July Highlights
Trying my darnest to stay cool in this sweltering heat
In case you haven't heard, NYC now qualifies as a subtropical climate. I've been in NYC since 2012, and it was definitely not this hot 10, even 5 years ago. So this month, my activities were decidedly indoors, and thankfully, NYC has a ton of those! Let me share with you a few highlights.
I attended a seminar by Mike Reiss, one of the original writers of The Simpsons. Is it true that they predicted the future? If so, how did they do it? Turns out the "predictions" were unintentional—they were writing based on various pop culture moments and quotes that ended up coming true! My takeaway here is that manifestation is real. You can speak into the universe what you would like, and by some physics magic, you increase the likelihood of your thoughts becoming a reality.
I visited the Takashi Murakami exhibit at the Gagosian Gallery. If his name sounds familiar, it's likely because he is best known for his collaboration with Louis Vuitton in the early 2000s, which brought a playful twist to high-end designer goods. He is also recognized for his irreverent approach, incorporating unexpected cartoon-like characters into seemingly traditional Japanese-style art. It took us over an hour to find all the hidden "Easter eggs"!
I also attended the Jane Austen exhibit at the Morgan Museum (my favorite in the city!), and here's one of my favorite quotes of hers.
The most memorable dinner this month was at Joo-Ok, which inspired me to write this month's Juliettism article on intrapersonal competition. I love the recent surge of Korean fine dining that features authentic Korean vegetables, styles, and traditions. Amongst my current favorites, Oiji Mi, Mari, and Bom, I would rank this in the top 3. Jua, JungSik, Atomix, and Atoboy are also on my list.
I also visited Eleven Madison Park and left feeling underwhelmed. As an exclusively vegan restaurant, I wish they had focused more on showcasing the natural beauty of vegetables. Instead, many of the dishes seemed to try too hard to mimic meat substitutes. The preparation methods often overshadowed the organic qualities of the ingredients, making them feel somewhat over-processed in taste and texture. But the wine menu was extensive (now that I am freshly back from Burgundy, I am keenly judging wine lists based on Burgundy wines), and the healthy pours of the pairing made up for the lack of excitement in the food (so healthy that taking a sip from my partner's glass was enough for me!). The takeaway? Be authentically you!
Fun fact: I haven't been to a hair salon in about 5, 6, or even 7 years—I can't quite remember. After much teasing, prodding, and urging from my friends, I finally decided to visit a salon. Honestly, I would rather go to the dentist, which isn't saying much since I LOVE going to the dentist! I went to a salon called NewHair, and the stylist, Ai, was fantastic. She didn’t judge me (well, not to my face) for not taking better care of my hair and gave me a cut that I loved right away. When I was done, I realized I was wearing a dress I had from back when I had a similar haircut in 2016, so I took a comparison photo of myself. :)
I escaped the heat by going up to the Catskills, checking out cute local shops, doing some carpentry, and shopping at the farm stands.
Guess who tried out watercolor! This was my first try as an adult, and I found it much more soothing than figure drawing (which feels a little more stressful given time limits and live models). The theme of the evening was summer dessert, hence the ice cream cone and the watermelon. The teacher encouraged me to continue practicing, and I am seriously considering it.
That's my highlights from July! Whew. It's the last day of the month, and I am happy to be indoors, safe from another flash flood warning. August is going to be a fun-packed month for me, so I can't wait. See you in a month!