wanted to take a second to share something just simple and easy in so much wrong, sad, unstable around the planet we live in.

i have certainly had a rather strong year of a somewhat affinity, to attend multiple local book talks as well as making an effort to get tickets ahead of time aka not-the-day-of for music shows that interest enough to get me away from home and the pj’s, the warriors or other basketball features.
so far, it has worked quite well.

i’ve found tremendous joy and peace observing in attendance, and even running into a few recurring faces with these book events, and music shows, or running into familiar book store clerks.
i have to start gettting better at finding more (more!) time to read all those books that are starting to pile up, on basically any flat surface around the house. not a bad problem, i suppose.

here are three sketches i wanted to share with you all.
Two from recent rock-author-bio lectures, and a music show.

O C T O B E R  ×

Elvis Costello presented his book Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink in the city, arts, lecture series here in san francisco. the Nourse theatre fairly recently reopened (to me, 2012) after 30+ years or so. the lecture was incredibly pleasant. the venue is classic though many components new and rennovated, absolutely beautiful.
He sang close to a handful of songs at the end. an absolute treat.
The night concluded with an improvised quick friend dinner date afterwards at a nearby greek restaurant in hayes valley, very nice.

N O V E M B E R  ×

Patti Smith presented her book M Train. It was so great and sincere.
We had an all-gals nite out, and it seems that we were not the only group to plan that.
A very high ratio of women:men, in the beautiful angelico hall – an old school wooden building in the dominican university in san rafael. it was just beaming. Patti ended the night singing a few songs as well, and it was super.

D E C E M B E R  ×

the Dandy Warhols played twice this week at the great american music hall, i attended the wednesday night show.
it was a nice, fun time out. they are very light and easy and the audio was good. i wore mi old bjm shirt and caught only the end of joel gion’s band, which i have now seen several times. two beers were had.

a note: it was really cool of them to share mi little drawing on their social media thing one and thing two.

// drawings that are on draft and WIP in mi mind are: recent performances by café tacuba (oakland show), ride (santa cruz) y bomba estéreo (san francisco show) … and few more lingering in the visual hardrives inside mi head etc.

thanks for stopping by.

× MELI.

Good morning.
Just wanted to give a congratulatory shut out to local author, activist, friend Michael Helquist’s recent book launch ×

Marie Elqui: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions (Sept. 2015) Oregon State University Press which describes: Marie Equi is a finely written, rigorously researched account of a woman of consequence, who one fellow-activist considered “the most interesting woman that ever lived in this state, certainly the most fascinating, colorful, and flamboyant.” This much-anticipated biography will engage anyone interested in Pacific Northwest history, women’s studies, the history of lesbian and gay rights, and the personal demands of political activism. It is the inspiring story of a singular woman who was not afraid to take risks, who refused to compromise her principles in the face of enormous opposition and adversity, and who paid a steep personal price for living by her convictions.

If you are in SF or the Portland area please go see his author talks, Michael is a superb writer and a fantastic speaker, I found myself quickly surrounded in all of Marie Elqui’s stories, and if you are a history buff, you will love the facts throughout it all.

Michael and I met via the bloggie-internets and it was so great to collaborate on two fun series a handful of years ago. Back in 2009/2010, he had already begun research for the book as I recall hearing about it fairly frequently during our coffee get togethers. A big thank you for letting me know via email about his upcoming author presentation/talks.

Below is a quick foto of Michael during the Q+A at his presentation in early October at the San Francisco main library.
<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/meligrosa/22021611996/in/datetaken/" title="SO happy for author friends <img alt="SO happy for author friends
As much as I am a library mouse, I had yet to be in the beautiful LGBT Hormel center. Just beautiful, I highly recommend it. Failed to write down the info of the rollerderby photos currently showing, my bad. They were super cool.

Next SF presentation is:
GLBT Historical Society Museum — Nov. 4, 7pm, 4127 18th Street @Castro, San Francisco, Free and open to the public.
Check out the upcoming Oct+Nov dates (SF, Berkeley, Portland) here ➵ michaelhelquist.com

—
I bought the book earlier this month, and cannot wait to begin. 2015 has already been a great year for books, author talks and great story connections.

