) skipped in, bought a ginger peach tea (Brand: Republic of Tea. Status: Delicious!) and chatted with the young guy behind the counter about cafes in Houston. Minuti itself is quite adorable. Though one among a series of shops in a single building, it manages to retain a personality of its own. Tomorrow, I will go back—and pictures will definitely result! In the meantime, here’s a quick shot of the outside.

Also, while continuing to walk to the Metro Rail stop, I found this place.

Market /and/ café? At the same time! Gasp! More on that as I discover its contents.

On riding the train home: Using public transportation is not something I’ve done very much of. When I was smaller, my mother and I rode the bus to my kindergarten every day, but since then my bus/train riding skills have decreased vastly. Now, being able to take the Metro Rail home is almost a rewarding experience. As with elevators and school staircases, being in a train is a situation in which one is thrust suddenly and awkwardly into close contact with often complete strangers. It’s hard not to stare, closely examine traveling companions, hypothesize as to what their stories are. Sometimes these trips turn out to be eventful (real-life examples: talking to a stranger about life philosophies and spirituality, choking—ironically—on a Life Saver), and sometimes they’re just another small segment in everyday life. But I like not taking them for granted. Unexpected, coincidental human contact makes everyone’s day more interesting.

Here’s a song I’ve been listening to a lot recently: Stars, by Warpaint.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-G6Lrqr_iM&feature=related

With that, I'm out! -Sara