i he she we they

Wants Vs Needs February Edition

2011-02-17T04:08:00.004+13:00

So its that time again, that third Friday of each month when the coolest DJ Crew in Minneapolis sets up their tables at Clubhouse Jager to put on a serious dance party. The Wants vs. Needs crew was formed in the summer of 2009, and consists of a good looking group of local DJs, whose only aim is "To make you happy." DJ Anton, Booka B, So Gold, Petey Wheatstraw, and DJ Espada, spin everything from hip hop to funk, R&B, and even some electro thrown in the mix. Get there early to cop a limited edition T shirt designed each month by Adam Garcia, AKA The Pressure. Check out their blog to stay current on track releases and other venues you can find the crew at throughout the month. Wants vs. Needs, kids. And if ya dont know, now ya know.

The Best Love is Free 2011

2011-02-14T06:16:00.001+13:00

In honor of our current barf-inducing holiday, the second annual "The Best Love is Free" was held at Fineline Music Cafe in Minneapolis last night, and was anything but the usual valentines day cliche. For one, it was a rap party. Completley organized and directed by Culture Cry Wolf's high energy frontman MC Adam "Botzy" Botsford, the night popped off with both Botzy and MC Wesley Opus spitting rhymes on a happy crowd. As the venue became more and more packed we heard sets from Kristoff Krane, El Guante & BigCats!, DJ Fundo SoulCrate, and Culture Cry Wolf.

Complete with a competition for "Best Dressed", Fineline's second level held a line for the photobooth, and local photographer Drew Carlson was behind the flashbulb. Which, in my opinion was WAY cooler than a kissing booth.

"And can bring fine results"

2010-06-11T06:11:00.005+13:00

Summer in the city. My days off are filled with home made Mojitos, backyard suntanning, Hidden Beach (if you don't know where this is, ask anyone under 30 in minneapolis!) Basement shows, and my current addictions: Vietnamese food in St Paul. My favorites include Pho Ca-Dao, Saigon (the best BAHN MI!) and Tay-Ho, which are all on University Avenue.

Night Kitchen

2010-05-11T06:03:00.014+13:00

There are few things in life more satisfying than staying up late and making things, especially if you are making things you can EAT afterwards. Especially if those things have been inspired by my recently discovered food blog, Smitten Kitchen. This infinite gamut of recipes was created by Deb and her husband, all in her tiny New York City apartment. Believe me, we are obsessed. Down to the recipe for "How to make iced coffee", every last recipe has turned out flawlessly. Its one o clock in the morning guys, and these Bleu cheese & Scallion Biscuits are the epitome of flawless.

New House

2010-05-07T05:15:00.001+13:00

Little Haunts

2010-05-05T04:02:00.003+13:00

Lazerz

2010-04-15T06:43:00.006+13:00

Make & Do

2010-04-13T05:36:00.002+13:00

Jacket Mechanical

2010-04-02T05:18:00.002+13:00

Inspiration via Jacket Mechanical

Booka B x Espada Remix

2010-03-26T08:56:00.005+13:00

Mpls DJ's/ Producer Booka B and Espada just released a new remix of Jackson 5's "Blame it on the Boogie". Not only do i love Jackson 5 but this remix kills it. Keep your eyes out for their upcoming EP in summer 2010 and while your at it check out Wants vs. Needs

Download Blame it on the Boogie.mp3

You can download the original produced instrumental for $.99 at http://www.nimbitmusic.com/bookab.

RIP Luther the Hermit Crab

2010-03-22T13:12:00.003+13:00

You Are Still Young

2010-01-29T17:49:00.002+13:00

Clock Radios & Cameras

2010-01-27T06:53:00.005+13:00

Art Crush: Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch

2010-01-11T05:08:00.009+13:00

I discovered Maxwell Loren Holyoke-Hirsch, an SF based illustrator, through his sketchbooks. Here is a page of his process, which i think is really interesting. Also, an interview.

Commodore PETS

2010-01-10T21:58:00.005+13:00

im going to start drawing these.

