Joel Luks

Creative, Nutty, and all around good guy. Vegan, avid cook loving ethnic foods, flutist and a sucker for rhythmically strong music. Love home design and have a passion for the aesthetic and learning, talking and experiencing art.

More about me at joelluks.com

Posts

April 10, 12:32 AM
Aspen Music Festival Music Director Quits. Unexpectedly?

I can certainly pin point my formative years and specific life changing moments. It's hard to forget them. Sometimes they serve as a rite of passage, others are traumatic events that can leave us forever tainted. Some remain engraved in our memories as the happiest days of our lives.

My dad always told me to enjoy my life as a student. And that I did, to a fault. 

I spent my college years obsessing over a cylindrical metal object with holes and keys: the flute. Pierre the slightly arrogant gold flute, Sparky the playful but twisted silver one and Hercules (aka Mariah) the piccolo. And five of those summers were a privilege at the Aspen Music Festival and School. I still have all the programs, an endless myriad of pictures, lifelong friendships, and exponential personal, artistic and professional growth. 

During my summers there I wore a fedora and I was nicknamed Indiana Jew. I hiked, I jumped off of a cliff (paraglide), I pseudo-climbed mountains experiencing epic views of the continental divide, I cooked to make money, ushered, had a few love affairs, drank too much, gorged in the local gourmet cuisine, house sat, became a dog walker, developed a love for 70s tunes (at the Tipler), I organized a rafting trip, I learned that I loved working with kids (thanks to a wonderful Debbie Barnekow whose dog Sadie threw up on me), lost weight, gained weight, was featured on one of those wedding shows, and developed a crush on my roommate and had my heart broken.

Oh yes, and then there was the music. 

I could name drop for days: conductors, musicians, administrators, lecturers, etc. But the first time I was introduced to David Zinman was a day I would not forget. Bonita Boyd, my teacher at Eastman where I did my undergrad had played under his baton for many years at the Rochester Philharmonic. She introduced me to him and his wife as they were walking their enormous but quirky poodle.

There were many influential musical and aesthetic moments. Whether it was playing Prokofiev's Classical Symphony at superhuman speed - I felt as smoke should come out of my keys and the woodwind section should spontaneously combust -  earning the first flute fellowship, and blasting the alto flute part on the Rite of Spring, David Zinman conducting.

David Zinman recently and abruptly quit, although it was brewing slowly like the orgasmic cadence in Tristan's Prelude. The festival was recently shortened for a week, the CEO fired and rehired, faculty cuts and disagreements as fundraising goals were missed and tensions arose out of financial concerns. This is not unique to the Aspen Music Festival (pause) and School, but rather general economic difficulties that plague almost all arts non-profits. What would Michael Kaiser say to this? How would he handle it.

I think we are all watching to see what Alan Fletcher, the president and CEO will do. Or is he perhaps the next in line to go elsewhere. Most non-profits are revolving doors, although I remember Aspen being quite stable during my time from 1997-2001. Whether it was Dean Hal's presence and his dog Copland, I am thrilled that I was given the opportunity to experience Aspen.

So, who will follow David Zinman? Any guesses? 


Pictures: 
1. Flute studio with Nadine Asin and Murry Sidlin after a performance of Steve Reich's Vermont Counterpoint for way too many flutes, piccolos and altos.
2. My first catered lunch at Martha Aarons masterclass. 
3. A drive to independence pass with roommates, sushi chef from Takasushi and friends. 
4. Martha Aarons and I after a ridiculous performance of Prokofiev's Classical Symphony
5. Flute section with Mark Sparks after honking the hell out of Bartok's Miraculous Mandarin. 



April 04, 10:07 AM
Making Contemporary Music Relevant
Have we lost our way? Have the arts become so esoteric in artists' efforts to find a new voice that we no longer have an access point? Has artistic and aesthetic language expanded so much that one needs a deciphering dictionary to have a chance at relating?

The answer is no. A big resounding no. But a a hint, a lending hand, and a tour guide is definitely helpful. Anthony Brandt, a composer with Musiqa, explains that art is progressing, but its direction cannot be foreshadowed. Unlike technology where there may be some directed research, in the arts, if it can be imagined now, there is nothing stopping from realizing it now. It's an interesting comparison. Perhaps in certain circumstances the expectation of new technology can open more tools of expression. But it does seem that foretelling artistic direction seems futile.

In the short time that I have been exposed to Musiqa's concerts, I have appreciated their ability to bridge a formal concert experience with an informal salon setting. With the addition of comfortable and personal introductions, contemporary music changes from the wrongfully given cold, intellectual and incomprehensible reputation to energetic, accessible, and dare I say cool and trendy? Music by dead composers is so yesterday. Add some delicacies by Monica Pope's Plum Catering and I am sold.

"Imaginary Scenes" presented a well balanced program of Music by Musiqa composers Rob Smith, Karim Al-Zand, as well as Stockhausen, Wynton Marsalis, Hamza el Din choreographed by Houston Ballet's own Stanton Welch.

Rob Smith's Hot Seat (1997) balanced a sense of danger from wild and unpredictable syncopations, sexy interrupted burlesque jazz and flowing transparent liquid imagery. Karim Al-Zand's Imaginary Scenes (2005) presented four thematically and compositionally cohesive pieces in somewhat symphonic form. Sonorities are pseudo drunk impressionist. If the love child of Debussy and Ravel married Francaix then developed a drinking problem and Freudian psychosis, it would explain the light smirky and, at times, somewhat twisted affect. 

For those that do not think musical performance is an athletic feat, Stockhausen's The Little Harlequin (1975) left me breathless. The demands placed on clarinetist Carlos Cordeiro near implausibility with the inclusion of rhythmical foot stomps, jumps, twirls, yoga tree poses and constant movement while executing virtuosic passages that reach beyond most people's concept of the clarinet's higher range.

Collaborating with Houston Ballet II, Stanton Welch choreographed the only notated movement of Hamza El Din's Fingerprints (1971). Originally for the oud (arabic lute), El Din transcribed it for the Kronos Quartet and tar,  a single-headed frame drum from North Africa and the Middle East. Satisfying my love for ethnic music and exotic sonorities, the effect was tantalizing and hypnotic. Coupled dancers appeared and disappeared seamlessly with flowing and somewhat stylized movement that echoed the music's strength. The zebra print fluid skirts magnified and intensified the physical movements, adding a natural and almost supernatural element. The costumes by London based designer Kandis Cook allowed dancers to unify creating pseudo mythological imagery.

If you missed this, it's your loss.

Picture: Stanton Welch answering a questions about the costumes (they were NOT skirts). From right to left: Karim Al-Zand, Rob Smith and Anthony Brandt.
April 02, 07:45 AM
Once Upon a time...Our Late Night

Once upon a time, it was the dawn of time, it was a dark and stormy night, it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, and call me Ishmael are amidst the most well known opening lines. Although most of them are tired clichés that give most middle school teachers heart burn, we can't help be drawn to them. Perhaps Our Late Night can be in a similar category as the start of a series of pseudo implausible stories that we tell in order to sensationalize our evening and elevate our social butterfly insanity status in front of friends and colleagues. Why the need to do that? I am sure that is entrenched and pre-programmed not unlike wanting to kill father and sleep with mother.

It is difficult to categorize and criticize Catastrophic Theatre's productions, but one surely can react to them. I am always up for a program that warns that it is "recommended for brave audiences with strong constitutions." Anything that keeps me thinking, laughing and saying what the fuck the next morning has certainly met the goal of challenging and expanding my aesthetic and cultural experiential vocabulary. 

Wallace Shawn, as an actor, is perhaps better known for awkward dorky roles such as love challenged Mr. Hall in Clueless. But as a playwright, his work is dark, sexually and politically charged with a dash of controversy. From Shawn's perspective, Our Late Night explores the necessity of dreams and the differences between daytime (as influenced by aesthetic objects) and nighttime slumber.

We all have had somewhat surreal evenings where perhaps due to our own idiosyncrasies sprinkled with chemicals have led to bizarre situations, or perhaps, bizarre recollection of the situations. Our Late Night hones in and out of cohesive and broken conversations between seven colorful characters. At times we connect, at times we laugh at the ridiculousness, at times we feel uncomfortable and creepy, like intruding in what should be private moments: Voyeurism. Seems like that is the theme du jour.

Are we all really that dark but afraid to blurt out our inner most fetishes and fantasies? I could almost compare Our Late Night  to the intersection of German expressionism, Magritte-esque sexual surrealism with a hint of freudian psychosis. At any rate, Catastrophic Theater lives up to their reputation, "we will destroy you."

Highly recommended. You may never think of jelly, the tropics, and feathers in the same fashion again. Playing through April 3rd at Diverseworks. 
April 02, 07:56 AM
Once upon a time...there was a flute

The flute, in any of its versions, holds a unique place in cultural, folkloric and mythological traditions and history. Yes, the flute is special. May I dare say much more so than any other instrument? Perhaps the drum comes close. The Indians have the bansuri (Krishna apparently was a virtuoso), the Chinese have the "di", Japanese have the shakuhachi, the Armenians have the sring, the Irish fife, the Incan quena, nose flutes, the ney, xiao, kaval, danso, anasazi, zampoña, ocarina, and the biggest of all, yes, the organ.


Meeting a Native American flute maker at the Bayou City Arts Festival opened up my eyes to the cool history and aesthetic associations of the instrument, both in terms of the western concert flute and others. 

I am reminded of the delicious, sensual and smokey opening of Debussy's Prélude à l'après-midi d-un faune, where the flute exposes a sense of eroticism mirroring the Stephane Mallarme poem, its main inspiration. It describes a faun's encounters with water nymphs in a pseudo-dreamlike state after waking up from his afternoon slumber (pictured left is Manet's depiction of the faune). The exotic chromaticism of Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé ravishing flute solo awakens the memory of Pan (god of shepherd, flocks, mountain wilds, hunting and rustic music) who made a flute out of reeds to commemorate his love for Syrinx (a nymph known for her chastity) who was transformed into hollow water reeds that made a haunting sound to avoid him. The name of the pan flute is derived from this story.  The tale is deliciously hot. At any rate, is it time for a cigarette?

And then there's Syrinx, the solo flute piece by Debussy, based on Pan's sadness for losing his love. Death. Tragedy. Passion. Another cigarette. Add a martini. 

Popular in the baroque period and largely ignored in romanticism other than a few Brahms solos in his first and fourth symphony and a Schubert tour the force (yes and some other horribly cheesy theme and variations), my talk with Gillermo Martinze made me think about the special attributes that would allow the flute to make a comeback and become a favorite among impressionist and post-impressionist composers. Guillermo Martinez reminded me about one more trait: spirituality and the supernatural. 

I am not referring to Mozart's Die Zauberflöte or Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice but rather legends of its origins. Native American culture links the flute to the spirit world and has, just as many cultures have their own creation story, many legends that give its birth a supernatural element. To read a few, click here. Whether the impressionists were aware of this at a conscious or unconscious level is of no concern to me, but rather justification for using it to carry this type of symbolism.

Gillermo's flutes themselves bridge the craft of instrument making with spiritual and artful elements. Inspired by dreams and visions, Gillermo incorporates the horse in this gorgeous creation. The horse symbol is widespread through many cultures as the emblem of the life force and is assigned the attributes of the four elements: Earth, Fire, Air and Water. In Native American culture specifically, it combines the grounded power of the Earth with the whispers of wisdom found in the spirit winds. The horse is a honored helper and messenger. It harbors spirit knowledge and is considered an wild emblem of freedom. There is mutual respect, awareness, and responsibility when man enters into a silent contract with the animal.

I love when instrument making goes beyond craft. To learn more about Gillermo and his flutes, visit http://www.quetzalcoatlmusic.org/.

March 17, 02:18 PM
Thinking about Bars, in Bars, and through Bars

Whether you believe in green beer or a pint of Guinness, St. Patrick's day is celebrated by the Irish to remember their patron saint. The philosophy? Eat, drink, and be merry. It's festive, I dig it, although I am not much of a drinker these days. The only thing that could make it better, is art.

The concept of art in bars is not by any means new. Art and wine pair beautifully together, and slight inebriation eases collectors wallets to enhance their private collection. This has expanded into a trend where some progressive bars showcase art work to show collaboration with the local scene, use it as PR strategy, as well as donate a portion of their tabs towards an artist or non-profit. Think about it. It's plain brilliant. Some people do not want to go to a gallery per se, but a brew is always a welcome companion.

Let's think about our own experiences in bars. Typically, we arrive at the conclusion to visit one for a variety of reasons: we are meeting a friend for a simple chat, or a group for raucous sinful fun, we need to get drunk and forget, looking to people watch, therapy session with the bar tender, and other less honorable activities. But we never directly look for drama, although sometimes, drama finds us. Unexpectedly. Sometimes the appearance of alcohol lowers our inhibitions and inadvertently we are drama.

Horse Head Theater production of Stephen Belber's Fault Lines shows us that our perception of the strength of our relationships may be confused. What appears to be solid ground may indeed start shifting, at first unnoticeably, then forcefully until we are forced to make a choice. What begins as an innocent meeting between two friends to rekindle a friendship turns into a test of character, morality, trust, loyalty, and love. Although this are things we readily do not associate with bar scenes, digging deep into my past, I can see where all of these have been tested, at one level or another.

As you celebrate tonight, try not to be the drama. But I would encourage you to check out Horse Head Theater's Fault Lines. And get one of their cool mugs.
March 14, 07:04 PM
Animals and Things that Stick

Sometimes unexpected things haunt your memory. Perhaps an experience, a look, a traumatic or joyful event, and sometimes something banal. As I go through the weekend overwhelmed at the boundless events in such a limited amount of time, I explore what sticks and what is fleeting.

I can't help put a marketing hat on. From a for-profit basis, we are constantly researching the creation of products and marketing strategies to create a "purple cow." Seth Godin describes purple cow as a remarkable product with a remarkable marketing strategy. Something, that people want, that communicates, and sticks out. So when something sticks, I want to question: why?

Interestingly, in researching the origin, I came across "Purple Cow: Reflections on a Mythic Beast Who's Quite Remarkable, at Least", a well known poem by Gelett Burgess written in 1895. Although it is best to leave this more as a humorous little rhyme, according to the title, it is better to be anything than boring.
I never saw a purple cow;
I never hope to see one;
but I can tell you anyhow;
I'd rather see than be one!
In regards to art, I am reminded of Michael Kaiser's strategy: exception art + creative marketing strategies = successful fundraising. Quite similar in message, different in level of sophistication.

So why does my memory commits to Allison Hunter's Zoosphere on display at Diverseworks? Purple cow? Well not that literal, but certainly trumpeting elephants, birds in flight, herding zebras, barking sea lions, a giant toad, and an unidentifiable peeping tom-esque eye come to mind. A quick tour: http://www.allisonhunter.com/Art/zoosphere.html.

Hunter shifts my paradigm. In an urban environment, we often recognize animals as exhibits and forget that indeed, they have an essential place in our natural world. Threatened with extinction, awareness of these species does not infiltrate our everyday. In this engaging active space, Hunter video installation challenges us to rethink our relationship with them by transferring to an aesthetic venue. Is there meaning in their movements? Is there sublime beauty in the frogs movement? Can animals truly be part of the aesthetic experience? How would the world change without their existence?


The eye of this unidentified animal, although I speculate is a turtle or some sort of a reptile, shifts the players. Are we watching them, or are we the exhibit? More importantly, are we being judged?

All rather big questions that lead us to think about eco subjects and revaluate our responsibility to them. As a species, we have taken control over a almost all natural elements, and our human footprint in the world is rather destructive. I am forced to think about the environmental forces that are omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent at some level. At some point, are we worried that these will take over? I believe we all agree that there are many examples of that already in progress.

So that is what sticks. On display until April 17, 2010.
March 13, 12:59 AM
How much time can a single image represent?


I have always known this, but it is nice to be able to verbalize it and put it out there. Similar to the mantra that admitting something is the first step to recovery, I have been made aware that accessible art (in my own aesthetic language and experience) is just boring and I most likely will not be interested in it. Accessibility is a personal continuum. In essence, if I can figure it out quickly, it is as interesting as a shiny object: it can only hold my attention for a short period of time.

Perhaps thats one of the reasons why banal comedy holds my interest for all but two seconds. After the initial chuckle, I am done. So, what are the things that are able to hold my attention? That which allows for an experience (aesthetic), a thought (academic), and engages me in narrative.

Today was a fun day of art and aesthetic exploration. Looking at 18th Century works of Benjamin West, John Singleton Copley, and Jonathan Trumbull at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, I explored different genres from the highly regarded historical paintings, portraits, the "lower brow" landscapes, most of which explore narrative and character development. The portraits hold clues that tells a story about a person. Historical depictions capture a turning point in socio-political development, while dramatic landscapes evoke a sense of awe. The seascapes of William Turner (pictured above Sheerness as seen from the Nore, 1808), for example, explore the sublime which in "aesthetics, the sublime (from the Latin sublimis ([looking up from] under the lintel, high, lofty, elevated, exalted) is the quality of greatness or vast magnitude, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual or artistic. The term especially refers to a greatness with which nothing else can be compared and which is beyond all possibility of calculation, measurement or imitation." However, I do believe this greatness is fleeting. Once we are exposed to something aesthetic, it has the power to loose its power. I call this a sublime aesthetic orgasm. We look for more.

Ever notice that the words sublime (elevated) and subliminal (unnoticed, below the surface) are related? One theory states it has to do with a threshold after which our response is unexpected and uncontrollable, whether aware or unaware. I diverge. Tangents are fun.

Most of these 18th century works employ and suggest narrative by what is included around the subject. Sometimes, they even imply different stages of the linear story line. I encountered an artist at Lawndale Art Center that attempts to do the exact opposite: juxtaposing time and narrative to create an interesting aesthetic image that attains what the artist affectionately calls gorgeousness. Chuck Ivy (pictured below Untitled Film Composite #24 from Tapeheads, 2009) questions "How much time can a single image represent?" The key to his questions lies in the semantics. He is not interested in the narrative aspect, but rather the passage of time's ability to create something sublime.

We are wired to find narrative in things. The challenge here is too look at the images without attempting to attach narrative values, but rather appreciate the abstract colors, shapes, composition, and depth.

Chuck Ivy's collection at Lawndale in partnership with Dan Havel "Dirty Secrets from the Cataract Cinema" is breathtaking, challenging, not readily accessible and holds my attention for a long time. Worth taking the time to explore.

Links:
March 09, 12:37 AM
Big Questions and Inner Dialogue
Yes. I talk to myself. Sometimes little harmless conversations that may have to do with strange behavioral idiosyncrasies, others with big unanswerable (and somewhat pointless) existential content. Or not.

After a company event at L'Auberge du Lac where I miserably failed at gambling, I returned rushed to Midtown to catch Mildred's Umbrella Theater's production "Flu Season." Enjoying a breakfast of champions consisting of bloody mary's and crown and coke on our way there, I sobered up in the "buffat" and took a slight nap on the way back. A day like this makes internal dialogue so much more active as you go through different stages of psychosis. Excitement. Alcohol. Munchies. Cigarettes. Junk Food. Water. Nap. Sickness. Theater. Home. Dog.

Maybe it was this heterogenous roller coaster that put me in such a contemplative state to make "Flu Season" so exceptionally effective, or perhaps it was just fucking awesome. At any rate, it dealt with a similar range of dialogues: internal, external, connected and disjunct. Yes people do experience joy in winter and some do get cancer in a bright summer day. Life is not full of pathetic fallacy where winter is always the season of death while summer is cheerfully happy. If you'd live in Houston for one season cycle, you'd know this intimately.

"Flu Season" is about a lot of things, including playwriting, interpretation of events, failing positivity, hope and the inevitability of falling into darkness. It tells a linear story of a man and a woman falling in and out of love in Crossroads, a psychiatric facility, with asides from non-participating characters. Do you remember a moment in your life that changed the course of your history? You will be challenged with rather large questions like this or rather funny ironies like questioning whether two people can be alone.

I have always enjoyed the casual nature of Mildred's ambiance and the professionalism of their productions. Grab a beer and enjoy. You'll have just a few more days to catch this. More info here:

Picture above: set of Flu Season. Although I have to admit, I spent some time figuring out how these tetris-esque graphics fit together, it also made me think as to the disjunct and seemingly complicated and unpredictable pieces and somehow fit to make us psychologically whole.

March 06, 04:47 PM
PETA Conspires with Bengal Tiger to Eliminate Complete Indian Village

Humor me. It's late and I am under the narcoleptic haze (a la Bayadere style) of french fries dipped in hummus.

