Spring hiatus.

Raw week. Few yes+no decisions taken, a new design position offered, a work summit w/grade school kids, a goodfriend lost his mom to long cancer battle.

LIFE is fragile.
Somedays are tremendous; often sad, often joyful. Often both. What a mysterious ride.

Taking a short time off from the blog +sharing fotos to embrace changes +some time off social media.
Will be back in about a month, happy mother's day, and will be watching my Warriors rocking the basketball playoffs.

See you all in late-May.
Much love -xxomeli

mucha música Monday: on the radio

One of the things I often, if not daily, is “I heard it on the radio.” 
Even if I can only catch it for a few minutes, I try to listen to the radio everyday.
I like finding out events, some news, music +unexpected interviews. It keeps things interesting, fresh +a bit random.

Some of my local fave stations/shows I try to listen as often as I can:
KPFA 94.9 “Rock en Rebelión” Sundays
KPFA 94.9 “La Onda Bajita” Fridays
KPOO 89.5 out of the Western Addition
KNBR for some sports updates (I was an avid Barbieri follower at some point)
KALX 90.7 CAL I do forget about it, but I used to religiously when I worked in Berkeley a few years ago.
KCBS 740AM newsnewsnews

Others possible by the internet with listen-now links:
KEXP in Seattle: their Sonarchy show available as podcast is my favorite
KCRW Santa Monica/Los Angeles in particular Raúl Campos
89.3 The Current in Minnesotta via their youtube channel.

Anyways, that's my curiosity path to continue to explore, divert +listen to some different happenings through a not so old +I sure hope never-to-be obsolete form of communication, the radio. I do miss KUSF, however. Anyone else was also a big fan of DJ Schmeejay in the mornings?
OK -- onto la música:

Peace: Ocean's Eye & Follow Baby
First time listening to these British young band on KCRW a few weeks ago. Like them so far. Their album dropped over a month ago “In Love”. Clever junction of band name +album title, right.


Brainfruit
I was catching up with some of the Sonarchy archives from KEXP, when I heard a set by Brainfruit. You could even read a book if you needed this as copmany background noise. I enjoyed the 1hr set, though here is a shorter one I found through their bandcamp site:

JD McPherson: Dimes for Nickels

Here is cool live performance recently shared by @DirtyCyclist of KEXP in Austin for SXSW, broadcasting from the Mellow Johnny's bike shop:

thanks for sharing!

Phantogram: Don't Move

I fell in love with When I'm Small in 2011. That black hair, black tank +all that um bouncing, as well as his beard. Ohmy. They have that pretty modern-ear candy sound +layered live, I must say I'm a fan.

[file under] → M E S M E R I Z I N G  M O N D A Y…

What's your favorite radio station? Do you have any radio rituals?
Hope you enjoyed this radio segment as much as I putting it together.
xxom

under the golden gate bridge

/At Fort Point.

Embracing a peaceful moment under the fog blanket with a sea layer scent, good for the mind. have a bonito fin de semana/good weekend a todos/you all <3

Los events: for the weekend

Saturday April 27th: San Francisco

Join Jenny Oh and Pamela Palma as we take you on a leisurely scenic bike ride to some of the best coffee shops and cafes in town!
START: Stanza Cafe (Mission)
STOP #2: Trouble Coffee (Hunters Point)
STOP #3: Lands End Lookout Cafe (Sutro Baths)
STOP #4: Dynamo Doughnuts (Crissy Field)
STOP #5: Beacon OR Reveille Coffee (North Beach)
→ M O R E   I N F O: Facebook page event The 3rd Annual Coffee Ride!

Sunday April 28th: San Francisco

SF Yellow Bike will be starting our first series of FTW - Femme, Trans/ Gender Queer, Women's Shop hours. SFYBP feels this space is important and acknowledges existing power structures that can be barriers to many in the community. 

These shops will be held at YB HQ, 25 Division on the 2nd floor. Our first of this series will be the following: 

Sunday, April 28th 3pm - 6pm  |  More info: SFYBP blog | FB event page

World Book Day y coffee.

World Book Day is celebrated April 23.
I love books almost as much as I love coffee.
As much as I love living my entire life within a few miles from the Pacific Ocean.

Here is what I'm currently reading/to-read list +a few recent new additions to my bookshelf:

A couple of Burma to-read pieces by Emma Larkin.

This bookworm ♥’s the SFPL. These two book stacks fotos were inspired by bloggie pal from Tijuana Velcro/ZiaZia

A few I've recently completed, or are almost done with:

✕ Sagan's Billions & Billions subtitle is" Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. It's a great math+life book.
✕ Sway is a fictional novel about Brian Jones +the Rolling Stones. Having read Life by Keef, I've found the novel rather hard to get into asking, like, how does the novelist really know this could've gone through their heads. I been jaded by Keef, that I know.
✕ Anna Karenina is part of the book club with my GFs, interesting but not quite a personal choice. Getting to its half point as a milestone has been kind of a reading effort, I must say. Romance is not quite my cup of tea.. but have enjoyed it so far.