WINTER SKETCHBOOK

2010-01-08T17:34:00.027+13:00

Make Shit Mondays + Red Bustier

2010-01-04T19:36:00.016+13:00

I found some red fabric laying around my house and decided to make some kind of bustier. I don't know how to follow patterns so i just made one up, based on a silk slip i own. I also don't have a sewing machine so its all being done by hand. Mildly insane i know, but really, what else are you going to do when it is -30F outside? Uh yeah thats what i thought.

2010

2010-01-02T18:21:00.003+13:00

Cheese

2010-01-01T18:33:00.001+13:00

Me and Dorita Velveeta.

Friendsgiving

2009-12-04T12:30:00.009+13:00

Thrift Color

2009-10-18T15:03:00.004+13:00

Wasnt prepared for this

2009-10-11T14:57:00.004+13:00

Dear Fire Marshall, you are ruining my fun

2009-10-10T13:55:00.006+13:00

So lately some bummer things have been happening, like Fire Marshalls and Building Inspectors trying to shut our building down. I also lost my phone, and its led to some complicated interactions, since my old service is still in Wisconsin and they shut down customer service. (who does that). This weather has been so depressing- more than a week of overcast days and all i want to do when i get home is curl up and sleep! Some good news is that i finally got promoted at my job and get to do things like plan color-schemes and put up graphics all day. I think this weekend will be ok. I'm going to be a model for some platform artist.

Picture Wednesday

2009-10-07T13:48:00.002+13:00

Green Bike Rainy Day

2009-09-08T16:47:00.005+13:00

Welcum Malcum

2009-09-01T15:38:00.000+13:00

Friday Night

2009-08-14T18:41:00.005+13:00

not going out tonight

phone=off

chilling on the fire escape

drinking by myself

hella

Summer in the City

2009-08-10T02:33:00.004+13:00

(pics by bookab)

2 fer uh huh

2009-07-05T04:09:00.001+13:00

Alden vs. Mannequin

2009-06-12T03:33:00.006+13:00

smashin mannies in an alley

Convertables + Northeast

2009-06-10T03:17:00.001+13:00

Appletown

2009-06-07T05:22:00.003+13:00

i found a gem of a coffeeshop with my bro.

Moscato D'Asti

2009-06-06T18:01:00.000+13:00

Dear Kyndra, i found some. Like, alot of it.

Breakfast/Beach

2009-06-01T18:28:00.002+13:00

Anna and I found a beach this morning.

Door County Wedding

2009-05-30T16:42:00.000+13:00

Heavy on the Cute

2009-05-29T03:42:00.004+13:00

So tonight we got to our lil mom and pop inn. I'm going to be roomies this weekend with one of the other bridesmaids, her name is annah and she is way dope. Here is some pics of us being sober because all of the liquor stores closed at like, seven o clock, when all the old people go to bed, ha. Actually its because everything in door county is quaint & wholesome, like an oatmeal cookie.

We found a grip of vids stacked on the shelf, vids as in, videocassettes. Also, the bathroom was furnished with some alpine xtreme, incase you want to smell like pine trees when u are done milking cows and snackin on cheesecurds. (??)

creepy stuffed cats? yes please.

Things i have been thinking about lately

2009-05-06T18:01:00.001+13:00

Who sweats swine flu when u got a dope mask

omg bfffs lolz

2009-04-27T02:18:00.007+13:00

Porches/Southside

2009-04-18T03:06:00.002+13:00

HL/HL + Monica Canilao

2009-03-25T11:07:00.012+13:00

Lovely opening at Art of This gallery. Monica Canilao has been my biggest Art Crush this year, i was psyched to actually meet her!

Homies

2009-02-14T05:47:00.004+13:00

i fucken love this kid.

RIP

2009-01-01T15:59:00.004+13:00

We decided that, had Oliver been a human, he would have told us things like, "Whyz we not smoken more jointz" and would have spent his time eating Cool Ranch Doritos, chillin, and playing videogames at the spot.

Miracle on Lake st

2008-12-21T17:17:00.009+13:00

Midtown Madness.