Up next in the near future for me are: Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, Carrie Brownstein, and (hopefully) Isabel Allende : )
Good stuff.

—
and again, congrats Michael!

This past Wednesday, alongside lots of women, I attended an author talk: Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon w/ Carrie Brownstein at the Jewish Community Center here in San Francisco. I am such a space cadet for buying tickets and forgetting, only to remember once they sell out, that I made the effort to get them last November.

I sketched them both, it was a bit too dark so I didn’t want to force my eyes too much, but did capture somewhat a few lines and quotes. Kim’s energy is just like her art and music – short words, direct description and that punk attitude of well, and so what, that carries through no matter the stage of life. She is 61 and I can’t wait to finish the book soon.

Her glittery boots, such rock star. you can see her wearing them here: LINK

Carrie Brownstein was a great mix of fun and sharp humor in interviewing her, their camaraderie they have is palpable. They both had matching red lipstick. Too cool.

The JCC is great for lectures, the tickets are by row and number and all is pretty organized. Before the lecture started, they played a slideshow of upcoming events but was glad to snap this one right spot-on before the lecture started:

They sad no pictures, but I’m sure many of us did quietly. I took just a quick sneaky one without raising my phone and its annoying glare for people behind you to see. Not bad for taken from the belly, but needed a quick reference point to finish my drawing later that evening. Guilty.

Green Apples had a pop-up booth in which they sold her book, then the author signing happen next to it. After the lecture I had to use the ladies room, and because this place was filled with rad women, one guided the last ones in the long line, to the additional stalls in the second floor. Nice view!

Swoon.

Outside this cool 90’s specialized bike made me smile.

The JCC is at Presidio and California. The event’s video will probably be up-loaded later this month, but you can check out past lecture videos and information jccsf.org/arts-ideas

× M.

Last week Diana and I attended Armistead Maupin’s talk at Kepler’s Books and Magazines down in Menlo Park.

If you are familiar with his work and narrative style, Armistead is just as effervescent as he is in print (and characters!) with rather timeless and fun engagement to anyone listening. Diana and I were some of the youngest in the audience of enthusiastic readers from all walks of life.

At the end of the author talk, we lined up to get his book signed the last Tales of the City installment “The Days of Anna Madrigal” I asked him if he’d be so kind to also sign the sketch I’ve done of him through the lecture, he LOVED it — I was over the moon.

He looked through back entries of my journal, and said, “Oh maybe I shouldn’t” I, being equally curious completely understand. I quickly said “Oh, no” wanting to say “Oh, no problem” I was just so excited to meet him 🙂

The author talk was alongside NYT columnist and SF resident Scott James and their conversation was easy to hear and follow. I hadn’t been to Kepler’s in ages and didn’t know their new management had such a great author series. Worth a quick trip down to Menlo Park, a Caltrain ride away (They are right next to the Menlo Park stop).
On our way out, Diana and I met the manager of Kepler’s and he asked how our evening was. It was so well organized, I was so impressed and pleased. We’ll definitely be back!

It was a complete delight to finally meet Mr. Maupin, and listen to him read us a sneak peek of his memoir, was just so touching. Thank you.

—
× Some pictures from the event:





Arrived a bit early. There were approx 250 of us in the audience, seated comfortably!

Here is Maupin from where I sat, alongside Scott James, while I sketched.

Thanks Diana for coming along 🙂
M.

World Book Day is celebrated April 23.
I love books almost as much as I love coffee.
As much as I love living my entire life within a few miles from the Pacific Ocean.

Here is what I’m currently reading/to-read list +a few recent new additions to my bookshelf:

A couple of Burma to-read pieces by Emma Larkin.