I am seriously thinking that Houston Ballet's La Bayadere, aka the Temple Dancer is a huge conspiracy similar to the terrorist methods of a suicide bomber as they try to annihilate a group of people. PETA, I believe, talked a Bengal tiger, let's call him Tony, into sacrificing himself in order to create a chaotic love polygon ending in the destruction of the the main temple in mythic India, killing everyone. Somehow, the snake got jealous and had to participate in the demise of mythic Indians (which by the way were wearing delicious costumes). How original sin-esque.

PETA was counting on people's stupid naivete regarding such a ridiculous false feeling of falling in "love" like it is ever perfect. They weren't counting on the high rate of divorce, the hours of counseling needed to work out why don't you take out the garbage and you spent how much type of issues. If they knew what their therapist and botox treatments would cost (thanks to stress wrinkles), they would have happily accepted the Tony as a pet and moved on.

Somehow, ballet makes falling in love magical. Being swept off your feet takes on a more literal meaning.

I love going to the ballet. But I have to admit, last night's experience was a deliciously strange combination of fast narrative, feature numbers within the story line, and some that really added nothing to story development except artistic and aesthetic eye/soul candy. And lots of piccolo. Lots and lots of stereotypical cutely annoying piccolo playing in what should have been the afterlife or Kingdom of Shades.

Moral of the story, don't kill a Bengal tiger or all everyone will end up dead. And PETA didn't count on afterlife reunions. So at the end, the guy gets the girl, and the girl gets the guy.

Photo: Ballet La Bayadère. Dancer: Melody Herrera and Connor Walsh. Choreographer: Stanton Welch. Photo: Pam Francis.


January 24, 05:15 PM
Experimenting with Public Naughtiness
Like the force, we have a light side and a dark side. I believe even the most righteous people often have unpure thoughts and if we have learned anything from Catholicism, we are all sinners and will spend our lives routinely in confession. For jews, it is once a year. We figure, let the sins accumulate and do one massive fasting forgiveness orgy (followed by honey cake and chinese buffet) and hope for forgiveness, because if not, you die. Well, you are not written in the book of life, which by process of elimination means you are done.

So, I am confessing on my behalf and on yours. We are obsessed with other people. We can't help it as it is part of our anthropological disposition. History, in a nut shell, is about linking the past to the present through the actions of what sometimes feels like fictional characters. Our raison d'etre can be explained by looking back. However, what we are taught are the major accomplishments, the quotes, the speeches, the discoveries, the product that somehow guided history this way and that.

But behind all these seemingly great events, there are regular people that eat, sleep, and yes go to the bathroom, release gas, pick their nose, and have physical and emotional idiosyncrasies that usual escape our study, unless they happen to be interesting in their own right. For example, Beethoven loosing hearing towards his later years in life, or Napoleon having a complex, of perhaps Einstein failing mathematics. But can you imagine Marie Antoinette going number 2?

It is true that for most of our lives, we interact with a myriad of people, most of which present just a facade at some degree. There are private moments that we never get to see, learn and experience, and we are relieved that most do not get to share our private, intimate, and perhaps somewhat embarrassing moments. Did you ever loose yourself playing air guitar or conducting a rambunctious movement of a Shostakovich Symphony? Or perhaps slobber, snore, and say horribly inappropriate things in your sleep? Maybe you like you pick your ear and smell the wax?

Diverseworks presented the US premiere of Voyeur, the latest performance installation by Australian-based Company Clare Dyson that explores notions of intimacy, desire, and the act of revealing. Thought-provoking, it made me explore how many private moments exist in our lives, what it would feel to be watched, and how we respond when watching others. At times forbidden, erotic, naughty, tender, and sometimes hilarious, we walked into a world of the unknown, where we had a chance to explore this curiosity, with permission from the artists, but acknowledging our curiosity with the other 30 or so folks in the active audience.

The work presented took the following form: on stage, a closed performance spaced was created with drywall. Holes of different sizes, shapes, and heights were placed strategically around the space. You were given the option of where to watch, move around and change perspectives. There were also monoculars, as well headphones to "hear" the dancers thoughts, one for the male another female. To see a video, visit http://www.dysonindustries.com.au/performance/voyeur/film.html

Here, we truly explore the banal of the everyday, while intruding into the space and choosing our point of view, exposing the vulnerability of the artist, and exploring our own taboo for engaging in voyeurism in plain view of others doing the same thing. As much as we watch the artists, we also notice other eyes prying out of other peepholes, creating a humbling and accepting experience. We connect, we are being seen, without identifying ourselves.

I leave with many questions after exploring a taboo that I had not experienced before. I have the sense that I want to smile, and take a shower at the same time. Yes, we all have a dark side. We just have to be brave and open enough to admit it.
January 10, 12:48 AM
The 64 Million Dollar Question

It is much easier to understand the evolution (if one can call it that) of artistic movements in retrospect. Evolution is perhaps not the right noun as it implies that to evolve means to develop and to get better. To claim that one artistic movement is better than another is not only unfair, it is just plain nonsensical (although naturally, we can be drawn to one over another). I find it particularly successful to examine this as it relates to visual art. From experimentation of perspective, to the discovery of orthogonal lines, foreshortening, trompe l'oeil, realism, baroque, impressionism, cubism, fauvism, suprematism, abstraction, etc. I have left quite a few out in the interest of simplicity, but one can certainly deduce that in visual art, the general movement has been from figurative to abstract.


The definition of what is art becomes more difficult today. In an age where everything goes, how does one distinguish between art, things that have artistic merit or artifacts, or things that appeal to our aesthetic judgement? It is easier to ask this question having a little background of where we have been, where we are, and indulging in the temptation to hypothesize where we are going.

I recently read in another blog the notion that opera Da Capo arias (basically, musical form where the first part is a complete musical form, the second contrasting, followed by a repeat of the first) are somewhat not received well due to their redundant nature as they do not further the plot. They just repeat and depend on the agility and artistic ingenuity of the performer to embellish the repeated first section. Audiences would have been able to identify the improvisational quality and be satisfied with the ingenuity and novelty. Today, the style may seem antiquated, as the novelty does not have the same impact. We are exposed to more and unless performed with the highest artistic merit, it does little for us. We are desensitized.

Look at the content of popular programming. It follows the same pattern. Novelty lessens the efficacy of older programs. The amount and degree of profanity, violence, indecency increases, allowing these to become less shocking and acceptable in our modern vernacular.

In general, audiences have trouble with contemporary music questioning what makes it music, more so, what makes it art music. But I'd argue that although earlier music styles like classical, baroque, and romantic periods are easily identified as art music, most will have difficulty explaining why and appreciate and understand its context.

In a Musiqa (Houston based non-profit committed to presenting contemporary art music) performance tonight, I appreciated the composers vulnerability to explain their works and allow for a Q and A post performance. I asked what composer Anthony Brandt labelled as the 64 Million dollar question: where are we in art today and is it fair to ask to forsee the future of classical music?

I received one of the best answers. Unlike technology where progress is somewhat predictable (although the effect may not be), if one can think of it today, it can be done today. If I can predict what can be done tomorrow, there is no reason why it cannot or would not be done today. Meaning, predicting the direction of art movements is an impossibility.

Art movements have always carried some sort of tradition from the past while at the same time rejecting another. In a time of extreme artistic clutter, confusion, and overwhelming variety, would it be fair to predict a rejection to a neo-simplistic period of easily identifiable styles in easily recognizable formats? Has the pendulum swung so far one way and it is inevitable to swing back the other?


December 13, 05:58 PM
Recognizing Art
We are the last and only surviving members of the genus Homo. Homo Sapiens or "wise men" refers to humans, but only those that have a highly developed brain, capable of abstract reasoning, language, introspection and problem solving. I consider myself one, in more ways that one.

We like to put labels on things: this is my handle, this is my spout. When get tired of directly labeling, we use comparisons. When we feel the need to go beyond the explicit and implicit comparisons into the poetic, we enter the subjective realm of metaphors. Art exists somewhere in between this continuum. In between the extreme and narrow direct representation labeling, to the highly abstract, non-figurative and symbolic, we have the ability to find an access point into the work. Some works cover more of the continuum which allows for diverse entry points and open different interpretation tangents, where others are much more narrow, offering limited paths of discourse. More so, I find the extremes of this continuum are much more difficult to access aesthetically, and our response becomes more logical, directed, and intellectual.

Defining art is nearly impossible. The artistic fields are no longer clearly defined. The classical arts made it easier for us to distinguish theater, music, visual, and dance. Things that have artistic merit but did not fall into these categorizes are a kind of art: cultural artifacts. Cross-discipline artists, technology, globalization and exponential communication mediums have expanded the realm and continue to challenge the art compass. At the same time, the labels continue to be created as our drive to classify and arrange our world into neat compartments remains a part of our anthropological make-up.

So unless these works are shown to us in context which can easily be recognized as artistic works (i.e. a gallery, museum, performance, etc.), sometimes it can really be difficult to recognize art. The last art essay discussion group at the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, we dove right into the intersection of science in, about and through art. This is not a new concept. I am a believer that cultural contexts always show up in artists genres, so whatever happens to be in the forefront of anthropological development will make an appearance.

We can use science as a tool (as in computer music), as a vehicle (as in photography or film) or as a topic. One could argue that science has always been used as a tool in the creation of instruments (in seeking the most resonant sound and stable scales) and paint (creating colors hues, and textures). Da Vinci's Vitruvian man attempts to explain classical architectural proportions through the canon of proportions. Although some may argue that this is an example of blend between art and science, one could question where this is an illustration for explanation purposes. Artistic merit, or artistic components does not equate to a work of art. For example, I think we could all agree that a toilet bowl cleaner designed by Michael Graves, as pretty as it can be, would not enter the realm of art, unless it was displayed in a box in a museum somewhere.
A retinal exam can produce such gorgeous images that could be confused for art without any further need for manipulation.
Images of the Hubble telescope are fantastic and appear to be beyond the realm of most people's realities, that can explicitly provoke an aesthetic response beyond its documentary and illustrative purposes.

In the discussion group, a participant explained: "if you do something so well that it pushes the envelop of that field, it becomes artistic and can be considered art." I think this measure can be applied sometimes. I recall a discussion on the topic of culinary arts. Some chefs employ such virtuosic techniques in their craft, that combining the presentation with preparation techniques can present something so spectacular and unexpected that it transcends craft. Can cooking then become a performing art of some sort? An interaction between artist and audience where the consumer becomes a performer?
So, does art then become about the original intent of the work? Seems like this would be a natural place to start: the origins. After all, since we always seem to be fascinated with stories, histories and where things came from, it would be logical to conclude that to recognize art you have to look at the intent at the starting point. But that is not always accessible, existent, and practical.

Perhaps that is a reason why there is such diverse art discourse.
November 21, 12:31 PM
Lost in Translation

Globalization is a word that has been around for longer than most people think. Although the origins of the word date back to the late 19th Century, the concept globalization in terms of socio-economic development entered our vernacular in the 1960s.

One can think of the earlier globalization in antiquity as cultures and empires expanded and contracted. Hellenic travels introduced Asian countries to wine, the Silk Road connected East and West, and Christopher Columbus brought the Old World in to the new. Today, living in exponential times, we are faced with perplexing dilemmas. The problems of the future are unknown.

Globalization has also entered the art world. Again, this concept is not new. Puccini's Turandot uses Chinese folklore and traditional sonorities (Orientalism), Dvorak New World is laden with sonorities of Native American melodies, longing for the past with excitement for the future.

I attended the opening of "Your Bright Future: 12 Contemporary Artists form Korea" at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Pictured here is Bahc Yiso's, died in 2004, "Your Bright Future" which themed and named the exhibition. A collection of lamps shining bright light on a white wall, questions the complexity of the excitement of raising stars while juxtaposing a blank wall of nothingness. Is there a future? Is there a bright future? Will it have meaning?

A lecture preceded the opening drinkfest where we learned about the overall concept of Korean state-sponsored art versus the "people." In it, a general commentary of art not necessarily communicating in a one-way direction, but more of an interactive and experiential dialogue. Cultural context was not necessarily needed to participate. Well, of course, this concept is not universal, but I'd argue, impossible to achieve. I do not believe anyone can just eradicate and negate the importance of cultural context. As human beings, we come with histories, contexts, psychological baggage, preset traditions, rebellious tendencies, all which exists within the confines of our own realities.

Billboard art is present in Houston. Whether through the recent works of Karyn Olivier's "Inbound" and now through this exhibit which also extended into this medium. Billboards are interesting. Although their primary function is to broadcast information, noticing "Inbound" is quite strange at first. They are somewhat playful, although some claim surreal, I'd argue the works themselves are not surreal, but the experience and medium are. They represent and mimic exactly what is behind them in an effort to make them disappear.

This exhibit also has some billboards associated with it. Below is one of them. Originally found in Seul Korea, it is now on display facing west overlooking 59 and Rosedale. Here is my dilemma. Upon seeing this, my first reaction: I am of course not the target demographic for this sign. In reality, I am. But unfortunately, it is lost in translation. It actually means we are happy. Given that this was meant for an English speaking country, would it have been appropriate to translate it or to provide a translation? Or is the fact that it is Korean provide us with more information. If so, one cannot take a piece like this outside of its cultural existence.


The concept of globalization is also clear in Do Ho Suh "Fallen Star 1/5". Two cultures collide. A violent crash of a traditional home in Korea with a traditional Rhode Island apartment is a biographical commentary on the artists travels and education. The video does not do justice to the sublime and realistic detail. It's a must see, especially for those of us whose inclination would be to dust off the old Barbie and Ken Doll and play house.

I did not get a chance to spend more time and interact with the work. That will be my intention in the next coming weeks. I encourage you to do the same. More information on the MFAH website.


November 15, 09:21 AM
Coming to Terms with Wagner

On Friday, at the suggestion of many of my friends and colleagues, I made a commitment via ticket purchase to sit through what I thought would be a long winded, self-important, repetitive and overly psychologically dramatic Wagner opera: Lohengrin. Although I have played a couple, played incidental music, and watched a concert version of Tristan and Isolde, my cultural and musical life had not given me the opportunity to watch a full production. I was a Wagnerian virgin.

Gesamtkunstwerk, we learned in school, is a term used by Wagner to describe the complete work of art: one which sythesizes all the art forms to create the ultimate form of deep expression. So playing incidental music or watching the concert version does not give one proper experiential material to assess Wagner.

I have to admit I had pre-programmed prejudices. Coming from a Jewish background, the topic if Wagner's music was treated as taboo. Hitler saw Wagner's music as an embodiment of the new German regime and nationalistic "pure" ideologies. Wagner's music was not performed in the modern state of Israel until 2001 conducted by Daniel Barenboim. Previous attempts to stage productions were halted by protesters.

In his "Jewishness in Music" essay published in 1850 under a pseudonym, Wagner accused composers Felix Mendelssohn and Giacomo Meyerbeer of being harmful and dangerous to German culture. He claimed Germans were repelled by Jew's appearance and were detached completely to the German spirit. As they were only capable of producing shallow and artificial music, its purpose was to be popular and financial rewarding, and devoid of any aesthetic merit.

As I write this, I realize that I use the third person pronoun "they" to describe Jew's above as a way to separate myself from the gross misguided representation by Wagner above. Freud would have a field that with this I am sure.

We studied Wagner in school. Tristan and Isolde is epic as music theorists and musicologists revere the symbology of the Tristan chord due to its tonic ambiguity, it's perplexing sonority and instrumentation, and it's ability to morph. We learned Tristan and Isolde as a long yearning for resolution work as there isn't a resting point, cadence, or tonal resolution until the end, after which it quickly ends. Like sex our professor explained. Orgasm, you are done. My friends and I had our share of cigarettes following the lecture.

So, I purchased a great seat and I did what I usually do not do. Although I usually like to research the work prior to seeing, I refused to and decided to really watch this purely with virgin ears. From the beginning of the overture to the end, I got it. I understood the fascination. I had the epiphany that my professor was attempting to instill in me back at school: a perfect combination of relatable narrative with enough musical and physical symbology to over talk this over gallons of coffee.

Two days later, I am still perplexed by the performance and I haven't even addressed the HGO production. It's a must see if you can catch the last couple of performances before the run ends. Epic is the best way to describe it. Almost like watching a most sublime and relatable story of found and lost love with middle earth and Grail myths mixed in. The music presented additional information not found on stage. Themes were easily recognizable.

I think I am a convert. I am quite willing to explore Wagner. I actually think I may be enroute to liking and accepting my ability to like Wagner. The guilt to do so will have to be worked on over time.

In this video, Elsa (the wrongly accused damsel in distress) summons a rightful stranger she met a while back.

In this scene, Lohengrin (the wonderful rightful stranger) and Elsa (the wrongfully accused damsel in distress) discuss the proclivities of their arrangement. He would defend her honor and marry her if she never asks his origin, name, and lineage. Deliciously romantic.
November 12, 02:07 PM
Cinema Arts: There is a Difference
There is a myriad of arts organizations in Houston. Here is a few cool facts:
  • Fourth largest Museum District in the nation
  • One of the few cities with major companies in the four disciplines: ballet, opera, symphony, and theater
  • 21,000 arts events annually
  • The arts supports 14,115 full time jobs in Houston
So when another one is added to our mix, I rejoice in our cities diverse offerings, and get excited at the prospect of learning and being exposed to another range of creative pursuits. Somehow, the addition of a well structured film festival adds yet another badge to our city's diverse offerings: Houston Cinema Arts Society.

The Houston Cinema Arts Society 2009 Cinema Arts Festival Houston offers a wide range of films curated by Richard Herskowitz and goes on until Sunday, November 15th. Click here for the schedule.

Film festivals are sexy. Somehow, I have the perception that people are more open to experimental films than they are about today's art music, visual or performance art. Film enjoys a unique place in that it is usually introduced as popular, then our taste usually develops into the more artistic genres. I took sometime yesterday to preview Houston Cinema Arts Society H BOX. A portable screening room by Portuguese/French architect Faustine Didier Fiuza Faustino, it is currently stationed until the end of the festival on November 15 in the Alabama Theater on Shepherd and Alabama.

The H BOX is beyond cool. A small room with mini bean bags, it plays a rotating diverse offering of shorts ranging from 2 to 14 minutes ranging from quirky, symbolic, to strong commentary on sociopolitical ideologies. A great place to get comfy and chat with those around you. Amidst my favorite ones was a short by Yael Bartana that deals with post WWII Poland economic and social demographic make-up.

Yesterday, I attended their grand opening reception at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston where we viewed "Me and Orson Welles" by Houston filmmaker Richard Linklater, starring Zac Efron (from High School Musical) amidst an incredible cast of UK artists. Hearing Richard speak really reminds us that there is a very big difference between movies and cinema art. The best line I can remember (not 100% accurate I am sure):
Wealth. Travel. Fame. I can take you to movies that have all that.
Also, Linklater redefines "quadruple space." You know, to enable writers to publish their novels, romantic scenes end with. And they went to bed. Quadruple space.



There are amazing film resources in Houston that allow Houstonians to explore film all year long. Aurora Picture Show has an amazing collection of film, video and media with screenings all year long. SWAMP (South West Alternative Media Project) promotes regional film and video since 1977.

Film is sexy. Art is sexy, and most importantly, supporting local arts organizations is beyond hot. Take part. Be Current.
October 29, 10:13 PM
Dialoguing with Retablos at Lawndale

Epiphany 37 about why I love art - I always learn something about the work, about the artist, and about myself. In a world where anything goes, it is an impossible task to define what good art should do. Technology, globalization and the proliferation of performance art has pushed boundaries of the classical beux arts and continues to challenge our own definition. The line is thin and quite subjective.


I still to this day prefer the aesthetic definition of art. I seek connection, meaning, an experience outside my everyday, and a challenge to the status quo. Its quite interesting to have a conversation with a work and heighten your understanding and interpretive abilities. Retablos beg for that conversation. Retablos are small devotional folk paintings most often on tin that traditionally use iconography derived from Catholicism. They traditionally have a narrative quality, often telling a story of hardship and survival with a message of thanks to the sacred entity or saint that help them overcome it: a direct communication between people and the divine.

Lawndale Art Center is currently presenting a huge collection of contemporary retablos by Texas artists and they vary greatly in medium, style, content and purpose. As I walked around the exhibition you are begged to stop and hear the story of them, almost like a room full of interesting people waiting to be heard and discovered. They are all very accessible, using a wide variety of materials and entry points.

