Once again. Shout out to my brother from another mother Terry for these red Nike Roshe. My red shoe collection is growing fast, I've been switching out my sneaker wardrobe to all red kicks. Its a conscious branding element I've made. Steve jobs is to black turtle necks, like Hoang is to red shoes.
Into The Fog
With all this rain in the Bay I figured we're bound to see some beautiful waterfalls around the Marin Headlands. So we took a day trip to Cataract Falls.
We started our Saturday early. Grabbed some Banh Mi's from Saigon Sandwich on Turk & Eddy. If you've never had their sandwiches. Please go there today and try their meatball banh mi. Its AMAZING. On our way we dropped by the infamous "Muir Beach Overlook." to snap a few photos of the Pacific encompassing the skinny dirt walk way down. I bet this place is beautiful in the summer time. Today It was cold, low 40's, overcast and foggy. I thoroughly enjoyed the cold, crisp air. It's different seeing this area during the winter versus the summer.
Trip Itinerary :
a. Mill Valley, CA. Muir Beach Overlook
b. Mill Valley, CA. Muir Woods National Monument - Cateract Fall Trail
La Nebbia Winery
Its been awhile since I took the Bonneville out, and I'm itching to ride. I knew I wouldn't get much riding in when winter comes. The rain and cold weather that's happening lately isn't the conditions you want to ride in. Kuddos to all you brave souls motor-biking as your commuter. I'll just wait until the sun comes out. The next nice day here in the Bay I'm going to head to Santa Cruz or Big Sur to shoot more Bonneville content for the blog. I'm sorry it's been so much travel and holiday shenanigans lately. Pray for good weather for me.
For now here are photos taken at "La Nebbia Winery" Its close enough to feed my riding cravings.
From Heaven at Heavenly Tahoe, CA.
Coldplay Hymn For The Weekend Ft. Beyonce
Bar Amá
Bar Amá with homies over at Matter Global . Post Christmas brunch before headed out to Tahoe for New Years. If you're in LA check it out. Their BLOODY MARY'S are the best I've ever had!! It comes with a slab of pork belly!!!
Cults - Go Outside
Playing W/ Digital Origami
Had a bit of time last night to play around in after effects. Here's my first go at folded paper and the 3d plane. Enjoy.
A WEEKEND IN MEXICO
20.6667° N, 105.2667° W Coordinates provided. Enjoy the video. I wish I could have used all of the 66gigs of footage, but I don't want you to sit through 3 minutes worth of my BULLSHIT. Enjoy. Leave a comment if you like it.
Back from Puerto Vallarta
Here are some instax I took from my trip to Mexico. I'm working on a a video at the moment. Should be sharing it in the next few days.
Chance The Rapper - Sunday Candy
This soundtrack sundae is a little bit of Sunday Candy. Chance the Rapper is one of my favorite rappers out of Chicago. Enjoy.
Made of Art and Science
Thanksgiving eve my mom asked my brother and I to attend mass. Growing up I was raised catholic. Young, innocent, naive. I've come far from that innocent naive young boy. Today, I don't pray as often, I attend mass lesser. I blame it on science.
It's interesting to think about my career as a designer vs my life as a faithful catholic . Good Industrial design to me is the ability to balance, it's orchestrating the right amounts of emotions (art) vs logic an reason (science.)
Today, I would go rounds with someone about art and design. I defend art & rely on practicality, reasoning and logic of science. I defend the emotions that drives me to create. Making objects that push me, that push my feelings . I design to stimulate, to describe an emotion, play with the senses. For what? To bond and relate to others. There is nothing more compromising to the guards we put up than showing people our vulnerability, nothing more relatable, or give a sense of camaraderie than the way design allows me to be.
My life now is designing products that connect to the world, and to people. We are pareidolic, we see hints of people and faces in design. Cars look aggressive or gentle in their design styling. Anthropomorphic in ways. I build empathy into machines. But If emotions, people and art drive me. Then what is the value of science? Science is calculative, its logical to me. Today I wonder why I use art to feel and live. But, use science in the face of the catholic temple that brought me up. To challenge words like: spirit, holy and faith. Aren't these cut from the same emotional fabric as art to me? You have faith because you feel no?
