my friends Lu, Steph and Eveena

Charlie's Angels


Tonight I played hooky from work and went to my friends Lu, Steph and Eveena's house in Battersea.

Eveena cooked me some noodles with tofu and vegetables for dinner. This was really special, especially since Eveena never cooks anything. This fact made it doubly as momentous. I put a lot of Thai chili sauce on it and thought about how Eveena is really great.

She is one of my favorite people of all time.

the moon is not only beautiful. it is so far away.

Cat Power live at Queen Elizabeth Hall April 28th, 2005


This was the first time I had ever bought a ticket to see Chan play and for a woman in my sorry financial straights it was a very large investment. I'd seen her before, lounging like a lizard, chatting like a drowsy sparrow, lip syncing and jumping around in dirty summer Keds. I never gave much thought to her reputation for spotty performances and flake-outs before I had to invest my dirty Chinese mafia cash into it. I bought the seat and hoped for the best. . .

. . . and Chan sang and sang and played and played for nearly a stunning two hours.



--------

As a bonus to seeing Cat Power I also met a lovely girl named Krissy, to whom I sold my extra ticket. She introduced me in turn to a Shaggy looking boy named Dom and his friend Dirk. I kept saying Dom and Dirk, Dom and Dirk because the sounds were so terrific, but luckily, I don't think anyone noticed my strange game.


"I'm going camping tomorrow," said Dirk.

"Oh where are you going?" asked Krissy.

"I don't know. I am just going."

"You don't know? You don't have a place in mind?"

"Not really. I'm just going to take off. Someplace in the country."

"You should go to Scotland," I said. "It is really beautiful."

"That's a great idea!" said Dirk. "I've never been to Scotland. I've always wanted to go."

"It's colder than here though," I said. "That's the only bad thing."

"I'll just wear lots of layers."


This whole unplanned plan made me like Dirk. He was also wearing a khaki shirt that looked like a a boyscout uniform minus the kerchief. Dom decided he wanted to go too and asked me if I wanted to come, but I said I couldn't.

I wonder if they made it to Scotland.

"Heah das no coconut water, no mango, no fruits from da trees, no sun, no ganja leaves."

Gang Gang Dance live at the Spitz April 26, 2005

Pumping arms flung beers half-hazardly into a heady cumulus of second-hand smoke. Plastic cups exploded under heels and miniature lightning bolts from personal electronics struck from all sides. All around there was mass hairdo meltdown as the whir and whoop, thump and fuzz of Gang Gang took hold.

Sean said it was the best show he'd ever seen them play. White Magic, who also played, performed a great cover of an Ethiopian song.

Later that evening some people went to a not so nice place called Mother Bar in Shoreditch, where everyone goes to settle with the devil, as it is one of the only bars in London open past the witching hour. Brian, being much smarter than most people, decided it would be more fun to stand in the cold for three hours by the tour van than to patronize Mother Bar-- and though it sounds like I'm being a smart ass, it was in fact the Buddha-given truth.

Brian, Josh, sometimes Sean, sometimes Doug and I perched near the van and talked about this and that and apartments and people and jobs and love and friendships and NYC vs London. No one had fire, so people were forced to chain smoke and then we passed the time making sneaker prints near a patch of fresh tar while some people took turns smuggling pints out of Mother Bar to share on the sidewalk.

Best of all we met Phillip, a 51 year old Jamaican man who wanted to smoke da ganja with us, but we didn't have any. We were all disappointed when we realized this, but Phillip sang us some beautiful reggae songs any ways and even some love songs just for me. We gave him all our change and he let us use his lighter and told us stories about Jamaica and the sea and the birds and the fruits and the sands and the ganja walk from here to there--all da way to da train station. It sounded so beautiful that we all said let's go! Let's go! Come on Phillip! But the van couldn't get us there so we had to part with promises to meet again some day under the Jamaican sun.

tell me what you eat and i will tell you what you are

On Saturday I partook of my first Korean food in London along with Alec, Emily, Wah and Daniel.

We only recently discovered that Alec's name was Alec, as he had never told anyone before. We don't really call him Alec any ways, mostly because we are not used to it yet. We mostly call him Tutsu.

Korean is not the most accessible cuisine and I sometimes have anxiety about introducing people to it. Emily and Daniel really didn't know much about it and wouldn't use much kochujang on their bibimbap--so it probably didn't taste that good. I felt happy though and ate everything, as did Wah, as you can see from her empty bowl.

Britons think poorly of us indeed

mysterious message from a girl named Akiko

From: 南晶子
Date: Sunday, April 24, 2005 7:47 AM
Subject: こちらの送信アドレスに見覚えはございますか？

私のメールボックスに↓のようなメールが来てたんですが、どういったご用件でしょうか？ 送信者様のメールアドレスが私のアドレス帳に登録はなかっので 不思議に思いこのように返信してみました。

I am in the States . Please do not bother me and get a happy life. I am sure you understand a bit of English.