Yarn & Coffee day

2008-12-17T05:10:00.005+13:00

I am starting my first real knitting project of the winter, a pair of big brown socks! Beginners socks, ha. Its going to be drop-stitch nation at my house for like, the next month. if you are bored, and you like knitting, peep my favorite knitting blog. I hope i'm that cool if i ever accidentally become a mom.

Lake St brides

2008-12-09T16:02:00.016+13:00

Found a bunch of windows pasted with faded catalog pages from like, the 90's or something. Creepy-smiley.

Lit Crush

2008-12-08T06:35:00.010+13:00

Literary Crush. Tony O Neil. Like Billy Burroughs. Except alive. His new book, " Down and Out on Murder Mile" can be copped here

'sconsin

2008-12-02T05:28:00.002+13:00

I went to visit my family for thanksgiving, and was fascinated by my moms boyfriends trailer, where we stayed. Wooden paneling, John Wayne, and peanut m&ms... all the time. Her boyfriend is real fond of after-dinner mints and puns, both of which i found mildly excessive.

Pandaween

2008-10-31T08:07:00.000+13:00

Summer Sketchbook

2008-10-29T08:46:00.005+13:00

Make Shit Mondays Home Made Hummus

2008-10-27T20:04:00.000+13:00

i haven't posted a make shit mondays post for a while but today is monday and i am whipping out a batch of hummus, that garlicky spread from the middle east that is really good with pita bread or chips. Its made mostly of chickpeas, which are shaped sort of like a bunch of tiny boobs.

It has only a few ingredients:

1 16 oz can of chickpeas or the same amount of boiled chickpeas
1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas, or water.
3-5 tablespoons lemon juice
1 1/2 tablespoons tahini
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons olive oil

First, drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Then, put everything in the blender and add the liquid you set aside. blend it for like 2 minutes or until its smooth.

i used limes instead of lemons, since our entire household has like ten million limes right now. we are currently in love with limes and we eat limes with everything. like the time i put limejuice in my coffee. ok that was a lie but you get the point.

also, a good idea if you are planning on ever being a super talented cook like me, always be prepared for potential glitches. Like a blender breaking and running out of olive oil and undercooking your chickpeas. i found this ancient hand crank blender in some drawer, because i am awesome.

actually, this whole recipe turned out terrible and now i have to clean nine million dishes and although i am smiling, i hate everything and i miss my mom.

k bye

Le House

2008-10-14T10:06:00.002+13:00

Hi fans, i moved to this really awesome space and i thought id brag.
k bye.

Things I have been thinking about lately

2008-07-29T04:14:00.007+13:00

New CocoRosie single

2008-07-28T04:42:00.000+13:00

its called God has a voice she speaks through me.

2008-07-09T08:24:00.000+13:00

Artcrush! Wolfgang Laib

2008-06-30T07:50:00.004+13:00

The Offbeat Generation

2008-06-07T16:58:00.010+13:00

A group of writers who call themselves "The Offbeat Generation" has currently pricked my interest, mainly for their anti-bourgeoisie, often vulgar themes, loose style, and hostility towards mainstream publishers. Coined by brit-lit Andrew Gallix of 3:AM Magazine, the off beat generation is a young conglomeration of styles, mostly focusing on commonplace experiences of the low-middle to lower classes. Notably web-based, themes include drugs, alcoholism, sex, alienation, poverty, non-conformity, anger, ect.

Arena describes them as: "Young, untamed, good-looking and as influenced by punk rock as they are by Proust, a new wave of loosely-linked writers dubbed The Off-Beat Generation have been blitzing the net"
Worth Checking: Gallix, Ben Myers, Tony O'Neill, Joseph Ridgewell, Adelle Stripeand Matthew Coleman.

Closely related to the Brutalist writers.

Artcrush! Barron Storey: Victims

2008-04-11T16:10:00.005+13:00

The prolific Barron Storey makes beautiful things. His last solo show at Ano Domini (San Jose) was inspired by his sculptures over the last 20 years. He also makes gorgeous journals which influenced John Copeland, who i probably want to marry.