Some use humor, and some a combination of recognizable religious icons with a twist. This retablo by Georgia Redonet titled Yes We Can, made me chuckle as it entertained me in so many levels. Although the obvious Obama parallel is unremarkable, the coupling with the symbolism of the laughing buddha, popular folklore maintains that rubbing his belly brings wealth, good luck, and prosperity. The green background to me suggests a grounding in natural elements, while enlightenment comes from a balance of earthly gifts and divine intervention. Prosperity and environmentalism do not have to be equally exclusive. I wonder what the character below the buddha represents? Perhaps an entry point for mindful wondering or a missed opportunity to connect.

Jo Zider's Too Many Lies; So Little Taste brings together religious connotations, humor, and perhaps a touch of sexuality. Often people consider the tongue as the "strongest' muscle in the human body due to speech. It is used to communicate, nourishment and physical pleasure. Personally, I recalled horrific images of my grandmother's favorite dish at Friday night dinner's: Beef tongue. Zider's arrangement of an overcrowding number of tongues would suggest a commentary on the prevalence of dishonesty while dismissing the psychological and nutritional nourishment that properly used tongues can accomplish. Makes one think of white lies that often are told to escape awkwardness, often to complicate situations to an exponential degree. The composition is highly unique, although it did make me think about the Rolling Stones iconic tongue as well.

This retablo is unmistakably a riot. Tequila is synonymous with the ultimate party drink and shot. Teresa Rubino's Vivir la buena vida despues de (live the good life after...) leaves us with an open ended suggestion as to what we are to accomplish before we live a good life. Although my first thought was a strong message of a suggestion to seize life, it can also be inferred that careless narcissist-like partying can lead to death and a shortened life. The skeleton reaching for an empy glass and a closed full tequila bottle could also identify a missed opportunity for enjoyment as well. At any rate, the use of complimentary colors, blue and red-rust gives it a pleasing, bold and joyful appearance.

This are three of hundreds of retablos worth stopping and searching for that inner dialogue. Part of their 22nd Dia de los Muertos series programs, Lawndale Art Center will have these up until November 7th. Check them out.

Lawndale Art Center
4912 Main Street
Houston, Texas 77002
713.528.5858


October 27, 09:25 AM
A Song Without Words
Waking up. One eye open, another half closed. I am attempting to wake up after a late and emotionally charged evening. I need to be up and going in a few minutes as I have an important meeting to learn about new laws and guidelines regarding title company and closing statements. I attended last night the touring show of So You Think You Can Dance, and it made me think about that often conventional communication hinders our ability to share the core and essence of messages. It has severe limits.

The concept is embodied beautifully in Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847) "Song Withouth Words." In his words: "What the music I love expresses to me, is not thought too indefinite to put into words, but on the contrary, too definite." These short romantic pieces had the distinct responsibility of carrying a message so precise, it could only be shared through artistic mediums. Although initially they were not given much importance as the music itself is within the grasp of amateur pianists, the idea that music transcends words in accuracy makes one stop and think.

Sometimes we find sublime in the most unexpected of places. I do have to admit that I initially thought of So You Think You Can Dance with a discerning eye, aligning it closely with artistic prostitution. But taking a step back, often today's celebrities are talentless and are known strictly for dramatic and controversial events in their lives. How wonderful is it that ballet, contemporary, broadway (and a myriad styles of other dancers) get a chance to showcase their abilities, earn and retain celebrity status.

There was one dance that made me understand a difficult issue that some people close to me face: addiction. Whether physical, emotional, psychological, or chemical, it is often something that those who are lucky enough not to have struggled with it can find it hard to relate, understand, and sympathize. Having witnessed this within 10 feet from the stage allowed me to understand that amazing dance looks effortless and completely natural. Having the ability to look directly at the dancer's eyes and facial expressions added to the connection. I did not have to seek for meaning. It was clear, precise, and went beyond words and conventional communication.

It seems that lately, I have had many conversations about meaning. I have seen a couple of works that puzzled me and challenged me to connect and find meaning. Some made me think, others left me unfulfilled. I have come to the conclusion that if that happens, if a connection is not made, if meaning is clouded, then the aesthetic and art experience has failed.


October 26, 02:46 PM
Things that Disappear
I have this problem. Often, my mind goes so quickly and is so busy talking to itself that I am often not paying attention to physical things I am doing like where I put my keys, or why I took my computer home but left the charger in my office, or why I put the dog leash inside the half eaten Dorito's bag in the pantry.

It is very easy in the mundane and banal to loose focus and not pay attention to little things. I find this is also the case when I drive a familiar route. I arrive at work without any recollection of what happened between getting my car and looking for my office keys. Sometimes I notice something new. Perhaps a new building, a new restaurant, a new business, road construction, and sometimes a new sign. I10 is a relatively uneventful drive.

However, let's talk about 45 N. A serious case of visual pollution by the overcrowding if billboards, my drive to the airport sometimes is so "screaming loud" and somewhat embarrassing. I often wonder what people's first impressions are of Houston. I have come to love this city, act as a protector of those who bash it.

Inbound: Houston, a project of Karyn Olivier, artist-in-residence at the Cynthia Woods Mitchel Center for the Arts will replace 13 advertising billboards along the city's downtown major highways with urban landscape in an effort to make them disappear. I have to admit, when I saw the photography of the installed billboards, it was almost like a game of where is Waldo. Here is what I mean:

I had the opportunity to hear artist Karyn Olivier at Spacetaker's Artist SPEAKeasy via skype from New York. Her energy was contagious as she told the curious story of how the project was spun to ensure it was not presented as a anti-billboard campaign, but rather as a creative use of an established frame that could be used for other objectives than traditional advertising. Ever been curious as to what is behind these billboards. To track the project, click here for Karyn's blog. Although I am not certain I would call this type of work surrealism, the Douglas Britt's article in the Houston Chronicle explains more.

The project was supposed to be unveiled today, but due to inclement weather, it is now scheduled for tomorrow morning. Would you like to meet the artist? There is a reception an artist talk at Diverseworks from 6-8 pm tonight, Monday, October 26th.

In addition, the Mitchell Center commissioned a soundtrack of original works inspired by the billboards from UH Moores School of Music composers Joel Love and Paul Wadle and recorded by Aura, the school's contemporary ensemble. The works will debut at 7:30 tonight and will be available as a podcast download at KUHF.

As I look at these photographs, I am amazed at the complexity of urban landscape. I have to admit, some took me a while to figure out exactly where the billboard stood. Can you see them?





October 18, 05:45 PM
Finding Stuff to do in Houston
I make my rounds. I try to see what time will allow me to see. I generally do not discriminate between the art disciplines, although I often tend to enjoy dance performances above all. For me, performing arts requires focus. Visual arts allows me to wonder as generally, the piece won't change while I am swimming in my own sea of unconscious and conscious thought waves and tides. I have come to the conclusion that Houston has incredible creative talent, although sometimes not as visible, I love that social media trends has allowed some of the smaller non-profits and artists to be as visible as some with the largest marketing budgets.

I have to put a plug for two organizations that keep me challenged and continue to introduce me to incredible folks. There are also additional websites I frequent that give me helpful information:

Spacetaker provides artists and small non-profits access to economic, educational and networking opportunities. I often consult the Culture Guide for happenings. I make a point of going to the Artist SPEAKeasy on a monthly basis. Artists have a chance to present informally and dialogue about their work, discourse, and creative processes. Aside from being a fun forum, you also get to meet fantastic personalities that seek similar experiences. To stay current, the Culture Wire will keep you current on what's new and exciting in Houston's arts scene. If you get a chance to meet the folks behind the scenes, you are in for a real treat.

Fresh Arts Coalition is a collaboration of original and thought-provoking arts group and markets the importance of the arts builds audience through increased visibility. The calendar is an impressive listing of their affiliated groups and will help you keep current on what's happening right now. When I show this website to friends, they are often surprised as to how much really happens in Houston. Come on y'all. Houston rocks.

I also like to consult ArtsHound, an online resource for cultural information for the Houston. I am also quite excited about Culture Map, which is supposed to launch in November 2009. A new online "mapzine" I am always on board for new cool ways to distribute information. Recently, Shelby Hodges, society reporter and long time columnist for the Houston Chronicle joined the Culture Map Team. This is HUGE!

Of course, I always directly with the organizations I love. Whether it's the MFAH, CAMH, Opera, Ballet, Symphony, Stages Repertory Theater, and the list goes on and on (so forgive me if I left anyone or anything out). But I am so thankful there are organizations out there that challenge me and keep me current of Houston's wide array of happenings, people, and experiences.
October 14, 08:37 AM
The Moon, Cheese, and the first Sci-Fi Film
Less is more although I have a good friend that consistently says more is more, and sometimes, I have to agree. Lately, my trend has been to see less, but to spend more actively looking. It's amazing what we can miss just by not noticing or paying attention to what's right in front of us.

So, I have been going back to a small exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, but just doing a couple of rooms at a time in an effort to read, learn and retain. "Houston: Tranquility Base Here. The Eagle Has Landed" opened just a few weeks ago. It is a varied collection of paintings, treatises, photography and installations that trace 500 years of fascination with the moon.

Last time I browsed the exhibit halls, I noticed a flat screen television but had no inclination to sit down and watch the full sequence of what was being shown. This time around I did. I was delighted to learn that what was shown, was considered the first science-fiction film in 1902 by Georges Melies. "Trip to the Moon" is in some ways ridiculously hilarious, in other ways signifies what man has the ability to create in order to explain the unknown. The symbology is thought provoking, but the general theme of man not being able to harmonize with unknown cultures is a theme that is quite applicable and arguably more important today.

Having recently read Dan Brown's lost symbol, I am in a quest to derive, decipher, and perhaps invent meaning in seemingly empty and inanimate objects. This certainly provided food for thought when the rocket lands right in the cheese-like moon's eye: man cannot explore without destroying something in either a large or small scale. On October 9th, Nasa bombed the moon to create a 5 mile crater to seek for water. It has caused some controversy as it violates space law prohibiting environmental modification of celestial bodies. I have not been able to locate follow-up information to see what was found.

The movie is only 10 minutes, has curious music accompaniement. If you are a classical music lover, you will recognize the tunes. I have posted it below


October 08, 01:55 PM
Anna Netrebko in the Target Bathroom Stall
Although not the sexiest and most eccentric topic, I had a funny experience as I put into action my smart shopper hat and ventured in to Target (where the smart trendy shoppers go) and accompanied the female contingency of my family as they searched for baby clothes.

The phrase "everything happens for a reason" is grossly overused by many that think of themselves as enlightened. I am tired of hearing it. It's cliche, banal, and just plain blah. I think it's time that the new generation comes up with a similar karmic praxis or stop pretending to believe in it all together.

As I decided to take a relief break in the pseudo clean Target facilities, I heard an angelic voice that usually does not make a formal appearance when I am discoursing with myself, as I am incapable of such sublime, transcendental and sinfully delicious imaginary vocalization. Plus it was a woman, and typically the voices in my head tend to me a little more gender ambiguous.

I came to the realization that the sound was coming from my pocket, and in my pocket lay at rest my beloved iPhone. Somehow, I had hit the music button and like the power of the force, it had coincidentally and "randomly" chosen the unmistakable and striking voice of Anna Netrebko, (photo by Esther Haase) a soprano of outstanding purity, "a virtuoso singer of endless versatility smoldering presence and inimitable sound, who happens to be fashion-model gorgeous."

I had just been reading an essay by Nikos Papastergiadis, Professor of Cultural Studies and Media & Communication at the University of Melbourne, on the concept of the everyday. Although not a thesis article but a conversation of the purity of art theory, analysis and works through the eyes of the everyday, it presented a wide continuum of possibility from the idiocies and banalities of everyday life to the boring political correctness, transcendental and academicist aesthetic approaches. In essence, from the seemingly insignificant to the marvelous.

High concept articles always provide for good conversation. At the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, there is a lovely mix of personalities, experiences, and backgrounds that enrich the communal adventure. Contradictions ruled the essay and the discussion, in search for meaning or a normative approach to three aspects: art theory, analysis, and art creation. The purity of art was in question. If indeed we "consider art from the perspective of the everyday is to stress that the measure of art is not found by borrowing the yardsticks of other discourses, bur rather from its articulation and practices from everyday life." And since the access to "life" is always through language, culture, and psyche, the interpretation of art is as a result impure.

So here I am in the bathroom, and you cannot get more banal, everday, or outside the realm of political correctness. Listening to Anna Netrebko, a completely marvelous trancendetal voice singing "Ah! non Credea Mirarti" from Bellini's La Sonnambula is a perfect example of the other extreme of the continuum. This polarity woke me up and I thought: if everything happens for a reason, I should probably pay attention to why I am hearing this now, and perhaps if the lyrics have any meaning. Incidentally, it starts with a flute.
Oh, I didn't believe to see you
so quickly extinct, o flowers;
you have passed away like love
that one day only lasted.

Perhaps new life
my tears will bring to you
but to revive love
my tears, o no, cannot

O, inconceivable human thought
a wave of contentment I am full:
In my feelings I can hardly believe
you assure me, o my treasure (darling)

O, embrace me, and always together,
always united in a single hope,
of the world, we live in
we will make a heaven of love
Perhaps the most significant line as I am consistently attempting to reinvent myself, is the explanation and human tears can bring new life. The individual has the ability to change ourselves and impact others. Human thought is assuring. However, love is our immediate beyond control.

There are many possible meaningful and significant extrapolations here. Hope you find one as well.

September 25, 11:16 AM
Tackling Difficult Issues
Large issues are easier to understand and synthesize when they are presented in humanized form. I spent my Thursday (which is my Monday in work days) evening and treated myself impromptuly to Stages Repertory Theatre's production of Eric Coble's "Southern Rapture." The last work I had seen of Eric's dealt with a family desperate need for their toddler to be in the right social circles that they end up committing murder to ensure his admission to an exclusive school. Hilarious. I expected the same out of "Southern Rapture" with the addition of one enticing attribute: nudity.

Eric Coble traces the cold to boiling progress of a variety of huge conceptual issues. Censorship, public support of controversial art, the definition of art, the purpose of art, and the fine line between certain artistic content and moral decency. All in about 2 hours. By humanizing the issues, Coble truly makes us look through a cubist perspective: through all angles at the same time.

The story traces the cordial friendship of a small southern town mayor in Georgia and a theater director who decides to put on a play dealing with homosexual issues including a short nude scene where an aids infected young man gets his penis inspected for lesions. Pressure from church and society groups encourages the mayor to first suggest the play not be done, then using legal powers to prevent the performance ending with failed behind the scenes negotiations until the play went on. In essence, the struggle between the characters is a microcosm of the struggles between public funding organizations and progressive and "questionable" art movements.

Best quotes and general thoughts of the night, and excuse me if I get these wrong. They were stored in my head:

"Government was no part in deciding what is art and what it isn't. You artists pushed the envelope to cause controversy and public outcry, now we have to. We were happy not caring"

"You are spiritual and cultural pollution."

"Government either funds everything, of funds nothing."

"I'm not a lesbian. I am just hard to live with."

Art continues to expand its own vocabulary. Classical arts were easily identifiable. Visual art was on a frame. Sculpture was recognizable. Music was within parameters. Theater was narrative. Dance had rules. Today, lines blur. Performance art redefines genres. Technology expands artistic possibilities. Global connections encourages cultural collaborations. Our definition no longer has clean boundaries. We are forced to come up with parameters, however the task is impossible. So what does art do:

Expresses? Symbolizes? Decorates? Entertains? Contemplates? Challenges? Questions? Represents? Contemplates? Perplexes? Angers? Soothes? Connects? Relates? Narrates? Records? Explains?

The list goes on. I'd like to think that art makes me think. Thus this blog.

You have to go. For tickets, contact Stages Repertory Theatre.

Photos by Bruce Bennett

(L-R) Pamela Vogel as socialite Alissa Marchand, Jovan Jackson as Emmett, Jon

L. Egging as Mickey Stedman



September 25, 11:25 AM
Growing Up
Lately, I have been obsessed with feeling like a tourist at home. It is often that visitors visit Houston's best while the locals concentrate of work and no play. Ever think how ridiculous it is to wait until we are out of town to enjoy the things that other cities have but seldom make time an effort to enjoy what we have right here?

A place I love to frequent is the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Sculpture Garden at the North East corner of Bissonnet and Montrose. Especially during temperate weather, one can spend many hours being enchanted, confused, and perhaps a little perplexed by the works on display here. Two bronze sculptures always take my breath away. Rodin "The Walking Man" is rich in texture, playing on light and shadows. I remember distinctly my art teacher Lucy Durkin explaining how Rodin makes her just want to touch the works. The texture and play is completely sensual. http://www.mfah.org/sculpturegarden/artworks.asp?pid=1&aid=1

Matisse also has 4 works on display here. Back I, II, III and IV and spanning 21 years of artistic history. The portray the artists concept growth from 1909 to 1930. It gives me a sense of the character growth as the emphasis from anatomical and mannerist representation is abandoned in favor of a formalized and soft geometric approach.

Do you know how you feel when you look at pictures of yourself from 10 years ago? It is amazing to remember where you were, how you were, and more importantly, how you were feeling (although sometimes what were you thinking is appropriate). I feel these give us a deep look inside the artistic concept, and trace trends over 21 years.





September 25, 11:24 AM
Art and Jerry Springer
It can be plausible to assume that some may find the classical arts somewhat boring. Perhaps due to a lack of syntax or one's inability to understand arts language, it can lead to feeling quite disconnected from the aesthetic experience.

I have been in a tear to feel like I am a tourist in my own city. Strange concept right? True. We often do not take advantage of the things we have right here right now, and wait until we are in strange far away lands to venture to museums, happenings, and the such. Well, today things change for you. I am giving you permission, actually, I am challenging you to behave like a tourist and explore where you are. Right here, right now.

I have been attending the "gallery talks" at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. These are short tours, 1 hour at the most focusing on one subject matter, sometimes even just on one work. They are led by volunteer docents that have a love and passion for the arts, and make the tour fun, accessible, and educational. I learned something terribly naughty and reminded me that sometimes there is such drama surrounding the arts, that the history behind certain works is just worthy of it's own Jerry Springer show. Here is the story of Maurice Utrillo.

His mother Suzanne Valadon (changed her name from Marie-Clementine) became an artists model after a fall from a circus trapeze ended her career as an acrobat. She figuratively and literaly took of her clothes for infamous personalities like Berthe Morisot, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and later Edgar Degas who became her mentor.Out of these affairs came Maurice, and the following anecdotal story. Included is her self-portrait on display at MFAH.

"After Maurice was born to Suzanne Valadon, she went to Renoir, for whom she had modeled nine months previously. Renoir looked at the baby and said, 'He can't be mine, the color is terrible!' Next she went to Degas, for whom she had also modeled. He said, 'He can't be mine, the form is terrible!' At a cafe, Valadon saw an artist she knew named Miguel Utrillo, to whom she spilled her woes. The man told her to call the baby Utrillo: 'I would be glad to put my name to the work of either Renoir or Degas." ('Parting With the Family van Gogh' in the New York Times, April 22, 2006)

The painting below is by Maurice Utrillo (1883-1955) circa 1914, oil on canvas and on display at MFAH. To add to twists, the central house pictured here in the middle of the street (rue Mont-Cenis) belonged to Mimi Pinson, an eccentric woman appearing in many literary and musical works, who happened to be the model for Puccini's La Boheme.

A little drama is always good in terms of art. In this case, it heightened my enjoyment of seemingly beautiful yet somewhat boring and unremarkable works. Reminds me of Daniel Pink's "A Whole New Mind" where he hypothesizes that due to the three A's, Asia, Automation, and Abundance (remedial jobs can be outsourced, technology makes repetitive tasks easy, and we have more "things" than ever in history), we are drawn to seek a deeper meaning. In that search, we play. In play, we tell stories. The same can be applied to people. Often we dismiss based on physical assumptions. Rich stories, histories (whether dramatic or not) and experiences can provide us so many more life lessons.
September 25, 11:24 AM
La Femme Fatale and Remembrance
Give it to the French to pack so much drama in every minute of a work. Manon, although I was definitely more familiar with the opera, was exquisite and scandalous, as much as classical ballet would allow, and perhaps a hint more. Here are some of the themes encountered:

- Prostitution
- Sex
- Adultery
- Gambling
- Cheating
- Fighting/Murder
- Corruption

How much more French can we get? Originally novel by Antoine François Prévost and published in 1731, part of the story takes place in the swamps of Louisiana and New Orleans. It is a tragic love story where the protagonists have to decide between love and wealth, ending up dead and penniless. I can safely assume that most would not expect classical ballet to explore such subjects outside of Italian cinema, but the beauty of ballet, is that you can, and still call it high art. I can also assume that deep inside all our psyche's, we'd all love to be the enchantress femme fatale having seductive powers through beauty, charm, and allure that drives others to obsession, exhausting, insanity and irrational behavior.

