A few months ago, I took a sea plane to the San Juan Islands. We went to Friday Harbor and had fish and chips overlooking the water. It's been raining all day and I'm particularly missing the summer, and this view, today. 

Medieval Festival

A few weekends ago, I went to the medieval festival at Ft. Tyron Park. Two of my friends came to NYC for the occasion, making it an even more memorable weekend. The festival was held right next to the Metropolitan Museum of Art Cloisters, which houses the Met's collection of medieval art. It's located on a hill overlooking the Hudson and includes a medieval-style cloistered herb garden. Ft. Tyron Park also happens to be far enough from Manhattan that it feels wild. So really, the perfect place for a medieval festival in NYC.

[Grand tournament stage where there was jousting and a live chess match]

Lately, I've just had a general appetite for Arthurian legends and medieval-inspired fantasies. Last spring, I wrote a paper interpreting Tristan und Isolde (favorite opera). Ever since recently learned that the Met Opera is kicking off their 2016 season with a new production of the opera, and working my way through Sir Thomas Mallory, I just love all things medieval fantasy right now. As such, spending a Sunday dressing up in  and wandering through a medieval festival/village couldn't have happened at a better time.

[Selfie somewhat (wishfully) inspired by this John William Waterhouse]

Also, I debuted the red wig I bought at New York Comic Con last year. I had my doubts about picking this color, but I am so happy I did. My friend spot-on in pointing out, when I was debating whether to go for red, that it was essentially that perfect shade of purplish-red that was clearly not a natural hair color, but just unnatural enough that it would work well as a fantasy, mage-type color. It's also really, really curly. One festival goer asked me if it was my natural hair. One can only wish.

[Picture of the full costume]

Sadly, we didn't get time to go visit artwork in the Met Cloisters. I've been before, so it wasn't too disappointing, but near the end of the festival, we popped in to see if we could wander around. The Cloisters were closing, but I did get the chance to look at the first set of displays. Seeing fellow festival enthusiasts wandering around, looking at medieval art, in Ren Faire garb made me so, so happy! It was an all around lovely day, and a really great first medieval festival in New York.

Lighthousekeeping

Tell me a story, Silver. 

What story?

The story of Tristan and Isolde.

In Tristan, the world shrinks to a boat, a bed, a lantern, a love-potion, a wound. The world is contained within a word - Isolde.

Where did love begin? What human being looked at another and saw in their face the forests and the sea? Was there a day, exhausted and weary, dragging home food, arms cut and scarred, that you saw yellow flowers and, not knowing what you did, picked them because I love you?

The world was made so that we could find each other in it. Already the world is fading, returning to the sea. My pulse ebbs with yours. Death frees us from the torment of parting. I cannot part with you. I am you.

The world is nothing. Love formed it.

The world vanishes without a trace.
What is left is love.

I just finished reading Lighthousekeeping by Jeanette Winterson, and her writing gives me chills. It's been a while since I've been so floored by a new book but this is such beautiful, poetic, passionate, perfect retelling of the operatic version of Tristan and Isolde, which I've always found doesn't get enough literary adaptation love. She absolutely captures the spirit of the opera and I just want to read it over and over again.

Also, so, so excited for the Met to do a new production of Tristan und Isolde in 2016. So excited.

Weekend Hiking

Hiking at Anthony's Nose this weekend was great! I love autumn in the East Coast. For reference point, we started at the level of the bridge.

Arthurian Legends

So recently, I've been making my way through a (translated/modernized) version of Sir Thomas Mallory’s version of Arthurian legends. Besides reminding me of how much I enjoyed my one medieval literature class in undergrad and how I wish I had more time to devote to the subject, it occurred to me that if this were a fandom, Arthur, Lancelot and Guinevere would be the prototype of shipping wars. I'm sure the medieval fandom would have #TeamArthur and #TeamLancelot wars on Tumblr.

Also, Mallory's version of Tristan and Isolde prove that no matter what fandom I’m in, I will find side pairings much more compelling than the main parings, and they will undoubtedly be my OTP. Theirs will be the story that keeps me hooked on whatever I'm reading and watching. Inevitably, they will suffer what my friend has called the Curse of the Side Characters and be depressingly killed off before the finale, sometimes off-screen. (No, seriously, they die off-screen midway through somebody else's legend).

