Heart Attack City

Tselogs Tapas Cafe

2008-08-21T20:41:00.000-07:00

Today, my roommate and I went to Tselogs Tapas Cafe, located in Daly City, for dinner . They have a small menu of quite delicious Filipino dishes. My roommate and I both had the Chicken Sisiq which the waitress reccommended. It was yummy and friendly on the wallet. Only $5.99! I sound like an infomercial. Buy now before it's gone!!!!We also had the Buko Pie with vanilla ice cream. Soooo good. I asked the waitress what Buko was and she said it was a young coconut. I 'm actually not a fan of coconut. However, the pie didn't really taste like it so I loved it.

Overall, the food was good, the waitress was very friendly and the decor of the restaurant was adorable. I'd definitely go again. And for all you iPhone users, they have free Wi-fi too. Check it out if you're ever in Daly City.

YSL at the De Young

2008-08-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

Coming to San Francisco’s De Young Museum on November 1st, 2008 is Yves Saint Laurent, a forty-year retrospective that explores the designs that made Saint Laurent famous. The exhibition celebrates the life of Yves Saint Laurent and showcases forty years of creativity by the Maison Haute Couture Yves Saint Laurent, whose unique style blends references to the world of art with allusions to pop culture and social revolutions. The exhibition will include over 120 accessorized outfits belonging to the Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent as well as Saint Laurent’s drawings, photographs and videos. This exhibition marks the first major retrospective of Saint Laurent’s work in over 25 years and the only U.S. stop of this touring exhibit.

The exhibition, Yves Saint Laurent, will be divided into four themes:

• Masterful Pencil Strokes — follows his work from sketch to final garment. Within this grouping are garments that emphasize the body through slits or draping as well as a look at his masterful use of silhouette through magnified volumes in garments that defied gravity such as bubble skirts, trapeze dresses and voluminous cloaks.

• The YSL Revolution — explores how Saint Laurent’s signature garments form the foundation of contemporary fashion design from which many of today’s designers take their cues. Groupings include YSL’s outfits inspired by men’s tailoring; the repurposing of functional wear such as safari jackets and pea coats into haute couture, and what became his signature: “le smoking,” a man’s tuxedo adapted for a woman first presented in 1966. Also featured are pieces from his famous 1971 collection in which he reintroduced hyper-sophistication while the rest of the world was focused on the hippie and feminist movements.

• The Palette — known for his palette of candy-colored hues, this section demonstrates how YSL dared to use color in a way that broke the rules of traditional fashion design. Groupings here illustrate his fascination with exotic cultures such as Morocco, Russia, Spain and China as well as his use of clashing color palettes, textures, geometry, embroidery and prints.

• Lyrical Sources — features the most spectacular examples of the art of the haute couture and its many inspirations. Groupings here cite YSL’s references to history; the art world including Mondrian, Fauvism, Pop Art, and artists Picasso and Braque, literary sources such as Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde and Jean Cocteau and finally YSL’s fascination with flora and fauna through his use of prints, animal motifs, feathers, pelts, flowers and sumptuous embroidery.

The De Young Museum is known for putting on excellent fashion-y exhibitions such as the past Vivienne Westwood retrospective and Nan Kempner: American Chic so I’m sure this YSL exhibit will be brilliant as well. Don’t miss out, the exhibit runs from November 1st, 2008 to March 1st, 2009! You know HAC will be there roaming the exhibit halls!

love,
hac (heart attack city)

What's a girl to do for love?

2008-08-06T23:35:00.000-07:00

Bat for Lashes (Natasha Khan) is someone you're going to love. Watch her video, What's A Girl To Do?, and you'll see exactly why:

Right? HAC is always looking out for you, and for BMX riders sporting animal masks biking in a choreographed fashion to eerie-licious melodies. Khan totally won us over with this one and director Mattias Montero (a house favorite!) carried out the creepiness we all know we love but are sometimes hesitant to admit.