----------------------

I awoke this morning to find this message in my email inbox, but wasn't sure what it all could possibly mean. Aside from the very obvious fact that it is in Japanese, I am also unsure if I know Akiko at all. Have I been emailing her in my sleep? Has some Japanese person stolen my email identity and proceeded to barrage her inbox? Is she angry with me? Why does she want me to get a happy life? Is she being as ironic as she sounds or is it the ESL? What is she doing in the States? If I have emailed her previously, why doesn't she know what language I speak? Have I sent her only dirty pictures? Does it mean something?

my friend Hidemo

CutUp guerilla art in Shoreditch

CutUp in Shoreditch, picture and text courtesy of Kemistry Gallery


There's a new CutUp billboard in Shoreditch.... it's opposite the
Foundry on the corner of Old St and Great Eastern... catch it while you
can, it won't be long before it disappears under another layer of
Colgate smiles...

For more info on the CutUp project visit them at the Kemistry Gallery site.

TeriTeri English vocab of the day: chuffed

CHUFFED (chuft) adj.

Someone who describes themselves as being chuffed is generally happy with life. You can also get away with saying you are unchuffed or dischuffed if something gets your back up. Ex. I am chuffed to bits!

[From English dialect chuff (pleased, puffed, swollen with pride).]



The first time I heard this word used was when Joe at Kruger Magazine said the K-gang was CHUFFED about their mags official London release. I was immediately taken with this phrase and with Joe for being the first to charm me with it.

Then I learnt that TO CHUFF meant to break wind, which could do nothing but endear me further to this special word. Still later I discovered the UK's Chuffed Headshop, "the online store for tokers who need more". Shortly thereafter I found out that chuffed is also its very own antonym, as it is less commonly used as, but can also mean, to be displeased.
I can only guess what other magical connotations this little linguistic treasure might hold.

seeing Syd, missing Matt

Syd and Matt


Last evening I saw Syd Matters play to a smokey and enthusiastic room of Britons and ex-pat French folk. Something about a bearded, unkempt, sensitive looking white man wielding a guitar made me miss a certain someone.

The members of Syd Matters are good musicians who played a nice spaced out rock jam as an encore, but whose songs were generally mainstream friendly, comfortably derivative, but intelligent and well crafted. To understand their sound better, perhaps it might help one to know that this is a band that has been championed by Mojo magazine. Mmmm hmmm. Got it.

Also playing, the slightly spacey rock group Steeple Remove and some British guy named Adam who wore a face mask and thrashed about under red lights and over distorted guitar noize for twenty minutes. He was pretty awesome.

Adam was stepping in for Choco (also French) who was unable to play at the last minute due to vocal troubles. I was asked to stand in as a singer, but had to decline as I thought it unwise to embarass a nice group as Choco on their big show here in London.

On video duty for the evening was Fat Chimo from the pop band Cocosuma. Fat Chimo was very nice and gave me a copy of their new album "We were a Trio" complete with a sweet cover designed by Missbeck (who also designed the band's playful website @ www.cocosuma.net). I've been listening to the cutesy bounce of their music this sunny afternoon.

first London dinner party billed as a smashing success!

The Dinner Party, by Jules Grun


A small gathering of society gents and ladies gathered parlour side last Friday for the first ever TeriTeri London dinner extravaganza. The organic, vegetarian spread was met with gracious oohhs and aahhhs by all of Teri's guests, despite a slightly burnt main course.

From the starter cheese plate to the final coffees, chocolates and strawberries, everyone enjoyed themselves throughout an evening of relaxed chatting and music, prompting Teri to declare the night an overall success.


Hear more of what people are saying about the evening. . .

"What do you call this? Is this Italian?" - Sir Benny

"That was probably one of the best evenings in London yet. Great friends, spectacular food, a welcoming environment...all around perfect." - Lady Ali

"I ate soooooo much!" - Lady Neela and baby

"Hey who ate all the good chocolate?" - Sir Benny

"I haven't eaten so well in ages. That was so good!" - Lady Maria


Thanks to all who came and shared the evening with me in my new home, for my first ever London dinner party.

TeriTeri's wish list: Homefires II

Adem holding some fabulous rainbow bells, Domino PR shot

This show is being co-curated by Adem and EYOE and promises to push all your happy buttons during a two day marathon of aural pleasure.

Tom at EYOE has confirmed the lineup of James Yorkston, Adem, Hot Chip, King Creosote, Mugison, Lau Nau and more for day one. Alasdair Roberts, Jose Gonzales, Amina (Sigur Ros string collaborators), a second performance from Adem and a very special secret headline act round out day 2. Rumor has it that a handful of acts are still to be added, most of them American.

