Pearl theatre

Pearl theatre, originally uploaded by mussoppool.

A guy from France whom I met yesterday lamented his country is becoming a mere tourist country or a museum country for American travellers. There are no entrepreneurs. Young people think about vacations all the time. People rely on government too much. Nothing new about it. Even when I was young and fresh, I felt very sad when a beautiful beach in Korea became suddenly filled with ugly stores for tourists.

But, I like being a perpetual tourist. I rode a new bus which went through unknown path in Chinatown. Listened to lots of carols (I don't get tired of it, because it is only once a year, and the same exact songs at the same time of the year gives me the feeling of soothing continuity.) Looked at Christmas crowds hugging kissing loving, smiling at each other. Families, couples.
And when I got off somewhere in East Village. There was a small theatre perfect for late weekend night. The Pearl Theatre Company. I liked the modest looking people unlike Lincoln Center people who don at their best. Excitement. Charming giggling.

It was the last day of "Arms and the Man" by Bernard Shaw.
The story of Bulgarian girl (who was already engaged to a Bulgarian officer) who falls in love with a enemy soldier who drops into her room and asks for chocolate. I laughed so much with people around me at the witticism. I laughed at Louka's rebellious sprit (the servant girl who later gets engaged to the Bulgarian officer, Sergius, who broke up with the girl, Raina)- "You take courage out of me with your old wisdom." "I will be an empress of Russia, and marry whom I love" Captain Bluntschli, the "Chocolate Cream soldier" of Raina, laughs at his loving Raina's "noble attitude and thrilling voice." After 13 years of soldiering, he takes nothing seriously, but "incurably romantic." I want my "Chocolate cream soldier"!

Anyway, it was a little bit high-priced entertainment. But, the acting (how can they memorize all lines? Miracle...) and laughes were so worth that money. I was also happy to see familiar faces on the stage.
And... I still want to be an actress somday.......

Seaport Christmas..

Yellow moon.
Sparse stars.
Lone pilot in the sky.
Harmonious bridges.
Anxious ships.
Christmas carols.
Couples kissing by the attraction of the sea angel.
Sea smell.
Me. Embracing everything.

Design blog party

I just felt like singing Beatles out loud~

December 8th, 1980 is the day when John Lennon was shot by Mark Chapman.
I wanted to attend a memorial in front of the Dakoda (1 West 72nd St.) and in Strawberry field like last year.
Stupid me, I fell asleep for almost 4 hours while waiting in a friend's house in Upper West Side near the Dakoda.
Some people say John Lennon changed their lives. Last year, I went to a memorial with such a person. But, I don't know much about John Lennon. I still don't know about his dreams, what he wanted to accomplish, how he changed the world. All I know is that his music is so powerful that everyone have fond memories about his songs, and some people are dedicated enough to sing his songs all night in the cold. And they are all in one spirit. It is itself an amazing thing.
My memory of his songs is... that all throughout my first year in high school, I ONLY listened to the Beatles, ALL THE TIME. I hid an earphone under my uniform, and was always holding an ear like I am sleeping on my arm. I was never noticed even though I did it every class! I was on an earphone even when I go to a bathroom...
I am sure everyone has some sort of memory about John Lennon and the Beatles.
Anyway, I was thankful of people who stayed until I arrived well past 12am. I and Soyoung sang along. It always feels good to sing with other people.
I wish John Lennon a good rest. What would he think about this world now, I am curious?

The question of 'style'

"Memories of India (Recuerdos de la India)"

At Joe's Pub, 12/5/06 9:30 PM

"What was venerated as style was nothing more than an imperfection or flaw that revealed the guilty hand."

"Yet does illustrating in a new way signify a new way of seeing?" -My name is Red by Orhan Pamuk

Some songs are felt through brains (one of my friends says it is always through brains. Without understanding, there is no appreciation. I disagree). Some songs are felt through toes, you just have to tap your toes to really appreciate the song. Some songs are felt through inner thighs...

And some songs are felt through hearts. It has a direct impact on heart. The way some describe as religious experience or love-at-first-sight. And it makes one defenseless. As soon as the flamenco guitarist begins to run his fingers on the guitar, I felt attacked on my heart. It was extremely sad, extremely delicious.

Juan Polvillo, the flamenco dancer, danced revealing everything, hiding nothing. His facial expressions and his moves were so raw that I felt relieved in a way.