The video was found after realizing Montero directed Lykke Li's video for Little Bit. He again uses a continuous shot from start to finish with a desaturated and almost overexposed effect, as well as double timing, aka slow-mo vs. fast-mo. It definitely works in achieving great feeling and helping to express what each artist feels:

talk about emotions and inspiration! i draw both from these two.

xoxo

HAC on Refinery29!

2008-07-30T14:05:00.000-07:00

Writer Sydney Pfaff (read: TenderNob Travel Guide) gave our blog a plug in today's article reviewing the Acrimony + April77 event we attended last friday here in San Francisco.

Read the full story now!

French Fashion and the California Sound: April77 Fall Preview at Acrimony

thanks sydney!
xoxo

I Love Counting, Counting to the Number 4

2008-07-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Feist on Sesame Street, duh:

She's hot, penguins are neat, video's pretty cute; but you have to admit the baby-friendly lyrics made it kind of eerie! Right? That or the fact that I can't help but think about all the toddlers who might never come to realize all that is Leslie Feist. Think about it—do you remember all of your favorite guest appearances from the ages of 0-5? Probably not.

Wonder if she'll rejoin Broken Social Scene for any upcoming projects, seeing that she's probably too cool now.

Wheee! Or as the image might suggest, Roooarr!

Work it girl, work it.

For Cyn, BSS - Lover's Spit:

And cover a la Feist:

Cheers

P.S. She's playing in Berkeley tomorrow night if anyone's interested; 40$ a pop.

Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

2008-07-15T16:43:00.000-07:00

We're not dead, promise.

To keep you happy and entertained while we regroup and reassess, here is the first music video from She & Him duo, actress Zooey Deschanel (Elf, The Happening) and singer/songwriter/guitarist M. Ward:

Cute, huh? So cute that many Zooeys, in fact, were decapitated in the making of this video. "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" was directed by Ace Norton who has worked with numerous artists we love, from Death Cab for Cutie and LCD Soundsystem to Simian Mobile Disco and Santogold. Check out his work at Acenorton.com (and be sure to watch Desmondh's review on this video—funny guy).

This past March I saw the two in concert at the Great American Music Hall here in San Francisco as part of Noise Pop 2008 and I have to say Zooey is just as cute live as she is on screen. Below are some photos from Brooklyn Vegan:

Cheers

Bike to Work Day - Tomorrow

2008-05-14T10:21:00.000-07:00

First off: Welcome back, C!

Tomorrow is the annual Bike to Work Day, when Bay Area citizens (and everyone else!) are invited to bike to work instead of driving. Last year the number of workers that biked outnumbered cars, and I'm sure tomorrow the case will be the same (if not greater) especially with these high-rise gas prices (4$/gal, wtf?). Who wouldn't run out right now, as of this moment and grab a nice, pretty bicycle (C)? There are rentals, too! Do it, even if to bike just to a) the market, b) school, c) the beach, or d) go shopping!

Dion in the Mission, w/ bicycle!

Tomorrow comes in perfect timing--the weather's been very pleasing and my flat is fixed! It already sounds exciting, but it gets even better: on Sfbike.org you can read up on where to find sponsored Energizer Stations to fill up on coffee, snacks and even tote bags for traveling! Check out this neat-o Google Map with little bicyclist icons:

View Larger Map
The green icons each represent what they call a Bike Bus; at numerous locations you can find guides who will lead groups on easy routes to bike around the city. Biking with new friends, how ideal!

Note: Visit Tmasf.org for traffic overviews.

You ~~know you love me~~ where to find me tomorrow.

Xoxo,
Phil

P.S. Sorry, I couldn't resist the GG mention! Georgina = devil!

I'm a Model/DJ/Singer/Entrepreneur

2008-05-07T12:00:00.000-07:00

she models

she sings

xoxo,
graphic designer/sales associate/photographer/family man/food critic/party-goer/uhh, yeah!

Apprécier le temps européen!