Make Shit Mondays/Mom Time

2008-03-24T15:29:00.014+13:00

Spring break= beer, sewing, listening to the metallic falcons, more beer, smoking with my mom, beer with my mom, & baking mexican chocolate-cayenne cakes. with my mom. k bye.

CHOCOLATE CAYENNE CAKE

If you have never paired chocolate with cayenne pepper you should make this. Here is the recipe i followed:

1 1/2 cup flour
1 cup sugar
4 T. cocoa powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. cinnamon
1/2-3/4 t. cayenne pepper
1 t. vanilla extract
1 T. distilled white vinegar
5 T. vegetable oil
1 c. cold water
Confectioners' sugar for garnish

DIRECCIONES

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan.

In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa powder, and baking soda. Stir in the cinnamon, cayenne, vanilla, vinegar, oil, and water. Mix until just combined.

Pour into the prepared cake pan and cook for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Let cool.

Dust with the confectioners' sugar before serving. Or drizzle with the following spicy chocolate sauce.

(Makes 8 to 10 servings )

SPICY CHOCOLATE SAUCE

INGREDIENTS:

2 squares dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate

1/4 c. soy milk
1/2 c. sugar
3 T. vegan margarine
1/2 t. vanilla
Dash or two of cayenne pepper

Melt 2 squares of dark or semi-sweet chocolate with 1/4 cup water or soy milk. Stir constantly until the chocolate is melted. Stir in 1/2 cup sugar and cook, stirring constantly, for 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in 3 Tbsp. vegan margarine, 1/2 tsp. vanilla, and cayenne pepper, to taste.

i think this pairs nicely with Dos Equis... but then again, i think everything pairs nicely with Dos Equis.

Tattooz of Shipz & Tattooz of Tearz

2008-03-20T03:16:00.009+13:00

Bianca Casady, AKA Red Bone Slim, one half of the band CocoRosie, also applies her intrinsic animal-magic genius to the world of art. She had an exhibition a few months ago at the Deitch Projects in NYC, including painting, drawing, sculpture, video and installation art. Check out her website and the flickr photos from the exhibition.

Make Shit Mondays

2008-03-03T09:15:00.006+13:00

useless craft as leisure

please tell me you have forgotten how to make one of these gems,

because on mondays i teach you how to make things.

origami fortune tellers, for example:

and, if you haven't yet barfed up a baby bunny because of my overt cuteness, here is my stopmotion video:

now put four colors on the outsides and write numbers 1-8 on each inside triangle. Under each number flap write a salty fortune. i personally favor a simple, yet impertinent, "die."

pick a number pick a color

o, what was that, fate?

i'll have 12 children and a sod farm? shit.

Blogameraderie

2008-02-28T21:04:00.011+13:00

...Currently following the trend of posting bad pictures of my friends, because thats what rich bitches do. This was my mid week coffee date that turned into a politics-fest, joined by elderly man at adjacent table. i also drew in my sketchbook which is what i do by default every time i am anywhere.

johnny kelly + oscar wilde.

(yeah i hang out with oscar wilde, he's dope.)

peter getting religious

& what i did the entire time

(besides being sickenly adorable 24/7)

Last Day on Medicine Lake

2008-02-24T12:06:00.011+13:00

Yesterday was the last day of the annual collaborative Art Shanty project on the frozen-over Medicine Lake. Tundra meets tiny carnival, midwest style. We bought some beers and i took some pictures.

robot arm. ice robot. ice.

yea, climbing inside the robot. Go here for a robot video.

shanty of misfit toys. kinda like my room when i was ten.

k-ice radio station shanty

goes nicely with our friend, pbr, because we are that classy

karaoke shanty

denziens of the ice-world

RIP

2008-02-19T14:16:00.012+13:00

Polaroid Company announced the shutting down of their factories last week, resulting in no more square-shaped instant satisfaction. It may be due to my 20-something cynicism, but its happening again...The slow usurping of what was once all my childhood delight. Is it just me, or does it seem like everything that entertained us as ten year olds suddenly disappeared or got stupid? Barbie, for example. And the WWF.