As I was facebooking and twittering during the second intermission (yes the work is long, very long, and always think that extremely long works are pompous and self-indulgent, no matter how good they are), I looked at the date, froze, and my disposition changed. I suddenly had a blast of the past, clearly remembering where I was the night before and the morning of the fateful day of 9/11.

I had gone to bed early. I was a first year grad student at Rice University, Shepherd School of Music, having taken one-year off to work prior to starting my Master's Degree. I was full of energy, with a strong appetite for academic knowledge, and had set up a nice little routine for myself. Tuesday mornings went this like: Yoga class, practice flute, aesthetics class, practice, flute lesson, opera class, then off to Memorial High School to teach. My schedule was predictable, but my practice time was often filled with moments of blurriness, as often, one does not remember what you are doing all the time.

That particular morning, I had taken my flute and began warming up in my aesthetics classroom prior to anyone being there. Paganini Caprices were my project thanks to my teacher instilling a love/hate relationship with them during my undergrad years. Something was odd. It was 5 minutes to class, and no one was here. I started to worry that I was in the wrong place, or perhaps we were to meet somewhere else for a special something. I ignored myself and went on. After all, darn it, I was going to nail and sail through a technical passage that was giving me trouble.

Now it was class time, and again, no one was there. Half on hour went by, and no one was there.

My friend Katie Young (a ridiculously fabulous oboist with whom I share a long musical and very personal history as we went to undergrad and grad school together, at the time we were working on putting together the Ginastera flute oboe duo) called and said, "we are being attacked." Those words meant nothing at that time. Attacked? What does that mean? I left terrorism and fear (I thought) when we left Peru in the height of the shinning path movement in 1989. Is there suddenly a raid against emerging classical musicians? Those words had no meaning to me as they were out of context in my personal realm of possibility.

The rest of the day was a blur. I remember watching the news at the student center, watching people tear up, and being panic stricken at the realization that many had not heard from some friends and family living or visiting NYC. I cancelled my lessons to be taught later at Memorial High School, and spent the day numb.

Those immediately close to me were not harmed. But many folks within 2 degrees of separation were. Today, I put my flags half mast to think about them, the millions affected, and the millions who helped. I suppose the rain is very appropriate today.

Here is a recording of Katie and I playing the Ginastera Duo for Flute and Oboe. The second movement is quite eerie.




Being Artsy

Posts

April 19, 03:33 PM
When you don’t have a home

If you are reading this, you are perhaps in the home industry, looking for a home, love design, follow me on Facebook or twitter, or perhaps are just plain bored and decided to do a random google search. You most likely have a computer, assorted and perhaps somewhat unneeded modern luxuries, a car and more [...]

March 29, 10:18 PM
Design Smart: Where to Start?

When tackling any large scale project, it is easy to get overwhelmed by the amount of choices and decisions. We often start with the things that are most exciting and leave our least favorite to the end. For some, this means being consumed by considering gorgeous flooring inlays, medallions, faux finishes, perhaps luxury technology options, [...]

March 21, 03:55 PM
What to Expect When Building to Order

When considering building a home for the first time, there is responsibility on the part of the builder and the buyer to explain and understand expectations, procedures and timelines. Making assumptions can lead to tension and hinder the enjoyment of the building process. This has more to do with understanding when decisions need to be [...]

March 16, 06:25 PM
Institutional Branding and Personal Development: Social Media ROI

Is the topic of social media becoming a little tired? Perhaps. Although there hasn’t been major innovations on usability, studies certainly support advocacy towards employing such a tool to build brand awareness, fire-up fans, build a strong referral base, and encourage customer loyalty. As a consumer, I am more inclined to make a purchase decision [...]

March 09, 12:52 PM
Smart Design II

Building a home is quite different than buying a completed one. Although there are some strategies and priorities that overlap (size, price range, location), building a home is as much process as it is about product. There is old saying that circulates in and through the industry that states that “if your marriage can survive [...]

February 10, 05:20 PM
Choosing Exterior Brick, Stone and Colors

Unless you are purposely trying to create a Southern Colonial look for your home, it seems that most clients have graduated from red brick to one that includes warmer earth tones and tumbled antiqued textures. Do not misunderstand me, red bricks are beautiful in the right home with the right style. But lack of imagination [...]

February 07, 03:28 PM
Super Bowl and Commercials

Everybody wants a deal. I do. You do. Your mom and dad do. We want to feel good that not only have we purchased something we love, but that we negotiated down to the penny. Marketing departments and sales people’s job is to educate and build value. Commercials help with branding, name recognition and communicating [...]

February 02, 07:16 PM
Style Without Breaking the Bank – Design Smart

Thank you for all that responded to the poll! Most of you decided that a model home needs to show design style without breaking the bank. So, I allowed myself a mid-upgrade budget, without over improving the home where the appraisal would be compromised and standard features would be disguised. Ok, we want style: Traditional, [...]

January 30, 01:35 PM
Designing a Model Home

I am going to give you a blank check with a challenge. Build a new model home. At first, the excitement of the design savvy begins to tingle and warm our creative juices like that first taste of a rich Cabernet, and we start thinking and acting like a design diva. We want [...]

January 26, 05:39 PM
Ten Easy Steps When Choosing Stucco Colors

Colors in generally are tricky. They look one way in the sample, another way on the wall, and they change according to the type of light, the amount of light and the colors of items surrounding them. The human eye can distinguish about 10 million different colors, so it is to not surprising that understanding [...]

Being Professional

Posts

March 31, 06:32 PM
Learning to be patient
February 15, 03:58 PM
Hava Nagila Valentine
I know I have an active and somewhat twisted imagination, but in this case, you cannot pay me to make this stuff up. What I am about to tell you is a true and sober recount of Valentine’s Day dinner 2010, at Ruggles Grill 5115 Restaurant at Saks Fifth Avenue in the Galleria, Houston, TX circa 7:15 p.m.
Glenn and I have this new agreement. He plans one evening, I craft the next. His job was to plan Valentine’s day dinner and he smartly chose this quaint, quiet, and retro modernist restaurant where they excel at personal attention and at white chocolate bread pudding. An entertaining cocktail style pianist named Michelangelo going from table to table taking requests fulfilled my need for a little pseudo art.
As we walked into the restaurant we heard an all familiar tune. A tune you hear at most Bar-Mitzvah’s, Bat-Mitzvah’s, Jewish weddings, celebrations, and any fiddler and the roof-esque type event, courtesy of Michelangelo oompa-ing on the piano. A very drunk guy pulls me and Glenn into a dancing frenzy and we join in. After all, it is something that smells very familiar to us.
The smell is that of a drunk but sweet Jewish man in his mid 50s, dancing with his wife who he calls a “goyishe shiksa,” a somewhat endearing and derogatory term meaning gentile woman. He proceeds to encourage us to sing Hava Nagila. We are told by the Michael, a gentle gay restaurant manager that they have been there since 1 p.m., eating, drinking, being raucous and celebrating their love.
Although some people in the restaurant found it annoying, their joy was contagious and made us smile. We were led to our table on the other side of the restaurant, as far away that we could possibly be from the joyous debauchery. We ordered and I suggested Glenn to talk to the man. After all, we danced, sang, laughed awkwardly already, just like a first date. We might as well know his name and history.
I could hear the conversation “loud” and clear from the other side of the restaurant Turns out he is a builder. He lost his wife years ago and remarried. He was beyond drunk, was cut off hours ago and was still going strong. When he asked Glenn if he was here with his wife, Glenn proceeded to break the news.
The following takes place between 7:40 and 7:50.
He, (Ron) proceeded to scream “YOU ARE GAY JEWS!?!?” and embraced us as “his boys.” I am not sure how many times this was repeated. He then tried to sell me a home. We danced a little more, repeating “gay jews” over and over again and introducing us to the manager as he was also family. I was laughing hysterically at this point with tears running down my face. My stomach hurt.
We retired to our dinner and tickled beyond words at the experience. Although I know some in the restaurant were annoyed by their not so quiet romantic evening being sprinkled with jew-isms and loudness, I was amazed that they spent over 7 hours in the same place enjoying each others company while eating and drinking.
We received free deserts from Michel and some Rachmaninoff from Michelangelo. All and all, not a bad Valentine’s Day. .
Internalizing the Exotic
Do you ever wonder why we instantly attracted to certain things and reject others? Lately, I have had several conversations about whether a person environment or disposition weighs heavier on our aptitudes, our inclinations and personality. It would foolish to suggest fundamentalist views, however, it is interesting to think about percentages of influence.
For example, why given the choice of this or that, would you choice that over this and why? Some answers are easy like my life-long spiritual and transfigurative obsession over chocolate. Others, like my utter avoidance of everything that has avocado make very little sense considering my otherwise varied food repertoire. I must admit however, I had quite a traumatic experience with avocado when I was young(er), and to this day, it haunts me.
Well, I am started to ponder why I am so attracted to the Indian culture. My olive complexion (thanks to my lovely and strikingly beautiful mother) sometimes perplexes people as to my cultural make-up. Italian, hispanic, spanish, middle eastern, Indian, you name it, I have been questioned and assumed I was all. Cultural ambiguity and melting pot-esque qualities are so in.
I remember my obsession began slowly. At first, a humanities class my junior year at the University of Rochester, Eastman School of Music introduced me to the vast ethnic landscape within its borders. Although most humanities classes were regarded as, to put it bluntly, an utter complete waste of time as they distract us from practice, rehearsals, and of course mastering the art of beer drinking. However, something about the topics, the creation stories, cast system, religious beliefs and food really stayed with me.
So HYPA (Houston Young People for the Arts) put on a fundraising cocktail party marketed as “I Dream of Maharani.” It gave me the opportunity, excuse perhaps, to explore the clothing (since I had mastered the food, eating it, and thankfully so since the hors d'oeuvres although tasty, quite disappointingly scarce for the ticket price). I have always felt that Western men’s formal clothing is a little on the lame side. Suits, ties (a sort of phallic symbol of power), tuxes, although somewhat sexy, lack delicious and sparklesque bling. Indian clothing allows men to get their bling on, while not necessarily having to drag themselves.
So we drank and ate (at our own expense thanks to HYPA), dressed in fabulous clothing, and dance to the exotic rhythms, music by DJ Yogi J. Amidst my favorite tunes:
JAI HO (You are my destiny) Slumdog Millionaire Sountrack - A. R. Rahman and lyrics by Gulzar
JBJ - Jhoom Barabar Jhoom (Dance Baby Dance) - Sung by Zubeen, Shankar Mahadevan & Sunidhi Chauhan (with a title like that, you can’t help get down and dirty)
Dhoom Taana - Om Shanti Om - We first were introduced to this on So You Think You Can Dance with Katie and Joshua.
December 11, 10:44 AM
Picking My Nose
Growing up is full of ironic idiosyncrasies.
As children, we cannot wait to grow-up to be able to indulge in adult like behaviors and privileges. As adults, we are forever trying to recapture our youthful appearance. As children, we believe adults have it all together, however, it seems the psychological Louis Vuitton baggage just keeps piling on as we get trampled on, tested, develop issues and discover medication. As children, we imagine the world innocently and believe in good, the kindness of people and perceive evil as the wicked witch or Gargamel. As adults, we observe the world with a discerning and judgmental eye, but wish for the complexities and proclivities of our collective gestalt to just melt into “why can’t we just get along” simplicities. As children we feel our rights invaded when we are ordered to bed rather than feed our need to discover the mysteriousness of nightly activities. As adults, we beg for a good night sleep and seek the aid of Ambien CR.
My mother always gave me a hard time for picking my nose. I admit it. I like it. Now as an adult, well, somewhat of an adult, I understand the social graces and etiquette of deplorable, acceptable, and exemplary courtesies, but somehow, I am encouraged to keep the innocent ignorance and wonderful discovery phase of my younger days.
I went to the ballet yesterday to catch a Holiday stereotype: the Nutcraker, lovingly referred to as the butt-cracker by fellow musicians. I was whisked away to a land where I suspended reality to dialogue with the Snow Queen, the Nutcracker Prince, the King Rat, the Sugar Plum Fairy, not to mention the athletic Trepak Russian dancer. My first reaction was to snap a shot of the stage (prior to the performance of course) and uploaded to Facebook with a funny quotation: dare me to go up and dance?
Do you ever wonder why some distant memories creep up on you? Something you perhaps had not given much attention at the time, or ever, all of a sudden has significance and meaning?
I must have been 10 or 11. At school, they brought a production of Giselle. I remember it clearly as there was a girl in my class by the same name. I was perplexed as to why they named a ballet after her. Seriously, could “Joel” or “Joelle” be a tragic story of forbidden love, quest, conquest and death? Most importantly, I was sitting next to my friend Debbie Radzinsky (with whom I reconnected in Toronto, and now on Facebook) who capriciously said quietly “one day, would you like to be able to be on stage and dance like that?”
So I am 34, and although I have wicked rhythm and consider myself acceptable on the dance floor, I can say goodbye to the possibility of an arabesque, a fouette, a plie, a grand jete, or any other sexy delicious French terms that make me giggle when I attempt to say them. Pucker up your lips. Try them.
One of my teachers at some point taught me that vivid and perceived imagination is much more powerful that actuality. So why not? Why do we have to stop ourselves from dreaming, imagining and picturing that maybe one day? Maybe in the next life? Perhaps in a previous life?
Go ahead. Pick your nose.
November 28, 12:47 PM
The Next Chapter
I think most people can claim that their story resembles some sort of sitcom. There is plenty of them around, and there is always a possibility that we find a character or situation with whom we can identify and relate. Sometimes episodes run beautifully and seamlessly together where the characters grow and change imperceptibly. Other times, season finales mark a clear ending, perhaps with a cliff hanger or some sort of unresolved event allowing for increased chatter amidst fans. I am reminded of the recent past where I was obsessed with “Dallas” watching episode after episode. Just the change in hairstyles is drastic enough to make one chuckle.
I love short stories. They allow me to divulge quickly and get a snapshot of an narrative episode without allowing my ADD to take over and send me on a trip to whereverland, where my mind is liberated to free associate and journey without the aid of illicit substances. I have always found reading books difficult, although with age, I am learning more and more the skills to get through them, as I find something extremely valuable in living with them for more than short story length.
Did you ever dream of writing the great “you” novel? I did. In the meantime, blogging allows me to talk too much in a variety of different directions.
Yesterday, I received some news that would constitute as a whole new chapter, perhaps a new volume, new season and episode: a new beginning. Not bad news, just news. In certain respects good news.
How well do you remember the homes in which you “grew up”? I use the term growing up loosely as we are consistently growing, changing, sometimes improving, sometimes taking steps back to regain grounding on fundamentals. I remember them well.
The last home in which I lived with my parents and sister was sold. My parents purchased this incredible home when I had already left for undergrad. I remember feeling quite anxious as I no longer had “my room.” I was not ready to be left out and forced out of the nest per se. I remember my father sweetly saying on a phone conversation that no matter where they moved, I would always have a room.
They gutted it, started and from scratch. The millwork is exquisite, the details breathtaking, and the setting, undeniable unique and unreplicable.I returned to this home in between my Bachelor and Masters degrees, and spent a year contemplating my next steps. It is the home that I looked forward to returning on my visits. After all, my “room” is still there, even though it didn’t look the same.
So I no longer have a “home” back “home” that holds memories of years past, and the transition is quite bittersweet. Of course, our concept of what feels like home changes with time. Whether our dorm room through undergrad starts feeling more ourselves than our previous bedroom, my first apartment, and now having the privilege of already owning my first home. Yes, we all know that special people make the feeling of “home” but I am unable to separate the physical surroundings, especially when they were so beautiful.
The things I remember in this home:
- My sisters engagement party and seeing my dad getting extremely intoxicated with joy amidst other beverages.
- The bris of my first nephew and my parents first grandchild
- Receiving a phone call from Rice University offering me a spot in their Master’s degree
- Painting the exterior back porch a cheerful countryside yellow with mom
- Practicing flute hours on end in the gorgeous art studio overlooking the ravine
- My mother’s 60th surprise birthday party
- Sleepless nights watching chick flicks in the media room
- Meaningful conversations with mom in the living room and with dad in the study
- Watching my sister reinvent her room, over and over again
- Spending the last few days of our cat Vincent before he passed
- Cooking and fighting over cooking
- Coming home and scouting for changes, new decorative pieces, improvements and wall colors
It makes one wonder about the next owner’s. Will they have similar memories? Will they take care of the home that holds so many special memories? It is strange to think I will no longer be able to knock on the door, come in, and continue where I left off.
If those walls could talk....
Conversations with Georges Seurat
Yesterday, I turned 34. Ok, so 34 does not feel any differently than 33, although it does feel eons away from 21. My new obsession with Bloody Mary’s (sans Worcestershire since that contains some sort of fish thing) ensures I get my veggies while being naughty.
I promised my better half a trip to Chicago to visit his family. It has been a while. My only requisite? I needed time to visit some friends. No just actual people, but works of art that I have followed, and have followed me through my aesthetic development.
I talk to myself. Don’t we all? Hello Georges, I am almost there, I whispered to myself as I walked briskly down Michigan Avenue, venti Americano with soy milk topper, 2 Splendas and a hint of cinnamon on hand on my way to the Art Institute of Chicago. Nothing seemed to have changed. Except me. I was older, and my skin felt particularly dry after settling in nicely into Houston humidity. As i faced the massive building in Beaux-Arts style (neoclassical style taught in Paris), I fixed my hair, put on chap-stick , straighten my eyebrows, and on I went. We all want to look good to visit old friends don’t we?
I paid my fee and asked the ticket taker lady if the Seurat was still up the stairs pass the first hall? She smiled and nodded. I sped up the stairs with the agility of my skinny days, walked intently into the room and ignored the fabulous Caillebotte and apologized. I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings “La Place de l'Europe, temps de pluie” but I am first here to see “Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte”, I rounded the corner to find a hallway framing the word perfectly.
I stopped dead on my tracks as if I just slammed on the breaks to avoid plunging into an 18-wheeler. i remember it being big. This big? THIS BIG! I smiled. i think some old lady gave me a weird look and I immaturely stuck out my tongue at her with a quirky smile. Did I just do that? I guess 34 isn’t directly proportional to maturity.
I approached it carefully and smiled warmly. I have to admit I was a little emotional which is rather strange since truly this is an inanimate object right? Wrong. It isn’t. It tells a story of the history of art, of technique, of the people of Paris and of the people in the picture. Also, it told the story of me, and it did that only to myself. Thankfully.
These are my three encounters and conversations with Seurat over a period of 16 years:
1. I first met Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte when I was in high school. I had visited Chicago for music business and like a good high school dork, I felt the need to do touristy things. Number one the list, Museums. I knew somewhat about art since my lovely mother is an artist and had taken us to many museums growing up. I knew the word impressionism and had a strong affinity for music of that period: Ravel and Debussy had brutal flute works I was trying to master (which you never do). I had not seen or heard of the Seurat, but I remember feeling like it was quite an important work. It was large so the artist must have thought he had something to say, the curator had placed it strategically in the middle of a wall of an important and visible room (meaning it had to be a prized possession, AND, it had a stop on the audio tour. All three signs that I must pay attention. Looking at the “dots” of paint I thought who in the world would have such patience to mix colors like this? My translation? Perception is always a combination of other factors. Georges, you are rather weird you know. Can you just paint pretty? Your people are just flat.
2. During my undergrad days at the Eastman School of Music, Katie Winchell (now Frisco) and her lovely parents Dick and Pam hosted us for many Thanksgivings. After having taking a couple of art history and survey classes with a very influential figure in my artistic development (other than my primary flute teachers and mother) was Lucy Durkin (she is my Facebook friend now!). We learned about impressionism, pointillism, color theory, and more importantly, historical context. These were instrumental in learning how to view and converse with Seurat. Seurat used color to create harmony and emotion like a musician uses counterpoint and variation. I was obsessed with looking at the work up close, figuring out the various different elements of color that came together to create the final affect. Oh Georges, I get you. Well, I think I do. You are so done with what others are doing and are using scientific schemes to explore emotion by color combinations and the direction of your “dots.” I have to say, that’s pretty handy.
3. I returned to view the work this week as part of my pilgrimage to Chicago. Having had a long break from it, my interest went beyond the technique and painting and more of a realization that Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte had been here all this time while I was growing up. It has been 16 years since we first met, and wonder how many times I will get to see you, and under what conditions. How will I change? Will you travel? I am noting this occasion as an anchor and my next trip to Chicago, I will assess where I am in life, and where I was last time I dialogued with Georges. I stood and I stared at George for what seemed an eternity. Looking at the figures, making up stories, naming one of the dogs Herman, and loving the smokiness of the tree leaves. Georges, amazing that through 16 years I have learned of you, about you, through you and about me. I wonder if you had any idea while you were making your trials of Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte that your 10 foot massive statement would hang here, in a special city with meaning for me, and that my encounters with you would make me reflect on my growth?
As I finish humoring myself with this story, I wonder if others have similar anchors: reminders of our history, growth and development, and perhaps foreshadowing our future.
August 16, 10:29 AM
The Exquisite Corpse
Prior to last night, I would have thought “Exquisite Corpse” would have been the title to some jejune Clive Barker horror like movie where some exquisite undead type eats and regurgitates virgins, another macabre and maudlin Stephen King novel, or perhaps the name of a new make believe teenage grunge punk alternative band that needs to age significantly.
Well it turns out it’s not that at all, but actually a collaborative artistic label that began with the surrealists in an effort to create a stream of consciousness work. From the French cadavre exquis, each participant adds to the work in sequence either following a rule, or seeing only the end of what previous person contributed. Its origins are from and old parlor writing game. It then metamorphosed into pictures, as it was fun, playful and enriching, Among the players involved there was Marcel Duchamp, Joan Miro, George Hugnet and Jacques Prevert. If you have taken any sort of art history or survey class, you most likely recognize most of these names. For the musicians, John Cage, Lou Harrison and Virgil Thompson engaged in this game too, where each as responsible for writing one measure of music.
Again, my curiosity for the etymology of the term made me research more. At first, the term “exquisite corpse” seemed perfectly aligned with surrealist ideology. Surrealism arose from the Dada movement which had a sarcastic and facetious tone; an anti-art per se. Surrealism went a step further and allowed the psychic automation to express in an environment free of control of reason, judgement, and moral preoccupation. The thought that a corpse would be exquisite would certainly be a surreal idea.
However, this is not the case. The term actually came out of these infamous writing parlor games where one of the sentences created was “the exquisite corpse will drink the young wine.” Although the sentence is absurd the beginning and the end are related in its contradiction, and thus, related to each other in an unconscious level.
So I am in a quest to create my own exquisite corpse with friends, acquaintances, colleagues and family. I hope to put something together in video format now that I am the proud owner of Julius, my new Sony HD Camcorder. If you are wiling to participate, I’d love to hear from you.
August 12, 03:45 PM
To Touch or NOT to touch: the social awkwardness of physical closeness with strangers
I love to people watch. I believe most of us love to watch others especially in special and unique situations where behavior has not yet been learned, observed or experienced. We feel comfortable when we know the acceptable social decorum. There is no question as to what is appropriate, what is borderline, and what is outside of social norm for either comic relief, to be obnoxious, to make a point or just because we have a clueless or misrepresentative moment.
Today was one of those days. I attend a series of meditations at the Rothko Chapel where the regulars are used to a certain seating arrangement where all benches face the north side of the structure. I walked in and was intrigued as to why the benches were arranged into four squares with a podium still on the north side of the building.
So I sit facing the inside of one of these squares and it occurs to me: I am being forced to look straight into a complete stranger: awkward. Do we chat? No one else is. Do you look down? Well, I am not timid. Do I close my eyes? I am not tired or ready to embrace my inner peace. Eureka! I am going to people watch and see what others body language is as they enter the space and attempt to unravel this perplexing dilemma.
The facial expressions are priceless. The society ladies with the big southern hats were the most interesting, acting as if the whole thing was humorous, obviously covering up the weirdness. Others paused and contemplated and calculated their next move. Some left. Some in my square were looking and sitting in, others out in a completely unpredictable pattern. I noticed however, that I was in the popular square, we had more people than others. I felt accepted with a sense of unexplainable and groundless accomplishment, like being one of the first people picked in elementary schools sports.
I noticed the lady sitting next to me. I discovered later she was Italian. She wore a bright orange dress, hideous gold sparkly sandals, imposing bright blue eye shadow and prostitute red lipstick resembling Mimi from the Drew Carey Show. The guy across from me was punkesque with a rather large mohawk, fabulous shiny earrings, and a chain that joined his belt with his cut off and holly of jean shorts. Then there was me with my day off outfit: gym shorts, a stripped polo and extremely worn and somewhat aromatic New Balance running shoes. An interesting mix of personalities and styles.
The meditation was thoughtful. After dividing the groups, we were all given little fortune cookie like papers containing a proverb. Half of us were sitting down in this square, eyes closed, the other were standing behind. Those standing had to have their hands on the shoulders of those sitting, whisper the proverb directly into the persons ear slowly, then orbit around the group. The trick was to always have a hand touching the person sitting down even during transitions.
The experience was truly unexpected and intense. People were transformed into a large entourage of out-worldly beings for you and delivering deep, positive and beautiful affirmations. Amidst the messages, the touch became the most important differentiating factor. Warm, secure, sheltered, and permissive, you were allowed to receive, believe, internalize and commit to the message. The firmer the touch, the stronger and clearer the message.
Touching is a sensitive subject and physical space needs to be respected among strangers. In this case, all the social taboos were abolished for a brief time. And it was lovely.
http://www.rothkochapel.org/
Going to the Bathroom for Art...Oh look. It's Shiny.
A long grueling day is best wrapped up with an aesthetic experience. I wanted to be in a sublime state of sensory overload that did not involve being chased after by my jaw snapping kitty or a canine shrieking at his reflection. I needed it bad. I’m single this week. My better half is somewhere over yonder in a strange land far, far away known as Chicago, also home of yet another venue that provides me with the most sublime aesthetic experience, in this case, culinary; Charlie Trotter, my favorite chef.
Mildred’s Umbrella Theater Company put on a very quaint, personal, and intimate production of “Last Easter.” Any play that claims to combine Caravaggio, Irving Berlin, drag queens and alcoholism while exploring the complex web of interdependent friendships has to be good right? My preconceived idea was one of a warped edition of “Friends” where perhaps Rachel used to be a man, Phoebe can sing, Joey can act but of course is gay, Monica is a drug and alcohol addict, Chandler falls in love with inanimate objects and Ross marries his monkey.
Bryony Lavery’s “Last Easter” portrays the story of a four friends brought together a la boheme style in creative pursuit: a promiscuous British gay catholic not so unlike Nathan Lane in Birdcage, the artsy-crafty lesbian American jew who builds a croaking frog prop, an Irish drunk tormented and haunted version of Samantha in Sex and the City, and a Caravaggio obsessed lighting designer unsuccessfully fighting secondary cancer.
Best line of the night? Religion is sexy.
Armed with a Venti Coffee Americano with two splendas, I walked in early as the venue was the Gremillion Fine Art Gallery and perhaps would catch a glimpse of their Belgium Impressionism exhibit currently on show. No such luck so I took a bathroom break. What did i find? I snapped one picture just as my phone croaked from over twittering and obsessive compulsive facebooking.
It was shiny. There was more. Lots more. Off to my seat. Keys in a place they can’t fall and make noise? Check. Coffee underneath my chair? Check. Phone Off? Dead. Check.
Calling the work hilarious is a huge injustice even though I laughed hysterically and repeatedly. I would call it more tender and thoughtful masked through cliche characters using humor to mask pain. I was having an aesthetic experience, being manipulated in a gentle roller coaster (which is good because I tend to vomit after wild space mountain type rides).
There was one middle aged gentleman in the audience who laughed so loud it was contagious. Perhaps I had found another “old lady that clapped, hummed, sung and boggied.” But his loud, overpowering and omnipresent laughter took on an air of imposing his aesthetic experience into mine. Times where I wanted to reflect introspectively were interrupted by his desire to express outwardly his interpretation of events.
I was annoyed. Not every humorous moment deserves laughter and laughter is not necessarily a blanket response for humorous moments. Humor can mask awkwardness, sorrow, pain, grief, despair and torment. Although we associate these as quite negative and not a healthy psychological (and social) place to dwell, allowing myself in aesthetic situations to visit them allows the positive to be blissful.
On my way home, I thought perhaps if in arts effort to be more participatory and inclusive we have eradicated certain spectator etiquette, Etiquette not to impose classic performance decorum, but to safeguard the enjoyment of those who wish to concentrate on what’s on stage, to allow others to discover their own aesthetic judgements and experiences, and less on external influences unrelated to the original work of art.
What is an emotional person to do? Back to the bathroom for more shiny art things. That, and an awesome red, violent, graphic wall installation over the sink, where the bathroom mirror enhanced its weight, allowing me to return to my aesthetic place after intermission.