2008-05-01T23:53:00.000-07:00

In roughly six hours, one-third of hac will be heading to the airport where she will attempt to board a plane with a stopover in Chicago and a destination in Heathrow (London).

OK, so Gossip Girl has almost nothing to do with Cynthia and her adventure around Europe (save for glamor, boys and lust, we hope!), but the message is the same: O-M-F-G! We are not sad or scared or hesitant--a vacation like this doesn't happen often and no one is more deserving. We are excited and thrilled and trust she will cherish and absorb all the new cultures and experiences London, Paris and Rome have to offer.

And you know we're going to force a post (or several!) out of her about her trip when she gets back, especially since she's bringing her Diana-cam! Can't wait to hear about (and see) the shopping and what's hot and who's not...

Bon voyage and have a safe flight, Cyn!

Before we sign off, we do have one small, tiny request: will you scribe our names and draw our faces next to one of Bansky's masterpieces? Simply because you'll be there...so why not? Exactly.

xoxo,
p+d of hac

P.S. Last-minute notes: DON'T FORGET YOUR PASSPORT (and make copies of it, too)! Wear boots or flats to avoid holding up lines at security checkpoints; make sure you put any liquids (I believe each container has to be less than 3.4 oz) in your carry-on in a handy plastic zipper bag (if anything exceeds check them in!); tell your parents you love them; CALL YOUR BANK(S) (which you've already done); tell hac you love us; hmm, and pack light, or try to! <3

Form by Jerry Tam

2008-04-07T21:19:00.000-07:00

Back when I had big dreams of being a fashion designer (I now studying merch. marketing), my father told me that his cousin's cousin (no blood relation unfortunately) was a fashion designer in New York. Long behold, I was looking through the latest issue of SOMA and I saw an ad for his line FORM.

I love the line because it's simple yet very sleek and of course stylish. Here are my favorite looks from FW O8:

You can view more photos from this collection and past ones at http://www.formnewyork.com/.

Now, what does a girl gotta do to get an internship?

-D

Comme des Garçons for H&M

2008-04-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

I learned this morning that Comme des Garçons/Rei Kawakubo will be the next guest designer for H&M!!! The capsule collection will launch exclusively at H&M Tokyo in November and then roll out worldwide the next few days. The range will include pieces for men, women, and children; accessories, and a new unisex fragrance. The avant-garde designer Rei Kawakubo will follow in the footsteps of previous guest designers Karl La gerf eld, Stella Mc Cartney, Viktor & Rolf, and Roberto Cavalli.

So excited!!!

Some looks from the Fall '08 and Spring '08 Collections:

lovelovelove,
Cyn

PCD

2008-03-31T23:30:00.000-07:00

No, not the Pussycat Dolls, but rather a force not to be reckoned with: the co-founders of hac. We're here with you to welcome the rest of 2008 as we look back at our first official quarter. From this point on you can count on more posts about whatever the hell we want to write you. That's all. There's no 9th anniversary special with Chloë Sevigny, no quarterly reviews for possible raises, no bullshit. Just us, "being Asian" (thx silke, thx lewis, thx sf) and all:

us three

sometimes with friends

sometimes we'll eat for you and write about it

maybe we'll share some tunes (that we'll karaoke!)

staying fashionably questionable

sometimes close, and sometimes far...
just remember,

I (collectively) ♥ U

Do you like us? Stay for awhile! Write us; leave us comments; wave at us on the streets (we'll take your photo!); tell us about your blog(s), your dog Mickey, your new vintage find... We won't write about any of it*, but at least we'll listen, effectively (and that's a lot to promise as is!).

love always, hac

*only kidding... unless your stories really suck, then why the fuck waste time by retelling them! we could reinvent your stories--add some color, shake it up a little with some Heidi's and Spencers--maybe then we'll discuss them. Let's wait it out and see.

^photos were taken over the course of three months, with photobooth.

A Travel Guide for the TenderNob?

