Therefore Amend

Gaumant Cinema, Hoxton London

2008-04-15T22:06:00.001-07:00

I have been writing a paper about the Uptown Theatre here in Chicago and remembered one I came across while being lost in London. After some asking around I found it! I wish I had taken some photos when I was there. It used to have a creepy haunted house vibe, boarded up with just a neon sign that said "cinema" creeping out. It is being renovated by Waugh Thistleton Architects:

Originally opened in 1914, the cinema had one, very large screen with a capacity of 866 seats. Since its closure in 1956 it has either been left empty or used as a warehouse. The cinema will include four screens of varying sizes.

The original facade shall remain and be restored. A few strategic changes will allow the new cinema behind to show through to street level – such as a clear entrance from the street. Behind the facade will be a generous ticket hall and café area with additional links to the existing terrace. -NewLondonArchitecture

Be My Baby Blind

2008-04-14T14:28:00.000-07:00

It is time for good albums inspired by tacky music:
Cut Copy

Hercules and Love Affair

Vieques, PR

2008-04-13T22:22:00.001-07:00

Vieques, PR

2008-04-13T22:15:00.000-07:00

Pro Model Skillz

2007-12-17T12:04:00.001-08:00

IMG_4896.jpg
Originally uploaded by tek77

Schweet photos @ Tim's flickr.

Flasher Elmo

2007-11-30T17:58:00.000-08:00

Reveal it.

Kombucha

2007-11-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

I am part hippie, being from Oregon, so this is exciting for me.

My kombucha is starting to grow. Took a while, I didn't know anyone with a baby so I tried finding a real chunky Synergy bottle to start with; it worked. It is supposed to aid the liver and fight cancer; personally, like many health products, I'm not totally convinced it does anything but I find the process to be fun and incredibly cheaper than buying it.

I'll have some tips later for making a good brew.

Goodbye Apartment

2007-11-13T19:23:00.001-08:00

My apartment building in Bucktown got sold to be turned into yet more condos. It was a slum for the most part and my new place is a step up, but I really liked my bedroom window. The ivy sprung up over the summer, starting to grow through to the inside. I hope it takes over and tears the building down.

eBay Find

2007-11-13T19:15:00.001-08:00

In my continued search for a bitchin' poncho, I came across this.

Planet Unicorn Heyyy

2007-11-13T19:14:00.001-08:00

Halstead Halloween Parade

2007-11-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

Winner of hottest couple!!!
(The one on the left dresses like that all of the time...)

Pokemon Pikachu iPod Nano

2007-10-10T19:09:00.001-07:00

VS.

Looking like a toy I had in middle school, me thinks the new iPod won't age well. Also reminds me of a bathroom tile...

P-Town

2007-10-08T07:04:00.001-07:00

Downtown from Broadway Bridge

Ace Hotel fire escape

Homeless Party Crasher

2007-10-08T06:49:00.002-07:00

This dude scared the shit out of me.

"You can't sleep on our porch."
*yawn*
"That's not exactly what I was doing."

I finally got back to Oregon for a week-long visit to Portland/Eugene. Didn't get to see everyone I wanted, but just hanging out and taking it easy was fantastico. It's already the wet, grey fall/winter while still in the 80s back in Chicago but I did get in a really nice bike ride along the river from St. Johns to the Broadway bridge.

Great food.

Peapod

2007-10-08T06:34:00.000-07:00

The most food I've ever had at one time. $200 of groceries delivered from peapod.com; SO many plastic bags. Groceries cost about the same as at Jewel, though hippy food isn't as cheap as at Trader Joes. Search for online coupon codes.

Boys and Their Dolls

2007-08-09T09:53:00.001-07:00

My friend Carey is in town for a few days; we had to go to his favorite 3-floor doll store...

Ebay Find of the Week

2007-08-01T09:43:00.000-07:00

Someone find me a shirt like this in a grow'd human size:

Nightclubbing

2007-07-30T08:52:00.001-07:00

A Hot Day in July

2007-07-30T08:46:00.001-07:00

Beaches

2007-07-29T09:26:00.001-07:00

Chicago: Pride '07

2007-07-29T09:23:00.001-07:00

Ebay Find of the Week

2007-07-28T15:23:00.000-07:00

A lot of educational/Christian film strips from the 50's. Link.