Links:
http://www.gremillion.com
http://www.mildredsumbrella.com
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/caravbr-2.htm
http://www.charlietrotters.com/
July 19, 03:38 PM
The Cute Old Lady that Clapped, Hummed, Sung and Boogied
It was Friday at half past whatever right after I finished who cares and before I was getting ready to do doesn’t matter. It was hot as Houston hell, and I was in the comfort of my lovely oversized chair too big for my office. Here comes a Twit: $10 tickets to Stages Repertory Theatre “The Andrews Brothers,” definitely not to be confused with the Andrews Sisters above. There are some similarities: clothing, hair, and of course the songs. The differences? Read on.
I picked up the phone and gave my magic code word that would give me the deal of the century. Of course, they had just sold out of those tickets and I was resigned to buy the full $25. I was hooked as my mouth watered for a gay (happy) musical, especially on Opening Night. There is always something magical, electric, delicious (insert more adjectives here) about Opening Hight. Here is my credit card.
My seats sucked. But the thrill of seeing men in dresses pretending to be women overcame my objection. I needed a good long laugh. The story goes a little like this: three brothers, conveniently the Andrews Brothers (not related in any way to the sisters) were stage hands. They had a dream to be in show biz. It so happens that the day of a show, the Andrews Sisters became ill with laryngitis, so in order not to disappoint an audience of soldiers about to go to war, they use their costumes and songs and put on the show. Unequivocally a recipe for a real tour de romp.
Glenn was getting on my case about Facebooking and Twittering. Suddenly, my attention was dramatically shifted by a horrible, out of tune hum with a wide vibrato that would make a nanny goat proud. Although initially I had thoughts of inflicting pain at the perpetrator (similar to the stereotypical flat clarinet player who can’t squeeze her butt cheeks hard enough to bring her A in line with those of us who play sharp), my paradigm was abruptly shifted as I discover a cute, adorable, and somewhat stylish older lady smiling bigger than the hair of the society lady in front of me.
Her hum is slowly enhanced by knee bopping and hand tapping. Later, the head bobbing begins. The hum changes into mumbling, then into song. Hand tapping becomes a hearty clap, and the bopping turns into a silly theatre chair boogie.
I realize her wonderful disease was contagious. I was doing it too, minus the singing as I did not know any of the words although for a bit a pretended I did (like some people who mumble the Pledge of Allegiance). So were some of the people around her. We made eye contact, and I smiled big, she tapped my knee. The boundaries of theatre goer behavior decorum dissolved in favor of pure bliss and enjoyment. She taught me a lesson.
At intermission, we spoke. She pointed out that I was too young to know any of the songs, and that she was a teenager when the Andrews Sisters were popular: the War and the USO. She apologized for her singing. I asked her not to stop or to let anyone stop her from enjoying herself. She smiled and we shared a moment.
I did not think our short encounter would haunt my thoughts. I wish I had her name and knew where to find her so I could thank her for what she did for me that evening and hear her life story. That and to find out who designed her fabulous purse.
May 21, 02:46 PM
Coffee Enemas
It’s true. They exist.
However, most of you are probably wondering how on earth did I come across such a seemingly exotic and disjunct combination of experiences? Ok, here is my unedited story.
I have been having gastric issues. Weird pains, gallbladder misbehaving, now inflamed stomach. Perhaps, well most likely the effect of unstable diet patterns, my doctor suggested an endoscopy. They knock you out, but a tube down your throat, and look inside you. The pictures are very pretty and I was thinking of having them enlarged to commemorate this experience. After all, a welcome into my home would not be complete with an in-depth look at my esophagus and duodenum. Look it up. It’s not a bad body part, its just a funny and quite inappropriate sounding one. Can I see yours?
So, all I really have is a pissed off, very stand offish, angrily screaming stomach that decided it was time to throw a temper tantrum similar to a prepubescent teenager who just discovered sage is the new pink. Too much acid in my stomach. Will be corrected with proper diet, anti-acid medication, herbal supplements, and plenty of blog entries. As we speak (or write), I am enjoying a cup of Ancient Ginger Puerr Tea at my fabulous Path of Tea Japanese Tea Shop. Ginger is supposed to alkalinize my somewhat sour and acidic stomach.
In the midst of all this, I came across a website that helped educate me about proper diet during a gastric episode. In it, I learned all about the magic of beats, cucumbers, celery, parsley, and the calming effects of flax seed oil. However, down at the bottom left, peeking its eye below the beet soup recipe, was a link that did not initially turn my head. After a machine gun number of visiting to the same page, it pimped and bitched slapped me hello: the coffee enema. This was definitely going to be the next hot topic of conversation, until I wore the subject down to absolute inappropriateness; the kind my friends and loved ones are so accustomed from me.
Without going into too much unnecessary detail for a change, the philosophy behind it has quite some merit. However, it did beg for a plethora of ehs, huhs, what the hells, as if, oh my god, chuckles, you gotta be kidding, and of course, can I get mine venti, dark roast, skinny, iced, with a shot chocolate, a hint of cinnamon and two yellow packets? How about a grande caramel macchiato frappucchino hold the whip cream, with a shoot of peppermint (for that morning fresh feel), 3 unrefined sugar cubes, and a straw enema? Can I speculate as to how that would feel? Minty fresh? Tangy? Could I get addicted? My future vision is somewhat retarded and twisted with coffee enemas eventually becoming the new Wulong green tea. Trendy, multiple choices, and found at every store for your convenience. Perhaps the new diet craze? Perhaps the new Starbutts?
I remember being weirded out by my elders always talking about their health problems with everyone in public. Amidst talking of kidneys, constipation, heartburn, earwax, and mucus, we have the lovely responsibility of talking about coffee enemas. Today I realize, I have arrived. I am no longer a kid.
At 32, I remain one at heart giggling at silly things. I am laughing now. Feel free.
Prada, Mini Vans, and Alter-egos
Although it is impossible to picture Prada fashions worn while driving an aged “day-worker” style mini van, this is now a painful memory that will forever be embedded in the minds of those around me. Although my shrink has already been notified of this new tragic and life changing experience that will mostly likely take hours of shock therapy to overcome, I have rescinded to the fact that perhaps for a couple of days, I looked at life differently through the eyes of Julio, my alter-ego.
It all started with my back side driver’s side door deciding it no longer wanted to operate. Perhaps a sign of stubbornness during a somewhat warm and moist day, or perhaps a motor and belt suicide as it no longer saw any value of continuing to function the way it should: window goes up, window goes down. Sometimes I think how amazing life would be if it were that simple. Could I just function as a window motor? Predictable, repetitive, but essential. If I wasn’t up to my job, it would be noticed. If so, would I still wear Prada?
Wednesday, my day off. Well not so much as I had a closing and a Design appointment. My car was not ready and I had to get a rental and quick, with the consolation that I would get my Audi back the next day in time for work. I had imagined I would get a compact car as usual, a Kia, Chevy, or something cute, small, American and cheap. To my surprise, the only thing they had on the lot was Julio: a large soccer-dad style blue old fashioned mini-van with seating for a retarded family, perhaps one of those fundamental religious sects that never discovered the benefits of contraceptives.
Of course I bought the damage waiver. For those that have had the pleasure, or scary thrill of riding while I was driving would understand why. I drive a small car for a reason. Joel driving Julio would unequivocally pose a danger to society equivalent to Armageddon.
Was it really possible that a material possession such as a car could change my identity and image I have been developing over the last (as if I would tell you) years? Would I really let something this meaningless get in the way of my sales style? I parked the car very, very far from my office. I walked to all my homes, I went through McD’s twice and ordered things I never in a million years would contemplate digesting, and I left my Prada at home.
I came to the conclusion that I was just feeling out of place. I had allowed my environment to determine my mood and my behavior. Somehow, I felt different. Thinking back, this happened often. When I traveled in unfamiliar places, I felt differently. When I interact with people I don’t know, I feel differently. When I wear clothes I don’t like, I feel differently. And now, when I drive another a mini van, I feel differently. In the struggle to always be ourselves, is it possible to acknowledge that to accomplish this all the time is just plain impossible?
Today, Joel is back, and Julio is not a so much a distant memory. I need a drink.
March 10, 06:57 PM
And on the 8th day...
We all know what happened on the 7th day. Indeed all God’s work was done: there was day, there was night, there was water, there was land, there were plants, there were animals, there was man, and there was woman. God rested.
As a man, God probably put his feet up, opened up a cold Bud Lite, chips, chunky salsa, perhaps some hot wings, a cold pizza, and watched Sunday’s football game on the newly acquired 102” HDTV hung on the wall with a ridiculous Bose surround system. As a woman, God most likely drew a bubble bath with wonderful oils, drank champagne with strawberries, got a seaweed body wrap, a mani-pedi, a microdermabrasion with a vitamin C treatment, followed by a Swedish deep tissue massage. But as a gay man, God would spend a fabulous evening at the 70s club wearing burgundy pleather bell bottom pants, a sparkly lime green shirt, a rainbow afro wig and hustle to the best beats the disco era produced while smoking some of the best all-natural exotic hallucinogens.
The next morning would not be pretty.
And the 8th days is certainly not a pleasant one. If you are a boy (man), this is the day that you are awaken at a forsaken early hour, are made to wear a funny hat is taped to your head, and are exposed completely and spread eagle in broad public view of a bunch of geriatric (in comparison of course) people that pretend to know you and care about you. But they watch in horror as they get you drunk and snip a piece of your manhood. Then, they proceed to partake in a feeding frenzy of lox, bagels along some foods that I cannot spell. All in the name of religion.
Of course if you are a girl, you skip the public humiliation and proceed to calmly plan a fabulous party a la debutant style to name you and present you to family and friends.
Evan Mateo Clarfield was brissed (circumcised) today. As most looked away or refused to stand close to the pseudo surgical table, my father was in charge in holding Evan while I reluctantly took a plethora of pictures. My sister shed a few tears, and I decided to turn away during the “cutting” and gave Evan some decency: no before, during, and after shots of the affected area. All and all, the little guy did amazing, a little crying followed by hours of sleep interrupted by quiet adoration of the visitors and the shutter noise of my camera.
The images captured freeze this precious moment. Time goes in and as my father said today “some people come, and some people go.” I go tomorrow back to Houston, thinking that the next time I see Evan, he will probably be twice as big, if not more, have more hair, hear better, see better, cry louder, and perhaps even be able to go from here to there on his own. Whatever happens from here on, I know I will always have this 8th.
Thankfully, Evan will not remember a thing.
Being Personal

Posts

July 04, 02:50 AM

When insecurity gets in the way…

May 01, 02:50 AM

Mark Bittman says it all. Plants promote health.

April 24, 11:35 AM
We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children.
Native American Proverb
April 21, 03:46 AM
The Internet is essentially the world’s largest bar.
Twitter quote from @mollyblock
April 19, 04:20 AM

What happens when you take a ruffie from a priest?

April 18, 12:51 PM
I am on a specialized nutrition plan is the new way of saying, I am on a diet. Sounds more expensive.
Me
April 18, 11:50 AM
I am tired of chasing my dreams. I’m just going to ask where they are going and hook up with them later.
April Curry Maestri (Facebook Status)
April 10, 03:26 PM

Lesson 1: Don’t judge a book by its cover. Amazing things can come from the most unexpected sources.

Lesson 2: Arts can play a life saving role. 

April 08, 03:27 PM

Starting a movement: who is more important? Leader or first follower?

April 06, 01:04 PM
Reminder

On this day in 1994 the Rwandan Genocide began

April 04, 08:50 AM

Do you need to hear more? http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/765

April 04, 08:13 AM
When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one.
Leonard Matlovich, a gay Vietnam Veteran (1943-1988)
April 03, 12:38 PM
The common cold of the male psyche, fear of commitment.
Richard Schickel
April 02, 09:30 PM

Smile. If someone calls you childish. Thank them. It’s a compliment. 

