Queens Cheers for USA

And the World Cup has begun...

This past Saturday, June 12th, was a full house at Studio Square beer garden in Astoria, Queens. A good 1,000 young Americans came out wearing red, white and blue, waving and wearing their flags, chanting against the Queen and teabags, and even drumming Native American-sounding beats on a bongo drum to support their country in the USA vs. England game.

Amongst the sea of white Caucasians in their 20's and early 30's, and even a few children, the melting pot of Queens was also sprinkled among the masses, including Irish, Bolivian and Ecuadorian immigrants to name just a few. All shared the same cheer that day.

I don't think I've seen such American pride and unity since Obama's election. Check it out for yourselves here.

The game was tied 1:1.

A Trip to La Esquina

I finally made it to the intriguing taqueria, located at the intersection of Kenmare and Cleveland streets, called The Corner (La Esquina in Spanish). I think I passed it for the first time sometime last year, and its old school diner exterior called to me, "Come eat here. Rapido!"

A few months later, I finally made my way back. As one enters La Esquina, it's snug and warm from the sizzling grills that greet you to your left. I save myself the last available stool towards the back of the long counter that lines the window (which by the way is lined with an assortment of hot sauces - I am now officially in heaven), and then order a torta de aguacate con queso (sandwich with avocado, black refried beans, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and chipotle mayo), and a Mexican hot mocha.

I went back to my stool, and got a book out to read while I waited for my food, but there was a lot of ear candy going on to really focus on reading. Besides the cool music ranging from 1920's-sounding Latin jazz to modern Mexican cumbia, two different gringo-looking hipsters ordered their food about 10 minutes apart, both giving the name "Pepe" when asked for their name. I found that a little odd. Perhaps they were actors trying out for Mexican roles and both thought coming here for lunch would let them remain in character, or they both wanted to know what it would feel like to be called "Pepe" at least once in their life.

Anyhow, back to the food. It was soothing to the soul and yummy to the tastebuds. The chipotle mayo on the torta added a creamy spicy touch. The Mexican hot mocha tasted homemade - just like my Mexican friend makes from scratch.

La Esquina is like a Mexican getaway in the middle of SoHo. It's warm and cozy, the service friendly, and apparently it makes you want to have a common Mexican name, too. I definitely want to come back to try the tortilla soup which I hear is amazing, as well as platanos machos fritos (plaintains salsa verde, queso fresco) - as I have to try anything with the name "macho" in it.

A Ray of Light in Brooklyn: Anthony Hernandez

On a cold, gray, afternoon in January, I met with the architectural detail designer and sculptor of Architecture Sculpture and Restoration, Inc. (ASR), Anthony Hernandez.

After radiating a warm smile and hug to greet me, the very fit and chisel-faced 44-year-old, showed me the new project in plaster he was working on with eager eyes and the excitement of a little boy.

"I am feeling that I am doing what I love to do," he bursted.

Just three years ago, Hernandez became the owner of his own design company, Fancy Shelters, where he has done work for well-known New York City hot spots such as the Max Mara and Sportmax stores, the Socialista lounge at the Hotel Riverview in the Meatpacking District, the Oscar de La Renta boutique on Madison Avenue, and the Cipriani Hotel on Wall Street. Apart from this, he is contracted for his work at ASR where he has been a crucial foundation for the past 15 years.

Hernandez' innate creativity and artistic ability was born at a young age. His mother would often find him making little dolls out of clay all by himself in his native Caracas,Venezuela. Seeing his natural talent emerge, she immediately enrolled him in Cristobal Rojas Art School.

At 28, Hernandez had a brief stint in the Army where he found himself evangelicizing rather than fighting, as he used to be a Seventh Day Adventist. But a year later, Hernandez moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he went back to his roots and began making a living as a painter. His exhibit, "Recuerdos de mi Madre" ("Memories of My Mother") were displayed in a gallery there, but after two years, he felt he had reached his growth potential and was pulled to try his luck in New York. And so it was that he found himself in Manhattan.

"I didn't know any English," said Hernandez from the kitchen of ASR - the office and workshop of which is now located in Brooklyn. Dressed in his work clothes, smeared with white plaster dust, he reminisced how he would try to find people who could speak Spanish.

"When I was very lost, I would start walking and walking and walking," he said.