This bookworm ♥’s the SFPL. These two book stacks fotos were inspired by bloggie pal from Tijuana Velcro/ZiaZia

A few I’ve recently completed, or are almost done with:

✕ Sagan’s Billions & Billions subtitle is” Thoughts on Life and Death at the Brink of the Millennium. It’s a great math+life book.
✕ Sway is a fictional novel about Brian Jones +the Rolling Stones. Having read Life by Keef, I’ve found the novel rather hard to get into asking, like, how does the novelist really know this could’ve gone through their heads. I been jaded by Keef, that I know.
✕ Anna Karenina is part of the book club with my GFs, interesting but not quite a personal choice. Getting to its half point as a milestone has been kind of a reading effort, I must say. Romance is not quite my cup of tea.. but have enjoyed it so far.

I have yet to start: The Chronology of Water by Lidia Yuknavitch
“This is not your mother’s memoir. In The Chronology of Water, Lidia Yuknavitch expertly moves the reader through issues of gender, sexuality, violence, and the family from the point of view of a lifelong swimmer turned artist.” -goodreads



I am very grateful to have received the above 2 fashion books over the Holidays. Pretty amazing, a present large format to make a clear statement +an infinite source of inspiration. McQueen’s book is a lenticular trippy cover, I love it.

Two graphic design books I’ve recently purchased.
(On the left) Restless typographer Jurrian Schrofer (1926-90).
(On the right) Graphic Artists Guild Handbook 13th Edition.

There is a connection about World Book Day +Don Quixote de la Mancha, Wikipedia indicates:
“The connection between 23 April and books was first made in 1923 by booksellers in Spain as a way to honour the author Miguel de Cervantes who died on that day.” [World Book Day on wikipedia]

What books have you read lately? Feel free to share any recommendations 🙂
xxom

el boogie

♥Book | Creativity, Inc. by Meg Mateo and Joy Deangdeelert Cho
About a week ago, I attended the book signing event of Creativity Inc. a book by Meg Mateo and Joy Deangdeelert Cho at the Candy Store on 16th in the Mission district.
I am pretty excited that their book is being posted in many blogs and online creative sites as well as bookstores and local stores.

The event had cupcakes, I mean this place was filled with uber cute gals. Such a girl-power fest, it was awesome.

I loved her haircut+accessories!! so thanks to her for letting me take her picture. Adorbs!

The book is published by Chronicle books, a local independent publisher based on 2nd street, here in San Francisco. Their staff-facilities are very bike friendly, I know that for a fact.
Here are the two authors signing my book =)

Joy

Meg

An excellent tool to get your creativeness crazies going. And I mean business, not just imagination. Now my big fat cloud of heavy creative showers that has been forecasted in my head and buggin me everyday at my rather unchallenged situation, is about to unleash in glitter catastrophies. This book will be good to have as a good resource tool once that happens. Soon I predict… Whatchout for typography showers in a poster near you…

♥Magazine | Anthology
Meg Mateo is also part of another upcoming and exciting project, the much buzzed about magazine: Anthology

Creative director Meg Mateo Ilasco and editor-in-chief Anh-Minh Le at the Creative, Inc. event.

Anthology has been making the mega-blog rounds in the awesome blogesphere, one of them is in Design*Sponge (read it here) and from the above cover from fantastic illustrator Kris, whose work I have followed and loved for about 2 years. You can check out her creative process in her ‘The making of a cover‘ post. The drawing was created digitally.

You already take a sneak-peek, preview it online already.

I was absolutely flattered to have been contacted by Meg back in April, and to learn about their new project. A few months later I cannot wait to see the photos and interview, as well as many other people around the states that will be featured in this first issue. What an honor!
Bicycle love all around. Love it!!

Meg and Anh-Minh and I.

Here is a bag on my wardrobe back in May, that day was remarkably cold and I think it had just rained. Because the location was mostly red-paint, some of the dresses wouldn’t have worked. I also did my make-up myself as always, and all of that hair stuff. Though I think I might have worn my hat, I don’t recall.
So, can’t wait to get my copy in the mail.
This day was pretty fun + I LOVED being part of it.