April 02, 12:11 PM

What if I wanted to be bad in good Friday?

April 01, 02:42 PM
The Top 100 April Fool's Day Hoaxes of All Time

My Favorite: Instant Color TV

1962: In 1962 there was only one tv channel in Sweden, and it broadcast in black and white. The station’s technical expert, Kjell Stensson, appeared on the news to announce that, thanks to a new technology, viewers could convert their existing sets to display color reception. All they had to do was pull a nylon stocking over their tv screen. Stensson proceeded to demonstrate the process. Thousands of people were taken in. Regular color broadcasts only commenced in Sweden on April 1, 1970.

March 31, 04:14 PM
Good intentions?

I love the arts. I LOVE THE ARTS. I am happiest when I am being creative, witnessing and experiencing creativity. In an effort to always be supportive of the arts community, I find myself always championing by writing about the organizations, artists, venues and performances that I enjoy, but shy away from being critical to those that I do not. Reasoning: fear of deterring others by giving negative opinions. How do I reconcile this fear?

March 31, 01:17 PM

Sometimes, an iron fence can be beautiful. Sometimes, we have to work hard to find beauty in the banal and unexpected places.

March 31, 03:39 AM
I never let schooling interfere with my education.
Mark Twain
March 31, 12:25 AM

One of the more popular uses for the Native Flute was for courting, to attract a mate. The legend also says that once you got a mate, you were to put the flute away and never play it again, because if you played it again, you might attract someone else?

Audio

Being Weird

Posts

May 12, 10:16 AM
What to do when you have too many apples? Apple Crumble with Cashew Maple Drizzle

Slice of heaven doctored up with cashew maple drizzle

Like bananas, I have a habit of buying way too many thinking that I will munch on them sporadically. For the most part, I do pretty well, trying to keep the doctor away. But for some reason, perhaps working too much has taken a toll on my ability to deplete my stash. So I have WAY too many apples.

When all else fails, bake. Then perhaps you can say, with a grin, how do you like them apples? Not like “dem apples” but close enough.

Why should you eat apples anyway? Aside from the biblical reminder that apple eating is naughty and responsible for the fall of humanity and the expulsion from the garden of heavenly delights, this seductive little number is very high in fiber, rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, and may help prevent you from going senile as you prune into your golden years. Don’t be lame, eat the skin, but avoid the seeds. They are slightly poisonous, not enough to make a dent in humans, but birds shy away.

So buy them apples, and if you don’t eat them quickly, bake them. Like this.

Crust

  • 3 cups of cereal, cookies, graham crackers, whatever you have on hand
  • 1/3 cup of canola oil
  • 3 tablespoons of non-dairy milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Crumble the cereal or whatever in a food processor and shimmy until it becomes a rough mixture (not a fine powder). Toss in the rest of the ingredients and combine with your hands. It’s fun to get dirty. Press into a 9×13 pan.

Press the crumb topping in your favorite baking dish. Doesn't really matter the shape.

Filling:

  • 3 pounds apples (I like sweet ones) cut in half, cored and sliced thinly (not peeled)
  • 1/3 cup sugar
  • 3 tablespoons whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger

If you still have your food processor out, use the slicing disk to get the slices even. This will ensure the thing, whatever we want to call it, bakes evenly and comes out pretty. Mix everything throughly in a bowl, and pack into the baking dish above the crumb crust.

Delicious thinly sliced apples dirty with cinnamon and ginger

Topping

  • 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • dash of ginger and cinnamon

Mix throughly and crumb on top of the apples. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. When almost done, prepare the cashew drizzle.

Ready to bake whatever you want to call it

Cashew Butter Maple Drizzle

  • 2/3 cup of cashew butter
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup of brown rice syrup

Mix all in a pot and heat for about 3 minutes to soften. You may have to add for rice syrup to get the right drizzling consistency.

Mixing the cashew butter, rice syrup and maple syrup into a sweet goo heaven

Apply all over the dish and let cool prior to serving.

Perfect mixture of apple crunch, spice and sweet indulgence


Filed under: American, Apple, Apple Crumble, Cashews, Cuisine, Dessert, Dishes, Fruits, Nuts, Recipes, Spices, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged: apples, baking, Cashew Butter, Dessert, Vegan, Vegetarian
May 09, 09:58 PM
Papa Rellena: Stuffed Potato Peruvian Style (with vegan variation)

My beautiful mother with my childhood poodle, Gigi

Today is Mother’s Day and I can’t see anything more fitting than honoring where I was born: Lima, Peru. Land of the Incas, the delicious Lucuma, Machu Picchu, arid beaches, Lake Titicaca, the Nazca Lines and a huge part of my cultural heritage, the food of Peru is rich, varied, and unmatched. The three major geographical regions, Costa, Sierra y Selva (Coast, Highlands and Jungle) create a diversity of traditions, natural resources and foods. The southern and frigid waters of the Humbolt Current mingle with the warmer northern waters allowing for a confluence of seafood that shame most Japanese sushi.

Naming a national dish can inspire heated argument. Some may claim ceviche, a lime marinated seafood dish with onions and ají (pepper), while others cite ají de gallina (hen in a spicy pepper sauce), causa (a pseudo potato shepherd’s pie), or cuy (roasted guinea pig). At any rate, no one will argue that the national drink is chicha morada (a sweet juice made from purple corn) and for festive occasions, the Pisco Sour.

Tiny Joel enjoying the rough and arid terrains of Sienegilla, a clearing by a brook.

I grew up with a variety of different foods, but one of my favorites was Papa Rellena: a mashed potato shell stuffed with ground beef, hard-boiled egg, olives and raisins sautéed with onions, garlic and spices, deep-fried gently and served with salsa criolla (creole sauce). Of course, I reminisce about the wonderful flavors, but certain that I can recreate the spirit of this down Peru home simple delicacy with simple substitutions.

Start by making the salsa criolla, a staple in every Peruvian table, similar to our status of ketchup, but much, much, much better.

  • 2 medium red onions sliced a la “pluma”
  • 1/2 chili pepper (your choice depending on heat preference)
  • 1 tablespoon vinegar (I like apple cider vinegar)
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • salt and pepper

“Pluma,” meaning feather, is a style of cutting thinly on the half moon. Cut the ends off, then half the onion vertically. Place the onion face down on a cutting board and cut very thinly. You may not be able to get through all the onion, but thats ok. Reserve what you cannot slice a la pluma for the filling.

Red onions a la "pluma." Feather thin cut needed for the salsa criolla

Soak the onions in cold salt water for about 10 minutes to remove any harsh bitterness. Drain, and combine the onions with the rest of the ingredients, season with salt and pepper and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes for the onions to macerate and the flavors to combine.

Finished salsa criolla, always better after marinating for at least 30 minutes

Papas Rellenas (for about 6)

  • 5 pounds russet potatoes (3 large – 4 medium)
  • 1/2 cup cornstarch
  • 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric
  • 1 teaspoon of salt and plenty of pepper

For the dough. There are a wide variety of recipes out there. Some just call for the potatoes, others add seasoning, while some add eggs, cornstarch or both. This recipe ensures the potato stays together well through frying.

Boil the potatoes whole unpeeled for about 45 minutes in salt water until tender. While thats cooking, work on the filling. Let cool slightly and carefully peel while still warm. Pass through a ricer and add the turmeric and salt and pepper.

Passing potatoes through a ricer ensures a smooth consistency

Wait until the potatoes are lukewarm prior to adding the cornstarch. Mix well with your hands.

Filling

  • 1 cup of diced onion
  • 4 cloves of garlic
  • 1/2 chile pepper (your choice depending on heat preference)
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 4 oz cremini mushrooms in small dice
  • 1/2 package tempeh cut thinly and quasi crumbled
  • 1/2 cup raisins soaked for 10 minutes in hot water
  • handful of spinach
  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • salt and freshly ground pepper

Start by caramelizing the onions in olive oil for about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and chili pepper and cook. Add the cumin and paprika and cool briefly to release their flavor and aroma. Add the mushrooms, cook until soft then add the tempeh and raisins.

Crumbling the tempeh

Deglace the pan with a white wine if necessary. Add the spinach and wilt. Add the quinoa and season with salt and pepper.

Filling. Although traditionally ground beef, olives and hardboiled egg is used, this is a hearty and delicious animal friendly substitute

Breading and assembly and frying

  • 1/2 cup of flour
  • dash of cayenne
  • dash of salt
  • 3 teaspoons Ener-G Egg Replacer
  • 3 tablespoons water
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs (I like Panko)
  • Canola oil for frying

You’ll need three shallow bowls. In one, combine the flour cayenne and salt, in the other, whisk the egg replacer with the water, in the third, the bread crumbs.

Make a 1/2′ round pancake with your hands kneading well to ensure a smooth and homogenous potato dough. Make a slight indentation in the middle for the filling.

1. Start with a 1/2" thick pancake with a slight indentation in the middle

Place a generous amount in the middle of the pancake. Using both hands, fold in the middle, almost like an omelet. The warmth of your hands will make the dough pliable.

2. Place a generous amount in the middle and start closing up using both hands, folding in the middle

Coax any filling back into the center.

3. Close and coax any escaping filling back inside while creating a shape of a potato

Close and knead back and forth to create a very smooth faux potato. This will ensure it won’t fall apart during frying.

4. Close and knead back and forth between the hands to create a smooth faux potato. Pictured here is rough, prior to handling.

Roll in flour, then egg replacer, then bread crumbs. Heat about 1 1/2″ of canola oil in a pot and heat until it reaches 350-375 degrees. Too cold and the potato will fall apart. Too hot, and it will burn and cook too quickly to warm the inside. Cook for just 2-3 minutes while turned to get all sides beautifully golden.

5. Heat about 1 1/2" of canola oil in a pot. Ensure oil is heated well prior to frying. Too cold, it will fall apart. Perfect temperature is between 350 and 375. Use a slotted spoon to place them inside. Fry until golden brown

Set on a paper bag to drain any excess oil. You may keep them warm in a low oven while you finish the rest. Serve on a big place with the salsa criolla.

Gorgeous papa rellena with salsa criolla

When cut….

A gorgeous presentation worthy of the highest praise. Not for long. It will be eaten.

You certainly can experiment with fillings. This is my vegan version. Bon appetite.


Filed under: Countries, Cuisine, Dishes, Grains, Mushrooms, Onions, Papa Rellena, Peru, Peruvian, Quinoa, Recipes, Salsa Criolla, Spices, Spinach, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tagged: deep-fry, onion, Papa Rellena, Peruvian Cuisine, Quinoa, Salsa Criolla, stuffed potato, Vegan, Vegetarian
May 06, 10:10 PM
Quinoa 109: Stuffed Ancho Chili Peppers with Black Quinoa and Purple Potatoes with Roasted Tomato Sauce

Dried Tan Chiles - Chiles Chipotles Mecos

Do you ever pass the section in the produce where a large selection of dried whatevers are displayed somewhat neglected by most of the buying public and wonder what cooks do with them? I mean, does anyone every buy them? Have they been there for years?

Well, honestly, I could not give a crap. It seems most of the things I cook require fresh ingredients, and all but one time, I have been required to seek a dried pepper that required me to use my googling skills to familiarize myself with its general appearance. That way, I can easily find it and avoid looking like a jejune cook.

I have many cookbooks that just seem to look good on my bookshelf but truly have not produced. I look at them every once in a while for a glimpse of inspiration, but frequently, they disappoint. But today was different.

Dried Ancho Chili Peppers

I do have a lot of omnivore cookbooks that are begging to be veganized. And today, I took on one recipe from Rick Bayless‘ “Mexican Kitchen: Capturing the Vibrant Flavors of a World-class Cuisine” and modified it slightly to qualify for vegan good eats, my quinoa raison d’être, and these gorgeous peruvian purple potatoes that I happen to find at Whole Foods earlier in the week.

So here it goes:

Quick Tomato Chipotle Sauce

  • 1-3 dried tan chipotle chiles (chiles chipotle mecos) – 1 for mild, 2 for medium and 3 for hello, and if brave, 4 for you are loosing your mind insane
  • 5 large garlic cloves
  • 4 tomatoes (about 1 1/2 pounds)

    Precarious Peruvian Purple Potatoes

  • 1 Tablespoon oil
  • Salt

This simple and smoky sauce is very versatile can be used for a variety of dishes. It can also be made ahead of time and stored.

Start by heating a heavy skillet, preferably a cast iron skillet. Then toast the chiles by pressing them down with a spatula for about 10-20 seconds. You will know when they are ready as they will release an exotic and delicious aroma. Do not over toast as we do not want them to burn, but rather just release to the surface their flavor, oils and their natural fragrance

At the same time, toast the unpeeled garlic for about 15 minutes until they soften, allowing the skin to develop black spots but not burn.

Chiles and garlic beginning to impregnate my kitchen

Remove the chiles and place them in hot water for roughly 30 minutes until they rehydrate.

Roasted and plumped tanned chipotle chiles

The garlic will turn soft and very sweet.

Incredibly sweet, soft and fragrant garlic

Broil the tomatoes on the highest oven setting for about 8-10 minutes on each side until the skin blisters.

Roasted tomatoes begging to menage with the garlic and chiles

Remove the stems from the chiles. Pseudo puree in a food processor until all ingredients are incorporated, but still chunky. Then heat the oil in a heavy pan and cook the sauce down to heighten its flavor. Season with salt.

Rich and smokey tomato chipotle sauce

Now for the Stuffed Ancho Chili Peppers

  • 10 large dried ancho chiles (because you will break some) pick the prettiest ones
  • 1 sweet onion

    Taking a peak inside the purple potatoes

  • 4 medium purple potatoes, chopped into small dice
  • 1 cup cooked black quinoa, or any variety will do
  • 1 tomato, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • salt to taste

The recipe is easy and simple. Start by caramelizing the onions for about 10 minutes until brown, sweet and aromatic. Then add the garlic and potatoes and cook roughly for 5 minutes until the potatoes are tender.

Add the tomatoes, quinoa and season with salt. You can add any additional herbs and spices you may like (cumin, oregano, parsley) although I just want to highlight the sweet smokiness of the ancho chiles.

Ancho chiles are actually not spicy, but rather add a deep complex sweetness to any dish. They are also available ground if you want to be able to readily add the flavor to any other dish, but they will certainly loose their potency over time.

Toasting the ancho chiles

Toast the chiles for about 10 seconds on each side and place in hot water for about 10 minutes to rehydrate.

Rehydrated ancho chiles

After 10 minutes, remove them from the hot water and dry with a paper towel. Handle with care so they do not rip. Cut a slit on one side and remove the seed, as many as you can below the stem.

The filling

By this point, the filling should be nicely cooked. Fill each ancho generously and wrap close.

Filling the ancho chiles

Arrange neatly in a baking dish.

Beautifully filled ancho chiles

Cover with sauce, and bake for 30 minutes at 375 degrees.

Pour the sauce and cover all ancho chiles

Let rest for 20 minutes prior to serving. Careful when serving as the chiles are very fragile. As another possibility, you can bake them each in their own little baking dish for even a more personal presentation. Here is mine.

My dinner. By the time you see this, its gone. All gone.


Filed under: Ancho Chiles, Chipotle Chiles, Countries, Cuisine, Garlic, Grains, Mexican, Mexico, Potatoes, Quinoa, Recipes, Spices, Tomato, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged: Purple Potatoes, Quinoa, Spicy, Stuffed Chiles, Vegan, Vegetarian
May 06, 08:46 AM
Another big boy breakfast: my sweet side – Cashew Butter Apple Waffles

Fluffy, subtle and mysterious sprinkled with powdered sugar and waiting to de moistened by the juices of the maple tree

Perhaps this breakfast isn’t as testosterone filled manly Ahnold Schwarzenegger-esque as yesterday’s Porcini Spinach Omelet with stuff, but I was in the mood for something just as hearty that would appeal to my sweet tooth. After all, those of you that know me, I go from animaniac type insanity to quiet but troublesome introspection like an unsuspecting cream filled something or other.

Not a pancake done that, not a muffin been there, not a scone as I am not talkative enough to bust out my Brit alter ego, was not in the mood for tea, and I am out of marmalade. So what is a girl to do? Hit the cookbooks and google. Nothing talked to me. The culinary voices were quiet this morning which seemed rather eerie. Are the Dionysian gods mad at me? Have I not been drinking enough wine?

As I opened the refrigerator, one eye focused on an almost empty jar of cashew butter while the other looked at organic unsweetened applesauce. Could they be friends? Somehow, I recalled this most entertaining international friendship song and I knew what I had to do: cashew butter apple waffles.

So here is what I did. I started with Isa Chandra Moskowitz recipe for peanut butter pancakes on “Vegan Brunch,” then made some substitutions. Why recreate the wheel when perfection has already been achieved? This is just another whimsical variation of an original theme by genius.

  • 3/4 cashew butter
  • 3 tablespoons maple syrup, the real thing, no knock offs
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 cups almond milk
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon really good vanilla
  • 2 1/4 cups whole wheat pastry flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

In one pretty deserving bowl, mix all the dry ingredients minus the cornstarch.

Flour, baking powder, salt and a delicious hint of cinnamon

In another smaller one, dissolve the cornstarch in the milk, whisk, then add the rest of the west ingredients until the cashew butter is incorporated very well. Then pour seductively and whisk intro the dry ingredients.

Wet meet dry...talk amongst yourselves

The batter will be thicker that your standard pancake.

Ready to be waffled

Follow the instructions of your waffle maker. Make sure it has had a change to warm up well prior to cooking. Pour the waffle batter and cook the waffle until the batter has been waffled and the waffle maker makes its usual the-waffle-is-ready whistle sound.

Hello precious

Serve immediately. Perhaps with some powdered sugar, a few berries, and warm maple syrup.

Yeah. Big boy breakfast.

Delicious. Flavors are subtle and not overpowering. A little maple syrup goes a long way. So here we have it. Big boy breakfast part deux. Perhaps a little more sophisticated that yesterdays, bringing in my sweet side.


Filed under: American, Apple, Breakfast, Cashews, Cuisine, Dishes, Fruits, High Fiber, Nutrition, Nuts, Protein, Recipes, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian, waffles Tagged: breakfast foods, Cashew Butter, Maple Syrup, Vegan, Vegetarian, waffles
May 05, 10:25 AM
A big boy breakfast: Porcini Spinach Vegan Omelet with stuff

Supersized vegan breakfast is possible and does not consist of rabbit food

It is my goal to disperse a myriad of myths about vegan food:

  1. It is NOT rabbit food (and we do not eat rabbit)
  2. It is NOT dainty, refined, or even arrogant
  3. It is NOT boring, flavorless or bland
  4. It is NOT veggie protein attempting to pose as meat like a bad drag queen
  5. It is NOT the kind – like some MSG laden chinese food – that 30 minutes later you will get hungry
  6. It is NOT necessarily healthy all the time – we brought you French fries

I am a big boy, and as a big boy, I want my good eats. Over-portioned, supersized, and yes, I’d like fries with that “shake.” This morning was one of those days where I needed homey sustenance and I had no trouble feeding myself. That should come to no surprise, to anyone that knows me.

Isa Chadra Moskowitz is freaking brilliant. Her cookbooks provide with enough inspiration for a lifetime of food porn. So, yes, I started with her Tofu omelet recipe but decided never to call it that again. Tofu, for some reason, calls images of white, blind, tasteless gelatinous wiggly texture that does not do justice to this do me delicious delicacy.

I didn’t follow the recipe to the t. Yeah, bad big boy, I know.

  • 1 Package of Tofu (not vacuum packed, so from the fridge)
  • 1/2 teaspoon turmeric for color
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon black salt (kala namak)
  • 1/2 cup chickpea flour
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot or cornstarch
  • 1/4 cup of soy milk

Isa does not use soy milk as she calls for silken tofu. I felt the batter needed to be slightly more pliable so I tried it since I only had firm tofu. It worked. The pictures prove it.

Tofu with the rest of the stuff in the food processor

I started by placing the tofu in the food processor and going to town, perhaps longer than I should to ensure it became creamy and delicious. I shimmied while it was rumbling since there was 70s disco in the background (Gloria Gaynor to be exact).