I have yet to start: The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch
“This is not your mother’s memoir. In The Chronology of Water, Lidia Yuknavitch expertly moves the reader through issues of gender, sexuality, violence, and the family from the point of view of a lifelong swimmer turned artist.” -goodreads



I am very grateful to have received the above 2 fashion books over the Holidays. Pretty amazing, a present large format to make a clear statement +an infinite source of inspiration. McQueen's book is a lenticular trippy cover, I love it.

Two graphic design books I've recently purchased.
(On the left) Restless typographer Jurrian Schrofer (1926-90).
(On the right) Graphic Artists Guild Handbook 13th Edition.

There is a connection about World Book Day +Don Quixote de la Mancha, Wikipedia indicates:
“The connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes who died on that day.” [World Book Day on wikipedia]

What books have you read lately? Feel free to share any recommendations :)
xxom

Mucha música Monday

Lumerians: The bloom

The Vaccines: Blow it up
Pretty cool they are playing soon in DF: Mexico City in May


Tripple N-ples: Off the dancefloor remix
Lunatic delusion party! From Tokyo, Japan
→ → NOTE  The video below is NSFW so here is their stream, for safer measures: on soundcloud


Iron and Wine: Joy
Can't say I'm a fanatic of their music much, BUT I find this video quite beautiful +well crafted. Image quality +its crisp textures are pretty out of control. Further reading/watching: the making of - via thisiscolossal


Thao and Mirah: We're Both So Sorry (Live @ Google)
Maggie of Mighty is doing daily music finds +that's how I found this sweet +sour song. Bit poetic, digging the end rougher ending.

Boston

STOLEN BIKE ALERT: Calitexican's Joanie baby

Calitexican's JOANIE BABY: raleigh mixte stolen from the Lower Haight last night.
Red Raleigh small frame (approx. a 49-51) with basket +Brooks saddle.
Spread the word, keep eyes peeled!

Los events: ALLEYCAT | East Bay Bombshell #1

“Team Jortz is holding a summerlong race series open to everyone but gives top honors and recognition to the female racers! The idea is to get women stoked on racing cross by getting them into the race mood, with an omnium race finale on Labor Day weekend! We are so excited about this and wanted to made sure that we shared it with everyone!”

✖  D E T A I L S  ↓  ↓ 
Sunday, April 21st
Meet at Oakland City Hall, Frank Ogawa Plaza at the oak tree.
Registration is at 1PM!
Race at 1:45PM!
$5 to race
Afterparty in Oakland: come to the start to find out where!
Screenprinting, hella good food, rad peeps!

✖ More info:
Jortz Blog includes future dates | Jortz (Event page) on Facebook | @jortsmaterial

For MA+TX

Our thoughts and love are with Boston, MA & West, TX +anyone affected by it.
Life is so fragile :(

Last night couldn't sleep + decided to do a quick little graphic.
You can download for free via scribd any of the 3 versions, each fits in a letter size sheet.
Post/print it however/wherever you want, PDF is spokecard-ready. It is yours to share, keep.

  HEAL SOON ♥ by meligrosa

xxom

Bus stop, bags, bikes, vehicles.

Waiting for the 5.
Loved the Harold +Maude poster ♥
Market street, Saturday afternoon.

Los events: Startup bike this Thursday

Startup Bike SF: April ride /San Francisco

Thursday,April 18th 

Start: Fulton +Larkin. 630PM

End: SOMA StrEAT Food Park (11th and Harrison)

What is Startup Bike?:

Not every networking event requires you to pickle your liver! Startup Bike is a monthly bicycle ride where you can get some healthy exercise and then pickle your liver! If you're a entrepreneur, tech worker or investor who also happens to love bikes, come on out for a social ride.

“This month we'll have to forgo a sponsor and bootstrap our own fun. We'll do a 7.3 mile ride through the city and end up at SOMA StrEAT Food Park. The food park is full of yummy treats and beer for purchase (bring cash). Don't forget to bring some layers to stay warm!”

Read more on their meetup page.