One day, he stumbled upon ASR when it was located on Lafayette Street in Manhattan.

He described it as one would have described meeting their other half - love at first sight.

The owner, Euclides Pagan, who usually spent his days working off location at the workshop, happened to be there that day, and also luckily spoke Spanish.

"I told him I was a painter from San Antonio, and Euclides told me he was looking for a mold maker," said Hernandez.

Hernandez took on the challenge, and that was the beginning of a lifelong career and friendship.

Today, Hernandez is no longer a Seventh Day Adventist, but more of a spiritual guru. He speaks enthusiastically about how each project brings a different journey and energy.

"Everything in existence has something to teach you," he said. "You can think, 'Can I do it?', but instead think, 'Wow! What a project!'"

Hernandez is an example of how following your heart can make your biggest dreams come true.

"The dream I had as a child was to be a successful artist and to share - to be bright enough," he said.

As of February, Hernandez is no longer working at ASR, but his mark will live on forever there. He plans on moving on to conquer his next challenge.

Jamaica Snowfall

10 Reflections for the New Year

1. Listen to everything around you - the leaves rustling, the rain falling, strangers talking - they are the beats to your life.
2. Dance with your heart, and feel music with your soul - even if it's not your type.
3. Think about what you would do if you could be doing anything, and do it.
4. Share your thoughts, feelings, and stories because you never know what might touch someone, but also pay attention to the response as you might also learn something.
5. Ask questions as if there was no google.
6. Give as if you didn't have but wish you had enough to give away.
7. Hug as if you were never coming back.
8. Feeling is real living and it makes you grow. So feel every moment instead of running by them.
9. Love like you would want to be loved.
10. Live in the present and revel in it.

ASR at the Weston Designer Show House

Architectural Sculpture & Restoration Inc. (ASR) was one of the 17 design teams chosen to design spaces in Franco Grimaldi’s 22nd Designer Show House. This year’s showcase took place from October 6^th to November 8^th, 2009 in a 9,000 sq. ft. Georgian and Tuscan mansion located on a three-acre estate in Weston, CT.

Past designer houses have been located in New York City, California, Florida, and Connecticut, but wherever they are, they are ultimately chosen by producer, Franco Grimaldi. Originally known for his grandiose opera singing and theatrical acting on Broadway, for the past 14 years, he has transformed his artistic repertoire to include the celebration of design.

In choosing a show house, being “big” is a requirement for Grimaldi.“I also like when they’re new so we don’t have to go through demolition,” said Grimaldi.

One of the reasons why he decided to get involved in producing show houses, besides having had his own home in Winter Park showcased, is that he wanted to help people. The proceeds of his show houses have helped victims of AIDS, cancer, child abuse, and Alzheimer’s disease, among other causes. This year, admission to the Weston Designer Show House cost $30 per person, and the proceeds went to the Connecticut Humane Society.

In addition to producing show houses, Grimaldi also produces a television series entitled: The Room of Choice© for American Showcase Homes, a subdivision of Talent Resource Centre, LLC.
After receiving a call to participate from Grimaldi, ASR chose to design the rooms, La Salonetta, and Bath, in the Weston house along with partners Siegfried Kropf, from Leinritt Decorators, and Peter Jonas, from Installation Decorator, LLC.

Upon first walking into the room which is now La Salonetta, Euclides Pagan, owner of ASR, said it was nothing but a white room, and that he already knew ahead of time what he wanted to do.

After four weeks of work with a 12-person team, the once vacuous space is now a rich French Renaissance masterpiece painted in blueish-green, and yellow tones, Neo-Classical plaster elements, and a Georgian Roman Acanthus medallion crowning a crystal chandelier. Jonas was in charge of the blood red and gold-colored fabric lining the bottom portion of the walls with a pillow effect. The walls of the Bath room were painted a regal red in Venetian plaster, and a shiny black door was handsomely trimmed with gold. Kropf was responsible for the vibrant colors and various painting techniques.

Even though Jonas and Pagan have worked independently on the same projects for many years, this was the first time in which they personally worked together in conjunction with their teams.

Just as this event allowed many unique designers to work in harmonious unison towards a common good cause, Pagan said, “La Saloneta represents and expresses the richness, craftsmanship and harmony of the Renaissance style period where all the elements in interior decoration come together.”