Bowling & Biking

2007-05-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

I biked to the south side to hand in a job application. No luck finding any mob hang-outs.

Meet Bruiser

2007-05-02T07:29:00.000-07:00

Chicago, get ready for a natural disaster:

Watch out if you see me coming your way on this bad boy; I will cut you up with rays of broken space-time.

(Schwinn Le Tour 10 speed $100 Craigslist.org)

Slumber Pod 2R: Upgrade

2007-05-02T06:35:00.000-07:00

Finished painting ma' sleep-space room. Ready and perched for spying on neighbors' barbecues.

Art Party: 22373003 (boobless)

2007-05-01T14:54:00.000-07:00

I found myself at a photo-art opening/daytime party Sunday. It was in a converted loft apartment somewhere south of Humboldt Park - there was a great view of the city skyline - along with the hosts' tits, all over the walls. Her tits in a industrial freezer, her tits at a steel mill, her tits in front of a laundromat, etc. She was very charming.

And plenty of fondue fountain poo poos.

I now feel the need to cover my walls with giant photos of myself.

Slumber Pod 2R: Brilliant Sea

2007-05-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

One of the bedrooms looks like someone was locked in with a pink highlighter while on a mushroom trip. There was some sort of elephant and lots of thought bubbles drawn all over. I wish to claim it for my own because it has a view of something other than a wall and is closer to the gas space heater when the time comes for that.

There was a hole in the wall as well; pre move-in inspection by the landlord must have missed that - and the fact the wall is completely crumbling to pieces. A couple coats of Brilliant Sea will hopefully keep chunks of lead paint and asbestos off my head while I'm sleeping.

I'm thinking Valley Mist for the living room...

Slumber Pod 2R: Deck

2007-05-01T14:03:00.000-07:00

A nice surprise is the view off of the back deck:And it tells the time!

(To the left of this photo is a richy rich older gentleman/younger wife/childs'zes house which I thought was a parking garage at first because it's that ugly and they are rarely home. Perfect kitchen view, though, I've never seen them more than snack and never together. Buy your happiness richies, C'MON! I suspect they have a pool on the roof, or they should... satellite photos are unclear).

Slumber Pod 2R: Before

2007-05-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

I have arrived in Chicago to an empty, deliciously yellow apartment with the dog smell accompaniment. All of the doorways are arched and awkwardly doored with folding closet doors. The bathroom has a good amount of tile missing from the floor and a wall exposing water-rotted drywall. But honestly it looks better than when I came to look at it while the last tenant was still here, as you can tell by the yellow, he had terrible taste. I remember a really bad painting of a taxi cab on the wall he must have pulled inspiration from.

Bee-utiful Spring!

2007-03-21T23:35:00.000-07:00

Good Weather + Bike ride + Boku Ebay bucks + L33t r0XX0r ownage of Shadowfang Keep + Running into somone at the store who I don't hate = Good day in Eugene

<3 Fleshtone

2007-02-25T17:58:00.001-08:00

Orygun Tyme Agun

2007-02-22T14:37:00.000-08:00

My return to Oregon has been a glorious one... I feel like my time in Eugene is akin to limbo, time seems to pass with little importance and nothing gets done. Hoo-ray for friends.

The last apartment I looked at in Chicago, on the way to the airport no less, turned out to be a dirty gem in Bucktown: beautiful views of brick walls through little windows, no doors and a little porch, but nice and big inside and just where I wanted it. I have not lived on my own since my first studio in Portland (quite an emotional disaster) but I look forward to the privacy and control over my domain. I am worried about furnishing the place but have been checking out I-go and Zipcar, or perhaps I should just get a hot bum bike set-up?

I move in April and can not bring much with me... This could be a disaster.

Bright Windows

2007-02-05T22:07:00.000-08:00

Train Trip

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24 Hours On a Train

2007-02-05T12:09:00.000-08:00

I have 10 more hours until I arrive back in Chicago from visiting Portland, Maine for a week. I have not taken Amtrak since I was little and only for a short trip from Eugene to Portland. I save $80 by not flying; but with 10 hours left, ask me later if it was worth it. At least I am getting in some Amtrak points. They need internets on these trains.