Patti Smith

“Life is like a roller coaster, it is going to have beautiful moments but it is going to be real fucked up, too”

/Patti Smith: Advice to the young.
Interview by Christian Lund, the Louisiana Literature festival August 24, 2012, at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art | via the Louisiana Channel on vimeo

Advice not only to the young, but to those of us who want to escape the real fucked moments of life by going on the internet as audience or as voices, seeking the human condition connection –somewhere, with someone, with many– to perhaps make sense of it all.

xxom

*If you have read Just Kids +/or are a big Patti fan, there is an extended 10minute; beautiful words +thoughts: First encounters with Robert Mapplethorpe

Mucha música Monday: estrogen

Ebony Bones: Don't fart on my heart
Greatest title I've heard for some time now. Poetically correct, seriously great.
She is British and her look is as colourful as her music (awesome foto from the ladiesroom.tv) Let's start this week with this upbeat piece.


Cat Power: Manhattan
Chan Marshall’s love letter to NYC’s most famous borough.


YYY: Sacrilege
The Yeah Yeah Yeahs have released their first official video. It looks a little too musical Cohen brothers to me, but well. They put a lovebird on it by featuring Lily Cole, otherwise known as Jack Dorsey's girlfriend (Twitter, Square) – you know, silicon techy big chisme around this turf, ala The real housewi-fis de San Francisco.


Lorelle meets the Obsolete: These days
This tapatío band (From Guadalajara, México) is a bit on the psych spectrum of dreamy mellow melodies. The sound reminds me a bit of Galaxy 500 layered with loops of shoegaze-y repetitive vocals. Most of these bands sound good with headphones on computers, but then they sound great live. Hope they make it to the Bay Area at some point, I mean they are opening for The Cure in Mexico (this April). Not bad!
Learn about this duo here: Lorelle meets the Obsolete [about].


Chasms: Darker outside
Speaking of mellow, here is a new video by local band Chasms.


Lala Romero: Residue
Came across this new release gem via Gabriella of MISS.
Hawt.


Lorde: The Love Club & a remix
Behold. She is a 16-year old from New Zealand. She will be huge.




ok, have a great week.
xxom

Where the wild things are

I came across these doodles on the sidewalk in the lower haight the other day +thought of my pal Greg because he lives in that neighborhood. I haven't seen him in about 2 years, he is the biggest fan of Thee Oh Sees; their shows in San Francisco always sell out.


/Where the wild things are.

Since they have a new record coming out next week (new music tuesday: April 16th) I hope to catch them in upcoming shows sometime this year, they are pretty good live.

Here is the first single “Minotaur” from their forthcoming album Floating Coffin:

The drawing +the video creatures are cousins, don't you think?

3 years: Divis y McAllister

Here is the most recent mural on Divisadero +McAllister, where the 5/24 MUNI lines stop and more, click on any of the two panoramic patches to enlarge.

April 2013:


October 2012:


April 2010, the word “divisadero” was in pink cursive, but can't seem to find that foto :/


xxom

I wish I was a little bit taller

The Golden State Warriors: my team.
They are the biggest underdogs +as of last night, they have made it to the NBA playoffs for the 2nd time in 19 years. That's true underdog, true fan speak. It is the first pro team that I saw in person in 1994 vs. the Clippers (I do have some dribbles/autographs on a mini-poster somewhere).
Fast forward to adult-hood, here are a couple of pictures I dug out from a pre-game shoot around just a bit before anyone would even suspect they'd make it to the playoffs +be part of the historical biggest upset series ever in 2007 vs Dallas. That was awesome.

Al Harrington, Matt Barnes and Monta Ellis.

There goes the razor aka Ralph Barbieri, I was too shy to say hi when I saw him upclose.

That's me 6/7years ago with tony.psd. He makes crazy cool signs +shirts you can often spot on CSN or TNT broadcasts.

HELLA AMAZING indeed.

Fear the beard aka Baron Davis +the WEBELIEVE team.

mucha música miércoles
This past Wednesday @eltejano posted an ode to mucha música Mondays while I was deep in Marchmadnesslandia. The end of the tournament was super fun to watch, except for the broken leg, but what a championship game! As I (+Ratta +Fidel) had predicted, Louisville won the men's title. I have been doing college ball brackets constantly since the year the fab five rocked the tv sets +as a prepuberty youngin' all I wanted to do was play for Pat Summit's lady vols (true story).

Anyways, music +basketball are two lifelong passions. I love sharing music, learning about new bands +revisiting past beats, so connecting with you all that share the same interests is pretty rad. Thanks!

Here are a few good ones el tejano (*note: a spurs fan) shared last week. BTW Vicentico, voice to Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, is just like good old wine even after his belly flop in that video. Damn…

Kenneth's Rants and Other Things:
L I N K → Um Pouco de Musica

San Francisco has won 2010 +2012 World Series, My Oakland A's won the AL West last year, 49ers in the Super Bowl, Sharks doing their rockstar thing +now the DUBS in the playoffs, it –has been– an amazing time in the last few years for Bay Area sports.

I LOVE my basketball. Oh, +I once high5'd Steve Kerr.

