Goodbye Summer

I love summer. Summer is my favorite time of year probably because it reminds me of my youth, summer vacations, and that I'm a summer baby. I love the heat even when it drives me crazy. I love lazy summer days lounging around doing absolutely nothing. I love the beach and the sun. I love warm summer nights listening to the crickets chirp and smelling the sweet scent of jasmine in my yard. This summer has flown by and I'm sad to bid it farewell. I just noticed that my last post was on summer solstice and we'll be officially into the fall season in a couple of weeks. I'm going to soak up every remaining summery moment before fall equinox on September 21. Aside from seeing tons of shows, movies, birthday celebrations, and entertaining out of town relatives, some summer highlights were:

Seeing Kelly Clarkson at the Hollywood Bowl

Seeing the awesome Klimt exhibit at the Getty Center (loved this!)

Road trip to Solvang and Los Olivos  

Beach time with good friends

Vegas

Encore Las Vegas

Bellagio

 42 oz. chili rubbed double ribeye at SW Steakhouse

Vintage carousel

Joyful June!

Holy Moly it's June! When life gets busy I neglect this blog. Here are some things that I loved and enJOYed recently.

The gorgeous supermoon in my backyard

My friend's dog, Louie. Just look at that face!

Chocolate covered strawberries.

Caramel toffee marshmallow from Vosges in Beverly Hills 

vanilla bean marshmallow + caramel on the inside, dark chocolate + toffee crumbles on the outside 

Absolute divine perfection!!!!

I was invited to attend the CQ MTV Movie Awards Talent Swag Social benefiting the charity, Children of the Night. I brought my dear friend, Liz, for some pampering and gifts.

One of the cool gifts I received was this key necklace with the word JOY engraved on it from The Giving Keys. They told me that "when you buy or are given this one of a kind necklace, you must give it away at some point, to a person who you feel needs the message that's on your key. Then come back (to their website) and write us the story of why you gave it away."

What a beautiful way to pay it forward! 

Skip skip skip to my lou

Skipping is the walk of joy.  ~Jessi Lane Adams

Wounds to the Face

Wounds to the Face by Howard Barker is one of my favorite plays that I performed in directed by my friend, Frances Hearn. It's a complex, poetic piece that explores the meaning we give to our faces and the identity that we get from them. We had an all female cast comprised of my fellow class mates from CalArts each playing multiple roles. I played a dictator and a soldier. Here are some of the beautiful images we created.

Me as a dictator

Me as a soldier whose face was destroyed by a grenade and Keri-Anne Telford as the surgeon who I plead for help

Soldier killing his mother (it's a dark play)

Director Frances Hearn

In Wonderland

This weekend I finally got to check out the fantastic exhibit "In Wonderland: The Surrealist Adventures of Women Artists in Mexico and the United States" at LACMA. I've been looking forward to seeing this ever since I heard that they would be showing works by some of my favorite artists like Frida Kahlo and Louise Bourgeois. I also discovered artists I never heard of before like Kay Sage, Remedios Varo, Rosa Rolanda and many others.  Brilliant exhibit that took me on a wild, beautiful, intense, disturbing, emotional, and funny journey. Go women artists!!!

One of Frida's first large-scale pieces (and one of my faves) depicting her broken heart from her divorce with Diego Rivera.

"Self portrait with thorn necklace and hummingbird"

and this is one of a series of works by Louise Bourgeois called "Femme Maison" depicting the artist feeling trapped in her domestic life.

On a side note, this is Chris Burden's "Metropolis II" exhibit which is also at LACMA. It's a kinetic sculpture of a modern city complete with highways and miniature cars and trains speeding through it. Totally awesome!

The Alchemist

Re-read one of my favorite books, The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho, over the weekend. It's about following your heart and pursuing your dream and it also takes place in Egypt which reminded me of my amazing trip to the pyramids last year. One of my favorite quotes from the book ~

“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.”

Happy Thursday!

Getty Center

I love visiting the Getty Center. Its beautiful architecture and views of the city make it one of the best attractions to visit in Los Angeles. My friend from Seattle was in town and wanted to spend some time here so we spent the morning walking around, soaking in the sun, and enjoying its beauty.

The courtyard

The Central Garden which was closed for renovation :(

The gorgeous travertine stone imported from Italy

Outdoor Sculptures

Happy Spring Equinox

Spring has come when you can put your foot on three daisies - Proverb

As you can see from the daisies in my front yard, spring has officially arrived!!

Number 2 Daughter

Shot a fun little scene today playing Iris Chan, the #2 daughter of Charlie Chan. The makeup and costumers did a great job making me look like Marianne Quon when she played the role.

Here is Marianne Quon as Iris Chan:

and me with the actor who plays my dad, Charlie Chan!

Bloody Mary

There's nothing better than a good Bloody Mary. Refreshing, delicious, and a perfect complement to a wonderful Wednesday brunch at the beach. 

My friend took me to The Honor Bar for lunch today. Their fried chicken sandwich and burger were amazingly delicious!!! Perfection. I have awesome friends.

Fun, productive weekend including a photo shoot, bootcamp, show with a Broadway legend, drinks with friends, shopping, and ending with one of my favorite comfort foods for dinner, pho ga! Deeeelicious!!!

Angels

I was in downtown today and decided to stop by Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral. Although I'm not religious, I love and appreciate all places of worship whether it be a church, synagogue, mosque or temple. I love seeing people in prayer or meditation. It gives me a sense of peace and connection that deep in our hearts human beings are all seeking some kind of guidance and support in their lives.

I went to the silent prayer room, meditated, and lit a candle. Peaceful way to start off a new month.

Courtyard of cathedral

Above the main entrance

One of the many beautiful tapestries inside the cathedral

Melancholy

All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves; we must die to one life before we can enter another.
-Anatole France

Letting Go

"It's well known in wisdom communities that delays are not denials. Remember this at all times. Keep focused on what you can do in the moment, and if there is nothing to be done - you are being taught patience. Apply yourself everyday towards your deepest desire - work hard, then let go. This is how mastery is attained." - Jackson Kiddard, author & polymath. 

It's been a full week filled with lots of great meetings and also some disappointments. Things I hoped for didn't materialize. I know that all I can do is work hard and surrender the outcome to God, the Universe, the Powers that Be. Let go and let God. In the meantime, I'm grateful for good food and friends.

Yummy Korean BBQ dinner

Lovely friends

Happy Anniversary!

Celebrating my sister and brother in law's anniversary at Lawry's. Best Prime Rib. Period.

Din Tai Fung

One of my favorite restaurants is Din Tai Fung. While there are locations in Los Angeles, my favorite is the one in Taipei. I've tried both and the one in Taiwan is just better. Maybe it's the water or the meat but the dumplings and the food are just yummier.

Crowds of people waiting for a seat

The dumpling masters

Appetizers - Braised wheat gluten, Pickled cabbage, and Seaweed salad

Chicken soup

The famous xiao long bao aka soup dumplings!

Veggie Dumplings

Shrimp shu mai

Red bean cake

Red bean bao