I'm writing this as a confession. That I don't go to mass, not because I don't believe in a god. But I've seen bad people, wear good people masks. I believe in all hierarchy. That one should have some sort of goodness gauge in life . All religion teaches good values. At its core, be good to people, treat others with respect, and dignity.
Thanksgiving eve I lied. I lied to my mom. I said I went to mass.
Why? Science, pride, logic, reasoning.
My mom tells me a story. A man sees a girl crying on the side walk. He approaches her and asked why. She wants to buy her mom flowers for Mother's Day, and missing a few coins. He offers to help and drives her to her mother. They drive for awhile and end up at a cemetery. At this moment the man realizes. "Why do I send flowers to my mother when she's still alive." This girl can't even say hi to her own mother, if she wanted to.
I'd go to mass again to hear these types of stories. To remind me of family and the important things in life.
My group of friends are young and full of energy. Last year it took a death for many of us to realize how delicate life is. Losing a friend, brother, cousin, son at the peak of his career really upsets things. Have whatever faith you want, believe in any god you like. Just live good. Keep those that matter close, love often, and love hard.
One Page At A Time
I'm ready to make a long term commitment. I recently bought this book by Adam J Kurtz. Essentially you fill a page a day for 365 days. Each page poses an: idea, drawing, quote, question ect. I'm going to fill out a page a day for the next 365 days and share it back through video in a year. I'm excited to see how my thoughts and perspective on life changes.
I encourage you guys to do this as well. Buy it here.
Chica Locca
woke up super early this morning to join the dudes on the Chica Loca boat to check out Marieta Island. Unfortunately it was too windy near the island so I couldn't get dope shots there. The one time i tried the drone flew straight into me and cut me. Haha. Thats what I get for being stupid. When the wind calmed down though I got some really awesome shots. Here is a short edit. I'll do a longer edit when I'm back in Cali.
Glance Magazine
A few months ago Glance magazine asked my brother and I to do an Alumni feature about post CCA, things we've learned and carried on with us, and the 411 on things we're doing now. I was told the magazine would hit shelves November - December. I totally forgot until a buddy text me this image last night. WHOOOOO what a pleasant surprise.
PUERTO VALLARTA FOR THE WEEKEND
In less than 24 hours I'll be in Puerto Vallarta for the first time. I'm excited to rent UTV's and tour the jungles, surf Sayulita and fly the drone on the Marieta Island. I hope drone flying isn't restricted there. I can't wait to share photos and videos of the trip.
Here are some of the things I'm packing. Mostly camera equipment haha.
Red filter for the hero
I'm headed to Peurto Vallarta very soon. I'll be swimming in some clear blue water, so I picked up the red filter to see how well these things work. The science behind the filter is, is that it compensates for the lack of red as you go deeper underwater. Red is the first color to be lost making the white balance in the camera go nuts. Having the filter should give you a more natural and more corrected look. I got this bad boy for pretty cheap off Amazon for 30 bucks. Link here.
Be sure to check back in for photos and video updates.
Red October in November
This Thanks Giving comes with many blessings. I'm thankful to be alive, that my family and friends are all happy and well. That my brother and I started working together officially on paper. Shout outs to Playground, its been such a fun time and for allowing us to stay creative.
Today I'm super thankful for my brother in law Terry Dang aka TDangerous. I dont care what anyone of you guys say, I'm still voting for Yeezy in 20/20. Anyways look what landed on my lap this lovely autumn day. Yup! red October in November isn't that late. Better late than never. Happy Thanks Giving YALLLL.
Idiomspiration
When ask what to do with the Submarine's during World War I, Will Rogers said, “Boil the oceans. That’ll force all the subs to the surface.” When asked how Rogers said "I'm just an idea man."
Often our ideas are as grand as the ocean, it feels so big and infinite that its hard to capture. Rather than boiling the whole ocean, why try boiling small pots.