Food Find: Tofu Mousse

A few weeks ago, Dion and I decided to have dessert at 100% Healthy Dessert after having dinner at Taraval Okazu Ya. It was one of the first times we were actually hanging out in the Sunset/Parkside instead of the TL. I'm sure Dion got all teary-eyed being a few blocks away from her former residence.

100% Healthy Dessert is a popular "asian dessert" café but up until that night, I have never been there. The menu was expansive but I finally decided upon the mango over tofu mousse dessert.

BEST DECISION EVER!!!

Syrupy mango slices were a nice contrast to the airy lightly sweetened tofu mousse. Its consistency was like that of Yoplait whipped yogurt but a tad heavier. It was very refreshing and I didn't feel bad for eating it because it was TOFU.

I googled it this afternoon and apparently tofu mousse is a favorite of vegetarians and vegans. Most recipes I found online were for chocolate tofu mousses. I'll have to try making this sometime.

Definitely a must try!


lovelovelove,
Cyn

Get Healthy!

I saw this and laughed my ass off:

Rolling on the floor,
D

Bon Anniversaire, Dion!!!

Last night, hac and friends celebrated Dion's birthday at Luna Park in the Mission district.

Her cake had a giant sparkler on it. It was if I were at a pyrotechnics show!

Aren't you jealous???

Happy Birthday, Dion!!! May you stay classy, stylish, and fierce.


love,
hac (heart attack city)

Kirsten Dunst for Miu Miu SP/S 2008

I know a lot of people have a distaste for Kirsten Dunst but I like her. I don't particularly like this Miu Miu collection (it's too costume-y for my taste) but I think Kirsten looks great in this campaign. It is very Alice in Wonderland but darker and more stylized. I love the dark, rich colors and high contrast against Kirsten's snow white skin. The campaign was shot by fashion photographers Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Your thoughts???






lovelovelove,
Cyn

Just like a fortune cookie

Today, a customer at work wanted to exhange the size and color on a sweater but he couldn't find his size so I was going to just return it so he could get something else. Just as I was going to do the return, he looks at the sweaters I had been size stickering the entire time and there was his size, a medium. And he says to me, "Sometimes the thing you are looking for is right in front of you." Wise words Mr. Customer.

In other news, I'm on the Fashionist (I made it mom!).

I'm usually less tired and not mean looking. I swear! I had to be at work early that day and I was pooped by the time this was taken. Check out the Fashionist for spiffy San Francisco street fashion.

-D

Afternoon Delight: Feist, "I Feel It All"

Only a couple more hours until the end of the workday... here is something to watch to pass the time:



Feist is amazing as usual.

Lovelovelove,
Cyn

Giant Waterfalls in New York

I read about this art installation this morning.

From The New York Times:

"Four man-made waterfalls, 90 to 120 feet high, will punctuate New York’s waterfront for three months starting in mid-July. The creation of the Icelandic artist Olafur Eliasson, the project is a collaboration between the city and the Public Art Fund, the nonprofit organization that presents art around the city. The waterfalls have been designed to be environmentally friendly and will be in New York Harbor at Pier 35 in Lower Manhattan, at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge and between Piers 4 and 5 in Brooklyn and at Governors Island. Money for the project, estimated to cost about $15 million, comes entirely from private funds, and the Economic Development Corporation estimates that the waterfalls will bring more than $50 million to the city’s economy. “Throughout history we have always taken water for granted,” said Mr. Eliasson in a telephone interview from his Berlin studio. “Now people can engage in the physical nature of something as epic as a waterfall.”"

The falls will be in place from mid-July to mid-October.

Another reason to make a little late summer/early fall trip to NYC!

P.S. Olafur Eliasson currently has an exhibit showing at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Take Your Time will be at the SFMOMA through February 24th. Olafur Eliasson "nimbly merges art, science, and natural phenomena to create extraordinary multi-sensory experiences. Challenging the passive nature of traditional art-viewing, he engages the observer as an active participant, using tangible elements such as temperature, moisture, aroma, and light to generate physical sensations." His work is definitely worth checking out.





Lovelovelove,
Cyn

Food Find: Princess Cake

On Friday, my office had its monthly birthday luncheon. We had Chinese food for lunch(egg rolls, Mongolian beef, chow mein, lemon chicken, etc.) and then for dessert we had... princess cake!