You are probably wondering what black salt aka kala namak is. No, it is not putrid salt turned black, but rather a sulfury type powder that is often used in Indian and Pakistani cuisine. It is salty but has that fart-esque type aroma that mimics real eggs. I know I am not making it sound sexy, however, it adds a wonderful exotic and naughty smell that is unmistakable and somewhat essential. You can kind it at any Indian market, or if you google it, you will find many vendors that will be happy to take your money for it.

Kala namak "black salt" up close and personal revealing its gorgeous pinky fleshy colors and not so subtle aroma

I’d say invest. Go for it. You can impress your friends when you cook with them and say, “hey, can you pass the kala namak?” You know you want to.

The trick to these omelets is understanding that we are not looking for the consistency of eggs pre-cooking but rather almost like a sticky pancake type batter. They will not pour readily, but rather have to be coaxed and spanked into shape and place.

Do use a large skillet, lager than you think you’ll need as it will be easy for turning over.

Back to the batter. Add the rest of the ingredients and go to town again. Spoon the mixture into a hot oiled non-stick oversized pan. Fill in the batter holes as you spread and attempt to create a circle. It doesn’t have to be perfect. Imperfection is homey goodness.

In the beginning, there was one side

Cook about 5 minutes on each side flipping carefully.

Look at my precious...

Look like an omelet but better. From here on, I put some vegan cheese, my desired toppings of sauteed porcini mushrooms and spinach with some cumin, paprika, salt and pepper and set the ingredients mingle.

Melty vegan cheese. Who needs dairy anyway?

The final product? I happen to also sauté some onions with shredded russet potatoes seasoning with black salt, cumin, salt and pepper, a few strips of tempeh bacon and voila. Oh la la, big boy down home country-esque delicious breakfast. As I am writing this, it’s all gone.

I know you want some.


Filed under: American, Breakfast, Chickpeas, Cuisine, Dishes, High Fiber, Legumes, Mushrooms, Nutrition, Omelet, Protein, Recipes, Spices, Spinach, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged: Black salt, breakfast food, omelet, Vegan, Vegetarian
May 04, 01:38 AM
Quinoa 108: Quiche or Kugel? It doesn’t matter – Spinach Mushroom Tarragon Quiche with Quinoa

Real men eat quiche, and real mean are vegan. Perhaps we eat quiche with the pinky sticking out as a sign of cultural refinement in the same way we would sip an aged single malt scotch.

Quiche or Kugel? It doesn't matter. Darn good eats. With a glass of wine.

As an omnivore, I loved quiche as it would highlight my favorite vegetables. Whether broccoli, spinach, cauliflower,even fennel, it allowed me to feature them with great subtlety coupled with my herb du jour. As a vegan, I learned quickly how easy it is to recreate the texture and consistency with animal friendly ingredients.

Although we love to think of quiche (say it with puckered lips) as french, its origins are German. Kuchen, meaning cake, became quiche through a series of vernacular transformations. Kugel on the other hand is a noodle or potato casserole, a dish I was forced to learn to enjoy as a child, now adoring its nostalgic, historic and jew-esque down home country cooking dish.

So, when combining the two traditions with quinoa, I am not sure if I can call this a quiche (since it has quinoa) or kugel (since it does not have noodles or potatoes). A quigel? Kuche? Sounds like a disease or a private part near an erogenous zone.

So here is my concoction. Taking advantage of leftover quinoa and whatever I happen to have on hand I created this Spinach Mushroom Quinoa Quiche or Kugel. Start by pouring a glass of wine. It would be so Julia. So french. Ooh la la.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked quinoa, any variety
  • 1 large onion chopped
  • 4 cloves of garlic minced
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
  • 8 ounces baby spinach
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine, more if you intend to drink
  • 1 15 oz can canellini or northern white beans
  • 1 box firm silken tofu (from the shelve, not refrigerated)
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 3/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon thyme
  • 1 tablespoon tarragon
  • 1/2 cup parsley
  • salt and freshly ground pepper
  • paprika for sprinkling

There is nothing sexier than caramelizing onions (although roasting garlic comes pretty darn close). So start by heating some olive oil on medium and tossing in the onions. Let cook for about 10 minutes, stirring sporadically – meaning NOT consistency – to develop a rich gorgeous golden brown color that smells sweet.

Caramelized onions are the perfect start for mainly any dish, but perhaps not a romantic evening

Then add in the garlic, let it mingle before adding it the mushrooms. Cook for another 5 – 8 minutes until the mushrooms are mostly cooked.

Earthy cremini mushrooms sliced generously and cooking in the sexy onions

Add in herbs, salt and pepper, and deglace with the white wine –  if there is any left since you have been drinking –  to dissolve any flavor bits stuck on the bottom of the pan. Add the spinach, wilt, and cook until most of the liquid is evaporated. Season well with salt and freshly ground pepper. Turn off the heat and set aside.

Spinach giving up to the seduction of the onions

Process the beans with the nutritional yeast and cornstarch until a firm paste if formed. Add the tofu and season with salt and pepper.

The final steps prior to baking - mixing it all together

Put all the ingredients, vegetables, bean-tofu mixture, bread crumbs, lemon juice and check for seasoning. Place in a casserole dish, sprinkle with paprika for color, and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.

Sprinkled with a little color, adding paprika is a like adding a little make up

Let it rest for about 20 minutes to the mixture hold together well. You may want to serve this with your favorite  salad, perhaps gravy? Try this one.

A work of edible art in the making


Filed under: Cuisine, Food History, Grains, High Fiber, Kugel, Legumes, Mushrooms, Nutrition, Protein, Quiche, Quinoa, Recipes, Spinach, Superfood, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tagged: High Fiber, kugel, mushrooms, Quiche, Quinoa, recipe, spinach, Vegan, Vegetarian
April 30, 08:34 PM
I don’t get it: Why do some vegan restaurants try to recreate meat?

Yes. I do not get it. No. I don’t.

Mongolian Wonder: truly faux steak with delicious spices and a sassy sauce.

I suppose that if you are vegan you are automatically kosher. Obviously pork is out of the question, shellfish is not in my vocabulary, and mixing dairy and meat, well, its nearly an impossibility.

I remember a funny conversation I had with my rabbi. I cannot remember the context or the circumstances surrounding the discourse. What I do remember is addressing the concept of I-can’t-believe-its-not-shrimp vegan prawns. His argument was that if the laws of kashrut prohibit the consumption of shellfish, are we then not honoring the larger concept by recreating the taste and texture from other ingredients? It feels a little like cheating. I can’t eat this, so I will create this so I can. Back door foodie. Technically we are not breaking any rules. But the essence if the practice is violated.

I live, like most of us, in an omnivore nearing on carnivore world. About 3% of the US population is vegetarian. Vegans and vegetarians are the minority. That’s ok. I figure I am one of a very small number of peruvian-american-canadian-belgian-polish-german-jewish decent, and that gave me great skin and awesome hair. So in being in the minority, I am kind of cool. After all, I do believe in Apple’s Think Different (and screw up the grammar while you are at it in the name of trendiness).

So, as I devoured a sassy stir fried faux beef-esque type dish – Loving Hut restaurant smartly named it “Mongolian Wonder”  - I determined that there was something interestingly screwed up about the world of I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-cow products. People become vegan for a variety of different reasons (health, environment, religious and animal ethics) but enjoy all the benefits. It seems for the 20-30 something population, a transition, whether gradual or cold turkey as a result of a traumatic event, whereas now, we are seeing more and more kids growing up in a vegan environment. So, if our initial reasons for veganism were animal welfare, why on earth do we want to create dishes that remind simulate eating them? Again, this seems rather hypocritical and nears the realm of self-deceit. I suppose the right response would be to feel disgusted by the thought of animal consumption, but instead, we accept it as ok and go on our merry foodie way.

Vegie World is a business that caters to the faux meat clientele. They have everything from fish, ham crab, even lobster and mutton. I suppose one is used to a meat centric diet, the habit is hard to break. These business then help others transition and stay on their foodie schedule. I will concede, a much preferable habit over the actual consumption of Herman, the name I give all living creatures.

So where does this all stem from? Is this a primal instinct similar to the Freudian Oedipus complex where it is our desire to kill our father to sleep with our mothers? Does it originate from the same urge that allowed the Roman’s to devalue life of gladiators, or the bloody and conqueror nature of the Mayan and Viking warriors? This certainly would contradict the argument that man was not meant to feed on animals. Perhaps it is just a general territorial nature that incites the need to control and repress against domesticating and civilizing. Whatever it is, it is worth opening conversation.

LIke this vegetarian tempted by the meat of another, I too was obsessed with not eating, but recreating something extravagant in a way that could justify consumption.

All and all, this discussion may be futile, but like everything, sometimes breakthroughs start out of non-sensical thoughts, conversations and associations.

I need a burger. A big, HUGE, meatless soy protein or TVP loaded with fixings and fries. Big faux-pas after eating a chocolate chai cupcake at the Path of Tea?

You want one. Vegan. Yeah. Sinful. Yeah. Gone. Hell Yeah.


Filed under: American, Cities, Cuisine, Houston, Local, Loving Hut, Path of Tea, Philosophy, Products, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Chicken Fried Chicken, Vegan KFC Double Down, Vegetarian Tagged: Cupcakes, Faux meat, Vegan Cupcakes, vegan philosphy
April 30, 08:39 AM
Is it possible? A vegan KFC Double Down?

Yes, and it is sinfully disturbing just like the original (minus the animal of course). I was wondering embarking in a vegan donut making party just so I could use them as “bread” and be just like Paula Dean, only vegan. The experiment began with a simple seitan exercise due to a recent request from a friend, then a journey into the south, then into the dark side. It made sense.

The idea came from a perturbing article in CultureMap where vegetarian Social Media Editor Fayza A. Elmostehi was about to break 4 years of living a veggie life and was being seduced by the mere thought of devouring the “meatiest concoction of them all.” I knew I had to do something as other vegan/vegetarians would probably experience the same inexplainable carnivoresque magnetism. So, think of this as an act of heroism. I am here to save the day, like mighty mouse. So, this will not be the usual vegan gourmet blog I am used to writing, but I have to admit, I enjoyed the process of putting it together.

The recipe is not for the weak. If you live on lettuce, stop right now. You may be offended. Worse, you may be inclined to spend a morning wondering how this will turn out. Of course I consulted one of my favorite vegan chefs Isa Chandra Moskowitz and “Tomorrow Friendly Food – Vegan Recipes, Food Photos, and Fun Things in Austin, Texas” blog and combined with some of my own.

SEITAN:

  • 2 cups vital wheat gluten
  • 1/2 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
  • 1 cup water, stock or soy milk (I prefer soymilk for faux chicken)
  • 1/2 cup Bragg Liquid Aminos
  • 2 Tablespoons Tomato Paste or Juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 3 cloves of garlic, pressed or grated finely
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon fresh thyme
  • 1/2 cup fresh parsley

COOKING BROTH:

  • 10 cups cold water
  • 2 cups low sodium veggie stock
  • 1/3 cup soy sauce
  • 1/3 cup molases
  • 2 Tablespoons Apple cider vinegar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Dash of cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • Handful of Parsley leaves

Combine all broth ingredients in a stock pot and keep cold.

Combine the vital wheat gluten, nutritional yeast, cumin, paprika, and pepper in one bowl. In another combine the rest. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and knead roughly for about 5-6 minutes until the gluten becomes elastic, almost like a melted cheesy consistency when stretched. Let rest for 30 minutes.

Raw seitan. Not the sexiest looking thing, but then again, raw meat is not either.

Shape as desired remembering that seitan grows and almost doubles in size. For chicken fried steak, make 4 or 6 patties, not too thick. They will grow.

Seitan formed into faux chicken cutlets

Place the patties in the cold broth mixture. Bring slowly to a boil, then bring the heat down to a gentle simmer and cook for 1 hour.

Seitan taking a leisurely swim. Ok, it was a whole hour.

Eventually, they will float to the surface. Turn off the heat, and let the seitan cool down in the broth, about one hour. Remove.

If you are stopping at this point, store seitan in the refrigerator for no longer than 5 days in broth. Or, if you are courageous, continue.

VEGAN CHICKEN FRIED STEAK BREADING:

The coating begins with spiked chickpea flour

  • 3/4 Cup Chickpea flour
  • 6 Tablespoons Ener-G Egg Replacer
  • 10 Tablespoons soy milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon Bragg Liquid Aminos
  • 1 teaspoon Cumin
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Dash of Cayenne
  • 1 teaspoon steak seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Pepper to taste
  • 1 Cup of Panko bread crumbs
  • 1 cup of vegan corn flakes, crushed

    Beautifully coated a la Chicken Fried Chicken

You’ll need three plates:

In one comine the chickpea flour and half of the dry seasonings (1/2 teaspoon each cumin, onion/garlic powder, steak seasoning, salt, then dash of cayenne and pepper). Mix

in the second, wish together the egg replaces, soy milk and liquid aminos. It will thicken.

In the third, combine the panko, corn flakes and the rest of the seasonings. (1/2 teaspoon each cumin, onion/garlic powder, steak seasoning, salt, then dash of cayenne and pepper). Combine.

Take one piece of faux chicken, cover the chickpea flour mixture, then the wet mixture and finish with the bread/corn flake mixture.

Finish all piece prior to frying. It may get rather messy. Enjoy it.

Fry in one inch of oil under medium heat, allowing the oil to heat up, in a non-stick pan for about 5 minutes on each side.

The golden pieces of faux chicken are so pretty they would fool anyone.

Set on a brown paper bag to remove any excess oil. At this point, you can stop and serve with your favorite mash potatoes and gravy recipe or try my White Wine Wild Mushroom Vegan Gravy.

VEGAN KFC DOUBLE DOWN:

The beginning of the I can't believe is not cheese cheese sauce

  • 2 types of vegan cheese
  • Tempeh or other vegan bacon

VEGAN CHEESE SAUCE

  • 1 medium potato, peeled and cubed
  • 1 medium carrot, peeled and diced
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 1 cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 can white northern beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1 tablespoon cashew butter
  • 1 teaspoon mustard
  • 2 tablespoons any miso paste
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

    Silky smooth and so so good.

  • salt and pepper to taste

Inspired by Jo Stepaniak’s“The Ultimate Uncheese Cookbook“, this recipe has a little more flavor and creaminess. In a small saucepan, heat the soy milk, carrot, onion and potato. Boil and simmer for 10 minutes. Put in a blender with the rest of the ingredients. Adjust seasoning and return to the saucepan to keep warm.

Pre-heat the broiler to high. In metal sheet pan, place the faux chicken, top with two pieces of faux bacon, and add a sliced or shredded vegan cheese. Broil for 5-6 minutes until cheese melts. Be careful not to burn.

Top with a spoonful of the cheese sauce and mount, carefully.

This is the type of dish that needs NOTHING else. Bet you can’t finish it. I could not.

Cheese melted, special sauce mounted.

The presentation? Well, this type of dish is not supposed to be pretty. But there is beauty in the most unexpected moments sometimes.

Beauty or the beast?


Filed under: American, Cuisine, Gravy, Nutrition, Protein, Recipes, Seitan, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegan Cheese Sauce, Vegan Chicken Fried Chicken, Vegan KFC Double Down, Vegetarian Tagged: American, Cheese Sauce, Chicken Fried Steak, Country Cooking, KFC Double Down, Seitan, Vegan, Vegetarian
April 25, 12:04 PM
Quinoa 107: A few of my favorite things – Falafel Quinoa Cakes

Sometimes it takes some sleep, and a little lack of it perhaps to come up with something brilliant.

Delicious and light, best served simply with some raw veggies, a side salad, and a little bit of tahini. Nothing else.

For quite sometime, I have been obsessed with falafel and I know I am not the only one (yes I am talking about you Shari). The quest for perfection in such a whimsical and unpredictable little folkish fritter is beyond non-sensical if you haven’t tried one. If you had, you would understand that such a hunt is not only justifiable, it is darn right essentially necessary, like the Grand Tour, or important rites of passage events such as a Bar-Mitzvah, Confirmation, or finding our mate (for some mates, plural).

Falafel burgers are done and overdone. Its not a new concept. Some better than others and some just mimicking just a huge falafel patty. We can do better. Others just use chickpea flour to create a pseudo pancake thats more like a latke than a pancake. Now a falafel quinoa burger was a combination that came on suddenly with the imaginary (but so real) ding of a small bell.

I found that it is best to call these cakes rather than burgers. They are light and almost have the texture of a crab cake.

  • 1 cup cooked quinoa
  • 2 cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), drained and rinsed
  • 1 small sweet onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
  • 1/4 cup bread coating mixture below (optional) or any flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 2 teaspoons cumin
  • 1 teaspoon coriander
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 cup of tahini
  • Juice of a lemon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Fresh pepper, to taste

BREAD COATING (optional)

  • 3/4 Cup Panko Japanese Bread Crumbs
  • 2 Teaspoons Olive OIl
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
  • Dash of Paprika
  • Dash of Salt
  • Freshly Ground Pepper to taste

But all the bread coating ingredients in a bowl and mix throughly. You may have to use your hands to get the lemon zest to mix well.

Cornucopia of flavorful ingredients

In a food processor, mash the chickpeas until there are no chickpeas whole left. Place them in a large bowl and add the rest of the ingredients. Mix throughly, with your hands if you like it dirty. Tip: make sure the onions and fresh herbs are finely chopped so the cake stays keeps together through cooking.

The gorgeous cakes ready to fry

The recipe will make 6 generous cakes. Form into thick patties and compress using your bare hands. It feels good. Dip into the bread coating mixture and fry on each for about 5 minutes. Each side should be an enticing golden brown.

Do not crowd your pan. Cook two or three at a time.

The smell is intoxicating. Be careful when you turn them over. If they fall appart slightly, do not worry. Squeeze them back together and treat with care.

Fully cooked. You want it.

Serve with a little tahini or your favorite topping. Nothing too elaborate. These are delicious just as they are.


Filed under: Chickpeas, Cuisine, Falafel, Grains, High Fiber, Nutrition, Protein, Quinoa, Recipes, Superfood, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged: Chickpeas, Falafel, Quinoa, Quinoa Cakes, Veggie Burgers
April 24, 01:58 PM
Quinoa 106: Carbs are evil – Apple Quinoa Spelt Muffins

My precious. Fabulous little muffins that are actually good carbs. Yes there is such a thing.

Carbs have become evil in our society. They are the main cause of obesity, problems with the economy, the downfall of Enron, and of course, they are at the center of the ongoing healthcare debate. There are recent allegations that carbs were indeed responsible for causing Tiger Woods to have repeated faithfulness slips, caused Israel to ban the iPad as well as being directly responsible for the huge Toyota recall.

I have an affair with carbs and I am, today, admitting it in public. Yes, I love carbs. To the rest of you who judge me, go gag on a baguette.

I do believe in a balanced diet (but one that does not include animal products) and carbs are great for you, as long as they are not refined, simple, and cause a sugar spike so high you resemble Clinton during his non-inhaling days. So, staying away from white flour, refined sugar, white rice and white pasta would certainly be a good idea (I hope I don’t have to mention processed foods with high fructose corn syrup, candy, sugary sodas etc.).

So why bake with white flour? So you can have something beautifully textured. I get it. But you can do better.

Spelt flour is delicious, nutritious and slightly nutty coupling beautifully with quinoa. Spelt also has slightly less calories and more protein than wheat. It won’t rise as beautifully as white flour, but I am sure you can live with that knowing that these little guys, lets call them Herman, are earthy homey delicacies. So I get to eat my carbs, but feel better about it.

  • 1 cup of cooked quinoa
  • 1 sweet apple, peeled and chopped
  • 3 tablespoons flax seeds
  • 6 tablespoons of water
  • 1/3 cup of canola oil
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup (the real thing, no high fructose corn syrup knock offs)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 cups of spelt flour
  • 1 tablespoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup of chopped pecans

Oil a muffin pan or use disposable muffin paper cups. You can find recycled and compostable paper cups easily nowadays. Go green.

All in. Mixing gently as to wake up the protein but not to disturb it too much. Nudge.

Put the flax seeds and water in a blender and shimmy until crushed and frothy. This is actually the binding agent and replaces eggs in some vegan baked recipes. Use it anytime you would not mind a nutty earthy flavor. Place in a bowl and mix in the oil, maple syrup, apple sauce and vanilla.

In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix well. Pour in the wet ingredients and mix just until all ingredients come together. No more. Spelt is a delicate flour and we do not want to overmix.  The batter with be rather sticky and deliciously earthy.

Fold in the quinoa and apple. Pour in the muffin tins. Its ok if you over fill. Bake for 25 minutes. Swoon. I always do.

