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LIFE is a gamble. So be careful when you shake 'em up

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Atelier Hermès Maison Hermès, Apgujeong

You're living in Seoul. Its raining. Payday is next week and your down to your last hundred won...what to do? 

Naturally, you hop the subway to the ritziest district in the city and go to Hermes.

Although this may sound completely and irrational and irresponsible I swear that it's not....

The massive three story flagship holds more than just silk scarves and "H" enamel'd cuffs. A gallery of contemporary art is located on the third floor while a book cafe and modern museum hold down the basement.

Completely free of charge, the museum is a must see for anyone wandering Gangnam, fashion focused or not. Reminiscent of a trippy space age forest, multicolored leather pillars showcase pieces from the famed Parisian fashion house's rich history. My personal favorites including a bossy brass cigarette holder and the coolest collection of elaborate spurs I've ever seen.

Bonus points for people watching all of the Korean women taking selfies with their smartphones.

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Tim Burton at SeMA

In 2009 myself and a few friends hopped a Chinatown bus from Philly to NYC to catch a new exhibit at MoMA. The exhibit showcased Tim Burton's early years and careeer. Included were elementary school sketches, artwork and movie memorabilia Michelle Pfeiffer's Catwoman costume, HELLO. Growing up on Burton flicks such as the Batman movies, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice and Edward Scissorhands I was stoked to see the evolution of his craft. 

Unfortunately for myself and company, Mother Nature decided that on that day she was going to be a raging bitch and did nothing but rain. all. day.

Being the optimist that I am, I assured my friends we'd be fine. Just a few umbrella's and hoods and we'd be fine, right? WRONG. So wrong. It was one of those days where the rain went sideways and no umbrella could help you. Stranded in Soho soaked to the bone after a trip to Supreme, we skipped the exhibit and caught the next bus home. 

So here I find myself, 4 years later. Older, wiser, and living in South Korea. and guess who I run into? Good ole' Tim Burton! The Seoul Museum of Art is currently showing the exact exhibit I had so miserably missed out on in NYC. If your in the Seoul metro area, I highly recommend hopping the nearest subway to Seoul City Hall Station.  Funny how things work out, eh?

http://sema.seoul.go.kr/global/exhibitions/exhibitionsView.jsp?seq=278&sLangCode=02

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Heyri Art Valley 헤이리 문화예술마을

Blue skies and a free Friday from work...why not venture outside of the familiar? 

After a boss breakfast and a bit of traffic on the Olympic highway, myself and friends arrived in Heyri, An artist's community located in the northern city of Paju. Heyri is a niche town, focused on the arts and design. Various writers, painters, actors, architects and musicians refer to it as home. Most said artists have constructed their own unique, modern spaces here with their businesses on the bottom and their residence above. 

The village is speckled with random oddities, museums, galleries,cafe's and restaurants and makes for a great day trip. One word of advice...don't wear your brand new Ronnie Fieg x Asics 'Selvedge Gel Lyte III's. Seeing as it is a new town, the roads aren't yet paved and you will have to awkwardly clean the mud off in a tiny public bathroom with no soap, or paper towels, located underneath an Elvis museum.

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZwMX6T5Jhk

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Maybe I recite in the raw, the appetite for life and the hunger for the more

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The Do's & Don't of Ice Fishing

Do:

Pinky out when drinking makgeolli...it balances out the fact that the restaurant has a dirt floor & your drinking out of a tin bowl.

Wear your furs...you're on ICE & you want to look chic.

Bring your largest fashion mag...it'll keep you occupied and doubles as a chair.

Get your fresh caught sancheoneo sliced up sashimi style...it trumps the grilled.

Don't:

Wear shoes without traction...you WILL slip & get a bruise that lasts 2 weeks.

Bring a bottle of vino to drink on the ice...while brilliant in theory, it's against the rules. Save it for the sashimi.

Let your new Japanese friend down a large bottle of makgeolli prior to the 3 hour bus ride home...he will become incoherent and loose the ability to walk.

If you are in South Korea and missed out on the Hwacheon Sancheoneo Ice Festival your loss check out the the one in Pyeongchang, its in its final week!

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Seoul Foreign Flea Market

The MOST random.

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Been loving my new winter coat for a couple weeks now...obsessed with the subtle color blocking and the functionality of it. The shearling lined hood is essential when battling Siberian wind gusts and with my glasses it totally makes me look like a wizard.

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Non Lazy Sunday

What better way to follow up a late night clubbing in Gangnam than with a 4 hr hike to the peak of Bukhansan? 

Bonus points for doing it in the dead of winter with snow & ice covered trails.

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So we shall let the reader answer this question for himself: who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed?

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Put A Ring On It

Beyonce knew what she was talking about. If you like something, you should put a ring on it, especially when that thing is sweet chili marinated pork and your ring consists of bubbling hot egg.

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High 1 Resort Holiday

Over drinks a co-worker asked if I'd have any interest in a skiing/snowboarding trip. Without hesitation:

"Definitely, I'm in there". 

"Nice, do you ski or board?"

"Neither...but I've been meaning to add snowboarder to my repertoire"

"Oh..."

I mean...this blog is called Throwin' Bones, why not take a little risk, throw the dice?

A month later I found myself strapped into a board, atop a mountain with minimal direction.

BAM.

And so it began...my first run was Webster's Dictionary definition of epic fail. I fell on my booty. I fell on my knees. I fell on my face. I fell on ice. I fell on a small Korean girl. By the time I reached the end I was seriously contemplating skis, they looked SO much easier. Suddenly, the voice of Oppah rang through my head shouting "화이팅" or "HWAITING!".The word is used to encourage someone before performing a difficult task...how fitting.The thought of skis was quickly erased from my mind and I was back at the top, ready for another go. Plus, skiing is for pussies

By nightfall my ass was aching, my fingers were frozen and my knees were torn up... BUT I was switching from heelside to toeside, speeding down slopes and carving 'round curves. Still falling...but seriously improved and ready to plan the next trip. My only regret being that I should've learned this y e a r s ago. Oh well, better late then never.

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Traditions: Rollin' Rollin' Rollin'

Toilet paper: A common denominator for all people of 1st world countries, a uniter of humans. Even Kate Moss and Anna Wintour wipe their own ass when they eventually consume solids.

With that being said, as universal as toilet paper is...I was genuinely perplexed when my Korean 'oppah' showed up to my apartment with a 24 pack of 3 ply. Did he think I didn't have any? I mean, I know I warned him my new apartment was pretty barren, but....?

After slipping off his shoes, he explained that T.P. is a common housewarming gift in Korea. It unrolls effortlessly, symbolizing a smooth transition insert B.M. joke here into your new space. 

Who knew Charmin could be so deep?

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Fishscale(s)

A few shots from a recent dinner outing with my homies coworkers...

I can't tell you the name of this place.

I cant tell you the address.

BUT

I can tell you that this: it's just about my favorite thing I've eaten 'round these parts. For ₩8,000 $7.50 for you 'merican's  you get banchan (free side dishes) rice, and the most A M A Z I N G samchi gooey that you pick apart and dip in a soy/wasabi blend. It's what dreams are made of. 

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Walkabout:Hwajeong

Where I work

Where I sleep

Where I eat...

are all in a 3 block radius.

Convenient as that may be, the thought of being confined to said area and not knowing my surroundings gave me serious anxiety at approximately 4'oclock this morning. The solution: spend a lazy Sunday walking about, seeing what's happening in Hwajeong.

Special thanks to my lady Zoe for venturing out and taking candid photos...I'm still wavy from the pho.