Princess cake is a traditional Scandinavian(Swedish) birthday cake. It is a gold cake filled with kirsch custard and a thin layer of raspberry jam. It's iced with whipped cream and then covered with green marzipan.

Princess cake was something entirely new to me until a couple years ago. So far, we've had princess cake at least 4 or 5 times in the office for birthdays and special occasions. Princess cake is light and moist and probably one of my favorite kinds of cake.

Princess cake is made in a few select specialty bakeries around San Francisco. It's made at Schubert’s Bakery on Clement St. in San Francisco and Copenhagen Bakery in Burlingame.

Check out the photo of the cake below. Doesn't it look like one giant, fluffy pillow of cake you could sink your face into? Because I think so, thanks!

P.S. I just said cake 12 now 13 times in the above post. Haha!

lovelovelove,
Cyn

Get ready to pee your pants

Unless you were dead in the 90's, you'll remember this show....



Don't tell mom the babysitter's dead!

Your resident nostalgialite,
Dion

La musique: Coconut Records

I've always been a fan of Jason Schwartzman. I always thought of Jason Schwartzman as that cute, quirky, sensitive, and articulate pocket boyfriend every girl I wish I could have. An actor who chooses the most interesting roles, I particularly liked his latest performances in Wes Anderson's The Darjeeling Limited and Hotel Chevalier. And bravo to him for leaving Phantom Planet before The O.C. could pick up their song "California" and over-play it every week for 4 years.

I read about Jason Schwartzman's solo project, Coconut Records a few months back in an interview he did with Nylon Guys and I never really bothered to check it out. That is... until today.

Jason Schwartzman a.k.a. Coconut Records makes music that is folksy, bittersweet, and at times melancholy. The music he creates is most comparable to that of musician Ben Lee. Jason Schwartzman, however makes the kind of music you could imagine some hip lovelorn L.A. boy with a moderately fancy acoustic guitar, a drum set, and a keyboard that has a piano mode would put together in his garage/recording studio. Reoccurring themes in his music are those of California, girls, and loneliness. Jason Schwartzman's same quirky humor is infused in his lyrics and in the interesting mesh of beats and genres he uses in his songs.

Coconut Records' new album, Nighttiming was released last spring and I believe is only available by download on iTunes, Amazon, etc.

Recommended tracks: Nighttiming, West Coast, Easy Girl, Summer Day*
* with guest vocals by Zooey Deschanel

Check out the video below for "West Coast" featuring skateboarder, Mike Gonzales.




P.S.

lovelovelove,
Cyn

Minnie Mouse gone Hollywood

I saw this article in SFiS and I thought I'd share it with you guys. I'm not sure how PC using "mentally retarded" is and I was kind of thinking "what?" but the mice thing was interesting at least.

-D

A Bite to Eat: Picaro

Monday evening, D and I headed over to the Mission district to do some thrifting and shopping. It was a nice night; there was finally a break in the stormy weather. After hitting up Thrift Town and Therapy, we decided to get a bite to eat. Dion and I decided to be adventurous and try something new. We debated over We Be Sushi where they served sushi "like mom used to make" and drinks "like mom used to mix" or Picaro where they served Spanish/Basque-style tapas.

We decided on the latter because 1. the smell of garlic wafting from the restaurant was irresistable and 2. there was no "yelp loves us" sticker on their window. SOLD.

Unfortunately, we both did not order tapas nor did we I order a pitcher of sangria. We did, however, order dinner combination plates which were inexpensive for their sheer size. For around $11 you get French bread with a very garlic-y tomato cream dipping sauce (aoili), a side of vegetables, a starch, and a main entrée. I ordered the Spanish meatballs with potatoes and sautéed zucchini. The food was flavorful and well-seasoned. My meatballs (there were only 5!) had an intense oregano flavor which the gravy toned down a bit. The potatoes were delicious and crispy. I didn't care too much for the sautéed zucchini which looked a lot like, but didn't taste like celery. After a while though, I felt that all the food on my plate tasted the same. It might have been due to the fact that a lot of my food was swimming in the gravy the meatballs came in.