Two gypsy flamenco singers were almost crying. Soyoung said it was so much like Korean traditional singing 'chang' with 'han' (suppressed sadness or more than that). I felt in love with the young singer, Manuel "El tane." I will never be bored of hearing his strange songs and looking at his cute smile forever~.

But, of course, the most memorable and powerful experience was looking Maha Akhtar's dancing. She was trained in Indian traditional dance, called kathak. Then, she also learned flamenco. With the flamenco guitar, the cello, and the tabla (Indian percussion) in harmony in the background, she danced a strange dance. At some point, her hands were kathak (telling stories), her body moved in flamenco rhythm, and at other points, her feet moved kathak, but her butts moved flamenco. It was neither entirely, but either one every time. She was smiling in the middle of the tension.

I think a person has to embody some type of art during the lifetime. Whatever it is. It doesn't have to follow existing traditions. No, it is not that a person has to. I want to talk about how something becomes the "style" of life. Art necessarily manifests in the lifestyle of that person. Hiphop dancers live hiphop lifestyle. Classical players live according lifestyle. The flamenco dancer, Juan Polvillo's body and face says "flamenco." Maha Akhtar is a genius, who can create her own style, her own art. I really admire her. I don't know what exactly I am talking about. But, I think I almost sound like a very smart-looking guy I talked to once, who said "Jewish culture was lost in me, I feel guilty, I want to revive it in my children." And the first quote, I don't agree, it is by a murder (patternist of Islamic art, I assume), who killed a master artist.

By the word "Style," I mean more than something exterior. It is a certain kind of "theme," that runs through in and out. Harmony. At the age of 25, I feel a little ashamed that I am still looking for my "style."

Post-LSAT commentary

During previous LSAT tests, I often thought that some people( and a lot ) who take this test look really ugly. Those brightly glittering eyes with ambition for status and money. Ugly ambition, ugly faces. - I admit, sometimes I am terribly critical. ( But usually I am not judgmental. It is just because my mother's will, against or in the absence of my will, is disgustingly reflected in these innocent co-test-takers.)

This time, I had no time to laugh at people around me, who has no reason to be laughed at. The test was really intense.

Can you guess my favorate East Village spot?

"Kenka" on St. Mark's place- A true Japanese Izakaya (pub). I love it because of its ambience and old enka songs background, and excellent katsuo tataki (Skipjack Tuna or bonito sashimi with outer part seared) and amazing salad, and all the variety of food, which is a trademark of Izakaya. But non, this is not my favorate.

Kim's Video-I love this place, because you can easily get lost amid all the old-smelling CDs and DVDs and books and... "interesting looking" "Stuff." Also, lots of imported stuff. I am always reminded of a place in the movie "High Fidelity" when I enter this place. And I am also curious to know if Kim is the last name or the first name.

Interesting People Gothic people, Hippie people, rock'n'rollers (old and young), Japanese Hip-hop crews, Japanese Furitas, Rich Korean kids, Rich Taiwanese kids, Parsons people, NYU kids, Billy People... What a dynamic mix.

New CBGB Shop Um.... It is a new addition. Even though there were a lot of people on the street, the store was empty. So, I went in. I wasn't very intested in T-shirts. It is gone. So, what does a T-shirt mean now?

Sing Sing Karaoke Finally, my favorate spot in East Village. Nothing can beat this! For $5 each person between 1pm and 7pm everyday, you can sing any American, Japanese, Korean songs. In a private karaoke room! I highly recommend this place for people who need to look impeccable when going out for karaoke with friends, or people who just have to sing out loud without caring about other people, or couples in need of privacy. I think for general well-being of Americans, the karaoke culture has to be improved. In Japan, it is ok to go to karaoke alone, there is a place called "Uta Hiroba," a very tiny room for $2 an hour, without wigs or instruments to play with unlike other karaokes in Japan. In Korea, people never go to karaoke alone, as I know. There is a luxury karaoke, which is very clean and beautifully decorated. I miss singing and dancing on the table as a high school girl.

Trying deperately to fall asleep

My idea of romantic night....

A night with someone I love all alone in the middle of the ocean on a fishy-smelling traditional squid catching small ship. The ship is covered by very bright light bulbs because squids are attracted to light. One spot of light! In all engulfing darkness. Wow so~ romantic.

I want to do it so badly now...

Good night, beautiful world~