New York Comic Con 2015

So happy that I managed to buy a last minute three-day pass from my friend! New York Comic Con was a lot of fun. I'm never quite committed enough to make a cosplay, but I do love to play dress up. I've also recently discovered the fun of playing with wigs, so I re-used my Renaissance Faire costume from last weekend, including the flower wreath I bought from the medieval festival. I'm in a huge medieval/medieval fantasy/Arthurian legends mood at the moment anyways, so I was excited to have another chance to wear this costume. 

[I hugged a stormtrooper today]

[Javits Center, Outside of the Dealers Hall]

Princess Carolyn and Bojack! I was waiting in line for Eastern Championship tickets when I saw them. I ducked out of line and chased after them for a picture. Princess Carolyn had to forcibly pull Bojack into the frame because he couldn't hear through his mask. 

I actually made it to panels this year. On Saturday, we went to a panel on books to film adaptations. I came away with a good stack of books to read (the panel members mentioned a lot of books I hadn't read yet).

My friend and I managed to get tickets to the NYCC Eastern Championship of Cosplay on Saturday night. The costumes were amazing. The winner by far was a 9.5 foot tall Hulkbuster costume that moved and looked like it had come straight off of the movie set. Some of my other favorite costumes was a Zelda, a Queen Amidala (Senate gown) and a Lucy Westenra, who had taken apart an old chandelier to make her scepter.

[Picture of the winners of each category (film, anime/fantasy, video games, comics). These costumes were seriously impressive in person.]

Continuing the books theme, I went to a Sunday panel on Star Wars books. I was particularly excited to see Ian Doescher on the panel. He's the author of the Shakespearian Star Wars Trilogy, which rewrites each of the movies as a Shakespearian play. He read out loud from the latest, and last in the set, which was a reworking of Revenge of the Sith. Really great panel, even if I'm currently still heartbroken by the de-canonization of the Extended Universe.

[Ian Doescher reading out loud from his newest installment, "The Tragedy of the Sith's Revenge". ]

[Yay for Extended Universe representation. Also, envious of the amazing Mara Jade costume.]

On Sunday, I also did a closet Steampunk Alice in Wonderland cosplay with friends. I went as Alice, with a blue dress, black and white corset, steampunk goggles, lace gloves, headband, and curly wig that was obnoxiously bouncy.

[The group of us at Korea town after a successful con.]

I went to panels, dressed up, saw some amazing cosplays, spent a lot of time perusing the dealer's hall, and saw a Wookie riding by in a limo. All-in-all, an amazing, perfect, fandom-happy, nerdy weekend and I can't wait to start planning for next year!

Seattle

Seattle is one of the most picturesque places I know.

I mentioned to a friend that I know that I've been homesick when I'm not complaining about bridge traffic on the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge because I'm too busy enjoying how blue the water is. I really, really miss this place and I can't wait to spend the next month enjoying the Pacific Northwest in all its beautiful, summery, glory. Looking forward to time with friends and family, coffee, more coffee, bar-hopping in Capitol Hill, a Portland trip, wandering through Pike's Place Market, and visiting my advisors at UW again.

Sketchs from the Nursery

via 

"The mechanical toys were very superior, and looked down upon every one else; they were full of modern ideas, and pretended they were real."

I work, therefore, I am. The life of a mechanical toy is ruled by gears, springs, and levers.

For all purposes, the life of a mechanical toy is short. Unlike the Skin Horse, who could remain year after year in the same corner of the nursery, unmoving and slowly being worn down, a mechanical toy knows that its gears and levers come with the price of brevity. Sooner or later, its springs would snap, and it would find itself leaving the nursery by night. And, what happened after was a mystery to every toy there.

Am I real? The mechanical toys prided themselves on knowing the answer to this.  We work, therefore we are, they told the other toys. Every toy secretly wondered what happens after they broke down. The Skin Horse preached to his circle of followers that the only real thing in this world for a toy is a child's love. What antiquated nonsense, the mechanical toys said. The dolls claimed that they alone were real because they so resembled the humans they served. The mechanical toys, on the other hand, claimed not to care. Instead, unlike the other toys, they preferred instead to wonder about the here and now. Who or what placed the springs and gears that made them move and buzz? And why? But for them, realness was a matter of simple functionality. Unlike the other toys, they didn't wonder about after. They didn't believe that a nursery fairy visited discarded toys. Nonsense and superstition. They believed in the here and now.