Picaro was pretty empty when we dined there and I'm not sure if that's the norm. The restaurant is quite spacious with a semi-private dining area in the back. The walls were decorated with brightly colored artwork and painted colors of yellow and red. Outdoor dining is available as well. The majority of the diners there that night seemed to either be fluent Spanish speakers or were foreigners from Spain. The waiters were pretty attentive. What irked me though was that our waiter seemed to think we already knew what we wanted to order once we sat down at our table.

Overall, I would recommend Picaro for anyone wanting to try inexpensive and casual Spanish food. Next time, I'll try a couple of tapas and a glass or two of sangria.

WARNING: My breath smelled like garlic for hours after having dinner here. I brushed my teeth twice, had a few sticks of gum, and I still couldn't get that garlic taste out of my mouth! I went to bed with garlic breath that night. How wonderful.


lovelovelove,
Cyn

Bon Voyage

One of your hac contributors is leaving tonight for a short excursion to the East Coast. Philip, may you find things that inspire you and the answers you are looking for. See, taste, hear, smell, and touch everything that is new. Breathe it all in.

Bon Voyage and safe travels! We will miss you!

And...
love,
hac (heart attack city)

So Long Old Bean

This is not the post I was intending, but a friend just shared with me some intense news that causes me to resort to hac for an outlet. My apologies.

"Head under water and they tell me
To breathe easy for awhile;
But breathing gets harder,
Even I know that."

I'm breaking inside--couldn't be happier to leave this city of heartache, heartburn, and heart attack. Just when everything was coming together, life beckons yet again. That's when they always get us, right? At our best, at our climax...

Serva me,

Servabo te no longer.

best,
P

Put on your Buddy Holly glasses and read this

Okay okay, I'll admit it. I bought Hipster Haiku from Urban Outfitters on sale for $4.99 and I got a copy for one of my bestest too (hi Ria!). The book contains satirical haikus about "hipster" culture from your stolen bike to pretentious music taste. Here are some of my favorites:

Ex-boyfriend's worst dig:
"You've never heard of that band?"
Indier-than-thou

See that guy right there?
Made a fortune overnight
Pabst Blue Ribbon Stock

It's not gonna change your life or anything but this book is a nice light read for when you're on the bus or waiting for that damn laundry to dry.

Deuces,
Dion

M.I.A. for Marc by Marc Jacobs

Following in the footsteps of Dakota Fanning, Michael Stipe, Sofia Coppola, and Meg White as models for Marc Jacobs (and his diffusion lines) is M.I.A. for the Marc by Marc Jacobs SP/S 2008 collection. The campaign was shot by Juergen Teller (as usual.)

Ads are popping up in the February issues of magazines on newsstands now. I saw photos from this campaign in the newest issue of Lucky Magazine.

Marc Jacobs always seems to choose the most obscure or "of-the-moment" celebrity to model for his campaigns. I personally like M.I.A. and MbMJ separately and I must say that this is a very interesting match. I normally picture M.I.A. wearing a large over-sized t-shirt and some technicolor leggings but I surprisingly like her in menswear esp. in the blue oxford and brown tie. The particular ad you find below is pretty understated and muted. The other ad that I have seen has a more colorful and "pop" sensibility with M.I.A. modeling sunglasses and a bright yellow clutch. I'll try to post photos of that later.

Your thoughts???


lovelovelove,
Cyn

The beauty lies within

A few years back, I was going through the revolving doors at Marshall Field's (now Macy's) in Chicago and I saw a silver sticker stuck on the inside of the door that said "You Are Beautiful" and it brought an instant smile to my face. You Are Beautiful is a project based in Chicago where they try to create positive self realization and just plain brighten your day. You can get a free You Are Beautiful sticker by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope (an additional envelope (stamped) inside the envelope you send them) to:

You Are Beautiful

PO Box # 220175

Chicago, IL 60622 USA

Go to http://www.you-are-beautiful.com/ to see all the installations they have done and also for where you can see exhibitions.

-D

Resolutions 2008

With every new year comes the dreaded New Year Resolution(s). Personally, I never believed in resolutions because after a couple alcoholic beverages into the new year, you probably already broke most, if not all of them. End of story. Done. Your resolutions go down the drain. Let me cry into my 4th gin & tonic. (P.S. Sorry, I'm thirsty.)