I briefly saw Boston at a transfer and said goodbye to New England; I didn’t get to see much of Boston but the "bomb threat" by Aqua Teen Hunger Force really left me frightened for my safety...

Trains always seem to amaze. Their lack of security, speed... as I write this we have just stopped and are being inspected by border patrol. I didn’t realize people risked freezing to death swimming across the great lakes. Exciting. If you are an illegal and get stopped on a train, just pretend to be in a deep snoring sleep; someone is using that technique a few rows back. Or take a bus.

Somehow I got sat next to the one other hipster on the train; he also is moving to Chicago to start anew - from Minneapolis; and yes, according to him, Prince does live there and does have yard sales and you can pay to hang out with him. Why would you ever leave? Unfortunately my social awkwardness only got me that far in conversation. So much for a chat-a-thon.

Chicago 1.0

2007-02-05T11:49:00.000-08:00

Chicago: The 'Not New York' City

2007-02-05T11:41:00.000-08:00

Chicago came into the fold about a year ago as a friend of mine and I were trying to plan our future escape from Oregon. It seemed an interesting option as positive stories about it smelling of chocolate, having offbeat radio shows, good local music, good jobs, affordable rent, hipsters, the Sears tower; and according to my absolute favorite college professor thus far, "the best art school in the country", not that I could afford it. Oh, what? Oprah too.

Moving east is appealing: the states are smaller - shit is closer and Jet Blue (the soon-to-be Greyhound of air travel, you'll see) goes about anywhere of interest for cheap (at a higher risk of death, I'm determined is true).

I came to Chicago with my good friend Mary Pilon (future prez of the world) for a preliminary visit. Forging through the cold with a CTA 7-day pass and a Rough Guide we tore through museums and documentaries like a hot knife with the assistance of her aunt and uncle who put us up and were more than amazingly hospitable.

Chicago has a kind of old American feeling; it seems to somehow look old without looking worn. There is no terrible modern skyscraper looming overhead or overkill public security and I absolutely love the aboveground trains no matter how slow they are. It might be the weather but people seem quieter and not once did I have to listen to someone else’s phone conversation on public transport… yet.

A Rare Snow Day in Eugene

2007-02-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

Snoozene, Oregon

2007-02-04T21:56:00.000-08:00

Back in Eugene, Oregon and the return to being creative with too much free time: lots of thrift shopping and a graveyard photo safari.

Breaking Dancing Licenses All Over Town

2007-02-04T06:29:00.000-08:00

Getting out of London was a relief. No more busy tube. No more terrible food. No more grey days. No more shady landlord. No more living without amenities. No more checking each day to see how bad the dollar is doing. No more chavs. No more foreigner confusion/stopping conversation to ask, "What does that mean?” no more tonsillitis. No more snooty French women or bro-ham Australian men. No more Kylie Minge or Anastasia. No more Prince Charles Cinema. No more cute little cars. No more cute little friends. No more feeling everything is new and exciting. No more free museums I didn't make time to go to. No more Mr. Hoover. No more gawking about time it takes to travel in the States. No more bad fish, no more good chips. No more musicless JD Wetherspoon veggie burgers.

There isn't much about London that I haven’t had to repeat to every one of my parents' friends at their holiday party.

Basic breakdown: first three months were mostly terrible while the last month was fantastic and I can't wait to go back; in the summer.

London Winter

2007-01-14T12:54:00.000-08:00

London Dungeon

London By Eboy

2007-01-14T12:42:00.000-08:00

Eboy makes these neat detailed retro game style posters of landmarks in London and other cities.

I love the farting clouds...

*poot*

Brighton, England

2007-01-14T12:23:00.000-08:00

Edinburgh, Scotland

2007-01-13T18:50:00.000-08:00

Edinburgh Castle

Holyrood Park

Atop Arthur's Seat

Newcastle

Harrow-on-the-Hill

2006-10-18T11:38:00.000-07:00

I will live in this house and drive an old rusty car that goes 'putt putt', spewing a cloud of exhaust while the engine warms up. I race out of the covered drive-way, emerging through a cloud of smoke - almost running over a gang of Hitler Youth-esque schoolboys in full garb; and, a pregnant woman for good measure.