OK, that's all for now.
xxom

Mucha música Monday: cholos, rolas y photography

Cholo adventures: That Foo Stole my Bike (part 1)
Aw, brand new bike. From Toys R Us. These cholitos are silly fun.


Shinning Soul: Get up
Phoenix Hip Hop duo, Shining Soul, drops their first single 'Get Up' of their next full length project, Sonic Smash.
“Young, gifted and brown…” found via the PhoenixSpokesPeople on FB


Kid Frost: This is for la raza
Shinning Soul mentions a Kid Frost line in the above song, so for reminiscing youth beats where we puberty chicas would be just calling everyone estupidass baboso. Here it is.
QEUVO.


Kinto Sol: En mi lowrider
Keep those ranflas brincando.



- - -

via carmichaelgallery

Eriberto & Estevan Oriol
The Los Angeles chicano roots run deep in culture, community and the arts. Amongst one of my biggest inspirations to take black and white photography courses after high school was Eriberto Oriol. His son is also a photographer, and I didn't learn about an exhibit they had together until just recently “Like Father, Like Son” (October 2011, Culver City). Pretty rad.

As a California native, it has been great to learn about Chicano artist and pioneers that have paved the way and become influential for generations to come; for example in the video below, Eriberto mentions the moment when he realizes the power his photography had during the movement of his community uprising in Barrio Logan, just south of downtown San Diego.
He is a legendary artist I admire, and hope you enjoy his work.

Here are two brief videos about him, by his son Estevan.



// Eriberto Oriol & Estevan Oriol
(blog / instagram) & (blog / instagram)

Los Angeles and San Diego are quite different from Northern California but they are no less beautiful and rich in culture, with deep Chicano history and movements.
I love my homestate; from Tijuana to the Bay.

Zapp y Roger, pasted outside Emmy's spaghetti shack in Bernal Heights.

ay te wacho.
xxom

Los events: SF Yellow Bike's Upcycle Ball

Saturday April 6th

6-10PM SOMArts, San Francisco

The SFYBP 2nd Annual Upcycle Ball is supported by the SOMArts Cultural Center’s Affordable Space Program, which provides subsidized, large-scale affordable space and technical assistance to nonprofits. SOMArts receives support from the San Francisco Arts Commission’s Community Arts and Education Program with funding from Grants for the Arts/The Hotel Tax Fund. The mission of SOMArts is to promote and nurture art on the community level and foster an appreciation of and respect for all cultures. To find out about SOMArts classes, events and exhibitions, please visitwww.somarts.org. 

Our “experiences” are kind of like being at a carnival. All ticket sales go directly to funding San Francisco Yellow Bike Project’s 100% volunteer-run organization. Bring cash, or pay for tickets with a credit card. Tickets - $1 = 1 ticket.

See all details on their website, or on the FB event page.

[U P C O M I N G - S Y B P   E V E N T S]
Women/Femme/Trans volunteer shop hours at SF Yellow Bike

I wanted to invite you all to SFYBP's first ever Women, Femme identified, Trans/Genderqueer shop hours. For the month of April, I will be hosting these shop hours where we can author a space safe for female identified and femme spectrum folks to share our collective knowledge about bikes and riding. 

SF Yellow Bike is located at 25 Division, on the 2nd floor, above Source.
Sunday shop hours:
April 14th 3pm - 6pm
April 28th 3pm - 6pm 

Friday morning cafecito

Ritual coffee, reading y la ratta.

/Early morning in the Outer Richmond.
xxom

Objectivity

San Francisco Art Institute. March, 2013

My eyes completely skipped to acknowledge the two landmarks and zoomed right into him, walking so carelessly on the edge of the cement bleachers; adjacent to a short institutional abyss.
It was an instant playback of memories from my own art school days of wandering, questioning and exploring the whys with your own set of imaginary wings. Wings which were made out of edible glitter during the day, and powered by classic philosophy while listening to NPR at night.

Recording moments and instances is something that we as humans tend to do.
Sorting memories is something that the brain does independently perhaps – whether we chose to revisit them is a different process and we are often quickly triggered by specific sightings. Most of the time by being exposed to a specific scent; the scent of your past.

I have been to the SFAI many times over the years for lectures, exhibits, talks. A school that I fell in love with due to its history, Diego Rivera, and its location. And almost attended, but didn't. I hold a BFA from an equally outstanding Bay Area art institution.

As I was trying to catch my breath walking up something like 3 or 4 flights of stairs from the institute's rear entrance, my lungs were burning with a rather distinct fire from the one that once burnt with curiosity and exposure to the unknown.
Then that person was there along with a brief representation. I observed.
And quickly after, that moment was gone.


// Objectivity, Spring 2013.