Among all the toys in the nursery, they moved with their own internal machinery. Their insides were made of more than sawdust and stuffing, no, they were made with carefully placed gears and springs, designed to run like clockwork. And if this internal mechanism eventually broke down, well, was that so different from the invisible gears and springs controlling everything and anything in the outside world? What couldn't be reduced to mechanisms, they posited. From the clock on the nursery wall, to the tree at the window dropping leaves. Was the Boy not also a thing governed by invisible machinery that occasionally broke down when he recuperated in bed?

Paris in Retrospect

That was an amazing 10 days. I was a little worried that after dreaming about visiting Paris again ever since seeing it as an eighth grader, I would be disappointed, but instead, I feel like I got to see Paris properly this time around. And, it was amazing.

Highlights from the last week.

Walking from the top of the Sacre Coeur to the Louvre on our first day of Paris, jet lagged after a red-eye from New York City. Definitely worth it.

Wandering through Montmartre by day and night. Long, lazy coffee breaks at Les Deux Magots, including a final, continental breakfast on our last day there. Many, many cups of cafe creme. Lunches at the Rue Cler. Baguettes under the Eiffel Tower.

Two trips to Versailles, one to see the chateau and hamlet, the other to spend a day wandering through the gardens. Visiting Fontainebleau, and wandering through the expansive hunting forests in my brown riding boots. Spending afternoons at the Tuileries Garden.

Breaking off and seeing Paris by myself for a day, with a good book and no immediate plans. Spending a good part of that day letting myself wander aimlessly through the Palais Garnier, eventually finding a deserted place to read my book and and slowly take in the opera house. (Having just seen Phantom of the Opera, it was one of my great disappointments that I went all the way to Paris and didn't get to go into the Palais Garnier, and I was set on rectifying that this time around).







































Walking across the Alexander Bridge by night. Seeing the Arc de Triumph. (It is a lot bigger than the Washington Square Arch). Notre Dame, San Michel. The Catacombs.

Spending a Saturday morning exploring the Clignacout flea market. So many gorgeous antiques. I see why flea market shopping is serious business. Finding the perfect cocktail ring at a little jewelry store tucked away in one corner of the market.

Buying my first Longchamp from the Galeries Lafayette.

All the museums. Visiting the Louvre by dusk on a Friday night, and enjoying the effect of open windows and dimly lit hallways. Having the receptionist at the Musee d'Orsay tell me that I had "impeccable style". (Best compliment ever). Then topping that by stumbling across my favorite Degas painting on the second floor. Seeing Manet's Water Lilies at the L'Orangire. (Surprisingly soothing). Walking through the Musee Rodin. (So happy to finally get to see "The Kiss" in person).

So many macarons. (Too many pictures of macarons).

Learning that all the trains were free for the next few days halfway through our vacation. Coincidentally, learning on the same day that the NYC MTA was increasing fares, and it was snowing in NYC.

Finally, at the airport headed back to NYC, trying to order in French, sheepishly asking the receptionist at Laudree to add one more macaron for the plane ride back, and admitting that I had forgotten the French word for "three". (I studied Spanish in high school). She gave me the third one for free.

Things like this don't happen. Life doesn't work out that perfectly very often, but it was really as close to the perfect ten days in Paris that I could imagine.

I’m writing this in Les Deux Magots in Paris :) I love this cafe so much. It’s my last day in Paris and I’ve never been so unwilling to leave.

Packing for Paris

Packing for Paris.

Which books to bring for long sit-downs at cafes?
How many seasons of Gossip Girl loaded to marathon on the plane ride over?
Laptop, iPad or both?
How many sweaters? Trench coat? Winter coat? (Both?) Will it be warm enough to wear sundresses? Pack coat or wear onto plane?
Do I have walking shoes? (Do they look decent?)
Extra batteries for headphones? Passport? Am I sure I have my passport?

One. more. day.

Exciting News

It’s all settled. I’m going to Paris in March! I have wanted to make this trip happen so many times, and I’m so excited that it’s coming together. I’ve got the AirBnB booked, plane ticket worked out, and I’m starting to make a to-do list for the 10 days I’m there! Prepare for lots of Paris-themed posts in anticipation!