Date with myself/Ispanakli Yumurta

2008-02-16T07:18:00.001+13:00

As you know, i've undertaken Turkish cooking as a new geek hobby. Since i don't have a boyfriend to be all cute with and cook breakfast for, this is a dish i made for myself this morning called Ispanakli Yumurta, and is basically eggs, onion, spinach, salt, black pepper, garlic, and crushed red pepper. I know, it's like i'm grown up or something.

Afiyet olson.

Vintage Valentine innuendo

2008-02-10T14:58:00.002+13:00

If you lived in the early 50's, this is what you'd find in your sixth grade cubby, with an invitation to the Soda Shoppe after sewing club. A chocolate shake for a quarter? Check yes or no. Forget what your mother told you about boys. She's a square.

The wake

2008-02-07T18:53:00.000+13:00

The fortnightly student magazine of the University of Minnesota just launched their new website www.wakemag.org, featuring band interviews, intelligent articles, art, and cool videos. check back often, there's new stuff all the time.

Gravity's Rainbow

2008-02-03T12:25:00.000+13:00

"Don't worry, this book is not some hippie word- association game."

Zak Smith, also known as Zak Sabbath, indie porn star, makes art. I just got his book of 760 drawings called Gravity's Rainbow illustrated and its amazing. He's mainly based in NY, but his drawings were at the Walker this fall, and also at Kavi Gupta in Chicago. Check it.

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

2008-01-30T17:07:00.000+13:00

Instead of whimpering about the -30 windchill, your empty stomach, and lack of a decent bottle of booze, check out www.freerice.com Its a game that builds your vocabulary and donates rice to starving people, which is totally legit. Props to the WFP, hard-to-spell words, and creative minds.

Dumpster diving for pets

2008-01-28T00:08:00.000+13:00

Just before break my roommate Scott found this stray black cat in a trash can. We already have a black six toed cat named Hex, so keeping with the knowledge that black cats commune with Satan, we are naming this one Pentagram. He's apparently experiencing a post-traumatic kitten-hood, because its like he's on crack all the time.

Coffee & Cigarettes

2008-01-27T19:26:00.000+13:00

Last night Davy & I drove to St. Paul to sketch & drink coffee at Mickey's Diner on West 7th st. This tiny gem was made in 1937 and shipped by rail to MN from New Jersey, and it is the last vintage dining car in minnesota. Kitschy, cramped, and... amazing.

This is what happened. We stayed there until morning.

He's a prolific son-of-a-bitch, damn near as magnificent as the sun.

2008-01-26T13:04:00.002+13:00

I have spent the day eluding a colossus of homework, reading "Love is a Dog From Hell" by Bukowski, and generally being irresponsible with my time. There is a certain satisfaction to being anti social as of late, with nothing to drink but pot after pot of black coffee, and nothing to eat but near rotten oranges. Was anyone going to tell me how different the world looks without money in your pocket? The cold, the strangers, the empty sound that buses make. Its all covered in a coat of exciting, prospective danger. Being broke is sort of romantic they say, but i could argue being perpetually poor is not. Yet I feel that the more I lack, the more creative I am forced to become.

"Sometimes you just have to pee in the sink" -Bukowski

Qui vive

2008-01-26T11:07:00.001+13:00

You would think that since love apparently makes the world go round,

there would be a slew of inspiring + original websites dedicated to the subject. Not. Although Valentines Day is my favorite holiday, primarily because of all the chocolate, i kindof feel cheated. All this terrible webpage design is enough to make even the most avid chocolate connoisseur vomit up a decadent truffle.

Instead i happened upon this anti-valentine video by the brilliant,

multi-talented Ze Frank, whom i adore not only as an

intellectual humorist,but also as an artist and web designer.

Some of his collaborative assignments/projects are really interesting.

And, sidenote, he is rather attractive when he has facial hair.

Coban Salatasi + my small turkish heart

2008-01-26T05:26:00.000+13:00

Turkish coffee is one of the best things in the world. Ever since that fateful midumers day when my turkish grandfather held a garden party in the backyard of his home, i have been increasingly interested in my family's heritage. And craving borkek! This week you'll find me in the kitchen with a lot of eggplant and zucchini.