The first Homefires was apparently totally rad and included the lovely Joanna Newsom, who is both talented and adorable. It takes place May 21st and 22nd at Conway Hall in London, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R T. 0207 242 8032 www.conwayhall.org.uk Advance tickets £17.50 (plus booking fee) from www.ticketweb.co.uk, T, 08700 600 100, www.seetickets.com, T. 0870 120 1149 NME Ticket Line T. 0870 1 663 663 Rough Trade, Covent Garden T. 0207 240 0105.

Let me see you fondle your Armani tie. .

Image and text from Sittings


Over the month of April, Simon Foxton will style 30 models as ‘living magazine pages’. Each day, a different male model will be groomed and seated in front of a SHOWstudio webcam. There will be a separate outfit/look for each one, with no mixing of brands. Accessories will be ‘stylists’ own’, thus each will be single-brand statement. The model will take questions from SHOWstudio viewers via telephone.

Regular content updates will be posted on the In Process journal on SHOWstudio’s front page.

Buung-Buung! Buung-Buung!

Black Owl Shield by Humanfive

This image has nothing to do with London, but it is possibly the coolest thing I have ever seen.

Apparently in Great Britain people believe the owl says, "Tu-whit! Tu-whoo!", which really makes the owl seem like a pansy. Clearly, this is a Korean owl however, since he is the coolest thing ever and says, "Buung-Buung!"

Ahhh so exquisite! So sexy! The curve of the tail. The quaint rotary dial. Brilliant!

Lobster Telephone, 1936 by Salvador Dali

I don't know what it means, but I like it!

And you can too, by taking the Tate's 100% FREE online course entitled Introduction to Modern and Contemporary Art. Once you've negotiated your way successfully through the intricacies, mysteries, meanings and delights of modern and contemporary masterpieces, you will receive sweet enlightenment and a certificate from the Tate.

To take the challenge visit the Tate Online now!

Prefuse 73 and Fourtet @ Scala

picture of LOVE (above) and entry on LOVE (below) taken from Prefuse73.com

Apr. 03, 2005 SO THE FULL LENGTH HAS BEEN UNVEILED IN IT'S PROPER FORM AND HAS HIT SHOWROOMS ACROSS THE NATION. yes. BIG LOVE JAPAN! DAMN TOKYO! SOLD OUT? FOR BATTLES, BEANS, AND PREFUSE? I HOPE WE DID OUR THING FOR YOU. DOWNLOADED OR NOT, THANKS FOR THE LOVE PEOPLE!!!! YOU THE BEST BEST.... LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. I LOVE YOU BUT I LOVE ANXIETY MORE. SO I'LL KEEP DOING MY WORK AND MOVING ON... ADIOS..

. . . . . . . .

Scott Herren, aka Prefuse 73 is playing a rescheduled battle in London on Wed, April 20, 2005 against Kieran Hebden of Fourtet. In such a battle there can be no real losers. I've heard mixed reviews re Prefuse 73's recent release Surrounded by Silence, but have yet to hear the profuse and fearless Prefuse in his latest manifestation with my own ears.

Let's go! Let's go! If we can find tickets. . . no longer on sale. . . devious action must be taken.

Illumination Show

Untitled, 2004 by Dafna Talmor

Dear Teri,

Thank you for your kind email.

Currently, there are no extra events to coincide with the exhibition,
Illumination. However, I will inform you of any events that may take place.

You are more than welcome to come on the 21st with all your friends to the preview of the exhibition, Illumination.

Finally, can you tell me how you heard about the show?

I look forward to seeing you on the 21st.

All the best,

Kaz

. . . . . . .


The private viewing for this gorgeous show happens from 6-9pm on April 21st and the show runs until May 22nd @ Fordham; 11 Princelet St., London. Nearest tube Liverpool St./ Aldgate East/ Shoreditch. For more information on the Illumination Show please visit their website.

A visit to the Flea Pit

Flea Pit Logo
Originally uploaded by TeriTeri.

Over the weekend I spent a drowsy afternoon reading and stuffing myself with organic artichoke soup and black coffee served up in vintage 70's ceramics.

The staff seemed happy and kind. My server quite gallantly knelt on one knee in his denim apron to take my order.

Outside the new sign was being painted and neighbors were gathering to offer advice. Inside four local ten year-olds begged for 15 minutes of free internet, hoping to download the latest videogame codes and free ringtones. They charmed their way into staying for half an hour.

People chatted with friends over salads and fresh juice. A couple searched for a new flat together and a man click-clacked away on his laptop in a sunny corner (free wi-fi connection).

It felt relaxed, neighborhoody, new and promising. The food was/ looked good, but was 20% more expensive than I would have liked--even for organic fare. Small cup of coffee and modest bowl of soup, incl. tip set me back 6.50 and left my tummy still rumbling.

www.thefleapit.com; 49 Columbia Road, London; closest tube Old St.

to the season of new beginnings. . .

Spring!!!
Originally uploaded by TeriTeri.

6 weeks into a life in London and though it does not feel like home, the spring sunshine makes me glad to be here.