So to start off this year fresh, I decided resolve to be more optimistic. Therefore, here is my list of resolutions for 2008:

1. I will attempt to be more straightforward whether it be with friends, lovers, family members, co-workers, etc. This, I hope, will lead to better relationships in the long run.

2. I will become healthier but I will not become vegan or vegetarian for the sake of it.

3. I will get my 1st passport and I will travel abroad. (Already working on this!)

4. I will take the time and read more than Nylon magazine and fashion/celebrity gossip blogs. I have a whole shelf full of books that I have not even touched yet!

5. I will move my life in a meaningful direction and not wait for things to happen.

6. I will not let working in an office cubicle stifle my creativity. I will learn how to properly use a SLR camera, start and finish art projects, and start writing more.

7. I will watch more films and listen to more new music.

8. I will finally organize my closet. I will decide what clothes to keep, sell, and give away and then a trip to the Container Store is in order.

9. I will not have a closet full of new clothes that I do not wear or that have the tags still on them. I will only buy clothes that I can incorporate into my wardrobe and that I absolutely need.

10. I will start cooking some of my meals again instead of eating out or getting take-out every day. However, when I do go out to eat, I will try new restaurants and new cuisines.

11. I will learn how to start investing my money into my 401k plan and learn how to manage my finances better.

12. I will either drive more or I will buy a bike.

13. I will buy a Flickr Pro account.

14. I will explore San Francisco. There is so much I haven't seen and I've lived here all my life!

15. I will learn something new: a new language, how to play another musical instrument, how to use a sewing machine, etc.

That is a lot of resolutions! Fifteen to be exact. Hopefully I can stick to at least a couple resolutions before 2009 comes around.

lovelovelove,
Cyn

Dreams of Flying

"Dreams, dreams of when we had just started things
Dreams of me and you
And it seems, it seems
That I can't shake those memories
I wonder if you have the same dreams too..."

Jan Von Holleben must've had grandeur, extensive dreams as a kid, full of power and might, complex yet light. If not, I can only imagine that his photographic creations are not only beautiful and fun for kids, but have some connection to his own childhood. Perhaps his ongoing project Dreams of Flying from his hometown in South West Germany is what he wakes up from each morning, since I imagine one wishes things to be more simple once they become more complex. Just as in life when you mature into an adult, it is almost always that you hope to once again breathe the imagination you created for yourself when all you had where a couple of sofa cushions, comforters and time on your side.

Check out these select photos,
and I'm sure you'll want to join in on the fun!









If you're my best friend, you'll find me his book, Dreams of Flying, which is currently sold out! If you're my best friend but are simply broke and at a lost, let's meet up and create masterpieces inspired by Von Holleben and allow our dreams to come to life as well (duh).

Better yet, let's make a video of our love:


xoxo,
philip

Let us introduce ourselves...

Hi and welcome to Heart Attack City!
Thanks for checking us out!

Heart Attack City is the collaborative project of three friends who decided to start a blog while waiting for the newest episode of Project Runway to air. This blog is about what inspires us: fashion, art, music, film, television, food, technology, etc. We might even attempt to blog about our daily lives or the projects we are currently working on.

Heart Attack City has been laying dormant for a few weeks but that will soon change in 2008 when we will try to blog weekly, if not daily. Happy reading and please feel free to comment.

The Contributers:

Cynthia is a 24 year-old girl from San Francisco. She has a slight tendency to be sarcastic and to wear graphic prints; not solids. By day you can find her in her cubicle but by night she is ready to find the next new dance party. Cynthia fancies taking photographs, Marc Jacobs, fashion blogs, gin & tonics, "independent" film and music, late-night confessions, and avocados.



Dion
"I'm from the city of wind. I've swam in the ocean of chlorine and lanes. I sleep in the sea of blankets. I live in the city (of heart attack.)"









I, Philip: 1. troubleshoot, 2. have a burning desire to ride with horses, 3. photograph portraits, food, construction and deconstruction, and 4. am fascinated by cartography.

"Mapping is my take on life and how I believe everything is relative to one another--I am in constant calculation.

P.S. There is always time for a dance break... Are you with me?"



If you have any comments, questions and/or concerns, please feel free to e-mail us at lovehac@gmail.com.


love,
hac (heart attack city)