2008-03-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Sydney Pfaff (freelance writer and ex-co-worker) wrote a short and concise travel guide on Refinery29.com about the Lower Nob Hill area, which has been dubbed TenderNob. It's worth mentioning not only because she includes the Silverman Gallery, The Hundreds, and Brick, but I live on the edge of this sometimes-confused neighborhood and that should be reason enough. Check it out (and maybe you can find me and my buddies loitering the streets!)

I slipped in the shower this morning

2008-03-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

Hi kids. No harm done. Let's get started.

Here's a snippet I'd like to dub "Brand of the Week". Hopefully it will become more regular, changing it to brand of the day. Enjoy.

BRAND OF THE WEEK #1: WON HUNDRED

The deets in 30 words or less: Copenhagen based label founded by Nikolaj Nielsen who used to work at Sixty and Diesel. Started with denim, ready-to-wear since 2005 with Pernille Schwarz.

Collection: Spring/Summer 2008

You can view the complete collection/look book at their website. I have the Autumn/Winter 2008 look book but I haven't captured it yet. More on that later! Additional looks from their In Season:

At work our buying team is hoping to get their next collection. They might have already... I should ask and report back.

Cute!

Alex Wang, How I Envy Thee

2008-03-14T13:44:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post some videos of fashion designer Alexander Wang, simply because his life and work I envy and wish to supersede, next year...because I'm that great. Yes, this will have to do.

Watch now, Fall '08 Collection coverage from Alexander Wang:

1. Refinery29 covers NY Fashion Week '08:

2. WhoWhatWearDaily covers NY Fashion Week '08:

3. Refinery29's My Style profile (Alex's studio):

4. Nylon + YouTube Runway Remix (w/ Hot Chip jams in the bkgd!):

5. Elle covers NY Fashion Week '08 (more of the same from above, but like "pop-up video":

6. Nylon--Alex's Studio (again):

There are dozens of vids covering this guy and I only selected ones of his upcoming Fall collection because it inspires me to get to sewing! As Heidi would say, "It's sew time!" (don't hate)

Here are some favorite looks from his show:

A. Wang himself
(credit: style.com, thank you)

Can you tell me how to get to Sesame Street ?

2008-02-28T11:03:00.000-08:00

From one of my favorite blogs, Fashionista:

"Fall Fashion Week '08, Sesame Street Coincidence?"

HAHA!

lovelovelove,
Cyn

Won't You Be My Neighbor?

2008-02-27T12:06:00.000-08:00

(Pittsburgh) – In honor of what would have been Mister Rogers’ 80th birthday on March 20, Mr. McFeely — aka David Newell, the public relations director for Family Communications, Inc. (the nonprofit company founded in 1971 by Fred Rogers) — has a special request.

"We’re asking everyone everywhere — from Pittsburgh to Paris — to wear their favorite sweater on that day," he asks in his best speedy delivery voice. "It doesn’t have to have a zipper down the front like the one Mister Rogers wore on the program, it just has to be special to you."

But wait, there’s more.

It just so happens that Sweater Day is part of Pittsburgh’s 250th anniversary celebration and the first-ever "Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" Days (March 15 — 20).

"We wanted to recognize Fred in a way that would reflect his deep appreciation of what it means to be a caring neighbor," explains FCI’s Margy Whitmer.

As a result, "’Won’t You Be My Neighbor?" Days — WYBMND for short, although not by much — was born as a means of promoting neighborliness throughout Fred Rogers’ own backyard — Southwestern Pennsylvania region.

lovelovelove,
Cyn

R.I.P. Polaroid

2008-02-13T17:57:00.000-08:00

Some sad news to report:

BOSTON (AP) -- Polaroid is dropping the technology it pioneered long before digital photography rendered instant film obsolete to all but a few nostalgia buffs.

Polaroid is closing factories in Massachusetts, Mexico and the Netherlands and cutting 450 jobs as the brand synonymous with instant images focuses on ventures, such as a portable printer for images from cell phones and Polaroid-branded digital cameras, televisions and DVD players.

