Astoria: Damn Good Fish & Chips

You know the food has got to be good when you see people sitting on the ground eating because all the tables are taken.


I suppose it's a bit cliche to eat fish n' chips in a coastal city, but hell, a writer can only drink so much wine and coffee. So after writing from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., we boarded a trolley and rode it to the other side of town. Upon descending the trolley we found this gem of a  place.

It's basically an old boat that has been refashioned into a food cart, a couple park benches, and some coolers.

After waiting in line for 15 minutes, we took a seat on the grassy knoll beside the ship and indulged.

These were seriously the best fish and chips ever. First of all, the fish was neither cod nor halibut, but ALBACORE TUNA! Seriously, who has albacore tuna fish and chips. Not only that, but the family who runs the cart catches the tuna themselves. Amazing.
Second, the chips (or fries, as we call them in the U.S.) were so crisp and delicious, especially drenched in Malt Vinegar.

Sitting on the ground was really an extra treat. In Astoria sitting outside is only possible ten days out of the year, or so it seems. It is one of the darkest, cloudiest, rainiest places in the U.S.. But yesterday, it was perfect picnic weather.

Live from the Astoria Writers' Retreat!

Astoria, Oregon

I am writing this post from the Oregon coast, where I have arrived to participate in the Astoria Writers' Retreat. Just this afternoon  I left behind sunny 85-degree Portland for this chilly, coastal town.  I will spend three days here and I hope to finish four short stories and make substantial progress on my novel. Yes, apparently I write more than just frivolous blog posts.

I am attending the retreat with my posh friend and fellow writer, Albert William. Our reasons for attending the retreat can be summed up in the following:

1. Get the hell out of the city for a weekend

2. Write without the interruptions of our daily lives

3. Meet other writers and creative people

4. Get critical feedback on our work

5. Get shit done!

My life for the next three days

Of course, no retreat would be complete with the element essential to all writing. No, I'm not talking about creativity, I'm talking about booze.

Aperol: my liquor of choice second only to Campari

Summer Goth in Astoria

Sweater: Made by mom

Dress: vintage

Boots: Ether

Sunglasses: H&M

Bag Check: Astoria Writers Retreat

I am packing for the Writers' Retreat in Astoria, Oregon this weekend! Here is what's in my bag.

1. Wine glasses

2. H&M Sun glasses

3. Delfonics Agenda (from Japan)

4. Mac

5. ipod

6.  Handwritten journals for transcribing

7. Inspiration: The Lover by Marguerite Duras

8. LV Wallet 

9. iphone

10. Favorite bottle of wine: CMS Hedges

11. Anna Sui Mirror

12. Revlon Orange lipstick

13. Car (It's a road trip after all)!
14.  Vintage tote 

World Tote Collection

Thought it would be cool to share pictures of all the totes I've gotten from around the world. I didn't quite have a tote craze until my trip to Scandinavia, and most of these I actually got for free, but nonetheless I can still count them among my tote collection.

Lady Gaga tote from H&M, Montreal, Canada: $10

Pom Wonderful tote, USA: free

Promo tote from Nylon Japan, Tokyo, Japan: Free

Old town tore, Prague, Czech Republic: $5

Colorful Desert scene tote, Tokyo, Japan: $20

Thai Souvenir tote (gift), Thailand: free

Promo tote from Nylon Japan, Tokyo, Japan: free

Promo tote from Nylon Japan, Tokyo, Japan: free

Victoria trip

Made a weekend trip up to Victoria, Canada recently. The weather was, surprisingly, much nicer than in my home south of the border.

Top: thrifted

Scarf: thrifted

Skirt: thrifted

Snapshot from Reykjavik

A bed of flowers outside a theater, Reykjavik, Iceland

Taipei Instagram Diary

Who is this Toast? Somebody help me!

Around 2:00 a.m. I was awake in my hotel one night in Munich and this strange, wonderful show came on. I was watching a channel similar to the German VH1 or MTV, and very late at night (when most of Munich is either asleep or drunk at a gay bar) this singing toast came on air. 

I couldn't understand what was going on at all, but I was mesmerized. This toast puppet can sing, dance, and impersonate celebrities. 

If anyone knows this show or why a singing toast puppet appeared on my TV in Munich, I would love an explanation. Please contact me. 

What do I buy in Scandinavia: Origins fo the Tote Craze

In a follow up to the  post I did on Japan, I thought it might be good to talk about some of the things I bought on my trip to Scandinavia last year. 

I basically shopped my way through Scandinavia. No, it wasn't that bad,  but pretty much after one day in Iceland it became very obvious that there would be a reoccurring theme through my shopping adventure: totes. They were everywhere! And in so many cool designs! At such affordable prices! I decided that it would be cool to buy a tote (or two) from each city to commemorate my experience there. Not only did they fold up nicely in my tiny suitcase, but I also used them to haul things around. See, practical and memorable.

Ordning & Reda tote, Stockholm, Sweden: $15

Marimekko tote, Helsinki, Finland: $15

Astrup Fearnley Museet Gift shop tote, Oslo, Norway: $10

Tiger tote, Reykjavik, Iceland: $3

Torpedo tote, Oslo, Norway: $5

Design Week tote, Copenhagen, Denmark: Free

Tiger Tote, Copenhagen, Denmark: $3

Streetwear in Taipei

I saw so much amazing streetwear in Taipei, but people were moving way too fast for me to photograph, and unlike Scandinavia, Taiwan is so crowded that it's hard to photograph someone is isolation, or without another person looking over your shoulder.

Pink tote and knee length black socks

Louise Vuitton bag with sheer top

Poncho dress on the MRT