The end result?

Up close and personal

These are chunky, homey muffins. Definitely not for the faint at heart. Can you spot the gorgeous quinoa pearls? They are truly stunning, like a fine piece of jewelry that you get to eat.

Melting vegan butter on piping hot goodness. You want some.

These are perfect with a generous helping of vegan butter (unless fats are now evil). I happen to have some cashew butter on hand, so slathered some nut goo and devoured. It matched beautifully the peasant-esque of this pastry.

And this is how I do it…


Filed under: Apple, Breakfast, Cuisine, Dishes, Fruits, Grains, High Fiber, Muffins, Nutrition, Pecans, Protein, Quinoa, Recipes, Spelt, Superfood, Uncategorized, Vegan, Vegetarian Tagged: apples, baking, Breakfast, High Fiber, muffins, pecans, Quinoa, Vegan, Vegetarian
Joel's Good Eats

Posts

Chipotle Black Bean Tamales with Staci Davis from Radical Eats
Staci Davis, chef and owner of Radical Eats is known in Houston for her vast variety of vegan tamales. In this video, Staci shares one of her most successful recipes, making it easy for you to indulge at home, by yourself, or with friends.

You can find Staci's tamales at Antidote (http://www.antidotecoffee.com/) and at the Urban Harvest Farmers Markets (http://www.urbanharvest.org/).

For more information, visit Radical Eats: http://radicaleats.com/
For more information on Vegan Good Eats: http://vegangoodeats.com
Pan Roasted Organic Wild Mushrooms with Toasted Walnut Red Pepper Sauce and Salsa Verde
A fantastic holiday (or any day) recipe from Prego's executive Chef, John Watt puts his vegan cooking chops to the test for Vegan Good Eats. The result, a earthly orgy of organic mushrooms coupled with a silky sauce, dotted with salsa verde.
November 15, 09:22 AM
Pumpkin Spice Vegan Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting
A vegan baking lesson from Houston foodie celeb, Jody Stevens of Jodycakes shows us that there is really no hidden secret to bake without animal products. The substitutions are simple and the product is delicious. Here is her recipe for pumpkin spice vegan cupcakes with a simple cream cheese frosting, perfect for breakfast with a simple glaze, apple or cashew butter, or dressed up with the frosting.
Vegan Good Eats: http://vegangoodeats.com
Vegan Good Eats on Facebook: http://facebook.com/vegangoodeats
Jodycakes: http://www.jodycakes.com
Blood Orange Infused Carrot Coconut Bisque with Indian Aromatics
A perfect holiday food is one that is easy, tastes better prepared ahead of time, and is exquisitely delicious. This bisque is delicious and will warm you to the core.
Raw Vegan Chocolate Mousse with Art of Pure Food
It is easy to strive to increase raw food intake with the help of raw veganista Elizabeth Harris. In this video, Elizabeth shows me how decadent (and healthy) raw foods can be with a little creativity and know how.
Texas-sized Cinnamon Rolls with Sinfull Bakery
Do I have what it takes to make a Cinnamon Roll the size of my hand. According to owner Brittany Carnes, it takes 4 people to eat one (but I did polish one off in the car on my way home).
Spinach Mushroom Quinoa Quiche or Kugel
Quiche of Kugel? Can't really tell but it doesn't really matter as it tastes heavenly coupled with a glass of wine. Using beans and tofu as a velvety base, the quinoa pearls are beautifully balanced with the custard, spinach and mushrooms. Serve with a light salad, your favorite gravy or sauce, and pour yourself a generous glass of wine. Because Julia would.
For the blog entry: click here
April 30, 11:02 AM
Falafel Quinoa Cakes
Light and delicious, these cakes make a great appetizer, a main meal, or even a burger (use a little more flour to help bind). They cook quickly and can be adapted with any additional flavorings. For an Indian twist, add curry and fenugreek. Serve with tahini, or your favorite chutneys and toppings.
For the blog entry: click here
For the recipe: click here
April 30, 07:47 AM
Basic Seitan | Chicken Fried Chicken | KFC Double Down
Nothing says American country fare than chicken fried chicken. In this video, learn how to make basic seitan and two great variations including a vegan version of KFC's Double Down. Think you are up to the challenge?
Seitan is made from vital wheat gluten and contains 75% protein. It is meaty, hearty, and satisfies big hunger. It is very flexible and can be used to replace a meat like ingredient in your animal centric diet (yours, not mike).
For the recipe: click here
For the blog entry: click here
April 30, 01:46 AM
Apple Quinoa Spelt Muffins with Pecans
Leftover quinoa? No problem. In the rare case when you have some (because you should be eating it all), these amazing little muffins will use it beautifully. Using spelt flour in lieu of wheat, we keep the gluten level down, protein high, and our waistline sexier. Make sure you use real maple syrup and not some horrible knock off full of high fructose corn syrup.
Feel free to improvise with spices and other fruits. Like most recipes, these is meant to be improvised. Have fun.
For the blog entry: click here
For the recipe: click here
April 23, 03:01 PM
Wild Mushroom Spinach Quinoa Loaf with White Wine Mushroom Gravy
With savory leftover quinoa, this is an incredible dish that can be put together rather quickly. Perfect for a cold or rainy Sunday dinner, it couples beautifully with your favorite mashed potato recipe (topped with chives of course).
Use the technique of quinoa, beans and rolled oats as a technique and add your own favorite ingredients and flavors. Any quinoa will do well in the recipe.
For blog entry: click here
For the good eats recipe: click here
For the gravy recipe: click here
April 22, 03:22 PM
Wild Mushroom Quinoa Risotto
Time to get lean. Risotto is a delicious, labor intensive dish that unfortunately is very high in carbs. Quinoa is a wonderful substitute giving it similar texture, but lower in carbs, higher in fiber and loaded with protein. Wild mushrooms are a perfect starring partner and the white truffle oil adds an intoxicating aroma that will make you swoon.
Use this technique to make any risotto. A few of my favorite variations include asparagus and artichoke, pesto peas and caramelized onion, pine nuts and spinach etc. Combine your favorite flavors to tease your culinary creativity.
For the recipe: Click here
For the blog entry: Click here
April 16, 02:17 PM
Black Bean Black Quinoa Croquettes
Although most recipes treat quinoa almost as rice, this is a beautiful and whimsical use of this most flexible and versatile ingredient. Coupling the rich texture, color and flavor of black beans with black quinoa is visually exotic. Cumin, cilantro and lemon juice gives it a fresh and smokey aroma perfect for a light summer meal.

Make sure the onions and cilantro are finely chopped or else your croquette may have difficulty staying together.

Treat the combination of a bean and quinoa as a technique. Add your own favorite flavors and create your own. Add panko if need be to help the croquette hold together.

For basic quinoa recipe click here.
April 15, 05:58 PM
Quinoa 101 Basics: Red, White and Black
Quinoa was a sacred seed, not grain, for the Inca's. It is no wonder why this popular food is a major staple of South American cuisine. It is high in protein, 12-18% and contains a balance set of essential amino acids making it a complete protein. It is also high in fiber for regularity. A low gluten alternative to rice, this seed is incredibly versatile. Unfortunately, most cooking instructions out there employ too much liquid, turning off many foodies that otherwise would love the experiment with this whimsical and colorful ingredient.
You can also use stock, juice, any flavored liquid, soy, almond, rice, hemp milk or anything you can come up with. Of course, consider the application.
The salad recipe can be found here.
January 22, 01:44 PM
Vegan Smokey Spinach Artichoke Dip
Spinach artichoke dip has to be one of the most popular appetizers. Although the traditional varieties depend on dairy ingredients for their base, this vegan alternative is rich and creamy, with a hint of smokiness from cumin. Learn a tofu technique to replace all cream based sauces that is dairy free and much lower in fat and calories
Although I often use cumin, thyme, and paprika as a base seasoning, feel free to improvise. Add curry and fenugreek for an exotic indian flavor, perhaps omit cumin and add basil, add sauteed mushrooms, chopped roasted pepper and more.
Black Bean Burgers
Black Beans are high in protein, low in fat, high in fiber and have the highest amount of antioxidants among all the other beans. Their texture is rich and their flavor adapts well to a variety of spices. That's why they are the favorite for meatless burgers. In this video, learn how to make the base and improvise on your favorite flavorings to satisfy your palate.
The base is simple: 1 15 oz organic black beans, 1/2 cup vital wheat gluten, 1/2 cup whole wheat bread crumbs, and 1/4 cup tomato juice. The rest is up to you.
October 20, 10:53 PM
Ethiopian Pea Flour Sauce (Shiro Wot)
An easy and traditional sauce, Shiro Wot is delicious and nutritious with an intoxicating aroma. This dish is usually a staple in traditional Ethiopian tables, where a myriad of different dishes and sauces are served over a large spongy bread made of Teff, a very nutritious grain, called Injera. If Shiro (pea flour) is not readily found in your area, I have posted a recipe on here.
October 13, 11:07 PM
Ethiopian Style Garlic Ginger Split Peas (Kik Alicha)
Sweet, light, and subtle, Kik Alicha is a lovely contrast to the more robust spicy lentil dish Misir Wot. The absence of berbere, Ethiopian pepper blend, makes this dish a needed accompaniment in traditional food presentation with injera. This is a relatively easy dish, can also be served with rice. Yellow Split Peas are practically fat free, high in fiber and an excellent source of vegetable protein.
September 24, 05:46 PM
Seitan Stew Ethiopian Style
The national dish of Ethiopia is Doro Wot. A stew made from Chicken, spices, and served over injera with a hard boiled egg. Using seitan and tomatoes, I am translating the dish into a modern vegan version.
September 23, 11:18 AM
Ethiopian Spicy Lentil Stew (Misir Wot)
A delicious, easy, and spicy stew. This is my version of the Ethiopian traditional Misir Wot. Two ingredients will be key: berbere (Ethiopian pepper mixture - recipe found at www.joelluks.com if you don't have an Ethiopian grocer near you) and black cumin (Shah Jeera at most Indian grocery stores). Start with less berbere as it is HOT! Easier to add than to take away.
September 22, 12:47 AM
Shiitake Mushroom Veggie Burger
A delicious combination of veggies, shiitake mushrooms, textured veggie protein and spices that will create a dense and flavorful patty. Dressed them up as you would any burger. This especially combines well with Ezequiel Bread Buns to cut down on unnecessary carbs. Use your favorite mustard. Mine is a beer infused mustard that gives it a homey flavor.
September 17, 01:12 AM
Hummus and Variations
Hummus is a wonderful food. Traditionally, it is made by combining chickpeas or garbanzo beans, tehini (a paste made by grinding sesame seeds), spices and oil. It is served with a drizzle of olive oil and some ground sumac berries. Today however, it is a base for many bean dips with additional ingredients. Let me show you my basic recipe, as well as some of my most delectable variations. Hope you try your own as well.
Vegan Zucchini Cilantro Soup
A wonderful base soup where cilantro, zucchini or any other summer squash, and lime juice sing beautiful in harmony. It can be served hot, cold, or room temperature, with several capricious additions. Try a cup of cooked brown rice, quinoa, additional veggies like swiss chard, spinach, even top off with a little red onion and chopped tomato. I love this with some dried jalapenos for additional sting.
Vegan Tofu Scramble
When switching from a vegetarian to vegan diet, one of the most difficult things I had to give up was my Sunday morning scrambled eggs and omelets. This tofu scramble is amazing and satisfies me completely. Easy and quick, the trick is to purchase high quality spices to ensure maximum flavor. Try them rolled up in a tortilla with salsa and vegan sour cream, these will become a staple in your cooking repertoire.
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Posts

January 25, 09:01 AM
Jean Françaix - Wind Quintet no. 1 (4)

if you have ever played a wind instrument, this is a bitch

January 25, 08:33 AM
Lascia Chio Pianga - Philippe Jaroussky

This man makes me tingle..and cute too...

March 10, 10:51 AM
Stevie Wonder - Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours

After finishing a grant...there is no better song to celebrate!

March 03, 11:40 AM
Mark O'Connor Caprice No. 1

Fun and serious. Possible? Yeah. mark O'Connor - #violin caprice 1 #classical_music

March 03, 11:06 AM
Jessye Norman - Habanera / Quand je vous aimerai

Exquisite deliciousness. Diva Jessye Norman can turn me straight singing habanera. #opera #classical_music

March 03, 11:00 AM
Seguedille Jessye Norman and Neil Shicoff

Ridiculous. Love a diva. Jessye Norman doing carmen's seguedille #opera #classical_music

March 03, 10:54 AM
郎朗 lang lang playing Strauss - Fledermaus, Op.56 piano

Absolutely disgustingly virtuosic #piano playing by lang lang...sick #classical_music

March 03, 10:43 AM
Hilary Hahn Paganini Caprice No. 24

Simply played, makes it sound easy as a caprice should. Paganini 24 #violin caprice #classical_music

March 03, 10:37 AM
Bach Partita No 3 BWV 1006 (I.Prelude) - Rachel Podger

Nothing like bach solo #violin partita on original instrument to perk me up in the morning #classical_music

February 15, 11:18 AM
St. Germain - So Flute
@DanTaylor: Dude...i love st germain and this is one of my running tunes...seriously bad ass flute playing..thanks for sharing!!
February 10, 01:33 PM
Andreas Scholl - Se in fiorito (Giulio Cesare)

Obsessed with #baroque #opera and counter tenor Andreas School. Se in fiorito (Giulio Cesare) YUM!!

February 10, 01:22 PM
Handel - Xerxes - Ombra mai fu - Andreas Scholl

teaser for @hougrandopera upcoming Xerxes #opera Love andreas scholl, so deliciously simple

February 10, 01:18 PM
Kiri Te Kanawa sings "Vissi d'arte" Tosca

In honor of @hougrandopera recent Tosca, enjoying Kiri belting out a heart wrenching Vissi 'darte #opera #classical_music

February 10, 01:15 PM
Impromptu op 70 Jacques Hétu

Jacques Hetu beautiful #piano impromptu. He died yesterday at 71. #classical_music. Introspective.

February 09, 11:57 AM
Om Shanti Om - Dhoom Taana 720p HD
February 09, 11:46 AM
JBJ-Jhoom Barabar Jhoom
February 09, 11:39 AM
"Jai Ho" (Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack - #13)
February 09, 11:03 AM
Time For Three - Bach Double

Ok, I am now a total fan of Time for Three. This stuff is awesome! Bach Double, sort of #classical_music #violin

February 09, 10:58 AM
Time For Three covers Imogen Heap's "Hide And Seek"

Time for three ...awesome tune!! #classical_music from their new release. deliciously tender

February 02, 07:01 PM
Lamb Chop's Play Along - The Song That Doesn't End

Cant help myself....

February 02, 06:33 PM
Reinecke Flute Concerto Dmaj, 3rd mvt, Galway

So much fun to listen to #flute concerto #romantic reinecke #classical_music

February 02, 06:27 PM
Reinecke Flute Concerto Dmaj, 2nd mvt, Galway

Reinecke #flute concerto #classical_music deliciously painful, with a hint of hope...yearning...

February 02, 06:18 PM
Reinecke Flute Concerto Dmaj, 1st mvt, Galway

Beautifully Romantic Reinecke #flute concerto #classical_music

December 20, 06:08 PM
V. Hobbits. The Lord of the Rings. Johan de Meij

Epic. Yummi. V. Hobbits Lord of the Rings Sym 1 #classical_music Johann de Meij

December 20, 05:57 PM
IV. Journey In The Dark. The Lord of the Rings.Johan de Meij

Arrangement for orchestra for de Meij lord of the rings - #classical_music colors are amazing!!

December 20, 05:46 PM
III. Gollum. The Lord of the Rings. Johan de Meij

Johann de meij Lord of the Rings mov 3 gollum arranged for orchestra #classical_music very colorful!

December 20, 05:38 PM
II. Lothlorien. The Lord of the Rings. Johan de Meij

Haunting. Johann de meij Symphony 1. lord of the rings. Orchestra arrangement. #classical_music

December 20, 05:35 PM
I. Gandalf. Sinf nº1. The Lord of the Rings. Johan de Meij

Originally for wind #band, awesome arrangement for orchestra. #classical_music Lord of the Rings, Johann de Meij Mov 1 Gandalf

December 20, 05:20 PM
Dilson Florêncio - Eugène Bozza - Caprice

Ridiculous #saxophone #classical_music bozza caprice...impressive virtuosity

December 15, 12:18 AM
M - Les triplettes de Belleville
#musicmonday #jazz This movie made me happy. The music made me wiggle...the triplets of belleville
December 14, 10:54 AM
Renée Fleming sings "Ain't is a pretty night" from Susannah

Renee fleming first thing in the morning...with a little southern flare. Sussanah! #classical_music #musicmonday

December 10, 03:46 PM
Zimerman plays Schubert Impromptu Op. 90 No. 2

Schubert does the body good. Impromptu Op 90 no 2. Zimmerman. #piano #classical_music

December 10, 03:38 PM
Horowitz plays Chopin: Fantasie-Impromptu Op. 66

Love it when I can hear EVERY note in this Chopin Impromptu #piano #classical_music

December 10, 02:33 PM
Forqueray - La Couperin / Il Giardino Armonico
@Fujazz @PsychoFrankie #classical_music Incredible inflection, style & breathtaking phrasing.Gotta listen.Forqueray suite in d minor
December 10, 02:26 PM
Short Ride in a Fast Machine

remember hearing Adams short ride in a fast machine first when I was in HS. Still thrills me. #classical_music #minimalism

December 10, 11:54 AM
Lang Lang Encore at the Berlin Philharmonic on Jan 31st 2009

Delicious rendition of chopin #piano etude 3 op. 10 in E major. #classical_music Lang Lang - whisk me away

December 07, 02:46 PM
Brendel plays Beethoven Piano Sonata No.8 in C Minor, Op.13 - 2. Adagio cantabile

2nd mov. Beethoven Pathetique. Brendel's playing is delicious. Y'all know this right? #classical_music #musicmonday #piano

December 07, 02:37 PM
Brendel plays Beethoven Piano Sonata No.8 in C Minor, Op.13 - 1. Grave - Allegro di molto e con brio

Love Brendel's Beethoven pathetique. So rich and ominous #musicmonday #classical_music #piano

December 06, 03:58 PM
Samuel Barber - Canzone for flute and piano

Although I love the #flute and #piano version of the barber canzone, the orchestral has delicious colors. #classical_music

December 06, 03:54 PM
Hilary Hahn - Barber Concerto for Violin 3rd mvt

I love this recording of the barber #violin concerto #classical_music energetic rhythms wake me up!

December 06, 03:04 PM
Jean Françaix - Wind Quintet no. 1 (3)

A dance company needs to choreograph this. #classical_music #flute #wind_quintet Francaix

December 06, 02:59 PM
Francaix Quintette

Ridiculous tempo, so cute, tongue in cheek, perfect French style, love a superficial Francaix sometimes #classical_music #flute

December 06, 02:47 PM
Ashkenazy plays Chopin Prelude Op.28 No.15 in D flat Major 'Raindrop'

Can't imagine something better than this for a lovely rainy sunday afternoon..big sigh...loosing myself in it #piano #classical_music

December 06, 02:37 PM
Quartetto Gelato - Tombeau de Couperin: Prélude

Fantastic find @myownghost i've been craving lots of French #classical_music

December 06, 02:35 PM
Vadim Repin - violin, Boris Berzovsky - piano - Bela Bartok - Romanian Folkdances: III. Stamping Dance

Although i do prefer this on piccolo, its delicious mysterious here...#classical_music #violin #flute

December 06, 02:13 PM
Alexa Still (flute) - Black Anemones

Originally piece by Schwanter. Not performed often enough. Stunning sonorities. #flute #classical_music

December 06, 02:07 PM
Pierre Sancan Sonatine 3rd mvt, Pahud-Flute

Part trois - Pahud - sancan #flute #classical_music makes me want to twirl in the privacy of my own bedroom

December 06, 02:03 PM
Pierre Sancan Sonatine 2nd mvt, Pahud-Flute

Part Deux - Pahud Sancan #flute #classical_music

December 06, 02:00 PM
Pierre Sancan-Sonatine 1st mvt, Pahud-Flute

So deliciously french #flute #classical_music. Cute and colorful, perfect to warm up a cozy rainy afternoon.

November 30, 01:10 PM
Poulenc Flute Sonata 2nd mvt, Pahud

Painfully beautiful. Poulenc #flute sonata second movement. #musicmonday #classicalmusic

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