This year's closures will leave Polaroid with 150 employees at its Concord headquarters and a site in the nearby Boston suburb of Waltham, down from peak global employment of nearly 21,000 in 1978.

The company stopped making instant cameras over the past two years.

"We're trying to reinvent Polaroid so it lives on for the next 30 to 40 years," Tom Beaudoin, Polaroid's president, chief operating officer and chief financial officer, said in a phone interview Friday, after the company's plans were reported in The Boston Globe.

Polaroid failed to embrace the digital technology that has transformed photography, instead sticking to its belief that many photographers who didn't want to wait to get pictures developed would hold onto their old Polaroid cameras.

Global sales of traditional camera film have been dropping about 25 percent to 30 percent per year, "and I've got to believe instant film has been falling as fast if not faster," said Ed Lee, a digital photography analyst at the research firm InfoTrends Inc.

"At some point in time, it had to reach the point where it was going to be uneconomical to keep producing instant film," Lee said.

Privately held Polaroid doesn't disclose financial details about its instant film business.

Polaroid instant film will be available in stores through next year, the company said - after which, Lee said, Japan's Fujifilm will be the only major maker of instant film.

Meanwhile, Polaroid is seeking a partner to acquire licensing rights for its instant film, in hopes that another firm will continue making the film to supply Polaroid enthusiasts.

lovelovelove,
Cyn

The Brown Sisters

2008-02-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

I was at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) on Tuesday and I came across a photo project entitled The Brown Sisters by photographer Nicholas Nixon.

"Each year since 1975, Boston-based photographer Nicholas Nixon (b. 1947) has made one black-and-white photograph of his wife, Beverly (Bebe) Brown, and her three sisters. Using a large eight-by-ten-inch view camera positioned at eye level, he always photographs the women in the same order from left to right: Heather, Mimi, Bebe, and Laurie. Although he makes multiple exposures, Nixon selects only one photograph to represent the women each year.

Working within these limited parameters, Nixon has created a compelling investigation of both portraiture and the passage of time. Taken as a whole, the 31 photographs made between 1975 and 2005 reveal not only incidental changes in background, lighting, and dress, but also the gradual, incremental aging of the women. Nixon's disciplined approach to photographing the Brown sisters also records the evolving demeanor of the women and suggests their changing relationships with one another. While the photographs have roots in the tradition of the family snapshot, Nixon's artistic rigor and the Brown sisters' commitment to the project transcend this heritage to create a moving testament to the dynamism and complexity of human relationships."

Pretty amazing, don't you think???

I'm almost compelled to start a project like this on my own. Who's in???

lovelovelove,
Cyn

Backstreet's back, all right

2008-02-05T21:18:00.001-08:00

SERIOUSLY??????

-D

Food Find: Tofu Mousse

2008-01-30T17:28:00.000-08:00

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!

2008-01-30T13:36:00.000-08:00

I saw this and laughed my ass off:

Rolling on the floor,
D

Bon Anniversaire, Dion!!!

2008-01-25T16:39:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-24T13:42:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-23T20:56:00.000-08:00

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"

2008-01-23T16:16:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-18T17:55:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-12T15:31:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-10T22:26:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-10T18:10:00.000-08:00

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 L imited 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

2008-01-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-10T01:13:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-09T16:15:00.001-08:00

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

2008-01-09T10:23:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-08T22:51:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-08T15:02:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-07T23:21:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-07T17:00:00.000-08:00

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

2008-01-07T10:39:00.000-08:00

"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...

2008-01-06T22:30:00.000-08:00

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)

Test

2007-12-05T21:03:00.001-08:00

Just wanted to make sure our Blogger selections were perfect for your viewing.

Stay tuned for our formal introduction, and frequent* posts to follow!

love,
hac (heart attack city)

P.S. Any inquiries, feel free to e-mail us at lovehac@gmail.com

*As defined by hac contributers, thanks.