Too Short Curtains

2006-10-17T05:23:00.000-07:00

I may have gotten internship work with the people who make the Itchy guide to London after a feverish emailing spree to where-evers' website I came across. Someone there said they could possibly need me, if I could respond with when I was availible. I have not heard back from them yet so now I am working on a letter saying how fantastic I am and how excited I would be to be alittle bitch and make coffee for any more emails I can find... wouldn't want all my eggs in one basket.

Anyhow, I only got out breifly yesturday and it was to get me some sweet, sweet candy before the store closed. Haribo is my new hero. They have an interesting variety of candies and they are just so fantastic; BUT, like any other variety candy: there is always some shit flavor in every package that I end up eating anyway, then regretting it - usually apple.

Gary, Glitter is Everywhere

2006-10-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

Well, well... I don't have any pictures to post at the moment, but I am much behind on what's been the skinny. After much typical university bullshit, I have moved out of the freshman-first time away from mommy-dorms and into a shared 3 bedroom flat in central-east London, Zone 1.

The apartment is rather run-down, no common living area other than the bathroom, kitchen, and an outdoor rooftop patio -though its too damp for that now. My room is probably three times bigger than the dorm room was; with nothing to fill it with, I find myself keeping it messy to feel more lived-in. Other pluses include: living above a sandwich shop and a convenient store and across from fancy office/apartment buildings. I like to lay in bed and watch a half-naked neighbor eating chips across the way, or the stoner sitting and watching TV every night with the occasional visitor. I also like to think that some one could be watching me through my open window as I take a nap mid-day.

I have been on the lookout for under the table jobs - so far working one night promoting for a place called Ghetto: http://www.ghetto-london.co.uk. It is easy work but not that many hours, but the Â£20 I made that night made me feel so good. I spent most of it the next day on a grilled ducks head (unknowingly, but good) and some other tasty mushies at an Indian spot near my new flat.

Bar jobs are the shit jobs here, though I am hoping to find one as it will be good experience when I go back to the states. I'm not too sure how to go about asking places if they would hire an illegal worker, but I imagine there are a good amount of us here.

Life is good so far. Though I feel I am lacking direction already.

To Do:
a) Look for an internship at a magazine/newspaper - photography
b) Make money somehow

Lost In The Early Morning

2006-10-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

Attempting to get to the dorms I was placed at somewhere in the boonies of NW London; I got lost after taking the nightbus too far and missing my stop - starting a three hour trek in the wrong direction. But, I did find this cute little hilltop town.
[I can imagine they used to hang people in the town center]

Playing Tourist

2006-09-28T15:47:00.000-07:00

THE VIEW FROM MY HOTEL WINDOW

These are the first days in London. Staying in swank South Kensington; being taken out to dinner, going to shows. Man, London is pretty fantastic! But where are all the tall buildings? I mean, I've been to New York City.

Atlanta, GA

2006-09-10T20:27:00.000-07:00

The shortstop stay before London...

Atlanta is.... A mystery really at this point. I'm staying with my good friend/ex room mate/whatever's families' house in Woodstock. Basically lounging around and living in comfort. This is good and bad.. I've never been to Atlanta and so far we haven't done any Atlanta-y stuff so I don't feel like I'm getting the full experience although it is nice to have some time off from thoughts=stress of what life is going to be like in London - having to meet new people and seem charming while fighting the urge to just be Mr. Independent discoverer.

oh, and 9/11 anniversary.. Fantastic.

Games you can play with people without them knowing

2006-08-30T22:06:00.000-07:00

So... ive been a long time fan of the name game (randomly calling out names in crowded places so to maybe grab the attention of strangers and bullshit a history of how you know them to em or maybe just to say how good they are looking and walk away...)

A new one i have become aware of is the shopping game. at a thrift store, say you are looking through sweaters and somebody else is too, but they are coming towards you. eventually you will haveto meet and one of you will go around the other while one just keeps barreling through the garments. its like a non-naked persons game of chicken without cars or bikes or whatever. the goal of the game is to not be the bitch that hasto move out of the way for some stranger. so if you are looking at clothes and you notice someone is working their way towards you, act aggressive, slide the hangers harder than what's necessary and DON'T look at them, let them think u don't see them or they will know your an asshole and might shiv you. ENJOY!

"I can read your every move..."

2006-08-30T21:35:00.000-07:00

"Read this, Bitch!"